Thursday News And Views

Dylan Johnson's Leadville bike from 2025. (Image courtesy Johnson's social media)

Thursday News & Views? What the....!!!

(You'll see why tomorrow) 

Life Time Bans Drop Bars At Two Of The Grand Prix Events:

Last weekend news circulated on the internet concerning a new rule for Life Time Events Grand Prix series. This six event series is split between MTB and gravel events. 

Last year a few Pros and top athletes were noted trying out drop bars at the Leadville 100, traditionally seen as a MTB event. 

Now those drop bars are banned by Life Time at the Leadville event and at the penultimate event in the series, Little Sugar, in Arkansas. Perhaps Life Time is trying to preserve the half and half nature of their series by denying the usage of drop bars making the MTB events look like MTB events. Life Time stated this was being done to ensure "riders safety" and "course compatibility". Interestingly, Chequamegon is the only MTB event allowing drop bars. 

Later on it was revealed the riders of the Grand Prix asked for this ban. The thinking was the cost to have multiple bikes for specific course uses was detrimental to those in the series who could not afford a fleet of race bikes. Fair enough. Then don't say it was for "rider safety'" and then let that be the headline, because clearly this wasn't the case.  

Rider safety? Speaking of 'rider safety'....So, what about riders using their fork crowns as a grip area to get an aero advantage, even going so far as to mount remote shifters to actuate their electronic drive trains? (See 2025 women's Leadville winner, Kate Courtney)  

The miscommunication by Life Time had to be rectified by a media story later on clearing up the mess. Does this sound like a logical way to run PR for an event? I don't know, but I still think this has a lot to do with how this series upped the ante' in prize purses and how this affects perceptions of this event series. In the end, it is a small thing to most riders. And it looks silly on the part of Life Time Events. 

BMC Roadmachine One (Image courtesy of BMC Bikes)

While Gravel Tires Get Thicker, Road Bikes Creep Into Gravel Territory:

N.Y. Roll and I discussed this recently, and I think it is an underrated topic in cycling. Road bikes (All-Road Bikes?) are becoming what was once considered a "gravel bike", twelve years or so ago.  

Think about this, the |"original" gravel bike, the Salsa Warbird, which debuted for the 2012 selling season, was only able to handle a 38mm tire with adequate mud clearance. You could squeeze in a 40mm tire, but just barely.  

Contrast this with the BMC Roadmachine, a bike which can easily clear a 40mm tire with a 1X drive train, yet is considered a "road bike". (All-Road Bike?)  My prediction is these bicycles are on the cusp of becoming the next "secret weapon" in gravel racing. 

Many gravel events don't require 50mm and wider tires. Many road conditions in many places are easily ridden on bicycles with 40mm tires. If, as is suggested by the wider tire gravel pundits, the MTB-width tires on gravel are faster, why wouldn't we see this happen in pro road racing, where cobbles and yes - even gravel - sectors exist in some courses? 

Don't be surprised when you hear about some Pro gravel racer showing up on a "traditional" road bike (All-Road Bike?) at some big gravel event someday soon.  

Continental Terra Adventure Reflex (Image courtesy of Continental Tires)

Continental Releases Terra Adventure Reflex Tires:

Continental announced on Tuesday their new model in the Terra range of tires called the Terra Adventure Graphite Reflex. 

Essentially, this is a Terra Adventure tire with a reflective strip on the sidewalls. This provides better visibility to other road users in low-light and dark conditions. Perfect for the racer who lines up for a dark morning start, or for adventurers who ride in darkness many times. 

I reviewed the Terra Adventure, sans reflective stripes, in my post HERE.  

TideAce Carbon 32"er.(Image courtesy of TideAce)

The 32" Watch - TideAce Carbon 32"er Frame:

I received a tip the other day to check out this carbon frame for 32" wheels. It is from a Chinese brand called TideAce. You can see their webpage for it HERE.  

Comments: I'm not familiar with this brand but my source tells me it makes stuff for other brands you may have heard of, so this isn't some oddball product with little engineering behind it, is what my takeaway was from this.  

It was kind of funny, because my source said "Now (N.Y. Roll) will have to "eat more crow". (IYKYK) Because he said something about waiting to see if a carbon 32"er would come out later on. Well, obviously, it already has happened. 

And look at the price! My goodness, but seriously under 1K for a carbon 32"er? Ya gotta hand it to these Chinese brands, they don't sleep on a way to make a buck! 

Gravel Worlds Claims Largest Prize Purse To Be Offered In Gravel Racing:

On Wednesday, an announcement went out from Gravel Worlds which claims the event will offer the largest cash payout in gravel cycling. The $150,000.00 purse is to be fully funded through Goodlife Nutrition. 

Last year the prize purse was $100,000.00 so this is a significant increase. It should be noted this new, higher amount is to be distributed through the Pro fields, evenly between men and women. This surpasses any Life Time Event and one would assume the race will become a significantly important event now for anyone trying to make a living racing gravel. 

Also notable is Gravel Worlds now having controlled intersections for their main 150 mile event. There will also be more law enforcement present than ever before. This should alleviate any issues with regard to riders risking life and limb trying to stay ahead in the Pro fields by darting across uncontrolled intersections. Faster amateurs will also benefit as the time windows for the intersection controls do not end with the passing of the Pro fields.  
 

That's a wrap on this week! If you aren't freezing to death, getting iced over, or digging out from a snow storm, try to ride your bicycles this weekend! And thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! 

Gravel Grinder News: Life Time Announces 2026 Grand Prix, Updates

Image courtesy of Life Time Events

Life Time Events Announces 2026 Grand Prix With More Payouts, Refined Selection Process:

 NOTE: All information and images provided by Life Time Events. Comments are Guitar Ted's and may not reflect the opinions of Life Time Events and their affiliates.

Thursday sees a big announcement with Life Time Events revealing its plans for the 2026 Grand Prix. This series of six events evenly split between gravel and MTB has become the premier series for professional cyclists in the USA.  

There is a lot to dig into here, so let's begin with the dates for the events in 2026. 

 Thursday, April 16: Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel 
Saturday, May 30: Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 presented by Shimano
Saturday, August 15: Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik
Saturday, September 19: Life Time Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival
Sunday, October 11: Life Time Little Sugar MTB
Saturday, October 17: Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik

The Money:

The Grand Prix for 2026 - according to the press release -  " ...will see record investment in athletes, including $590,000 in prize money across the series, with $350,000 dedicated to the overall Life Time Grand Prix podium, increased prize purses to $60,000 at UNBOUND Gravel and the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, and $30,000 prize purses at the remaining events."

The overall series compensation pays out from first to tenth place equally between Male and Female riders. First in Male or Female categories gets $50,000.00 and tenth will receive $7,000.00. Additionally, every Pro racer who finishes at least three of the series events, and ends up in 11th place overall in the series or beyond, will be compensated at an amount of $2,500.00. 

Additional benefits to series riders are all entry fees being covered. Under 23 athletes selected for the program after the Unbound Gravel event will also have their entry fees covered. All series athletes have free entry to Life Time events nationwide, coverage in media promoted by Life Time Fitness, and complimentary access to all of Life Time's fitness centers nationwide.

The Selection Process:

According to the press release, there will be some tweaks to the selection process. Here are some bullet points from the release:

 

Each 2026 roster will include: 

• The top five overall finishers from the 2025 Grand Prix
• The top overall U23 athlete from the 2025 series
• A minimum of 16 selected athletes (additional slots may open if one or more top-five athletes do not return)
• Three Wild Card athletes, chosen following Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200

"Applications will be evaluated based on performances over the past 12 months at Life Time-owned and select national and international off-road events, including the Sea Otter Classic, UNBOUND Gravel, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Chequamegon MTB Festival, The Rad Dirt Fest, Crusher in the Tushar, Lutsen 99er, and global events such as Cape Epic, BC Bike Race, and the UCI Gravel World Championships."

The Wild Card Life Time introduced for the 2025 season will again be enacted for the 2026 season with three male and three female riders being added to the Grand Prix after Unbound Gravel, as long as those six athletes meet certain criteria.  

Image courtesy of Life Time Events

Comments: 

This is an amazing development as it makes Unbound Gravel and Leadville some of the most lucrative Pro cycling events in North America. The ability to win one of these two events, or even place top-ten, will be "season makers" for those who can achieve the results. 

The Effects Of Enriching The Prize Purses: The season conclusion for the Grand Prix last weekend was marred by weather and the resulting chaos from changing course at the last minute caused some amount of fear and anxiety for the participants in the finale of the series. Making things more lucrative for the 2026 events will only enhance these emotions, even without the weather factor. 

Amping up the series by way of monetary reward will induce demands from the participants. These might range from petty desires to make things "easier" to concerns over race protocols. We've already seen the results of the monetizing of Unbound, and even before that event was monetized it was indirectly affecting athlete's abilities to score sponsorships and support. Athlete's demands which have resulted in changes to how Unbound is run include separation of Pro's from amateurs, separation of women's Pro fields from the Men's, and separated finish lines for Pro racers. 

Money on offer for performance results has dramatically changed Unbound in particular to an event where the focus has been shifted to only what the Pro riders are doing. The resulting media coverage has affected the experience for amateurs, wrecked what was once a serene, soul-stretching challenge, and affected local residents negatively. While a thriving undercurrent of amateur experiences and competition still exits at Unbound, there is also still a small amount of friction between Pro and everyone else when it comes to how things play out on the gravel. 

Every year we see and hear about how Pro riders desires for "freedom from obstruction" are hindered by roads being open to traffic, riders from the amateur ranks being on a similar course at times, and by an "unfair" support structure for Pros who are "privateers versus those who are affiliated with teams with big budgets and larger, better supplied crews.  

With more on the line than ever before, induced demands will also be on the rise from the Pros. What will the resulting changes be to Unbound, and perhaps other events influenced by Unbound, be in the future? 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of the UCI. From the 2024 Gravel World Championships

Gravel Season Ending On The Professional Level:

This weekend and next weekend mark the end of the Pro gravel season for the riders of Life Time Grand Prix and for the UCI Gravel World Series. 

Up this weekend we have the UCI event, held in the Netherlands. We will see the women and all age group riders set off on Saturday while the Men's Elite category will tackle 111 miles in 3,5 laps of a loop course. The women and age group riders will do less miles with only 2.5 laps. 

Meanwhile, next  weekend  in Bentonville, Arkansas, the Big Sugar Classic will end the Life Time Grand Prix series with a 100 mile course in the Ozarks. Of course, the Grand Prix isn't all gravel events, but it is seen as one of the bigger gravel series from a Pro perspective regardless, mostly due to the wealth of the prize purse for participation and getting good results.  

Trans Iowa v14 Image by Celeste Mathias

Pro Events Are "Watered Down Gravel":

As I peruse what the UCI, Life Time, and even events like the much vaunted Traka 560 have for courses, I am left wanting. Why? Because most of these events have less than 3/4's of the distances as "gravel" and several are barely over 50% "gravel". And I use the term "gravel" in quotes because what many of these events have to use for courses just do not measure up to the same level as what is on offer in the USA.  

This is why you'll notice several European riders who come to Unbound say it is an amazing, tough course, because it is mostly gravel. I know, for many of you dear readers this seems silly to even think about, but a gravel event, in my opinion, should be at least 80% gravel, or more, to be considered a "true gravel event". 

Maybe you think this is a harsh judgement? Well, what if we had a UCI XC MTB course which was 45% paved? Does this even make sense? Or how about a UCI DH MTB course which was 50% flat? You'd hear about this, and people would say it was a farce. 

Well, I'm pretty much saying the same about these "big time" gravel events which feature LOTS of pavement. You might counter with something like, "Well, they have to put a lot of pavement in to connect the gravel sectors.". Well, that is true. Maybe those places are not all that great for actual gravel events which would challenge Pro riders on courses which were 80% gravel or more. 

Good, Pro-level events deserve the best courses. Not a compromised version of gravel racing. There are places this could be done. You know.....like they do at Gravel Worlds in Nebraska? (And elsewhere) 

Image courtesy of Shimano

 Shimano Offers Limited Edition CUES 10/11 Speed Components:

Shimano released news earlier this week concerning a new hue for CUES components. Silver polish will now be offered for a limited time in their 11 speed and 10 speed  range for CUES. 

Previously Shimano had done a limited run of silver anodized GRX components. The CUES signals a less expensive way to get in on some silver components. 

The limited silver edition CUES includes a crank, levers, the rear derailleur, hydraulic flat mount calipers, a front derailleur, and a cassette. (Standard  CUES cassettes are black)

Comments: Is Shimano now going to start offering silver anodized/polished parts more often? This bears watching from a fashion standpoint. I can see older, aging cyclists digging it as it would remind them of bicycles of days gone by. 

But younger folks will drive the market, and from what I have been seeing, younger folks are not showing as much interest in cycling as they once had when silver was common for components. Maybe if Shimano made electric scooter parts in silver..... 

Image courtesy of Ari Bikes

Ari Bikes Shows Off Shafer V3 Gravel Bike:

Ari Bikes (Formerly Fezzari Bikes), the direct-to-consumer brand, has just released their version 3 of the Shafer gravel bike. Boasting revised geometry, room for 29" x 2.2" tires, and in-frame storage, the new Shafer is on-point with regard to today's gravel bike trends. 

The Shafer can be configured in several ways to suit most budgets. There are plenty of accessory mounts and Ari has also boosted the stack height on the Shafer per customer requests. 

The head tube angle is a slack - for garvel bikes - 69° and the bottom bracket drop is a healthy 78mm, which means the Shafer is not a good choice for skinny tires or 650B wheel sets.  Interestingly, the chain stays are size-specific on the Shafer, which you do not see normally, especially in carbon fiber. 

Starting with prices for complete bikes at $2,549.00 and topping out with the Shafer Pro at $8,499.00, there are several ways to get into this bike. You can also purchase a frame set for $ 1,999.00. 

Comments: This trend for fatter tires and slacker angles up front now is getting to the point where we are entering Fargo/Cutthroat territory. In fact, the new Shafer is very much like a Cutthroat. The main difference is the Cutthroat's 8mm higher bottom bracket, lack of in-frame storage, and larger, 2.4" tire clearance. 

And Just Because It Is Beautiful.....

Singular Kite Ti which will be at the Bespoked Dresden Show this weekend. (Image courtesy of Singular(

  Gotta give a shout-out to Sam Alison Singular Cycles for this special Kite Ti which will be at the Brooks booth for the Bespoked Dresden bicycle show this weekend. 

That is a wrap for this week! Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Get out and do some Fall bicycle rides! 

Friday News And Views

WCS Mountain Adventure Fork (Image courtesy of Ritchey Design)

 Sea Otter Edition of the FN&V:

Today marks the second to last day of the Sea Otter festival at Laguna Seca Raceway. Here is the first item from Sea Otter for today from Ritchey design.

Ritchey design Releases Mt Adventure Fork, News On A Tom Ritchey Book:

 Today Ritchey Design released news on their new "WCS Mountain Adventure Fork". A carbon fiber fork meant to adapt 120-130mm hard tail 29"ers to full-rigid status. This fork is in a similar vein as the recently announced Wilde "Future Proof Fork".

Featuring rack and fender mounts, internal dynamo lighting route, accessory mounts on each fork leg, and capability to handle a tire up to 2.4" wide, this fork should find a home on bikepacker's rigs. It is light,as well being made from carbon, so the overall weight is listed at 565 grams with an uncut 1 1/8th to 1 1/2" tapered steer tube. Boost spacing should accommodate most modern MTB wheels. No price was listed for the WCS Adventure Fork in the press release but the fork is at Sea Otter in the Ritchey booth. Available from April 15th onward.

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

Furthermore, Ritchey Design is proud to announce a new book detailing the story of Tom Ritchey's life in "cycling history, professional triumphs and rebounds from near devastating mishaps".

Ritchey is starting a Kickstrater to fund this project. Early adopters will be in for access to (depending on donor level) a choice of a special limited edition of One Ride Away, a discounted from MSRP standard edition or supporter shirt with their purchase.

Comments: The Adventure fork is interesting in that it has a tapered steer tube and is made from carbon fiber. The tapered steer tube would be a non-issue with any other brand, but Ritchey typically eschews this type of steerer saying the straight steer tube designs lend a better ride quality to rigid forks.

I think carbon forks are not that big of a deal when it comes to knocking about on a trail bike or for bikepacking, but a certain element of the cycling world does still have reservations when it comes to carbon. Of course, there are choices, so maybe these folks are more of the type which would choose the Wilde offering. 

Sea Otter Switches To Gravel:

Today the big event will be the kick-off to the Life Time Grand Prix series for 2025. Instead of the traditional XC MTB event, the riders will now be doing a "gravel race", although some of the course will be essentially from the XC event.  (??)

The riders will be taking on the 88.8 total miles on a loop course which is done three times. Prizing has been increased over 2024, so each event in the Grand Prix will now have a purse of  $30,000.00 evenly split between the Men's and Women's fields. That should spark some pretty motivated racing, if this is how you are funding Life through 2025.

Comments: It should be noted the series will also add a XC MTB event at the end of the series with the new "Little Sugar" mtb event which will be the penultimate event in the series which ends with the Big Sugar gravel event. Both of those events happening in Arkansas. 

This new "gravel" event at Sea Otter is kind of weird in that the terrain is super-hilly, but is dirt, pavement, and pretty tame looking gravel not unlike what we have around town here in our alleys. Obviously, they are doing their best to find some kind of a course and honestly, it looks tough. So, we'll see what folks think, but I saw the course preview on You Tube, and the climbing is no joke. Good luck to all that take this on.

Image courtesy of Continental Tires

Continental Introduces New MTB Tires:

Continental released information on three new tires for its MTB range which replace the Race King, Mountain King, and Trail King models. I will only be focusing on the new "Dubnital" XC race tire as it has direct crossover to gravel usage.

The new Dubnital has a fast, lower block tread and features Continentals "Rapid" or "Grip" compounds depending upon the model chosen. Then you can choose between Trail or Race casings. Trail being the tougher of the two with Race being the lightest. These come in black wall or Conti's "tan" wall. Sizes are listed as all 29"er with one exception in black wall/Trail casing/Grip compound for 27.5"ers. Prices are around 67 to 74 bucks each depending upon the model's features.

Comments: I think the go-to tire here would be a Rapid compound, Race casing Dubnital in the 2.20" size, while a Fargo rider might opt for the wider 2.4 in a Trail casing. But either way, these tubeless ready, hookless bead compatible tires look to find a home on many a gravel oriented bicycle's wheels. 

Image courtesy of Niner Bikes.

Niner Bikes Introduces the O.R.E. RDO Gravel Bike:

Niner Bikes announced a new model this past Monday. It is called the "O.R.E. RDO, in their typical acronym nomenclature. This model's name stands for "Off Road Explorer Race Day Only". The RDO part generally confers the carbon frame material in Niner's range.

The marketing on this bike is pointing straight at the mountain biker who is looking for their first gravel bike. A 69° head tube angle mated with a longer front-center establishes what Niner thinks will be an "at home feel" for the avid mountain biker coming over to gravel. Furthering the MTB-like appeal the O.R.E. RDO is suspension corrected for a 40mm travel gravel fork.

The bike will be available in a few complete build options and as a frame and fork in two colors. Frames start at $2,500.00. 

Comments: A "mountain biker's gravel bike". How many times has this line been used for a gravel bike by a predominantly MTB oriented company? I was a bit dismayed to see only 50mm tire clearance and a 70mm bottom bracket drop. That is not very progressive in this current evolution of gravel bikes, but it isn't terrible. I really scratch my head though when I see high bottom brackets like this, especially when short crank arms are all the rage with MTB'ers these days. That's a T47 bottom bracket, by the way. I like that.

These claims of having this "forward thinking geometry" make me laugh when I look at my Honeman Flyer with geometry that is similar in many ways to this bike and comes from the 1930's. Ha! 

Image courtesy of Velo Orange

Growtac Equal Friction Shifters:

Velo Orange released information on Tuesday for their new Growtac Equal Control Levers. They are friction shifters, which means you don't have any indexing - no 'clicks'. Essentially a rider moves the lever until the chain makes its 'shift' and then the rider can adjust, or 'trim' the derailleur, until the chain is centered over the gear selected. Front derailleurs are infinitely adjustable so rubbing chains can be a thing of the past.

It might sound hard, but once you get the hang of it, (yes- there is some skill involved and a learning curve), it becomes second nature. I used a friction shifting bike as a commuter for several years and it is amazing how 'in-tune' you get to the system over time.

Another bonus: You can mix and match previously unmatchable components. SRAM Eagle derailleur, eight speed cassette, and a triple crank with a Campy front derailleur? Yep. As long as the chain tension can be maintained by the rear derailleur, you are good to go with a friction shifter. 

The Growtac Equal levers are also available as a brake lever only. This makes 1X or single speed set-ups possible without having a need for the shifting bits. The levers look great, and the word from Velo Orange is that they work quite nicely with mechanical disc brakes. You can read more HERE from Velo Orange.

Comments: I am honestly kind of excited about these levers. But holy-moly, the price isn't cheap! At $212.00  per shift lever and $125.00 for each brake lever, these will test your commitment level to friction shifting! Still, a very cool alternative to have available. 

Image courtesy of Allied Bikes

Allied Bikes Debuts Able With Big Tire Clearances:

Allied dropped this new Able bike on Tuesday of this week which features clearances for up to a 57mm 29"er tire.  Boasting "gravel racing geometry", the bike has a 70.5° head tube angle, a 74° seat tube angle, and an 80mm bottom bracket drop.

Due to the massive bottom bracket drop Allied warns Able owners to not use any tire smaller than a 700 X 45mm. This is perhaps a first. A recommendation for minimum tire size! 

Able bikes are ready to be ordered and you can also get a frame set. A frameset will set you back a cool $4,500.00 for the base model and options can take it up from there. (And it isn't even a Made in the USA frame!) More information can be seen on Allied's site HERE. 

Comments: Woo! That is a large tire clearance! Drop bar MTB? Hmm.... I do like the geometry. Raleigh had a bike very similar to this several years ago. I forget the model's name but it was a quite displeasing shade of brown! Anyway, nothing new here in terms of the geometry, so saying things like "gravel racing geometry" is but another phrase from the Book of Marketing Chutzpah.

And yeah.....that's a lotta money for this bike!

That wraps up this FN&V. If I find more Sea Otter stuff to post I'll run another article tomorrow, maybe..... Get on those bikes and Ride!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Lapierre Bicycles.

 A "Fixed" FN&V!

Lapierre Debuts New Crosshill CF Gravel Bike:

Seen at last weekend's Gravel World Championships in Belgium, Lapierre's new gravel bike has stirred up some interest due to its design, specifically around the seat tube/seat stays area of its carbon fiber frame. 

The seat tube and seat stays are decoupled, with the seat stays making connection with the top tube just ahead of the seat tube. This is not a novel idea, but it is unusual looking, to be sure. Obviously the goal here is to provide more comfort to the rider with the longer seat stays and independent seat tube providing flex over small bumps and vibrations. 

Lapierre calls their seat tube design concept "Tubular Endurance" and the seat stays "Flexstays". Lapierre claims that at 40kph this design concept reduces vibrations by 12% over a traditional frame design. 

Image courtesy of Lapierre Bicycles

The Crosshill CF is designed to accept a 40mm gravel suspension fork and up to 45mm 700c tires. The geometry is said to be quite different from the current trends, (more on that in my comments), and several parameters of the geometry vary across the size range. 

The Crosshill CF comes in seven models with variants having 2X and 1X drive trains, both in mechanical and electronic groups. Prices range from approximately $3,075.00 to $7,685.00 USD (prices converted from Euros at the time of the press release) These bikes are also UCI approved, (If that matters to you, then there you go!)

Comments: Lapierre says this bike has a shorter top tube per size than you might be used to. (Note: As of this writing, Lapierre did not have the Crosshill CF on their site, so the following opinions are mine and the numbers came off their press release) I found the sizing to be strange with what would be my normal choice, a Large, being slightly small at a 52cm seat tube, a 601mm stack, and a 57cm top tube. The next size up, the XL, has a 55cm seat tube, 620mm stack, and a 58.5cm top tube. This leaves me in an in between state and I'd likely go for the XL, if I was dead set on the Crosshill CF. 

Other numbers weren't too inspired. "Normal", perhaps? The head angle is listed for my size at 71.5° and the bottom bracket has a 70mm drop. Kind of 2015-ish numbers there. So, with the all-internal routing, including the handle bar and stem, and along with the weird geometry, this doesn't strike me as a great option, but that's my opinion. 

Additionally, this effort has comfort/compliance built into the rear with no regard, (unless you get a front telescopic fork) for the front end vibration reduction. I rode a bike from a now defunct company that had a design much like this one that made a similar mistake. Again, this was like ten years ago. 

So, with this bike being strikingly different from "normal" designs, it may seem like an innovation, but in my opinion, this design is a bit dated. 

Ritchey Design Releases Limited Edition Garden City Fixed Gear Frameset:

A "true" track bike in design, (nothing like my 1930's inspired Honeman Flyer!), the Ritchey "Garden City" frame set is a fixed gear design with a bit of versatility mixed in. 

The bike is steel, of course, with the Ritchey standard 1 1/8th steer tube and steel fork to match. Typically steep geometry and high bottom bracket allow for super quick handling and the ability to lean into corners without clipping a pedal. 

The "versatility" comes in the form of two bottle cage mounts. Most "true" track frames don't have any bottle mounts. The frame and fork are rated for 30mm tires so you won't have to run skinny tires on this one if you don't want to. (Yes, a Surly Steamroller can take a bigger tire. ) The Garden City could be your "never die" commuter, a training bike, or your first try at fixed gear. The frame set is $1,199,00USD and is available now. Check it out on Ritchey's site HERE.

Update On The Shogun Fixed Gear Bike:

The "No Coast" experiment is off to a great start with a major change now to the handlebar set up. I mentioned in my last update on this bike that I was probably going to put a mustache bar on the bike to alleviate my distaste for classic drop bar geometry. Plus the brake hoods of those old Shimano 600 levers were like trying to hold a knife edge compared to modern day hoods and levers. 

Well, I just so happen to have a Whisky Winston Bar, a carbon fiber mustache style bar that can take road or MTB standard controls. That went on via a stem insert that allowed me to use a threadless stem. That in turn allowed me to utilize the Winston Bar with its 31.8mm clamp diameter for a stem interface. 

This has simply transformed this bike from something I was tolerating to being a fun bicycle. I may flip the Winston to its "riser" position verses what I have now in its "drop" position, but besides that, this is a winning combination. The brake lever is a Velo Orange Grand Cru lever which I have a pair of, but am only using the one here due to clearance issues on the fork which preclude my use of two brake calipers. The bag is also from Velo Orange and is the Burrito Supreme bag. I added an old Blackburn frame pump, a Lezyne light set, and boom! A fixed gear commuter! 

I've used it a few times now for commutes and for just bombing around the neighborhood because it is a ton of fun. I recommend everyone at least try a fixed gear bike once. If you are a cyclist, you owe it to yourself to have this experience. It is unlike riding anything else. Just remember: no coasting! 

Gravel Grinder News

News On Life Time's Grand Prix & SBT GRVL:

Next year's dates are starting to get announced now and first up we have news from Life Time Fitness concerning next year's Grand Prix. 

Life Time is tweaking their event schedule by turning the opener at Sea Otter into a gravel event which previously was one of three MTB events. To counter that Life Time has added a "Little Sugar" MTB event in Northwestern Arkansas as a compliment to the required Big Sugar gravel event which rounds out the season. The series will be a best five of six events to determine a Men's and Women's overall winner. 

The series is also cutting back on the field roster limit by 10 riders, reducing the field from a maximum of 35 allowed in 2024 to 25 in 2025. It was noted that this season Life Time only saw approximately 25 women and 30 men take multiple starts in the series so far, so this reduction may be a reflection of a lack of demand for spots in the series. 

SBT GRVL, the embattled event held in Routt County, Colorado, has made some major changes to comply with Routt County Commissioner's recommendations and demands stemming from complaints from the ranching community there. This coming year the event will move out of its traditional August date to a two-day June affair on June 28th and 29th. The first date will see a non-competitive "fondo" event for up to 1,800 riders. The following day a competitive event with a field limitation of 750 riders will be held on a 37-mile gravel circuit with a rolling enclosure for both Elite (3 laps) and Amateur riders (2 laps) South of Hayden, Colorado. The dates were moved to avoid overlapping with Routt County haying season. 

Comments: I've noted small fields in Pro level events the last two years in the USA and seeing a reduction in the roster limit for Grand Prix events is no surprise then. It will be interesting to see if SBT GRVL has anywhere near 750 elite athletes showing up. The June date also is an interesting choice coming only approximately three weeks after Unbound and during peak Sun period for a high elevation event. 

What all this portends will be watched as the cycling industry, rightly or wrongly, bases its "barometer" of how things are going off of Pro racing and because gravel is the hot category now, that is where the focus is. 

Have a great weekend! Ride those bikes and peep some leaves!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Aeron

Left-overs  From Eurobike & Gravelly News:

Aeron TPU Tubes Announced:

TPU tubes are a newer technology applied for tubes for bicycle tires that boasts the advantage of about 1/3rd the weight of comparable butyl rubber tubes, lowered rolling resistance at the similar levels that tubeless tires would have, and being 100% recyclable and repairable. 

One of the downsides to TPU is that previous to these new Aeron tubes, the valve stem attachment to the TPU has been somewhat troublesome in some cases. Also, due to the smoothness of the valve stems on most TPU tubes, pump heads had a proclivity to pop off during inflation. Aeron, a new brand under the same parent company as Ergon, has claimed to have solved these issues. 

Aeron has a new way to attach the valve stems to TPU and claims it is much better than the competition. Also, they have added a textured surface to the stem to help pump heads stay on during inflation. 

Aeron will have a wide range of TPU tubes for road, MTB, and gravel bikes. I am going to focus on the gravel range they will offer which should be available at the start of 2025. 

Interestingly, Aeron will offer three levels of TPU with varying weights and puncture protection characteristics. They call these (from lightest/thinnest to heaviest/thickest) SuperLite Race, ExtraLite Protect, and UltraProtect. Size ranges have not been announced but given what we can see on their site now, even if you went with the heaviest UltraProtect TPU tubes for gravel use they would still only weigh 128 grams.

Comments: This TPU tube thing is heating up and I believe it will be a very popular choice amongst many riders over tubeless tires. Air retention is fabulous. You get puncture protection at a fantastic light weight, You get lowered rolling resistance on par with tubeless tires without the hassles of sealant. Plus these are 100% recyclable now. Yes, they are a bit spendy, but Aeron is posting on their site that the UltraProtect tubes, which are the most expensive option in the gravel category, are only about 27 bucks US. That's not terrible. I suspect prices will become somewhat less with more competitors in the niche as well. 

I believe TPU will overtake butyl rubber tubes for high performance bikes very soon and will be a neck-and-neck competitor with tubeless soon. I base this on the promises of TPU and that one of my most popular posts of 2024 has been my review of WTB TPU tubes. That post is on pace to be - perhaps - my #1 post of 2024 and has already beaten the #1 post for hits from last year. So, there ya go! Interest is high for this technology.

Image courtesy of Feedback Sports

Feedback Sports Shows New E-Bike Home Repair Stand:

This repair stand from Feedback Sports is pretty interesting as it can lift your bike for you to a height that allows you to work on it comfortably. It operates on electricity, and the telescoping mast is driven by a motor at the base of the stand. The operator of the stand needs only to press the lift switch with a foot so your hands are free to steady the bike.

The stand can lift up to 110lbs/50Kg, so those tandems, touring bikes with all the bags on, and eBikes, of course, should all go right up. When finished with the work, the light workstand (54lbs shipped) can be rolled on wheels out of the way.

The Pro E Lift repair stand will retail for $1,200.00 and will be available in January of 2025. 

Comments: Powered repair stands are a smart addition for any shop and especially smart for any cycling enthusiast that owns eBikes, tandems, cargo bikes, or heavier bikes that are difficult to lift. The Feedback repair stand jaws/clamp is easy to use and well designed. I have a really old one that I use that is finally ready for replacement, but lasted many years. 

It's pricey, but your back is worth it. Especially if you work in a shop that does a lot of repairs. 

Wildfires Nix Crusher In The Tushar For 2024:

Ongoing wildfires in the area of the course for the Crusher in the Tushar have forced organizers to announce that the event will not happen in 2024. Rebates and deferrals on entries are being offered via the event website to current roster spot holders. 

Comments: Honestly, I am surprised with how many gravel events we have located in the Rockies that we have not seen this before. It seems as though we have massive amounts of wildfires every Summer anymore, so the chances would seem great that a major event cancellation would occur at some point. 

And now it has and this event is a Life Time Grand Prix event. So now the series had to rejigger things to reflect this event cancellation as well. 

Ridge Road + Gravel Sportif Announced:

On August 17th, 2024, at Church Farm Cafe in Aldbury, Tring, which is Northwest of London, there will be a road or gravel sportif held. 

Riders can expect about 60 miles of "rolling hills and picturesque villages of the Chilterns", according to the press release.  Afterward there will be a barbecue held at the Church Farm Cafe put on by the Suave Foods team. Registration is open now and you can check out further details at the event site HERE.

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Cutthroat Upgraded For SRAM UDH:

Salsa Cycles announced on Tuesday of this week that its venerable Cutthroat carbon bikepacking/gravel/adventure bike has been upgraded to be SRAM UDH compatible. 

This allows Cutthroat buyers to have the option for SRAM Transmission groups or to just have a more commonly available rear hangar for other derailleurs. 

Salsa also upgraded the material that their protective frame plates is made from in the latest Cutthroat models. Along with this, the fork is now all carbon fiber construction going forward. 

Comments: The Cutthroat has gone largely unchanged since its introduction in 2015 with a major evolution done in 2020 which saw Boost spacing introduced along with a new fork and the frame protection plates. That said, you'd be forgiven if you couldn't see the difference. 

But almost a decade of the Cutthroat already? Amazing. Time flies. I'm not sure if Salsa was thinking along the same lines but this new colorway is reminiscent of the original Cutty colors which featured an orange and light aqua color as well.  (The original Cutty had an all black Firestarter fork on it borrowed from the Fargo of the day..) 

That's all for this week! Have a great weekend and ride those bicycles folks!

Friday News And Views

 A Weekly Appearance in Today's FN&V:

Cycling Sports Fantasy League Announced:

Life Time Sports announced last week that they are promoting a fantasy league where individuals can choose riders who they think will do well on Life Time's Grand Prix series. 

The Grand Prix is a series of seven events spread across MTB and gravel disciplines. 60 riders are taking part, evenly split amongst Men and Women. The riders must appear at five of the seven events and one of those has to be the season concluding Big Sugar 100 mile gravel event in the Ozarks. 

The top 15 Male and Female athletes at the end of the series will be invited back for the 2025 season with the remaining slots to be filled by invitation. 

Fans of the series now can choose five Men and five Women who they think will finish best at each event. Fans can only pick the same rider twice, making the fantasy league more challenging, and making each fan get to know more athletes in the series. Points for the best choices will be awarded for each event and then a season champion will be crowned at the end of the series. Details can be found at this link HERE. 

Comments: It is no secret than fan based fantasy sports leagues are very popular. While fantasy sports are typical in stick and ball sports, it is rare to see this in the cycling niche. Life Time, no doubt, gets information and that can be sold to advertisers and marketers. Maybe some day they monetize the league further, but besides the harvesting of info, they also will hopefully get more engagement and possibly more people buying into their events via registration fees. 

It is an interesting twist in the continued monetization of cycling sports and gravel events in particular.

The Stinner MADE Photo Stick

Portable Bike Prop For Photos Announced:

At the last MADE Show, (custom bicycle show, sort of like what NAHBS used to be), Stinner, a custom bicycle brand, showed a "Photo Stick". This is a device that is, essentially, a stand to lean a bike on for remote photo shooting. 

The device got its name from the MADE Show so it is called the MADE Photo Stick. It breaks down into three pieces which can screw together by the use of water bottle bosses and threaded bits which are welded into the steel rods that make up the MADE Photo Stick. 

The MADE Photo Stick is Cerekoted steel and has rubber tips. There will be a raw, bead blasted titanium version edition in limited numbers available soon as well. Price for the steel version has been set at $59.99. 

Image courtesy of Ridley Bikes

Ridley Bikes Debuts Entry Level Gravel Bike:

Ridley Bikes, located in Belgium where the UCI Gravel World Championships will be held (??!!) has announced a new, entry level model for gravel riding and urban cycling called the "Kalazy"

The Kalazy will be offered in three types, one with a flat bar. The spec is 8 speed Claris or 10 speed Sora. Drop bar models have flat mount mechanical disc brakes from Tektro while the flat bar model has hydraulic brakes. 

While the bikes have a focus on gravel, and share the same geometry as Ridley's Kanzo gravel bikes, these Kalazy models also have some nods to urban cycling as well. The frames feature braze ons for a stand brake, and there is a mount for a rear mount kickstand as well. Traditional rack and fender mounts, along with top tube "bento bag" mounts are also featured. 

Image courtesy of Ridley Bikes

Probably the most surprising feature of the Kalazy frame is the use of fully internalized cable routing. Cables will exit the handlebar and pass through a boot where the stem spacers would normally be visible and then through the headset and frame. This is a feature normally not seen on entry level bikes. 

Prices range from about $1299.00 - $1599.00 USD. 

Comments: This introduction is something of a surprise from Ridley Bikes who normally have not dabbled in "entry level bikes" in the past. It is a welcomed thing, as far as I am concerned, to see a company at least try to serve this market and it could launch Ridley in the US as a contender for the average gravel cycling fan's dollar. It could also serve the gravel cyclist that is looking for a gravel bike to use for general purpose riding and therefore save the race bike for racing.  

However "entry level" bikes at over 1K is something I'll have to get used to. The floor for entry keeps getting raised, and I understand that everything is more expensive these days, but still... 

Image courtesy of Ridley Bikes

That said, where have you seen any company send out a presser for a gravel bike that sits in this price range? Maybe Salsa Cycles Journeyer, but besides that? This is pretty rare and I applaud Ridley Bikes for at least trying this. 

I'm not sure how it will play in North America, as the Ridley dealer base is not widespread, but if the presser is to be believed, these Kalazy bikes should be a hit in Belgium and Europe. 

The presser said that the features which are more urban oriented are maybe a bit unusual for a gravel bike, but this sentiment only underlines, in my opinion, how "gravel" was the wrong term all along for these bikes. To my mind, the Klazy represents exactly what I thought the "all - around" bicycle should have been from the get-go. Yes - you could ride gravel, but the bike should also be a practical bike for everyday use as well.  This Kalazy model is a prototypical example of my ideal "all - arounder" bike. 

By the way, the Kalazy can handle up to 47mm tires, which really makes this bike even more interesting from a practicality standpoint. The geometry, again based on the Kanzo, so it is dialed in to what I would consider to be a good, all - around stable geometry for everyday riding. So, overall, I like the bike and besides the goofy all-internal routing, I have no quibbles with the Kalazy.

Image courtesy of YT Industries

YT Industries Announces More Affordable Szepter Gravel Bike:

Another shot at making a bike nmore affordable here with YT Industries announcing a spec level addition to its Szepter range. 

The Szepter Core 2 model features the same carbon frame and geometry as the other models in the range but has a spec that lowers the retail price to $3,499.00 USD. 

The Szepter Core 2 features a Suntour GVX 32 40mm travel gravel fork, DT Swiss G1800 wheels and a Shimano GRX drive train. 

Comments: The term "affordable" can mean different things. Obviously, a boutique MTB brand offering a gravel bike in carbon is not going to be able to reduce costs at the same level as a brand moving more numbers, so you have to look at this in context. 

It is interesting how the MTB-centric brand's gravel bikes all feature geometry reflective of the 'geo-du jour' reflected in MTB bikes in 2024. Slack (for gravel) head tube angles and steep seat tube angles. The slack head tube angles do not scare me, but I am not sure that steep seat tube angles are the answer, even if you use the bike on single track. YT says the steep seat tube angle benefits climbing. But at 74.3°, it feels like we are talking about a tri-bike geometry. It just seems like it is the wrong direction to go for a gravel bike. 

But this is probably the "enduro-dude's" gravel bike and is built to appeal to such folks. Probably not so much aimed at a Mid-Western, miles upon miles of rollers type of rider. I get that, if that is what YT is doing here. 

Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth Components

Wolf Tooth Announces New Ripsaw Flat Pedals:

And you thought we'd get out of this FN&V without a mention from Wolf Tooth? Ha! No way! 

I honestly don't plan this, but it seems that Wolf Tooth's marketing strategy for 2024 is to release some news once a week. Well, this time it is a pedal machined and assembled in their Minnesota headquarters called the Ripsaw.

The Ripsaw is a $199,99 pedal that is CNC machined from a block of aluminum billet and, according to Wolf Tooth, that takes 37 minutes per pedal body. 

The Ripsaw pedals have replaceable pins and are rebuildable as well. They are 118mm long and 102mm in width. The platform is thin, being about 12mm at the thickest end, and have a slight, concave shape to help hold the foot. The Ripsaw pedals are available in Raw, Black, or Purple anodized finishes. 

That's a wrap for this week! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions and I hope that you get out for some riding this weekend!

Friday News And Views

Payson McElveen on an Allied gravel bike. (Image courtesy of press release0

McElveen Signs With Allied Cycle Works:

Mountain bike Pro and gravel racing rider Payson Mc Elveen has signed a "multi-year deal" with U.S. bicycle manufacturer, Allied Cycle Works. The deal was announced on January 5th, last week. 

The press release stated that McElveen will contest the recently announced Life Time Fitness "Gran Prix", a six event series with three gravel and three endurance MTB events on tap. McElveen will join Allied's Colin Strickland, also a winner of a few major gravel events, on the Allied roster. McElveen will also be riding a "slew of other events and adventure rides" during the coming months of 2022. 

Terms of the deal were not specified in the press release. 

Comments: With big series, big events, and all sporting big payouts for top placements, it only makes sense that smaller brands and the top prospects in gravel would start forming alliances. The brands, like Allied, need the exposure in the field of gravel racing, and the athletes need the support to cover the entry fees and, perhaps more, to get to the bigger events with a possibility of making some money. 

Interestingly, McElveen, who had been signed as an athlete with Trek Bikes, is leaving that deal behind to become a player in the gravel scene. Obviously, this Life Time series, with its three MTB events, places McElveen in a good place to become a major player to win it all. Allied looks to leverage his abilities and McElveen's social media, podcast, and adventuring to boost its brand in the gravel category. (And- as was reporeted in last week's "FN&V", Life Time is getting some play on McElveen's socials) On the flip side, Trek, (and other major brands) may be holding off on the Life Time thing to see if they can get involved in the USAC/UCI Pro Gravel Tour announced this past weekend.

Ten years ago, the thought of talented, young, and well known cyclist being sponsored for "gravel. MTB, and adventure" riding was not even on the radar. Now, getting these same talents to stick with bigger brands and ride either MTB or road is becoming something of an anachronism. This seems to be the trend now though. Who'da thunk it? Then again- with the big announcement of World Pro Tour Gravel and a "Gravel Worlds", will this sort of thing with unsanctioned events shrink in importance?

Speaking of "Who'da Thunk It?":

Tuesday of this week a big announcement was made concerning a "Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame". That's correct- a hall of fame for gravel cycling. 

And yes, you can nominate people. There is a rumor flying around that your's truly is going to be nominated. Yep! Crazy to even consider that from my perspective. 

Here's a bit from the press release for y'all to consider:

"“It is the community of riders that make gravel cycling so special, so we’re excited to present an opportunity for that community to lift up and celebrate the people who have led the way,” said Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame advisory board member LeLan Dains.

Nominations for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame will be open to the public and anyone will be able to submit a nomination with the permission of the nominee. Submissions will be accepted January 11 through March 1, 2022. Six categories have been established to serve as a guide for the types of riders and community members who should be considered for nomination (some nominees may fall into more than one category) and include: Promoters, Athletes, Innovators, Volunteers, Routeurs, and Storytellers.

 Once all submissions are reviewed, an election committee of more than thirty cycling industry and media representatives, event organizers, and gravel enthusiasts will make the final selections on inductees. The first class of Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame will be announced April 4, 2022, and
then inducted at the inaugural banquet in Emporia, Kansas prior to Unbound Gravel 2022."

So, pretty much the same reaction gravel riding has had all along. Perfect!

Comments: First off- I am not being allowed to be on the committee because the GCHoF folks tell me that they think I've got a pretty strong chance at being nominated and so they thought that this would be a bit of a conflict of interest if I was involved in the selection committee. 

Secondly, I'll be completely honest- I never thought about a hall of fame for gravel cycling or that I would EVER be a part of one. I know that some of you think that I belong "up there with the first pioneers and greats" of this niche of cycling. However; whenever folks mentioned how they felt in that manner I just brushed it off as folks being nice to me. I NEVER thought that anything like a "Hall of Fame" for gravel freaks would be a thing. Not ever.... But- here we are. 

 Some have said that the idea is heinous, an insult, and worse. Some are now dredging back up all the negativity surrounding Emporia, Kansas and "The Event That Shall Not Be Named", saying that a HoF of gravel in that city is an affront to Native Americans and is a reminder of that 'racially insensitive' event name. (The Dirty Kanza, in case you are wondering what "that" name is) Some will say that the idea is ridiculous. Okay, I get that, but "history" is important too. Both what came before and what is now. We are at where we are at- may as well not deny the past and try to learn from it. Oh....and by the way, those throwing these stones aren't offering up alternatives. Yeah.....That'll work......

Seen on a thread on Facebook concerning the GCHoF.

Some say that we don't need a HoF for an unsanctioned discipline of cycling. And anyway- we have a US Cycling HOF in California. Well, maybe we aren't sanctioned, but we do need a place to write the collective history. (You know, not everything in the MTB Hall of Fame happened under a "governing body"- right?)  And what of the MTB HoF and the US Cycling HoF? Why do we need that when we have a UCI Cycling HoF in Switzerland? (Ned Overend, Major Taylor, and Greg LeMond are members of that one, by the way) And gravel cycling is not just a US phenomenon. I suspect, (and hope that) members and events held outside of the US become a part of the GCHoF.

Some say  the GCHoF is "self-congratulatory". Well, is there a Hall of Fame that isn't? It's kind of the point- To celebrate and congratulate those that were deemed indispensable to, contributed greatly to, or have had great accomplishments in a movement, cause, or sport. This is almost always done by a panel of peers. So, thanks "Captain Obvious" for that criticism.

I also think the tradition of "grassroots gravel" has a story to tell, and unless it gets a place to be told, (the hall of fame), then it is going to get lost, run roughshod by what is coming down the pike in terms of the "$pirit of Corporate Gravel®. Then no one will be able to tell you that what happens going forward is not how it began, because people will remember what they want to, until you remind them of the past. That's why any "Hall of Fame" should exist. Not so much for "glorifying personalities". 

But yeah.....there will be people lifted up by this hall of fame. If I am one of them, okay...... I don't get to determine what others think about me. That's your job. If y'all say, "GT should be in the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame", then I will be there. If not- I won't be. The existence of the GCHoF is fine by me but I was okay without it as well. I've no idea how it will turn out. It could be a good thing, or.....?  Time will tell.

I'll ride my bicycles down gravel roads either way. 

Link to "The Spokesman Podcast" where I discuss the HoF and more with host, Carlton Reid. 

Link to "Gravel Guru" video where LeLan Dains of the GCHoF drops by to explain things. 

Got someone in mind that you think should "be in there"? Here's the link to the site. 

Stan's NoTubes Announces New MPulse Hubs For Wheels:

Magnets. They are in everything these days. Especially those crazy-powerful Neodymium magnets. Well, now they are available inside Stan's NoTubes "MPulse Hubs". 

Take a close look at the image here and you can see how the magnets have been bonded to the pawls which then are attracted to the metal drive ring. That engages the pawls with the drive ring very quickly due to the magnetic forces. This also "self-aligns" the pawls for the best engagement with the drive ring. 

Another advantage is that when the hub is in coasting mode, the distance that is created between the pawls and the drive ring means the magnetic field has less pull, and so there is less 'drag' than a steel sprung pawl would have meaning freer coasting. 

But, of course, to get this you have to buy a Stan's MPulse equipped wheel set, or......

You could go to the originator of this technology found in the MPulse hubs, Project 321, and buy separate hubs to build up your own wheel set. They even do a single speed cassette hub with this design. 

That's it for this week's "FN&V"! Have a great weekend!