Friday News And Views

32" wheel of a SE Racing cruiser (Image courtesy of SE Racing)

MADE Show Features 32"ers:

The MADE Show, which happened last weekend in Portalnd, Oregon, finished up with not much news other than the buzz surrounding a few 32 inch wheeled custom bikes which were on display.

The stories online were kind of interesting for the narratives which were being pushed. "Will this be the Next Big Thing?" is basically what was being asked coming out of this show.

Comments: This has been the cycling industry's question since the "Bike Boom" of the early to mid 1970's. What will drive sales in the future? The "next big thing" after the Bike Boom was MTB's, then it was 29"ers. Then the internet came along and pretty much flooded people's eyeballs with every sort of contraption known to mankind. This was when "The Next Big Thing" was pretty much killed. Fat bikes made a stab at it, but faded quickly. Gravel? This is more difficult in that there ended up being a bike for it, but Gravel, as a thing, predated the bike for it by several years. So I would be hesitant to point at a gravel bike and say it was the "last Next Big Thing". In my opinion, Gravel would have kept growing with or without a specific bicycle for the activity.

Now electric two wheeled contraptions have taken off, but this has been mostly outside of the traditional bicycle industry 'food chain'. (In the USA, at any rate)  So, the 32"er comes along and people are seemingly thinking (in certain circles) that this will be the "Next Big Thing" like 29"ers were. Bzzzzt! I'm sorry, but this is incorrect. Next!

Why is this wrong? Look at most 32"ers and if you are paying attention you can see the ways these bikes are being designed to fit. Small to Medium folks? Not a chance this is a thing for you. Large? You are on the fringes. There just are not enough people who might benefit from this large a wheel. I think there will be a small, niche market for them, but like fat bikes, once those who benefit most from 32"ers have them, the market will nosedive significantly. I just don't see this as a sustainable market. 

And searching for the "Next Big Thing" in terms of a type of bicycle in cycling is the wrong thing to pursue anyway. 

Comments On 2025 Gravel Worlds:

Gravel Worlds happened last weekend, and while I was not there, I couldn't help but notice a few things. Mostly because of all the social media posts they put up. An odious amount of them, by the way.

First, there was some grousing about the muddy MMR road from the viewpoint of the Pro's and some media covering the event. I was pointed to a video on Instagram by N.Y. Roll concerning the woman's event. Yeah.... So here is a brief thought concerning this, which I have expressed here before.

Gravel events (The BIG ones getting all the media coverage now) used to be about Adventure, Challenge, Competition, and Camaraderie.  The Pro/Monetary element, introduced to gravel events in a big way since COVID, has reduced some of these events to just being about Competition. So, there is no room for something as integral to gravel events as muddy conditions, or Challenges, or Adventure, not to mention Camaraderie. It's about Results, Money, and Competition at these events now. 

So, they are not really "gravel events" anymore. They are merely Pro roadie events on a different surface. And that is my stance on this faction of so-called "Pro Gravel" categories. .(I'm not commentating on the other categories, which probably are not as affected)

Then there is all the coverage. Gah! You may have heard the theory which states that you should always leave people wanting more, yes? Well, I could not wait for my feed to clear out all the glut of Gravel Worlds coverage. Another interesting note was looking at the likes each post was getting, and in many cases it was less than 200, and in more than a few, less than 100. Maybe it's just me, but my money is on "less is more". And this goes for Mid-South and Unbound as well.   

Wahoo BOLT 1 (Image courtesy of Wahoo Sports)

Remember Y2K?

Maybe you are not old enough,to remember, but this recent story concerning original Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM, and BOLT GPS devices reminded me of those Y2K times. Apparently, a "limited ten bit clock" in those original Wahoo GPS devices ran out on time in mid-August, reverting the internal clocks to 2015. This caused the devices to fail in function, becoming essentially useless.

Fortunately, Wahoo has been able to update firmware for these old GPS devices and if you happen to own one of them, you can access the fix HERE. NOTE: This page only had firmware updates for the original ROAM and BOLT devices. They state they are still working on a firmware update for the ELEMNT at the time of this writing.

One wonders if the original developers of the Wahoo GPS devices figured that by now almost all of these platforms would be so out of date, or broken, that no one would care to be using them. Apparently there are more than a few folks still rocking these units.  

Which, in a way, is heartening. I like that people want to extend the usage and lifespan on these as far as possible, and also I like that Wahoo is willing to help those people out with a firmware update. Wahoo did not have to do this. So, kudos to Wajhoo for being nice about this and not killing off these first gen units making them nothing but fodder for the landfill.  

Image courtesy of Esker Cycles

 Esker Shows New Single Speed Specific Frame/Fork:

A dedicated to single speed bicycle is always going to grab my attention. This beauty was released by Esker Cycles on Wednesday this past week. Called the Solitaire, (Perfect name, by the way), this bike is based on their popular Hayduke model. Esker says there will only be 50 made and each will have a numbered Jen Greene headtube badge in brass. 

Prices start at $1,250.00 and go up with options. See the details on Esker Cycles site HERE.  

Comments: This is a cool looking bike with reasonable geometry which would work for a variety of off-road pursuits.  There are plenty of accessory mounts, and the rigid "Fork-Yeah!" steel fork appeals to my sensibilities while the design does allow for a suspension device if so desired. Plus, it has clearance for up to 29" x 3.0" tires. Nice!

Thank You:

I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for reading through the GTRFJ posts this week. This ride was important for me, which you probably can understand why this was the case, and for so many folks to have read through the report also was meaningful for me. So, thanks for doing that and for your support of myself and this blog.

As far as this Ride For Jacob thing goes, yes - It will happen again next year in August. Also yes - I am going to invite people along who may wish to join me in this ride to honor my son's memory. So, I will be talking about this next year and I will have details regarding the ride when I feel it is time to start talking about this ride again.

All I know now is a this ride is important to me. I want to share it with others, but I'm going to do it regardless of anyone else's attendance. So, mark it down for next August if you are interested and stay tuned for more on this in the future. 
 

 That is a wrap for this week! Get out there and ride those bicycles! Have a safe and fun Labor Day Weekend if you are in the USA!

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!

Gravel Grinder News: Wahoo Updates Elemnt ROAM, BOLT GPS Units

 Note: Images and information in this post were provided by Wahoo Fitness.

Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM

Recently Wahoo Fitness released its new flagship GPS unit called "ACE", but the rest of their GPS range was left as is. Rumors began to spread recently saying Wahoo was going to upgrade its ROAM and BOLT GPS units, and as it turns out, those rumors are true. Today Wahoo Fitness announces the next generation ROAM and BOLT and introduces its first foray into a rear light/radar detection device. That new device is called the TRACKR RADAR 

ELEMNT ROAM: The biggest change here will be the addition of a touchscreen. The ACE's voice navigation feature is also carried over to this new ROAM model. Here following is a feature set for the ROAM v3: 

• Enhanced navigation and route management: Detailed maps with points of interest, elevation data and road types, combined with voice turn-by-turn directions.
• Larger, 2.8” high-contrast display: A 22% larger screen than BOLT with a higher-resolution, anti-glare and enhanced contrast, along with glove-friendly multi-touch capabilities (pinch, zoom, swipe).
• Intuitive connected experience: Connect to more third-party apps and services than ever before with expanded functionality and data sharing
• Wahoo’s "Ready to Ride"dashboard ensures that loading routes, syncing workouts, and checking battery or sensor status takes seconds—not minutes—so you can focus on the ride, not the setup."
• Up to 25 Hours of Battery Life: Enough power for long adventures and back-to-back rides.
• Modern design: A completely revamped user interface provides a clean, modern look and feel.

 Pricing and Availability: ELEMNT ROAM 3: US$449.99 / CA$679.99 / EU€ 449.99/ UK£ 399.99/ AU$ 749.95/ JP¥78,000 - on sale Tuesday May 6th 2025 

The new ELEMNT BOLT

ELEMNT BOLT: Wahoo's entry-level GPS device gets a crisper, slightly larger screen at 2.3". The feature set is as follows: 

• High-Resolution Display: The new 2.3” screen is optimised for clarity, especially in bright sunlight.
• Intuitive connected experience: Connect to more third-party apps and services than ever before with expanded functionality and data sharing
• Wahoo’s "Ready to Ride" dashboard for setup makes setup of activity type, routes, and workouts instant.
• Up to 20 Hours of Battery Life: Enough power for race day and beyond.
• Lightweight speed: Compact design minimises weight for speed without losing performance and functionality. 

Pricing and Availability: ELEMNT BOLT 3: US$329.99 / CA$529.99 / EU€329.99 / UK£299.99 / AU$549.99 / JP¥ 658,000 - on sale Tuesday May 6th 2025 

The new TRACKR RADAR

TRACKR RADAR: 

TRACKR RADAR is Wahoo Fitness' first foray into the bike radar and rear light category. The TRACKR RADAR pairs with the Wahoo Fitness' other front GPS units via Bluetooth or ANT+ and will do so with GPS units that support those protocols. 

TRACKR RADAR also has a built-in accelerometer which allows the unit to act as a brake light. Following are the features of this new unit:

• Vehicle warning: the radar system detects approaching cars behind, increasing the flash pattern. 

• Innovative safety: a built-in accelerometer allows the unit to function as a brake light, getting brighter when slowing down
• Simple connection: The TRACKR RADAR is an extension of the Wahoo eco-system, pairing with the ELEMNT head unit for the ultimate user experience, as well as other compatible Bluetooth or ANT+ bike computers.
• Ease of use: The dual mounting system also allows the TRACKR RADAR to be attached to any bike and removed with ease.
• Battery Extender Mode: Reduces luminosity to conserve battery when no vehicles are detected and can provide up to 20 hours of use. 

Pricing and Availability: TRACKR RADAR: US$199.99 / CA$ 299.99 / EU€ 199.99/ UK£ 179.99 / AU$349.95 / JP¥33,000 - coming soon.

Comments: The introduction of the ACE kind of tipped everyone off that something like this was coming soon. As far as the introduction goes, I think the touchscreen and voice navigation functions on the ROAM are probably reasonable upgrades to a well proven unit. The BOLT was largely left alone, and I think this was a good decision. Simplicity of function is pretty much why you'd want a BOLT anyway and loading it up with more features would only muck up a good thing.

The radar unit is a catch-up to Garmin and timely since the Taipei Cycle Show had several vendors showing new rear radar units. There are going to be a lot of those hitting shelves from several brands in the near future.

Gravel Grinder News: Wahoo Announces Elemnt Ace GPS

Note: Information and images used in this post were provided by Wahoo Fitness.

Wahoo Fitness' new Elemnt ACE GPS.

 In perhaps one of the most recent "worst kept secrets" in cycling, today Wahoo Fitness officially announces their newest GPS device for cycling called Elemnt ACE. 

This new GPS device features several new features never before seen on any Wahoo GPS device. It also features the largest screen size in cycling GPS devices currently available. Added to this is a new cloud-based connectivity and we have a lot to go over here with this new device. 

Features:

 Let's dive right in here with a bullet point list of the Elemnt ACE features. 

• A super-sized, Best-In-Class Screen: that will be largest in category, with best-in-class TFT screen to enable better visibility for navigation and data visualization

• Up to 30+ hour Battery Life: this will keep riders connected and informed from start to finish.

•  CATEGORY FIRST - Integrated Wind Sensor: introducing Wahoo Wind Dynamics™ (WWD) to measure the effects of air resistance in real time and post ride, to quantify how wind and drafting are impacting your ride and measure one of cycling’s most critical forces

• Improved User Experience: new touchscreen to complement buttons for ease of use, plus brand new modern operating system to make it easier than ever to control your ride, and a premium aluminum mount included 

• Enhanced Navigation: improved mapping features and turn by turn audio navigation to allow riders to navigate with confidence and ease.

•  Easier, More intuitive Setup and Sync via the Wahoo App: new cloud-based sync, for a seamless, simple and intuitive user experience where all of a user’s data is stored in Wahoo’s cloud as a single, always backed up source

 

Navigating with the new Elemnt ACE will be enhanced by a high-contrast color palette screen with swiping capabilities to get to a different screen more quickly. This could enhance safety and should allow users to keep their eyes on the road/trail more. Interestingly, Wahoo takes a page from automobile navigation with the new Elemnt ACE and will now have voice commands for navigation cues. The press release did not indicate whether this can be disabled if it is not wanted, or if different voices could be selected. It might be a bit comical in events if several Wahoo Elemnt Ace users came upon a turn at about the same time. "Turn Left!", heard multiple times simultaneously might be quite the cacophonous mess!

The screen is made from a transflective thin-film transmitter (TFT) and measures an impressive 3.8"/3:2 aspect ratio. Wahoo claims the high DPI screen has anti-reflective, anti-glare properties making it easier to see in many outdoor conditions. 

Wahoo claims "up to 30 hours battery life" but this will have to be verified in real-world use. For a comparison, a Wahoo Elemnt ROAM has a claimed 17 hour battery life, so that 30 hours is almost double that! 

The Wahoo Elemnt ACE has these front-facing ports for the wind sensor - a first in a cycling GPS device.

Wahoo has incorporated a wind sensor into the Element ACE which is a category first. Wahoo leverages this data by giving the rider real-time information on what Wahoo calls "AeroBoost" and "AeroDrag" giving the rider insight into how tail winds and headwinds affect performance. You can also measure the effects of drafting with this feature. After the ride, data showing the rider how wind affected performance can be accessed. Wahoo calls this "Wahoo Wind Dynamics". 

Understanding how winds affect performance could lead riders to being more efficient with regard to power output which would result in better performance, theoretically. 

The touch-screen is being leveraged to make rider user experience easier and less complicated. Buttons are still here for those who wish to use them as well. Wahoo says that their touch screen will work with or without touch-screen compatible gloves, so that is a nice feature.  Wahoo claims the touch-screen will even work with moisture present as well. 

The Wahoo Elemnt ACE comes with a premium quality aluminum mount, a tether, and will retail for US$599.99, CA$849.99, EU€599.99, UK£549.99, AU$999.95 and JP¥9,900.

Comments: That's a lot there and it is an interesting update from Wahoo on their range of GPS devices. I have a Wahoo Elemnt ROAM and I have enjoyed using it. So, this is an opportunity for me to answer a question: Would you get this new Elemnt ACE or stick with your Elemnt ROAM?  

From the standpoint of user experience, I would like a touch-screen, if it was easy to use in reality. I would like the extended battery range, especially for peace of mind in doing longer rides. Just having that "headroom" in battery life might be a good thing in those cases. The screen being larger is also a good thing for me because having to look multiple times and keep an eye on the gravel road is a bit of a pain. Maybe the larger screen would make this less of an issue? 

Navigation has been enhanced, they say? This would be of interest to me, although I would like to know if I could turn off the voice and just have a beep and a visual cue on the screen. If the voice nav feature is always on during navigation I would find that annoying. Especially if I don't like the voice tone. But I don't have detailed enough info to know what the deal is there yet. 

The wind stuff may not be of interest if it is not of much use unless you pair that data with a power meter. 

So, I'm interested, but the Elemnt ROAM is no slouch, so I think my answer now is that I'd wait and see before jumping. What about you? let me know in the comments. Is this new GPS device worth the six hundred bucks or is it just gimmicky nonsense?

Gravel Grinder News: New Wahoo GPS Soon?

Is this the new Wahoo GPS? (Image from Reddit)

Wahoo Rumored To Release New GPS Cycling Device Soon:

On Monday news was spreading that any day now you will see a new flagship GPS device from Wahoo. Rumored to be named "ACE", this device would be bigger than the current Elemnt ROAM with a claimed 3.8" touch screen. Yes. A touchscreen is part of this rumor. Of course, as you can see, if the ACE looks like this it will also feature the familiar buttons that Wahoo users know well.

The "big" (sorry for the pun) news here is an increased battery life, rumored to be 30 hours or so, and a wind sensor. 

The wind sensor could be used to help with power meters and rider output into headwinds and with tailwinds. Better power output in windy situations may increase performance outcomes. 

The usual suite of functions should be here as well as an aluminum mount, which I would wager is probably going to be more svelte and lighter than what would be necessary in a plastic based material for a mount to hold this large, and I am assuming heavy, device. 

Stay tuned for the official announcement to come any day now, according to posters on Reddit.

Friday News And Views

 Ride With GPS Debuts New Technology:

This week Ride With GPS debuted a new "Surface Types" technology for route finding and planning that, in many ways, is the pinnacle of what many riders will want out of technology for route finding. 

What is most impressive, to my mind anyway, is that Ride With GPS thought this through and realized that the information necessary to make this work would largely need to be tweakable by the users themselves. This is because, as I have preached on for years, due to the fact that there is no currently available information which you can rely upon 100% for surface data. 

This is due to the fact that most all of the GPS road data to date is focused on where people will most likely be wanting information- namely paved highways and interstate highways. NOT on gravel and dirt roads, which, let's face it, only a very small percentage of people even care about. So, as a result I have found blockages of roads which occurred decades ago which are still listed as through-roads, or as having bridges, etc. That this misinformation on roads and surface types exists should be no surprise then. This is also why, when I have seen people touting 'route surface type resources' in the past who relied purely on data focused on and for pavement users, I cried foul. 

This new Surface Types feature on Ride With GPS will be similarly handcuffed- at first- But if users take the opportunity to edit and make suggestions, as Ride With GPS says they will be able to do, then all the other sector features, elevation data, and mileage splits for paved/unpaved bits will suddenly start to become what we've dreamed of having as a resource. A dream since the times of the earliest modern-day gravel grinder events. 

I have checked the routes I have saved (private) on Ride With GPS to see how it does. On some it is spot on. The gravel to pavement ratio is correct. But on some older routes it isn't picking up on the gravel that is really there in many spots. This is where the rider input will be critical. 

I believe Ride With GPS, due to its oft used integration with GPS navigation head units widely in use by cyclists and events now, will be successful where others were not. Time will tell....

The Search Continues:

Which brings me to GPS units for my uses. I've been doing a bunch of research, and THANK YOU to the readers here for your valuable suggestions, by the way. I really appreciate those and I have been informed greatly by what you have shared. 

So, where am I on all of this? Well, I have it slightly narrowed down to a Garmin 830, a Garmin 130, or the Karoo 2 from Hammerhead. Disparate choices, I know....

The Garmin 130 does more of what I want and less of what I do not want, but it is tiny, harder to see, (old eyes here!), and it doesn't have a color screen. Honestly, that all may not matter if prompts are audible during the turn by turn navigation. (I don't think that they are audible, but I cannot confirm this via the web so far) It also happens to be the least expensive option I am looking at as well. This makes buying the mounts it doesn't come with less of a pain. 

The 830 is bigger, has color screen display, and audible turn by turn navigation prompts. It also has alerts for help if I get into trouble, (something Mrs. Guitar Ted would like) and it has rerouting/back to start functions which would be kind of nice to have sometimes as well. It is more expensive though, and that is a concern. Along with it comes a slew of stuff I'll never use also. Maybe a 530 here?

Pretty much the same story with the Karoo 2 from Hammerhead. I like this one because it seems to be backed by a company that is trying to update the unit with newer features on a regular basis, (thus giving me more value for the money spent, potentially) and that perhaps bodes well for issues which Garmin and Wahoo seem to have which are not being addressed for their users. Should a Karoo 2 start 'locking up', I would hope that their aggressive plan to update their units in the field would address such an issue quickly. But again- it has lots of stuff I'll never use and it also is spendy to purchase. 

Still looking and researching.......

Mosaic Cycles Announces GT-X Series:

If you are a well heeled cyclist with a penchant for adventure cycling off-pavement then the new Mosaic Cycles GT-X series might be for you. Offered in a full custom, double butted titanium version or as a stock geometry, single wall version in titanium, the bikes are capable of being drop bar or flat bar, depending upon rider preference, due to the geometry having a longer front center than a standard drop bar bike would. 

Tire clearances are 29" X 2.25" or narrower, but keep in mind that the bottom bracket drop is 75mm, so a 650B set may not work, and Mosaic does not give any indication that it would either. However; while it does not give the 650B fans any love, this bike does go the non-sus corrected route, and I like that simplicity and aesthetic. 

But you'd better open the credit limits up. The base GT-2X is $4500.00 for the frame only, and a GT-1X frame and fork are nearly 7G!! Don't look at me to be one who will be getting one of these rigs. I don't make anywhere near the kind of income to be looking at such bikes!

Riding Gravel Radio Ranch Episode #91:

Keeping things local, Andy and I interviewed Dan Roberts of the Snaggy Ridge 105 gravel event recently. That event takes place October 2nd in Tipton, Iowa. 

I met Dan first at one of the Iowa Gravel Expos that N.Y. Roll and I put on a few years ago. He showed up to promote his event and has been to a couple of these since to do the same. It sounds like a great event and if you can get in, you should. I realize a LOT of stuff is going down in the Fall, but this event deserves your attention. 

Plus, RidingGravel.com is sponsoring it, and I am sending over some schwag to help support the event. So if you go you could score a few items and have a great day in the saddle to boot. Check it out!

Plus, you can listen to our podcast with Dan here. We had a lot of fun talking with him and playing our game called "Function or Fashion" as well. You can hear that podcast wherever you get your podcast feed from as also. Thanks!

This Wentworth tire comes in a 700 X 40 or 50mm and in 650B

American Classic Is Back! With Tires?!

 American Classic, the brand started by Bill Shook in 1982, was well known as a wheel and component company for years until slow sales in the business for them caused them to shutter the company in 2018. 

The assets of the company were offered for sale at that point along with all intellectual properties, but as of now no official industry news has been announced as to whether or not that sale has happened. Although this news article about the brand relaunch states that the sale did occur, but offers no clear details.

At any rate, now the brand appears to be back and with tires. Of course, they are selling gravel oriented tires and they offer quite a wide range from a mostly smooth treaded type to full-on, aggressive MTB-like tires. All offerings in their gravel range are available in 700c X 40mm, or 700c X 50mm widths along with 650B X 47mm sizes in black or tan wall sides. Prices are all the same, a paltry $35.00 per tire!

Comments: Wow! Tires? That pricing! Okay, here's the thing, with tire prices on the rise and many tires being out of stock, and with American Classic being a brand off the radar for a few years, this is probably an attention getting move - an introductory offer, if you will.  I am guessing the pricing, and stock of tires, will be gone rather quickly. Once the brand is established, (if it ever is as a tire brand), I suspect that you will see pricing increase dramatically. 

That 35 buck price - if the tires are decent - is basically at retail cost. I would be immensely surprised if they are making any money at that price, again- if the tires actually measure up to what the competition is offering. Normally gravel tires with high quality casings and rubber compounds are sold is at nearly double that 35 dollar price and even higher in some instances. I mean, you could be getting what you pay for here, which could be not-so-great.

As a brand relaunch, sticking to the gravel category, (with a small nod to the past with some road tires), and going with tires, (a BIG talking point on forums and websites), is a smart move. The buzz created by this launch is a good start. If the product is worthy, and if American Classic can sustain the force of this launch over the long haul, then they may have life for the long term. However; if the product turns out to be lackluster and their stock lists are depleted with no quick restocking? Ooof! It could be the greatest time to relaunch or the worst possible time to relaunch the brand. We will see....

But I have to give American Classic credit for this eye-opening relaunch. It is a pretty bold move. Also- they promise more components to come. Now we will see if it sticks.

And that's a wrap for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and thank you for reading G-Ted Productions!

Friday News And Views

 Ride With GPS Debuts New Technology:

This week Ride With GPS debuted a new "Surface Types" technology for route finding and planning that, in many ways, is the pinnacle of what many riders will want out of technology for route finding. 

What is most impressive, to my mind anyway, is that Ride With GPS thought this through and realized that the information necessary to make this work would largely need to be tweakable by the users themselves. This is because, as I have preached on for years, due to the fact that there is no currently available information which you can rely upon 100% for surface data. 

This is due to the fact that most all of the GPS road data to date is focused on where people will most likely be wanting information- namely paved highways and interstate highways. NOT on gravel and dirt roads, which, let's face it, only a very small percentage of people even care about. So, as a result I have found blockages of roads which occurred decades ago which are still listed as through-roads, or as having bridges, etc. That this misinformation on roads and surface types exists should be no surprise then. This is also why, when I have seen people touting 'route surface type resources' in the past who relied purely on data focused on and for pavement users, I cried foul. 

This new Surface Types feature on Ride With GPS will be similarly handcuffed- at first- But if users take the opportunity to edit and make suggestions, as Ride With GPS says they will be able to do, then all the other sector features, elevation data, and mileage splits for paved/unpaved bits will suddenly start to become what we've dreamed of having as a resource. A dream since the times of the earliest modern-day gravel grinder events. 

I have checked the routes I have saved (private) on Ride With GPS to see how it does. On some it is spot on. The gravel to pavement ratio is correct. But on some older routes it isn't picking up on the gravel that is really there in many spots. This is where the rider input will be critical. 

I believe Ride With GPS, due to its oft used integration with GPS navigation head units widely in use by cyclists and events now, will be successful where others were not. Time will tell....

The Search Continues:

Which brings me to GPS units for my uses. I've been doing a bunch of research, and THANK YOU to the readers here for your valuable suggestions, by the way. I really appreciate those and I have been informed greatly by what you have shared. 

So, where am I on all of this? Well, I have it slightly narrowed down to a Garmin 830, a Garmin 130, or the Karoo 2 from Hammerhead. Disparate choices, I know....

The Garmin 130 does more of what I want and less of what I do not want, but it is tiny, harder to see, (old eyes here!), and it doesn't have a color screen. Honestly, that all may not matter if prompts are audible during the turn by turn navigation. (I don't think that they are audible, but I cannot confirm this via the web so far) It also happens to be the least expensive option I am looking at as well. This makes buying the mounts it doesn't come with less of a pain. 

The 830 is bigger, has color screen display, and audible turn by turn navigation prompts. It also has alerts for help if I get into trouble, (something Mrs. Guitar Ted would like) and it has rerouting/back to start functions which would be kind of nice to have sometimes as well. It is more expensive though, and that is a concern. Along with it comes a slew of stuff I'll never use also. Maybe a 530 here?

Pretty much the same story with the Karoo 2 from Hammerhead. I like this one because it seems to be backed by a company that is trying to update the unit with newer features on a regular basis, (thus giving me more value for the money spent, potentially) and that perhaps bodes well for issues which Garmin and Wahoo seem to have which are not being addressed for their users. Should a Karoo 2 start 'locking up', I would hope that their aggressive plan to update their units in the field would address such an issue quickly. But again- it has lots of stuff I'll never use and it also is spendy to purchase. 

Still looking and researching.......

Mosaic Cycles Announces GT-X Series:

If you are a well heeled cyclist with a penchant for adventure cycling off-pavement then the new Mosaic Cycles GT-X series might be for you. Offered in a full custom, double butted titanium version or as a stock geometry, single wall version in titanium, the bikes are capable of being drop bar or flat bar, depending upon rider preference, due to the geometry having a longer front center than a standard drop bar bike would. 

Tire clearances are 29" X 2.25" or narrower, but keep in mind that the bottom bracket drop is 75mm, so a 650B set may not work, and Mosaic does not give any indication that it would either. However; while it does not give the 650B fans any love, this bike does go the non-sus corrected route, and I like that simplicity and aesthetic. 

But you'd better open the credit limits up. The base GT-2X is $4500.00 for the frame only, and a GT-1X frame and fork are nearly 7G!! Don't look at me to be one who will be getting one of these rigs. I don't make anywhere near the kind of income to be looking at such bikes!

Riding Gravel Radio Ranch Episode #91:

Keeping things local, Andy and I interviewed Dan Roberts of the Snaggy Ridge 105 gravel event recently. That event takes place October 2nd in Tipton, Iowa. 

I met Dan first at one of the Iowa Gravel Expos that N.Y. Roll and I put on a few years ago. He showed up to promote his event and has been to a couple of these since to do the same. It sounds like a great event and if you can get in, you should. I realize a LOT of stuff is going down in the Fall, but this event deserves your attention. 

Plus, RidingGravel.com is sponsoring it, and I am sending over some schwag to help support the event. So if you go you could score a few items and have a great day in the saddle to boot. Check it out!

Plus, you can listen to our podcast with Dan here. We had a lot of fun talking with him and playing our game called "Function or Fashion" as well. You can hear that podcast wherever you get your podcast feed from as also. Thanks!

This Wentworth tire comes in a 700 X 40 or 50mm and in 650B

American Classic Is Back! With Tires?!

 American Classic, the brand started by Bill Shook in 1982, was well known as a wheel and component company for years until slow sales in the business for them caused them to shutter the company in 2018. 

The assets of the company were offered for sale at that point along with all intellectual properties, but as of now no official industry news has been announced as to whether or not that sale has happened. Although this news article about the brand relaunch states that the sale did occur, but offers no clear details.

At any rate, now the brand appears to be back and with tires. Of course, they are selling gravel oriented tires and they offer quite a wide range from a mostly smooth treaded type to full-on, aggressive MTB-like tires. All offerings in their gravel range are available in 700c X 40mm, or 700c X 50mm widths along with 650B X 47mm sizes in black or tan wall sides. Prices are all the same, a paltry $35.00 per tire!

Comments: Wow! Tires? That pricing! Okay, here's the thing, with tire prices on the rise and many tires being out of stock, and with American Classic being a brand off the radar for a few years, this is probably an attention getting move - an introductory offer, if you will.  I am guessing the pricing, and stock of tires, will be gone rather quickly. Once the brand is established, (if it ever is as a tire brand), I suspect that you will see pricing increase dramatically. 

That 35 buck price - if the tires are decent - is basically at retail cost. I would be immensely surprised if they are making any money at that price, again- if the tires actually measure up to what the competition is offering. Normally gravel tires with high quality casings and rubber compounds are sold is at nearly double that 35 dollar price and even higher in some instances. I mean, you could be getting what you pay for here, which could be not-so-great.

As a brand relaunch, sticking to the gravel category, (with a small nod to the past with some road tires), and going with tires, (a BIG talking point on forums and websites), is a smart move. The buzz created by this launch is a good start. If the product is worthy, and if American Classic can sustain the force of this launch over the long haul, then they may have life for the long term. However; if the product turns out to be lackluster and their stock lists are depleted with no quick restocking? Ooof! It could be the greatest time to relaunch or the worst possible time to relaunch the brand. We will see....

But I have to give American Classic credit for this eye-opening relaunch. It is a pretty bold move. Also- they promise more components to come. Now we will see if it sticks.

And that's a wrap for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and thank you for reading G-Ted Productions!