Friday News And Views

US Patent Office image of SRAM UBM

SRAM Universal Brake Mount:

SRAM, who promoted the UDH derailleur mount, which is being widely adopted now, has patented a new MTB brake mount called Universal Brake Mount. 

The patent was granted last year, and the idea was discussed a bit in certain circles of the bike industry, but now it is seemingly gaining some traction in mentions of a near future adoption by the industry. 

The mount centers the brake mount from the axle, and everything references off this point instead of being a jig for each frame, or a different set of parameters to be used. This does make the mount dependent on an attachment point on the seat stay. 

Obviously, this idea would be a bit more difficult if we were still in a quick release world. However; since through axles are ubiquitous on MTB, road, and gravel bikes now, this idea makes sense. Obviously, this is a post mount brake standard, but perhaps a flat mount standard could be developed as well. 

I can see how the design would require extra beef on seat stays and how it might limit some full suspension designs, or designs which employ seat stays as flexing members for comfort. So, I do not believe this is a "universal" solution for everyone, but I also see how manufacturing frames would be easier and more streamlined by using this standard. Saving factories and brands more money will be the motivation for adopting this. 

Image courtesy of Zirbel Bike social media

Zirbel Bike Offers "Electronic Grip Shift" Type Shifters

Grip Shift - Remember that? It was largely forgotten after SRAM moved off of doing mechanical flat bar shifters with the introduction of AXS. 

But a company called Zirbel Bike  has adapted a wireless twist ring style shifter reminiscent of Grip Shift to operate a SRAM AXS/Transmission rear derailleur.  

They also make a trigger style ring which has minimal mass and takes up little handlebar space. The trigger can be easily operated by a thumb.  

Some riders preferred a twist style shifter due to hand issues which make using triggers painful or difficult. This Zirbel product could be a solution then for such individuals. 

Prices look to be reasonable and the shifters can be purchased as a unit complete with flat bar and stem for a mountain bike.  

Comments: Now that I've seen this, it seems odd SRAM did not attempt to go in a similar direction with AXS for MTB/flat bars. The product Zirbel offers takes up little space which is a big deal now with MTB cockpits having dropper levers and shock lockouts competing with brake levers and shifters for space on handlebars.  

Image courtesy of Jay Petervary's social media.

IDITAROD Trail Race Sunday:

One of the older ultra-distance bicycle events in North America is set to occur this Sunday. The IDITAROD Trail Invitational will send off its riders on Sunday. 

I grabbed this image of Jay Petervary's fat bike set up from his social media to show just how far things have come in bicycle design for this event. It seems a longer wheel base, slacker front end, and different width rims are the hot set-up in 2026. 

Obviously a credit to materials technology and its application to fat bike components has to be recognized here. Without carbon rims, carbon components, and lighter weight, titanium tubing a machine like this would have weighed a silly amount 20 years ago. 

I would also think recent developments in tire set ups are making machines like this even more capable. I asked Jay about the wheels here. The tires are the same but the rims are different. I find it interesting that Jay is using differing rim sizes. The rear is 105mm wide and the front is a whopping 128mm wide. This gives the tires a truly different shape and, I would imagine, a different type of performance on snowy trails.  I don't know what the thinking he has is on this is, but I would be interested to hear is take on this idea. 

What do you think of Jay's bike set-up? Let me know in the comments. 

Image courtesy of fizik

The Arione Is Back!

Almost 20 years ago fizik introduced a very long, flat, kind of tear-dropped shaped saddle which was so different you could identify the model from a distance easily. It was the fizik Arione, a saddle which pushed the limits of UCI regulations, and which many riders grew to love for its allowance for several comfortable positions across its length. 

Now the Arione is back, and it has some features which are unique. The length has been trimmed back from the original's nearly aircraft carrier deck length to a more modern length. Not surprising there. However; the flat profile remains, as does the "boat-tail" rear extension. 

Of course, there are 3D printed covers, (shown) and there are more traditional covers available as well. The range features  rail choices, from carbon to fizik's "Kium" hollow alloy rails, and the S-Alloy rails. . Top range models get the Adaptive padding while there are EVA and PU foam padded models when you move down the range, which is reflected in the price. 

Image courtesy of fizik

Interestingly, fizik addresses how many racers want there saddles positioned as forward as possible in relation to the bottom bracket by attaching the rear of the rails to the saddle base in a unique way. This allows for a very forward saddle placement which is not available in any other saddle model I am aware of currently. 

Times have certainly changed! I recall a day when we could not get our saddles far enough back on a seat post. So, this is an interesting development in saddles and rider fit. 

Arione R 5 (Image courtesy of fziik)

The Arione is available in available in five models. The top of the range features the Arione R1 Adaptive with carbon rails. The Arione Adaptive R1 Light has EVA padding instead of a 3D printed cover. This model also features an ergonomic cutaway central channel for pressure relief. Next we have the Arione R3 Adaptive which has the same 3D printed cover as the R1 but has Kium alloy hollow rails. 

Then we move to the Arione R3 and R5 models which have the PU foam padding and differ mostly in the rail choice with the R3 having the hollow Kium alloy and the R5 having the S-Alloy rail. 

Prices range from $399.00 for the range topping Arione R1 Adaptive to $99.99 for the Arione R5. All saddles come in two widths - 145mm or a narrower 135mm. 

For more details see fizik's site HERE

Life Time Announces Wildcard Rosters

Last year the Life Time Grand prix announced a "wildcard" category which allowed racers who qualified to enter into the opener for the series, and any man or woman in the top three placings for either category would get on the Wildcard chance at Unbound to possibly race their way into the Grand Prix series. In fact, the Grand Prix Men's overall winner, Cameron Jones, came out of the Wildcard category. 

A press release received Thursday here at Guitar Ted Productions lines out the rosters for possible Wildcard entrants. There are 27 women on that side of the roster. Notably in this roster I see Haley Smith, former Canadian Olympian and Grand Prix rider. 

On the Men's side there are 59 individuals listed with several notable names in the running. Russel Finsterwald, Dylan Johnson, and Adam Roberge being but a few of the names listed . 

My reading of the press release may be off, but as I understand this, the rosters listed must race Sea Otter where the top three in Men's and Women's categories from the WildCard rosters can then compete in Unbound and then whomever is the best of the three in each category there will be added to the Grand Prix riders. 

Again- apologies if I have this wrong but the press release wasn't 100% clear to me on these points. 

So, the bigger question is, does any of this matter to you? (I already know what N.Y. Roll will say!)

Image courtesy of Surly Bikes

 

 Disc Trucker Update:

Surly released an updated Disc Trucker complete and frame set available now through your Surly dealer. As before, smaller sizes are available in 26" wheels and 56cm and up is 700c. 

The Disc Trucker is an amalgamation of old touring bikes and new technology/components. You've got that steel frame, a spoke holder, rack mounts galore, fender mounts, and good ol' touring bike geometry. 

Modernization come in the form of tubeless ready tires, disc brakes, and through axles. Honestly, all good things. 

Gotta give a shout out to the externally routed cables and dynamo routed fork. There is a nice, upright seated position here also, which is great for long, all-day riding. 

Touring nerds will probably sniff at the 2X crank set with 46T/30T gearing. Not that it doesn't provide a low enough gear with a 39T low gear in the cassette, but because you don't get that nice "transition" range with, say a 36T middle ring. Ah! ..............But triples are too confusing. Hmm..... Okay. I believe cycling is a skill set. This stuff can be learned. But I digress.... 

And did you notice you could put a set of down tube shifters on this frame? Now that is old school right there! Ha ha! Also of note: 36 spoke wheels. Nice! 

That is going to wrap things up for this week here at Guitar Ted Productions. Thank you for reading here and please, get outside and ride a bicycle this weekend!

Friday News And Views

Salsa Cycles Ti Fargo frame set . (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

 Salsa Cycles Ti Fargo For '23:

Monday Salsa Cycles released news that the Ti Fargo was back again for 2023. Besides changing the graphics/logos, nothing else is different here. In fact, this has been the same frame and fork since the 2019 model year. 

My image here is from the last run of the Ti Fargo showing the old logo. The new logo replaces this, (the same "block-ish" logo as can be seen on all their other bikes now), so the image here is not an updated one. 

The price has also been updated on the titanium Fargo as well. Up $600.00 since 2019, it is now sitting at $3349.00 for that frame and fork. This brings up some interesting points in regard to marketing and consumer perceptions.

New Fargo logo (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Previously, in year-to-year model changes, a manufacturer could spec a frame and a fork completely differently. Not only that, but frame tubing, (on metal models) could be radically different as well. This allowed price increases to be largely hidden by "the new" stuff and consumers could justify the price based upon a spec sheet. 

The Ti Fargo represents where the bicycle industry would like to go- that being no model years. Changes would only occur when a new model was introduced or significant spec changes made a difference, or both at the same time. This could happen at any point in the year and at whatever interval the company deemed good. So, a bike like the Fargo, which has largely stayed the same since the Gen 5 was introduced back in 2017, is a good example of this. Salsa has stuck to yearly changes, but they have been spec changes only. Plus, those yearly changes haven't always happened at the same time, year to year. 

Salsa's new logo (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Now the Ti Fargo is a completely different beast. This frame and fork have become something of a commodity. This frame and fork have not changed at all since 2019, and then it was only a fork change. So, you can kind of look at the Ti Fargo as a better indicator of market pricing, since the variables in this product are insignificant over the years since its introduction. 

I may be missing something in the press releases over the years. But as far as I can tell, this is the same tube set, same titanium alloy, and the design hasn't changed one iota since 2018. Granting that the fork change for 2019 may be a cause for a higher price from the 2018 model, I'll go from there to now with my comparison. 

The difference? Price had increased $600.00. That's a lot in four years!

Hutchinson Override (Image courtesy of Hutchinson Tires)

Hutchinson Tires Debuts 700 X 50mm Options;

The line between 29"er and "Gravel" is getting blurred every day now it seems. The bicycles can handle 2" tires and the manufacturers are only to happy to have more tire choices to slap into these bikes now. Hutchinson is the latest to bloat their gravel tires up into 29" sizing. 

The Override, Touareg, and the Tundra are all now available in 700c X 50mm sizes. Well.....if you are in Europe, that is. Hutchinson pulled out of the US market over a year or so ago now. Yes, you could order from overseas here. That's likely to cost you a bit more, but I see places where one can order Hutchinson tires from online.

The Hutch Tundra. (Image courtesy of Hutchinson tires)

The Touareg was, and still is, one of my favorite gravel tires. It also happens to be really, really easy to live with as a tubeless tire. In fact, if you were to ever go tubeless for the first time, I would recommend the Touareg as your first foray into tubelessness. It's sooooo easy to use and live with.

 Comments: These fatty gravel tires are probably best suited to bikepacking/light MTB use. A 2" wide tire won't fit on most gravel bikes, but then again....

Maybe what this is signalling is that there is a bigger trend at play here. The "mountain bike-i-fication" of gravel bikes, perhaps? I see more rumblings on the front telescopic fork idea, and with these bikes with bigger clearances and with these tires? 

I think it is completely misguided and wrong, but I don't run the industry. Off-road trails are a lot harder to get to for riding than back roads are, or gravel is here. I'd wager that is the case for most people. Another thing pushing at the other end is the "gravelification" of road bikes. See.... The bicycle industry is all jacked up. I've said it from the beginning- "These bikes, (gravel, if that is what you have to call them by) are the bikes the every-day rider should be using all the time everywhere where there is a road, paved or unpaved, city or country." Let mountain bikes be MTB's and road racing bikes be their deal over there. Most people don't need either one- road racing or MTB. Stop trying to make road racing bikes "gravel" and "gravel" bikes into MTBs. 

Shimano Issues Bleak 2023 Sales Forecast:

After two years of phenomenal sales increases, Shimano issued a statement recently that says it expects sales figures for the cycling and fishing giant to decrease by about 21%, according to a recent report by an industry trade source. In similar news, a recent report filed by Carlton Reid of "Forbes" online reveals that sales in the U.K. are also down, even in the HPC/electrified bicycle segment.

This goes along with everything else the industry experts are saying. The 2023 season will be a bumpy ride for cycling businesses. Already I am seeing more flash sales, 25% and higher discounts, and brands that have never had sales are having sales now. 

Surly Preamble Flat or Drop bar: Image from a Reddit thread

Surly Bikes Intros New Entry Level Bike Called "Preamble":

Early on Wednesday morning I came across an article reviewing a new Surly entry level bike called the "Preamble". This bike was also leaked on a Reddit thread I came across moments later. 

It seems as though these new Surly steeds are based on a steel (of course) frame spec'ed with MicroShift's 9 speed flat bar and drop bar offerings. Other spec choices show a more off-brand, lower end spec, but for the claimed prices, this seems fair. The Preamble Flat Bar was said to be $999.00 for the flat bar and $1249.00 for the drop bar bike. 

Five sizes will be offered and there seems to be a couple of color choices for each model. The frames also are not your typical "Swiss Army Knife" type, versatile frames. Here on the Preamble it looks like a straight-up, basic set of braze-ons supporting the traditional two water bottle, rack, and fender set up. Tire clearances are also not the typical Surly fare with abilities to go 650B or 700c, but limited to 41mm with either diameter, according to the story I saw. 

Another "not-for-consumer's-eyes" document I was able to dig up easily actually gives alternative spec from the two major players in the market with one being an as-yet under embargo component group. Whoops! So, expect more news about the Preamble soon.

Comments: Ever since Quality Bicycle Products Rich Tauer took over the reins of leadership at the company, there has been a big sea change in the QBP brands both in terms of personnel and product offerings. Surly being maybe the most outstanding example here, and some would say, not in a good way. 

You can take that argument anyway you'd like, I have no dog in the fight, but it is not up for debate that Surly has fundamentally changed its tone and feel in terms of the brand. This move, which mirrors much of what Salsa Cycles has done with the Journeyer and Rangefinder, drops the Surly line-up into an easily digestible product for sale to folks wanting to get into the brand. To my way of thinking, it is the product aimed at the same market Salsa went after with REI stores and its Rangefinder/Journeyer lines.
 

That's a wrap for this week! Have a good one and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Friday News And Views

Salsa Cycles Ti Fargo frame set . (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

 Salsa Cycles Ti Fargo For '23:

Monday Salsa Cycles released news that the Ti Fargo was back again for 2023. Besides changing the graphics/logos, nothing else is different here. In fact, this has been the same frame and fork since the 2019 model year. 

My image here is from the last run of the Ti Fargo showing the old logo. The new logo replaces this, (the same "block-ish" logo as can be seen on all their other bikes now), so the image here is not an updated one. 

The price has also been updated on the titanium Fargo as well. Up $600.00 since 2019, it is now sitting at $3349.00 for that frame and fork. This brings up some interesting points in regard to marketing and consumer perceptions.

New Fargo logo (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Previously, in year-to-year model changes, a manufacturer could spec a frame and a fork completely differently. Not only that, but frame tubing, (on metal models) could be radically different as well. This allowed price increases to be largely hidden by "the new" stuff and consumers could justify the price based upon a spec sheet. 

The Ti Fargo represents where the bicycle industry would like to go- that being no model years. Changes would only occur when a new model was introduced or significant spec changes made a difference, or both at the same time. This could happen at any point in the year and at whatever interval the company deemed good. So, a bike like the Fargo, which has largely stayed the same since the Gen 5 was introduced back in 2017, is a good example of this. Salsa has stuck to yearly changes, but they have been spec changes only. Plus, those yearly changes haven't always happened at the same time, year to year. 

Salsa's new logo (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Now the Ti Fargo is a completely different beast. This frame and fork have become something of a commodity. This frame and fork have not changed at all since 2019, and then it was only a fork change. So, you can kind of look at the Ti Fargo as a better indicator of market pricing, since the variables in this product are insignificant over the years since its introduction. 

I may be missing something in the press releases over the years. But as far as I can tell, this is the same tube set, same titanium alloy, and the design hasn't changed one iota since 2018. Granting that the fork change for 2019 may be a cause for a higher price from the 2018 model, I'll go from there to now with my comparison. 

The difference? Price had increased $600.00. That's a lot in four years!

Hutchinson Override (Image courtesy of Hutchinson Tires)

Hutchinson Tires Debuts 700 X 50mm Options;

The line between 29"er and "Gravel" is getting blurred every day now it seems. The bicycles can handle 2" tires and the manufacturers are only to happy to have more tire choices to slap into these bikes now. Hutchinson is the latest to bloat their gravel tires up into 29" sizing. 

The Override, Touareg, and the Tundra are all now available in 700c X 50mm sizes. Well.....if you are in Europe, that is. Hutchinson pulled out of the US market over a year or so ago now. Yes, you could order from overseas here. That's likely to cost you a bit more, but I see places where one can order Hutchinson tires from online.

The Hutch Tundra. (Image courtesy of Hutchinson tires)

The Touareg was, and still is, one of my favorite gravel tires. It also happens to be really, really easy to live with as a tubeless tire. In fact, if you were to ever go tubeless for the first time, I would recommend the Touareg as your first foray into tubelessness. It's sooooo easy to use and live with.

 Comments: These fatty gravel tires are probably best suited to bikepacking/light MTB use. A 2" wide tire won't fit on most gravel bikes, but then again....

Maybe what this is signalling is that there is a bigger trend at play here. The "mountain bike-i-fication" of gravel bikes, perhaps? I see more rumblings on the front telescopic fork idea, and with these bikes with bigger clearances and with these tires? 

I think it is completely misguided and wrong, but I don't run the industry. Off-road trails are a lot harder to get to for riding than back roads are, or gravel is here. I'd wager that is the case for most people. Another thing pushing at the other end is the "gravelification" of road bikes. See.... The bicycle industry is all jacked up. I've said it from the beginning- "These bikes, (gravel, if that is what you have to call them by) are the bikes the every-day rider should be using all the time everywhere where there is a road, paved or unpaved, city or country." Let mountain bikes be MTB's and road racing bikes be their deal over there. Most people don't need either one- road racing or MTB. Stop trying to make road racing bikes "gravel" and "gravel" bikes into MTBs. 

Shimano Issues Bleak 2023 Sales Forecast:

After two years of phenomenal sales increases, Shimano issued a statement recently that says it expects sales figures for the cycling and fishing giant to decrease by about 21%, according to a recent report by an industry trade source. In similar news, a recent report filed by Carlton Reid of "Forbes" online reveals that sales in the U.K. are also down, even in the HPC/electrified bicycle segment.

This goes along with everything else the industry experts are saying. The 2023 season will be a bumpy ride for cycling businesses. Already I am seeing more flash sales, 25% and higher discounts, and brands that have never had sales are having sales now. 

Surly Preamble Flat or Drop bar: Image from a Reddit thread

Surly Bikes Intros New Entry Level Bike Called "Preamble":

Early on Wednesday morning I came across an article reviewing a new Surly entry level bike called the "Preamble". This bike was also leaked on a Reddit thread I came across moments later. 

It seems as though these new Surly steeds are based on a steel (of course) frame spec'ed with MicroShift's 9 speed flat bar and drop bar offerings. Other spec choices show a more off-brand, lower end spec, but for the claimed prices, this seems fair. The Preamble Flat Bar was said to be $999.00 for the flat bar and $1249.00 for the drop bar bike. 

Five sizes will be offered and there seems to be a couple of color choices for each model. The frames also are not your typical "Swiss Army Knife" type, versatile frames. Here on the Preamble it looks like a straight-up, basic set of braze-ons supporting the traditional two water bottle, rack, and fender set up. Tire clearances are also not the typical Surly fare with abilities to go 650B or 700c, but limited to 41mm with either diameter, according to the story I saw. 

Another "not-for-consumer's-eyes" document I was able to dig up easily actually gives alternative spec from the two major players in the market with one being an as-yet under embargo component group. Whoops! So, expect more news about the Preamble soon.

Comments: Ever since Quality Bicycle Products Rich Tauer took over the reins of leadership at the company, there has been a big sea change in the QBP brands both in terms of personnel and product offerings. Surly being maybe the most outstanding example here, and some would say, not in a good way. 

You can take that argument anyway you'd like, I have no dog in the fight, but it is not up for debate that Surly has fundamentally changed its tone and feel in terms of the brand. This move, which mirrors much of what Salsa Cycles has done with the Journeyer and Rangefinder, drops the Surly line-up into an easily digestible product for sale to folks wanting to get into the brand. To my way of thinking, it is the product aimed at the same market Salsa went after with REI stores and its Rangefinder/Journeyer lines.
 

That's a wrap for this week! Have a good one and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

News Flash! QBP Issues Recall For Select Carbon Salsa And Whisky Drop Bars

From social media on 10/7/22.

Friday October 7th, 2022 Quality Bicycle products issued a "Stop Ride/Stop Sale" on carbon drop bars including the Salsa Cowchipper, Cowbell, and Whiskey No 9 12 and 24 carbon flared drop bars. Further information follows provided by Quality Bicycle Products:

"We have received reports indicating that some of these... handle bars have cracked where the brake/shift levers are installed. This has the potential to cause a crash and serious injury to the rider."

 If you believe you have one of the handlebars included in this notice, please stop using them immediately and until further notice. Contact the retailer where you made your purchase if they have not contacted you already.

Whisky team members are working with the larger QBP organization on a resolution to get you back up and riding quickly and safely. We are also working with the Consumer Products Safety Commission and Health Canada to conduct a formal voluntary recall, which will be announced soon.

 See your Salsa Authorized Retailer if you're uncertain whether you have affected product.

• Please contact your Salsa Authorized Retailer so they can collect information about your affected product for future resolution.
  

We sincerely apologize for this situation and any inconvenience it causes. For updates, please visit whiskyparts.com. or salsacycles.com With any questions, please contact QBP via email at recall@qbp.com or at 800-346-3340.

The preceding information is an amalgam of the Salsa and whisky Co recall messages.

News Flash! QBP Issues Recall For Select Carbon Salsa And Whisky Drop Bars

From social media on 10/7/22.

Friday October 7th, 2022 Quality Bicycle products issued a "Stop Ride/Stop Sale" on carbon drop bars including the Salsa Cowchipper, Cowbell, and Whiskey No 9 12 and 24 carbon flared drop bars. Further information follows provided by Quality Bicycle Products:

"We have received reports indicating that some of these... handle bars have cracked where the brake/shift levers are installed. This has the potential to cause a crash and serious injury to the rider."

 If you believe you have one of the handlebars included in this notice, please stop using them immediately and until further notice. Contact the retailer where you made your purchase if they have not contacted you already.

Whisky team members are working with the larger QBP organization on a resolution to get you back up and riding quickly and safely. We are also working with the Consumer Products Safety Commission and Health Canada to conduct a formal voluntary recall, which will be announced soon.

 See your Salsa Authorized Retailer if you're uncertain whether you have affected product.

• Please contact your Salsa Authorized Retailer so they can collect information about your affected product for future resolution.
  

We sincerely apologize for this situation and any inconvenience it causes. For updates, please visit whiskyparts.com. or salsacycles.com With any questions, please contact QBP via email at recall@qbp.com or at 800-346-3340.

The preceding information is an amalgam of the Salsa and whisky Co recall messages.

Friday News And Views

Is The Bicycling Retail/Wholesale Segment Looking At A Whiplash Effect?

Over the past two years supply of bicycles, parts, and accessories has been very spotty, if not dried up altogether. There still are segments of the marketplace still showing holes in inventory. I just tried ordering inner tubes for the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective and came up with nothing, so there is one area that maybe is still in short supply. 

But several signs point to a complete reversal of this supply shortage and many are predicting that within the next six months that the bicycling industry will be sitting on piles of inventory with demand ebbing every day already. 

In fact, many companies are already positioning themselves in a posture of inventory reduction and belt-tightening. Last week, it was widely reported on social media, that Quality Bicycle Products, the largest distributor of bicycle products in North America, was laying off employees. A sign of cost-cutting due to an over-stock situation they may be facing? Possibly. 

Other companies are already running sales on certain items. Trek, for one, is clearing out hybrid bikes and ebikes with a sale that is already in progress. Look for a lot more of this in the coming months and into next season. It sure looks like we're going in whiplash mode- from under stocked to over-stocked- in a big hurry.

Velo Orange Utility Bras & Rack: Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Velo Orange Shows Off New Bar/Rack Idea:

Last week Velo Orange teased a new handle bar and rack idea that is going into production. It's called the Utility Bar and Utility Rack. The handle bar sports a unique through-bolt set up that can accept water bottle cages, or this cool front mini-rack. There will be a flat bar version along with the riser bar version with bars in black or silver. 

Both the handle bar and the rack are made in ChroMoly and you can match up the rack with either the flat or the riser, or use other accessories like Anything Cages, or other racks. There is no set ETA on when these will be available. 

The flat bar version Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Comments: I'm not a big fan of weight "up high" out ahead of the steering axis because it causes "flop" and handling is more of a chore. However; some weight can be tolerated and I think this idea would be okay with me. Obviously, a ChroMoly bar and arck are going to add their own amount of weight up front, but on something like a cargo bike, or on my townie, this makes a lot of sense for errands and the like.

I guess the price will be the determining factor for many, but this is a cool idea, and adds versatility to any bike you use for general purpose riding. Bikepacking? Well, yeah, maybe. I guess I'd be more apt to look at cutting weight where I could on a long-distance tour, and adding a steel based alloy bar and rack might not make as much sense as a standard "rackless" type harness for the handle bar. But again- I still think this is a great idea.  

Lezyne Matrix Air Cage Image courtesy of Lezyne

Anti-Theft Air Tag Accessories From Lezyne:

Every week I see posts on social media from distraught bicycle owners saying that their beloved bike has been nicked. Locks and devices made for bicycle security have been available to help prevent theft in the past, but what if a criminal defeats your security device?

That's where the Apple Air Tag laden Lezyne Matrix accessories might help. A small tracking "Air Tag" is embedded into three accessory items from Lezyne- The Matrix Air Cage, the Matrix Bike Tagger, and the Matrix Saddle Tagger. 

Of course, you have to supply ypur own Air Tag, and you have to buy into Apple's ecosystem to make use of it, but this is something that could help in the event of a theft with recovering a stolen bicycle.

Comments: Cool idea with some limitations, but I see this as a step in the right direction. I can see HPC/motorized micro-mobility devices having this sort of thing built in from the get-go for owners of vehicles like that. But "normally" powered bicycles are probably going to have to be equipped with such devices in the very near future, with bicycle prices being as high as they are. Commuters by bicycle also should be able to add aftermarket devices, like the Lezyne accessories here, which will work with any smartphone. 

If we expect more people to use bicycles in utilitarian ways, this sort of thing needs to be more widely available.

Friday News And Views

Is The Bicycling Retail/Wholesale Segment Looking At A Whiplash Effect?

Over the past two years supply of bicycles, parts, and accessories has been very spotty, if not dried up altogether. There still are segments of the marketplace still showing holes in inventory. I just tried ordering inner tubes for the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective and came up with nothing, so there is one area that maybe is still in short supply. 

But several signs point to a complete reversal of this supply shortage and many are predicting that within the next six months that the bicycling industry will be sitting on piles of inventory with demand ebbing every day already. 

In fact, many companies are already positioning themselves in a posture of inventory reduction and belt-tightening. Last week, it was widely reported on social media, that Quality Bicycle Products, the largest distributor of bicycle products in North America, was laying off employees. A sign of cost-cutting due to an over-stock situation they may be facing? Possibly. 

Other companies are already running sales on certain items. Trek, for one, is clearing out hybrid bikes and ebikes with a sale that is already in progress. Look for a lot more of this in the coming months and into next season. It sure looks like we're going in whiplash mode- from under stocked to over-stocked- in a big hurry.

Velo Orange Utility Bras & Rack: Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Velo Orange Shows Off New Bar/Rack Idea:

Last week Velo Orange teased a new handle bar and rack idea that is going into production. It's called the Utility Bar and Utility Rack. The handle bar sports a unique through-bolt set up that can accept water bottle cages, or this cool front mini-rack. There will be a flat bar version along with the riser bar version with bars in black or silver. 

Both the handle bar and the rack are made in ChroMoly and you can match up the rack with either the flat or the riser, or use other accessories like Anything Cages, or other racks. There is no set ETA on when these will be available. 

The flat bar version Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Comments: I'm not a big fan of weight "up high" out ahead of the steering axis because it causes "flop" and handling is more of a chore. However; some weight can be tolerated and I think this idea would be okay with me. Obviously, a ChroMoly bar and arck are going to add their own amount of weight up front, but on something like a cargo bike, or on my townie, this makes a lot of sense for errands and the like.

I guess the price will be the determining factor for many, but this is a cool idea, and adds versatility to any bike you use for general purpose riding. Bikepacking? Well, yeah, maybe. I guess I'd be more apt to look at cutting weight where I could on a long-distance tour, and adding a steel based alloy bar and rack might not make as much sense as a standard "rackless" type harness for the handle bar. But again- I still think this is a great idea.  

Lezyne Matrix Air Cage Image courtesy of Lezyne

Anti-Theft Air Tag Accessories From Lezyne:

Every week I see posts on social media from distraught bicycle owners saying that their beloved bike has been nicked. Locks and devices made for bicycle security have been available to help prevent theft in the past, but what if a criminal defeats your security device?

That's where the Apple Air Tag laden Lezyne Matrix accessories might help. A small tracking "Air Tag" is embedded into three accessory items from Lezyne- The Matrix Air Cage, the Matrix Bike Tagger, and the Matrix Saddle Tagger. 

Of course, you have to supply ypur own Air Tag, and you have to buy into Apple's ecosystem to make use of it, but this is something that could help in the event of a theft with recovering a stolen bicycle.

Comments: Cool idea with some limitations, but I see this as a step in the right direction. I can see HPC/motorized micro-mobility devices having this sort of thing built in from the get-go for owners of vehicles like that. But "normally" powered bicycles are probably going to have to be equipped with such devices in the very near future, with bicycle prices being as high as they are. Commuters by bicycle also should be able to add aftermarket devices, like the Lezyne accessories here, which will work with any smartphone. 

If we expect more people to use bicycles in utilitarian ways, this sort of thing needs to be more widely available.

Remembering Shenanigans

From 2010's Frostbike 'show'- Back when Frostbike was cool.

 From about 2003 until 2015, I attended the annual Frostbike dealer open house, as it used to be called, every year. In the beginning it was merely a day-trip with my former boss to go see what was new for the coming year in components, mostly, from vendors that Quality Bicycle Products distributed. 

These first few trips to Frostbike were mainly boring affairs as my former boss wasn't very socially adept and really shied away from interactions with 'strangers' that weren't interested in giving him the limelight. Now on occasion he would find a willing subject which he would then assail with half-baked tales of 1980's era crit racing. That was always my cue to escape and ferret out new friends, new stuff, and to just generally poke around. 

Then things changed around about 2006 when I started attending Frostbike on my own. I got the shop invite and just drove up myself and did whatever I wanted. Blogging here and my association with Trans Iowa and "Twentynine Inches.com" gave me access to more people and places. During this time I met Ben Witt, Marty Larson, Jason Boucher, Mike Reimer, and several other QBP people. This was the start of the "Years Of Shenanigans" at Frostbike. And let me tell ya....it was insanity! 

Frostbike generally happened mid-February, so last weekend would probably have been about right, except this year that was Valentine's Day, so maybe this weekend would have been the weekend? I don't know, of course, as I haven't been to Frostbike since 2015. I'm sure QBP's legal and PR departments are quite happy that I no longer come up. Especially after that last year I went! 

Mike, of Mike's Bikes in Northfield, Minnesota, checking out my new Singular Gryphon in 2010

Of course, most of my shenanigans weren't at Frostbike at all, honestly. No, they happened in Northfield, Minnesota at a bike shop which no longer exists anymore called Mike's Bikes. Mike, the owner, was a former resident of San Francisco, (or that vicinity) back in the 70's and worked as a bicycle mechanic during the days of the early klunker experiments. He rode with Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly and had a few great stories about them. He even had his own klunker which he grafted old Shimano disc brakes to! (I saw the pictures)

You may have seen that reproductions of these are available now. Well, these are The Originals! Seen at Mike's Bikes in 2009.

Mike's Bikes was the Center of Shenanigans. Ben, Marty, myself, and usually a few others would gather there on the Friday evening or Saturday evening of Frostbike weekend. Greek style pizzas and lots of beers were brought in. Old collectable bikes were brought out, and a 'track' of sorts was set up. We could speed through Mike's from the front, retail area, through the shop, up a ramp, make a hard left into the storage/office/back room, another hard left through a doorway, down a ramp in a hallway, through another door that was propped open, and then down a longer hallway to the final hard left and back into the retail space. Mike's was all concrete flooring, so grip wasn't an issue and carpeting wasn't going to hold us back either. 

Food + beers + bicycles + inebriated riders going waaaaay too fast = mayhem sometimes. You wouldn't believe how fast we'd get going! It was a blast! Between sessions we'd repair to the back room and drink and yak until we'd all had enough and we would wander off to our beds, for far too little sleep and an early morning. This happened several years and was a big part of why I loved Frostbike weekend.

I got to attend the Grand Opening night of the Angry Catfish bicycle shop.

There were extra-curricular activities as well throughout those years. I was honored to attend several functions, like the opening of the Angry Catfish bicycle shop, and a few "Cutter's Ball" events which were held in various venues. One being the Peacock Groove headquarters. The final shindig was a big affair at a motel in downtown Minneapolis. I remember crashing one shindig for QBP's top dealers held upstairs in the QBP facility. I was snuck in and had to 'hide out' in the cubicle farm with some other "Q" folk until the coast was clear. Good times! 

There were late nights at bars in Northfield, walking around at night through snowy streets as we went from place to place attending affairs and parties. There was the infamous night when I illegally parked Jason Boucher's Honda Element across from One on One Bicycle Studio and got it towed, which cost hundreds of dollars to rectify. There was the assault on the parking ramp, where myself and several others were risking life and limb to short-cut a way to somewhere we thought we needed to be. All at the risk of falling several stories in a concrete jungle. There was the one year when Mrs. Guitar Ted and I ended up driving on a closed to traffic I-35 during an all-out blizzard. But the most notorious dumb deed has to be when I attended Frostbike the last time, and this one ended up being my swan song of sorts. 

About halfway back- I started on 7th downtown Minneapolis!

That would have been my infamous "walking tour of Minneapolis" which I undertook during a snow storm at night in 17° weather wearing nothing but a stocking hat and a red Raleigh Tamland hoodie besides my normal street clothes. 

The situation was that I was to meet Ben Welnak, my then new partner in RidingGravel.com, at the downtown Minneapolis motel where Frostbike was having a big dinner/awards ceremony.  My family came along and we had a motel procured near QBP just off of I-495 in Bloomington, quite a ways South of the 7th and Nicolette area where I was dropped off early in the evening. The family went back to the motel, while the plan for me was to get a ride from Ben after the evening's activities were done.

Well, drinking ensued and Ben had more than enough, and wandered off with a group of folks somewhere when I wasn't looking. I was left with a few acquaintances and figured I better stay put until Ben came back to find me. Well......that never happened. One thing led to another, 'bar time' came and went, people went to their rooms, and I was left alone in a lobby of a strange motel at about 3:00am with no Ben, and no way to get home without incurring the wrath of Mrs. Guitar Ted, who was most likely sleeping by this time. 

So, using my much clouded powers of wisdom, I determined by looking at my dying iPhone with its map app, that I could "easily walk that distance back to the motel!", and so I memorized a basic route, and set off a walkin' South on Nicolette Avenue. Snow, cold, and time to come to my senses eventually shocked me to the reality that I had gotten myself into quite a pickle. My tennis shoe clad feet were getting frozen, my body was in early stages of hypothermia, and the Sun was broaching the Eastern skyline. I was within about a mile or so of my destination by this time though, so I gutted it out and went as far as the infrastructure of interstate roadways would let me. Finally, I had to declare 'no mas!' and I called my wife with my last bit of battery power on the phone. She retrieved me, with a stern scolding,and I got back to the motel by around 8:00am and went directly to sleep. 

I missed the entire first day of Frostbike, since I slept in till about 6:00pm, and I went in on Sunday. People found me and I had several concerned folks giving me what-for and reminding me that I could call for help anytime. Jason Boucher being probably the most adamant in this regard as I remember him poking me in the chest as he admonished me for my previous evening's shenanigans. Word had obviously spread far and wide about "Guitar Ted's Walking Tour of Minneapolis", an approximately 12 mile hike of dubious wisdom overnight in the snow and cold. 

 Yeah, that was a good way to leave it. No more shenanigans at Frostbike for me!

Someday I'll have to do a more thorough retrospective of things I saw at Frostbike. That can wait for another time....

Remembering Shenanigans

From 2010's Frostbike 'show'- Back when Frostbike was cool.

 From about 2003 until 2015, I attended the annual Frostbike dealer open house, as it used to be called, every year. In the beginning it was merely a day-trip with my former boss to go see what was new for the coming year in components, mostly, from vendors that Quality Bicycle Products distributed. 

These first few trips to Frostbike were mainly boring affairs as my former boss wasn't very socially adept and really shied away from interactions with 'strangers' that weren't interested in giving him the limelight. Now on occasion he would find a willing subject which he would then assail with half-baked tales of 1980's era crit racing. That was always my cue to escape and ferret out new friends, new stuff, and to just generally poke around. 

Then things changed around about 2006 when I started attending Frostbike on my own. I got the shop invite and just drove up myself and did whatever I wanted. Blogging here and my association with Trans Iowa and "Twentynine Inches.com" gave me access to more people and places. During this time I met Ben Witt, Marty Larson, Jason Boucher, Mike Reimer, and several other QBP people. This was the start of the "Years Of Shenanigans" at Frostbike. And let me tell ya....it was insanity! 

Frostbike generally happened mid-February, so last weekend would probably have been about right, except this year that was Valentine's Day, so maybe this weekend would have been the weekend? I don't know, of course, as I haven't been to Frostbike since 2015. I'm sure QBP's legal and PR departments are quite happy that I no longer come up. Especially after that last year I went! 

Mike, of Mike's Bikes in Northfield, Minnesota, checking out my new Singular Gryphon in 2010

Of course, most of my shenanigans weren't at Frostbike at all, honestly. No, they happened in Northfield, Minnesota at a bike shop which no longer exists anymore called Mike's Bikes. Mike, the owner, was a former resident of San Francisco, (or that vicinity) back in the 70's and worked as a bicycle mechanic during the days of the early klunker experiments. He rode with Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly and had a few great stories about them. He even had his own klunker which he grafted old Shimano disc brakes to! (I saw the pictures)

You may have seen that reproductions of these are available now. Well, these are The Originals! Seen at Mike's Bikes in 2009.

Mike's Bikes was the Center of Shenanigans. Ben, Marty, myself, and usually a few others would gather there on the Friday evening or Saturday evening of Frostbike weekend. Greek style pizzas and lots of beers were brought in. Old collectable bikes were brought out, and a 'track' of sorts was set up. We could speed through Mike's from the front, retail area, through the shop, up a ramp, make a hard left into the storage/office/back room, another hard left through a doorway, down a ramp in a hallway, through another door that was propped open, and then down a longer hallway to the final hard left and back into the retail space. Mike's was all concrete flooring, so grip wasn't an issue and carpeting wasn't going to hold us back either. 

Food + beers + bicycles + inebriated riders going waaaaay too fast = mayhem sometimes. You wouldn't believe how fast we'd get going! It was a blast! Between sessions we'd repair to the back room and drink and yak until we'd all had enough and we would wander off to our beds, for far too little sleep and an early morning. This happened several years and was a big part of why I loved Frostbike weekend.

I got to attend the Grand Opening night of the Angry Catfish bicycle shop.

There were extra-curricular activities as well throughout those years. I was honored to attend several functions, like the opening of the Angry Catfish bicycle shop, and a few "Cutter's Ball" events which were held in various venues. One being the Peacock Groove headquarters. The final shindig was a big affair at a motel in downtown Minneapolis. I remember crashing one shindig for QBP's top dealers held upstairs in the QBP facility. I was snuck in and had to 'hide out' in the cubicle farm with some other "Q" folk until the coast was clear. Good times! 

There were late nights at bars in Northfield, walking around at night through snowy streets as we went from place to place attending affairs and parties. There was the infamous night when I illegally parked Jason Boucher's Honda Element across from One on One Bicycle Studio and got it towed, which cost hundreds of dollars to rectify. There was the assault on the parking ramp, where myself and several others were risking life and limb to short-cut a way to somewhere we thought we needed to be. All at the risk of falling several stories in a concrete jungle. There was the one year when Mrs. Guitar Ted and I ended up driving on a closed to traffic I-35 during an all-out blizzard. But the most notorious dumb deed has to be when I attended Frostbike the last time, and this one ended up being my swan song of sorts. 

About halfway back- I started on 7th downtown Minneapolis!

That would have been my infamous "walking tour of Minneapolis" which I undertook during a snow storm at night in 17° weather wearing nothing but a stocking hat and a red Raleigh Tamland hoodie besides my normal street clothes. 

The situation was that I was to meet Ben Welnak, my then new partner in RidingGravel.com, at the downtown Minneapolis motel where Frostbike was having a big dinner/awards ceremony.  My family came along and we had a motel procured near QBP just off of I-495 in Bloomington, quite a ways South of the 7th and Nicolette area where I was dropped off early in the evening. The family went back to the motel, while the plan for me was to get a ride from Ben after the evening's activities were done.

Well, drinking ensued and Ben had more than enough, and wandered off with a group of folks somewhere when I wasn't looking. I was left with a few acquaintances and figured I better stay put until Ben came back to find me. Well......that never happened. One thing led to another, 'bar time' came and went, people went to their rooms, and I was left alone in a lobby of a strange motel at about 3:00am with no Ben, and no way to get home without incurring the wrath of Mrs. Guitar Ted, who was most likely sleeping by this time. 

So, using my much clouded powers of wisdom, I determined by looking at my dying iPhone with its map app, that I could "easily walk that distance back to the motel!", and so I memorized a basic route, and set off a walkin' South on Nicolette Avenue. Snow, cold, and time to come to my senses eventually shocked me to the reality that I had gotten myself into quite a pickle. My tennis shoe clad feet were getting frozen, my body was in early stages of hypothermia, and the Sun was broaching the Eastern skyline. I was within about a mile or so of my destination by this time though, so I gutted it out and went as far as the infrastructure of interstate roadways would let me. Finally, I had to declare 'no mas!' and I called my wife with my last bit of battery power on the phone. She retrieved me, with a stern scolding,and I got back to the motel by around 8:00am and went directly to sleep. 

I missed the entire first day of Frostbike, since I slept in till about 6:00pm, and I went in on Sunday. People found me and I had several concerned folks giving me what-for and reminding me that I could call for help anytime. Jason Boucher being probably the most adamant in this regard as I remember him poking me in the chest as he admonished me for my previous evening's shenanigans. Word had obviously spread far and wide about "Guitar Ted's Walking Tour of Minneapolis", an approximately 12 mile hike of dubious wisdom overnight in the snow and cold. 

 Yeah, that was a good way to leave it. No more shenanigans at Frostbike for me!

Someday I'll have to do a more thorough retrospective of things I saw at Frostbike. That can wait for another time....

Review Of Parts Past: Salsa Cycles Shaft Seat Post

Note: Occasionally I will be struck as to the awesomeness of some part or piece that I use on my bicycles. This was the genesis for the idea of "Review Of Parts Past" where I do a review of a piece or part I use that, perhaps, is no longer in production or that I feel deserves more notice. 

Today I am going to feature my all-time favorite seat post, the Salsa Cycles Shaft Seat Post. There are other pretty good seat posts out there, some okay ones, and a whole lot of really frustrating, bad designs.  The Shaft post, which was designed by Ross Shafer, the founder of Salsa Cycles, was mainly sold through the company that bought the Salsa Cycles brand, Quality Bicycle Products. Most of those being sold as stock equipment on Salsa Cycles bikes. Although many were sold as aftermarket purchases. They were available in black anodized and silver anodized aluminum, for the most part, although the predominant color you will see is black. Other than this, the Shaft Post was available in most popular sizes of the 00's, when most of these posts were manufactured. Quality stopped production of the Shaft seat post around 2012, near as I can tell. There may have been store stock on some sizes for a few years afterward.

Salsa replaced the Shaft with their "Guide" post, which was a box stock, typical two bolt design. Nothing to write home about. They did come out with the Regulator Ti Post, which is completely different in design, has a quirky clamp design which isn't quite as nice as the Shaft, and is uber-spendy at $275.00 a pop. (I happen to have a few of those as well)

The Shaft Post wasn't flashy, particularly lightweight, or really all that compliant, but that clamp design! This is a 31.6mm sample.

What makes the Shaft so brilliant isn't what most people think about in regard to a seat post. Most folks want their post to be (1) lightweight and (2) looking good. Some may consider the post compliance in terms of ride feel, but beyond that, who cares, right? Well, yeah.......until you have to remove and replace a saddle. And how about adjustments? Those can be nightmarish with other posts, disregarding saddle mounting altogether.

This is where the design of the Shaft post comes in. It is, by far and away, the single most simple, easy to use seat post clamp design ever. I have worked with a ton of seat posts, and nothing comes close to the ease of saddle mounting and set up that the Shaft Seat Post design has. Nothing.

One, humongous 6 millimeter bolt handles the clamping duties.

The Shaft utilizes a three bolt adjustment design where each bolt does a different job. The first bolt used to mount the saddle is underneath the clamp. It is a 6mm behemoth of a bolt, and by loosening this, you can get the upper part of the clamp to swivel out of the way allowing you to easily place your perch of choice on the lower cradle/clamp part. Tighten this down and, being that it is a 6mm bolt, you can torque it down pretty good. (Recommended 60-70 inch/lbs) That saddle isn't sliding back, or loosening. Ever. That clamp is beefy and works well.

The upper bolt clamps the eccentric, and when loosened, allows adjustment, the bottom one loosens or tightens the axis of the tilt, allowing adjustment when it is loosened.

Saddle angle adjustment is done brilliantly by using a pivot point and a small eccentric controlled by a bolt, and adjusted with a 5mm hex key. When the bolt directly beneath the cradle is loosened, and the 6mm bolt that clamps the eccentric is loosened, you can adjust the tilt angle infinitely within the eccentric's range with a 5mm hex key from the non-driveside. Then when you are finished you tighten both 6mm bolts to a recommended 50-60 inch/lbs.

The tilt adjustment is made by using a 5mm hex key in the according hex pocket in the eccentric.

So, here is why I love this design. First, it should be apparent that you can remove and replace your saddle without disturbing the tilt adjustment, and you can adjust tilt adjustment without the saddle placement being disturbed. Adjustments are "infinitely" made, not pre-determined by a notched cradle, or the like. You can adjust fore and aft adjustment simply by loosening the 6mm clamp bolt under the cradle just enough to allow the saddle to slide in the cradle too. Plus, as I mentioned, saddle removal and replacement is dead simple.

This has made swapping saddles and swapping seatpost/saddle combinations from bike to bike super easy and in a way that is not at all frustrating. Maybe this is not a big deal to many with one or two bicycles, but with as many as I have, it is a boon to me and makes my life far easier.

Okay, the Shaft Seat Post wasn't very sexy looking, and it had setback, which not everyone can handle. It wasn't all that lightweight either, and with all that going on with the clamp, you sometimes will get creaking. A simple cleaning generally quiets these posts down though, so no big deal to me. But yeah..... I get it.

Still, I appreciate the design and I won't be getting rid of any of my Shaft seat posts any time soon. I have several, mostly in the 27.2mm size. It's too bad that they discontinued these, but rumor has it that Mr. Shafer got a penny or two for the design, and QBP wasn't about continuing that arrangement, so the Shaft post was never developed further or produced after 2012 or so. A shame if true. Such a great design there.