Friday News And Views

Scene from Andy's Bike Shop (R.I.P.) circa 2020.

Slow Times:

Maybe you are too busy riding to notice, and I do hope this is the case, but there has been a dearth of news and releases this Summer from the bicycle industry.

Of course, there is some activity  on the news front, but I've noted a big drop off in press releases across the media and social media sites in the past month, month and a half.

Maybe this is due to all the hullabaloo with tariffs, or maybe it has something to do with consumer habits and slow sales. I would bet it is something of both of those things. But whatever it is, I know this has been one of the quietest Summers from the standpoint of new bicycle releases I've experienced.

Just this week the news I've seen is very slim, and has to do with oddball things like 'unobtanium' 3D printed saddles, a refresh of a full suspension trail e-Bike in aluminum instead of carbon fiber, and a gravel bike introduced earlier this year now available in multiple customer chosen hues.

Big Tires For Gravel And Gearing:

 Back in the late 2000's, when triple crank sets were still dominate, the then new 29 inch wheel bike was still finding its way in terms of specific-to-29" wheel components and gear, One of those needs back then was for a lower geared cassette.

The problem was the change in diameter from a 26"er wheel to a 29"er wheel. The larger diameter effectively skewed the then available cassette gearing ranges to a faster/"harder" range. Instead of allowing 29"er riders to scale steeps like a 26"er rider, the lack of lower gearing made riding a 29"er in hilly terrain harder. 

Of course, lower gears eventually did become available, 29"ers evolved and left 26"ers in the dust, and all is well now. How does this past experience with the move to larger diameter wheels inform gravel riders today? Does any of this even matter?

My friend, Ari, a bicycle mechanic in the Chicago area, asked about this recently. I went ahead and did some basic calculations using All City's excellent gear calculator page.  I found interesting results from comparing different tire widths and how these affect your gear range.

Most riders are considering larger volume tires for gravel.The times when 40mm tires were thought to be the optimum size for gravel is a time long past. Now riders are mostly in the mid-40's for tire widths and even 50mm+ width tires are being eyed for gravel riding and racing in some instances. Does this wider, and therefore larger, diameter tire affect your gearing range in a negative way, like it did for 29"er riders versus their 26"er counterparts back in the day?

The short answer? The effect is negligible. According to my research, which could be wrong, a rider would have to move up 15mm in tire width, (and assuming volume follows at a linear rate), to equal a one tooth difference in gearing. That's a lot, and obviously, moving from 43mm to - let's say 50mm, is even less of a difference.  

So, should you sweat the details of gearing if you are moving from a 45mm tire to a 50mm tire? Maybe. I would do so only if you are already feeling as though your gearing is at a limit on the low side at a 45mm tire. Otherwise, I think it is not a big deal.

SON Ladelux Light and switch/charging port. (Image courtesy of Nabendynam.de)

SON Show New Ladelux Dynamo Light/Switch: 

A new light with the capability to charge devices via USB has been introduced by SON Nabendynamo. The new Ladelux light also features a high beam setting which is a more full, more long-distance throw light which is switchable to a Low setting via SON's new switching system. 

The new light is capable of up to a 14 watt power output which is approximately 4 watts higher than the competition's most powerful models. The "Low" beam is claimed to shine at 150Lux and on high the light has a 200 Lux capability. The light housing also contains a stand alone battery which is charged by the dynamo hub. This battery acts as a buffer between the hub and device which is being charged. The battery, when charged up, provides a smoother delivery of electrons which a hub dynamo is incapable of doing. This intermittent charging directly off a hub dynamo sometimes can damage the batteries in devices and is not an optimal way to charge devices.

The switch is unique as it has a sealed, metal construction and relies on pressure to switch light modes. Therefore there is no possibility for moisture intrusion. The switch features a magnetic cord attachment for charging either Apple devices or any USB C device. For more details see the SON Nabendynamo site HERE. 

Comments: Cost for the light alone with switch is approximately $570.00, which isn't cheap by any stretch, but in my experience with SON products, well worth the money.  I probably wouldn't need such a full-featured set up, since I don't have a need to charge a device while riding, typically. However; on a cross-country trek, or for a few days of bike packing, this might be an ideal thing to look into. Of course, cords, satellite accessories, the dynamo hub, and labor to build a wheel make this a pretty expensive way to go. That's a big commitment for sure. But if I did this sort of riding which makes a set up like this worthwhile often enough, then it begins to make a lot of sense. 

That is a wrap on this week! Have a great weekend and get out and ride a bicycle!

Crank-Crankity-Crank-Crank

SRAM AXS FORCE

 When you have blogged for 15 plus years almost on a daily basis primarily on the subject of cycling, you end up hitting upon a few themes. One that I have come back to many times is all about gearing for bicycles. This is a very interesting subject to me, and apparently to many of you readers as well. I know because I've gotten the most feedback in the comments from writing about gearing. 

Besides offering up my opinions on gearing here, I get asked about gearing much of the time as well. Recently I was asked about low gearing for gravel/back road riding where you have to winch yourself up some steep grades. I was dismayed to have to answer that the bicycle industry has largely abandoned those who want to conquer steep, long climbs under their own power and then want to burn up the flats and down hills with higher gearing. At least this is the case for the type of  bicycling many are doing off-pavement all the way up to the edges of mountain biking. 

Manufacturers like to talk in terms of 'range' now. This is only a part of the story. Gearing range can be wide, and that is a good thing, but where does that 'range' start and stop? Is that 'low' enough for you? Maybe it is, but for many folks, only the gearing range that used to be offered by a triple ring crankset matched with a  decently wide ranging rear cassette really worked. You could dip lower and go a bit higher with gearing that way than you ever could with a double or a 1X set up. And again- I'll say it for the umpteenth time- 1X is very inefficient. 

As mechanics we are seeing this more and more. 1X systems are failing at shifting while still measuring okay on traditional chain measuring tools. The trouble is, chains are wearing out laterally instead of the traditional way, and shifting is negatively affected. Not only that, but now, due to the extreme chain lines induced by 1X systems, front chain rings, chains, and cassettes often have to be replaced all at the same time and more often, or shifting suffers. Good timing for all of this as well what with the parts shortages we are seeing. 

Most of this is stuff I predicted when 1X started coming out. The gearing range is one thing, but the system would be limited as to how fast or how low that gearing could be. Parts would wear prematurely due  to the extreme chain lines and smaller cogs in many cases. Now the parts shortages, that I did not see coming! 

Triple chain ring crank sets are really a great idea. You'll find out some day when one of the big companies comes out with a new set up that has automated front shifting so you won't have to think about it anymore. Young folks will think it is 'new' and that this new efficient way to scale steeps and blaze down hills is way better than that old geezer 1X stuff their parents were riding. Well, that is if the youngsters are after a 100% human powered experience. Right now the industry would be perfectly happy to ditch derailleur drive trains and go with motorized bikes with gear boxes, like, you know.....motorcycles? It is 'progress' you know. Who needs to work that hard anyway?

Crank-Crankity-Crank-Crank

SRAM AXS FORCE

 When you have blogged for 15 plus years almost on a daily basis primarily on the subject of cycling, you end up hitting upon a few themes. One that I have come back to many times is all about gearing for bicycles. This is a very interesting subject to me, and apparently to many of you readers as well. I know because I've gotten the most feedback in the comments from writing about gearing. 

Besides offering up my opinions on gearing here, I get asked about gearing much of the time as well. Recently I was asked about low gearing for gravel/back road riding where you have to winch yourself up some steep grades. I was dismayed to have to answer that the bicycle industry has largely abandoned those who want to conquer steep, long climbs under their own power and then want to burn up the flats and down hills with higher gearing. At least this is the case for the type of  bicycling many are doing off-pavement all the way up to the edges of mountain biking. 

Manufacturers like to talk in terms of 'range' now. This is only a part of the story. Gearing range can be wide, and that is a good thing, but where does that 'range' start and stop? Is that 'low' enough for you? Maybe it is, but for many folks, only the gearing range that used to be offered by a triple ring crankset matched with a  decently wide ranging rear cassette really worked. You could dip lower and go a bit higher with gearing that way than you ever could with a double or a 1X set up. And again- I'll say it for the umpteenth time- 1X is very inefficient. 

As mechanics we are seeing this more and more. 1X systems are failing at shifting while still measuring okay on traditional chain measuring tools. The trouble is, chains are wearing out laterally instead of the traditional way, and shifting is negatively affected. Not only that, but now, due to the extreme chain lines induced by 1X systems, front chain rings, chains, and cassettes often have to be replaced all at the same time and more often, or shifting suffers. Good timing for all of this as well what with the parts shortages we are seeing. 

Most of this is stuff I predicted when 1X started coming out. The gearing range is one thing, but the system would be limited as to how fast or how low that gearing could be. Parts would wear prematurely due  to the extreme chain lines and smaller cogs in many cases. Now the parts shortages, that I did not see coming! 

Triple chain ring crank sets are really a great idea. You'll find out some day when one of the big companies comes out with a new set up that has automated front shifting so you won't have to think about it anymore. Young folks will think it is 'new' and that this new efficient way to scale steeps and blaze down hills is way better than that old geezer 1X stuff their parents were riding. Well, that is if the youngsters are after a 100% human powered experience. Right now the industry would be perfectly happy to ditch derailleur drive trains and go with motorized bikes with gear boxes, like, you know.....motorcycles? It is 'progress' you know. Who needs to work that hard anyway?

Friday News And Views

SBT GRVL, amongst other Colorado based events, cancelled for 2020.

2020 Is Cancelled: Part 2- 

This past week saw the cancellation of a few major gravel events, mostly Colorado based, as the uncertainty surrounding the recovery from the pandemic continues.

The SBT GRVL, Leadville, and the FoCo Fondofest all went down on the same day as officials in Colorado detailed their plans for social gatherings through the Summer. Large group gatherings, not only in Colorado, but in other areas, are being frowned upon as fears of overwhelming local medical facilities, who are already under pressure from handling COVID-19 cases, as well as fears of infecting people, have been voiced.

Events through August seem to be affected and many people are looking at their schedules wondering if this will start to affect Fall schedules as well. Obviously, no one knows anything at this point. The best bet is to keep your ears close to the ground, contact promoters/Race Directors, and be prepared to have a fluid schedule. At this point, I would think it might be best just to write it all off and look at 2021.

Some are saying smaller events are going to be the ticket here as they will be better able to handle social distancing and medical facilities won't be put under pressure. However; I wouldn't count on that either at this point. Secondly, there seems to be a lot of virtual challenge type things being set up in the meantime to help riders get their ya-yas out this year. Some are pretty creative.

SRAM AXS makes a splash with low range drop bar gearing options.

SRAM AXS Gearing Goes Lower:

SRAM announced its answer to Shimano's GRX this week with an addition to AXS. The addition included a new crank set, 43/30 ratio, and a similar slightly outboard chain line, ostensibly to deal with shorter chain stays and wider tires preferred by drop bar riders on adventure bikes. While this was introduced in the Force level, many speculate that a Red level system is not far off.

Comments: Welcome to yet another bolt circle diameter and proprietary chain ring set up. Hooray! (sarcasm) And you'd better like 43/30, because that's all you get. Yes- there are other SRAM crank sets, but they all are wide range doubles or 1X's and you cannot mix and match rings. Boo. People are saying this is great because you get lower gearing. (?) What happened to using your cassette to get some help? SRAM gives you a 10-36T 12 speed cassette here. Really? Why not stick with larger chain rings and use big rear cassette gears, like, ya know......Eagle? Sheesh!

This whole move to get people wider gearing ratios with double crank sets would be met with derisive laughter circa 1980. People would point to your folly and tell you that using a triple ring crank set would be far more elegant and solve your problems in a more efficient manner for the cyclist. But......you'd need to understand how to actually use a triple ring crank set. Most people cannot figure them out.

As far as shifting concerns with triples, park those concerns at the door. Modern technologies you take for granted on your double ring set ups, especially Shimano, have not been applied to a triple crank set. High end triples pretty much disappeared ten years ago. SRAM XX in 2010 actually shifted awesomely. If adventurers need wide range- fast gears and wall climbing gears- you cannot do that in any more efficient and elegant manner than with a triple crank. This is where we need to go. Heck, make it electronic, with SyncroShift mated to a close ratio cassette. It'd be so good you'd never go back to wide range doubles.

Oh! And one more thing. Drop the proprietary crap already. 

LOOK 765 gravel bike- This one is the DK200 Limited edition model.

 LOOK (!) It's a Dirty Kanza Limited Edition Bike!

French bicycle manufacturer, LOOK, has been making a gravel bike for a while now. It's their 765 model in carbon. It's a unique, racy rig, with limited (to 40mm) tire clearance and a pretty slack, for gravel, 70.3° head angle. But now......

You can get one in a very limited edition Dirty Kanza 200 version. Yep! This ain't no Salsa Cycles Warbird here folks! This is a high-falutin', honest ta goodness rare bird here! In fact, they are only offering eight of these babies at a cool 8K asking price.

You get the above mentioned SRAM AXS 43/30T crank with the 10-36T cassette, new Corima carbon gravel wheels, which retail for over 2K on their own, and tha cache' of riding one of Europe's storied bike brands.

I dunno about you, but this whole gravel bike, gravel event, premier this and that, it's gotten waaaaay outta hand. I mean......this is a freakin' doctor/lawyer rig. It's a cool bicycle in many ways, but...... Wow. Does this tell you that the whole Pro roadie thing is really in a down cycle or what?

By the way, there are other LOOK 765 models available at nearly half the price of this DK200 Limited edition model, just to be fair.

From the back room of some defunct Cedar Falls bike shop.....

 Got Any Bikes For Sale? 

This pandemic thing has disrupted the market for bicycles in a major way. The shops with inventory will clean up in the short term because stock lists are so low now most items are gone until late Summer. I see a few shops that had the horsepower to pull in pallets full of bikes, and then there are others sitting with empty racks. Consumers are telling me that they cannot locate recreational fitness bikes in our area. Used bikes? Pffft! Rare as hen's teeth in most locales.

One of the longest term bicycle blog sites, "Bike Hugger", Tweeted out the following on Wednesday:

"Hugga's site traffic is up 41%. If I saw this coming, would've prepped a handful of purchase decision validation videos that said, "Yes, you did great buying that $800 bike from your local shop." Even better getting one repaired Keep riding it. "

Truer words have not been Tweeted. To add to that, we're seeing the dustiest, barn-rotted bikes I've seen in a long while. People are pulling down 20+ year old bikes which, for all intents and purposes, look barely ridden, to get them up and running for some use during these socially distanced times. All great stuff, but as the country looks toward "opening up" and what not, can this mini-boom be sustained? 

While there is a lot of 'hope' being expressed that this will stick with a lot of folks, here's some reasons it may not. First of all, the bike shortage, in the near term, will bite a lot of potential for making cyclists in the butt. You cannot get a bike now? Well, you go do something else. Then there are all those mart-bike purchases, which, as we bike nerds know, tend to turn people off more than on, because of the inherent issues these bike-shaped objects have. We've already seen a bit of disappointment over these things crop up. I expect to see a lot more in the coming weeks and months. But all that pales in light of the worst thing against making more of these seekers into cyclists for life.

Bicycle safety and lack of infrastructure. If where you live was not all that bicycle friendly in 2019, then when things start to go back to normal again, you can expect that unsafe/unfriendly monster to come back again. What do you suppose that will do for the newer converts? I'm betting it will be a big ol' "turn off". 

Hope I'm wrong, but I'll be surprised if a lot of these bikes don't find themselves gathering dust once folks get back behind the wheels of automobiles again. 

Have a great weekend! Get out and make some memories.

Friday News And Views

SBT GRVL, amongst other Colorado based events, cancelled for 2020.

2020 Is Cancelled: Part 2- 

This past week saw the cancellation of a few major gravel events, mostly Colorado based, as the uncertainty surrounding the recovery from the pandemic continues.

The SBT GRVL, Leadville, and the FoCo Fondofest all went down on the same day as officials in Colorado detailed their plans for social gatherings through the Summer. Large group gatherings, not only in Colorado, but in other areas, are being frowned upon as fears of overwhelming local medical facilities, who are already under pressure from handling COVID-19 cases, as well as fears of infecting people, have been voiced.

Events through August seem to be affected and many people are looking at their schedules wondering if this will start to affect Fall schedules as well. Obviously, no one knows anything at this point. The best bet is to keep your ears close to the ground, contact promoters/Race Directors, and be prepared to have a fluid schedule. At this point, I would think it might be best just to write it all off and look at 2021.

Some are saying smaller events are going to be the ticket here as they will be better able to handle social distancing and medical facilities won't be put under pressure. However; I wouldn't count on that either at this point. Secondly, there seems to be a lot of virtual challenge type things being set up in the meantime to help riders get their ya-yas out this year. Some are pretty creative.

SRAM AXS makes a splash with low range drop bar gearing options.

SRAM AXS Gearing Goes Lower:

SRAM announced its answer to Shimano's GRX this week with an addition to AXS. The addition included a new crank set, 43/30 ratio, and a similar slightly outboard chain line, ostensibly to deal with shorter chain stays and wider tires preferred by drop bar riders on adventure bikes. While this was introduced in the Force level, many speculate that a Red level system is not far off.

Comments: Welcome to yet another bolt circle diameter and proprietary chain ring set up. Hooray! (sarcasm) And you'd better like 43/30, because that's all you get. Yes- there are other SRAM crank sets, but they all are wide range doubles or 1X's and you cannot mix and match rings. Boo. People are saying this is great because you get lower gearing. (?) What happened to using your cassette to get some help? SRAM gives you a 10-36T 12 speed cassette here. Really? Why not stick with larger chain rings and use big rear cassette gears, like, ya know......Eagle? Sheesh!

This whole move to get people wider gearing ratios with double crank sets would be met with derisive laughter circa 1980. People would point to your folly and tell you that using a triple ring crank set would be far more elegant and solve your problems in a more efficient manner for the cyclist. But......you'd need to understand how to actually use a triple ring crank set. Most people cannot figure them out.

As far as shifting concerns with triples, park those concerns at the door. Modern technologies you take for granted on your double ring set ups, especially Shimano, have not been applied to a triple crank set. High end triples pretty much disappeared ten years ago. SRAM XX in 2010 actually shifted awesomely. If adventurers need wide range- fast gears and wall climbing gears- you cannot do that in any more efficient and elegant manner than with a triple crank. This is where we need to go. Heck, make it electronic, with SyncroShift mated to a close ratio cassette. It'd be so good you'd never go back to wide range doubles.

Oh! And one more thing. Drop the proprietary crap already. 

LOOK 765 gravel bike- This one is the DK200 Limited edition model.

 LOOK (!) It's a Dirty Kanza Limited Edition Bike!

French bicycle manufacturer, LOOK, has been making a gravel bike for a while now. It's their 765 model in carbon. It's a unique, racy rig, with limited (to 40mm) tire clearance and a pretty slack, for gravel, 70.3° head angle. But now......

You can get one in a very limited edition Dirty Kanza 200 version. Yep! This ain't no Salsa Cycles Warbird here folks! This is a high-falutin', honest ta goodness rare bird here! In fact, they are only offering eight of these babies at a cool 8K asking price.

You get the above mentioned SRAM AXS 43/30T crank with the 10-36T cassette, new Corima carbon gravel wheels, which retail for over 2K on their own, and tha cache' of riding one of Europe's storied bike brands.

I dunno about you, but this whole gravel bike, gravel event, premier this and that, it's gotten waaaaay outta hand. I mean......this is a freakin' doctor/lawyer rig. It's a cool bicycle in many ways, but...... Wow. Does this tell you that the whole Pro roadie thing is really in a down cycle or what?

By the way, there are other LOOK 765 models available at nearly half the price of this DK200 Limited edition model, just to be fair.

From the back room of some defunct Cedar Falls bike shop.....

 Got Any Bikes For Sale? 

This pandemic thing has disrupted the market for bicycles in a major way. The shops with inventory will clean up in the short term because stock lists are so low now most items are gone until late Summer. I see a few shops that had the horsepower to pull in pallets full of bikes, and then there are others sitting with empty racks. Consumers are telling me that they cannot locate recreational fitness bikes in our area. Used bikes? Pffft! Rare as hen's teeth in most locales.

One of the longest term bicycle blog sites, "Bike Hugger", Tweeted out the following on Wednesday:

"Hugga's site traffic is up 41%. If I saw this coming, would've prepped a handful of purchase decision validation videos that said, "Yes, you did great buying that $800 bike from your local shop." Even better getting one repaired Keep riding it. "

Truer words have not been Tweeted. To add to that, we're seeing the dustiest, barn-rotted bikes I've seen in a long while. People are pulling down 20+ year old bikes which, for all intents and purposes, look barely ridden, to get them up and running for some use during these socially distanced times. All great stuff, but as the country looks toward "opening up" and what not, can this mini-boom be sustained? 

While there is a lot of 'hope' being expressed that this will stick with a lot of folks, here's some reasons it may not. First of all, the bike shortage, in the near term, will bite a lot of potential for making cyclists in the butt. You cannot get a bike now? Well, you go do something else. Then there are all those mart-bike purchases, which, as we bike nerds know, tend to turn people off more than on, because of the inherent issues these bike-shaped objects have. We've already seen a bit of disappointment over these things crop up. I expect to see a lot more in the coming weeks and months. But all that pales in light of the worst thing against making more of these seekers into cyclists for life.

Bicycle safety and lack of infrastructure. If where you live was not all that bicycle friendly in 2019, then when things start to go back to normal again, you can expect that unsafe/unfriendly monster to come back again. What do you suppose that will do for the newer converts? I'm betting it will be a big ol' "turn off". 

Hope I'm wrong, but I'll be surprised if a lot of these bikes don't find themselves gathering dust once folks get back behind the wheels of automobiles again. 

Have a great weekend! Get out and make some memories.

Now That The News Is Out

The new component group from Shimano- GRX

Well, now you've probably seen the news about GRX. (If not, here is my RidingGravel.com post about it) I also had a reaction to the significance of this new introduction, which you can read here, if you care to.

The reactions of others were typical and predictable. Those who have had issues with Shimano for any reason in the past, (even if they were mechanic/self-induced) didn't like it. Those who love SRAM stuff didn't like it. Some people commented on my story with comments that were addressed in my posts, but the commenters obviously ignored, (or did not read or comprehend) my thoughts. Again....very typical and very expected. 

But there is one rule of the internet that I have learned over the last almost 15 years. That is, only the dissatisfied/unhappy comment. Well, almost only they do. Sometimes you get the open minded commenters.Sometimes you get folks that have reasoned criticisms and you can have a good discussion with them. Fortunately that has mostly been the case here on the blog. But on the general internet- not so much. In general, people with reasoned opinions, or that are in agreement simply nod their head, think about things, take a sip of coffee, and then move on. You never hear from them. Not on the internet, at any rate. Meet them in public and you get surprised. The kindness and interaction is refreshing. It's a weird reality.

Anyway, I think that the whole introduction of parts and pieces early, as Shimano has done, is not optimal for the bicycle business. Now, if you are thinking about a gravel bike, you are going to put off your decision until GRX is available, (Late Summer/Early Fall), and this also makes floored models in shops, (and online, by the way), less attractive. I know. I had an interaction with someone that was like this yesterday. But how do you make sure an entire line of new components is all ready to go on bikes all at the same time. Remember- SRAM did it with one level of components, not three, and not across such a wide ranging number of possible combinations. So, don't compare it to the late SRAM AXS intro. It isn't even in the same league.

Shimano has 1X. By the way, SRAM did not "force their hand" into this either.

Certainly, the introduction was held at such a time that it came just before bikes started showing up spec'ed with the parts. This is another issue with the bicycle industry- the roll out of new componentry and new bikes right in the heart of the selling season. This has been going on for decades.

Then there is the whole issue of "created need". You know, there was a time when cross-compatibility of chain rings was ubiquitous. You could set up an MTB, cyclo cross, road, or touring set up with one crank set, a couple or three square taper bottom brackets, and a selection of rear free wheel cogs, and later on, cassettes. "One crank forging to rule them all and in the Darkness bind them". (Apologies to J.R.R.) But with changes came confusion, and compatibility is very limited now, or non-existent. This drives demand when a new advancement is made and it isn't compatible with your current gear. Fortunately, Shimano did not make the new GRX 12 speed and had us all go to MicroSpline cassette free hub wheels. (But how long before that happens?) Anyway.....It didn't seem to bother people when SRAM made us get their XD driver, so who knows?

There are certain things that point to a better future with GRX and adventure/gravel rigs, but there are also things that are sort of a pain due to their proprietary nature. At least Shimano made GRX compatible with current cassettes and chains. You can plug and play current Di2 stuff into Di2 GRX, (as long as it is 11 to 11 speed), and you can use current 11 speed road shifters to make GRX derailleurs shift. I guess it is about the best Shimano could have done, in that regard.

So, will I get any of this stuff? I'd like to try it, for sure. Probably the 46/30 crank though. Honestly, I'd rather not have that low a little ring, but whatever. I may opt for the GRX in the rear only and stick with my 46/36T crank set. I just don't see the need for dropping out of a 46 to a super-spinny 30T and having to switch up three or four gears in the back to get where I want to be. I'm a picture book case of "Princess and the Pea" (overly sensitive) when it comes to cross-chain gearing. So, I am likely an outlier in this crank gearing business.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this goes as time progresses. GRX won't likely be widely available until later this year. Stay tuned........

Now That The News Is Out

The new component group from Shimano- GRX

Well, now you've probably seen the news about GRX. (If not, here is my RidingGravel.com post about it) I also had a reaction to the significance of this new introduction, which you can read here, if you care to.

The reactions of others were typical and predictable. Those who have had issues with Shimano for any reason in the past, (even if they were mechanic/self-induced) didn't like it. Those who love SRAM stuff didn't like it. Some people commented on my story with comments that were addressed in my posts, but the commenters obviously ignored, (or did not read or comprehend) my thoughts. Again....very typical and very expected. 

But there is one rule of the internet that I have learned over the last almost 15 years. That is, only the dissatisfied/unhappy comment. Well, almost only they do. Sometimes you get the open minded commenters.Sometimes you get folks that have reasoned criticisms and you can have a good discussion with them. Fortunately that has mostly been the case here on the blog. But on the general internet- not so much. In general, people with reasoned opinions, or that are in agreement simply nod their head, think about things, take a sip of coffee, and then move on. You never hear from them. Not on the internet, at any rate. Meet them in public and you get surprised. The kindness and interaction is refreshing. It's a weird reality.

Anyway, I think that the whole introduction of parts and pieces early, as Shimano has done, is not optimal for the bicycle business. Now, if you are thinking about a gravel bike, you are going to put off your decision until GRX is available, (Late Summer/Early Fall), and this also makes floored models in shops, (and online, by the way), less attractive. I know. I had an interaction with someone that was like this yesterday. But how do you make sure an entire line of new components is all ready to go on bikes all at the same time. Remember- SRAM did it with one level of components, not three, and not across such a wide ranging number of possible combinations. So, don't compare it to the late SRAM AXS intro. It isn't even in the same league.

Shimano has 1X. By the way, SRAM did not "force their hand" into this either.

Certainly, the introduction was held at such a time that it came just before bikes started showing up spec'ed with the parts. This is another issue with the bicycle industry- the roll out of new componentry and new bikes right in the heart of the selling season. This has been going on for decades.

Then there is the whole issue of "created need". You know, there was a time when cross-compatibility of chain rings was ubiquitous. You could set up an MTB, cyclo cross, road, or touring set up with one crank set, a couple or three square taper bottom brackets, and a selection of rear free wheel cogs, and later on, cassettes. "One crank forging to rule them all and in the Darkness bind them". (Apologies to J.R.R.) But with changes came confusion, and compatibility is very limited now, or non-existent. This drives demand when a new advancement is made and it isn't compatible with your current gear. Fortunately, Shimano did not make the new GRX 12 speed and had us all go to MicroSpline cassette free hub wheels. (But how long before that happens?) Anyway.....It didn't seem to bother people when SRAM made us get their XD driver, so who knows?

There are certain things that point to a better future with GRX and adventure/gravel rigs, but there are also things that are sort of a pain due to their proprietary nature. At least Shimano made GRX compatible with current cassettes and chains. You can plug and play current Di2 stuff into Di2 GRX, (as long as it is 11 to 11 speed), and you can use current 11 speed road shifters to make GRX derailleurs shift. I guess it is about the best Shimano could have done, in that regard.

So, will I get any of this stuff? I'd like to try it, for sure. Probably the 46/30 crank though. Honestly, I'd rather not have that low a little ring, but whatever. I may opt for the GRX in the rear only and stick with my 46/36T crank set. I just don't see the need for dropping out of a 46 to a super-spinny 30T and having to switch up three or four gears in the back to get where I want to be. I'm a picture book case of "Princess and the Pea" (overly sensitive) when it comes to cross-chain gearing. So, I am likely an outlier in this crank gearing business.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this goes as time progresses. GRX won't likely be widely available until later this year. Stay tuned........

This Post Is Cranky- Again!

I'll stop riding a 46/36T crank set for gravel when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Would you like to start a debate about cycling? Try talking about "the best tires", or talk about types of bikes and why we do/don't need them, or......talk about gearing. 

I've written a LOT about gearing. You can see that HERE or HERE if you want a couple of good, recent examples. It's a subject that creates a lot of discussion because there is no perfect gearing. I'll say that again- There is no perfect gearing. Why? Because......humans, that's why. We vary. There is too much variety.

You cannot manufacture a bicycle component that will be "right" for everyone, much less a large percentage of the population. This is one of the main reasons why making any bicycle component, or style, or clothing item, or whatever....based upon, let's say road racing, is a bad idea. That's because only a fraction of a percentage of riders would ever fit into that small box of "road racing". But not to pick on road racing......it could be gravel riders just as easily. 

That's why it is dumb not to make components easily customizable. Especially ones related to drive trains. No.....we have to make it proprietary, so you have to use our "ecosystem". Gah! If I hear anything about "system integration" again it will be too soon. Proprietary, "system integration" is anti-human. It flies in the face of who we are as a species. It doesn't make any sense at all. yet, the bicycle industry is hell bent for leather on making things not customizable.

My SoCal friend, Grannygear, wrote a post for Riding Gravel about this subject. He is struggling with gearing and his specific riding terrain. However; both he and I remember a day when you could simply go to your local bike shop, procure a set of chain rings that worked for you, and be happily not thinking about gearing while pedaling your favorite trail or road. Of course, now days you have SRAM, Shimano, FSA, and a few others all hawking their own, component/standard specific chain ring styles with very limited options. 

Like I say, the current situation is inhuman. It sucks, and at best, you can only find "near misses" in terms of crank set/cassette options. What is out fits a few, but not most, and proprietary, "system integrated" approaches are not the best options for most riders. 

This Post Is Cranky- Again!

I'll stop riding a 46/36T crank set for gravel when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Would you like to start a debate about cycling? Try talking about "the best tires", or talk about types of bikes and why we do/don't need them, or......talk about gearing. 

I've written a LOT about gearing. You can see that HERE or HERE if you want a couple of good, recent examples. It's a subject that creates a lot of discussion because there is no perfect gearing. I'll say that again- There is no perfect gearing. Why? Because......humans, that's why. We vary. There is too much variety.

You cannot manufacture a bicycle component that will be "right" for everyone, much less a large percentage of the population. This is one of the main reasons why making any bicycle component, or style, or clothing item, or whatever....based upon, let's say road racing, is a bad idea. That's because only a fraction of a percentage of riders would ever fit into that small box of "road racing". But not to pick on road racing......it could be gravel riders just as easily. 

That's why it is dumb not to make components easily customizable. Especially ones related to drive trains. No.....we have to make it proprietary, so you have to use our "ecosystem". Gah! If I hear anything about "system integration" again it will be too soon. Proprietary, "system integration" is anti-human. It flies in the face of who we are as a species. It doesn't make any sense at all. yet, the bicycle industry is hell bent for leather on making things not customizable.

My SoCal friend, Grannygear, wrote a post for Riding Gravel about this subject. He is struggling with gearing and his specific riding terrain. However; both he and I remember a day when you could simply go to your local bike shop, procure a set of chain rings that worked for you, and be happily not thinking about gearing while pedaling your favorite trail or road. Of course, now days you have SRAM, Shimano, FSA, and a few others all hawking their own, component/standard specific chain ring styles with very limited options. 

Like I say, the current situation is inhuman. It sucks, and at best, you can only find "near misses" in terms of crank set/cassette options. What is out fits a few, but not most, and proprietary, "system integrated" approaches are not the best options for most riders. 

Minus Ten Review- 2009-7

A Shimano 11- 36T cassette. Really low gearing circa 2009.

Ten years ago on the blog I was talking about a new cassette for 29"ers. A Shimano 11-36T version which was a response to not having low enough gears for 29 inch wheeled bikes. The 36t low cog was considered "extraordinary"at the time. Really.

Up until this point you could get 11-34T cassettes and that was as low as things went. Of course, we had triple cranks in those days, so really low rear gearing wasn't necessary. Well, for most folks it wasn't. There were those out West clamoring for lower gears for their extended climbs.

This may all seem rather odd in a day when rear cog sizes have grown to 50T, but again- triple cranks. Remember those? With them you could keep your chain line straighter, have closer ratios, and not wear things out as quickly. But short chain stays, big, "plus" sized tires on wide rims, and funky-monkey rear suspension designs pushed front derailleurs, and close spaced rear cassettes, off the radar.

My prediction is that, along with a swing back from the "short. slack, and low" geometry of today, we will see front derailleurs make a comeback as well. Maybe not triple front cranks, but you never know. The geometry and gearing that is out now just seems weird to me. It is so DH focused that average climbing and descending seems to be a concept lost on most designers. Front ends wander, weight is so rearward biased, and bottom brackets scrape terra firma.

 I'm sure the geometry works in some places, but to have to have everyone deal with it is weird. It used to be that companies were known for their "geographical geometries". Trek was Mid-West single track, Specialized was West Coast driven, and Cannondale had "Eastern woods geometry". Consumers had choices. Now you may as well pick blindfolded as most geometries are pretty much identical again, as in the old "NORBA Geometry" days.

Minus Ten Review- 2009-7

A Shimano 11- 36T cassette. Really low gearing circa 2009.

Ten years ago on the blog I was talking about a new cassette for 29"ers. A Shimano 11-36T version which was a response to not having low enough gears for 29 inch wheeled bikes. The 36t low cog was considered "extraordinary"at the time. Really.

Up until this point you could get 11-34T cassettes and that was as low as things went. Of course, we had triple cranks in those days, so really low rear gearing wasn't necessary. Well, for most folks it wasn't. There were those out West clamoring for lower gears for their extended climbs.

This may all seem rather odd in a day when rear cog sizes have grown to 50T, but again- triple cranks. Remember those? With them you could keep your chain line straighter, have closer ratios, and not wear things out as quickly. But short chain stays, big, "plus" sized tires on wide rims, and funky-monkey rear suspension designs pushed front derailleurs, and close spaced rear cassettes, off the radar.

My prediction is that, along with a swing back from the "short. slack, and low" geometry of today, we will see front derailleurs make a comeback as well. Maybe not triple front cranks, but you never know. The geometry and gearing that is out now just seems weird to me. It is so DH focused that average climbing and descending seems to be a concept lost on most designers. Front ends wander, weight is so rearward biased, and bottom brackets scrape terra firma.

 I'm sure the geometry works in some places, but to have to have everyone deal with it is weird. It used to be that companies were known for their "geographical geometries". Trek was Mid-West single track, Specialized was West Coast driven, and Cannondale had "Eastern woods geometry". Consumers had choices. Now you may as well pick blindfolded as most geometries are pretty much identical again, as in the old "NORBA Geometry" days.

This Post Is Cranky!

The best crank set format ever made.

There once was a time when bicycle crank set choice was not predicated upon whether you were a "roadie", a mountain biker, adventure cyclist, or a gravel rider. There was one crank set that could cover all those bases, and more, with a simple swapping of chain rings and adjustment of chain line.

Now days, things are not at all like that. This was the genesis of the discussion I was having yesterday with Grannygear, via messenger. First, I have to say that in all my years of knowing Grannygear, it has been a joy to be able to have differing viewpoints AND have a civil discussion about it. Trust me, Grannygear and I don't always agree on things. But when we discuss our ideas, we are both respectful to one another, we listen, we consider, and then, as in many cases, one or the other of us, (and sometimes both of us!) change our tune a little bit.

Anyway, I had to share that because, not to brag on us, but it is something sorely missing in today's communications. We could do with a LOT more of that sort of "getting along". But anyway.....

The crank thing! Right then.... Okay, so we were discussing gearing, specifically for gravel travel, and we both had different ideas of what that should look like for both of us. Which, after a bit of thought on the matter, turned into a revelatory thought. That being that the bicycle manufacturers, specifically parts manufacturers, have us pigeonholed into niche groups. They are trying to come up with multiple gearing solutions for smaller pieces of the pie that are demanding different things from their bicycles. The other thing is that, while doing the solution in the form of parts, the manufacturers have developed niche standards, not cross-compatible with others. This has led to much consternation on the part of riders who often are left with a compromised set up because they cannot customize their gearing to their individual needs and for where they live and how they ride.

Not that square taper cranks are better, but the 110/74BCD format was better.

Now, if you want to get a certain gearing set up, you have to accept current "standards". Like the limited chain ring availability on 1X, or the big jumps in between gears on those 1X specific cassettes, or the proprietary bolt circle diameters, (BCD's) of many cranks on the market. These standards, so-called, are limiting, not customizable, and not cross-compatible. This leaves many riders wanting for certain gearing set ups, that for them, would be better than what is out there now. If not better, than at least something a rider could experiment with, and then return to a previous incarnation without major component expense. This, in my view, is a barrier to making cycling more accessible to many of us.

I picked on the old 110/74BCD crank as being reflective of a time when gearing wasn't proprietary to a certain style of cycling or specific manufacturer of parts. That bolt circle diameter, and arguably the 94/58 as well, were the epitome of cross-compatibility and customization of gearing. You could get a double or triple chain ring set up and then combine that with almost any combination of chain rings. Go nuts. Do weird jumps, half-step gearing, wide, bail-out grannys, or even just one gear. A few stock crank sets could cover almost anything the cycling world put out.

Arguably, we could have that today as well. 4 bolt, five bolt arms, cartridge bottom bracket, adjustable chain line, pipe spindle bottom brackets, I don't care, just pick one type, make it 110/74 BCD, and then 11/12 speed compatible and let's get on with this. No one would complain a bit because you could set your bicycle up in about a 100 different ways to accommodate anyone's gearing needs. But what we don't need is arguing over what chain ring sizes are "gravel" and what ones are not. That is stupid and ignores the real issue at hand, which is the proprietary nature of what the component manufacturers have to offer us. It didn't used to be so much that way, and it shouldn't be now either. 

This Post Is Cranky!

The best crank set format ever made.

There once was a time when bicycle crank set choice was not predicated upon whether you were a "roadie", a mountain biker, adventure cyclist, or a gravel rider. There was one crank set that could cover all those bases, and more, with a simple swapping of chain rings and adjustment of chain line.

Now days, things are not at all like that. This was the genesis of the discussion I was having yesterday with Grannygear, via messenger. First, I have to say that in all my years of knowing Grannygear, it has been a joy to be able to have differing viewpoints AND have a civil discussion about it. Trust me, Grannygear and I don't always agree on things. But when we discuss our ideas, we are both respectful to one another, we listen, we consider, and then, as in many cases, one or the other of us, (and sometimes both of us!) change our tune a little bit.

Anyway, I had to share that because, not to brag on us, but it is something sorely missing in today's communications. We could do with a LOT more of that sort of "getting along". But anyway.....

The crank thing! Right then.... Okay, so we were discussing gearing, specifically for gravel travel, and we both had different ideas of what that should look like for both of us. Which, after a bit of thought on the matter, turned into a revelatory thought. That being that the bicycle manufacturers, specifically parts manufacturers, have us pigeonholed into niche groups. They are trying to come up with multiple gearing solutions for smaller pieces of the pie that are demanding different things from their bicycles. The other thing is that, while doing the solution in the form of parts, the manufacturers have developed niche standards, not cross-compatible with others. This has led to much consternation on the part of riders who often are left with a compromised set up because they cannot customize their gearing to their individual needs and for where they live and how they ride.

Not that square taper cranks are better, but the 110/74BCD format was better.

Now, if you want to get a certain gearing set up, you have to accept current "standards". Like the limited chain ring availability on 1X, or the big jumps in between gears on those 1X specific cassettes, or the proprietary bolt circle diameters, (BCD's) of many cranks on the market. These standards, so-called, are limiting, not customizable, and not cross-compatible. This leaves many riders wanting for certain gearing set ups, that for them, would be better than what is out there now. If not better, than at least something a rider could experiment with, and then return to a previous incarnation without major component expense. This, in my view, is a barrier to making cycling more accessible to many of us.

I picked on the old 110/74BCD crank as being reflective of a time when gearing wasn't proprietary to a certain style of cycling or specific manufacturer of parts. That bolt circle diameter, and arguably the 94/58 as well, were the epitome of cross-compatibility and customization of gearing. You could get a double or triple chain ring set up and then combine that with almost any combination of chain rings. Go nuts. Do weird jumps, half-step gearing, wide, bail-out grannys, or even just one gear. A few stock crank sets could cover almost anything the cycling world put out.

Arguably, we could have that today as well. 4 bolt, five bolt arms, cartridge bottom bracket, adjustable chain line, pipe spindle bottom brackets, I don't care, just pick one type, make it 110/74 BCD, and then 11/12 speed compatible and let's get on with this. No one would complain a bit because you could set your bicycle up in about a 100 different ways to accommodate anyone's gearing needs. But what we don't need is arguing over what chain ring sizes are "gravel" and what ones are not. That is stupid and ignores the real issue at hand, which is the proprietary nature of what the component manufacturers have to offer us. It didn't used to be so much that way, and it shouldn't be now either. 

Friday News And Views

Misunderstood Doesn't Mean "Bad"- Part 3:

So, to put a nice ribbon on this week's discussion about 1x and multiple chain ring drive train options, I wanted to talk a bit about cassettes. The chain line notwithstanding, there is one other issue with 1X that many don't stop to consider. 

The number of rear cogs in a cassette has steadily climbed upward since 1990 when Shimano introduced 8 speed cassettes. Nowadays, 11 and 12 cogs in a stack are not uncommon. Why? Where did the impetus  for going with more cogs come from? 

Was it to provide a wider range of gearing? No. The overall range for gearing hasn't changed significantly for any bike since that time. Then why do we have more cogs? You have to look in the mirror for the answer. it's because you are the "motor". Humans don't have a lot of power, so what we do have has to be doled out in an efficient manner. We see it in how we analyze our power output to the watt, how we interface with our machines based on that power output, and in how meticulously we set up our bikes in order to eek out the best possible power output. 

So, the move toward more cassette cogs was made to help keep our cadence in a range that is best for our power output. Ideally, in a perfect world, you would have an ideal cadence which produced the best power over a period of time and that would never vary even though you shift gears to different ratios. Therefore, the jumps between gears is critical to maintaining a high level of performance. More cogs can/should mean less change in cadence when shifting from one ratio to the next. That's why we have 11 speed drive trains. But what about 12? 

Well, that was done for 1X where all that mattered was the range of gearing. You saw it in the press releases and initial "reviews" of that system. However; you will note that without a way to shift in front, the only way to cover that range was to add an extra cog and have big jumps between gearing. In terms of jumps between gears, 1X is sub-optimal. Not only that, but the overall range might have to be adjusted up or down, as it were, and the only way to do that is with a front chain ring swap. You know.......basically manually shifting gears, only by doing it the hardest way possible. 

I just wanted to conclude this little series by once again stating that I do not "hate" 1X, nor do I wish for it to go away. It has its places. But that said, please keep it away from my gravel bike. 

 Signed Up:

Well, I alluded to something going on with me in a cryptic manner a few days ago. Now you know......I signed up for a gravel event. This time it is the ICGravel event which is being held on October 27th in River Junction, Iowa.

This will be year 2 for this event and they have two course length options of 100 miles or 100 kilometers (63 miles for you non-metric folk). I signed up for maximum punishment, of course, so I will be out for the hundy that day.

This is kind of an interesting event in that it happens at a time when you don't think about a gravel event, but doing one makes so much sense this time of the year. Yes......it could be wet, and in their inaugural year, it was, and it looked pretty sucky. But Fall riding rules if it is dry, and I like that time of year to put in big rides, so this makes sense to me. 

They have registration open, so if you'd like to join me, please do, and I bet it will be a rousing good time. No matter what the weather. I'm hoping that I will actually live up to that previous statement and really have a good time. But to do that, I have a lot of work to get going on. I need miles now, and I need to work consistently. 

Fortunately the weather has straightened out and the next ten days look great, so I look forward to getting on the right track and getting good and ready for this day on gravel in late October. 

I just might be running these tires at ICGravel

Michelin Power Gravel 40's:

Gravel this, gravel that. You can hardly keep up anymore these days. I remember when WTB was going to make the Nano 40 tubeless ready and that was the very first gravel specific tire you could get tubeless. Seems like eons ago, but it wasn't but maybe five years ago (?). Crazy. 

All that to say that if you weren't aware that Michelin had a gravel tire, well, you could easily be forgiven. Why would you know? These things pop up on a daily basis anymore. But in reality, these have been out for a while. I waited until the 40's came out as they first were out in a 35 or 38, I can't recall right now, but that wasn't what I wanted. 

So, I waited for these and we'll see how they go. Michelin tires always impressed me when I tried their 29"er tires, so I am expecting big things here. I will say that the tread pattern looks susceptible to being a "gravel flinger" type tread, but time will tell. They could be the bee's knees for all I know. Tubeless ready, of course. What tire shouldn't be tubeless ready for gravel? As far as I am concerned, all bicycle tires should be tubeless ready. At least higher end ones. 

I plan on sticking these on the Raleigh Tamland Two for the time being, but maybe they will be going on a different wheel set. This will depend upon how tight they fit. My Irwin wheels fit tires really tightly, so the Michelin may be a "no-go" there. If so, I think they will end up on my White Industries/WTB wheels. 

Stay tuned for more on the Power Gravel tires, which I purchased myself, by the way, just to be up front about that.

That's all for this week. Have a great weekend and get out and ride!

Friday News And Views

Misunderstood Doesn't Mean "Bad"- Part 3:

So, to put a nice ribbon on this week's discussion about 1x and multiple chain ring drive train options, I wanted to talk a bit about cassettes. The chain line notwithstanding, there is one other issue with 1X that many don't stop to consider. 

The number of rear cogs in a cassette has steadily climbed upward since 1990 when Shimano introduced 8 speed cassettes. Nowadays, 11 and 12 cogs in a stack are not uncommon. Why? Where did the impetus  for going with more cogs come from? 

Was it to provide a wider range of gearing? No. The overall range for gearing hasn't changed significantly for any bike since that time. Then why do we have more cogs? You have to look in the mirror for the answer. it's because you are the "motor". Humans don't have a lot of power, so what we do have has to be doled out in an efficient manner. We see it in how we analyze our power output to the watt, how we interface with our machines based on that power output, and in how meticulously we set up our bikes in order to eek out the best possible power output. 

So, the move toward more cassette cogs was made to help keep our cadence in a range that is best for our power output. Ideally, in a perfect world, you would have an ideal cadence which produced the best power over a period of time and that would never vary even though you shift gears to different ratios. Therefore, the jumps between gears is critical to maintaining a high level of performance. More cogs can/should mean less change in cadence when shifting from one ratio to the next. That's why we have 11 speed drive trains. But what about 12? 

Well, that was done for 1X where all that mattered was the range of gearing. You saw it in the press releases and initial "reviews" of that system. However; you will note that without a way to shift in front, the only way to cover that range was to add an extra cog and have big jumps between gearing. In terms of jumps between gears, 1X is sub-optimal. Not only that, but the overall range might have to be adjusted up or down, as it were, and the only way to do that is with a front chain ring swap. You know.......basically manually shifting gears, only by doing it the hardest way possible. 

I just wanted to conclude this little series by once again stating that I do not "hate" 1X, nor do I wish for it to go away. It has its places. But that said, please keep it away from my gravel bike. 

 Signed Up:

Well, I alluded to something going on with me in a cryptic manner a few days ago. Now you know......I signed up for a gravel event. This time it is the ICGravel event which is being held on October 27th in River Junction, Iowa.

This will be year 2 for this event and they have two course length options of 100 miles or 100 kilometers (63 miles for you non-metric folk). I signed up for maximum punishment, of course, so I will be out for the hundy that day.

This is kind of an interesting event in that it happens at a time when you don't think about a gravel event, but doing one makes so much sense this time of the year. Yes......it could be wet, and in their inaugural year, it was, and it looked pretty sucky. But Fall riding rules if it is dry, and I like that time of year to put in big rides, so this makes sense to me. 

They have registration open, so if you'd like to join me, please do, and I bet it will be a rousing good time. No matter what the weather. I'm hoping that I will actually live up to that previous statement and really have a good time. But to do that, I have a lot of work to get going on. I need miles now, and I need to work consistently. 

Fortunately the weather has straightened out and the next ten days look great, so I look forward to getting on the right track and getting good and ready for this day on gravel in late October. 

I just might be running these tires at ICGravel

Michelin Power Gravel 40's:

Gravel this, gravel that. You can hardly keep up anymore these days. I remember when WTB was going to make the Nano 40 tubeless ready and that was the very first gravel specific tire you could get tubeless. Seems like eons ago, but it wasn't but maybe five years ago (?). Crazy. 

All that to say that if you weren't aware that Michelin had a gravel tire, well, you could easily be forgiven. Why would you know? These things pop up on a daily basis anymore. But in reality, these have been out for a while. I waited until the 40's came out as they first were out in a 35 or 38, I can't recall right now, but that wasn't what I wanted. 

So, I waited for these and we'll see how they go. Michelin tires always impressed me when I tried their 29"er tires, so I am expecting big things here. I will say that the tread pattern looks susceptible to being a "gravel flinger" type tread, but time will tell. They could be the bee's knees for all I know. Tubeless ready, of course. What tire shouldn't be tubeless ready for gravel? As far as I am concerned, all bicycle tires should be tubeless ready. At least higher end ones. 

I plan on sticking these on the Raleigh Tamland Two for the time being, but maybe they will be going on a different wheel set. This will depend upon how tight they fit. My Irwin wheels fit tires really tightly, so the Michelin may be a "no-go" there. If so, I think they will end up on my White Industries/WTB wheels. 

Stay tuned for more on the Power Gravel tires, which I purchased myself, by the way, just to be up front about that.

That's all for this week. Have a great weekend and get out and ride!