Friday News And Views

Eddy Merckx Strasbourg 80 (Image courtesy of Eddy Merckx Bikes)

 Eddy Turned 80:

Tuesday of this past week Eddy "The Cannibal" Merckx turned 80 years old. You may have heard of him, but I know younger folks probably have not, or just know there is some old dude that won a lot of road races behind the name.

Today we have dominant racers, one in particular named Pogacar. A great young cyclist, and a consistent winner, to be sure, but even he has a long way to go to become anywhere near to being compared to the impact and historical importance of "Eddy". 

You may hate him, love him, or disregard him, but Eddy is a generational talent who was the dominant Pro road cyclist of his time, and possibly of all time. At any rate, celebrating his 80th birthday, the company bearing his name has released two special liveries on a road and a gravel bike in a limited edition. The gravel bike is the Strasbourg C 80. (Shown here) You can check out more on this model at the Eddy Merckx website. 

Eurobike 2025 Next Week:

Starting June 25th and running through to Sunday of next week, the Eurobike trade show will feature the latest in cycling trends, technologies, and as a compass for the direction of the cycling industry in the near future.

Gravel cycling is going to be a main focus of the show, according to a press release from Eurobike dated June 10th. In the release a figure from the German Bicycle Industry (ZIV) is quoted and states that in 2024, gravel bikes accounted for a 6.5% total market share in Germany. It is also worth noting figures for e-gravel bikes were twice that of e-road bikes. Although, the press release states the e-gravel bike hasn't "quite kept up" with gravel bike sales.

Expect to hear a lot about gravel bikes from the show then. However; there will be other news, of course, and some of this will be shown here as I have two embargoed press releases sitting in my inbox right now.. I will probably combine those and add a few Eurobike findings of my own in a single post next week. 

Image courtesy of Shimano

Shimano Announces XT, Deore 12spd Di2 Wireless Groups:

On Wednesday Shimano announced two new wireless 12 speed MTB groups with the biggest surprise being the new Deore level wireless Di2. You can check out Shimano's presentation on Deore XT 12speed Di2 wireless HERE. 

With a slew of new features including an automatically resetting derailleur if impacted, this group set announcement changes the landscape in MTB offerings where SRAM had previously been the only choice for more budget friendly wireless shifting.

Comments: Probably the most noteworthy capabilities of the new Deore Di2 12 speed wireless is the capability for use with Shimano's AutoShift and FreeShift features which allow automatic shifting based on speed and torque and shifting while coasting. While those features are most likely going to be found alongside electric motors, this is a feature set worth noting. Making riding 'easier' and without having to make so many split-second decisions on when to shift may be met with some scrutiny by certain sets of riders while others may embrace these aids to riding with open arms.

As a mechanic I noted the offering of a 12 speed 9T - 45T XT cassette. Nine tooth? Oh boy! I've not seen a lot in my time as a mechanic which would give me much confidence that a 10T or 9T cassette cog is a good idea. Maybe? We will see. 

From a gravel rider's perspective you have to think this wireless stuff is eventually coming for GRX. Maybe a 13 speed version will end up as wireless. I'm betting this will happen.

UCI Rules Changes Ruffle Feathers:

Recent news stories in the cycling world have detailed several new Pro road cycling rules being considered or which are changing in the near future. A few of these new edicts being handed down by the UCI are gaining traction in a negative way. One having to do with a handle bar width rule is being taken to task by women riders who think the bar width minimum being considered is too wide for many females and some males as well. That minimum width is reportedly 40cm.

The other rule being discussed, which I find interesting, is a gear rule which seeks to reduce speeds in Pro Men's racing. A great 'nerd-out' covering this is over at Cyclingnews.com. (Here)

Comments: While it is easy to dunk on the UCI's edicts, the gearing ruling is something I find is a subject the UCI is stuck in a bad place despite having good intentions for rider safety.

While training tactics, material technologies, and nutrition have all advanced and made riders faster and with less differences than ever before in speed, the UCI has been kind of caught flat-footed. The UCI has not addressed this soon enough. It is something which should have been looked at and taken care of years ago. At least they are looking to make changes now.

Some folks will cry foul, but with bad crashes and speeds on the rise, I don't think the UCI can ignore this any longer. It may mean some "innovations" will become obsolete, and it may hurt certain companies, but rider's safety should trump this, in my opinion. And yes - course design should also be a big part of the discussions as well.  

Read the linked article and comment if you feel led to. I'd love to read your takes on this.

That's a wrap on this week. Have a great weekend, be safe with this heat, and ride your bicycles. 
 

Could The Road Pros Soon Be Using Flared Drop Bars?

Last month the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing/sanctioning body of Pro cycling, came down against Pro road riders positioning their brake levers on drop bars in a canted inward position in order to gain an aero advantage. (Read why HERE) 

At first, the knee-jerk reaction was predictable and swift. "Stupid UCI!  Why don't they worry about something really important!" Well, actually, as it turns out, that's exactly what they were doing - worrying about something really important. Like rider safety. That's what. 

In the linked article from Cyclingnews.com you can read in more detail about the stress cracks discovered when they did research into this phenomenon over the course of 2023. Handlebars are being compromised, and this could lead to serious injury or death. The rule for 2024, banning the canted in brake levers, is supported by the rider's association, which is called the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés, or CPA. Their president, Adam Hansen, offers up a curious and novel solution for riders still wanting that aero advantage but needing to be safe and within the rule book's regulations. Flared drop bars.

Hansen seems to indicate in the article I linked to that since the flare of a drop bar gives the rider a wider platform in the drops that there would be no disadvantage while sprinting or accelerating in the drops, but since any significant flare would naturally cant the brake levers inward, that the aero advantages sought by some riders still could be there. 

Could Pro road riders soon be on flared drop bars so that they could have canted in levers like this soon?

Comments: This is sort of ironic in that these bars originated from MTB, and generally speaking, most MTB related tech is seen as not very desirable on the road side. Look how long it took Pro roadies to accept disc brakes, as an example. 

But I think since gravel riders sort of made the flared drop bar their drop bar of choice, it may make the leap to Pro road a bit more palatable and easier to understand from a Pro road rider's viewpoint. It also should be noted that many of the youngest Pro road riders have always known there were gravel events, and that this discipline of cycling is not new and very much akin to pavement road racing. 

However; if flared drops do come to Pro road cycling, my opinion is that the bars will be much narrower than what we see for gravel racing. That flare inward needs to be pretty tight to the stem, and that makes anything much more than a 40cm bar probably too wide for this idea, unless the rider is of a larger stature. (Assuming the bars would be sized as gravel bars are- from the centerline of where the controls attach)

At any rate, I thought the mention of flared drop bars in the same article as Pro road racing was notable from a gravel riding perspective.

Did You Hear About The Gravel Champs?

A few of the many "US Gravel Champs" I've seen throughout the years.

Hey! Did you see that race this past weekend where the US Gravel Champs were feted? No? 

Well, it was the the "big" race out in Gering, Nebraska over the weekend where 55 elite men and 22 elite women lined up to take part in the USAC version of a gravel national championships. Over 60,000 bucks were up for grabs with 192 total cyclists across all age groups vying for a chance at the cold, hard cash. 

First of all, congratulations to all who made the effort to line up and take on 131 mile course at the event. That is commendable. Congratulations to all who finished as well. 

Bottom line: They are all champions. 

From my social media post on "X" on Sunday.

You can see my reaction from Sunday above. Why did I post that? I'll tell you why, it's because that's how we (should) roll in the gravel scene. That's how it all began. Heck, that's a big reason why it all began. We were sick and tired of rules, classes, and big prize money because it all created a very exclusive nature where only the top athletes get any cred and everyone else? They are just pack fodder. A bunch of dehumanized bib numbers on a stat sheet that no one will ever look at. (So check that link and give those folks some credit, if you ever see them or if you know them) 

We didn't do things that way back when the gravel thing got going. We were all about the individual's performance throughout the field. We celebrated everyone. We, as event directors, stuck around to shake every hand, hug every racer, and acknowledge every story we heard about overcoming, or falling short, of challenges both spectacular in nature and mundane as could be. We celebrated last place as hard as first place. Some still do that at their events. That's awesome. That's how it should be. 

This gravel cycling thing has a UCI National Championships because of people like Kristi Mohn,  Chris Skogen, Bobby Wintle, Jim Cummings, Joel Dyke, Corey Godfrey, and yes- myself, who, along with many helpers and riders, spread the love of gravel and the celebration of athletic effort, no matter the outcomes, in the beginnings of this movement. Many said things like, "When the money comes in, that will ruin it", and if the media only focuses on "gravel champs", a woman and a man winning a jersey, and awards and times, then yes- we've lost what we started all those years ago. 

It's up to you,the event director, the rider, the follower of the scene, to carry on the things that made "gravel" what it was, is, and still could be. Or, you can just sit on your hands, have "Gravel™", and read about a few lucky, sponsored athletes in the scene on your favorite corporate media site. 

Your choice.......

Updated: For another perspective on the USAC Gravel Nats see this article by Peter Stetina for "Velo".

Friday News And Views

2022 Giant Trance X

More Bicycle Piracy In The News:

Last week, from the industry news source, "Bike Biz", it was reported that a container load of 127 Giant e-MTB's were stolen from a carrier on the A12 highway. 

Thieves cut open the container, transferred the load to another vehicle and drove away. Details of the heist were not provided, but authorities were quick to warn people to be on the lookout for the bikes on the black market and to report any suspicions activity to the authorities. 

Comments: Supply chain issues, theorized by experts to continue on throughout the year, and perhaps longer, are causing these high end bikes to be targets of thieves. I suspect we will be hearing more about such heists in the coming months as the cycling season gets underway.

As spectacular as these heists are, let's also not forget that thieves are watching cycling teams and events as targets for their nefarious schemes. I've read stories about entire Pro team bike fleets being stolen and last year I heard about stolen bikes at a major gravel event. 

If you have a high-end, late model gravel rig or MTB and you are going to a big event, it should be on your to-do list to be extra vigilant when it comes to watching over your bicycles and in terms of security.  

Wolf Tooth's new rotor lock rings come in many colors.

Wolf Tooth Announces New Rotor Lock Rings:

Wolf Tooth Components announced on Tuesday that they were making rotor lock rings for Center Lock rotors in alloy. These will come in several colors including black, silver, green, orange, blue, red, purple, and gold. 

They fit 12, 15, and 20mm axles. The rotor lock rings are made in the USA and cost $15.95 each. 

Comments: Back in the 1990's I remember bike shops had cabinets full of anodized bits and baubles to accessorize your bike. Things went 'dark' in the late 90's and for most of the 'aughts' as black anodized stuff was about all you could find, unless you bought stuff from King or Hope! 

Things changed slowly over the ensuing years and now it appears that one can get all the colored bits they want and have a 'matchy-matchy' look or a 'unicorn vomit' look, depending on how "OCD" you are about anodized accessories. Maybe I ought to grab a pair of the purple ones for my pink BMC! 

UCI Pro Gravel World Tour Dates And Venues Leaked:

According to a "Cyclingtips" article online dated 2/22/22, the UCI Pro Gravel Wold Tour calendar has been leaked. The series has 14 dates and apparently it will kick off in April in the Philippines. 

There are three dates in North America. Two in the US and one in Canada. Interestingly the last date is listed as the "Jingle GX Gravel Race". The series is sponsored by Trek. Another look at this story can be found here on "Cycling News".

Comments: A lot of this was known ahead of these specifics, but the last date is intriguing. It is in Iowa City and the event has been held there for a few years already. Interestingly, Jingle Cross lost its World CX event status and this plumb event on the Gravel World Tour would be a nice alternative. 

Will that final event be the World Championships?  No. That honor will go to Tuscany where the Gravel World Championships will be held, reportedly in mid-October.

Southeast Gravel Series Announces Docu-series Project:

The Southeast Gravel Series, a six event series of gravel events held in the Southeastern USA, has announced a 'docu-series' to cover these evnts which they have dubbed "What Pressure". Here is a bit from the press release I got for this:

" What Pressure will follow gravel cyclists, from pro to amateur, involved in the world of gravel racing within the Southeast Gravel race series. Each episode will run approximately 20 minutes and will highlight a variety of cyclists that makes gravel racing such a unique demographic. "

The event series also announced a hand-cycle category for all of its events as well, marking it as the first event series to feature such a category offering in the gravel events genre'. 

You can see more about the series here: https://southeastgravel.com/ 

Comments: Ever since Tour Divide was documented in "Ride The Divide" gravel event directors and film makers have been eager to promote their events similarly. Of course, gravel event documentaries were done before 2012, such as the one about Trans Iowa in 2008 called "300 Miles of Gravel". But "Ride The Divide", in my mind, was the watershed creation from which this kind of marketing/entertainment idea for gravel events sprang forth from. 

The feature of the series that is probably more important than the docu-series, in my opinion, is the hand-cycle category for these events. That will be interesting to watch unfold. Undoubtedly this will expand the scope of participants even more in the realm of gravel events. This, to my way of thinking, is a bigger deal than a self-serving film series which- in all likelihood- will not be as far-reaching in its impacts as a hand-cycling category could be. But perhaps I will be proven wrong there. 

Be Kind To Your Tires:

Wednesday I saw this Tweet from veteran cycling media writer, James Huang. If you cannot read it, basically what he is saying is that new orders into Maxxis Tires for bicycle tires will be delivered in TWO YEARS from now. 

Let that sink in for a moment.

I also saw another article encouraging cyclists to run their tires longer and to always patch tubes before throwing them out. In other words, expect shortages, and higher prices, on new wheel goods. And as well- shouldn't we all be using up tires and tubes until they are worn out? That's another thing to be thinking about as well. 

I'm seeing people asking about maintenance, where to buy chains and cassettes, and more. This situation is far from over, and with all the events kicking into gear this year with new ones being added seemingly daily, pressure on the supply chain will probably remain at a very high level throughout 2022 and 2023 by the looks of it. 

Some experts were saying that by the end of this year we'd be seeing relief. Ah........I am not so sure about that now anymore.
 

That's a wrap for this end of February "FN&V". Will March come in like a lion, or a lamb? I don't care as long as it gets warmer! Thank you for reading G-Ted Productions! 

Friday News And Views

2022 Giant Trance X

More Bicycle Piracy In The News:

Last week, from the industry news source, "Bike Biz", it was reported that a container load of 127 Giant e-MTB's were stolen from a carrier on the A12 highway. 

Thieves cut open the container, transferred the load to another vehicle and drove away. Details of the heist were not provided, but authorities were quick to warn people to be on the lookout for the bikes on the black market and to report any suspicions activity to the authorities. 

Comments: Supply chain issues, theorized by experts to continue on throughout the year, and perhaps longer, are causing these high end bikes to be targets of thieves. I suspect we will be hearing more about such heists in the coming months as the cycling season gets underway.

As spectacular as these heists are, let's also not forget that thieves are watching cycling teams and events as targets for their nefarious schemes. I've read stories about entire Pro team bike fleets being stolen and last year I heard about stolen bikes at a major gravel event. 

If you have a high-end, late model gravel rig or MTB and you are going to a big event, it should be on your to-do list to be extra vigilant when it comes to watching over your bicycles and in terms of security.  

Wolf Tooth's new rotor lock rings come in many colors.

Wolf Tooth Announces New Rotor Lock Rings:

Wolf Tooth Components announced on Tuesday that they were making rotor lock rings for Center Lock rotors in alloy. These will come in several colors including black, silver, green, orange, blue, red, purple, and gold. 

They fit 12, 15, and 20mm axles. The rotor lock rings are made in the USA and cost $15.95 each. 

Comments: Back in the 1990's I remember bike shops had cabinets full of anodized bits and baubles to accessorize your bike. Things went 'dark' in the late 90's and for most of the 'aughts' as black anodized stuff was about all you could find, unless you bought stuff from King or Hope! 

Things changed slowly over the ensuing years and now it appears that one can get all the colored bits they want and have a 'matchy-matchy' look or a 'unicorn vomit' look, depending on how "OCD" you are about anodized accessories. Maybe I ought to grab a pair of the purple ones for my pink BMC! 

UCI Pro Gravel World Tour Dates And Venues Leaked:

According to a "Cyclingtips" article online dated 2/22/22, the UCI Pro Gravel Wold Tour calendar has been leaked. The series has 14 dates and apparently it will kick off in April in the Philippines. 

There are three dates in North America. Two in the US and one in Canada. Interestingly the last date is listed as the "Jingle GX Gravel Race". The series is sponsored by Trek. Another look at this story can be found here on "Cycling News".

Comments: A lot of this was known ahead of these specifics, but the last date is intriguing. It is in Iowa City and the event has been held there for a few years already. Interestingly, Jingle Cross lost its World CX event status and this plumb event on the Gravel World Tour would be a nice alternative. 

Will that final event be the World Championships?  No. That honor will go to Tuscany where the Gravel World Championships will be held, reportedly in mid-October.

Southeast Gravel Series Announces Docu-series Project:

The Southeast Gravel Series, a six event series of gravel events held in the Southeastern USA, has announced a 'docu-series' to cover these evnts which they have dubbed "What Pressure". Here is a bit from the press release I got for this:

" What Pressure will follow gravel cyclists, from pro to amateur, involved in the world of gravel racing within the Southeast Gravel race series. Each episode will run approximately 20 minutes and will highlight a variety of cyclists that makes gravel racing such a unique demographic. "

The event series also announced a hand-cycle category for all of its events as well, marking it as the first event series to feature such a category offering in the gravel events genre'. 

You can see more about the series here: https://southeastgravel.com/ 

Comments: Ever since Tour Divide was documented in "Ride The Divide" gravel event directors and film makers have been eager to promote their events similarly. Of course, gravel event documentaries were done before 2012, such as the one about Trans Iowa in 2008 called "300 Miles of Gravel". But "Ride The Divide", in my mind, was the watershed creation from which this kind of marketing/entertainment idea for gravel events sprang forth from. 

The feature of the series that is probably more important than the docu-series, in my opinion, is the hand-cycle category for these events. That will be interesting to watch unfold. Undoubtedly this will expand the scope of participants even more in the realm of gravel events. This, to my way of thinking, is a bigger deal than a self-serving film series which- in all likelihood- will not be as far-reaching in its impacts as a hand-cycling category could be. But perhaps I will be proven wrong there. 

Be Kind To Your Tires:

Wednesday I saw this Tweet from veteran cycling media writer, James Huang. If you cannot read it, basically what he is saying is that new orders into Maxxis Tires for bicycle tires will be delivered in TWO YEARS from now. 

Let that sink in for a moment.

I also saw another article encouraging cyclists to run their tires longer and to always patch tubes before throwing them out. In other words, expect shortages, and higher prices, on new wheel goods. And as well- shouldn't we all be using up tires and tubes until they are worn out? That's another thing to be thinking about as well. 

I'm seeing people asking about maintenance, where to buy chains and cassettes, and more. This situation is far from over, and with all the events kicking into gear this year with new ones being added seemingly daily, pressure on the supply chain will probably remain at a very high level throughout 2022 and 2023 by the looks of it. 

Some experts were saying that by the end of this year we'd be seeing relief. Ah........I am not so sure about that now anymore.
 

That's a wrap for this end of February "FN&V". Will March come in like a lion, or a lamb? I don't care as long as it gets warmer! Thank you for reading G-Ted Productions! 

Gravel Worlds In The USA?

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

A while back I mentioned that the UCI finally announced a gravel series and that there would be a "Gravel World Championships" in 2022. The scuttlebutt back then was that there would be three US based events and that they were already established events- not new venues. 

Since then there has been a 'radio silence' from USAC and the UCI which has left many Pro and Semi-Pro athletes in the hang since they have to solidify their schedules now. In fact, many would-be 'Gravel World Champions' are already saying that the train has left the station for 2022 and that if the UCI gets a series going, they won't be participating until 2023 at the soonest. 

Also, recently a speculation piece story published on "VeloNews", (owned by the Outside  media group), seems to point at a strong possibility of a US based "Gravel Worlds" to be held in September or October. Meanwhile, Texas based gravel promotions company the Spinistry, posted on their Facebook page concerning this story and said that the situation "...has cluster written all over it.".

Interestingly the Spinistry thread reveals that the organization, which has put on events like the Red River Riot and the Midnight Massacre since the late 2000's, was approached in 2019 by either USAC or the UCI and offered a spot on a gravel series calendar. The only stipulation, claimed Spinistry, was that they had to come up with the 'licensing cash' estimated to be around $20,000.00 for an event. Otherwise, said the author of the Spinistry response, they were left to do things as they saw fit. The Spinistry did not take up the offer then. 

It's an interesting situation with the supposed three US based events. The news that came out late last year was that these events were in the 1000-1500 rider realm, which would make a 20G licensing fee seem pretty steep in terms of entry fees to cover that. But I am not sure about the business aspects of the proposed collaboration. What I am pretty sure of though is that the UCI is trying to stake out a claim to being the "legitimate" choice in gravel riding/racing here. 

Thinking about the US gravel scene, and what I am seeing said by Pro riders, the "unsanctioned" nature of gravel events is - at once a blessing - and I believe, if the UCI has their way, they will paint it out as a curse. The UCI is well aware of the event in Nebraska called "Gravel Worlds" and that this event has become immensely popular and represents the individualistic and free nature of gravel in the US. It is an independent event, not tied to a huge corporate entity, as Unbound is. It has its roots going way back in the scene, and what better way to discredit that event than to challenge the name on that event's home soil? Having the "UCI Gravel World Championships" inaugural event on US shores? It would stamp authority and legitimacy of the UCI over gravel worldwide. 

And I believe that is why the UCI and USAC are trying desperately to host a Gravel World Championships this year on US shores somewhere. Word is something will be announced in the coming weeks. We'll see...... 

But think about it: If there are qualifying events, and there would be, the UCI would hope to suck in all the big names in gravel to their neon lights of prestige, money, and resulting endorsements, and they know that Pro riders trying to make a living off gravel riding will be attracted to that like moths. Then the media will fall down to their will and cover nothing but UCI/USAC approved events, and everything will be "like the old days again" except the racing surface. The industry will then do the same ol' song and dance as they did in the "Lance Era" and push out bikes meant for the upper half a percent of riders. 

When the Spinistry speaks of there being a "cluster" in regards to this World Championships", this is what I think of. The UCI, building its claim to fame off the backs of promoters, and by extension, the lower tiered riders. Hopefully folks like the Spinistry and other independent event promoters will not fall to the wiles of old school racing think.

Gravel Worlds In The USA?

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

A while back I mentioned that the UCI finally announced a gravel series and that there would be a "Gravel World Championships" in 2022. The scuttlebutt back then was that there would be three US based events and that they were already established events- not new venues. 

Since then there has been a 'radio silence' from USAC and the UCI which has left many Pro and Semi-Pro athletes in the hang since they have to solidify their schedules now. In fact, many would-be 'Gravel World Champions' are already saying that the train has left the station for 2022 and that if the UCI gets a series going, they won't be participating until 2023 at the soonest. 

Also, recently a speculation piece story published on "VeloNews", (owned by the Outside  media group), seems to point at a strong possibility of a US based "Gravel Worlds" to be held in September or October. Meanwhile, Texas based gravel promotions company the Spinistry, posted on their Facebook page concerning this story and said that the situation "...has cluster written all over it.".

Interestingly the Spinistry thread reveals that the organization, which has put on events like the Red River Riot and the Midnight Massacre since the late 2000's, was approached in 2019 by either USAC or the UCI and offered a spot on a gravel series calendar. The only stipulation, claimed Spinistry, was that they had to come up with the 'licensing cash' estimated to be around $20,000.00 for an event. Otherwise, said the author of the Spinistry response, they were left to do things as they saw fit. The Spinistry did not take up the offer then. 

It's an interesting situation with the supposed three US based events. The news that came out late last year was that these events were in the 1000-1500 rider realm, which would make a 20G licensing fee seem pretty steep in terms of entry fees to cover that. But I am not sure about the business aspects of the proposed collaboration. What I am pretty sure of though is that the UCI is trying to stake out a claim to being the "legitimate" choice in gravel riding/racing here. 

Thinking about the US gravel scene, and what I am seeing said by Pro riders, the "unsanctioned" nature of gravel events is - at once a blessing - and I believe, if the UCI has their way, they will paint it out as a curse. The UCI is well aware of the event in Nebraska called "Gravel Worlds" and that this event has become immensely popular and represents the individualistic and free nature of gravel in the US. It is an independent event, not tied to a huge corporate entity, as Unbound is. It has its roots going way back in the scene, and what better way to discredit that event than to challenge the name on that event's home soil? Having the "UCI Gravel World Championships" inaugural event on US shores? It would stamp authority and legitimacy of the UCI over gravel worldwide. 

And I believe that is why the UCI and USAC are trying desperately to host a Gravel World Championships this year on US shores somewhere. Word is something will be announced in the coming weeks. We'll see...... 

But think about it: If there are qualifying events, and there would be, the UCI would hope to suck in all the big names in gravel to their neon lights of prestige, money, and resulting endorsements, and they know that Pro riders trying to make a living off gravel riding will be attracted to that like moths. Then the media will fall down to their will and cover nothing but UCI/USAC approved events, and everything will be "like the old days again" except the racing surface. The industry will then do the same ol' song and dance as they did in the "Lance Era" and push out bikes meant for the upper half a percent of riders. 

When the Spinistry speaks of there being a "cluster" in regards to this World Championships", this is what I think of. The UCI, building its claim to fame off the backs of promoters, and by extension, the lower tiered riders. Hopefully folks like the Spinistry and other independent event promoters will not fall to the wiles of old school racing think.

More About The UCI "Gravel Worlds" Made Clearer Recently

 A recent "Velo News" article (you can read it here), written by Betsy Welch, has made some details of the planned UCI World Tour for Gravel and the climatic event of the series, "Gravel Worlds" a bit clearer. 

In the article it is revealed that there will be gravel "qualifying events" in many countries and on most continents. "More than one" of the races will be in the USA, while Central Africa, Holland, Europe, Asia, and Mexico were also mentioned as places where events will occur. Apparently, all but a few are existing events. Particular to the US events, it is stated that these events will not be any of the "big ones" where thousands of riders attend. Apparently USAC has helped to vet out events which have somewhere around a thousand participants up to 1500 on a regular basis. 

Furthermore; it is being reported that USAC is being very careful to craft the look and feel of the events to be in line with "the spirit of gravel", although it also is reported that these events will be ones that have held a high level of production in the past. According to the language in the article linked, the three US based events have already been determined. 

An announcement regarding the series of 15-20 events and where the "Gravel Worlds" will be held will be forthcoming in "early February", according to the article. 

Comments: This will be interesting and almost answers the question of "How does the USA Cycling organization wheedle its way into the gravel scene?"

The answer, apparently, will be to grow a series of events to support the feeder to Gravel Worlds/UCI Pro Tour level gravel racing. (Sound familiar?) As I have said- It is the same-ol' tactics that worked to turn MTB and road racing in the US into what it is today- meaning a not very fun, not very profitable, not very inclusive form of cycling. Of course, I could be wrong, and I am sure that the USAC and UCI folks have good intentions. 

But already there is banter about "rules" and "bike regulations" and what constitutes a "gravel race". Initially this article would give one some hope that the UCI/USAC rule makers are trying to steer things in a direction that the mainstream of gravel events has gone. However; when discussing courses, there is an initial mention that "75%" of the course must be gravel, but then Erwin Vervecken, the off-road and gravel manager of Golazo Sports- the main event organization helping the UCI -, is quoted as saying that some countries don't have a lot of gravel road networks so there may be only "....60 to 65 percent gravel". 

If Golazo Sports is willing to waffle a bit to get the series going, then perhaps we can expect some waffling on rules until this gets off the ground, and when people are invested? uh-huh........ We shall see. I suspect any "spirit of gravel" will be defined in quite a different way down the road. That is "IF" this takes off. Vervecken was quoted as saying he expects World Tour Pro level competition up front while the mid-pack to back-of-pack riders  would be "........ fun riders who stop at the feed zones, who stop for a drink and something to eat, and then ride in a group with their friends. Their goal is to finish the event,” 

Sounds good, but that misses the point. Basically- in terms of business, (and let's not forget that Golazo Sports is a HUGE corporation which generates over 15 BILLION in sales a year), your "field filler", "mid-pack" riders are the ones footing the bills for this Pro Tour series. (As of now, no presenting sponsors have been named, but I would assume that this is also in the works) Is this comapny even capable of doing anything "in the spirit of gravel", or should I say "The $pirit of Gravel"?  Hmm....

Well, it will be interesting to see what becomes of all of this. Oh.....and you are also probably wondering what I think about Tuesday's announcement on the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. 

I have words on that in this week's "FN&V"

More About The UCI "Gravel Worlds" Made Clearer Recently

 A recent "Velo News" article (you can read it here), written by Betsy Welch, has made some details of the planned UCI World Tour for Gravel and the climatic event of the series, "Gravel Worlds" a bit clearer. 

In the article it is revealed that there will be gravel "qualifying events" in many countries and on most continents. "More than one" of the races will be in the USA, while Central Africa, Holland, Europe, Asia, and Mexico were also mentioned as places where events will occur. Apparently, all but a few are existing events. Particular to the US events, it is stated that these events will not be any of the "big ones" where thousands of riders attend. Apparently USAC has helped to vet out events which have somewhere around a thousand participants up to 1500 on a regular basis. 

Furthermore; it is being reported that USAC is being very careful to craft the look and feel of the events to be in line with "the spirit of gravel", although it also is reported that these events will be ones that have held a high level of production in the past. According to the language in the article linked, the three US based events have already been determined. 

An announcement regarding the series of 15-20 events and where the "Gravel Worlds" will be held will be forthcoming in "early February", according to the article. 

Comments: This will be interesting and almost answers the question of "How does the USA Cycling organization wheedle its way into the gravel scene?"

The answer, apparently, will be to grow a series of events to support the feeder to Gravel Worlds/UCI Pro Tour level gravel racing. (Sound familiar?) As I have said- It is the same-ol' tactics that worked to turn MTB and road racing in the US into what it is today- meaning a not very fun, not very profitable, not very inclusive form of cycling. Of course, I could be wrong, and I am sure that the USAC and UCI folks have good intentions. 

But already there is banter about "rules" and "bike regulations" and what constitutes a "gravel race". Initially this article would give one some hope that the UCI/USAC rule makers are trying to steer things in a direction that the mainstream of gravel events has gone. However; when discussing courses, there is an initial mention that "75%" of the course must be gravel, but then Erwin Vervecken, the off-road and gravel manager of Golazo Sports- the main event organization helping the UCI -, is quoted as saying that some countries don't have a lot of gravel road networks so there may be only "....60 to 65 percent gravel". 

If Golazo Sports is willing to waffle a bit to get the series going, then perhaps we can expect some waffling on rules until this gets off the ground, and when people are invested? uh-huh........ We shall see. I suspect any "spirit of gravel" will be defined in quite a different way down the road. That is "IF" this takes off. Vervecken was quoted as saying he expects World Tour Pro level competition up front while the mid-pack to back-of-pack riders  would be "........ fun riders who stop at the feed zones, who stop for a drink and something to eat, and then ride in a group with their friends. Their goal is to finish the event,” 

Sounds good, but that misses the point. Basically- in terms of business, (and let's not forget that Golazo Sports is a HUGE corporation which generates over 15 BILLION in sales a year), your "field filler", "mid-pack" riders are the ones footing the bills for this Pro Tour series. (As of now, no presenting sponsors have been named, but I would assume that this is also in the works) Is this comapny even capable of doing anything "in the spirit of gravel", or should I say "The $pirit of Gravel"?  Hmm....

Well, it will be interesting to see what becomes of all of this. Oh.....and you are also probably wondering what I think about Tuesday's announcement on the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. 

I have words on that in this week's "FN&V"

Friday News And Views

BMC URS LT One (Image courtesy of BMC)

 Will Gravel Bikes Have Suspension?:

Yet another stab at making gravel bikes into ultra-short travel MTB's has been unveiled by Swiss bicycle maker BMC. Their newest gravel bike, the URS LT One, has 20mm of hydraulically damped front suspension and a short travel elastomeric based rear suspension. 

The bikes are made in carbon fiber and feature rack and fender mounts along with a 45mm maximum tire clearance. The front fork is routed for a dynamo hub as well. The two versions of this bike offered will be quite expensive with the top of the range being 7K+. 

Comments: BMC dubs this suspension concept "Micro Travel", and at a mere 20mm of movement, I'd say that is pretty spot on marketing. I would also say that it is pretty useless to have the amount of complexity required to achieve such minuscule amounts of movement. The FOX AX fork I have ridden, with 40mm of travel, wasn't capable enough, in my opinion, to make it worth the extra weight and complexity. But this BMC deal is certainly lighter, yes? 

Actually, no, it isn't. Another report on the bike I have read claims that the BMC fork weighs about the same as the Fox AX. Really? And at half the travel? Wow..... Plus it is proprietary to the frame? Ah.....thanks but no thanks. Let's remind ourselves here that a Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem has 20mm of effective travel, weighs 260-300 grams ( depending upon length), and can be put on any bike with an 1 1/8th steer tube at a cost of $160.00. Plus, if you get tired of your ShockStop equipped bike, you can move on to a new bike and keep the stem. 

The ShockStop is easily tuned, has minimal moving parts, and almost zero maintenance. If I am going for 20mm of travel, the price of 160 bucks sounds a lot better than 7K+. Just my opinion.....

So, to answer the question which led this section- No. Not this way, at any rate. 

Oh! And One More Thing About That:

Just the other day. "Velo News" mentioned that "Another retired European road Pro jumps into the US  gravel scene". (Story here) His name is Paul Voss, and he states in the "Velo News" article that he came over to try out gravel racing because of the over-all feeling that it was closer to 'true sport' and that it seemed to have a more relaxed set of rules for participation. He specifically called out the camaraderie amongst riders who were willing to stop and help those that had crashed, had a flat tire, or other issues. 

We've heard this before from former Pro roadies who heard about gravel racing and dropped in to check it out. People like Ted King, in particular, have really understood and exemplified the 'gravel culture' as it was formulated in the Mid-West. But now all this would seem to be something akin to window dressing, at least amongst many of the Pro/former Pro road riders who are doing gravel events now. I reported here last Saturday that some dissatisfaction has been expressed by certain Pro riders over the lack of formal road racing style rules, especially "... if there's money on the line for the win...." 

And one more thing that I will add here- This UCI nonsense really should have zero effect upon the 'gravel scene', as it is mostly having to do with Pro rider issues and money. What they are about is not gravel racing. It's just more and more looking like Pro Road racing on a different surface. Hopefully Mr. Voss won't fall under that spell again.  

Oh yeah....The UCI is also doing a similar series and World Championships for fat bikes too. You're welcome.

Rangefinder Deore 12 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Salsa Cycles Announces New Rangefinder Models:

Yesterday, no doubt, you saw the new Rangefinder models from Salsa Cycles. Sporting four different spec types across six different colors, (two colors for each level with Deore 10/MicroShift Advent sharing colors), the new models are Salsa Cycles entry level hard tail MTB's going forward. 

Interestingly, Deore MTB components can be had now in 10, 11, or 12 speed variants. You'll also note that an alternate MicoShift Advent 10 speed choice is available at the same price as the Deore 10 speed. Prices are $1599.00 for the Deore 12, $1399.00 for the Deore 11, and $1099.00 for the Deore 10/Advent 10 speed models. 

Comments: Interestingly, the press release I got had zero information as to spec. Prices are going up, but the entry level Rangefinder holds the line at $1099.00 which is what the 2021 model was. However; I cannot compare the spec, so...... 

I think people are going to be shocked at what a "real" MTB is going to cost in 2022. Sub-grand MTB-looking bicycles are not going to cut it anymore, and let's be honest, they haven't for many years. But I feel this benchmark is going to be ending up well above 1K, more like $1200.00 to $1300.00 now for a "just okay" hard tail that will get you by.  

Specialized Buys Michigan Retail Chain:

After several years of Trek news breaking about the company buying up retail outlets, now it seems Specialized is also turning down that road as well. The news comes from "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" who reported that McClain's Cycle and Fitness has been sold to Specialized.

Specialized hasn't really pursued retail outlets run direct by the company up until this point.  Although, it has long run a few retail stores, mainly in SoCal.Trek, meanwhile, has been on a retail store buying spree over the last several years to the point that many industry insiders reckon that Trek is the largest specialty bicycle retailer in the U.S.A. now. 

In cases where Specialized has lost its footing due to Trek retail store chain takeovers, they have resorted to 'delivery operations' which fulfill online customer orders. But now it would appear that they are being a bit more aggressive in going toe-to-toe with Trek in the retail sector. 

What does it all mean? Time will tell, but it would point to more Brand specific stores, much like single brand car dealerships, in which consumers would then have no choices but for the brand that the store is owned by. This is not new in the bicycle industry, as anyone older can attest to. Schwinn tried the concept starting in the early 1960's and had the nation covered in "Authorized Schwinn Dealerships" by the early 1970's. When the mountain bike came into being, Schwinn failed to capitalize on its popularity until it was too late, which contributed to the company going bankrupt in the late 90's. This- and other factors - ended the 'Schwinn Approved' dealership model. Now it would seem that we are on the verge of seeing this revived in some form by Trek, Specialized, and who knows who else. 

That is all for this week! I hope you all get some riding in and have a safe weekend.

Friday News And Views

BMC URS LT One (Image courtesy of BMC)

 Will Gravel Bikes Have Suspension?:

Yet another stab at making gravel bikes into ultra-short travel MTB's has been unveiled by Swiss bicycle maker BMC. Their newest gravel bike, the URS LT One, has 20mm of hydraulically damped front suspension and a short travel elastomeric based rear suspension. 

The bikes are made in carbon fiber and feature rack and fender mounts along with a 45mm maximum tire clearance. The front fork is routed for a dynamo hub as well. The two versions of this bike offered will be quite expensive with the top of the range being 7K+. 

Comments: BMC dubs this suspension concept "Micro Travel", and at a mere 20mm of movement, I'd say that is pretty spot on marketing. I would also say that it is pretty useless to have the amount of complexity required to achieve such minuscule amounts of movement. The FOX AX fork I have ridden, with 40mm of travel, wasn't capable enough, in my opinion, to make it worth the extra weight and complexity. But this BMC deal is certainly lighter, yes? 

Actually, no, it isn't. Another report on the bike I have read claims that the BMC fork weighs about the same as the Fox AX. Really? And at half the travel? Wow..... Plus it is proprietary to the frame? Ah.....thanks but no thanks. Let's remind ourselves here that a Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem has 20mm of effective travel, weighs 260-300 grams ( depending upon length), and can be put on any bike with an 1 1/8th steer tube at a cost of $160.00. Plus, if you get tired of your ShockStop equipped bike, you can move on to a new bike and keep the stem. 

The ShockStop is easily tuned, has minimal moving parts, and almost zero maintenance. If I am going for 20mm of travel, the price of 160 bucks sounds a lot better than 7K+. Just my opinion.....

So, to answer the question which led this section- No. Not this way, at any rate. 

Oh! And One More Thing About That:

Just the other day. "Velo News" mentioned that "Another retired European road Pro jumps into the US  gravel scene". (Story here) His name is Paul Voss, and he states in the "Velo News" article that he came over to try out gravel racing because of the over-all feeling that it was closer to 'true sport' and that it seemed to have a more relaxed set of rules for participation. He specifically called out the camaraderie amongst riders who were willing to stop and help those that had crashed, had a flat tire, or other issues. 

We've heard this before from former Pro roadies who heard about gravel racing and dropped in to check it out. People like Ted King, in particular, have really understood and exemplified the 'gravel culture' as it was formulated in the Mid-West. But now all this would seem to be something akin to window dressing, at least amongst many of the Pro/former Pro road riders who are doing gravel events now. I reported here last Saturday that some dissatisfaction has been expressed by certain Pro riders over the lack of formal road racing style rules, especially "... if there's money on the line for the win...." 

And one more thing that I will add here- This UCI nonsense really should have zero effect upon the 'gravel scene', as it is mostly having to do with Pro rider issues and money. What they are about is not gravel racing. It's just more and more looking like Pro Road racing on a different surface. Hopefully Mr. Voss won't fall under that spell again.  

Oh yeah....The UCI is also doing a similar series and World Championships for fat bikes too. You're welcome.

Rangefinder Deore 12 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Salsa Cycles Announces New Rangefinder Models:

Yesterday, no doubt, you saw the new Rangefinder models from Salsa Cycles. Sporting four different spec types across six different colors, (two colors for each level with Deore 10/MicroShift Advent sharing colors), the new models are Salsa Cycles entry level hard tail MTB's going forward. 

Interestingly, Deore MTB components can be had now in 10, 11, or 12 speed variants. You'll also note that an alternate MicoShift Advent 10 speed choice is available at the same price as the Deore 10 speed. Prices are $1599.00 for the Deore 12, $1399.00 for the Deore 11, and $1099.00 for the Deore 10/Advent 10 speed models. 

Comments: Interestingly, the press release I got had zero information as to spec. Prices are going up, but the entry level Rangefinder holds the line at $1099.00 which is what the 2021 model was. However; I cannot compare the spec, so...... 

I think people are going to be shocked at what a "real" MTB is going to cost in 2022. Sub-grand MTB-looking bicycles are not going to cut it anymore, and let's be honest, they haven't for many years. But I feel this benchmark is going to be ending up well above 1K, more like $1200.00 to $1300.00 now for a "just okay" hard tail that will get you by.  

Specialized Buys Michigan Retail Chain:

After several years of Trek news breaking about the company buying up retail outlets, now it seems Specialized is also turning down that road as well. The news comes from "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" who reported that McClain's Cycle and Fitness has been sold to Specialized.

Specialized hasn't really pursued retail outlets run direct by the company up until this point.  Although, it has long run a few retail stores, mainly in SoCal.Trek, meanwhile, has been on a retail store buying spree over the last several years to the point that many industry insiders reckon that Trek is the largest specialty bicycle retailer in the U.S.A. now. 

In cases where Specialized has lost its footing due to Trek retail store chain takeovers, they have resorted to 'delivery operations' which fulfill online customer orders. But now it would appear that they are being a bit more aggressive in going toe-to-toe with Trek in the retail sector. 

What does it all mean? Time will tell, but it would point to more Brand specific stores, much like single brand car dealerships, in which consumers would then have no choices but for the brand that the store is owned by. This is not new in the bicycle industry, as anyone older can attest to. Schwinn tried the concept starting in the early 1960's and had the nation covered in "Authorized Schwinn Dealerships" by the early 1970's. When the mountain bike came into being, Schwinn failed to capitalize on its popularity until it was too late, which contributed to the company going bankrupt in the late 90's. This- and other factors - ended the 'Schwinn Approved' dealership model. Now it would seem that we are on the verge of seeing this revived in some form by Trek, Specialized, and who knows who else. 

That is all for this week! I hope you all get some riding in and have a safe weekend.

Reflections After The Fact

  UCI Announced Pro Gravel Series & World Championships On Wednesday:

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Whew! Now that the dust has settled on this announcement, here are a few more thoughts on the whole sanctioning of Pro gravel events. For my immediate reaction which I wrote up on Wednesday, see this post on RidingGravel.com. I'm going to reference that post, but I will also try not to cover it too much here. 

First off I wanted to comment on a Twitter thread that Pro cyclist Phil Gaimon posted late on Wednesday after the announcement. His take was that this was a good thing because "... if there's money on the line for the win....", there should be certain "rules" and protocols in place to accommodate those searching for that monetary prize. He mentioned separate fields, closed roads, and more.

And therein lies the 'Big Problem'. 

The gravel scene started out, in part, as a reaction to what the 'Big Problem' was with organized, sanctioned racing. Most of those issues could be traced back to monetary prizing. That's why all the early gravel grinders did not offer money as a prize. 

My take on what Mr. Gaimon is stumping for is that what happens when you get what he is asking for you no longer have 'gravel racing'. It is Pro road racing that just happens to be on a surface that is not paved. It is NOT gravel racing. It is not what most people want to be a part of, or even can be a part of. It is exclusionary. I'm not against the Pros having Pro road racing on gravel courses. Go for it! It just is not 'gravel racing', and the two things should not be equated as being the same.

With that said, I had some other reactions.....

While some have jokingly or seriously suggested that I am the grumpy one, wishing things were not going to be so regarding the UCI, I don't feel that way at all in reality. In fact, you might be surprised at my first reaction to this which was "So what!". Now I have said that the UCI and their versions of cycling are not what is good for the masses. I still feel that way. I also know that many folks think that UCI oversight is "the death of the sport" and I have written about that as well, because I don't subscribe to that theory. I have suggested over and over again that people "vote with their dollars" to effect their opinions rather than bemoaning what seemed like to them to be an inevitable take-over of gravel by the "Evil UCI Overlords". 

No, I am not the 'grumpy one' here. As I have said, it is rather the opposite, and the tone of today's thoughts on all this UCI hullabaloo follows along with my answer to a Facebook post where someone poked some fun at me for being Mr. Discontented. Here is that reaction:

"Not at all. You misread if you think I have any "discontent". In fact, I feel grateful. There's never been a better time to be a gravel/rural cyclist."

Yes, we as rural/gravel/unpaved cyclists have never had it better. This is a "Golden Age" of gravel cycling. It has nothing at all to do with Pro racing. Nothing. Now there are websites, media writers, editors, and 'experts' who have and will continue to push the Pro Racing agenda as being 'the pinnacle' of gravel cycling. However; millions of rural cyclists who will never grace a podium are not wrong. They 'get it' and will continue to drive the gravel/rural cycling scene. 

And maybe those media/experts/influencers are finally kind of understanding that the Pro scene isn't all what it is cracked up to have been. They have seen former Pro racing prospects come out of road racing to do gravel events. They've seen how road racing has waned in the USA while gravel events keep breaking new ground in terms of numbers. The latest UCI news brought several attempts at 'humor' from these sources that was- perhaps - a bit disingenuous, considering their stances in years past on gravel and how it was not "real racing". Obviously, coming around to 'gravel' now behooves them, as seen by the turnabout started in the grassroots of competitive cycling over the last dozen years or so. 

Whether those media and so-called influencers and experts do come around or not really doesn't matter in the end. The cycling industry has gone 'gravel mad' and we are benefiting as cyclists. There have never been more events to do, or more ways to ride in rural areas than there are now.  What the Pro riders and the UCI do is not changing that. The UCI developing the gravel series and World Championships for the Pro riders is a reaction to what has come before. The UCI and USAC are not innovators in this area of cycling. They are reactionary. They are followers. They are the ones being influenced. Not the other way around. 

For us that were into it all along, this should be seen as gravy. Icing on a cake we've enjoyed for years. Now let's see if they can pull it off and grow this scene even more. If the UCI/USAC folks screw it all up, well then, we know already how to get it right. Don't forget that..... I'll sign off with my final paragraph from my Riding Gravel post:

 "The bottom line here is that whatever the UCI, USAC, or the “Big Gravel Event Machine” does won’t have any power unless you give it to them. Ultimately, whatever your vision of ‘gravel cycling’ is will be shaped by what you pay attention to, by what you spend your money on, and by what you think about it all. That power is in your hands. Don’t give it away without thinking really hard about that."