Friday News And Views

The FN&V Returns!

Honeman Flyer Gets Redshift:

Yes.....this is the third seatpost that this bike has had in less than three months. I know.... But this is all in the name of testing, and I think that this may be the last time I swap  out a seat post on this bike for a long while. 

It is a Redshift Sports seat post, a new one, and it will be "officially" launched next week. That said, you can find it on their website already if you are interested. I haven't been "unleashed" on this just yet. 

I also got in a ShockStop Pro stem for this bike and that I can say is a component that I recommend highly. I have hand issues and these ShockStop stems really help me a lot. (I talk a little bit about the ShockStop Pro stem in this post.) I rode this set up in Kansas and around here. I will have the opening review in a week. Stay tuned....

Image courtesy of Panaracer

Panaracer Announces Colored Tires For 2024:

For several years now Panaracer has run a limited edition set of Gravel King tires in various colors. This year's models are offered in a "Matcha Green" and in purple with either a skin wall or black wall.

The Gravel King SK, Gravel King X1, and the Gravel King SS in 40mm or 45mm sizes are the tires in the color program this time. If you want a set, it would be best to jump on this sooner than later as they tend to sell out fast.  

Comments: I often see these and think colored tires are a cool idea then I think about the ones I've seen "in the wild" and how dingy they appear. Then I also think about all that color on my bike. That's a lot of dingy, fading color that you have to live with until the tire wears out or you just cannot take it anymore. Then I realize this isn't for me. But if it trips your trigger, well then.....

Image courtesy of Merry Sales

Nerd Alert: IRD Front Derailleur Fiddler:

Have you ever had a situation where you were trying to set up a bicycle with a different crankset and realized that your front derailleur did not travel outward enough to get the chain onto the big ring? Well, if you've been there, you know what I am talking about. It seems that IRD may have a solution for this issue in some instances.

They call it the "Front Derailleur Fiddler". Essentially it is a mount for a "braze on" type front derailleur with a slotted mount which allows for lateral placement of the derailleur over the chain rings. 

Use Example: Let's say you've got an old late 80's/early 90's steel hybrid bike that you are trying to use as a flat bar gravel rig. You need to use this old Campy stuff you have laying around. Assuming the front derailleur is a braze on type, this doohickey will allow you to set that derailleur up so it clears the 42mm tires you are using and still get the chain in the big ring. Boom! 

Something like that, anyway. Obviously this won't solve every use scenario, but it might open up more possibilities for creative drive train use. Thanks IRD! 

Image courtesy of Fulcrum

Fulcrum Unviels New "SHARQ" Wheels:

Yesterday Fulcrum debuted a new all-roads wheel set with a very unique wavy rim profile. Dubbed "SHARQ" the rims feature a new wind-cheating design which Fulcrum has named "2-Wave". 

From Fulcrum's press release we learn that Fulcrum has experimented with rim profiles and the result was that they have a rim that blends the desired traits of reactivity, comfort, and aerodynamics in the best balance of those possible. 

The rim profile varies from 42mm - 47mm and is formed in a way which reduces drag and resistance in crosswinds by a claimed 21% in winds from 0° - 10° and an astounding claim of a 30% reduction in resistance in winds from 10° to 20°. These benchmarks were measured against wheels with similar profile depths. 

The set weighs in at a claimed 1440 grams. The inner rim width is a gravel-friendly 25mm. As with all Fulcrum wheels, the inner rim well is not pierced by spoke holes and does not require tubeless rim tape to be used with tubeless ready tires. The rim also features a "mini-hook" design.

The SHARQ wheels use a proprietary bladed spoke developed by Fulcrum and manufactured in Europe. In fact, all components making up the SHARQ wheels are either made in-house by Fulcrum or by their European based partners with full control over the process exercised by Fulcrum. Back to the spokes: These spokes are 3mm X 0.8mm  and have a special flattened base which interfaces with the Fulcrum hubs so that any twisting of the spokes is prevented. The hubs use ceramic bearings which are cup and cone style. The hubs are through axle design with an adjustment ring to achieve maximum free rolling of the wheels with correct bearing preload. 

The rear hub can be had in the following freehub standards: N3W (Campy), Shimano HG, Shimano Microspline, and SRAM XDR. Cost in USD is set at $2,807.0 and these wheels are available from Fulcrum dealers now. 

Comments: Aero is a trend in gravel and the recently run Unbound showed that in spades. This wheelset was used at Unbound with success. I've been saying for years that "aero" is a thing in gravel and yes - even at slower speeds that us plebeians ride at. Yes - aero wheels are expensive, but with the competition in pre-built wheels being so intense, and with how gravel is still a top category in cycling, my suspicion is that you will begin to see very well designed aero wheels for gravel coming in at much less than these SHARQ wheels cost. 

Image courtesy of Payson McElveen's Instagram

Big Tires For Gravel:

One of the notable trends coming out of Unbound was the use of 700c X 50mm+ tires on fast, carbon, aero gravel bikes in the Pro field. Payson McElveen's example is shown here with a big 29"er XC tire up front and what looks like a 700c X 50mm Maxxis Rambler out back. 

Unbound's sharp chert rock maybe an extreme example where bigger tires make sense. (Note - Big tires have always made sense in the Flint Hills) However; will big, XC 29"er type tires be the rubber of choice for the masses?

In recent years, the 40mm - 42mm tire seemed to be the happy place for most folks. Then wider 45mm - 47mm tires came about and then people started to catch on to the benefits of bigger rubber on gravel and dirt roads. 

If what I am hearing is true, and if what I am noticing is a sign, you will start to see 45mm tires be the "standard" for gravel with a lot more instances where 50mm wide tires are available in similar tread patterns. Bikes will clear 2.1" tires as a normal thing, and drive trains, wheels, and geometries will adapt accordingly. I think you will start to see less tire offerings under 40mm in width too. The focus is shifting to wider, and while you may think, "Hey! Just get a XC hard tail mountain bike!", this trend is not going away. (By the way, have you noticed XC hard tail MTB's are showing up now with 2.4" rubber?)

Image for the podcast by GCHoF'er Linda Guerete

Episode #49: "Postcards From Emporia":

We just dropped a new episode of the Guitar Ted Podcast for everyone to enjoy. In this hour long session N.Y. Roll and I discuss the Unbound Gravel event, (possibly the best weather year ever), and we get into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame inductees for 2024. You can listen HERE or get the podcast from wherever you get your podcasts from.

I also get into a bit of a rant concerning the way nomination submissions are done with the GCHoF. I feel that, as I wrote here last week, that if we are relying on stories to be uncovered, both historical and impactful to gravel that should be celebrated and preserved, and if we are relying on those submissions to come from an uninformed pool of people who mostly aren't good at telling stories, then we will have limited submissions that truly belong in the GCHoF. 

I think there will be a change in how the GCHoF handles things in the future. That's just my opinion there. To the Board's credit, they are discussing and considering all forms of positive feedback and critiques on their ways of doing things. The GCHoF will evolve, and I believe the people behind the GCHoF will steer this thing into a better place as time goes on. I don't "know" anything about changes in the future for the GCHoF, I just believe they will do what is best in the future based upon the people involved in the GCHoF.
 

That's a wrap on this week's news and views. Have a great weekend and thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

Something New For The Honeman Flyer

Will the third post be the charm?

 Back at Sea Otter Redshift Sports soft launched a new Shock Stop seat post and they asked if I wanted to try it out before the "official" launch in June. Of course, I said 'yes', and now I have that and another Shock Stop Pro Stem to use. The question was, what bike will these go on? 

Well, that didn't take long to figure out as I contemplated some goals for this Summer. One of those goals is to ride a century on a single speed. There isn't any question which single speed I have that would be chosen for the accomplishment of this goal. I will definitely be using the Honeman Flyer. 

 There will be a proper review of the new post in due time. As for now, I will focus on talking about the ride I want to do with these Redshift parts and this bike. I will add that Redshift Sports sent the new post and stem at no charge for testing and review.

Right now the schedule is to go do the GCHoF ride in Emporia next week. Then on June 15th there is the "Victory Ride" which I want to use the Honeman Flyer for as well. Then after that I may have a spot open for a bit to do a single speed century. All of those previous rides to a planned century on the single speed should help me to dial in the Redshift stuff to perfection.

It has been a "seat post saga" with this new single speed, but hopefully that nonsense will be behind me now. There was nothing at all wrong with that PRO Discover post, but for a really long ride in the saddle I know that Redshift post will work wonders. The clamp bolt for that garish red anodized clamp got a bit rounded out, so that got replaced as well recently. All that should make for a slip-free ride when I do get out again on the single speed. 

More soon...

Friday News And Views

Luke Hoffman, Executive Director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. (Image courtesy of the IBC)

 Iowa Bicycle Coalition Hires New Executive Director:

Recently the Iowa Bicycle Coalition announced the hire of Luke Hoffman to fill its Executive Director position after former Executive Director, Mark Wyatt announced his departure. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition, an organization that promotes safe cycling in Iowa, educational programs, policy change at the government level, and growing a support community amongst cyclists in Iowa, now looks to Mr. Hoffman to drive these initiatives. 

Hoffman, a life-long cyclists from Iowa, will transition into the executive Director role with the aid of former Executive Director, Mark Wyatt who is staying on briefly to smooth out the change in leadership. Hoffman is already hard at work learning about the influencers and important issues in the Iowa cycling scene. 

Comments: The Iowa Bicycle Coalition mostly has been felt, in my experience, as the organization that implements changes at the Iowa Statehouse level through lobbying. The organizer also generally has a big presence at the Iowa Bicycle Expo, with their Iowa Bicycle Summit, usually held in January in Des Moines, Iowa. I spoke at the Iowa Bicycle Summit in 2017. 

Mr. Hoffman has already reached out to me, which I found pretty impressive since I don't generally see myself as being "that big of a deal", which...... I probably should, but I don't, generally, so the call caught me by surprise a bit. But since I've started working at The Cedar Valley Bicycle collective my aims have been more in alignment with what the Coalition is all about, so this is a good thing. 

Good luck to Mr. Hoffman in his endeavors! I loo forward to possibly meeting him at some point in the future. 

Time to dig back into this.

Second (Third? Fourth?) Chances:

You may not have noticed but I have not been using a GPS computer for cycling since early Summer. Boy! I gotta say that the rides I have gotten in have been just fine without that frustrating device. 

But a recent chat with a local runner in the Cedar Valley has me thinking I need to either figure this out or move on and never be a part of you folks that use GPS stuff. Well....at least not until things get figured out better.

See, the local runner, unprompted by myself, brought up a lot of the same things that drives me nuts about GPS units. His experiences were very similar to mine, plus he had some that were maybe more related to running that I did not have experiences with. 

But the chat did serve to bring to mind that I need to definitively figure out where I am headed in the near future. Either I use these things or I do not. I want to make up my mind and move on. The issue cannot be left undecided or I will end up wondering "what if" and that's no good. 

So, here are a few reasons I do not need GPS: Training, racing, navigation, data, and communication. I can do all of that stuff without a GPS at all. Would GPS computers like the Wahoo I have make things easier? Maybe..... It hasn't so far though. 

You might be thinking that I definitely need a GPS to do an event with. No, not really, I don't. While it is true that many race courses guidance is only provided via GPS, those tracks are almost always made available far ahead of the event on sites like Ride With GPS, and guess what? You can download cues for those, or, most likely, I'd write my own up and use the hard copy during the event. 

Oh yeah, and I don't do Strava or anything like that. I find that to be totally uninteresting. 

You might think that a GPS computer distance data would be more accurate than my hard-wired computer. Actually, that answer is "no" as well. Even my running friend, who used a traditional distance roll-out device to set up a quarter mile interval training route, has seen GPS not get the 1/4 mile splits correct on several other runners GPS units. And my roll-out measurement on my computer yields results that have consistently been dead-on with Iowa DOT mile markers. So, no- you don't need a GPS for that either. 

So the scales are tipped heavily against GPS in my view. Not only that, but I still have not been able to get one to work consistently well enough to be convinced otherwise. But I am going to try again. Stay tuned....

Speaking Of Technology...

The landscape for logistics for long, ultra-endurance events is changing due to technology. It's something that seems obvious when you stop to think about it. 

Maybe the pandemic put this sort of an idea on people's radar, but whatever it was, finding food and water became a heck of a lot easier than ever. It used to be that if you missed a store during open hours you were out of luck. But not anymore!

Riders have figured out how to leverage technology to gain an advantage over the long distance cycling challenges which are "self-supported" type events. Phone apps are one way this is being done. 

Call ahead and have an order placed outside in a bag with your name on it. Boom! When you get there, you have some savory vittles and maybe water waiting for you. Of course, it's risky. The village mutt might take advantage of your late arrival, but hey! It's take that risk or go without. 

Want to geek out on exactly how far down a rabit hole people go with regard to this? Check out THIS LINK and be amazed. Heck, I don't even understand half of that! It does reinforce my assertion that people will find every way possible to make an event easier within the rules, and sometimes outside of them.

Redshift Sports Expands Seatpost Offerings:

Redshift Sports makes a nice suspension seat post, but it only came in one diameter- 27.2mm. Well, now that will no longer be the case going forward. 

Redshift ShockStop Seatposts will now come in a few popular sizes and in some longer lengths. This should be of particular interest to fat bikers who ride in Winter on post-holed trails as this sort of seat post will totally change your riding. 

It should be noted that some of the sizes will not come into stock until late December of this year and January of 2024. You can check these out HERE. Note- This is the original ShockStop seatpost. The "PRO" model does not come in any other size but 27.2mm. 

Comments: Besides my take on these posts for snow riding with fat bikes, the ShockStop seatpost is a really well done suspension post. I like that the original is adjustable. You can make it really compliant or stiffen it up as much as you'd probably ever need to. (I mean, if you're going to make it nearly rigid, why bother at all) 

These are also a great post for bikes that do not have a lot of exposed seat post and allow some "give" to those riders with bikes like that which you wouldn't otherwise have available to you. Of course, these aren't for everyone, but this is a nice expansion in offerings for a suspension seat post in terms of sizes.

That's all for this week! Have a great weekend and get out for a ride if you can!

Randomonium

  NOTE: Okay folks, if you haven't been around long enough here to know what a "Randomonium" post is, then here is the deal. I ramble, rant, and randomly moan about all things cycling in one, incohesive, bizarre post. "Randomonium", okay?

The refreshed Standard Rando v2

Standard Rando v2/Single Speed Wheel Update:

The refreshing of, and rebuilding of wheels for, the Standard Rando v2 is now complete. The final piece of the puzzle came in last week and I was able to get in a decent test ride before the cold came back again. 

To recap: I wanted a single speed specific wheel for the Standard Rando v2 since my Turkey Burn ride last November. That metric century ride proved to me beyond a doubt that I wanted to stick with single speed for this bike. 

Originally, back in 2020, when I got this bike, I was intending for it to be a geared bike, but what with the pandemic and all, I was fortunate to just get it up and running as a single speed. I left things as is and well, that is how it is going to be. 

So, instead of tying up a geared rear wheel on a single speed that would never see gears, I decided I needed a new wheel set. That prompted the purchase of a Paul rear single speed WORD hub with the through axle for the Standard Rando's 12mm through axle rear end. I inadvertently ordered a 32 spoke hole hub instead of a 28 hole drilling, as I had intended, because I had a set of 28 hole Velocity Blunt SS rims sitting in the Lab waiting to be laced to something. 

So, I ordered up a 32 hole Blunt SS rim. I had the spokes on hand and in the right colors to do my "Guitar Ted Signature" build which is black spokes on one side and silver on the other, reversed for the other wheel. So- Drive side rear = black, drive side front = silver, reversed for non-drive side. I dunno why.....I just think it looks cool! 

I am pretty sure every spoke is double butted and all have brass nipples. The front is something of an oddball. I have the original wheel set - well.....I had it, now one part is modified! Anyway, the front wheel rim, one side of the spokes, and the hub was a part of the Noble GX-5's original build. I took out the black spokes on one side and replaced them with silver, and boom! Done!

The rim is a Stan's Grail and the hub is a Stan's 'vanilla', average front hub. No big deal that they do not match because from five feet away, you cannot tell the difference. Maybe some day I'll get another Blunt SS and relace that, but I doubt I will. At any rate, I still have a good pair of Blunt SS rims waiting for hubs and spokes instead of one lone rim with no mate. 

Finally, I had to get a single speed freewheel. I really wanted to get a White Industries one, but I don't have White Industries money to spend at the moment, so I got an Origin 8 'Black Ops' 20T free wheel, (It's just s Far East free wheel, but a pretty good one) and put that on. We will see how long it hold up to Iowa gravel!  More soon.....

Testing the Redshift Sports ShockStop Pro post here.

Redshift ShockStop Pro Post Thoughts So Far...

I'm reviewing this for Riding Gravel (Standard Disclaimer applies) and while it looks like the post I reviewed previously here, it is almost nothing like that post. It is a very different experience. In that linked review I state that this post 'isolates the rider from vibrations'. This version does not seem to be the same in that manner. I'm still not sure what level of damping, if any, is going on here. 

It also does not feel 'floaty' at all. The previous ShockStop post I tried does kind of, well.....suspend you. It is a suspension seat post, after all. The coil spring sags under your weight until the spring rate supports you and you are kind of disconnected from the rest of the bike at that point. Full suspension mountain bike riders will be quite familiar with this feeling. It may be quite disconcerting for road riders or new-to-the-sport people. It does feel odd at first. 

But this post, which has one stock spring rate which is not user adjustable, does not do that. Nothing of the sort, so it feels more like a standard post. Now at that point, my mind is thinking 'why not just use a flexible standard post, like the Whiskey Carbon, or PRO Carbon Dyneema posts that I like so well?'

And there is the conundrum I am faced with sorting out at the moment. Is the Redshift Sports ShockStop Pro 'not worth it', or is it a 'bad design'? NO! It is a really well executed design and does work, but my question I have to answer is for which riders, and to what degree does this post complete its mission? I don't know the answers to those questions yet.

More ride time. That's what I need here.......

A 420mm axle to crown fork on my Blackbuck circa 2008.

More On Forks & Their Effects On Bikes:

 Last week's Ghost Grappler introduction cracked open the can-o-worms again concerning how fork length and offset can dramatically affect handling. This was because the Ghost Grappler, ("GG" from here on out), has a short (420mm) rigid fork with 50mm offset and that fork, the "Dinner Fork", is available aftermarket. 

I was asked in the comments about how such a fork would work on a 29'er. I said "Not very well", and that I had tried this. Well, today I bring you my examples.

In January of 2008 I got my OS Bikes Blackbuck and later that year I tried 8 different forks on it, all of which had different offsets and axle to crown lengths. In my testing I used the same wheels, tires, and I strove to keep the cockpit the same across all the set ups. (Which was a whole nuther story) This was to eliminate as many variables as I could. 

The Blackbuck with its stock rigid fork.

I'll spare you all the techno-mumbo-jumbo and cut to the chase. The shortest forks I tried were both 420mm axle to crown. The Black Ops was a cabon/aluminum composite fork with (if I recall correctly) 38mm offset. The Blackbuck fork, (came with the frame), had a 51mm offset. Both forks resulted in a waaaaaay steep 74° head angle. It was the offsets that were the diference maker. 

And boy! What a difference! That Black Ops fork was dead feeling and handled very weirdly. I did not like it at all. The Blackbuck fork was razor-sharp quick. You had to be on your "P's and Q's" to ride it. One moment of broken concentration and you were on your butt off the side of the trail. 

Neither was what I would call 'ideal' to ride. So, how does that relate to this GG fork- the Dinner Fork? Well, it has the same axle to crown as the two forks I tested 14 years ago. But it leans more towards the Blackbuck fork I have, with its 50mm offset than it does in regard to that old Black Ops fork. So, on most 29"er hard tails with shorter stock forks, you'd end up with 'crit bike' handling and a nervousness on technical terrain that would require maximum concentration to control. On a longer forked, 'modern-day' trail bike? No. Just no.... Those bikes are made to have LONG forks on them. Like 500mm and longer axle to crown forks, so a 420mm fork would be, almost, unrideable. 

So, unless your 29"er was made to have a 470mm or shorter fork stock, I'd forget about the GG fork as an option. That's my take.

Want more about forks? Let me know in the comments. 

That's it for today, thank you for reading!

Randomonium

  NOTE: Okay folks, if you haven't been around long enough here to know what a "Randomonium" post is, then here is the deal. I ramble, rant, and randomly moan about all things cycling in one, incohesive, bizarre post. "Randomonium", okay?

The refreshed Standard Rando v2

Standard Rando v2/Single Speed Wheel Update:

The refreshing of, and rebuilding of wheels for, the Standard Rando v2 is now complete. The final piece of the puzzle came in last week and I was able to get in a decent test ride before the cold came back again. 

To recap: I wanted a single speed specific wheel for the Standard Rando v2 since my Turkey Burn ride last November. That metric century ride proved to me beyond a doubt that I wanted to stick with single speed for this bike. 

Originally, back in 2020, when I got this bike, I was intending for it to be a geared bike, but what with the pandemic and all, I was fortunate to just get it up and running as a single speed. I left things as is and well, that is how it is going to be. 

So, instead of tying up a geared rear wheel on a single speed that would never see gears, I decided I needed a new wheel set. That prompted the purchase of a Paul rear single speed WORD hub with the through axle for the Standard Rando's 12mm through axle rear end. I inadvertently ordered a 32 spoke hole hub instead of a 28 hole drilling, as I had intended, because I had a set of 28 hole Velocity Blunt SS rims sitting in the Lab waiting to be laced to something. 

So, I ordered up a 32 hole Blunt SS rim. I had the spokes on hand and in the right colors to do my "Guitar Ted Signature" build which is black spokes on one side and silver on the other, reversed for the other wheel. So- Drive side rear = black, drive side front = silver, reversed for non-drive side. I dunno why.....I just think it looks cool! 

I am pretty sure every spoke is double butted and all have brass nipples. The front is something of an oddball. I have the original wheel set - well.....I had it, now one part is modified! Anyway, the front wheel rim, one side of the spokes, and the hub was a part of the Noble GX-5's original build. I took out the black spokes on one side and replaced them with silver, and boom! Done!

The rim is a Stan's Grail and the hub is a Stan's 'vanilla', average front hub. No big deal that they do not match because from five feet away, you cannot tell the difference. Maybe some day I'll get another Blunt SS and relace that, but I doubt I will. At any rate, I still have a good pair of Blunt SS rims waiting for hubs and spokes instead of one lone rim with no mate. 

Finally, I had to get a single speed freewheel. I really wanted to get a White Industries one, but I don't have White Industries money to spend at the moment, so I got an Origin 8 'Black Ops' 20T free wheel, (It's just s Far East free wheel, but a pretty good one) and put that on. We will see how long it hold up to Iowa gravel!  More soon.....

Testing the Redshift Sports ShockStop Pro post here.

Redshift ShockStop Pro Post Thoughts So Far...

I'm reviewing this for Riding Gravel (Standard Disclaimer applies) and while it looks like the post I reviewed previously here, it is almost nothing like that post. It is a very different experience. In that linked review I state that this post 'isolates the rider from vibrations'. This version does not seem to be the same in that manner. I'm still not sure what level of damping, if any, is going on here. 

It also does not feel 'floaty' at all. The previous ShockStop post I tried does kind of, well.....suspend you. It is a suspension seat post, after all. The coil spring sags under your weight until the spring rate supports you and you are kind of disconnected from the rest of the bike at that point. Full suspension mountain bike riders will be quite familiar with this feeling. It may be quite disconcerting for road riders or new-to-the-sport people. It does feel odd at first. 

But this post, which has one stock spring rate which is not user adjustable, does not do that. Nothing of the sort, so it feels more like a standard post. Now at that point, my mind is thinking 'why not just use a flexible standard post, like the Whiskey Carbon, or PRO Carbon Dyneema posts that I like so well?'

And there is the conundrum I am faced with sorting out at the moment. Is the Redshift Sports ShockStop Pro 'not worth it', or is it a 'bad design'? NO! It is a really well executed design and does work, but my question I have to answer is for which riders, and to what degree does this post complete its mission? I don't know the answers to those questions yet.

More ride time. That's what I need here.......

A 420mm axle to crown fork on my Blackbuck circa 2008.

More On Forks & Their Effects On Bikes:

 Last week's Ghost Grappler introduction cracked open the can-o-worms again concerning how fork length and offset can dramatically affect handling. This was because the Ghost Grappler, ("GG" from here on out), has a short (420mm) rigid fork with 50mm offset and that fork, the "Dinner Fork", is available aftermarket. 

I was asked in the comments about how such a fork would work on a 29'er. I said "Not very well", and that I had tried this. Well, today I bring you my examples.

In January of 2008 I got my OS Bikes Blackbuck and later that year I tried 8 different forks on it, all of which had different offsets and axle to crown lengths. In my testing I used the same wheels, tires, and I strove to keep the cockpit the same across all the set ups. (Which was a whole nuther story) This was to eliminate as many variables as I could. 

The Blackbuck with its stock rigid fork.

I'll spare you all the techno-mumbo-jumbo and cut to the chase. The shortest forks I tried were both 420mm axle to crown. The Black Ops was a cabon/aluminum composite fork with (if I recall correctly) 38mm offset. The Blackbuck fork, (came with the frame), had a 51mm offset. Both forks resulted in a waaaaaay steep 74° head angle. It was the offsets that were the diference maker. 

And boy! What a difference! That Black Ops fork was dead feeling and handled very weirdly. I did not like it at all. The Blackbuck fork was razor-sharp quick. You had to be on your "P's and Q's" to ride it. One moment of broken concentration and you were on your butt off the side of the trail. 

Neither was what I would call 'ideal' to ride. So, how does that relate to this GG fork- the Dinner Fork? Well, it has the same axle to crown as the two forks I tested 14 years ago. But it leans more towards the Blackbuck fork I have, with its 50mm offset than it does in regard to that old Black Ops fork. So, on most 29"er hard tails with shorter stock forks, you'd end up with 'crit bike' handling and a nervousness on technical terrain that would require maximum concentration to control. On a longer forked, 'modern-day' trail bike? No. Just no.... Those bikes are made to have LONG forks on them. Like 500mm and longer axle to crown forks, so a 420mm fork would be, almost, unrideable. 

So, unless your 29"er was made to have a 470mm or shorter fork stock, I'd forget about the GG fork as an option. That's my take.

Want more about forks? Let me know in the comments. 

That's it for today, thank you for reading!

Here We Go! Gravel Worlds Prep On The MCD

Gotta Know Where To Go!

Okay, I had something cleared up this past weekend which was necessary to know what I was going to be doing at the upcoming Gravel Worlds event in Lincoln, Nebraska. I was going either way, it was just a question of for what purpose. That's all I'm a'gunna say 'bout that. I just mention this because I wasn't going to post about Gravel Worlds prep until I had that hurdle cleared. Now that my purpose is clear, I am going to discuss my rig here for my attempt at finishing this 150 mile beast of a ride. 

First off, you probably inferred by my "Water Carriers" posts that something was up, and this is it. Gravel Worlds! I needed to have the ability to carry enough fluids to get from place to place on the route and not be in a deficit. Well, as you know, that has been addressed. 

So, here we have the 'rest of the story', so to speak. First up is navigation. I already showed off my home made cue sheet holder, and the next order of business from a navigational point of view was to get some way to count down the miles so I could follow cue sheets. Now, yes- Gravel Worlds has downloadable GPS navigation for their courses. But the thing is- I do not own a GPS unit that allows me to follow a course. My Lezyne computer is kind of a dinosaur in that you have to have your phone linked up to it to be able to use turn-by-turn navigation, which I always thought was bogus. So, I never bothered to ever try it out. Heck, sometimes I leave my phone at home. I like it that way. So, having to tether my phone to a navigation device seemed dumb to my way of thinking. 

Anyway, so I needed to go the old school route, and thankfully Gravel Worlds does cues yet. Otherwise, honestly- I probably wouldn't go. Any event that assumes you will have an expensive piece of gear to be able to come to their event is not my kind of event. Nuff said.....  

Okay, so I have this Sigma computer on there, and it is a wireless unit, so we'll see how that goes. As long as it counts mileage, it will make my job easier. That and tell me the time, (which I don't really need now since I wear an Apple watch) - that's all I need. So, I'm good to go there once I get the cues from Gravel Worlds and print them out. Elevation gain? Who really cares? It is what it is. Ya gotta ride the course and whatever hills they put in there. Doesn't really matter now or afterward what the numbers are to me. It'll be hard, I know that!

The KOM Tube Strap

Next up we have a storage solution in the KOM Tube Strap. It is a new product for KOM Cycling which they are having me review for RidingGravel.com. I figured Gravel Worlds might make for a good testing ground. (*Standard disclaimer- I am not being paid for this mention, got the product for free, etc....) The idea came to me to try this for Gravel Worlds when I eschewed the idea of using a seat bag and found my Top Tube Garage Bag was getting a bit crowded. I realized this Tube Strap thing-a-ma jig just might clear up some space, if I could figure out where to put it. I tried the obvious- the seat post- but my thighs grazed it and that is a definite no-go with me! But hanging from the top tube? Hmm... 

I tried that and it was a winner. Now, I may not carry what I have in it now- a tube, tire lever, CO2 cartridge inflation system- but I do need to have a spare tube, the tire levers, and I think I'll be throwing on a Stan's NoTubes DART tool. That should do it there.

I could have gone with one of the three tool rolls I have on review, but for some reason I just do not want to do that for Gravel Worlds. I really wanted to keep anything off the saddle or on the seat post proper. Part of my minimizing scheme. That said, I may change my mind here. Stay tuned..... 

The Redshift Sports ShockStop Seat Post and Ravemen Tail Light.

The one and only time I finished Gravel Worlds was a time a used a shock absorbing seat post. I remember it made the wash-boarded out roads livable and it saved me from a lot of saddle fatigue. Over a 150 miles, these sorts of products pay dividends. 

Well, I have at my disposal a Redshift Sports ShockStop seat post which was reviewed for RidingGravel.com once upon a time recently. (*Insert standard disclaimer here) So, I figured, why not use it? It weighs more than the Whiskey carbon post that was in there, but as I said- this is a looooong ride. Comfort and rider freshness is king. This seat post is dialed and works really well. So, I'm using it. By the way, this bike already was fitted with a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem as well. So, I've got that benefit going for me up front also. 

I'm also going to be using one of the Ravemen tail lights, but likely not the one shown. I have one that mounts on the seat stay which is there, but not shown in the image here. The seat stay mounted one has a longer run time, a better mount, and so it won out for the job at Gravel Worlds. (*Disclaimer: I paid for these lights at a discounted rate for test and review on RidingGravel.com)

A look at things as they sit now.

Okay, so I've gotten things dialed in with a bit finer focus now, but there is still work to do. I need to get my nutrition lined up and do a dry run packing that onto the bike. I'll likely tweak out the tube strap cargo, figure out which of a myriad of multi-tools I want onboard, and maybe a few other odd-ball things here and there. But what you see here, minus the dust, is pretty much what I will be pedaling out of Lincoln Nebraska in a couple of weeks time. 

Oh, and there is one major change yet to be revealed. That would be the race-day wheel and tire set up. These wheels and tires are heavier than what I will be using, and that was planned ahead of time. I may get in a quick ride or two, but pretty soon I'll be swapping over to the other set of wheels to make sure everything is copacetic with that wheel and tire combo. 

Questions, thoughts, concerns? Leave me a comment. Otherwise, stay tuned.....

*Standard Disclaimer Page can be found under the header: To save my having to write out my disclaimer for various items and products I use, I have written a "Standard Disclaimer" and made it a page with its own description/explanation. You can access it under the header where it says "Standard Disclaimer". I will only add in disclaimers now if there is a modification, as with the Ravemen lights which I did purchase with my own money, but at a discounted rate. Thanks!

Here We Go! Gravel Worlds Prep On The MCD

Gotta Know Where To Go!

Okay, I had something cleared up this past weekend which was necessary to know what I was going to be doing at the upcoming Gravel Worlds event in Lincoln, Nebraska. I was going either way, it was just a question of for what purpose. That's all I'm a'gunna say 'bout that. I just mention this because I wasn't going to post about Gravel Worlds prep until I had that hurdle cleared. Now that my purpose is clear, I am going to discuss my rig here for my attempt at finishing this 150 mile beast of a ride. 

First off, you probably inferred by my "Water Carriers" posts that something was up, and this is it. Gravel Worlds! I needed to have the ability to carry enough fluids to get from place to place on the route and not be in a deficit. Well, as you know, that has been addressed. 

So, here we have the 'rest of the story', so to speak. First up is navigation. I already showed off my home made cue sheet holder, and the next order of business from a navigational point of view was to get some way to count down the miles so I could follow cue sheets. Now, yes- Gravel Worlds has downloadable GPS navigation for their courses. But the thing is- I do not own a GPS unit that allows me to follow a course. My Lezyne computer is kind of a dinosaur in that you have to have your phone linked up to it to be able to use turn-by-turn navigation, which I always thought was bogus. So, I never bothered to ever try it out. Heck, sometimes I leave my phone at home. I like it that way. So, having to tether my phone to a navigation device seemed dumb to my way of thinking. 

Anyway, so I needed to go the old school route, and thankfully Gravel Worlds does cues yet. Otherwise, honestly- I probably wouldn't go. Any event that assumes you will have an expensive piece of gear to be able to come to their event is not my kind of event. Nuff said.....  

Okay, so I have this Sigma computer on there, and it is a wireless unit, so we'll see how that goes. As long as it counts mileage, it will make my job easier. That and tell me the time, (which I don't really need now since I wear an Apple watch) - that's all I need. So, I'm good to go there once I get the cues from Gravel Worlds and print them out. Elevation gain? Who really cares? It is what it is. Ya gotta ride the course and whatever hills they put in there. Doesn't really matter now or afterward what the numbers are to me. It'll be hard, I know that!

The KOM Tube Strap

Next up we have a storage solution in the KOM Tube Strap. It is a new product for KOM Cycling which they are having me review for RidingGravel.com. I figured Gravel Worlds might make for a good testing ground. (*Standard disclaimer- I am not being paid for this mention, got the product for free, etc....) The idea came to me to try this for Gravel Worlds when I eschewed the idea of using a seat bag and found my Top Tube Garage Bag was getting a bit crowded. I realized this Tube Strap thing-a-ma jig just might clear up some space, if I could figure out where to put it. I tried the obvious- the seat post- but my thighs grazed it and that is a definite no-go with me! But hanging from the top tube? Hmm... 

I tried that and it was a winner. Now, I may not carry what I have in it now- a tube, tire lever, CO2 cartridge inflation system- but I do need to have a spare tube, the tire levers, and I think I'll be throwing on a Stan's NoTubes DART tool. That should do it there.

I could have gone with one of the three tool rolls I have on review, but for some reason I just do not want to do that for Gravel Worlds. I really wanted to keep anything off the saddle or on the seat post proper. Part of my minimizing scheme. That said, I may change my mind here. Stay tuned..... 

The Redshift Sports ShockStop Seat Post and Ravemen Tail Light.

The one and only time I finished Gravel Worlds was a time a used a shock absorbing seat post. I remember it made the wash-boarded out roads livable and it saved me from a lot of saddle fatigue. Over a 150 miles, these sorts of products pay dividends. 

Well, I have at my disposal a Redshift Sports ShockStop seat post which was reviewed for RidingGravel.com once upon a time recently. (*Insert standard disclaimer here) So, I figured, why not use it? It weighs more than the Whiskey carbon post that was in there, but as I said- this is a looooong ride. Comfort and rider freshness is king. This seat post is dialed and works really well. So, I'm using it. By the way, this bike already was fitted with a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem as well. So, I've got that benefit going for me up front also. 

I'm also going to be using one of the Ravemen tail lights, but likely not the one shown. I have one that mounts on the seat stay which is there, but not shown in the image here. The seat stay mounted one has a longer run time, a better mount, and so it won out for the job at Gravel Worlds. (*Disclaimer: I paid for these lights at a discounted rate for test and review on RidingGravel.com)

A look at things as they sit now.

Okay, so I've gotten things dialed in with a bit finer focus now, but there is still work to do. I need to get my nutrition lined up and do a dry run packing that onto the bike. I'll likely tweak out the tube strap cargo, figure out which of a myriad of multi-tools I want onboard, and maybe a few other odd-ball things here and there. But what you see here, minus the dust, is pretty much what I will be pedaling out of Lincoln Nebraska in a couple of weeks time. 

Oh, and there is one major change yet to be revealed. That would be the race-day wheel and tire set up. These wheels and tires are heavier than what I will be using, and that was planned ahead of time. I may get in a quick ride or two, but pretty soon I'll be swapping over to the other set of wheels to make sure everything is copacetic with that wheel and tire combo. 

Questions, thoughts, concerns? Leave me a comment. Otherwise, stay tuned.....

*Standard Disclaimer Page can be found under the header: To save my having to write out my disclaimer for various items and products I use, I have written a "Standard Disclaimer" and made it a page with its own description/explanation. You can access it under the header where it says "Standard Disclaimer". I will only add in disclaimers now if there is a modification, as with the Ravemen lights which I did purchase with my own money, but at a discounted rate. Thanks!

Friday News And Views

Trade mags are reporting lots of disruption due to the COVID-19 Virus.

NAHBS Reschedules Due To COVID-19 Virus Issues - Other Events Threatened: 

As you probably know, the world at  large is being disrupted in several ways due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Supply chains from the Far East are behind schedule and fears are rampant that bicycle retailers will have little inventory come the Summer which is peak season for retailers in North America.

Events are not without disruption as well. The UAE Tour was cut short and several people associated with that event have been held in quarantine since. Apparently several Northern Italian classics are under the threat of cancellation or postponement. Thursday the news came out that the Strade Bianche has been cancelled due to fears surrounding this virus. Now word comes from the trade paper, "BRAIN", that NAHBS, the handmade bicycle show to be held in Texas soon, has been postponed until August now. Even Sea Otter is postponing their 2020 event due to this virus according to another "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article.

While widespread outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has not occurred here in the U.S., it is conceivable that large scale gravel events may also be threatened to postpone or cancel if that were to occur. It is something to keep our eyes on, certainly, but for now, there is little concern that this may happen. The inventory issues retailers will likely face is definitely of much greater concern at this time.

To go "boinger" or to go "bendy"? That is the question.

 Seat Post Challenge: 

So I've had the unique opportunity to use some excellent vibration damping seat posts in the past, and now in the present, and I have future opportunities awaiting me as well. That means I am in the perfect position to give a "Seat Post Challenge" review. Here's my thinking so far coming into this.....

First of all, the obvious thing to assume is that a suspension seat post is the "clear winner". But is it? My experiences have been mixed here. Sometimes a suspension seat post, like the Kinekt, or the Redshift ShockStop, is a great thing to have on a ride. Sometimes it feels like a power-sucking tool of the devil. Besides the fact that these things weigh a metric ton compared to standard posts, which matters. Some aren't very friendly to seat packs either. So, a suspension seat post isn't necessarily the answer, and sometimes it is a negative.

Then you have the "flexible" posts. Posts made from carbon fiber, and to a lesser degree, titanium and then aluminum. These are much more familiar feeling, can handle seat bag mounting, and almost always weigh less than a suspension seat post ever will. (This depends upon how you classify the Specialized CG-R post) That said, carbon fiber, while strong, can break catastrophically with dangerous consequences. (No hyperbole here- it's happened to me.) Many folks don't want that possibility nor want to have to deal with consequences of a possible break in a carbon post out in The Styx of rural America. Obviously, metal posts have a more robust track record, but they flex even less in most instances, so you give up a lot of comfort for peace of mind.

I've got two suspension seat posts, (Cane Creek and Redshift), experience on two versions of the Kinekt, and the Specialized CG-R, if you categorize that as "suspension". I've got that PRO Carbon with Dyneema post, a Whiskey Parts post, and a couple Salsa Regulator Titanium posts around here. Plus several standard aluminum posts including a Thomson or two. Between all those, and my experiences, I should be able to come to some conclusions.

I've been looking into accelerometers  for my iPhone to see if that wouldn't aid me in my quest to see what works and what doesn't. I've seen a few things but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. However; even if that doesn't happen, I'm going through with this. So, stay tuned for my results throughout the coming Spring weeks.

The Noble GX5 will be sporting the aMTBer Smoothe Lube to start.

 Lube-Off To Get Underway:

I've got two bikes set to go now on the Lube-Off which was announced recently. The contenders are WPL Wet Lube, Lilly Lube, and the aMTBer Smoothe Lube 1.2.

The Noble GX5 will be sporting the Smoothe Lube 1.2 and as a matter of fact, it has had it on for a while already. I'll be doing a finishing up on time with that lube and then move this bike over to the WPL Wet Lube to get that rotated into the mix.

The Fargo Gen I will be getting Lilly Lube. Although the Lilly Lube says it can go over any previous lube, since it self-cleans, I will be stripping the Fargo's chain anyway and keeping a level playing field with regard to the other lubricants in this test/shoot-out. So, I should be started with all of this as you read this today. Look for any updates soon, as the time limitation is six hours, and after that a final verdict on each lube is given.

The "control" lube is still the DuMonde Tech lube which I am running on the pink Black Mountain Cycles MCD. I already have a couple hours on that one as well. Keep in mind, the chain was touched up after the last Lube-Off and has not had any maintenance since that time.

 C.O.G. 100 Hats:

Check it out! N.Y. Roll models the new C.O.G. 100 hats which just came in Wednesday. Each participant in the event is going to receive one of these at either the pre-race event at Peace Tree downtown Grinnell, or you will get it when you check in at the event venue.

The design was put together by myself and executed by Bike Rags which is located here in Iowa. Check them out if you need any custom apparel for your club, team, or event. N.Y. Roll and I have been pretty happy with their stuff and customer service is top notch. Bike Rags is our supplier for the Iowa Single Speed Gravel Championship jerseys as well.

I have access to a few extras in regards to the hats. One is spoken for. I may have a couple others. If you really have to have one, make me an offer. I'll see what I can do. Otherwise this is it. We wanted to keep these special for those riders that committed to the C.O.G.100.


Okay, that's all for this week! Have a great weekend and get out there and ride!

Friday News And Views

Trade mags are reporting lots of disruption due to the COVID-19 Virus.

NAHBS Reschedules Due To COVID-19 Virus Issues - Other Events Threatened: 

As you probably know, the world at  large is being disrupted in several ways due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Supply chains from the Far East are behind schedule and fears are rampant that bicycle retailers will have little inventory come the Summer which is peak season for retailers in North America.

Events are not without disruption as well. The UAE Tour was cut short and several people associated with that event have been held in quarantine since. Apparently several Northern Italian classics are under the threat of cancellation or postponement. Thursday the news came out that the Strade Bianche has been cancelled due to fears surrounding this virus. Now word comes from the trade paper, "BRAIN", that NAHBS, the handmade bicycle show to be held in Texas soon, has been postponed until August now. Even Sea Otter is postponing their 2020 event due to this virus according to another "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article.

While widespread outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has not occurred here in the U.S., it is conceivable that large scale gravel events may also be threatened to postpone or cancel if that were to occur. It is something to keep our eyes on, certainly, but for now, there is little concern that this may happen. The inventory issues retailers will likely face is definitely of much greater concern at this time.

To go "boinger" or to go "bendy"? That is the question.

 Seat Post Challenge: 

So I've had the unique opportunity to use some excellent vibration damping seat posts in the past, and now in the present, and I have future opportunities awaiting me as well. That means I am in the perfect position to give a "Seat Post Challenge" review. Here's my thinking so far coming into this.....

First of all, the obvious thing to assume is that a suspension seat post is the "clear winner". But is it? My experiences have been mixed here. Sometimes a suspension seat post, like the Kinekt, or the Redshift ShockStop, is a great thing to have on a ride. Sometimes it feels like a power-sucking tool of the devil. Besides the fact that these things weigh a metric ton compared to standard posts, which matters. Some aren't very friendly to seat packs either. So, a suspension seat post isn't necessarily the answer, and sometimes it is a negative.

Then you have the "flexible" posts. Posts made from carbon fiber, and to a lesser degree, titanium and then aluminum. These are much more familiar feeling, can handle seat bag mounting, and almost always weigh less than a suspension seat post ever will. (This depends upon how you classify the Specialized CG-R post) That said, carbon fiber, while strong, can break catastrophically with dangerous consequences. (No hyperbole here- it's happened to me.) Many folks don't want that possibility nor want to have to deal with consequences of a possible break in a carbon post out in The Styx of rural America. Obviously, metal posts have a more robust track record, but they flex even less in most instances, so you give up a lot of comfort for peace of mind.

I've got two suspension seat posts, (Cane Creek and Redshift), experience on two versions of the Kinekt, and the Specialized CG-R, if you categorize that as "suspension". I've got that PRO Carbon with Dyneema post, a Whiskey Parts post, and a couple Salsa Regulator Titanium posts around here. Plus several standard aluminum posts including a Thomson or two. Between all those, and my experiences, I should be able to come to some conclusions.

I've been looking into accelerometers  for my iPhone to see if that wouldn't aid me in my quest to see what works and what doesn't. I've seen a few things but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. However; even if that doesn't happen, I'm going through with this. So, stay tuned for my results throughout the coming Spring weeks.

The Noble GX5 will be sporting the aMTBer Smoothe Lube to start.

 Lube-Off To Get Underway:

I've got two bikes set to go now on the Lube-Off which was announced recently. The contenders are WPL Wet Lube, Lilly Lube, and the aMTBer Smoothe Lube 1.2.

The Noble GX5 will be sporting the Smoothe Lube 1.2 and as a matter of fact, it has had it on for a while already. I'll be doing a finishing up on time with that lube and then move this bike over to the WPL Wet Lube to get that rotated into the mix.

The Fargo Gen I will be getting Lilly Lube. Although the Lilly Lube says it can go over any previous lube, since it self-cleans, I will be stripping the Fargo's chain anyway and keeping a level playing field with regard to the other lubricants in this test/shoot-out. So, I should be started with all of this as you read this today. Look for any updates soon, as the time limitation is six hours, and after that a final verdict on each lube is given.

The "control" lube is still the DuMonde Tech lube which I am running on the pink Black Mountain Cycles MCD. I already have a couple hours on that one as well. Keep in mind, the chain was touched up after the last Lube-Off and has not had any maintenance since that time.

 C.O.G. 100 Hats:

Check it out! N.Y. Roll models the new C.O.G. 100 hats which just came in Wednesday. Each participant in the event is going to receive one of these at either the pre-race event at Peace Tree downtown Grinnell, or you will get it when you check in at the event venue.

The design was put together by myself and executed by Bike Rags which is located here in Iowa. Check them out if you need any custom apparel for your club, team, or event. N.Y. Roll and I have been pretty happy with their stuff and customer service is top notch. Bike Rags is our supplier for the Iowa Single Speed Gravel Championship jerseys as well.

I have access to a few extras in regards to the hats. One is spoken for. I may have a couple others. If you really have to have one, make me an offer. I'll see what I can do. Otherwise this is it. We wanted to keep these special for those riders that committed to the C.O.G.100.


Okay, that's all for this week! Have a great weekend and get out there and ride!

Brown Season: March Winds Blow

I'm surprised I actually caught these clouds in the image. They were moving so fast!

March. Everyone knows that means "wind". In fact, I am betting that somewhere back in time this period of the year was once known by a name meaning "windy". Probably preceded by some appropriate malediction of the day.

If you live and ride in the Mid-West on the plains, you either embrace the wind, or you go insane because of it, or you don't ride outside. Those are your choices. I choose to embrace it. I'd rather not ride inside, ever, for any reason. I'm probably already insane anyway, so that choice is out the window.

I have a friend who told me once that he taunts the wind. "Is that all ya got? I'm still moving! Bring it on!", he says as he boldly mashes his pedals against the rushing air coming over the plains. I felt inspired by his attitude, so that's what I do now. I even say things out loud if I am alone riding. "C'mon now!, I'll say, "I'm okay!", I'll tell myself. It makes it easier than if you were to gripe about it. Being miserable doesn't help things, and it is a bicycle ride. I mean.....c'mon now! 

I am really just glad that the weather and the roads are cooperating to allow any kind of decent riding at this time of the year. Last year there was no way this was happening. This year we'll have an early Spring, and maybe.....just maybe, it will be a good long Spring, instead of a few days and then leaping straight into Summer's humidity.

The pink MCD. With The Redshift ShockStop stem and seat post, I may have to call this my "Pink Cadillac"!

The bike I rode is the familiar pink MCD from Black Mountain Cycles. I have the Redshift Sports ShockStop stem and seat post on it. Talk about smooth! It gives me a Cadillac ride. The poofy WTB Raddler 44mm tires don't hurt either. In fact, maybe it is almost too much squish. With the saddle, stem, and tires giving way, it seems I have lost a bit of road feedback which maybe is leading to handling issues. Or......it could be the 20+ mph cross winds. Reserving judgment! Going South or North wasn't too bad, but that West-Northwest cross wind was knocking my bike around a bit. Going West?  Ugggh!

The roads South of town are in excellent shape.

 I decided that beating myself up against this gale was not in my best interests, so I chose a route that featured mostly cross wind and a little bit of head and tail wind. It worked perfectly. The roads actually are the best they've been in a long, long time. I saw no soft spots, but perhaps the frost hasn't been drawn out just yet.

As you can see from these images, the snow is almost kaput. Which is fantastic, as the ground now will absorb more of the Sun's energy, kick starting this season into high gear sooner than it got going last year. Last year we had big snow drifts alongside the roads until mid-March and longer. The roads were a big mess, which took all year to recover from, so this respite from a ravaging Winter is good.It also means more riding is being done earlier than last year, so I am hopeful that I'll be in much netter shape for the Renegade Gent's Race at the beginning of April.