Aero Gravel Wheels: A Case For And Against

 As most of the cycling nerdom knows, aerodynamics play a big part in getting speed and efficiencies optimized for speedy riding. Yes, not everyone needs or wants aero, but if you want to make riding gravel a bit easier, aerodynamics is a good place to start. 

Aero can mean position on the bike, clothing, or in the design of the frame of your bicycle. But perhaps no upgrade in aero can make more of a difference than wheels.  Both in aero and in rotational weight, with even a nod to comfort. I think body position can get you the best gains, but as far as multi-benefits go, the wheels give you more. 

I've been trying out aero-focused wheel sets on gravel since 2012, well ahead of most folks, and so I have experienced what the wheels with aero design can do for your ride. Now with racing driving the development of gravel, aero wheels are becoming even more of a forefront thought in rider's considerations for upgrades. 

It hasn't been this way until very recently, as far as gravel riders go. As I found out in 2020, when I tested FLO aero gravel wheels, many were dismissive of the deeper section wheels and their aero benefits. This despite evidence from triathlon and road racing which clearly showed how much aero wheels can benefit a rider. Any rider, not just racing athletes.  

The Case For Aero Wheels: Besides cutting through the air more efficiently, which is what most aero wheel documents will focus on, there are a few other things which should be thought about. One is rider fatigue. Depending upon the design, a rider can benefit from less effort in crosswinds, and working less to keep momentum and stability intact is going to result in a fresher rider over a certain distance.  

But other factors, like design in the rim itself, can also contribute to comfort levels. The FLO Cycling wheels I tested actually had a flex component which absorbed vibrations, an obvious benefit on crushed rock roads. Many wheels are now also going to wider inner rim profiles, which match wider tires gravel riders are using better. This not only enhances the aerodynamic properties of the wheel/tire combination, but it also allows the rider to use lower air pressures to obtain an even smoother ride. 

NOBL Wheels Far 50. Image courtesy of NOBL Wheels.

 Weights of aero wheels have been getting better, but also consider that a lighter/lightest wheel often is not the best wheel overall. Perhaps in a specialist category of hill climbing, the lightest wheel set wins. But older and more recent wheel testing has shown lighter wheels can suffer from being harder to hold momentum over smaller deflections and obviously, over larger inputs like gravel. 

A heavier wheel, to an extent, can actually be faster with the rider expending less energy due to the momentum effect of the wheel. If the wheel is not being deflected, but carrying energy over an input from the surface, you need to do less work. Kind of like a crankshaft counterweight, or a flywheel. 

Obviously, too much weight isn't good either, but going deeper and a bit heavier with rim weight shouldn't be looked at as a negative in many aero wheel cases.  

The Case Against Aero Wheels: Not everyone will benefit from aero wheel sets. If you ride what essentially would be described as single track with a gravel bike, the benefits of aero could be lowered to almost having no effect. Especially if you ride a lot of trail with heavy deceleration zones requiring a lot of acceleration back to speed. Weight, and where the weight is on a wheel, may become an issue there. And again, perhaps with a more hill climbing course, aero may not be of much benefit on those types of courses. 

The Singular Albatross. (Image courtesy of Singular Cycles)

However; the big unknown here, and which may be a big factor in what you want to do with aero wheels in the near future, is the 32" wheel. 

This wheel may take over as a major option for gravel riders. I've heard from several sources that the 32"er will become a thing in gravel racing/riding. So, this is not speculation. 

What is still up in the air are things like hub width standards, and ultimately what width tires will be best for gravel on a 32" wheel. Theoretically, since the tire contact patch is longer than what a 700c gravel tire has, one might be able to get away with a slightly narrower 32" gravel tire. This might allow for the same/similar rider comfort and control benefits with a similar weight to a wider 700c tire on a gravel bike. Also, this would help with frontal aero concerns. 

With those questions all hanging out there, does a gravel rider bank on sticking with 700c and risk not getting the potential benefits of a 32"er, or does the rider bet on 32'ers and then find out it was all just a flash in the pan? 

I think if it weren't for the tantalizing possibilities of 32" wheels, just getting a 700c aero gravel wheel set is a slam-dunk. Maybe it still is. I would guess so if you are dead set against 32"ers, or are well under 6ft tall. 

Conclusions: Obviously, many riders are invested into standards surrounding 700c and are not in a position, or willing, or both, to switch over to something new - and as yet - unproven. So for those riders, getting an aero wheel set makes a lot of sense. I really see no negatives which would compel me to not want an aero 700c gravel wheel set. Especially since companies are now starting to develop wider internal width choices in aero rims. 

I know the old and tired argument which states that if you are going under "x miles an hour" you do not need aerodynamic wheels. I say phooey! In my mind, if you are moving aerodynamics matter. Maybe to a lesser extent at 12mph than at 25mph, but it matters, and this is enough for me to consider aero wheel sets for gravel riding. 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Singular Cycles

Singular Announces Titanium Kite:

Last week word came down concerning the new drop of titanium Singular Kite frames and forks. While titanium is often used as a frame material, it is less often seen used for a fork. 

I don't mean to gloss over the beautiful Kite model here, because it is a stunning bicycle. However; the fork is pretty amazing, and this comes down to its mode of construction. 

The drop outs and the fork crown are 3D printed, which allows for the exact placement of material for strength, and for aesthetic purposes, which cannot be achieved using traditional titanium stock and joinery methods. 

The Ti fork has a tapered steer tube, and it may not work for every bicycle, but if you have something compatible with this fork, you can purchase it separately HERE. 

I know, it's been a Singular Cycles week here. But I thought the fork on this Kite model was amazing. 

Image courtesy of Dangerholm Facebook page

Your Rims For Gravel Are Wimpy!

The athlete known as "Dangerholm", Gustav Gullholm, has produced a rim for gravel racing which he thinks will revolutionize the sport . Gullholm is a proponent of wide, 29" rubber for gravel and thinks rims are just not where they need to be for these wider tires. 

Working with a company called Faction Bike Studio, Gullholm is saying these 45mm inner rim width rims with a sort of "shark tooth" aero treatment will be the fastest wheel set on gravel in the coming year. For comparison, the rim on the left has a 30mm inner rim width. 

Gullholm feels the wider rim gives a better aero profile with the wider tires he prefers. Saying the 70mm depth profile and overall 52mm width works best with 29" X 2.2" - 2.25" tires, Gullholm claims these rims have proven themselves in simulations done by Faction Bike Studio.

Comments: While I have been a proponent of aero for gravel, this seems a bit extreme. How much do these rims weigh? I have no idea and Gullholm isn't saying at this point. But whatever they weigh, the weight has to be something of a negative here, one could easily assume. We may find out soon enough as Gullholm says these are rideable prototypes and the bike they will be going on will be unveiled at the Dresden Bicycle Show soon.  

Image courtesy of Factor Bikes

Factor Bikes Releases New Aluto Carbon Gravel Bike All-Arounder:

Factor Bikes announced on Thursday their newest gravel bike, the Aluto. Meant for longer days and rider comfort, the Aluto design is a bit different than Fator's Ostro model. 

Eschewing the move by many companies to stuff in larger tires, Factor has designed the Aluto to be optimized around a 45mm tire. Maximum tire clearance is 52mm in the front, but the rear is maxed out at 47mm. 

Factor also went against the grain with a shorter front/center and short reach for the handle bars shipped with this bike. Their reasoning is due to the longer hood length of modern gravel-oriented shifter/brake levers and for better rider comfort during longer rides. 

Image courtesy of Factor Bikes

Factor also states it shortened the rear center, and it steepened the head tube a bit over their Ostro model. Finally, a bit lower bottom bracket height rounds out the tweaks to this gravel bike.

The de rigueur down tube storage and internal everything routing is here as well. 

The Aluto is available as a frame set. with SRAM Force AXS XPLR, or Red AXS XPLR. The frame is also 1X or 2X compatible. (Electronic only)  Prices are $3,999.00 frame set, $6,999.00 Forsce AXS XPLR, and $8,699.00 Red AXS XPLR USD.

Comments: Yeah, this is cool and all, but shorter chain stays and steeper head tube angles? Seems a step backward in terms of rider comfort, in my opinion. (Or a bicycle aimed at roadies coming over to gravel) This bike was ridden by Factor's Brand Director, David Millar at Unbound this past June. He being a former road Pro, it would make sense to me if the Aluto was a more "fast-feeling" bike, and not necessarily an actual advancement in "rider comfort for longer rides" type bicycle. 

Oakley Meta Meta Vanguard Prizm. (Image courtesy of Oakley)

Oakley Releases Meta-Enabled Eyewear:

Your Sunglasses can now be "devices". Oakley has released their new range of "Meta-Enabled" smart-glasses. The new Meta Vanguard Prizm is the model in this range aimed at cyclists. 

You can pair these with a Garmin device, take images with the embedded camera, and listen to tunes via the onboard speakers. The Vanguard Prizm goes for about $500.00 USD and the battery will last "up to nine hours", according to Oakley.. 

Comments: They will sell every pair they can make. People are "device-mad" these days and I see no end in sight. Yeah..... I don't know man.... I cannot get away from having to charge this and that fast enough as it is. I'm in the camp of "Lithium-Ion batteries are The Devil" now. 

So, for me? Not so much. But these are amazing technology and Oakley eyewear is pretty much the standard for activities in the Sun to protect your eyeballs. 

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

Aero & Gravel Cycling

The new Miche Graff Aero 48 wheel (Image courtesy of Miche)

 Five years ago I was testing an aero wheel set for Riding Gravel. It was a wheel set from FLO Cycling, a then player in the triathlon market that was trying to make a mark in the gravel cycling niche.

I wrote an article here detailing how many negative comments were being made about aero gear for gravel, and later on in 2020 I made the bold statement that we would see "a lot more companies jumping in on aero" products in the future. 

Anyone who pays attention to gravel cycling gear now knows aero is an entrenched facet of the genre. You don't have to agree with the concepts, nor believe the benefits, but I don't think anyone can say it doesn't exist and would agree that it is here to stay. 

This was not the case five years ago when comments were being made to the effect that the aero concept was merely another invention of marketers to take your money. Or, this one: "Aero doesn't matter to me because I am slow".

I'm going to make a few feathers ruffle, perhaps, but all of the negative thoughts concerning aero - whether it is merely a rude to make money, or that it doesn't matter at slower speeds, are wrong.  Aero matters on gravel roads. Especially in the Mid-West. Probably in other places too. You know, wherever you have air to move through? There it matters.

FLO Cycling wheels on the Noble GX5 in 2020.

 Of course, there are diminishing returns, and limitations to aero exist when conditions get weird, like with heavy winds and the like, but aero is a thing for gravel and I have always believed this. So, I don't get too bent about aero this-or-that when it comes to gravel cycling. There is a place for it even for a guy like myself, who admittedly is not all that fast.

Besides, we do ride on roads, of a sort, so it only makes sense to pay attention to some aerodynamic benefits. If you can avail yourself of these benefits, why not do that? And if some of this is in components, or what you wear, like my aero helmet, then I think it deserves some consideration for all gravel cyclists.  

Was The Luxy Bar Ahead Of Its Time?

The now rare, unusual Luxy Bar as shown in 2012.

 I was over at N.Y. Roll's "Stone Castle Estate" to record a podcast the other day and I had ridden over on my Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 bike which is now set up with a Luxy Bar once again. 

I remarked to Mr. Roll that this handlebar is just what is in vogue now with the Pro riders - Narrow at the hoods, canted in levers, and wide at the drops. Could this be the coolest aero bar of them all, given what "The Rules" are now days? 

I find it sort of an ironic situation. That is because when the Luxy Bar came out, almost 15 years ago now, lots of folks scoffed at it. One of the biggest criticisms of this bar, and many others including the very popular, at that time,  Midge Bar, was that the hoods were canted weirdly and pointed inward. That was "dumb" and "who would find that comfortable?" Plus everyone said it just looked too weird to consider the Luxy Bar anyway. They dismissed this concept out of hand. 

Last year these started popping up.

The UCI has had to take into account a trend recently for Pro road riders to want to cant their levers inward in an attempt to gain an aerodynamic advantage. This coupled with super-narrow widths for the handlebars prompted a rule to be enacted regarding the possibility for these things to cause instability, broken handlebars, and crashes in the Pro ranks. 

Meanwhile gravel riders have also taken to canting their levers inward more with an aim to use a narrower flared drop. The thinking there being that a wider drops position is needed for descending sketchy terrain and for stabilizing the bike in looser conditions as well. The tops and hoods position can be narrower due to the narrower tops and canted in levers giving the rider an aero benefit without the aid of aero bars, which are prohibited at many gravel events. 

Imagine an updated carbon Luxy Bar with an aero/flattened tops section and maybe a bit less sweep to the extensions. Sounds like the perfect racing drop bar for gravel, right?

The good ol' Luxy Bar was perhaps just too far ahead of its time to click with the gravel riders out there, but it certainly does the things that many of the faster riders are looking for these days, it would seem to me anyway.

Friday News And Views

MicroShift "Sword" (Image courtesy of MicroShift)

MicroShift Appeals To Techno-Grouches Out There:

 MicroShift could be said to be that company that does the things that neither SRAM nor Shimano are interested in doing. For years now the company has been best known as the "alt" gear company that does those oddball bar end shifters, 8/9/10 speed derailleurs, cassettes, and now, a gravel group set. Of course they did a gravel group. 

But hold on! They did the "microshift" thing here as well and made the stuff ten speed in 1X or 2X which can be converted from 1X to 2X and back again, with a parts switch or two. Oh! And this is decidedly mechanical. No weird electronics or hydraulic fluids here!

Looking though their site, I find many of their features for this group, named "Sword", by the way, as being very "Shimano-esque". The textured hoods (GRX), the high-pivot brake levers (again - GRX), and the crank set bolt pattern, (very Shimano looking) Makes one wonder.... 

Even their front derailleur cable adjuster looks like a direct copy of Shimano's. Of course, we all know they are not copying SRAM here with anything front derailleur related! Ha ha! It's almost as if MicroShift is the secret "backwards Skunk Works" division of Shimano. But I have no clue what is really going on with the company. It's just that their stuff has a very heavy Shimano vibe. 

Ten speed...... Okay, other than tickling the retro-grouch's fancy, I am a bit in wonderment as to why they chose that format to go after. My inclination would have been that 11 speed is that level at which current riders are at where they are maybe saying, "Why do we need 12 speeds anyway?"The question about 11 speed was answered a decade ago, so going backward to 10 speeds? Okay then....

The Velo Vetta Monarch aero shoe. (Image courtesy of Velo Vetta)

Now Your Shoes Can Be Truly Aero:

It used to be that throwing on an aero-bootie cover on your shoes was enough for those times where you were time-trialing or doing a triathlon. Well, now there are areo-shoes so your bootie thingies are now out of fashion. (I guess)

Yep! These shoes are from a company called Velo Vetta and retail for about 400 bucks. The design moves the BOA type closure dial to the back end of the shoe and that bit is then fared into the shoe, kind of like a boat tail. The uppers then can be more sleek and smooth. 

I'll be waiting for the gravel version. (I'm only half joking)

California Proposes Law To License eBike Riders:

In an effort to reduce and prevent HPC/eBike deaths and injuries amongst minors, California law may soon prevent anyone under the age of 12 years to operate an electrically assisted bike and would put in place a licensing procedure for anyone using a HPC/eBike who already was not a licensed motor vehicle operator in the state. (Story here)

Comments: I've stated for years that electric motors and bicycles would eventually lead to a similar situation which moped operators found themselves in back in the 1980's. 

In those days there were no licensing requirements to operate a moped and they went about the same speeds as a Class 3 electric bicycle. Eventually enough of the youth, who were the primary users of said vehicles, were injured or killed that laws came into effect, essentially classing those motor pedelecs with motorcycles. They were subject to the same laws and licensing requirements, and then, well.....moped ceased to be a thing in the USA. 

We are on the same trajectory regarding electrically assisted bicycles and also with UTV's, which are drawing scrutiny for similar reasons in rural areas. Eventually both will be required to be licensed, insured, and classes will be required, just as with any motorized vehicle, to gain the privilege of using one of these things. 

Will that "kill" the market for those vehicles? Not likely. But it will prevent many from engaging in operations of those vehicles.

Fizik Debuts Shoe With Late 80's Vibe:

The new Vento Ferox Carbon shoe from fizik is probably the shoe Don Johnson would have worn had he ridden a bicycle on "Miami Vice" . This color scheme is totally 80's with the grid pattern, the pastel color palette, and grey soles. Honestly, I think I've worked on a few Huffys with this same color scheme and it makes me feel a bit annoyed! 

They paid attention to detail with this scheme though, I'll grant them that. Look at the toe cleat plugs. They are the same sickly-aqua/greenish-blue that the accents on the uppers are. Also - These are a perfect shoe for my pink BMC MCD bike. If they weren't 300+ bucks, and if I already didn't have like six pairs of really nice cycling shoes, I might get them just for that reason alone.

Salsa Cycles' Marketing Snafu Reveals New Name For Fat Bike:

Embargoes on information are commonplace in the bicycle business. I think I'm sitting on info for at least three embargoes right at the moment. It would have been four embargoes except for a mistake made by someone in Salsa Cycles marketing department.

Sometime mid-morning yesterday, I received an email from a reader here that was very strange. The email he forwarded me, that is, was strange. It was a typical embargoed information email I usually see from Salsa Cyles, except that the reader who sent it to me was a friend, not in the media. 

Whoops!

So, there was a bit of time which passed, as in a few hours, and then I got the email my friend got. THEN even more hours passed and another email lands in my inbox from an actual person, apologizing for the snafu, and still insisting the embargo be adhered to. Umm..... The cat's been outta the bag for half a day now. Right?

Anyway, another email went out to consumers explaining the mess and which told them briefly that there would be news about Beargrease and Heyday! (Yes, the exclamation point is part of the rebrand) Anyway, the whole thing is goofy now and well...... It's not as though these bikes are anything "new", it's paint changes, some spec news, and a new name for an old model. Which the original email consumers weren't supposed to get - but did - details specifically. (Hint: That bike in the image sent to consumers is not a Mukluk, even though it may look like one.) I'll have more details next week in this space.....

That's it for this week! Have a great weekend and ride those bicycles!

Friday News And Views

MicroShift "Sword" (Image courtesy of MicroShift)

MicroShift Appeals To Techno-Grouches Out There:

 MicroShift could be said to be that company that does the things that neither SRAM nor Shimano are interested in doing. For years now the company has been best known as the "alt" gear company that does those oddball bar end shifters, 8/9/10 speed derailleurs, cassettes, and now, a gravel group set. Of course they did a gravel group. 

But hold on! They did the "microshift" thing here as well and made the stuff ten speed in 1X or 2X which can be converted from 1X to 2X and back again, with a parts switch or two. Oh! And this is decidedly mechanical. No weird electronics or hydraulic fluids here!

Looking though their site, I find many of their features for this group, named "Sword", by the way, as being very "Shimano-esque". The textured hoods (GRX), the high-pivot brake levers (again - GRX), and the crank set bolt pattern, (very Shimano looking) Makes one wonder.... 

Even their front derailleur cable adjuster looks like a direct copy of Shimano's. Of course, we all know they are not copying SRAM here with anything front derailleur related! Ha ha! It's almost as if MicroShift is the secret "backwards Skunk Works" division of Shimano. But I have no clue what is really going on with the company. It's just that their stuff has a very heavy Shimano vibe. 

Ten speed...... Okay, other than tickling the retro-grouch's fancy, I am a bit in wonderment as to why they chose that format to go after. My inclination would have been that 11 speed is that level at which current riders are at where they are maybe saying, "Why do we need 12 speeds anyway?"The question about 11 speed was answered a decade ago, so going backward to 10 speeds? Okay then....

The Velo Vetta Monarch aero shoe. (Image courtesy of Velo Vetta)

Now Your Shoes Can Be Truly Aero:

It used to be that throwing on an aero-bootie cover on your shoes was enough for those times where you were time-trialing or doing a triathlon. Well, now there are areo-shoes so your bootie thingies are now out of fashion. (I guess)

Yep! These shoes are from a company called Velo Vetta and retail for about 400 bucks. The design moves the BOA type closure dial to the back end of the shoe and that bit is then fared into the shoe, kind of like a boat tail. The uppers then can be more sleek and smooth. 

I'll be waiting for the gravel version. (I'm only half joking)

California Proposes Law To License eBike Riders:

In an effort to reduce and prevent HPC/eBike deaths and injuries amongst minors, California law may soon prevent anyone under the age of 12 years to operate an electrically assisted bike and would put in place a licensing procedure for anyone using a HPC/eBike who already was not a licensed motor vehicle operator in the state. (Story here)

Comments: I've stated for years that electric motors and bicycles would eventually lead to a similar situation which moped operators found themselves in back in the 1980's. 

In those days there were no licensing requirements to operate a moped and they went about the same speeds as a Class 3 electric bicycle. Eventually enough of the youth, who were the primary users of said vehicles, were injured or killed that laws came into effect, essentially classing those motor pedelecs with motorcycles. They were subject to the same laws and licensing requirements, and then, well.....moped ceased to be a thing in the USA. 

We are on the same trajectory regarding electrically assisted bicycles and also with UTV's, which are drawing scrutiny for similar reasons in rural areas. Eventually both will be required to be licensed, insured, and classes will be required, just as with any motorized vehicle, to gain the privilege of using one of these things. 

Will that "kill" the market for those vehicles? Not likely. But it will prevent many from engaging in operations of those vehicles.

Fizik Debuts Shoe With Late 80's Vibe:

The new Vento Ferox Carbon shoe from fizik is probably the shoe Don Johnson would have worn had he ridden a bicycle on "Miami Vice" . This color scheme is totally 80's with the grid pattern, the pastel color palette, and grey soles. Honestly, I think I've worked on a few Huffys with this same color scheme and it makes me feel a bit annoyed! 

They paid attention to detail with this scheme though, I'll grant them that. Look at the toe cleat plugs. They are the same sickly-aqua/greenish-blue that the accents on the uppers are. Also - These are a perfect shoe for my pink BMC MCD bike. If they weren't 300+ bucks, and if I already didn't have like six pairs of really nice cycling shoes, I might get them just for that reason alone.

Salsa Cycles' Marketing Snafu Reveals New Name For Fat Bike:

Embargoes on information are commonplace in the bicycle business. I think I'm sitting on info for at least three embargoes right at the moment. It would have been four embargoes except for a mistake made by someone in Salsa Cycles marketing department.

Sometime mid-morning yesterday, I received an email from a reader here that was very strange. The email he forwarded me, that is, was strange. It was a typical embargoed information email I usually see from Salsa Cyles, except that the reader who sent it to me was a friend, not in the media. 

Whoops!

So, there was a bit of time which passed, as in a few hours, and then I got the email my friend got. THEN even more hours passed and another email lands in my inbox from an actual person, apologizing for the snafu, and still insisting the embargo be adhered to. Umm..... The cat's been outta the bag for half a day now. Right?

Anyway, another email went out to consumers explaining the mess and which told them briefly that there would be news about Beargrease and Heyday! (Yes, the exclamation point is part of the rebrand) Anyway, the whole thing is goofy now and well...... It's not as though these bikes are anything "new", it's paint changes, some spec news, and a new name for an old model. Which the original email consumers weren't supposed to get - but did - details specifically. (Hint: That bike in the image sent to consumers is not a Mukluk, even though it may look like one.) I'll have more details next week in this space.....

That's it for this week! Have a great weekend and ride those bicycles!

Friday News And Views

State Carbon All-Road. (Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co.)

State Bicycle Co. Debuts Carbon All-Road Model:

The State Bicycle Co. announced this week that they now have a carbon version of their popular All-Road model for sale. It also can be had with SRAM's latest inexpensive Apex AXS electronic shifting group. Entry-level builds with this frame start at $1999.99.

You can check out the bike here on State's website. 

Comments: Yes, it is a good value, but.... and this is my criticism of State's All-Road bikes overall: Their chosen geometry is not my recommendation for gravel riding. This is pretty much a geometry that leans into paved bicycle riding more than the unpaved. It may be totally right for you, but looking at the numbers (70mm bottom bracket drop = too high, 72.5° head tube angle in my size = way too steep) I wouldn't be at all interested in this bike. 

I want to like their bikes because they look great and they seem like a good value for the money spent, but I already know I'd regret buying one due to the geometry. Spoiled brat? Probably. I know what I like though and this is not it.

HUNT 42 Limitless Gravel Adventure Wheels Announced:

Aerodynamics and cycling over longer distances are two things that go together like peanut butter and jelly. If you can optimize airflow around you and your wheels, you will expend less energy across a longer distance event than you might have with "regular ol' wheels". 

I've been a believer in this concept for many years. I've seen what the wind can do at events like Trans Iowa, the DK200/Unbound, Gravel Worlds, and other like events. Events where there is always some wind, and long enough courses, to warrant paying close attention to aero concerns. And yes.....this matters. Even if you are going slow. 

I've also said for many years that you'd start seeing more aero wheel sets and aero stuff in general in the future. Well, these HUNT wheels are just the most recent example of what I was talking about back then. 

HUNT optimized these around a fatter gravel tire with tread, so even that old argument against aero-gravel wheels is being addressed now. I think that you'll see a LOT more of this in the future from other wheel companies to the point that this will start to look like triathlon in terms of wheel nerdery. 

Wacky Weather:

So last month was all about wildfire smoke. You couldn't even go outside without breathing in ash tray smelling air and it was super dry to boot. We basically has zero rain the entire month of June. 

July comes, the air clears up, but it rains nearly every day now. (It is raining as I write this) So, it becomes a dangerous thing to ride out in the country because we get some gnarly lightning here and well...... I don't want to be a lightning rod. I know. Crazy me. 

This has thrown a wrench in plans to do that sub-24 overnighter and that's concerning me because pretty soon it's going to be Fall and then another Summer will have gone by and I'll have not much to show for it in terms of big rides.  

The only bright spot in all of this is that I have sourced a match for my Salsa dry bag. I really don't know why I had only one, but, I had only one! But now I have a matching pair and that's good. Maybe a break in this madness will occur soon and I'll get that chance to use that dry bag without fear of being zapped by an angry thunderstorm. 

More Industry Troubles:

This week revealed several stories of bad news for the cycling industry. First up was an upscale e-bike company named VanMoof that filed for bankruptcy protection. Then news came that Quality Bicycle Products and The Pro's Closet had laid off a significant number of employees this week. 

In the case of QBP it was a 5% of the workforce reduction on top of reductions the company made previously in September of last year. Over-inventory was blamed. 

Similar concerns were voiced by the general manager of The Pro's closet. Interestingly, a YouTuber I follow, who runs a shop in Florida, showed that inventory levels were ridiculously high by pulling one example of a component group, going to a few sites, and seeing how many he could order in total before the on-line cart would cut him off. In the case of distributors he used, the total number of units on hand was easily seen via his dealer portal. In all cases he was able to show hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of unsold inventory. The example he used? SRAM's top-tier road group, Red AXS 12 speed. 

Comments: This over-abundance of inventory will affect the cycling industry for several years. New product will be put on hold and many bicycle companies will pare down new releases, have none at all, or they will be like VanMoof and file for protection from creditors. 

It's affecting the used market also. Used bikes are a hot commodity now and many buyers are simply avoiding paying retail, or even discounted retail, and going with the slew of good, late model used bikes and gear that is all over the internet. Interestingly The Pro's Closet isn't really benefiting from this glut of used product. So, all this used market activity isn't really happening through channels like that.

It's going to be rough sailing in the cycling industry for a bit.

That's a wrap for this week. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions

Friday News And Views

State Carbon All-Road. (Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co.)

State Bicycle Co. Debuts Carbon All-Road Model:

The State Bicycle Co. announced this week that they now have a carbon version of their popular All-Road model for sale. It also can be had with SRAM's latest inexpensive Apex AXS electronic shifting group. Entry-level builds with this frame start at $1999.99.

You can check out the bike here on State's website. 

Comments: Yes, it is a good value, but.... and this is my criticism of State's All-Road bikes overall: Their chosen geometry is not my recommendation for gravel riding. This is pretty much a geometry that leans into paved bicycle riding more than the unpaved. It may be totally right for you, but looking at the numbers (70mm bottom bracket drop = too high, 72.5° head tube angle in my size = way too steep) I wouldn't be at all interested in this bike. 

I want to like their bikes because they look great and they seem like a good value for the money spent, but I already know I'd regret buying one due to the geometry. Spoiled brat? Probably. I know what I like though and this is not it.

HUNT 42 Limitless Gravel Adventure Wheels Announced:

Aerodynamics and cycling over longer distances are two things that go together like peanut butter and jelly. If you can optimize airflow around you and your wheels, you will expend less energy across a longer distance event than you might have with "regular ol' wheels". 

I've been a believer in this concept for many years. I've seen what the wind can do at events like Trans Iowa, the DK200/Unbound, Gravel Worlds, and other like events. Events where there is always some wind, and long enough courses, to warrant paying close attention to aero concerns. And yes.....this matters. Even if you are going slow. 

I've also said for many years that you'd start seeing more aero wheel sets and aero stuff in general in the future. Well, these HUNT wheels are just the most recent example of what I was talking about back then. 

HUNT optimized these around a fatter gravel tire with tread, so even that old argument against aero-gravel wheels is being addressed now. I think that you'll see a LOT more of this in the future from other wheel companies to the point that this will start to look like triathlon in terms of wheel nerdery. 

Wacky Weather:

So last month was all about wildfire smoke. You couldn't even go outside without breathing in ash tray smelling air and it was super dry to boot. We basically has zero rain the entire month of June. 

July comes, the air clears up, but it rains nearly every day now. (It is raining as I write this) So, it becomes a dangerous thing to ride out in the country because we get some gnarly lightning here and well...... I don't want to be a lightning rod. I know. Crazy me. 

This has thrown a wrench in plans to do that sub-24 overnighter and that's concerning me because pretty soon it's going to be Fall and then another Summer will have gone by and I'll have not much to show for it in terms of big rides.  

The only bright spot in all of this is that I have sourced a match for my Salsa dry bag. I really don't know why I had only one, but, I had only one! But now I have a matching pair and that's good. Maybe a break in this madness will occur soon and I'll get that chance to use that dry bag without fear of being zapped by an angry thunderstorm. 

More Industry Troubles:

This week revealed several stories of bad news for the cycling industry. First up was an upscale e-bike company named VanMoof that filed for bankruptcy protection. Then news came that Quality Bicycle Products and The Pro's Closet had laid off a significant number of employees this week. 

In the case of QBP it was a 5% of the workforce reduction on top of reductions the company made previously in September of last year. Over-inventory was blamed. 

Similar concerns were voiced by the general manager of The Pro's closet. Interestingly, a YouTuber I follow, who runs a shop in Florida, showed that inventory levels were ridiculously high by pulling one example of a component group, going to a few sites, and seeing how many he could order in total before the on-line cart would cut him off. In the case of distributors he used, the total number of units on hand was easily seen via his dealer portal. In all cases he was able to show hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of unsold inventory. The example he used? SRAM's top-tier road group, Red AXS 12 speed. 

Comments: This over-abundance of inventory will affect the cycling industry for several years. New product will be put on hold and many bicycle companies will pare down new releases, have none at all, or they will be like VanMoof and file for protection from creditors. 

It's affecting the used market also. Used bikes are a hot commodity now and many buyers are simply avoiding paying retail, or even discounted retail, and going with the slew of good, late model used bikes and gear that is all over the internet. Interestingly The Pro's Closet isn't really benefiting from this glut of used product. So, all this used market activity isn't really happening through channels like that.

It's going to be rough sailing in the cycling industry for a bit.

That's a wrap for this week. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions

Friday News And Views

Gary Fisher And Trek Part Ways:

In a recent article posted on "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News", it was revealed that Trek and Gary Fisher have parted ways since March of this year. The 71 year old Mountain Bike Hall of Famer and general icon of the mountain bike and 29'er scenes, is now reportedly having fun "...being Gary Fisher". 

The article also indicates that Fisher is open to collaborating with other brands on ideas now and has spent a lot of time talking with several companies at the recently completed Eurobike show. 

Comments: I've said it before here on the blog, but I've met Gary Fisher several times before in the past. One of those times was back in the late 2000's at a press camp in Santa Cruz, California. At a special introduction for Trek product, Gary Fisher was in attendance. As we spent time in between presentations, I noted Gary bending the ears of several of the Trek engineers and product managers in attendance. One of them, who managed to break away from Gary's banter, mentioned to me that Gary was well known to the engineering department for having many great ideas. So many, in fact, that the engineer told me it was overwhelming and made him weary. 

So, at 71 I do believe that Gary Fisher still has something left to do in the cycling industry, or, as he indicated in the linked article, in the field of advocacy. I would not at all be surprised to find Gary's name on some future cycling product either. 

Finally, I am still baffled that Trek squandered the equity they had in the Gary Fisher bicycle brand. In 2010, they folded the brand into Trek, naming some of their models as being in the "Gary Fisher Collection", which now has been phased out of existence as well. How a brand like Gary Fisher is excluded from being a part of mountain biking in some form is a crime. I suppose one could say that about Klein as well, while Le Mond lives on separately and Bontrager is a well known accessory and component brand. C'mon Trek! This is more than a missed opportunity, it is criminal. 

A 3D printed bicycle frame in Aluminum. Image by Gary Fisher

3D Aluminum Printed Frame By Canyon & More Eurobike Interesting Things:

 I figured something was up with Gary Fisher as he was posting images from Eurobike like a madman, which he did not used to do when he was with Trek. (Probably not allowed to) Anyway, Gary posted this weird canyon 3D printed Aluminum frame which was shown at Eurobike. 

It totally reminded me of the fringe aisles at Interbike, (or better yet, the old basement floor vendors in the Sands Convention Center) where you could often see ideas that were interesting. Sometimes these ideas were better off unseen, but the Canyon bike seems to have its redeeming qualities. As an exercise to see what you could do, it may result in some interesting products down the road. 

There wasn't much of interest in terms of innovation coming out of this show, and that may be due to the supply chain pressures most industry companies face. Why show new things when you cannot even get the current stuff out? But there were a few other interesting bits I saw online.

• FSA 12spd Electronic Shifting Group: It is a new generation of FSA's electronically shifted drive train. Oh? You didn't already know that FSA has an electronic drive train option out? Exactly.....
• Classified Expands Brands That Make Their Rear Hub/Wheel System: I've talked about the Classified rear hub here before. I didn't think it would get anywhere without more widespread industry support. Now they number seven brands that will have their wheel/hub system available including FSA, DT Swiss, and Spinergy. This will go a long way toward reaching that goal. However; you still will have the inefficiencies of a 1X chain line and proprietary cassettes. 
• Scope Cycling Atmoz Air Pressure Changing System: Recently used at Paris-Roubaix, the new hub mounted system from Scope Cycling has wireless controls for up or down pressure on the handle bars and the actual air pressure read-out can be displayed on most Bluetooth compatible GPS computers. This might have legs for Pro level gravel racing. Bears watching......

Ridley Kanzo Fast with aero Apidura frame bags. Image courtesy of Ridley

Aero Gravel: Get Ready, Here It Comes:

 Aero Gravel- I've said it was a thing for years, and I was scoffed at, made fun of, and dismissed. People said that Gravel™ doesn't need "aero". "It'll ruin everything", they said. 

But take a look at what is happening now in the field of gravel racing. (Note- This is quite different from Gravel Riding, which is what most of us do) Gravel events are quickly being pushed into the divisions of "Pro" and "Everything Else" categories when it comes to events. I doubt I'll see a whole lot of "aero-gravel" stuff at most events I attend in the future, but now you may have that "wannabee" dude that shows up with something like this Ridley Kanzo Fast decked out with aero bags from Apidura. 

Will stuff like this "ruin" gravel riding? No. It's the people that do that. 

So, I don't have a problem with aero stuff being employed in the gravel scene. If it makes sense, who am I to argue with the math and science stuff behind it? I've tried a few aero things on gravel, and I am here for it. It seems to make things a bit less hard. I like that. And if someone shows up with a slick, aero set up, and is cool with everyone and whatnot, well, I'm not going to say that "aero stuff ruined Gravel™".

But if I see someone come to a gravel event, look down their nose at my mostly inefficient rig while they walk by with an aero gravel bike acting like they are all that and a bag-o-chips? That's where Gravel™ loses. That's when the scene becomes just another ego-boosting, exasperating scene like XC MTB was in the 90's and road racing was for most of the last three decades. 

Remember, it isn't about the equipment. It's about the People. And when the People quit being cool, then the Scene will Die. 

UCI Gravel Series Not Making Much Noise:

I'm not sure how it is going elsewhere in the World, but as far as coverage of chit-chat about the inaugural UCI gravel series goes, it is pretty minimal. 

Obviously this months events in that series go up against the Tour de France, and well.... You aren't going to get much coverage, if any, during this month in traditional cycling media unless you are connected to that titan of cycling events. So, recently this is no surprise. 

But even in previous months, this tour hasn't gotten the coverage I thought it might from traditional cycling media. Maybe it will take some time to catch on, or perhaps this will fade away and not have much impact. 

"Gravel" cycling in its competitive form still seems to be mostly a North American thing, even though there are Italian and other European based gravel events that get some nods here. Still, it would seem that the focus is on traditional road race competitions and the rising women's Pro scene has a lot to do with that, I think. We'll see, but for now, the whole UCI/USAC getting into gravel doesn't seem to be having the effects that many in the gravel riding scene thought it might.

That's it for this week! Have a fantastic weekend, stay cool if you can, and get out and ride. Good luck and good riding to anyone doing RAGBRAI next week!

Friday News And Views

Gary Fisher And Trek Part Ways:

In a recent article posted on "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News", it was revealed that Trek and Gary Fisher have parted ways since March of this year. The 71 year old Mountain Bike Hall of Famer and general icon of the mountain bike and 29'er scenes, is now reportedly having fun "...being Gary Fisher". 

The article also indicates that Fisher is open to collaborating with other brands on ideas now and has spent a lot of time talking with several companies at the recently completed Eurobike show. 

Comments: I've said it before here on the blog, but I've met Gary Fisher several times before in the past. One of those times was back in the late 2000's at a press camp in Santa Cruz, California. At a special introduction for Trek product, Gary Fisher was in attendance. As we spent time in between presentations, I noted Gary bending the ears of several of the Trek engineers and product managers in attendance. One of them, who managed to break away from Gary's banter, mentioned to me that Gary was well known to the engineering department for having many great ideas. So many, in fact, that the engineer told me it was overwhelming and made him weary. 

So, at 71 I do believe that Gary Fisher still has something left to do in the cycling industry, or, as he indicated in the linked article, in the field of advocacy. I would not at all be surprised to find Gary's name on some future cycling product either. 

Finally, I am still baffled that Trek squandered the equity they had in the Gary Fisher bicycle brand. In 2010, they folded the brand into Trek, naming some of their models as being in the "Gary Fisher Collection", which now has been phased out of existence as well. How a brand like Gary Fisher is excluded from being a part of mountain biking in some form is a crime. I suppose one could say that about Klein as well, while Le Mond lives on separately and Bontrager is a well known accessory and component brand. C'mon Trek! This is more than a missed opportunity, it is criminal. 

A 3D printed bicycle frame in Aluminum. Image by Gary Fisher

3D Aluminum Printed Frame By Canyon & More Eurobike Interesting Things:

 I figured something was up with Gary Fisher as he was posting images from Eurobike like a madman, which he did not used to do when he was with Trek. (Probably not allowed to) Anyway, Gary posted this weird canyon 3D printed Aluminum frame which was shown at Eurobike. 

It totally reminded me of the fringe aisles at Interbike, (or better yet, the old basement floor vendors in the Sands Convention Center) where you could often see ideas that were interesting. Sometimes these ideas were better off unseen, but the Canyon bike seems to have its redeeming qualities. As an exercise to see what you could do, it may result in some interesting products down the road. 

There wasn't much of interest in terms of innovation coming out of this show, and that may be due to the supply chain pressures most industry companies face. Why show new things when you cannot even get the current stuff out? But there were a few other interesting bits I saw online.

• FSA 12spd Electronic Shifting Group: It is a new generation of FSA's electronically shifted drive train. Oh? You didn't already know that FSA has an electronic drive train option out? Exactly.....
• Classified Expands Brands That Make Their Rear Hub/Wheel System: I've talked about the Classified rear hub here before. I didn't think it would get anywhere without more widespread industry support. Now they number seven brands that will have their wheel/hub system available including FSA, DT Swiss, and Spinergy. This will go a long way toward reaching that goal. However; you still will have the inefficiencies of a 1X chain line and proprietary cassettes. 
• Scope Cycling Atmoz Air Pressure Changing System: Recently used at Paris-Roubaix, the new hub mounted system from Scope Cycling has wireless controls for up or down pressure on the handle bars and the actual air pressure read-out can be displayed on most Bluetooth compatible GPS computers. This might have legs for Pro level gravel racing. Bears watching......

Ridley Kanzo Fast with aero Apidura frame bags. Image courtesy of Ridley

Aero Gravel: Get Ready, Here It Comes:

 Aero Gravel- I've said it was a thing for years, and I was scoffed at, made fun of, and dismissed. People said that Gravel™ doesn't need "aero". "It'll ruin everything", they said. 

But take a look at what is happening now in the field of gravel racing. (Note- This is quite different from Gravel Riding, which is what most of us do) Gravel events are quickly being pushed into the divisions of "Pro" and "Everything Else" categories when it comes to events. I doubt I'll see a whole lot of "aero-gravel" stuff at most events I attend in the future, but now you may have that "wannabee" dude that shows up with something like this Ridley Kanzo Fast decked out with aero bags from Apidura. 

Will stuff like this "ruin" gravel riding? No. It's the people that do that. 

So, I don't have a problem with aero stuff being employed in the gravel scene. If it makes sense, who am I to argue with the math and science stuff behind it? I've tried a few aero things on gravel, and I am here for it. It seems to make things a bit less hard. I like that. And if someone shows up with a slick, aero set up, and is cool with everyone and whatnot, well, I'm not going to say that "aero stuff ruined Gravel™".

But if I see someone come to a gravel event, look down their nose at my mostly inefficient rig while they walk by with an aero gravel bike acting like they are all that and a bag-o-chips? That's where Gravel™ loses. That's when the scene becomes just another ego-boosting, exasperating scene like XC MTB was in the 90's and road racing was for most of the last three decades. 

Remember, it isn't about the equipment. It's about the People. And when the People quit being cool, then the Scene will Die. 

UCI Gravel Series Not Making Much Noise:

I'm not sure how it is going elsewhere in the World, but as far as coverage of chit-chat about the inaugural UCI gravel series goes, it is pretty minimal. 

Obviously this months events in that series go up against the Tour de France, and well.... You aren't going to get much coverage, if any, during this month in traditional cycling media unless you are connected to that titan of cycling events. So, recently this is no surprise. 

But even in previous months, this tour hasn't gotten the coverage I thought it might from traditional cycling media. Maybe it will take some time to catch on, or perhaps this will fade away and not have much impact. 

"Gravel" cycling in its competitive form still seems to be mostly a North American thing, even though there are Italian and other European based gravel events that get some nods here. Still, it would seem that the focus is on traditional road race competitions and the rising women's Pro scene has a lot to do with that, I think. We'll see, but for now, the whole UCI/USAC getting into gravel doesn't seem to be having the effects that many in the gravel riding scene thought it might.

That's it for this week! Have a fantastic weekend, stay cool if you can, and get out and ride. Good luck and good riding to anyone doing RAGBRAI next week!

Friday News And Views

$800-plus bucks to save two watts? What?!

A Brief Look At What Has Been Done Before:

Last week you all probably saw this ridiculous rear derailleur cage from Ceramic Speed which has aero covers and is supposedly good for a two watt savings over something like 25 miles. Give or take. 

I know, it was probably one of the better click-bait things for many sites and it probably got a lot of tongues wagging about , "How stupid is that?!". 

I dunno..... Probably so 'stupid' that they'll sell every one of them that they make 'stupid', that's how stupid that is, most likely. 

If you believe it, it will work, most likely, and you'll pay that price for "speed". Seems to be the thing with cyclists for as long as I've been paying attention. (See the dropper post thing below)

The thing I saw when I noted that derailleur cage last week was that it wasn't the first attempt at making a rear derailleur more aero. Heck, some of you older folks probably remember the aero-rear derailleurs from Campy, Sun Tour, and others back in the 80's. Well, I thought about one effort to make components aero that was pretty involved and fell flat on its face. It was the Shimano Dura-Ace AX Series components. 

Shimano Dura Ace AX rear derailleur

The Dura Ace AX stuff was pretty radical back then. The brakes, the derailleurs, and even cable routing was considered and made to cut through the wind more smoothly. 

I cobbed a couple images for this segment from the 'innergoogles', and to the left here you can see how the upper jockey wheel is shrouded, but note that cable routing! No cable hanging out in the wind here! Due to the way derailleurs were made back then, the upper jockey wheel was deemed to be more important in an aero application than the lower one. See how all the derailleur edges are smoothed out too. 

Part of the reason Dura Ace AX fell flat with riders was its use of the new, at that time 10mm chain pitch called Dura Ace 10. Normal chains, in a metric measure, are 12.7mm in "pitch", which determines the distance between chain pins and cog teeth. If you want to take a deeper dive on why Shimano thought a 10mm chain pitch was better, read this. 

Anyway, I thought it might prove to be interesting to point out that these sorts of ideas have cropped up in cycling's past and that this Ceramic Speed idea is just a modern-day riffing on those old ideas.

Shimano's new 105 Di2 group. (Image courtesy of Shimano)

New Shimano 105 Di2: It has been years since people wondered if Shimano would ever 'trickle-down' a Di2 105 level electronic group, and finally, the day is here. It happened this week, and what might be a big surprise to many, it isn't an older, 11 speed group, or a watered down version. Nope! Shimano went all-in and equipped the new 105 Di2 with the latest in Di2 technology and made it 12 speed! You've no doubt read all about it already, so on to the....

Comments: SRAM made inroads on the market with their lower priced AXS Rival stuff, and while their system is ballyhooed for its completely wireless set up, that can be a bit of a 'drag' in terms of shifting speed. Shimano went wireless where it meant the most- in the levers, and stuck with a wired derailleur system because they did not want to compromise the speed and efficiency of their already world-class Di2. And it seems many Pro cyclists and enthusiasts agree. However; to get in on Shimano Di2, you had to spend a pretty penny because it started at the Ultegra level. 

Now with Shimano 105 Di2, he prices are far lower, and in many individual component cases, less than SRAM Rival AXS. There is one area, however, where SRAM still holds a bit of an advantage and that is in the extended range that SRAM AXS Xplor has. 

But you have to assume that GRX, being held out as a separate category by Shimano, (Gravel, vs MTB or Road), will soon see a similar update, and when it does, I assume we will see a similar 12 speed set up with wide-range casettes to go along with that. Interestingly, Shimano chose to make Di2 105 backwards compatible with HyperGlide 11, 10, and some earlier free hub bodies. Will GRX stay that course, or will the 12 speed be MicroSpline, as it is with their MTB stuff?

My feeling is that Shimano sees GRX being more closely related to road bike componentry and therefor they will stick to the course set by Di2 DuraAce, Ultegra, and 105, in my opinion. Or.....Di2 105 is being stuck with the "old" free hub and newer road and GRX stuff will be MicroSpline. I can see it going either way. 

The bad thing here is that this may signal the end of high-end, mechanically operated drive trains. Now I mean from SRAM and Shimano. I think you'll always have stuff like Microshift around doing whatever the 'big guys' are not doing.  But there was no traditional 105 announced with this, so..... Makes one think.

SILCA's "The Truth" tire pressure gauge. (Image courtesy of SILCA)

You Can't Handle The "Truth"!:

Well, you can pre-order it for about $249.00 though! What am I talking about? This thing that SILCA has made for Pro and insider's use only for many years, that's what. 

Almost $250.00 for a tire pressure gauge? Yep! If getting every last bit of performance out of your tires is of paramount importance to you, this gauge will help you get that. 

I know.....I know... You squeeze your tires using that highly calibrated 'hand gauge' you've always used and head on out the door. Yeah, well- this ain't fer you. Racers, time-trialists, fat bikers, and anyone that wants to hit the 'sweet spot' on pressure every time they ride, this is for you. Yes- it is expensive. I'd counter that with the history of SILCA so far in the USA being one that has shown that it provides some pretty high-end, reliable tools and kit. Listen- The Pros wouldn't have been using this if it didn't hold up and do a good job.

I mean, this gauge compensates for temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity. That's more than I can say about myself, right there. If only I could compensate for humidity....... I know one thing I am going to compensate for, and that is using another type of gauge I can afford, (or already have) to compensate for the waaaay expensive SILCA gauge. That's what I am doing....

The "G Series" Dropper Post (Image courtesy of Enve)

Don't Stop Till You Dropper: 

Or something like that..... Anyway! The dropper post for gravel riding, or heck, even just road riding. I think it is a vastly underrated and misunderstood thing. Most, even Enve and others that promote the use of such lowering devices for gravel, think they exist to get you down a sketchy segment. Well.....yeah, but....

Aerodynamics. That's why you should be using a dropper post on a gravel bike. The rest of that nonsense is gravy. Dropping your tush on a long descent via the use of a dropper will make you leave your friends in your dusty contrail. That's if you just sit there and coast! 

 Don't believe me? Well, you go try it and get back to me afterward. I don't "think" you'll agree- I know you will. It's a thing. Better than a derailleur cage cover.....pffft!

So, Enve has seen that from a more MTB perspective, and totally missed the boat on the best reason to use one of these, but whatever. They will catch on someday. The point here is that Enve has developed an "upside down" dropper for a bicycle. They call it the "G Series Dropper Post".

You can read why they did what they did here. I think it is an intriguing way to do this idea. It allows for saddle bags, for one thing, and it seems that this design may indeed do what Enve claims in terms of keeping the muck out and the durability high for the internals. 

Yes- it also is quite expensive. But it weighs less than 400 grams, which in dropper post terms is ultra-light weight. So, you do not pay much of a weight penalty here, and once again: Aero! Free Speed! And an additional note. I thought this was a unique design, but as it turns out, DT Swiss makes one like it. It's even more expensive!

 That's all for this week. Have a safe, fun, and happy 4th of July weekend (If you live in the USA), and if you don't celebrate that, have a great weekend anyway and get out and ride! Thanks- as always- for reading Guitar Ted Productions!