Drop Bar MTB's To Take Over Leadville 100

From Dylan Johnson's Face Book post. 

 Drop bar mountain bikes seem set to be a big deal amongst the Pro level riders at the Leadville 100, set to occur next weekend. The trend toward using bicycles like this has been slowly gaining traction.  This year it has been said, by at least on top competitor in the event, that this trend is about to blow the top off preconceived notions about drop bar MTB's in races.

One of the most commonly referred to examples of drop bar MTB use in the past is John Tomac. He did use a drop bar fitted to a standard, for his day, mountain bike in the 1990 season while racing for the Yeti brand. John won the first event he used a drop bar Yeti for and continued to use a drop bar Yeti C-26 bike throughout the 1990 season. 

While it is widely known Tomac did this, it is not widely understood why he did  use the drop bar. A quote from him, found online, is illuminating and may kind of douse some of the reasoning people like to use when they refer to Tomac's use of a drop bar MTB. He said, " I ran the drop bars so that I could keep the same position as I had on my road bike." Tomac had spent the previous season racing for the 7-11 road team, and his form was developed on a drop bar road bike, so the reasoning was to keep his form on the road and transfer it over to MTB, which he felt was predicated on his position on the bike. 

It wasn't necessarily because he felt drop bars were an advantage over flat bars, and Tomac did eventually return to flat bars after his dalliance with drop bar MTB usage for the remainder of his storied career.

So, to my mind, Tomac is not a very good example for drop bar MTB usage. But drop bar MTB use today is on the rise and it isn't "fashion" or a way to preserve a road fitness/positioning. There is data out there showing the advantages. A Face Book post recently by Dylan Johnson claims this new data and a top placing last year by a racer using such a set up is pushing more top riders into seriously considering a drop bar MTB for the event.

Is this just a Leadville thing, or will we start seeing this appear at more events outside of the high-altitude, mountain event? What would this sort of thing do for gravel events where having "real suspension" performance prove to be an advantage? It is an interesting development, wherever this trend ends up going and worth keeping an eye on. 

Sea Otter: Left-Overs

Vittoria's T50 gravel tire (Image courtesy of Vittoria)

Vittoria Simplifies Tire Names, Introduces New T50 Tire:

Vittoria is going to move away from its current naming conventions for its gravel tire line up. Apparently the Mezcal will also be switching to this new way of naming Vittoria's gravel range.

In effect, the new naming convention will help riders determine what tire is best for their riding intentions. So, a smoother, faster tire, like the Terreno Zero, will be a T10. Something more aggressive will have a much higher "T" score going all the way to 100. Vittoria will support this with a "tire-finder" on their site which will ask riders questions to help funnel them to tires which fit their riding needs best.

To illustrate this range we have the new Terreno T50, so, a tire right smack-dab in the middle of the new range and as one would expect, is being marketed as an all-arounder.  This tire is punture-protected, has a sidewall protection, and will come in a new "tan" sidewall along with the standard black. Gone are the grey sidewalls of the past. This tire currently is only offered in 700 x 40mm.

Comments: Okay...... I don't know if this new tire-finder way of naming these tires will make all that much difference. Initially, as Vittoria works through changing the range this Summer, my thought would be if someone is looking for a Mezcal and doesn't see any, (because now it is a "T" something tire), they won't buy Vittoria. But maybe the "Mezcal" part lives alongside the "T" bit for awhile, easing the transition. Otherwise, I don't see this "T" thing as a big benefit to the consumer. Most riders are going to listen to their group-think advisors online anyway, since bike shops are fading, and media cannot possibly cover every tire.

Moots Routt in the California Dreamin' ano scheme. (Image courtesy of Moots)

Moots Calfornia Dreamin' Limited Edition Routt:

Look at it. It is anodized titanium, high-end parts, and costs an eye-watering amount of money. Twenty-five will be made available by Moots. It's called "California Dreamin'". Got it....

Moving on.... 

Image courtesy of Maxxis Tires

Maxxis Debuts New Compound Across Gravel Tire Range:

Maxxis Tires announced a new compound for their rubber used across their four tire gravel range. Called "HYPR-X", this new compound is going to be integrated throughout the range during 2025.

The new compound borrows from Maxxis' HYPR road tire compound which is known for low rolling resistance. This is mixed with Maxxis' XC racing tire compound called "MaxxisSpeed". The result will be a tough, low rolling resistance compound for gravel.

Maxxis claims the new gravel oriented HYPR-X will lend riders 19% better cornering traction over the previous compound used and 25% less rolling resistance.  A new, even stronger Nylon will be used for the casings in the 120TPI tires which Maxxis says will "vastly increase tread durability". The EXO sidewall protection will also be applied to the range. All sizes in the gravel range will now be tubeless ready. Note the new tire hot patches, which will replace current branding. All tires will ship in new, recyclable paper packaging as well.

The Reaver and Rambler in 700 x 45mm will be the first to get the new compound  and casing with the other tires and sizes in the range to follow. See more on Maxxis' site. 

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Salsa Revamps Full Sus Range:

Salsa Cycles announced last Thursday they had revamped the entire full suspension range of bikes, including e-bike FS. I'm not going to go into detail on the entire range, but I will speak to the one bike in the whole range which I found interesting: The 'entry level' Spearfish C Eagle Transmission.

 This bike has 120mm front/rear travel via Rock Shox SID range dampers. Decent wheels and tires, a good geometry, and that 'Dusty Rose' hue looks pretty cool.

Comments: I am amused this bike costs 5G. The range-topping Spearfish C DLX XO is over twice as expensive. So....I could buy two C Eagle Transmission models and have money left over compared to the XO model?

Ridiculous. How did we get here?  

Courtesy of Sage Titanium's Instagram

Sage Titanium "Dropinator" Points To MTB Trend In Gravel:

Sage Titanium showed off a new bike at Sea Otter which grafted gravel bike geometry with a 100mm suspension fork. The bike dubbed "The Dropinator" also has  a dropper seat post, 1X SRAM drive train, and Rock Shox Attendant Control electronics for the fork and dropper post. 

Comments: As I have often stated here on these digital pages, 40mm - 50mm of "gravel suspension fork t5ravel" is functionally useless. You can see here 100mm is where the action is going to be, that is if this takes off as a "thing".  

I've also said the Fargo/Cutthroat class of drop bar MTB was already doing this sort of job, but what I see here is a trend toward taking the concept to a racier, lighter chassis than a bikepacking bike has.

But in the end, this all points to what is happening in the upper echelons of Pro XC MTB, just with a drop bar variant thrown in. Keeping in mind this bicycle debuted at an event which had been a XC MTB event up until this year. Does this have any bearing on the reason the bike exists? Possibly, but I think more so this points, once again, to "gravel" being the hot ticket. If we can disguise a hard tail XC rocket ship as a drop bar gravel bike with a suspension fork and call it "monster gravel", or whatever they end up calling this concept, then you have something to get folks excited about.

In the end, I think this concept is fine. I did something similar with a Gen 2 Fargo and an 80mm travel Reba fork once. But it was not a "gravel bike".  It just wasn't the same on actual unpaved roads, which is where a gravel bike really shines. Drop bar MTB is really cool, and I do like it, but again - this Sage model and bikes like this are a drop bar MTB bikes. Let's not kid ourselves here.

Two Things

Fat Tires For Gravel? Nothing New, Maybe Not The Best Thing Either...

Besides cycling media, racers, and brands harping on "aero" lately, I've seen a lot of digital space given to running mountain bike tires as "gravel tires" on "gravel bikes". Okay, so here's my opinion on all of this.

First of all, most  "gravel bikes" are not, and should not be racing bikes for gravel. Just as all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares. Also, not everyone should be looking to racers, or gravel racing, for their direction to take for riding a bicycle on gravel. 

However; this has been, and still is modus operandi for the cycling industry in the USA. Everything revolves around racing, to the great detriment of the average cyclist and those who might become cyclists. (I know, I probably sound like Grant Petersen here) What is happening in "gravel" cycling now is a repeat of the story which happened to road cycling and mountain biking. Competitive ______ racing (fill in the blank) is the measuring stick for ALL ______ biking (fill in the blank) cyclists. The equipment is put up as the "best", and all the things racers do are "better" for you, (even though you probably are the furthest thing from those Professional racers) and their actions and equipment are the goals you are to attain to. 

This is one of the main drivers for all the weird standards, ill fitting bike designs (ill fitting for average shaped humans), and expensive bicycles. But bringing it back to the tire thing, some racer said MTB tires are "better" for gravel, and there is "no reason" to race gravel on 40mm tires. Here's the really bad part about this sort of messaging.

Most people don't consider the source and the context of commentary like this. Maybe for a particular course, and for a small handful of humans who are professional (read: Have tons of time to train, are sponsored, or paid to race) these recommendations may have some merit. But telling me not to consider 40mm tires for gravel racing is pretty bogus. What if the bike I have to "race gravel on" is also my daily driver? Maybe I have pavement for long stretches of my ride, or I commute. A MTB tire at 29" X 2.2" is kinda "not the right tire", perhaps? 

And no - none of what these racers are saying about gravel racing in terms of tires is "new". These racers, and many who are influenced by these racers just don't know what they don't know. That is a completely different story for another day. Point is, if you are not a professional racer, you may want to sift what they suggest very carefully before jumping on their bandwagon. 

Or not...... 

 When It Becomes "Not An All - Roads Bike", What Is It?

Image courtesy of Ridley Bikes

This fat tire gravel thing is leading some down a road which looks suspiciously like XC mountain biking with drop bars. I reported on the Ridley bike in a recent FN&V here. Ridley call this concept "Alpine Gravel"

Another online cycling media outlet asked if full-suspension gravel bikes were the "vision" going forward for gravel bikes.

A certain photographer I follow on social media answered back with, "You mean a drop-bar mountain bike? No." 

Some people have far more sense than the media, or cycling brands give them credit for. Just about anyone with a decent amount of time in mountain biking, gravel riding, or cycling in general can see right through all of this crap. The thing is, most of these brands and media sources don't really care. Their narrative will win out the day eventually if they keep banging the drum for whatever they deem is "The Next Big Thing" and as long as it sells units.

Drop bar mountain bikes, in and of themselves, are not a 'bad' thing. What is wrong about this is how these bikes are being sold to the naive cyclist as something 'new' and different. An XC mountain bike hard tail with drop bars is nothing new. Not even one with 29"er wheels. And especially in this instance, it is laughable to try to push this narrative.

These bikes also do not really fit the originally intended purposes of what became known as "gravel bikes". In the beginnings of all of this, the idea was to have a bicycle which would cover the area between single track and fully paved roads. A bicycle for roads, no matter what their surface was. Not single track. Not mountainous, rock infested terrain. We already had mountain bikes for this activity. We already had great choices for bicycles which did well on fully paved roads.

Somewhere along the way we have been asked to think gravel bikes are mountain bikes as well. Why? Maybe because gravel is a hot category, and XC MTB is not? Yes.....that's pretty much it right there. 

NOTE: Next week a lot of press releases come off embargo previous to Sea Otter. I'll have some news posting at odd times. Thank you for your patience in this matter and for reading Guitar Ted Productions

Two Things (Again)

Sometimes I see a couple of things after I have already fleshed out my "FN&V" for the week. I think about passing it by, but then I feel like I need to say something and write it up because......that's how I am wired. I need to express myself in writing. (You're welcome) So this may become a series here, or it may not. Stay tuned on that idea.... 

SILCA Sponsors Gravel Worlds:

Gravel Worlds picked up another sponsor last week in SILCA. That company is now Gravel Worlds "official" lube, bar tape, pump, yada,yada,yadda.... 

This is interesting as I proclaimed that SILCA's Super-Secret Lube is my winner overall in the Guitar Ted Lube-Off, a process of finding a dry conditions lube that has been ongoing here on the blog for over a decade. 

The two things are definitely not tied together in any way. That Gravel Worlds arranged for SILCA's sponsorship of their event is a completely different and separate occurrence from my deal here. I just wanted to make that clear right up front.

But I am happy that Gravel Worlds picked up a sponsorship from SILCA. They do actually make really high quality things for cycling. I have great experiences with almost everything I've tried from SILCA. the exception being that tool roll they sell, which was sub-par for gravel riding. 

Otherwise, I was always pretty pleased with anything I received from, or purchased from SILCA. I have not tried their handle bar tape yet, but that is on my radar to do at some point. Anyway, check out SILCA's stuff. Yes- it is very expensive. But I believe it is very much worth the prices they charge.

Image courtesy of YT Industries

When Using The term "Gravel" Gets Out Of Control:

YT Industries released a "gravel" bike on Thursday to much fanfare from the endemic cycling media. I gave it a cursory mention on Riding Gravel's Facebook page. But here is the deal: That ain't no gravel bike. 

I get that people are "underbiking" to trails and that there is a certain amount of "fun" in drop bar biking a single track trail. Just call it what it is, drop bar MTB, and leave the whole "gravel" tag off there.

"But wait! It won't sell if we try to be 100% honest about what this is", they might say, and to that I say, "Well, misleading the people isn't going to work in the end."  The YT bike is a poorly executed drop bar MTB. It is the furthest thing from an all-roads bike that I can imagine. 

You might be thinking I am a curmudgeon and just an old fart that needs to step aside. But I would reply to that by saying "words matter" and calling a gravity sled with drop bars and poor tire clearance with a very incapable fork a "gravel bike" is maybe about marketing to gain a buck, and not about what is really a gravel bike. It is weird at best and an intentional misrepresentation to gain profits at the worst. Probably the fact is that the YT people fully believe that this bike is a "gravel bike" somehow, but this is such a stretch as to be ludicrous. 

You'd be better off "underbiking" on a retro 1990's MTB with drop bars than this rig. 

Two Things (Again)

Sometimes I see a couple of things after I have already fleshed out my "FN&V" for the week. I think about passing it by, but then I feel like I need to say something and write it up because......that's how I am wired. I need to express myself in writing. (You're welcome) So this may become a series here, or it may not. Stay tuned on that idea.... 

SILCA Sponsors Gravel Worlds:

Gravel Worlds picked up another sponsor last week in SILCA. That company is now Gravel Worlds "official" lube, bar tape, pump, yada,yada,yadda.... 

This is interesting as I proclaimed that SILCA's Super-Secret Lube is my winner overall in the Guitar Ted Lube-Off, a process of finding a dry conditions lube that has been ongoing here on the blog for over a decade. 

The two things are definitely not tied together in any way. That Gravel Worlds arranged for SILCA's sponsorship of their event is a completely different and separate occurrence from my deal here. I just wanted to make that clear right up front.

But I am happy that Gravel Worlds picked up a sponsorship from SILCA. They do actually make really high quality things for cycling. I have great experiences with almost everything I've tried from SILCA. the exception being that tool roll they sell, which was sub-par for gravel riding. 

Otherwise, I was always pretty pleased with anything I received from, or purchased from SILCA. I have not tried their handle bar tape yet, but that is on my radar to do at some point. Anyway, check out SILCA's stuff. Yes- it is very expensive. But I believe it is very much worth the prices they charge.

Image courtesy of YT Industries

When Using The term "Gravel" Gets Out Of Control:

YT Industries released a "gravel" bike on Thursday to much fanfare from the endemic cycling media. I gave it a cursory mention on Riding Gravel's Facebook page. But here is the deal: That ain't no gravel bike. 

I get that people are "underbiking" to trails and that there is a certain amount of "fun" in drop bar biking a single track trail. Just call it what it is, drop bar MTB, and leave the whole "gravel" tag off there.

"But wait! It won't sell if we try to be 100% honest about what this is", they might say, and to that I say, "Well, misleading the people isn't going to work in the end."  The YT bike is a poorly executed drop bar MTB. It is the furthest thing from an all-roads bike that I can imagine. 

You might be thinking I am a curmudgeon and just an old fart that needs to step aside. But I would reply to that by saying "words matter" and calling a gravity sled with drop bars and poor tire clearance with a very incapable fork a "gravel bike" is maybe about marketing to gain a buck, and not about what is really a gravel bike. It is weird at best and an intentional misrepresentation to gain profits at the worst. Probably the fact is that the YT people fully believe that this bike is a "gravel bike" somehow, but this is such a stretch as to be ludicrous. 

You'd be better off "underbiking" on a retro 1990's MTB with drop bars than this rig.