Two Things

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Make It Make Sense:

The trade paper, "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News", reported recently that Giant, the Taiwanese based bicycle manufacturer, and brand, of course, saw 22% lower revenue for January than it had a year ago. Trade import numbers are down a record amount to levels not seen in decades. 

So, when a new bicycle gets introduced and you see the price tag increase approximately 2K from a similarly spec'ed previous generation model, it doesn't quite compute. 

Maybe you've seen this advertisement from Trek pop up while scrolling social media. It was an ad with the heading "Whoops! We made too many!". In the ad were about five fat bikes and all the rest were electrified bicycles, some with prices slashed by 50%. 

Brands keep pumping out halo-models with high end, 100% human powered designs while some trade papers are saying electrified bicycle imports are higher than normal bicycle imports for the beginning of 2026. I see every electrified "bicycle-shaped-object" you can imagine being motored up and down my local streets and none of these are bike shop brand e-bikes. 

I received a call at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective the other day from an e-bike owner. His hydraulic brake needed service. Obviously, this is not within our purview, but this person, a Waterloo citizen, has to go to Cedar Falls (admittedly, not that far, but...) to find a full-service bike shop, and then there are only two independent ones. Additionally, if this customer's e-bike is not "the right brand', those two shops won't touch it. 

Oh, and Waterloo is a city of about 70,000+ people, and it doesn't have a bicycle shop. 

Make it make sense. 

Image courtesy of the Wilder 100

Feedback On The "Numbers Not Adding Up" Post:

First of all, a hearty "Thank You" to all who read the article last week and especially to those who took the time to comment. There were great thoughts shared in there. 

One of the thoughts shared is that perhaps gravel cycling is going through a "correction" in terms of participation. This is also something N.Y. Roll and I discussed in our latest podcast. (Spotify link HERE)

Another thought was the social factor isn't there anymore. Another point we spoke about on the podcast as well. But I think what was even more interesting was the comment I read regarding how many do not feel valued, or even seen, because so much focus is on the Pro field these days at gravel events. 

It is true at the "big" events where infrastructure, investment, and  outside media/industry attention is solely focused on elevating the Pro aspect of their events. The comment I found sad was "...in many cases a feeling like "we" aren't even who the event is for anymore." This Pro-focus of events and media/industry seems to be alienating many folks. 

There was an enlightening view expressed that due to how event directors see racing venue design, many events seem too similar. I never thought about this before, but now I can see this and it makes sense. 

On the positive side it seems series events are seen as a way to attend a smaller event without Pro influences and to be able to connect with many of the same folks at each event throughout the season. This also makes sense to me. 

The longer nature of event in some cases was seen as a detriment to continued support from riders in terms of attendance and a barrier to entry. It just takes so much effort and time to train for a longer event. 

And someone hit on the obvious rise in costs. Saying, in contrast to spending a lot to go to a bucket-list event,  "But at now over $200, plus hotel, food, etc. and roads/scenery pretty similar to what I can find close to home in Iowa for free." And this is kind of a killer when it comes to sustainability for these halo gravel events. Once the cycle of folks has had their crack at it, they likely will not come back if they feel alienated, find little social interaction, and had to spend a gob of money to participate in anonymity. 

Of course, it is not all bad news, and many an event will thrive in today's scene, but I would say there are some things changing which give me pause. 

Thanks again to all who read Guitar Ted Productions. 

Bonus: I have a new article up on my Substack, in case you'd like to take a look. 

Some Musings From The Latest Podcast

The latest podcast from the "Guitar Ted Podcast" is up now and it is a pretty interesting show this time. My guest on the show was Kevin Lee of The Spinistry, the Texas based gravel event promotions company which has been doing gravel events since 2010. If you haven't heard this show you can listen by clicking THIS LINK which will take you to the Spotify home site for the podcast. 

If you don't listen to the episodes I have a few points to share today that I thought stoood out. It's interesting to see where the UCI is at with how they want to pursue the gravel scene in North America. 

I wrote a lot about this subject already HERE so I will try not to tread on the same ground again in this post. But the podcast is based upon a lot of what I wrote in the linked article. 

Okay, so with all the previous said, one of the more interesting tidbits for me was being told by Kevin that the UCI had actually pursued The Spinistry to have one of their events be a UCI sanctioned gravel event. I also know many other promoters had been asked to partner with the UCI and this was confirmed by Kevin as well as something which is true. I fully believe the UCI is still trying to convince event promoters to partner with them. In fact, the oft referenced "Marginal Gains" podcast with Erwin Vervecken as guest confirms this as well. 

Another interesting tidbit was the price to have a UCI sanctioned event, the fee for the UCI to even partner up with an event, was $40,000.00 in 2019. Forty thou?!! This doesn't include what you, as a promoter, would have to pony up to get your event up to UCI standards either. So, just from this point alone, it is pretty easy to see why there hasn't been a UCI sanctioned, large scale gravel event in the USA. And as Kevin Lee states in the podcast, the UCI isn't bringing anything to the table for the 40K licensing deal. Apparently prestige and legitimizing your event is what that does for you as an event promoter? Man! I can totally see why no event has accepted that offer! 

Then something Kevin was saying, (at about the 1hr mark of the podcast, by the way) struck me as one of the best descriptions about why the gravel scene is what it is and how the semi-Pro and Pro riders should regard that. I'm paraphrasing Kevin here, but essentially what he said was this gravel cycling scene isn't reliant on competition alone. It has an element of competition, but this is not what is most important. The sense that one can ride a bicycle on gravel - or anywhere, really - and have fun, is what is most important. This "fun" can be an adventure, social gathering, going fast, stopping often, and could include parts of some of this or all of these things. 

Actually, THIS is the latest podcast now!

As Kevin said, and I agree, the upper echelon of talent in today's gravel scene should never forget what they are privileged to be able to do at gravel events is built upon the foundation of those "12mph riders", as Kevin put it, making the events what they have become. It is this and the variety of events, which has always been a part of gravel, that makes "gravel" the sort of riding many are attracted to. 

Charging a lot of money to promoters to sanction an event is not going to work. Making events all similar in length and style, and forcing riders into a situation where it is all about top level competitors and "cat'ing up", as Kevin put it, is not going to foster growth in cycling here in the USA. It never really worked for road racing, MTB, or cyclo cross. How in the world does anyone think it would work in gravel cycling? It wouldn't. It would end up killing the gravel scene. 

Thanks again to Kevin Lee and The Spinistry for their support!

Friday News And Views

Esker's new 2023 Hayduke (Image courtesy of Esker)

Esker Introduces New Hayduke:

The newest Esker Hayduke for 2023 features a geometry centered around 29 inch wheels and an "all-day" ride feel in its ChroMo steel frame. 

The frame features all the mounting points you might want for bike-packing or adventure cycling. The frame is dropper post compatible and uses externally routed cables with full-run houings and an internally routed dropper post seat tube. The frame also uses the tried-and-true threaded type bottom bracket with a 73mm width. 

The Hayduke can also be fitted with recommended widths of 29'er tires of 2.2" - 2.8" in width. The wider end of that spectrum requires adjustment of the stepped, Portage Dropout to its longer settings. 

Esker offers frames or two different complete builds in three colors and five sizes. See the site for more details. 

Comments: This looks like a decent 29"er hard tail which, when set up with the recommended 120mm travel suspension fork, should handle most anything anywhere. Not too slack or low, and not too steep and short here. Just a nicely designed steel hard tail frame. 

The price seems reasonable at 1G for the frame too. I'd likely go for this if I was into a hard tail for MTB. But as it stands, I have a bike coming that would do similar things and I don't need a dedicated MTB hard tail at this point. Maybe you do? Check it out....

Haley Smith (Image courtesy of Maxxis Factory Race Team)

Interviewed Again:

Recently I was contacted by Haley Smith, of Maxxis Factory Racing, and a researcher at the Queen's University at their School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, for an interview which would be a part of a research study on gravel cycling, its culture, and concerning how that might be preserved and explained to future event RD's, team managers, etc. 

Now, bear in mind, when I was contacted by Ms Smith, I did not know anything about her, or that she has been and currently is an elite level mountain biker/gravel cyclist. 

I just thought she was a research student from Queen's University in Canada. Which, honestly, was a good thing. I went into this with zero preconceived notions about the study, what the outcomes may be, nor did I care, frankly. That's probably something that made this interview more worthwhile for both Ms Smith and I, in my opinion. I just let the hair down and was as "real" as I could be, which, if I had to guess, is exactly what Ms Smith would have been hoping.

Anyway, it was fun and if you know me, I like to talk, so it was easy as well. Okay, now what about this study? What does it mean? What will happen with all this research? 

I do not know, actually. I have a clue, a hint, but nothing more. But here is my takeaway- Colleges are doing freaking research into what makes the grassroots gravel thing tick! This is a new level of "I never would have guessed it" in terms of where this thing has gone and where it came from. College level, peer reviewed, scientific research? Are you kidding me? 

I am not the only person they are conducting interviews with either. The aim, according to what Ms Smith relayed to me, was to cast as wide a net across all classes and types of humans that are involved in gravel riding as possible. So, that's even radder than I would have imagined. Just really unbelievable.

I mean, ten years ago we were wishing we could get a good gravel tire or two! Just think about that for a minute! Now the gravel scene is being seriously studied at the collegiate level? Nuh-uh! No way! But it is......  

New S-Phyre glasses (Image courtesy of Shimano)

Shimano Announces Second Gen Eyewear:

The new Aerolite and S-Phyre eyewear pieces are out now from Shimano. The S-Phyre being the expensive, high-end glasses with the Aerolite being the more budget oriented option here. 

The big deal here, as I see it, is that the lenses, which are interchangeable via magnetic contacts, is that Shimano engineered the lenses to have specific functions. One of the six options is specified as being best for "gravel".

Well, that's a bold claim, and what it amounts to is a claimed ability to see contrasts in surfaces and to be able to be used across gravel, dirt, or pavement. I dunno..... This sounds more "all-around" than a glass that is for gravel specifically. 

And maybe I'll get to find out. Word is that Riding Gravel is getting a pair in to test. Stay tuned..... 

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

Ritchey Announces WCS "Gravel Grip":

Looking a lot like a track grip, Ritchey Design announced on Wednesday a new drop bar grip they call the "WCS Gravel Grip". (Of course!) It is meant to slip on over the extensions of the drops and provide grip and vibration damping with its 4mm closed cell foam construction. They go for $14.95 a set. 

Comments: Honestly, not a new idea here. I am pretty sure ESI makes, or made a grip similar to this which I was using back ten years ago or more. (Note: Yes, these are still available here) I also used an ergonomic style grip from Redshift Sports here. 

The idea is sound, but unless you - you know - actually use the drops, this idea is lost on you. Many people could just as well cut off the drops below the levers and never miss a beat. So, this is a limited use idea, and while it may sound appealing, one needs to review how they use a drop bar to begin with. 

But if you do use the drops a lot, this is a nicely priced option. They look great, and I suspect they do what is claimed, based on my experiences with the ESI and Redshift options I have used. 

Guitar Ted has a "Garage Sale"!

Guitar Ted's Garage  Sale:

Just a quick reminder that I maintain a "Garage Sale" page here on this blog where I list items I want to move on from. The items get changed from time to time, so it is worthwhile checking back to see if I posted anything new for sale there.

I've put a bunch of new items in there recently in case you haven't looked in a while. All items are either gently used or N.O.S. items I have been collecting over the years. I will and have had anything from bikes, frames, forks, and even accessory items like tents and clothing in there from time to time.

That's a wrap on this week. Have a great weekend and start off February right with a bike ride!

Friday News And Views

Esker's new 2023 Hayduke (Image courtesy of Esker)

Esker Introduces New Hayduke:

The newest Esker Hayduke for 2023 features a geometry centered around 29 inch wheels and an "all-day" ride feel in its ChroMo steel frame. 

The frame features all the mounting points you might want for bike-packing or adventure cycling. The frame is dropper post compatible and uses externally routed cables with full-run houings and an internally routed dropper post seat tube. The frame also uses the tried-and-true threaded type bottom bracket with a 73mm width. 

The Hayduke can also be fitted with recommended widths of 29'er tires of 2.2" - 2.8" in width. The wider end of that spectrum requires adjustment of the stepped, Portage Dropout to its longer settings. 

Esker offers frames or two different complete builds in three colors and five sizes. See the site for more details. 

Comments: This looks like a decent 29"er hard tail which, when set up with the recommended 120mm travel suspension fork, should handle most anything anywhere. Not too slack or low, and not too steep and short here. Just a nicely designed steel hard tail frame. 

The price seems reasonable at 1G for the frame too. I'd likely go for this if I was into a hard tail for MTB. But as it stands, I have a bike coming that would do similar things and I don't need a dedicated MTB hard tail at this point. Maybe you do? Check it out....

Haley Smith (Image courtesy of Maxxis Factory Race Team)

Interviewed Again:

Recently I was contacted by Haley Smith, of Maxxis Factory Racing, and a researcher at the Queen's University at their School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, for an interview which would be a part of a research study on gravel cycling, its culture, and concerning how that might be preserved and explained to future event RD's, team managers, etc. 

Now, bear in mind, when I was contacted by Ms Smith, I did not know anything about her, or that she has been and currently is an elite level mountain biker/gravel cyclist. 

I just thought she was a research student from Queen's University in Canada. Which, honestly, was a good thing. I went into this with zero preconceived notions about the study, what the outcomes may be, nor did I care, frankly. That's probably something that made this interview more worthwhile for both Ms Smith and I, in my opinion. I just let the hair down and was as "real" as I could be, which, if I had to guess, is exactly what Ms Smith would have been hoping.

Anyway, it was fun and if you know me, I like to talk, so it was easy as well. Okay, now what about this study? What does it mean? What will happen with all this research? 

I do not know, actually. I have a clue, a hint, but nothing more. But here is my takeaway- Colleges are doing freaking research into what makes the grassroots gravel thing tick! This is a new level of "I never would have guessed it" in terms of where this thing has gone and where it came from. College level, peer reviewed, scientific research? Are you kidding me? 

I am not the only person they are conducting interviews with either. The aim, according to what Ms Smith relayed to me, was to cast as wide a net across all classes and types of humans that are involved in gravel riding as possible. So, that's even radder than I would have imagined. Just really unbelievable.

I mean, ten years ago we were wishing we could get a good gravel tire or two! Just think about that for a minute! Now the gravel scene is being seriously studied at the collegiate level? Nuh-uh! No way! But it is......  

New S-Phyre glasses (Image courtesy of Shimano)

Shimano Announces Second Gen Eyewear:

The new Aerolite and S-Phyre eyewear pieces are out now from Shimano. The S-Phyre being the expensive, high-end glasses with the Aerolite being the more budget oriented option here. 

The big deal here, as I see it, is that the lenses, which are interchangeable via magnetic contacts, is that Shimano engineered the lenses to have specific functions. One of the six options is specified as being best for "gravel".

Well, that's a bold claim, and what it amounts to is a claimed ability to see contrasts in surfaces and to be able to be used across gravel, dirt, or pavement. I dunno..... This sounds more "all-around" than a glass that is for gravel specifically. 

And maybe I'll get to find out. Word is that Riding Gravel is getting a pair in to test. Stay tuned..... 

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

Ritchey Announces WCS "Gravel Grip":

Looking a lot like a track grip, Ritchey Design announced on Wednesday a new drop bar grip they call the "WCS Gravel Grip". (Of course!) It is meant to slip on over the extensions of the drops and provide grip and vibration damping with its 4mm closed cell foam construction. They go for $14.95 a set. 

Comments: Honestly, not a new idea here. I am pretty sure ESI makes, or made a grip similar to this which I was using back ten years ago or more. (Note: Yes, these are still available here) I also used an ergonomic style grip from Redshift Sports here. 

The idea is sound, but unless you - you know - actually use the drops, this idea is lost on you. Many people could just as well cut off the drops below the levers and never miss a beat. So, this is a limited use idea, and while it may sound appealing, one needs to review how they use a drop bar to begin with. 

But if you do use the drops a lot, this is a nicely priced option. They look great, and I suspect they do what is claimed, based on my experiences with the ESI and Redshift options I have used. 

Guitar Ted has a "Garage Sale"!

Guitar Ted's Garage  Sale:

Just a quick reminder that I maintain a "Garage Sale" page here on this blog where I list items I want to move on from. The items get changed from time to time, so it is worthwhile checking back to see if I posted anything new for sale there.

I've put a bunch of new items in there recently in case you haven't looked in a while. All items are either gently used or N.O.S. items I have been collecting over the years. I will and have had anything from bikes, frames, forks, and even accessory items like tents and clothing in there from time to time.

That's a wrap on this week. Have a great weekend and start off February right with a bike ride!