Friday News And Views

The "Anti-Black Friday" Edition: 

Yeah, this whole "Black Friday" thing is getting long in the tooth, isn't it? I really hope that someday it just goes away.... 

But until then, I am all "anti-Black Friday". What's more, I am not doing any "holiday gift list" stuff this year either. Let me tell ya, the marketing departments aren't liking that decision. They are sympathetic to the anti-Black Friday idea, I feel, but - ya know - it's tradition! Or something like that....

All you need to know is that I am being leveraged to do the whole thing, and I just am not feeling it. So, I won't be shoving discount codes, "deals", or any "holiday gift ideas" down your throats here. You're getting bombarded enough by that garbage by this point anyway, most likely. 

So, I've dug up what I could of some interesting things I've found across the innergoogles for your reading enjoyment today. And as always, Thanks for reading the blog! 

Forget shopping! Get out and ride!

Hopefully You Are Riding!

Of course, the perfect antidote to excessive consumerism is a good bicycle ride. Be that 'round the block or out in the 'burbs', getting out and pedaling is good for you.

But you know that!

Need some motivation? Well, I put out this challenge last week. maybe that would be a nice way to kick off the weekend? Maybe. 

However; don't let that challenge and distance hold you back. Just getting outside and pedaling, or even walking, if you are stuck in the snow like N.Y. Roll is in New York now, is a good idea. Just get outside, breath the air, and move. I like to do that with a bicycle, but you do you. Besides, you probably ate too much yesterday anyway, yes? (If you didn't, good on ya!)

Are More Batteries A Better Thing?

Recently Magura announced a new Vyron dropper seat post that is activated by a wireless Bluetooth remote. The system is pretty technologically advanced, with the wireless thing, of course, but there is also a servo motor which controls oil flow in the post as well. 

Naturally, the system works on a battery, a Lithium-Ion battery, (two, actually), which is replaceable. And when that battery needs replacing? 

Why do we consistently (a) need to turn everything into a "device" controlled by radio waves and batteries with (b) environmentally toxic materials? These batteries typically are not disposed of properly, especially when they are of such a small size, as in the Vyron post. These disposed Lithium-ion batteries contain metals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are toxic and can contaminate water supplies and ecosystems if they leach out of landfills. 

I mean, bicycles are bad enough in terms of their carbon footprint, environmental impacts due to manufacturing, and in terms of the high-end bicycles, a further reliance on electronics, but a dropper seat post with disposable batteries?   

True- each seatpost mounted battery lasts a claimed year of service, but eventually, these all will probably end up in the landfill. Not to mention the CR 2032 battery used for the remote, which assuredly will not be handled properly at disposal.  That is- unless a concerted effort is made to persuade riders to do otherwise, and I haven't seen that yet. Meanwhile, mechanically operated droppers are working just fine without such concerns. 

Something to consider....

An Acknowledgement And A Lesson:

I read an article the other day that claimed that the youth out there feel that hand written notes are a "waste of time". Yeah.....that was the term used. 

Amazing. 

That's too bad, because these folks are missing out on something wonderful, if, in fact, that article is representative of what the youth out there really think. I am choosing to not believe this at all.

I think people really appreciate being thanked, recognized, encouraged, and well.....noticed. Doesn't a hand written note do those things? Yes, I am here to tell you that a hand written note does those things, because a recent hand written note has done that for me. Although, perhaps I am disqualified from being an example, because I am old. That's really dumb, by the way, if true.

That's my acknowledgement of this particular note. You know who you are that sent it, so "Thank you!"

The lesson? Anyone can do this to help another. It can be a text, a phone call, or a simple note like the one I received. Don't believe for a second it is a "waste of time". 

Update: Okay, this is kind of funny. A day after I wrote this about "Thank You's" I saw the following which is related. As quoted from an Axios Finish Line newsletter I receive nightly:

" Another study by researchers from Kent State University tested the effect of writing letters of gratitude to other people.

• The results were clear: Taking the time to say thank you in writing made people happier, more satisfied with life and even decreased symptoms of depression."

So: On the very unlikely chance that writing a "thank you" doesn't do anything for the recipient, it does something for you.

Reminder: If you are an old reader here, you know what is coming. If you are fairly new, maybe not so much. Here's the deal: The "End-OfYear"posts kick in starting December 1st with my first of many "Bikes Of 2022" postings. There will be four "Rear View 2022" posts, a "Top Ten Posts of 2022", and a "best-of" photo review for the year, all coming up.

Have a great weekend! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

Friday News And Views

The "Anti-Black Friday" Edition: 

Yeah, this whole "Black Friday" thing is getting long in the tooth, isn't it? I really hope that someday it just goes away.... 

But until then, I am all "anti-Black Friday". What's more, I am not doing any "holiday gift list" stuff this year either. Let me tell ya, the marketing departments aren't liking that decision. They are sympathetic to the anti-Black Friday idea, I feel, but - ya know - it's tradition! Or something like that....

All you need to know is that I am being leveraged to do the whole thing, and I just am not feeling it. So, I won't be shoving discount codes, "deals", or any "holiday gift ideas" down your throats here. You're getting bombarded enough by that garbage by this point anyway, most likely. 

So, I've dug up what I could of some interesting things I've found across the innergoogles for your reading enjoyment today. And as always, Thanks for reading the blog! 

Forget shopping! Get out and ride!

Hopefully You Are Riding!

Of course, the perfect antidote to excessive consumerism is a good bicycle ride. Be that 'round the block or out in the 'burbs', getting out and pedaling is good for you.

But you know that!

Need some motivation? Well, I put out this challenge last week. maybe that would be a nice way to kick off the weekend? Maybe. 

However; don't let that challenge and distance hold you back. Just getting outside and pedaling, or even walking, if you are stuck in the snow like N.Y. Roll is in New York now, is a good idea. Just get outside, breath the air, and move. I like to do that with a bicycle, but you do you. Besides, you probably ate too much yesterday anyway, yes? (If you didn't, good on ya!)

Are More Batteries A Better Thing?

Recently Magura announced a new Vyron dropper seat post that is activated by a wireless Bluetooth remote. The system is pretty technologically advanced, with the wireless thing, of course, but there is also a servo motor which controls oil flow in the post as well. 

Naturally, the system works on a battery, a Lithium-Ion battery, (two, actually), which is replaceable. And when that battery needs replacing? 

Why do we consistently (a) need to turn everything into a "device" controlled by radio waves and batteries with (b) environmentally toxic materials? These batteries typically are not disposed of properly, especially when they are of such a small size, as in the Vyron post. These disposed Lithium-ion batteries contain metals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are toxic and can contaminate water supplies and ecosystems if they leach out of landfills. 

I mean, bicycles are bad enough in terms of their carbon footprint, environmental impacts due to manufacturing, and in terms of the high-end bicycles, a further reliance on electronics, but a dropper seat post with disposable batteries?   

True- each seatpost mounted battery lasts a claimed year of service, but eventually, these all will probably end up in the landfill. Not to mention the CR 2032 battery used for the remote, which assuredly will not be handled properly at disposal.  That is- unless a concerted effort is made to persuade riders to do otherwise, and I haven't seen that yet. Meanwhile, mechanically operated droppers are working just fine without such concerns. 

Something to consider....

An Acknowledgement And A Lesson:

I read an article the other day that claimed that the youth out there feel that hand written notes are a "waste of time". Yeah.....that was the term used. 

Amazing. 

That's too bad, because these folks are missing out on something wonderful, if, in fact, that article is representative of what the youth out there really think. I am choosing to not believe this at all.

I think people really appreciate being thanked, recognized, encouraged, and well.....noticed. Doesn't a hand written note do those things? Yes, I am here to tell you that a hand written note does those things, because a recent hand written note has done that for me. Although, perhaps I am disqualified from being an example, because I am old. That's really dumb, by the way, if true.

That's my acknowledgement of this particular note. You know who you are that sent it, so "Thank you!"

The lesson? Anyone can do this to help another. It can be a text, a phone call, or a simple note like the one I received. Don't believe for a second it is a "waste of time". 

Update: Okay, this is kind of funny. A day after I wrote this about "Thank You's" I saw the following which is related. As quoted from an Axios Finish Line newsletter I receive nightly:

" Another study by researchers from Kent State University tested the effect of writing letters of gratitude to other people.

• The results were clear: Taking the time to say thank you in writing made people happier, more satisfied with life and even decreased symptoms of depression."

So: On the very unlikely chance that writing a "thank you" doesn't do anything for the recipient, it does something for you.

Reminder: If you are an old reader here, you know what is coming. If you are fairly new, maybe not so much. Here's the deal: The "End-OfYear"posts kick in starting December 1st with my first of many "Bikes Of 2022" postings. There will be four "Rear View 2022" posts, a "Top Ten Posts of 2022", and a "best-of" photo review for the year, all coming up.

Have a great weekend! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

Plans Postponed

Saturday was supposed to be my next hundy ride. It didn't happen because I could not sleep at all Friday evening. Not sure why, but I am blaming what we had for my son's 17th birthday celebration- such as it was. 

Socially, my son's life sucks due to what is going on. There aren't many kids his age getting together around here for any reason, and as a result, as a parent, I feel bad about the situation. So, as a way to give him something to have a part in, he got to pick what we had for the evening meal on his birthday. He chose Popeye's chicken, because he really likes their stuff. Okay, chicken. Not a big deal, right?

Well, lately, and by "lately" I mean within the last five or six years, I have developed a bad reaction to any fast food's offerings. It started off a long time ago with Burger King's french fries, and now I just cannot have anything fast food. It makes my body swell up, my joints ache, my muscles feel like I got tackled by a linebacker, and I cannot sleep. I should have said, "Hey- you guys go ahead, I'll cook my own food.", but that would seem kinda bad on the son's birthday, so........

I was basically up all night into Saturday, it was supposed to be really humid, and hot, of course, and I was in no position to tackle 100 miles of gravel in the state I was in. In fact, I didn't feel quite "right" until later in the day. So, no- I did not nap. Which meant I slept like a log Saturday evening and on Sunday I felt tapped out. Just worn down from being so off kilter, food-wise. So, from here on out- no more fast food. 

I managed a casual ride Saturday morning. Not what I had intended.

It was hard to take because I was ready on every other level. I had a route, with cues "good enough" for me to follow. I had the Black Mountain Cycles pink MCD all ready to go. I had excitement for a new-to-me set of roads in an area I hadn't been in the country in for over a decade. I was super-bummed out.

But, in the end it maybe wasn't such a bad ride to miss on that kind of day. It was simply brutal out Saturday afternoon. The kind of day I often get beat by. I've had to cut short Guitar Ted Death Rides, Gravel Worlds rides, and Odin's Revenge rides because of weather like that. And really- I don't have anything I need to prove to anyone else or myself. It wouldn't have been prudent to try that kind of a ride on that kind of a day even had I gotten the best night's sleep ever.

So, I postponed the ride to another, more favorable weekend when I hope that the weather will be not quite so dangerous for me. No need to get out in such extreme conditions if I really don't have to. The route is set, I have what I need ready to go, and time is on my side.

Besides, this isn't like an event which has to happen on a certain day, right? That's when the weather is whatever the weather is. That's when you shrug your shoulders, say, "Well, here we go again!", and you clip in and shove off. But there is no such situation at hand in terms of this challenge I have set up. There is no set "date" to do this. It's refreshing, in a way, to have that liberty.

But I was a tad bit sad because this past weekend was the 'traditional' weekend for the Guitar Ted Death Ride invitational, and boy! Did the weather ever cooperate! If this had been a 'normal' year, I would have been torched out there Saturday. So, it was a blessing in disguise that things are the way that they are. And- the GTDRI used to happen in August years ago. That was before I started going to Gravel Worlds all the time. Anyway..... Later on in August, maybe, I'll get that century done. No hurry.

I ended up doing some casual ride Saturday morning, and while doing so, I found another excellent in-town testing area for Riding Gravel stuff. I also got my Lab organized a bit, I filed away some odds and ends, and I re-upped the Garage Sale Page with new stuff. Have a look and see if anything trips your trigger there.

I'll get around to this century thing later. Stay tuned.......

Plans Postponed

Saturday was supposed to be my next hundy ride. It didn't happen because I could not sleep at all Friday evening. Not sure why, but I am blaming what we had for my son's 17th birthday celebration- such as it was. 

Socially, my son's life sucks due to what is going on. There aren't many kids his age getting together around here for any reason, and as a result, as a parent, I feel bad about the situation. So, as a way to give him something to have a part in, he got to pick what we had for the evening meal on his birthday. He chose Popeye's chicken, because he really likes their stuff. Okay, chicken. Not a big deal, right?

Well, lately, and by "lately" I mean within the last five or six years, I have developed a bad reaction to any fast food's offerings. It started off a long time ago with Burger King's french fries, and now I just cannot have anything fast food. It makes my body swell up, my joints ache, my muscles feel like I got tackled by a linebacker, and I cannot sleep. I should have said, "Hey- you guys go ahead, I'll cook my own food.", but that would seem kinda bad on the son's birthday, so........

I was basically up all night into Saturday, it was supposed to be really humid, and hot, of course, and I was in no position to tackle 100 miles of gravel in the state I was in. In fact, I didn't feel quite "right" until later in the day. So, no- I did not nap. Which meant I slept like a log Saturday evening and on Sunday I felt tapped out. Just worn down from being so off kilter, food-wise. So, from here on out- no more fast food. 

I managed a casual ride Saturday morning. Not what I had intended.

It was hard to take because I was ready on every other level. I had a route, with cues "good enough" for me to follow. I had the Black Mountain Cycles pink MCD all ready to go. I had excitement for a new-to-me set of roads in an area I hadn't been in the country in for over a decade. I was super-bummed out.

But, in the end it maybe wasn't such a bad ride to miss on that kind of day. It was simply brutal out Saturday afternoon. The kind of day I often get beat by. I've had to cut short Guitar Ted Death Rides, Gravel Worlds rides, and Odin's Revenge rides because of weather like that. And really- I don't have anything I need to prove to anyone else or myself. It wouldn't have been prudent to try that kind of a ride on that kind of a day even had I gotten the best night's sleep ever.

So, I postponed the ride to another, more favorable weekend when I hope that the weather will be not quite so dangerous for me. No need to get out in such extreme conditions if I really don't have to. The route is set, I have what I need ready to go, and time is on my side.

Besides, this isn't like an event which has to happen on a certain day, right? That's when the weather is whatever the weather is. That's when you shrug your shoulders, say, "Well, here we go again!", and you clip in and shove off. But there is no such situation at hand in terms of this challenge I have set up. There is no set "date" to do this. It's refreshing, in a way, to have that liberty.

But I was a tad bit sad because this past weekend was the 'traditional' weekend for the Guitar Ted Death Ride invitational, and boy! Did the weather ever cooperate! If this had been a 'normal' year, I would have been torched out there Saturday. So, it was a blessing in disguise that things are the way that they are. And- the GTDRI used to happen in August years ago. That was before I started going to Gravel Worlds all the time. Anyway..... Later on in August, maybe, I'll get that century done. No hurry.

I ended up doing some casual ride Saturday morning, and while doing so, I found another excellent in-town testing area for Riding Gravel stuff. I also got my Lab organized a bit, I filed away some odds and ends, and I re-upped the Garage Sale Page with new stuff. Have a look and see if anything trips your trigger there.

I'll get around to this century thing later. Stay tuned.......

Friday News And Views

Could 2020 be the year new bikes are as rare as ghosts?

New Bikes In 2020 A Rarity?

The latest industry scuttlebutt is that the supply chain for bicycles has been disrupted to the point that it is possible that many new 2020 bikes will be postponed or outright cancelled. While I do not expect that there will be no 2020 bikes, it is quite possible that during the peak season months of May, June, and July that a new 2020 bike may be as rare as a hen's tooth.

This is not due to any one thing, but the issues are mostly centered around a perfect storm which includes the Chinese New Year, which factories close down for, and the COVID-19 virus outbreak, which hit right at about the same time in China. So.....not all bicycles are made in China. True. But many of the parts and pieces are that are necessary to assemble them. And if the parts are not accessible, then the bikes do not get made. This can happen for the seemingly most insignificant reasons. Reflectors? Bike boxes? Yes. And more reasons than that.

To read more on this, see this excellent "Cyclingtips" article. Again, I don't think we will not see any bikes, because obviously we have 2020 bikes out there already. But it is the supply of the bikes coming for the meat of the season that will be disrupted. Also, considering that Trek brings in a slew of new models in June, we could see a big disruption of their new introductions as well. We already have heard about product intros being scuttled, dealer shows being postponed, and marketing companies which are scrambling to work around all the chaos.

2020 will be a very odd year for cycling at the industry and retail levels.

 A Word On The C.O.G. 100 Event:

The COVID - 19 pandemic is changing our world by the hour, and it is hard to keep up. Here at G-Ted Productions we have sent out emails to our C.O.G.100 riders and have posted the latest on the C.O.G. 100 site and we will continue to monitor the situation as things progress. I spent the better part of yesterday researching and reaching out to Grinnell officials to get a handle on the situation as it stood yesterday. This is a very fluid situation and as of now we are waiting for a few more days to see where this is headed.

Our feelings are that we want to keep everyone safe and if it means deferring the event until next year, we will do that. As of this posting we have not reached a final decision, and we will definitely be announcing a decision this coming week to allow for everyone to make appropriate plans.

Thanks in advance for all your patience!

Hope is amongst the host of brands with Center Lock Rotors now.

Center Lock Finds Its Reason To Be:

Several years ago Shimano introduced the Center Lock rotor mounting standard for mountain bikes. Most people yawned and went about their business. Center Lock rotors were rare. DT Swiss and Shimano, amongst a few others, were the only sources for them. Hardly anyone actually used them on their own bikes. Rarely did we see these at the bike shop.

Then disc road came along. 

While road disc brake bikes weren't selling like hotcakes initially, we did see that sort of bike come with the more sleek looking Center Lock rotors instead of the warts which are a feature of the six bolt IS type rotor. But still......road disc bikes weren't really a big deal. Then the gravel bike boom hit. Look out!

Suddenly every gravel bike had Center Lock rotors. And of course, flat mount brakes. Did we need all that and the 12mm through axle up front when we had a perfectly good 15mm one? No. We didn't need those things. Not really.

Some will argue that heat management is better with Center Lock and flat mount brakes. Perhaps..... But the latest trends in cycling- internal routed cables, flat mount brakes, Center Lock, and further back, the internal head set, all are really about fashion. They make bicycles look more sexy, and that is what sells. The "new standards" are not mechanically necessary or better than the old ways, not in any significant way, but they do look a lot cooler. I admit it. Things look a lot sleeker than they used to look.

But we still don't need 12mm through axle front hubs and forks. That's just nonsense. But it is what it is. And Center Lock is here to stay as well. Now, as far as the rotors go, I like Center Lock a lot. To me it is easier to deal with, and I would tend to agree that heat management is probably better here. But that flat mount disc brake caliper thing?

You can have that. Give me the older IS caliper post mounts any day.

Matt Wills, aka "MW" as seen at the 2008 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitaional

 One Hundred One Hundred Milers:

There are accomplishments that every cycling enthusiast knows. The "century ride" being probably the main one that crosses all lines and all stripes of cyclists. If you ride 100 miles on any type of two wheeled contraption, you have the respect of many. Either that or the folks that aren't into cycling think you are certifiably crazy. Probably both......

Then there are the more "gravel specific" type of accomplishments. Say, things like, "This guy finished the Dirty Kanza", or "This gal finished Trans Iowa". Those sorts of things where people nod in respect of the big mileage accomplishment.

Well, I know a guy, (as they say), and he's done all the above, plus some! In fact, Matt Wills, of Lincoln, Nebraska, has done something I've never heard that anyone else has done. He's ridden a 100 mile bicycle ride, on gravel, every month for 100 months, and counting, in a row. Now, that's crazy! Crazy amazing, that is.

The Dirty Kanza has its special cup for finishing five DK200's, and maybe there are some similar deals in other events, but to do something like ride a century ride on gravel every month for eight-plus years, through Winters, hot Summers, no matter what?

I cannot say it enough- that's amazing. Thank you MW. You are an inspiration to many and I am betting you have no idea what your influence is on others in a positive way. I know you've inspired me.

Okay, that's a wrap on this week! have a great weekend and hopefully you get out for a ride! Thanks for reading!

Friday News And Views

Could 2020 be the year new bikes are as rare as ghosts?

New Bikes In 2020 A Rarity?

The latest industry scuttlebutt is that the supply chain for bicycles has been disrupted to the point that it is possible that many new 2020 bikes will be postponed or outright cancelled. While I do not expect that there will be no 2020 bikes, it is quite possible that during the peak season months of May, June, and July that a new 2020 bike may be as rare as a hen's tooth.

This is not due to any one thing, but the issues are mostly centered around a perfect storm which includes the Chinese New Year, which factories close down for, and the COVID-19 virus outbreak, which hit right at about the same time in China. So.....not all bicycles are made in China. True. But many of the parts and pieces are that are necessary to assemble them. And if the parts are not accessible, then the bikes do not get made. This can happen for the seemingly most insignificant reasons. Reflectors? Bike boxes? Yes. And more reasons than that.

To read more on this, see this excellent "Cyclingtips" article. Again, I don't think we will not see any bikes, because obviously we have 2020 bikes out there already. But it is the supply of the bikes coming for the meat of the season that will be disrupted. Also, considering that Trek brings in a slew of new models in June, we could see a big disruption of their new introductions as well. We already have heard about product intros being scuttled, dealer shows being postponed, and marketing companies which are scrambling to work around all the chaos.

2020 will be a very odd year for cycling at the industry and retail levels.

 A Word On The C.O.G. 100 Event:

The COVID - 19 pandemic is changing our world by the hour, and it is hard to keep up. Here at G-Ted Productions we have sent out emails to our C.O.G.100 riders and have posted the latest on the C.O.G. 100 site and we will continue to monitor the situation as things progress. I spent the better part of yesterday researching and reaching out to Grinnell officials to get a handle on the situation as it stood yesterday. This is a very fluid situation and as of now we are waiting for a few more days to see where this is headed.

Our feelings are that we want to keep everyone safe and if it means deferring the event until next year, we will do that. As of this posting we have not reached a final decision, and we will definitely be announcing a decision this coming week to allow for everyone to make appropriate plans.

Thanks in advance for all your patience!

Hope is amongst the host of brands with Center Lock Rotors now.

Center Lock Finds Its Reason To Be:

Several years ago Shimano introduced the Center Lock rotor mounting standard for mountain bikes. Most people yawned and went about their business. Center Lock rotors were rare. DT Swiss and Shimano, amongst a few others, were the only sources for them. Hardly anyone actually used them on their own bikes. Rarely did we see these at the bike shop.

Then disc road came along. 

While road disc brake bikes weren't selling like hotcakes initially, we did see that sort of bike come with the more sleek looking Center Lock rotors instead of the warts which are a feature of the six bolt IS type rotor. But still......road disc bikes weren't really a big deal. Then the gravel bike boom hit. Look out!

Suddenly every gravel bike had Center Lock rotors. And of course, flat mount brakes. Did we need all that and the 12mm through axle up front when we had a perfectly good 15mm one? No. We didn't need those things. Not really.

Some will argue that heat management is better with Center Lock and flat mount brakes. Perhaps..... But the latest trends in cycling- internal routed cables, flat mount brakes, Center Lock, and further back, the internal head set, all are really about fashion. They make bicycles look more sexy, and that is what sells. The "new standards" are not mechanically necessary or better than the old ways, not in any significant way, but they do look a lot cooler. I admit it. Things look a lot sleeker than they used to look.

But we still don't need 12mm through axle front hubs and forks. That's just nonsense. But it is what it is. And Center Lock is here to stay as well. Now, as far as the rotors go, I like Center Lock a lot. To me it is easier to deal with, and I would tend to agree that heat management is probably better here. But that flat mount disc brake caliper thing?

You can have that. Give me the older IS caliper post mounts any day.

Matt Wills, aka "MW" as seen at the 2008 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitaional

 One Hundred One Hundred Milers:

There are accomplishments that every cycling enthusiast knows. The "century ride" being probably the main one that crosses all lines and all stripes of cyclists. If you ride 100 miles on any type of two wheeled contraption, you have the respect of many. Either that or the folks that aren't into cycling think you are certifiably crazy. Probably both......

Then there are the more "gravel specific" type of accomplishments. Say, things like, "This guy finished the Dirty Kanza", or "This gal finished Trans Iowa". Those sorts of things where people nod in respect of the big mileage accomplishment.

Well, I know a guy, (as they say), and he's done all the above, plus some! In fact, Matt Wills, of Lincoln, Nebraska, has done something I've never heard that anyone else has done. He's ridden a 100 mile bicycle ride, on gravel, every month for 100 months, and counting, in a row. Now, that's crazy! Crazy amazing, that is.

The Dirty Kanza has its special cup for finishing five DK200's, and maybe there are some similar deals in other events, but to do something like ride a century ride on gravel every month for eight-plus years, through Winters, hot Summers, no matter what?

I cannot say it enough- that's amazing. Thank you MW. You are an inspiration to many and I am betting you have no idea what your influence is on others in a positive way. I know you've inspired me.

Okay, that's a wrap on this week! have a great weekend and hopefully you get out for a ride! Thanks for reading!

Fat Bike Century Report

My riding partner, Tony, was the instigator of this adventure.

The fat bike century ride happened on Saturday and started out in a bit of a surprising way.

It was raining!

That wasn't supposed to happen! I was a bit dismayed when I noticed that as I was preparing to go on Saturday morning. Tony had to work until 6am at his job as a fireman, so we weren't going to leave until 9:00am. That gave things time to clear up. But would it? The rain wasn't even showing up on radar at all, so there was no easy way to say if we would be starting out in the rain or not.

I threw on a rain jacket as I made final preparations. I had my nutrition packed away, which was the same as I used at Gravel Worlds- Epic Bars and Justin's Almond Butter packets. I had three water bottles aboard, and since we had plenty of water stop opportunities, I felt that was okay. Cues would go on the BarYak, and I had a brand new Banjo Brothers Waterproof Saddle Trunk, the redesigned one, on the back of the bike. I was prepared, and at about 8:50am, I bolted out the door to meet up with Tony.

It was raining very lightly, and I laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of doing a fat bike century, potentially in the rain. This could get real interesting! I made it to the meeting spot right at 9:00am, and Tony showed up right afterward. In the meantime, the rain turned to drizzle. That was a good sign.

Things were drippy and wet as we left town via the Sergeant Road bike path and Ranchero Road. 

We headed South down the Sergeant Road bike path and we were chatting away, happy to be out on our bicycles. In fact, we were so engrossed in our conversation that we completely blew the first turn on to Ranchero Road! I didn't realize it until we came up on to Shaulis Road and remembered we had to turn. Oh well! Bonus miles are better up front than near the end when you are tired and just want the ride to be over.

We found that the rain had completely quit, so before we even got West of Cedar Falls we peeled off our jackets and stowed them away. Then it was on out into the country. Our first town would not be until Dike, Iowa.

Despite the rains, we saw plenty of harvesting activity all day long.

Leaving Dike, Iowa.

Things were going smoothly. My low, 28T main drive cog wasn't slowing me down at all. Of course, I was in the three fastest gears on the cassette most of the time! The gravel was in great shape. No fresh stuff, and it was about as good as it gets to start out with. The skies were mostly overcast with temperatures in the lower 60's, which was fine, but it definitely wasn't a cheery atmosphere. It looked as though it could rain at any given time during the day, all day, while we were out there. We cruised right through Dike, Iowa, not needing to stop there. The next town out was Wellsburg.

Onward toward Wellsburg under grey skies.

You know you are near Wellsburg when you start seeing the wind machines. The town is surrounded by them.

First stop- Wellsburg's Casey's Convenience Store, of course!

We started seeing the wind machines and we knew we were within a few miles of Wellsburg, as it is surrounded by the things. I had been eating and drinking fairly regularly, but I was in need of topping off on water and I was hungry when we got to town.

At the Casey's Convenience Store, I picked up more water, a can of Coca-Cola, and a banana. That banana really hit the spot! With our business done, we saddled up and headed West again toward Eldora, which would be where we were to start going Northward on our giant loop. The roads were still in great shape, but the weather was cheerless. We had a slight quartering tailwind all the way out West as the wind was from the Northeast. It wasn't a big deal, as the wind was maybe only around 12mph or so with no gusts. The gently rolling hills did not present much of a challenge, and as things were remaining the same, mile after mile, and we weren't turning much, it became a test of mental fortitude. Just pushing the pedals round and round in a never changing sea of dried up corn and soybean plants.

Tony and I made the best of it by chatting and trying to figure out the local plant life in the ditches. I learned what "Snake Grass" was! It's always fun to learn new things and see stuff while out on the bike. Eventually we spied the Iowa River Valley off ahead of us and we knew that soon we would be in Eldora.

The Iowa River just North of Eldora

We reached the city and I had to stop a second to use the restroom at a park we had reached on a bicycle path. We ran into a local gent there that insisted we go to see their CCC/Prisoner of War Museum on the county fairgrounds. We politely deferred to when we could get there another time. After a bit of chatting, we set off out of Eldora Northward. You never know who you'll meet when you are out riding. That guy was definitely an "interesting character".

We didn't need food or water in Eldora and we had the option of hitting a small town further up the road if necessary, so since Tony and I were both good on supplies we made our way into our part of the course which would take in the Iowa River Valley. Tony and I have both ridden out this way before and we knew we were in for some big hills now.

The Iowa River Valley did not disappoint. It was beautiful and definitely very hilly. We had at least three big grunts going through there and the last one was a long, winding climb that had to be well over a mile long. Oh yeah......I used some of my cassette I hadn't touched all day yet through here! I will say that the 1 X 11 is a bit of a throwback in that the gearing jumps between shifts are big and it really affects your cadence. Not only that, but the jumps are not evenly gapped either, so it can kind of jar your legs and it throws off your cadence. I ended up gutting it out in maybe too high a gear several times because of the slight momentum losses between shifts just ended up slowing you down more.

A flooded field next to the Iowa River

More harvesting activity East and South of Ackley Iowa. We witnessed similar scenes all day.

West Friesland Presbyterian Church

Once out of the Iowa River Valley the route flattened out a bit with some rollers in place of the steep, long climbs. We skirted the South side of Ackley, but once again, we felt like we were doing well on supplies so we kept rolling. Tony suggested that if we found ourselves in dire straights that we could simply cut off North at the points where we passed Applington and Parkersburg if necessary. That meant we had an 8 mile run to the next corner we had to make. Then it was 13 mile stretch to the Casey's Convenience Store in New Hartford. When we reached the turn after 8 miles, I asked Tony if we could stop so I could swap bottles and take a short break, which we had not done since we left Eldora. He agreed that would be okay, so at a non-descript corner adjacent to a field of goats, we stopped for a bit.

One goat, that I thought looked like a small antelope, was outside the fence.

When we assessed our situation at the corner, we were not very encouraged. Tony drank the last of his water here, and I had one small bottle left. All the work of pushing these fat bikes, now against the wind as well, was taxing our reserves of energy. With 13 miles to go to a resupply, it didn't sound too bad, on the surface of it. However; when you've burnt a lot of matches to get there to that point, it is an entirely different set of circumstances.

This would prove to be the most difficult stretch for both of us. It didn't help that the rollers got bigger, and the gravel was a bit looser through here, but it was what it was. We just kept grinding up every hill and trying to coast when we could, which wasn't often. Mostly it was just pedal-pedal-pedal all the way in to New Hartford.

The long road to New Hartford was the toughest stretch of the 100 mile ride for the both of us.

Mile 88: Casey's Convenience Store at New Hartford

Coming up the last few miles of rollers were making my legs burn. I was out of water a few miles back, and my stomach was screaming for something to eat. I had an almond butter packet and an Epic bar left, but that wasn't going to cut it. I needed "real food" at this point. Tony was in the beginning stages of bonking and he was yo-yo-ing off the back as we approached New Hartford. We finally made it though, and I was really happy to see the place. Tony said it was the best looking Casey's he'd seen. I couldn't have agreed more at that point!

Tony started out with a whole pint of chocolate milk and some chicken fingers. I got my water and a slice of Canadian bacon pizza. I went back and had a small bottle of chocolate milk and a Coca-Cola. After about a half an hour's resting and refueling, we both felt like new men. Tony said, "It's amazing what a few groceries will do for a man." Yes....we were both revived and ready to tackle the last of this course. We fitted our lights before we set off and turned them on, as the overcast conditions were bringing darkness sooner than it would come otherwise. Now, to knock this thing out.....

The Cedar River Valley dead ahead. This was our last stretch of gravel before hitting pavement West of Cedar Falls.

The last miles were not at all easy. We may have felt better, but we still weren't fresh, and the danged road never ceased to climb up and up. At one point we hit a long grade that had to be close to two miles. Nothing steep, but after nearly 100 miles, it wasn't a welcomed incline! We finally hit Union Road and the end of gravel travel. We found the bike path at Union Road and Highway 57 and coasted down into Cedar Falls. At the point where we passed the Little Red Schoolhouse in Cedar Falls near Sturgis Park, we marked 100 miles.

Victory beer was had at Single Speed Brewery

Tony took a picture of his computer and I suggested we go get a beer. Tony was happy I said that so we went down to Single Speed Brewery and we each had a beer to celebrate our accomplishment. 100 miles on gravel using fat bikes is no easy feat, and I have to say that I wasn't sure I could pull that off, but we did. The day was certainly nothing spectacular as far as the weather went, but that didn't hinder us, and it probably helped make the ride a little easier than it could have been. The bikes worked pretty well, and we didn't have any major issues beyond barely escaping bonking out before New Hartford.

I still had to get home, and so did Tony. We finished up our beers and headed out into the night, as the Sun had set by that time. We rode together until Green Hill Road and there we parted ways. I rode the last couple of miles alone and I was thinking back upon what had just happened. I was pleased with how I rode and I am pretty happy about the day we had.

Looking back on it, maybe we should have peeled off in Ackley and rebooted on water, but in the end we were able to overcome that decision and finish strongly after the stop in New Hartford. Other than that and our initial missed turn to start out the day, there was nothing negative to say about the ride. My bike performed well, my tire choice was spot on, and the Bar Yak system afforded me a relieving position when I needed it. My left shoulder was a bit of an issue again though. It hurt from about halfway in and for the rest of the ride. Fortunately some Ibuprofen taken at the "goat field stop" took the edge off the pain. Nutrition was spot on again. Oh, and the flat pedals? Worked perfectly fine.

Fat bike century is now in the books. Now it is time to recover for a few days and get back after it again.

Fat Bike Century Report

My riding partner, Tony, was the instigator of this adventure.

The fat bike century ride happened on Saturday and started out in a bit of a surprising way.

It was raining!

That wasn't supposed to happen! I was a bit dismayed when I noticed that as I was preparing to go on Saturday morning. Tony had to work until 6am at his job as a fireman, so we weren't going to leave until 9:00am. That gave things time to clear up. But would it? The rain wasn't even showing up on radar at all, so there was no easy way to say if we would be starting out in the rain or not.

I threw on a rain jacket as I made final preparations. I had my nutrition packed away, which was the same as I used at Gravel Worlds- Epic Bars and Justin's Almond Butter packets. I had three water bottles aboard, and since we had plenty of water stop opportunities, I felt that was okay. Cues would go on the BarYak, and I had a brand new Banjo Brothers Waterproof Saddle Trunk, the redesigned one, on the back of the bike. I was prepared, and at about 8:50am, I bolted out the door to meet up with Tony.

It was raining very lightly, and I laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of doing a fat bike century, potentially in the rain. This could get real interesting! I made it to the meeting spot right at 9:00am, and Tony showed up right afterward. In the meantime, the rain turned to drizzle. That was a good sign.

Things were drippy and wet as we left town via the Sergeant Road bike path and Ranchero Road. 

We headed South down the Sergeant Road bike path and we were chatting away, happy to be out on our bicycles. In fact, we were so engrossed in our conversation that we completely blew the first turn on to Ranchero Road! I didn't realize it until we came up on to Shaulis Road and remembered we had to turn. Oh well! Bonus miles are better up front than near the end when you are tired and just want the ride to be over.

We found that the rain had completely quit, so before we even got West of Cedar Falls we peeled off our jackets and stowed them away. Then it was on out into the country. Our first town would not be until Dike, Iowa.

Despite the rains, we saw plenty of harvesting activity all day long.

Leaving Dike, Iowa.

Things were going smoothly. My low, 28T main drive cog wasn't slowing me down at all. Of course, I was in the three fastest gears on the cassette most of the time! The gravel was in great shape. No fresh stuff, and it was about as good as it gets to start out with. The skies were mostly overcast with temperatures in the lower 60's, which was fine, but it definitely wasn't a cheery atmosphere. It looked as though it could rain at any given time during the day, all day, while we were out there. We cruised right through Dike, Iowa, not needing to stop there. The next town out was Wellsburg.

Onward toward Wellsburg under grey skies.

You know you are near Wellsburg when you start seeing the wind machines. The town is surrounded by them.

First stop- Wellsburg's Casey's Convenience Store, of course!

We started seeing the wind machines and we knew we were within a few miles of Wellsburg, as it is surrounded by the things. I had been eating and drinking fairly regularly, but I was in need of topping off on water and I was hungry when we got to town.

At the Casey's Convenience Store, I picked up more water, a can of Coca-Cola, and a banana. That banana really hit the spot! With our business done, we saddled up and headed West again toward Eldora, which would be where we were to start going Northward on our giant loop. The roads were still in great shape, but the weather was cheerless. We had a slight quartering tailwind all the way out West as the wind was from the Northeast. It wasn't a big deal, as the wind was maybe only around 12mph or so with no gusts. The gently rolling hills did not present much of a challenge, and as things were remaining the same, mile after mile, and we weren't turning much, it became a test of mental fortitude. Just pushing the pedals round and round in a never changing sea of dried up corn and soybean plants.

Tony and I made the best of it by chatting and trying to figure out the local plant life in the ditches. I learned what "Snake Grass" was! It's always fun to learn new things and see stuff while out on the bike. Eventually we spied the Iowa River Valley off ahead of us and we knew that soon we would be in Eldora.

The Iowa River just North of Eldora

We reached the city and I had to stop a second to use the restroom at a park we had reached on a bicycle path. We ran into a local gent there that insisted we go to see their CCC/Prisoner of War Museum on the county fairgrounds. We politely deferred to when we could get there another time. After a bit of chatting, we set off out of Eldora Northward. You never know who you'll meet when you are out riding. That guy was definitely an "interesting character".

We didn't need food or water in Eldora and we had the option of hitting a small town further up the road if necessary, so since Tony and I were both good on supplies we made our way into our part of the course which would take in the Iowa River Valley. Tony and I have both ridden out this way before and we knew we were in for some big hills now.

The Iowa River Valley did not disappoint. It was beautiful and definitely very hilly. We had at least three big grunts going through there and the last one was a long, winding climb that had to be well over a mile long. Oh yeah......I used some of my cassette I hadn't touched all day yet through here! I will say that the 1 X 11 is a bit of a throwback in that the gearing jumps between shifts are big and it really affects your cadence. Not only that, but the jumps are not evenly gapped either, so it can kind of jar your legs and it throws off your cadence. I ended up gutting it out in maybe too high a gear several times because of the slight momentum losses between shifts just ended up slowing you down more.

A flooded field next to the Iowa River

More harvesting activity East and South of Ackley Iowa. We witnessed similar scenes all day.

West Friesland Presbyterian Church

Once out of the Iowa River Valley the route flattened out a bit with some rollers in place of the steep, long climbs. We skirted the South side of Ackley, but once again, we felt like we were doing well on supplies so we kept rolling. Tony suggested that if we found ourselves in dire straights that we could simply cut off North at the points where we passed Applington and Parkersburg if necessary. That meant we had an 8 mile run to the next corner we had to make. Then it was 13 mile stretch to the Casey's Convenience Store in New Hartford. When we reached the turn after 8 miles, I asked Tony if we could stop so I could swap bottles and take a short break, which we had not done since we left Eldora. He agreed that would be okay, so at a non-descript corner adjacent to a field of goats, we stopped for a bit.

One goat, that I thought looked like a small antelope, was outside the fence.

When we assessed our situation at the corner, we were not very encouraged. Tony drank the last of his water here, and I had one small bottle left. All the work of pushing these fat bikes, now against the wind as well, was taxing our reserves of energy. With 13 miles to go to a resupply, it didn't sound too bad, on the surface of it. However; when you've burnt a lot of matches to get there to that point, it is an entirely different set of circumstances.

This would prove to be the most difficult stretch for both of us. It didn't help that the rollers got bigger, and the gravel was a bit looser through here, but it was what it was. We just kept grinding up every hill and trying to coast when we could, which wasn't often. Mostly it was just pedal-pedal-pedal all the way in to New Hartford.

The long road to New Hartford was the toughest stretch of the 100 mile ride for the both of us.

Mile 88: Casey's Convenience Store at New Hartford

Coming up the last few miles of rollers were making my legs burn. I was out of water a few miles back, and my stomach was screaming for something to eat. I had an almond butter packet and an Epic bar left, but that wasn't going to cut it. I needed "real food" at this point. Tony was in the beginning stages of bonking and he was yo-yo-ing off the back as we approached New Hartford. We finally made it though, and I was really happy to see the place. Tony said it was the best looking Casey's he'd seen. I couldn't have agreed more at that point!

Tony started out with a whole pint of chocolate milk and some chicken fingers. I got my water and a slice of Canadian bacon pizza. I went back and had a small bottle of chocolate milk and a Coca-Cola. After about a half an hour's resting and refueling, we both felt like new men. Tony said, "It's amazing what a few groceries will do for a man." Yes....we were both revived and ready to tackle the last of this course. We fitted our lights before we set off and turned them on, as the overcast conditions were bringing darkness sooner than it would come otherwise. Now, to knock this thing out.....

The Cedar River Valley dead ahead. This was our last stretch of gravel before hitting pavement West of Cedar Falls.

The last miles were not at all easy. We may have felt better, but we still weren't fresh, and the danged road never ceased to climb up and up. At one point we hit a long grade that had to be close to two miles. Nothing steep, but after nearly 100 miles, it wasn't a welcomed incline! We finally hit Union Road and the end of gravel travel. We found the bike path at Union Road and Highway 57 and coasted down into Cedar Falls. At the point where we passed the Little Red Schoolhouse in Cedar Falls near Sturgis Park, we marked 100 miles.

Victory beer was had at Single Speed Brewery

Tony took a picture of his computer and I suggested we go get a beer. Tony was happy I said that so we went down to Single Speed Brewery and we each had a beer to celebrate our accomplishment. 100 miles on gravel using fat bikes is no easy feat, and I have to say that I wasn't sure I could pull that off, but we did. The day was certainly nothing spectacular as far as the weather went, but that didn't hinder us, and it probably helped make the ride a little easier than it could have been. The bikes worked pretty well, and we didn't have any major issues beyond barely escaping bonking out before New Hartford.

I still had to get home, and so did Tony. We finished up our beers and headed out into the night, as the Sun had set by that time. We rode together until Green Hill Road and there we parted ways. I rode the last couple of miles alone and I was thinking back upon what had just happened. I was pleased with how I rode and I am pretty happy about the day we had.

Looking back on it, maybe we should have peeled off in Ackley and rebooted on water, but in the end we were able to overcome that decision and finish strongly after the stop in New Hartford. Other than that and our initial missed turn to start out the day, there was nothing negative to say about the ride. My bike performed well, my tire choice was spot on, and the Bar Yak system afforded me a relieving position when I needed it. My left shoulder was a bit of an issue again though. It hurt from about halfway in and for the rest of the ride. Fortunately some Ibuprofen taken at the "goat field stop" took the edge off the pain. Nutrition was spot on again. Oh, and the flat pedals? Worked perfectly fine.

Fat bike century is now in the books. Now it is time to recover for a few days and get back after it again.