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!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Paris Ancaster

 Paris Ancaster 2025 To Be UCI World Gravel Champ Qualifier;

Mark your calendars for April 27th, 2025 if you want to engage in the long-running Paris Ancaster event. Long associated with Spring Classic type road racing, the vent now identifies as a "gravel event".  

The top 25% finishers of each age group category in the "UCI distance" will achieve qualification to the UCI World Gravel Championships which the press release said will be in Nice, France in 2025. 

The event will have 100K, 75K, and 45K distances. You can find out more and register for the event by visiting www.parisancaster.com

Thanks to the media contact at Paris Ancaster for the event information.

Wahoo Elemnt ACE Is Real!:

Well, earlier this week you may have caught my post about the new Wahoo Elemnt ACE GPS device. If you missed that, you can click the link to read my take on the thing. 

Now, I know how these press release things work out and the companies that want reviews to drop right at product launch will send product out ahead of time to get into reviewer's hands to enable this "blitz" of information on the designated day. This is why you see "Product X" news across several online sites and reviews on sites and YouTube all on the same day. 

So, it was obvious to me that I'd find out a LOT more about the Elemnt ACE by checking out DC Rainmaker's review on the launch day, because, well.....you just don't launch an electronic cycling device without a DC Rainmaker review, that's why. You can check out the video I watched HERE. 

In that video I learned what I thought I would have guessed to be true. The Wahoo Elemnt ACE isn't 100% fully functional yet. I figured as much because when I got the Elemnt ROAM it wasn't working as well as it does now with the updated software that Wahoo sends out periodically for its devices, like any electronic computer device we use. 

So, while the Element ACE is 'real', it isn't really ready to go at 100% functionality yet. Seems about par for the course these days with electronic cycling computers. I'll stick with my Elemnt ROAM for the foreseeable future. And to boot, I don't need or want such a complicated device. remember when we rode with a six function computer and were happy? Maybe we need to reverse ship....

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Salsa Cycles Shows New Cutthroat Color:

On Tuesday of this past week Salsa Cycles unveiled a new  color for their Cutthroat C model. The color is called "Tangerine", which is an orange to creamy white fade job. 

No big deal there, right? 

I did notice the "C" in the name for the first time which got me curious. Fortunately, Salsa has an archive of older models that goes back several years. I found that the first mention of "Cutthroat C" was in 2021. 

Now, this is all speculation on my part, but why add a "C" to the model name without a corresponding model different than the "C" model? Because if "C" stands for "carbon" I think most people looking at this bike understand it is made from carbon fiber. Unless......

Again - purely speculatory here - but what if Salsa had intended there to be an alloy Cutthroat, which would be less expensive, and did not come out with it because of the mess that the pandemic caused with supply chains and inventory levels? Problems still in play today. 

Hmmm..... Imagine, if you will, an alloy Cutthroat with Microshift 10 speed 1X gearing for a LOT less than a Cutthroat C. Maybe I'm crazy here. 

Image courtesy of FAIR Drop

FAIR Drop Offers Offset For Redshift Posts:

In talking with my friend, MG, about the Redshift ShockStop Seat Posts, he mentioned that he'd really like to try one, but any rearward offset post does not work for him. He actually prefers a very forward  offset. 

Well, not that I am trying to sell MG on anything, but he could make a Redshift post work for him now. Thanks to FAIR Drop, a Swiss company, who makes cradles to work with some dropper posts and Redshift's posts which offers a 27mm forward or rearward offset. 

The Redshift compatible version, shown in the image here in this post, is approximately $135.00 USD plus shipping. Kind of spendy, but it might be worth it if you like a Redshift post but cannot stand the  rearward offset, or if you want forward offset and cannot get that. A link to the Redshift compatible parts is HERE. 

I would be interested in this for my Honeman Flyer, as I could get forward offset with that bikes super-slack 70° seat tube angle and also be able to use a Redshift post. It would be definitely something I'd consider for a MTB with a dropper post. 

Lincoln Turkey Day Ride '24: Image by Rob Evans

A Turkey Day Tradition:

Of course, "turkey day" rides on mountain bikes, or whatever bikes, has been a thing for decades. (See "Appetite Seminar" as an example) So, when Rob from Nebraska saw my Turkey Burn ride reports here he sent in a few shots of their traditional Turkey Day Ride which has been going on for 20 years. 

Rob also did a nice video of the ride with a great historical bit at the beginning. It is on You Tube and you can watch it HERE if you want to see what Lincoln, Nebraska single track is like. (Note: It is super-similar to what we have here in my neck of the woods) Note - You have to check out the drop-in a guy does on a hand cycle!

Hey, I never said I had a corner on this idea! Do you have a turkey day riding tradition? Let me know in the comments if you do, or know of a ride for Thanksgiving. 

And speaking of rides on Thanksgiving......
 

Guitar Ted Productions makes for good bathroom reading!

Final Virtual Turkey Burn Posts Tomorrow, Sunday & Monday:

I hope that you have been able to catch the reports from the Virtual Turkey Burn Ride Challenge over the course of this week. The response to the rides has been very positive and I am eternally grateful to those who took part in the rides and sent in reports. 

I just wanted to remind everyone that the last five reports I received are going up here on the blog tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday. Look for Scott, and Ari on Saturday, and Steve and Warren on Sunday, and shiggy on Monday to give you some inspiration to ride cold weather in their reports. After those five go up that will conclude the reportage for this year. 

Keep in mind also that December is a big content time for the blog, so keep scrolling the page down to make sure you do not miss anything. I have quarterly reviews, bike reviews, and more coming along the rest of the month until the blog kicks off another New Year. 

That's a wrap on the week! Get out and ride those bicycles!

Friday News And Views

Paris to Ancaster To Celebrate 30 Years:

Many events in cycling have some semblance to the current gravel craze, and preceded the "Modern Era" of gravel by several years. The Flint Hills Death Ride, which was viewed as a mountain bike event by many people in the 1990's, is but one example of this.

Another prototypical cycling event that fits this theme is Paris to Ancaster. This Canadian cycling event was fashioned to mimic the Paris-Roubaix, the famous Pro road event that takes in several cobbled sections of French rural roads. 

While it never was billed as a "gravel" event, the Paris to Ancaster could fit that category in today's view. Regardless, after 30 years, it is pretty crazy to think that almost no US cycling media even mentions the event at all. Just another example of how media and the perceptions it foments amongst the cycling cognoscenti is not always a reliable measure of reality. 

For more on this April 28th, 2024 event, check out this LINK. 

Image courtesy of Gravel Earth Series

Gravel Earth Series: Truly A "World Series":

News broke last week about the new schedule of events for the Gravel Earth Series. The series started out as a mostly European gravel series of events, but that was not the end-vision for the organization. From their website;

"The Gravel Earth Series was born with the aim of driving Gravel to the highest standards.

Respect for the environment, love for the territory and values with a positive impact are the result of the creation of the first Gravel earth."

Comments; Ironic that the UCI Gravel World Series is not as comprehensive and inclusive as this series strives to be. But then, they have very different aims. 

Of course, since the cradle of "gravel" racing is in the USA, it hasn't gone unnoticed that the US gets only two events while Europe has several. Now, that may change in the future, but I find it rather curious that two organizations are making gravel events out to be Euro-centric, whether by design or omission, I don't know. 

The little trailer video on the site shows a lot of exotic locales and not a ton of what I would call "gravel" but that ship has sailed in terms of "what is gravel" a long time ago now. People use the term more in the vein of a "style" of an event than to help you determine what surface the event is on. 

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Gravel Earth series can go HERE for details. 

 

GCN+ Is Dead- Cycling Coverage To Continue On Warner Bros Max:

While many cycling fans have bemoaned the loss of cycling coverage from GCN+ news came out last week that the Warner Bros owned HBO Max will carry cycling racing and analysis as an add-on package to its sports coverage. The asking price for the add-on is reportedly $9.95 and, of course, whatever the level of Max you want to have in the first place. The report I saw mentioned that prices start at $9.99/month. 

Comments: I've got no horse in this race, because I don't stream cycling events. For my money, I'd rather be riding than watching, and many times watching a cycling event is like watching golf. Your mileage may vary there.

That all said, many that do care seem put out by the fact that GCN+ was only cycling and could be listened to in native tongues of broadcasters worldwide. Now you have to have a package of sports that you may not want, listen to "experts" from other fields try to dissect cycling events, and maybe not every race gets any coverage. I don't know, but it all sounds like a step backward from where things were with GCN+. 

Flint Hills Gravel- Old School Gravel Still Exists:

The Flint Hills Gravel event will take place next year on April 13th in Americus, Kansas, which is a small village just North of Emporia, Kansas. 

This event is right outta my playbook for Trans Iowa: A new course every year, cue sheet navigation, you don't know the course till you get there. I like all of that. Plus the field is limited to 120 riders (for the longest distance of 120 miles.) There are also 80-ish and 35 mile course options with GPX files for those who want the "modern experience".

Registration is open and can be found HERE. 

Comments: I love this sort of an event where the course is navigated by cue sheets and you don't have a bunch of chances for supporters to be seen out on course because the GPX files allow for that. You get a more "real" experience of being "out there", if that's what trips your trigger. That's my cup of tea, but I get that some folks would find cruising in a bigger group along roads easily navigated by the "beep" of a GPS device. 

I'd dearly love to go ride this event because I've been in those hills and it is awesome to ride there. But my job isn't conducive to doing weekend events anymore so, alas! I won't be able to go. But you should.

That's a wrap on the second to last FN&V of the year! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions and I hope you all have a safe and happy Holiday weekend! 

Unapologetic

The start of things to come. T.I.V1, 2005 (Image by Dave Kerkove)

There are stories about riding back roads and....dare I say the word...gravel roads, popping up a lot these days. I just read this great piece relating an experience in California recently. The "Hopper Series" has been around for 17 years or so, (according to what I can read here), which is awesome. Those "all-roaders" are out there all over the place, and have been for years in their small enclaves. Take Paris Ancaster, as an example, which has happened in Canada every year for 22 years running. There really isn't anything new here about the adventurous side of cycling, on whatever kind of bicycle you want to talk about here.

However; there was something that happened back ten years ago or so that was like these older events, but was different too. There was that adventure thing, for sure, that was really part of it, but there was another thing. I feel it was happening at a time when many at a grassroots level were starting to fall away from the hope that they had wrapped up in watching racing at the Pro levels. There had already been a great deal of doping scandals by 2005, and the doubts about a certain Texan were on the rise as well. There was a tiredness with short lap racing, no matter how long the events took to complete, and the fees for doing those things were outrageous.

Something about this and the way it is done tripped a trigger. Image by Waly Kilburg

I don't know why, for certain, but when Jeff Kerkove and I announced Trans Iowa in late 2004, something happened out there, and a lot of folks followed that "something". We called it "gravel grinding" because that was the term that was given to us for it, ironically by road cyclists, the very same sort who today disparage anything attached to gravel grinders or the equipment used for it. Well, maybe not so much by the cyclists themselves, but certainly by the pundits, the "writers of note", who never miss the chance to diss gravel road riding whenever this subject comes up.

Hey, that's fine, ya know, because if something ruffles some feathers, or causes the established media and industry wonks to disparage it, well, there must be something to it that is real. Otherwise, why would they bother to mention it at all? Maybe they just need to rouse the rabble to accumulate more hits to satisfy the advertisers. "Whatevs", as one writer would say........

Yeah, that's what many say. In the face of literally thousands of riders that take to the start line of events like Barry-Roubaix, the Dirty Kanza 200, and the Almanzo 100, all events that draw riders from all corners of the nation, and even internationally. That's what the pundits say in the face of people attending over 200 unique events every year held on gravel roads and dirt roads across North America. But ya know..........whatevs, right? 

That's okay though, 'cause it isn't like we are looking for validation from anyone to #unlearnpavement, have some fun on dirt roads, or gravel grind. There will be those that thumb their noses at us, but I say "Come on in, the water's fine!" We're just riding bicycles in a way that is fun, challenging, and adventurous. We call it gravel grinding, and dirt road riding, and "all-road", but we are not going to apologize for the names and we aren't going away.

Unapologetic

The start of things to come. T.I.V1, 2005 (Image by Dave Kerkove)

There are stories about riding back roads and....dare I say the word...gravel roads, popping up a lot these days. I just read this great piece relating an experience in California recently. The "Hopper Series" has been around for 17 years or so, (according to what I can read here), which is awesome. Those "all-roaders" are out there all over the place, and have been for years in their small enclaves. Take Paris Ancaster, as an example, which has happened in Canada every year for 22 years running. There really isn't anything new here about the adventurous side of cycling, on whatever kind of bicycle you want to talk about here.

However; there was something that happened back ten years ago or so that was like these older events, but was different too. There was that adventure thing, for sure, that was really part of it, but there was another thing. I feel it was happening at a time when many at a grassroots level were starting to fall away from the hope that they had wrapped up in watching racing at the Pro levels. There had already been a great deal of doping scandals by 2005, and the doubts about a certain Texan were on the rise as well. There was a tiredness with short lap racing, no matter how long the events took to complete, and the fees for doing those things were outrageous.

Something about this and the way it is done tripped a trigger. Image by Waly Kilburg

I don't know why, for certain, but when Jeff Kerkove and I announced Trans Iowa in late 2004, something happened out there, and a lot of folks followed that "something". We called it "gravel grinding" because that was the term that was given to us for it, ironically by road cyclists, the very same sort who today disparage anything attached to gravel grinders or the equipment used for it. Well, maybe not so much by the cyclists themselves, but certainly by the pundits, the "writers of note", who never miss the chance to diss gravel road riding whenever this subject comes up.

Hey, that's fine, ya know, because if something ruffles some feathers, or causes the established media and industry wonks to disparage it, well, there must be something to it that is real. Otherwise, why would they bother to mention it at all? Maybe they just need to rouse the rabble to accumulate more hits to satisfy the advertisers. "Whatevs", as one writer would say........

Yeah, that's what many say. In the face of literally thousands of riders that take to the start line of events like Barry-Roubaix, the Dirty Kanza 200, and the Almanzo 100, all events that draw riders from all corners of the nation, and even internationally. That's what the pundits say in the face of people attending over 200 unique events every year held on gravel roads and dirt roads across North America. But ya know..........whatevs, right? 

That's okay though, 'cause it isn't like we are looking for validation from anyone to #unlearnpavement, have some fun on dirt roads, or gravel grind. There will be those that thumb their noses at us, but I say "Come on in, the water's fine!" We're just riding bicycles in a way that is fun, challenging, and adventurous. We call it gravel grinding, and dirt road riding, and "all-road", but we are not going to apologize for the names and we aren't going away.