Gravel Grinder News: Iowa Wind And Rock Announces Registration

From IWAR's social media

 Iowa Wind And Rock Announces 8th Annual Event:

Gravel cycling on the big stage is kind of like ultra-processed cheese product these days. It tastes okay, it's really bad for you, but you melt it over nachos anyway and eat it. It's all you find at the concession stands, so what is a person to do?  

Of course, there are still people serving up "original recipes" for gravel events and one of those events is Iowa Wind and Rock.  I should know, for reasons many of you out there are aware of. And if you are not aware, well, what rock have you just come out from under? 

Anyway... Here's what their post on social media said:

"The 8th running of Iowa Wind and Rock. Eight points on a compass. What direction will we choose this year? The only way to find out is to sign up between Nov 1 and Dec 1, 2025 and show up on April 18th, 2026.

 https://www.bikereg.com/iowa-wind-and-rock

 

Remember: You Are Responsible For You" 

Comments: Eight years?! Wow..... Time flies by and all, right? I think it is an amazing accomplishment regarding the longevity of this type of event. Some have compared this style of gravel event to the Barkley Marathon, while others say it is incredibly stupid and "not racing". But this style of event, and many others which are based upon this ideal, were how Gravel™ got where it is today. Kind of like how cheese was made on the farm, then someone decided to copy the idea, then corporations got a hold of the idea, and well, you know what happened next. 

 

Cheese Whiz. 

 

Don't eat Cheese Whiz people. Get you some of that "Real Thing". Whether it be IWAR or something cooked up by people who are following the original recipes. Don't accept substitutes!  

Two Things

Back At It

Thursday N.Y. Roll and I recorded a new podcast. It was the first since my son died and it went fine. I'll come back around to this thought in a bit.

But first, I was surprised to learn CORE4 has over a thousand riders registered for today's event. That is certainly impressive! We talked about this on this episode, but I wonder if CORE4's rapid growth in numbers will start to bring with it some negativity. We will see. 

We also discussed this 'drop bar MTB/gravel' thing. I'm tempted again to drag this aging old 29"er I have in the Lab out and see if I couldn't convert it into such a rig for some testing. It is an old Gary Fisher HiFi FS 29"er from around 2008. It would be a perfect bike since it has XC geometry and short-ish travel. It isn't a tank, but I cannot imagine something like this not weighing in the low to mid 20's for weight no matter what I slide in there for wheels. 

I've got just about everything I'll need to swap over to a drop bar MTB set up, and why the heck not? Well, we'll see. It'd be a fun experiment, if nothing else. A project like this might help me too, since it will keep my mind employed and all this sitting around the past two weeks needs to come to an end.

But it was necessary time with the family and for myself. Getting the podcast going again is another step towards "new normal" around here. Of course, it will never be the same as it once was.  

Oh! And the link to the latest podcast on the Spotify site is HERE. 

Image by Greg Grandgeorge

Iowa Wind and Rock Announces 2026 Dates:

Iowa Wind and Rock (IWAR) has set the date for the eighth running  of this ultra-endurance test of physical and mental strength. The 300+ mile event will take place on Saturday - Sunday, April 18th - 19th. 

IWAR is the direct descendant of Trans Iowa, the event I put on for 14 straight years. This event is unique, very difficult, attracts few takers, and is one of the most unique and rare events in gravel cycling.

I used to hint and tease that some day there would be no more Trans Iowa, and that is true, but there is still a "Trans Iowa-like" event in IWAR. But this event this may be a thing of the past sooner than later.  

While this event is not attractive to most cyclists, if you even have a hint of "I want to do this some day", don't wait. Because I can tell you from experiences I have had with Trans Iowa's ending that regret is real and second chances don't always happen. In fact, I would wager that if IWAR ends, and it will someday, that no one else will ever put on an event like it in Iowa,m or anywhere, ever again. I was floored when IWAR started, to be honest. That a few folks want to even try doing this sort of event year after year besides me is beyond my comprehension. So, yeah.... 

This is a super-rare event which will change your life, if you toe the line. If it goes away before you decide to do it? I don't think you'll ever get the chance again. That's my take on things.  

Where Were We?

 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! 

Again with the Trans Iowa stuff. I know, but April was essentially "Trans Iowa Month" here, and I suppose you could add in the first week of May with my reporting on the just completed event for the year. This time I wanted to shine a light on cue sheet navigation. It was something I took great pains to explain in detail here on the blog, so many of you long-time readers will probably recall this being a big deal.

A typical Trans Iowa cue sheet

I was chatting with Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective board member Nick Arendt at our most recent board meeting and he brought up cue sheet navigation while we were discussing Iowa Wind And Rock, (happening today and tomorrow, actually!). 

Nick said something which I've heard before, but is something I do not consider often, and is probably something most folks who have never used a cue sheet in an event would think about. Now, this probably is somewhat unique in terms of how I implemented cue sheet navigation, so others may have a different viewpoint, but if you had ridden in Trans Iowa, or as Nick, in the only C.O.G.100 event, you know first hand what Nick meant when he told me he didn't really ever know exactly where he was during the event.

I suppose it may seem very odd as to why I would have made the cues so precise, yet so vague at the same time so that riders knew exactly where to turn, but had no idea in a macro sense where the points were on a map. No sense of space beyond the immediate was portrayed on the cues. I went as far as not identifying towns and villages on the cues. Unless a rider saw a water tower emblazoned with the village's name, or a Post Office, business, or official government office of some sort, they would never know where they were in relation to ....well, anything!

Finishers of Trans Iowa knew where the start and end points were. But where did they go? Image by A. Andonopoulous

It was not uncommon for Trans Iowa finishers to ask me at the end of the event, "Where did we go this year?" Some of them would understand in a general sense given some knowledge of highways in the state and where they had crossed them, but most had no idea where they had been, especially in the earlier versions before GPS was widely available to cyclists. Of course, later into TI's run cyclists could have used a track of where they had been on their GPS enabled computer afterward to gauge where the route had gone, but many riders did not have this available to them during those days.

So, it was imperative not only for the riders to pay attention to every detail on the cues, but for me and those who reviewed my cue sheets to get every detail critical to navigation right. It was also a difficult task to edit this information down to a clear and concise reading with no confusion induced by the information I did give riders. This was facilitated by those I had volunteer to check my cues out. People like Jeremy Fry, Wally Kilburg, George Keslin, Tony McGrane, and others who would either look over my cues or use them to navigate the route in the field.

Every year these people suggested edits and helped me make Trans Iowa cues the best possible. It was a hard task with a new course every year all 14 years I put this event on. While processes were refined and things were eased by the end of the run, it was by no means an "easy task". Giving explanations every year on the blog was also a bit tedious, however, I felt it could never be pointed out enough how the cues worked.

And I am glad I took the space here to do that. It made for an experience you cannot get anywhere else in cycling. Well......there is Iowa Wind and Rock! And the Ragnarok 105 uses cues yet, I think... So you still can get this experience as long as they keep those events going.

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of KOM

 A "Thinking Outside Of The Box" FN&V

 KOM Xeno Hubs Redefine Rear Hub Technology:

A U.K. based company called KOM is attempting to redefine how rear hubs will look and work in the future with its Xeno hubset. 

Boasting a revolutionary design which places the ratcheting pawls, which allow for coasting, on the non-drive side of the hub, the Xeno hubs are a very different take on bicycle hubs. The hub uses a kind of torque tube, which transfers the power of pedaling to the other side of the hub from the cassette carrier. It is nothing like a traditional hub design.

The one-piece, tubular axle is supported by bearings which can be placed more outboard than can be with a traditional design, making for a claimed stiffer axle. This all results in a design which can take advantage of lighter materials and larger diameters for the axles and ratchet ring.

What is really wild about these Xeno hubs are the pawls, which are made from aluminum. KOM claims this is okay because the larger diameter of the system lends more leverage and thus a lighter material can be utilized without sacrificing strength necessary for transmitting pedaling forces. KOM claims the aluminum pawls have less inertia allowing for faster engagement of the 120 points of contact.

Of course, there is a compromise. This design necessitates a different disc rotor due to the non-standard diameter of the hub axle.  KOM sells a rotor with each hub which compensates for this. These are claimed to be lighter than usual rotors, again due to the diameter of the hub, and stiffer because the rotor mounting point is closer to the brake calipers. A unique four bolt mounting pattern is used as well.

Cost for a standard color (silver or black) hub set (front and rear Xeno design)  is approximately $1.100.00USD. Custom colored sets are available as well for an upcharge. 

 Comments: The Xeno hubs are MTB specific for now, but if something like this idea shows merit, it could be applied to other types of bicycles as well. Yes, the disc mount is odd, but this idea makes sense on the surface. If this idea proves to be worthwhile in the long haul there are several benefits to riders which standard hubs cannot provide. Obviously the prices would have to come down a lot for anything like this to become mainstream. Something to watch and see if it takes root here, I think. 

Image courtesy of KAV Helmets

KAV Helmets Redefines Helmet Fit, Tech With 3D Printing:

The helmet technology we ride with today is based upon materials and construction techniques developed decades ago. KAV Helmets looks to break this mold with their range of 3D printed helmets which boast several advantages, the most impressive being a customized fit for each purchaser of their helmets.

KAV Helmets offer a rider the chance to get a helmet which is claimed to be as aerodynamic as anything available, better at cooling your head, and made to fit your head. They do this by leveraging 3D printing.

Utilizing "crumple zone" design, KAV claims their helmets are nearly 3 times better at absorbing impacts. Using a hexagonal design, their helmets shear as well as crumple, which does basically the same thing as MIPS tries to achieve.

Their custom fit allows each helmet to be tailor made for its rider. KAV achieves this by sending you a link to an app after purchase which the customer uses to take an image of their head. The app maps the head and allows KAV to create a custom "Fit Cap" which is sent out to the customer for trial fitting. Once any changes are suggested and the cap is approved then KAV 3D prints your helmet and sends it to you. 

All this sounds incredibly expensive, but looking at the prices, the KAV range falls in line with most helmet company's top-range offerings with KAV helmets starting at $225.00USD and going up to $300.00USD. All manufacturing is based in the USA as well.

Comments: I've got an odd-shaped, BIG noggin, and this technology and manufacturing technique sounds pretty interesting. I'm considering it for myself.  

Image courtesy of Morelle 

Fast Charging In 15 Minutes?

Another outside of the box cycling product which soon might revolutionize things is from Morelle. An ebike that claims a fast charge of 15 minutes.

Using a silicon based battery instead of a graphite one, along with some other electronic wizardry, Morelle promises a bike you will be able to ride and recharge the battery in without much down time, which will allow riders to push the limits of range more than perhaps they do now with slower recharging rates.

Morelle hopes to move into more micro-mobility areas and energy storage systems but this product is a kind of proof-of-concept exercise to show their ideas work. You may have seen Gary Fisher touting the benefits of Morelle recently and he is a part of the company. The first concept bike was shown recently at Sea Otter.

The Morelle bike will go for 3K but if you are interested in having one you have to reserve one now for 2026 delivery. You can check the bike out HERE. 

Image courtesy of Lezyne.

Lezyne To Release Clik Valve Compatible Inflation Range:

Readers of the blog might be familiar with my ongoing review of Clik Valves and inflation accessories.  One of the negatives for switching over to these valves and valve cores is the dearth of choices in inflation tools which will interface with Clik Valves.

This will be relieved a bit now that Lezyne has committed to partnering with Clik Valve to introduce a range of inflation tools which will interface with the Clik Valve standard. These devices will include mini-pumps, floor pumps, and CO2 adapters for quick repairs in the field.

Details on the partnership can be read on Lezyne's site HERE.

Comments: You love to see it and this should give Clik Valve a big boost in acceptance. Personally, I feel Clik Valve is head and shoulders better than any other valve type and should replace what we are using now. Especially for newer cyclists who may find Presta valves off-putting, and many do in my experience. Clik Valve solves all the negativity around Presta and is easier to use than it and Schrader valves. 

I am looking for a tubeless valve stem offerings from other companies to be developed at this point and if this happens I think I'll start switching over to Clik Valve. I'll have more on my review coming later in the season. 

Iowa Wind And Rock Event This Weekend:

The successor to Trans Iowa, Iowa Wind And Rock, happens starting tomorrow at 4:00am in the morning and will continue on through Saturday, Saturday evening, and into Sunday ending at 2:00pm in the afternoon. 

An event navigated by cue sheet, this oddball of a gravel race is definitely "outside the box" in terms of the gravel racing/riding scene. There are imitators, (Long Voyage, Unbound XL, Mega Mid-South) but none of those can match the original formula which IWAR utilizes to this day.

Sending much love and hoping for tailwinds to all who toe that line tomorrow in the dark. 

Look for my Trans Iowa 20th anniversary post coming up on the 23rd, next week. 

That's a wrap for this week. Get out there and ride those bikes!

Two Things

Image courtesy of Iowa Wind and Rock

 Iowa Wind And Rock Event Thoughts:

The event called "Iowa Wind and Rock", or IWAR for short, is going to happen again in April 2025. (Registration is open now, by the way) This is the event, for those who may be unaware, which sprang from the ashes of Trans Iowa in 2018. Trans Iowa being the event I put on with a LOT of help from others, from 2005 - 2018.

From the IWAR site: "For 14 years, TransIowa, one of the most difficult gravel races in the US, took place in Iowa at the end of April. It was difficult not only because of the terrain, but also due to notoriously fickle Iowa weather, and the challenges it required riders to overcome just to make it to the starting line. The end of TransIowa in 2018 meant that a unique chapter of gravel racing history closed. As Iowans, TransIowa finishers, and people who enjoy stretching personal boundaries, we didn’t want to see this unique opportunity for people to challenge themselves disappear."

So, in a way, the event spirit and format for IWAR is a lot like Trans Iowa's because the founders of IWAR wanted a "Trans Iowa-like" event to continue. So, the line going back from now to 2005 when the first Trans Iowa was held is, up to this point, an unbroken one, from the standpoint of what events like these entail: Self-support in a real sense, cue sheet navigation, mental and physical testing, and weather challenges. 

Iowa Wind and Rock continues the traditions set by Trans Iowa. Probably the most curious reaction, in my mind, to how this event is held is the reaction to the cue sheet navigation part. I'm just going off what I see being chatted about this on Facebook, so if anyone else has a different perspective, I'm all ears. 

But to my way of thinking, this points to a few things I find interesting. One: Most gravel riders and competitors do not have any idea how the sport was run long ago. Two: It's all on the internet, the history, that is, if anyone really cares to look it up. Three: Not many people care and anything like cue sheet navigation is seen as being an unnecessary burden on the competitor and is something of a deal-breaker for those curious about an event like IWAR. 

At the risk of being "an old man yelling at the clouds", as I have been accused of being, I think a big part of this is a lack of understanding which could be addressed by the event(s) that use cue sheets, and of course, the reliance on technology for finding our way through our world today. Folks maybe do not even realize that they have lost a huge portion of what our ancestors took for granted. Way-finding is a skill that was necessary for survival at one time and made minds sharper and gifted us a unique way of looking at nature which is lost on many today to our detriment, it would seem.  

We Were Supposed To Be Clear Of This By Now:

It is obvious to anyone that pays attention to bicycle retail that major discounting is still happening. The difference now is that it does not apply literally to every segment of cycling. There are sales bright spots, and high-end road bikes are one such area of fairly decent sales with little discounting going on there.

However; it seems that as I look around that the post-COVID corrections in the market have not ended, and so this is starting to beg a question: "Is this a new reality for cycling going forward?"

I see issues on the back end with European based companies in reorganization or with factories being consolidated or closed altogether. I see a big slow down in sales being reported in Europe when it comes to electrified bikes, which was a bell cow segment for European cycling before COVID. 

I see US based YouTube videos from bike shop folks decrying the poor state of retail in the US cycling scene. I have observed that there have been a lot less "new bike day" posts from social media as well. My local shops are selling hybrid bikes starting at a price of around $600.00 and this has stymied local sales. When I last worked retail, in 2020/2021, things were shifting into a weird mode, but right before that, an entry level hybrid bike was less than $500.00.  

I don't know that we will see any big jumps in sales either. Winter will certainly put that off, as will whatever the fallout from this recent election will be. That seems to feel like a negative in the cycling realm at this point, which does not bode well for sales. 

I remember in 2022 that pundits were saying it would take up to a full two years to climb out of this glut of inventory that was being noted back then. Well, the inventories are down, but sales have not really bounced back. We will see what happens, but looking around right now, it doesn't look like we've gotten past the COVID induced hangover we've been in for a while now. And I won't even get into the possibility of tarrifs.....

Gravel Grinder News: Spotted Horse, Iowa Gravel Classic Changes

 Plus News On Guitar Ted's Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Vote and A Debut Bike From Salsa Cycles.

News broke on Facebook, January 23rd, that revealed future changes in the Iowa gravel racing calendar. Relentless Events LLC announced that it was turning over the Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra and the Iowa Gravel Classic to Cole and Kelsi Ledbetter, effective immediately. 

Relentless Events LLC stated in the Facebook posting that "Relentless Events LLC will continue to exist, but Iowa Wind and Rock will be the only event we will be promoting at this time."

Relentless Events LLC also had been running the Tour of Central Iowa, formerly known as the 24hrs of Cumming. An announcement was made on that event's Facebook page as well stating,"After much discussion, we have decided that Tour of Central Iowa will cease operations in 2024." 

Furthermore; Sarah Cooper, of Relentless Events LLC, announced on the same day that she is stepping away from event promoting saying, "I have had almost a year exactly to wrap my head around stepping away from race directing." Adding that, "I will be at Iowa Wind & Rock in a different capacity this year and for as many years as I am needed and am able."

The Ledbetters also have held their own gravel event, the Redfield Rock & Roll, for several years. That event is scheduled for September 7th, 2024, according to that event's Facebook page. The addition of the Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra and the Iowa Gravel Classic would bring the amount of events under their auspices to three, along with the weekly gravel group rides that Cole Ledbetter promotes. 

Nebraska News: As an aside, it was also announced this past week that the Bohemian StoMil was ending its run of events effective immediately as well. 

Comments: This change is interesting in that we may be seeing the end of an era. The people behind Relentless Events LLC, Sarah Cooper, Dori Jansma, and Steve Fuller are all from the original school of gravel which insists on navigation by cue sheets, self-reliance/support, and smaller, more individually focused event experiences. The Facebook post indicated that "You can expect changes as Cole and Kelsi work to make these events their own." 

What exactly those changes will be are yet to be revealed, but the way the events were run is harder to do and especially with the yearly course changes at the Spotted Horse, it is a daunting task to run an event that way. The event's locations, again, especially with regard to the Spotted Horse, being in South-Central Iowa, make event production a bit tougher from the standpoint of where the Ledbetters live just North of the Des Moines metro. 

In my opinion, I would expect some changes to come for these two events. The loss of the Tour of Central Iowa maybe isn't so sharply felt since we have several more Iowa based gravel events than were around when the 24hrs of Cumming started. And it should be noted that the new events from the Iowa Gravel series, CORE4, and other regional gravel events have been taking away dates, and therefore people from being able to go to some of the older events on the calendar. 

It is also noteworthy that the Relentless team is focusing solely on Iowa Wind and Rock for now. Potentially this event could end up being a kind of "unicorn" in the gravel scene as its format and distance continues to make it very different from anything else out there, with the possible exception of the Spotted Horse, which is shorter in distance, but was a similarly run event. But now the Spotted Horse may be changing up, so IWAR may end as a lone example of the early school of gravel. How Sarah Cooper's stepping back from leading IWAR as a main co-promoter will affect IWAR going forward is something yet to be seen. 

As with anything, there is a beginning and an ending. I'm not saying anything is "ending" per se' here, obviously - these are all "just changes". But that said, if you ever thought you wanted to ride in one of these events, don't waste time wondering if this year or next is a good time. Sooner rather than later there won't be a choice because these events will go away eventually. And as with the Tour of Central Iowa and the Bohemian StoMil, that chance is gone now. 

Class of 2024 Vote Cast:

Well, I got it done! The votes have been cast and we will see what happens soon enough. The next class for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame is going to be inducted at the end of May in Emporia, Kansas and it looks like I will be there as well.

If you've been reading these pages of late you already have read about the nomination process and how that is under review and probably will see some changes going forward. 'nuff said there....

I only will add that I found it difficult to weight my votes one through five and that after the difficulty of narrowing it down to just five individuals. In my estimation, there were nine that are on the list now that truly deserve recognition. the rest are specious choices, very niche, or really barely notable from a "hall of fame" perspective, in my opinion. 

Then there are names not even on the list. Like Rick Plite who used to be the promoter of Barry Roubaix, one of the largest (in terms of rider numbers) and longest running gravel events in the nation. That's a name that should be on the list! there are others as well. 

But it is an imperfect hall, just like any of them are. The point is, there is a GCHoF and hopefully those stories and history will get preserved for future generations of riders to learn from.

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles' social media.

Salsa Cycles Teases New (or maybe just updated) Bicycle:

Last week Salsa Cycles began promoting a release of a bicycle at Mid-South. This will happen March 14th, before the race happens that weekend.

It won't be the first time Salsa Cycles has done something like this in partnership with the Mid-south event. The most recent time this has happened would be the 2020 event where Salsa unveiled the single speed Stormchaser model. 

It's hard to imagine that Salsa would release a new bike, especially in the gravel segment. But there are some possibilities which are feasible for refreshes or complete redesigns. For instance, it has been a minute since the Warbird was updated, and seeing how Salsa hasn't been pushing real hard on Warbird models of late, one could maybe see that a refresh is on the way here. 

Another possibility for a redesign/refresh is for the Cutthroat, which has remained essentially unchanged since it was released several years ago. We can count out the Fargo as Salsa already let the cat out of the bag there with a new color for the Fargo Apex 1 recently. We can also probably discount any news on the Stormchaser since that model has seen a couple of tweaks to spec and color over the past few years. 

My money is on a new Cutthroat here. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

Friday News And Views

Podcasts For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure:

If you happen to have some down time, are travelling, or just want to escape reality for about an hour or so, I've got two suggestions for podcasts this week that I am on. 

You can hear my sultry voice on "The Shiftless Podcast" Episode #32 "Expert Edition With the One & Only Guitar Ted" by clicking HERE. 

In that chat you can hear about the origins of "Guitar Ted", what I think of some facets of the bicycle industry, and my take on the current gravel scene. All that and more there with Kevin and Brad, the two hosts of the show. 

Then, as if that isn't enough of me, I interviewed Jason Strobehn and Matt Gersib of the Gravel Worlds team for the "Guitar Ted Podcast". That show can be heard by clicking HERE. 

That was a tougher show to get out, not due to the guests or N.Y. Roll, but because of my lack of technical skills. I had a learning curve for getting this one up and out there, that's for sure!

I'm calling this episode the "Frankenstein Episode" because I had to "stitch" it together from six different parts and try to make it all sound somewhat cohesive. Which.....it doesn't, but I am learning how to make it all work, like I said. 

Because this took a week longer to get out than I had anticipated, there will end up being another episode coming out on this one's heels. We try to do three episodes a month, minimum, and the days are running short! 

We will have about four new episodes coming out in the next four weeks or so and then we are taking a month off starting around Thanksgiving time until the new year kicks down the door like a shiny super-hero. 

If you are a listener to the podcast, I truly appreciate you, and I know I speak for N.Y. Roll when I say that we are floored by the response we've gotten. The "Guitar Ted Podcast" went live coming in on the coattails of the old "Riding Gravel Radio Ranch" about a year ago now, and the growth has been steady and upwards. So, "Thank you"! 

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Salsa Cycles Announces v2 Cowchipper Carbon & Cowbell Carbon Handlebars:

You might remember that the original carbon flared drop bars from Salsa Cycles were recalled early in the year. Well, now they have a new version of the bars out which have addressed the previous bars' shortcomings and is said to be stronger. These are also compatible with Salsa Cycles' EXP Series Anything Cradle

The new carbon bars are $230.00 USD for either model and are available now through Salsa Dealers. There were no design changes made, so these have the same shape, flare, and width availability that the originals had.

Comments: I  checked on Whisky Parts Co. to see if they've gotten a v2 0f their No. 9 12F and No. 9 24F Carbon bars and they do have those for the same prices. (Essentially the same handlebars as the Salsa branded ones) 

My favorites in flared drop bars, the Cowbell and Cowchipper Bars, are perhaps only eclipsed by the Whisky Parts Co, Spano Bar. It's fifty bucks more than a Salsa Cowbell/Cowchipper/Whisky 24F or 12F, but if you want more ergonomics and comfort, the Spano Bar is well worth that extra cash.

Image courtesy of Iowa Wind and Rock

Iowa Wind and Rock Announces 2024 Registration:

It's that time of year again. Registration Season! I feel compelled to feature the announcement that Iowa Wind and Rock is opening registration on November 1st, 2024. 

If you are new to the blog you may not know that this event is essentially an evolution/extension of the event I put on for fourteen years, Trans Iowa. That event being credited as the first of the "Modern Day" gravel events. (For a history of gravel timeline, see "Gravel History With Guitar Ted: The Eras") 

From Iowa Wind and Rock's homepage you can read the following:

"For 14 years, TransIowa, one of the most difficult gravel races in the US, took place in Iowa at the end of April. It was difficult not only because of the terrain, but also due to notoriously fickle Iowa weather, and the challenges it required riders to overcome just to make it to the starting line. The end of TransIowa in 2018 meant that a unique chapter of gravel racing history closed. As Iowans, TransIowa finishers, and people who enjoy stretching personal boundaries, we didn’t want to see this unique opportunity for people to challenge themselves disappear. Iowa Wind and Rock is NOT, nor will it ever be TransIowa. However, we want to provide people a similar challenge – A free, 340ish mile, cue sheet navigated, late spring, Iowa event that allows entrants to challenge themselves, expand their boundaries, and allow them to see what they are capable of."

So, if you've come here and ever wondered if there would be another Trans Iowa event, well....There ya go. Do Iowa Wind and Rock. It's as close as you'll ever get now, and remember folks: These chances don't last forever! Get off yer duff if ya ever thought you might wanna do sumpthin like this and sign up. 

You only live once.

Gravel Worlds Registration Opening Soon:

As long as we're on the registration train, let's make a stop in Lincoln, Nebraska and take a look at Gravel Worlds. 

You can sign up for several distances or even run on gravel. if you want to, and that all starts on November 18th this year. The sign up, that is, NOT the events! 

They even have an ultra-distance, 300 miler called The Long Voyage, if that suits your fancy. Either way, you should check out this one if you haven't. Of course, if you want to find out more, check out the link above and listen to that podcast I mentioned at the top of the post today. 

Okay, that's a wrap for this week! get out and ride and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!!

Two Things Tuesday

 Two Things: Number One - Iowa Wind and Rock:

I would be remiss if I did not mention something about the past weekend's events at Iowa Wind and Rock. This is the event that is heavily influenced by, (some would say it is an outgrowth of ), Trans Iowa. So, of course I feel a connection to the event every year. Once again I paid attention to the goings on over the weekend and I also did a Twitter thread on the event as it happened in case you saw that, or want to. (Twitter @guitarted1961) 

The weekend here was pretty much marked by Winter-like weather. It was sub-freezing for a significant time during the event with strong Northwest winds and there was even snow and bitterly cold rain for a bit. The threat of this weather caused IWAR some no-shows, as this sort of weather will do in an event like that, especially a free to enter event. They ended up with 60 hardy souls taking the line. 

Attrition was high in the beginning with most of the event's abandons happening before the first of two checkpoints. The progression of this year's IWAR was a very familiar one for me as the remaining riders were whittled down to a final finishing total of 13. 

Cory Rood was the overall winner in a time of just under 28 hours. That's about "right" for an event like that, with those conditions, based upon my experiences. Congratulations to Cory and all the other 2023 IWAR finishers, riders, volunteers, and race directors for another successful event. As anyone that has read this blog over the years knows, the stress and complexities of an event the magnitude of IWAR/Trans Iowa is immense. Hats off to one and all for this edition of an Iowa classic gravel event. 

Number Two: The Latest Guitar Ted Podcast & News:

As you all that read here are probably aware, I do a podcast with N.Y. Roll that posts about three to four episodes a month. We've got Episode #12 out right now, and we should have another recapping Sea Otter and more coming out later this week. 

We've been getting a lot of feedback on our efforts and I really appreciate that. It has all been encouraging and constructive, which is useful for us and spurs us onward. 

Speaking of "onward", the near future should prove interesting as we move closer to the second installment of folks into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, which I have planned to be in attendance. Since I will be there and several interesting folks will be around, I may try to grab some soundbites and/or interviews which will be appearing on future episodes of the Guitar Ted Podcast.  

Meanwhile we should be getting some more interviews in from other folks as well. So, all of that to look forward to on that channel as we keep trying to get better and put out content that folks find worthwhile. Finally, I wanted to give a shout-out to The Spinistry, the Texas based gravel event promotions entity which has been a big supporter and sponsor of the podcast this year. Check them out for interesting gravel events, bikepacking routes, and more.

Two Things Tuesday

 Two Things: Number One - Iowa Wind and Rock:

I would be remiss if I did not mention something about the past weekend's events at Iowa Wind and Rock. This is the event that is heavily influenced by, (some would say it is an outgrowth of ), Trans Iowa. So, of course I feel a connection to the event every year. Once again I paid attention to the goings on over the weekend and I also did a Twitter thread on the event as it happened in case you saw that, or want to. (Twitter @guitarted1961) 

The weekend here was pretty much marked by Winter-like weather. It was sub-freezing for a significant time during the event with strong Northwest winds and there was even snow and bitterly cold rain for a bit. The threat of this weather caused IWAR some no-shows, as this sort of weather will do in an event like that, especially a free to enter event. They ended up with 60 hardy souls taking the line. 

Attrition was high in the beginning with most of the event's abandons happening before the first of two checkpoints. The progression of this year's IWAR was a very familiar one for me as the remaining riders were whittled down to a final finishing total of 13. 

Cory Rood was the overall winner in a time of just under 28 hours. That's about "right" for an event like that, with those conditions, based upon my experiences. Congratulations to Cory and all the other 2023 IWAR finishers, riders, volunteers, and race directors for another successful event. As anyone that has read this blog over the years knows, the stress and complexities of an event the magnitude of IWAR/Trans Iowa is immense. Hats off to one and all for this edition of an Iowa classic gravel event. 

Number Two: The Latest Guitar Ted Podcast & News:

As you all that read here are probably aware, I do a podcast with N.Y. Roll that posts about three to four episodes a month. We've got Episode #12 out right now, and we should have another recapping Sea Otter and more coming out later this week. 

We've been getting a lot of feedback on our efforts and I really appreciate that. It has all been encouraging and constructive, which is useful for us and spurs us onward. 

Speaking of "onward", the near future should prove interesting as we move closer to the second installment of folks into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, which I have planned to be in attendance. Since I will be there and several interesting folks will be around, I may try to grab some soundbites and/or interviews which will be appearing on future episodes of the Guitar Ted Podcast.  

Meanwhile we should be getting some more interviews in from other folks as well. So, all of that to look forward to on that channel as we keep trying to get better and put out content that folks find worthwhile. Finally, I wanted to give a shout-out to The Spinistry, the Texas based gravel event promotions entity which has been a big supporter and sponsor of the podcast this year. Check them out for interesting gravel events, bikepacking routes, and more.

Friday News And Views (SOE)

 NOTE: Today is Day Two of Sea Otter which is happening at the Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterrey, California. The "FN&V" will feature several news bits from the show as a result. 

State Bicycle Company partners with Taco Bell (Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co.)

State Bicycle Company And Taco Bell Collaborate On Bicycle & Apparel:

Taco Bell - You may have downed a few products from this fast food joint after a ride session or two over the years. I remember Taco Bell as being my mainstay food source as a young mechanic back in the 90's. ("Bean & Green"!) Well, jokes and anecdotes aside, the restaurant chain has a new collaboration out as of yesterday with the State Bicycle Company. They used their "DGAF Klunker" as a canvass to do a livery on reflecting the purple, yellow, white, and pink colors of Taco Bell. The bike will also be available with accessories like the $69.99 tank bag, (shown), and even a bib short and jersey set will be for sale along with the bike. (The kit actually isn't bad looking, by the way)

Comments: No price on the bike. Hmm... Anyway, this probably will sell out. While I no longer am a fan of Taco Bell, due to an unfortunate experience in their Waterloo, Iowa outlet, I suppose the popularity and novelty of this will help sales along just fine. You don't see a lot of collaborations that aren't (a) done on the worst quality bicycles, or (b) that aren't extremely expensive to buy. This is one that actually makes sense and is (kind of) cool. 

WTB Introduces The "Gravelier" Saddle:

You've seen this saddle before. No, really! You've seen it several times here on the blog before its "official" release yesterday. This is the saddle I currently have on my Twin Six Standard Rando v2 since, oh, mid-March, I would guess. 

That aside, the saddle was released to the public yesterday at Sea Otter. I have a review of it already along with some input from MG who also got one of these to ride. That can be found at Riding Gravel. 

Comments:  Well, I resisted the "wide-short" saddle thing for years thinking I had already found what I wanted in WTB's Silverado saddle in the medium width. However; last year I grew to love that new Ergon saddle which is one of these new breeds of saddle and now that I've tried this one, well.... 

It's really quite good. I think that the Ergon saddle edges this one out only because the foam that Ergon uses for padding gives you a bit more comfort than the WTB one does, but had I never ridden that Ergon one, yeah.... It's the bees knees. 

As a side note, WTB sent me the carbon railed version, which is something I'd not tried before. I guess its okay. I mean, it's crazy light! It isn't any stiffer, really, and maybe it does something to attenuate vibrations, but I don't know. I mean, I don't get on it and think, "Wow! These carbon rails are the bomb!", because I simply do not notice them. AND - I hope I never really do, if you know what I mean!

Chris King re-introduces 3D Violet (Image courtesy of Chris King)

It's NOT Purple! Chris King Makes 3D Violet Available Again:

While not technically a Sea Otter release, Chris King has announced that you will now be able to get any of their current component offerings in the famous 3D Violet hue once again. 

This includes the reintroduced 6 bolt disc hub line. So, anyone out there that doesn't like Center Lock, well there you go! 

Comments: Did you know that, according to the press release I was sent, that Chris King made their first 3D Violet parts back in 1988? It was in response to what was going on in the BMX world, where the anodized color was taking off. I did not know that until I received that presser. 

I just remember "violet" (purple) anodizing being a huge deal in the early 1990's MTB scene. Of course, then there were the other colors that followed. Probably the next most famous being turquoise ano, (blue) which dominated for about a year. Ah! Those days were the days, right? You could get anodized bits in all the colors of the rainbow. And now? Well, quietly, colored components have made something of a comeback, and I can't say that this makes me sad.

Limar Air Atlas (Image courtesy of LIMAR)

Limar Introduces Revamped Helmet Line:

Limar helmets have revamped their entire helmet line and there are several enhancements to the new helmets. The most "gravel" of the choices being the "Air Atlas" helmet which is Limar's aero, super-lightweight offering. 

It features their "Fidlock" magnetic buckle, seven front air vents, four NACA vents, six rear vents, and six inner air channels. 

There also is an optional aerodynamic fairing attachment for the rear of this helmet that Limar calls "UFO". It helps with airflow over the helmet and Limar claims that in wind tunnel testing that it can save up to an additional 0.7 watts at 40K/hr over just the bare Air Atlas helmet. 

Price for the Air Atlas is $319.95

Comments: I know that for a lot of you this aero thing seems like nonsense, that you are not going fast enough to benefit from it, and that it is too expensive. You are only right on one point. Aero is a thing and if you ride long distances in the country, this is where you will see a big difference. Hey, you can ignore it all you want to, but the science and physics are right there for anyone to check out.

But yeah, at three hundred, nineteen bucks? Woof! That's a lot for a skid-lid. And a lot of aero stuff is also very spendy. So, I get it. Plus, a general rant here on helmet sizing: Ya know, some of us out here have large noggins. I cannot use a Limar helmet as their size Large only goes up to 62cm and my head is 63cm. No go... I guess big-headed folks are out of luck here. (Hint: Bontrager makes a helmet which goes up to 66cm in their Starvos and their aero Circuit Wavecell goes to 63cm. Both fit me perfectly) 

The Salsa Cycles e-gravel bike, the Confluence

Salsa Cycles Surprises At Sea Otter With Confluence E-gravel Bike:

My friend Grannygear is at Sea Otter again this year. He lives near enough that he can drive a few hours and attend, so he generally agrees to do me a favor and scour the show for gravel stuff. Well, this year he came across a surprise find at Salsa Cycles booth.

The booth featured an e-bike called the Confluence which is an aluminum framed gravel bike with a hub drive motor and GRX components in fkat or drop bar versions. Kind of like a high-end Journeyer idea here. Unfortunately, I don't have any more details at this time about the bikes. 

Comments: Salsa Cycles seems to be making a big move toward e-bike models with this introduction, and no wonder, these electrified bikes are all the rage in Europe where it is said that over half of all bikes sold at retail are electric now. Previous to this, Salsa had no real presence in the e-bike area. My instincts tell me that we are due to see a whole lot more electrification from Salsa going forward. 

The booth was festooned with "Salsa Cycles Electric" banners which tells me that the focus going forward will be electric for Salsa. This was kept under wraps pretty well, as I had no inkling of this release, but it does make a lot of sense for Salsa's Euro dealers and the REI Coop customers that Salsa sells to.

The IWAR Team and I in 2020

Good Luck To The Iowa Wind And Rock Riders & Promoters!

This weekend marks the running of the fifth Iowa Wind And Rock event (IWAR). The forecast for the festivities is looking like a typical late April deal. Chilly at night, decent during the day, and yeah, most probably windy. This is Iowa after all! 

The event is run by Sarah Cooper, Steve Fuller, and Dori Jansma. They will be starting out of  the parking lot of a Fareway Grocery store in Winterset, Iowa at 4:00am. Yes.... That's four in the morning! 

I wanted to extend my best wishes for the event, the riders, and especially for the Race Directors and their Volunteers. This event is obviously a take on Trans Iowa, an extension of it, perhaps, and since that is the case, I understand intimately what it takes to do such an endeavor.

So, here's to all involved! May you all see success and gain something you did not have before you started after it is over. I'll be watching from afar.....

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

Friday News And Views (SOE)

 NOTE: Today is Day Two of Sea Otter which is happening at the Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterrey, California. The "FN&V" will feature several news bits from the show as a result. 

State Bicycle Company partners with Taco Bell (Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co.)

State Bicycle Company And Taco Bell Collaborate On Bicycle & Apparel:

Taco Bell - You may have downed a few products from this fast food joint after a ride session or two over the years. I remember Taco Bell as being my mainstay food source as a young mechanic back in the 90's. ("Bean & Green"!) Well, jokes and anecdotes aside, the restaurant chain has a new collaboration out as of yesterday with the State Bicycle Company. They used their "DGAF Klunker" as a canvass to do a livery on reflecting the purple, yellow, white, and pink colors of Taco Bell. The bike will also be available with accessories like the $69.99 tank bag, (shown), and even a bib short and jersey set will be for sale along with the bike. (The kit actually isn't bad looking, by the way)

Comments: No price on the bike. Hmm... Anyway, this probably will sell out. While I no longer am a fan of Taco Bell, due to an unfortunate experience in their Waterloo, Iowa outlet, I suppose the popularity and novelty of this will help sales along just fine. You don't see a lot of collaborations that aren't (a) done on the worst quality bicycles, or (b) that aren't extremely expensive to buy. This is one that actually makes sense and is (kind of) cool. 

WTB Introduces The "Gravelier" Saddle:

You've seen this saddle before. No, really! You've seen it several times here on the blog before its "official" release yesterday. This is the saddle I currently have on my Twin Six Standard Rando v2 since, oh, mid-March, I would guess. 

That aside, the saddle was released to the public yesterday at Sea Otter. I have a review of it already along with some input from MG who also got one of these to ride. That can be found at Riding Gravel. 

Comments:  Well, I resisted the "wide-short" saddle thing for years thinking I had already found what I wanted in WTB's Silverado saddle in the medium width. However; last year I grew to love that new Ergon saddle which is one of these new breeds of saddle and now that I've tried this one, well.... 

It's really quite good. I think that the Ergon saddle edges this one out only because the foam that Ergon uses for padding gives you a bit more comfort than the WTB one does, but had I never ridden that Ergon one, yeah.... It's the bees knees. 

As a side note, WTB sent me the carbon railed version, which is something I'd not tried before. I guess its okay. I mean, it's crazy light! It isn't any stiffer, really, and maybe it does something to attenuate vibrations, but I don't know. I mean, I don't get on it and think, "Wow! These carbon rails are the bomb!", because I simply do not notice them. AND - I hope I never really do, if you know what I mean!

Chris King re-introduces 3D Violet (Image courtesy of Chris King)

It's NOT Purple! Chris King Makes 3D Violet Available Again:

While not technically a Sea Otter release, Chris King has announced that you will now be able to get any of their current component offerings in the famous 3D Violet hue once again. 

This includes the reintroduced 6 bolt disc hub line. So, anyone out there that doesn't like Center Lock, well there you go! 

Comments: Did you know that, according to the press release I was sent, that Chris King made their first 3D Violet parts back in 1988? It was in response to what was going on in the BMX world, where the anodized color was taking off. I did not know that until I received that presser. 

I just remember "violet" (purple) anodizing being a huge deal in the early 1990's MTB scene. Of course, then there were the other colors that followed. Probably the next most famous being turquoise ano, (blue) which dominated for about a year. Ah! Those days were the days, right? You could get anodized bits in all the colors of the rainbow. And now? Well, quietly, colored components have made something of a comeback, and I can't say that this makes me sad.

Limar Air Atlas (Image courtesy of LIMAR)

Limar Introduces Revamped Helmet Line:

Limar helmets have revamped their entire helmet line and there are several enhancements to the new helmets. The most "gravel" of the choices being the "Air Atlas" helmet which is Limar's aero, super-lightweight offering. 

It features their "Fidlock" magnetic buckle, seven front air vents, four NACA vents, six rear vents, and six inner air channels. 

There also is an optional aerodynamic fairing attachment for the rear of this helmet that Limar calls "UFO". It helps with airflow over the helmet and Limar claims that in wind tunnel testing that it can save up to an additional 0.7 watts at 40K/hr over just the bare Air Atlas helmet. 

Price for the Air Atlas is $319.95

Comments: I know that for a lot of you this aero thing seems like nonsense, that you are not going fast enough to benefit from it, and that it is too expensive. You are only right on one point. Aero is a thing and if you ride long distances in the country, this is where you will see a big difference. Hey, you can ignore it all you want to, but the science and physics are right there for anyone to check out.

But yeah, at three hundred, nineteen bucks? Woof! That's a lot for a skid-lid. And a lot of aero stuff is also very spendy. So, I get it. Plus, a general rant here on helmet sizing: Ya know, some of us out here have large noggins. I cannot use a Limar helmet as their size Large only goes up to 62cm and my head is 63cm. No go... I guess big-headed folks are out of luck here. (Hint: Bontrager makes a helmet which goes up to 66cm in their Starvos and their aero Circuit Wavecell goes to 63cm. Both fit me perfectly) 

The Salsa Cycles e-gravel bike, the Confluence

Salsa Cycles Surprises At Sea Otter With Confluence E-gravel Bike:

My friend Grannygear is at Sea Otter again this year. He lives near enough that he can drive a few hours and attend, so he generally agrees to do me a favor and scour the show for gravel stuff. Well, this year he came across a surprise find at Salsa Cycles booth.

The booth featured an e-bike called the Confluence which is an aluminum framed gravel bike with a hub drive motor and GRX components in fkat or drop bar versions. Kind of like a high-end Journeyer idea here. Unfortunately, I don't have any more details at this time about the bikes. 

Comments: Salsa Cycles seems to be making a big move toward e-bike models with this introduction, and no wonder, these electrified bikes are all the rage in Europe where it is said that over half of all bikes sold at retail are electric now. Previous to this, Salsa had no real presence in the e-bike area. My instincts tell me that we are due to see a whole lot more electrification from Salsa going forward. 

The booth was festooned with "Salsa Cycles Electric" banners which tells me that the focus going forward will be electric for Salsa. This was kept under wraps pretty well, as I had no inkling of this release, but it does make a lot of sense for Salsa's Euro dealers and the REI Coop customers that Salsa sells to.

The IWAR Team and I in 2020

Good Luck To The Iowa Wind And Rock Riders & Promoters!

This weekend marks the running of the fifth Iowa Wind And Rock event (IWAR). The forecast for the festivities is looking like a typical late April deal. Chilly at night, decent during the day, and yeah, most probably windy. This is Iowa after all! 

The event is run by Sarah Cooper, Steve Fuller, and Dori Jansma. They will be starting out of  the parking lot of a Fareway Grocery store in Winterset, Iowa at 4:00am. Yes.... That's four in the morning! 

I wanted to extend my best wishes for the event, the riders, and especially for the Race Directors and their Volunteers. This event is obviously a take on Trans Iowa, an extension of it, perhaps, and since that is the case, I understand intimately what it takes to do such an endeavor.

So, here's to all involved! May you all see success and gain something you did not have before you started after it is over. I'll be watching from afar.....

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