Opinion: Rider Safety And Media Coverage

Image credit: Wally Kilburg

NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Today I am going to dive into the subject of media coverage of gravel events. As my long-time disclaimer above indicates, this is my opinion. But first, I want to get into the most recent incident of interference of media in a cycling event on gravel. This was an incident where no one was injured, thankfully, and one of the affected riders, the leader at the time, won the event. So the rider's final placing was not negatively affected. However; things could have very easily gone the wrong way. 

You may have already seen the evidence posted on Instagram or Facebook. It happened last weekend at Mid-South. There were two riders affected in the women's Pro field who were off the front slightly from a larger chase group. From the video I saw, the two leaders, Paige Onweller and Sofia Gomez Villifane, were about to enter a 90° left hand turn when a side-by-side ATV came up from behind them at a higher rate of speed than the two riders. The ATV split the two riders, nearly hitting Villifane, and then over correcting and almost hitting Onweller. Audio from the clip revealed a bit of angry and fearful yelling from one of the riders. 

From another social media post by @ministerofgravel on Instagram, commenters identified the offending ATV as being driven by people from Orange Seal (or the vehicle was sponsored by the brand) , UPDATED 3/17/26: According to a source close to Orange Seal, it was not their ATV which was involved in this incident. Apologies to Orange Seal for any confusion regarding their involvement in this incident. a brand which sells tubeless sealant products. Commenters also pointed to this same ATV causing issues the day previous during Mid-South's running event and on the course for the cycling event elsewhere on Saturday. These accusations are not verified, as far as I can find, but these comments are noteworthy and interesting in light of the video evidence from the near-miss of the two Pro women riders. 

A still from the video posted on Instagram. (Image credit @colinsigers)

This unfortunate incident is not alone in cycling. I read about near-misses and collisions between media motos and Pro road racers every single year. Team cars are also involved in many incidents and seem to be a year after year issue within Pro cycling. 

So, why do event organizers allow these vehicles and the people who drive them out on courses. Drivers which endanger riders and often interfere with the racing action, at the least, and cause injury and death at the worst? 

Well, it has something to do with money, doesn't it? We have to have media coverage and team support during events or..... Or what? We cannot race? This seems out of whack to me. Riders are human beings. We should be willing to sacrifice convenience and marketing opportunities to provide these riders - professionals or not -  with conditions on course not being affected by cars, motorcycles, or ATV's. 

Specifically to gravel events, I would posit that there be no vehicles on course besides the race director's vehicle. None. Zero. Observers should be stationed at critical points to make sure the riders are safe, not cheating,and to quickly address emergency situations. Media can be parked along side the road with cameras and can be allowed to travel to different points along the course, if possible, along roads/trails not on course. If this is not possible for media. too bad. Really. The whole media coverage of gravel events during the race is unnecessary. 

Mid-South's statement regarding the incident. (Click to embiggen)

I know that is unrealistic, so if we have to indulge ourselves in videography of gravel cycling events, then perhaps a bit of drone action is okay. I'm not a big fan of this, and the weather would probably play into whether this is a feasible solution for most cases. But moving vehicles, be they ATV's or whatever, cruising alongside Pro riders going all-out to win and make money, gain/maintain sponsorships is not a good mix.We see the outcome go negative all too often. 

The other point I'd like to make concerning this would be environmental. Gravel often times equals dust. Vehicles kick up a ton of dust when going down gravel roads. Obvious, right? Most people do not want to breath the particulate matter from gravel dust, do they? I would suggest they do not. Especially Pro athletes who train diligently to squeeze out every ounce of effort during a race. Certainly they do not like to breath in dust, do they? And besides, it makes it harder to see. Right? 

So, again, why do we put cars, trucks, ATV's and motos on courses with riders? All riders deserve good air, not dust-filled air from course vehicles. It's bad enough at times just being around other riders and dealing with the dust coming off the bicycles. Do we really need to add to this? 

And while we're at it, can we quit spewing champagne in rider's eyes the second they cross the finish line? Let those guys and gals do that on the podium. They earned the right.  

There has to be a better way. Gravel event directors should be searching for solutions, not waiting, hoping everything will work out because "this is how races are produced". Even sponsors should want this. I mean, look at the ATV which interfered with the two women riders at Mid-South. I'm sure that is PR that the company who was responsible for the incident would rather not have out there. Maybe doing the same thing over and over again is not the best plan. 

I also will say this to close out my thoughts. Many of you may not know I used to put on a gravel event because the last time I did so was seven years ago. But I understand the challenges behind the scenes and I know what racing on gravel roads is like from both sides - as an event director and a participant - so I feel as though my opinions are not just random ranting. I just honestly don't understand why we think gravel racing has to be the way it is, because it clearly doesn't work like it should on this level as seen at Mid-South and other events on gravel. The default event production methods are not the only way to do events on gravel. Events on gravel do not have to be live streamed. We went many years without live streamed gravel events and the segment grew and got along without it just fine. 

And I get it. Money talks. My ideas are probably not going to see the light of day at any "big time" gravel event. But I'm not going to sit here and let it go either. That's my take. Hopefully for the riders the event directors will find better ways to do things in the future for the good of all riders on gravel. 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Neuhaus Metalworks

The 32" Watch: Neuhaus Metalworks Nova 32" Rigid MTB:

Another new production 32"er has hit the marketplace in Neuhaus Metalworks Nova 32. The bike is designed as a rigid MTB with a carbon fork. Quad-butted steel alloy is used for the frame tubing. 

The Nova 32 comes in three sizes recommended for Medium/Large to XL folks. The current availability is for frame/fork only, but rolling chassis can be ordered up now as well. Completes are coming soon. 

Comments: We had a nice chat with Sam of Singular Cycles about 32"ers and geometry experimentation is still happening around this wheel size. One thing which isn't completely nailed down is bottom bracket height/drop. 

Sam was of the mind 32"ers should be equivalent in physical height from the ground as a 29"er to help prevent sky-high seating which would inhibit users abilities to ride such bikes to some degree. In his opinion this would result in bottom bracket drops longer than 100mm, and closer to 110mm. I see the Nova 32 is in the 90's for bottom bracket drop. 

Something to consider.... 

New Podcast Episode:

The latest episode of the Guitar Ted Podcast is out now. Our show can be found on most podcast platforms, but here is a link to the latest episode which is on our Spotify home page.  

In this one we yak about some 32"er gearing issues, how road bikes are becoming gravel bikes, and whether or not gravel cycling is in a state of decline. 

There are probably a few other odd bits in there as well. One thing I missed and it relates to the episode's numbering. 

I mistakenly say it is episode number 98 when in reality it was episode #99. This means the next episode is number 100. 

Maybe we should do a special episode with celebration and whatnot. I know we have a special guest coming on, (you'll have to wait and see who it is). There could be some other surprises as well. Or....

Maybe not! We will see. I expect to have this next episode out by the end of next week, so you'd better get on this episode toot-sweet or you'll get behind! (Just kidding) Thanks for checking out the podcast if you do.  

Image courtesy of Teravail

Teravail Offers Gen 2 Gravel Tires:

Teravail has updated versions of their popular gravel tire range available now. Models included are the Cannonball, Rampart, Rutland, and Washburn tread designs. 

These four models are now all built on 120TPI casings. The size ranges have been streamlined as well. 

Rampart - 700c x 35, 40, and 45mm

Washburn - 700c x 40, 45, and 50mm

Cannonball - 700c x 40, 45, 50, and 55mm

Rutland - 700c x 40, 45, and 50mm

 The previous size range was 38mm, 42mm, and 47mm. There is also now a special limited edition Mid-South Updraft tire available as well. Finally, some of the MTB tires are also part of the Gen 2 updates. See all the gravel tires on offer from Teravail HERE. 

Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth Components

Aero Headsets Avaialble From Wolf Tooth:

A new aero headset offering is now available from Wolf Tooth Components. 

Featuring Wolf Tooth's triple seal system and Enduro stainless steel bearings, the aero headset also comes in an array of anodized colors. 

The Semi-internal head set (official name) goes for $179.95 and you can check out the details on them HERE. 

Comments: Internal routing is a curse. I mean, it complicates things, makes changes in your cockpit of your bicycle more expensive, and the head set here is not cheap either. The whole ruse just to gain a watt or two and look "cleaner" is bonkers when it really just doesn't matter in terms of how fast the average person will ride. 

And when you stop to think about this, what is being routed internally anymore? The rear brake. That's all. Everything else runs by wireless or through the front fork. Can we just stop with this sort of internal routing of a rear brake cable? It's just dumb. It is an example of how racing affects the average person negatively. 

Mid-South Weekend:

This weekend is the Mid-South events in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In fact, there are things going on as you read this on Friday, March 13th. 

The expo was yesterday and today there are running events, music, and more. Tomorrow is the big day for the ride for amateurs. There is a free feed to see the Pro field. (Which is happening today) Just check out the Mid-South's website for more on this. 

I attended and rode the 50 mile course in 2024 and it was a lot of fun. The weather looks like it will hold up for this year, so I suspect it will be one good time again for everyone in attendance. Here's a tailwind wish and safe travels to all who are gathered in Stillwater for Mid-South this weekend. 

That should do it for this week here on Guitar Ted Productions. As always, thank you for reading. Now, get out there and ride your bicycles before Winter comes back!

A Missed Opportunity

Gifts which arrived with registration for Trans Iowa v11

Today there is a big registration party going on at District Cycles for the Mid-South event upcoming in March of 2026. District Cycles owner, Bobby Wintle, is the mastermind behind the event, and along with his wife, Crystal, they have leveraged every opportunity to promote their business alongside this event. 

Makes sense when you stop to consider it all. Why would one want to keep things separated - the event and the business - or why would one not want to hitch their wagon, as a business, to an event which draws in warm bodies to your establishment? 

These were my questions back twelve, fifteen years ago, as I was running Trans Iowa. In fact, Jeff Kerkove and I started Trans Iowa out of the bicycle shop we worked at. All along, for fourteen years, one might have thought Europa Cycle & Ski would have wanted to take advantage of what Trans Iowa was capable of bringing to the business.

Post card registrations for Trans Iowa v11

 But oddly enough, the owner did not take advantage of anything we could have benefited the business with. I recall one Trans Iowa registration where we had a dozen people waiting to get in the door to register. That's twelve plus people you wouldn't have had inside your business at any other time, but was there any effort to make anything out of this opportunity? 

Nope. 

And this was, and still is, baffling to my mind. I look at how Bobby Wintle handles this kind of thing and I can only shake my head at all the years of lost opportunities related to Trans Iowa and the bike shop I worked at then. I think about the buzz registration at the shop caused amongst the employees. Heck, even the mailman was excited every year about Trans Iowa. You'd think this would be a clue that possibly there was a nugget of opportunity waiting there.  An opportunity to bring in local cyclists to be a part of something cool and unique, and create goodwill amongst the locals for the shop. Maybe even sell some things. 

Yeah, it doesn't matter anymore. But whenever I see something like Mid-South's registration party, and remember Trans Iowa registration typically happened in November, one of the worst times for cycling retail in Iowa, and I cannot believe all the missed opportunities. 

But what do I know? I'm just some greasy bicycle mechanic.  

Friday News And Views

 Image courtesy of the Rattlesnake Rumble social media:

Rattlesnake Rumble Gravel Race Announced:

On September 4th an announcement went out saying the Mississippi Gravel Cup Series would end after their series of 2025 events were over. This series had been in existence for eight years and had several events in Mississippi. 

But sad news leaving a void is sometimes followed by good news, and this is the case for those in the Southeastern USA now that a new event has been announced. 

This event, dubbed the Rattlesnake Rumble, takes place in the Desoto National Forest where one of the old Mississippi Gravel Cup events was based out of as well. This event features a few distances and costs only $50.00. If you are interested in this early April 2026 event, check out their BikeReg page HERE. 

Image courtesy of AERON/TPU

TPU Tubes Take Hold:

I've been experimenting with TPU tubes for a couple of years now and it seems many riders are taking the new technology and trusting it for their ride.  

Last weekend one of the C.O.G. 40 riders was using TPU tubes in his tires and seemed to be pretty happy with them. However; I also know at least one dissatisfied former TPU tube user. So, not everyone is onboard with TPU tubes. But more and more folks seem to be checking them out.  

Options are becoming available with more features. Last week I mentioned the SILCA TPU tubes, and I may be getting a set of the new AERON TPU tubes to test soon. One other thing I've noted is the recommended width offerings are becoming more wide-ranged. 

So, instead of a TPU tube being recommended for 35mm - 40mm, I'm seeing thing like recommendations from 32mm - 52mm ! I think the stretch-ability of TPU has been found to be more resilient and accommodating than once thought. But unlike butyl rubber tubes, TPU, once stretched, stays stretched. This may not matter, but it is worth noting. 

Look for more on TPU tubes here soon.  

Image courtesy of Bianchi Bicycles

Bianchi Announces New Aluminum Gravel Model:

Bianchi expanded their range of gravel/allroad bicycles by introducing the aluminum version of their Arcadex adventure/gravel bike. Called the Arcadex AL, this bike comes in three colors with a Shimano GRX 610 12 speed mechanical group set. 

Bianchi also states this bike has tire clearance for up to 50mm tires. There are rack and fender mounts, along with accessory mounts on the fork blades making this a good choice for bike packing and adventures.  

Comments: The geometry here is right in the pocket for what I would consider great handling and stability over most surfaces. The seat tube measurements are a tad on the short size for each size, but this is most likely in deference to the dropper post option this frame supports. I couldn't find an updated price, but I would assume this is a reasonably priced, enthusiasts level bike choice. 

Paris - Ancaster 2026 Registration Open:

The classic Canadian event,  Paris - Ancaster, is going to happen on Sunday, April 26th, 2026. Registration for this event is now open (Here) 

This event, which has been held annually since 1994, was on the UCI Gravel World Series calendar for 2025, but there is no indication yet this will be the case for 2026. 

The event is a point-to-point course with three distance options. The "Cento" is 100km, the "Classic" is the original 70km distance, and the "Brevet" is a 45km distance event. Since the event is point-to-point, the starting lines are different for each distance.  

Comments: The event features farm roads, muddy tracks, and difficult sections which have challenged riders for years. This event was one of the first featured on my "Gravel Grinder News" calendar back almost 20 years ago now. Since then I have heard varying takes on the event with some stating it isn't  really a "gravel" event, but it isn't your typical roadie event either, so....

Image courtesy of the Mid-South

2026 Mid-South Registration Opens:

The 2026 Mid-South will be a two-day event this coming year with dates set on  March 12 - 13th. There are several new changes to this event set to take place. 

First and most interesting is the separation of the Pro categories from the amateurs. This coming March the Pro categories will take the start on Friday. Even more interesting is the choice for the Pro's to do the "Double", a 50k run and the 100 mile bicycle event, on the same day.  

All other categories for cyclists will be contested on Saturday as this event has done since its inception. Amateur runners will compete on Friday as well. 

A new finish line area has been designated which will be set up near the new Stillwater Park and Amphitheater. 

The Mega-Mid-South, a 300 mile ultra-distance event, will take place tomorrow out of District Bicycles where the Mid-South registration party will also be happening. Participants can come down and send off the Mega Mid-South riders and stick around for fun and refreshments. Registration will be held online at the Mid-South's online site.  

Image courtesy of Campagnolo

New Super Record X 13 For Campy Brings Gravel An Italian Option:

Campagnolo has dabbled in the gravel category for several years with its groundbreaking, if not popular, Ekar 13 speed group. Now Campagnolo is putting forth an effort to compete at the highest levels of the gravel racing scene with a new 13 speed group called Super Record X. 

A 1X group, this new choice features two choices in cassettes with a 9 - 42T set or a 10 - 48T set. The jumps between gears are relatively small, and in fact, both cassettes are really similar with the only difference being at the extremes. One having a start at 9T and ending at 42T while the other cassette has the same gears minus the 9T and adding the 48T. 

The other important piece here is the crank set. The new Super Record X gets a power meter crank or a non-power metered crank with chain ring sizes ranging from 38T - 48T and the capability to upgrade to a 52T ring. The arms and ring are matched for best aero characteristics.  Lengths range from 165mm to 175mm. The cranks utilize Campy's longstanding Ultra Torque bottom bracket design. 

The rear derailleur is wireless and electronic, of course, with a removable battery which charges in 60 minutes or less. Campy also has made the cage out of carbon fiber with different sized pulleys. The Universal Mount will work with frames set up with the UDH standard or traditional mounts for derailleurs. Maximum tooth range is 48T. 

The levers are borrowed from the current Super record 13 group with the left lever being the only "new" piece seeing as it has only to activate the front brake. Otherwise the shifting is accomplished with a separate lever behind the brake lever on the right side with the return of the famous Campy "thumb lever" on the inside of the upper lever body. 

See more details at Campy's Super record X site HERE. 

That is a wrap for this week! get out and ride those bicycles!

Wildfire Causes Chaos at Mid-South

Image courtesy of Jarrod Bunk's Instagram

 The Mid=South events kicked off Friday with an expo and a running event. This amid an oncoming storm of such magnitude that it was, and still is on Saturday, affecting a large part of the nation with high winds, severe weather, and tornadoes. 

But of all the things you might consider as being a natural deterrent to going ahead with your event's plans, wildfires probably are not high on the list of concerns. But that is exactly what happened in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Friday. 

High winds above 50mph most of the afternoon whipped up several wildfires in central and Northeastern Oklahoma during the afternoon hours. A weather You Tube personality I watch was showing how the fire's smoke plume was showing up on radar. Then the fire Southwest of Stillwater popped up. I knew this was a big deal.

Last year at Mid-South I observed a lot of dried up vegetation and how the winds could, and did then, blast over the plains.  It was obvious, because of my previous observations, that Stillwater, and Mid-South, were at risk of being affected negatively. And unfortunately this is exactly what happened. 

There was a voluntary evacuation order at first for the West side of the city, and a shelter in place order followed quickly after this. Then a full on mandatory evacuation of the West side of Stillwater was announced. Meanwhile, all Friday activities were cancelled by late in the afternoon. The expo was shut down early, and the runners were pulled from the course. 

Some cycling sites and personalities online were chirping about Mid-South probably being cancelled. But I know Bobby Wintle, just a little bit, and he had been through something similar in 2020, just five years ago. I knew he wasn't about to give up easily. 

And I was right. See this announcement posted at 7:00pm on Friday evening.

UPDATE: Unfortunately Bobby's and his teams determination to continue just was not going to be the right thing to do. In another heartfelt message posted on the Mid South website late Friday evening, he announced the cancellation of Mid-South 2025.

According to the message, wildfires were destroying homes and property on the West side of Stillwater. This required the full attention of all city and county resources forcing Bobby to realize that it would not be possible to put thousands of people out on country backroads  without the assistance and backing of the local authorities.  

Comments: As a former promoter who has been stuck in an event trying to decide whether to continue onward in the face of natural forces which presented clear and present dangers, I can sympathize with Bobby Wintle and his team a little bit, I think. However; another race director who messaged me Friday evening brought up a salient point. The point being how Bobby has thousands of people to consider who have invested thousands of dollars, sponsors, who have put in tens of thousands of dollars, a community banking on the event to produce profits, and a reputation for success in all of that. 

That is a heavy, heavy load to bear. So, I - like the RD who contacted me - am thankful I am not under that massive weight. I hope Bobby and his team get the support and rest they need to recover from this, but right now, that all is probably far from their minds. 

What a tragedy. Hopefully no one looses their life or is injured making sure everyone is safe and sound during this wildfire event. Bobby did mention that there would be a way to donate to support relief efforts for Stillwater. Link to Stillwater Relief Fund

Friday News And Views

2025 Esker Japhy (Image courtesy of Esker Cycles)

You Had Me At "Metal Flake Orange":

Esker Cycles announced an update to their 29" wheeled Japhy steel hard tail frame. There are a few ways to get a Japhy, either complete as a geared bike, complete as a single speed, or as a frame only. 

The updates for 2025 include:

• • Simplified sizing range: SM, MD, LG, XL Updated Geo: 
  • Increased Stack offset with a longer Effective TT
   
• Removed Seatstay Bridge: Increased compliance and ride quality 
• Optimized Dropper Port Location: To ease cable routing 
• Bolt-On Cable Routing: Allowing for bolt-on frame bags and stealthier routing for those using fancy robot shifting…or no shifting at all 
• Custom Chainstay Protector: Its protection for your chainstay…and its custom.

The Japhy frame costs 1K. Not a bad deal these days for a versatile steel hard tail 29"er. Check out all the details and other Esker models at eskercycles.com 

Esker "Woodsy" (Image courtesy of Esker Cycles)

Also, "Howdy" We'd Like To Say There Is A "Woodsy" Too:

In other Esker news, the company released Orion based suspension models in the aluminum "Woodsy" and a shorter travel version of the Woodsy called "Howdy". The Howdy has a titanium variant as well. So does the Woodsy. Both Howdys have 125mm of rear  travel. The longer travel Woodsy has 145m of rear travel. 

All models have up to 29 X 2.6" tire clearance, external cabling, and UDH derailleur hangar compatibility. All models are available as completes or as frame-only.
 

Gravel Amplifier: Get Lost Gravel August 3rd, 2025:

Got an itch to see the mountains from the saddle of your gravel bike? Maybe Get Lost Gravel is your jam then.  

This event will take place out of Red Barn Cycles in Hamilton, Montana. There are two course distances which you can choose from. "The Forge" is their 82 mile course which features over 60 miles of continuous back country gravel and an elevation gain of over 3,000ft. The other distance offered is a shorter course called "The Smelter" which has a big climb on Two Bear Road of 2,500 feet. At the top will be an aid station and everyone that summits will get a special Two Bear Achievement sticker. From there a "ripping descent" is promised back to the start. This course is 47 miles. 

For more information hit that link above. registration is HERE.

Mid South This Weekend:

Last year I experienced Mid South for the first time. It was probably the highlight of my 2024 riding season. Just the enormity of the experience and the new people I was able to meet along with old friends and acquaintances made the weekend trip one to remember. 

Of course, I won't be there this year, but I wanted to take the time here to wish everyone that is going well and I hope all of you bank some incredible memories while you are in Stillwater and the surrounding countryside. 

Interestingly, Mid South has changed their logo, (as seen here) and the tagline for the event is "A Weekend Endurance Festival Celebrating Hard Challenges and the Beauty of Oklahoma Dirt Roads". This tagline is noticeably missing the word "Race" there, and with the words "hard challenges" instead. I like it.

New SRAM brakes? (Image from 'toolboxwars" Threads acct.)

New SRAM XC Brakes?

I was cruising social media the other day and I came across this image of a conspicuously green caliper with a caption of "New brake, new name..." posted on an account called toolboxwars on Threads. A hashtag for SRAM was also there.

Further sleuthing turned up one article online showing the Trek XC team bikes with the brakes at a recent recon of a mountain biking course. 

Of course, this is a new model, which looks production ready, if it is indeed a SRAM caliper. I am going to speculate that this will be a mineral oil brake much like SRAM's Maven brakes, which came out a year ago or more. It makes sense as well since DOT fluid is pretty toxic and mineral oil technology is getting better all the time. 

Sea Otter is just around the corner, so I would guess the news will break on these officially just before the event, or during the event. 

Cannondale Revamps Topstone Gravel Bike:

Cannondale revealed on Tuesday that it had a newly designed Topstone gravel bike range on offer with five new carbon Topstone models available.

The carbon frames feature fully integrated cabling, a storage cavity in the down tube, and multiple accessory mounting points. Still featuring the Kingpin rear suspension, the geometry has been tweaked to address a couple shortcomings which the original Topstone Carbon gravel bike had.

Now with a lower bottom bracket, (74mm drop,) and matched up with a slightly slacker than 71° head tube angle, this new Topstone should feel more planted and stable on looser gravel roads. The steering should still be snappy with the 55mm offset carbon fork. There is also a Lefty Oliver model in teh range as well for those who want the full suspension gravel bike thing. 

The Topsstone Carbon range starts out at $3,400.00 and tops out at $7,300.00 for the Di2 GRX model shown here. See the Topstone page on Cannondale's website HERE for more. 

Image courtesy of Specialized Bicycles.

Specialized Announces New Gravel Tires: 

Tuesday we learned that Specialized has overhauled its tire range and with that has three new gravel tires for 2025 and will be closing out the previous models to simplify their range. Here we see the new Pathfinder Pro TLR which is available in black or tan walls, (shown). 

Specialized claims the new Pathfinder TLR is faster and more cut resistant than the outgoing model. Available in 700 X 35mm, 700 X 40mm, and 700 X 45mm widths. These tires have 120TPI casings and will sell for a reasonable $55.00 each.

There are also the Tracer TLR tires and Terra TLR tires each featuring progressively more aggressive tread designs.  

Comments: In my opinion, aggressive tread design is a waste on crushed rock and harder gravel roads. Obviously it is 100% unnecessary on pavement of any kind. This is why racers are gravitating more and more toward semi-slick designs. 

I feel as though a tread design with some knobs is okay for a "do anything" bike on any roads, but the overtly MTB-ish tread designs are really for dirt trails, which is fine if that is where you ride your gravel bike. From these three tires I would choose the Pathfinder Pro, but maybe you will choose differently. That is why there are choices. Just remember: "Tire tread design is a fashion show". Choose accordingly.

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

Rear View 2024: The First Quarter

 Hello! it's time again to review the year on Guitar Ted Productions. The "Rear View" has been a staple of the blog since almost the very beginning. This year there will be four Rear View posts looking back on the year in quarters. I'll also have a post looking ahead at 2024. Enjoy the look back and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

The first three months on the blog for 2024 were kicked off in the usual way with my look at the State of the Gravel Scene posts. Then it was on to review items, which was a new thing folded into the blog at the end of 2023 as I left the Riding Gravel site. 

Things were cooking along with plans in the background which would end up dominating the blog for the first three months. This had to do with the making of the Honeman Flyer gravel bike by King Fabrications and plans leading up to and including attending the Mid-South gravel event in mid-March. That wasn't all that was happening though. Here are some other early 2024 highlights on the blog. 

The reviews were coming in which included the Big Dipper Handlebar from Tumbleweed Bikes, the Axle Pack from Old Man Mountain, WTB's new TPU tubes, and a review of a Boss IR-2 Amp & Cabinet pedal for guitar. 

The day I brought the Tamland Two home in 2014

Anniversarys for bikes I own included a review of a decade of riding the Raleigh Tamland Two and the one year look-back for the Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3.

I had a couple of series on the blog early on in 2024. One was a short series on wheels. The other was the ending of the Guitar Ted Death Ride tales which started at the end of the Trans Iowa Stories series a couple of years prior. I also started another Guitar Ted Lube-Off test pitting a couple lubes against last year's winner. Finally, I was proud to present an article by John Ingham entitled "Not Time To Die". 

But the biggest deal for the early portion of 2024 was the unexpected but awesome addition of the Honeman Flyer to the bike stable along with the trip down and back to Mid-South. I tested a theory I had (also held by N.Y.Roll) that there was really nothing stopping people from doing events like Mid-South without entering the event "officially". Doing the event "bandit style" was therefore undertaken as an experiment. I was a bit surprised to have randomly met a few others who, when they heard I had done Mid-South as a bandit, admitted to me that they had also done this as well. I'll have more to say about that in my upcoming "State of the Gravel Scene " post at the beginning of 2025. 

 What I also did not expect was that Mid-South had a very deep impact on me. As I entered the trip my expectation was that this was "just another gravel event", but I was very wrong about that! So, I am very thankful that the first quarter of 2024 ended on that note. 

Look for the next Rear View covering the second quarter of 2024 next week!

People Of 2024: Bobby Wintle

 In my travels and life during the year, I have been blessed to be supported, befriended, and on occasion visited by some pretty awesome folks. Sometimes I visited them. (Hopefully they were equally blessed!) I wanted to take some extra space to recognize and celebrate these people at the end of the year. I hope you gain some insight and appreciation for what these people mean to me this year and beyond. 

Bobby Wintle (back to camera) and Rhett Shull playing guitar the night after Mid-South was done.

Mid-South was a highlight of 2024 for me for many reasons, but maybe the "cherry on top" was seeing Bobby Wintle and being able to hang out with him for a bit the day after Mid-South was over. 

This might seem silly to some of you out there, but I often feel like the outsider in groups and when it comes to other people's events I often feel like I really am more of a bother than a "guest". Never mind that maybe some see me as a "big deal" in the gravel community. I just often feel like a third wheel and that I don't fit in. So, when I was drug along with the Northfield Crew to this rented house in Stillwater to witness those Northfield guys cook up a special supper for Bobby, his close crew members, and special guests, I was left sitting and wondering what the heck was I even doing there. 

Now I will add that Bobby had made it plain that he was "so glad I was there", and he said so several times. But being me, that did not register at the time. Anyway, when Bobby had shown up at this special gathering, he took a bit of time to drag me away. We walked a few blocks over to his house, and Bobby showed me around. We chatted a bit, mostly small talk, and then we returned to the party. 

Well, that finally registered with me. I don't know exactly why Bobby did that for me, but I knew that meant a lot to him, and he wasn't kidding around when he said he was stoked to have me there. 

And that really made the trip super special for me. Not that it wouldn't have been so without this experience, but yeah.... It was one of those small things I'll remember for a long time that made me feel really good. Definitely a highlight of 2024 for me. 

Shout out to Rhett Shull here as well. I had a chance to speak with him, he of the guitar You Tube community, and seeing a guy I've watched online for a long time that is a stellar guitar player was fun. Definitely another highlight of 2024.

People Of 2024: Rob Evans

  In my travels and life during the year, I have been blessed to be supported, befriended, and on occasion visited by some pretty awesome folks. Sometimes I visited them. (Hopefully they were equally blessed!) I wanted to take some extra space to recognize and celebrate these people at the end of the year. I hope you gain some insight and appreciation for what these people mean to me this year and beyond. 

Rob Evans (R) and I at Mid-South in March of 2024

First of all, I know this one will come as somewhat of a shock to Rob because he is a regular reader here. (Don't spit out yer coffee, Rob!) 

Anyway, as I stated, Rob is a regular reader here, and I am super grateful for that. However; Rob has been a big supporter of rides I have put on in the past. He was, and is always, very welcoming to me wherever he runs across me. Like at Mid-South, above, Rob grabbed me for an image.  I think he shouted me out several more times, basically whenever he saw me, which was really nice of him.

Mass chaos at Mid-South's oasis. Rob Evans saved my bacon here!

In fact, had it not been for Rob, and the group he was with, Mid-South would have been a lot more miserable than it was. Not that Mid-South was miserable, just that it would have been without Rob's help. Since I had to throw everything for that trip together in a frenzy, I really did not do my due diligence in regard to researching the necessary tactics to complete the event's half distance. So, when I arrived at a mid-course oasis, I had no resupply waiting, or planned.

In steps Rob, who spied me in the throng of cyclists, waved me over, and offered me the opportunity to take from their spread of goodies. I'll tell ya what, those cookies hit the spot and likely saved the day for me. Had this been all Rob had done for me in 2024, it would have been enough to land him here on this list, but there was more. 

Rob taking a picture of the frying pan in Brandon, Iowa during the Victory Ride in June.

Another person who will be showing up in this series, Warren Weibe, set up a ride in June for me to enjoy called the Victory Ride. I did not know who might show up. I figured maybe a few local riders would enjoin in the festivities. I was correct to think this would be true, but what I did not count on was Rob showing up from Nebraska and him bringing his friends with him. This is a several hours long trip, by the way, just to show up for a group ride.

So, not only did I get to see Rob again, ride with him again, but I met some new folks in the process and gained new friends. This was unexpected and awesome. So, a bonus for me and a definite improvement on 2024 was being able to have Rob be a big part of my cycling life. Thank you, Rob!

People Of 2024: "The Northfield Crew"

 In my travels and life during the year, I have been blessed to be supported, befriended, and on occasion visited by some pretty awesome folks. Sometimes I visited them. (Hopefully they were equally blessed!) I wanted to take some extra space to recognize and celebrate these people at the end of the year. I hope you gain some insight and appreciation for what these people mean to me this year and beyond. 

The "Northfield Crew" that took me in and made my trip to Stillwater Oklahoma a reality on their way out to ride Mid-South

Last I left off with this series I mentioned that Erik Mathy was largely responsible for the whole bike/Mid-South idea. Well, if Erik could be called the instigator, then the fellows from Northfield, Minnesota were the enablers of this idea. At least partially. There was a bicycle welded up by King Fabrications that figured heavily into all of this as well. 

But even with a bicycle made, I was not getting any closer to going to Mid-South without these fine fellows from Northfield. I call them "The Northfield Crew", but they consisted of long time friends Ben Witt, Marty Larson, Justin Michaels, and new acquaintance Michael Lemkuhl. These guys went waaaaaay outta there way to accommodate me, take me in as if I were one of them, and they made me feel wanted there with them. This is especially cool when you realize that this little group had been taking in Mid-South on their own for a few years before this trip. I was a definite "outsider", but trust me - I was never made to feel that way.

Ben Witt (R) and Michael Lemkuhl in the Heywood Ride booth. Image by M Larson.

Again, I spent a lot of time with these guys. Traveling, eating, sleeping, hanging out, and riding as well. There were plenty of opportunities for friction, but that never raised its head, if it were there at all, and that is a testament to these guy's characters. I am forever in their debt!

And as well, I was able to meet with a lot of friends that these guys had made in previous visits to Mid-South, so that was another thing they brought to me. It was an enriching and satisfying experience all around because of this. 

So, shout out to the Northfield Crew! Thank you again, and know that I appreciate you all very much. 2024 would not have been the same without you all!

The Mid-South Report: Getting Home & Thoughts On The Events

Sunrise Monday morning

This will be the last report filed for the 2024 Mid-South event. I'll give a brief overview of our trip home then I'll hit up on some thoughts on the events overall. By the way, a special review of the Honeman Flyer will be done soon, but will not be a part of this post. 

Monday was a tough one for me. I did not feel 100% until we got about three hours from home, but it was a good trip home. We stopped in Kansas City at a home of some friends of Ben and Marty where I met Bob-not-Robert (yes- that is what he goes by), and we had some delicious KC barbecue. Then we stopped in Des Moines to drop off that new Salsa Cycles shirt to Steve Fuller. It was great to see Steve there for a hot minute.

We saw these lavender colored fields, but I do not know what it is that is growing here. 

At any rate, I made it home in one piece and I was wiped out from all the trip's activities and events. I was really happy to get back to my family and my own bed. 

Final Thoughts: So, Mid South.....what do I think........ Well, this is one really special event. That's very apparent. Bobby and Crystal, along with a bunch of help from all over, have crafted an experience that has to be felt to be understood. On one hand it reminds me of old-school gravel events where people concoct their own version of a bicycle event, throw in some good ol' hospitality, a little history, and fun, whip it all up, and you gotta very unique gravel experience. Many events have done this in many various ways. Mid-South does this on a larger scale, but they do it. Really, really well. 

Don't ask. I don't know anything.

I said that Mid South was Bobby Wintle. Obviously that is not the truth, but spiritually, yeah....I think it is true. I got to see Bobby in action at the finish line. I saw his style of leadership. I saw his pouring out of himself for the entire event. 

On Sunday Bobby took me over to his house, just he and I. It was a very kind gesture on his part, and I think it was something done to show me how much he cared about me, our relationship, and his gratitude for what I did which eventually inspired him. Bobby shared with me about his recovery from Mid-South. The inter venous vitamin injection, the massage to relieve his pain and tensions from hugging so many people. I don't know how many other event directors actually physically, mentally, and emotionally sacrifice themselves like Bobby Wintle does, but I bet most do not go this far. 

Then the event itself is really multiple events all at one time. It is a music festival, a running event, a bicycling event, and a party in various places. All in the span of about five days. I have no idea how Bobby and Crystal, and well, their entire support staff - how they live through it all. The event is a massive production and we got to see a lot of it coming down on Sunday which just reinforced the feelings I have that this is an incredible undertaking. 

The people I met were from all over. Different ideals, different cultures, different everything. I had my eyes opened. I learned a lot of things. But one thing I learned that went and cut across all those differences was that we all need each other. We need the community in gravel and elsewhere in our lives. It binds us together, but when it is good and honest, it gives us Life. 

I have to thank Erik Mathy, who, without his energetic activism and ideas, this would never have happened. I have to thank Li King for the talent and craftsmanship that went into producing the bike I rode. I wanted to thank Michael Lehmkuhl, Marty Larson, Ben Witt, and Justin Michaels for catering to me, putting up with me, and generally just for being so kind to me. I owe all these folks a lot. 

Of course, there is Bobby and Crystal Wintle, without whom Mid-South would not exist. Thank You!

 

It is kind of hard to put this one into words that suffice to describe what I experienced at Mid South. I recall several pivotal moments and intimate things which I don't think I can ever share outside that little community of people I was privileged to get to know. 

There were kindnesses, hugs, the look in a person's eyes that was somehow just different than your day-to-day interactions this time. People had joy. There was hope. Optimism. The gravel family really showed out for me this time. Maybe I just have not been sensitive to it before, but maybe it is just a Mid South thing. I cannot say. 

Sorry about all the vaguery and shadowy comments. I really was just struck  differently this time, and besides the obvious roads, bikes, event formatting stuff, which is blah, blah, blah... Mid South had what I think is very unique, rare, and makes one want to come back again. If there was a theme to this thing, it was that: Many people said that they wanted to come back again. I think that says a lot. 

I was told that the red dirt of Oklahoma will never truly be washed out of my clothes. Maybe, maybe not. I do know that red dirt will be part of my soul from now on.

That's the conclusion of the Mid South Report. Now back to the regularly scheduled blog postings.....

Mid South Report: The After-Party

Sunday morning Sunrise.

 Sunday. The event was over, yet we had one more thing to participate in. It was arguably more important to Ben, Marty, and Michael than the riding was. It was the day that these guys were to cook a special home-cooked, Mid-western themed meal for the Mid-South crew including Bobby, Crystal, and their special guests. The guys told me that they expected up to 40 people. 

The venue would be a rented home about a block or so from Bobby and Crystal's home. It was a two story home with a small back porch and a huge back yard. The full kitchen was well appointed but perhaps a tic too small for three guys trying to cook a big meal. At least Ben was outside grilling the two hams in a Weber grill. 

But before all that happened we had gone down in the morning for breakfast at a Mexican restaurant. It was a good place and we all got our fill of vittles. Then it was downtown to meet up with the weary-eyed District crew. The day was a bright, Sunny day, warm, but not hot. The wind was up and it was breezy downtown. The doors to District were flung open and a few people were wandering around. 

They were tearing down the finish line arch when we got there.

The Merman bikes are really cool and ride very nicely.

This custom mountain bike had an insanely painted Cane Creek Helm fork on it.

Check out that paint! I was told it is called "Bad Magic".

That drop out insert? Anodized with a special process.

We hung out at District for a bit. Bobby came by and his voice was blown out. He sounded like an 80 year old man with a three-pack-a-day habit. We ended up going across the street to shop a bit, then over to a local brewery for drinks. 

Shopping for the special dinner later.

My photo shoot with Erik Mathy was in the late afternoon on Sunday.

There was grocery shopping and my photo shoot with Erik Mathy, which I rode to. Ben wouldn't let me out of the Air BnB without a sandwich for lunch. So, there I was, hustling to make my 3:15-3:30pm appointment with Erik out in the country with a turkey and cheese sandwich hanging out of my mouth. It's really hard to breath, eat bread, and ride hard all at the same time, by the way!

Then the guys picked me up and we went in to town to the home that was rented out for us to cook at. Well, not me, because I only barely assisted. I pretty much was a hangar-on at this deal the rest of the night. And what a night! YouTube guitar professional Rhett Shull showed up and he and Tyler from District Cycles played some tasty guitar tunes. Bobby even jumped in for a bit of finger pickin' goodness. Lots of great people showed up, maybe a little more than two dozen in the end. 

Bobby playing guitar, (back to camera) with Tyler (obscured) and Rhett Shull.

The house party was a pretty special thing. Probably the best part of the entire weekend. Out of respect for the details that were shared in that house I will leave it at that.

Suffice it to say that good food was enjoyed by some damn fine people and we all got to know each other just a bit better. I won't be forgetting that night for a long, long time, if ever. 

Towards the end of the night I wasn't feeling so hot, so I sat by myself and just listened to the people's conversations and watched as people tried to say goodbye and leave but were still wandering around the house a half an hour later.  

That wasn't some pent-up, socially awkward Mid-Western thing either. It was a genuine feeling - I think - that people that had experienced that evening did not want it to end, but, as with all things, there was an end. 

Someone or another finally took pity on me and Justin motioned that we were headed back to the house. I was happy to get back to a bed and a bathroom, and I used it, I'll just put that out there like that. I was fine afterward, but anyway, enough detail on that!

Then all that was left was to get home to Waterloo. I'll have that bit and a final take on Mid-South next.