Regulations Hit E-Bikers In New Jersey

E-bike repair que at a Chicago shop

Electric motors on assisted bicycles or on throttle controlled bicycles (mopeds) have finally been abused to the point which a state has taken the measures in their legislature to govern their existence. New Jersey's governor signed a bill into law on this day a week ago which now will require licensing, registration, and insurance, just like any other motor vehicle. 

The measure was precipitated by the recent loss of life of a 13 year old this past September who was hit by a vehicle while the youth was riding an electric motorized bicycle. 

The law, which New Jersey e-bike owners will have six months to comply with, will also regulate age of the operator at 17 years and the operator of any electrified bicycle will have to have a valid drivers license. 

The details of the story can be read online at "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" HERE. 

Comments: First of all, thanks to Ari Andonopuolos for today's image. He sent this to me to show what he was seeing most often for repairs in a shop in Chicago. Those sure do not look like mainstream, pedal assist electric bicycles, do they? 

Comments on the stories I have seen on this development are mostly pointing fingers at these sorts of "bicycles" and how "online sales are pushing illegal e-bikes into the marketplace". The commenters are saying this is why we cannot have nice things when it comes to electrified bicycles. But really, if this is the reason for this law being passed, or one of the reasons, are the sellers to blame? 

Certainly, this may be seen as an unintended circumstance in the economy of the e-bike. However; when there was a void in the marketplace in terms of low pricing and availability, it is no wonder some companies stepped in to fill the demand. 

The demand..... Yes, it was the consumer who was the conduit for these "more-motorcycle-like" e-bikes to be coming into the system. Bicycle shops could not serve this demand, and so who fills that vacuum? The consumer has some responsibility here. 

In the end, this e-bike thing is evolving along the lines which I always figured it would go. Eventually we get to a place where it is easier for government to legislate rules and enforce laws regulating these vehicles. It sure looks like it is happening now.  

The "ALSO" Seeks To Redefine What A Bicycle Is

Image courtesy of ALSO

 Recently a two-wheeled electrified vehicle has been introduced by a company called "ALSO". Backed by electric car company Rivian, it shares several design cues from the brand, most notably in its oval, head tube mounted LED light. 

However; unlike almost every other eBike, ALSO is a decoupled, software driven design which can amplify a rider's pedaling forces up to 10X, or be ridden like a motorcycle. 

Limited to 28mph, making it a Class 3 by law, the ALSO is perhaps the first eBike with no mechanical connection to the pedals. This is a grey area in that the pedals are not mechanically "assisted" by electric motor power. Rather, the rider's input is measured and software determines the amount of "assist" to the rear wheel  In a way, the cranks are really doing the same things a "throttle" on a typical throttle based eBike is doing. Namely, determining final output to the rear wheel. It is not the same, or even similar to, riding a 100% human powered bicycle. In fact, since it cannot be moved in a mechanical sense by pedaling, is it even a bicycle at this point? Maybe it is a high-tech scooter? 

Besides the odd drive train, the vehicle has 120mm of front and rear suspension with 24" wheels. The range can be up to 100 miles, even with heavy reliance on the battery. (Or less rider amplification?) The battery is unique in that it is its own separate module. It can be recharged outside the confines of the bike, and it can even double as a power brick for other devices. 

The ALSO features native "dashboard" computer  with read-outs for typical cycling information, built in navigation, just like a car would have, and it even has satellite radio capabilities with the typical Bluetooth connectivity to play your favorite music playlists or podcasts. The aforementioned lights make it night ride-ready with a powerful headlamp and tail light. It can carry up to 324lbs (including the rider), and the "upper frame" module can be changed to configure the ALSO into a baby hauler, grocery-getter, or trail MTB all with the same chassis. 

There is a LOT going on here, so hit this LINK to learn more, if you are interested in this $4,500.00 two wheeled contraption.  

Comments:  Besides the question over what this is, I find the concept totally intriguing. This further defines why traditional bicycle companies are not connecting with the changing expectations of consumers. The Rivian connection here also exemplifies why some "out-of-the-box" thinking might be advantageous for the Treks and Specializeds of the traditional cycling world. Their offerings in a similar price range cannot come close to matching the feature-laden and versatility laden design of the ALSO. 

But then again, the bicycle based efforts of the traditionalists are, well.....bicycles. You can ride them without the battery being on. However; this also begs the questions: Do these things have to be bicycles at all? Is this what consumers really want? 

Apparent ALSO feels the bicycle part is far less important than we might think.  

Two Things

Clik Valves from Wolf Tooth (Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth)

 Clik Valve Gains Traction:

On Thursday Wolf Tooth  Components released news that they are supporting Clik Valve with a mini-pump, tubeless valve stems, and cores to convert Presta valves along with pump heads.

Of course, I am testing Clik Valve on a wheel set along with a pump I have converted over to the system. You can read my latest update on the system HERE, but suffice it to say that I am bullish on this new standard. 

I'm also trying out the Stan's Exo Core valve stems, a "traditional" valve in the sense that it works with standard issue pumps, such as you may already have. The idea being that they flow a higher volume of air due to their unique design.  

Which is better? Well, the better question is "Which is easier to use?" Also, which would create more satisfaction with newer users? In my opinion the answer is Clik Valve with no debate. Both the Stan's and Clik Valves flow air quite well, so I think this is a bit of a wash, but if you want to use tire inserts, I'd stick with something like Stan's valves for now. However; I've no doubt, given the ease of use of the Clik Valve, that this system will end up finding favor with many casual cyclists and cycling enthusiasts alike.

From an email sent to me by a Trek dealer

How Long Before We Need A License & Insurance?

Trek dealers are email-blasting their customer lists concerning this new eBike with a throttle control which, apparently, does not require "assist".

The new Trek FS+ 1S also comes with turn signals and brake lights. Coupled with the throttle, what does this make you think of?

I can't blame Trek. I mean, how many other niche eBike companies offer something like this, and have, for well over five years now? Trek, and other traditional human-powered bicycle purveyors wanted to pretend for years that "assist" was going to be what appealed to riders. And make no mistake, it does to cyclists. But many people who are buying brands like Aventon, Rad Power, and others of this ilk are not typically "cyclists" in the sense that they were/are rabid about pedaling something with two wheels.

Of course, there are exceptions, and spare me all the "If it weren't for eBikes I/my____ wouldn't be riding" stories. I get it. This matters. I'm not talking about this use scenario. I'm speaking about the perceptions "non-traditional", shall we say, cyclists are looking at this type of product.

This user group outweighs the "need to pedal" group by a large margin, at least around here. I also hear this from other areas of the country. Mechanics reporting how eBike users slam the bike into the highest gear, and leverage the motor to do "work". Reports of throttle eBike users who never turn the crank arms. Users who are clearly disregarding traditional cycling "rules" on their eBikes, if they ever knew the protocols in the first place.

Younger folks who see eBikes as the "latest tech" and traditional 100% human powered bikes as "antiques" akin to penny farthings. These user groups want to sit and be moved. They are not very interested in "working to move". I'm not saying they are "lazy", nor am I saying they are "cheating", but humans take the path of least resistance, given the choice, and throttles are easier. Period.

I've said it all along. These motorized bikes would eventually evolve into electric motorcycles. This new Trek does nothing to convince me otherwise.

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Keith Bontrager's social media.

"First Bontrager bike with a license plate."

  Since the advent of putting electric motors on bicycles, I have posited this idea would evolve into fully electric powered, two-wheeled vehicles. It would appear that Keith Bontrager, now retired, has been tinkering with just such an idea and has published an article on Medium detailing his efforts.

The article is long and essentially takes you from Bontrager's initial thoughts on electrified bicycles through his evolutions in prototyping and finally to a vision for the future which he feels will pull more people out of cars and on to two-wheeled transportation. 

This quote is pretty much the overall philosophy he has regarding pedelecs versus fully motorized two-wheeled vehicles: "An electrically powered bike without the pedals is likely to appeal to a large portion of the population who are not too wild about pedaling a bike around. If pedaling is not important to those folks, why not just remove them. That will reduce cost and complexity, and add useful cargo space."

Comments: I urge you to read Keith's words and caution you that much of it is technical in nature, but will reveal a reality I think is coming. That being the fully-electrified, no-pedaling vehicles with two wheels which will be what people really want. Cyclists will have a hard time with this, yes, but Keith's vision is what will be successful in the end, not restricting electrified two-wheeled vehicles to having to be pedaled.

Image courtesy of Black Mountain cycles

Black Mountain Cycles Reissues Road Frame/Fork:

Five years ago Mike Varley of Black Mountain Cycles discontinued the Road frame and fork from his steel bicycle line.  However; interest in having more made for the Japanese market has sparked a reissuing of the frame and fork in its original colors

The frame and fork can handle 32mm tires with ease, maybe 35's, and has fender mounts. This is a 'true road bike' so only caliper brakes here. The price is tentatively set at $895.00 USD depending on "what the hell" goes on with tariffs. 

You can learn more from the BMC Road page HERE. 

Comments: I usually do not talk much about pure road bicycles here, but I do have two BMC's for gravel and they both have been excellent bicycles. I have seen one of the original BMC Road bikes up close and they look really nice. I've been told they ride even better than they look. For the asking price, this is a killer deal and would be a better bike than whatever aero nonsense bike you can name would be for most riders.

Hmm.... I have an old Colnago which can run wider tires but for the fork I have on it now. This bike would solve my road bike issues and have tires the size I'd actually want to ride.  Very tempting....

Image courtesy of GRVL

GRVL Hydration Packs:

GRVL, a newer name in the market for gravel riding aficionados, has just introduced a new hydration pack for gravel riding. Featuring recycled materials in its construction, the pack is made to allow for ease of use and to provide the usual hydration pack benefit of having a water/hydration fluid available to the rider without reaching down for a water bottle. Many riders say a hydration pack makes them drink more due to the ease of accessibility to their hydration fluids. 

Other benefits and features include:

•  Hydration Bladder Included – Easily removable for convenientfilling and cleaning.

● Tailored Fit – Adjustable shoulder and waist straps with
elasticated sections provide a snug, comfortable fit that
allows for unrestricted movement and breathability.
● Quick-Release Harness – A simple 1-click, 4-point system for
effortless on-and-off functionality.
● Secure Storage – One large zippered compartment for the
hydration bladder and essentials, plus a hanging loop for easy
drying and storage.
● Reflective Detailing – Enhancing visibility for early morning
and late evening rides.

The GRVL Hydration Pack costs approximately $127.00USD depending on tariff situations at the time of ordering.

Comments: Hydration packs have always made a lot of sense for many riders. This version of the idea looks great, is made responsibly, and should work well. One thing - They only offer this to fit "up to" a 44" chest size. Well.....that leaves me out. Also, the I find their lack of vowels.......annoying.

Shimano 100 Works Book:

An incredible gift from a former co-worker and blog reader came on Tuesday of this past week. It is a 'coffee table' book of Shimano's 100 "best" products celebrating 100 years of Shimano's existence back in 2021.

According to my research, which could be wrong, this book was made available by lottery to those who entered to possibly be chosen to purchase one of 100 copies of the book which were published.

In following with the theme of 100, these books originally went for $100.00 dollars each, if you were chosen to buy one. I have seen a few on ebay with higher asking prices, so if you were to want to get one, it is possible, I guess.

I've no idea how my benefactor was able to get a hold of this, but obviously he did and now I have it in my possession. It is pretty humbling to think someone would want to buy this for me.

So, a public "thank you" was necessary and you know who you are who deserves this acknowledgement. Thank you!

Where We Came From:

In case you missed it, another couple of podcasts dropped this week in the "Where We Came From" series which is a podcast and blog post series describing how gravel cycling came to be, who were it's movers and shakers back in the day, and how things were done back then which led to the dominance of gravel cycling we know now in 2025.

On the occasion of Trans Iowa's 20th anniversary, I interviewed Jeff Kerkove, the co-founder of the event and one of the main influencers of how events were done  back then. In this episode you'll get Jeff's remembrances of how the event came together, his background as a cyclist which was important to getting gravel cycling and culture headed in the direction it ultimately went, and his thoughts on Trans Iowa's influence.

That episode can be listened to on Spotify HERE or you can get it on your favorite podcast provider platform. 

Next in the series we were able to corral a local gravel grinding pioneer, Mike Johnson, and get his take on how the early gravel scene worked and what he used to conquer events like Trans Iowa, the DK200, and other events leading up to his successful Tour Divide attempt. 

Mike shared what it was like before there were gravel specific tires, bicycles, and accessories. How nutrition needed to be figured out for ultra-distance events. Things like lighting, mud clearing, and clothing were all unknowns facing these early gravel pioneers and Mike was giving us great examples of these challenges they all faced as gravel grinders.

If you want to give this episode a listen you can check it out on Spotify HERE. 

Both these podcasts also help mark the 20th anniversary of the first Trans Iowa. I could have chosen many others to do this with, but this came together in a hurry and it worked out well for all involved. I suspect others from this era of Trans Iowa and gravel events in general will get their shot at telling their stories as long as we can record them. Stay tuned for more...

That is a wrap on this week! Get out there and ride some bicycles!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of KOM

 A "Thinking Outside Of The Box" FN&V

 KOM Xeno Hubs Redefine Rear Hub Technology:

A U.K. based company called KOM is attempting to redefine how rear hubs will look and work in the future with its Xeno hubset. 

Boasting a revolutionary design which places the ratcheting pawls, which allow for coasting, on the non-drive side of the hub, the Xeno hubs are a very different take on bicycle hubs. The hub uses a kind of torque tube, which transfers the power of pedaling to the other side of the hub from the cassette carrier. It is nothing like a traditional hub design.

The one-piece, tubular axle is supported by bearings which can be placed more outboard than can be with a traditional design, making for a claimed stiffer axle. This all results in a design which can take advantage of lighter materials and larger diameters for the axles and ratchet ring.

What is really wild about these Xeno hubs are the pawls, which are made from aluminum. KOM claims this is okay because the larger diameter of the system lends more leverage and thus a lighter material can be utilized without sacrificing strength necessary for transmitting pedaling forces. KOM claims the aluminum pawls have less inertia allowing for faster engagement of the 120 points of contact.

Of course, there is a compromise. This design necessitates a different disc rotor due to the non-standard diameter of the hub axle.  KOM sells a rotor with each hub which compensates for this. These are claimed to be lighter than usual rotors, again due to the diameter of the hub, and stiffer because the rotor mounting point is closer to the brake calipers. A unique four bolt mounting pattern is used as well.

Cost for a standard color (silver or black) hub set (front and rear Xeno design)  is approximately $1.100.00USD. Custom colored sets are available as well for an upcharge. 

 Comments: The Xeno hubs are MTB specific for now, but if something like this idea shows merit, it could be applied to other types of bicycles as well. Yes, the disc mount is odd, but this idea makes sense on the surface. If this idea proves to be worthwhile in the long haul there are several benefits to riders which standard hubs cannot provide. Obviously the prices would have to come down a lot for anything like this to become mainstream. Something to watch and see if it takes root here, I think. 

Image courtesy of KAV Helmets

KAV Helmets Redefines Helmet Fit, Tech With 3D Printing:

The helmet technology we ride with today is based upon materials and construction techniques developed decades ago. KAV Helmets looks to break this mold with their range of 3D printed helmets which boast several advantages, the most impressive being a customized fit for each purchaser of their helmets.

KAV Helmets offer a rider the chance to get a helmet which is claimed to be as aerodynamic as anything available, better at cooling your head, and made to fit your head. They do this by leveraging 3D printing.

Utilizing "crumple zone" design, KAV claims their helmets are nearly 3 times better at absorbing impacts. Using a hexagonal design, their helmets shear as well as crumple, which does basically the same thing as MIPS tries to achieve.

Their custom fit allows each helmet to be tailor made for its rider. KAV achieves this by sending you a link to an app after purchase which the customer uses to take an image of their head. The app maps the head and allows KAV to create a custom "Fit Cap" which is sent out to the customer for trial fitting. Once any changes are suggested and the cap is approved then KAV 3D prints your helmet and sends it to you. 

All this sounds incredibly expensive, but looking at the prices, the KAV range falls in line with most helmet company's top-range offerings with KAV helmets starting at $225.00USD and going up to $300.00USD. All manufacturing is based in the USA as well.

Comments: I've got an odd-shaped, BIG noggin, and this technology and manufacturing technique sounds pretty interesting. I'm considering it for myself.  

Image courtesy of Morelle 

Fast Charging In 15 Minutes?

Another outside of the box cycling product which soon might revolutionize things is from Morelle. An ebike that claims a fast charge of 15 minutes.

Using a silicon based battery instead of a graphite one, along with some other electronic wizardry, Morelle promises a bike you will be able to ride and recharge the battery in without much down time, which will allow riders to push the limits of range more than perhaps they do now with slower recharging rates.

Morelle hopes to move into more micro-mobility areas and energy storage systems but this product is a kind of proof-of-concept exercise to show their ideas work. You may have seen Gary Fisher touting the benefits of Morelle recently and he is a part of the company. The first concept bike was shown recently at Sea Otter.

The Morelle bike will go for 3K but if you are interested in having one you have to reserve one now for 2026 delivery. You can check the bike out HERE. 

Image courtesy of Lezyne.

Lezyne To Release Clik Valve Compatible Inflation Range:

Readers of the blog might be familiar with my ongoing review of Clik Valves and inflation accessories.  One of the negatives for switching over to these valves and valve cores is the dearth of choices in inflation tools which will interface with Clik Valves.

This will be relieved a bit now that Lezyne has committed to partnering with Clik Valve to introduce a range of inflation tools which will interface with the Clik Valve standard. These devices will include mini-pumps, floor pumps, and CO2 adapters for quick repairs in the field.

Details on the partnership can be read on Lezyne's site HERE.

Comments: You love to see it and this should give Clik Valve a big boost in acceptance. Personally, I feel Clik Valve is head and shoulders better than any other valve type and should replace what we are using now. Especially for newer cyclists who may find Presta valves off-putting, and many do in my experience. Clik Valve solves all the negativity around Presta and is easier to use than it and Schrader valves. 

I am looking for a tubeless valve stem offerings from other companies to be developed at this point and if this happens I think I'll start switching over to Clik Valve. I'll have more on my review coming later in the season. 

Iowa Wind And Rock Event This Weekend:

The successor to Trans Iowa, Iowa Wind And Rock, happens starting tomorrow at 4:00am in the morning and will continue on through Saturday, Saturday evening, and into Sunday ending at 2:00pm in the afternoon. 

An event navigated by cue sheet, this oddball of a gravel race is definitely "outside the box" in terms of the gravel racing/riding scene. There are imitators, (Long Voyage, Unbound XL, Mega Mid-South) but none of those can match the original formula which IWAR utilizes to this day.

Sending much love and hoping for tailwinds to all who toe that line tomorrow in the dark. 

Look for my Trans Iowa 20th anniversary post coming up on the 23rd, next week. 

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

Friday News And Views

Superbloom is September 6th in Glenwood, IA

 Fat Inflation FN&V

The Guitar Ted Podcast Season 3 Starts:

The Guitar Ted Podcast started up last week with the 64th episode. That is cool but the best part was the surprises. We went into the interview with Julie Borer and Rafal Doloto not really knowing exactly what to expect. 

So, when Julie described her journey in cycling, (based on a question we ask first-timer guests), I was blown away. She had started out by trying to find a cycling group or club to connect with and did not find what she was looking for. Instead of folding and going in some other direction she decided to create what she wasn't seeing.

That eventually led to a women's only gravel event which held their inaugural event last year. Now the Glenwood Superbloom is looking to grow a little bit and continue to reach more women for gravel racing and community fellowshipping. 

I was also blown away by the honesty and transparency of the Loess Hills Enduro event director, Rafal Doloto. His description of the travails involved in being the race director of a grassroots gravel event while trying to balance life responsibilities as a father, husband, and employee were immediately relatable for me. 

Check out the season opener for Season 3 HERE. 

Image courtesy of WTB

WTB i79 Fat Bike Rim:

Sometimes a product is released with so little fanfare, or none at all, that it slips under the radar. Such is the case with this WTB i76 rim. I did not know of its existence until last week when N.Y. Roll called me and brought it up. 

As with all WTB rims the "i76" refers to the rim's internal width, so 76mm in this case. That's perfect for any 3.8" to 4.8" tire. 

Last year about this time WTB announced the Bailiff fat bike tires in 27.5" diameter only. So, when I heard about this new rim from N.Y. Roll and he said it came in a 26"er diameter, I was hopeful that WTB was then going to offer a Bailiff in 26" as well. However; this does not seem to be the case. 

The weights on these rims seem really competitive and being made in alloy, they are a good deal cheaper than carbon rims. The rim bed is designed in a way that the spoke nipples would be recessed into one of the four channels extruded in the rim design and that leaves a smooth inner rim well, making taping for tubeless a breeze. 

I like these rims from what I can see of them online, but I may be getting my hands on a pair to build up for someone soon, so stay tuned for a possible update here.  

Image courtesy of Clik Valve

Clik Valve In For Test/Review:

Last July I reported here on these digital pages concerning a new technology for valves called "Clik Valve". 

A kit with valves, replacement bases, and a pump head to retrofit a pump is on its way to Guitar Ted Productions for evaluation. Note: I am being provided this opportunity at no cost to me, but all opinions and views will be my own. 

I've seen some mechanic feedback on Facebook concerning an early release of this product to certain folks to try out. It seems that tehre is no issue with how it works, but there is some debate about the reasoning for the Clik Valve's existence. 

As you can imagine, some feel there is no reason to change from the 'known' and traditional systems. But we've seen push-back like this before from the cycling masses and it is not unexpected to see this in regard to Clik Valve. 

However; some feel a Schrader Valve should be developed for all cycling disciplines and then this would be a better solution. It is true that more casual cyclists would prefer to see this across all categories of bicycles. It is also true that maximum airflow for tubeless set ups would be enhanced by going with the ubiquitous Schrader Valve. Wider rims across most cycling disciplines would support a Schrader Valve as well. 

I will see what I think of the Clik Valve and if it is truly a step forward and if the applications for it make sense over traditional choices. That should happen soon as the parts are on teh way as of this past Monday. Stay tuned.....

Image courtesy of BIKETUBE

TPU Fat Bike Tubes:

One of the hottest topics for 2024 was TPU tubes for bicycles. My look at WTB's offering last year was one of my Top Ten posts for 2024.

Recently I saw an offer from Biketube for their 26"er TPU fat bike tubes. I decided, based upon my previous experiences with TPU tubes, to purchase some and give them a whirl. 

I will be getting one which will be a spare for the Ti Muk 2 which is set up tubeless. However; I also purchased two more. These will be going in the Snow Dog, my blue Salsa Cycles Mukluk fat bike I've had since 2011. 

So, look for a review to kick in soon on those tubes. Now I have a chore to accomplish! The Snow Dog isn't quite ready for any riding, so I have my work cut out for me in getting it readied to go once the tubes arrive. This will mostly be focused on the drive train as the current set up was done to test the Archer wireless shifting. Unfortunately that company went out of the business of making that product and this will force my hand to make the bike a mechanical shifting bike again.  Stay tuned....

Image courtesy of the Urtopia site.

Urtopia Shows Worlds Lightest, Smallets E-Bike Motor:

At the recently held Consumer and Electronics Show (CES), e-bike brand Urtopia showed a 3-D printed titanium alloy drop bar bike with what Urtopia is claiming to be as the "World's Smallest Motor, Lightest Titanium E-Bike". 

The complete bike weighs in at a claimed 23.8lbs. The e-bike has a 300 watt/hr/Kg solid state battery which helps reduce weight and space concerns. 

The motor has a claimed weight of 2.6lbs and has a peak torque output of 65nm. No battery life data was shared. The bike was a concept but the motor and battery are going to be offered by Urtopia and to other e-bike brands for use in other bicycles. 

Comments: I was passed on my commute home going uphill by a youngster on an e-bike. While it was clear that it was a pedal assisted ride, my mind went to how this type of "bicycle" will be what the future adults in this country will expect when they go "bicycle" shopping in the future. A bike which requires 100% human input to move it will be seen as an antiquity. 

I don't think 100% human powered bicycles will ever go away completely, but as long as we have the ability to make things easier, that is going to be the path of least resistance for humans to take. And humans will almost always take the easiest path, even though it may not be the best path. I'm sure at some point riding a 100% human powered bicycle will be seen much as we see people reacting to riding single speed or fixed gear today - as an unnecessarily hard and perhaps even stupid pursuit. 

It's okay. I've been laughed at before.....

California Fires: You've probably seen some horrific images coming out of California due to the wind-whipped firs around Los Angeles. This has affected many people and will into the future. My prayers to all those affected. 

One bicycle related point here is that the home of long-time bicycle journalist and MTB Hall of Famer, Zapata "Zap" Espinoza, was obliterated in the fire and he and his daughter have lost everything. A GoFundMe has been set up to help assist with their recovery and support. If you feel so led, here is the link.  https://www.gofundme.com/f/zapata-zap-espinozas-postfire-recovery-fund

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

Friday News And Views

New York City Seeks To License eBikes and eScooters:

In a recent "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article online it was reported that there has been an ordinance introduced the the N.Y. City Council to require eBikes and eScooters to be licensed and registered with the Department of Transportation. 

The proposed law was introduced after a resident had died from injuries inflicted when the person was struck by another person operating an eBike in the city. 

Proponents of the measure say that enacting registration and licensing would help reduce law offending riders of motorized bicycles and scooters. Opponents of the law cite a lack of cycling infrastructure, a system set up to promote higher speed vehicle usage, and a lack of concern for low-speed vehicle users and pedestrians. 

Comments: Situations like this were predicted to happen several years ago on this blog. Seems since now we are at the point of this reality, my bet is that cities and states will take the current system of car/truck infrastructure and side with this embedded way of doing things instead of taking this chance to jump-start a move to get away from car/truck domination of cities and urban areas.  

While there was  no mention of tax/licensing fees and insurance in the article, one might assume these interests would also prefer a licensing/registration scheme for electrified bicycles, cargo bikes, and scooters over the more expensive, slower to realize solutions involving the separation of pedestrian/cycling traffic from other vehicular traffic. 

I mean, when you think about it, we do not allow freight trains to use the same roadways as cars and trucks because the danger to cars and trucks, and their operators, would be high. So, train tracks don't run down the middle of six lane highways. It's kind of like that, despite the fact that trains require rails. You get the picture... 

The Last "FN&V" of 2024!.

This will be the last FN&V of the year, and since this is the case, I wanted to say, "Thank You" to you - the reader. 

Nearly every week of the year the "FN&V" is the most read post on this blog. So, that is something to be thankful for, and it also encourages me to continue doing the work required to post this 52 times or so a year. 

If you are at all curious as to the history of the "FN&V", or why it landed on Friday, I did a post on the history in 2020 which you can read HERE. You will find out there that the "FN&V" started out as a regular item on the blog around 2011 or so. This makes it going on 14 years that there has been a nearly weekly post about news and views on Fridays. 

Of course, the "FN&V" will continue on Fridays. As long as the blog continues and I can write posts, I do not see this changing anytime soon. Thank you again for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

GT Grade frame set (Image courtesy of GT Bikes)

GT Bikes Put On "Pause" For 2025:

Recently a report was published in "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" which gives details on a common theme from the past couple of years. The problem seems to be regarding inventory and how it is not moving in the bicycle industry in a way that companies want to see it move. 

GT Bikes owner is Pon Industries and the article in "BRaIN" states that, while for 2025 the brand will continue sales of bicycles, only the current inventory stock will be what is offered. No new 2025 models will be offered at this time. 

Perhaps more worrisome is news that GT Bikes will see some layoffs before the new year as well. According to reports, GT Bikes had planned to expand employee numbers last February. 

Comments: Again, certain segments of the cycling world are not doing well. If the consistent deep discounting of accessories, components, and bicycles, seen since mid-Fall 2024, continues, it would be safe to assume that cash flow is stunted and many companies might be in similar straits as GT Bikes finds itself in now. 

One thing that traditional cycling media has done with this story is to layer it in a thick sauce of "click bait" by intimating in headlines for the story that GT Bikes might never return. That's simply not going to be the case at all. The worst case scenario here would be that GT Bikes would be shuttered by Pon and then sold as a brand name to another company that would resurrect the brand as something new. But that probably won't happen. Pon will most likely strip the brand down to essentials and reestablish it with dealers as a core MTB/BMX line without the gravel, road, or city/urban parts. But we'll see....

GCHoF'ers (Image by Taiki Sakamoto)

Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Voting In Progress:

Current electors for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame are busy returning their ballots for up to five nominees to the 2025 class of "GCHoF'ers". Ballots are to be returned by the electors by January 8th, 2025. 

According to the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame site:  "There are over 50 Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Electors. These electors are made up of athletes, promoters, media professionals, gravel enthusiasts, the 7 members of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Board, and the current members/inductees of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame."

I've said it a LOT of times on this blog that because the GCHoF relies upon each elector to do their own research (which they do not HAVE to do), that a strong possibility exists for recency bias and lack of knowledge of events predating 2015 - 2018 in the gravel world which could lead to the exclusion of important, relatively unknown stories, figures, and events to get into the hall. 

 We will see how it all shakes out soon, as nominees for 2025 will be announced early next year. When the new class gets announced, I will have more opinions to share at that time. In the meantime, if you want to understand where it is that I stand on the hall, see THIS post. 

Oh.....and yes - I voted. 

That's a wrap on this year's FN&V! See ya next year! Get out and ride a bike to next year!

News Season: Sea Otter 2023

I still haven't seen much about this since Thursday last week.

 Sea Otter is over for another year. This was probably, and arguably the first "real" Sea Otter since 2019. Vendor participation was almost back to pre-pandemic levels. So that meant that a lot of new items debuted throughout last week and at the show in conjunction with the festivities. 

And let us not forget that there was racing, and Life Time's "Grand Prix" kicked off there this past weekend. Of course, if you haven't heard, Life Time owns Sea Otter now, so they can do what they want in that regard. 

Okay, this will be a post of things I thought were interesting using images caught by my friend Grannygear who was in attendance at the show and forwarded me the images you see here today, except where indicated. We also collaborated on a post on Riding Gravel, so you may have seen some of these already.  I'll stick mostly to the gravel stuff and commentary here, but there may be an oddball thing or two that I post also. Okay, here we go.....

BlackHeart titanium gravel bike.

BlackHeart Bikes: I'd never heard about this company before seeing the image here. Cool looking bikes and all. The company mission statement I read said that they wanted a bike that struck a middle ground between gravel and road bikes. (??) Hint: A "gravel bike IS a road bike. 

Anyway.... Checking the specs on the three thousand dollar frame and I see that it is, in fact, a road racing bike. "Square" geometry in the most classic road bike style, it has a 72.5° head angle and a pretty shallow bottom bracket drop with a maximum tire clearance of 40mm. 

Not an "all-roads bike". I mean- you can ride this down your local single track, for all I care, but this is not "all-road" bike geometry for the masses. So, looks good - not gonna cut the mustard around here. 

This was seen on a Fezarri gravel bike

UDH Ready: Trends? How about UDH, the SRAM acronym for "Universal Derailleur Hangar". Seems that a lot of smaller companies are moving toward using this as it cuts down on expenses and, probably more importantly, is a sign of a future sea-change in drive train technology. 

I expect more will become clear on this in the Fall of this year. Stay tuned....

Another USA based aluminum rim maker? Yes!

Boyd Cycles Starts Up US Rim Production: News broke at the onset of the show that Boyd Cycles, the wheel purveyor from the East, was working on a manufacturing facility in South Carolina while COVID was going on and now that facility is up and running. This is pretty good news, I think.

Of course, it brings us up to two rim manufacturers in the US with Velocity USA having been here cranking out rims for quite a few years already. Boyd included in their press release that they are open to doing rims for other companies as well, so hey! Maybe a renaissance of sorts is happening with US based wheel making? Perhaps. 

You might have spied out above that the wheels set shown is $425.00 for the set, so they aren't just making high-end stuff there. Nice!

Hunt To Sell Straight Pull Hub Sets:

A lot of pre-built wheels come with cool hubs that you only can have if you buy the entire wheel. Sometimes you might want the hub, but maybe you want a 650B wheel, or even a 26"er. Well, now you can buy a Hunt Sprint SL set of hubs for that purpose and more.

Of course, they are disc and through axle only, so there is that, but most modern bikes are those standards anyway. You can get a couple different bearing types and the prices are not too bad. The "Ceramic Coated" bearing versions are $249.00 for the set. 

Straight pull spokes are not real commonplace, so I checked the innergoogles and found that I should have no fear. Lots of choices. Mostly DT Swiss and Sapim. Both solid choices there. 

The only caveat? You can only get these hubs in 20F/24R or 24F/24R spoke drillings. That probably limits these hubs appeal to the racing and lightweight freaks. But if that is you, hey - there you go!  I might keep these in mind for converting some older wheels I have to through axle and a better freehub system. 

Kenda "4titude" Tires:

I've opined on this channel about how those in the industry on the one hand are trying to pull gravel biking into mountain biking territory. Well, as with the BlackHeart bike above, there are those that don't understand "gravel" as a niche/type of bike and want to pull it back toward road racing. Another example is the Kenda "4titude" tire, developed in tandem with riders of the Belgium Waffle Ride. 

You might be thinking, "But wait! Isn't BWR a gravel series?" Well, BWR would love it if you thought so, but many of their events have higher than 50% pavement courses. That's NOT gravel, my friends. 

Not that it is wrong, but if you ride mostly pavement, you end up back in a road racing mindset, if you are in the cycling industry. It's like they cannot help themselves.... 

Anyway. The tire. Back to the tires! 

These will be available in a 35mm and a 40mm. I happen to actually like the tire by the looks of it. This type of tread pattern can be very fast around here at times. Probably not if it was like last Summer in Southern Black Hawk County, but maybe elsewhere and hopefully this year! (I can hope!) 

I have a set of Donnelly USH 40's that look similar to these Kendas that I think are great. So, I welcome tires in this vein. Big, poofy road tires, any road tires, are always a good deal. 

American Classic is now offering 700 X 45's

American Classic Offering A 700 X 45mm Tire Now: So, here's another smoother treaded tire I like a lot, the American Classic Kimberlite. They were offering it in a 700 X 35, 40, and 50mm sizes. But now you can get a 45mm! 

This is great. American Classic tires took a step up when they did their redesign last year and I tried Kimberlites in the 50mm size. The 45mm would be the deal for folks on a budget. The American Classic Kimberlites in this size should fit a ton of bikes out there and should roll like a champ. 

This isn't what I expected from Salsa back in the day, but now? Yes. I understand.

And A Few More Opinions On The E-Salsa Bikes:

I still think the shocker of the show was the Salsa e-bike deal. However; you hardly saw anything on this from mainstream cycling pubs and sites. Weird! Maybe there is a hidden reason for that? I don't know, but typically Salsa sends out press releases ahead of big announcements like this. I do not think that they did that this time.

Comments I saw regarding this on posts I put on social media and here ranged from quiet approval to outright disdain. There once was a Salsa Cycles that stood for ideals that many folks that I know were attracted to. And you'd think something like an e-gravel bike would fit the old "Adventure by Bike" philosophy that was once the province of this brand alone for a time. But something has changed since those days.

I think it is a lot of things, and the evolution of this brand has left a bad taste in the mouths of some. People have left the brand since those days, and that certainly has had an effect. The parent company has changed, and their values have changed, and that certainly has had an affect as well. Is any of this negative or positive? That's for you to decide.

But it "is". That's the point, and of course, the entire electrification of bicycles and the sea change in retail has affected this brand to a large degree as well. Like I said, it's a LOT of things all together that have brought Salsa Cycles to a place that has the brand at a bit of a crossroads in my opinion. I think this is what you see reflected in the comments on the electric Confluence gravel bike. The bike itself is neither here nor there. It's just a signpost of the brand and where it is at in 2023. 

UPDATED: 4/24/23 @ 12:00 NOON CST:

A Salsa eMTB as shown from Sea Otter on a QBP employee's Instagram page.

 An anonymous source tipped me off to the existence of a Salsa eMTB, still in development, apparently, with a Bosch mid-drive motor. The source also confirmed that the Confluence is indeed real and was also puzzled by the lack of media interest. 

So, how about them apples?

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

News Season: Sea Otter 2023

I still haven't seen much about this since Thursday last week.

 Sea Otter is over for another year. This was probably, and arguably the first "real" Sea Otter since 2019. Vendor participation was almost back to pre-pandemic levels. So that meant that a lot of new items debuted throughout last week and at the show in conjunction with the festivities. 

And let us not forget that there was racing, and Life Time's "Grand Prix" kicked off there this past weekend. Of course, if you haven't heard, Life Time owns Sea Otter now, so they can do what they want in that regard. 

Okay, this will be a post of things I thought were interesting using images caught by my friend Grannygear who was in attendance at the show and forwarded me the images you see here today, except where indicated. We also collaborated on a post on Riding Gravel, so you may have seen some of these already.  I'll stick mostly to the gravel stuff and commentary here, but there may be an oddball thing or two that I post also. Okay, here we go.....

BlackHeart titanium gravel bike.

BlackHeart Bikes: I'd never heard about this company before seeing the image here. Cool looking bikes and all. The company mission statement I read said that they wanted a bike that struck a middle ground between gravel and road bikes. (??) Hint: A "gravel bike IS a road bike. 

Anyway.... Checking the specs on the three thousand dollar frame and I see that it is, in fact, a road racing bike. "Square" geometry in the most classic road bike style, it has a 72.5° head angle and a pretty shallow bottom bracket drop with a maximum tire clearance of 40mm. 

Not an "all-roads bike". I mean- you can ride this down your local single track, for all I care, but this is not "all-road" bike geometry for the masses. So, looks good - not gonna cut the mustard around here. 

This was seen on a Fezarri gravel bike

UDH Ready: Trends? How about UDH, the SRAM acronym for "Universal Derailleur Hangar". Seems that a lot of smaller companies are moving toward using this as it cuts down on expenses and, probably more importantly, is a sign of a future sea-change in drive train technology. 

I expect more will become clear on this in the Fall of this year. Stay tuned....

Another USA based aluminum rim maker? Yes!

Boyd Cycles Starts Up US Rim Production: News broke at the onset of the show that Boyd Cycles, the wheel purveyor from the East, was working on a manufacturing facility in South Carolina while COVID was going on and now that facility is up and running. This is pretty good news, I think.

Of course, it brings us up to two rim manufacturers in the US with Velocity USA having been here cranking out rims for quite a few years already. Boyd included in their press release that they are open to doing rims for other companies as well, so hey! Maybe a renaissance of sorts is happening with US based wheel making? Perhaps. 

You might have spied out above that the wheels set shown is $425.00 for the set, so they aren't just making high-end stuff there. Nice!

Hunt To Sell Straight Pull Hub Sets:

A lot of pre-built wheels come with cool hubs that you only can have if you buy the entire wheel. Sometimes you might want the hub, but maybe you want a 650B wheel, or even a 26"er. Well, now you can buy a Hunt Sprint SL set of hubs for that purpose and more.

Of course, they are disc and through axle only, so there is that, but most modern bikes are those standards anyway. You can get a couple different bearing types and the prices are not too bad. The "Ceramic Coated" bearing versions are $249.00 for the set. 

Straight pull spokes are not real commonplace, so I checked the innergoogles and found that I should have no fear. Lots of choices. Mostly DT Swiss and Sapim. Both solid choices there. 

The only caveat? You can only get these hubs in 20F/24R or 24F/24R spoke drillings. That probably limits these hubs appeal to the racing and lightweight freaks. But if that is you, hey - there you go!  I might keep these in mind for converting some older wheels I have to through axle and a better freehub system. 

Kenda "4titude" Tires:

I've opined on this channel about how those in the industry on the one hand are trying to pull gravel biking into mountain biking territory. Well, as with the BlackHeart bike above, there are those that don't understand "gravel" as a niche/type of bike and want to pull it back toward road racing. Another example is the Kenda "4titude" tire, developed in tandem with riders of the Belgium Waffle Ride. 

You might be thinking, "But wait! Isn't BWR a gravel series?" Well, BWR would love it if you thought so, but many of their events have higher than 50% pavement courses. That's NOT gravel, my friends. 

Not that it is wrong, but if you ride mostly pavement, you end up back in a road racing mindset, if you are in the cycling industry. It's like they cannot help themselves.... 

Anyway. The tire. Back to the tires! 

These will be available in a 35mm and a 40mm. I happen to actually like the tire by the looks of it. This type of tread pattern can be very fast around here at times. Probably not if it was like last Summer in Southern Black Hawk County, but maybe elsewhere and hopefully this year! (I can hope!) 

I have a set of Donnelly USH 40's that look similar to these Kendas that I think are great. So, I welcome tires in this vein. Big, poofy road tires, any road tires, are always a good deal. 

American Classic is now offering 700 X 45's

American Classic Offering A 700 X 45mm Tire Now: So, here's another smoother treaded tire I like a lot, the American Classic Kimberlite. They were offering it in a 700 X 35, 40, and 50mm sizes. But now you can get a 45mm! 

This is great. American Classic tires took a step up when they did their redesign last year and I tried Kimberlites in the 50mm size. The 45mm would be the deal for folks on a budget. The American Classic Kimberlites in this size should fit a ton of bikes out there and should roll like a champ. 

This isn't what I expected from Salsa back in the day, but now? Yes. I understand.

And A Few More Opinions On The E-Salsa Bikes:

I still think the shocker of the show was the Salsa e-bike deal. However; you hardly saw anything on this from mainstream cycling pubs and sites. Weird! Maybe there is a hidden reason for that? I don't know, but typically Salsa sends out press releases ahead of big announcements like this. I do not think that they did that this time.

Comments I saw regarding this on posts I put on social media and here ranged from quiet approval to outright disdain. There once was a Salsa Cycles that stood for ideals that many folks that I know were attracted to. And you'd think something like an e-gravel bike would fit the old "Adventure by Bike" philosophy that was once the province of this brand alone for a time. But something has changed since those days.

I think it is a lot of things, and the evolution of this brand has left a bad taste in the mouths of some. People have left the brand since those days, and that certainly has had an effect. The parent company has changed, and their values have changed, and that certainly has had an affect as well. Is any of this negative or positive? That's for you to decide.

But it "is". That's the point, and of course, the entire electrification of bicycles and the sea change in retail has affected this brand to a large degree as well. Like I said, it's a LOT of things all together that have brought Salsa Cycles to a place that has the brand at a bit of a crossroads in my opinion. I think this is what you see reflected in the comments on the electric Confluence gravel bike. The bike itself is neither here nor there. It's just a signpost of the brand and where it is at in 2023. 

UPDATED: 4/24/23 @ 12:00 NOON CST:

A Salsa eMTB as shown from Sea Otter on a QBP employee's Instagram page.

 An anonymous source tipped me off to the existence of a Salsa eMTB, still in development, apparently, with a Bosch mid-drive motor. The source also confirmed that the Confluence is indeed real and was also puzzled by the lack of media interest. 

So, how about them apples?

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.