Friday News And Views

Airborne Bicycle Co To Launch New Product Soon:

As I was cruising social media earlier this week I came across an old name I hadn't seen much of in recent years. Airborne bikes were semi-famous in the early 2000's as a titanium brand with very inexpensive bikes. (For titanium, that is). Several models were available and Airborne was one of the first titanium 29"er bikes you could buy as a complete offering. 

Airborne was then sold to Huffy Bicycles and they revived the company as a budget oriented brand for mountain biking. I actually tested a Goblin 29 model back around 2012 or so for the 29"er site I wrote for. 

Then Airborne fell off my radar. Well, according to the comments made by "Airborne Bicycle Co." in the Facebook post I saw, the company was bought back by its original owner and since those days it has been quietly running with what appears to be only a couple MTB bikes. (See website HERE)

Supposedly there will be announcements in the coming weeks with new bikes. What these may be are hinted at in that Facebook post I saw. A dirt jumper, some MTB bikes, a return to titanium. But whether or no there will be gravel bikes, there was no hint given. I would bet there has to be something there. We will see.....

Proposed Iowa Bill May Make RAGBRAI, Gravel Riding A Crime:

Thanks to www.bikiowa.com, a new study bill in the Iowa legislature has been exposed which could have several unintended consequences for Iowa cyclists and tourism based on cycling in Iowa. 

Read the Bikeiowa article here and get all the details. 

Comments: Instigated as a way to regulate "devices" on public roadways with speed limits over 25mph, this broad-swath approach to law making could have a detrimental effect on cycling in the state. Unfortunately, this includes gravel roads as well. 

As of Wednesday morning the bill had been pulled. I would assume this is due to all the hub-bub created by Iowa cyclists. Postings about this bill were noted on several social media sites all expressing a negative take on the bill and its possible effects.  

While things seem to have cooled down for now, this hasn't gone away 100%. Worst case scenario is the law passes with no modifications. In my opinion it is unenforceable. Black Hawk county has approximately 550 miles of gravel and dirt roads, and you think you would have time, resources, and technology available to cover just this part to enforce the law? Give me a break! There is no way that happens. 

But Iowans, and you, dear readers, should be taking this seriously. Already we have seen New Jersey pull off a law making e-Bikes have to be licensed and registered as vehicles with insurance. Don't think for a minute your state isn't watching what happens and that your representatives aren't fiddling with similar ideas. 

Surly Offers Midnight Special With Carbon Fork:

Surly Bikes revealed on Tuesday of this past week a new offering of the Midnight Special with a carbon fork. 

The bike, dubbed an "endurance bike for backroads" by Surly, features a Waxwing carbon fork which Surly claims "has a knack for reducing road chatter"

The bike is also set up with Teravail's own carbon rims and tires. The drive train consists mostly of Shimano 105 12 speed parts. List price for this version of the Midnight Special is $3,499.00. 

Comments: Surly continues to "un-Surly" its offerings with this introduction of carbon fiber into its line. My audible chuckle was heard when I read the bit about "reducing road chatter". I have the very same Waxwing fork on my Honemann Flyer. I can tell ya......it ain't all that great at reducing chatter". In fact, I slapped a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem on the bike to do what Surly says the fork does, but does not do.  

And that geometry is pretty weird. 73° head tube angle matched with a 65mm bottom bracket drop? (Looking at a 58cm example) What is this? A Trek cyclo cross bike? I think the geometry is very similar. Anyway, it is about as far away from a "backroads bike" as I can think of for myself. Your mileage may vary.  

Image courtesy of the Gravel Cycling Hall of fame

GCHoF News Snubbed:

Several hours after the news broke on Wednesday morning about the new class of 2026 inductees for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, I checked several major cycling news sites. I noted no mention of the 2026 class for the GCHoF. Note: I did eventually find one well written story posted six hours after the announcement on Cycling Weekly by Anne-Marije Rook. HERE.

This is very interesting. 

The cycling industry has benefited greatly due to the development of gravel events and the subsequent innovations the industry has made to accommodate gravel cyclists. It is arguable that gravel, as a category, has made the transition from post pandemic troubles a bit less burdensome on brands and other companies with gravel products. 

There is no question that gravel events draw more participants than most other niches of cycle sport the mainstream sites froth over in their coverage. News on road cycling, MTB, or even such mundane things as the layoff situation at Campagnolo grabbed space in their news feeds. 

How gravel history and its impact on the industry is so conveniently ignored by all of the mainstream news sites is not going unnoticed. Also, for the record, those sites were afforded the opportunity to mention the GCHoF's Class of 2026 by way of a press release I know they were sent. (I happen to know the PR guy, so there is that...)

I don't know, but the way mainstream cycling media pushes news like this to the back burner is rather curious. 

Also, our take on the Guitar Ted Podcast can be heard on our latest podcast episode HERE.  

Bobcat tracks I saw in 2006

Bobcats More Common In Iowa:

As a cyclist, I enjoy seeing wildlife on my gravel rides. I was pretty curious and thrilled then when back in 2006 I came across bob cat tracks near Hickory Hills on a gravel ride.  

As I recall this was a ride in January which took me all the way down Ansborough Avenue Southward to the "T" intersection in Tama County where I stopped and refreshed myself with water and nutrition I had at the time. It was then when I spied those tracks in the snowy ditch. 

Bobcats were rare animals then and I felt fortunate to have even found tracks. But according to State biologists, the species has rebounded in the last 20 years to the point of becoming observed in urban areas. 

Mating season for the bobcat is now through March. So, males may be more on the move at this time. Keep an eye out for bobcats in fields along wooded areas or check for tracks when you stop. If you see one, don't panic. They are very wary of humans, and it would be a very chance occurrence if you did see one on a ride. But......there is a chance. A much better one than I had 20 years ago.  

Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co. social media

The 32" Watch: State Bicycle Co. Teases 32"er

State Bicycle Co., purveyors of budget and value driven bicycles and components, recently showed a bike with a front wheel that is 32" in diameter. Sporting the now ubiquitous Maxxis Aspen 32" X 2.4" tire, State seems to be testing the waters here. 

It is worth keeping an eye on if you are 32"er curious as anything State might put out there with a 32 inch wheel will likely be very competitively priced. 

Will they do this? I'm thinking there is a very good chance they will, but if so, my bet is nothing shows up for sale until 2027. It would take at least this long to develop a bike, components, and if they are going to provide a budget suspension choice, this might tack on a bit more time to get into production as well. 
 

That's a wrap on this week's FN&V. Thanks for reading Guitar ted Productions. Get out and ride a bicycle soon! 

Friday News And Views

Gravel Amplifier:  Farmhouse Classic

Many years ago gravel events were much more intimate and often reflected a very personal touch which was imprinted on the event by the organizer. It was not uncommon for the event to start at a home, for instance, or start at someone's private property.

Such was the case with the early Farmhouse Classic gravel event organized by Joe Fox, owner of Cycle City bicycle shop now in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe had the event start at a farm in Northwest Missouri, not far from Kansas City. While I never had the chance to ride the event then, it did have a high reputation as being one of those  events you thought of when thinking about "grassroots gravel".

Last year, on our way down to Mid-South, we stopped in at Cycle City and I had the chance to chat with Joe Fox. Joe has been a gravel rider in many events going way back, including Trans Iowa, the event I used to run. During our conversation, I mentioned the Farmhouse Classic and I told Joe he should consider bringing it back again. Joe quickly brushed the suggestion off and made a few remarks about it being a big commitment and how he was pretty tied up running a shop nowadays. Totally understandable stuff

But, for whatever reasons, I see now that Joe has indeed resurrected the Farmhouse Classic. (I'm sure my suggestion had little to do with this happening, by the way)  It is set up now to be a benefit for the Parkhill Bison Composite NICA Team. There are 68 mile, 35 mile, and 20 mile ride options. The event will occur on July 19th out of Lathrop, Missouri, which is located Northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

Journeyer CUES 11 Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

 Journeyer CUES 10 & 11 Speed Bikes:

Salsa Cycles announced this week the availability of Shimano CUES groups on their Journeyer gravel/adventure bike frames. CUES is Shimano's group set specifically made to work through several speed and set up types. So, there is a 9 speed, 10 speed, and 11 speed CUES all with cross compatibility using derailleurs, shifters, and crank sets across the range including drop bar and flat bar versions.  For a more detailed look at CUES see my article on the group HERE.

The drop bar CUES was a highly anticipated version of this mechanical shifted group as it was hoped that it would reduce costs and make a gravel bike more accessible to the masses. Salsa has dropped both 10 speed and 11 speed CUES equipped Journeyers now, so how do they stack up?

Journeyer CUES 10 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Well, for context here a frame set is available foor the Journeyer which includes a carbon Waxwing v2 fork. The cost for the frame set is $799.00. The CUES 10 equipped version clocks in at $1,699.00 and the 11 speed CUES Journeyer is $1,999.00.

Okay, bicycle prices have increased by quite a bit. It used to be you could get an entry level road bike for under 1K. This Salsa model was called the Journeyman when it came out in the late twenty-teens and the base model was under 1K.

Comments: So, we're still talking base, entry level stuff here and now - just to get in on a Salsa, you are looking at over $500.00 more these days. This is if you want a Salsa Cycles bike. Plus, CUES is not getting rave reviews on the bicycle mechanic pages I scroll routinely. 

Of course, alternatives exist and one no6table choice in this category is State Bicycle Co.  Their All-Road 6061 gravel bike compares with the CUES 11 Journeyer. It has a 1X 11 speed "State Bicycle Co." drive train, (read: MicroShift Sensah derailleurs and shifters. Also a group set with mixed reviews), and a carbon fiber fork as well. It retails on State's site for $300 bucks less than the Salsa CUES 10 Journeyer. So, a pretty competitive price, but you do not get a dealer back-up, and all that might come with that. So, yeah..... Apples and oranges, but this is how the market stacks up these days on the entry level gravel bike end of things.

Image courtesy of TRP

Vistar/Classified Wireless Group Set Details Announced:

TRP sent out an email blast to its customer email list last week detailing its Vistar wireless group sets for gravel and road. Featuring wireless shifters and rear derailleur, the group is also paired with Classified's two speed internal geared rear hub. 

Users can leverage the TRP Vistar app to customize shifting, set up the system as a sequentially geared system, or use it manually as a 2 X 12/13. Cassettes are made from one block of metal and there are two ranges each for road and gravel to choose from. 

Comments: Since the system is app based, it probably will be upgradeable to future 13 and 14 speed systems. The Classified rear hub is kind of an acquired taste in that you need to buy into the limited range of Classified compatible wheel sets, although the choices are expanding all the time at this point. Still - none of your old wheel sets will work. Plus you have to buy a "Smart through axle" which acts as the receiver for the signal to make the rear internal gear switch. ($165.00) Plus a bar-end mounted controller unit as well. ($65.00)

If one could just use the system as a 1 X 12 and buy the derailleur, shifters, and controller unit, the price isn't so bad, but to get a two gear addition, equivalent to a front derailleur, which requires a special wheel and cassette? I still do not see the value in this way of doing things. 

NOTE: There is something you'll hear about next week which will really make Vistar/Classified look less attractive. Stay tuned.... 

Portrait of Charlie Farrow at Trans Iowa by Michael Roe

Tailwinds To Mr. Farrow On His Tour Divide Attempt:

Tour Divide starts today and one of the participants in this year's running is Charlie Farrow of Duluth, Minnesota.

You may not know Charlie, and I don't blame you. I know him from his participation in Trans Iowa for several years. Charlie has forged a legendary status just within the confines of Trans Iowa, but there is so much more to the man. Most people are completely unaware of his feats of cycling endurance. I wrote a bit about Charlie specifically in my Trans Iowa Stories series. This post gives you a taste of what Charlie's legacy is, and his story is still being written. 

As with many great figures in sports and elsewhere, Charlie Farrow would not like this being said of him. He would pass it off as his being just a guy living his life, most likely, if I know him at all. In my opinion, Charlie is a "cycling renaissance man", eschewing the electronic gadgets, latest gear, and instead he does things in his own, unique way. For instance, Charlie never used a cell phone during Trans Iowa, even though it was required equipment. Once, during Trans Iowa v8, he was so lost he had to wait until he reached a small town to use a phone so he could call me to get directions from where he was back to the course.

I have been told by my friend Ari Andonopoulos, a good friend of Charlie's, about Charlie's Summer rides where he takes off, with out connections to the World other than a sending of a post card occasionally from his route as he piled on the miles. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Charlie does Tour Divide without a GPS tracker and no cell phone. It's just the way he rolls.

Tailwinds, Charlie! I hope you reach your goal!

That's a wrap for this week! Get out there and ride those bicycles!
 

State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2 - Final Word

 Note: State Bicycle Co sent over their Monster Fork v2 for test and review at Guitar Ted Productions at no cost. Guitar Ted is not being bribed, nor paid,for this review and all opinions are his own. 

The State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork V2 has been ridden in various terrain and set ups now so it is time to give you all my final word on this carbon fiber fork for gravel/bikepacking uses. 

In case you haven't seen the previous update on this review, you should probably check that out as there will be numerous references to that post. You can find that update by clicking HERE. 

The Longer Offset Ride Quality: So, what does the longer offset do to the ride? I kept the wheel and tire exactly the same as I had it in the shorter offset setting so there would be less variables. One thing that moving the drop out chips does is that in the longer offset setting, the fork axle to crown increases. Not by a lot, but it does, and this affects the head angle, amongst other things, so the overall trail of the front end geometry was increased. This had the effect of very slightly making my bike more stable. I had to try a few things to make sure I was actually feeling this correctly because the trail wasn't all that different than before, but there it was. A very slight difference maker, to be sure.

As I've stated before though, this feeling goes away quickly as we adapt to these minute changes in handling. So, in my opinion, the longer axle to crown is more notable for making the fork into a slightly longer lever which forces can act upon which translates into a slightly smoother ride. This and being able to slot in a larger tire, if desired, are the "big deals" about the offset differences, not the almost imperceptible handling changes.

The Monster Fork v2 with its three-bolt accessory mounts makes my bike more versatile.

I tried the accessory mounts out by using two bottle cages and adding two water bottles. This extends the versatility of this particular bike which did not have these mounts on its original fork. In certain cases this would allow me to go further self-supported than I could previously. Obviously, if you wanted to, one could attach racks to hold cargo as well, making a bike into a bikepacking capable bicycle, where before it may have been limited like my Noble GX5 here. 

Clearance with a 700 X 50mm Cazadero on a i23 rim.

The added weight doesn't seem to really affect handling, that is, unless you are adding something heavier to those mounts, like a full canister of food or a larger Nalgene type bottle. With the capability to handle a claimed 55lbs maximum, you might feel a bit of steering inertia if you try weighing the fork down that much, but any fork would have this issue with a heavy load. 

I did try some different tires on a inside rim width of 23mm and found that I could actually fit a 29" X 2.3" tire with plenty of clearance. For fun, I measured the head angle with the big 29"er tire and it came out at just a shade under 69°.

Final Word: The Monster Fork v2 is a capable, versatile fork with a unique 'flip-chip' drop out that affords the rider a choice to have larger tires or just a longer fork for a different ride feel. The accessory mounting points are a welcome addition to a bicycle that may have not had those included in the original fork design. It could be a fork that takes a bike that wasn't all that capable in stock form and open some new doors to different uses.

While I like tweaking things like geometry, there may be some reasons why you would not want this in a fork. Anytime you take the beautiful simplicity of something on a bicycle and introduce something a bit more complicated, there are compromises. I feel that this is what the drop out design on the Monster Fork v2 has done here. I had experienced difficulties with wheel installation and removal with one hub brand and none with two other brands. That sort of thing typically does not happen with a traditional dropout design. 

Clearance with 29" X 2.3" Ehline on i23 rim.

The chips also can be set into their carbon fiber molded pockets a bit askew, or not tightened down enough, which can cause issues with wheel installation and removal. This can also cause a vague feeling when tightening the through axle as well. 

The ride feel and handling in both offset settings is perfectly acceptable. You may note a change in certain aspects of your bike when you switch the offset, as the change in axle to crown height does affect several things about a bicycle. Once you understand these things it really is not a big deal to address these issues. 

I give the Monster Fork v2 a passing grade, but it could be that the aluminum chips will cause issues either with a current wheel set a rider owns or with wear of those parts over time. My feeling is most riders will choose an offset setting and never look back again. In that case the chips may not be a big deal. The asking price for the Monster Fork v2 is more than reasonable for the features set, but it depends on whether or not those features are attractive to you and applicable to your riding style/needs. 

This is why I give this fork a passing grade, because it does what it says it should do, but with the added complexity and niche feature of a changeable offset, it is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. Check it out if you have a bike that came with a plain fork that you want to add a dash of changeability to and a whole lot of versatility to. The Monster Fork v2 may just open a few doors that were closed before.

They Come In Threes: An Update

About a week or so ago now I wrote about three problems I had that came up all about the same time. Now all three problems have been addressed with at least temporary solutions. I thought I would share this update with you all to bring you up to speed here at Guitar Ted Headquarters.

First up is the State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2. If you read the latest review update on this you already know that I was able to determine that a flipped brake mount solved the issue. So, that's been ridden and a review update/final word will be forthcoming. 

Just a quick note in case you missed it: I am still having an issue with the I-9 hub coming out of this fork, but a HED wheel goes in and out like a champ. I'll test more wheels I have here to see if anything else hangs up like the I-9 hub does.

The Shogun's bell is back on. I managed to get it on the stem and keep the bell working. It took a bit of a shim to keep the edge of the brass bell off the lock nut for the head set. A short piece of rubber strip did the trick and I was able to get the bell's edge to clear by a few millimeters or so. 

Speaking of shims - I had to shim the brake lever as well. Turns out that is how Velo Orange wants you to do things. There were aluminum shims of two different thicknesses in the box. Thankfully I had not thrown away the box!

 Now the Tamland Two got a different fix than I was thinking it would. The DT Swiss hub/Roval rim rear wheel had been coming apart. So, I had intended on going back to the Irwin Cycles Carbon Aon 35 wheels but somewhere along the line I had misplaced one of the quick release end caps. So, after trying to contact Irwin and getting no reply, I decided to try another avenue. 

I had a wheel set I had built quite some time ago now that I had never used. Actually, it was a different wheel set before I rebuilt it. Here's the long story...

I had gotten payment for an advertisement on my old 29"er site, I think it was, in the form of a wheelset for a tubular tire set up. The thought being that there might be a tubular gravel tire coming out. The tire never materialized, so instead of having a brand new wheel set I'd never use, I blew it apart and rebuilt the wheels using a set of Bontrager RXL Scandium aluminum rims. While the rims were lightweight, and tubeless ready, they were rim brake rims. But at least now I had a wheel set I could use for......something. 

Well, that something is the Tamland. I only have the rear set up now, but at least the bike is rideable. 

More soon.....Oh! And have a safe Halloween, if you observe that tonight.

State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2 - Update

Note: State Bicycle Co sent over their Monster Fork v2 for test and review at Guitar Ted Productions at no cost. Guitar Ted is not being bribed, nor paid,for this review and all opinions are his own. 

The State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2 has been ridden, had its offset changed, been measured, and had a bit of a rough spell there for a bit. In this post I will explain all of that. The introductions and first impressions of this fork can be found by clicking HERE. 

The Ride Quality:

So, first up we have the ride performance of this fork. Some of my regular blog readers already have read about a bit of my first gravel ride on this fork HERE, but for those coming from elsewhere on the innergoogles, I will give a brief recap. 

On the way out of town I misread a curb, thinking it was at street level when in reality it was several inches high. I ran straight into it at somewhere between 5mph and 10mph. When I hit the curb, I felt the tire bottom out on the rim and heard a big "crack" sound. Thinking I damaged the rim, I tried to find where the rim may have failed but I could find nothing. I checked again after several miles and then noted the brake was rubbing the rotor. Odd, but - The Monster Fork has those aluminum inserts to switch the offset, right? So what if one or both made a position change when I hit that curb and moved the axle just enough to cause brake rub? A bit of brake massaging caused the rub to go away, so I am pretty sure the loud cracking noise was just the aluminum chip/plates moving slightly in their pockets due to my gaff on the curb read. 

The ride quality is what I would call "normal". What I mean to say is that the new Monster Fork rode pretty much like my old Noble fork which came with the bike. Makes sense since all the geometry is pretty similar in the Monster Fork's shorter offset setting. 

No weird steering issues either. In fact, the fork felt great on the gravel considering the stability and steering inputs were again, very similar to what I expect out of this bike. 

This is all very good and with the Monster Fork v2, I have options to carry luggage or extra bottles, something I could not do with the original fork. 

The Challenges:
 

After the successful test rides it was time to take out the offset chips and flip them for the change in offset. The first check came when the front wheel would not come out easily. I ended up tapping the tire with a dead blow hammer to get the wheel out. Hmm.... A tolerance issue with Industry 9 hubs, perchance, or....? I would have to investigate this further, but I was eager to do some measuring, so I moved on to flipping the chips and then the next check showed up.

Flipping the chips is only one part of changing the offset on this fork. You must also flip the brake mount 180° as well. I did not catch this detail. It isn't an obvious step in the process. There is no guidance on State's website, and I did not receive any paperwork when the fork was shipped to me. Perhaps customers get an instructional sheet? 

After a bit of downtime and communication with my contact for State, this was cleared up for me. I had also mentioned the tolerance issue with the Industry 9 hub, and the response was "We haven't heard about any issues like this before". I ended up trying a HED Eroica wheel and it went in and back out just fine. The Industry 9 hub also was going in easier after the flip of everything, but still wasn't perfect. I think this can be attributed to a slightly imperfect fit between the chip and the carbon fork pocket it is supposed to fit into. There also may be a slight tolerance issue with some other hub brands, but I think this may be an isolated issue. At any rate, it is something to note. 

Crunching The Numbers:

Remembering what I wrote to you in the first impressions post, you might recall that the overall wheel diameter, fork offset/rake, and the head tube angle can be put into a formula to give you fork trail. That measure helps to determine how stable, or unstable, a bike might be. 

The marketing from State gets this wrong, but what is true is that more offset equals less fork trail. This, in practice, makes a bicycle less stable. So, in the case of this Monster Fork v2, we have a choice for a shorter offset and one for a longer offset. The choices are 49mm and 55.5mm. The fork came in the 49mm offset setting. 

Following are the numbers I measured with a tape measure and an angle gauge on my iPhone. These numbers were plugged into an online fork trail calculator. The head angle, wheel diameter, and fork offset affect other geometry numbers as well, which are also accounted for in the following results. Note: The wheel diameter remains constant throughout. Changing wheel diameter (different tire) would add another variable. The head angle, you will note, is slacker in the longer offset setting. That is because the axle to crown, (length of the fork, basically) is longer in the longer offset setting.

 49mm Offset/Rake: Head tube angle: 71°, Wheel Diameter 712mm - Fork Trail = 58.42mm Other numbers: Seat tube angle: 72°, Bottom Bracket Height: 11 3/8ths"/289mm

55.5mm Offset/Rake: Head tube angle: 69.5°, Wheel Diameter 712mm - Fork Trail = 73.66mm. Other Numbers: Seat Tube Angle 71.5°, Bottom Bracket Height: 11 7/16ths"/291mm. Saddle Angle tipped up by 1°

What Does It Mean? The difference in fork trail is 15.24mm. (.6 inch) That's nearly indistinguishable in real terms. Where you would see a definitive difference in handling traits is by increasing or decreasing the wheel diameter. Of course, you can do this by using 650B wheels or 700c wheels, but you also can do this with the Monster Fork v2 by using smaller or larger volume tires. That's really the feature worth focusing on with the Monster Fork V2. Moving to the longer offset would allow me to use a true 29" wheel/tire combination, albeit on the smaller side of the scale for 29"ers. Only then would you increase the trail figure by enough that it would be noticeable. 

Updated: Note that the slacker head angle due to a longer axle to crown affects the trail figure here the most. Again, larger diameter tires will do a similar thing. Basically, the larger the differential between rear wheel diameter and front wheel diameter, with the front always larger, will increase trail figures as the wheel gets larger up front. On my bike I cannot install a larger rear tire than a 45mm, so in my case, if I wanted more snappy handling, I would keep the tire sizes the same in the longer offset setting.

Note the changes to head tube, seat tube, and saddle angles. These things, along with bottom bracket height, might actually be more noticeable to a rider. Especially regarding fit. Keep this in mind if you switch offsets on this fork, or if you change forks that have different axle to crown heights, which can have similar affects on geometry. 

In the end, maybe none of the above matters! Look around and you can easily find people riding bicycles with incorrectly installed forks from department stores. These backward forks result in negative trail and people still ride them with "no big deal" involved. How can this be? Well, Humans are very adaptable creatures, that's why. These minute changes resulting from swapping a flip chip on the Monster Fork v2 are likely going to be easily adapted to by most anyone and probably wouldn't be noticed by most riders. So the tire clearance is really the big deal here. 

So Far... That's enough for this update! Next I plan on riding the Monster Fork v2 in the longer offset setting, putting a load on the fork using the accessory mounting bolts along each fork leg, and I will also be trying out a fatter front tire to see what that looks like. 

Up to this point I can say that my only real concern is how those chips set into the fork and how that has affected getting my I-9 wheel in and out of this fork. As it stands right now the I-9 wheel does install much easier than before, so that's good to see, but if this fork is representative of what to expect from this product there might be some hubs that are not really good matches for the Monster Fork v2 and some that are and nobody really knows for certain right now.

Otherwise the ride quality is right on par with most carbon gravel forks. The handling in the short offset setting was spot-on and I don't anticipate that the longer offset setting will be an issue, or maybe even noticeable. Stay tuned for the final word on this fork soon.

Fall Views: Test Riding

The trees are just starting to pop with color here.

Friday I decided to take a multi-surface test ride to get going on my review of the State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2. So, I came up with a plan and headed out on Friday morning. It was cool-ish when I started but we were headed for near record temperatures which was to be around 85°F. The ironic thing about this is the way 85 degrees feels so much different in October than it does in August. It is a completely different experience. 

That is due to how much drier the air is, which is why it can go from being in the low 50's to 70's in an hour's time! It makes dressing for a ride challenging. I wore my new Twin Six Thermal Cargo Bib Knickers, a Pirate Cycling League jersey over a Twin Six base layer, and my Twin Six floral patterned vest. I used a buff rag on my head and wore my Lazer helmet. I had on some cycling socks and Shimano RX801 shoes. I was comfortable the entire ride, but by the end I could tell it was a lot warmer than when I started out!

Trolley Car Trail

I hit up Trolley Car Trail, which isn't paved.....yet, and I hope it never will be. How it is not paved at this time is amazing to me, what with the current thought being that every recreational trail needs paving. I don't get that train of thought, by the way, because pavement causes run-off, needs maintenance, which is not cheap, and encourages motorized traffic, despite that being illegal. Anyway....

Trolley Car Trail never needs maintaining, with the exception of tree and branch clearing after a windstorm. But what trail is immune to that? 

Shirey Way: The inter-city Level B Road.

I took the bike through Shirey Way. People call this "Lower Hartman" but they don't know their history. Most folks now probably don't recall when this was a public road, surfaced with gravel, and open to traffic. Nor do they likely remember that there were homes on this road. There were whispers in the 80's that this road was where the "devil worshipers" sacrificed animals. Crazy times....

I did a little single track in a couple of spots. Riding a drop bar gravel bike on single track is kind of a hoot. As long as things don't get too rowdy or technical, it is an experience you should give a try. Things have been so bone-dry here that there were no worries over mud or moist dirt that would give my tires a challenge. The dry dirt was perfect for the Vulpine S tires. 

I found out what I needed to know and high-tailed it back home. I had other chores to attend to and Winter is coming, so I could not put some things off any longer!

State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2 - First Impressions

 Note: State Bicycle Co sent over their Monster Fork v2 for test and review at Guitar Ted Productions at no cost. Guitar Ted is not being bribed, nor paid,for this review and all opinions are his own. 

Monday of this week I introduced the State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2 review HERE. I've got all the technical information on this fork there including some impressions of the design and the aesthetics of the fork out of the box. In this post I will cover the installation and my findings after mounting the fork including a brief test ride. 

Installation: The tricky part here was the integrated brake route and that because of my GRX hydraulic brakes. I was going to have to disconnect the brake line from the lever so I could thread the hose through the fork and then reattach the lever to the hose after I had the fork installed, all without introducing air to the system. Any air introduced would have to be bled out in a brake bleeding session, which I was hoping to avoid. 

Fortunately through careful planning and execution I managed to not have to go through a brake bleed. I did have to purchase a new olive and barb, shorten the brake line by about half a centimeter, and go through some carefully planned positioning of the lever and hose/caliper assembly to avoid any air getting in. Again, all of this will cost the owner of the State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2 extra time and money whether you do this yourself or whether you have someone else handle the job for you. So, make sure you add that cost on to the fork if you run hydraulic brakes. A mechanical brake won't cause much more effort than a standard fork swap, so if you run mechanical brakes, all the better. 

Beyond the brake, everything was straight forward. The provided FSA steer tube plug, (another extra cost on top of the fork for buyers of the Monster Fork v2) worked great. Ironically the original head set in the Noble GX5 was an FSA headset so everything just went back together really well. State uses an FSA branded bearing and crown race for this fork, again available at an extra cost.

The front wheel I was using, which has an Industry 9 hub, was a bit difficult to install in the Monster Fork V2. There was a bit narrower space in between the eccentric plates which made getting the front wheel in a bit fussy, but it did go in. The through axle seemed a bit vague in where it wanted to stop giving me a less than confident feeling that the fork was secured to the wheel. I tried removing and reinstalling the through axle several times just to make sure it wasn't the threading or some other issue but this seemingly did not alleviate the issue. The wheel seems rock-solid in the fork, so I tried riding it. 

Test Ride Impressions: This was a ride just around the neighborhood to make sure I didn't leave something loose or that something was amiss. Due to this, I was tentative. So, don't read a whole lot into this just yet, but my initial feelings were that the Monster Fork v2 feels a bit less stiff than the stock fork. The wheel was totally stable in the fork, by the way, so I guess the through axle is doing its job well despite my concerns over the feel of its operation.

By the way, the stock fork seems to be a tiny bit lighter than the Monster Fork v2. I weighed it after removal. It was lighter by maybe about 50 grams, but the original fork has no accessory bosses or bolts like the Monster Fork v2 has. There was a steer tube plug in the old fork when I weighed it, but no through axle. There were bolts and a through axle in the State fork when I weighed it. I would call it a wash here. I certainly did not feel any difference in the weight of the bike afterword. 

Braking seemed normal. No shudder or weird handling traits. The steering felt fine. Nothing out of the ordinary really. The stock off set on the Noble GX5 is 52mm, by the way, so this 49mm offset is pretty close and I'd be hard pressed to know the difference.  I cruised back to the shop and decided to measure the head tube angle. If the axle to crown height was very different from my original fork, it should show up in the head angle. 

 The head tube angle measured in at 71.5°, bang-on for the stock listed head tube angle, so I was pleased with that. I looked like the axle to crown was very similar to my eye, so I wasn't surprised. Again, this was in the shorter offset placement for the axle. 

So Far... Okay, so the hose route went as well as it could and I have a niggle with how the front wheel goes in the fork. I will try a couple of other wheels to see if it is an isolated occurrence with one brand of hub or if it is possibly this fork that is causing the wheel to install with a bit of difficulty. 

Besides that, it is time to ride. Switch offsets, put a front load on the bike, ride, take the load off, switch the offset again, ride.....you get the picture here. I'll be back again after a few weeks with an update.

Review: State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2

Note: State Bicycle Co sent over their Monster Fork v2 for test and review at Guitar Ted Productions at no cost. Guitar Ted is not being bribed, nor paid,for this review and all opinions are his own. 

A little over two weeks ago I featured the State Bicycle Co. Monster Fork v2 in a "Friday News and Views". I had requested a sample to test at that time and now that sample has arrived. I will be installing this fork on my Noble Bikes GX5 and testing it out here. But first, let's review what the fork is all about with its unique drop out/offset feature. 

This fork is all-carbon fiber construction. The steer tube is a typical tapered one, 1 1/8th to 1 1/2", with a very thick-walled, stout look to the steer tube. The stock steer tube is 300mm long, so it should accommodate most head tube lengths out there. Then we work down to the shapely and very beefy looking fork crown. This part of the fork is massive and the span between the fork's legs looks adequate for handling really big tires with room to spare. I'll get around to tire size clearance in a minute. The crown has a threaded boss in the centerline of the fork front and back for things like dynamo light mounts or a fender.

There is a port in the upper part of the fork crown on the non-drive side for the brake housing or hydraulic hose to pass through. Then we work down to the narrower, slightly tapered fork legs. These have the "Triple Boss" mounts for things like cargo cages or water bottles to be mounted to the Monster Fork v2. Maximum load combined is 23Kg/55.12 lbs. 

Note the threaded boss in the fork crown

There is a lower threaded boss for a low rider style rack mount as well. These could also be utilized as lower fender strut mounts. The brake port exit is located midway down the left fork leg on the inner side of that fork leg. This just above the threaded bosses for the flat mount brake. Then we get to the dropouts. 

This is where it gets interesting with the Monster Fork v2. There is a flip-chip, which is a two-sided, oval insert that is sandwiching the carbon pocket it sits in and held together by a small counter-sunk bolt. By "flipping" this aluminum assembly the axle is positioned differently resulting in different handling characteristics and the ability to fit different sized tires and wheels in the fork. 

That's a lot going on for "just a drop out". So, let's break things down a bit to smaller, bite sized chunks of information. 

Tire Clearances: Okay, let's cut to the chase. Most of you will want to know just how big a tire will work in the Monster Fork v2. This fork is compatible with both 650B/27.5" and 700c/29" tires and wheels. The clearances are more in the longer, 55.5mm offset setting. So, for the shorter offset first, which is the 49mm offset the clearances are: up to a 58mm/2.3" tire in 650B/27.5" and up to 55mm/2.1" in a 700c/29"er. Now in the longer 55.5mm offset the clearances are as follows: 650B/27.5 at 62mm/2.45" and in 700c/29" it goes up to a 58mm/2.3" tire. 

The flip-chip offset explainer tab .

Keep in mind that going big on tires increases wheel diameter which also will affect your stand over, bottom bracket height, and gearing. Not to mention the slower/more stable handling bigger tires have versus smaller on the same rims. 

Whew! As if THAT weren't enough, you can change the offset of the fork with smaller tires just to tweak the handling. Also, the way State Bicycle Co. had this designed into the fork, changing offset will also affect a few other things about your bike in minimal, but still notable, ways. 

First, the way the flip-chip was integrated into the carbon fork allows the rider to get the biggest rubber possible in the fork. The angular plane created by the chip for the axle centerline in either placement means that the axle to crown height of the fork is going to be different in each setting. A longer A-C measurement means that your head angle, top tube height, bottom bracket height, and seat tube angle all will be minimally affected. So, if you switch to the 55.5mm offset from the 49mm and seem to find that some things about your bike feel weird, this is why that is. 

Now, about the whole offset thing. Front end geometry for bicycles is largely a misunderstood or unknown subject for many riders. A nerdy, deep dive on front end geometry can be found HERE if you want to dive into that rabbit hole. While that article focuses mainly on 29 inch wheels, the principles are the same for gravel bikes. State Bicycle Co. kind of gets this mixed up in their marketing and info tab on the fork. The correct and salient short story is this: Longer offset = less stable. Shorter offset = more stability. That disregards any changes in wheel diameter, head tube angle, and a few other things which can come into play here, but for most people getting this fork, those other things are locked in with the exception of tire size. So, the simple answer applies here.

Another look at that flip-chip drop out.

What I plan on doing is to use the same wheel and tire combination in the two drop out positions to determine how much of an effect this has on handling of my Noble GX5 gravel bike. I also have a 650B/27.5" wheel set here that I may try some testing with as well. 

A couple of final notes to make on this fork: The material is said to be a "High Grade Carbon Fiber", the 12 X 100m through axle is included, but you will have to purchase a separate steer tube insert for head set adjustment. State offers an FSA plug for an extra $14.99.  State Bicycle Co. offers free exchanges if the fork is not right for you and the fork has a 1 year warranty. Price for the Monster Fork v2 is $299.99 USD. More information on this product can be found HERE.

First Impressions: 

The Monster Fork v2 looks sleek with its legs having a curvish rake to their backside giving the optical illusion that the legs bend backward a bit, but they do not in reality. I like the look, and maybe the tapered legs will offer some compliance? 

The matte black, satin finish looks classy and the logos are very subtle. So, as far as looks go, this fork should compliment any frame it is intended to work for. The "adventure warts" are a welcomed thing in my opinion. I know that there is a trend to separate "serious" racing gravel bikes from the ones with these extra bosses by many brands but to my way of thinking this is a silly notion. The upper tier of supported racing is so tiny that it is almost laughable to think everyone else needs to worry about a few extra bolt mounting points. Many of us riders of gravel can use those as a way to make our rides more fun, and that's kind of the whole point about riding gravel isn't it? 

State claims the Monster Fork v2 weighs 510 grams with an uncut steer tube. This sample weighed in at 550 grams, but I wonder if the six bolts in the fork legs and the through axle  were in the sample weighed by State. 

The fork appears to be well made and everything looks sano. State Bicycle Co. sent along an FSA plug and a lower head set assembly, (both would be extra charges from State), and I could use that assembly on my Twin Six Standard Rando but the Noble GX5 has an integrated head set so all I will need there is the metal, split crown race and possibly the bearing. 

One nit to pick here, and this is just a personal opinion on any fork with an integrated brake route through the fork leg. This feature causes a lot of extra work. Had the routing been external this fork swap would be a piece of cake and I would have it all done in under 30 minutes. However, now I have to disconnect the hydraulic hose from the GRX lever, being careful not to introduce any air into the system, and if I do, it's a brake bleed added to the work. Of course, this means removing handle bar tape on the left side as well. If all goes awry then I need to wrap the entire handle bar with new tape. Not to mention the threading of the hose through the fork, setting up the brakes, (with the high possibility of a brake bleed additional), and cutting the steer tube down to size. Now this could be a hour plus long process for what? To have a "cleaner look"? This is a costly feature that brings little benefit, in my opinion. 

Of course, mechanical brake systems are much easier in this regard. So, again - I get it, but I find the integrated brake line to be of little benefit and potentially a lot of hassle and extra money for the rider. 

So Far... There is a lot going on here and I hope to get to each facet of the fork design and its effects on handling, the benefits to the rider, and how these bring a lot of versatility in one fork. In the meantime I need to get it mounted and do a couple of short test rides to get to know this fork. Then I plan on a longer ride or two out on the gravel after which time I will bring another update to this review. 

But this looks to be a good candidate for anyone looking to upgrade to a carbon fork at a reasonable price that could have a lot of versatility and benefits to the rider. It is light, good looking, and seems well made. Stay tuned for the update in a couple of weeks or so.

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co.

 State Bicycle Co. Announces Monster Fork v2:

On Tuesday of this past week, State Bicycle Co. announced a version two of their Carbon Monster Fork. The new version features an all-carbon construction with a tapered steer tube. The eye-catcher here is the adjustable drop out to attain two different off sets for the fork. 

The off sets are 49mm and 55.5mm. More on this in a minute, but the user can change the offset by flipping a "chip" in the drop out cavity. The fork is compatible with 27.5" tires and 700c tires. Maximum tire size allowable is determined by the offset chosen. So, for the 49mm offset you can go up to 27.5 X 2.3" or 700 X 55mm. In the longer, 55.5mm offset you can go to a 27.5 X 2.45" or 700 X 58mm tire. The Monster Fork also has rack and fender mounts along with the triple boss sets of accessory mounting points on each fork leg. Maximum load is set at 25Kg or 55lbs. Axle to crown is 396 in the short offset and 404mm in the longer offset. The price for the Monster Fork is set at $299.99 USD.

Comments: Now, let's get back to the offset options this fork provides. The marketing copy on State's site gets this wrong, which is a commonly made mistake. I wrote an offset explainer in 2007 for the blog which you can read HERE. That was written concerning 29"ers, but the same principles apply for any wheel size and geometry. The short version is that, all else remaining the same, your shorter off sets are going to bring more stability while your longer offsets bring less stability. Many people feel that a longer offset is more stable, but that is not how bicycle front end geometry works. 

The other bit State doesn't point out is that due to the chip being at an angle to the ground when mounted to a bicycle, the flipping of the chip will minutely change your bottom bracket height, head tube angle, handle bar height, seat angle, and all that may be noticeable to some folks. Some may not ever notice it. The changes would be minimal, but it is worth noting that any axle to crown variances, which are called out in the differing axle to crown specs, will change all that other stuff as well. 

I love the idea here, of course, being a nerd about geometry. But typically swapping stuff around like offset chips isn't really a big deal to most riders, and additionally, humans are so adept at adapting, (ha!), that most riders probably would feel fine either way you set the fork up after two or three rides. (I know, I've run an experiment concerning this.)

Image courtesy of  Fusion Media.

Six USA Athletes To Compete In eSports Championships in Abu Dhabi:

Coming up on October 26th, the top 20 male and top 20 female eSports riders are convening in Abu Dhabi for the World Championship eSports sanctioned by the UCI. 

The event consists of three parts, or "races", in which the contestants will accumulate points based upon finishes. The riders with the most points at the end of the day will be crowned as World Champions. 

Six riders, three male and three female, are included from the USA. They are Kristen Kulchinsky, Jacqueline Godbe, Ellexi Snover, Hayden Pucker, Neal Fryett and Zach Nehr. 

Comments: Would this even be a thing had it not been for COVID? I wonder about that. Anyway, kudos to any athlete that competed in this format. I cannot stand indoor cycling myself, but "trainer rides to no-where" are a staple of some folks riding. I know, I know....You can do courses, compete against others, yada, yada, yada.... But the fact remains that you are still sitting in the same spot where you began at the end. I'm not down with that. 

Not that I haven't tried. I used to own Krietler rollers, I've had various stationary trainers, and I even have a "smart trainer" in the house I've never used. Probably won't ever use it. Maybe I'll donate that to someone.....or the Collective, but in the two and a half plus years I've worked there we cannot give a trainer away and we have several nice ones. Says something there to me.... 

But I'm not dissing on anyone that gets into this stuff. You do you! I'll cheer you on from outside. Literally! 

Image courtesy of Brompton Bicycle USA.

Brompton Bicycles Offers New Folding Gravel Bike:

News came out this week, and was all over the internet and social channels, concerning Brompton's new "G Line" folding 20" wheeled bicycle. It has an 8 speed Alfine internally geared hub, beefy 20" wheels, and a "revised geomeyrty" for all-road riding. Plus you can stuff the claimed 30+ lbs bike into the back of almost any car or truck for easy transportation to adventures. 

The G Line will cost $2,399.00 USD when it becomes available in 2025. There also will be an electrified version of the bike coming as well. 

Comments: Okay, neat, I guess. Here's what I know to be true. Smaller diameter wheels are at a disadvantage to larger diameter wheels. It is a physics thing. Alfine hubs are limited in gearing range and require frequent servicing to keep them alive. 

Why have an internally geared hub design and a tensioner that hangs down like a derailleur waiting to get ripped off in the next muddy section? This seems to be a disadvantage when internally geared hubs are a great idea partially because they allow the riddance of "dangly bits"

At 30 plus pounds (non-electrified) and at twenty-four hundred bucks? Ahh..... No. Maybe for certain people this opens up possibilities, and for them I am happy. But for most riders, in my opinion, this seems pricey and not very well thought out.

Bicycle Retail Continues To Struggle:

Getting into the last quarter of 2024 now and it seems that bicycle retail is still struggling to find its footing two years post-COVID. There are many reasons why this is happening. Among the many reasons is the anachronistic way bicycle retail is handled in the 21st Century. 

I began my journey in bicycle retail and repair in the early 1990's. I can honestly say that not much has changed in the thirty-plus  years since then. That doesn't reflect the massive change in riders, buying habits, and desires of riders in 2024 and beyond. 

I find, and have found, that certain issues have stymied advancement of bicycle retail and now that alternatives exist, bicycle retail as we have known it may on its way to becoming extinct, leaving nothing in its wake to replace it. At least nothing at scale or worthy of servicing the riders in this country. 

Of course, there are some bright spots, but they are few and far between. How will those spots be able to survive without the backing of the industry or without revolutionary changes, I am not sure. Right now the industry has done what it has done for many years, and that is to hook up its wagon to whatever trend can be the horse to pull that wagon, as broken and busted up as it is, lurching forward into the next phase of cycling that takes off. Then the industry will hitch itself to that trend and hope for better days again, like it has for a half a century. 

Here's what I see as the deficiencies of bicycle retail in 2024:

• Employee training and retention. With rampant employee turnover, it is impossible to build a knowledgeable, trustworthy employee people will want to lean on.  
• Poor Compensation: The industry practically guarantees employee turnover with its poor wages and benefits. 
• Focus on Racing: The high-end support of brands on racing in all disciplines is misplaced and takes away from what the largest portion of potential riders needs and wants. Practical bicycle safety in routes and in bicycles for everyday riding is something most brands give lip service to only, and nothing gets done in reality because of this. The response of the average citizen is predictably poor. Shops can only do so much against this and many don't do a thing at all. 

I could go on. There is a good perspective on this subject from a former colleague of mine, Arleigh Jenkins, which can be listened to on her YouTube channel HERE. 

Image courtesy of Pivot Cycles

New Pivot Vault Version Now On Offer:

Pivot Cycles announced on Thursday that a new version of their Vault model is now available. The bike has more tire clearance and more capability to carry water and accessories than before while still coming in at a lighter weight than the outgoing version. 

The frame features a decoupled seat post/seat tube arrangement which Pivot calls "ISO FLEX", which provides more rider comfort. New also is Pivot's "TOOL SHED", a cable management and storage system allowing riders to stash items inside the frame. There is also cable guides through the frame to prevent rattling over rough surfaces. There are several accessory mounting points and the frame can hold two water bottles on the top of the down tube, one underneath, and one on the seat tube. 

The frame is 2X front derailleur capable, has dropper post routing, and the frame is also suspension corrected for 40mm travel gravel suspension forks. The new Vault carbon rigid fork is designed for better compliance as well. Tire clearance is a generous 50mm in 1X mode and 47mm with a 2X crankset. 

The geometry is a bit different with sizing running longer top tube measurements than what you might be used to. Pivot advises using a short stem. The bottom bracket is not on the low side, but is pretty decent, striking a good middle ground for current gravel geometry. The head tube angle is on the slacker side with models in their five size range checking in at 70° for a small to 71° for the XL. Sizes in between range accordingly between those two extremes. The chain stay length is a tight 420mm, which is on the short side for gravel. 

Prices range from $5,649.00 to $6,149.00 using Pivot's specs for complete bikes. 

Comments: This is an interesting bike. Pivot's Vault model was originally a cyclo cross bike but now is a fully MTB influenced gravel bike design. Pivot has infused several interesting features with their water bottle capacity and that short rear end. I like that they thought of a way to introduce some compliance in the seat post area and that they thought about the fork compliance as well. And the price isn't bad compared to many other brand's high-end gravel offerings.

That's all for this week! Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Get out and ride those bikes!