Two Things

The Peregrine Mk4 with Schwalbe G-One Overlands.

Ride Quality vs Speed:

If I am not using my gravel bike for racing, then what am I using it for? This may sound like a ridiculous question, but the answer you give matters. 

Why? Well, the answer will tell you what is likely going to be a bigger influence on the success of your riding. If the answer is that you only really race, or are training to race, on the gravel bike, then your focus will be on speed and aero. If you don't really care about racing, then maybe you might want to think about comfort and ride quality. 

I like fun. Being beaten and made numb or sore because my bicycle rides like a hay rack is not fun. I will give you an example. The recently reviewed Schwalbe G-One Overland tires I tried were fast. They were some of the best I've tested in this category. However; they did not feel very good. 

I was a bit disappointed and fearful this may have been an issue with the Peregrine itself. Maybe the frame is just too stiff? Well, after the review was over, I swapped wheel sets and tires. The tires I used were older SOMA Cazadero 700 X 50mm tires and these were fitted with Rene Herse TPU tubes. I used the bike on the Veteran's Day ride with N.Y. Roll. 

Image by N.Y. Roll

The ride quality was better. No more harshness when hitting things like expansion cracks, potholes, or the like. Plus the Cazadero/TPU tube combo rolled nearly as fast as the Schwalbe tires did. 

Now had I run these tires tubeless I would imagine the ride quality would have been even a little bit better, at the least. So, this fit my purposes better than a tire which has speed but lacks in ride quality. 

My results were that I had more fun. Fun is good. 

Now had I been going racing? Had I been doing work in training for a race? Maybe I'd throw the Schwalbe tires back on. But I am not racing, and so I don't place speed above all else when it comes to riding gravel. 

I'm not saying racing is bad, or you should not ride for those purposes. However; many folks get caught up in the racing stuff due to those racing things seemingly being "the goal you should strive for". I think this is wrong thinking. I believe most riders want to have fun riding their bicycles and speed gains, power outputs, and GPS data - while cool - is not what the focus should be for most riders. It is not why most people ride. They typically ride for pleasure and fitness. So, maybe choose tires which fit why you are really riding. Just a thought.....

Big Wheels For Gravel:

Maybe 15 years ago, maybe a little more than that, you would have been fairly acquainted with the arguments for and against 29" wheels for mountain biking. 

29"ers were really the first wheel size which came along to break all the traditional thoughts and technical design behind mountain biking. Change is never easy, and a lot of people don't cotton to change. Resistance was high. However; eventually the results of using 29"ers convinced most people this was actually a better way to go.

Manufacturers made a few mistakes along the way. Technologies came along, which enhanced the positives of 29"ers to the point where 26" wheels, once the mainstay of MTB, were now deemed not all that great to use anymore. 

Now there is a new wheel size which is here to challenge 29"ers. It is 32" in diameter, and it sure looks as though the MTB world is going to be in line to see what shakes out from the trial usage of 32" wheels in XC racing. Technically manufacturers and designers all know what to expect, in theoretical terms, due to the previous experiments with 29"er wheels. Mistakes and failures should be mitigated to a great degree. If 32" wheels "work", it won't be because of luck. 

So, in the latest podcast we discuss this, 32"ers rumors and speculations which are afoot, and whether or not 32" is a good idea for gravel bikes. Give the show a listen. Let me know what you think in the comments. 

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions

Volunteering At The Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra

Old DX gas station in Murray. Iowa.

 5:00am Saturday, October 24th, 2020: The alarm goes off on my iPhone and I jump up out of bed, careful not to awake Mrs. Guitar Ted, but not quiet enough for Minka The Cat. She accompanies me downstairs where I immediately feed the ravenous creature its breakfast. Then I get to making my own meal before getting kitted out to do my turn at the Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra. This event, in its fifth year, happens to be down South of me about a three hour drive away. So, I have to be quick about things to be able to hit the road by 6:00am or earlier, if I can. My turn to serve starts at 10:00am, but they wanted me to show up by 9:30am. 

My destination is Murray, Iowa, a small village West of Osceola, Iowa on US 34. Wikipedia says the population, as of 2010, was 756 people. Hmm.....I'd believe it if it was less than that. Anyway, I'd never been there, or even heard of the village, until my assignment was given via e-mail to me from Race Director, Sarah Cooper. I was to be paired up with another of the RD's, Dori, and the lead at the checkpoint was Amanda. I knew Dori and Sarah from Trans Iowa, but I had never met Amanda before. 

The Spotted Horse is a 150 mile or 200 mile event which had been modified this year due to COVID-19, and was run (kind of) concurrently with the postponed from April Iowa Wind And Rock, the 300+ mile event which was strongly influenced by Trans Iowa. I wasn't sure what to expect, since these sorts of gravel ultras are hard to train for and what with 2020 being what it has been, I wasn't even going to venture any guesses as to what the attendance might be. Added to this was the fact that it was forecast to be raw, cold, and grey for the weekend, and I wasn't thinking this was a recipe for a large turnout. But who knows?

Some Murray, Iowa flavor. I don't know how smaller villages like this hang on these days.

Besides a public school and a Casey's convenience store, this was the best maintained building in town.

I arrived a half an hour early, you know, like a good Mid-Western boy should, and sat around getting the stink-eye from locals gathering at the public area we were to set up the checkpoint at. They were gathering with their elementary school aged children for a bit of a soccer game. I have to say that I was duly impressed by the turnout. There must have been 30 children of various ages running amok at one point. Anyway, me being an outsider with non-Clarke County plates, well, I was a stranger and therefore to be suspected of.....well, I'd rather not guess what. I'm sure it wasn't 'good'. 

The forlorn streets were mostly devoid of activity, with the exception of a stray cat and dog.

I had my picture made with (From L-R) Dori, Steve, myself, and Sarah. (Image taken by Amanda)

Not long after I arrived a silver VW sedan with a bike rack turned around the corner up the street from me. Ah! The 'bike people' are arriving! It was Dori. We said our hellos and got to setting up the checkpoint. Dori is one of the RD's of the Spotted Horse and a very inspirational person to be around. Not long after this, Amanda arrived, and we were ready to go. Then Steve and Sarah, the other RD's of the event, arrived and we had a few more folks stop by as well, including the couple from Bottom Bracket Biking and Lisa, who was banged up and recovering from a bicycle accident earlier this year. 

This is always my favorite part of events like this where you get to chat for a time with folks you only see at gravel events. It's where the term, "Gravel Family" comes from, and it's a big reason why the grassroots gravel scene is so popular. 

Siphamandia Simelane came in second to Checkpoint #1

Dori's self-described "bitchy notes" for the riders at the checkpoint

As volunteers we were instructed to be wearing masks and to have riders take off water bottle tops, hand the bottles to us, and we would fill them from the spigot. This worked marvelously well, and all riders I helped were very compliant with the protocols. Other than this small inconvenience, this was basically like any other aid station/checkpoint experience I have had. 

The first riders did not show up until the stroke of ten o'clock, so we had about a half an hour of chatting freely with Steve and Sarah before they had to move along and get up the road. I found out that the situation in the Iowa Wind And Rock event had caused everyone to fall away until one was left standing- or riding, in this case. It was, no surprise to me, Greg Gleason. The two-time Trans Iowa winner was riding IWAR single speed, and some of the stories shared by Steve and Sarah concerning Greg's performance were fun to hear about. 

The situation with some of the other riders was also shared with me, which was very kind of them, and of course, told in confidence. I wouldn't say anything, but they never asked me not to. That sort of trust is rare. I appreciated their confidence greatly and always will. Anyway, Greg ended up winning and being the only finisher. Amazing! 

We were graced by a visit from the Burger King. Who knew that he lived in Murray Iowa? Crazy!

Past Spotted Horse events have been noted for their derailleur-destroying conditions. Many single speeders showed up this year as a result.

As I said, the first two riders we saw come in showed up at the stroke of 10;00am. By this time the soccer brigade had cleared out and left the forlorn streets of Murray, Iowa to us bike freaks. We went about our business, seeing cyclists come in pairs every so often, until we heard a train blow its lonesome call. A big freight train, by the sounds of it, and I was wondering, along with the others, if it was holding up some of the rider's progress to our position. 

As the rumble of the iron wheels faded we saw a slug of riders headed our way, the biggest pack we would see all morning, and sure enough, they related to us that the train had caused them all to bunch back together. We moved quickly as we could from rider to rider to service their needs and one by one they eventually all made their way back on down the road. 

Amanda was our leader and record keeper. It was great to get to know her during my time there.

A few riders getting ready to head out to checkpoint #2.

Eventually riders stopped trickling in. 11:30am came and went with no further activity. Technically speaking, we were to be done then, but we all agreed to stay on until noon to make sure no straggler was left behind. As the noon hour approached we packed up most everything and I said goodbye to Dori and Amanda, the only two left there, and made my way back home. 

While turn out wasn't spectacular for either event, everyone was stoked to be there and riding. I saw a lot of happy faces and it was good to be out doing something kind of normal for once. Oh......yeah. This is the first time I've traveled out of town for anything social since before the pandemic. It was odd, but not weird. If that makes any sense. I had a bit of anxiety about it, but overall, I am okay. I think the event was done right and we were safe, as far as you can be. 

Anyway, besides that I was very glad to be giving back to the gravel community again in a bit different role than I have before. I might have to do this volunteering thing again someday. It was pretty fun.

Volunteering At The Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra

Old DX gas station in Murray. Iowa.

 5:00am Saturday, October 24th, 2020: The alarm goes off on my iPhone and I jump up out of bed, careful not to awake Mrs. Guitar Ted, but not quiet enough for Minka The Cat. She accompanies me downstairs where I immediately feed the ravenous creature its breakfast. Then I get to making my own meal before getting kitted out to do my turn at the Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra. This event, in its fifth year, happens to be down South of me about a three hour drive away. So, I have to be quick about things to be able to hit the road by 6:00am or earlier, if I can. My turn to serve starts at 10:00am, but they wanted me to show up by 9:30am. 

My destination is Murray, Iowa, a small village West of Osceola, Iowa on US 34. Wikipedia says the population, as of 2010, was 756 people. Hmm.....I'd believe it if it was less than that. Anyway, I'd never been there, or even heard of the village, until my assignment was given via e-mail to me from Race Director, Sarah Cooper. I was to be paired up with another of the RD's, Dori, and the lead at the checkpoint was Amanda. I knew Dori and Sarah from Trans Iowa, but I had never met Amanda before. 

The Spotted Horse is a 150 mile or 200 mile event which had been modified this year due to COVID-19, and was run (kind of) concurrently with the postponed from April Iowa Wind And Rock, the 300+ mile event which was strongly influenced by Trans Iowa. I wasn't sure what to expect, since these sorts of gravel ultras are hard to train for and what with 2020 being what it has been, I wasn't even going to venture any guesses as to what the attendance might be. Added to this was the fact that it was forecast to be raw, cold, and grey for the weekend, and I wasn't thinking this was a recipe for a large turnout. But who knows?

Some Murray, Iowa flavor. I don't know how smaller villages like this hang on these days.

Besides a public school and a Casey's convenience store, this was the best maintained building in town.

I arrived a half an hour early, you know, like a good Mid-Western boy should, and sat around getting the stink-eye from locals gathering at the public area we were to set up the checkpoint at. They were gathering with their elementary school aged children for a bit of a soccer game. I have to say that I was duly impressed by the turnout. There must have been 30 children of various ages running amok at one point. Anyway, me being an outsider with non-Clarke County plates, well, I was a stranger and therefore to be suspected of.....well, I'd rather not guess what. I'm sure it wasn't 'good'. 

The forlorn streets were mostly devoid of activity, with the exception of a stray cat and dog.

I had my picture made with (From L-R) Dori, Steve, myself, and Sarah. (Image taken by Amanda)

Not long after I arrived a silver VW sedan with a bike rack turned around the corner up the street from me. Ah! The 'bike people' are arriving! It was Dori. We said our hellos and got to setting up the checkpoint. Dori is one of the RD's of the Spotted Horse and a very inspirational person to be around. Not long after this, Amanda arrived, and we were ready to go. Then Steve and Sarah, the other RD's of the event, arrived and we had a few more folks stop by as well, including the couple from Bottom Bracket Biking and Lisa, who was banged up and recovering from a bicycle accident earlier this year. 

This is always my favorite part of events like this where you get to chat for a time with folks you only see at gravel events. It's where the term, "Gravel Family" comes from, and it's a big reason why the grassroots gravel scene is so popular. 

Siphamandia Simelane came in second to Checkpoint #1

Dori's self-described "bitchy notes" for the riders at the checkpoint

As volunteers we were instructed to be wearing masks and to have riders take off water bottle tops, hand the bottles to us, and we would fill them from the spigot. This worked marvelously well, and all riders I helped were very compliant with the protocols. Other than this small inconvenience, this was basically like any other aid station/checkpoint experience I have had. 

The first riders did not show up until the stroke of ten o'clock, so we had about a half an hour of chatting freely with Steve and Sarah before they had to move along and get up the road. I found out that the situation in the Iowa Wind And Rock event had caused everyone to fall away until one was left standing- or riding, in this case. It was, no surprise to me, Greg Gleason. The two-time Trans Iowa winner was riding IWAR single speed, and some of the stories shared by Steve and Sarah concerning Greg's performance were fun to hear about. 

The situation with some of the other riders was also shared with me, which was very kind of them, and of course, told in confidence. I wouldn't say anything, but they never asked me not to. That sort of trust is rare. I appreciated their confidence greatly and always will. Anyway, Greg ended up winning and being the only finisher. Amazing! 

We were graced by a visit from the Burger King. Who knew that he lived in Murray Iowa? Crazy!

Past Spotted Horse events have been noted for their derailleur-destroying conditions. Many single speeders showed up this year as a result.

As I said, the first two riders we saw come in showed up at the stroke of 10;00am. By this time the soccer brigade had cleared out and left the forlorn streets of Murray, Iowa to us bike freaks. We went about our business, seeing cyclists come in pairs every so often, until we heard a train blow its lonesome call. A big freight train, by the sounds of it, and I was wondering, along with the others, if it was holding up some of the rider's progress to our position. 

As the rumble of the iron wheels faded we saw a slug of riders headed our way, the biggest pack we would see all morning, and sure enough, they related to us that the train had caused them all to bunch back together. We moved quickly as we could from rider to rider to service their needs and one by one they eventually all made their way back on down the road. 

Amanda was our leader and record keeper. It was great to get to know her during my time there.

A few riders getting ready to head out to checkpoint #2.

Eventually riders stopped trickling in. 11:30am came and went with no further activity. Technically speaking, we were to be done then, but we all agreed to stay on until noon to make sure no straggler was left behind. As the noon hour approached we packed up most everything and I said goodbye to Dori and Amanda, the only two left there, and made my way back home. 

While turn out wasn't spectacular for either event, everyone was stoked to be there and riding. I saw a lot of happy faces and it was good to be out doing something kind of normal for once. Oh......yeah. This is the first time I've traveled out of town for anything social since before the pandemic. It was odd, but not weird. If that makes any sense. I had a bit of anxiety about it, but overall, I am okay. I think the event was done right and we were safe, as far as you can be. 

Anyway, besides that I was very glad to be giving back to the gravel community again in a bit different role than I have before. I might have to do this volunteering thing again someday. It was pretty fun.

Leap Day Excursion

Coffee with Mrs. Guitar Ted and Special Guests at Impact Coffee in Decorah Iowa.

Saturday I had a date. On Leap Day of all things. I mean, how often in life do you get to do something special on Leap Day?

The deal had been set up for March 1st, initially. I was to travel to Decorah, Iowa, a place I was quite familiar with. I've been there to recreate, to put on bike festivals, and to put on Trans Iowa. But I hadn't been there since I had a sit-down with former Almanzo director, Chris Skogen, maybe close to ten years ago now. It'd been a while since I had been there, at any rate. The reason I went this time actually is sort of ironic considering the reason I was there the last time.

Things got switched to Saturday for the meeting at Impact Coffee Bar in Decorah. I was meeting one of the Event Directors of the newly minted Heywood Ride. Emphasis on the ride part. This is not a race, folks. No, this event is geared toward the adventure seeker and for those looking for a personal challenge. I was to interview a long time friend, Marty Larson. He was bringing his daughter along, and I brought along Mrs. Guitar Ted. We found ourselves sat in the spacious interior of Impact Coffee Bar around noon and I proceeded to record the interview which will air on the Riding Gravel Radio Ranch soon. I won't touch on that in this post. You'll have to wait until the podcast goes live. But suffice it to say that for my first effort at a remote recording, I did alright. I think it will turn out fine.

After the interview, two excellent Americanos, and some chatting, it was well past the time to be having some lunch. So, we bid Marty and his lovely daughter goodbye and made our way down Water Street in Decorah to find something good to eat. Mrs Guitar Ted had spotted something Asian when we rolled into town called "Koreana", so off we strolled to see if we couldn't find it.

Lunch. The place is called "Koreana"

After that we took our leisure and strolled the street full of people and shops where there are a lot of cool things to check out. It's amazing to think that this little jewel of a town is in Iowa, tucked away in the corner, as it were, out of the view of the mainstream. I haven't even touched upon the bicycling opportunities there. Mountain biking? Best in Iowa. Gravel? Same. Recreational trail riding? Check! Decorah has two bike shops. It's a stellar area for riding, all within reach of this bustling, vibrant downtown area. By that I mean, you can ride your bike to everything. Mountain bike trails, gravel, and rec paved trails are all within a mile of down town. Frankly, it is probably the coolest town, from a cycling viewpoint, in the Mid-West, and would be the "Bentonville" thing if anyone in the "influencer" crowd paid any mind to Decorah. But......they don't, and really, that's probably for the best. This deal in Decorah didn't pop up due to an inheritance of a billionaire's fortune. It's all grassroots. Take that for what it is worth.

Hallowed ground for those who know.

Of course, I had to give a nod as I passed T-Bock's Sports Bar. The place where two Trans Iowa's had their pre-race meetings at. T.I.v3 was actually on the third floor there, in the old Odd Fellow's space, and T.I.v4 was in T Bock's party room, I think that was in the basement. (Some of you T.I.v4 vets reading this might be able to confirm that) I should also mention that a few T.I. folks actually ate at Mabe's Pizza down the block. Rebels!

For me, T Bock's was where I met some long time friends who I wouldn't have met otherwise. Things change. Places come and go, and I know someday that joint will likely disappear, so it was a bit of a nostalgic feeling which I felt Saturday as I looked at that sign above that doorway and felt all those memories again. But that passed and we moved on into another shop.

It was fun to spend time with Mrs. Guitar Ted, doing things I don't normally get to do, and up there in Decorah again after so long a time. I shouldn't wait so long to go back again, I can say that much. Those hills are calling, and the gravel roads are top notch. Maybe a bit of a trip later this Spring?

Leap Day Excursion

Coffee with Mrs. Guitar Ted and Special Guests at Impact Coffee in Decorah Iowa.

Saturday I had a date. On Leap Day of all things. I mean, how often in life do you get to do something special on Leap Day?

The deal had been set up for March 1st, initially. I was to travel to Decorah, Iowa, a place I was quite familiar with. I've been there to recreate, to put on bike festivals, and to put on Trans Iowa. But I hadn't been there since I had a sit-down with former Almanzo director, Chris Skogen, maybe close to ten years ago now. It'd been a while since I had been there, at any rate. The reason I went this time actually is sort of ironic considering the reason I was there the last time.

Things got switched to Saturday for the meeting at Impact Coffee Bar in Decorah. I was meeting one of the Event Directors of the newly minted Heywood Ride. Emphasis on the ride part. This is not a race, folks. No, this event is geared toward the adventure seeker and for those looking for a personal challenge. I was to interview a long time friend, Marty Larson. He was bringing his daughter along, and I brought along Mrs. Guitar Ted. We found ourselves sat in the spacious interior of Impact Coffee Bar around noon and I proceeded to record the interview which will air on the Riding Gravel Radio Ranch soon. I won't touch on that in this post. You'll have to wait until the podcast goes live. But suffice it to say that for my first effort at a remote recording, I did alright. I think it will turn out fine.

After the interview, two excellent Americanos, and some chatting, it was well past the time to be having some lunch. So, we bid Marty and his lovely daughter goodbye and made our way down Water Street in Decorah to find something good to eat. Mrs Guitar Ted had spotted something Asian when we rolled into town called "Koreana", so off we strolled to see if we couldn't find it.

Lunch. The place is called "Koreana"

After that we took our leisure and strolled the street full of people and shops where there are a lot of cool things to check out. It's amazing to think that this little jewel of a town is in Iowa, tucked away in the corner, as it were, out of the view of the mainstream. I haven't even touched upon the bicycling opportunities there. Mountain biking? Best in Iowa. Gravel? Same. Recreational trail riding? Check! Decorah has two bike shops. It's a stellar area for riding, all within reach of this bustling, vibrant downtown area. By that I mean, you can ride your bike to everything. Mountain bike trails, gravel, and rec paved trails are all within a mile of down town. Frankly, it is probably the coolest town, from a cycling viewpoint, in the Mid-West, and would be the "Bentonville" thing if anyone in the "influencer" crowd paid any mind to Decorah. But......they don't, and really, that's probably for the best. This deal in Decorah didn't pop up due to an inheritance of a billionaire's fortune. It's all grassroots. Take that for what it is worth.

Hallowed ground for those who know.

Of course, I had to give a nod as I passed T-Bock's Sports Bar. The place where two Trans Iowa's had their pre-race meetings at. T.I.v3 was actually on the third floor there, in the old Odd Fellow's space, and T.I.v4 was in T Bock's party room, I think that was in the basement. (Some of you T.I.v4 vets reading this might be able to confirm that) I should also mention that a few T.I. folks actually ate at Mabe's Pizza down the block. Rebels!

For me, T Bock's was where I met some long time friends who I wouldn't have met otherwise. Things change. Places come and go, and I know someday that joint will likely disappear, so it was a bit of a nostalgic feeling which I felt Saturday as I looked at that sign above that doorway and felt all those memories again. But that passed and we moved on into another shop.

It was fun to spend time with Mrs. Guitar Ted, doing things I don't normally get to do, and up there in Decorah again after so long a time. I shouldn't wait so long to go back again, I can say that much. Those hills are calling, and the gravel roads are top notch. Maybe a bit of a trip later this Spring?

It's Not All About Racing

From a recent Tweet from "The Path Less Pedaled"

This past Friday I was part of a thread on Twitter where someone had opined that the "media" was going to ruin gravel riding by focusing almost exclusively on racing gravel. A few responses came and then this quote from "The Path Less Pedaled", "So burnt out on the default mode as racing".

Okay, a bit of housekeeping on this quote: What "..the default mode.." refers to is how the bicycle industry, and the major media that covers it, almost always uses racing bicycles as its touchstone for any cycling related subject. This has been something I have criticized for years. When a small percentage of bicyclists actually race during any given year versus the overall amount of cyclists, it doesn't make any sense for cycling media and the industry to almost exclusively speak in terms of racing. This is especially bad when it comes to pavement style cycling. But when the industry desperately needs to bring in new cyclists, it really makes no sense at all to focus on something most people that ride bicycles would never do.

Of course, there are publications dedicated to racing. I get that in those instances, but many publications are not, and the default mode from them in reference to cycling is almost always about racing.

No numbers, smiles, and a casual pace. From the '18 GTDRI.

Then there is the basis for many designs of bicycles to be directly or indirectly influenced by racing. That has been a really bad route that the American market has gone down for decades. Look at any European city and most bicycles are definitely not racing bicycles because most people are not racing that ride.

Of course, this has as much to do with culture as it does a misplaced focus on racing, but the cycling industry could have been helping itself by focusing on more practical and fun modes of cycling, but it never got around to it. Not in any serious, long term way.

Yes, there is People For Bikes and some "feel good' donating and lip service being shared by the bigger brands. However; what dominates their social feeds is racing. Their marquee offerings are racing bicycles. There has been somewhat of a shift with the gravel scene poking its dirty little head into the goings on, but even that is getting the "racing treatment" by the brands and marketing wonks. The "default mode" still reigns supreme.

So, this all ties back into what I was talking about late last week with the media stories talking about the "Pro roadie" issue with gravel racing. So, there you go. The reason for the quoted reaction above by the PLP folks. It is such an old, hackneyed way to look at cycling that it becomes tiring when those of us that see the potential of cycling see and here these views again, and again. 

There are good things happening out there though, and I think I speak for some of us when I say that it would be nice if those things got some run in the press, if they influenced new gear, and if the narrative was redirected toward fun and freedom from competition. I know that we in the shops have been touting the "let's have fun" line to sell cycling and not the racing side. yet the industry seems entrenched in the racing side of things. The big brands sponsor race teams, the media focuses on them, and the narrative we all get from both is "race-centric".

Let's not eliminate racing, but let's put it in its place. It isn't what most cyclists do, so why should most companies and media make it the basis of any stories told to all cyclists about cycling. I like some of what I see going on out there. But I also get tired of "the default mode".

It's Not All About Racing

From a recent Tweet from "The Path Less Pedaled"

This past Friday I was part of a thread on Twitter where someone had opined that the "media" was going to ruin gravel riding by focusing almost exclusively on racing gravel. A few responses came and then this quote from "The Path Less Pedaled", "So burnt out on the default mode as racing".

Okay, a bit of housekeeping on this quote: What "..the default mode.." refers to is how the bicycle industry, and the major media that covers it, almost always uses racing bicycles as its touchstone for any cycling related subject. This has been something I have criticized for years. When a small percentage of bicyclists actually race during any given year versus the overall amount of cyclists, it doesn't make any sense for cycling media and the industry to almost exclusively speak in terms of racing. This is especially bad when it comes to pavement style cycling. But when the industry desperately needs to bring in new cyclists, it really makes no sense at all to focus on something most people that ride bicycles would never do.

Of course, there are publications dedicated to racing. I get that in those instances, but many publications are not, and the default mode from them in reference to cycling is almost always about racing.

No numbers, smiles, and a casual pace. From the '18 GTDRI.

Then there is the basis for many designs of bicycles to be directly or indirectly influenced by racing. That has been a really bad route that the American market has gone down for decades. Look at any European city and most bicycles are definitely not racing bicycles because most people are not racing that ride.

Of course, this has as much to do with culture as it does a misplaced focus on racing, but the cycling industry could have been helping itself by focusing on more practical and fun modes of cycling, but it never got around to it. Not in any serious, long term way.

Yes, there is People For Bikes and some "feel good' donating and lip service being shared by the bigger brands. However; what dominates their social feeds is racing. Their marquee offerings are racing bicycles. There has been somewhat of a shift with the gravel scene poking its dirty little head into the goings on, but even that is getting the "racing treatment" by the brands and marketing wonks. The "default mode" still reigns supreme.

So, this all ties back into what I was talking about late last week with the media stories talking about the "Pro roadie" issue with gravel racing. So, there you go. The reason for the quoted reaction above by the PLP folks. It is such an old, hackneyed way to look at cycling that it becomes tiring when those of us that see the potential of cycling see and here these views again, and again. 

There are good things happening out there though, and I think I speak for some of us when I say that it would be nice if those things got some run in the press, if they influenced new gear, and if the narrative was redirected toward fun and freedom from competition. I know that we in the shops have been touting the "let's have fun" line to sell cycling and not the racing side. yet the industry seems entrenched in the racing side of things. The big brands sponsor race teams, the media focuses on them, and the narrative we all get from both is "race-centric".

Let's not eliminate racing, but let's put it in its place. It isn't what most cyclists do, so why should most companies and media make it the basis of any stories told to all cyclists about cycling. I like some of what I see going on out there. But I also get tired of "the default mode".

The One Bright Spot

Getting outside and having fun with friends on the 2015 GTDRI.

Fun...... Who doesn't like that? Obviously, the word can be defined in many ways, but taken in its most general form, "fun" means "enjoyable", "pleasurable", or maybe even, as Dictionary.com says, "something that provides mirth or amusement".

I don't know much, but the whole of professional road racing, its supporters, and its imitators, never struck me as a group that was having this thing called "fun". Not in the least.

I will say that I always had a soft spot in my heart for guys that could suffer through a road race. But.........I never wanted to be that guy. Quite frankly, I couldn't be that guy. Most Pro roadies sacrifice so much, have a specific genetic gifting, and are of a certain temperament that there was zero chances I could ever be "that guy". Nope, I was never going to be successful at Pro racing, suffering the way they do. But I could do something else on a bicycle. I could have fun. I bet you could do that too.

I wanted to have fun  and have it often. It is why I have pretty much quit riding road bikes. For one thing, group road rides almost always end up becoming competitions and people getting dropped is a thing that is expected. Hmm......that isn't my idea of "fun". Not many folks would say it was either. Not to mention the fact that your chances of dying from being hit by a distracted, impaired, or unskilled driver are sky high when riding the paved roads these days. Yeah......the fun factor is not high here.

Take a look at RAGBRAI. Folks make fun of the riders because they stop so often and drink and eat. But you know what? They are having "fun". Guess what else? They aren't racing! Of course, there is more to it than that. Everyone has a different bike, wears whatever clothes they want, dresses up, dresses down,or wears costumes. In other words, fun is happening. Social things are happening. Mirth and amusement are happening. 

There is a great article up now on Cyclingtips.com by James Huang about road racing and why it should not drive what happens in the cycling industry. I happen to agree with him, and furthermore, I would go as far to say that this insular, not very fun way of cycling is a big factor in what is killing the industry. People don't want to ride like the Pros, they don't want to suffer like the Pros, and they couldn't anyway. So why does the industry insist on basing its culture off Pro road racing? 

I dunno...... Fun haters? 

Too bad, they are really missing out. I know Mr. Huang gets it, Here's what he said in the article:

"One bright spot is the exploding world of gravel and adventure riding, and I’m not at all surprised by its appeal. After all, getting outside and having a good time with your friends are some of the core themes there. Exploring the world. Challenging yourself. Breathing some fresh air." - James Huang

Fun- Maybe the cycling industry should take a closer look at that. 

The One Bright Spot

Getting outside and having fun with friends on the 2015 GTDRI.

Fun...... Who doesn't like that? Obviously, the word can be defined in many ways, but taken in its most general form, "fun" means "enjoyable", "pleasurable", or maybe even, as Dictionary.com says, "something that provides mirth or amusement".

I don't know much, but the whole of professional road racing, its supporters, and its imitators, never struck me as a group that was having this thing called "fun". Not in the least.

I will say that I always had a soft spot in my heart for guys that could suffer through a road race. But.........I never wanted to be that guy. Quite frankly, I couldn't be that guy. Most Pro roadies sacrifice so much, have a specific genetic gifting, and are of a certain temperament that there was zero chances I could ever be "that guy". Nope, I was never going to be successful at Pro racing, suffering the way they do. But I could do something else on a bicycle. I could have fun. I bet you could do that too.

I wanted to have fun  and have it often. It is why I have pretty much quit riding road bikes. For one thing, group road rides almost always end up becoming competitions and people getting dropped is a thing that is expected. Hmm......that isn't my idea of "fun". Not many folks would say it was either. Not to mention the fact that your chances of dying from being hit by a distracted, impaired, or unskilled driver are sky high when riding the paved roads these days. Yeah......the fun factor is not high here.

Take a look at RAGBRAI. Folks make fun of the riders because they stop so often and drink and eat. But you know what? They are having "fun". Guess what else? They aren't racing! Of course, there is more to it than that. Everyone has a different bike, wears whatever clothes they want, dresses up, dresses down,or wears costumes. In other words, fun is happening. Social things are happening. Mirth and amusement are happening. 

There is a great article up now on Cyclingtips.com by James Huang about road racing and why it should not drive what happens in the cycling industry. I happen to agree with him, and furthermore, I would go as far to say that this insular, not very fun way of cycling is a big factor in what is killing the industry. People don't want to ride like the Pros, they don't want to suffer like the Pros, and they couldn't anyway. So why does the industry insist on basing its culture off Pro road racing? 

I dunno...... Fun haters? 

Too bad, they are really missing out. I know Mr. Huang gets it, Here's what he said in the article:

"One bright spot is the exploding world of gravel and adventure riding, and I’m not at all surprised by its appeal. After all, getting outside and having a good time with your friends are some of the core themes there. Exploring the world. Challenging yourself. Breathing some fresh air." - James Huang

Fun- Maybe the cycling industry should take a closer look at that. 

Looking Ahead At 2018

Heading toward my 14th complete year of blogging in 2018.

Well, another stellar year of posting ends today for this blog. I am amazed that anyone still cares enough to actually read this blog at all, but you do. To all of you, a hearty "thank you!" and may you all have a Happy and Joyous New Year!

As for me, I have plans! (Insert evil laugh) Many of you will be surprised by at least one of the plans I have in store. Some of you will be nodding in agreement and understanding. Some of you won't give a rip. Some will deride me and say derogatory things. Nothing new about any of that!

Things concerning the blog will stay stable as long as I am around to punch keyboards out here. So, don't expect any big changes there. The blog should live on. That's my intention for now, at any rate.

Personally I am taking a different approach to my events. In the past I had a mix of competitive and "fun" riding. This coming year I am going to cut back on the competitive bits. I will be doing the Renegade Gent's race, but for all intents and purposes that is a fun ride. So, I am not counting that event as competition. There may be an excursion in Minnesota I will be on. That isn't set in stone just yet. Trans Iowa will take up the rest of my Spring's efforts along with just riding around here for fun.

June will be left completely wide open. There was some talk about riding three days in Odin's territory, but that is not solid as of now. It could happen though. Then the GTDRI will happen again probably the last weekend in July. Somewhere in the Spring I may still do a Geezer Ride. That will happen as part of a local, "get folks out on gravel" thing.

Summer won't have any other scheduled riding other than the Gravel Worlds, which is one I won't miss. Then that's it. Nothing else competitive at all is on my radar. Everything else I am leaving wide open to interpretation. I may want to go ride in Jackson County, Iowa, as an example, or along the Mississippi River somewhere, or out in the Loess Hills. I probably will go to the Northfield area, Des Moines area, and maybe some other places where I have friends to ride next year.

So yeah, the Renegade Gent's Race, GTDRI, and Gravel Worlds. That's all I am planning on for sure. The rest will be filled in with riding for fun, with friends, hopefully, and in some different places. I hope to get my 100 mile rides in on my single speed, gravel bikes, and maybe even a fat bike century too.

I look forward to this coming year. Less stress, less "big deals", and more fun with friends. That's my outlook right now.

Goodbye 2017......

Looking Ahead At 2018

Heading toward my 14th complete year of blogging in 2018.

Well, another stellar year of posting ends today for this blog. I am amazed that anyone still cares enough to actually read this blog at all, but you do. To all of you, a hearty "thank you!" and may you all have a Happy and Joyous New Year!

As for me, I have plans! (Insert evil laugh) Many of you will be surprised by at least one of the plans I have in store. Some of you will be nodding in agreement and understanding. Some of you won't give a rip. Some will deride me and say derogatory things. Nothing new about any of that!

Things concerning the blog will stay stable as long as I am around to punch keyboards out here. So, don't expect any big changes there. The blog should live on. That's my intention for now, at any rate.

Personally I am taking a different approach to my events. In the past I had a mix of competitive and "fun" riding. This coming year I am going to cut back on the competitive bits. I will be doing the Renegade Gent's race, but for all intents and purposes that is a fun ride. So, I am not counting that event as competition. There may be an excursion in Minnesota I will be on. That isn't set in stone just yet. Trans Iowa will take up the rest of my Spring's efforts along with just riding around here for fun.

June will be left completely wide open. There was some talk about riding three days in Odin's territory, but that is not solid as of now. It could happen though. Then the GTDRI will happen again probably the last weekend in July. Somewhere in the Spring I may still do a Geezer Ride. That will happen as part of a local, "get folks out on gravel" thing.

Summer won't have any other scheduled riding other than the Gravel Worlds, which is one I won't miss. Then that's it. Nothing else competitive at all is on my radar. Everything else I am leaving wide open to interpretation. I may want to go ride in Jackson County, Iowa, as an example, or along the Mississippi River somewhere, or out in the Loess Hills. I probably will go to the Northfield area, Des Moines area, and maybe some other places where I have friends to ride next year.

So yeah, the Renegade Gent's Race, GTDRI, and Gravel Worlds. That's all I am planning on for sure. The rest will be filled in with riding for fun, with friends, hopefully, and in some different places. I hope to get my 100 mile rides in on my single speed, gravel bikes, and maybe even a fat bike century too.

I look forward to this coming year. Less stress, less "big deals", and more fun with friends. That's my outlook right now.

Goodbye 2017......

Taking It Back To The Fun

2016 saw me experiencing the Flint Hills in a totally different, and more fun,way.

There is something about going out on a bicycle to see the "how far", "where you can go", and "what you can do" that is very appealing to me, and by the way, is not at all connected to competition. You maybe can call this "touring", or you might call it "adventure by bicycle" like one company has done, or you maybe could just distill it all down to one simple word- fun. 

To my way of thinking, "fun" on a bicycle, as described above, is why I got hooked on bicycles in the first place. It wasn't about being faster than the next guy, it wasn't about the latest lightweight gizmo, and it certainly is not about gaining notoriety on social media. No! It was simply a joy in riding around, searching, looking, and experiencing the terrain and the things alive on it and in it. That pretty much sums things up in general terms for me.

Now, before I go any further, I want to explain very clearly that competition has its place. I even enjoy competing in events on occasion. But I also want to make it very  clear that competition falls way down the ladder of reasons why I take to the gravel and ride. I also want it to be very clear that what I am about to share goes for me only. I don't speak for anyone else here, so please let that sink in a moment.

Just sittin' around and having some fun out on a gravel ride this past Summer. From the GTDRI by Rob Evans

Someone online the other day accused me of being "all patriarchal" about some of my views pertaining to the gravel scene. Well, I am a male and I've been around this scene, some say influencing it, for well over a decade. So, yeah, I'll own that. You can see that as a negative or whatever. It is what it is, and so I'm going to put this out there as one of the people others say has a word or two to share that might have some weight to it. You can decide on that ultimately.

Anyway, I feel that chasing races and somewhat manufactured experiences is getting kind of old. Not that I won't ever pin a number on one of my bicycles again, because I plan on doing that, but I won't do that a lot anymore. Why? Because I'd rather have more "fun". I'd rather do more rides like the GTDRI, the "Geezer Ride", 3GR, and whatever else others do out in the world that isn't about paying someone a bunch of cash and racing.

Just being a bunch of Geezers in 2015.

There are free to enter races, sure. I get that and I like that way of doing things. I'm not averse to paying for an event though, but in some cases I've just had to say "no mas!". Enough is enough. Chasing the race scene is cool from the people aspect, but I have found that you no longer even have to do the race to get in that aspect of things. I have also found that getting together with a group of like minded individuals, be that one other or many others, seems to be a lot more enjoyable, creates a lot more "good times", and can be done on a shoe string budget. Besides that, these experiences on rides I have either put on myself or have been on with others seem to create their own special "vibe" that no event/race I've ever done has possessed.

Then there is this whole thing about "getting the value for the dollar spent" , which from where I sit, has taken precedence over the "why I ride in the first place" aspect of gravel and gravel events. So, you know, if you spend this, in my opinion, exorbitant amount of money, the attitude seems to be getting to be, "what's in it for me besides the riding?" And to be honest, that's on us, the riders. I know it is really popular to blame the event promoters for "selling out the scene", but if people keep buying, who really should we be pointing our finger at? I say, look in the mirror.

And maybe that's okay with you. I get that. But again, it isn't why I am riding gravel.

So I Tweeted out the following the other day:

 That got a ton of responses. Some direct from Twitter, but I also was contacted by e-mail from a "like-minded" individual who shall remain nameless at this point. Needless to say, I felt that I was not the only person with feelings that the gravel scene, in particular, has been loosing its way when it comes to its "real reason to be", which isn't racing and a bunch of other hoo-ha attached with it.

Take the linked event in my Tweet, the SWIG Tour. You can ride it, you can race it, but the general vibe is that of a guy who wants to share in what he believes is a great place to ride. He feels the views and the roads are too good not to share. I can get behind an idea like that.

Then yesterday I Tweeted the following based upon responses I had gotten from the first Tweet and my further thinking about this: 

So this Tweet got an even bigger response. Now as I stated at the top of this post, I am speaking here only for myself, but it is very clear that others out there are thinking along the same lines. How many folks are getting this vibe, I have no clear idea, but from where I sit, it is more than I thought. It's apparently more than a few of you out there.

So, as I say in the Tweet, I am not sure where this all is going, but it is going! Already there are plans for rides, special "stuff", and more surrounding this groundswell of "just riding". I know that as far as I am concerned I would like to recreate something like my "DK MY Way" ride out in Nebraska where "Odin's Revenge" used to be ridden. Probably as a long weekend, three day deal where we ride out and back to Gothenburg for three loops of the old courses we used to ride.

I want to get the old 3GR ride up and going again as a regular local gravel grind. I also want to do a Geezer Ride, or two, or three. But however it goes, I want to experience more places and people in casual riding atmospheres instead of every big ride being one of being under the gun to race and all that entails. We'll see how that turns out...

More on this subject later as things develop.

Taking It Back To The Fun

2016 saw me experiencing the Flint Hills in a totally different, and more fun,way.

There is something about going out on a bicycle to see the "how far", "where you can go", and "what you can do" that is very appealing to me, and by the way, is not at all connected to competition. You maybe can call this "touring", or you might call it "adventure by bicycle" like one company has done, or you maybe could just distill it all down to one simple word- fun. 

To my way of thinking, "fun" on a bicycle, as described above, is why I got hooked on bicycles in the first place. It wasn't about being faster than the next guy, it wasn't about the latest lightweight gizmo, and it certainly is not about gaining notoriety on social media. No! It was simply a joy in riding around, searching, looking, and experiencing the terrain and the things alive on it and in it. That pretty much sums things up in general terms for me.

Now, before I go any further, I want to explain very clearly that competition has its place. I even enjoy competing in events on occasion. But I also want to make it very  clear that competition falls way down the ladder of reasons why I take to the gravel and ride. I also want it to be very clear that what I am about to share goes for me only. I don't speak for anyone else here, so please let that sink in a moment.

Just sittin' around and having some fun out on a gravel ride this past Summer. From the GTDRI by Rob Evans

Someone online the other day accused me of being "all patriarchal" about some of my views pertaining to the gravel scene. Well, I am a male and I've been around this scene, some say influencing it, for well over a decade. So, yeah, I'll own that. You can see that as a negative or whatever. It is what it is, and so I'm going to put this out there as one of the people others say has a word or two to share that might have some weight to it. You can decide on that ultimately.

Anyway, I feel that chasing races and somewhat manufactured experiences is getting kind of old. Not that I won't ever pin a number on one of my bicycles again, because I plan on doing that, but I won't do that a lot anymore. Why? Because I'd rather have more "fun". I'd rather do more rides like the GTDRI, the "Geezer Ride", 3GR, and whatever else others do out in the world that isn't about paying someone a bunch of cash and racing.

Just being a bunch of Geezers in 2015.

There are free to enter races, sure. I get that and I like that way of doing things. I'm not averse to paying for an event though, but in some cases I've just had to say "no mas!". Enough is enough. Chasing the race scene is cool from the people aspect, but I have found that you no longer even have to do the race to get in that aspect of things. I have also found that getting together with a group of like minded individuals, be that one other or many others, seems to be a lot more enjoyable, creates a lot more "good times", and can be done on a shoe string budget. Besides that, these experiences on rides I have either put on myself or have been on with others seem to create their own special "vibe" that no event/race I've ever done has possessed.

Then there is this whole thing about "getting the value for the dollar spent" , which from where I sit, has taken precedence over the "why I ride in the first place" aspect of gravel and gravel events. So, you know, if you spend this, in my opinion, exorbitant amount of money, the attitude seems to be getting to be, "what's in it for me besides the riding?" And to be honest, that's on us, the riders. I know it is really popular to blame the event promoters for "selling out the scene", but if people keep buying, who really should we be pointing our finger at? I say, look in the mirror.

And maybe that's okay with you. I get that. But again, it isn't why I am riding gravel.

So I Tweeted out the following the other day:

 That got a ton of responses. Some direct from Twitter, but I also was contacted by e-mail from a "like-minded" individual who shall remain nameless at this point. Needless to say, I felt that I was not the only person with feelings that the gravel scene, in particular, has been loosing its way when it comes to its "real reason to be", which isn't racing and a bunch of other hoo-ha attached with it.

Take the linked event in my Tweet, the SWIG Tour. You can ride it, you can race it, but the general vibe is that of a guy who wants to share in what he believes is a great place to ride. He feels the views and the roads are too good not to share. I can get behind an idea like that.

Then yesterday I Tweeted the following based upon responses I had gotten from the first Tweet and my further thinking about this: 

So this Tweet got an even bigger response. Now as I stated at the top of this post, I am speaking here only for myself, but it is very clear that others out there are thinking along the same lines. How many folks are getting this vibe, I have no clear idea, but from where I sit, it is more than I thought. It's apparently more than a few of you out there.

So, as I say in the Tweet, I am not sure where this all is going, but it is going! Already there are plans for rides, special "stuff", and more surrounding this groundswell of "just riding". I know that as far as I am concerned I would like to recreate something like my "DK MY Way" ride out in Nebraska where "Odin's Revenge" used to be ridden. Probably as a long weekend, three day deal where we ride out and back to Gothenburg for three loops of the old courses we used to ride.

I want to get the old 3GR ride up and going again as a regular local gravel grind. I also want to do a Geezer Ride, or two, or three. But however it goes, I want to experience more places and people in casual riding atmospheres instead of every big ride being one of being under the gun to race and all that entails. We'll see how that turns out...

More on this subject later as things develop.