Friday News And Views

Teravail Cannonball 32"ers Available:

Image courtesy of Teravail

The 32" wheel introductions have most often been focused on MTB product. However; gravel usage has been teased by several manufacturers and now we have a true gravel component in 32" diameter. The first "gravel" tire for 32'ers is the Teravail Cannonball. 

The Cannonball design was intentionally focused on gravel usage, so while this tire in a 2.2" width may strike some as still being XC MTB focused, it is by design intentions a gravel tire. 

The 32" Cannonball features Teravail's Superstructure Casing which is made up of extra-fine, hardened Nylon fibers to help reduce punctures but retain a supple riding casing. The rubber compound is Teravail's Fast Plus which is claimed to be Teravail's fastest rolling rubber compound in their range. 

You can check out either the tan wall or black wall version of the 32" Cannonball by clicking HERE. 

From Wilde Bicycle Co. social media.

32"er News From Wilde Bicycle Co. 

Seen on social media this week: A Wilde Bicycle Co. post teasing a new, as yet unreleased 32"er MTB XC bike. The post indicated this is a test mule for possible future production. 

There were no concrete dates or timelines given as Wilde wants to wait on a suitable suspension fork to test the frame with. 

Comments: Again, 32"ers are being jumped on by smaller, more agile companies which don't have to wait on production lines to be geared up for large runs. 

Although, I have heard through the grapevine that current factory production is not anywhere near maximum levels, and this may also play into how smaller companies have been able to push smaller production runs through for 32"ers. 

However this plays out, my theory is that there is a small amount of 32"er curious, bike nerdy folks who are possible sales targets for 32" wheels and once those folks have their bikes? I think any sort of larger, general cycling population being interested in 32"ers won't be as eager to bite on the unknown. Big brands who aren't going to have 32"ers out until late this year or early in 2027 may find the 32"er market has satisfied their appetite for this wheel size by buying from the smaller companies who were able to pivot to 32"ers more quickly. 

And I could be completely off my rocker. We will see.......
 

Image courtesy of SILCA

SILCA Announces Super-Secret v2 Lubricant:

SILCA Super-Secret lubricant has always fared quite well in my "Guitar Ted Lube-Off" tests and it is my current go-to lubricant for my gravel bikes. It does exceptionally well in dry gravel conditions. However; it wasn't all that great in the wet and so I never really trusted it for Spring, Winter, or if things got wet at any time of the year. 

SILCA has now upped its game with Super-Secret v2 lubricant. The claim is that it is faster, longer lasting, and holds up even in wet conditions. So, I bought some and it will be here shortly. Look for more "Guitar Ted Lube-Off" content soon!

And speaking of the Lube-Off, I last updated the testing HERE.  That was later into last year. I haven't been lax in testing since then, I just haven't updated anything here yet. This will certainly change, obviously, with the new Super-Secret v2 coming here soon. 

 I also have another lube which just arrived and is not yet on the open market. I will be testing it as well. So, this new Lube-Off should be interesting and pitted against the old contenders. Those include Super-Secret v1, the Effetto Mariposa Flowerpower wax lube, and Stan's Dry Lubricant. This Lube-Off should prove to reveal the best lubricant ever for gravel riding. 

I know.....big claim. But I think it will be true, and I am excited to try out these two new lubricants over the end of Summer and into Fall. Stay tuned..... 

New Dura Ace C-50 (mage courtesy of Shimano)

 Do New Dura Ace Wheels Point To What Could Come For Gravel?

On Wednesday Shimano released the poorly held secret that they have new Dura Ace carbon wheels available now. 

These are a range of rim depths and a rear disc wheel for road, triathlon, and perhaps cyclo cross usage. They don't have current "fashionable" inner rim widths for gravel. 

However; what we do see are carbon fiber spokes. The total wheel weight for the 50mm deep Dura Ace wheels (shown) is 1,302 grams for the pair. Curent Shimano RX-880 wheels have a 25mm (vs 23mm for Dura Ace) inner rim width and a 32mm depth vs the 50mm depth of the new Dura Ace. The total weight of the RX-880's is just shy of 1,400 grams at 1,397 grams. This is with stainless steel spokes. 

Obviously trends have changed and Shimano, never one to jump on changes right away, may not be pushing the cutting edges of wheel tech with a new RX series wheel yet. But it is hard to discount what Chinese wheel companies are doing now and for the prices they are doing it at, which are pretty incredibly low. 

Should Shimano come out with an even wider inner rim width gravel wheel set with carbon spokes with a total wheel weight of under 1,400 grams, it would be a huge development. Let's say the newer wheel had a 30mm inner rim width, and carbon spokes. Maybe a 40mm rim depth. It would be very competitive, as long as you bought a bike with those wheels already on it. Dura Ace wheels are well over 2K for the pair, and this is not at all competitive with Chinese gravel wheel sets, many selling for well under 1K for a pair.  

With Shimano you do get a company with service, widespread availability of repair parts, and most bike shops understand and can work on Shimano components. Chinese wheel sets? Hmm..... Not so much. But if you are willing to take a chance..... 

Image courtesy of DT Swiss

DT Swiss Revamps 1800 Wheel Range

Usually we talk about the bougie, expensive wheels here on the FN&V, but not everyone wants, needs, or can afford those carbon fiber wonder-wheels. So, what's a regular Joe or Jill supposed to look for?

How about a reliable, durable, and practical wheel set? This describes DT Swiss' 1800 range of wheels to a "T". 

There are three newly refreshed wheels in the 1800 Spline range now with the Aero (A), Endurance (E), and the Gravel (G) 1800 models. In those three divisions there are some options as well, most notably the option to get a front wheel with a DT Swiss branded Shutter Precision dynamo hub. 

Most of the range goes for a little north of $600.00 USD, so these won't break the bank and you can get solid DT Swiss reliability from the 370 hubs to the spokes and the new rims featuring a 26mm inner width. There are separate rims from this range available also for those looking to build some wheels. 

See the range HERE.  

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

Ritchey Updates Streem Handlebar:

It seems that the old odball tag which used to be used for flared drop bars is no longer valid. No more "alt-bar" descriptions for these drop bars in 2026. 

Especially since a traditional road drop bar like the Streem now has 10° of flare. This road riding bar now has what Ritchey said in their press release is a design which is "...in line with how riders approach road riding today." And this - "....the compact shape, gentle backsweep, and increasing-radius bends give riders a natural interface for their hands when the road goes long or the pace gets honest. So, backsweep and flare. Hmm..... Gravel has made a dent, it would seem. 

The new Streem is available in aluminum construction in the WCS and Comp ranges with the difference being the WCS has triple-butted tubing. Check out the new bars, which have been priced lower than the outgoing models, and all of Ritchey's handlebar options HERE. 
 

Thanks so much for reading Guitar Ted Productions. Now get out there and ride those bicycles! Summer is fading fast! 

Press Release: Teravail Introduces 32"er Tires and Rim.

 Note: All information and images were supplied by Teravail to Guitar Ted Productions. Comments in Comment section are Guitar Ted's.

Teravail announces 32" tires and rims today. The buzz around this new tire size caused quite a stir last year and now the choices are expanding. Teravail will now offer the following tire models in 32" size. 

Camrock 32" X 2.4" (Available as of Today)

Cannonball 32" X 2.2" (Coming June 2026)

Plus, Teravail will be offering its 32" version of the Circos Wide carbon fiber rim. (Available this Summer)

Features: 

Both 32" models will feature Teravail's "Superstructure" casing which has extra-strong, fine Nylon fibers which provide a stronger baseline tire. The rubber compound on both tire models will be the new "Fast Pus", Teravail's fastest rolling rubber compound yet. Both tires will come in black or tan sidewalls. 

The Circos Wide rim will have front and rear optimized spoke hole patterns and will be front and rear specific with the rear rim having a 28mm internal width and the front a 29mm internal rim width. 

The Circos is designed to support high-volume gravel tires from 50mm - 60mm in width. Circos will be available in 28 hole or 32 hole options. The Circos weighs 400 grams for the front and 420 grams for the rear. 

Teravail 32" Cannonball in skin wall and black wall. 

Circos also has hookless sidewalls and the spoke bed is reinforced and optimized for spoke washers. Complete wheels with DT Swiss 350 hubs are also available. (Complete wheel sets weigh approximately 1,700 grams for the set.)The Circos rims have a Lifetime Warranty. 

Comments: Obviously this goes along with the Fargo 32"er as QBP owns both brands. It is interesting to note in the feature list how Teravail states the Circos is designed for "high volume gravel tires". Perhaps other brand's high volume gravel tires? Which means there would be more 32" gravel bikes as well. 

 QBP is pretty ubiquitous across the USA, so anyone with a hankering for 32" rubber and rims should find getting a set easy to do. 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Neuhaus Metalworks

The 32" Watch: Neuhaus Metalworks Nova 32" Rigid MTB:

Another new production 32"er has hit the marketplace in Neuhaus Metalworks Nova 32. The bike is designed as a rigid MTB with a carbon fork. Quad-butted steel alloy is used for the frame tubing. 

The Nova 32 comes in three sizes recommended for Medium/Large to XL folks. The current availability is for frame/fork only, but rolling chassis can be ordered up now as well. Completes are coming soon. 

Comments: We had a nice chat with Sam of Singular Cycles about 32"ers and geometry experimentation is still happening around this wheel size. One thing which isn't completely nailed down is bottom bracket height/drop. 

Sam was of the mind 32"ers should be equivalent in physical height from the ground as a 29"er to help prevent sky-high seating which would inhibit users abilities to ride such bikes to some degree. In his opinion this would result in bottom bracket drops longer than 100mm, and closer to 110mm. I see the Nova 32 is in the 90's for bottom bracket drop. 

Something to consider.... 

New Podcast Episode:

The latest episode of the Guitar Ted Podcast is out now. Our show can be found on most podcast platforms, but here is a link to the latest episode which is on our Spotify home page.  

In this one we yak about some 32"er gearing issues, how road bikes are becoming gravel bikes, and whether or not gravel cycling is in a state of decline. 

There are probably a few other odd bits in there as well. One thing I missed and it relates to the episode's numbering. 

I mistakenly say it is episode number 98 when in reality it was episode #99. This means the next episode is number 100. 

Maybe we should do a special episode with celebration and whatnot. I know we have a special guest coming on, (you'll have to wait and see who it is). There could be some other surprises as well. Or....

Maybe not! We will see. I expect to have this next episode out by the end of next week, so you'd better get on this episode toot-sweet or you'll get behind! (Just kidding) Thanks for checking out the podcast if you do.  

Image courtesy of Teravail

Teravail Offers Gen 2 Gravel Tires:

Teravail has updated versions of their popular gravel tire range available now. Models included are the Cannonball, Rampart, Rutland, and Washburn tread designs. 

These four models are now all built on 120TPI casings. The size ranges have been streamlined as well. 

Rampart - 700c x 35, 40, and 45mm

Washburn - 700c x 40, 45, and 50mm

Cannonball - 700c x 40, 45, 50, and 55mm

Rutland - 700c x 40, 45, and 50mm

 The previous size range was 38mm, 42mm, and 47mm. There is also now a special limited edition Mid-South Updraft tire available as well. Finally, some of the MTB tires are also part of the Gen 2 updates. See all the gravel tires on offer from Teravail HERE. 

Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth Components

Aero Headsets Avaialble From Wolf Tooth:

A new aero headset offering is now available from Wolf Tooth Components. 

Featuring Wolf Tooth's triple seal system and Enduro stainless steel bearings, the aero headset also comes in an array of anodized colors. 

The Semi-internal head set (official name) goes for $179.95 and you can check out the details on them HERE. 

Comments: Internal routing is a curse. I mean, it complicates things, makes changes in your cockpit of your bicycle more expensive, and the head set here is not cheap either. The whole ruse just to gain a watt or two and look "cleaner" is bonkers when it really just doesn't matter in terms of how fast the average person will ride. 

And when you stop to think about this, what is being routed internally anymore? The rear brake. That's all. Everything else runs by wireless or through the front fork. Can we just stop with this sort of internal routing of a rear brake cable? It's just dumb. It is an example of how racing affects the average person negatively. 

Mid-South Weekend:

This weekend is the Mid-South events in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In fact, there are things going on as you read this on Friday, March 13th. 

The expo was yesterday and today there are running events, music, and more. Tomorrow is the big day for the ride for amateurs. There is a free feed to see the Pro field. (Which is happening today) Just check out the Mid-South's website for more on this. 

I attended and rode the 50 mile course in 2024 and it was a lot of fun. The weather looks like it will hold up for this year, so I suspect it will be one good time again for everyone in attendance. Here's a tailwind wish and safe travels to all who are gathered in Stillwater for Mid-South this weekend. 

That should do it for this week here on Guitar Ted Productions. As always, thank you for reading. Now, get out there and ride your bicycles before Winter comes back!

Friday News And Views

Sour Bikes Pasta Party 32"er (Image courtesy of Sour Bikes)

The 32" Watch: Sour Bikes, TPU Tube News:

The hype and number of bikes surrounding the 32" wheel continues to grow. This week Sour Bikes, a German based company, released news concerning their Pasta Party 32"er. This is a production frame which you can order now. 

Interesting bits on the bike shown on Sour's site include a Manitou fork modified for 32" wheels having a claimed 120mm of travel, Schwalbe Rick Race XC tires, and Reynolds aluminum rims in 32" size. 

Sour claims this bike has only marginally longer chain stays and stack height over the similar Pasta Party 29"er model. They used a very short tapered head tube and a curved seat tube to achieve this result. I think it is very reminiscent of Gary Fisher's early 29"er prototype which also sported a modified Manitou suspension fork, a very short head tube, and a curved seat tube.

Also, a press release was sent out by Tubolito saying they are going to offer TPU tubes for 32" wheels. Tubolito is a German based concern as well. It would seem the Germans are really pushing 32" wheels then as all the companies represented in today's 32" Watch are German based companies. 

Image courtesy of Teravail.

Teravail Launches Component Range:

Teravail is getting into the components game with a range of handle bars in carbon and aluminum, stems in aluminum, and seat posts, including a dropper post. 

News released on Tuesday of this week revealed a few flared drop bars of interest to gravel riders, some MTB flat bars, and  they also dropped news on some grips and handlebar tape as well. 

Comments: The QBP owned brand seems to have a bit of redundancy now considering QBP's Whisky Parts Co. also has similar products. The drop bars look fine, and carbon is good for gravel, so I suspect the products will be good performers. But why double up on product offerings with two different brand names? Curious move.... 

Image courtesy of Castelli

Castelli Announces Unlimited Pro 2 Jersey:

Gravel racing is pushing apparel design into new territory. This Castelli jersey is evidence of a new trend in gravel racing jersey design which combines the function of a jersey with that of a basic hydration pack. 

The jersey is designed for hot weather. Castelli recommends this piece for anything from 64°F - 95°F temperatures. The jersey has a close fitting, race cut. The design features shoulder fabric treatment which is intended to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The pocket on the upper back of the jersey will hold a 1.5L bladder, (not included) and there is fabric loop to hold the drink hose down across the shoulder and upper chest area. 

The jersey is available in three colors. Paprika, (shown), Elmwood, (a tan hue), or black. Price ius set at $230.00 USD. You can view more details and images of the Unlimited Pro 2 Jersey HERE. 

There is also a matching bib short called the Pro Aero Race S Kit which you can check out HERE. 

Comments: I was offered a chance to test this jersey but since I am built like a linebacker and not a Pro level cyclist I declined the offer. Sizing runs small, by the way. What is shown as 3XL comes out to an American XL, and I'm being generous there, I think.  Suffice it to say that this is a serious bit of kit for anyone who wants to glean every marginal gain they can in competition at unpaved events. 

The price is a bit dear, but if you are attacking the pointy end of the gravel racing scene, you probably already are caught up in the "arms race" and a 230.00 dollar jersey for race day is maybe no big deal. I have it on good authority that Castelli gear is well made and does the job it is intended for well enough that the price seems justified. I'll leave it at that. 

Berd spoke (Image courtesy of Berd)

Berd Offers Light XC MTB Wheels:

Berd Spokes now offers complete wheels for XC racing which tip the scales at barely over 1000 grams. Featuring a carbon, hookless deign for a rim, and Berd branded hubs, these wheels should be some of the lightest wheels out there for XC MTB.

The inner rim width is listed at 30mm, so these are legit MTB racing width rims. The rims are backed by a Lifetime warranty as well. The Berd wheels are dubbed the Hawk30 Gold. A set of the Hawk30 Gold wheels runs $2,395.00 USD and can be purchased direct from Berd HERE. 

Comments: The Berd spokes are picking up steam with racing teams and people looking for the best, lightest, and most comfortable riding spokes. I've been using a set of wheels since 2020 with Berd Spokes and they have been solid wheels with no issues for me. I would imagine these Hawk30 Golds would be fantastic riding wheels, if mine are anything to go by. 

Guitar Ted Podcast Episode #97:

Another podcast dropped this week since N.Y. Roll has made it back from Mexico where he had a little vacation time. 

On this episode we discuss a wide variety of topics beginning with series events and why we like them and don't like them. We also get into the news which came out yesterday concerning those new Conti racing tires and the new Singular Albatross 32"er.  

We also discuss how some event directors are bowing out now who had been producing events for several years. We discuss this within the context of the Raputitsa event, because it has been garnering a lot of attention on Facebook with their recent posts, but this is just a high profile example from what I have noted as being a small exodus of event directors from the gravel scene of late.  

If you'd like to listen to this latest episode, please click THIS LINK to go to the Spotify home page, or find the Guitar Ted Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Pleas like, subscribe, and leave a review. It sure helps us out on our end if you do. Thanks!

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

Gravel Grinder News: Teravail Updraft Tire, Carbon Rims, Valves

The new Teravail Updraft tires are aimed at gravel racers.

Note: All images and information in this post was provided to Guitar Ted Productions by Teravail. 

New Updraft Tires, Tubeless Valve Stems, and Carbon Wheels:

Today at the Mid-South expo Teravail is
unveiling its new products for gravel racers. Three new products are included in this debut with the new Updraft semi-slick gravel racing tires being the product you may have guessed Teravail would introduce. However; I doubt many saw a carbon fiber rim - offered in both a complete wheel and individually for custom wheel builds - as being one of those three products. 

Updraft Tires: The new Updraft is a racy tread design with minimal central tread and a row of alternating sized knobs out on the shoulders of the casing. Designed for speedy racing over hardpacked roads and dirt, this tire should find favor with anyone looking for a tire for race day.

Teravail will offer the Updraft in its Light\Supple and Durable casings with its "Fast" compound. Four widths will be available starting with a 35mm tire and then 40mm, 45mm, and 50mm round out the selections. The 120TPI casing is tubeless compatible and sidewalls will be available in tan or black. 

 Pricing on the Light/Supple casing tires is set at $75.00 USD/ $110.00CAN and for the Durable casing $80.00 USD/$115.00 CAN. This is for all sizes, black or tan sidewalls.

Circos Carbon Rims/Complete Wheels:

The new carbon fiber Circos rims are Teravail's first foray into rims. These 370 gram, hookless bead rims will feature a 25mm wide internal rim width.  

Rims will be available in 700c with 24 or 28 hole drillings only. The Circos rims will come with a Lifetime Warranty. Rims can be purchased separately or Teravail can send out complete wheels featuring DT Swiss 350 hubs. 

 Pricing on the Circos rims only is $495.00 USD/ $720.00 CAN each and complete wheels are Front 28H only, $590.00 USD/ $850.00 CAN each and Rear 28h only in XD driver or HG freehub at $795.00 USD/ $1,200.00 CAN each.

Teravail's Tubeless Valve Stems:

Lastly we have Teravail's own tubeless valve stems which will initially come in 48mm lengths with different lengths to come later on. These matte metallic colored stems feature a 4mm hex key slot for installation and removal. The stems also have an integrated core removal tool. Teravail Tubeless Valve Stems are also tire insert compatible. 

No pricing or availability information at this time for the valve stems. Please contact your Teravail dealer or see www.teravail.com for more information. 

Comments: The Updraft looks good and is no surprise as racing gravel tires are taking more tread off and are focusing on speed more and more. Ironically enough, this is exactly the sort of tire I used to advocate for 11 - 12 years ago or more. (See Challenge Gravel Grinder design)

The offering of a 50mm wide Updraft is also on point for today's gravel racer as the trend is to go as wide as you can on the bike you have. Many newer gravel racing designs are now able to accept tires this wide. 

The Circos carbon rims seem a bit odd in their hookless design which has mixed acceptance in the gravel cycling circles. Personally, it is not a choice I would make, but this may be racer-driven and I can see why this may have been a factor in Teravail's choice. Valve stems are an obvious product choice for Teravail to offer, so nothing really stands out for me in this offering. 

I've been offered a set of Updraft tires to try out.. Look for a review if they hit the GTP Headquarters soon.

Review Briefs

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

Fizik Vento Microtex Tacky Bartape:

This was some handlebar tape I threw into an order from Jenson USA on a whim to boost my cart into the free shipping category. I had zero expectations for this tape and was just curious to see how it might do. 

I have been a fan of older models of fizik bar tape in the past, so I was curious to see if there were any current fizik offerings that I may like. Turns out that the Vento Microtex Tacky bartape is right up my alley. 

Typical to my experiences with previous fizik tapes, this stuff wraps well and is actually a thinner tape than what I am used to using from fizik. It reminds me of butyl inner tube rubber, but in a better, more refined way, and it has a similar feel to an innertube tape job, (Yes - I have done this before!) The way it layers is a bit more abrupt in that you feel the edges of this tape where it overlaps. That feels like extra grip to me but if that thought bothers you and you like smoother transitions to your tape job then this isn't for you. 

It lives up to the "tacky" name too. VERY grippy tape here! I am super-curious to see how it handles sweaty hands, but with this rash of cooler weather we've had I don't know the answer to that question yet. I do know that gloved hands will find copious amounts of grip with this tape. Good stuff from fizik!

Redshift Sports Arclight Pro Pedals:

I've been riding these for a couple of months now and they have been really nice to have around. These are flat pedals with a couple of tricks up its sleeves. 

First of all, they are modular in design. So, you have a lot of options in how to configure the Arclights. Secondly, they have a safety feature in that they have a "Smart LED" design which you can make use of, or take off the pedals as you wish. 

So, there is a lot going on here. I'll stick to how I've been using these, but keep in mind, these can be configured in several ways. I decided to keep the "wings" on to make use of a larger platform, but in the future I may pare these down to being just typical clipless pedals for a bit. I removed one side of the clipless feature to get a dual-purpose pedal. One side I have installed the pins on for street-shoe usage and the clipless module is on the other side making these compatible with my cycling shoes as well. 

The image above here shows the LED modules in place which are held in by powerful neodymium magnets. The lights are activated by depressing a button on each module and you can select from steady or flashing patterns. The LED lights will automatically go red if facing rearward and white if facing forward. I don't know how, but it works. And at night these put on a light show that is amazing! If you get hit while using these it is because the driver was distracted or blind. 

You can also see here how the pedal looks without the light modules in place. I removed the modules during a ride which is super-easy and does not require any tools. The light modules come with a four bay charger so you can get the pedals ready to put on the light craziness at night a little more quickly than if you had to charge them one at a time. 

The bearings are fantastically smooth in these pedals as well. I have had no complaints whatsoever with them. They are really easy to use, clip in and out of (The tension is adjustable much like a Shimano SPD) and the light show factor is definitely commuter friendly. I'll have more to say about these later on, but so far, I am very impressed. 

Enduro "Max-Hit" Bottom Bracket:

Bottom bracket bearings might just be the most abused bearings in a bicycle. And of course, without them you are going nowhere fast. But c'mon! A lifetime bottom bracket guarantee? 

That's exactly what it says on the Max-Hit bottom bracket page on Enduro's site. They are pretty confident that this design will last and last and last. 

One of the unique things about this particular bottom bracket in the Max-Hit range is that there is no separate "cup" and a cartridge bearing pressed into that. The part you put the wrench to while installing it is the outer bearing race, not just a carrier for the cartridge bearing, as with most other outboard bearing bottom brackets out there. 

This allows Enduro to use bigger bearings and get more contact area on the races than would be possible with a more traditional design. Does this make any sense? I mean, is it actually doing anything for the rider? Enduro says it saves watts and that it makes the bottom bracket feel smoother too. Ahhhh....okay, let's see. 

And there is something going on with all of this. Maybe it is just me, but have you ever put the wood to a crank that is spinning a traditional Shimano outboard bottom bracket bearing and felt a "rumbly-vibration-like" thing on down strokes? I have. Even on brand new Shimano bottom brackets. Of course, it gets worse with age and wear, but for me, Shimano outboard bearing BB's have always done this. The Enduro one? Nope. Nothing at all like that. Smooth. 

Huh! Well, it will take some time, but I'll keep grinding and see if this thing lives up to its billing.

Teravail Coronado 29" X 2.8" Tires:

 These "plus-sized" 29"er tires were my choice for the Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 bike and I have sure been impressed with these tires so far. I got the "Light and Supple" tan walled versions and they look and ride great. 

I have been running these at sub-20 psi all along and they have had a great combination of smoothness, lower rolling resistance, and air retention. I'm running WTB sealant in these, by the way for reference. 

Grip level on dirt is subjective and varies according to terrain types, but so far I cannot complain. You can see the type of dried up, dirt single track we have here in the accompanying image. The Coronado grips this very well. 

The tires absorb embedded roots and rocks like a champ too, so you get a bit of cush out of all that volume but they still roll quite nicely due to their somewhat lighter weight. On gravel they are amazingly smooth, but yeah, they'd better be with all that tire volume! 

Many tires in this size range are really off-road specific to the point that their versatility is limited, but in my opinion the Coronado strikes a great balance between off-road traction and low rolling resistance on harder surfaces. Plus the "Light and Supple" tag is largely truth here, not just marketing hype. 

We will have to wait to see how they wear, but for now I am a happy camper with this purchase. (Yes, these and the bar tape were purchased by me with my own damn money, so there!)

Stay tuned for more "Review Briefs" in the future.

Review Briefs

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

Fizik Vento Microtex Tacky Bartape:

This was some handlebar tape I threw into an order from Jenson USA on a whim to boost my cart into the free shipping category. I had zero expectations for this tape and was just curious to see how it might do. 

I have been a fan of older models of fizik bar tape in the past, so I was curious to see if there were any current fizik offerings that I may like. Turns out that the Vento Microtex Tacky bartape is right up my alley. 

Typical to my experiences with previous fizik tapes, this stuff wraps well and is actually a thinner tape than what I am used to using from fizik. It reminds me of butyl inner tube rubber, but in a better, more refined way, and it has a similar feel to an innertube tape job, (Yes - I have done this before!) The way it layers is a bit more abrupt in that you feel the edges of this tape where it overlaps. That feels like extra grip to me but if that thought bothers you and you like smoother transitions to your tape job then this isn't for you. 

It lives up to the "tacky" name too. VERY grippy tape here! I am super-curious to see how it handles sweaty hands, but with this rash of cooler weather we've had I don't know the answer to that question yet. I do know that gloved hands will find copious amounts of grip with this tape. Good stuff from fizik!

Redshift Sports Arclight Pro Pedals:

I've been riding these for a couple of months now and they have been really nice to have around. These are flat pedals with a couple of tricks up its sleeves. 

First of all, they are modular in design. So, you have a lot of options in how to configure the Arclights. Secondly, they have a safety feature in that they have a "Smart LED" design which you can make use of, or take off the pedals as you wish. 

So, there is a lot going on here. I'll stick to how I've been using these, but keep in mind, these can be configured in several ways. I decided to keep the "wings" on to make use of a larger platform, but in the future I may pare these down to being just typical clipless pedals for a bit. I removed one side of the clipless feature to get a dual-purpose pedal. One side I have installed the pins on for street-shoe usage and the clipless module is on the other side making these compatible with my cycling shoes as well. 

The image above here shows the LED modules in place which are held in by powerful neodymium magnets. The lights are activated by depressing a button on each module and you can select from steady or flashing patterns. The LED lights will automatically go red if facing rearward and white if facing forward. I don't know how, but it works. And at night these put on a light show that is amazing! If you get hit while using these it is because the driver was distracted or blind. 

You can also see here how the pedal looks without the light modules in place. I removed the modules during a ride which is super-easy and does not require any tools. The light modules come with a four bay charger so you can get the pedals ready to put on the light craziness at night a little more quickly than if you had to charge them one at a time. 

The bearings are fantastically smooth in these pedals as well. I have had no complaints whatsoever with them. They are really easy to use, clip in and out of (The tension is adjustable much like a Shimano SPD) and the light show factor is definitely commuter friendly. I'll have more to say about these later on, but so far, I am very impressed. 

Enduro "Max-Hit" Bottom Bracket:

Bottom bracket bearings might just be the most abused bearings in a bicycle. And of course, without them you are going nowhere fast. But c'mon! A lifetime bottom bracket guarantee? 

That's exactly what it says on the Max-Hit bottom bracket page on Enduro's site. They are pretty confident that this design will last and last and last. 

One of the unique things about this particular bottom bracket in the Max-Hit range is that there is no separate "cup" and a cartridge bearing pressed into that. The part you put the wrench to while installing it is the outer bearing race, not just a carrier for the cartridge bearing, as with most other outboard bearing bottom brackets out there. 

This allows Enduro to use bigger bearings and get more contact area on the races than would be possible with a more traditional design. Does this make any sense? I mean, is it actually doing anything for the rider? Enduro says it saves watts and that it makes the bottom bracket feel smoother too. Ahhhh....okay, let's see. 

And there is something going on with all of this. Maybe it is just me, but have you ever put the wood to a crank that is spinning a traditional Shimano outboard bottom bracket bearing and felt a "rumbly-vibration-like" thing on down strokes? I have. Even on brand new Shimano bottom brackets. Of course, it gets worse with age and wear, but for me, Shimano outboard bearing BB's have always done this. The Enduro one? Nope. Nothing at all like that. Smooth. 

Huh! Well, it will take some time, but I'll keep grinding and see if this thing lives up to its billing.

Teravail Coronado 29" X 2.8" Tires:

 These "plus-sized" 29"er tires were my choice for the Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 bike and I have sure been impressed with these tires so far. I got the "Light and Supple" tan walled versions and they look and ride great. 

I have been running these at sub-20 psi all along and they have had a great combination of smoothness, lower rolling resistance, and air retention. I'm running WTB sealant in these, by the way for reference. 

Grip level on dirt is subjective and varies according to terrain types, but so far I cannot complain. You can see the type of dried up, dirt single track we have here in the accompanying image. The Coronado grips this very well. 

The tires absorb embedded roots and rocks like a champ too, so you get a bit of cush out of all that volume but they still roll quite nicely due to their somewhat lighter weight. On gravel they are amazingly smooth, but yeah, they'd better be with all that tire volume! 

Many tires in this size range are really off-road specific to the point that their versatility is limited, but in my opinion the Coronado strikes a great balance between off-road traction and low rolling resistance on harder surfaces. Plus the "Light and Supple" tag is largely truth here, not just marketing hype. 

We will have to wait to see how they wear, but for now I am a happy camper with this purchase. (Yes, these and the bar tape were purchased by me with my own damn money, so there!)

Stay tuned for more "Review Briefs" in the future.

Chipping Away At The Build

This is what the Singular Gryphon Mk3 will look like.

I've taken a bit of a turn on my thoughts for my upcoming Singular Cycles Gryphon v2 build. I've also been scheming up a build and I have procured a very important bit for the bike. This post will be a progress report. 

So, originally I was thinking this build would be easier if I did it as a single speed. However, after looking at all the parts I have available to me now to complete this, I have taken a different approach. This will end up becoming a 1X bike.

This became the reasonable way to go after I got it through my thick head that this bike was a 12mm through axle, non-Boost spaced bike. Once I realized this, the wheel choice became an easy one to make. 

The wheels will end up being the "Project Wide Gravel v2" wheels which were a failed attempt at making a wide interface for gravel tires. But for plus-sized rubber, which is where I want to be with the Gryphon? They were perfect, so that led me down another path. That is because the DT Swiss rear hub I have has a SRAM XD cassette body on it. That is perfect for a wide range 1X set up. So, I think I am going to use those, an 11 speed XD cassette, and that led me to......tires!

I searched around for a tire with about a 2.6-2.8" width in 29'er size and landed on the Teravail Coronado.  Looking around for a decent price I noted that Lacemine 29 owner, Mike Curiak had posted a list of tires on his Big Wheels Deals page. I contacted Mike via email and he responded quickly. Next thing I knew my tires were in the 'mail' and I received them last weekend. So, now I have the rubber, the wheels, and the next thing will be the drive train. I have the cassette I think I'll need, so no worries there. 

I have an SLX crank set that could be converted to 1X or I could use that older XTR crank set which is silver and would go with the rest of the build. The stem, handle bar, and seat post are all silver. I'll have a Brooks C-17 saddle in Wheat color on it to start out with, and those wheels have black rims to make the tan sidewall 'pop'. It should be a pretty handsome bike when it gets all put together. 

That won't be until this fall when the frame and fork comes in. Stay tuned.....

Chipping Away At The Build

This is what the Singular Gryphon Mk3 will look like.

I've taken a bit of a turn on my thoughts for my upcoming Singular Cycles Gryphon v2 build. I've also been scheming up a build and I have procured a very important bit for the bike. This post will be a progress report. 

So, originally I was thinking this build would be easier if I did it as a single speed. However, after looking at all the parts I have available to me now to complete this, I have taken a different approach. This will end up becoming a 1X bike.

This became the reasonable way to go after I got it through my thick head that this bike was a 12mm through axle, non-Boost spaced bike. Once I realized this, the wheel choice became an easy one to make. 

The wheels will end up being the "Project Wide Gravel v2" wheels which were a failed attempt at making a wide interface for gravel tires. But for plus-sized rubber, which is where I want to be with the Gryphon? They were perfect, so that led me down another path. That is because the DT Swiss rear hub I have has a SRAM XD cassette body on it. That is perfect for a wide range 1X set up. So, I think I am going to use those, an 11 speed XD cassette, and that led me to......tires!

I searched around for a tire with about a 2.6-2.8" width in 29'er size and landed on the Teravail Coronado.  Looking around for a decent price I noted that Lacemine 29 owner, Mike Curiak had posted a list of tires on his Big Wheels Deals page. I contacted Mike via email and he responded quickly. Next thing I knew my tires were in the 'mail' and I received them last weekend. So, now I have the rubber, the wheels, and the next thing will be the drive train. I have the cassette I think I'll need, so no worries there. 

I have an SLX crank set that could be converted to 1X or I could use that older XTR crank set which is silver and would go with the rest of the build. The stem, handle bar, and seat post are all silver. I'll have a Brooks C-17 saddle in Wheat color on it to start out with, and those wheels have black rims to make the tan sidewall 'pop'. It should be a pretty handsome bike when it gets all put together. 

That won't be until this fall when the frame and fork comes in. Stay tuned.....

Country Views: Hero Gravel

Escape Route: Burton Avenue North.

 How does the saying go again? If March comes in like a lamb it is supposed to go out like a lion? Something along those lines. I must say- if the beginning of March is any indication of how the end of the month will be, the end is going to be bad! Seriously. The beginning of March has been stellar. The best I can remember. 

And the gravel roads- so far- have held up on that end as well. "Hero Gravel", is what we coined it years ago now. That comes from the old mountain biker descriptor for primo dirt conditions. Conditions so smooth and tacky that anyone could corner like a hero. Thus "hero dirt". Ah......anyway......

The day was spectacular, blue skies for miles, maybe a breeze from the Southeast, but it was no big deal, really. The roads- wow! So fast and smooth it was like pavement. Maybe a few potholes and ripple-like bumps here and there, but this was the smoothest I've seen the roads in a long time. Dry too! Really dry. A very unusual start to the riding season. So good that I keep wondering when it will all go to pot and we will get slapped back into reality again. I'm sure that day is coming! 

So, it was way up into the 40's again, and we've seen the snow get burned off by the high-riding Sun so fast that I can no longer in good conscious call this "Winter" anymore, so I broke out the first use of "Country Views" for 2021. Unless March goes out like a lion and we see a return to Winter, it'll be "Country Views" until Fall. 

 

Just North of Waterloo on Burton Avenue. These shrubs are blushing red against the leftover snow.

Burton eventually turns into a gravel road. This is "hero gravel" and it was like this for miles.

This time I was on the pink MCD from Black Mountain Cycles. It has those bars on it now that I am testing that I can't say anything about yet. Very soon..... Stay tuned. Anyway, the MCD has those big 700 X 47mm Teravail Rutlands on there now which I like. I figured that I'd need a wide, higher volume tire to deal with the mucky, soft post-Winter conditions, but so far I have not needed that characteristic of the big Rutlands. Nor have I really needed the fenders. I mean- it's nice to not have to worry about water spray, but I could have navigated what I've had to deal with, so far, without fenders. 

Like I said- every road was like this. Total hero gravel.

 

Rare tree lined gravel just North of Cedar Falls on Mount Vernon Road.

 

I had to stop for a 'nature break' and that always is a logistical nightmare on the prairies when the crops are gone. Well, I finally found a suitable spot near where a high-tension electrical wire went across the road. As I stood there to relieve myself, I could hear a faint, low frequency humming. It was coming from the pole holding the wires up near me. After I finished, I ventured over to the pole carefully and leaned in to put my ear as near to the wooden pole as I dared without touching it. I could distinctly hear the tones, and then I noticed that the entire pole was vibrating when I touched it with my gloved hand. Crazy! 

Anyway, I got going again and I eventually went West on Bennington Road over to Leversee Road and South to Mount Vernon Road. My aim was to get into Cedar Falls and maybe visit Andy at the shop. Then I could tool on over to where I live through the cities. My way back into Cedar Falls was going to be on this little known chunk of gravel called Strayer Road. Well, unfortunately the city or county must have chip sealed that road in 2020. Too bad! Another gravel road lost.......

Other than that bummer, it was a great ride.

Country Views: Hero Gravel

Escape Route: Burton Avenue North.

 How does the saying go again? If March comes in like a lamb it is supposed to go out like a lion? Something along those lines. I must say- if the beginning of March is any indication of how the end of the month will be, the end is going to be bad! Seriously. The beginning of March has been stellar. The best I can remember. 

And the gravel roads- so far- have held up on that end as well. "Hero Gravel", is what we coined it years ago now. That comes from the old mountain biker descriptor for primo dirt conditions. Conditions so smooth and tacky that anyone could corner like a hero. Thus "hero dirt". Ah......anyway......

The day was spectacular, blue skies for miles, maybe a breeze from the Southeast, but it was no big deal, really. The roads- wow! So fast and smooth it was like pavement. Maybe a few potholes and ripple-like bumps here and there, but this was the smoothest I've seen the roads in a long time. Dry too! Really dry. A very unusual start to the riding season. So good that I keep wondering when it will all go to pot and we will get slapped back into reality again. I'm sure that day is coming! 

So, it was way up into the 40's again, and we've seen the snow get burned off by the high-riding Sun so fast that I can no longer in good conscious call this "Winter" anymore, so I broke out the first use of "Country Views" for 2021. Unless March goes out like a lion and we see a return to Winter, it'll be "Country Views" until Fall. 

 

Just North of Waterloo on Burton Avenue. These shrubs are blushing red against the leftover snow.

Burton eventually turns into a gravel road. This is "hero gravel" and it was like this for miles.

This time I was on the pink MCD from Black Mountain Cycles. It has those bars on it now that I am testing that I can't say anything about yet. Very soon..... Stay tuned. Anyway, the MCD has those big 700 X 47mm Teravail Rutlands on there now which I like. I figured that I'd need a wide, higher volume tire to deal with the mucky, soft post-Winter conditions, but so far I have not needed that characteristic of the big Rutlands. Nor have I really needed the fenders. I mean- it's nice to not have to worry about water spray, but I could have navigated what I've had to deal with, so far, without fenders. 

Like I said- every road was like this. Total hero gravel.

 

Rare tree lined gravel just North of Cedar Falls on Mount Vernon Road.

 

I had to stop for a 'nature break' and that always is a logistical nightmare on the prairies when the crops are gone. Well, I finally found a suitable spot near where a high-tension electrical wire went across the road. As I stood there to relieve myself, I could hear a faint, low frequency humming. It was coming from the pole holding the wires up near me. After I finished, I ventured over to the pole carefully and leaned in to put my ear as near to the wooden pole as I dared without touching it. I could distinctly hear the tones, and then I noticed that the entire pole was vibrating when I touched it with my gloved hand. Crazy! 

Anyway, I got going again and I eventually went West on Bennington Road over to Leversee Road and South to Mount Vernon Road. My aim was to get into Cedar Falls and maybe visit Andy at the shop. Then I could tool on over to where I live through the cities. My way back into Cedar Falls was going to be on this little known chunk of gravel called Strayer Road. Well, unfortunately the city or county must have chip sealed that road in 2020. Too bad! Another gravel road lost.......

Other than that bummer, it was a great ride.

Friday News And Views

LOOK Pedals' Geo City.

Iconic Pedal Maker Makes Ironic Pedal Debut:

The cycling industry missed most of its debut product events this year, so things are trickling out at odd times now. One of this week's strangest debuts comes from classic clipless pedal maker, LOOK. This is the company that invented "clipless" pedals back in the 1980's. They have pretty much hung their hat on that fact since. However; it is no secret that flat pedals, or normal pedals, as most people would think of them, are now very popular amongst mountain bikers and urban bikers. So, LOOK felt compelled to respond with two new models. 

One is a bit on the goofy side. The LOOK  Geo City is a flat with replaceable VIBRAM® rubber inserts in different colors. There are trail inserts and urban inserts with slightly differing raised block/patterns and compounds for grip. They go for around $70.00 retail. The draw here , I suppose, is fashion. You can customize the look via the inserts, but other than for casual city use, these don't move my needle much. 

The LOOK Geo City Vision

There is a variant on the theme though that does kind of make sense to me. LOOK has a Geo City Vision model which includes LED lighting in the pedal's edges. These lights are rechargeable and the Geo City is upgrade-able to the lighted version. However; the price is twice that of the Geo City pedals at $140.00 suggested retail. Still, for urban commuting, it is a compelling idea. 

In a study done for Bontrager, they stated that any reflective or lighted elements on a cyclist that moved in an up and down motion were much more noticeable by motorists than stationary reflective or lighted elements. This would suggest that these LOOK Geo City Vision pedals would be a nice addition to a commuter's arsenal of lighting. 

LOOK claims the lights are water resistant and have been thoroughly tested to withstand the elements. I should hope so, at the price they ask, it would be very disappointing to have the lights be less than totally durable. 

LOOK's other pedal entry is a rather mundane take on the typical aluminum flat for trail riding called the Trail ROC. It also retails at $70.00. Ho-hum. There are a ton of flats that look like this. I also think it is ironic that LOOK would feel compelled to enter this very competitive market, but that's their business. In my opinion, the Geo City Vision is the most interesting intro of the lot here. 

This broken rear derailleur used to cost about $12.00 to replace.

The Bikes & Parts Shortage Continues:

As many of you out there are finding out, or already know, bikes and parts for bikes are hard to come by these days. It isn't just high end stuff either. Even the least expensive Shimano bits are hard to source these days. Take this broken Shimano derailleur, pictured here to the left. 

This came in on a department store kid's bike, and like probably a third of these, it was destroyed in contact with the rear wheel as it spun around. This is a super-common failure mode for cheesy rear derailleurs. No big deal, right? These retailed at around $12.00 a pop in 2019. Try to find a hangar mount type like this today. As a bike shop, our supply lines are dried up. So, the customer sourced this rear derailleur for himself. He got it on Amazon, of course, and guess how much it cost? 

$30.00!!!

Yep! Supply and demand, I guess. But that's just one example of how 2020 has gone haywire in outdoor retail. The big question is, "When will it all end?" No one really knows the answer to this, but a great article in the latest posting by "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" gives some solid clues. 

In that article, industry commentator, Rick Vosper says his sources are telling him that we can expect shortages on bicycles and accessories for the next 12-18 months. That's the end of 2021 folks. We're talking things being a mess until 2022. Maybe. I wouldn't doubt that this hangs on in some form or another for most of 2021 though. 

This is an interesting take on the industry though, and if you are curious as to how things might shake out, it is well worth a read. Inventory levels will be leveraged by the big brands and dealers will have to absorb a lot of high end product placement on their floors and in their warehouses to get the meat and potatoes bikes everyone is hungry for. And what if things fall off as far as demand? Hard to say. It is an election year and there is a LOT of uncertainty surrounding this election cycle. I'm betting dealers will be cautious and will sit on their hands for a while to see how this shakes out in November. 

The men's model- a HPC- promised by LeMond.

 

LeMond Introduces HPC Models:

The 'surprise' bikes that LeMond had promised via their social media recently have been released, at least the identity of them has been- prices and actual availability information have yet to be released. They are electrified bikes, or as I term them- HPC's. This is one of the things I figured that would be released by LeMond. The other thing I expect to be released sometime in the future will be a gravel oriented rig, but we will see. 

I'll give LeMond credit, the style of these bikes is done well. The urban style is cool and sleek. Of course, this is carbon fiber, so you get organic, flowing lines, but I do like what they've done for an electrified bike style. Most are ugly. This is decidedly not ugly. 

Now I will also say that this same frame, the HPC one shown here, could just as easily be a drop bar bike. It's not hard to imagine it. Secondly, LeMond used a hub motor, so a 'traditional' powered frame would be simple to manufacture. This makes sense for, what essentially is, a start-up brand. Modular product makes more sense than making a bunch of different frames. Although I should also say that this frame isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' bike either. In fact, LeMond also introduced a mixte' frame- in carbon fiber- alongside this as well. So that alone shows that they have some daring in their design portfolio as well. 

Teravail Introduces A New Tire:

 This week Teravail announced a new tire called the Washburn. They are offering it in three sizes- 700 X 38mm, 700 X 42mm, and 650B X 47mm in tan and blackwall versions for each size. They also have the Durable casing or the Light and Supple options for each.

This is an interesting take on a gravel tire. It is most like a Riddler/Byway mixture. It should be a fast tire, but maybe best on drier grounds versus something like a Teravail Rutland. At any rate, you have to hand it to Teravail who have been really making some decent moves of late. It wasn't all that long ago that their gravel tire line up was a lot less appealing to me. Their older designs were stiff and just odd.

Now with the Rutland, re-vamped Cannonball, and this new Washburn tire, they have a lot of bases covered with competitive and unique designs. My only beef with this Washburn tire is that Teravail did not offer it in a 29" X 2.1"er size or close to that. This seems like a great pattern for Cutthroats or Fargos. Maybe that will happen sometime down the line. 

Well, that's a wrap for this week! Time is wasting! Get out and ride where you can.