Friday News And Views

Trek Travel social media post showing new gravel vacation options

Trek Travel Goes Gravel:

Trek Travel did a social media campaign and email blast to subscribers concerning its new options for gravel vacations. Trek Travel has mostly been all about road biking getaways and they have done a few MTB based vacations as well.

The gravel options are mostly split between Europe and the U.S.A. The new destinations include Girona, Spain, Bentonville, Arkansas, The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, The Swiss Alps, The Tuscany district of Italy, and Vermont, U.S.A. 

Prices vary from $1799.00 - $3600.00 USD. You can find out more by visiting the Trek Travel site.

Comments: Well, you knew it would happen someday- Curated gravel trips for those folks who want to try it out and see what the fuss is. Honestly, I don't have an issue here, and to be clear, I think this is a great option for the person who wants to experiment and see what gravel cycling is all about without having to spend 5K+ on a bike, gear, and accessories to check out the scene. I see this as an especially attractive option for those who live in very urban areas that have little access to gravel/back road cycling. 

Also, having had worked at a Trek dealer for many years, I have heard a lot of good things about Trek Travel. So, if Trek Travel has managed to uphold its standards, I would expect that this would be a great option for certain folks.

Guitar Ted Productions Podcast News:

A new change in the back ground of the podcast has occurred with the creative control, business, and distribution aspects of the podcast now fully under my control. My assistant and co-host of the podcast is N.Y. Roll. Besides this, a slight tweak in the name will be noticed, but otherwise nothing else should be different from what you've heard before. (Assuming that you have listened at all, of course.) If you are new here or if you have never listened to the podcast, here is a LINK to the Spotify GTPP site. The podcast is also available on Apple, Google, and Podchaser. 

The Guitar Ted Productions Podcast should be releasing episodes about twice monthly throughout the year. The plan is to cover the gravel scene and interview interesting race directors, athletes, and industry folks. By the way, we should have a sponsor (working on that) but we are always interested in episode sponsors, news, and interview requests. Just contact me @ g.ted.productions@gmail.com for comments, questions, or suggestions. 

The latest episode of the Guitar Ted Productions Podcast published just this past Tuesday and is an interview with Iowa Gravel Series director, Chris McQueen. 

You can check it out HERE if you'd like to listen to the episode which runs a bit over an hour in length.

Thank You!

Former Outside Media Journos To Start New Media Company:

I noted a call for applicants to look into employment for a new cycling oriented media company were pushed via social media over the past week. The end of 2022 saw a lot of cycling media get laid off and terminated by a few notable companies. This left a lot of mainstream cycling media journos out in the cold. 

The announcement was followed up by this post on Substack which details what the vision for this new cycling media outlet is. Apparently, this will be a "membership based" entity. The aim is to provide, "...the best damn cycling media and community you’ve ever seen.", according to the Substack post. 

Comments: So, a modern-day equivalent to magazines? Without a way to attract new readers via a "digital news stand exposure"? Seems to be similar by the sounds of it. The author of that Substack seems to think that, "They underestimate the audience." Detractors and pessimists, I think is what that refers to, but there is a reality to the situation here that must be considered. 

That being that our media choices are now spread across so many format choices that it is bewildering. We have hundreds of choices across social media, both written, audio, and visual. That was not the case even ten years ago. That's only going to make another choice harder to push on a national scale. Also, it isn't as though there won't be "free" to access media focused on cycling anytime soon. So, given the choice of perusing a thought piece on a particular facet of cycling at a cost, and digesting a three minute read with easy to understand cliche's and slick images for free, I'm going with the latter as being more popular and more importantly, easier to find. 

The author warns against "fluff" and AI generated content. I'm not so sure that we haven't been getting spoon-fed, AI generated content for years already, to be honest. It doesn't seem to faze many folks and I'm betting that continues into the future. The danger with a smaller, community driven, paid for media is that it becomes insular and self-satisfying. You'll have to keep that money coming in so you'll have to give those subscribers what they want, not necessarily what they need. Or, probably even more importantly, any way of reaching beyond those pay-walled borders to build that audience into something more than a cycle-clubhouse. 

Salsa Cycles Timberjack XT Z2 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Salsa Cycles Announces New Spec/Colors On Timberjack Models:

The Timberjack from Salsa Cycles continues on into 2023 with three model levels and a frame set. The range-topping bike is the Timberjack XT Z2 featuring an unusual choice in a fork, the Marzocchi Z2 Rail at 130mm of travel. 

There is also a choice of wheel size with both 27.5" and 29" wheeled models on offer. Prices range from $2199.00 - $2899.00 USD. For more details see Salsa Cycles. 

Comments: The Timberjack, which appeared in 2016 as a 2017 model, used to retail below 2K. Let that sink in for a minute.... 

Of course, you have the Rangefinder, which will be your entry-level hard tail and probably still available at sub-2K in some form, but seeing a rather unremarkable hard tail bike with an aluminum frame retailing at well over 2k is a bit jarring to these old eyes. It is another reminder that cycling, at least in terms of using new equipment, is pretty exclusive and getting worse every year. 

I am sure the Timberjack is a fine bicycle, and I am in no way disparaging it, but I only am dismayed by the incredible leap prices have taken in ten years. Salsa Cycles is not the only example here. That said, I'm sure income levels haven't kept pace, and so how do we justify this? I don't have the answers... 

Sorry about that rabbit trail.... Anyway, there you go. New Timberjack bikes. 

That's a wrap for this week! Have a safe weekend and get out to ride if you can!

Friday News And Views

Trek Travel social media post showing new gravel vacation options

Trek Travel Goes Gravel:

Trek Travel did a social media campaign and email blast to subscribers concerning its new options for gravel vacations. Trek Travel has mostly been all about road biking getaways and they have done a few MTB based vacations as well.

The gravel options are mostly split between Europe and the U.S.A. The new destinations include Girona, Spain, Bentonville, Arkansas, The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, The Swiss Alps, The Tuscany district of Italy, and Vermont, U.S.A. 

Prices vary from $1799.00 - $3600.00 USD. You can find out more by visiting the Trek Travel site.

Comments: Well, you knew it would happen someday- Curated gravel trips for those folks who want to try it out and see what the fuss is. Honestly, I don't have an issue here, and to be clear, I think this is a great option for the person who wants to experiment and see what gravel cycling is all about without having to spend 5K+ on a bike, gear, and accessories to check out the scene. I see this as an especially attractive option for those who live in very urban areas that have little access to gravel/back road cycling. 

Also, having had worked at a Trek dealer for many years, I have heard a lot of good things about Trek Travel. So, if Trek Travel has managed to uphold its standards, I would expect that this would be a great option for certain folks.

Guitar Ted Productions Podcast News:

A new change in the back ground of the podcast has occurred with the creative control, business, and distribution aspects of the podcast now fully under my control. My assistant and co-host of the podcast is N.Y. Roll. Besides this, a slight tweak in the name will be noticed, but otherwise nothing else should be different from what you've heard before. (Assuming that you have listened at all, of course.) If you are new here or if you have never listened to the podcast, here is a LINK to the Spotify GTPP site. The podcast is also available on Apple, Google, and Podchaser. 

The Guitar Ted Productions Podcast should be releasing episodes about twice monthly throughout the year. The plan is to cover the gravel scene and interview interesting race directors, athletes, and industry folks. By the way, we should have a sponsor (working on that) but we are always interested in episode sponsors, news, and interview requests. Just contact me @ g.ted.productions@gmail.com for comments, questions, or suggestions. 

The latest episode of the Guitar Ted Productions Podcast published just this past Tuesday and is an interview with Iowa Gravel Series director, Chris McQueen. 

You can check it out HERE if you'd like to listen to the episode which runs a bit over an hour in length.

Thank You!

Former Outside Media Journos To Start New Media Company:

I noted a call for applicants to look into employment for a new cycling oriented media company were pushed via social media over the past week. The end of 2022 saw a lot of cycling media get laid off and terminated by a few notable companies. This left a lot of mainstream cycling media journos out in the cold. 

The announcement was followed up by this post on Substack which details what the vision for this new cycling media outlet is. Apparently, this will be a "membership based" entity. The aim is to provide, "...the best damn cycling media and community you’ve ever seen.", according to the Substack post. 

Comments: So, a modern-day equivalent to magazines? Without a way to attract new readers via a "digital news stand exposure"? Seems to be similar by the sounds of it. The author of that Substack seems to think that, "They underestimate the audience." Detractors and pessimists, I think is what that refers to, but there is a reality to the situation here that must be considered. 

That being that our media choices are now spread across so many format choices that it is bewildering. We have hundreds of choices across social media, both written, audio, and visual. That was not the case even ten years ago. That's only going to make another choice harder to push on a national scale. Also, it isn't as though there won't be "free" to access media focused on cycling anytime soon. So, given the choice of perusing a thought piece on a particular facet of cycling at a cost, and digesting a three minute read with easy to understand cliche's and slick images for free, I'm going with the latter as being more popular and more importantly, easier to find. 

The author warns against "fluff" and AI generated content. I'm not so sure that we haven't been getting spoon-fed, AI generated content for years already, to be honest. It doesn't seem to faze many folks and I'm betting that continues into the future. The danger with a smaller, community driven, paid for media is that it becomes insular and self-satisfying. You'll have to keep that money coming in so you'll have to give those subscribers what they want, not necessarily what they need. Or, probably even more importantly, any way of reaching beyond those pay-walled borders to build that audience into something more than a cycle-clubhouse. 

Salsa Cycles Timberjack XT Z2 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Salsa Cycles Announces New Spec/Colors On Timberjack Models:

The Timberjack from Salsa Cycles continues on into 2023 with three model levels and a frame set. The range-topping bike is the Timberjack XT Z2 featuring an unusual choice in a fork, the Marzocchi Z2 Rail at 130mm of travel. 

There is also a choice of wheel size with both 27.5" and 29" wheeled models on offer. Prices range from $2199.00 - $2899.00 USD. For more details see Salsa Cycles. 

Comments: The Timberjack, which appeared in 2016 as a 2017 model, used to retail below 2K. Let that sink in for a minute.... 

Of course, you have the Rangefinder, which will be your entry-level hard tail and probably still available at sub-2K in some form, but seeing a rather unremarkable hard tail bike with an aluminum frame retailing at well over 2k is a bit jarring to these old eyes. It is another reminder that cycling, at least in terms of using new equipment, is pretty exclusive and getting worse every year. 

I am sure the Timberjack is a fine bicycle, and I am in no way disparaging it, but I only am dismayed by the incredible leap prices have taken in ten years. Salsa Cycles is not the only example here. That said, I'm sure income levels haven't kept pace, and so how do we justify this? I don't have the answers... 

Sorry about that rabbit trail.... Anyway, there you go. New Timberjack bikes. 

That's a wrap for this week! Have a safe weekend and get out to ride if you can!

Friday News And Views

The Horsethief Carbon XT for 2023 Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

 Salsa Cycles Shows Updates To Horsethief FS Bikes:

Salsa Cycles released the new colors and spec on the range of Horsethief full suspension bikes that they offer. 

Salsa has resisted the current theme many MTB companies use for their designs which make for a bent toward "gravity" oriented styles of riding. 

I like that Salsa hasn't gone all-in on that. Yes- these are not honed for Mid-West single track specifically, but they won't suck if you ride them here either. That's a nice nod to those many off-road bicyclists that do not live in mountainous areas. 

There is a lot more news if you are curious, and I'm sure many sites are covering this, or you could go to Salsa Cycles site and learn more. 

A snippet from the Trek Travel site

Used Bikes For Sale Direct?

It is no secret that Direct To Consumer sales are being done, or 'sort-of' being done, by most bigger bicycle companies nowadays. New bikes typically are sold nearly built, or in many cases direct to the local bike shop, where customers can then collect them, but avoid working through the local shop for payment. 

But recently I came across Trek Travel's site selling used bicycles at big discounts. I would assume that these were the same bikes used for Trek Travel's tours over the past year, and now they are liquidating them via D2C over the internet. 

Comments: I am 100% speculating here, but HPC/eBikes in the upper echelon of price range are not an easy sell for a local bike shop. Think about how a dealer might feel if they had an 8K HPC road bike like that Domane+ sitting on the floor and a customer came in and told them that they bought one "just like that", (disregarding that it was used, of course!), from Trek Travel for 40% off of the asking price. 

I'm sure that gives dealers a warm fuzzy feeling. But I could be wrong...... 

Tumbleweed Stargazer Ti. Image courtesy of Tumbleweed Bikes

Tumbleweed Bikes Announces Ti Stargazer:

Last year I posted about the then new Tumbleweed Stargazer and said it was a "modernized Fargo Gen I" bike. That bike is a steel bike, and the next logical step for the Stargazer was to have it made in titanium.

Well, Tumbleweed has taken that 'next step', and the new Stargazer Ti is on pre-order. 

Tumbleweed copy on that linked page makes it sound as if this is a one-time deal, so if that Stargazer in steel was tempting you, but you needed it to be titanium, don't miss your chance, I guess.... Although things can always change, and I imagine that if enough orders went unfulfilled you'd have to think Tumbleweed would find a way to accommodate those potential sales. 

One thing I missed, I think, about the Stargazer was that it has a crazy "stack height" figure, which means that the handle bar would end up a lot higher in space than on many of my other bikes. Not sure I'd be about that. Otherwise, this seems like a solid choice for an adventure/bike packing rig. 

The Gravel Earth Series appears to be a European affair.

Gravel Earth Series Announced:

A new, a mostly European based, seven event series, dubbed "Gravel Earth Series", has been announced for 2023. 

With a promise that the organization behind the Gravel Earth Series is "..ready to change the rules", the series seems to draw at least some of its inspiration from Lincoln, Nebraska's Gravel Worlds. The event organizers claim a vision to: ".... make a dream come true, uniting some of the most impressive events in the world. The Gravel Earth Series was born with the aim of driving Gravel to the highest standards."

The first six events will set up the finale, (location is to be determined) and will be based off a points system set up by the organizers. Dates and more event information are on the site. Also, interested parties can sign up for their newsletter to keep abreast of the developments. 

Comments: Their site has a very annoying "dot" that follows your cursor around like an unwanted horsefly. Man! I generally don't comment on site formatting, but that's a new one on me that drove me crazy.Anyway.....

Their rules, which are......ah.....vague? Yeah.... The rules are more vision casting than actual rules. The points system seemed a bit complex to me, but okay. That's probably just me. Three categories, no mention of age groups, claims for lots of socializing (parties), and the like. Sounds like the venues are super cool. I look forward to hearing more about this. 

Grip Grab Overshoes: Image courtesy of Grip Grab

Grip Grab Gravel Overshoes:

The European based company, Grip Grab, has a new "Explorer" overshoe for gravel riding which is pretty interesting. It is waterproof, highly stretchable (probably a good thing) and has reinforcements in important places to enhance durability.

The Explorer overshoe is not distributed in the US yet, but you could order this direct from Grip Grab for about $95.00 plus shipping.

Comments:  First off, I have a few bad experiences with overshoe type covers and therefore I may be a bit more inclined to have a negative view of anything like these Explorer overshoes. That said, can you imagine pulling these on and off without a zipper of any kind? Or not having any other opening at all besides the leg opening?

I think the idea is sound, but the execution of the idea puts me off. The last thing I'd want to do after a muddy, wet, cold ride is to wrestle with a long overshoe, trying to peel it off over my shoes. No thank you! 

Especially when things like this or this exist which have no possibility of letting the elements in, and come off your feet far easier. (I know- There are other examples as well) Comparing those examples to this Grip Grab product, there is no cleat hole to accumulate and cause ingress of cold, wet mud, snow, or ice to allow those elements to suck the heat out from the bottom of your feet. There is no possibility that the cleat screw mounting hole of you cycling shoes allowing water to find its way to your foot. Basically, there are none of those overshoe's shortcomings. 

Hey, maybe it works as an idea for you, so don't let me yuck on your yum, (as N.Y. Roll is fond of saying). But I just have a hard time seeing how this would be any fun to use for my type of riding.
 

Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Have a fantastic weekend.

Friday News And Views

The Horsethief Carbon XT for 2023 Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

 Salsa Cycles Shows Updates To Horsethief FS Bikes:

Salsa Cycles released the new colors and spec on the range of Horsethief full suspension bikes that they offer. 

Salsa has resisted the current theme many MTB companies use for their designs which make for a bent toward "gravity" oriented styles of riding. 

I like that Salsa hasn't gone all-in on that. Yes- these are not honed for Mid-West single track specifically, but they won't suck if you ride them here either. That's a nice nod to those many off-road bicyclists that do not live in mountainous areas. 

There is a lot more news if you are curious, and I'm sure many sites are covering this, or you could go to Salsa Cycles site and learn more. 

A snippet from the Trek Travel site

Used Bikes For Sale Direct?

It is no secret that Direct To Consumer sales are being done, or 'sort-of' being done, by most bigger bicycle companies nowadays. New bikes typically are sold nearly built, or in many cases direct to the local bike shop, where customers can then collect them, but avoid working through the local shop for payment. 

But recently I came across Trek Travel's site selling used bicycles at big discounts. I would assume that these were the same bikes used for Trek Travel's tours over the past year, and now they are liquidating them via D2C over the internet. 

Comments: I am 100% speculating here, but HPC/eBikes in the upper echelon of price range are not an easy sell for a local bike shop. Think about how a dealer might feel if they had an 8K HPC road bike like that Domane+ sitting on the floor and a customer came in and told them that they bought one "just like that", (disregarding that it was used, of course!), from Trek Travel for 40% off of the asking price. 

I'm sure that gives dealers a warm fuzzy feeling. But I could be wrong...... 

Tumbleweed Stargazer Ti. Image courtesy of Tumbleweed Bikes

Tumbleweed Bikes Announces Ti Stargazer:

Last year I posted about the then new Tumbleweed Stargazer and said it was a "modernized Fargo Gen I" bike. That bike is a steel bike, and the next logical step for the Stargazer was to have it made in titanium.

Well, Tumbleweed has taken that 'next step', and the new Stargazer Ti is on pre-order. 

Tumbleweed copy on that linked page makes it sound as if this is a one-time deal, so if that Stargazer in steel was tempting you, but you needed it to be titanium, don't miss your chance, I guess.... Although things can always change, and I imagine that if enough orders went unfulfilled you'd have to think Tumbleweed would find a way to accommodate those potential sales. 

One thing I missed, I think, about the Stargazer was that it has a crazy "stack height" figure, which means that the handle bar would end up a lot higher in space than on many of my other bikes. Not sure I'd be about that. Otherwise, this seems like a solid choice for an adventure/bike packing rig. 

The Gravel Earth Series appears to be a European affair.

Gravel Earth Series Announced:

A new, a mostly European based, seven event series, dubbed "Gravel Earth Series", has been announced for 2023. 

With a promise that the organization behind the Gravel Earth Series is "..ready to change the rules", the series seems to draw at least some of its inspiration from Lincoln, Nebraska's Gravel Worlds. The event organizers claim a vision to: ".... make a dream come true, uniting some of the most impressive events in the world. The Gravel Earth Series was born with the aim of driving Gravel to the highest standards."

The first six events will set up the finale, (location is to be determined) and will be based off a points system set up by the organizers. Dates and more event information are on the site. Also, interested parties can sign up for their newsletter to keep abreast of the developments. 

Comments: Their site has a very annoying "dot" that follows your cursor around like an unwanted horsefly. Man! I generally don't comment on site formatting, but that's a new one on me that drove me crazy.Anyway.....

Their rules, which are......ah.....vague? Yeah.... The rules are more vision casting than actual rules. The points system seemed a bit complex to me, but okay. That's probably just me. Three categories, no mention of age groups, claims for lots of socializing (parties), and the like. Sounds like the venues are super cool. I look forward to hearing more about this. 

Grip Grab Overshoes: Image courtesy of Grip Grab

Grip Grab Gravel Overshoes:

The European based company, Grip Grab, has a new "Explorer" overshoe for gravel riding which is pretty interesting. It is waterproof, highly stretchable (probably a good thing) and has reinforcements in important places to enhance durability.

The Explorer overshoe is not distributed in the US yet, but you could order this direct from Grip Grab for about $95.00 plus shipping.

Comments:  First off, I have a few bad experiences with overshoe type covers and therefore I may be a bit more inclined to have a negative view of anything like these Explorer overshoes. That said, can you imagine pulling these on and off without a zipper of any kind? Or not having any other opening at all besides the leg opening?

I think the idea is sound, but the execution of the idea puts me off. The last thing I'd want to do after a muddy, wet, cold ride is to wrestle with a long overshoe, trying to peel it off over my shoes. No thank you! 

Especially when things like this or this exist which have no possibility of letting the elements in, and come off your feet far easier. (I know- There are other examples as well) Comparing those examples to this Grip Grab product, there is no cleat hole to accumulate and cause ingress of cold, wet mud, snow, or ice to allow those elements to suck the heat out from the bottom of your feet. There is no possibility that the cleat screw mounting hole of you cycling shoes allowing water to find its way to your foot. Basically, there are none of those overshoe's shortcomings. 

Hey, maybe it works as an idea for you, so don't let me yuck on your yum, (as N.Y. Roll is fond of saying). But I just have a hard time seeing how this would be any fun to use for my type of riding.
 

Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Have a fantastic weekend.