Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of LOOK.

A Marketplace Blues edition of the FN&V

All-New LOOK X-Trac Power Meter Pedals:

LOOK announced on Tuesday of this week that they had all-new Keo and X-Trac power meter pedals. Since I'm all about gravel and a bit of off-road here, I'm focusing in on the X-Trac Power meter pedals, but many of the features cross over to the Keo road pedal as well. 

The X-Trac Power Meter pedals can be purchased as a single-side or dual-side pedal read-out. This gives folks flexibility to choose the price point that is right for them. Obviously the ideal set up would be to have the two pedals both read out power. 

LOOK promises easy set-up and calibration using the companion app from LOOK. Riders can also register their pedals with LOOK via the app. The app also breaks down the data for the rider giving you several parameters to consider from your ride. 

The battery lasts for up to 60 hours and is recharged via USB with a magnetic charger connection to both pedals simultaneously, (in the case of dual-sided pedals)  All electronics are sealed within the pedal axle. Look offers a robust warranty and an extended, graduated three year crash replacement warranty on the pedals as well. 

The X-Trac Power Meter Pedals weigh 404 grams per pair and are $759.00 USD for the single-sided version and $1.099.00 USD for the dual-sided version. (NOTE: Information from LOOK"s press release)

New Podcast Alert:  Episode #40 "Marketplace Blues":

The Guitar Ted Podcast is back again with another episode. This time N.Y. Roll and I cover the woes facing the bicycle retail trade and what effects we are noting in regard to that.

The lack of consumer interest in deep discounting and the desire, on some folks part, for the industry to fail are puzzling factors which may lead to dire consequences for both businesses and consumers down the road. 

However it all shakes out, this will be an ongoing issue facing all of us throughout 2024 and possibly beyond. 

If you want to check out the episode, where I had to edit out five minutes of the recording due to N.Y. Roll dropping two F-bombs, you can check that out HERE or wherever you listen to podcasts from. Just search for "The Guitar Ted Podcast". 

If you go to the Spotify podcast page for The Guitar Ted Podcast, there is an interactive poll and question where you can leave feedback. Check it out. Or as always, you can comment here or leave me a message on email at g.ted.productions@gmail.com. 

Trek To Announce 10% Company-wide Cuts:

In an article posted late Tuesday evening on "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News", it was revealed that the news outlet had obtained a private inner-office communication from Trek's President, John Burke which is claimed to have stated that the big retailer is set to cut spending across the board by 10%. Furthermore, inventory stock levels are to be trimmed by 40% by 2026 over what they are now. 

In the communique, it is claimed that Burke mentions that Trek has not met any of its sales goals for the past 15 months. Apparently cuts will be made in spending and in positions by today, so I would expect to hear something today or over the weekend. 

This tracks with what we said in the podcast (link above) and furthermore, Trek is planning on reducing choices in its catalog, another point we mentioned as well. 

Comments: When Trek announced a sale last year about this time and never ended it, I figured that they were quietly suffering some negative numbers. Now it would seem that they can no longer suffer the bad marketplace and economy without tightening their belts. This is a big deal. Trek is a bellwether company in terms of the US market and if they are not doing well you can bet no one is doing well. 

It would also seem , by what is claimed in the article, that we might have to expect this poor market through 2025, or most of it. Also, I would submit that new introductions will be minimal until the market clears up, and as we mentioned in the podcast, sponsorships will surely dry up across the board. 

Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth.

Wolf Tooth Announces "Raw Silver" Components:

Wolf Tooth Components, who are seemingly always coming out with some new finish for their stuff, now has this "Raw Silver" finish you can choose. 

Wolf Tooth says it is a "clean, bright silver tone that looks like polished, un-anodized aluminum." The finish should compliment many builds and look right at home on a classic bike or build that seeks to get that vibe.

Comments: Silver ano or this? I'd have to see this side-by-side with silver anodized stuff to know. Or is this like Ritchey Design's "Classic" components? Those are really shiny and silver. Hard to say, but renderings and images coming out of Wolf Tooth make me think more "matte silver" than anything polished.

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design.

Ritchey Design Announces Comp Buzzard Bar:

Speaking of Ritchey Design... The component and frame manufacturer now offers a bikepacking/commuter/off-road bar with ergonomic features and a really wide width. 

The bar is crafted out of 6061 aluminum alloy and has a 70mm rise with a 27.5° backsweep. The bar measures a wide 820mm. The Comp Buzzard is also compatible with bar ends. The price is an affordable $49.95 and is available now. 

Comments: Another excelent choice in a bar for more relaxed, fun riding. The Comp Buzzard should feel awesome as that angle of sweep is in the pocket for the best comfort and control, in my opinion. The width is.....crazy! I'd likely cut them back a bit for my uses, but if you need the room for a front bag, it should accommodate you well at 820mm. 

To my mind I see this as a fat bike bar, since big leverage is good in snow and helps you relax while trying to get the balance between control and letting the bike go where it wants to a bit more easily. That said, I will not put a bar on my fat bike unless it is carbon due to my experiences in cold weather where carbon is superior to metal. Give me a carbon Buzzard and I'd seriously consider it for my fat bike.

That's a wrap on this week's FN&V. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! I hope that you get a ride or three in this weekend!

Friday News And Views

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

 Trans Iowa Stories Update:

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

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

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

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

LOOK Trail Fusion pedals. Image courtesy of LOOK.

LOOK Offers New Trail Fusion Pedals:

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

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

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

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

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

Discontent At The LifeTime Gravel Grand Prix:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Closure Tour Update; 

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

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

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

Stay tuned.....

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

Friday News And Views

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

 Trans Iowa Stories Update:

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

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

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

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

LOOK Trail Fusion pedals. Image courtesy of LOOK.

LOOK Offers New Trail Fusion Pedals:

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

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

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

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

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

Discontent At The LifeTime Gravel Grand Prix:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Closure Tour Update; 

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

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

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

Stay tuned.....

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

Friday News And Views

LOOK Pedals' Geo City.

Iconic Pedal Maker Makes Ironic Pedal Debut:

The cycling industry missed most of its debut product events this year, so things are trickling out at odd times now. One of this week's strangest debuts comes from classic clipless pedal maker, LOOK. This is the company that invented "clipless" pedals back in the 1980's. They have pretty much hung their hat on that fact since. However; it is no secret that flat pedals, or normal pedals, as most people would think of them, are now very popular amongst mountain bikers and urban bikers. So, LOOK felt compelled to respond with two new models. 

One is a bit on the goofy side. The LOOK  Geo City is a flat with replaceable VIBRAM® rubber inserts in different colors. There are trail inserts and urban inserts with slightly differing raised block/patterns and compounds for grip. They go for around $70.00 retail. The draw here , I suppose, is fashion. You can customize the look via the inserts, but other than for casual city use, these don't move my needle much. 

The LOOK Geo City Vision

There is a variant on the theme though that does kind of make sense to me. LOOK has a Geo City Vision model which includes LED lighting in the pedal's edges. These lights are rechargeable and the Geo City is upgrade-able to the lighted version. However; the price is twice that of the Geo City pedals at $140.00 suggested retail. Still, for urban commuting, it is a compelling idea. 

In a study done for Bontrager, they stated that any reflective or lighted elements on a cyclist that moved in an up and down motion were much more noticeable by motorists than stationary reflective or lighted elements. This would suggest that these LOOK Geo City Vision pedals would be a nice addition to a commuter's arsenal of lighting. 

LOOK claims the lights are water resistant and have been thoroughly tested to withstand the elements. I should hope so, at the price they ask, it would be very disappointing to have the lights be less than totally durable. 

LOOK's other pedal entry is a rather mundane take on the typical aluminum flat for trail riding called the Trail ROC. It also retails at $70.00. Ho-hum. There are a ton of flats that look like this. I also think it is ironic that LOOK would feel compelled to enter this very competitive market, but that's their business. In my opinion, the Geo City Vision is the most interesting intro of the lot here. 

This broken rear derailleur used to cost about $12.00 to replace.

The Bikes & Parts Shortage Continues:

As many of you out there are finding out, or already know, bikes and parts for bikes are hard to come by these days. It isn't just high end stuff either. Even the least expensive Shimano bits are hard to source these days. Take this broken Shimano derailleur, pictured here to the left. 

This came in on a department store kid's bike, and like probably a third of these, it was destroyed in contact with the rear wheel as it spun around. This is a super-common failure mode for cheesy rear derailleurs. No big deal, right? These retailed at around $12.00 a pop in 2019. Try to find a hangar mount type like this today. As a bike shop, our supply lines are dried up. So, the customer sourced this rear derailleur for himself. He got it on Amazon, of course, and guess how much it cost? 

$30.00!!!

Yep! Supply and demand, I guess. But that's just one example of how 2020 has gone haywire in outdoor retail. The big question is, "When will it all end?" No one really knows the answer to this, but a great article in the latest posting by "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" gives some solid clues. 

In that article, industry commentator, Rick Vosper says his sources are telling him that we can expect shortages on bicycles and accessories for the next 12-18 months. That's the end of 2021 folks. We're talking things being a mess until 2022. Maybe. I wouldn't doubt that this hangs on in some form or another for most of 2021 though. 

This is an interesting take on the industry though, and if you are curious as to how things might shake out, it is well worth a read. Inventory levels will be leveraged by the big brands and dealers will have to absorb a lot of high end product placement on their floors and in their warehouses to get the meat and potatoes bikes everyone is hungry for. And what if things fall off as far as demand? Hard to say. It is an election year and there is a LOT of uncertainty surrounding this election cycle. I'm betting dealers will be cautious and will sit on their hands for a while to see how this shakes out in November. 

The men's model- a HPC- promised by LeMond.

 

LeMond Introduces HPC Models:

The 'surprise' bikes that LeMond had promised via their social media recently have been released, at least the identity of them has been- prices and actual availability information have yet to be released. They are electrified bikes, or as I term them- HPC's. This is one of the things I figured that would be released by LeMond. The other thing I expect to be released sometime in the future will be a gravel oriented rig, but we will see. 

I'll give LeMond credit, the style of these bikes is done well. The urban style is cool and sleek. Of course, this is carbon fiber, so you get organic, flowing lines, but I do like what they've done for an electrified bike style. Most are ugly. This is decidedly not ugly. 

Now I will also say that this same frame, the HPC one shown here, could just as easily be a drop bar bike. It's not hard to imagine it. Secondly, LeMond used a hub motor, so a 'traditional' powered frame would be simple to manufacture. This makes sense for, what essentially is, a start-up brand. Modular product makes more sense than making a bunch of different frames. Although I should also say that this frame isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' bike either. In fact, LeMond also introduced a mixte' frame- in carbon fiber- alongside this as well. So that alone shows that they have some daring in their design portfolio as well. 

Teravail Introduces A New Tire:

 This week Teravail announced a new tire called the Washburn. They are offering it in three sizes- 700 X 38mm, 700 X 42mm, and 650B X 47mm in tan and blackwall versions for each size. They also have the Durable casing or the Light and Supple options for each.

This is an interesting take on a gravel tire. It is most like a Riddler/Byway mixture. It should be a fast tire, but maybe best on drier grounds versus something like a Teravail Rutland. At any rate, you have to hand it to Teravail who have been really making some decent moves of late. It wasn't all that long ago that their gravel tire line up was a lot less appealing to me. Their older designs were stiff and just odd.

Now with the Rutland, re-vamped Cannonball, and this new Washburn tire, they have a lot of bases covered with competitive and unique designs. My only beef with this Washburn tire is that Teravail did not offer it in a 29" X 2.1"er size or close to that. This seems like a great pattern for Cutthroats or Fargos. Maybe that will happen sometime down the line. 

Well, that's a wrap for this week! Time is wasting! Get out and ride where you can.

Friday News And Views

LOOK Pedals' Geo City.

Iconic Pedal Maker Makes Ironic Pedal Debut:

The cycling industry missed most of its debut product events this year, so things are trickling out at odd times now. One of this week's strangest debuts comes from classic clipless pedal maker, LOOK. This is the company that invented "clipless" pedals back in the 1980's. They have pretty much hung their hat on that fact since. However; it is no secret that flat pedals, or normal pedals, as most people would think of them, are now very popular amongst mountain bikers and urban bikers. So, LOOK felt compelled to respond with two new models. 

One is a bit on the goofy side. The LOOK  Geo City is a flat with replaceable VIBRAM® rubber inserts in different colors. There are trail inserts and urban inserts with slightly differing raised block/patterns and compounds for grip. They go for around $70.00 retail. The draw here , I suppose, is fashion. You can customize the look via the inserts, but other than for casual city use, these don't move my needle much. 

The LOOK Geo City Vision

There is a variant on the theme though that does kind of make sense to me. LOOK has a Geo City Vision model which includes LED lighting in the pedal's edges. These lights are rechargeable and the Geo City is upgrade-able to the lighted version. However; the price is twice that of the Geo City pedals at $140.00 suggested retail. Still, for urban commuting, it is a compelling idea. 

In a study done for Bontrager, they stated that any reflective or lighted elements on a cyclist that moved in an up and down motion were much more noticeable by motorists than stationary reflective or lighted elements. This would suggest that these LOOK Geo City Vision pedals would be a nice addition to a commuter's arsenal of lighting. 

LOOK claims the lights are water resistant and have been thoroughly tested to withstand the elements. I should hope so, at the price they ask, it would be very disappointing to have the lights be less than totally durable. 

LOOK's other pedal entry is a rather mundane take on the typical aluminum flat for trail riding called the Trail ROC. It also retails at $70.00. Ho-hum. There are a ton of flats that look like this. I also think it is ironic that LOOK would feel compelled to enter this very competitive market, but that's their business. In my opinion, the Geo City Vision is the most interesting intro of the lot here. 

This broken rear derailleur used to cost about $12.00 to replace.

The Bikes & Parts Shortage Continues:

As many of you out there are finding out, or already know, bikes and parts for bikes are hard to come by these days. It isn't just high end stuff either. Even the least expensive Shimano bits are hard to source these days. Take this broken Shimano derailleur, pictured here to the left. 

This came in on a department store kid's bike, and like probably a third of these, it was destroyed in contact with the rear wheel as it spun around. This is a super-common failure mode for cheesy rear derailleurs. No big deal, right? These retailed at around $12.00 a pop in 2019. Try to find a hangar mount type like this today. As a bike shop, our supply lines are dried up. So, the customer sourced this rear derailleur for himself. He got it on Amazon, of course, and guess how much it cost? 

$30.00!!!

Yep! Supply and demand, I guess. But that's just one example of how 2020 has gone haywire in outdoor retail. The big question is, "When will it all end?" No one really knows the answer to this, but a great article in the latest posting by "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" gives some solid clues. 

In that article, industry commentator, Rick Vosper says his sources are telling him that we can expect shortages on bicycles and accessories for the next 12-18 months. That's the end of 2021 folks. We're talking things being a mess until 2022. Maybe. I wouldn't doubt that this hangs on in some form or another for most of 2021 though. 

This is an interesting take on the industry though, and if you are curious as to how things might shake out, it is well worth a read. Inventory levels will be leveraged by the big brands and dealers will have to absorb a lot of high end product placement on their floors and in their warehouses to get the meat and potatoes bikes everyone is hungry for. And what if things fall off as far as demand? Hard to say. It is an election year and there is a LOT of uncertainty surrounding this election cycle. I'm betting dealers will be cautious and will sit on their hands for a while to see how this shakes out in November. 

The men's model- a HPC- promised by LeMond.

 

LeMond Introduces HPC Models:

The 'surprise' bikes that LeMond had promised via their social media recently have been released, at least the identity of them has been- prices and actual availability information have yet to be released. They are electrified bikes, or as I term them- HPC's. This is one of the things I figured that would be released by LeMond. The other thing I expect to be released sometime in the future will be a gravel oriented rig, but we will see. 

I'll give LeMond credit, the style of these bikes is done well. The urban style is cool and sleek. Of course, this is carbon fiber, so you get organic, flowing lines, but I do like what they've done for an electrified bike style. Most are ugly. This is decidedly not ugly. 

Now I will also say that this same frame, the HPC one shown here, could just as easily be a drop bar bike. It's not hard to imagine it. Secondly, LeMond used a hub motor, so a 'traditional' powered frame would be simple to manufacture. This makes sense for, what essentially is, a start-up brand. Modular product makes more sense than making a bunch of different frames. Although I should also say that this frame isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' bike either. In fact, LeMond also introduced a mixte' frame- in carbon fiber- alongside this as well. So that alone shows that they have some daring in their design portfolio as well. 

Teravail Introduces A New Tire:

 This week Teravail announced a new tire called the Washburn. They are offering it in three sizes- 700 X 38mm, 700 X 42mm, and 650B X 47mm in tan and blackwall versions for each size. They also have the Durable casing or the Light and Supple options for each.

This is an interesting take on a gravel tire. It is most like a Riddler/Byway mixture. It should be a fast tire, but maybe best on drier grounds versus something like a Teravail Rutland. At any rate, you have to hand it to Teravail who have been really making some decent moves of late. It wasn't all that long ago that their gravel tire line up was a lot less appealing to me. Their older designs were stiff and just odd.

Now with the Rutland, re-vamped Cannonball, and this new Washburn tire, they have a lot of bases covered with competitive and unique designs. My only beef with this Washburn tire is that Teravail did not offer it in a 29" X 2.1"er size or close to that. This seems like a great pattern for Cutthroats or Fargos. Maybe that will happen sometime down the line. 

Well, that's a wrap for this week! Time is wasting! Get out and ride where you can.

Friday News And Views

Bigger, heavier,because- motors.

The Evolution Toward Heavier, More Durable Parts Continues;

One of the things I've been saying about HPC (Hybrid Powered Cycle) vehicles is that the parts necessary to make these things safe is the antithesis of over a century of bicycle design and engineering. The main point has been to make things lighter, stronger, and more efficient since pure human power is reliant on the maximization of those things for the betterment of the experience. However; when motors were added, these ideals were abandoned.

Now it is becoming necessary to beef up components and make things heavier, since motors introduce forces not seen on a purely human powered bicycle. Magura is the latest to announce such a component. Now they are offering a 220mm rotor and braking system optimized for motorized bicycles. Of course, tires, chains, and wheels have all been beefed up due to the forces imparted by electric motors on those components.

Again, history reflects this in the move to fit gasoline powered engines on to bicycles in the early 20th Century. Parts made for purely human powered transportation by two wheels could not withstand the forces imparted on them by motors. Heavier parts were fitted, frames got beefier, and the next thing you know, pedals were shed. You know the rest of that story.

Oh, and I saw another HPC being hawked the other day in a video where the clip lasted 3+ minutes and the rider did not pedal once. What's the message there? Yeah......it ain't about bicycling. 

Those shoes.

 Gravel Shoes? 

In a time when the industry wants to electrify or gravel "all the things", another item listed as a "gravel ____" (fill in the blank) will cause groans and raised eyebrows. That's how it goes. Marketing seems to always take things just a little bit too far, especially in the cycling industry. (This includes HPC stuff too)

So, when Shimano announced the RX8 as a "gravel specific shoe", well.....yeah right! It's a freakin' cycling shoe, yes? 

But sometimes we get jaded and lose our open mindedness to things that, upon further review, are actually legitimate ideas. Take these shoes, as an example.

We used to always use MTB shoes as our gravel biking shoes back in the day. The alternative? Road shoes. Ahhh........no! They did not have a sole to walk on, were far too stiff, and those cleats! Try walking a muddy ditch in those things. Good luck! So, no......we wore MTB shoes because we had to. The "other choice" was not tenable.

Well, there are some things about road shoes that make sense for gravel travel. They typically are lighter, have efficient soles for pedaling, and have great ventilation. MTB shoes have some great attributes. They are walkable, resist scuffing, are easily dried when they get wet, and use two bolt cleats which are minimalist, and work better in mud and grit. So.....why not mix the better attributes of both for gravel? 

 Yes- why not? And Shimano did. Now, you can miss it and throw the thought of these "gravel" shoes away like a bad newspaper, but if you do, you are going to miss some good news. These shoes are the real deal, as far as I can tell so far. They aren't cheap, and they are maybe more "race" than "good times", but they are no joke. I've got a review going up on RidingGravel.com this weekend on them. Check it out if you have the time.

It's the official pedal of the DK200, dontcha know?

LOOK- It's The Official Pedal Of The DK200:

And speaking of pedaling- LOOK has signed on to be the "official pedal" of the Dirty Kanza 200. Their X-trac pedal being the one featured, not the KEO carbon fiber roadie thing-a-ma-bob.

When I saw that news it rang a bell with me. Yes....yes indeed. RidingGravel.com reviewed this pedal. It passed with flying colors, so there is that. It's funny, but besides the KEO, you hardly hear a thing about LOOK pedals for cycling. But they are the OG of clipless pedals. They were way ahead of Shimano, and LOOK even had a pretty highly regarded MTB pedal in the early 90's, despite the fact it weighed a metric ton. As I recall, it was, (and maybe still is) Tinker Jaurez's favorite pedal. (You younginz should look up Tinker. MONSTER MTB dude.)

Anyway, I digress.....

Congratulations to the DK200 on picking up a pedal sponsor. It'll be interesting to see what they do to partner up in that relationship.

Labor Day Weekend, y'all! Get sum! (Bicycling, that is) Be safe! Thanks for reading, as always!

 

Friday News And Views

Bigger, heavier,because- motors.

The Evolution Toward Heavier, More Durable Parts Continues;

One of the things I've been saying about HPC (Hybrid Powered Cycle) vehicles is that the parts necessary to make these things safe is the antithesis of over a century of bicycle design and engineering. The main point has been to make things lighter, stronger, and more efficient since pure human power is reliant on the maximization of those things for the betterment of the experience. However; when motors were added, these ideals were abandoned.

Now it is becoming necessary to beef up components and make things heavier, since motors introduce forces not seen on a purely human powered bicycle. Magura is the latest to announce such a component. Now they are offering a 220mm rotor and braking system optimized for motorized bicycles. Of course, tires, chains, and wheels have all been beefed up due to the forces imparted by electric motors on those components.

Again, history reflects this in the move to fit gasoline powered engines on to bicycles in the early 20th Century. Parts made for purely human powered transportation by two wheels could not withstand the forces imparted on them by motors. Heavier parts were fitted, frames got beefier, and the next thing you know, pedals were shed. You know the rest of that story.

Oh, and I saw another HPC being hawked the other day in a video where the clip lasted 3+ minutes and the rider did not pedal once. What's the message there? Yeah......it ain't about bicycling. 

Those shoes.

 Gravel Shoes? 

In a time when the industry wants to electrify or gravel "all the things", another item listed as a "gravel ____" (fill in the blank) will cause groans and raised eyebrows. That's how it goes. Marketing seems to always take things just a little bit too far, especially in the cycling industry. (This includes HPC stuff too)

So, when Shimano announced the RX8 as a "gravel specific shoe", well.....yeah right! It's a freakin' cycling shoe, yes? 

But sometimes we get jaded and lose our open mindedness to things that, upon further review, are actually legitimate ideas. Take these shoes, as an example.

We used to always use MTB shoes as our gravel biking shoes back in the day. The alternative? Road shoes. Ahhh........no! They did not have a sole to walk on, were far too stiff, and those cleats! Try walking a muddy ditch in those things. Good luck! So, no......we wore MTB shoes because we had to. The "other choice" was not tenable.

Well, there are some things about road shoes that make sense for gravel travel. They typically are lighter, have efficient soles for pedaling, and have great ventilation. MTB shoes have some great attributes. They are walkable, resist scuffing, are easily dried when they get wet, and use two bolt cleats which are minimalist, and work better in mud and grit. So.....why not mix the better attributes of both for gravel? 

 Yes- why not? And Shimano did. Now, you can miss it and throw the thought of these "gravel" shoes away like a bad newspaper, but if you do, you are going to miss some good news. These shoes are the real deal, as far as I can tell so far. They aren't cheap, and they are maybe more "race" than "good times", but they are no joke. I've got a review going up on RidingGravel.com this weekend on them. Check it out if you have the time.

It's the official pedal of the DK200, dontcha know?

LOOK- It's The Official Pedal Of The DK200:

And speaking of pedaling- LOOK has signed on to be the "official pedal" of the Dirty Kanza 200. Their X-trac pedal being the one featured, not the KEO carbon fiber roadie thing-a-ma-bob.

When I saw that news it rang a bell with me. Yes....yes indeed. RidingGravel.com reviewed this pedal. It passed with flying colors, so there is that. It's funny, but besides the KEO, you hardly hear a thing about LOOK pedals for cycling. But they are the OG of clipless pedals. They were way ahead of Shimano, and LOOK even had a pretty highly regarded MTB pedal in the early 90's, despite the fact it weighed a metric ton. As I recall, it was, (and maybe still is) Tinker Jaurez's favorite pedal. (You younginz should look up Tinker. MONSTER MTB dude.)

Anyway, I digress.....

Congratulations to the DK200 on picking up a pedal sponsor. It'll be interesting to see what they do to partner up in that relationship.

Labor Day Weekend, y'all! Get sum! (Bicycling, that is) Be safe! Thanks for reading, as always!