Two Things

 Twin Six Standard Rando v2 Fixed Gear Impressions:

Well, I haven't been out in the country yet, and I am loathe to remove the studded tires, but I have several shorter rides now on this bike. I thought I would share how it turned out with you all.

First, I added some fenders and this brought up an issue with the fork I wanted to highlight. The carbon fork I went with has a radius curvature inside the crown which isn't very compatible with fenders. It slopes inward too much and prevents one from "tucking" the fender up as high as needs be to clearance 700c rubber, at least in larger sizes like the 38mm tires I have. 

So, instead of using the full-metal fender on the front as I have in the rear, I grabbed an old metal-core, plastic Hard Core model from Planet Bike and truncated the fender just behind where it would have passed under the fork crown. A simple hacksaw job and a bit of file work later and I had all the protection I really need and tire clearance for me 38mm Gravdal studded tires. There were no issues whatsoever with mounting the rear fender. 

Okay, but the ride. How does it do as a fixed gear bike? Well, I think I was spot on with my feelings concerning the frame being stiff enough to handle the high-torque riding fixed gear riding can dole out to a frame. It does not flex in a perceptible way. It feels very solid, and rides like it always had, which is to say not the greatest in smoothness! I'm super happy I went with a ShockStop stem! Of course, studded tires are not known as "great riding tires" either. 

The gearing.... Ooof! At first I was really worried this was a mistake 39T x 16T is around a 68" gear. However; I was riding the T-6 home from work on Monday evening and it is almost all uphill. Some at a fair steep grade. I found keeping the speed up and cranking smoothly and strongly worked out okay for me. It is a different beast riding fixed and climbing is one area where you'll notice this. I think fixed gear makes climbs a bit easier, in a way, since you have zero dead spots. The bike carries you through the usual dead spot in your cadence with momentum, and there is little "pulsing". Those little micro-coast moments right after you push the pedal through a power stroke. It's hard to explain, but to my mind, it is a difference between single speed (coaster) and fixed (no-coast) style bikes.  

Changed The Tires - Better Or Worse?

I mentioned in my posts late in the year last year I wasn't really very happy about how the Schwalbe G-One Overland tires rode. They felt oddly harsh, no matter what pressure I decided to run them at. 

I ran my SOMA Cazedero 700 x 50mm tires for the tail end of the season. I used TPU tubes in them and it was......okay. I still thought the ride quality could have been better. 

After the post-Thanksgiving Winter blast we got here I decided to swap out tires again to some older Pirelli Cinturato H tires I had tested for review back in 2022. I knew these tires rode well from the time I spent on them, and I remember being a bit sad to have to remove them for another tire review. 

Of course, with this colder weather and a different bicycle, there was a question as to whether or not this would be worth trying. My thoughts were if these tires can even show promise over the Schwalbe and SOMA's it would be a win of sorts. 

Well, I was rewarded with a better ride feel. Only slightly so, but again, it was 40°F and the pathways were odd in that I was running over a lot of really frozen ground. On one hand the vibration damping was better, but I also wasn't getting a rolling resistance I was happy with. It wasn't 'bad', but it wasn't great either. Again, I am attributing this to the colder air. I'll keep trying and when warmer weather comes we will see how it goes. 

But for now, these tires are staying on this bicycle. I've a feeling these are going to work out just fine. 

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies. 

Kinekt Anti-Theft Locking Collar:

Here's a little doo-dad that was passed along to me to check out from Kinekt. It isn't probably something for everybody, but it might prove to be a nice addition to a touring bike, a bikepacking rig, or if you do a lot of urban riding. 

The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar comes in a few sizes for different frames. You can then use the included hex key to drive a pinned interface tool which in turn will rotate the fastener in the seat collar proper. 

The pinned interface tool is tethered allowing you to attach it to a key chain, or a fob so you won't lose it. That's pretty clever thinking there. The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar can be purchased direct from Kinekt for $44.95 here. 

Comments: Obviously this won't work for every bike, since manufacturers keep coming up with new ways to do simple, efficient mechanisms on bicycles all the time, which is quite unnecessary. But if you have a metal framed bicycle, there is a good chance something like this might work for you. 

I found it to be what is claimed. The insert in the collar may need to be greased to help prevent seizing in the future, and sure, you could lose the interface tool, but for peace of mind on a long tour? It might be worth the hassle. 

Homemade Front Derailleur Cable Stop: 

I got a lot of flack about my front derailleur cable stop that I fabricated for the Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 when I showed it in the build series on the bike. Ironically, I haven't thought about that part ever since, nor does anyone recoil in horror when they see my bicycle because it has an ugly looking part on it. Why? Because you just don't notice it being there. 

In the end, it works. It hasn't necessitated any tweaking nor has it even raised a concern since I mounted it. That's success in my view. So, while the Singular Gryphon wasn't ever meant to have a front derailleur you can put one on it if you are crafty enough. 

Sam of Singular did mention that he might consider a second run update which would include a cable stop for that front cable. I think it would be wise as many folks could then do a double crank with a ridiculously low range. For instance, I have a compact BCD triple crank from the 1990's, a Sugino, that already has a 20T/32T combo and with a bash guard it would make for a stellar double crank for mountainous, off road riding on the Gryphon Mk3. 

Anyway, I apologize for getting off-track there. The derailleur cable stop worked. That's the review. 

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 700 x 45mm:

I have been riding Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires for a few months now and I happen to have the 700 X 40's and 45's on separate bikes. 

Lately I've been riding more on the 45mm tires and I think they have risen up to be one of my favorite gravel tires out there. 

Previously my top tires were the 700 X 45mm Hutchinson Touaregs and the 700 X 42mm WTB Resolute in the standard casing. But the Cinturato Gravel H's are right in there in this mix. They are that good.

I enjoy a bigger tire like the 45mm tires I've gravitated to because we get a fair amount of deep, loose fresh gravel and a bigger tire just handles this more steadily and with more stability. Plus, the extra volume can be employed for a better ride feel. But that's not all I've come to love about these three tires.

The big thing has been the ease of living with them. The WTB Reso doesn't hold air as well as the other two, but all three are amongst the best in air retention I've yet tried. Maybe this is a testament to the newer crop of tubeless rims and tires? Perhaps, but I'm here for it. 

Besides that, there are a few things about the Cinturato M that I am questioning like, "Do we really need THAT much tread?". These almost come off as MTB tires, but I suppose if you live in an area where the dirt is loose and the rocks need tread, then this tire should be good. I just have to wonder if that tread is all just wasted on crushed rock roads and is there to make me feel better (fashion) and add weight. 

I also have to wonder if we had a smoother pattern if the Cinturato wouldn't work as well and not pack up with wet dirt and mud. Yes, there is the Cinturato H, and I have run those as well. But maybe a hybrid of the two tires would be good enough. Ah.... Well you can't have it all, I guess! And that said, this tire still is right up there with the best you can get for Mid-Western gravel.

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies. 

Kinekt Anti-Theft Locking Collar:

Here's a little doo-dad that was passed along to me to check out from Kinekt. It isn't probably something for everybody, but it might prove to be a nice addition to a touring bike, a bikepacking rig, or if you do a lot of urban riding. 

The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar comes in a few sizes for different frames. You can then use the included hex key to drive a pinned interface tool which in turn will rotate the fastener in the seat collar proper. 

The pinned interface tool is tethered allowing you to attach it to a key chain, or a fob so you won't lose it. That's pretty clever thinking there. The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar can be purchased direct from Kinekt for $44.95 here. 

Comments: Obviously this won't work for every bike, since manufacturers keep coming up with new ways to do simple, efficient mechanisms on bicycles all the time, which is quite unnecessary. But if you have a metal framed bicycle, there is a good chance something like this might work for you. 

I found it to be what is claimed. The insert in the collar may need to be greased to help prevent seizing in the future, and sure, you could lose the interface tool, but for peace of mind on a long tour? It might be worth the hassle. 

Homemade Front Derailleur Cable Stop: 

I got a lot of flack about my front derailleur cable stop that I fabricated for the Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 when I showed it in the build series on the bike. Ironically, I haven't thought about that part ever since, nor does anyone recoil in horror when they see my bicycle because it has an ugly looking part on it. Why? Because you just don't notice it being there. 

In the end, it works. It hasn't necessitated any tweaking nor has it even raised a concern since I mounted it. That's success in my view. So, while the Singular Gryphon wasn't ever meant to have a front derailleur you can put one on it if you are crafty enough. 

Sam of Singular did mention that he might consider a second run update which would include a cable stop for that front cable. I think it would be wise as many folks could then do a double crank with a ridiculously low range. For instance, I have a compact BCD triple crank from the 1990's, a Sugino, that already has a 20T/32T combo and with a bash guard it would make for a stellar double crank for mountainous, off road riding on the Gryphon Mk3. 

Anyway, I apologize for getting off-track there. The derailleur cable stop worked. That's the review. 

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 700 x 45mm:

I have been riding Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires for a few months now and I happen to have the 700 X 40's and 45's on separate bikes. 

Lately I've been riding more on the 45mm tires and I think they have risen up to be one of my favorite gravel tires out there. 

Previously my top tires were the 700 X 45mm Hutchinson Touaregs and the 700 X 42mm WTB Resolute in the standard casing. But the Cinturato Gravel H's are right in there in this mix. They are that good.

I enjoy a bigger tire like the 45mm tires I've gravitated to because we get a fair amount of deep, loose fresh gravel and a bigger tire just handles this more steadily and with more stability. Plus, the extra volume can be employed for a better ride feel. But that's not all I've come to love about these three tires.

The big thing has been the ease of living with them. The WTB Reso doesn't hold air as well as the other two, but all three are amongst the best in air retention I've yet tried. Maybe this is a testament to the newer crop of tubeless rims and tires? Perhaps, but I'm here for it. 

Besides that, there are a few things about the Cinturato M that I am questioning like, "Do we really need THAT much tread?". These almost come off as MTB tires, but I suppose if you live in an area where the dirt is loose and the rocks need tread, then this tire should be good. I just have to wonder if that tread is all just wasted on crushed rock roads and is there to make me feel better (fashion) and add weight. 

I also have to wonder if we had a smoother pattern if the Cinturato wouldn't work as well and not pack up with wet dirt and mud. Yes, there is the Cinturato H, and I have run those as well. But maybe a hybrid of the two tires would be good enough. Ah.... Well you can't have it all, I guess! And that said, this tire still is right up there with the best you can get for Mid-Western gravel.

Tires You Should Know About: Pirelli Cinturato H

The Pirelli Cinturato H Gravel tires in 700 X 45mm size.

 Pirelli Cinturato H Gravel Tires: Tough- 'Set It And Forget It' Gravel Tires:

Much as with last week's Hutchinson tires I wrote about, these Pirelli tires are another tire I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an easy tubeless experience, or as a first tubeless try. They hold air fantastically well and are not too hard to set up initially. In fact, I thought thet they were really easy to set up, but your mileage may vary there.

 These come in various sizes, but I got the 700 X 45's, (I paid for them myself, actually), and while rim width will influence tire size, I found that an inner rim width of 25mm made these tires go to 47mm in width, but they never stretched beyond that. So, keep that in mind if you are tight on clearances. Might want to opt for a narrower Cintuarato H. 

What I found out was that these tires are a bit heavy, but not terribly so, and actually are not all that bad when you consider that they are puncture protected with a nylon belt that covers the sidewalls and underneath the tread. You also will probably be wowed, as I was, by the ride quality, despite that belt. 

In fact, these ride even better than the Hutchinson Touaregs I mentioned last week, which are pretty nice riding tires. The Cinturato H also has a different profile which rolls over looser gravel better. So, for anyone that wants more stability in their ride, this tire is a good one to look at getting. (Just do not run it at a high pressure)

It is truly a 'set-it-and-forget-it' tire in that this tire just works, as long as things are not muddy. Then all bets are off. So, if you never see yourself riding in the mud, or wet, then this is a great tire. I think it would make a killer touring tire for gravel or dirt roads, actually. As long as things didn't get deep and loose, where flotation is king, I think the Cinturato H would shine in a touring role. 

Pirelli may not be a name that comes to the top of your mind for gravel tires, but this is a great tire and deserves to be known in a wider sense than it is. Check it out if you get the chance and it fits your expectations. 

Reviewed for Riding Gravel here and here. (Link above is to intro post too)

Tires You Should Know About: Pirelli Cinturato H

The Pirelli Cinturato H Gravel tires in 700 X 45mm size.

 Pirelli Cinturato H Gravel Tires: Tough- 'Set It And Forget It' Gravel Tires:

Much as with last week's Hutchinson tires I wrote about, these Pirelli tires are another tire I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an easy tubeless experience, or as a first tubeless try. They hold air fantastically well and are not too hard to set up initially. In fact, I thought thet they were really easy to set up, but your mileage may vary there.

 These come in various sizes, but I got the 700 X 45's, (I paid for them myself, actually), and while rim width will influence tire size, I found that an inner rim width of 25mm made these tires go to 47mm in width, but they never stretched beyond that. So, keep that in mind if you are tight on clearances. Might want to opt for a narrower Cintuarato H. 

What I found out was that these tires are a bit heavy, but not terribly so, and actually are not all that bad when you consider that they are puncture protected with a nylon belt that covers the sidewalls and underneath the tread. You also will probably be wowed, as I was, by the ride quality, despite that belt. 

In fact, these ride even better than the Hutchinson Touaregs I mentioned last week, which are pretty nice riding tires. The Cinturato H also has a different profile which rolls over looser gravel better. So, for anyone that wants more stability in their ride, this tire is a good one to look at getting. (Just do not run it at a high pressure)

It is truly a 'set-it-and-forget-it' tire in that this tire just works, as long as things are not muddy. Then all bets are off. So, if you never see yourself riding in the mud, or wet, then this is a great tire. I think it would make a killer touring tire for gravel or dirt roads, actually. As long as things didn't get deep and loose, where flotation is king, I think the Cinturato H would shine in a touring role. 

Pirelli may not be a name that comes to the top of your mind for gravel tires, but this is a great tire and deserves to be known in a wider sense than it is. Check it out if you get the chance and it fits your expectations. 

Reviewed for Riding Gravel here and here. (Link above is to intro post too)

Country Views: The Living And The Dead

More traditional style hay baling observed just off Shaulis Road.

 These days are stringing together again like they had early in Spring- Warm, very dry, and very clear. A bit of a Southerly breeze this time. temperatures in the 80's. 

I grabbed the pink MCD and embarked from Prairie Grove Park again. I had envisioned a bigger ride in a remote location, but time got away from me and I wanted to spend the morning with my two kids again. Once lunch was over and I had let my digestive system do its thang, I was out the door and rolling on. 

Once again, I observed the 'traditional' hay baling going on right near by Prairie Grove Park. Makes sense here because that farm on the Northwest corner of 4th and Shaulis has draft horses. Gotta feed them horsies! I decided just to head South on Aker and see how I felt. Turns out I felt pretty good, despite the winds, but after reaching the corner of Quarry Road and Aker I stopped and decided I just didn't have time for an almost 40 mile ride. That's what I really wanted to do, but practicality and the road layout dictated that I do a shorter route instead. 

Big blue skies and green carpets of vegetation underneath.

These are not 'traditional 'square bales'. These are about the size of a Smart Car.

The Red Winged Blackbirds are getting aggressive now. They were having a bit of an issue with the winds, so it depended upon which direction I was going to whether or not they could possibly harass me. A couple got pretty close. Once a bird found my 'draft' it had a chance to come up from behind me. That's their favorite way to 'attack' you. 

I learned this and have tried various tricks to avoid or dissuade them from pestering me. I landed upon an unusual observation with these birds. They do not attack if they can see your eyes. Cowardly little bastards, they are! So, I devised a plan where I thought that I would paint on some eyes on the backside of my helmet. I kept pushing that idea off and then forgetting it, so I thought of something else.

I have an 'eye' with me all the time anyway. A camera! That big, glassy lens looks like an eye, close enough, so I decided to just grab it when I heard a bird get close- Red Winged Blackbirds cluck incessantly while on the attack- and I would point the lens at the offending bird. It seems to be working, but I'll have to verify this on future rides. 

 I found this deceased Dickcissel on my ride.

Decision stop

Of course, live birds are one thing to expect on any ride around here in the Summer, but dead ones? I was a bit amazed and dismayed to find a dead dickcissel right in the middle of the road. It looked undamaged, so I wonder if it was struck by a passing vehicle. I don't know, but it was a beautiful little creature. 

At any rate, that was extremely unusual. I certainly have not seen anything quite like that in many a year. Despite the numerous Red Winged Blackbirds flitting about, none of them appeared to have suffered a similar fate, nor have I noted that they have in years past. You''d think you'd come across at least a few, seeing as how there must be thousands of these little trouble makers about Black Hawk County alone. 

A field of soybeans looking a little tepid. 

It'd be nice if those clouds would produce some rain. We could use it.

The word of the ride was 'dry'. Dry roads turning to powder. Dry fields making things look a little weak. The air was even drier than you'd like to see it in June. At least for Iowa. We're due for rain here, and it looks like today, (Thursday as this gets posted), is the day. Hopefully we don't get the severe with the good wet stuff. 

I felt great during this ride. I'm trying to decide now what tires to run at Gravel Worlds. The Pirelli Cinturato tires which I used on this ride are on the list, but I have a set of Teravail Rutlands too, and they are nice. I have to A/B these wheels/tires and decide what to use soon. 

Once I am settled on that, I have a few details to attend to and then I will start training rides with the full set up so I can get acquainted with the weight and handling traits. Then it'll be longer rides, (hopefully), and good times,(again- hopefully), until mid-August comes around. That'll be soon enough......

Country Views: The Living And The Dead

More traditional style hay baling observed just off Shaulis Road.

 These days are stringing together again like they had early in Spring- Warm, very dry, and very clear. A bit of a Southerly breeze this time. temperatures in the 80's. 

I grabbed the pink MCD and embarked from Prairie Grove Park again. I had envisioned a bigger ride in a remote location, but time got away from me and I wanted to spend the morning with my two kids again. Once lunch was over and I had let my digestive system do its thang, I was out the door and rolling on. 

Once again, I observed the 'traditional' hay baling going on right near by Prairie Grove Park. Makes sense here because that farm on the Northwest corner of 4th and Shaulis has draft horses. Gotta feed them horsies! I decided just to head South on Aker and see how I felt. Turns out I felt pretty good, despite the winds, but after reaching the corner of Quarry Road and Aker I stopped and decided I just didn't have time for an almost 40 mile ride. That's what I really wanted to do, but practicality and the road layout dictated that I do a shorter route instead. 

Big blue skies and green carpets of vegetation underneath.

These are not 'traditional 'square bales'. These are about the size of a Smart Car.

The Red Winged Blackbirds are getting aggressive now. They were having a bit of an issue with the winds, so it depended upon which direction I was going to whether or not they could possibly harass me. A couple got pretty close. Once a bird found my 'draft' it had a chance to come up from behind me. That's their favorite way to 'attack' you. 

I learned this and have tried various tricks to avoid or dissuade them from pestering me. I landed upon an unusual observation with these birds. They do not attack if they can see your eyes. Cowardly little bastards, they are! So, I devised a plan where I thought that I would paint on some eyes on the backside of my helmet. I kept pushing that idea off and then forgetting it, so I thought of something else.

I have an 'eye' with me all the time anyway. A camera! That big, glassy lens looks like an eye, close enough, so I decided to just grab it when I heard a bird get close- Red Winged Blackbirds cluck incessantly while on the attack- and I would point the lens at the offending bird. It seems to be working, but I'll have to verify this on future rides. 

 I found this deceased Dickcissel on my ride.

Decision stop

Of course, live birds are one thing to expect on any ride around here in the Summer, but dead ones? I was a bit amazed and dismayed to find a dead dickcissel right in the middle of the road. It looked undamaged, so I wonder if it was struck by a passing vehicle. I don't know, but it was a beautiful little creature. 

At any rate, that was extremely unusual. I certainly have not seen anything quite like that in many a year. Despite the numerous Red Winged Blackbirds flitting about, none of them appeared to have suffered a similar fate, nor have I noted that they have in years past. You''d think you'd come across at least a few, seeing as how there must be thousands of these little trouble makers about Black Hawk County alone. 

A field of soybeans looking a little tepid. 

It'd be nice if those clouds would produce some rain. We could use it.

The word of the ride was 'dry'. Dry roads turning to powder. Dry fields making things look a little weak. The air was even drier than you'd like to see it in June. At least for Iowa. We're due for rain here, and it looks like today, (Thursday as this gets posted), is the day. Hopefully we don't get the severe with the good wet stuff. 

I felt great during this ride. I'm trying to decide now what tires to run at Gravel Worlds. The Pirelli Cinturato tires which I used on this ride are on the list, but I have a set of Teravail Rutlands too, and they are nice. I have to A/B these wheels/tires and decide what to use soon. 

Once I am settled on that, I have a few details to attend to and then I will start training rides with the full set up so I can get acquainted with the weight and handling traits. Then it'll be longer rides, (hopefully), and good times,(again- hopefully), until mid-August comes around. That'll be soon enough......

Country Views: Tire Testing

Escape Route: Shaulis Road bike trail .

 Tires that need testing cannot be ignored, so Wednesday I had that on my schedule of things to get done. That and a dentist visit with the family. (We always schedule dental visits as a family) So, the appointment with the tooth doctor was in the late morning, which meant that a post-lunch jaunt down to Petrie Road's Level B Maintenance section was on my schedule for the afternoon. 

I was planing on testing the new Pirelli Cinturato H Gravel tires which are on the HED wheels I have. Those are mounted to the Black Mountain Cycles MCD and those are the wheels which have been giving me a problem of late. I maybe mentioned here earlier that the rear wheel was loose and a quick tightening of the rear through axle seemed to solve that problem. However; the issue cropped up again on Tuesday so.......what?! How the heck does that happen? Well, once I mentioned it to Andy at work Tuesday he made an astute diagnosis. He said he thought it could be that the end caps on the axle were unthreading and that a quick re tightening of that would help. 

So, before I was to head out Wednesday I tried that idea out and - indeed - the axle end caps were loose. A couple of 15mm cone wrenches and some torque later and I was good to go. So, with the temperatures comfortably into the 60's and light breezes about, I didn't have to fret too much about clothing. That's a nice change! Spring is starting to turn the corner toward Summer. 

 

That field to the right has a lot of corn poking through its surface now.

It was a stunning day out for a bicycle ride.

Getting rolling out from Prairie Grove Park, I headed out my 'normal' direction to get to Petrie Road and dirt. I usually go East to West on Petrie because it is easier and a well worn path in my brain. Coming at it from the West is possible, of course, but going South on Holmes Road isn't my most favorite thing, I cannot say why. Especially since I often come back on Holmes going the opposite direction and that never seems to get old. 

 

Weird. I guess old habits die young. Anyway, as I got going South on Ansborough, I saw a quick movement in the left side ditch. I caught sight of two small foxes, likely still kits, judging by their size. While one dove for the cover of a small culvert in heavy grass, the other paused to watch me roll on by. Cute little devils! I think that's my first time for seeing immature foxes in Iowa. I see plenty of grown ones around though. 

There were a few wet spots yet from last weekend's rains.

Looking South down Aker Road.

I found the Level B section to have quite the varied state of conditions. Dry, fist sized rocks start things out and then quickly turn to sand, which can be treacherous or compacted enough to be no problem. This time the sand was present but the Cinturatos seem to deal with it rather well. After this it is a lot of rutted out dirt and clay with spots where water is still pooled up. Then a steep descent and down into some clay and black earth flats where more water is sitting. I actually biffed it down in the West end of the road when my front tire washed out on some slimy, muddy earth. 

I tumbled off the bike harmlessly into some tall grasses on the left side of the roadway. I quickly popped back up laughing at my situation. The bike was fine, just a bit muddy. No big deal! I gingerly remounted and carried on. It didn't take long for my legs and left arm to start itching from the contact with the grasses. I haven't fallen in grass for a while so the sensation was a bit sharper this time. Nothing serious, just annoying. 

Patterns in the field and in the sky.

A quick stop to listen to the birds in the trees on the banks of Prescott's Creek.

So the ride was a success. I found out what I needed to know about the Cinturato tires. (Review coming soon on RidingGravel.com) Then it was time to pack the bike up in the SUV, (I swapped vehicles with Mrs. Guitar Ted for the day), and onward to home. It was one of those days I wished that I could have ridden all day. The weather was near to perfection. Not 'too' anything. Just the right amounts of all the things. 

Glad to have gotten out at all, really. This weekend is shaping up to be a soggy affair. We will see......

Country Views: Tire Testing

Escape Route: Shaulis Road bike trail .

 Tires that need testing cannot be ignored, so Wednesday I had that on my schedule of things to get done. That and a dentist visit with the family. (We always schedule dental visits as a family) So, the appointment with the tooth doctor was in the late morning, which meant that a post-lunch jaunt down to Petrie Road's Level B Maintenance section was on my schedule for the afternoon. 

I was planing on testing the new Pirelli Cinturato H Gravel tires which are on the HED wheels I have. Those are mounted to the Black Mountain Cycles MCD and those are the wheels which have been giving me a problem of late. I maybe mentioned here earlier that the rear wheel was loose and a quick tightening of the rear through axle seemed to solve that problem. However; the issue cropped up again on Tuesday so.......what?! How the heck does that happen? Well, once I mentioned it to Andy at work Tuesday he made an astute diagnosis. He said he thought it could be that the end caps on the axle were unthreading and that a quick re tightening of that would help. 

So, before I was to head out Wednesday I tried that idea out and - indeed - the axle end caps were loose. A couple of 15mm cone wrenches and some torque later and I was good to go. So, with the temperatures comfortably into the 60's and light breezes about, I didn't have to fret too much about clothing. That's a nice change! Spring is starting to turn the corner toward Summer. 

 

That field to the right has a lot of corn poking through its surface now.

It was a stunning day out for a bicycle ride.

Getting rolling out from Prairie Grove Park, I headed out my 'normal' direction to get to Petrie Road and dirt. I usually go East to West on Petrie because it is easier and a well worn path in my brain. Coming at it from the West is possible, of course, but going South on Holmes Road isn't my most favorite thing, I cannot say why. Especially since I often come back on Holmes going the opposite direction and that never seems to get old. 

 

Weird. I guess old habits die young. Anyway, as I got going South on Ansborough, I saw a quick movement in the left side ditch. I caught sight of two small foxes, likely still kits, judging by their size. While one dove for the cover of a small culvert in heavy grass, the other paused to watch me roll on by. Cute little devils! I think that's my first time for seeing immature foxes in Iowa. I see plenty of grown ones around though. 

There were a few wet spots yet from last weekend's rains.

Looking South down Aker Road.

I found the Level B section to have quite the varied state of conditions. Dry, fist sized rocks start things out and then quickly turn to sand, which can be treacherous or compacted enough to be no problem. This time the sand was present but the Cinturatos seem to deal with it rather well. After this it is a lot of rutted out dirt and clay with spots where water is still pooled up. Then a steep descent and down into some clay and black earth flats where more water is sitting. I actually biffed it down in the West end of the road when my front tire washed out on some slimy, muddy earth. 

I tumbled off the bike harmlessly into some tall grasses on the left side of the roadway. I quickly popped back up laughing at my situation. The bike was fine, just a bit muddy. No big deal! I gingerly remounted and carried on. It didn't take long for my legs and left arm to start itching from the contact with the grasses. I haven't fallen in grass for a while so the sensation was a bit sharper this time. Nothing serious, just annoying. 

Patterns in the field and in the sky.

A quick stop to listen to the birds in the trees on the banks of Prescott's Creek.

So the ride was a success. I found out what I needed to know about the Cinturato tires. (Review coming soon on RidingGravel.com) Then it was time to pack the bike up in the SUV, (I swapped vehicles with Mrs. Guitar Ted for the day), and onward to home. It was one of those days I wished that I could have ridden all day. The weather was near to perfection. Not 'too' anything. Just the right amounts of all the things. 

Glad to have gotten out at all, really. This weekend is shaping up to be a soggy affair. We will see......

Country Views: Surprises

It is hard to see here, but this field has corn sprouting up.

 Wednesday I had some errands and chores in the morning, a son to pick up in the afternoon from track practice, and in between a chance to roll some gravel. It was a really great day out up until about 5:00pm when things clouded over and started to get sprinkly. But I was done riding long before that! 

The temperature was about perfect for riding and the variable breeze was no big deal. I could never quite make up my mind which direction it was blowing from. Oh well, like I said, it was not a problem at all.

So, I wanted to ride the Black Mountain Cycles MCD, but the evening before I noted that the rear wheel was loose/wobbly a bit. I didn't have the time to investigate so I looked at it Wednesday morning. I didn't know what to expect since a through axle wheel usually doesn't get this way- unless something was broken- but I thought I'd check the tightness of the through bolt first and it turned about a quarter turn and that was it. Just a slightly loose axle. WooHoo! 

So, I was able to ride the pink MCD after all. The new Pirelli Cinturato tires are on it, and I wanted to get them out on the gravel again. One thing I didn't do was to check the air pressure, because these tires seem to have a good air retention quality. I probably still should check the air, but well.....I didn't and it was just fine.

I found this laying in the middle of the road on Moline Road. I moved it to the side before I left.

Heading up Airline Highway to the East.

I didn't get far before I spotted something bright and rather large laying dead center in the road. As I passed by I saw that it was some bright-work off some Chevrolet or another. I laughed out loud as I was surprised that the car operator didn't stop to pick it up. I decided to stop and move it off the road, lest it cause someone else trouble, or if the owner came by looking for it. I propped it up against a fence post and moved along. 

As I rode East on Big Rock Road it started clouding up.

West Central Iowa has their "Tree In The Road" We've got a "Tree at the T"!

I decided to turn South on Ordaway Road. This is an odd road in that it is broken up into four sections, none of which is longer than two miles. The road runs North-South in Black Hawk County and the section I was on went between Big Rock Road and Airline Highway for one mile. I don't ride it much, so I figured, why not today? Generally, if I do ride it, I go from Airline toward Big Rock, but this may be the first time I have ever ridden it the other way around. 

And I know that because I never noticed that a tree on Airline Highway stands in the South ditch directly across from Ordaway Road's termination there at a "T". If Ordaway continued South from there, the road would either have to go around that tree, or they would have had to have cut it down. At any rate, from the North it looks like the tree is in the road, much like the famous "Tree In The Road" in West Central Iowa. 

Sorry fellas! No hitchhikers allowed on my pink MCD!

This John Deere was pulling this odd contraption made up of long, large diameter rollers.

As I came back on Airline Highway West, I came across a farm where two young boys decided to try to hitch a ride! Now that was surprising, and fun. I decided to snap their picture and they held their pose for me as I did. I waved a friendly 'hello' as I passed by and they returned the favor. You don't see that often on a gravel ride!

Then I had to go North on Crane Creek Road and as I did I saw this John Deere tractor pulling something through an old stubble field that I had never seen before. A contraption with large, shiny rollers, like steel rolling pins. The operator was in what I would call 'road gear', he was going so fast. Anyway, what is this? A way to crush old stubble so you do not have to disc? A form of 'no-till' farming? I have no idea. I am a bicycle mechanic. Not a farmer.

That swirling mass of high-speed dust? That's one of them there "Terra-Gators", that's what it is!

Patterns in the fields and in the skies.....

As I was coming back on the big rollers of Big Rock Road, I noted a strange swirling mass of dust in one of the valleys, and it looked like it was headed my direction. When I saw the squared off cab peek above the horizon line I pulled off to the side. I realized what this machine was straight away. It was a Terra-Gator, a ginormous three wheeled motorized sprayer tank with wheels about six feet wide and eight feet tall. You don't want to tangle with one of those beasts on a gravel road!

I also had a two dog encounter where a medium sized dog came running out of a stubble field (!) barking at me. It is super rare to have a dog do this where there is almost nothing around. Then I noted a greyhound looking dog standing off in the same stubble field the other dog came out of. This whippet looking dog was just standing there, doing nothing, and it looked odd to me. Something was weird here. Maybe the one dog was trying to tell me something? It wasn't aggressive and did not pursue me after I passed it by.  

Well, after that oddity, I made a quick visit to the namesake 'Big Rock', which has been freshly spray painted by vandals again, and then four more miles back to my truck. That was it. A short ride full of surprises. I was definitely not thinking this was going to be anything but another routine gravel grind. Glad that I was wrong about that!

Country Views: Surprises

It is hard to see here, but this field has corn sprouting up.

 Wednesday I had some errands and chores in the morning, a son to pick up in the afternoon from track practice, and in between a chance to roll some gravel. It was a really great day out up until about 5:00pm when things clouded over and started to get sprinkly. But I was done riding long before that! 

The temperature was about perfect for riding and the variable breeze was no big deal. I could never quite make up my mind which direction it was blowing from. Oh well, like I said, it was not a problem at all.

So, I wanted to ride the Black Mountain Cycles MCD, but the evening before I noted that the rear wheel was loose/wobbly a bit. I didn't have the time to investigate so I looked at it Wednesday morning. I didn't know what to expect since a through axle wheel usually doesn't get this way- unless something was broken- but I thought I'd check the tightness of the through bolt first and it turned about a quarter turn and that was it. Just a slightly loose axle. WooHoo! 

So, I was able to ride the pink MCD after all. The new Pirelli Cinturato tires are on it, and I wanted to get them out on the gravel again. One thing I didn't do was to check the air pressure, because these tires seem to have a good air retention quality. I probably still should check the air, but well.....I didn't and it was just fine.

I found this laying in the middle of the road on Moline Road. I moved it to the side before I left.

Heading up Airline Highway to the East.

I didn't get far before I spotted something bright and rather large laying dead center in the road. As I passed by I saw that it was some bright-work off some Chevrolet or another. I laughed out loud as I was surprised that the car operator didn't stop to pick it up. I decided to stop and move it off the road, lest it cause someone else trouble, or if the owner came by looking for it. I propped it up against a fence post and moved along. 

As I rode East on Big Rock Road it started clouding up.

West Central Iowa has their "Tree In The Road" We've got a "Tree at the T"!

I decided to turn South on Ordaway Road. This is an odd road in that it is broken up into four sections, none of which is longer than two miles. The road runs North-South in Black Hawk County and the section I was on went between Big Rock Road and Airline Highway for one mile. I don't ride it much, so I figured, why not today? Generally, if I do ride it, I go from Airline toward Big Rock, but this may be the first time I have ever ridden it the other way around. 

And I know that because I never noticed that a tree on Airline Highway stands in the South ditch directly across from Ordaway Road's termination there at a "T". If Ordaway continued South from there, the road would either have to go around that tree, or they would have had to have cut it down. At any rate, from the North it looks like the tree is in the road, much like the famous "Tree In The Road" in West Central Iowa. 

Sorry fellas! No hitchhikers allowed on my pink MCD!

This John Deere was pulling this odd contraption made up of long, large diameter rollers.

As I came back on Airline Highway West, I came across a farm where two young boys decided to try to hitch a ride! Now that was surprising, and fun. I decided to snap their picture and they held their pose for me as I did. I waved a friendly 'hello' as I passed by and they returned the favor. You don't see that often on a gravel ride!

Then I had to go North on Crane Creek Road and as I did I saw this John Deere tractor pulling something through an old stubble field that I had never seen before. A contraption with large, shiny rollers, like steel rolling pins. The operator was in what I would call 'road gear', he was going so fast. Anyway, what is this? A way to crush old stubble so you do not have to disc? A form of 'no-till' farming? I have no idea. I am a bicycle mechanic. Not a farmer.

That swirling mass of high-speed dust? That's one of them there "Terra-Gators", that's what it is!

Patterns in the fields and in the skies.....

As I was coming back on the big rollers of Big Rock Road, I noted a strange swirling mass of dust in one of the valleys, and it looked like it was headed my direction. When I saw the squared off cab peek above the horizon line I pulled off to the side. I realized what this machine was straight away. It was a Terra-Gator, a ginormous three wheeled motorized sprayer tank with wheels about six feet wide and eight feet tall. You don't want to tangle with one of those beasts on a gravel road!

I also had a two dog encounter where a medium sized dog came running out of a stubble field (!) barking at me. It is super rare to have a dog do this where there is almost nothing around. Then I noted a greyhound looking dog standing off in the same stubble field the other dog came out of. This whippet looking dog was just standing there, doing nothing, and it looked odd to me. Something was weird here. Maybe the one dog was trying to tell me something? It wasn't aggressive and did not pursue me after I passed it by.  

Well, after that oddity, I made a quick visit to the namesake 'Big Rock', which has been freshly spray painted by vandals again, and then four more miles back to my truck. That was it. A short ride full of surprises. I was definitely not thinking this was going to be anything but another routine gravel grind. Glad that I was wrong about that!