Friday News And Views

Bikepacking/Touring Opportunity In Minnesota:

I was cruising social media last week and came across something which I felt was a great idea for a tour. While this exists for all-wheel drive vehicles and dual-sport motorcycles, it is mostly on gravel and minimum maintenance roads. In other words, it is perfect for gravel bikes or bikepacking bikes.

The trail starts and stops in New Albin, Iowa, but it looks to me as though you could start and stop in a few other places. While this is 435 miles in total, I would think shorter loops could be easily fabricated if the 400+ miles is intimidating or not possible due to time constraints.

Heywood Ride promoter Marty Larsen chimed in on the post I saw and commented that the roads used for this route included several of the same roads used for the Heywood 390 route, and recommended it as being great for views and riding. That's a pretty good recommendation right there. 

If you are curious, see the SEMAT site HERE.  

Wolf Tooth offers "Raw Silver" in select sizes. (Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth)

Wolf Tooth Offers Raw Silver Chain Rings:

This week saw the release of some chainrings by Wolf Tooth in a "Raw Silver" color. This is a bit unusual as most of Wolf Tooth's componentry is anodized in bright, colorful hues.

Currently the Raw Silver is only available in SRAM 8-bolt direct mount or 110BCD sizes.  You can see more by checking in on Wolf Tooth's site HERE.

Comments: I like silver components, but I wish for the older style anodization like Shimano used on the original XTR, or for a polished, more shiny look. The Raw is a move in the right direction, but when I think silver, I think of more "pop" than these offerings seem to have. Perhaps seeing them in the flesh would change my mind. 

Image courtesy of FARA Cycling

Gravel Bicycles Evolving:

This past week saw an introduction of the latest generation of gravel bike from the Norwegian company, Fara. Their newest offering, the GR4, can handle 2.2" 29"er tires and still has the capability for a 1X only, 46T chain ring.

The carbon fiber frame and fork also has in-frame storage and accessory mounts for bike packing. The GR4 is only compatible with wireless shifting groups and will not work with any mechanical components at all.

Comments: The geometry of this bike is rather interesting. It is pretty much exactly the same as that Raleigh gravel bike that could take 50mm tires and was that awful tan/brown color. I cannot recall the name of the model, but it came out in 2017, I believe, so this one is nothing new in the light of geometry and tire clearances.

What I've always questioned is this propensity for wanting super-short chain stays. I always think of what the roughest seat on the school bus was, (right over the rear axle) and shake my head. A little of what Joe Breeze said also comes to mind here. He said a longer, uninterrupted tube/carbon shape will have the best ride feel. But apparently you have to feel fast, even though it sucks to ride, to be fast. 

We did get rid of skinny tires, for the most part. Maybe someday short chain stays will also fall out of favor for what really works best for the rider. 

Image courtesy of Wahoo Fitness

Wahoo Fitness Upgrades Kickr Rollr Indoor Trainer:

The entry level Wahoo Kickr Rollr Indoor Trainer has been upgraded with power output capabilities. Now riders can use this trainer to train with power.  

The onboard power output meter is not as accurate as an onboard the bike power meter due to the Kickr Rollr's rear wheel freedom of movement, but you can get a good baseline to work off of despite this. Wahoo indicates that any third party power meter can be connected to the Kickr Rollr for more precise accuracy if so desired.

Because of the Kickr Rollr's design, almost any bicycle can be used with it, which makes this the perfect trainer for multiple rider households. The front wheel is clamped and wedged into the unit, making out of the saddle and harder efforts safer.

Pricing:  US$699.99 / CA$874.99, UK£549.99, EU€599.99. AU$999.99, Japan¥120,000 - Available to buy now.

Wilde Spelljammer (Image by Jarod Bunk)

Wilde Bicycles Offers Limited Run Spelljammer Bike:

Wilde Bicycles announced on Wednesday of last week that they are commissioning a small batch of rim brake "randonnuering" bikes called the Spelljammer..

The bike will be steel, (natch), and fillet brazed by a single artisan in Taiwan. Wilde indicated in the press release that finding anyone to make such a bike in Taiwan is increasingly difficult as the skilled people who know this trade skill are disappearing due to retirement and death. Wilde suspects then that this may be the last bicycles of this type to come out of the island nation. 

Also noteworthy: The rear drop outs are from the same casting designed by Anna Schwinn 

Spelljammer frame sets are $1,600.00 USD and preorders are open now for a Summer 2026 delivery. See the site for more details HERE.

That's a wrap on things for this week. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions. Now egt out there and ride those bicycles!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Eddy Merckx Bikes.

Eddy Merckx Bikes Announces Steel Gravel Model:

It isn't often that we see steel as a frame material get a new lease on life as a gravel bike. Today is unusual in that there is news out from Eddy Merckx Bikes that their Strasbourg model is now available in triple butted Columbus steel. 

The bike is welded by one man in Belgium and built up with components of your choosing from SRAM or Shimano. (What?! No Campy Ekar option?) The paint can even be customized per the "Configurator" on the Eddy Merckx site. 

Prices aren't too bad for all of this and there is even a frame set option. Tire clearances are limited, compared to more progressive gravel bikes, at 45mm in 1X and 42mm in 2X set ups. Three sets of bottle bosses are on the main triangle and there are fork mounts as well. The frame features semi-internal routing. The geometry is conservative, but should work for racing or general purpose gravel riding. 

Comments: I wonder if people much younger than I even know who Eddy Merckx is and are aware of his accomplishments. It's been a while since the "Cannibal" has won an event. Perhaps the attacking riding style of Tadej Pogačar in the Giro now and the comparisons of him with Eddy will bring some folks that awareness of Eddy's dominating past. 

That said, it is interesting to note that this gravel bike is named "Strasbourg" because that is the place where Eddy famously won a sprint on a dirt road. So the name for this model seems fitting, yes? 

Image courtesy of SRAM

SRAM Unvieils New Red AXS:

We all knew it was coming, the spy shots have been on the internet for months now. SRAM finally pulled back the curtains to reveal what it claims is the lightest road group set ever, SRAM Red AXS. 

New ergonomics and brake design are said to be more comfortable. The pivot point and mechanics of the brake have been redesigned to yield a brake requiring a claimed 80% less effort to actuate from the hoods and 33% less effort to actuate from the drops. The rotors have also been updated to be lighter weight (aluminum carrier redesign) and have a new design for the brake track which is said to aid in giving the rider more stopping power than the previous generation of SRAM rotors. 

The rear derailleur has a new, larger lower jockey wheel and the maximum allowed cassette low gear is 36T. Several gearing ratios are possible via the different options for crank sets which are 46/33, 48/35, 50/37, 52/39, 54/41, and 56/43. Several crank arm lengths are available ranging from 160mm - 175mm. Power metered cranks are also available. 

New to this group is the integration of the Hammerhead Karoo computer which can be used to control derailleur parameters, shifter functions, and more. SRAM purchased the Hammerhead computer company earlier and the deeper integration of the GPS unit was expected. The Hammerhead Karoo will come with aftermarket purchases of the Red AXS group and on some OEM builds that use SRAM AXS Red. 

Comments: Noting a move to silver polish accents and calipers. Nice! Interestingly in SRAMS's own marketing for this group, they state the reason for the larger jockey wheel in the rear derailleur is, "To match current aesthetic preferences..." Hilarious! 

The integration of the Hammerhead computer is interesting. Hopefully they got those things to work better than the two failures of two separate Karoo 2 GPS navigation units that I experienced. Of course, this assuming that many people will buy into that ecosystem. I look for several Karoo units to be on the "used" marketplaces in the future. 

Look between the cage and the frame. (Image courtesy of Knog)

Knog Introduces Scout Bike Alarm:

A new bike alarm from Knog looks promising for those who need an alert if their bicycle gets moved by anyone including people with ill intentions. 

The Scout Bike Alarm is a rechargeable unit that mounts on any two-bolt water cage mount using Knog's tamper-proof screws. The alarm can be armed with a button or via Knog's iOS app. (Sorry! No Android app at this time) 

If the bike gets moved a loud 80db alarm will sound. The unit will also work with Apple's "Find My" app. LED's show the alarm's status and battery level. The battery is claimed to last 2 - 6 months depending upon frequency of use. The battery is rechargeable via USB-C cable (not included). 

There is a cover for the device if it is used without a bottle cage, or you can mount a bottle cage on top of it for stealth usage. 

The price for the Knog Scout Alarm is @59.95 USD. The unit weighs 25 grams. 

Comments: Ever get the worries when running in for a resupply of water at a convenience store stop? This device could be good for things like that. The fact that you can use a "Find My" app on Apple products also goes a ways in making this device seem worthwhile. 

Perhaps we will all find out together. Supposedly one is on its way to me for testing. Stay tuned.....

Image courtesy of Wheels Manufacturing

Wheels Manufacturing Offering Anodized UDH Hangars:

More anodized bits for your matchy-matchy pleasure. Wheels Manufacturing has UDH rear derailleur hangars which feature any of their current anodized color choices. 

UDH is coming sooner than later for all bicycles and I've noted that gravel bikes being introduced of late feature this sort of hangar now. 

I've got no particular beef with the idea, it is fine, and I suppose stronger as well. Anything to eliminate the umpteen number of puzzle-piece rear hangars that proliferated over the course of the last 30 years. 

But that's another story! The point is, now you have another point where you can accessorize your bike with a bit of color and be "oh-so fashionable". 

That's a wrap for this week. Have a great weekend and ride those bikes! Special shout-out to the Heywood Ride happening tomorrow in Northfield Minnesota. Wish I could be there!

Mid South Report: The Race: Part 1

The morning of Mid South finally dawns.

We wanted to be up and moving by 6:00am, but I did not awaken until about 6:20am. Our start time for the 50 mile course was to be about 8:10am, so we had a little time to get things done, which included some breakfast. 

Ben took it upon himself to cook all of us eggs and rice. Once we were all fed and ready, we piled into the truck which was pulling the trailer with our bicycles inside of it down to the start-finish area. 

I have not officially "raced" my bike since the 2023 Gents Race, and well.......I still haven't. Bobby Wintle has a certain number of free entries he holds back for special people/athletes. He had offered me one of these to get into the event. This is nothing unusual for me, I get offered to come to events with a comped entry all the time. The thing is, I almost never accept those invitations. 

I get that people have feelings about me and those are valid. People in charge of events sometimes want to express their feelings of thankfulness towards me via these comped entries, which I also understand. I just seem to have a problem with that when it comes to myself. I feel I would be taking away from the possibility that someone more deserving than I could get that entry. I also just don't feel "right" about it. I don't know that I deserve even more than I've already received from the gravel scene. Maybe I need to let that go...... There is also the obstacle of my Saturday work schedule at the Collective too, so even if I wanted to go partake in a free entry, I probably couldn't.

But the point is, I was not "on record" as a racer. Yes.....I rode it "bandit".  

The 100 milers take off as King Cabbage plays on the bandstand.

The Northfield crew is on their way.

Bobby had a great start set up. The band was playing, whose name is "King Cabbage", and they have a stout horn section. They played Rage Against The Machine's "Bulls On Parade". It was hair raising and fun. The band was also playing some good tunes as we left for the 50 miler. 

After leaving the noisy start-finish area, we meandered through the business district and eventually to the fringes of Stillwater. First gravel was on some rollers and on narrow, tree-lined roads. There were lots of folks around us so it was "be careful" time and I wasn't pushing the issue at this point. Just cruising along with the river of cyclists. 

It was chilly to start out, but I chose to go minimalist and only wore a long-sleeved wool jersey and bibs anyway. My toes were cold, not bad, and 100% tolerable, but my fingers were frozen. I was hoping the Sun would come out, but it never really did and overcast skies were the norm for most of the day. 

The weather! I'm telling you! Most times it is an issue for some reason or another, but the weather was 100% a non-factor at Mid South this year. No wind! None! The temperatures finally got to around 70 degrees, and I only felt hot for about an half an hour on the entire ride. I am of the belief that Mid-South will never again have such a perfect weather weekend, but I could be wrong.

Then there were probably more course-side spectators than I have seen at an event in a long while. Some especially cute young children were cheering us all on with their 'You can do it!" shouts of encouragement. They were my favorites. 

First gravel and a lot of riders

More of the initial miles of the Mid South

Things were going great so far with my Honeman Flyer. The gearing was perfect. I could climb and I could hold my own on the flats. I had the ability to sprint short distances to get around riders if necessary. I was pretty happy early on. 

There were two things that happened that morning that affected my race. One was "positive" and one was a negative. The "positive" one could be debated, but I'm saying this was good. See, Oklahoma is a legal state for marijuana products. Marty, who grabbed some "dosed" chocolate squares at the party Thursday night, handed me a half a square before we started. I did not know it was a dosed candy. I'm not mad about it either, and the thing did make me feel like I could ride like the wind, which is what I ended up doing, and I dropped the guys like a bad habit. 

I tried to rein it in, but the bike was so easy to pedal and I felt great working the hills. Anyway, the second thing, the negative thing, kind of took care of that. 

I was on my own at this point.

I was descending one of the rock-hard, cobbled up sections of the course when I heard something rattling on the bike. The seat tube mounted bottle cage was loose! I swung over to the right side of the road to address the situation. 

I had an issue with this before I left for Mid-South but I thought I had addressed it. The lower bottle cage bolt seemed to have bottomed out on something inside the seat tube and so I just put in a shorter bolt and it seemed tight, but apparently, it wasn't. I took the bottle off and put it in my jersey pocket, tightened up the bolts as good as I could get them, and then I remounted and moved on. 

Of course, by this time Ben, Michael, Marty, and Justin had all passed me by, along with probably hundreds of other people. Oh well! We were not looking to go fast, Ben had lots of stops planned, and I was sure to come across the guys at some point. Besides, I always end up riding alone at these events. So, what's new about this time? Same-ol-same-ol. 

A rider adjusting his bike along the course of the Mid-South event.

These roads are very unique.

So, a few words about Oklahoma roads around Stillwater. I'd never ridden there before and I was excited to see what the fuss was about with Mid-South and the course. I'd heard and read plenty over the years and so this was a real treat to finally do this thing. 

I guess I'd call the terrain a mix between Iowa and what I'd find at Gravel Worlds. Lots of punchy, shorter climbs but not just a few longer hauls with gentler grades as you might ride around Lincoln. The dirt was gritty and in places, blown out like powder. A red powder that was being whipped up by our bicycles and making strange rouge-like deposits on cheeks, noses, and arms and legs. 

There was some crushed rock, which seemed to be white, like Iowa's and only used for certain things like repairs or bridge approaches. This stuff was 100% familiar to me and I took to it like a fish in water. There were sections of grayer gravel which was sometimes pushed into the road's center lane, or would be humped up in between the classic three-tire clearings on your typical crushed rock roads. 

Not a lot of that is unusual, but what is different is how hard and rough the dirt road beds are. The descents are many, fast, and combined with the roughness of the roads, you'd better have everything battened down tight or it will vibrate loose! 

The "conga line" waiting to cross about five yards of wet mud.

I finally reached the checkpoint at about 28 miles into the event.

I rode alone through to the checkpoint where I hoped to find the guys I had been separated from. The racers had spread out a bit more as I was coming toward the checkpoint, but keeping track of where to go was easy. Just follow the leaders! 

The course featured lots of shorter climbs and descents which suited the single speed. I was still trucking along fine, but something was lost after the first time that I stopped and I no longer felt quite so invincible. 

At the checkpoint I ran across Rob Evans from Nebraska and some Cycle Works riders. They invited me over for some snacks.  I left to use the porta-potties and I realized that Ben and Marty were trying to find me. They were on the roadside where I eventually saw them. I told them what had separarted me from them and Ben offered some split washers he had which would secure the cage better. That worked out so I could carry the water bottle as intended. With that done, we readied to go again. 

The courses for the 100 and the 50 split off here. 100 milers went straight, 50 milers towards camera.

Even though we started together, I was off the back and seemed to be slipping back from the Northfield group. Then I made a wrong turn, or rather, no turn instead of turning, where I ended up having a half mile round trip correction. 

The course had a lot less riders on it since the 100 mile folks peeled off, and with no directions, I was left to see if I could either read the trail or watch other cyclists. That's the price you pay for riding bandit! 

I did get back on course and I eventually found the guys resting around a corner. Then we were off again, only now I found myself off the front again, and not being able to ride slowly enough to let them catch back on. 

We reached the point where in 2023 Ben and crew had a ditch-side oasis stop.

Ben had been talking up this stop he had done the year before where they had whiskey, snacks, and shade to share with riders. He wanted to do something similar again for 2024. Once we found the spot we planned on at least staying for an hour, maybe more. 

Next; The Race Part 2.

Mid South Report: The Expo

The Honeman Flyer on Oklahoma gravel

 Friday was the day for the Expo, but not before we all went down to meet Bobby Wintle and whomever else was with him for breakfast at a restaurant named "Hatch" in Stillwater.

Somehow we all peeled ourselves out of our beds at the Air BnB to make it down to Hatch by a little after six o'clock in the morning. When we got there I think we were almost the first folks in the building to eat. There was that one guy sitting at the breakfast bar with a bowl of cereal in front of him who had a thousand yard stare going on. Yeah....been there done that, Buddy! But besides that guy, Bobby was nowhere to be found. 

But I did not expect him either. If there is one take away from these reports, please make it that Bobby Wintle IS Mid South and his fingerprints are all over the event. He and his wife Crystal host more than 3.000 riders, put on a music festival, an expo, and help facilitate a few parties over the course of the week. That's a lot of work, and while Bobby has several volunteers, his soul and spirit infuse Mid South with life and - in my opinion - without Bobby Wintle there is no Mid South. 

So, I figured Bobby probably had other, more important things on his mind, or he was torn away by some pressing need or another. Not to be wondered at with such a complex event with so many moving parts to it. 

My plate at Hatch on Friday.

Of course, breakfast was wonderful. The crew agreed with me that it was one of the best meals we'd all had recently and that Hatch was an experience not to be missed. The place was really cool inside, (it used to be a NAPA auto store from decades back), and the brick interior with its tall, many-paned windows were lending a bit of an industrial feel but the rest of the interior is bright and modern. 

Bobby did eventually show up and he said hello, introduced us to his parents, and then was about his day. So, that was a bit of a surprise and it was really great to see him again. Bobby said he was going to go nuts when I finished the event and give me "the greatest hug". A "Bobby Hug" is part of the reason a lot of people want to finish this event, and Bobby will hug all 3000-plus if they all finish. 

Ben, Michael, and Marty then went to set up the pop-up tent for their booth at Mid South's expo area, a two block bit of the street that bisected the street which was used for the start/finish line. The event started and finished in front of District Cycles.  I went with Justin to find where Ben and Michael had parked the truck with the small, aluminum covered trailer they pulled down with that contained the tent, bicycles, and supplies, so we could see if some of Justin's keys were in the back. 

We did not have clear directions as to the location of the trailer, only that it was near a brewery, and yes - there is more than one of those in Stillwater. So, Justin and I got in a nice walk before we eventually found the trailer and he found his misplaced keys. This would be a recurring theme with Justin for the entire weekend. He and misplaced keys, that is. 

A look at the East end of the expo area.

The Grassroots Gravel Event is in Pueblo, Colorado. I'll have more on them later

It was a colder, blustery morning. The wind gusts were giving some of the vendors a fit, but Ben, Michael, and Marty's set up was fairly sheltered. I ended up cruising the expo and then I sat around, taking spot duty for the guys in case they had to eat, use the restroom, etc. 

I met a lot of great folks from all over the USA. While on my cruise of the expo I ran into Jason Boucher, Jason Strohbehn of Gravel Worlds, and a few other people I know. I was happy to reconnect with these people after so long. 

Ben Witt (L) and Michael Lehmkuhl of the Heywood ride. Marty Larsen took the picture.

GT (R) with Rob Evans from Lincoln, NE. (Image by Rob Evans)

Eventually the Sun came out and it reached 70° with lowered winds. The afternoon was actually quite pleasant. I stuck around at the expo, took a break to eat at a food truck located down there, and then I just enjoyed the people that came by to share stories and bicycles. 

This Mosaic titanium bike was pretty far-out with its sponged color scheme.

The Mid South holds running events on Friday along with a slate of musical acts on the main stage.

While the event's expo is cool, there is also a main stage where musical acts performed all day Friday and into Friday evening. The Mid South also has running events, and those were contested on Friday as well. 

This frame is cast aluminum and is all one-piece. made by Heavy Bikes.

The aluminum is cast with pressure into a sand foundry mold

The Heavy Bikes gravel rig came by the booth, and while I don't like to do anything like those "awards" some media folk hand out, this was maybe the best bicycle at the expo. At least it was in the top three. Ben's tall bike was arguably in that conversation as well. Anyway...

The Heavy Bikes process is really interesting. The aluminum is left with a lot of the textures and "warts" from casting which gives the bicycle a very industrial, purposeful look, in my opinion. You might think it is ugly, but since casting metal is something I was around for ten years as a jeweler, I find this fascinating. Oh! And the bike wasn't all that heavy either. Quite surprising. 

Marty Larsen helps pack up the booth after the expo. Ben's bicycle sits to the left here.

We went back to our Air BnB for supper.

After a full day of meeting people and talking it was time to get the booth torn down and put away. Ben had let probably a dozen different people ride his tall bike, which was a frame and fork he bought from Adam Sklar, a frame builder. This tall bike was something that Adam was experimenting with, and is not officially a "Sklar" bike, but that is who built the frame/fork. 

The bike was garnering a huge amount of interest and Ben's friend and photographer, Jared Bunk, was asked to take images of it after the expo out at the Air BnB we were staying in. 

(L-R) Justin Michaels, Michael Lehmkuhl, and Ben look on as Jared Bunk prepares to ride the tall bike.

Ben Witt taking an image of Jared on the tall bike.

After the photo session we all went in and had a supper of pan fried chicken breasts and some side dishes. Jared spoke with us about his Summer plans which prompted Ben to pitch Jared on coming to the Heywood ride to take images. I think Ben convinced Jared to come in the end.

Jared then left and it was off to bed as we had another early day ahead with the actual ride.

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Industry 9

 I'm gone, but the FN&V rolls on!

Industry 9 Announces SOLiX Wheel and Hub Range:

Yesterday it was announced that a new range of wheels and hubs are now available from Industry 9. Dubbed "SOLiX", these wheels cover the needs of gravel, cyclo cross, and road riders. 

The range comes in two flavors - SOLiX SL and SOLiX G. The SOLiX SL wheels feature the new SOLiX hub with straight-pull Sapim CX-Ray spokes. The range of SOLiX SL wheels includes carbon and alloy rims with weights starting as low as  a claimed 1270 grams per set (carbon rims) to as much as nearly 1500 grams per set (alloy rims) and everything in between. Prices range from  just shy of 1300 bucks to around 2200 bucks. 

The SOLiX G wheels are the traditional aluminum Industry 9 spoked wheels you may associate with I9. Available in several anodized colors, these spokes make any bike 'pop' with their intensely colored aluminum spokes.  These wheel sets range in price from around 1500 bucks to a little over 2500. Weights go from a claimed 1320 grams per set on up. There is also a 650B option in this series as well. 

SOLiX hubs can also be purchased separately as the SOLiX Classic, which comes only in black and for "J" bend spokes. The new SOLiX hubs in all ranges are made with a new design that incorporates different pawl spring design, a new sealing design, and a new ratchet ring design which I9 claims makes the new SOLiX hubs quieter and better free-coasting than previous I9 hubs.

Rim, hub, and wheel spec can be seen at the Industry 9 website.  

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Salsa Cycles Tributary e-Bikepacking Bikes:

Salsa announced the availability of its new Tributary models last week. Powered by Bosch mid-motor designs, the Tributary is an aluminum framed bike with 29" X 2.4" tires and is intended for gravel and bikepacking pursuits. 

Two models are offered in the range. A GRX 600 equipped rigid fork bike which goes for $5,499.00 or a Apex 1 equipped bike with a Rock Shox 35 Gold fork with 120mm of travel. This one goes for $5,999.00.

Tributary models can be accessorized with a range-extender battery pack at an extra charge. Maximum tire clearance is 29" X 2.6". The frames are internal dropper post routing compatible and SRAM UDH compatible. 

Comments: The Salsa site lists a "Canada" version and a separate US version, but I did not see an obvious reason why. I would have guessed the prices would have been different but the spec sheet looks the same between both. Anyway.... 

Definite Cutthroat vibes here. You are left to wonder "what if?" As in, "What if an aluminum Cutthroat 100% human powered bike been offered?" Gotta think that could maybe have been your entry level adventure bike, kind of like the Journeyer.  Squint hard and imagine the Tributary as a 100% human powered bike and you might see what could have been. But now you have a 5K+ rig that needs a 5 hour rest to recharge when the battery gets depleted. 

Image courtesy of Gravel Worlds

Gravel Worlds Registration Opens:

The Garmin Gravel Worlds registration announcement went out last Thursday and can be accessed HERE. The event is run out of Lincoln Nebraska and will occur on August 23rd - 24th. 

Many categories are available for contestants to choose from, and there are the Land Ho! running events also. The main fare consists of the traditional 150 miles of Nebraska rolling hills and gravel and will cost $165.00 to enter for 2024. The longer "Long Voyage" event of 300 miles will cost $180.00. 

There are shorter distances as well including the 75 miler and a 50K. Extra chippy folks can enter to do the 25K run on Friday and the 150 mile ride Saturday. 

Image courtesy of The Heywood's social media.

The Heywood Ride Registration Is Open: 

If Garmin Gravel Worlds is a little too spendy and "processed gravel" for you, check out The Heywood. It's coming up soon, (May 18th) and offers the rider a gravel course in several lengths and a much more grassroots, laid-back attitude. Registration is $25.00 and you can reserve a spot HERE. 

The Heywood is the spiritual descendant of the former Almanzo 100 event. (Chris Skogen pretty much handed over the reins to the Heywood's organizers back in 2019.) 

That should tell you that this event based out of Northfield Minnesota is not going to have the hoopla and high-competitive atmosphere of a Gravel Worlds. Not that you cannot race the Heywood, you can, but you don't have to, and honestly, you'd miss the point of the event if you did that. Anyone who rode the Almanzo could probably vouch for that. 

I will be hanging with the organizers even as you read this at Mid-South. Look for some reports headed to this channel coming up on Tuesday next week.

Leaked on Chinese social media.

Will SRAM Gravel Groups All Be "Transmission" Going Forward?:

Leaked on Chinese social media this past week and seen around many YouTube channels, this image of what looks to be a SRAM Red XPLR group was being talked about a lot. 

It is pretty obvious that it is a Transmission/UDH only compatible rear derailleur. This might be a sign that many new gravel bikes going forward will support this new standard. 

It also is speculated that the new Red level group will be lighter than Dura Ace and cost just shy of 5G USD. Others speculated that the brakes will be mineral oil, which would be in line with SRAM's latest enduro/DH brake introduction recently. 

Whatever it is, apparently all signs are pointing to a mid-May release date, so we won't have to wait long.

New Podcast Is Up!

The Mid South trip gets talked up a bit but N.Y. Roll and I ramble on about several other topics as well. 

We get on about why people ride gravel (Experience vs winning/podiums) We talk a bit about those WTB TPU tubes. We discuss an event that has a burrito bag as schwag and ask if a burrito should come with that. 

Yes, it gets weird in places, but ya know..... This IS N.Y. Roll and myself we're talking about here. If you want to - or dare to - listen, here is THE LINK.

That's a wrap on this FN&V! Have an awesome weekend and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Gravel Amplifier: Heywood Ride, Winston County Gravel Cup, Hogback Gravel

 Hey y'all! It's another edition of Guitar Ted's Gravel Amplifier Series! Read on to check out today's offerings for your consideration. I have checked out these and they pass my standards, so you can be pretty sure these will be gravelly good times. 

However; please understand the following: I am not PROMOTING THESE EVENTS! I am amplifying them. In other words, I am acting here, (quoting the Dictionary.com meaning) " to make larger, greater, or stronger; enlarge; extend." these events bandwidth in terms of their message. That's it. That's all I am doing here.

So, if the site goes dark, the dates change, if you cannot get a hold of the race director, or if there are issues on your side with attendance, etc, I AM NOT THE PERSON YOU SHOULD CONTACT.  I will not reply to such queries. I am merely informing you of the existence of an event. Period. 

So, today I have three events, Iowa and Minnesota based ones, and these came from my trolling of social media. I'm not going to "amplify" everything I find on social media, only events I think look interesting to me. So, again- this only works well if readers and riders engage. If this is going to rely on myself finding events to "amplify", it won't be nearly as effective. especially so as I start to use social media less as time goes on. So, now you know! On with the amplification.....

The Heywood

Location:  Northfield Central Park Northfield, MN 55057

Date: May 20th 2023 (Long, 380 mile option starts earlier, see event site for details)

Why It's Cool: The Heywood Ride is the direct evolution of the venerable, early gravel scene event , The Almanzo. When Almanzo founder and Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame member Chris Skogen moved the Almanzo 100 and satellite events to Northfield Minnesota, he eventually asked that the name be changed. The inheritors of the event, Marty Larson and Ben Witt of Northfield, Minnesota, now run the ride as "The Heywood". 

So, essentially this is a relocated, rebranded Almanzo, sort of. You'll have to check it out to see what I mean. Low cost to enter and there is assistance for those in need to be able to join in the fun. I know these folks that put this on and I highly recommend the event. 

Caveat: Almost none, but May in Southeastern Minnesota can bring variable weather, so be prepared for wind, rain, excessive humidity, heat, or maybe even a late frost in the morning! 

Website: https://theheywoodride.com/

 

Winston County Gravel Cup

Location: Houston, Minnesota

Date: September 23rd, 2023

Why It's Cool: This is one I came across that is being held in an area I toured through by bicycle in 1994. It is a beautiful part of the Driftless Area. The website claims the routes, (three choices of 40,60, or 100 miles) is "mostly gravel with a touch of pavement", so if that holds true, this will have steep climbs and high-speed descents which will keep you on your toes. This event is in a similar area to the Spring event, the Ragnorok, so if you are familiar with that route, you'll understand what I mean. 

Caveat: Those aforementioned climbs and descents. If you question your ability to conquer high speed loose gravel, or if you don't like really steep roads, this won't be for you. Also, the website isn't updated as of this posting, so I don't know what the costs are for this, but judging from the tone there, I feel like this should be a good time for not a ton of cash. 

Website: https://winstoncountygc.com/

 

Hogback GRVL: 

Location: Waukee, Iowa

Date: May 6th, 2023

Why It's Cool: This, to my knowledge, is a brand new event in an area known for awesome gravel riding. Essentially, this is a route that takes you over the Hogback Covered Bridge in Madison County, Iowa. The route is 70 miles and uses some of the same roads used in Trans Iowa v13. (Note: Not to be confused with the "Hogback Divide" which is a gravel event in Virginia.)

Caveat: It's a brand new event, so I cannot vouch for how it will be run. Again- big hills mean lots of climbing and speedy descents. The weather could be all over the place too, which will dictate the difficulty level of this event to a great degree. Be prepared! 

Website: https://www.hogbackgrvl.com/

That's a wrap for this edition of "Gravel Amplifier". Got an event you think needs amplification? Hit me up in the comments or at g.ted.productions@gmail.com

Gravel Amplifier: Heywood Ride, Winston County Gravel Cup, Hogback Gravel

 Hey y'all! It's another edition of Guitar Ted's Gravel Amplifier Series! Read on to check out today's offerings for your consideration. I have checked out these and they pass my standards, so you can be pretty sure these will be gravelly good times. 

However; please understand the following: I am not PROMOTING THESE EVENTS! I am amplifying them. In other words, I am acting here, (quoting the Dictionary.com meaning) " to make larger, greater, or stronger; enlarge; extend." these events bandwidth in terms of their message. That's it. That's all I am doing here.

So, if the site goes dark, the dates change, if you cannot get a hold of the race director, or if there are issues on your side with attendance, etc, I AM NOT THE PERSON YOU SHOULD CONTACT.  I will not reply to such queries. I am merely informing you of the existence of an event. Period. 

So, today I have three events, Iowa and Minnesota based ones, and these came from my trolling of social media. I'm not going to "amplify" everything I find on social media, only events I think look interesting to me. So, again- this only works well if readers and riders engage. If this is going to rely on myself finding events to "amplify", it won't be nearly as effective. especially so as I start to use social media less as time goes on. So, now you know! On with the amplification.....

The Heywood

Location:  Northfield Central Park Northfield, MN 55057

Date: May 20th 2023 (Long, 380 mile option starts earlier, see event site for details)

Why It's Cool: The Heywood Ride is the direct evolution of the venerable, early gravel scene event , The Almanzo. When Almanzo founder and Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame member Chris Skogen moved the Almanzo 100 and satellite events to Northfield Minnesota, he eventually asked that the name be changed. The inheritors of the event, Marty Larson and Ben Witt of Northfield, Minnesota, now run the ride as "The Heywood". 

So, essentially this is a relocated, rebranded Almanzo, sort of. You'll have to check it out to see what I mean. Low cost to enter and there is assistance for those in need to be able to join in the fun. I know these folks that put this on and I highly recommend the event. 

Caveat: Almost none, but May in Southeastern Minnesota can bring variable weather, so be prepared for wind, rain, excessive humidity, heat, or maybe even a late frost in the morning! 

Website: https://theheywoodride.com/

 

Winston County Gravel Cup

Location: Houston, Minnesota

Date: September 23rd, 2023

Why It's Cool: This is one I came across that is being held in an area I toured through by bicycle in 1994. It is a beautiful part of the Driftless Area. The website claims the routes, (three choices of 40,60, or 100 miles) is "mostly gravel with a touch of pavement", so if that holds true, this will have steep climbs and high-speed descents which will keep you on your toes. This event is in a similar area to the Spring event, the Ragnorok, so if you are familiar with that route, you'll understand what I mean. 

Caveat: Those aforementioned climbs and descents. If you question your ability to conquer high speed loose gravel, or if you don't like really steep roads, this won't be for you. Also, the website isn't updated as of this posting, so I don't know what the costs are for this, but judging from the tone there, I feel like this should be a good time for not a ton of cash. 

Website: https://winstoncountygc.com/

 

Hogback GRVL: 

Location: Waukee, Iowa

Date: May 6th, 2023

Why It's Cool: This, to my knowledge, is a brand new event in an area known for awesome gravel riding. Essentially, this is a route that takes you over the Hogback Covered Bridge in Madison County, Iowa. The route is 70 miles and uses some of the same roads used in Trans Iowa v13. (Note: Not to be confused with the "Hogback Divide" which is a gravel event in Virginia.)

Caveat: It's a brand new event, so I cannot vouch for how it will be run. Again- big hills mean lots of climbing and speedy descents. The weather could be all over the place too, which will dictate the difficulty level of this event to a great degree. Be prepared! 

Website: https://www.hogbackgrvl.com/

That's a wrap for this edition of "Gravel Amplifier". Got an event you think needs amplification? Hit me up in the comments or at g.ted.productions@gmail.com