Friday News And Views

The old rusted out bumper from the Truck With No Name.

 Trans Iowa Stories Update:

In an effort to be as transparent and to help keep my feet to the fire, I will be posting sporadic updates on what is being planned and what may be happening with the "Trans Iowa Stories Project". The overall idea is that the series that is hosted here on the blog will be condensed down and put out as a book. 

So, with that in mind here is my overall look at how this will be accomplished. This will also give you somewhat of an idea of what the book might look like, should it all come to fruition. keep in mind that this is a "sketch" and as such, major revisions are possible in the future as inspiration and circumstances lead me. 

• Editing Process: There is FAR too much material here for one book, and one book is all I am going to shoot for here. That means a lot of heavy editing will have to happen. This also means that a year-by-year look at Trans Iowa probably is not the format for this book either, as that would, by the nature of the editing, begin to look pretty repetitive as events would start to look the same overall. There just would not be enough detail space to make it interesting. 
• Theme: So, I feel that a thematic approach, one where the book overall will be a journey through the process of the event, is best. So you as a reader would get stories from recon in one chapter, stories from the pre-race in another, stories from the races, and finally post-event stories. In front of that I would do a genesis/beginning story. There might have to be stories about sponsorships placed into there as well, but you get the picture. From the beginning of the book through to the end you'd get what a Trans Iowa looked like and every really good story would be in there. 
• Images: This is where it gets hard because there are SO MANY IMAGES that are really, really great. I know I can cull out what works for the book, but that leaves literally hundreds of images on the table. Could there be a companion book with just images? If there were that possibility, there would need to be a huge effort to get permissions from many photographers, and somehow set up a way that any monies generated from that would go to those folks. They would deserve it, but obviously, that would be a monumental project. Right now, that seems out of my scope of activities for now. Just know that I have ideas here and as long as I have these images, this is a possibility. 

And there you go! That's the outline for now. I will be doing some thinking and starting to make cuts on the information. Arranging things, making sense of it all, maybe adding bits to stitch together the quilt of stories, and then producing a manuscript are what's in the future. Once I get there I will be asking a few key folks to do read-throughs and then another round of editing will happen, I am sure. Stay tuned....

LOOK Trail Fusion pedals. Image courtesy of LOOK.

LOOK Offers New Trail Fusion Pedals:

"Flats" are a good way to go if your cycling trends toward the "grab-and-go" style, or if you'd prefer not to spend more money on fancy cycling slippers and clipless pedals which can cost hundreds of dollars and require you to wear and use these items just to ride a bicycle. 

I'm a big believer that the removing of barriers to cycling is conducive to people using bicycles more. That goes for myself as well, since there are lots of times I decide to ride certain bicycles I have primarily because they are fitted with flat pedals, or "traditional pedals", if you will. 

I have been pretty big on Fyxation's Mesa range of pedals for years because of their low price and high value. Now LOOK has a similar product called "Trail Fusion". 

These pedals are made from a composite material and come in a few different colors for a retail price of $60.00 USD.  They are made in Nevers, France and according to LOOK have replaceable parts with a double ball bearing set up on a CroMoly axle. 8 pins which are replaceable give your shoe something to grip on. 

Look also has a "Trail Roc+" aluminum flat pedal for those looking for that type of pedal. I like the composite pedals myself for cold weather riding as metal pedals suck the heat from your shoes/feet in a hurry. Anyway, check out this option if you are looking for a nice composite pedal at a reasonable price. (Note: I am not being paid nor bribed for this recommendation and I have no affiliation with LOOK whatsoever)

Discontent At The LifeTime Gravel Grand Prix:

A recent article on the "VeloNews" website speaks to issues the Pro racers are seeing with "Big Money Gravel Racing" and the LifeTime Gravel Grand Prix seems to be the focus here. Specifically, Unbound Gravel (formerly the DK200)

A few riders have dropped out of the series, but one in particular, Lea Davison, is getting press via the "VeloNews" article about this and she has expressed concerns which, to me, are not surprising at all. 

The calls for a women's only race were voiced again, which in a Pro race setting, is not to be wondered at. But here is probably the most revealing of her criticisms: 

“People don’t realize that winning these races may be the difference in having a job next year or not, so the stakes are really high and when they are that high, racers take risks. One racer may attack through an intersection in front of a car, descend on the inside of a blind corner, and that’s not a risk that I’m willing to take.”

Money. People will do strange things when it comes down to a paycheck for their reward. I guess, according to Davison, they are willing to do unreasonable things for the money. Makes sense to me. I've seen riders do unreasonable things in races for no other reason than to make things easier. But there may be a connected issue which is even more concerning- The demands of sponsors of their athletes. It isn't just purse money. In fact, sponsorship may be the main driver of some athlete's discontentment. 

Pro rider Sonya Looney mentioned on a Twitter thread in response to reading Davison's reasons for dropping out of the series, that she had refused sponsors and some had chosen not to sponsor her because she would not consider doing gravel races. Her heart was satisfied, and her enjoyment of cycling, she determined, was derived from being a mountain biker. 

Safety was another concern brought up, mostly due to the rash decision making riders employ to gather prize money and satisfy sponsorships. This style of "racing" is epitomized by what we see in the Pro Road ranks with closed courses, support cars, and the like. As I have stated several times, this is where Pros want the "gravel scene" to go. Money, sponsors, and the resulting pressures of both will force these "big-time", big money events and series to become Pro Road racing on gravel. That is not gravel racing. 

And as I've always said, if it doesn't suit you, don't do it. Lea Davison chose to follow her gut. More Pro racers should do the same. Gravel is not for everyone, and it was never about "making a living" off of it. This is why there is conflict and confusion within the Pro racer ranks when it comes to the gravel riding scene. 

And I haven't even gotten to another reason this is an issue. That being gravel events are too big- too many riders packed on to roads never meant to see that sort of traffic. That's another facet of all of this as well.

The Closure Tour Update; 

Well, I had a window in early August to get this done and that has been fouled up by responsibilities and the weather. So, I now will have to wait for my next opportunity which opens up potentially at the end of this month. 

So things are basically on "stand-by" until I can shove off on this voyage. Since I have opportunities for "practice", I may take a ride or two to places, set up, tear back down, and ride home all in the same ride. 

I also might try another wheel set with larger tires I have to try. Just for "research". If it turns out that the bigger tires make for a better ride I may opt over to that wheel set. But other than that, all I have to do is pack some food and fuel for my "penny stove" and I'll be ready to roll. I have my clothes and everything else ready to go at a moment's notice. 

Stay tuned.....

That's it for this week! Have a great weekend and get out and ride!

Friday News And Views

The old rusted out bumper from the Truck With No Name.

 Trans Iowa Stories Update:

In an effort to be as transparent and to help keep my feet to the fire, I will be posting sporadic updates on what is being planned and what may be happening with the "Trans Iowa Stories Project". The overall idea is that the series that is hosted here on the blog will be condensed down and put out as a book. 

So, with that in mind here is my overall look at how this will be accomplished. This will also give you somewhat of an idea of what the book might look like, should it all come to fruition. keep in mind that this is a "sketch" and as such, major revisions are possible in the future as inspiration and circumstances lead me. 

• Editing Process: There is FAR too much material here for one book, and one book is all I am going to shoot for here. That means a lot of heavy editing will have to happen. This also means that a year-by-year look at Trans Iowa probably is not the format for this book either, as that would, by the nature of the editing, begin to look pretty repetitive as events would start to look the same overall. There just would not be enough detail space to make it interesting. 
• Theme: So, I feel that a thematic approach, one where the book overall will be a journey through the process of the event, is best. So you as a reader would get stories from recon in one chapter, stories from the pre-race in another, stories from the races, and finally post-event stories. In front of that I would do a genesis/beginning story. There might have to be stories about sponsorships placed into there as well, but you get the picture. From the beginning of the book through to the end you'd get what a Trans Iowa looked like and every really good story would be in there. 
• Images: This is where it gets hard because there are SO MANY IMAGES that are really, really great. I know I can cull out what works for the book, but that leaves literally hundreds of images on the table. Could there be a companion book with just images? If there were that possibility, there would need to be a huge effort to get permissions from many photographers, and somehow set up a way that any monies generated from that would go to those folks. They would deserve it, but obviously, that would be a monumental project. Right now, that seems out of my scope of activities for now. Just know that I have ideas here and as long as I have these images, this is a possibility. 

And there you go! That's the outline for now. I will be doing some thinking and starting to make cuts on the information. Arranging things, making sense of it all, maybe adding bits to stitch together the quilt of stories, and then producing a manuscript are what's in the future. Once I get there I will be asking a few key folks to do read-throughs and then another round of editing will happen, I am sure. Stay tuned....

LOOK Trail Fusion pedals. Image courtesy of LOOK.

LOOK Offers New Trail Fusion Pedals:

"Flats" are a good way to go if your cycling trends toward the "grab-and-go" style, or if you'd prefer not to spend more money on fancy cycling slippers and clipless pedals which can cost hundreds of dollars and require you to wear and use these items just to ride a bicycle. 

I'm a big believer that the removing of barriers to cycling is conducive to people using bicycles more. That goes for myself as well, since there are lots of times I decide to ride certain bicycles I have primarily because they are fitted with flat pedals, or "traditional pedals", if you will. 

I have been pretty big on Fyxation's Mesa range of pedals for years because of their low price and high value. Now LOOK has a similar product called "Trail Fusion". 

These pedals are made from a composite material and come in a few different colors for a retail price of $60.00 USD.  They are made in Nevers, France and according to LOOK have replaceable parts with a double ball bearing set up on a CroMoly axle. 8 pins which are replaceable give your shoe something to grip on. 

Look also has a "Trail Roc+" aluminum flat pedal for those looking for that type of pedal. I like the composite pedals myself for cold weather riding as metal pedals suck the heat from your shoes/feet in a hurry. Anyway, check out this option if you are looking for a nice composite pedal at a reasonable price. (Note: I am not being paid nor bribed for this recommendation and I have no affiliation with LOOK whatsoever)

Discontent At The LifeTime Gravel Grand Prix:

A recent article on the "VeloNews" website speaks to issues the Pro racers are seeing with "Big Money Gravel Racing" and the LifeTime Gravel Grand Prix seems to be the focus here. Specifically, Unbound Gravel (formerly the DK200)

A few riders have dropped out of the series, but one in particular, Lea Davison, is getting press via the "VeloNews" article about this and she has expressed concerns which, to me, are not surprising at all. 

The calls for a women's only race were voiced again, which in a Pro race setting, is not to be wondered at. But here is probably the most revealing of her criticisms: 

“People don’t realize that winning these races may be the difference in having a job next year or not, so the stakes are really high and when they are that high, racers take risks. One racer may attack through an intersection in front of a car, descend on the inside of a blind corner, and that’s not a risk that I’m willing to take.”

Money. People will do strange things when it comes down to a paycheck for their reward. I guess, according to Davison, they are willing to do unreasonable things for the money. Makes sense to me. I've seen riders do unreasonable things in races for no other reason than to make things easier. But there may be a connected issue which is even more concerning- The demands of sponsors of their athletes. It isn't just purse money. In fact, sponsorship may be the main driver of some athlete's discontentment. 

Pro rider Sonya Looney mentioned on a Twitter thread in response to reading Davison's reasons for dropping out of the series, that she had refused sponsors and some had chosen not to sponsor her because she would not consider doing gravel races. Her heart was satisfied, and her enjoyment of cycling, she determined, was derived from being a mountain biker. 

Safety was another concern brought up, mostly due to the rash decision making riders employ to gather prize money and satisfy sponsorships. This style of "racing" is epitomized by what we see in the Pro Road ranks with closed courses, support cars, and the like. As I have stated several times, this is where Pros want the "gravel scene" to go. Money, sponsors, and the resulting pressures of both will force these "big-time", big money events and series to become Pro Road racing on gravel. That is not gravel racing. 

And as I've always said, if it doesn't suit you, don't do it. Lea Davison chose to follow her gut. More Pro racers should do the same. Gravel is not for everyone, and it was never about "making a living" off of it. This is why there is conflict and confusion within the Pro racer ranks when it comes to the gravel riding scene. 

And I haven't even gotten to another reason this is an issue. That being gravel events are too big- too many riders packed on to roads never meant to see that sort of traffic. That's another facet of all of this as well.

The Closure Tour Update; 

Well, I had a window in early August to get this done and that has been fouled up by responsibilities and the weather. So, I now will have to wait for my next opportunity which opens up potentially at the end of this month. 

So things are basically on "stand-by" until I can shove off on this voyage. Since I have opportunities for "practice", I may take a ride or two to places, set up, tear back down, and ride home all in the same ride. 

I also might try another wheel set with larger tires I have to try. Just for "research". If it turns out that the bigger tires make for a better ride I may opt over to that wheel set. But other than that, all I have to do is pack some food and fuel for my "penny stove" and I'll be ready to roll. I have my clothes and everything else ready to go at a moment's notice. 

Stay tuned.....

That's it for this week! Have a great weekend and get out and ride!

WW4M: Fyxation Mesa MP Pedals

 Note: What Works For Me, or "WW4M", is an occasional post here and there where I share what I have been using for a long time and that just, you know.......works! Also, the Standard Disclaimer applies here. Again- this works for me. Your mileage may vary.....

Fyxation Mesa MP pedals

Back in 2012, a decade ago now, I received two sets of pedals from Fyxation to review on my old site, "Twenty Nine Inches". Thus began my love for these flat, metal pinned pedals. 

I suppose that when I think about these pedals I think about two things. "Longevity" and "Value". See those black Mesa MP's there? That image is from 2012. Those pedals are still kicking ten years later after several Winters of abuse, dirt rides, gravel rides, and single tracking. 

So, durable and long-lasting equipment for cycling is a good thing. But add in the fact that the Mesa MP's have stayed below $100.00 a pair for a decade and that makes them even that much more impressive. And when I say "under $100.00 a pair", I don't mean 'just under'. No- I mean that these pedals are currently listed at $62.95 a pair on the Fyxation site right now. 

The Mesa MP's have removable and replaceable pins, which makes them even that much more of a deal. Now, I will tell you that these are not the massive 'daggers of death' pins, the like of which many MTB pedals have out there now. No, they do not stick out that far and there are maybe not as many pins as some have, but there is enough to get me by in Winter with boots, so, yeah.... Like I say- this works for me. 

I also like the impact grade nylon body with its sealed bearings. It's NOT a metal bodied pedal, and this is very important to me. Metal pedals suck the heat from your feet when it is really cold out. I can feel the difference and this is why my fat bikes all have Mesa MP pedals. (It's also why I use carbon handle bars on my fat bikes, but that's another story)  The only nit I have about these is that the metal pins can rust. But if that bums you out get the Subzero Mesa MP's which have stainless steel metal pins. I have those as well.

So, inexpensive, great grippy pins, long lasting bearings, and a durable, warm-in-Winter nylon body. That's what works for me. This set of pedals has been so good I bought a couple more, and Fyxation sent me a couple more as well a few years back here now. I have these on several bikes and I don't plan on riding my fat bikes without them. 

WW4M: Fyxation Mesa MP Pedals

 Note: What Works For Me, or "WW4M", is an occasional post here and there where I share what I have been using for a long time and that just, you know.......works! Also, the Standard Disclaimer applies here. Again- this works for me. Your mileage may vary.....

Fyxation Mesa MP pedals

Back in 2012, a decade ago now, I received two sets of pedals from Fyxation to review on my old site, "Twenty Nine Inches". Thus began my love for these flat, metal pinned pedals. 

I suppose that when I think about these pedals I think about two things. "Longevity" and "Value". See those black Mesa MP's there? That image is from 2012. Those pedals are still kicking ten years later after several Winters of abuse, dirt rides, gravel rides, and single tracking. 

So, durable and long-lasting equipment for cycling is a good thing. But add in the fact that the Mesa MP's have stayed below $100.00 a pair for a decade and that makes them even that much more impressive. And when I say "under $100.00 a pair", I don't mean 'just under'. No- I mean that these pedals are currently listed at $62.95 a pair on the Fyxation site right now. 

The Mesa MP's have removable and replaceable pins, which makes them even that much more of a deal. Now, I will tell you that these are not the massive 'daggers of death' pins, the like of which many MTB pedals have out there now. No, they do not stick out that far and there are maybe not as many pins as some have, but there is enough to get me by in Winter with boots, so, yeah.... Like I say- this works for me. 

I also like the impact grade nylon body with its sealed bearings. It's NOT a metal bodied pedal, and this is very important to me. Metal pedals suck the heat from your feet when it is really cold out. I can feel the difference and this is why my fat bikes all have Mesa MP pedals. (It's also why I use carbon handle bars on my fat bikes, but that's another story)  The only nit I have about these is that the metal pins can rust. But if that bums you out get the Subzero Mesa MP's which have stainless steel metal pins. I have those as well.

So, inexpensive, great grippy pins, long lasting bearings, and a durable, warm-in-Winter nylon body. That's what works for me. This set of pedals has been so good I bought a couple more, and Fyxation sent me a couple more as well a few years back here now. I have these on several bikes and I don't plan on riding my fat bikes without them. 

Fyxation Subzero Pedal Reviewed

Flat pedals are making a comeback these days. You may have noticed that many mountain bikers and fat bikers are turning to flat pedals again. Not only that, but so are commuters and even some gravel road riders. Bikepackers often use flats if they do rides in areas that require lots of walking. So, if you think all "serious cycling" is done with clipless pedals, well, you'd be very wrong in that assumption.

Long time readers also know that flat pedals figure into my own riding pretty heavily. I'm a big fan of Fyxation's Mesa MP pedals. I've been using them on many of my bikes, but my longest running set is on my Titanium Mukluk which has seen at least four Winters of use now with those pedals on that bike, plus a 100 mile ride on gravel a couple years ago. They show their age, for sure, but they aren't dead yet either!

Well, a month ago or so Fyxation told me about a new version of the Mesa pedal, the limited edition Mesa Subzero, which is based off of the Mesa MP, with the impact grade nylon pedal body and stainless steel pins for grip. The Mesa Subzero also features those things, but they have new graphics and colored pins and spindles. MSRP is $69.95. See the spec list here:

• High impact nylon body built to take abuse
• Smooth running sealed bearing and DU bushing
• Electroplated cro-moly spindle
• Electroplated stainless steel replaceable pins for added grip with shoes or boots
• Nylon body doesn't suck heat out of your feet like alloy pedals do
• Installs with 15mm open end wrench or 8mm hex wrench
• Pin Spec - M3x0.5 x 7.5mm
• Spindle Thread: 9/16
• Height: 14mm
• Width: 105mm
• Weight: 351g/pair
• Color: Black/Black, Gray/Black, Black/Blue, Black/Orange

So, obviously these went on my Blackborow DS. Fat biking can put a pedal into some pretty difficult situations. Considering I occasionally commuted on the bike as well, that makes the situation potentially worse. The salty, chemical stew mixed into the "car-slush" can be pretty corrosive.

But in reality, I think the next bike I stuck these on is even more of a test. My current commuter now that Winter has lost its grip on things here is the Surly 1X1 single speed. It isn't just a single speed, it is fixed gear single speed. Kind of makes sense and things can have been said to have come full circle here. A Fyxation pedal on a fixed gear commuter? Perfect.

I think this bike is tougher on pedals because there is no coasting, for one thing, and with my relatively stupid-low gear, I spin like a mad man. I think I'm running a 34T up front with a 19T in the rear. Yeah......low gear! But for sloshing through melting snow and ice, pushing through mud, and riding up and down some short steeps, it works well for me. The pedals have a nice, wide platform and the pins grip well, so despite the fact that I have no foot retention, my feet stay put even at high cadences. Of course, the low gear and big platform work great when grinding through a mud slough or a three inch fresh snowfall.

The fixed gear Surly saw all of that and a good curb smash to boot with no degradation in performance at all to the pedals. I did scratch up the pins a bit, but cosmetically the pedals still look great over all. If I could offer one bit of criticism it would be that the pedals middle section stands just a bit proud over the rest of the flat section, or it is even with the edges, which can result in the occasional, slight foot slip. I've never slipped off this pedal completely, mind you, but I think if the pedal was a bit "concave" in profile it would give a more secure grip on whatever footwear you use. I've been wearing some Keen hikers, so not really very "flat pedal friendly", but I gotta keep my feet warm and dry!

That said, I can't think of a much better bang for the buck than this pedal in terms of the looks, function, and long term performance. If these Subzero pedals last as long as my original Mesa MP's, and there is no reason to believe they won't, then the Subzero pedals are a great take on that classic design.

Fyxation Mesa MP Desert Series Image courtesy of Fyxation.

And Now For Something New:

Ironically, as I was typing up this review news was sent out declaring a new color series for the Mesa MP pedals. This is this products 6th anniversary of being on the market and Fyxation decided to celebrate with a Desert Series consisting of muted green, orange, and "sand" colored pedals. These are Mesa MP's that you may be familiar with, just in some new colors. These pedals are also available in black, blue, red, orange, green, and purple. MSRP is $59.99 for a pair. Check out the story on these from Fyxation here.

So, there ya go. The shop where I work sells a lot of these and there is a good reason why. You really cannot find much of anything as good or better for less cash. I'm convinced these pedals are long lasting, tough, and durable. They are fairly thin, so if you like that idea, they are some of the only options at this price point. If you ride in Winter, the nylon body material does not act as a heat sink and your feet stay warmer. I've heard from customers that have come back to the shop that say the same thing I feel is true about the cold weather performance. Of course, for the rest of the year they work well also.

Next up I am going to stick these on a gravel bike and try out riding on gravel with them for a while. I'll report back on how that goes, but if it is anything like my Fat Bike Century ride which was all on gravel, then it won't be anything other than a good report. We'll see.

NOTE: Fyxation sent over the Mesa Subzero pedals at no charge for test/review. I was not paid, nor bribed for this review and I strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

Fyxation Subzero Pedal Reviewed

Flat pedals are making a comeback these days. You may have noticed that many mountain bikers and fat bikers are turning to flat pedals again. Not only that, but so are commuters and even some gravel road riders. Bikepackers often use flats if they do rides in areas that require lots of walking. So, if you think all "serious cycling" is done with clipless pedals, well, you'd be very wrong in that assumption.

Long time readers also know that flat pedals figure into my own riding pretty heavily. I'm a big fan of Fyxation's Mesa MP pedals. I've been using them on many of my bikes, but my longest running set is on my Titanium Mukluk which has seen at least four Winters of use now with those pedals on that bike, plus a 100 mile ride on gravel a couple years ago. They show their age, for sure, but they aren't dead yet either!

Well, a month ago or so Fyxation told me about a new version of the Mesa pedal, the limited edition Mesa Subzero, which is based off of the Mesa MP, with the impact grade nylon pedal body and stainless steel pins for grip. The Mesa Subzero also features those things, but they have new graphics and colored pins and spindles. MSRP is $69.95. See the spec list here:

• High impact nylon body built to take abuse
• Smooth running sealed bearing and DU bushing
• Electroplated cro-moly spindle
• Electroplated stainless steel replaceable pins for added grip with shoes or boots
• Nylon body doesn't suck heat out of your feet like alloy pedals do
• Installs with 15mm open end wrench or 8mm hex wrench
• Pin Spec - M3x0.5 x 7.5mm
• Spindle Thread: 9/16
• Height: 14mm
• Width: 105mm
• Weight: 351g/pair
• Color: Black/Black, Gray/Black, Black/Blue, Black/Orange

So, obviously these went on my Blackborow DS. Fat biking can put a pedal into some pretty difficult situations. Considering I occasionally commuted on the bike as well, that makes the situation potentially worse. The salty, chemical stew mixed into the "car-slush" can be pretty corrosive.

But in reality, I think the next bike I stuck these on is even more of a test. My current commuter now that Winter has lost its grip on things here is the Surly 1X1 single speed. It isn't just a single speed, it is fixed gear single speed. Kind of makes sense and things can have been said to have come full circle here. A Fyxation pedal on a fixed gear commuter? Perfect.

I think this bike is tougher on pedals because there is no coasting, for one thing, and with my relatively stupid-low gear, I spin like a mad man. I think I'm running a 34T up front with a 19T in the rear. Yeah......low gear! But for sloshing through melting snow and ice, pushing through mud, and riding up and down some short steeps, it works well for me. The pedals have a nice, wide platform and the pins grip well, so despite the fact that I have no foot retention, my feet stay put even at high cadences. Of course, the low gear and big platform work great when grinding through a mud slough or a three inch fresh snowfall.

The fixed gear Surly saw all of that and a good curb smash to boot with no degradation in performance at all to the pedals. I did scratch up the pins a bit, but cosmetically the pedals still look great over all. If I could offer one bit of criticism it would be that the pedals middle section stands just a bit proud over the rest of the flat section, or it is even with the edges, which can result in the occasional, slight foot slip. I've never slipped off this pedal completely, mind you, but I think if the pedal was a bit "concave" in profile it would give a more secure grip on whatever footwear you use. I've been wearing some Keen hikers, so not really very "flat pedal friendly", but I gotta keep my feet warm and dry!

That said, I can't think of a much better bang for the buck than this pedal in terms of the looks, function, and long term performance. If these Subzero pedals last as long as my original Mesa MP's, and there is no reason to believe they won't, then the Subzero pedals are a great take on that classic design.

Fyxation Mesa MP Desert Series Image courtesy of Fyxation.

And Now For Something New:

Ironically, as I was typing up this review news was sent out declaring a new color series for the Mesa MP pedals. This is this products 6th anniversary of being on the market and Fyxation decided to celebrate with a Desert Series consisting of muted green, orange, and "sand" colored pedals. These are Mesa MP's that you may be familiar with, just in some new colors. These pedals are also available in black, blue, red, orange, green, and purple. MSRP is $59.99 for a pair. Check out the story on these from Fyxation here.

So, there ya go. The shop where I work sells a lot of these and there is a good reason why. You really cannot find much of anything as good or better for less cash. I'm convinced these pedals are long lasting, tough, and durable. They are fairly thin, so if you like that idea, they are some of the only options at this price point. If you ride in Winter, the nylon body material does not act as a heat sink and your feet stay warmer. I've heard from customers that have come back to the shop that say the same thing I feel is true about the cold weather performance. Of course, for the rest of the year they work well also.

Next up I am going to stick these on a gravel bike and try out riding on gravel with them for a while. I'll report back on how that goes, but if it is anything like my Fat Bike Century ride which was all on gravel, then it won't be anything other than a good report. We'll see.

NOTE: Fyxation sent over the Mesa Subzero pedals at no charge for test/review. I was not paid, nor bribed for this review and I strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

To Flat Or Not To Flat

These swanky Fyxation Mesa Subzero's may be seeing a lot of gravel duty

I don't know what it is exactly. Maybe I am reverting to a childhood status when it comes to riding bicycles. Maybe I am too much about having more fun these days. Whatever the reason, I just got in these new Fyxation Mesa Subzero pedals and I was thinking, why not use flat pedals for gravel riding? 

I'm sure many of you have, and many of you reading here do use flat pedals for gravel road riding, but I generally don't give it much thought. So, why now? Well, again......I'm not sure! I just know that it suddenly seems like a great idea.

So, why not?

By the way, I have used flats on gravel road riding before. I did the "Fatbike Century" over a year ago on flats. I also used street shoes! It was a successful experiment and raised not a few questions in my mind about why we insist on using specific pedals and shoes for all our riding. I don't think it is necessary and I wonder if this predilection with using specific shoes and pedals hasn't actually caused more issues than it solves.

I suppose we could debate things till the cows come home, but I have had one observation that, along with clothing choices, seems to take down a huge barrier to getting out there, for me, at least. That is that when I have a bicycle with flats installed I am more likely to want to ride that bike than I am my bikes without flat pedals. To tag along this line of thinking, I am also more likely not to worry a bunch about wearing cycling specific duds as well. Just a jersey, pop on a helmet, go ride.

Easy.

Sure, that doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea to use that specific cycling gear much of the time, but if I had only clipless pedal bikes, and if I thought I could only ride in a chamois and jersey, I would ride a lot less than I do. Sometimes I even ride without a helmet. (GASP!) Yep! And it is awesome.....

Anyway, the less barriers to getting on the bike the better, I think. Yeah.......I think I may be mashing flats a lot out on the gravel this year. At least to start out with. We'll see where it goes.......

To Flat Or Not To Flat

These swanky Fyxation Mesa Subzero's may be seeing a lot of gravel duty

I don't know what it is exactly. Maybe I am reverting to a childhood status when it comes to riding bicycles. Maybe I am too much about having more fun these days. Whatever the reason, I just got in these new Fyxation Mesa Subzero pedals and I was thinking, why not use flat pedals for gravel riding? 

I'm sure many of you have, and many of you reading here do use flat pedals for gravel road riding, but I generally don't give it much thought. So, why now? Well, again......I'm not sure! I just know that it suddenly seems like a great idea.

So, why not?

By the way, I have used flats on gravel road riding before. I did the "Fatbike Century" over a year ago on flats. I also used street shoes! It was a successful experiment and raised not a few questions in my mind about why we insist on using specific pedals and shoes for all our riding. I don't think it is necessary and I wonder if this predilection with using specific shoes and pedals hasn't actually caused more issues than it solves.

I suppose we could debate things till the cows come home, but I have had one observation that, along with clothing choices, seems to take down a huge barrier to getting out there, for me, at least. That is that when I have a bicycle with flats installed I am more likely to want to ride that bike than I am my bikes without flat pedals. To tag along this line of thinking, I am also more likely not to worry a bunch about wearing cycling specific duds as well. Just a jersey, pop on a helmet, go ride.

Easy.

Sure, that doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea to use that specific cycling gear much of the time, but if I had only clipless pedal bikes, and if I thought I could only ride in a chamois and jersey, I would ride a lot less than I do. Sometimes I even ride without a helmet. (GASP!) Yep! And it is awesome.....

Anyway, the less barriers to getting on the bike the better, I think. Yeah.......I think I may be mashing flats a lot out on the gravel this year. At least to start out with. We'll see where it goes.......

Friday News And Views

Could a Woodsmoke be made of wood someday?

Got Wood?

Years ago Trek pioneered the use of carbon fiber in bicycles. Their "OCLV" carbon was just another way of saying that their carbon was made to be more dense with less void areas. Of course, now everyone is doing their carbon that way. The less void areas in the layup, the better.

Now comes word that a couple of researchers have developed a "super wood" that has properties that rival steel and titanium for strength. (see article here) This is still very much a developing technology, and there is no way to know for certain if a bicycle would ever be considered as a use for such a product.

But what struck me was that the wood became "super" when the voids were taken out of the equation, much like when carbon fiber was being experimented with. The other thing was that chemicals are still part of the process to get the end result, so whether or not this is something that would be environmentally sound in as far as the idea goes is another issue. Yes- the source material is renewable, but the process is still maybe a risky deal. Hard to say at this point- again, this is very new.

Whether or not this gets anywhere and then, if it does, whether or not bicycles benefit from it, well......who knows. It is an interesting possibility to consider at any rate.

Upgraded but still awesome for Winter

Mesa MP Goes Sub-Zero:

Many longtime G-Ted Productions readers know that I am a big fan of Fyxation Mesa MP pedals. I have had a set on my Ti Mukluk that have to be something like 5 years old. They are certainly showing their age, the bearings are looser than they were, and the pins aren't quite as sharp as they used to be, but they are still kicking!

So, as far as durability, these pedals have shown me that they can handle the rough stuff. Since I got those first Mesa MP's, I have outfitted four other bikes in my fleet with some version or another of these pedals. They present, in my opinion, one of the best bangs for the buck in terms of flat pedals that you can get. Plus, as a Winter pedal, the nylon/plastic construction doesn't create a heat sink which could drain the heat out of your feet in cold weather. Not a good thing to have happen. Metal pedals do that- these won't. 

Now Fyxation has announced the Mesa MP Subzero pedals. These are an "upgraded" version of the Mesa MP's I so like. Here's a run down of the feature set:

• High impact nylon body built to take abuse
• Smooth running sealed bearing and DU bushing
• Electroplated cro-moly spindle
• Electroplated stainless steel replaceable pins for added grip with shoes or boots
• Nylon body doesn't suck heat out of your feet like alloy pedals do
• Installs with 15mm open end wrench or 8mm hex wrench
• Pin Spec - M3x0.5 x 7.5mm
• Spindle Thread: 9/16
• Height: 14mm
• Width: 105mm
• Weight: 351g/pair
• Color: Black/Black, Gray/Black, Black/Blue, Black/Orange

I'll be getting in a set to try out soon, so stay tuned for how they work out for me.

The Lezyne XL Caddy rear seat pack.

Bag Testing:

I got this Lezyne XL Caddy rear seat pack in a kind of bizarre, Christmas gift way from Lezyne's new media marketing honch. It came with an aluminum puck, which was supposed to be a paper weight, that was in a tin can like it was this ultra-luxurious gift dealio. 

Weird....

Anyway... This bag is another of the several that you'll see now coming around due to all this "rackless touring" stuff that people are calling "bikepacking". I don't see these bags doing the Tour Divide so much as I see them as a way to carry stuff without having to bolt on a rack to a bicycle, which is kind of a permanent commitment. Rear seat packs are so easily taken off and put back on again that they could go from bike to bike easily. This may be just what you need to make any of your bikes a hauler......to a degree. 

Of course, nothing beats a rack to make your bike a real pack mule, but really.......how much do you want to carry? Generally speaking, a seat pack will handle all you want short of groceries for a week. Anyway, it is a viable, easy to implement option. Nothing is perfect.......

Okay..... back to this bag! It has a couple of shaped, inner "wall supports" that keep this bag from looking like a sad "California Raisin". If you insist on that perfect, kidney shaped look 24-7, loaded or unloaded, the XL Caddy is your jam. I'll have more on this bag later. While I don't know that the marketing honch in question sent this along to me to be reviewed or not, that's what I'm gonna do. So, yes....this was sent as a gift. Regardless, I'll give my unvarnished opinion on it soon.....

Okay, it's snowing here and that means more FAT BIKING!

Have a great weekend!

Friday News And Views

Could a Woodsmoke be made of wood someday?

Got Wood?

Years ago Trek pioneered the use of carbon fiber in bicycles. Their "OCLV" carbon was just another way of saying that their carbon was made to be more dense with less void areas. Of course, now everyone is doing their carbon that way. The less void areas in the layup, the better.

Now comes word that a couple of researchers have developed a "super wood" that has properties that rival steel and titanium for strength. (see article here) This is still very much a developing technology, and there is no way to know for certain if a bicycle would ever be considered as a use for such a product.

But what struck me was that the wood became "super" when the voids were taken out of the equation, much like when carbon fiber was being experimented with. The other thing was that chemicals are still part of the process to get the end result, so whether or not this is something that would be environmentally sound in as far as the idea goes is another issue. Yes- the source material is renewable, but the process is still maybe a risky deal. Hard to say at this point- again, this is very new.

Whether or not this gets anywhere and then, if it does, whether or not bicycles benefit from it, well......who knows. It is an interesting possibility to consider at any rate.

Upgraded but still awesome for Winter

Mesa MP Goes Sub-Zero:

Many longtime G-Ted Productions readers know that I am a big fan of Fyxation Mesa MP pedals. I have had a set on my Ti Mukluk that have to be something like 5 years old. They are certainly showing their age, the bearings are looser than they were, and the pins aren't quite as sharp as they used to be, but they are still kicking!

So, as far as durability, these pedals have shown me that they can handle the rough stuff. Since I got those first Mesa MP's, I have outfitted four other bikes in my fleet with some version or another of these pedals. They present, in my opinion, one of the best bangs for the buck in terms of flat pedals that you can get. Plus, as a Winter pedal, the nylon/plastic construction doesn't create a heat sink which could drain the heat out of your feet in cold weather. Not a good thing to have happen. Metal pedals do that- these won't. 

Now Fyxation has announced the Mesa MP Subzero pedals. These are an "upgraded" version of the Mesa MP's I so like. Here's a run down of the feature set:

• High impact nylon body built to take abuse
• Smooth running sealed bearing and DU bushing
• Electroplated cro-moly spindle
• Electroplated stainless steel replaceable pins for added grip with shoes or boots
• Nylon body doesn't suck heat out of your feet like alloy pedals do
• Installs with 15mm open end wrench or 8mm hex wrench
• Pin Spec - M3x0.5 x 7.5mm
• Spindle Thread: 9/16
• Height: 14mm
• Width: 105mm
• Weight: 351g/pair
• Color: Black/Black, Gray/Black, Black/Blue, Black/Orange

I'll be getting in a set to try out soon, so stay tuned for how they work out for me.

The Lezyne XL Caddy rear seat pack.

Bag Testing:

I got this Lezyne XL Caddy rear seat pack in a kind of bizarre, Christmas gift way from Lezyne's new media marketing honch. It came with an aluminum puck, which was supposed to be a paper weight, that was in a tin can like it was this ultra-luxurious gift dealio. 

Weird....

Anyway... This bag is another of the several that you'll see now coming around due to all this "rackless touring" stuff that people are calling "bikepacking". I don't see these bags doing the Tour Divide so much as I see them as a way to carry stuff without having to bolt on a rack to a bicycle, which is kind of a permanent commitment. Rear seat packs are so easily taken off and put back on again that they could go from bike to bike easily. This may be just what you need to make any of your bikes a hauler......to a degree. 

Of course, nothing beats a rack to make your bike a real pack mule, but really.......how much do you want to carry? Generally speaking, a seat pack will handle all you want short of groceries for a week. Anyway, it is a viable, easy to implement option. Nothing is perfect.......

Okay..... back to this bag! It has a couple of shaped, inner "wall supports" that keep this bag from looking like a sad "California Raisin". If you insist on that perfect, kidney shaped look 24-7, loaded or unloaded, the XL Caddy is your jam. I'll have more on this bag later. While I don't know that the marketing honch in question sent this along to me to be reviewed or not, that's what I'm gonna do. So, yes....this was sent as a gift. Regardless, I'll give my unvarnished opinion on it soon.....

Okay, it's snowing here and that means more FAT BIKING!

Have a great weekend!

Prepping The Fat

"The Real Blackborow™" cleaned up and ready to go.

Yesterday's post about the long tail Blackborow got me to thinking about my OG Blackborow, the Blackborow DS. It was ridden and put away wet, for real, and therefore needed a good once over.

It was mud covered from head to toe. The good thing was that the Blackborow DS is so simple that it would really need only the wipe down and not much else. Two brake cables with full run housings and no derailleur cables at all means low maintenance. The chain is spotless, and because it is a "rust buster" style single speed chain, it seems to just keep going. The chain rings and cogs are stainless steel too. This is the very reason why I bought the Blackborow DS over the geared version. Besides a tube, the only parts I have changed so far are upgrade parts. Well........I did modify the front brake hose routing guide. So there is that.

The biggest change, obviously, was the bar. The H-Bar Jones Loop Carbon 710 is amazing. I had forgotten how compliant feeling it is. While it is hideously expensive, I am glad I spent the dollars on it. I've harped on this here before, but if you have not tried riding a carbon handle bar with cork grips in Winter you just won't get it. So much better!

I think that this year I am going to upgrade the pedals to Fixation Mesa MP models. They are a composite impact resistant nylon something or another, sealed bearings, metal pins, and all at only $59.99 and 351 grams for the pair. I've had a pair on my Ti Mukluk for something like 5 years now and they will not die. Perfect for snow/ice and a Winter boot. I don't need or want to clip in, and it isn't necessary to either. I can do all the things on flats that I do in clipless pedals without the metal heat sink of a clipless pedal in a cycling specific Winter boot. AND it all costs much less, AND I can wear the footwear I choose anywhere I want to off the bike. 

Anyway, I got a bit off track there, but the ol' Blackborow is ready for action! 

Prepping The Fat

"The Real Blackborow™" cleaned up and ready to go.

Yesterday's post about the long tail Blackborow got me to thinking about my OG Blackborow, the Blackborow DS. It was ridden and put away wet, for real, and therefore needed a good once over.

It was mud covered from head to toe. The good thing was that the Blackborow DS is so simple that it would really need only the wipe down and not much else. Two brake cables with full run housings and no derailleur cables at all means low maintenance. The chain is spotless, and because it is a "rust buster" style single speed chain, it seems to just keep going. The chain rings and cogs are stainless steel too. This is the very reason why I bought the Blackborow DS over the geared version. Besides a tube, the only parts I have changed so far are upgrade parts. Well........I did modify the front brake hose routing guide. So there is that.

The biggest change, obviously, was the bar. The H-Bar Jones Loop Carbon 710 is amazing. I had forgotten how compliant feeling it is. While it is hideously expensive, I am glad I spent the dollars on it. I've harped on this here before, but if you have not tried riding a carbon handle bar with cork grips in Winter you just won't get it. So much better!

I think that this year I am going to upgrade the pedals to Fixation Mesa MP models. They are a composite impact resistant nylon something or another, sealed bearings, metal pins, and all at only $59.99 and 351 grams for the pair. I've had a pair on my Ti Mukluk for something like 5 years now and they will not die. Perfect for snow/ice and a Winter boot. I don't need or want to clip in, and it isn't necessary to either. I can do all the things on flats that I do in clipless pedals without the metal heat sink of a clipless pedal in a cycling specific Winter boot. AND it all costs much less, AND I can wear the footwear I choose anywhere I want to off the bike. 

Anyway, I got a bit off track there, but the ol' Blackborow is ready for action! 

Buzzard Restoration

Unflat tires, new crank set, different front derailleur = Ready!

Now for something completely different! I haven't been messing much with any of my mountain bikes for quite some time. I've just been way too busy getting ready for gravel road events or testing something for RidingGravel.com. My mountain bikes have fallen into a state of disrepair over the last year or so.

The Singular Buzzard was particularly hard hit in that regard. I had it all set up, ready to go, last Fall, but I didn't really get the chance to ride it. Well, actually, the one time I wanted to ride it I didn't in deference to my friend who was on a single speed fat bike and I decided to suffer similarly on my Blackborow DS. Anyway, the end result was that the Buzzard lost all its air, the sealant dried up, and it was Winter. Then I got busy with the gravel stuff. Then I went one step further backward......

I dismantled the Buzzard to a degree! 

A different friend was having issues with a crank and front derailleur, so I helped him out by pilfering my lightly used SLX stuff which got him out of a pickle and back riding again. Good news for him. Bad news for me and the Buzzard. Usually once I start pilfering a build its dead meat. I'm like a vulture and I pick it apart till nothing is left but the skeleton. This time, I didn't let that happen, although the thought had crossed my mind a few times!

I picked up a brand new SLX crank set, used an old X-7 high direct mount derailleur, and recharged the tires with fresh sealant. Boom! Back in business again. I also took the opportunity to switch pedals. I took the Shimano trail SPD's off and put on some Fixation Mesa MP's, which are flat pedals that I happen to think are really good. Two reasons for this move- The first is that I don't have to use specific cycling shoes with this bike anymore and the other is that I feel flats suit the build better than clipless pedals do.

Now I just have to hit the dirt!

Buzzard Restoration

Unflat tires, new crank set, different front derailleur = Ready!

Now for something completely different! I haven't been messing much with any of my mountain bikes for quite some time. I've just been way too busy getting ready for gravel road events or testing something for RidingGravel.com. My mountain bikes have fallen into a state of disrepair over the last year or so.

The Singular Buzzard was particularly hard hit in that regard. I had it all set up, ready to go, last Fall, but I didn't really get the chance to ride it. Well, actually, the one time I wanted to ride it I didn't in deference to my friend who was on a single speed fat bike and I decided to suffer similarly on my Blackborow DS. Anyway, the end result was that the Buzzard lost all its air, the sealant dried up, and it was Winter. Then I got busy with the gravel stuff. Then I went one step further backward......

I dismantled the Buzzard to a degree! 

A different friend was having issues with a crank and front derailleur, so I helped him out by pilfering my lightly used SLX stuff which got him out of a pickle and back riding again. Good news for him. Bad news for me and the Buzzard. Usually once I start pilfering a build its dead meat. I'm like a vulture and I pick it apart till nothing is left but the skeleton. This time, I didn't let that happen, although the thought had crossed my mind a few times!

I picked up a brand new SLX crank set, used an old X-7 high direct mount derailleur, and recharged the tires with fresh sealant. Boom! Back in business again. I also took the opportunity to switch pedals. I took the Shimano trail SPD's off and put on some Fixation Mesa MP's, which are flat pedals that I happen to think are really good. Two reasons for this move- The first is that I don't have to use specific cycling shoes with this bike anymore and the other is that I feel flats suit the build better than clipless pedals do.

Now I just have to hit the dirt!