News Season: Sea Otter

 With pandemic restrictions relaxed and the virus seemingly being on the downward trend, the trade show/festival in California known as Sea Otter is back full-force. In advance of this many brands and marketing firms are pushing new product news. Here I will show a few of the more interesting news items I've seen in the gravel cycling sector.

Otso Waheela C in Copper/Black (Image courtesy of Otso cycles)

Otso Cycles Has Three New Colors For Waheela C:

First up is Otso Cycles excellent, but underrated Waheela C. This is the carbon version of their gravel bike range which also includes the Waheela S and Warakin stainless steel bikes. Otso was one of the very first companies to put out a gravel bike that could hold a 50+ mm tire with ease and still have 2x and 1X compatibility. That's all the rage now, but Otso has been doing this for a few years already. 

The adjustable geometry is nice as well which is accomplished by their "Tuning Chip™" rear drop out which can turn the Waheela C into more of a cyclo cross geometry and flipped can allow for a lower bottom bracket height and slacker head angle. 

The new colors are "Copper & Black", "Turquoise & Teal", and "Lilac & Purple". See more on the Waheela C here: https://otsocycles.com/collections/waheela-c

Mason Cycles "Exposure" prototype (Image courtesy of Mason Cycles)

Mason Cycles debuts new "Exposure" Steel Framed Gravel Bike:

It isn't often that a company introduces a steel framed gravel bike anymore these days. However; Mason Cycles, a UK based company, isn't your typical bicycle brand. They have done a bang-up job of making some excellent road and adventure style bicycles and now they have expanded their offerings to include this new steel framed gravel bike.

They already have a fine gravel bike in the aluminum framed "Bokeh", (note the photographic theme to their bike model names?), but this steel frame is pretty cool and features some nifty details that many other companies do not hit upon. Most obvious of those being the seat stay mounted water bottle boss inserts. 

I like what Mason Cycles is doing with their designs. Too bad you cannot get the raw steel version shown here. That's a one-off prototype, but they will have a couple of exclusive introductory colors and some nice stock colors to choose from. See all the details here: https://masoncycles.cc/blog/mason-exposure-launch-edition-pre-order-now

 

Trek's new FX Sport Carbon blurs the lines between MTB Hard tail and gravel (Image courtesy of Trek Bikes)

Trek Debuts New FX Sport Carbon:

With a new frame and a bent toward adventure, Trek has taken the "fitness bike" theme out and has blurred the lines between MTB and gravel with a new model here which should be at dealers soon.

You kind of get the feeling that a few of the original tenets of mountain biking - adventure, exploration, and touring - are getting repackaged as "gravel" and this bike sure does nothing to dissuade those notions. Add in my next featured news bit and we'd be right there back in the 1990's MTB scene!

The new Fox TaperCast AX (Image from the web)

New Fox TaperCast AX Fork: A Bit Of A Rant

You've likely seen this ballyhooed all over the internet and on many endemic cycling news sites already. Fox has ditched the previous version of their gravel fork and have made several improvements to the design. Hey! You can change the travel now to 50mm! Woo!

I've read a few reviews of this, and of the new Rock Shox gravel suspension fork, the Rudy, and in all of the reviews there is a subtle theme which goes something like this:

"So, yeah, this fork does add weight, but you'll probably not notice it, besides, it is better than riding rigid!"

One reviewer was up front enough to mention that the Fox shock will require maintenance after 125 hours of ride time. For reference, that's about once every year for most serious gravel riders, which I know of, at least. Okay, add that cost in to your investment.

And on weight: If we are spending thousands of dollars on bicycles that are not bringing light weight as one of the benefits, we are probably buying motorized bikes, or what? More 'grace" on certain types of terrain? Maybe. A couple of the reviewers alluded to this by mentioning that they felt these forks were good for those "off-road" or single track sections of "trail" that rigid gravel bikes cannot go "fast" through. 

Excuse me, but is that not what mountain bikes are good for? 

These reviewers would agree that yes- a mountain bike is just for that, but what about on open roads? Ha! Well, they are saying gravel bikes are the answer outfitted with suspension and dropper posts. I'm saying that you are all cocked up here. The real problem is that (a) geometry of hard tail MTB's is too extreme toward the "slack & low" side and (b) your gearing is optimized for one thing: Winching your butt up to the next flowy down hill section. 

Look at that Trek above-  The frame can be set up with a front derailleur for wide range gearing that can do both the going up and the coming down. MTB's shed that versatility when they dropped front derailleurs and went 1X. The real fix is not to muddy the waters with gravel bikes bent on becoming drop bar MTB's, but to fix the extreme design of MTB hard tails which has gone too far off the deep end for anything but going down fast. 

Again: "Quit trying to make gravel bikes into mountain bikes."

News Season: Sea Otter

 With pandemic restrictions relaxed and the virus seemingly being on the downward trend, the trade show/festival in California known as Sea Otter is back full-force. In advance of this many brands and marketing firms are pushing new product news. Here I will show a few of the more interesting news items I've seen in the gravel cycling sector.

Otso Waheela C in Copper/Black (Image courtesy of Otso cycles)

Otso Cycles Has Three New Colors For Waheela C:

First up is Otso Cycles excellent, but underrated Waheela C. This is the carbon version of their gravel bike range which also includes the Waheela S and Warakin stainless steel bikes. Otso was one of the very first companies to put out a gravel bike that could hold a 50+ mm tire with ease and still have 2x and 1X compatibility. That's all the rage now, but Otso has been doing this for a few years already. 

The adjustable geometry is nice as well which is accomplished by their "Tuning Chip™" rear drop out which can turn the Waheela C into more of a cyclo cross geometry and flipped can allow for a lower bottom bracket height and slacker head angle. 

The new colors are "Copper & Black", "Turquoise & Teal", and "Lilac & Purple". See more on the Waheela C here: https://otsocycles.com/collections/waheela-c

Mason Cycles "Exposure" prototype (Image courtesy of Mason Cycles)

Mason Cycles debuts new "Exposure" Steel Framed Gravel Bike:

It isn't often that a company introduces a steel framed gravel bike anymore these days. However; Mason Cycles, a UK based company, isn't your typical bicycle brand. They have done a bang-up job of making some excellent road and adventure style bicycles and now they have expanded their offerings to include this new steel framed gravel bike.

They already have a fine gravel bike in the aluminum framed "Bokeh", (note the photographic theme to their bike model names?), but this steel frame is pretty cool and features some nifty details that many other companies do not hit upon. Most obvious of those being the seat stay mounted water bottle boss inserts. 

I like what Mason Cycles is doing with their designs. Too bad you cannot get the raw steel version shown here. That's a one-off prototype, but they will have a couple of exclusive introductory colors and some nice stock colors to choose from. See all the details here: https://masoncycles.cc/blog/mason-exposure-launch-edition-pre-order-now

 

Trek's new FX Sport Carbon blurs the lines between MTB Hard tail and gravel (Image courtesy of Trek Bikes)

Trek Debuts New FX Sport Carbon:

With a new frame and a bent toward adventure, Trek has taken the "fitness bike" theme out and has blurred the lines between MTB and gravel with a new model here which should be at dealers soon.

You kind of get the feeling that a few of the original tenets of mountain biking - adventure, exploration, and touring - are getting repackaged as "gravel" and this bike sure does nothing to dissuade those notions. Add in my next featured news bit and we'd be right there back in the 1990's MTB scene!

The new Fox TaperCast AX (Image from the web)

New Fox TaperCast AX Fork: A Bit Of A Rant

You've likely seen this ballyhooed all over the internet and on many endemic cycling news sites already. Fox has ditched the previous version of their gravel fork and have made several improvements to the design. Hey! You can change the travel now to 50mm! Woo!

I've read a few reviews of this, and of the new Rock Shox gravel suspension fork, the Rudy, and in all of the reviews there is a subtle theme which goes something like this:

"So, yeah, this fork does add weight, but you'll probably not notice it, besides, it is better than riding rigid!"

One reviewer was up front enough to mention that the Fox shock will require maintenance after 125 hours of ride time. For reference, that's about once every year for most serious gravel riders, which I know of, at least. Okay, add that cost in to your investment.

And on weight: If we are spending thousands of dollars on bicycles that are not bringing light weight as one of the benefits, we are probably buying motorized bikes, or what? More 'grace" on certain types of terrain? Maybe. A couple of the reviewers alluded to this by mentioning that they felt these forks were good for those "off-road" or single track sections of "trail" that rigid gravel bikes cannot go "fast" through. 

Excuse me, but is that not what mountain bikes are good for? 

These reviewers would agree that yes- a mountain bike is just for that, but what about on open roads? Ha! Well, they are saying gravel bikes are the answer outfitted with suspension and dropper posts. I'm saying that you are all cocked up here. The real problem is that (a) geometry of hard tail MTB's is too extreme toward the "slack & low" side and (b) your gearing is optimized for one thing: Winching your butt up to the next flowy down hill section. 

Look at that Trek above-  The frame can be set up with a front derailleur for wide range gearing that can do both the going up and the coming down. MTB's shed that versatility when they dropped front derailleurs and went 1X. The real fix is not to muddy the waters with gravel bikes bent on becoming drop bar MTB's, but to fix the extreme design of MTB hard tails which has gone too far off the deep end for anything but going down fast. 

Again: "Quit trying to make gravel bikes into mountain bikes."

News Season: Drivetrain Debuts

Another 1X option is set to be unleashed

News about drivetrain choices for bikes is up today. First off I noted a new offering being shown from a brand called TRW Active. This start up is based in New Mexico and they are going to produce an 11 speed, 1X system including a shifter and crank set. Their Indiegogo fundraiser is going to happen soon but they claim to have already produced 150 group sets to satisfy early demand.

There are three different wide ratio cassettes on offer along with the crank set, rear derailleur, and shifter. Curiously, the TRW Active website says the shifter is compatible with "other 11 speed systems", but does not specify which ones. The trigger shifter is notable for having a dual release trigger much like a Shimano Rapid Fire Plus does.

Comments: Is there room for another mtb component company? It's a hard market to break into, as Box Components has been finding out, along with SunRace, and others. I think this TRW Active stuff looks fine, but SRAM and Shimano components are so ubiquitous and shops generally carry spares that going off the grid with a component choice is a tough sell.

SRAM E Tap To Go To 12:

News came down via a "Cyclingtips" Tweet that SRAM will push out a new 12 speed E-Tap system coming up in January. Details are slim, but this good "Cyclingtips" article gives you all the lowdown on what might be coming in terms of features. 

The SRAM E-Tap front derailleur is criticized for limiting tire clearances

Comments: SRAM was loved for their cross compatibility between mountain and road parts once Shimano moved to 10 speed mtb DynaSys systems which stopped cross compatibility between Shimano road and mtb components. (Yes- there are gizmos to get around this that are third party applications) So, now that E-Tap has been around, gravel riders have been eagerly awaiting SRAM's entry into the electronic shifting mountain bike components with hopes that they could mix and match electronic road and mountain bike parts.

This news about 12 speed E-Tap lends more credence to a 12 speed Eagle mtb group introduction and a possibility that the cross-compatibility scheme might become reality. However; this news also points to a possibility that it would not be necessary to cross mtb and road bits. The text mentions the wide range rear cassette and 1X road possibilities. Still, you would have to think that since most gravel/all road bikes are using mtb rear wheel spacing that the XD driver and cassette would be the go-to set up for a gravel rig.

The only nit there is that a 2X E-Tap front derailleur gets in the way of bigger tires. The article linked above does not point to a modified derailleur to address this, so 2X Di2 seems to be the only good option for those wanting a closer ratio gearing set up, unless there is a surprise waiting in the wings from SRAM. 

The chain rings on the 12 speed E-Tap are said to be machined from one piece. This is good from a technical standpoint, but in real world, practical terms, you are going to have a much higher maintenance cost and people will be pissed when they wear out one of the two rings and need to replace both. (Well, technically speaking they will be "one ring" with two sets of teeth, but people are not going to care.) Plus, customization to rider preferences will be out the window. You'll have choices in a few ring combinations and that's it.

Finally, I am still not convinced that having to plug in another device, or carry CR 2032 batteries around is worth the small increase in shifting performance for the average gravel rider. Throw in the cost of components, and the high likelihood that rear derailleurs have for getting trashed in mud, and I think it becomes less attractive. Yes- you can shear off any derailleur, but I'd rather pay to replace a mechanical Ultegra or SRAM Force derailleur than I would a Di2 or E-Tap version. Plus, stories of electronic failures are not uncommon.

Stay tuned for more "News Season" posts in the future......

News Season: Drivetrain Debuts

Another 1X option is set to be unleashed

News about drivetrain choices for bikes is up today. First off I noted a new offering being shown from a brand called TRW Active. This start up is based in New Mexico and they are going to produce an 11 speed, 1X system including a shifter and crank set. Their Indiegogo fundraiser is going to happen soon but they claim to have already produced 150 group sets to satisfy early demand.

There are three different wide ratio cassettes on offer along with the crank set, rear derailleur, and shifter. Curiously, the TRW Active website says the shifter is compatible with "other 11 speed systems", but does not specify which ones. The trigger shifter is notable for having a dual release trigger much like a Shimano Rapid Fire Plus does.

Comments: Is there room for another mtb component company? It's a hard market to break into, as Box Components has been finding out, along with SunRace, and others. I think this TRW Active stuff looks fine, but SRAM and Shimano components are so ubiquitous and shops generally carry spares that going off the grid with a component choice is a tough sell.

SRAM E Tap To Go To 12:

News came down via a "Cyclingtips" Tweet that SRAM will push out a new 12 speed E-Tap system coming up in January. Details are slim, but this good "Cyclingtips" article gives you all the lowdown on what might be coming in terms of features. 

The SRAM E-Tap front derailleur is criticized for limiting tire clearances

Comments: SRAM was loved for their cross compatibility between mountain and road parts once Shimano moved to 10 speed mtb DynaSys systems which stopped cross compatibility between Shimano road and mtb components. (Yes- there are gizmos to get around this that are third party applications) So, now that E-Tap has been around, gravel riders have been eagerly awaiting SRAM's entry into the electronic shifting mountain bike components with hopes that they could mix and match electronic road and mountain bike parts.

This news about 12 speed E-Tap lends more credence to a 12 speed Eagle mtb group introduction and a possibility that the cross-compatibility scheme might become reality. However; this news also points to a possibility that it would not be necessary to cross mtb and road bits. The text mentions the wide range rear cassette and 1X road possibilities. Still, you would have to think that since most gravel/all road bikes are using mtb rear wheel spacing that the XD driver and cassette would be the go-to set up for a gravel rig.

The only nit there is that a 2X E-Tap front derailleur gets in the way of bigger tires. The article linked above does not point to a modified derailleur to address this, so 2X Di2 seems to be the only good option for those wanting a closer ratio gearing set up, unless there is a surprise waiting in the wings from SRAM. 

The chain rings on the 12 speed E-Tap are said to be machined from one piece. This is good from a technical standpoint, but in real world, practical terms, you are going to have a much higher maintenance cost and people will be pissed when they wear out one of the two rings and need to replace both. (Well, technically speaking they will be "one ring" with two sets of teeth, but people are not going to care.) Plus, customization to rider preferences will be out the window. You'll have choices in a few ring combinations and that's it.

Finally, I am still not convinced that having to plug in another device, or carry CR 2032 batteries around is worth the small increase in shifting performance for the average gravel rider. Throw in the cost of components, and the high likelihood that rear derailleurs have for getting trashed in mud, and I think it becomes less attractive. Yes- you can shear off any derailleur, but I'd rather pay to replace a mechanical Ultegra or SRAM Force derailleur than I would a Di2 or E-Tap version. Plus, stories of electronic failures are not uncommon.

Stay tuned for more "News Season" posts in the future......

News Season: Part 2- Enve Fat Fork And Fat Wheels

The Enve Fat Bike Fork has some serious gram savings.

Enve Debuts New Fat Bike Fork and Carbon Wheel Set For Fat Bikes:

Enve Composites has been around a while now and probably are most well known for the high quality carbon rims for both mountain bikes and road bikes. But they have dabbled in components since the beginning as well. Enve has a long history with carbon forks and they have also done seat posts, stems, and handlebars.

Today Enve has announced a fat bike fork and a carbon fat bike rim/wheel set. The fork is simply called the Fat Bike Fork and it is not only lightweight, but it is compatible with 26" and 27.5" fat bike wheels.

The clever addition of a flip chip in the drop out allows for the fine tuning of the fork offset to optimize the handling for either wheel size. The obvious is here- 15mm X 150mm through axle, 1 1/4"-1 1/2" tapered steer tube, and a claimed weight of 748 grams. Axle to crown is 490mm and the offset can be set at 51mm or 42mm depending on the position of the flip chips in the drop out. Recommended rotor size is 160mm-203mm. Tire Clearance- 26" X 5.2" - 27.5" X 4.8" maximum. The fork has internally routed brake capability as well.

The MSRP on the Fat Bike Fork is $625.00 and is available for pre-order now. Shipping pre-orders should happen at the end of November.

Comments: The weight is nice, and the clearances are nice, and that dual wheel size compatibility is really nice! That was a nice touch from Enve as the fat bike market is kind of split between 26 and 27.5 wheel sizes right now. You would be good to go either way with this offering. Yeah.......it isn't a bike packer's pick, but I've also heard a few seasoned fat bikers say that weighting the front is bad for trying to traverse softer terrain. Hmm......

I've got a carbon fork on the Ti Mukluk, and the differences in ride characteristics based on the lighter weight alone make the switch an attractive one here. A seemingly minor detail- the internal brake routing- is actually a big deal to me. Getting a fat bike, one actually used in severe conditions like ungroomed snow, mud, and sand, the sleekest and smoothest that you can makes the going easier. I can't tell you how many times I've had to pick mud, or clear snow off that was stuck to the exposed brake line. Then again- you can always run sans front brake. That's what a lot of bushwhacking fat bikers do.

Enve's M685 fat bike wheels. Also available as a rim only.

The wheels are from Enve's M Series so these are "trail rated" and not just for snow, as some other rims out there are only rated for snow riding. They also feature Enve's first asymmetric molded spoke hole design which also accommodates fat bike wheels wider bracing angles. The rim profile was designed to shed snow and not allow build up.

Using a tubeless design, these rims don't need a wide rim strip. They also have a hookless bead design. The rims feature an 85mm inner rim width which should accommodate most fat bike tires out there. The rims are being made in both 27.5" and 26" diameters and the target weight is 600 grams for each rim.

The rims are available separately in both diameters offered at $999.00 MSRP each. The rims can also be purchased built up to Industry 9 hubs with a 150mm front/190mm rear spacing. Complete wheels are set to retail at $2800.00

Comments: Enve will be Enve, so the prices on these U.S. manufactured rims is no surprise. That said, it's hard to make a case for these in terms of price unless you value the claimed durability and the specific features of the rim's design. When every gram counts and durability cannot be compromised, yeah..... I can see getting these. They are a premium product and therefore you have to pay the price. If you just want lighter fat bike wheels and don't do anything extreme, well maybe something else would trip your trigger. A Whiskey No. 9 100 rim is wider, almost as light, and costs less than half as much per rim as the Enve does, for example.

Both wheel sizes are supported again here, so that is cool. I like the thought that went into making these trail rated, because, who knows? You might end up mountain biking your fat bike someday and knowing the rims are going to handle it is a nice chunk of "mind peace" to have. 

Note: Images and information were provided by Enve Composites.

News Season: Part 2- Enve Fat Fork And Fat Wheels

The Enve Fat Bike Fork has some serious gram savings.

Enve Debuts New Fat Bike Fork and Carbon Wheel Set For Fat Bikes:

Enve Composites has been around a while now and probably are most well known for the high quality carbon rims for both mountain bikes and road bikes. But they have dabbled in components since the beginning as well. Enve has a long history with carbon forks and they have also done seat posts, stems, and handlebars.

Today Enve has announced a fat bike fork and a carbon fat bike rim/wheel set. The fork is simply called the Fat Bike Fork and it is not only lightweight, but it is compatible with 26" and 27.5" fat bike wheels.

The clever addition of a flip chip in the drop out allows for the fine tuning of the fork offset to optimize the handling for either wheel size. The obvious is here- 15mm X 150mm through axle, 1 1/4"-1 1/2" tapered steer tube, and a claimed weight of 748 grams. Axle to crown is 490mm and the offset can be set at 51mm or 42mm depending on the position of the flip chips in the drop out. Recommended rotor size is 160mm-203mm. Tire Clearance- 26" X 5.2" - 27.5" X 4.8" maximum. The fork has internally routed brake capability as well.

The MSRP on the Fat Bike Fork is $625.00 and is available for pre-order now. Shipping pre-orders should happen at the end of November.

Comments: The weight is nice, and the clearances are nice, and that dual wheel size compatibility is really nice! That was a nice touch from Enve as the fat bike market is kind of split between 26 and 27.5 wheel sizes right now. You would be good to go either way with this offering. Yeah.......it isn't a bike packer's pick, but I've also heard a few seasoned fat bikers say that weighting the front is bad for trying to traverse softer terrain. Hmm......

I've got a carbon fork on the Ti Mukluk, and the differences in ride characteristics based on the lighter weight alone make the switch an attractive one here. A seemingly minor detail- the internal brake routing- is actually a big deal to me. Getting a fat bike, one actually used in severe conditions like ungroomed snow, mud, and sand, the sleekest and smoothest that you can makes the going easier. I can't tell you how many times I've had to pick mud, or clear snow off that was stuck to the exposed brake line. Then again- you can always run sans front brake. That's what a lot of bushwhacking fat bikers do.

Enve's M685 fat bike wheels. Also available as a rim only.

The wheels are from Enve's M Series so these are "trail rated" and not just for snow, as some other rims out there are only rated for snow riding. They also feature Enve's first asymmetric molded spoke hole design which also accommodates fat bike wheels wider bracing angles. The rim profile was designed to shed snow and not allow build up.

Using a tubeless design, these rims don't need a wide rim strip. They also have a hookless bead design. The rims feature an 85mm inner rim width which should accommodate most fat bike tires out there. The rims are being made in both 27.5" and 26" diameters and the target weight is 600 grams for each rim.

The rims are available separately in both diameters offered at $999.00 MSRP each. The rims can also be purchased built up to Industry 9 hubs with a 150mm front/190mm rear spacing. Complete wheels are set to retail at $2800.00

Comments: Enve will be Enve, so the prices on these U.S. manufactured rims is no surprise. That said, it's hard to make a case for these in terms of price unless you value the claimed durability and the specific features of the rim's design. When every gram counts and durability cannot be compromised, yeah..... I can see getting these. They are a premium product and therefore you have to pay the price. If you just want lighter fat bike wheels and don't do anything extreme, well maybe something else would trip your trigger. A Whiskey No. 9 100 rim is wider, almost as light, and costs less than half as much per rim as the Enve does, for example.

Both wheel sizes are supported again here, so that is cool. I like the thought that went into making these trail rated, because, who knows? You might end up mountain biking your fat bike someday and knowing the rims are going to handle it is a nice chunk of "mind peace" to have. 

Note: Images and information were provided by Enve Composites.

News Season Part 1: Industry Nine Announces The A 35 Stem

The new Industry 9 A 35 stem is available in a bunch of colors and several different lengths.

Industry 9 Announces The A 35 Stem:

If you have been paying attention, you know that Enduro and Downhill racers have been gravitating toward 35mm stem clamp diameter stems and handlebars. Industry 9 noticed too.

The newest product and one not related to wheels, (unusual here), they have is named after Industry 9's five axis machining centers, (The "A Axis", to be specific), and is a 35mm stem clamp diameter. It is available in four lengths and a myriad of different colors. Industry 9 will even mix a different face plate color in there for an upcharge.


MSRP for single color A 35 stems is $125.00 and two color versions are $140.00. The stems are available now. Completely designed and manufactured in Asheville, NC.

Comments: This was a bit of a surprise to me. Industry 9 is branching out here and making a cool looking component. This kind of reminds me of the mid-90's American machinists boom in the mtb world with all the in-house machining and anodizing.

Now, the whole 35mm stem and handle bar thing is an unknown to me......now. I have a set up on my Singular Cycles Buzzard in this standard, but I haven't really tested it out yet. With the season winding down, I may not get around to it either. We'll see. But back to the stem!

Yeah, so this may be your new standard going forward for mtb's. It's good to see another option and it is curious as it makes one wonder what Industry 9 might come up with next. Are they the "Paul Components" of the East? Maybe not that quite yet, but I could see it.

Note- Industry 9 provided the information and image for this post.

News Season Part 1: Industry Nine Announces The A 35 Stem

The new Industry 9 A 35 stem is available in a bunch of colors and several different lengths.

Industry 9 Announces The A 35 Stem:

If you have been paying attention, you know that Enduro and Downhill racers have been gravitating toward 35mm stem clamp diameter stems and handlebars. Industry 9 noticed too.

The newest product and one not related to wheels, (unusual here), they have is named after Industry 9's five axis machining centers, (The "A Axis", to be specific), and is a 35mm stem clamp diameter. It is available in four lengths and a myriad of different colors. Industry 9 will even mix a different face plate color in there for an upcharge.


MSRP for single color A 35 stems is $125.00 and two color versions are $140.00. The stems are available now. Completely designed and manufactured in Asheville, NC.

Comments: This was a bit of a surprise to me. Industry 9 is branching out here and making a cool looking component. This kind of reminds me of the mid-90's American machinists boom in the mtb world with all the in-house machining and anodizing.

Now, the whole 35mm stem and handle bar thing is an unknown to me......now. I have a set up on my Singular Cycles Buzzard in this standard, but I haven't really tested it out yet. With the season winding down, I may not get around to it either. We'll see. But back to the stem!

Yeah, so this may be your new standard going forward for mtb's. It's good to see another option and it is curious as it makes one wonder what Industry 9 might come up with next. Are they the "Paul Components" of the East? Maybe not that quite yet, but I could see it.

Note- Industry 9 provided the information and image for this post.

News Season- Explained

A new race in Madison County was announced.

A Note From Guitar Ted: Okay folks, before we dive into the post here I wanted to explain this post, and the two following it, because there are special circumstances at play that you, my faithful readers, need to understand. 

First off, I have been in the "cycling media" now for 13 years. (I know! Hard to believe it's been THAT long and that I am a part of it all)  In that time I spent most of those years covering 29"ers, mtb, and general cycling stuff. As a media member I am on a LOT of e-mail lists for marketing companies. I get forwarded a LOT of info, most of which you never know about or even see anywhere else. I believe in keeping things focused here and wherever I write. Plus, you don't want to see everything I get sent. It would likely be........annoying. That's the best way I can put it.

However; at times I get sent some cool info. I get sent stuff related to mtb, or cycling in general, that doesn't fit on RidingGravel.com.  These press releases are interesting and I think you out there might think so as well. So, I sometimes share that but not until Fridays, generally. That said, some of this stuff loses its traction with me after a few days and it's best if I generate the news here right away. Both for me and for you. Otherwise I forget to get around to it, and well........that doesn't do anyone any good!

So, anyway....... The way things are done today is that the newsy bits have embargoes on them. I cannot share things until a certain time. Weird, I know, but that's how things are. So I have a post hitting at 6:00am today and another at 9:00am today with news about certain bits I found interesting. Otherwise, without the embargoes, it would all be in one, easy to consume post. But that ain't the way marketing plays these days, so...... 

MADCO100: The one newsy bit I CAN share right away is that on May 4th, 2019 there will be a new 100 mile event in Madison County dubbed the MADCO100. Details are sparse, but I have gotten the feeling that this event is coming out of, or is the folks behind CIRREM. I'm sure this will come out in the future, but anyway.......

May 4th. One hunnert miles of hills. Now you know.......

News Season- Explained

A new race in Madison County was announced.

A Note From Guitar Ted: Okay folks, before we dive into the post here I wanted to explain this post, and the two following it, because there are special circumstances at play that you, my faithful readers, need to understand. 

First off, I have been in the "cycling media" now for 13 years. (I know! Hard to believe it's been THAT long and that I am a part of it all)  In that time I spent most of those years covering 29"ers, mtb, and general cycling stuff. As a media member I am on a LOT of e-mail lists for marketing companies. I get forwarded a LOT of info, most of which you never know about or even see anywhere else. I believe in keeping things focused here and wherever I write. Plus, you don't want to see everything I get sent. It would likely be........annoying. That's the best way I can put it.

However; at times I get sent some cool info. I get sent stuff related to mtb, or cycling in general, that doesn't fit on RidingGravel.com.  These press releases are interesting and I think you out there might think so as well. So, I sometimes share that but not until Fridays, generally. That said, some of this stuff loses its traction with me after a few days and it's best if I generate the news here right away. Both for me and for you. Otherwise I forget to get around to it, and well........that doesn't do anyone any good!

So, anyway....... The way things are done today is that the newsy bits have embargoes on them. I cannot share things until a certain time. Weird, I know, but that's how things are. So I have a post hitting at 6:00am today and another at 9:00am today with news about certain bits I found interesting. Otherwise, without the embargoes, it would all be in one, easy to consume post. But that ain't the way marketing plays these days, so...... 

MADCO100: The one newsy bit I CAN share right away is that on May 4th, 2019 there will be a new 100 mile event in Madison County dubbed the MADCO100. Details are sparse, but I have gotten the feeling that this event is coming out of, or is the folks behind CIRREM. I'm sure this will come out in the future, but anyway.......

May 4th. One hunnert miles of hills. Now you know.......