Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Vittoria Tire

 Vittoria Offers New 42mm Size In Road Tire Range:

News came out on Tuesday of a new addition to the Ride Armor tire range from Vittoria. This is a road tire range with copious amounts of puncture protection and sidewall protection, yet is supposedly lightweight and rides nicely.  

The range now includes a 42mm wide tire. The tire is tubeless ready.  Claimed weight for the 700 x 42mm tire is 480 gm. The Ride Armor tires cost $89.99 each. 

See the range on Vittoria's site HERE.  

Comments: I'm actually interested in this tire for my Twin Six fixed gear Standard Rando. I think it is a very interesting product from an application standpoint as well. There are a lot of places where a 42mm road tire is all you would ever need. Gravel, as long as it isn't super loose and chunky, would be fioe with a tire like this. Smooth dirt roads, double track, pathways, and on and on. This tire has a weight and protection qualities which would recommend it for  much of what we call "gravel" these days. 

Of course, I haven't ridden it, and perhaps this all goes out the window because it is a tire which has a terrible ride quality. I don't know. But it is intriguing. Coupled with the current trends for "endurance road bikes" and I could easily see those bikes taking over much of the "gravel market" since "gravel" is becoming more "drop bar mountain bike" than it has been.  

Confused yet? The marketing departments apologize and will promise to work harder at blurring lines and confusing you in the future. And then there is this......

Image courtesy of Pirelli Tires

Pirelli Introduces New Cinturato Evo Tire Sizes:

Not to be outdone by Vittoria, Pirelli also added new, wider Evo road tires to their Cinturato range. Pirelli now has 700 x 40mm, 45mm, 50mm, and 55mm (!!!) widths out in this range. 

These tires also feature new rubber compounds and Pirelli's Techwall protection layers. You can check out the range on Pirelli's site HERE.  

Comments: Fifty-five millimeter road tires? Well, maybe these are really touring tires with a new category name. Back in the day, there were some pretty beefy touring tires out there like the Avocet and Continental examples from the 1990's. 

But again, with road endurance bikes getting wider clearances, and maybe some gravel bike purchasers having slick-tire regrets, these tires maybe have a place out there. I just find this entire segment of tires fascinating and I look forward to seeing how the bicycle brands and consumers use these in the future.  

Image courtesy of Ergon

Ergon Updates Grip Model Ranges:

Ergon announced on Tuesday that it has retired the GA2 and GA3 grips and have replaced them with the new GMA and GMS grip models. 

The GMA is the grip which is rounder, but has varying shaping to it to better fit the hand. This and the new GMS have what Ergon is calling "Smart Texture Rhythm Surface". It is a "deliberately engineered pattern that varies the density of the surface breaks across the grip to deliver zone specific damping." Ergon claims this lends the rider better vibration absorption and comfort for long rides and technical terrain.  

The CMS carries on with the mini-wing platform and a tweaked grip shape with a new "thumb saddle" and outer grip stop. All CMA and CMS grips come in multiple color options so you can best address your bike's color scheme. 

Hit the links for each model above to see more details. 

Salsa Cycles Beargrease Eagle 70 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Salsa Cycles New Beargrease Fat Bikes & 45NRTH Carbon Fat Bike Rims Announced:

Salsa Cycles revamped their Beargrease fat bike to have a different, slacker, trail oriented geometry including a steeper seat tube. The range starts with the aluminum framed Eagle 70 (shown) and goes carbon frame after this up to the 6K range topping Beargrease C GX AXS. Besides the five model range there is also a frame set offered for 2K. 

More details and images can be seen at Salsa Cycles website HERE.  

Image courtesy of 45NRTH

The new 45NRTH Levitas carbon fat bike rims, which comes on the new range topping Beargrease model only, is offered in 27.5" and 26" versions. Thirty-two spoke holes only here. The 27.5"er is 76mm internal/83mm external width while the 26 inch version is 84mm internal/91mm external width. 

• 32-hole drill pattern for strong wheel builds
• Optimized relationship between tire volume and rim width for consistent contact patch and tire profile
• 35mm rim depth
• Recommended single layer of 30mm rim tape
• Recommended valve length 65mm (or longer)
• Fits 4-5" wide tires
• Max inflation 30 psi
• Tested to ASTM Category 3, suggested weight limit of 300 lbs
• MSRP: $599.00 (USD)

Image courtesy of Lezyne

Lezyne E Drive Electric Pump Debuts:

Those mini-electric compressors you may have seen are becoming more ubiquitous within our cycling community. Heck, even N.Y. Roll bailed me out with his little electric pump a week or so ago now. 

Lezyne, whose accessories I have used and have recommended for years, now offer their version of one of these pumps. It has some interesting features like a cooling fan, a removable/replaceable battery, and it is compatible with Presta, Schrader, and Clik valves. 

Lezyne claims the battery will last long enough to fully inflate six tires or last long enough to do 15-20 pre-ride top-offs.  The battery is USB C standard rechargeable. The pump will achieve a pressure of 120psi, likely high enough for most any bicycle tire most of us have. 

The price is #149.99. More images and details can be found at Lezyne's page for the E Drive HERE.  

Image courtesy of Dahon

Dahon Introduces Mariner XL Folding Bike For Bigger, Taller Riders:

Dahon, known for their innovative folding bicycles, has introduced the new Mariner XL model which has been designed with bigger, taller riders in mind. 

The Mariner has been tested at levels 30% - 50% above folding bike testing standards and is rated to carry up to 330lbs and should fit riders from 5'1" to 6'7" according to the press release.  

Equipped with a Shimano 8 speed drive train and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes the Mariner XL is slated to retail at $1,299.00.

Comments: I do not typically cover urban/micro-mobility bicycles and accessories. However; the fact that Dahon saw fit to address riders who typically are either too heavy, too tall, or both to safely ride folding bikes is commendable.  

The level of detail Dahon went to in designing the bike is impressive as well. With increased stiffness by 15% over their standard folding bike, it shows Dahon is serious here. They also tested the steer post and seat post to levels commensurate with their rider recommendations and addressed this underserved portion of the market with a fairly priced alternative. Good job Dahon!

To learn more click HERE. 

Seen on "X" from Trek's social media account

Trek 32"er Prototype To Be Raced In Utah:

Seen on social media, Trek revealed that their factory racing team will be onboard the new 32" wheeled XC bike prototype in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Cup bike race in Utah this weekend.  

 Comments: I saw another social media post from a female athlete on the team showing her test riding a 32"er prototype as well. So, Trek is making a big statement with this bike. At the very least, the investment into the wheel size is substantial. 

No doubt all eyes will be on the team to see what sort of results they can squeeze out from these big wheelers, but it also is notable that the athletes agreed to ride them. That permission is not forced or a slam dunk in most situations. I'm sure Trek wants this to happen, but I also am sure, based upon what I knew about past Trek MTB teams, that this is not a required participation situation. 

If good results come from using 32 inch wheels you are going to see a major shift in mountain bike XC racing in 2027. This should prove to be an interesting race this weekend.  

 That's all for this week! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Now get out there and ride those bicycles!

Friday News And Views

Pirelli's newest gravel tire. (Image courtesy of Pirelli.)

 Pirelli Announces Cinturato Gravel RC X Tires:

Pirelli announced a new gravel tire this week called the RC X. It's a better sidewall protected tire than the current RC version which has the same tread pattern as this new tire. 

Available in 700 X 35 and 700 X 45 in the "Classic" sidewall, which is a brownish-tan color, or 700 X 40mm in black. No prices were listed in the press release but I would expect them to be in line with other Pirelli offerings which run between 70 and 80 bucks each. 

Comments: I like Pirelli tires, but I did have a sidewall cut on the 700 X 45 Cinturato Gravel M that I tested so this maybe a better tire for me. That said, when do I ever have issues with side walls in Iowa? Never. So, besides that bizarre incident with the Gravel M tire, I really am not too worried about sidewall protected tires here. But maybe you'd like that? 

I like the tread pattern. It looks pretty fast and grippy where you need that. I'd worry about the RC X having a stiffer ride because the sidewall is where the tire gets its ride quality from and I have enjoyed how Pirelli tires ride so far. Maybe the RC X would be okay? Don't know. It's kind of an expensive gamble to try it out, so I doubt that I'll be finding out about these unless Pirelli's marketing decides to send a set over. 

PSA: Disclosure Policies:

So, recently the Federal Trade Commission announced more stringent policies concerning disclosures for bloggers, influencers, affiliates, etc, where prominent and easily understood disclosure policies and statements needed to be displayed. 

Out of an abundance of caution I started to push my relationship with products out front more in recent posts. Now my understanding is that unless I am, or someone else is, making money off the posts or links I post in articles here, then I need not be concerned.

That said, I am still going to disclose when you are seeing me post prominently about an item I was originally provided to review. Such as a tire, or a bike part, or whatever, if I am reviewing it long term, or advising for or against it. I won't be going nuts over this, because look, It's pretty clear to me that no one is making money here. At least, that's what my bank account tells me. 

The FTC says that you, as a reader, shouldn't have to take action to understand that there is a connection to a company when I post something here. (From a money-making perspective, that is) I guess reading isn't "taking an action"? But whatever.... The bottom line is that I will still link to the Standard Disclaimer page, (which the FTC says is no bueno), AND tell you how I got whatever it is I am talking about IF that part/bit/apparel item/bike is something being prominently featured here.

Gravel Jura Promises "Experience" Over Competition:

I received an interesting press release the other day for an event which will take place in 2024 in Switzerland. It's called "Gravel Trans Jura", and it boasts a "no competition" atmosphere where riders can experience bikepacking the Swiss Jura in the Summer.

Comments: First of all, the site for this event has no prominent dates, times, or place where you are to go. Big fail there, but that's not why I want to discuss this event. There are a couple of things being said here by this event which I find extremely interesting. 

Most obvious of these is the "no competition" element, which makes me think "tour", or "group ride", or in European parlance, "trekking". How this will be perceived by the intended audience will be interesting. 

Secondly, in the press release, the organization behind this speaks of a "gravelboom" in Europe. here's what they said:

"In Europe, at the latest during the Corona pandemic, a real gravel boom was triggered. The Gravel sector is enjoying enormous growth and this has created a great demand in the bicycle industry.
Gravel is very versatile and is booming in all areas: As an everyday bike, as a leisure activity, as a competitive sport or even as a bikepacking and adventure bike."

Truth? Marketing hype? I cannot say as I am not in touch with how the European market is going with regard to "gravel" bikes and that sort of riding. But something said here resonates with me. The part where they say "As an everyday bike...". An everyday "drop bar" bike, is what I would add here, but - YES! They get it. And now you might understand why "gravel" is completely the wrong name for THAT bike. 

Image courtesy of Singular's Instagram

Singular Cycles Swifts Ready To Order:

You probably have seen my Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 here before, and maybe you've thought it would be great if Sam from Singular offered something similar only for flat bars. Well, if that's you - here ya go! Sam just announced pre-orders for these.

The Swift is the "OG" of Singular's model line up. The bike has been tweaked out to accept modern standard components like through axles, dropper posts, and tapered steer tubes. 

It even fits 3" tires in 29"er diameter. A "Krampus Killer", you might say. Probably perfect for bikepacking, long days in the saddle, or just goofing off. I can say that if this is anything like my Gryphon Mk3, and why wouldn't it be, then it should ride really well. 

So, if you are so inclined, you can check out the pre-order page here. Sam doesn't bring in a ton of product, so there likely won't be many of these around. That means you shouldn't wait, and that you likely will have the only one in your area. (Unless there are a lot of Singular freaks where you live, that is.) 

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Singular or financial gain in posting this information. I just know that these bikes are smartly designed, unique in the marketplace, and that I really like my Gryphon Mk3. That is all.

Ritchey "Ultra" frame. (Image courtesy of Ritchey Design)

New "Mustard" Color For Ritchey Ultra:

I don't know exactly why I have this "thing" for Ritchey Design frames, but, well.....I do. There. I said it.

I don't own one, and I never have, so I guess maybe it is because I like steel frames and I remember the old Ritchey red, white, and blue racing bikes from the 1990's. 

Anyway, here we have a Ritchey Ultra. It's their hard tail adventure MTB frame. It is meant for a 120mm fork, it has 148 Boost rear spacing, and it can fit either 27.5 X 2.8" tires or it can accept 29" X 2.6" rubber. 

Oh! And it now comes in this lovely Mustard color. Well, I like it. You may not. These aren't ridiculously priced either at a thousand bucks, which is about what the going rate is now for steel frames. That and upward. But....I don't often mountain bike, so this would be a sort of extravagance for me. Nice, but not necessary.

That's it for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and ride some bikes!

Friday News And Views

Pirelli's newest gravel tire. (Image courtesy of Pirelli.)

 Pirelli Announces Cinturato Gravel RC X Tires:

Pirelli announced a new gravel tire this week called the RC X. It's a better sidewall protected tire than the current RC version which has the same tread pattern as this new tire. 

Available in 700 X 35 and 700 X 45 in the "Classic" sidewall, which is a brownish-tan color, or 700 X 40mm in black. No prices were listed in the press release but I would expect them to be in line with other Pirelli offerings which run between 70 and 80 bucks each. 

Comments: I like Pirelli tires, but I did have a sidewall cut on the 700 X 45 Cinturato Gravel M that I tested so this maybe a better tire for me. That said, when do I ever have issues with side walls in Iowa? Never. So, besides that bizarre incident with the Gravel M tire, I really am not too worried about sidewall protected tires here. But maybe you'd like that? 

I like the tread pattern. It looks pretty fast and grippy where you need that. I'd worry about the RC X having a stiffer ride because the sidewall is where the tire gets its ride quality from and I have enjoyed how Pirelli tires ride so far. Maybe the RC X would be okay? Don't know. It's kind of an expensive gamble to try it out, so I doubt that I'll be finding out about these unless Pirelli's marketing decides to send a set over. 

PSA: Disclosure Policies:

So, recently the Federal Trade Commission announced more stringent policies concerning disclosures for bloggers, influencers, affiliates, etc, where prominent and easily understood disclosure policies and statements needed to be displayed. 

Out of an abundance of caution I started to push my relationship with products out front more in recent posts. Now my understanding is that unless I am, or someone else is, making money off the posts or links I post in articles here, then I need not be concerned.

That said, I am still going to disclose when you are seeing me post prominently about an item I was originally provided to review. Such as a tire, or a bike part, or whatever, if I am reviewing it long term, or advising for or against it. I won't be going nuts over this, because look, It's pretty clear to me that no one is making money here. At least, that's what my bank account tells me. 

The FTC says that you, as a reader, shouldn't have to take action to understand that there is a connection to a company when I post something here. (From a money-making perspective, that is) I guess reading isn't "taking an action"? But whatever.... The bottom line is that I will still link to the Standard Disclaimer page, (which the FTC says is no bueno), AND tell you how I got whatever it is I am talking about IF that part/bit/apparel item/bike is something being prominently featured here.

Gravel Jura Promises "Experience" Over Competition:

I received an interesting press release the other day for an event which will take place in 2024 in Switzerland. It's called "Gravel Trans Jura", and it boasts a "no competition" atmosphere where riders can experience bikepacking the Swiss Jura in the Summer.

Comments: First of all, the site for this event has no prominent dates, times, or place where you are to go. Big fail there, but that's not why I want to discuss this event. There are a couple of things being said here by this event which I find extremely interesting. 

Most obvious of these is the "no competition" element, which makes me think "tour", or "group ride", or in European parlance, "trekking". How this will be perceived by the intended audience will be interesting. 

Secondly, in the press release, the organization behind this speaks of a "gravelboom" in Europe. here's what they said:

"In Europe, at the latest during the Corona pandemic, a real gravel boom was triggered. The Gravel sector is enjoying enormous growth and this has created a great demand in the bicycle industry.
Gravel is very versatile and is booming in all areas: As an everyday bike, as a leisure activity, as a competitive sport or even as a bikepacking and adventure bike."

Truth? Marketing hype? I cannot say as I am not in touch with how the European market is going with regard to "gravel" bikes and that sort of riding. But something said here resonates with me. The part where they say "As an everyday bike...". An everyday "drop bar" bike, is what I would add here, but - YES! They get it. And now you might understand why "gravel" is completely the wrong name for THAT bike. 

Image courtesy of Singular's Instagram

Singular Cycles Swifts Ready To Order:

You probably have seen my Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 here before, and maybe you've thought it would be great if Sam from Singular offered something similar only for flat bars. Well, if that's you - here ya go! Sam just announced pre-orders for these.

The Swift is the "OG" of Singular's model line up. The bike has been tweaked out to accept modern standard components like through axles, dropper posts, and tapered steer tubes. 

It even fits 3" tires in 29"er diameter. A "Krampus Killer", you might say. Probably perfect for bikepacking, long days in the saddle, or just goofing off. I can say that if this is anything like my Gryphon Mk3, and why wouldn't it be, then it should ride really well. 

So, if you are so inclined, you can check out the pre-order page here. Sam doesn't bring in a ton of product, so there likely won't be many of these around. That means you shouldn't wait, and that you likely will have the only one in your area. (Unless there are a lot of Singular freaks where you live, that is.) 

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Singular or financial gain in posting this information. I just know that these bikes are smartly designed, unique in the marketplace, and that I really like my Gryphon Mk3. That is all.

Ritchey "Ultra" frame. (Image courtesy of Ritchey Design)

New "Mustard" Color For Ritchey Ultra:

I don't know exactly why I have this "thing" for Ritchey Design frames, but, well.....I do. There. I said it.

I don't own one, and I never have, so I guess maybe it is because I like steel frames and I remember the old Ritchey red, white, and blue racing bikes from the 1990's. 

Anyway, here we have a Ritchey Ultra. It's their hard tail adventure MTB frame. It is meant for a 120mm fork, it has 148 Boost rear spacing, and it can fit either 27.5 X 2.8" tires or it can accept 29" X 2.6" rubber. 

Oh! And it now comes in this lovely Mustard color. Well, I like it. You may not. These aren't ridiculously priced either at a thousand bucks, which is about what the going rate is now for steel frames. That and upward. But....I don't often mountain bike, so this would be a sort of extravagance for me. Nice, but not necessary.

That's it for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and ride some bikes!

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies. 

Kinekt Anti-Theft Locking Collar:

Here's a little doo-dad that was passed along to me to check out from Kinekt. It isn't probably something for everybody, but it might prove to be a nice addition to a touring bike, a bikepacking rig, or if you do a lot of urban riding. 

The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar comes in a few sizes for different frames. You can then use the included hex key to drive a pinned interface tool which in turn will rotate the fastener in the seat collar proper. 

The pinned interface tool is tethered allowing you to attach it to a key chain, or a fob so you won't lose it. That's pretty clever thinking there. The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar can be purchased direct from Kinekt for $44.95 here. 

Comments: Obviously this won't work for every bike, since manufacturers keep coming up with new ways to do simple, efficient mechanisms on bicycles all the time, which is quite unnecessary. But if you have a metal framed bicycle, there is a good chance something like this might work for you. 

I found it to be what is claimed. The insert in the collar may need to be greased to help prevent seizing in the future, and sure, you could lose the interface tool, but for peace of mind on a long tour? It might be worth the hassle. 

Homemade Front Derailleur Cable Stop: 

I got a lot of flack about my front derailleur cable stop that I fabricated for the Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 when I showed it in the build series on the bike. Ironically, I haven't thought about that part ever since, nor does anyone recoil in horror when they see my bicycle because it has an ugly looking part on it. Why? Because you just don't notice it being there. 

In the end, it works. It hasn't necessitated any tweaking nor has it even raised a concern since I mounted it. That's success in my view. So, while the Singular Gryphon wasn't ever meant to have a front derailleur you can put one on it if you are crafty enough. 

Sam of Singular did mention that he might consider a second run update which would include a cable stop for that front cable. I think it would be wise as many folks could then do a double crank with a ridiculously low range. For instance, I have a compact BCD triple crank from the 1990's, a Sugino, that already has a 20T/32T combo and with a bash guard it would make for a stellar double crank for mountainous, off road riding on the Gryphon Mk3. 

Anyway, I apologize for getting off-track there. The derailleur cable stop worked. That's the review. 

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 700 x 45mm:

I have been riding Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires for a few months now and I happen to have the 700 X 40's and 45's on separate bikes. 

Lately I've been riding more on the 45mm tires and I think they have risen up to be one of my favorite gravel tires out there. 

Previously my top tires were the 700 X 45mm Hutchinson Touaregs and the 700 X 42mm WTB Resolute in the standard casing. But the Cinturato Gravel H's are right in there in this mix. They are that good.

I enjoy a bigger tire like the 45mm tires I've gravitated to because we get a fair amount of deep, loose fresh gravel and a bigger tire just handles this more steadily and with more stability. Plus, the extra volume can be employed for a better ride feel. But that's not all I've come to love about these three tires.

The big thing has been the ease of living with them. The WTB Reso doesn't hold air as well as the other two, but all three are amongst the best in air retention I've yet tried. Maybe this is a testament to the newer crop of tubeless rims and tires? Perhaps, but I'm here for it. 

Besides that, there are a few things about the Cinturato M that I am questioning like, "Do we really need THAT much tread?". These almost come off as MTB tires, but I suppose if you live in an area where the dirt is loose and the rocks need tread, then this tire should be good. I just have to wonder if that tread is all just wasted on crushed rock roads and is there to make me feel better (fashion) and add weight. 

I also have to wonder if we had a smoother pattern if the Cinturato wouldn't work as well and not pack up with wet dirt and mud. Yes, there is the Cinturato H, and I have run those as well. But maybe a hybrid of the two tires would be good enough. Ah.... Well you can't have it all, I guess! And that said, this tire still is right up there with the best you can get for Mid-Western gravel.

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies. 

Kinekt Anti-Theft Locking Collar:

Here's a little doo-dad that was passed along to me to check out from Kinekt. It isn't probably something for everybody, but it might prove to be a nice addition to a touring bike, a bikepacking rig, or if you do a lot of urban riding. 

The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar comes in a few sizes for different frames. You can then use the included hex key to drive a pinned interface tool which in turn will rotate the fastener in the seat collar proper. 

The pinned interface tool is tethered allowing you to attach it to a key chain, or a fob so you won't lose it. That's pretty clever thinking there. The Anti-Theft Locking Seat Collar can be purchased direct from Kinekt for $44.95 here. 

Comments: Obviously this won't work for every bike, since manufacturers keep coming up with new ways to do simple, efficient mechanisms on bicycles all the time, which is quite unnecessary. But if you have a metal framed bicycle, there is a good chance something like this might work for you. 

I found it to be what is claimed. The insert in the collar may need to be greased to help prevent seizing in the future, and sure, you could lose the interface tool, but for peace of mind on a long tour? It might be worth the hassle. 

Homemade Front Derailleur Cable Stop: 

I got a lot of flack about my front derailleur cable stop that I fabricated for the Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 when I showed it in the build series on the bike. Ironically, I haven't thought about that part ever since, nor does anyone recoil in horror when they see my bicycle because it has an ugly looking part on it. Why? Because you just don't notice it being there. 

In the end, it works. It hasn't necessitated any tweaking nor has it even raised a concern since I mounted it. That's success in my view. So, while the Singular Gryphon wasn't ever meant to have a front derailleur you can put one on it if you are crafty enough. 

Sam of Singular did mention that he might consider a second run update which would include a cable stop for that front cable. I think it would be wise as many folks could then do a double crank with a ridiculously low range. For instance, I have a compact BCD triple crank from the 1990's, a Sugino, that already has a 20T/32T combo and with a bash guard it would make for a stellar double crank for mountainous, off road riding on the Gryphon Mk3. 

Anyway, I apologize for getting off-track there. The derailleur cable stop worked. That's the review. 

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 700 x 45mm:

I have been riding Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires for a few months now and I happen to have the 700 X 40's and 45's on separate bikes. 

Lately I've been riding more on the 45mm tires and I think they have risen up to be one of my favorite gravel tires out there. 

Previously my top tires were the 700 X 45mm Hutchinson Touaregs and the 700 X 42mm WTB Resolute in the standard casing. But the Cinturato Gravel H's are right in there in this mix. They are that good.

I enjoy a bigger tire like the 45mm tires I've gravitated to because we get a fair amount of deep, loose fresh gravel and a bigger tire just handles this more steadily and with more stability. Plus, the extra volume can be employed for a better ride feel. But that's not all I've come to love about these three tires.

The big thing has been the ease of living with them. The WTB Reso doesn't hold air as well as the other two, but all three are amongst the best in air retention I've yet tried. Maybe this is a testament to the newer crop of tubeless rims and tires? Perhaps, but I'm here for it. 

Besides that, there are a few things about the Cinturato M that I am questioning like, "Do we really need THAT much tread?". These almost come off as MTB tires, but I suppose if you live in an area where the dirt is loose and the rocks need tread, then this tire should be good. I just have to wonder if that tread is all just wasted on crushed rock roads and is there to make me feel better (fashion) and add weight. 

I also have to wonder if we had a smoother pattern if the Cinturato wouldn't work as well and not pack up with wet dirt and mud. Yes, there is the Cinturato H, and I have run those as well. But maybe a hybrid of the two tires would be good enough. Ah.... Well you can't have it all, I guess! And that said, this tire still is right up there with the best you can get for Mid-Western gravel.

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies.

WTB Gravelier Saddle:

I've already mentioned this one last Friday, but in case you missed it, I have been riding this saddle for a little over a month now.  

I have to say, it really is a pretty nice saddle. Not every saddle will accommodate every butt, however; if you have a fairly aggressive seated position on a drop bar gravel bike, this is worth looking in to. 

I would liken it most to a Silverado WTB-wise, but if you've ridden anything that is meant for high performance road/gravel riding in the last 30 years it is about that same family - fairly stiff, not overly padded, and it provides perineal relief. Its 143mm wide and pretty short, but I have to say that it fits me great and that's coming off a 143mm Silverado. 

I rode this for around six hours at the Gents Race, so if that didn't kill me I think I'm good to go. In fact, it felt pretty darn fine to me. 

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Tires: Looking at that same image above you can see the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tire I have on my Twin Six Standard Rando now. This one is a 40mm and I also have a set of the 45's on my Black Mountain Cycles MCD at the moment.

This has risen to become one of my favorite tires. If I were going to ride somewhere that called out for a puncture protected tire, this one would get the call. I like it a little better than the Vittoria Terreno Dry in this size only because it rides a bit better, but that's a good puncture protected tire as well. 

The Easton EC90 AX Carbon drop bars here on my T6 Standard Rando

Easton EC90 AX Carbon Drop Bars:

These are pretty much a set of road racing bars. They are uber-light, carbon, comfortable, but......they are road bars. Not gravel handlebars. No flare to speak of here, although Easton claims there is 6° of it, you cannot tell there is anything flared here at all.

I mean, they are fine bars. They ride well, but I miss my flared drops and in rougher terrain or on looser gravel, a flared drop just is easier to control. I would recommend these to recovering roadies and those who have to have no-flare bars because "aero" and "watts" and well, you know who you are if that means anything to you. 

These handlebars are nice though. Smooth feeling, even in rough stuff, but you sacrifice control in rougher, looser terrain with them. 

Shimano SPhyre Ridescape Sunglasses: 

These were newly designed Sunglasses which were supposedly going to help with line definition and contrast on gravel rides in bright Sunshine. The magnetically fixed lenses were of the wraparound, shield type and frameless. They are light, very comfortable, and look good on my face, in my opinion. 

 When I first tried these, and every time I used them afterward, I had the uncanny feeling that my vision was clouded. Could be. My old eyes ain't what they used ta be, that's fer sure! But no.....it was something else. I almost felt like there was a fine film I was looking through when I wore these, and the colors as seen through the lenses were greenish-yellow and, well, not very pleasant. 

Finally I got out some older eyewear I have that I've always been very happy to look through. A pair of Spy "Happy Lenses" equipped casual glasses and an older than dirt pair of Oakley Jawbones. Once I sat down and compared, it was immediately apparent what the problem was. It wasn't just the SPhyre's weird color tinting, but these glasses were making glare worse instead of better. I was seeing everything with a haze of yellowish glare, and that was the "film I was looking through" thing after all. It was readily apparent that the Spy and Oakley glasses were far superior at cutting glare, rendering true colors, and had my eyes seeing things as they could be only without the burning sensation of the Sun in my retinas. 

So, yeah. The Shimano glasses? Not good. 

That's a wrap on reviews in brief for now. Stay tuned for more in the near future.

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies.

WTB Gravelier Saddle:

I've already mentioned this one last Friday, but in case you missed it, I have been riding this saddle for a little over a month now.  

I have to say, it really is a pretty nice saddle. Not every saddle will accommodate every butt, however; if you have a fairly aggressive seated position on a drop bar gravel bike, this is worth looking in to. 

I would liken it most to a Silverado WTB-wise, but if you've ridden anything that is meant for high performance road/gravel riding in the last 30 years it is about that same family - fairly stiff, not overly padded, and it provides perineal relief. Its 143mm wide and pretty short, but I have to say that it fits me great and that's coming off a 143mm Silverado. 

I rode this for around six hours at the Gents Race, so if that didn't kill me I think I'm good to go. In fact, it felt pretty darn fine to me. 

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Tires: Looking at that same image above you can see the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tire I have on my Twin Six Standard Rando now. This one is a 40mm and I also have a set of the 45's on my Black Mountain Cycles MCD at the moment.

This has risen to become one of my favorite tires. If I were going to ride somewhere that called out for a puncture protected tire, this one would get the call. I like it a little better than the Vittoria Terreno Dry in this size only because it rides a bit better, but that's a good puncture protected tire as well. 

The Easton EC90 AX Carbon drop bars here on my T6 Standard Rando

Easton EC90 AX Carbon Drop Bars:

These are pretty much a set of road racing bars. They are uber-light, carbon, comfortable, but......they are road bars. Not gravel handlebars. No flare to speak of here, although Easton claims there is 6° of it, you cannot tell there is anything flared here at all.

I mean, they are fine bars. They ride well, but I miss my flared drops and in rougher terrain or on looser gravel, a flared drop just is easier to control. I would recommend these to recovering roadies and those who have to have no-flare bars because "aero" and "watts" and well, you know who you are if that means anything to you. 

These handlebars are nice though. Smooth feeling, even in rough stuff, but you sacrifice control in rougher, looser terrain with them. 

Shimano SPhyre Ridescape Sunglasses: 

These were newly designed Sunglasses which were supposedly going to help with line definition and contrast on gravel rides in bright Sunshine. The magnetically fixed lenses were of the wraparound, shield type and frameless. They are light, very comfortable, and look good on my face, in my opinion. 

 When I first tried these, and every time I used them afterward, I had the uncanny feeling that my vision was clouded. Could be. My old eyes ain't what they used ta be, that's fer sure! But no.....it was something else. I almost felt like there was a fine film I was looking through when I wore these, and the colors as seen through the lenses were greenish-yellow and, well, not very pleasant. 

Finally I got out some older eyewear I have that I've always been very happy to look through. A pair of Spy "Happy Lenses" equipped casual glasses and an older than dirt pair of Oakley Jawbones. Once I sat down and compared, it was immediately apparent what the problem was. It wasn't just the SPhyre's weird color tinting, but these glasses were making glare worse instead of better. I was seeing everything with a haze of yellowish glare, and that was the "film I was looking through" thing after all. It was readily apparent that the Spy and Oakley glasses were far superior at cutting glare, rendering true colors, and had my eyes seeing things as they could be only without the burning sensation of the Sun in my retinas. 

So, yeah. The Shimano glasses? Not good. 

That's a wrap on reviews in brief for now. Stay tuned for more in the near future.

Renegade Gents: Gear Review

An outtake from the previous post. Damaged silos from the 2020 derrecho

The Gents Race is over for 2023 and I was really stoked on how well I actually did, which was due in part to my gear I selected which worked quite well. 

Conditions were challenging and changed significantly throughout the day. To start off it was about 35°F with a heavy 25-30mph Northwest wind which dropped the windchill into frigid territory. Then it progressively warmed up to end the day in the 50's. Winds never really let up for our entire ride. The roads were loose, sandy, to partially gravel covered and hard based. There was little cloud cover, so bright Sunshine necessitated the use of good eyewear. Obviously, I needed to refuel and hydrate along the way, so I'll detail what we did there as well.

I'll cover all of these facets in this post, and remember- This is what worked for me. It may not work at all for you. Each person will need to determine their personal "best choices" on their own.

Wearables:

I wore bib tights from PROVIZ, a company that makes running and cycling gear with this crazy reflective treatment that literally lights up when a light source hits it. Cap'n Steve even noted my light show early on into the event when he was riding behind me for a spell. 

The tights I was wearing are 2016 versions of this product, the "PixElite Performance Men's Bib Tights". They are on sale right now and I can highly recommend them. They have held up really well over the time I have had them and they are some of my warmest bib tights I have, even over stuff from GORE which I have. And they fit better than GORE stuff does, especially if you are not built like the "typical cyclist", as I am not built like. I'm more of a "line backer shaped guy"! 

These bibs also have a nice chamois inside. It is not the best I've used, but it is by far not the worst. For what they are asking for these, I think it is a great value. They certainly kept me comfortable Saturday. 

Under this I wore an Endura base layer. I have a few different base layers from different companies and I cannot say one is all that much better than another. I just appreciate that they all keep the sweat from sitting on my skin and if the base layer I'm using is doing that, well then good enough. While the Endura base layer is really nicely made, I like the Twin Six ones just as well and they are a bit less money. Plus T-6 is US based and fairly local to me. 

On my feet were some Follow-Hollow socks I was sent out back in 2018 when that company was running a Kickstarter project. The site was last updated in 2020, so I don't think they are still around, although you can find scads of Alpaca wool socks online. Anyway, they are thicker, more comfortable, and warmer than my wool socks. 

I wore some 2019 vintage Northwave Extreme XC GTX shoes/boots on the feet as well. These are really nice "shoulder-season" boots for gravel riding. I wouldn't dip much below 20°F with these, but they work great from the 30's up to around 50, which was perfect for this ride. 

On the hands I wore some Hand-Up winter gloves and switched out to Hand-Up full-fingered gloves later on. On the head went a GORE ear-flap windproof cycling hat, my Bontrager helmet, and a Buff around my neck. I used my Rudy Project glasses. My jersey was an old long-sleeved Bontrager Classics jersey in Merino wool.  I also wore an old Bontrager wind jacket I've used for years. 

Verdict: I couldn't have chosen better gear to wear for the majority of the ride. By the end I was starting to feel a tad too warm, but it had hit 50 degrees by that point and we were riding with a mahoosive tailwind.

The Twin Six Standard Rando v2 as it was used for the Gents Race

The Hardwear:

Not much to add here that hasn't already been said. People were commenting on the GRX Limited Silver components and the look of the bike overall. That made me smile. A LOT of people caught on to the the school bus thing, like I did, and why I called this bike the "Gravel Bus". Must be a Mid-West phenomenon. 

There are a few review parts on this bike, so I won't go into detail here on that stuff other than to give a shout-out to the Pirelli tires. These Cinturato M tires are quickly becoming some of my favorite tires. When I checked the air pressures before I left the bike had sat with unchecked air pressure for a week. To my surprise I maybe was down 2psi on each tire and that may be because I let a tiny puff out of each tire just getting the pump chuck on the valve. Nice!

But better than that was the ride. These tires do such a great job of damping out chatter that I almost do not miss my Redshift ShockStop stem on this bike at all. That's saying something! And these tires roll really well on gravel too, despite the tread blocks. Impressive! 

The GRX stuff shifted really well and the SILCA Super-Secret chain lube did an impressive job once again. I could not fault anything on the bike, really, but I'll get into more details on some of that in my upcoming reviews of some of the other components.

Verdict: As good as it could get. I was 100% happy with all my set up. 

Nutrition: 

The story here is Embark Maple Energy. What a huge turnaround from last year at this event when I tried LMNT which was a massive fail for me. Instead of feeling bloated to the point that I was having sharp gastrointestinal pains I felt..... nothing. I just had power when otherwise I would have been dead in the water. 

I point here to when we left the checkpoint and had that Northward push where I actually had enough energy to pull through twice. That surprised me and I attribute this to using the Embark. 

I also had a generic granola-protein bar thing that you see a lot in convenience stores, but that probably didn't do much. It didn't hurt me, but I think the Embark was where it was at. That stuff has my 100% seal of approval now. It's a little spendy, but I have zero negative side effects from using it and that makes spending the coin on this stuff well worth it. 

Verdict: I was 100% pleased with what I did eat. Had I had another Embark packet I think I could have used it, but I only brought two, being foolishly stingy. No more! 

Overall Verdict: I was thrilled with my performance. It was way beyond anything I thought was going to be possible given my Spring, lack of training, and the event's conditions. Everything really worked to perfection to get me where I ended up. That doesn't happen often, so this was a big win for me. 

Thanks for reading my Gents Race report yesterday and the gear review today. Also: The Standard Disclaimer applies to many of the things mentioned in this report.

Renegade Gents: Gear Review

An outtake from the previous post. Damaged silos from the 2020 derrecho

The Gents Race is over for 2023 and I was really stoked on how well I actually did, which was due in part to my gear I selected which worked quite well. 

Conditions were challenging and changed significantly throughout the day. To start off it was about 35°F with a heavy 25-30mph Northwest wind which dropped the windchill into frigid territory. Then it progressively warmed up to end the day in the 50's. Winds never really let up for our entire ride. The roads were loose, sandy, to partially gravel covered and hard based. There was little cloud cover, so bright Sunshine necessitated the use of good eyewear. Obviously, I needed to refuel and hydrate along the way, so I'll detail what we did there as well.

I'll cover all of these facets in this post, and remember- This is what worked for me. It may not work at all for you. Each person will need to determine their personal "best choices" on their own.

Wearables:

I wore bib tights from PROVIZ, a company that makes running and cycling gear with this crazy reflective treatment that literally lights up when a light source hits it. Cap'n Steve even noted my light show early on into the event when he was riding behind me for a spell. 

The tights I was wearing are 2016 versions of this product, the "PixElite Performance Men's Bib Tights". They are on sale right now and I can highly recommend them. They have held up really well over the time I have had them and they are some of my warmest bib tights I have, even over stuff from GORE which I have. And they fit better than GORE stuff does, especially if you are not built like the "typical cyclist", as I am not built like. I'm more of a "line backer shaped guy"! 

These bibs also have a nice chamois inside. It is not the best I've used, but it is by far not the worst. For what they are asking for these, I think it is a great value. They certainly kept me comfortable Saturday. 

Under this I wore an Endura base layer. I have a few different base layers from different companies and I cannot say one is all that much better than another. I just appreciate that they all keep the sweat from sitting on my skin and if the base layer I'm using is doing that, well then good enough. While the Endura base layer is really nicely made, I like the Twin Six ones just as well and they are a bit less money. Plus T-6 is US based and fairly local to me. 

On my feet were some Follow-Hollow socks I was sent out back in 2018 when that company was running a Kickstarter project. The site was last updated in 2020, so I don't think they are still around, although you can find scads of Alpaca wool socks online. Anyway, they are thicker, more comfortable, and warmer than my wool socks. 

I wore some 2019 vintage Northwave Extreme XC GTX shoes/boots on the feet as well. These are really nice "shoulder-season" boots for gravel riding. I wouldn't dip much below 20°F with these, but they work great from the 30's up to around 50, which was perfect for this ride. 

On the hands I wore some Hand-Up winter gloves and switched out to Hand-Up full-fingered gloves later on. On the head went a GORE ear-flap windproof cycling hat, my Bontrager helmet, and a Buff around my neck. I used my Rudy Project glasses. My jersey was an old long-sleeved Bontrager Classics jersey in Merino wool.  I also wore an old Bontrager wind jacket I've used for years. 

Verdict: I couldn't have chosen better gear to wear for the majority of the ride. By the end I was starting to feel a tad too warm, but it had hit 50 degrees by that point and we were riding with a mahoosive tailwind.

The Twin Six Standard Rando v2 as it was used for the Gents Race

The Hardwear:

Not much to add here that hasn't already been said. People were commenting on the GRX Limited Silver components and the look of the bike overall. That made me smile. A LOT of people caught on to the the school bus thing, like I did, and why I called this bike the "Gravel Bus". Must be a Mid-West phenomenon. 

There are a few review parts on this bike, so I won't go into detail here on that stuff other than to give a shout-out to the Pirelli tires. These Cinturato M tires are quickly becoming some of my favorite tires. When I checked the air pressures before I left the bike had sat with unchecked air pressure for a week. To my surprise I maybe was down 2psi on each tire and that may be because I let a tiny puff out of each tire just getting the pump chuck on the valve. Nice!

But better than that was the ride. These tires do such a great job of damping out chatter that I almost do not miss my Redshift ShockStop stem on this bike at all. That's saying something! And these tires roll really well on gravel too, despite the tread blocks. Impressive! 

The GRX stuff shifted really well and the SILCA Super-Secret chain lube did an impressive job once again. I could not fault anything on the bike, really, but I'll get into more details on some of that in my upcoming reviews of some of the other components.

Verdict: As good as it could get. I was 100% happy with all my set up. 

Nutrition: 

The story here is Embark Maple Energy. What a huge turnaround from last year at this event when I tried LMNT which was a massive fail for me. Instead of feeling bloated to the point that I was having sharp gastrointestinal pains I felt..... nothing. I just had power when otherwise I would have been dead in the water. 

I point here to when we left the checkpoint and had that Northward push where I actually had enough energy to pull through twice. That surprised me and I attribute this to using the Embark. 

I also had a generic granola-protein bar thing that you see a lot in convenience stores, but that probably didn't do much. It didn't hurt me, but I think the Embark was where it was at. That stuff has my 100% seal of approval now. It's a little spendy, but I have zero negative side effects from using it and that makes spending the coin on this stuff well worth it. 

Verdict: I was 100% pleased with what I did eat. Had I had another Embark packet I think I could have used it, but I only brought two, being foolishly stingy. No more! 

Overall Verdict: I was thrilled with my performance. It was way beyond anything I thought was going to be possible given my Spring, lack of training, and the event's conditions. Everything really worked to perfection to get me where I ended up. That doesn't happen often, so this was a big win for me. 

Thanks for reading my Gents Race report yesterday and the gear review today. Also: The Standard Disclaimer applies to many of the things mentioned in this report.

Spring Brings The "New" In For Review

Shimano S-Phyre Ridescape GR sunglasses.

Well, the supply chain is full to over-flowing again and that means review items are coming in hot this Spring. I thought I'd share with you all what I have going on here as a lot of this stuff will be figuring into my upcoming rides. Generally I have shared what I was up to anyway with regard to reviewing product, so this shouldn't be too much of a shock for you readers here.

As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies. 

First up I have these Shimano S-Phyre Ridescape GR sunglasses in for review which has this magnetic lens retention system. It's pretty crazy to see how many uses for neodymium magnets that there are now. 

These have the frameless design, which I like as there are no frames to hinder your peripheral vision. Plus it is big enough not to look goofy on my large noggin. That is a plus! 

Then I have what seems like my most popular review category product of all-time which would be tires. The first proper review I ever wrote was on a set of bicycle tires. So, maybe I was destined for this? Maybe....

Anyway, I have two sets of Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires to test now. These are Pirelli's "multi-surface" tires, thus the "M" in the name. 

A couple of odd things I noted about these tires when I first laid eyes on them. One was that the sidewalls on these "Classic" versions of the Gravel M look a lot like a Continental tire sidewall. The second? These Italian brand tires are made in France. Weird. 

These kind of remind me of old ATB tires like the Tioga versions of mountain bike tires from back in the day. Actually, my friend Ari was the first to point this out when he spied my image of them on Instagram. Despite the old-school ATB looks, these are not designed to do anything like those old tires. 

They have a centralized tread block pattern that creates a virtual solid center line which helps with hard surface rolling.The other knobs are there ostensibly for traction and stability in looser soil and gravel. I will have to ride them a bit before I know if that is true or not.

I will say that they set up tubeless well and hold air like a champ. So far, so good.....

Security minded seat collar from Kinekt

Sometimes I get these odd items which sort of defy categorization in terms of "gravel" or MTB or road biking. Maybe commuting? But sometimes it's just an odd deal that someone wants me to amplify that is out there as a choice. This Kinekt  "Anti-Theft Locking Collar" is such a product. 

It's obvious job is to prevent anyone from hijacking your saddle and seat post. The keyed tool, which comes with the $44.95 collar, has a hex key socket on the one side and the 4-pin interface on the other. The tool is tethered which you can connect to a key chain for convenience. it also comes with the proper 4mm hex key as well. 

I dunno..... I guess if you live and ride in an urban or collegiate area that has a higher chance for saddle/post theft, this might make sense. Maybe for a bikepacking trip, or a tour, where a bit of security can go a long way toward peace of mind. I get it. I don't think this is necessarily anything I'd ever need, but there you go.

Now that the snow is gone....

I have even more stuff that I either cannot talk about yet or that is on its way in yet. So, stay tuned for more review items to be mentioned here. Of course, I will also review the Teravail tires on my Gryphon Mk3, as well as the bike, in future posts. 

So, now you know some of what to expect here over the coming months. reviews will be happening. Of course, that also means ride reports will be happening as well. That is, if I ever get over this stinkin' cold I have!