Wheels For Gen I: Update

Post 'mud-year' DK200 overhaul

Monday I posted about wanting to find some hubs to lace up a nice wheel set for the Gen I Fargo. If you've looked at what is out there for quick release hubs it won't be a surprise to you that prices are astronomical for new, high-end hub sets. And there are not many of them available either! 

Well, an odd set of circumstances has led me to a hub set I already owned once before. The timeline for this is crazy. 

In 2007 I received a set of wheels for a build up of a custom bike I was having brazed up for me. I was a member of the Twin Six Racing Team, (Really!) at the time and it was a perk I had gotten for being a Twin Six team member. This wheel set had a set of Chris King hubs. Being it was 2007 they were quick release and six bolt rotor interface models. 

Moving ahead several years I took those hubs out of the original 700c wheel set and relaced them to 650B Velocity rims. (or were they WTB rims? Oh well....) These were shod with the then new WTB Trailblazer 27.5" x 2.8" tires. I ran those on the Fargo Gen 2 I used to own and those were ridden in the 2015 DK200. The infamous "Mud Year" of that event. Then the wheels were moved over to a Trek Sawyer I used to own until I sold the bike with the CK hub/27.5"er wheels to a fellow named Ben. 

Well, Ben read my post on Monday, hit me up to ask if I wanted to buy the hub set from him, which he was not using, and I said "Yes!" So, in a little while I should have those old Chris King hubs back again. Like a bad penny.... Ha! 

They should be good to go. Ben said he barely rode them before he decided to go a different direction with wheels. I had overhauled those wheels post-mud year, and later that same Summer used them for the GTDRI and Odin's Revenge, plus all the rides on the Sawyer and they were great for me. 

So, hubs have been sourced. I'll give them the once over after they arrive. Now it is time to do a bit of rim shopping. Since I saved on the hubs, (Ben shot me a very fair price), I can look at maybe getting some carbon rims. Stay tuned.... 

PSA: Tomorrow there will be a slew of Press Releases connected to what is being shown at Sea Otter. Keep scrolling the page for all the news! 

Wheels For Gen I

The Gen I Fargo is a lifer here at Guitar Ted Productions. This will likely be a bicycle I keep until I cannot ride anymore. It's been configured in many ways since I brought it home late in 2008, but there has only been one time I really ever had a nice wheel set on it. 

That was when I ran the Edge (now Enve) carbon rimmed, DT Swiss hubbed wheel set I built up back in 2008. I ran those wheels on the bikes for a while but they ended up on the Fargo a time or three. 

But now I don't have anything great to run on this bike, and that is mostly due to the fact that the Fargo is 135MM/100mm rear/front quick release standard. A standard barely supported by the cycling industry these days. 

So, anyway, the search is on for some hubs that won't cost an arm and a leg which I can base a wheel set off of which will be the (hopefully) last wheel set I ever put on the Fargo. These wheels do not have to be carbon rims, but they also could be. 

I hope to get something put together, (either by myself or ???), soon and be able to use this bike later this Summer with a really nice set of wheels on there. So, stay tuned. And by the way, if you have any suggestions for nice QR wheels, let me know. 

Friday News And Views

Ze Mango ze Tango!

 Chris King Brings Matte Mango Back:

Despite the dark times of the late 90's/early 2000's, Chris King has been a stalwart against the "Age of Black". Those days when cycling went dark and everybody was trying to make their bikes as black as possible. I never did get on with that ide.

Black........ Boring!

 Well, that is, unless you add in splashes of color, and Chris King was about the only game in town for many years. Then other companies started bringing the color, and well, Chris King had to "innovate", so they started doing odd anodized colors, like Coffee Brown, and then matte finishes in various anodized colors. They were successes, but there was a problem.

Despite CK's experiences in the anodization process, which they fully control and know inside and out, variances in batch colors affected certain runs, especially that Matte Mango color, so CK pulled that from the line about 18 months ago. But now that the process of anodizing Matte Mango has been refined, King felt compelled to bring the color back again and make it a part of their regular line once more. Those hues include Black, Matte Black, Two Tone Black Gold, Midnight, Matte Turquoise, Red, Silver, Gold, and 3D Violet.

The fizik Ergolace GTX shoe (Image courtesy of fizik)

And More Colorful Stuff For Your Viewing Pleasure:

Colors other than black or white, (mostly seen in the roadie side of cycling) were also once rare. But over the past several years components and apparel have taken on more colorful patterns and hues. 

Take for instance the collaboration here between PEdALED and fizik with the brick red and tan Ergolace GTX shoes. That's a bold look, and fizik isn't the only company stepping outside the traditional boundaries of what cycling apparel and components have been. 

My first job in cycling was at a shop in Cedar Falls, Iowa where I worked for a man named Tom Webb who said something to the effect of, "Cycling is a colorful sport. Your stuff should reflect that. It's fun, so why not?" I found that sentiment to have a great impact upon me and I have always remembered the late Mr. Webb's philosophy on cycling apparel and components. 

I know colors are really hard on retailers because then we start getting into fashion and that usually has a shelf-life measured in months. What was 'cool' for anodized bits one season could be next season's pariah. Having a bunch of 3D Violet bits in a case that no one wants makes for bad profit and loss statements. 

Or that's how it used to be, at any rate. Now? Well, it seems color sells and I think more companies are emboldened to stick their necks out with more risky options, like the fizik shoes here. 

Grip Idea:

Recently I have tested out the new evolution of Ergon's GP1, the GP1 Evo, (seen here) and it got me to thinking about those Redshift Sports Cruise Control grips and others like those (seen here). That made me wonder why in the heck haven't I been using those Cruise Control grips lately? 

So, that was one thing. The next part is that I don't think I have ridden my gen I Fargo at all this year. Not even once. Crime committed!

It just so happens that I have a Kitchen Sink bar from Redshift on the Fargo. So..... Those Cruise Control grips are going on there, and I have a few other tweaks in mind for that bike which also will be implemented. That's my next project and I have a goal in mind to make the bike rideable with the new updates. Look for more on that ride idea in tomorrow's post. 

I hope to get all this fixed up and test ridden soon, so stay tuned here for a post detailing the changes and I am really looking forward to riding the Fargo again real soon. I cannot believe I haven't ridden it for so long! 

Big Discounts Expected For Black Friday:

In other Turkey Day related news, the feeling I get from different sources is that this early Holiday season will be marked by some incredible deals on bicycles, components, and accessories. 

I am already getting hit in my inbox with messages from companies telling me to be on the look-out for deals the weekend after Thanksgiving, and especially that day known as "Black Friday"

Pre-holiday discounting is already on the upswing. I have also noted several 25%-30% deals on apparel and other stuff out there. It just continues to point to the fact that the industry is bloated in terms of inventory and will be seeking to offer deals "too good to be true" for the end of 2023. 

So, let's say that all this massive discounting of overstock is successful. Will people be looking to buy during the opening months of 2024? Why would they be, if, as is somewhat hoped for by the business, people have all they need going into the New Year? 

It doesn't bode well, and I suspect that either way, successful sell-off or no, that depressed sales will be the norm and overstock will take a while to trickle out over the next six months to a year. And I would think that current manufacturing orders are down by a lot. Once the glut moves through, you may see another short-supply situation again until the market can finally find its bearings. And who knows how long that will take. 

At any rate, this situation brought on by the crazy daze of the pandemic are going to affect the cycling marketplace for months to come, maybe over a year yet. 

That's it for today! Have a fantastic weekend and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

Another Fargo Gen I Post (But With Links This Time!)

From Sunday evening's ride this past weekend.

The Salsa Cycles Gen I bike is an oft written about bicycle on this blog. Long time blog readers have seen this bike come and go throughout the years. So, why bother writing anything more about it? 

I've written about my likes and dislikes regarding this particular Fargo here. I've wondered if I could ever replace it here. I paid for and registered for the inaugural Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra only to be a no-show because of a Fargo Reunion Ride which came up last minute. I've modified it with different ideas for wheels. I've had countless event rides and reports from those rides which have featured the Gen I Fargo. 

So, another Fargo Gen I post? Really? 

Yes, really. 

I've tried to retire this bike, I've neglected it, but every time I see it in a corner of my shop, I get the itch to get back on it. Then when I do, as with the ride on Sunday, I am reminded of the reasons why I loved the bike from the get-go. 

Even though at times the Gen I Fargo sits unridden, I always come back to it. This is from 2020.

 Maybe you have a bicycle, or have had one, that just felt 'right'. A bicycle that seemed to just accommodate your body, riding style, and needs for comfort so well that you have not been able to replicate it with another bicycle. Perhaps it is a bicycle you've bonded with through adversity and success. Or maybe it is a bicycle you've been connected to other friends by, and perhaps would not have been, if not for that particular bicycle. 

A pile of six Gen I Fargos as seen at a 2010 Fargo Adventure Ride.

 Well, my Gen I Fargo is all of those things for me. It has been that irreplaceable bike. It has taken me on several adventures. I've bonded with that bike through adversity and success. I've gained friends via the Fargo I'd never have without that bike. 

But then again, I ride that bike and I just am 'at home' and none of that other stuff matters in that moment. It is just another addition to the legacy of experiences and I can appreciate the newest one just as much as I have any of the other experiences. 

I keep thinking I'll paint it. It is so battle-scarred, but the finish is 'just right'. It has character, and every scratch tells a story. No, I'll just keep maintaining it and change tires, bar tape, and whatnot as those things are necessary. And I'll keep on riding it, of course, no matter how out-of-date it gets. It is an 'old friend' by this point, and I'd wager that as long as I keep writing this blog, you'll keep seeing this bicycle from time to time.

Another Fargo Gen I Post (But With Links This Time!)

From Sunday evening's ride this past weekend.

The Salsa Cycles Gen I bike is an oft written about bicycle on this blog. Long time blog readers have seen this bike come and go throughout the years. So, why bother writing anything more about it? 

I've written about my likes and dislikes regarding this particular Fargo here. I've wondered if I could ever replace it here. I paid for and registered for the inaugural Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra only to be a no-show because of a Fargo Reunion Ride which came up last minute. I've modified it with different ideas for wheels. I've had countless event rides and reports from those rides which have featured the Gen I Fargo. 

So, another Fargo Gen I post? Really? 

Yes, really. 

I've tried to retire this bike, I've neglected it, but every time I see it in a corner of my shop, I get the itch to get back on it. Then when I do, as with the ride on Sunday, I am reminded of the reasons why I loved the bike from the get-go. 

Even though at times the Gen I Fargo sits unridden, I always come back to it. This is from 2020.

 Maybe you have a bicycle, or have had one, that just felt 'right'. A bicycle that seemed to just accommodate your body, riding style, and needs for comfort so well that you have not been able to replicate it with another bicycle. Perhaps it is a bicycle you've bonded with through adversity and success. Or maybe it is a bicycle you've been connected to other friends by, and perhaps would not have been, if not for that particular bicycle. 

A pile of six Gen I Fargos as seen at a 2010 Fargo Adventure Ride.

 Well, my Gen I Fargo is all of those things for me. It has been that irreplaceable bike. It has taken me on several adventures. I've bonded with that bike through adversity and success. I've gained friends via the Fargo I'd never have without that bike. 

But then again, I ride that bike and I just am 'at home' and none of that other stuff matters in that moment. It is just another addition to the legacy of experiences and I can appreciate the newest one just as much as I have any of the other experiences. 

I keep thinking I'll paint it. It is so battle-scarred, but the finish is 'just right'. It has character, and every scratch tells a story. No, I'll just keep maintaining it and change tires, bar tape, and whatnot as those things are necessary. And I'll keep on riding it, of course, no matter how out-of-date it gets. It is an 'old friend' by this point, and I'd wager that as long as I keep writing this blog, you'll keep seeing this bicycle from time to time.

Neglected But Not Forgotten: Part 3

New-ish Soma Cazaderos on old, old wheels!

So, I don't know if many of you noticed, but 2021 did not feature much of the old Gen I Fargo here. That's because I did not ride it much at all. Maybe a few times back and forth to work earlier in the year, but then most of this Summer and Fall? Not a day. It sat near the back of the stable most of that time. 

A couple of weeks ago now I started thinking about why that was. Obviously I was busy reviewing stuff and most of that happened with other bikes. Not that I couldn't have used the Fargo, I just didn't. 

Anyway, there it sat, unused, and without any real inspiration to dig it out, I let it go for weeks. Weeks turned into months, and you know what is next, and I did not want that to happen. So I needed to consider why it was I felt like I did concerning this bike and it boiled down to the heavy wheels and tires I had on there. While the fat Extraterrestrials were fun, they are just so darn heavy, and that pedestrian wheel set I was using, while okay, was pretty heavy as well. It made for an uninspiring ride. 

That meant they needed to go, but for what? Later on, when I was clearing out some junk that had accumulated, I got inspired to do something about all the tires I had gathering and taking up space, and that led to a wheel inventory. That's when I started putting some ideas together. 

I had these almost new Soma Cazadero tires in 700 X 50mm and a set of Sun Ringle' Black Flag 29"er wheels I had tested waaaaay back for "Twentynine Inches" which they didn't want back. (Standard Disclaimer) Those are pretty lightweight aluminum rimmed wheels with a really narrow inner rim width. In fact I have to laugh because these so-called MTB rims are actually narrower than current gravel rims. 

So, I had to refresh some tape, clean up some old sealant, and I set those wheels and tires up on the old Gen I Fargo and came up with this.....

The current state of things with the Fargo Gen I

I think it looks pretty all-right with these wheels and tires. More importantly, it is much more fun to ride, and much more comfortable. You'd think that those Extraterrestrials would ride smooth, and they do, but not like the Cazaderos do. These new tires should be a lot of fun on this bike and I look forward to riding it in this configuration for quite a while. 

I also now can mount fenders to this, if I want, while the old set up did not leave room for that. So that's a bonus to these wheels and tires as well. The drive train on this bike was getting on in wear, but I won't worry about that now until next Spring as I may use this some during the Winter.

Neglected But Not Forgotten: Part 3

New-ish Soma Cazaderos on old, old wheels!

So, I don't know if many of you noticed, but 2021 did not feature much of the old Gen I Fargo here. That's because I did not ride it much at all. Maybe a few times back and forth to work earlier in the year, but then most of this Summer and Fall? Not a day. It sat near the back of the stable most of that time. 

A couple of weeks ago now I started thinking about why that was. Obviously I was busy reviewing stuff and most of that happened with other bikes. Not that I couldn't have used the Fargo, I just didn't. 

Anyway, there it sat, unused, and without any real inspiration to dig it out, I let it go for weeks. Weeks turned into months, and you know what is next, and I did not want that to happen. So I needed to consider why it was I felt like I did concerning this bike and it boiled down to the heavy wheels and tires I had on there. While the fat Extraterrestrials were fun, they are just so darn heavy, and that pedestrian wheel set I was using, while okay, was pretty heavy as well. It made for an uninspiring ride. 

That meant they needed to go, but for what? Later on, when I was clearing out some junk that had accumulated, I got inspired to do something about all the tires I had gathering and taking up space, and that led to a wheel inventory. That's when I started putting some ideas together. 

I had these almost new Soma Cazadero tires in 700 X 50mm and a set of Sun Ringle' Black Flag 29"er wheels I had tested waaaaay back for "Twentynine Inches" which they didn't want back. (Standard Disclaimer) Those are pretty lightweight aluminum rimmed wheels with a really narrow inner rim width. In fact I have to laugh because these so-called MTB rims are actually narrower than current gravel rims. 

So, I had to refresh some tape, clean up some old sealant, and I set those wheels and tires up on the old Gen I Fargo and came up with this.....

The current state of things with the Fargo Gen I

I think it looks pretty all-right with these wheels and tires. More importantly, it is much more fun to ride, and much more comfortable. You'd think that those Extraterrestrials would ride smooth, and they do, but not like the Cazaderos do. These new tires should be a lot of fun on this bike and I look forward to riding it in this configuration for quite a while. 

I also now can mount fenders to this, if I want, while the old set up did not leave room for that. So that's a bonus to these wheels and tires as well. The drive train on this bike was getting on in wear, but I won't worry about that now until next Spring as I may use this some during the Winter.