Tires You Should Know About: Goodyear County Bicycle Tires

 The Goodyear County Tires

It's another edition of "Tires You Should Know About". In this post I will share a bit about a tire company you ALL probably know about. That's the ironic part. What you may not know is that they brand bicycle tires again now. 

I brought this to your attention with this post in May, and you readers with longer memories may recall that I mentioned Goodyear making bicycle tires again back in 2018 in an "FN&V" post. But if you are not familiar with what Goodyear is putting their name on for bicycle tires for gravel, read on....

First off, you might notice that I am inferring that Goodyear doesn't actually make the tires in question, and you would be correct if you are thinking that. Some other Far East vendor makes these. I haven't been able to ferret out just who it is, but I am certain we've all probably heard about other brand's that this mysterious factory makes. That said....

I'm sure Goodyear has some final say on design and properties of this tire, so with that in mind, I can tell you that while these are derivative in terms of tread design, they have a unique quality which may or may not appeal to you. Specifically, when I think about these County model tires, I would say that the excel at mostly paved travel with a little smoother gravel/dirt as a side dish. That's the short version of this review. If you don't need to know anything else, you could stop right here. For a deeper dive.....

Note how the shoulder tread is not at the outer circumference of the tire casing here.

I say that because of the way the casing and tread cap are shaped. The emphasis is on having the smoother, faster rolling central part of the tread hit the terrain you are riding on first. Those more aggressive tread features you see in the image above are set in such a manner that you'd have to be cutting into the terrain - or running really low pressures - to get that part of the tread to engage with the terrain. 

On gravel and most dirt, that isn't going to happen. Cornering tread? Yeah....You are going to have to lean over pretty hard to get that tread to engage and then what? I'm not buying it. Stability in loose gravel maybe? Yeah, but for the fact that the casing almost has what I would call a 'peak' for that central strip of smooth tread. It's rather obvious this is a tire for faster, smoother surfaces. Not that this is a bad thing. It isn't. But remember- horses for courses. The County is not my favorite loose gravel tire, and that's a predominant feature of our roads around here which are unpaved. 

 Goodyear makes more treaded gravel tires called the "Peak" and the "Connector" respectively, but even those tires look to have a similar casing shape. I'm not generally a fan of that casing shape for looser terrain because it makes the tires 'plow', or 'hunt' for the path of least resistance instead of floating up and over the looser stuff. That may seem counter-intuitive to many of you. However; when tires try to find more solid ground because of their casing shape on looser gravel, sand, or in loamy dirt, you end up with either a huge rolling resistance penalty, or a tire that rattles the front end severely causing the rider to have to 'herd' the bike down the road, or both simultaneously. That saps strrength and causes fatigue. 

Conversely, a tire which surfs up above the looser stuff rides calmer and causes less resistance to forward motion. An extreme example of this would be a fat bike tire in snow. If you can stay 'on top' of snow, you roll. When the tires cut into the snow, it's game over for forward motion and control. So, while having a tire that wants to find solid ground in loose terrain may seem safer, it causes a bunch of other issues and, in my opinion, is not a lot of fun to ride.
 

So, back to the Goodyear County tires. What would I use these for? Well, as mentioned above, any ride that featured a lot of back roads which had broken up, rough pavement, or any courses of off-pavement roads which were smoother, not having sections of loose rock for miles, and no sand or loose dirt. There I would ride this tire. It is fast, comfortable, holds air well, and has puncture protection. I like the rest of the tire's features and performance a lot.

The Connector and Peak have more tread, but I am willing to bet that they have a similarly peaked crown to the casing like the County does. That would be less appealing to me because more tread in the central strip area of the casing makes for less free rolling tires. Generally speaking, anyway, and so I'd say the pick of the litter in the Goodyear gravel range is the County. 

Now, you can ride it in loose gravel. I've done it. It just is not the best choice there. So, if you do have some looser sections of crushed rock, it's 'okay' there, just not optimal. At nearly 70 bucks a pop, I would not get this tire if I had roads predominantly in loose gravel. I'd look at something like the American Classic Kimberlite, or Donnelly's Strada USH for a better version of a tire for loose gravel that was also fast on pavement. 

But if you think the County is looking good for where you live, and you want to fly the Wingfoot on your skins, go for it. These are pretty nice tires if they are applied in the right places. 

Note: I purchased these tires with my own damn money- so there!

Tires You Should Know About: Goodyear County Bicycle Tires

 The Goodyear County Tires

It's another edition of "Tires You Should Know About". In this post I will share a bit about a tire company you ALL probably know about. That's the ironic part. What you may not know is that they brand bicycle tires again now. 

I brought this to your attention with this post in May, and you readers with longer memories may recall that I mentioned Goodyear making bicycle tires again back in 2018 in an "FN&V" post. But if you are not familiar with what Goodyear is putting their name on for bicycle tires for gravel, read on....

First off, you might notice that I am inferring that Goodyear doesn't actually make the tires in question, and you would be correct if you are thinking that. Some other Far East vendor makes these. I haven't been able to ferret out just who it is, but I am certain we've all probably heard about other brand's that this mysterious factory makes. That said....

I'm sure Goodyear has some final say on design and properties of this tire, so with that in mind, I can tell you that while these are derivative in terms of tread design, they have a unique quality which may or may not appeal to you. Specifically, when I think about these County model tires, I would say that the excel at mostly paved travel with a little smoother gravel/dirt as a side dish. That's the short version of this review. If you don't need to know anything else, you could stop right here. For a deeper dive.....

Note how the shoulder tread is not at the outer circumference of the tire casing here.

I say that because of the way the casing and tread cap are shaped. The emphasis is on having the smoother, faster rolling central part of the tread hit the terrain you are riding on first. Those more aggressive tread features you see in the image above are set in such a manner that you'd have to be cutting into the terrain - or running really low pressures - to get that part of the tread to engage with the terrain. 

On gravel and most dirt, that isn't going to happen. Cornering tread? Yeah....You are going to have to lean over pretty hard to get that tread to engage and then what? I'm not buying it. Stability in loose gravel maybe? Yeah, but for the fact that the casing almost has what I would call a 'peak' for that central strip of smooth tread. It's rather obvious this is a tire for faster, smoother surfaces. Not that this is a bad thing. It isn't. But remember- horses for courses. The County is not my favorite loose gravel tire, and that's a predominant feature of our roads around here which are unpaved. 

 Goodyear makes more treaded gravel tires called the "Peak" and the "Connector" respectively, but even those tires look to have a similar casing shape. I'm not generally a fan of that casing shape for looser terrain because it makes the tires 'plow', or 'hunt' for the path of least resistance instead of floating up and over the looser stuff. That may seem counter-intuitive to many of you. However; when tires try to find more solid ground because of their casing shape on looser gravel, sand, or in loamy dirt, you end up with either a huge rolling resistance penalty, or a tire that rattles the front end severely causing the rider to have to 'herd' the bike down the road, or both simultaneously. That saps strrength and causes fatigue. 

Conversely, a tire which surfs up above the looser stuff rides calmer and causes less resistance to forward motion. An extreme example of this would be a fat bike tire in snow. If you can stay 'on top' of snow, you roll. When the tires cut into the snow, it's game over for forward motion and control. So, while having a tire that wants to find solid ground in loose terrain may seem safer, it causes a bunch of other issues and, in my opinion, is not a lot of fun to ride.
 

So, back to the Goodyear County tires. What would I use these for? Well, as mentioned above, any ride that featured a lot of back roads which had broken up, rough pavement, or any courses of off-pavement roads which were smoother, not having sections of loose rock for miles, and no sand or loose dirt. There I would ride this tire. It is fast, comfortable, holds air well, and has puncture protection. I like the rest of the tire's features and performance a lot.

The Connector and Peak have more tread, but I am willing to bet that they have a similarly peaked crown to the casing like the County does. That would be less appealing to me because more tread in the central strip area of the casing makes for less free rolling tires. Generally speaking, anyway, and so I'd say the pick of the litter in the Goodyear gravel range is the County. 

Now, you can ride it in loose gravel. I've done it. It just is not the best choice there. So, if you do have some looser sections of crushed rock, it's 'okay' there, just not optimal. At nearly 70 bucks a pop, I would not get this tire if I had roads predominantly in loose gravel. I'd look at something like the American Classic Kimberlite, or Donnelly's Strada USH for a better version of a tire for loose gravel that was also fast on pavement. 

But if you think the County is looking good for where you live, and you want to fly the Wingfoot on your skins, go for it. These are pretty nice tires if they are applied in the right places. 

Note: I purchased these tires with my own damn money- so there!

Copy-Cat Or Coincidence?

Which one is a Byway and which one is a County tire?

 The world of bicycle parts manufacturing is a strange brew of behind-the-scenes manufacturers in Asia and branding companies that pay for designs and product to be made. It isn't very often where you are actually buying from the folks who made the product and designed it. Usually it is one or the other. 

This was never made more clear to me than when I started attending Interbike, the old industry trade show, back in the late 00's. At that time 29"ers were just getting off the ground, and many of us riders were looking to lighten up our bikes with carbon legged, aluminum crowned forks. 

There was a bit of discussion and controversy surrounding a certain model of carbon legged, aluminum crowned fork. One was sold by a known, reputable brand. The other, which looked all the world exactly like the branded one, was being sold online at a much reduced cost under a Asian company's name. Some said they weren't the same. Some claimed that they were exactly the same thing. What the heck was going on here?

Well, I happened to cruise by a booth at Interbike one year in the Asian Pavillion, and I saw a vendor who was displaying no less than a dozen of these forks. They all looked the same, but they were not. The carbon layup differed for the legs, and the crowns were machined slightly differently, and forged differently, one from another. This was all done to offer solutions to meet a brand's price point. You want a cheaper fork than your competitor's fork that looks like this? They had that. 

So, that's just one example of how the bicycle industry can work which can lead to confusion and speculation on the consumer end. Things are still somewhat this way. Take for instance the tires I got in for test and review for Riding Gravel. There was something very familiar about them. Then it dawned on me. They looked very close to the WTB Byways I have here. 

So, are they from the same factory? Could be. Are they the same tire, just modified? Probably not, but who is to say that the overall idea wasn't , you know......borrowed. Asian manufacturers are well known for copying other designs and selling them as their own. 

I tried to get to the bottom of the Goodyear County tire's manufacturing company in Taiwan, (No- these are not really made by Goodyear, they just license the brand name to another company and they operate as the "bicycle arm of Goodyear") I couldn't sus out the relationship that the factory may have with other brands, which is not surprising. Suffice it to say that you are probably riding tires that are not Goodyear tires that came from the factory that makes Goodyear tires. 

Sound confusing? Yeah......it is meant to be that way. So, a copy-cat or a coincidence, but these two tires are too close in design, in my opinion, for this to be just happenstance.

Copy-Cat Or Coincidence?

Which one is a Byway and which one is a County tire?

 The world of bicycle parts manufacturing is a strange brew of behind-the-scenes manufacturers in Asia and branding companies that pay for designs and product to be made. It isn't very often where you are actually buying from the folks who made the product and designed it. Usually it is one or the other. 

This was never made more clear to me than when I started attending Interbike, the old industry trade show, back in the late 00's. At that time 29"ers were just getting off the ground, and many of us riders were looking to lighten up our bikes with carbon legged, aluminum crowned forks. 

There was a bit of discussion and controversy surrounding a certain model of carbon legged, aluminum crowned fork. One was sold by a known, reputable brand. The other, which looked all the world exactly like the branded one, was being sold online at a much reduced cost under a Asian company's name. Some said they weren't the same. Some claimed that they were exactly the same thing. What the heck was going on here?

Well, I happened to cruise by a booth at Interbike one year in the Asian Pavillion, and I saw a vendor who was displaying no less than a dozen of these forks. They all looked the same, but they were not. The carbon layup differed for the legs, and the crowns were machined slightly differently, and forged differently, one from another. This was all done to offer solutions to meet a brand's price point. You want a cheaper fork than your competitor's fork that looks like this? They had that. 

So, that's just one example of how the bicycle industry can work which can lead to confusion and speculation on the consumer end. Things are still somewhat this way. Take for instance the tires I got in for test and review for Riding Gravel. There was something very familiar about them. Then it dawned on me. They looked very close to the WTB Byways I have here. 

So, are they from the same factory? Could be. Are they the same tire, just modified? Probably not, but who is to say that the overall idea wasn't , you know......borrowed. Asian manufacturers are well known for copying other designs and selling them as their own. 

I tried to get to the bottom of the Goodyear County tire's manufacturing company in Taiwan, (No- these are not really made by Goodyear, they just license the brand name to another company and they operate as the "bicycle arm of Goodyear") I couldn't sus out the relationship that the factory may have with other brands, which is not surprising. Suffice it to say that you are probably riding tires that are not Goodyear tires that came from the factory that makes Goodyear tires. 

Sound confusing? Yeah......it is meant to be that way. So, a copy-cat or a coincidence, but these two tires are too close in design, in my opinion, for this to be just happenstance.

Friday News And Views

Riding off into the Sunset.......

Hold On A Min......

 Just when you think you've left it all behind you, then this..... A blog about a Trans Iowa v14 experience, but not just any experience. This was from one of the riders that got DQ'ed, Stefano Tomasello. You should grab a cuppa whatever, and settle in, because despite what Stefano may think, this is a compelling read. (Click Here)

First off, I appreciate his transparency and his honest feelings. I had imagined that he was going to be disappointed and then doubly so when he found out I wasn't going to do another Trans Iowa. Apparently I was right about that, judging from this blog post of his. As for myself, I already said my piece about the incident in my race reports here on the blog immediately following T.I.v14. But here is a quote which sums up those thoughts and feelings that I had about the incident which I pulled from my report:

"I felt sad. Sad that this happened, but I didn't place any blame. None of us did. What actually happened amongst those three riders which precipitated the decision they made is only a story they know. I'm not really interested in the full story, to be honest. It is what it is."

Of course, I know a little bit more about the story now, but my mind hasn't been changed. It is what it is. I find what people do after they DNF, or as in this case, get DQ'ed, is what is fascinating. So, for me, Stefano's telling of that bit was of great interest to me. The pre-event happenings were also shocking to me. Amazing things happened to that man. It is a wonder he even made it to the start.

Anyway, a great story, and I was glad to have been able to read it. Thank you, Stefano. 

A Pirelli tire

 Will The Bicycle Tire Market Be Changed By Big Players?

One of the sub-stories of 2018 is that two large tire makers, known more for their automobile, truck, motorcycle, and other vehicle tires, are entering the bicycle tire marketplace. In both cases, for a second time.

Pirelli and Goodyear seem like oddballs in the cycling world, but both companies are communicating a serious effort will be made to be a "player" in the marketplace. There are a few folks taking this message seriously in the industry. I am less convinced.

I don't know, color me skeptical, but I find it hard to believe that high performance cycling aficionados will be taking a "car tire company" seriously. I know that seems like a specious statement, since Continental makes automobile and motorcycle tires and many other Chinese made brands, like Maxxis and Kenda also do vehicle tires. Somehow Goodyear seems different. Pirelli? Maybe..... I could see that.

But I also can't help but wonder if the interest some motor vehicle companies are showing in e-bikes isn't the real motivating factor here. Yamaha already has e-bikes and Ford Motor Company is talking a pretty serious e-bike game as well. Could it be that these motor vehicle related tire companies are getting a foot in the door to be players in a marketplace where vehicles with two wheels are electrified? Wooing folks off pedelecs fitted with these brand's tires and onto full on e-motorcycles will be a pathway for these brands and others to stay players in a post-internal combustion vehicle future.

Wolf Tooth Component's new bags for stuff.

Wolf Tooth Introduces Bags For Bike Storage:

In the old game of bicycle bags, there are so many players you cannot keep track of them all. Bikepacking, (or "Amateur Homelessness:, as one blogger calls it), has fueled the bag rage to insane heights. Now Wolf Tooth has entered the fray with accessories to it's "B-Rad" system.

The "Pump Bag" holds a 12" pump, but can carry more things than that, of course. It will mount off a B-Rad base, but it comes with straps to mount to frame tubes as well. The other bag is a roll top affair dubbed the........wait for it......."Roll-Top Bag"! It is dropper post compatible and also can be mounted to a B-Rad via an adapter plate or directly strapped to frame tubes.

I like these ideas since many bikes, and especially gravel/all road bikes, have inaccessible water bottle mounts which seem like perfect places to mount "other stuff". Tool kits, extra clothes, etc all can be toted onboard with easy access. This could be a space saver and make room for other things in hydration packs or seat bags and top tube bags. You can check out both bags HERE on Wolf Tooth's site

"On the water" soon!

Pink MCD Update:

I got word mid-week that the pink MCD frame by Black Mountain Cycles is sitting in a container waiting to be loaded onto a container ship bound for the U.S.A. soon. Proprietor, Mike Varley, says the ETA is around July 2nd.

I have a link to track the ocean going vessel as it comes across the Pacific Ocean. That isn't the typical "dot watching" I would normally be engaged in, but this seems like a good diversion for the meantime as I gather more bits and pieces together to get this rig road worthy once it arrives.

I forgot to mention that I decided on some Marque Cycling pink bar tape to put on the Salsa Cowchipper Bar I already have sitting down in the Lab. Those will be fitted with Gevenalle levers which will be retrofitted with some 11 speed Shimano bar end shifters I have squirreled away. Those levers will also pull some TRP Spyre calipers I have sitting around and I may look into some Center Lock rotors to go on the Irwin Cycles Aon Carbon GX 35 wheels. If not Center Locks then I already have the adapters to go six bolt style.

Well, there will be a lot of parts acquisition going on soon, so stay tuned for all of that......

In the meantime, have a great weekend and stay rubber side down!

Friday News And Views

Riding off into the Sunset.......

Hold On A Min......

 Just when you think you've left it all behind you, then this..... A blog about a Trans Iowa v14 experience, but not just any experience. This was from one of the riders that got DQ'ed, Stefano Tomasello. You should grab a cuppa whatever, and settle in, because despite what Stefano may think, this is a compelling read. (Click Here)

First off, I appreciate his transparency and his honest feelings. I had imagined that he was going to be disappointed and then doubly so when he found out I wasn't going to do another Trans Iowa. Apparently I was right about that, judging from this blog post of his. As for myself, I already said my piece about the incident in my race reports here on the blog immediately following T.I.v14. But here is a quote which sums up those thoughts and feelings that I had about the incident which I pulled from my report:

"I felt sad. Sad that this happened, but I didn't place any blame. None of us did. What actually happened amongst those three riders which precipitated the decision they made is only a story they know. I'm not really interested in the full story, to be honest. It is what it is."

Of course, I know a little bit more about the story now, but my mind hasn't been changed. It is what it is. I find what people do after they DNF, or as in this case, get DQ'ed, is what is fascinating. So, for me, Stefano's telling of that bit was of great interest to me. The pre-event happenings were also shocking to me. Amazing things happened to that man. It is a wonder he even made it to the start.

Anyway, a great story, and I was glad to have been able to read it. Thank you, Stefano. 

A Pirelli tire

 Will The Bicycle Tire Market Be Changed By Big Players?

One of the sub-stories of 2018 is that two large tire makers, known more for their automobile, truck, motorcycle, and other vehicle tires, are entering the bicycle tire marketplace. In both cases, for a second time.

Pirelli and Goodyear seem like oddballs in the cycling world, but both companies are communicating a serious effort will be made to be a "player" in the marketplace. There are a few folks taking this message seriously in the industry. I am less convinced.

I don't know, color me skeptical, but I find it hard to believe that high performance cycling aficionados will be taking a "car tire company" seriously. I know that seems like a specious statement, since Continental makes automobile and motorcycle tires and many other Chinese made brands, like Maxxis and Kenda also do vehicle tires. Somehow Goodyear seems different. Pirelli? Maybe..... I could see that.

But I also can't help but wonder if the interest some motor vehicle companies are showing in e-bikes isn't the real motivating factor here. Yamaha already has e-bikes and Ford Motor Company is talking a pretty serious e-bike game as well. Could it be that these motor vehicle related tire companies are getting a foot in the door to be players in a marketplace where vehicles with two wheels are electrified? Wooing folks off pedelecs fitted with these brand's tires and onto full on e-motorcycles will be a pathway for these brands and others to stay players in a post-internal combustion vehicle future.

Wolf Tooth Component's new bags for stuff.

Wolf Tooth Introduces Bags For Bike Storage:

In the old game of bicycle bags, there are so many players you cannot keep track of them all. Bikepacking, (or "Amateur Homelessness:, as one blogger calls it), has fueled the bag rage to insane heights. Now Wolf Tooth has entered the fray with accessories to it's "B-Rad" system.

The "Pump Bag" holds a 12" pump, but can carry more things than that, of course. It will mount off a B-Rad base, but it comes with straps to mount to frame tubes as well. The other bag is a roll top affair dubbed the........wait for it......."Roll-Top Bag"! It is dropper post compatible and also can be mounted to a B-Rad via an adapter plate or directly strapped to frame tubes.

I like these ideas since many bikes, and especially gravel/all road bikes, have inaccessible water bottle mounts which seem like perfect places to mount "other stuff". Tool kits, extra clothes, etc all can be toted onboard with easy access. This could be a space saver and make room for other things in hydration packs or seat bags and top tube bags. You can check out both bags HERE on Wolf Tooth's site

"On the water" soon!

Pink MCD Update:

I got word mid-week that the pink MCD frame by Black Mountain Cycles is sitting in a container waiting to be loaded onto a container ship bound for the U.S.A. soon. Proprietor, Mike Varley, says the ETA is around July 2nd.

I have a link to track the ocean going vessel as it comes across the Pacific Ocean. That isn't the typical "dot watching" I would normally be engaged in, but this seems like a good diversion for the meantime as I gather more bits and pieces together to get this rig road worthy once it arrives.

I forgot to mention that I decided on some Marque Cycling pink bar tape to put on the Salsa Cowchipper Bar I already have sitting down in the Lab. Those will be fitted with Gevenalle levers which will be retrofitted with some 11 speed Shimano bar end shifters I have squirreled away. Those levers will also pull some TRP Spyre calipers I have sitting around and I may look into some Center Lock rotors to go on the Irwin Cycles Aon Carbon GX 35 wheels. If not Center Locks then I already have the adapters to go six bolt style.

Well, there will be a lot of parts acquisition going on soon, so stay tuned for all of that......

In the meantime, have a great weekend and stay rubber side down!

Friday News And Views

Terrene Tire's new Chunk 2.6" X 29"

Dialing Plus Back:

Over the last several years mountain bikers have been presented with an onslaught of "plus" sized tires. Mostly in the 27.5" size. The thought was that it was going to be a midway point between the traction and stability of fat bikes with a splash of lighter weight and speed that smaller tires possess. However; hard charging riders in the enduro ranks and weekend warriors running higher speeds in mountainous terrain have found that those puffy tires are just a little too forgiving. Especially in terms of sidewall stiffness. To get a tire constructed to withstand the forces that this sort of riding introduces, and keep the 2.8"-3.0" widths, the tire would be too heavy. So, the idea was to dial back the width a bit and beef up the tire casing, keeping weights in check, but also keeping some of that volume.


This new Terrene model is a good example of what the industry is moving toward in the future. In fact, 2019 will be rife with bikes with this sort of tire size and tire manufacturers are already making tires like this for the aftermarket. Oddly enough, 29+ seems to be somewhat free of this phenomena, but I think that this is due to the more slow speed applications 29+ is generally used for. (You don't see 29+ being enduro'ed, bruh!) So, I think 29+ is a bit exempt from this issue.

I find the whole 29" X 2.6" thing fascinating from another perspective, myself. That being that ten years ago many of us would have given almost anything to get our hands on a tire this size! Now they are here, along with the bikes that make them worthwhile. Pretty crazy to consider how far things have come.

Ti gravel e-bike from Russia, anyone?

It Seems Like Everyone Wants To Press The Easy Button:

Electric motors on two wheeled vehicles, (call them whatever you'd like, here they are motorcycles), have their place, I suppose. Commuting in places where the temperatures and conditions are relatively the same all year long is one place. (SoCal, Southwest, maybe), but really, not very many other places are ripe for your year-round electric motorcyclist. So, manufacturers have decided that electricity is best applied to cycling situations where physical prowess was/is the only way you were going to get from point to point on a bicycle. Mountain biking is one prime example where it seems making the experience "easier" is "okay".

But now I'm seeing "gravel electric powered rigs" being pushed, and the press release copy doesn't lie. Check this out: "They can ride like an ordinary bike and connect an electric drive when it is necessary. For example, when driving uphill or at high speed against the wind. Using a finely tuned electric drive, the cyclist can dose the load and not overload the muscles and joints. This allows you to travel much longer than you can afford on the basis of your physical shape....."In other words, "make it easier". This is what most of this electric motorcycle stuff is really all about, pressing the easy button. Anyone that says any different is either naive or in denial.

Physically disabled or disadvantaged people are one of the reasons often pushed for bikes like this, and where that truly is the case- a person would otherwise never be able to gain/regain the fitness and skill levels necessary to cycle again- I am all for this stuff. But you and I are both well aware that this market is tiny. That's not accounting for the growth of this segment. Commuting/car replacement is another semi-legitimate argument for these rigs, (I'd wager that insurance and legal licensing for some is an issue and pushes numbers up here), and that's cool, but again, that doesn't account for the numbers here. The "white elephant" in the room no one is talking about is that many folks get these because "it makes riding a bicycle easier". And really, isn't that why people flocked to automobiles in the early 20th Century? Because it was easier than riding a bicycle? (Not to mention horse riding.)

It's ludicrous to believe that these contraptions turn non-cyclists into cyclists as well. There is zero data that is reliable to show that this is happening. Human nature is to gravitate toward easier and not harder physical activities. In fact, I am still of the thought that if government cracked down and made these motorized vehicles get inspected and licensed/insured, like most other types of motorized vehicles, then the market would dry right up. This goes for ATV/Quads, golf carts, or any other unlicensed/uninsured modes of transportation. In fact, New York did crack down on these electrified two wheeled rigs, much to the outcry of fans of these electric motorcycles, and the market was severely curtailed there. These regulations have since been rescinded.

Get in GW- Maybe Be A Winner Of A Frame Set From Lauf!

Gravel Worlds To Give Away A Lauf True Grit Frameset:

Okay, let's get right to the nitty-gritty. Lauf has promised the Pirates of the Gravel Worlds team that they will be able to give away a Lauf True Grit frame set to someone who is entered into the 150 mile or 75 mile length events of Gravel Worlds. The drawing will be on August 18th during the awards ceremony for Gravel Worlds at SchillingBridge, which is also home to the start/finish of Gravel Worlds.

So, get in on Gravel Worlds by registering here. Never been to this event? Well.....let me tell ya....

There are "big deal" gravel events and that's cool. There are "dirt bag", grassroots gravel events and those are fun. Gravel Worlds is truly a balanced approach offering elements of both of those extremes. The Pirate Cycling League guys haven't ever forgotten their roots in grassroots gravel grinding, but they are also right there when it comes to "premier,"world class" gravel events. While the whole "gravel worlds" thing may be a bit pretentious, it makes sense when you come and experience the event and you understand where the Pirates are coming from.

The challenge is real at Gravel Worlds, but so are the people involved. I love this event, and what the PCL does to keep it the fun event that it is, I know, is not an easy balancing act, but they pull it off year after year. I mean, the chance to win a frame set is nice, but don't go to Gravel Worlds just for that. It is way more than that, and winner's jerseys, or whatever. Way, way more than that. Just go, and you'll understand.

It's a Goodyear tire! (Looks very MSO-ish, don't cha think?)

Goodyear Bicycle Tires Reappear:

After about a 40 plus year absence, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has reentered the bicycle tire market place.  You've probably seen the stories already on the innergoogles about these tires.

The full story isn't really being told here, is what I am thinking. Think about it- why would Goodyear get back into bicycle tires? The marketplace is crowded, for one thing, and from what I can see here, Goodyear isn't bringing anything earth shattering in terms of technologies to bicycles. Not like Continental has with Black Chili, or Vittoria with Graphene. It's just another choice from a name that has almost no cache' with the performance cyclist segment. Now I could totally see Goodyear tires as a "mart bike" product. But for the market they seem to be after? It just seems weird to me. Maybe I just don't get it.

I'm sure they are fine tires, but I just cannot shake the feeling that this is a toe-hold to getting someplace else in terms of market share. Maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, it is a curious introduction, to say the least.

Okay, that's it for this week. Have a great weekend and keep the rubber side down!

Friday News And Views

Terrene Tire's new Chunk 2.6" X 29"

Dialing Plus Back:

Over the last several years mountain bikers have been presented with an onslaught of "plus" sized tires. Mostly in the 27.5" size. The thought was that it was going to be a midway point between the traction and stability of fat bikes with a splash of lighter weight and speed that smaller tires possess. However; hard charging riders in the enduro ranks and weekend warriors running higher speeds in mountainous terrain have found that those puffy tires are just a little too forgiving. Especially in terms of sidewall stiffness. To get a tire constructed to withstand the forces that this sort of riding introduces, and keep the 2.8"-3.0" widths, the tire would be too heavy. So, the idea was to dial back the width a bit and beef up the tire casing, keeping weights in check, but also keeping some of that volume.


This new Terrene model is a good example of what the industry is moving toward in the future. In fact, 2019 will be rife with bikes with this sort of tire size and tire manufacturers are already making tires like this for the aftermarket. Oddly enough, 29+ seems to be somewhat free of this phenomena, but I think that this is due to the more slow speed applications 29+ is generally used for. (You don't see 29+ being enduro'ed, bruh!) So, I think 29+ is a bit exempt from this issue.

I find the whole 29" X 2.6" thing fascinating from another perspective, myself. That being that ten years ago many of us would have given almost anything to get our hands on a tire this size! Now they are here, along with the bikes that make them worthwhile. Pretty crazy to consider how far things have come.

Ti gravel e-bike from Russia, anyone?

It Seems Like Everyone Wants To Press The Easy Button:

Electric motors on two wheeled vehicles, (call them whatever you'd like, here they are motorcycles), have their place, I suppose. Commuting in places where the temperatures and conditions are relatively the same all year long is one place. (SoCal, Southwest, maybe), but really, not very many other places are ripe for your year-round electric motorcyclist. So, manufacturers have decided that electricity is best applied to cycling situations where physical prowess was/is the only way you were going to get from point to point on a bicycle. Mountain biking is one prime example where it seems making the experience "easier" is "okay".

But now I'm seeing "gravel electric powered rigs" being pushed, and the press release copy doesn't lie. Check this out: "They can ride like an ordinary bike and connect an electric drive when it is necessary. For example, when driving uphill or at high speed against the wind. Using a finely tuned electric drive, the cyclist can dose the load and not overload the muscles and joints. This allows you to travel much longer than you can afford on the basis of your physical shape....."In other words, "make it easier". This is what most of this electric motorcycle stuff is really all about, pressing the easy button. Anyone that says any different is either naive or in denial.

Physically disabled or disadvantaged people are one of the reasons often pushed for bikes like this, and where that truly is the case- a person would otherwise never be able to gain/regain the fitness and skill levels necessary to cycle again- I am all for this stuff. But you and I are both well aware that this market is tiny. That's not accounting for the growth of this segment. Commuting/car replacement is another semi-legitimate argument for these rigs, (I'd wager that insurance and legal licensing for some is an issue and pushes numbers up here), and that's cool, but again, that doesn't account for the numbers here. The "white elephant" in the room no one is talking about is that many folks get these because "it makes riding a bicycle easier". And really, isn't that why people flocked to automobiles in the early 20th Century? Because it was easier than riding a bicycle? (Not to mention horse riding.)

It's ludicrous to believe that these contraptions turn non-cyclists into cyclists as well. There is zero data that is reliable to show that this is happening. Human nature is to gravitate toward easier and not harder physical activities. In fact, I am still of the thought that if government cracked down and made these motorized vehicles get inspected and licensed/insured, like most other types of motorized vehicles, then the market would dry right up. This goes for ATV/Quads, golf carts, or any other unlicensed/uninsured modes of transportation. In fact, New York did crack down on these electrified two wheeled rigs, much to the outcry of fans of these electric motorcycles, and the market was severely curtailed there. These regulations have since been rescinded.

Get in GW- Maybe Be A Winner Of A Frame Set From Lauf!

Gravel Worlds To Give Away A Lauf True Grit Frameset:

Okay, let's get right to the nitty-gritty. Lauf has promised the Pirates of the Gravel Worlds team that they will be able to give away a Lauf True Grit frame set to someone who is entered into the 150 mile or 75 mile length events of Gravel Worlds. The drawing will be on August 18th during the awards ceremony for Gravel Worlds at SchillingBridge, which is also home to the start/finish of Gravel Worlds.

So, get in on Gravel Worlds by registering here. Never been to this event? Well.....let me tell ya....

There are "big deal" gravel events and that's cool. There are "dirt bag", grassroots gravel events and those are fun. Gravel Worlds is truly a balanced approach offering elements of both of those extremes. The Pirate Cycling League guys haven't ever forgotten their roots in grassroots gravel grinding, but they are also right there when it comes to "premier,"world class" gravel events. While the whole "gravel worlds" thing may be a bit pretentious, it makes sense when you come and experience the event and you understand where the Pirates are coming from.

The challenge is real at Gravel Worlds, but so are the people involved. I love this event, and what the PCL does to keep it the fun event that it is, I know, is not an easy balancing act, but they pull it off year after year. I mean, the chance to win a frame set is nice, but don't go to Gravel Worlds just for that. It is way more than that, and winner's jerseys, or whatever. Way, way more than that. Just go, and you'll understand.

It's a Goodyear tire! (Looks very MSO-ish, don't cha think?)

Goodyear Bicycle Tires Reappear:

After about a 40 plus year absence, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has reentered the bicycle tire market place.  You've probably seen the stories already on the innergoogles about these tires.

The full story isn't really being told here, is what I am thinking. Think about it- why would Goodyear get back into bicycle tires? The marketplace is crowded, for one thing, and from what I can see here, Goodyear isn't bringing anything earth shattering in terms of technologies to bicycles. Not like Continental has with Black Chili, or Vittoria with Graphene. It's just another choice from a name that has almost no cache' with the performance cyclist segment. Now I could totally see Goodyear tires as a "mart bike" product. But for the market they seem to be after? It just seems weird to me. Maybe I just don't get it.

I'm sure they are fine tires, but I just cannot shake the feeling that this is a toe-hold to getting someplace else in terms of market share. Maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, it is a curious introduction, to say the least.

Okay, that's it for this week. Have a great weekend and keep the rubber side down!