Friday News And Views

A larger Husker Du- Claimed "true 4.8". We'll see about THAT!

45NRTH Debuts New Larger Husker Du:

45NRTH has some pretty cool treads for fat bikes. One of the originals was the Husker Du. The tread has since been redesigned, but it was never offered in a big, wide casing. That has changed with the announcement of a 4.8" (claimed) Husker Du.

The new Du is said to be tubeless. That's really good. It also is supposed to be available in a 120TPI folding bead casing.

This is good if it is really a 4.8"er. 45NRTH has introduced tires that hinted at being big, but in reality they weren't so much. This has always been a bit of a pet peeve of mine about the brand's tires. That and getting anything 45NRTH is about as easy as it is to win the State lottery.

But aside from that, I really like that the tread design was made in the way that it was. If you want big, chewy, tractable knobs, you've got choices. However, since the demise of the Big Fat Larry tread design, a truly big, low tread design suitable for flotation and low rolling resistance needs has been lacking in the fat bike world. Well, at least good choices are lacking. The Husker Du in the 4.8" size, (again- IF it is that size), would be super for semi-groomed trails, where the snow isn't completely packed in. It also would shine on sand, deep gravel, or marshy terrain where float is the paramount characteristic one is wanting.

I could totally see this as a second tread for my Blackborow DS. In fact, it should weigh less, due to the lack of big rubber blocks, than a Bud tire, and with a carbon rimmed wheel set, I could also gain some speed. I like the idea of this tire. Let's hope it is what 45NRTH says it is and that one could actually get them.

The Sonder Camino AL, also available as a titanium frame

A Word About Gravel Bike Geometry:

I've talked about this off and on for the last five years or more, but I believe that there is a certain geometry that is most conducive to fun and pleasure on the gravel roads.

Please note- I am not talking about racing. 

The whole gravel/all-road thing gets held against standards based upon racing bikes by the traditional cycling media hacks all the time. The idea of not racing at all on a bicycle seems to be a foreign one to many of these people. I see complaints about gravel bikes not being "snappy" upon acceleration, handling like a wagon in turns, or being too upright. Well, maybe you don't have the right perspective. Maybe you could have a gravel racing bike, and maybe the rest of the rigs could be for non-competitive, enjoyable, fun bicycling. 

I know, crazy talk. I should just shut up and get out of the way. Right? You'd think so by reading reviews these days.

Anyway..... There is a geometry I think would work best. The Sonder Camino AL really hits most of the marks I would like to see in a gravel bike. Lower than 70mm bottom bracket, 71° head tube angle, 435mm chain stays, and a tallish head tube. I'm not big on aluminum, but you never know. It could feel okay. They do make a Camino in titanium, so there is that. Oh! It's an Alpkit bike, so you'd have to order from the UK.

It's pretty intriguing, as it ticks a lot of my boxes, but it does have a carbon fork. Not big on that. I might have to swap it out for a proper steel fork, but then again, I am in no rush to do anything right now. It is almost Winter, right?

Another one bites the dust.

Hi! I'm Guitar Ted, And I Am A Camera Killer:

I remember it well. It was a Renegade Gent's Race where I had my old Fuji point and shoot and I dropped it on the pavement, ending its life. Well, I pretty much repeated the act again Thursday riding home from work. My Olympus TG-3 is dead.

I was riding the Black Mountain Cycles "Orange Crush" and I had my camera stowed in the Bike Bag Dude Chaff bag. That bag has a cinch top, but I just had the TG-3 sitting in there like it was in a cup holder. No big deal, right?

Well, I was getting pretty aggressive on the ride home, going along at a good clip, maybe 20mph, when I hopped a curb. When I came down the front tire hit pretty solidly and the camera bounced up and out of the bag. Of course, it didn't hit dirt, it hit the pavement at 20mph. I figure it knocked the sensor askew as it doesn't frame up a shot correctly anymore. It's okay, I've had a good run with it.

I posted something about it on social media and almost immediately a friend reached out with a possible solution to my dilemma. I won't be able to say anything concrete just yet, but things are looking good for a quick and agreeable solution to my mishap.

Stay tuned, and more importantly, make sure that whatever you put in a bag on your bike is restrained somehow from bouncing out. My bad!

Have a great weekend and get some riding in!

Friday News And Views

A larger Husker Du- Claimed "true 4.8". We'll see about THAT!

45NRTH Debuts New Larger Husker Du:

45NRTH has some pretty cool treads for fat bikes. One of the originals was the Husker Du. The tread has since been redesigned, but it was never offered in a big, wide casing. That has changed with the announcement of a 4.8" (claimed) Husker Du.

The new Du is said to be tubeless. That's really good. It also is supposed to be available in a 120TPI folding bead casing.

This is good if it is really a 4.8"er. 45NRTH has introduced tires that hinted at being big, but in reality they weren't so much. This has always been a bit of a pet peeve of mine about the brand's tires. That and getting anything 45NRTH is about as easy as it is to win the State lottery.

But aside from that, I really like that the tread design was made in the way that it was. If you want big, chewy, tractable knobs, you've got choices. However, since the demise of the Big Fat Larry tread design, a truly big, low tread design suitable for flotation and low rolling resistance needs has been lacking in the fat bike world. Well, at least good choices are lacking. The Husker Du in the 4.8" size, (again- IF it is that size), would be super for semi-groomed trails, where the snow isn't completely packed in. It also would shine on sand, deep gravel, or marshy terrain where float is the paramount characteristic one is wanting.

I could totally see this as a second tread for my Blackborow DS. In fact, it should weigh less, due to the lack of big rubber blocks, than a Bud tire, and with a carbon rimmed wheel set, I could also gain some speed. I like the idea of this tire. Let's hope it is what 45NRTH says it is and that one could actually get them.

The Sonder Camino AL, also available as a titanium frame

A Word About Gravel Bike Geometry:

I've talked about this off and on for the last five years or more, but I believe that there is a certain geometry that is most conducive to fun and pleasure on the gravel roads.

Please note- I am not talking about racing. 

The whole gravel/all-road thing gets held against standards based upon racing bikes by the traditional cycling media hacks all the time. The idea of not racing at all on a bicycle seems to be a foreign one to many of these people. I see complaints about gravel bikes not being "snappy" upon acceleration, handling like a wagon in turns, or being too upright. Well, maybe you don't have the right perspective. Maybe you could have a gravel racing bike, and maybe the rest of the rigs could be for non-competitive, enjoyable, fun bicycling. 

I know, crazy talk. I should just shut up and get out of the way. Right? You'd think so by reading reviews these days.

Anyway..... There is a geometry I think would work best. The Sonder Camino AL really hits most of the marks I would like to see in a gravel bike. Lower than 70mm bottom bracket, 71° head tube angle, 435mm chain stays, and a tallish head tube. I'm not big on aluminum, but you never know. It could feel okay. They do make a Camino in titanium, so there is that. Oh! It's an Alpkit bike, so you'd have to order from the UK.

It's pretty intriguing, as it ticks a lot of my boxes, but it does have a carbon fork. Not big on that. I might have to swap it out for a proper steel fork, but then again, I am in no rush to do anything right now. It is almost Winter, right?

Another one bites the dust.

Hi! I'm Guitar Ted, And I Am A Camera Killer:

I remember it well. It was a Renegade Gent's Race where I had my old Fuji point and shoot and I dropped it on the pavement, ending its life. Well, I pretty much repeated the act again Thursday riding home from work. My Olympus TG-3 is dead.

I was riding the Black Mountain Cycles "Orange Crush" and I had my camera stowed in the Bike Bag Dude Chaff bag. That bag has a cinch top, but I just had the TG-3 sitting in there like it was in a cup holder. No big deal, right?

Well, I was getting pretty aggressive on the ride home, going along at a good clip, maybe 20mph, when I hopped a curb. When I came down the front tire hit pretty solidly and the camera bounced up and out of the bag. Of course, it didn't hit dirt, it hit the pavement at 20mph. I figure it knocked the sensor askew as it doesn't frame up a shot correctly anymore. It's okay, I've had a good run with it.

I posted something about it on social media and almost immediately a friend reached out with a possible solution to my dilemma. I won't be able to say anything concrete just yet, but things are looking good for a quick and agreeable solution to my mishap.

Stay tuned, and more importantly, make sure that whatever you put in a bag on your bike is restrained somehow from bouncing out. My bad!

Have a great weekend and get some riding in!

Shimano Sport Cam CM-2000

The Shimano Sport Cam CM-2000

The march into the 21st Century for me continues. I have a sport action camera now. But first, before I delve in to all of the gizmo-tastic details, I must tell the story of how this happened, because....trust me...I wasn't planning on getting anything like this. I still haven't totally figured out my Olympus TG-3 or my Lezyne Super GPS yet, and adding another gizmo to the mix only sets me deeper into the knowledge gathering rabbit hole.

Anyway, as a mechanic, I am entitled to access the Shimano "S-Tec" site which gives me all the details and technical know-how to work on Shimano's stuff. Okay, so they came out with the new Ultegra 8000 series of components recently and I decided to check that out and see the video presentation Shimano had on S-Tec. There is a quiz you can take afterward which I did and passed. That automatically entered me in to a drawing for the Tour de France promotion which Shimano was doing. They are giving away two prizes daily to mechanics who took the Ultegra 8000 module. Well, on the first day, I won a Sport Cam CM-2000.

Weird.....

Anyway, it showed up last week and I have just gotten around to unboxing it and getting it charged up. The general specs show this camera has some impressive features, if you geek out on such things. First of all, it can record on the command of certain Bluetooth generated parameters like your heart rate, speed, or power out put. This means that, let's say, you have a very steep descent on a mountain bike trail. This might be a section you want recorded, so you can set the camera to start recording at a threshold of a certain speed and above, then shut off after that speed threshold has been gone under again. Or, maybe this raises your heart rate, so you could do the recording by that. Power output could be used to set off the camera recording on a climb, for instance. The theory being that you only get footage of parts that are worth watching.

The display and function buttons are pretty simple.

The cam is certainly outdoors friendly being waterproof and dust proof. There is a lens cover included which has a treated glass which can help shed water which may get splashed up on it for better video results.

The water and dust proofed access door to the battery, SD card slot, and USB connection. Here also is the mount provided.

There are the usual accessory mounting options which are available separately. I may pick up a handlebar and chest mounted one. For now, it'll go on my helmet. I actually already have a mount which this should work on for my Bell Super helmet. So, that is probably where I'll start out with this.

So, here we go down another gizmo rabbit hole..........

Shimano Sport Cam CM-2000

The Shimano Sport Cam CM-2000

The march into the 21st Century for me continues. I have a sport action camera now. But first, before I delve in to all of the gizmo-tastic details, I must tell the story of how this happened, because....trust me...I wasn't planning on getting anything like this. I still haven't totally figured out my Olympus TG-3 or my Lezyne Super GPS yet, and adding another gizmo to the mix only sets me deeper into the knowledge gathering rabbit hole.

Anyway, as a mechanic, I am entitled to access the Shimano "S-Tec" site which gives me all the details and technical know-how to work on Shimano's stuff. Okay, so they came out with the new Ultegra 8000 series of components recently and I decided to check that out and see the video presentation Shimano had on S-Tec. There is a quiz you can take afterward which I did and passed. That automatically entered me in to a drawing for the Tour de France promotion which Shimano was doing. They are giving away two prizes daily to mechanics who took the Ultegra 8000 module. Well, on the first day, I won a Sport Cam CM-2000.

Weird.....

Anyway, it showed up last week and I have just gotten around to unboxing it and getting it charged up. The general specs show this camera has some impressive features, if you geek out on such things. First of all, it can record on the command of certain Bluetooth generated parameters like your heart rate, speed, or power out put. This means that, let's say, you have a very steep descent on a mountain bike trail. This might be a section you want recorded, so you can set the camera to start recording at a threshold of a certain speed and above, then shut off after that speed threshold has been gone under again. Or, maybe this raises your heart rate, so you could do the recording by that. Power output could be used to set off the camera recording on a climb, for instance. The theory being that you only get footage of parts that are worth watching.

The display and function buttons are pretty simple.

The cam is certainly outdoors friendly being waterproof and dust proof. There is a lens cover included which has a treated glass which can help shed water which may get splashed up on it for better video results.

The water and dust proofed access door to the battery, SD card slot, and USB connection. Here also is the mount provided.

There are the usual accessory mounting options which are available separately. I may pick up a handlebar and chest mounted one. For now, it'll go on my helmet. I actually already have a mount which this should work on for my Bell Super helmet. So, that is probably where I'll start out with this.

So, here we go down another gizmo rabbit hole..........

Friday News And Views

Me. Twin Six Standard Wool Jersey. Image by Izzy

Wool For Summer: My good friend Dr. Giggles turned me on to how to stay cool in Summer. He said, "Get-cher self a wool jersey, son!" I figured he was mad, or had rolled down too many upstate New York and Vermont hills, or something. But he laid out a very convincing case, and being a member of the Slender Fungus Cycling Association, well.....I took note. 

I got a close out special on a Giro wool jersey, which I employed much of last Summer to great success. Ol' Dr. Giggles wasn't foolin' around. He knew what he was on to. So, I was on the lookout for more "Summer weight" wool jerseys, and I'll tell ya, there are not many. I just wasn't connecting with many of the ones Dr. Giggles was suggesting, and some of the others some were pushing my way didn't really hit me right either. I don't know...... I am a picky son of a gun when it comes to what I wear. Just ask Mrs. Guitar Ted!

So, anyway, I was checking out the Twin Six website one day and hey! I saw this thing called The Standard Wool. I didn't waste any time and ordered one up. Those T-6 guys just make really classy, well fitting stuff, and this was no different. However; they also don't do "mee too" design, so there are a couple of things here that are different. The colored part, (blue in my example here), is actually regular ol' jersey fabric. Which is a different touch, but they took that same idea and used it to not only give color to the three back pockets, but to give those pockets structure. Ever had something heavy-ish in a regular wool jersey pocket before? Well, if you have, you know that whatever it is ends up down around yer butt after a while bouncing around back there. Wool stretches, but the Standard Wool Jersey's pockets do not.

Brilliant!

But there's more! In the image above, you cannot tell, but I am soaking wet from a rain shower I got caught in. Hey, wool keeps you warm when that happens. Pretty awesome. Expensive? Yes. $145.00 expensive, which may scare a lot of folks off, but for how this fabric works in hot weather, it is money well spent for me. Your mileage may vary.

The new Olympus Tough TG-5

Tough Camera:

Most of the ride images and stuff I post on here and RidingGravel.com is all imagery taken with my trusty Olympus Tough TG-3. Well, it hasn't let me down yet, but I may replace it, or more likely, add something else to the camera pool. I saw that Olympus just released a Tough TG-5.

Now, I am not one to just get something because it is the next gen thing. You might have noticed I didn't mention the Tough TG-4. It was a minor change from what I had, and I did not see the value in "upgrading", if that even was an upgrade. However; there are some cool features that this TG-5 has that have given me something to chew on.

Basically, the TG-5 is somewhat similar to what I have. However; it does support RAW files, (which I haven't ever used, but probably should), and from my standpoint, better control layout and ergonomics. The TG-3 is a slippery little devil, and there isn't a lot of purchase on the camera body, which gets a little dicey while riding. (Yes.....I shoot a ton of my images while moving. So, sue me. ) The TG-5 has improved grip areas and the control dials are redesigned as well. This may be something that allows me to zoom in with one hand. That would be nice. They also redesigned the mode dial surround so that it doesn't get knocked out of the setting you select easily, which the TG-3 is really prone to do.

The accessory items available for this camera also look a bit more interesting and refined than they have offered in the past. That is a bit enticing, especially the zoom lens, so I may have to seriously consider that as well. But the main things they kept the same were good things. The "tough" features are all the same. Dust proof, freeze proof, shock resistant, and waterproof. All things I insist on for my carry-along camera on my rides. I don't want to baby sit an expensive camera while I am out riding.

It's $450.00 though, so I won't be just grabbing one right off. I need to assess my needs here, and I do have a functioning TG-3, so it isn't like I have to get a camera. But for some of the features this new one has, and the nicer video spec, I can see where it might prove to be a good upgrade, if I use it for video and RAW files, etc.

 GTDRI UPDATE:

Thanks for the feedback, and due to receiving that, I have come to some decisions on the ride.

First- We will start and end at Broad Street Brewing Company in Reinbeck, Iowa. The ride will start at 6:00am.

Second: We will be flying by the seat of our pants if it rains or is wetter than a Level B might allow us to do. We may truncate the route, or .......who knows? If it gets weird, be prepared to roll with it!

Third: This means that the route will have three possibilities for resupply, bailout, or not. First, at mile 28-ish, we will pass just West of Dysart, Iowa. I figure this will be an optional stop. Then we will be going through Traer Iowa at about mile 50. This will definitely be a stop. Then at about Mile 76 we will pass through Garwin, Iowa, and we will definitely be stopping there, I figure.

The route will be 103.5 miles. I plan on doing a recon, at least partial if not all, this holiday weekend. Stay tuned for a recon report next week sometime.

That's a wrap for this edition of Friday News And Views. Have a great weekend!

Friday News And Views

Me. Twin Six Standard Wool Jersey. Image by Izzy

Wool For Summer: My good friend Dr. Giggles turned me on to how to stay cool in Summer. He said, "Get-cher self a wool jersey, son!" I figured he was mad, or had rolled down too many upstate New York and Vermont hills, or something. But he laid out a very convincing case, and being a member of the Slender Fungus Cycling Association, well.....I took note. 

I got a close out special on a Giro wool jersey, which I employed much of last Summer to great success. Ol' Dr. Giggles wasn't foolin' around. He knew what he was on to. So, I was on the lookout for more "Summer weight" wool jerseys, and I'll tell ya, there are not many. I just wasn't connecting with many of the ones Dr. Giggles was suggesting, and some of the others some were pushing my way didn't really hit me right either. I don't know...... I am a picky son of a gun when it comes to what I wear. Just ask Mrs. Guitar Ted!

So, anyway, I was checking out the Twin Six website one day and hey! I saw this thing called The Standard Wool. I didn't waste any time and ordered one up. Those T-6 guys just make really classy, well fitting stuff, and this was no different. However; they also don't do "mee too" design, so there are a couple of things here that are different. The colored part, (blue in my example here), is actually regular ol' jersey fabric. Which is a different touch, but they took that same idea and used it to not only give color to the three back pockets, but to give those pockets structure. Ever had something heavy-ish in a regular wool jersey pocket before? Well, if you have, you know that whatever it is ends up down around yer butt after a while bouncing around back there. Wool stretches, but the Standard Wool Jersey's pockets do not.

Brilliant!

But there's more! In the image above, you cannot tell, but I am soaking wet from a rain shower I got caught in. Hey, wool keeps you warm when that happens. Pretty awesome. Expensive? Yes. $145.00 expensive, which may scare a lot of folks off, but for how this fabric works in hot weather, it is money well spent for me. Your mileage may vary.

The new Olympus Tough TG-5

Tough Camera:

Most of the ride images and stuff I post on here and RidingGravel.com is all imagery taken with my trusty Olympus Tough TG-3. Well, it hasn't let me down yet, but I may replace it, or more likely, add something else to the camera pool. I saw that Olympus just released a Tough TG-5.

Now, I am not one to just get something because it is the next gen thing. You might have noticed I didn't mention the Tough TG-4. It was a minor change from what I had, and I did not see the value in "upgrading", if that even was an upgrade. However; there are some cool features that this TG-5 has that have given me something to chew on.

Basically, the TG-5 is somewhat similar to what I have. However; it does support RAW files, (which I haven't ever used, but probably should), and from my standpoint, better control layout and ergonomics. The TG-3 is a slippery little devil, and there isn't a lot of purchase on the camera body, which gets a little dicey while riding. (Yes.....I shoot a ton of my images while moving. So, sue me. ) The TG-5 has improved grip areas and the control dials are redesigned as well. This may be something that allows me to zoom in with one hand. That would be nice. They also redesigned the mode dial surround so that it doesn't get knocked out of the setting you select easily, which the TG-3 is really prone to do.

The accessory items available for this camera also look a bit more interesting and refined than they have offered in the past. That is a bit enticing, especially the zoom lens, so I may have to seriously consider that as well. But the main things they kept the same were good things. The "tough" features are all the same. Dust proof, freeze proof, shock resistant, and waterproof. All things I insist on for my carry-along camera on my rides. I don't want to baby sit an expensive camera while I am out riding.

It's $450.00 though, so I won't be just grabbing one right off. I need to assess my needs here, and I do have a functioning TG-3, so it isn't like I have to get a camera. But for some of the features this new one has, and the nicer video spec, I can see where it might prove to be a good upgrade, if I use it for video and RAW files, etc.

 GTDRI UPDATE:

Thanks for the feedback, and due to receiving that, I have come to some decisions on the ride.

First- We will start and end at Broad Street Brewing Company in Reinbeck, Iowa. The ride will start at 6:00am.

Second: We will be flying by the seat of our pants if it rains or is wetter than a Level B might allow us to do. We may truncate the route, or .......who knows? If it gets weird, be prepared to roll with it!

Third: This means that the route will have three possibilities for resupply, bailout, or not. First, at mile 28-ish, we will pass just West of Dysart, Iowa. I figure this will be an optional stop. Then we will be going through Traer Iowa at about mile 50. This will definitely be a stop. Then at about Mile 76 we will pass through Garwin, Iowa, and we will definitely be stopping there, I figure.

The route will be 103.5 miles. I plan on doing a recon, at least partial if not all, this holiday weekend. Stay tuned for a recon report next week sometime.

That's a wrap for this edition of Friday News And Views. Have a great weekend!

Strange Daze

At least I got this cleaned up this weekend

I have to admit that the last few weeks have been pretty packed with activity. I really shouldn't have expected such a high level of sensory input again this weekend, nor was that probably a good thing anyway. "Rest as hard as you train", was something ol' Jeff used to tell me way back when. I guess I had it coming.....

Saturday was odd. I think that is the best way to put things. I was supposed to go and attend a a funeral, and got some vague information on where to go. Drove over an hour, searched, and didn't find anyone around, so I drove back home. There are extenuating circumstances surrounding this that I won't delve into here, but I only bring it up as it set the tone for a very "off kilter" day.

 Basically, the only thing I got done all day was driving for two and a half hours through the beautiful Iowa countryside, cleaning one of my fat bikes up, and plotting the opening 53 miles for the next Trans Iowa event. That and no bicycle ride, with the exception of tooling around on the titanium Mukluk to make sure it is a go when the weather turns later on. Oh yeah, I swapped out the seat post, handle bars, and stem. Both the bars and stem are carbon, and the stem is pretty much a wash, just different. A lighter set up, and eventually I would like to tackle the wheels. Getting those tubeless and lighter will just about hone this rig to its highest potential.

Sunday I just felt in a funk. So I ended up taking a nap for a bit and just hanging out with the family, grocery shopping with Mrs. Guitar Ted, and sitting with the kids a bit on their last day of Summer vacation. So, yeah......a pretty ho-hum weekend in terms of adventure! 

Gaffer's Tape to the rescue!

 Update On The Camera:

After I posted my disappointments regarding the Olympus Tough TG-3 I have, (seen HERE), I had a nice e-mail exchange with my pro camera buddy, Wally. He informed me that the wear issues were par for the course. He also stated that camera companies are making some concessions to "fashion" over function, so a truly armored casing, which is deemed "ugly", I guess, isn't going to cut it in the marketplace at this price point. I think that's probably truth, but I also think that it is lame. I don't blame the  camera companies, but more so our culture, that fashion trumps function in the case of a "tough" camera. Anyway..... It isn't just in terms of cameras. Just look at mountain bikes. We could go on and on......

So, anywho..... Wally suggested I use a "pro tip" and order up some gaffer's tape and put it on the highest wear spots, just like the pro photographers do. I checked in to the tape, and it is super cheap. I got two rolls, and I'll likely never go through it all, but hey! I got gaffer's tape and I can reapply it whenever I need to on the camera. You can see how I used it in the image to the left here.

So far it has worked great. I have bounced the camera around in my bags and it isn't peeling off the tape or causing any issues yet. Bonus- I taped shut the media door, which was the one most likely to pop open on its own, so that issue is gone as well.

The new view is that with gaffer's tape, which weighs next to nothing, I can protect my camera from most of the issues I was having and it now is back in my good graces. I still think it is super lame that a camera like this isn't a bit more functional and less fashionable, but so be it. Obviously, I chose a most obnoxious color to tape it up with in protest, so there! Take that you camera fashionistas!

 

Strange Daze

At least I got this cleaned up this weekend

I have to admit that the last few weeks have been pretty packed with activity. I really shouldn't have expected such a high level of sensory input again this weekend, nor was that probably a good thing anyway. "Rest as hard as you train", was something ol' Jeff used to tell me way back when. I guess I had it coming.....

Saturday was odd. I think that is the best way to put things. I was supposed to go and attend a a funeral, and got some vague information on where to go. Drove over an hour, searched, and didn't find anyone around, so I drove back home. There are extenuating circumstances surrounding this that I won't delve into here, but I only bring it up as it set the tone for a very "off kilter" day.

 Basically, the only thing I got done all day was driving for two and a half hours through the beautiful Iowa countryside, cleaning one of my fat bikes up, and plotting the opening 53 miles for the next Trans Iowa event. That and no bicycle ride, with the exception of tooling around on the titanium Mukluk to make sure it is a go when the weather turns later on. Oh yeah, I swapped out the seat post, handle bars, and stem. Both the bars and stem are carbon, and the stem is pretty much a wash, just different. A lighter set up, and eventually I would like to tackle the wheels. Getting those tubeless and lighter will just about hone this rig to its highest potential.

Sunday I just felt in a funk. So I ended up taking a nap for a bit and just hanging out with the family, grocery shopping with Mrs. Guitar Ted, and sitting with the kids a bit on their last day of Summer vacation. So, yeah......a pretty ho-hum weekend in terms of adventure! 

Gaffer's Tape to the rescue!

 Update On The Camera:

After I posted my disappointments regarding the Olympus Tough TG-3 I have, (seen HERE), I had a nice e-mail exchange with my pro camera buddy, Wally. He informed me that the wear issues were par for the course. He also stated that camera companies are making some concessions to "fashion" over function, so a truly armored casing, which is deemed "ugly", I guess, isn't going to cut it in the marketplace at this price point. I think that's probably truth, but I also think that it is lame. I don't blame the  camera companies, but more so our culture, that fashion trumps function in the case of a "tough" camera. Anyway..... It isn't just in terms of cameras. Just look at mountain bikes. We could go on and on......

So, anywho..... Wally suggested I use a "pro tip" and order up some gaffer's tape and put it on the highest wear spots, just like the pro photographers do. I checked in to the tape, and it is super cheap. I got two rolls, and I'll likely never go through it all, but hey! I got gaffer's tape and I can reapply it whenever I need to on the camera. You can see how I used it in the image to the left here.

So far it has worked great. I have bounced the camera around in my bags and it isn't peeling off the tape or causing any issues yet. Bonus- I taped shut the media door, which was the one most likely to pop open on its own, so that issue is gone as well.

The new view is that with gaffer's tape, which weighs next to nothing, I can protect my camera from most of the issues I was having and it now is back in my good graces. I still think it is super lame that a camera like this isn't a bit more functional and less fashionable, but so be it. Obviously, I chose a most obnoxious color to tape it up with in protest, so there! Take that you camera fashionistas!

 

The Replacement: One Year With The Oly TG-3

At the 2014 Gents Race, I lost the handle on my ancient Fuji point and shoot, dropped it at about 15mph on to pavement, and it lost its battery. Thus began the search for a replacement camera, (thus the title of these articles I have posted concerning this), and now it is time for a review of the past year with the Olympus Tough TG-3. My last update on this camera was here, back in September of '14.

This article won't be so much about camera geekery. That's because I don't even know how to run all the stuff on this thing.....yet. I've no need to, but since this camera can do movies, RAW, and can be run manually, I probably will delve into these things, someday. To be perfectly honest, I didn't buy this camera because it could do those things, I bought it because it has decent image quality and you were supposedly supposed to be able to treat it like a farm animal and have it survive. I didn't want a camera I had to worry about in my jersey pocket, bouncing around in my top tube bag, or be concerned about dust, snow, and rain. The price wasn't astronomical, and the physical size of the camera was right for me. So, now with that out of the way, here's how I used it most often.

The Olympus Tough TG-3 after one year of heavy use. 

I carry this camera along with me, on average, about five days a week. It goes into frame bags, messenger bags, top tube bags, my pockets in jackets and pants, and sometimes in hydration packs. I use it to take images from my bicycle, while on  bicycle rides, but standing, or just at work or for recreational activities. I almost always shoot Auto mode, but I have used the Scene modes and the Microscope Mode as well. As far as imagery, I have been pleased and it is easy to turn on, (when you are not riding), the auto focus is maybe a bit slow, but adequate, and I have no issues at all, really, with images I get out of the camera.

As a camera to shoot with while riding, it is a bit heavy, weight-wise. The "On" button is recessed so that, while wearing gloves, it is nigh unto impossible to get the camera up and running 100% of the time. I've missed shots because of this. That "On" button is at a weird angle too, which doesn't help, but without gloves, it can be managed. One other thing to note- The rotating selector wheel on the back of the camera is easily knocked out of its selection, so when you grab the camera out of the bag, it could be set between "Auto" and "Microscope", for instance. The camera will still get your image, but it takes six or so consecutive shots at a lower resolution and file size. Annoying at best and maddening at worst. This happens ALL the time. I've gotten to looking at the dial before I shoot when there is time to. Too bad the detents weren't a little more positive on that dial which would help prevent this.

The opposing locks on the battery/SD card door and the USB port doors can become unlocked without you doing anything.

One other odd, maddening thing that happens all the time on my TG-3 is how the locked doors for the battery/SD card door and the USB/Media port door come unlocked and the doors are flopping around, open, in my bag sometimes. The camera is dust/water proof, but it isn't so much if those locks become unlocked at random times. It's weird that they do this, because they have to be slid in opposing directions on each of two sliders for each door before you can open them. I found that by avoiding having the camera sitting with its weight on either door on harder surfaces, like a top tube bag, will alleviate this issue, but having to do that is a hassle, and to my mind, contrary to the way this camera is purposed. I have some arrows on the two sliding releases on one of the doors shown above.

High wear areas concern me on the TG-3

Another concern I have is how the plastic body parts are showing high wear in corners and along edges. I have to think that at some point this will compromise the integrity of the TG-3 and adversely affect its lifespan or performance, or both. Yes- I probably could buy a protective case for this. However; I find this offensive, in that this camera is supposed to be a knock-about camera and putting something around it will only add to its bulk and weight. Both things I am loathe to do.

Finally, the LCD on the back of the camera is not anything specially rated for abuse, as far as I can tell. It has become all but useless in bright sunshine due to all the abrasions it has accumulated over the course of being along for the rides this past year. You'd think this might be someplace a wise engineer might have done something to give the TG-3 a little bit something different that would actually, you know, be tough. I guess that's too much to ask for.

Verdict: After a year of heavy use, doing what the camera was designed to do, I cannot fault the features that are related to the image taking here. However; the "Tough" part of the TG-3 is lacking, in my view. I feel that in another year, this camera will be done for, not because the feature set for image taking will have failed, but because the tough part will have failed. The doors need to be better secured, so that the locks cannot randomly come undone, allowing the elements a chance to get inside. The case needs to be beefed up in the high wear areas, like the corners and edges, right out of the box, so the body won't wear through in a short period of time. Also, there has to be a better, tougher LCD screen treatment or material that will withstand scratching and abrasive environments. Things this camera is supposed to be good at dealing with.

These cameras go for about $350.00 now, which is okay, but I would not buy this again. There has to be a better way to go, and unless Olympus addresses the concerns I have about this camera, I won't recommend it to anyone I know that actually uses cameras during adventures. Heck- one episode of those doors working themselves open and a bit of water? Poof! $350.00 down the tubes. No thanks.

I'll be starting another replacement search pronto........

The Replacement: One Year With The Oly TG-3

At the 2014 Gents Race, I lost the handle on my ancient Fuji point and shoot, dropped it at about 15mph on to pavement, and it lost its battery. Thus began the search for a replacement camera, (thus the title of these articles I have posted concerning this), and now it is time for a review of the past year with the Olympus Tough TG-3. My last update on this camera was here, back in September of '14.

This article won't be so much about camera geekery. That's because I don't even know how to run all the stuff on this thing.....yet. I've no need to, but since this camera can do movies, RAW, and can be run manually, I probably will delve into these things, someday. To be perfectly honest, I didn't buy this camera because it could do those things, I bought it because it has decent image quality and you were supposedly supposed to be able to treat it like a farm animal and have it survive. I didn't want a camera I had to worry about in my jersey pocket, bouncing around in my top tube bag, or be concerned about dust, snow, and rain. The price wasn't astronomical, and the physical size of the camera was right for me. So, now with that out of the way, here's how I used it most often.

The Olympus Tough TG-3 after one year of heavy use. 

I carry this camera along with me, on average, about five days a week. It goes into frame bags, messenger bags, top tube bags, my pockets in jackets and pants, and sometimes in hydration packs. I use it to take images from my bicycle, while on  bicycle rides, but standing, or just at work or for recreational activities. I almost always shoot Auto mode, but I have used the Scene modes and the Microscope Mode as well. As far as imagery, I have been pleased and it is easy to turn on, (when you are not riding), the auto focus is maybe a bit slow, but adequate, and I have no issues at all, really, with images I get out of the camera.

As a camera to shoot with while riding, it is a bit heavy, weight-wise. The "On" button is recessed so that, while wearing gloves, it is nigh unto impossible to get the camera up and running 100% of the time. I've missed shots because of this. That "On" button is at a weird angle too, which doesn't help, but without gloves, it can be managed. One other thing to note- The rotating selector wheel on the back of the camera is easily knocked out of its selection, so when you grab the camera out of the bag, it could be set between "Auto" and "Microscope", for instance. The camera will still get your image, but it takes six or so consecutive shots at a lower resolution and file size. Annoying at best and maddening at worst. This happens ALL the time. I've gotten to looking at the dial before I shoot when there is time to. Too bad the detents weren't a little more positive on that dial which would help prevent this.

The opposing locks on the battery/SD card door and the USB port doors can become unlocked without you doing anything.

One other odd, maddening thing that happens all the time on my TG-3 is how the locked doors for the battery/SD card door and the USB/Media port door come unlocked and the doors are flopping around, open, in my bag sometimes. The camera is dust/water proof, but it isn't so much if those locks become unlocked at random times. It's weird that they do this, because they have to be slid in opposing directions on each of two sliders for each door before you can open them. I found that by avoiding having the camera sitting with its weight on either door on harder surfaces, like a top tube bag, will alleviate this issue, but having to do that is a hassle, and to my mind, contrary to the way this camera is purposed. I have some arrows on the two sliding releases on one of the doors shown above.

High wear areas concern me on the TG-3

Another concern I have is how the plastic body parts are showing high wear in corners and along edges. I have to think that at some point this will compromise the integrity of the TG-3 and adversely affect its lifespan or performance, or both. Yes- I probably could buy a protective case for this. However; I find this offensive, in that this camera is supposed to be a knock-about camera and putting something around it will only add to its bulk and weight. Both things I am loathe to do.

Finally, the LCD on the back of the camera is not anything specially rated for abuse, as far as I can tell. It has become all but useless in bright sunshine due to all the abrasions it has accumulated over the course of being along for the rides this past year. You'd think this might be someplace a wise engineer might have done something to give the TG-3 a little bit something different that would actually, you know, be tough. I guess that's too much to ask for.

Verdict: After a year of heavy use, doing what the camera was designed to do, I cannot fault the features that are related to the image taking here. However; the "Tough" part of the TG-3 is lacking, in my view. I feel that in another year, this camera will be done for, not because the feature set for image taking will have failed, but because the tough part will have failed. The doors need to be better secured, so that the locks cannot randomly come undone, allowing the elements a chance to get inside. The case needs to be beefed up in the high wear areas, like the corners and edges, right out of the box, so the body won't wear through in a short period of time. Also, there has to be a better, tougher LCD screen treatment or material that will withstand scratching and abrasive environments. Things this camera is supposed to be good at dealing with.

These cameras go for about $350.00 now, which is okay, but I would not buy this again. There has to be a better way to go, and unless Olympus addresses the concerns I have about this camera, I won't recommend it to anyone I know that actually uses cameras during adventures. Heck- one episode of those doors working themselves open and a bit of water? Poof! $350.00 down the tubes. No thanks.

I'll be starting another replacement search pronto........

The Replacement: Update- Part 3

Olympus Tough TG3

It's been awhile now and I thought I would tell you all how the Olympus Tough TG3 is doing with me. The last post on this camera was here.

Now I have to confess that I messed up, (I am pretty sure I did), when I first got the camera. I was ill at the time, and my family was heading to Kansas City for my wife's Master's Degree graduation from college. I have a son who has a Nikon point and shoot, which he got this Summer as well. In the maelstrom of USB cords we have and with the unfamiliarity of the cameras at hand, I am pretty sure he took the Olympus cord and I had his Nikon one. Unfortunately, they are so similar you couldn't tell them apart. No one's fault, just a weird circumstance.

Anyway, I tried plugging in what I was sure was my USB cord and it wasn't. It didn't work, first of all, and I am almost 100% sure I messed up the USB interface by doing that. Anyway, this led to a couple weeks of frustration as I couldn't load images into the computer, and then I couldn't charge the battery after a while, (also via the same USB port), so I was looking for a solution everywhere!

The solution to the problem was finally reached when I got a card reader and a separate, wall mount charger. I also picked up a spare battery while I was at it. So, the end result is that I can download images and charge the battery. Everything else about the camera is spot on.

The purpose for this camera was to be at hand at a moments notice for on the bike shots or quick composed shots while on a ride. I haven't delved too much into the menus or settings. I haven't taken any movies yet. I just am getting acquainted with the on the bike setting and that is about how I will be doing 90% of my image taking with this tool. So it is "over qualified" for the job, but it has the "tough" features necessary for my sort of cycling.

Since this is the case, a one handed operation is paramount. I must be able to fire it up and shoot one handed. Thankfully, the TG3 is doing a great job of being "that" camera. However; I have been playing with zooming in while riding, which you can also accomplish one handed. It helps frame shots better and gets rid of stuff I'd have to crop later. I'm still getting used to that part.

I was a bit concerned that the LCD screen and the glass protecting the lense would get fouled up in my jersey pocket on rides or in my Bike Bag Dude Chaff bags. Thankfully, they have not shown any wear yet. I have had the covering for the lens fog over, but a quick swipe of the cycling glove clears that right up. The condensation from my body heat on the LCD screen hasn't caused any issues either, and of course, the camera is water proof to 50 feet, so I didn't expect any issues there. 

So far so good. Here are a few sample images taken with the Olympus Tough TG3 from my rides.

Okay, so there is a suite of images I've taken so far, almost all on Auto, and with a bit of post processing. I usually enhance color a tad, boost contrast, and "backlight" everything, but not always.

I'll be getting into more depth with regard to this camera's features soon, and after I get used to a few things, I'll report back. My grade so far is "A" for this camera, and it is doing everything I ask of it so far.

Note: I purchased this Olympus camera and am not being paid, nor bribed to talk about it here. These are my opinions and thoughts only.

The Replacement: Update- Part 3

Olympus Tough TG3

It's been awhile now and I thought I would tell you all how the Olympus Tough TG3 is doing with me. The last post on this camera was here.

Now I have to confess that I messed up, (I am pretty sure I did), when I first got the camera. I was ill at the time, and my family was heading to Kansas City for my wife's Master's Degree graduation from college. I have a son who has a Nikon point and shoot, which he got this Summer as well. In the maelstrom of USB cords we have and with the unfamiliarity of the cameras at hand, I am pretty sure he took the Olympus cord and I had his Nikon one. Unfortunately, they are so similar you couldn't tell them apart. No one's fault, just a weird circumstance.

Anyway, I tried plugging in what I was sure was my USB cord and it wasn't. It didn't work, first of all, and I am almost 100% sure I messed up the USB interface by doing that. Anyway, this led to a couple weeks of frustration as I couldn't load images into the computer, and then I couldn't charge the battery after a while, (also via the same USB port), so I was looking for a solution everywhere!

The solution to the problem was finally reached when I got a card reader and a separate, wall mount charger. I also picked up a spare battery while I was at it. So, the end result is that I can download images and charge the battery. Everything else about the camera is spot on.

The purpose for this camera was to be at hand at a moments notice for on the bike shots or quick composed shots while on a ride. I haven't delved too much into the menus or settings. I haven't taken any movies yet. I just am getting acquainted with the on the bike setting and that is about how I will be doing 90% of my image taking with this tool. So it is "over qualified" for the job, but it has the "tough" features necessary for my sort of cycling.

Since this is the case, a one handed operation is paramount. I must be able to fire it up and shoot one handed. Thankfully, the TG3 is doing a great job of being "that" camera. However; I have been playing with zooming in while riding, which you can also accomplish one handed. It helps frame shots better and gets rid of stuff I'd have to crop later. I'm still getting used to that part.

I was a bit concerned that the LCD screen and the glass protecting the lense would get fouled up in my jersey pocket on rides or in my Bike Bag Dude Chaff bags. Thankfully, they have not shown any wear yet. I have had the covering for the lens fog over, but a quick swipe of the cycling glove clears that right up. The condensation from my body heat on the LCD screen hasn't caused any issues either, and of course, the camera is water proof to 50 feet, so I didn't expect any issues there. 

So far so good. Here are a few sample images taken with the Olympus Tough TG3 from my rides.

Okay, so there is a suite of images I've taken so far, almost all on Auto, and with a bit of post processing. I usually enhance color a tad, boost contrast, and "backlight" everything, but not always.

I'll be getting into more depth with regard to this camera's features soon, and after I get used to a few things, I'll report back. My grade so far is "A" for this camera, and it is doing everything I ask of it so far.

Note: I purchased this Olympus camera and am not being paid, nor bribed to talk about it here. These are my opinions and thoughts only.

The Lost Images

From a recent night ride

The replacement camera had a problem. My computer wouldn't recognize it when I plugged it into the USB port. It was as if I hadn't plugged anything in at all, which is weird since the computer recognizes everything else that I have that I plug into the USB ports on the CPU.

Well, having spent a sizable sum, (for me), on this new camera, to say that I was alarmed was a gross understatement. I tried everything, from contacting Olympus support to reaching out to friends via social media. Nothing I could research or find was helping at all.

I had a revelation on one point though the other day. My old, ancient card reader was recognized by the computer, but I couldn't communicate with it to download anything. Then I realized- new card technology + old card reader = kaput. New card reader time!

Well, after I got that here, plugged in the SD card, and plugged into the computer? BAM! Instantly worked as if nothing was wrong. Downloaded images, and all is good. Now.....what the heck is going on with the camera when I plug it in? I think it has a bad cable or a bad USB port. Since I cannot get another cable for it without dinking around on the net to find one, I think I will just live with using the card reader for the time being.

Humid August gravel riding.

Petrie Road's B Maintenance Level section.

So, it would appear that I have at least a workable solution to the camera downloading situation for the short term, at least. Now I will have to spend some time getting to know this beast and working up some more good imagery. Stay tuned......