Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Corima

Corima Shows New Gravel Racing Wheel Set:

Spring cycle shows are not limited to Sea Otter. Recently Cycling World Europe showed consumers and media new wares for sale. One of those being a new wheel set from Corima. Perhaps more well known here in the States for track racing, Corima has been involved in carbon fiber wheel construction for quite some time now. Their newest wheel set is for gravel racing and is called the 50G. 

As indicated by the name, this wheel set has a 50mm deep, aero profile with a 27mm inner rim width which Corima advises is best for 35mm to 60mm wide 700c diameter tires. *Why do Euro brands insist on calling these 28" wheels? Weird)

With hookless rim sidewalls the maximum pressure allowed for 35mm tires is 58psi. Wheel weight for the pair is claimed to be 1,550 grams. The price is approximately $1,850.00 USD. 

Comments: Corima claims gravel racing is getting "smoother, faster, and more competitive". So......more like road racing? Got it. 

Look for more aero stuff to be released soon. I feel as though the lack of unpaved routes outside of the USA and particularly in Europe is going to drive design closer to road racing in one sense. Although plenty of bikes seem to have been shown at Cycling World Europe to give one some hope that this is not going to be totally the case there across the pond. 

Image courtesy of social media

The 32" Watch: Taipei Bike Show 2026:

This week the Taipei Bike Show is wrapping up and several sightings of 32" wheeled product were noted. I won't cover everything in detail here, but I will note a few things I was struck by after seeing what was shown and hearing what attendees had to say about 32"ers. 

First of all, 32"ers are not going to be just a flash in the pan. This category is getting the full Original Equipment treatment. This was evident in offerings in suspension forks from the likes of Sun Tour, Xfusion and a few other mid-level and entry level suspension fork companies. 

This would indicate there are big-brand commitments to offer entry level to mid-tier offerings in the XC hardtail marketplace. Bikes like Rockhoppers and Marlins, as an example. I would think there would be a three-stage sizing scheme where some brand, (Trek?) will offer 27.5 as XS and Small sizes, 29"er at Medium and Large, and 32"ers at Large/XL/XXL. 

Tires: There weren't any big name brand tires dropped but I heard specifically from a video watched that Vittoria's Peyote 32"er is "in development" and "other brands are working on this" size tire. On bike was shown with a 32"er Schwalbe Rick Race XC tire. Forks: With no big name brand forks or tires being introduced/shown, at least publicly, it would indicate to me that IF there are to be Rock Shox/Fox/Marzocchi 32"er forks they would likely be 2027 product and maybe  we'll see some sneak peeks at Sea Otter. 

No talk or sightings of any gravel related product, but..... I think Sea Otter will be interesting. 

Industry chatter from the embedded folks at Taipei Cycle Show seem to indicate a sort of indifference to almost a disappointment in the development of 32"ers. But as I recall, acceptance of the 29"er concept was pretty cool from within the industry as well. Even as far as brands like Specialized, Giant, and Yeti saying 'they would never make a 29"er' and coming up with derogatory terms for the wheel size. Negativity for 32"ers may not be at this level, but we've heard this story before. 

Listener Comments & Questions Episode:

The latest Guitar Ted Podcast just dropped. In this episode we answer a bunch of listener sent questions which cover bike geometry, tires for cornering on gravel, and more.

Give it a listen by finding the Guitar Ted Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or check it out on the Spotify homepage HERE. 

We had a lot of fun fielding these questions and we would like to continue to offer our listeners the chance to ask questions which we will answer in future episodes of "Listener Questions & Comments". 

Just send in any question about cycling, gravel riding, or whatever related cycling question you may have to g.ted.productions@gmail.com. Then listen to the next LQC episode and hear N.Y. Roll and I riff on your questions, comments, or whatever you have on your mind you'd like to hear us chat about.  

Thanks for checking out the podcast! 

The Adventure Monkey Returns:

Years ago a bicycle rider and photographer, Eric Benjamin, was instrumental in popularizing gravel riding.  He started off with his blog and then moved to a proper "dot-com" later on. His site included stories, trip reports, and of course, his stunning imagery from his adventures. 

Eric then had a health scare and kind of dropped out of cycling for several years. But now he is back, and he has jump-started his old site as well. 

You can read about his journey HERE.  It's an open, honest, raw look at what Eric has gone through. Plus you will get a sense of what it was that drew many of us toward riding gravel back in the 2000's. Well worth your time to read. 

I'm linking Eric's Adventure Monkey blog to the right sidebar here so when he posts new material it will show up there. Make sure you check it out and support him as you can.  

Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth Components

Wolf Tooth Components Introduces "Mark0" Component Line:

Wolf Tooth Components has just announced a high-end range of race-oriented, tweaked components which they are calling "Mark0". (MK0 for short) 

Identified by their Shadow Gray anodized surfaces, these components are optimized by Wolf Tooth for the highest performance and lightest weight possible. 

Wolf Tooth's press release says: "Design detail examples include ceramic bearings, DLC-coated titanium hardware, and finely-detailed machine profiles to shave every possible gram in pursuit of speed."

You can check out all the MK0 components HERE.  

 Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Go ride those bikes today!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Mavic

Mavic Introduces New AllRoad Wheelset In Carbon

The news about a carbon rimmed Mavic wheel set for gravel was released last Monday. Called the ALLROAD SL Carbon, this wheel set has a 25mm internal rim width and a 42mm deep rim profile. Featuring 24 aero, double butted spokes with a 2X lacing pattern on aluminum Mavic hubs, this wheel set weighs a claimed 1,550 grams. 

The rims feature a hookless design. They are built to Mavic's UST dimensions. Mavic claims these rims are compatible with tire widths from 30mm - 64mm in width. (64mm is approximately equivalent to a 2.5" wide tire)

The hubs are 100mm/142mm through axle front/rear.. The wheels can be ordered with a SRAM XDR or Shimano HG freehub. The wheel set retails for $1,889.00USD. 

Comments: This is a difficult wheel set to make sense out of for myself. I've no issues with much of the specifications, and Mavic makes a fine product. However; hookless design - as stated here before - seems like an unnecessary feature which has shown risks in usage. Then you have the price. It seems a bit dear when you can pick up similar wheels for less or spend about the same and get lighter wheels. (Based upon research done on offerings by Specialized/Roval and Trek/Bontrager)

Original image courtesy of Gary Fisher

So, What About This 32"er Nonsense?

I've been curious about all the 32" wheel news coming out and I've not seen any real, rational takes on this wheel size until recently. And I was not surprised to find the source for this clear-minded take. It was from Mike Curiak, of course. 

Mike is perhaps the quintessential "thinkerer" when it comes to bicycle tech and especially design and tech outside of current thinking. 32 inch wheels certainly qualifies as such a thing.  Mike, unsurprisingly, has been testing 32" wheels on a Lenz full suspension bike.   

If you have any curiosity for this subject, you might want to head on over to Mike's blog and check it out HERE.  

In other 32"er news, Zinn Cycles is showing a 32" full suspension mountain bike designed for taller folks. Zinn has been in the business of making bicycles and components for taller folks for quite some time, so this comes as no surprise. Many would probably guess that 32"ers would most likely work best for people over 6 foot in height. 

However; it is also interesting to note Mike Curiak is right around six feet, and he rides a Medium sized bike. So, reading what he had to say maybe will change your mind if you are one to think this 32 inch nonsense is only for taller riders. I know I am rethinking this a bit.  

Image courtesy of SILCA

SILCA Offers TPU Tubes:

News came out on Tuesday from SILCA on their newest product. They now offer TPU tubes which feature mechanically connected, threaded aluminum valve stems with a traditional Presta Valve nut to affix the stem to a rim more securely. (Or you can leave the nut off, it is an option.)

SILCA is sourcing these TPU tubes from Germany and they are made from dye-free TPU material. The site for the tubes on SILCA's page does not indicate whether or not the valve core is removable. 

SILCA offers two sizes in these TPU tubes with ranges of 24mm - 43mm. or 44mm - 64mm for tire width. The narrower tubes come in either a 50mm or 70mm length valve stem. The wider TPU tube only comes in a 50mm long valve. Each tube comes with an alcohol wipe and TPU patch. Tubes sell for $39.00 each USD. 

Comments: I like the valve stem design except for the core. SILCA doesn't say if it is removable or no, but looking at their image on the TPU page, I'd guess it is not removable. This isn't a deal-breaker, but as long as you are doing an aluminum valve there seems to be no reason not to offer a removable core. 

These are still kind of pricey, but as a reliable back-up for a tubeless set up, carrying around a tube which weighs far less than 100 grams seems pretty appealing. If you have bought into TPU tubes, this offering seems better than much of what the competition is offering mainly based upon the valve stem design. 

 Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth Components

Wolf Tooth Components Pedals:

Last week this news came out, but it was too late to make the FN&V.  But we did talk about these on the latest "Guitar Ted Podcast". Wolf Tooth has a three pedal range called "CTRL", "ALT", and "DEL", which represent computer keyboard keys. In Wolf Tooth's pedal line, "CTRL" is their trail pedal. "ALT" is their take on a standard SPD pedal. Finally, "DEL" is a stripped back clipless pedal with one side entry and the lightest weight of the range at just a bit over 200 grams a pair. 

All three are machined and assembled in Wolf Tooth's facility in Minnesota. The range also all cost the same at $219.00 USD each. The pedals all can be ordered in black or purple.  Wolf Tooth claims the range provides the rider with a better pedaling platform and a closer shoe-to-pedal interface than the competition.  Finally, the "Q" factor of these pedals is adjustable. 

Comments: N.Y. Roll ordered the ALT (Actually it is the DEL he ordered) model for his girlfriend, Morgan. Hopefully I can get a ride report once she has used them a bit. Of all the various SPD-clone type pedals in existence, the Wolf Tooth offerings do promise a little something different. Now it will all hinge upon whether or not these can have a reasonable lifespan in comparison to Shimano SPD pedals which are nearly bombproof.  

That is a wrap for this week! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions and get out there and ride those bicycles! 

Friday News And Views

S-Phyre SH-RX910 (Image Courtesy of Shimano)

Shimano Offers New Range-Topping Gravel Racing Shoe:

Shimano quietly introduced a new range-topping gravel racing shoe this past week called the S-Phyre RX910. S-Phyre is typically reserved for all-out racing performance footwear in Shimano's nomenclature. 

Shimano gave the RX910 a slightly curved sole for better walk-ability.  Enhancing pedal stability was done by adding Shimano's "pontoon" plate under the cleats which features two rubber stabilizers adjacent to the cleat pocket. These stabilizers contact the SPD pedal body to give riders a better platform for pedaling. These also enhance off the bike walk-ability. 

The RX910's have a TPU upper, two drain holes in the soles to allow for faster drying of feet in case of wet weather, or water crossings, and on-the-fly adjustable BOA closures. The new SH-RX910 S-Phyre gravel shoes come in White, Black, Deep Sea Blue, and Blue. The RX910 has a suggested retail price of $480.00 USD. 

The Guitar Ted Podcast Episode #86:

A new episode just dropped this week where N.Y. Roll and I discuss the new Trek Checkpoint, new Surly Straggler, and that new, upcoming Salsa Cycles FS drop bar bike which should debut in a month. 

You can check out the Guitar Ted Podcast on most any podcast platform, or find the latest episode HERE on the Spotify page for the show.  

 I had a thought, which I expressed on this episode, which was about this new drop bar FS Salsa rig. I was wondering, "Is this going to be the Cutthroat FS?" 

If the image is true to the bike in the teaser, it is pretty plain to see this bike is no gravel bike. There is a decent amount of travel, a high bottom bracket, and beefy looking tires there. A bikepacking FS rig in carbon? To me this makes sense if it is a FS Cutthroat, but Salsa has probably decided upon some other name for this bike. 

We only have to wait one more month to find out.... 

Found On Ratio Tech's social media

Ratio Technology To Introduce T-Style Rear Mech:

There are many stories out now concerning Ratio Technology and their development of a T-Style mount rear derailleur. Ratio Technology already offers kits to convert SRAM components to have more speeds, or to be compatible with wide-range, 1X cassettes and drop bar levers.  

Digging a little further it appears as though this rear derailleur will also be compatible with regular hangars by removing the direct, co-axial mount and swapped out for a bit which will make the rear derailleur mount like traditional rear mechs. 

I also read on another post where this rear derailleur will be compatible with several drive train formats, making this perhaps the most versatile rear derailleur in existence. As long as you are pulling a cable, that is! 

There is even a hint of this thing being made in a silver color. That would be pretty radical! I'll be keeping my eye out for more about this system and I may get some Ratio bits in for testing for next season.  

From the GCHoF social media post

Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Seeks Nominations:

The Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame soft-launched their window for nominations on October 1st. This will be open until November 30th according to a social media post put out by the GCHoF. 

The GCHoF does their nominations by a democratic process wherein anyone can send in a nomination with the following guidelines: 

"Your submission should clearly describe the nominee’s achievements and contributions, including specific examples such as events they have organized, races they have competed in, advocacy work, or initiatives that have helped grow and shape the gravel cycling community. "

Nominations must be at least 200 words long and up to 600 words in length, according to the GCHoF site. Click the link above for more details. 

Comments: It is no secret that (a) I am in the GCHoF, (b) that I have criticized their nomination process in the past, and (c) there is a glaring omission amongst the inductees. I will continue to hold my positions on these points until something changes to help me understand why certain alternatives are not explored for nominations. The way they do things now is a recipe for inclusion of folks at the exclusion of some who should be in the GCHoF from a historical and influential background. The Board knows my position, they know how I would like to see this handled, and this is all that matters. They can decide how this goes from this point on. 

But unless things change I don't see how there is any possibility for several seminal, pioneering gravel folks to ever see inclusion. It will become a "who's who" of gravel racers and promoters from the last ten years and forward. And I will leave it at this...... That is a sad state of affairs. 

Image courtesy of Canyon Bikes

Canyon Enters Wheel Market With Carbon Gravel Wheel Set:

Canyon, the direct-to-consumer brand, has just announced a new gravel wheel set. This complete wheel set will feature DT Swiss Spline 350 hubs, hookless rim design, and a 30mm deep rim profile. Boasting a 27mm internal rim width, these wheels will be good for the wider tire trend sweeping the racing fields at gravel events these days. 

The Canyon wheels, called the GR 30, will retail for around 1K here in the States but list for 899 Euros on Canyon's site HERE. Total weight for the set is claimed to be 1,600 grams by Canyon. 

Comments: You know Gravel™ is the hot ticket when a brand starts out by rolling out a new product and does so in the Gravel™ category first. This was my first impression. 

Secondly, these are not all that lightweight. There are alloy rimmed wheels which match this weight, so I'm not all that impressed by these wheels. Besides this, the entire hookless thing has me spooked and I'm not buying into the design. I just don't see why we need this and I'd rather stick with proven technology if the benefit is negligible or cancelled out by failures, which have been reported with hookless bead wheel sets. Finally, not all tires are hookless compatible, but all tires can be used with hooked design rims. I know which I'd rather be using. 

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

Atomik/BERD Wheels: Long Term Review

NOTE: Back in 2020 I received a set of Atomik/BERD wheels for test and review while I was writing for Riding Gravel. I did not pay for these wheels and was allowed to keep them after the review period. Since then I have seen a little interest in the wheels due to my mention of them during my recent WTB tire reviews. I thought it would be good to give everyone a long-term review of the wheels and talk a little more about the technical aspects behind the BERD spokes, which you might not be familiar with.  

Atomik and BERD have no idea I am writing this, they have no influence on what I am saying in this article, and all opinions are mine. I will be quoting liberally from my previous writings on these wheels. Some of the material will be new views since 2020. Let's dig in.....

Obviously the 'star' of this show is the BERD spoke. BERD spokes are not made from metal. In fact, if I were to show one not under tension it might look to you like a rope or braided thread. (See image below)  It would be limp and pliable. Not what you might think of for a good spoke! Here's what BERD has to say from their site:

"Berd spokes are made with Dyneema® (also known as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). Dyneema® has 15 times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel and floats on water. Berd spokes have an improved fatigue life over steel and are impervious to the elements. This is what makes Berd spokes the lightest, strongest, and most durable spokes ever invented."

Well, now what do you think? Pretty impressive! But how do you make this stuff into a spoke and then lace it into a wheel? That's a special skill set. BERD trains wheel builders to use their spokes and how to tension a wheel set using them to provide long-term results. So, not just anyone can do this, but more wheel builders are getting certified as BERD wheel builders all the time, so these are not rare anymore. For any technical questions on BERD spokes, click that link above and read all their data and FAQ. I'll just say here that the claims and tech data is VERY impressive and I have no qualms whatsoever about riding these wheels. 

One of those claims is that BERD spokes can reduce vibrations to the rider by up to 200%. Whoa! That sounds too good to be true, and I was super suspicious of that upon first reading the claim. Here is what I wrote in November of 2020 about my feelings on this after riding the wheels for several months:

" The Atomik/Berd Ultimate wheels do damp vibrations. Is it 200% better? That’s the big question. I have to say that over a standard type of through axle wheel, such as the all aluminum construction with steel spoked Shimano GRX wheels, yes- The Atomik/Berd Ultimate wheels are definitely approaching a massive amount of wheel vibration reduction here. Compared to a stiff carbon wheel though, the sensation of vibration reduction, while still there, is not as great. "

Image courtesy of BERD.

 So, "it depends", is the actual answer. The point is, however, that the BERD spokes will definitely be noticeably nicer riding wheels, and will always be better in that regard compared with anything else. One unique quality in the Atomik/BERD wheels I noted, and one BERD doesn't even mention, is how the wheels feel "softer" over certain ruts and depressions in the roadway. Here again is what I wrote back in 2020 concerning this:

" I also noted how this wheel set was capable of smoothing out dips and depressions, transitions from pavement to gravel, or lumpy chip sealed roads. There is a vertical compliance component to these wheels which is remarkable. But that isn’t to say that the Atomik/Berd Ultimate wheels have anything approaching a bump damping/absorbing characteristic because anything sharper edged, like a rail road crossing, or a pot hole, is still going to zing you a bit. Quick, sharp hits are still going to be an issue. "

So when I was first riding the Vulpine S tires I was feeling this "smoothing effect" and forgetting that it was the BERD spokes and it was not the tires. Coupled with the notable vibration reductions and you can see how maybe a wheel set like this is not a good platform for tire reviews! My bad!

Over The Long Haul:

Now four years down the line I can say that the Atomik/BERD wheel set has been no problem at all and if it weren't for how light they are (1400 grams for the pair with 28 spokes each) and how nicely they ride, I wouldn't have anything to report. I did 'de-sticker' them, as I did not care for the "billboard" decals, but otherwise they are unmodified and I have not lifted a finger to maintain these other than cleaning and using new rim tape now and again. So, they are pretty reliable spokes and the Industry 9 hubs have been perfect so far. 

Are they worth the money? Well, BERD spokes are not cheap. At eight bucks a shot times 56 holes to fill that's $448.00 just in spokes alone! Add in carbon rims, a set of Industry 9 hubs, and labor, and you can see how the price for these wheels adds up in a hurry. 

The Noble GX5 bike with the Atomik/BERD wheels

 But here's where I would point to my Noble GX5 and tell you it is one of the only bikes I own without a Redshift ShockStop stem on it and that my hands are relatively okay with that. As I get on in age my hands have become even more sensitive to vibrations and I would not ride a bike long without something to damp down the gravel vibrations. The BERD spokes help me do that as well as the Whisky carbon handle bar, the carbon seat post, and that excellent Ergon bar tape and saddle. 

If I were racing longer distance gravel events or if I craved a smoother ride without adding a suspension fork or stem, these wheels would be well worth the extra cash. They are durable and well made. The spokes may seem weird, but they have been around a while and they look like they will be around for a while longer, judging by the buzz these BERD spokes are getting lately. So, it depends upon what you value in wheels, but I will only say that they work and ride like nothing else I've ever tried. 

I don't plan on taking them off my bike anytime soon either!

Friday News And Views

The new Maxxis Reaver. (Image courtesy of Maxxis)

Maxxis Introduces New Reaver Gravel Tire:

Earlier this week Maxxis revealed a new gravel tire called the Reaver. It is a semi-slick, low center tread affair meant for "racing", as Maxxis puts it. 

It is available in two sizes: 700 X 40mm and 700 X 45mm. All can be had in either black wall or tan wall versions. 

• 120 TPI tubeless ready casing
• Dual compound
• EXO sidewall protection

Reaver tires are $70.00 each and can be purchased directly from Maxxis HERE. 

Comments: I like the looks of this tire a lot. I wouldn't peg it as just a racing tire though. Low tread in the center is fine. Think about it. Your are riding on crushed rock, (that is - IF you actually are riding on gravel), and tread is generally useless there, with one minor exception. That being outer tread blocks. If they are designed correctly they can act as a bit of a stabilizing element to the tire, and they can aid in cornering, of course. Additionally they can also have the effect of making the tire present as more of a flatter surface in cross section to the gravel, aiding in flotation, instead of cutting into the gravel. 

It could be a winner on Iowa gravel, but not because it is a "racing tire". 

Garbaruk Road/Gravel crankset (Image courtesy of Garbaruk)

So That's What It Is! -

Back in June, when I was at the Unbound week and attending the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame ceremonies, I was asked by Jason Strobehn if I would be willing to be interviewed for the "Gravel Family Podcast". I agreed and when I was there that morning to get interviewed I noted this young man on a single speed zipping around the area. He had several anodized bits on the bike, none more striking than this purple chain ring on some crank that was unfamiliar to me. I couldn't take my eyes off it, but the identity of the crankset was a mystery to me, until this week.

Social media to the rescue! On "X", or whatever that is now, (formerly Twitter), I saw a story on Garbaruk's aluminum crankset and when I saw the star-like, minimalist chain ring, I knew I'd seen that before. It is the crank and chain ring I saw in Emporia last June. 

Garbaruk claims that this aluminum chain ring and crank are as light as carbon without the downfalls of carbon. They claim that there Road/Gravel crank with a 42T ring weighs in at an astonishing 480.5 grams. You might be thinking it is prohibitively expensive. Not really, I think anyway. The rings are sold separately, but if you bought a 42t ring and the crank arms you'd be in for $505.00USD with free shipping. Not too bad. 

Oh, and you can get these in several anodized colors, so that explains the blindingly purple chain ring I saw in Emporia! Mystery solved.

Bontrager's OCLV NEXT rim (Image courtesy of Trek bikes)

Thermoplastic Carbon Rims: The Future Of Carbon Rim Manufacturing?

 Yesterday the newswire for cycling was ballyhooing these new OCLV NEXT carbon Aeolus wheels from Bontrager. I searched the web and found the source information on Trek's website and many of the claims and features being made started to sound familiar.

Where had I seen this before?

Well, as it turns out, a very similar idea was released early this year by Chris King. I talk about it here in a February "FN&V". The new technology is made by a company called "CSS Composites" and this is the company making the rims for Chris King. But are they the same company making the Bontrager rim? I thought maybe Trek developed their own thermoplastic manufacturing process, but maybe not. Here is a line buried way down the page on the wheels from Trek's site:

"Aeolus Pro 37V and 49V wheels are assembled in Waterloo, WI, with rims manufactured in the United States and global components like DT-Swiss Aerolite spokes and DT-Swiss Pro Lock nipples.". 

Note: emphasis is mine. So.......if they actually were making the rims, wouldn't you think they would say exactly that? The wheels "are assembled in Waterloo, WI" indicating that Trek does not actually manufacture the rims. So, are they CSS Composites made rims? I'm guessing, "Yes" on that one. 

If this stuff is the bee's knees in rim manufacturing, at some point we're going to see them coming from the Far East, and much cheaper. Time will tell.

Single Speed Nerd-Out On The Podcast:

We had a request to do a single speed specific episode of the Guitar Ted Podcast so the latest episode is just that. 

Check that out at that link or wherever you get your podcast feed from. Tell a friend, leave a rating, and like and subscribe and all that. I and N.Y, Roll would really appreciate it. 

In the episode I give my take on the ultimate single speed (for me) gravel bike. I chose a Twin Six Standard Rando Titanium frame to base my build off of. But if I had to pick the single speed gravel bike that was my favorite that I had ever ridden? Well, that would be the bike in the thumbnail there, the original copper-colored Stormchaser. 

That bike would fit 29" X 2.0 tires and it rode fantastically well with those bigger tires. Plus, that copper color was stunning. Butit wasn't all roses. That fork? WOW! Was that fork a jackhammer or what? I definitely would rock a Redshift ShockStop stem there. OR- Find a better fork! 

Anyway, give that episode a listen and let me know what ya think there.

That's a wrap for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions!!

Friday News And Views

The Ritchey 50th Anniversary Outback (Image courtesy of Ritchey)

Ritchey Continues To Celebrate Its 50th With Special Outback: 

Ritchey Design has been releasing special paint schemes of its bicycles over the course of Ritchey's 50th anniversary. This time they are featuring a special Outback frame and fork.

Ritchey says in its press release:  "Possibly Ritchey's best selling model, the Outback is a dedicated off road machine designed to feel at home on long dirt passes. " This frame and fork can utilize 650B X 2.0" tires and wheels or 700c X 44mm wheels and tires. Frame, fork, through-axles, and a head set come in at a reasonable $1699.00 for the special "Half Moon Bay Blue" paint scheme. 

Comments: This was a frame and fork I was seriously considering getting at one point. Turns out that a lot of you readers had some passionate thoughts on this one as well, judging from the comments left on my post about this and the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. As you all know, I ended up with the Twin Six.

But the Outback is still a cool design and might make someone a fine bicycle. It just has a couple of quirks that, for myself, take it out of contention for a bike I'd want to have around here. I think in many ways, the Outback, especially with 27.5" tires and wheels (650B), is the modern-day equivalent to the early 90's MTB with drop bars. It truly represents what MTB was at one time: An adventurous way to disconnect from the day-to-day grind and just have some fun. All without setting pressures, clicking rebound dampers, locking out, dropping down, or checking power meters and electronic shifter battery levels. 

It's good to see bicycles like this still being made in 2023.  

Two SILCA Impero Ultimate II frame pumps (Image courtesy of SILCA)

Inflation Option:

One of the most feared and ride-ruining things that can happen to a cyclist is experiencing a flat tire. Of course, tubeless tires and sealant have reduced this occurrence, or perhaps has eliminated it to a high degree for many riders. But you still should have a way to inflate a tire/tube anyway. You know....just in case. Any good gravel cyclist should be self-sufficient in that manner, at any rate. 

You can always go the mini-pump route, and several are good, but for my money, a frame pump is even better. Less strokes to fill up, and all with less effort. Plus, in a pinch, a frame pump can be used to ward off a dog attack. 

I know that mini-pumps often cost less, but most of them are - sorry to say - garbage. There are exceptions, but a well-made frame pump is like having a great floor pump on your bike versus using a mini pump. I mean, given the choice, which would you rather use? Additionally, frame pumps can last a lifetime, and the SILCA example here is built to last. 

Not every bicycle can fit a frame pump, I get that, and there is no argument that CO2 carts are faster/easier, but which choice is more environmentally friendly? Unless you are racing, well, do you actually need a CO2 cart? I know many of you will dig you feet in and staunchly defend your CO2 thingies, but there is no denying that a frame pump, built to last a lifetime, is a more Earth-friendly way to go. 

My ancient 1990's era Blackburn frame pumps are getting a bit long in the tooth. (Note- those weren't made anywhere near as well as this SILCA option and they still lasted 30+ years.) I may have to pop for one of these.

Chris King GRD 23 gravel wheels.

So, Did You Hear That Chris King Is Making Wheels Now?

I guess this came out in early December last year, but if it did, it slipped under my radar. Chris King is making its own wheels with USA made carbon fiber rims now. No - It is not Enve. And yes - They are very expensive. (Now listing at $2915,00 for the set)

So, with that out of the way, what's the deal here? Apparently, Chris King is using a newer carbon fiber manufacturing process called FusionFiber™. It is a new process for bonding carbon layers using nylon instead of epoxy. It's a product of the Utah based company, CSS Composites. 

It's a thermoplastic carbon fiber which means that it can be molded with less labor intensive methods and, supposedly, is recyclable since theoretically it can be re-melted and molded again. 

It also lays claim to being tougher than typical carbon wheel sets and allows for a bit better ride feel. You can read this CyclingTips review for more of how these wheels perform.  

Comments: The cycling world is awash in carbon wheel sets. The choices are dizzying. It is especially hard to choose the Chris King wheels here when you know that wheels are out there that weigh less, are cheaper, and probably ride pretty similarly. But, (in case you did not read that linked review), these are a more responsibly sourced choice with a lifetime warranty. So, I think some people will be attracted to that. That and the Chris King hubs, which are pretty stellar in their own right. 

But in the end, paying about a thousand dollar+ premium over similar wheels in this class is a very hard sell. Maybe this is a harbinger of things to come in terms of carbon fiber production. Thermoplastic carbon made more responsibly with the promise of ease of recycling would be cool. Maybe that's what this wheel represents.  

Diagram showing how a Lalbikes' Supre Drive derailleur works.

Derailleur Dangle No More!

Derailleur drive trains are very efficient and hard to beat in that way. However, those "dangly bits" can get wiped away by trail debris or rocks easily leaving you and your bike stranded.

Lal Bikes has developed a drive train which helps to eliminate this issue for the more extreme MTB type bikes. It's called Supre Drive, and it separates the two functions of a derailleur to achieve its out-of-the-way placement, on proprietary frames, of course. 

The diagram I chose to post here, (courtesy of Lal Bikes), shows the pathway of the chain in the highest gear (red line) and lowest gear (blue line). The actual chain shifting bit remains out back, albeit morre "in front of" the cassette. The tensioning part of a derailleur now has a satellite jockey wheel which traces the outer edge of the chain wheel. (shown by the black arrows).Check out the link for a deeper dive.

 Comments: I like the direction here for a mountain bike, or say even a fat bike that gets into a lot of underbrush/rocky areas. The proprietary frame bit is going to probably keep this as a niche choice, but you never know. It'll only take one company to buy in and this could take off. Or.....Shimano or SRAM could buy the company out, salt away the patents, and you'll never see this again. 

I just thought it was interesting since it is truly a different take on a derailleur drive train for a specific purpose.  

Yes - It's Another New Podcast!

Just in case you missed it, we posted another new podcast this week. We actually got a Featured Sponsor again, which is The Spinistry, a group out of Texas that puts on some cool events in Texas and Colorado. 

I first ran across The Spinistry back in late 2009 when they announced The Red River Riot gravel race in North Texas. They have expanded their offerings ever since and have several varied types of events and challenges which you could take part in. 

The podcast is another fly-over view of what types of things should be "on the radar" for anyone considering a ride on gravel. Give it a listen if you have some time, leave some feedback, and a review if you don't mind. Thanks!
 
  That's a wrap for this week folks! have a great weekend and get in a ride if you can. Spring will be here soon! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Friday News And Views

The Ritchey 50th Anniversary Outback (Image courtesy of Ritchey)

Ritchey Continues To Celebrate Its 50th With Special Outback: 

Ritchey Design has been releasing special paint schemes of its bicycles over the course of Ritchey's 50th anniversary. This time they are featuring a special Outback frame and fork.

Ritchey says in its press release:  "Possibly Ritchey's best selling model, the Outback is a dedicated off road machine designed to feel at home on long dirt passes. " This frame and fork can utilize 650B X 2.0" tires and wheels or 700c X 44mm wheels and tires. Frame, fork, through-axles, and a head set come in at a reasonable $1699.00 for the special "Half Moon Bay Blue" paint scheme. 

Comments: This was a frame and fork I was seriously considering getting at one point. Turns out that a lot of you readers had some passionate thoughts on this one as well, judging from the comments left on my post about this and the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. As you all know, I ended up with the Twin Six.

But the Outback is still a cool design and might make someone a fine bicycle. It just has a couple of quirks that, for myself, take it out of contention for a bike I'd want to have around here. I think in many ways, the Outback, especially with 27.5" tires and wheels (650B), is the modern-day equivalent to the early 90's MTB with drop bars. It truly represents what MTB was at one time: An adventurous way to disconnect from the day-to-day grind and just have some fun. All without setting pressures, clicking rebound dampers, locking out, dropping down, or checking power meters and electronic shifter battery levels. 

It's good to see bicycles like this still being made in 2023.  

Two SILCA Impero Ultimate II frame pumps (Image courtesy of SILCA)

Inflation Option:

One of the most feared and ride-ruining things that can happen to a cyclist is experiencing a flat tire. Of course, tubeless tires and sealant have reduced this occurrence, or perhaps has eliminated it to a high degree for many riders. But you still should have a way to inflate a tire/tube anyway. You know....just in case. Any good gravel cyclist should be self-sufficient in that manner, at any rate. 

You can always go the mini-pump route, and several are good, but for my money, a frame pump is even better. Less strokes to fill up, and all with less effort. Plus, in a pinch, a frame pump can be used to ward off a dog attack. 

I know that mini-pumps often cost less, but most of them are - sorry to say - garbage. There are exceptions, but a well-made frame pump is like having a great floor pump on your bike versus using a mini pump. I mean, given the choice, which would you rather use? Additionally, frame pumps can last a lifetime, and the SILCA example here is built to last. 

Not every bicycle can fit a frame pump, I get that, and there is no argument that CO2 carts are faster/easier, but which choice is more environmentally friendly? Unless you are racing, well, do you actually need a CO2 cart? I know many of you will dig you feet in and staunchly defend your CO2 thingies, but there is no denying that a frame pump, built to last a lifetime, is a more Earth-friendly way to go. 

My ancient 1990's era Blackburn frame pumps are getting a bit long in the tooth. (Note- those weren't made anywhere near as well as this SILCA option and they still lasted 30+ years.) I may have to pop for one of these.

Chris King GRD 23 gravel wheels.

So, Did You Hear That Chris King Is Making Wheels Now?

I guess this came out in early December last year, but if it did, it slipped under my radar. Chris King is making its own wheels with USA made carbon fiber rims now. No - It is not Enve. And yes - They are very expensive. (Now listing at $2915,00 for the set)

So, with that out of the way, what's the deal here? Apparently, Chris King is using a newer carbon fiber manufacturing process called FusionFiber™. It is a new process for bonding carbon layers using nylon instead of epoxy. It's a product of the Utah based company, CSS Composites. 

It's a thermoplastic carbon fiber which means that it can be molded with less labor intensive methods and, supposedly, is recyclable since theoretically it can be re-melted and molded again. 

It also lays claim to being tougher than typical carbon wheel sets and allows for a bit better ride feel. You can read this CyclingTips review for more of how these wheels perform.  

Comments: The cycling world is awash in carbon wheel sets. The choices are dizzying. It is especially hard to choose the Chris King wheels here when you know that wheels are out there that weigh less, are cheaper, and probably ride pretty similarly. But, (in case you did not read that linked review), these are a more responsibly sourced choice with a lifetime warranty. So, I think some people will be attracted to that. That and the Chris King hubs, which are pretty stellar in their own right. 

But in the end, paying about a thousand dollar+ premium over similar wheels in this class is a very hard sell. Maybe this is a harbinger of things to come in terms of carbon fiber production. Thermoplastic carbon made more responsibly with the promise of ease of recycling would be cool. Maybe that's what this wheel represents.  

Diagram showing how a Lalbikes' Supre Drive derailleur works.

Derailleur Dangle No More!

Derailleur drive trains are very efficient and hard to beat in that way. However, those "dangly bits" can get wiped away by trail debris or rocks easily leaving you and your bike stranded.

Lal Bikes has developed a drive train which helps to eliminate this issue for the more extreme MTB type bikes. It's called Supre Drive, and it separates the two functions of a derailleur to achieve its out-of-the-way placement, on proprietary frames, of course. 

The diagram I chose to post here, (courtesy of Lal Bikes), shows the pathway of the chain in the highest gear (red line) and lowest gear (blue line). The actual chain shifting bit remains out back, albeit morre "in front of" the cassette. The tensioning part of a derailleur now has a satellite jockey wheel which traces the outer edge of the chain wheel. (shown by the black arrows).Check out the link for a deeper dive.

 Comments: I like the direction here for a mountain bike, or say even a fat bike that gets into a lot of underbrush/rocky areas. The proprietary frame bit is going to probably keep this as a niche choice, but you never know. It'll only take one company to buy in and this could take off. Or.....Shimano or SRAM could buy the company out, salt away the patents, and you'll never see this again. 

I just thought it was interesting since it is truly a different take on a derailleur drive train for a specific purpose.  

Yes - It's Another New Podcast!

Just in case you missed it, we posted another new podcast this week. We actually got a Featured Sponsor again, which is The Spinistry, a group out of Texas that puts on some cool events in Texas and Colorado. 

I first ran across The Spinistry back in late 2009 when they announced The Red River Riot gravel race in North Texas. They have expanded their offerings ever since and have several varied types of events and challenges which you could take part in. 

The podcast is another fly-over view of what types of things should be "on the radar" for anyone considering a ride on gravel. Give it a listen if you have some time, leave some feedback, and a review if you don't mind. Thanks!
 
  That's a wrap for this week folks! have a great weekend and get in a ride if you can. Spring will be here soon! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Shimano GRX Carbon Wheels

Shimano's new GRX Carbon Wheels are in for review

 Note: Standard Disclaimer Applicable

I got an opportunity extended to me recently to review the new Shimano GRX Carbon wheels and I took them up on it. So, here they are in all their 'glory'. I will be writing up the review proper on RidingGravel.com, so go there for the details. 

In this post I wanted to share my thoughts on how Shimano has finally progressed to a more modern standard on one hand and yet doggedly sticks to its guns in terms of another standard. It is an interesting dichotomy and I think this encapsulates the "Shimano Philosophy" in a nutshell. At least for me this wheel set does illustrate that. We'll see if you agree...

Shimano is often seen as 'not very innovative' or as a company that is 'slow to respond' to other company's moves, in particular, SRAM's offerings. If you feel this way, I would submit that you are making an error in judgement. Shimano doesn't jump on trends, and their company ethos is one that abhors failure, values solid research, and will not rush development to assuage popular opinions until those opinions are vetted out. 

Shimano is conservative in its approach. Note the stickers.

I've seen this in nearly 30 years of dealing with Shimano and other companies. Shimano rarely has recalls, failures are not taken lightly when they do happen, and their record of successes is outstanding amongst component manufacturers at any level. Now add in that Shimano has been the largest component manufacturer of bicycle parts for decades and that track record becomes something pretty amazing to consider.

So, I find criticisms of Shimano's approach to innovations somewhat lacking in perspective. That doesn't mean that I am not sometimes baffled and frustrated with how they do things. For an example, I was a bit deflated when back in the early 2010's Shimano released a new XT 29"er wheel set with an inner rim width of 23mm. This at the time when wider rims for mountain bikes were all the rage. Even XC racing rims were wider than this back then. But Shimano stuck to its guns and put out a robust, strong, durable wheel for XC racing that was, honestly, not where the riding populace was at that time. 

This wheel set was an excuse to use the awesome Hutchinson tires again.

That was a head-scratcher for sure. However; Shimano generally ends up coming around and I feel that this new GRX Carbon wheel set is on-point for today's gravel rider. The inner rim width? 25mm.

So, that's a relief and nice to see. But there are things that Shimano doesn't compromise on, and one of them is their complete and total devotion to angular contact, adjustable ball bearings. 

Sealed bearings are a given with any high-end offering from other companies in terms of hubs, but not with Shimano. Now one might be inclined to think that is just a dogmatic devotion to a tradition, but I would counter that with Shimano's vast experience with forging, metal, and bearing technology which goes back to the very roots of the company. Their first product for bicycles was a single speed free wheel, so bearing technology is Shimano's business, and in my opinion, they know what they are about. 

A well designed, high-end ball bearing race, cup and cone arrangement, and hub shell are hard to beat when it comes to longevity of service life, serviceability, and rolling performance. I find most folks that criticize Shimano's angular contact, loose ball bearing idea are thinking about their lower end product. Shimano makes really low end stuff all the way up to high end components, so you have to compare "apples to apples" and many folks forget that detail when criticizing angular contact ball bearings in hubs.

So, Shimano's philosophy on design and execution of design trumps marketing, in terms of what we see. They stick with what works and innovate only where it makes sense and isn't prone to fail, (some recent road crank sets are an exception here) Other companies? (Don't ask me about SRAM brakes, for one thing)

More on the wheels soon.....

Shimano GRX Carbon Wheels

Shimano's new GRX Carbon Wheels are in for review

 Note: Standard Disclaimer Applicable

I got an opportunity extended to me recently to review the new Shimano GRX Carbon wheels and I took them up on it. So, here they are in all their 'glory'. I will be writing up the review proper on RidingGravel.com, so go there for the details. 

In this post I wanted to share my thoughts on how Shimano has finally progressed to a more modern standard on one hand and yet doggedly sticks to its guns in terms of another standard. It is an interesting dichotomy and I think this encapsulates the "Shimano Philosophy" in a nutshell. At least for me this wheel set does illustrate that. We'll see if you agree...

Shimano is often seen as 'not very innovative' or as a company that is 'slow to respond' to other company's moves, in particular, SRAM's offerings. If you feel this way, I would submit that you are making an error in judgement. Shimano doesn't jump on trends, and their company ethos is one that abhors failure, values solid research, and will not rush development to assuage popular opinions until those opinions are vetted out. 

Shimano is conservative in its approach. Note the stickers.

I've seen this in nearly 30 years of dealing with Shimano and other companies. Shimano rarely has recalls, failures are not taken lightly when they do happen, and their record of successes is outstanding amongst component manufacturers at any level. Now add in that Shimano has been the largest component manufacturer of bicycle parts for decades and that track record becomes something pretty amazing to consider.

So, I find criticisms of Shimano's approach to innovations somewhat lacking in perspective. That doesn't mean that I am not sometimes baffled and frustrated with how they do things. For an example, I was a bit deflated when back in the early 2010's Shimano released a new XT 29"er wheel set with an inner rim width of 23mm. This at the time when wider rims for mountain bikes were all the rage. Even XC racing rims were wider than this back then. But Shimano stuck to its guns and put out a robust, strong, durable wheel for XC racing that was, honestly, not where the riding populace was at that time. 

This wheel set was an excuse to use the awesome Hutchinson tires again.

That was a head-scratcher for sure. However; Shimano generally ends up coming around and I feel that this new GRX Carbon wheel set is on-point for today's gravel rider. The inner rim width? 25mm.

So, that's a relief and nice to see. But there are things that Shimano doesn't compromise on, and one of them is their complete and total devotion to angular contact, adjustable ball bearings. 

Sealed bearings are a given with any high-end offering from other companies in terms of hubs, but not with Shimano. Now one might be inclined to think that is just a dogmatic devotion to a tradition, but I would counter that with Shimano's vast experience with forging, metal, and bearing technology which goes back to the very roots of the company. Their first product for bicycles was a single speed free wheel, so bearing technology is Shimano's business, and in my opinion, they know what they are about. 

A well designed, high-end ball bearing race, cup and cone arrangement, and hub shell are hard to beat when it comes to longevity of service life, serviceability, and rolling performance. I find most folks that criticize Shimano's angular contact, loose ball bearing idea are thinking about their lower end product. Shimano makes really low end stuff all the way up to high end components, so you have to compare "apples to apples" and many folks forget that detail when criticizing angular contact ball bearings in hubs.

So, Shimano's philosophy on design and execution of design trumps marketing, in terms of what we see. They stick with what works and innovate only where it makes sense and isn't prone to fail, (some recent road crank sets are an exception here) Other companies? (Don't ask me about SRAM brakes, for one thing)

More on the wheels soon.....