Not The Kind Of Anniversary You Want To Mark

 In celebration of the twentieth year of this blog, I have a few tales to tell. This post is one of them. This series will occur off and on throughout this anniversary year, I hope to illuminate some behind-the-scenes stories and highlights from the blog during this time. Enjoy!

 Today marks an anniversary of an event in my life that I would rather not have had happen. An event that still affects me to this very day both physically and mentally. Many of you know the story, but in case you don't, here is the post from ten years ago describing that day. 

The hills North of Edgewood are spectacular.

I was struck by a drunk driver behind the wheel of a 4X4 GMC pick-up truck and flung through the air about 8ft, (according to eye witness account), and landed on my butt in the ditch. Funny thing was, I wasn't actually riding my bicycle. I was walking it alongside the gravel roadway. 

Major injuries were avoided, but ever since then my digestive tract hasn't been "right'. I think things got jumbled around inside of me and well, by this time all of that is 'normal' day-to-day life for me now. So, on this weekend ten years ago, my life was forever changed. 

I'm not complaining. I've got nothing to complain about regarding that incident. Like the title of the blog post ten years ago states, "it could have been worse'. Very much worse than it was.

From July 4th this year.

Like Elton John, "I'm Still Standin'", and I'm blessed to be out there on two wheels yet. I shudder to think of what may have been, but it wasn't meant to be that day. So, a lot of things are still going because of that. One of them is this blog. 

I did not say a lot about the aftermath of what I went through mentally immediately afterward ten years ago. There was stress over the fall-out from the crash scene. I wasn't the only person affected. Aaron Schnee had his helmet crushed and his titanium Fargo run over. Dan Buettner was also flung into the ditch. The others had to witness that and deal with the drunk driver afterward. Their memories are marred by that incident as well as mine. 

Insurance issues went on for several months afterward. Hospital bills were being pursued and we were waiting on the insurance that the driver had to take care of this. Thankfully the driver actually had insurance. These are things that you don't immediately think about after a crash with/on your bicycle. But it is more than just 'that day' that haunts you. 

Aaron Schnee at Gravel Worlds in 2021

Ironically I have found that these incidents kind of have a way of bonding you to people that were a part of the event. A great example of this happened in 2021 at Gravel Worlds. 

I ran up upon Aaron Schnee. He of the run-over Ti Fargo from the 2014 incident. Turned out his bicycle was okay. In fact, it was the same bicycle he was riding that day! 

This was fantastic news for me at the time. Catching up with Aaron, who I hadn't seen or spoken with since that incident in 2014 until that day at Gravel Worlds, provided a bit of closure for me. I was happy to know his bicycle was intact, still around and being ridden, and that I actually got to see Aaron riding it. 

As for my bicycle, it wasn't damnaged significantly. A bit of bar tape rash, really, was all it had done to it. But I was hesitant to go out on a ride on the Tamland Two for a couple of months afterward. Finally I forced myself to ride the bike again. I'm glad I got over that hump, but I still find it troubling that I went through that due to a random act of a drunk person behind the wheel of a vehicle. 

Probably one of the most confusing and troubling aspects of this being struck by a motorist event for me was that I was informed that year that my name would be read at the annual Ride of Silence. The ride which honors cyclists that have been killed at the hands of motorists. Apparently if you are struck by a motorist, you also get on the list, but I found that to be confusing and - in my opinion - unnecessary. I felt that took away from those who actually lost loved ones. But I don't make the rules for that. It just was one more thing I had to wrestle with. 

Maybe I'm not alone in this, but I think about dying at the hands of a motorist almost every time I ride a bicycle these days. Sometimes I almost don't ride because it would just be easier not to deal with the crazies. But I keep going..... 

Be careful out there. 

The GTDRI Stories: Introduction

That time my ride and I were part of a cycling themed meme.

This will be the series that details the 14 years of the "Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational". The ride started in 2006 and the last one happened in 2019, with a cancelled GTDRI in 2020 for obvious reasons. 

This will be much like the last series run on the blog here on Sundays over the last three tears, The "Trans Iowa Stories", which was done to tell everything I hadn't already shared about the event over the years. That wasn't much, and so some of that was actually a rehashing of old materials, but it was what it was. 

In the case of the GTDRI, there is a lot more to say. Many of the earliest GTDRI's had no reports, really, and there are anecdotes and facts that might surprise a few of you folks who read this blog. Many of you out there probably took part in one or two of these rides. So, you might already know what to expect here. 

Part of that untold story is how this ride began, and what the heck is up with the name of it. You'll find out how the ride got going "publicly" in 2006, and to that end, I found, and I do not know how this happened, but I found an original manuscript I wrote right after the first one happened which shed some light on how the ride got announced. It also serves as a bit of a report, and there are things there I would not have remembered had I not wrote them down back in 2006.

In this series you will learn the significance of this image.

And there are a lot of images to share which have never been published before. Some others will get shared that have been. These will help illustrate the ride's evolution throughout the years.

And what I also hope to show is how gravel riding has evolved along with this ride's run. Back in '06, there was nothing 'gravel specific' at all! Everything was bodged and cobbled from mountain, road, and touring segments of cycling. 

And - of course - there were cue sheets! 

So, sit back every Sunday, grab a cup of coffee, or juice, or whatever, relax and enjoy the wacky, whimsical, historical, and sometimes fairy tale stories of a ride with a curious name. I'll post every Sunday, just like I did with the previous series. I doubt that this will take three years, but who knows..... 

See ya next Sunday for "The GRDRI Stories" where we will find out "Where Did This Ride Come From?".

The GTDRI Stories: Introduction

That time my ride and I were part of a cycling themed meme.

This will be the series that details the 14 years of the "Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational". The ride started in 2006 and the last one happened in 2019, with a cancelled GTDRI in 2020 for obvious reasons. 

This will be much like the last series run on the blog here on Sundays over the last three tears, The "Trans Iowa Stories", which was done to tell everything I hadn't already shared about the event over the years. That wasn't much, and so some of that was actually a rehashing of old materials, but it was what it was. 

In the case of the GTDRI, there is a lot more to say. Many of the earliest GTDRI's had no reports, really, and there are anecdotes and facts that might surprise a few of you folks who read this blog. Many of you out there probably took part in one or two of these rides. So, you might already know what to expect here. 

Part of that untold story is how this ride began, and what the heck is up with the name of it. You'll find out how the ride got going "publicly" in 2006, and to that end, I found, and I do not know how this happened, but I found an original manuscript I wrote right after the first one happened which shed some light on how the ride got announced. It also serves as a bit of a report, and there are things there I would not have remembered had I not wrote them down back in 2006.

In this series you will learn the significance of this image.

And there are a lot of images to share which have never been published before. Some others will get shared that have been. These will help illustrate the ride's evolution throughout the years.

And what I also hope to show is how gravel riding has evolved along with this ride's run. Back in '06, there was nothing 'gravel specific' at all! Everything was bodged and cobbled from mountain, road, and touring segments of cycling. 

And - of course - there were cue sheets! 

So, sit back every Sunday, grab a cup of coffee, or juice, or whatever, relax and enjoy the wacky, whimsical, historical, and sometimes fairy tale stories of a ride with a curious name. I'll post every Sunday, just like I did with the previous series. I doubt that this will take three years, but who knows..... 

See ya next Sunday for "The GRDRI Stories" where we will find out "Where Did This Ride Come From?".

Dropper Post Madness

Seen on social media Sunday.

 The "dropper post". That thing mountain bikers came up with to make descents and cornering more stable and safe. If you are a mountain biker, well.....you know. I don't have to convince you of the benefits. 

But when it came to other disciplines of cycling, dropper posts were, well.....'that mountain biker thing', and many were not going to give that component a chance because....'mountain biking'. Really, what other reason is there?

Weight? Hmm..... maybe. I could see that, but if you wouldn't even try one just based upon that reason alone, well, why would you ever ride a time trial bike, aero wheel sets, or use wider tires? All weigh more than their traditional roadie counterparts do, (in the case of a time trial bike, it is a sum of the parts, but a "real road bike" still weighs less). 

So pushing off the dropper post just because it weighs more than a traditional post is taking the easy way out of thinking about this component. I mean, mountain bikers would never be using suspension if the weight argument wasn't quickly put aside due to the overwhelming benefits of suspension in many cases. 

The Otso Cycles Waheela S was one of several new gravel bikes outfitted with a dropper post in 2018.

 I tried a dropper post on a gravel bike in 2018. It was a component that was being pushed forward, yes- by mountain biking- but gravel folks were somewhat more open to trying that idea. Anyway, I gave it a go, and at that time, I said that the dropper post was an advantage on descents for gravel riders, and probably roadies too. It wasn't even close to a subjective opinion. I had demonstratively proven that a dropper post was a clear cut advantage on descents by my using it on a Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational that year. 

I was easily cruising away from my riding partners on descents due to the aero advantage lent by getting lower on the bike. This is why the UCI outlawed the "Super Tuck" as riders were using the position to get more aero and have more control over their bicycles. So, on one hand the advantage was clear, but on the other hand, why roadies didn't figure this out several years ago is a mystery to me. 

They used dropper posts, yes. Mavic even had them on their Service Course bikes at the tour one year. But they weren't there to make riders more secure on descents and more aero. They were there so riders of different leg lengths could be fitted more quickly. (What?!!) Talk about being in denial......

But now, all of a sudden, this dropper post thing seems all new and real because some guy won a "monument" of cycling with it. It would be high comedy for many of us out here who have known this for years if it wasn't so seemingly daft. But - there ya go! Roadies using dropper posts for what they were meant for.

Dropper Post Madness

Seen on social media Sunday.

 The "dropper post". That thing mountain bikers came up with to make descents and cornering more stable and safe. If you are a mountain biker, well.....you know. I don't have to convince you of the benefits. 

But when it came to other disciplines of cycling, dropper posts were, well.....'that mountain biker thing', and many were not going to give that component a chance because....'mountain biking'. Really, what other reason is there?

Weight? Hmm..... maybe. I could see that, but if you wouldn't even try one just based upon that reason alone, well, why would you ever ride a time trial bike, aero wheel sets, or use wider tires? All weigh more than their traditional roadie counterparts do, (in the case of a time trial bike, it is a sum of the parts, but a "real road bike" still weighs less). 

So pushing off the dropper post just because it weighs more than a traditional post is taking the easy way out of thinking about this component. I mean, mountain bikers would never be using suspension if the weight argument wasn't quickly put aside due to the overwhelming benefits of suspension in many cases. 

The Otso Cycles Waheela S was one of several new gravel bikes outfitted with a dropper post in 2018.

 I tried a dropper post on a gravel bike in 2018. It was a component that was being pushed forward, yes- by mountain biking- but gravel folks were somewhat more open to trying that idea. Anyway, I gave it a go, and at that time, I said that the dropper post was an advantage on descents for gravel riders, and probably roadies too. It wasn't even close to a subjective opinion. I had demonstratively proven that a dropper post was a clear cut advantage on descents by my using it on a Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational that year. 

I was easily cruising away from my riding partners on descents due to the aero advantage lent by getting lower on the bike. This is why the UCI outlawed the "Super Tuck" as riders were using the position to get more aero and have more control over their bicycles. So, on one hand the advantage was clear, but on the other hand, why roadies didn't figure this out several years ago is a mystery to me. 

They used dropper posts, yes. Mavic even had them on their Service Course bikes at the tour one year. But they weren't there to make riders more secure on descents and more aero. They were there so riders of different leg lengths could be fitted more quickly. (What?!!) Talk about being in denial......

But now, all of a sudden, this dropper post thing seems all new and real because some guy won a "monument" of cycling with it. It would be high comedy for many of us out here who have known this for years if it wasn't so seemingly daft. But - there ya go! Roadies using dropper posts for what they were meant for.

Visitations

Fall color seen on my walk Sunday.

 This wasn't to be a typical weekend here for me. Andy had taken vacation and I had to tend to the shop all week long. That meant I had to work another Saturday. The week itself went better than expected. I was busier than I had anticipated I would be, which is good for business, obviously, but better for me. I really do not like standing around 'baby-sitting' a shop with nothing to work on. That drives me bonkers. 

So, having a mostly busy week was good, that is, until Friday. That was brutal! I had very few people walk in the door and a LOT of dead time to fill. I had caught up on repairs and had little else to do but clean and organize. 

So, Saturday I feared for the worst. I had worked a Saturday recently and it was pretty much like the Friday I just described. I was thinking I was going to possibly lose my mind, but a couple of surprise visitations happened which saved the day. I guess mentioning here that I would be in the shop Saturday was a good thing, because both folks who came in to see me said it was because I had mentioned I would be working that they made the effort to see me. 

So, the first individual that surprised me with a visit was someone who I hadn't seen in well over a decade. I think the last time I saw this person was at a Frostbike in 2008. So, yeah.... A LONG time had passed since I had seen this guy. I used to make mention of him a lot when this blog first began, and since that was over 15 years ago, most of you folks probably don't know or remember that.

His name is Clay. I've known him since I first was in the bicycle business back in the 90's. I used to refer to him by his nick-name here, which was Dirtram, which was a play on his surname name. Anyway, he worked at the shop where I last worked, and I think our time there overlapped maybe a few months or so, but it wasn't very long before Clay moved on and out of my reckoning. The last time I think I saw him was about five years after I saw him previously, so when he came in and visited me Saturday it was a big surprise and we had a lot of catching up to do. 

Rick Chalfant, third from left here, was the other visitor Saturday.

After a few customers came in, Clay excused himself, and then it was awhile before another surprise visitor stopped by. It was Rick, who had been up last for a GTDRI in 2016. 

He read on the blog that I would be there, and since he was up for a family function, he made some time to swing by and chat for a bit. It was great to catch up with Rick and talk about our families and riding. 

Then some more time went by and I was about an hour out from shutting the door when my wife and son dropped by and so that made the end of my day a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be. The only bummer was that I didn't get to ride my bicycle home from work. 

So, yeah......no ride out in the country. No ride in the woods, like I traditionally try to do at 'peak Fall color time', and there was another reason for that. My family has been battling head colds, with the exception of myself- so far- and so I stuck around the house to lend a hand where I could with chores and taking care of people. 

I likely missed peak Fall colors, but sometimes more important things come along, like seeing old friends and acquaintances and being there for your family when they need you to be. It ain't always all about bicycles.

Visitations

Fall color seen on my walk Sunday.

 This wasn't to be a typical weekend here for me. Andy had taken vacation and I had to tend to the shop all week long. That meant I had to work another Saturday. The week itself went better than expected. I was busier than I had anticipated I would be, which is good for business, obviously, but better for me. I really do not like standing around 'baby-sitting' a shop with nothing to work on. That drives me bonkers. 

So, having a mostly busy week was good, that is, until Friday. That was brutal! I had very few people walk in the door and a LOT of dead time to fill. I had caught up on repairs and had little else to do but clean and organize. 

So, Saturday I feared for the worst. I had worked a Saturday recently and it was pretty much like the Friday I just described. I was thinking I was going to possibly lose my mind, but a couple of surprise visitations happened which saved the day. I guess mentioning here that I would be in the shop Saturday was a good thing, because both folks who came in to see me said it was because I had mentioned I would be working that they made the effort to see me. 

So, the first individual that surprised me with a visit was someone who I hadn't seen in well over a decade. I think the last time I saw this person was at a Frostbike in 2008. So, yeah.... A LONG time had passed since I had seen this guy. I used to make mention of him a lot when this blog first began, and since that was over 15 years ago, most of you folks probably don't know or remember that.

His name is Clay. I've known him since I first was in the bicycle business back in the 90's. I used to refer to him by his nick-name here, which was Dirtram, which was a play on his surname name. Anyway, he worked at the shop where I last worked, and I think our time there overlapped maybe a few months or so, but it wasn't very long before Clay moved on and out of my reckoning. The last time I think I saw him was about five years after I saw him previously, so when he came in and visited me Saturday it was a big surprise and we had a lot of catching up to do. 

Rick Chalfant, third from left here, was the other visitor Saturday.

After a few customers came in, Clay excused himself, and then it was awhile before another surprise visitor stopped by. It was Rick, who had been up last for a GTDRI in 2016. 

He read on the blog that I would be there, and since he was up for a family function, he made some time to swing by and chat for a bit. It was great to catch up with Rick and talk about our families and riding. 

Then some more time went by and I was about an hour out from shutting the door when my wife and son dropped by and so that made the end of my day a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be. The only bummer was that I didn't get to ride my bicycle home from work. 

So, yeah......no ride out in the country. No ride in the woods, like I traditionally try to do at 'peak Fall color time', and there was another reason for that. My family has been battling head colds, with the exception of myself- so far- and so I stuck around the house to lend a hand where I could with chores and taking care of people. 

I likely missed peak Fall colors, but sometimes more important things come along, like seeing old friends and acquaintances and being there for your family when they need you to be. It ain't always all about bicycles.

Little Did I Know

From the 2019 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational

A comment on yesterday's post got me to thinking. It was made by Tom in reference to his having been in the 2019 C.O.G 100 event. He posted, "I’m very thankful I caught the tail end of your event days." 

First off- "Thank you, Tom!"

Secondly, I immediately thought afterward, "Was that my last cycling event I put on?" And the answer is, no- No it wasn't. The last one was a "Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational". That occurred in July of 2019. Little did I know then that this would be my last event production. I didn't go into that event with the thought that I was going to stop with the work and promotions of events at all. That wasn't even on my radar then. 

Of course, I had retired Trans Iowa as an event. That was completely different, in my view. My intentions past Trans Iowa were to do the 2020 C.O.G. 100, another GTDRI, and maybe even a "Geezer Ride" again. Yep! I had no idea that the 2019 GTDRI was the last event I'd put on, maybe ever. (Because hey! You never know, right?) <===That said, don't get any ideas! I'm pretty content with my resume' and my legacy in events as it is now. 

Plus, I ain't gettin' any younger! I want to do some riding without the baggage of event production, and all that entails, hanging over me. It's a burden, quite honestly, and if you have produced an event, you know what I mean. It's an intangible 'weight' that is hard to describe, but once you've been unyoked from it, the feeling of freedom is strong. I doubt I'll be willing to put that yoke back on my shoulders again, but like I said, you never know. Never say "never", never say "always". 

While I'm thinking about the GTDRI, I will remind you that after the "Trans Iowa Stories" series is over, I am motivated to write up another series on the GTDRI's fourteen year run. Then I'll probably tag on my other various event productions along with that at the end of that series. That should be a whopping amount of writing to do in the future. So, if you were wondering what the heck Guitar Ted was going to do once he finished the T.I. stories, well, now you have that road map. 

That is, assuming I am around to write that stuff. You never know......

Little Did I Know

From the 2019 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational

A comment on yesterday's post got me to thinking. It was made by Tom in reference to his having been in the 2019 C.O.G 100 event. He posted, "I’m very thankful I caught the tail end of your event days." 

First off- "Thank you, Tom!"

Secondly, I immediately thought afterward, "Was that my last cycling event I put on?" And the answer is, no- No it wasn't. The last one was a "Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational". That occurred in July of 2019. Little did I know then that this would be my last event production. I didn't go into that event with the thought that I was going to stop with the work and promotions of events at all. That wasn't even on my radar then. 

Of course, I had retired Trans Iowa as an event. That was completely different, in my view. My intentions past Trans Iowa were to do the 2020 C.O.G. 100, another GTDRI, and maybe even a "Geezer Ride" again. Yep! I had no idea that the 2019 GTDRI was the last event I'd put on, maybe ever. (Because hey! You never know, right?) <===That said, don't get any ideas! I'm pretty content with my resume' and my legacy in events as it is now. 

Plus, I ain't gettin' any younger! I want to do some riding without the baggage of event production, and all that entails, hanging over me. It's a burden, quite honestly, and if you have produced an event, you know what I mean. It's an intangible 'weight' that is hard to describe, but once you've been unyoked from it, the feeling of freedom is strong. I doubt I'll be willing to put that yoke back on my shoulders again, but like I said, you never know. Never say "never", never say "always". 

While I'm thinking about the GTDRI, I will remind you that after the "Trans Iowa Stories" series is over, I am motivated to write up another series on the GTDRI's fourteen year run. Then I'll probably tag on my other various event productions along with that at the end of that series. That should be a whopping amount of writing to do in the future. So, if you were wondering what the heck Guitar Ted was going to do once he finished the T.I. stories, well, now you have that road map. 

That is, assuming I am around to write that stuff. You never know......

The Plan (Which May Change!)

I have a plan, but you never know with me.....

 Last Tuesday I posted that I had reconned the outlet from town which used the municipal bike paths to get into the Southern reaches of Black Hawk County. Well, after thinking about that, after remembering what I found out about the roads last year, and adding into that thoughts for things to do this season, I came up with a 'plan' of sorts. Now, I may not actually end up doing this. It seems that the Summer could very well be in flux with things changing on the pandemic front. But this is something I want to do sooner than later, so it may all pan out. 

Last year I did a successful "Single Speed Century" and a failed solo Guitar Ted Death Ride. I think after seeing what the course is like for the failed GTDRI and knowing what I did for the Single Speed century, I am thinking that the failed attempt at the GTDRI could turn out to become the perfect 2021 Single Speed Century course and that I can have some redemption for that failure in 2020. The bike I would use this go-round would be the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. 

So for timing on this ride I am thinking about getting going and doing it before the end of April. Whenever the weather looks okay. It won't be too hot and that would be good. Plus I'd have a hundy in well before I generally get around to it. Last year it was at the end of May. So before the end of April sounds better to me. 

There is also the possibility that I may try the second version of the C.O.G. 100 course which was never used. THAT would be far harder. There are a LOT more steep hills on that course. But if I can do this GTDRI course on a single speed, that would be a good training ride for the tougher C.O.G.100 course which I could try later. Again.....plans.....they could change. 

Stay tuned.....

The Plan (Which May Change!)

I have a plan, but you never know with me.....

 Last Tuesday I posted that I had reconned the outlet from town which used the municipal bike paths to get into the Southern reaches of Black Hawk County. Well, after thinking about that, after remembering what I found out about the roads last year, and adding into that thoughts for things to do this season, I came up with a 'plan' of sorts. Now, I may not actually end up doing this. It seems that the Summer could very well be in flux with things changing on the pandemic front. But this is something I want to do sooner than later, so it may all pan out. 

Last year I did a successful "Single Speed Century" and a failed solo Guitar Ted Death Ride. I think after seeing what the course is like for the failed GTDRI and knowing what I did for the Single Speed century, I am thinking that the failed attempt at the GTDRI could turn out to become the perfect 2021 Single Speed Century course and that I can have some redemption for that failure in 2020. The bike I would use this go-round would be the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. 

So for timing on this ride I am thinking about getting going and doing it before the end of April. Whenever the weather looks okay. It won't be too hot and that would be good. Plus I'd have a hundy in well before I generally get around to it. Last year it was at the end of May. So before the end of April sounds better to me. 

There is also the possibility that I may try the second version of the C.O.G. 100 course which was never used. THAT would be far harder. There are a LOT more steep hills on that course. But if I can do this GTDRI course on a single speed, that would be a good training ride for the tougher C.O.G.100 course which I could try later. Again.....plans.....they could change. 

Stay tuned.....

Retrospective Series On The GTDRI

That's MG's leg and a beer from the '08 GTDRI.

 With the announcement Tuesday that I have retired from events productions I have come up with a new idea for a series for the blog here. This also has something to do with the fact that at some point in 2021 I will reach the end of my current series on the blog, "Trans Iowa Stories". What I do with that series in terms of a future project like a book, well, I don't know. It would have to be edited like crazy down to a distilled format for consumption and then reformatted into coherent chapters and........uggh! A LOT of work, but we'll see. I'm not ever going to rule that out, but before I tackled Trans Iowa in book form I'd likely try my hand at another, not so difficult story to tell. Maybe one like the story about my self-supported touring days, which I already have on the site here as a series I did....twice! 

But all that aside, the point is that the "The Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational" is a story that not many know about, but I think it would make for an interesting series on the blog here. Of course, each running of it had a report afterward, but I haven't ever really dug into this event and told the behind-the-scenes stuff and some elements of this event are pretty important to me and others. Not least of which would be the time in 2014 when I and another rider were struck by a drunk driver in a pick-up truck as we were walking our bikes along the side of a gravel road. But there are other, less dramatic but no less interesting tales to be told as well. 

Looking at how far I've come along with "Trans Iowa Stories" during 2020, I see I had covered about five-ish Trans Iowa events in 12 months. So, with four events and a final reviewing of Trans Iowa to go, I wouldn't expect to see anything about the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational as a series until later into 2021. However; I probably will be researching this old event as the days go by preparing to launch that idea when the time is right. 

So, this is maybe a teaser too far in advance, but this idea has been on my mind of late and so I thought I would share this. It is a series which, I hope, will fit into my new outlook on all things gravel. Well, not really 'new', but maybe "more focused on" (?) for 2021 and beyond. Some of what I am referring to will be dealt with in my opening posts for 2021. Stay tuned for that.....

Retrospective Series On The GTDRI

That's MG's leg and a beer from the '08 GTDRI.

 With the announcement Tuesday that I have retired from events productions I have come up with a new idea for a series for the blog here. This also has something to do with the fact that at some point in 2021 I will reach the end of my current series on the blog, "Trans Iowa Stories". What I do with that series in terms of a future project like a book, well, I don't know. It would have to be edited like crazy down to a distilled format for consumption and then reformatted into coherent chapters and........uggh! A LOT of work, but we'll see. I'm not ever going to rule that out, but before I tackled Trans Iowa in book form I'd likely try my hand at another, not so difficult story to tell. Maybe one like the story about my self-supported touring days, which I already have on the site here as a series I did....twice! 

But all that aside, the point is that the "The Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational" is a story that not many know about, but I think it would make for an interesting series on the blog here. Of course, each running of it had a report afterward, but I haven't ever really dug into this event and told the behind-the-scenes stuff and some elements of this event are pretty important to me and others. Not least of which would be the time in 2014 when I and another rider were struck by a drunk driver in a pick-up truck as we were walking our bikes along the side of a gravel road. But there are other, less dramatic but no less interesting tales to be told as well. 

Looking at how far I've come along with "Trans Iowa Stories" during 2020, I see I had covered about five-ish Trans Iowa events in 12 months. So, with four events and a final reviewing of Trans Iowa to go, I wouldn't expect to see anything about the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational as a series until later into 2021. However; I probably will be researching this old event as the days go by preparing to launch that idea when the time is right. 

So, this is maybe a teaser too far in advance, but this idea has been on my mind of late and so I thought I would share this. It is a series which, I hope, will fit into my new outlook on all things gravel. Well, not really 'new', but maybe "more focused on" (?) for 2021 and beyond. Some of what I am referring to will be dealt with in my opening posts for 2021. Stay tuned for that.....

Friday News And Views

New Radio Ranch podcasts out this week.

The Riding Gravel Radio Ranch Branches Out:

With this week's podcast posts, we have done 14 new podcasts this year, which is 2/3rds of the output of the podcast up to 2020. We've been busy!  If you want to listen to the latest episodes, check them out here, or find them on your favorite podcast feeds.

Not only are we doing more consistent downloads, we are branching out to now include interviews via the phone. We now have a podcaster outfit which will Bluetooth a cell phone to its recording capabilities so we can get remote interview subjects as part of the podcast. The first of these has already been recorded with one of the RD's for this Fall's unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley event. Dave Pryor's interview will be published soon. Stay tuned for that one.

I'm pretty stoked about this as I've known Dave for several years. He's the "Guy With The Bacon Suit", seen at many East Coast CX events and elsewhere. He is a great guy and as a fellow event promoter, we kind of have a certain bond there.

I am also excited now that we can have people call in to the show and we can take the show on the road, which opens up a ton of possibilities for future episodes. I've already utilized both possibilities this year and I look forward to doing more of those things. Stay tuned for updates.....

Kinekt Suspension Stem Test/Review:

Wednesday the Kinekt Suspension Stem arrived at Andy's Bike Shop so I can test/review it for RidingGravel.com. This is a direct competitor to the Redshift Sports ShockStop stem which I have on a couple of bikes here.

I've also spent a lot of time on Kinekt's own seat post, often called the Body Float Post. I had a previous generation Body Float post on my original Ti Muk fat bike and I used one for a while on my Gen I Fargo. So, it will be interesting to see how their stem works, not only in terms of how it might pair with the Kinekt seatpost, but as a competitor to the ShockStop stem. I've often thought that components like the stems and seat posts offered by Kineckt and Redshift Sports were the way to go because these parts are removable, transferable, and tunable. Unlike proprietary features on some bikes, like rear suspended bits, flexing bits, or special integrated stem/suspension bits, these components are more traditional looking and offer more versatility.

Stay tuned as I get this stem on a bike and get rolling on it. I think the test mule for this one will be the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. But that could change tomorrow depending on the appearance of an "aha! moment" which may end up being a better idea.

'Events' Update: 

I haven't forgotten about my 'events' which I have set up for myself to attempt yet this Summer. I recently pretty much dialed in the Ti Muk 2 for the Fat Bike Century attempt, and now I will be looking for an opportune time to take a day off everything else and go.

And to be honest, that time is hard to come by. With this pandemic thing, we just end up spending time with the immediate family. The kids don't really see anyone but Mrs Guitar Ted and I. This means that if one of us is gone, it REALLY is a bad deal for the kids because they need people to do stuff with. The guilt when I go for a ride is more real than ever these days.

But I'm intending on doing both the Fat Bike Century and a solo GTDRI ride later this month or early in August. I'd like to sneak both of those in before fall kicks in, if I can. If that happens, I have a couple ideas I want to pursue after that which may or may not be century rides, but will certainly be rides in other parts of Iowa that I have wanted to get around to riding for some time now.   

That's a wrap for this week. get out and ride! Summer will be gone before we know it! 

Friday News And Views

New Radio Ranch podcasts out this week.

The Riding Gravel Radio Ranch Branches Out:

With this week's podcast posts, we have done 14 new podcasts this year, which is 2/3rds of the output of the podcast up to 2020. We've been busy!  If you want to listen to the latest episodes, check them out here, or find them on your favorite podcast feeds.

Not only are we doing more consistent downloads, we are branching out to now include interviews via the phone. We now have a podcaster outfit which will Bluetooth a cell phone to its recording capabilities so we can get remote interview subjects as part of the podcast. The first of these has already been recorded with one of the RD's for this Fall's unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley event. Dave Pryor's interview will be published soon. Stay tuned for that one.

I'm pretty stoked about this as I've known Dave for several years. He's the "Guy With The Bacon Suit", seen at many East Coast CX events and elsewhere. He is a great guy and as a fellow event promoter, we kind of have a certain bond there.

I am also excited now that we can have people call in to the show and we can take the show on the road, which opens up a ton of possibilities for future episodes. I've already utilized both possibilities this year and I look forward to doing more of those things. Stay tuned for updates.....

Kinekt Suspension Stem Test/Review:

Wednesday the Kinekt Suspension Stem arrived at Andy's Bike Shop so I can test/review it for RidingGravel.com. This is a direct competitor to the Redshift Sports ShockStop stem which I have on a couple of bikes here.

I've also spent a lot of time on Kinekt's own seat post, often called the Body Float Post. I had a previous generation Body Float post on my original Ti Muk fat bike and I used one for a while on my Gen I Fargo. So, it will be interesting to see how their stem works, not only in terms of how it might pair with the Kinekt seatpost, but as a competitor to the ShockStop stem. I've often thought that components like the stems and seat posts offered by Kineckt and Redshift Sports were the way to go because these parts are removable, transferable, and tunable. Unlike proprietary features on some bikes, like rear suspended bits, flexing bits, or special integrated stem/suspension bits, these components are more traditional looking and offer more versatility.

Stay tuned as I get this stem on a bike and get rolling on it. I think the test mule for this one will be the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. But that could change tomorrow depending on the appearance of an "aha! moment" which may end up being a better idea.

'Events' Update: 

I haven't forgotten about my 'events' which I have set up for myself to attempt yet this Summer. I recently pretty much dialed in the Ti Muk 2 for the Fat Bike Century attempt, and now I will be looking for an opportune time to take a day off everything else and go.

And to be honest, that time is hard to come by. With this pandemic thing, we just end up spending time with the immediate family. The kids don't really see anyone but Mrs Guitar Ted and I. This means that if one of us is gone, it REALLY is a bad deal for the kids because they need people to do stuff with. The guilt when I go for a ride is more real than ever these days.

But I'm intending on doing both the Fat Bike Century and a solo GTDRI ride later this month or early in August. I'd like to sneak both of those in before fall kicks in, if I can. If that happens, I have a couple ideas I want to pursue after that which may or may not be century rides, but will certainly be rides in other parts of Iowa that I have wanted to get around to riding for some time now.   

That's a wrap for this week. get out and ride! Summer will be gone before we know it! 

Minus Ten Review 2009-29

In the "Whatever Happened To This?" files.

Ten years ago this week on the blog here I was sharing more 29"er news. There was news of a long travel bike by Niner Bikes dubbed the WFO 9, which was the precursor to the 150-170mm travel enduro style trail bike 29"ers of today. Keep in mind that even in 2009 people were saying long travel like this was always going to be the realm of 26" wheeled bicycles. Doing this with 29"er wheels was "stupid", "dumb", and other things unsuitable to put on the blog here.

Where are they who said these things now? Probably riding 29"ers, that's where.

Speaking of "where are they now", I also showed a sneak peek of a proposed livery for a Raleigh XXIX 29" single speed bike. Brian Fournes, the marketing honch for the brand back in those days, was fearless when it came to ideas to liven up the Raleigh line of bikes. This was back before Raleigh became the hollow, online retailer of today. Back then, Raleigh was enjoying some resurgence as a second tier brand and had some relevant mountain bikes for the first time in well over a decade.

Anyway, he forwarded this to me and I was very excited that it might become available in a very limited edition form. Now, I was , and still am, over-loaded with single speed 29"ers, but for this, I would have made room. And why not? I live in the town that put John Deere on the map in terms of farm tractor machines. But, as you probably have guessed by now, there was a visitation from some legal department in letter form and that was that.

Still, I gotta wonder where this ended up.

Also from ten years ago. Just look at that view! GTDRI course.

The Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational was run this weekend ten years ago as well. I had a successful ride and about seven or eight folks joined me.

I've said it before, and I still believe it- This is by far the most beautiful gravel course in Iowa that I've ever seen or heard about. At least from start to finish, and it is over 100 miles in length.

The views anywhere along this route are often beautiful, and in many spots they are jaw-droppingly stunning. I need to go try this course out during Fall colors season sometime, because I bet it would be even better, if that is possible.

Oh yeah, and it ranks as one of the toughest courses I've ever ridden as well. LOTS of climbing. I did not ever run my own GPS device on this route, but riders that did told me there are lots of 10+% grades and several in the 12-15% range. There is one grade that maxed out at 18%, according to what I've been told. It's such a tough climb that a local well drilling concern has to use a Caterpillar tractor to pull its rig up that particular grade. Trucks cannot do it because they lose traction on the gravel!

I also have a sort of reticence to riding here again though, as it is the course I was struck by a drunk driver on. I still deal with some physical issues from that impact to this day. So, there is that bad memory to this course for me as well.

Minus Ten Review 2009-29

In the "Whatever Happened To This?" files.

Ten years ago this week on the blog here I was sharing more 29"er news. There was news of a long travel bike by Niner Bikes dubbed the WFO 9, which was the precursor to the 150-170mm travel enduro style trail bike 29"ers of today. Keep in mind that even in 2009 people were saying long travel like this was always going to be the realm of 26" wheeled bicycles. Doing this with 29"er wheels was "stupid", "dumb", and other things unsuitable to put on the blog here.

Where are they who said these things now? Probably riding 29"ers, that's where.

Speaking of "where are they now", I also showed a sneak peek of a proposed livery for a Raleigh XXIX 29" single speed bike. Brian Fournes, the marketing honch for the brand back in those days, was fearless when it came to ideas to liven up the Raleigh line of bikes. This was back before Raleigh became the hollow, online retailer of today. Back then, Raleigh was enjoying some resurgence as a second tier brand and had some relevant mountain bikes for the first time in well over a decade.

Anyway, he forwarded this to me and I was very excited that it might become available in a very limited edition form. Now, I was , and still am, over-loaded with single speed 29"ers, but for this, I would have made room. And why not? I live in the town that put John Deere on the map in terms of farm tractor machines. But, as you probably have guessed by now, there was a visitation from some legal department in letter form and that was that.

Still, I gotta wonder where this ended up.

Also from ten years ago. Just look at that view! GTDRI course.

The Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational was run this weekend ten years ago as well. I had a successful ride and about seven or eight folks joined me.

I've said it before, and I still believe it- This is by far the most beautiful gravel course in Iowa that I've ever seen or heard about. At least from start to finish, and it is over 100 miles in length.

The views anywhere along this route are often beautiful, and in many spots they are jaw-droppingly stunning. I need to go try this course out during Fall colors season sometime, because I bet it would be even better, if that is possible.

Oh yeah, and it ranks as one of the toughest courses I've ever ridden as well. LOTS of climbing. I did not ever run my own GPS device on this route, but riders that did told me there are lots of 10+% grades and several in the 12-15% range. There is one grade that maxed out at 18%, according to what I've been told. It's such a tough climb that a local well drilling concern has to use a Caterpillar tractor to pull its rig up that particular grade. Trucks cannot do it because they lose traction on the gravel!

I also have a sort of reticence to riding here again though, as it is the course I was struck by a drunk driver on. I still deal with some physical issues from that impact to this day. So, there is that bad memory to this course for me as well.

Minus Ten Review 2009-27

Scene from the 2009 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational course. The lilies were on fore ten years ago.

Ten years ago on the blog this week I was yapping about the course for the upcoming GTDRI. I just noted that this was the year the lilies were crazy in many spots along the course. I also remember how that wasn't the case for the following three tries at this course. Interestingly, ten years removed from this event, the lilies are going nuts again.

It's also worth noting that this recon trip was the first that I had done with the "Truck With No Name". That vehicle replaced the "Dirty Blue Box", the 1990- (or was it a '91?)- Honda Civic Hatchback wagon. So, it's been ten years now that I've had that truck. Pretty sure it is the longest I've kept a vehicle around.

Also of note- I took an informal survey of readers of this blog on whether or not I should move the date of Trans Iowa. The results were mixed, but I got the sense overall that riders just wanted David Pals, (co-director at that time) and myself to be happy, (and keep putting on the event, no doubt). So, as it turned out I moved the date back to the last weekend of April and that is where it stayed till the end. One of the reasons for that was that I had met Grannygear and he lived in SoCal. He was willing to go to Sea Otter every year, and so I did not have to go for coverage for "Twenty Nine Inches". That freed me up to fully concentrate on Trans Iowa in April. Which......it was good and it was bad.

Having every April afterward for nine years be consumed with thoughts and actions for a Trans Iowa got to be pretty wearing. Basically, after the Renegade Gents Race, which happened at the beginning of April,  I was busy with TI stuff everyday until a week or so into May. Getting my April back was a nice thing this year, but I digress.........

Finally, I made note of a magazine article that was trying to poo-poo the idea that 29"ers were going to take over the MTB scene. (Of course, they have now.) To my mind in 2009, it wasn't an if, it was when. 27.5" bikes sort of delayed the ultimate take over of MTB by 29"ers, but for all intents and purposes, 29"ers rule now. And 26"ers?

Like I said ten years ago, they were toast.

Minus Ten Review 2009-27

Scene from the 2009 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational course. The lilies were on fore ten years ago.

Ten years ago on the blog this week I was yapping about the course for the upcoming GTDRI. I just noted that this was the year the lilies were crazy in many spots along the course. I also remember how that wasn't the case for the following three tries at this course. Interestingly, ten years removed from this event, the lilies are going nuts again.

It's also worth noting that this recon trip was the first that I had done with the "Truck With No Name". That vehicle replaced the "Dirty Blue Box", the 1990- (or was it a '91?)- Honda Civic Hatchback wagon. So, it's been ten years now that I've had that truck. Pretty sure it is the longest I've kept a vehicle around.

Also of note- I took an informal survey of readers of this blog on whether or not I should move the date of Trans Iowa. The results were mixed, but I got the sense overall that riders just wanted David Pals, (co-director at that time) and myself to be happy, (and keep putting on the event, no doubt). So, as it turned out I moved the date back to the last weekend of April and that is where it stayed till the end. One of the reasons for that was that I had met Grannygear and he lived in SoCal. He was willing to go to Sea Otter every year, and so I did not have to go for coverage for "Twenty Nine Inches". That freed me up to fully concentrate on Trans Iowa in April. Which......it was good and it was bad.

Having every April afterward for nine years be consumed with thoughts and actions for a Trans Iowa got to be pretty wearing. Basically, after the Renegade Gents Race, which happened at the beginning of April,  I was busy with TI stuff everyday until a week or so into May. Getting my April back was a nice thing this year, but I digress.........

Finally, I made note of a magazine article that was trying to poo-poo the idea that 29"ers were going to take over the MTB scene. (Of course, they have now.) To my mind in 2009, it wasn't an if, it was when. 27.5" bikes sort of delayed the ultimate take over of MTB by 29"ers, but for all intents and purposes, 29"ers rule now. And 26"ers?

Like I said ten years ago, they were toast.

Minus Ten Review 2009-24

A view of the Turkey River between Elgin and Elkader Iowa.

Ten years ago this week on the blog I was just back from a week's vacation and thoughts had turned to the fourth running of the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational which was coming up in a few week's time.

I had been running the event South for the three previous editions, but this time I thought about how we had to move Trans Iowa out of Northeast Iowa and how maybe a running of the GTDRI up there might be fun from the standpoint of quality of the roads up in that area. I was not disappointed in what I found up there.

In fact, the course was sooo good that we revisited it on three more occasions and some of the best and worst GTDRI stories are from those four epic rides. Two of the times we did this route we started from Echo Valley County Park, and two other times we launched from Backbone State Park. But all four times the route was done in a "clockwise" loop.

Interestingly, that isn't how I initially envisioned doing this ride. I was going to start out heading Southeastward and basically doing the whole deal anticlockwise. You know......maybe I should try that sometime! But I digress......

The route ended up being a bit more than a 100 miles, I think it was around 110, but I'd have to consult my blog posts later into 2009. That'll come out when we get to reviewing it soon enough though. Stay tuned.... For now suffice it to say that I knew that this would be a very scenic course, and a very, very tough one. Those things were both born out in the riding of it.

So, anyway, this course is an enduring classic. I wouldn't mind doing it again, as mentioned here already, and I think it makes for a fantastic century gravel route. That's why we did it four times for the GTDRI. No other course has been repeated this many times. The past "Tour of Dirt Roads GTDRI" course, which we have run the past two years consecutively, is another "classic" GTDRI course. That's another one I'd be willing to pull off again some year. But that will have to wait.