Friday News And Views

Is The Bicycling Retail/Wholesale Segment Looking At A Whiplash Effect?

Over the past two years supply of bicycles, parts, and accessories has been very spotty, if not dried up altogether. There still are segments of the marketplace still showing holes in inventory. I just tried ordering inner tubes for the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective and came up with nothing, so there is one area that maybe is still in short supply. 

But several signs point to a complete reversal of this supply shortage and many are predicting that within the next six months that the bicycling industry will be sitting on piles of inventory with demand ebbing every day already. 

In fact, many companies are already positioning themselves in a posture of inventory reduction and belt-tightening. Last week, it was widely reported on social media, that Quality Bicycle Products, the largest distributor of bicycle products in North America, was laying off employees. A sign of cost-cutting due to an over-stock situation they may be facing? Possibly. 

Other companies are already running sales on certain items. Trek, for one, is clearing out hybrid bikes and ebikes with a sale that is already in progress. Look for a lot more of this in the coming months and into next season. It sure looks like we're going in whiplash mode- from under stocked to over-stocked- in a big hurry.

Velo Orange Utility Bras & Rack: Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Velo Orange Shows Off New Bar/Rack Idea:

Last week Velo Orange teased a new handle bar and rack idea that is going into production. It's called the Utility Bar and Utility Rack. The handle bar sports a unique through-bolt set up that can accept water bottle cages, or this cool front mini-rack. There will be a flat bar version along with the riser bar version with bars in black or silver. 

Both the handle bar and the rack are made in ChroMoly and you can match up the rack with either the flat or the riser, or use other accessories like Anything Cages, or other racks. There is no set ETA on when these will be available. 

The flat bar version Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Comments: I'm not a big fan of weight "up high" out ahead of the steering axis because it causes "flop" and handling is more of a chore. However; some weight can be tolerated and I think this idea would be okay with me. Obviously, a ChroMoly bar and arck are going to add their own amount of weight up front, but on something like a cargo bike, or on my townie, this makes a lot of sense for errands and the like.

I guess the price will be the determining factor for many, but this is a cool idea, and adds versatility to any bike you use for general purpose riding. Bikepacking? Well, yeah, maybe. I guess I'd be more apt to look at cutting weight where I could on a long-distance tour, and adding a steel based alloy bar and rack might not make as much sense as a standard "rackless" type harness for the handle bar. But again- I still think this is a great idea.  

Lezyne Matrix Air Cage Image courtesy of Lezyne

Anti-Theft Air Tag Accessories From Lezyne:

Every week I see posts on social media from distraught bicycle owners saying that their beloved bike has been nicked. Locks and devices made for bicycle security have been available to help prevent theft in the past, but what if a criminal defeats your security device?

That's where the Apple Air Tag laden Lezyne Matrix accessories might help. A small tracking "Air Tag" is embedded into three accessory items from Lezyne- The Matrix Air Cage, the Matrix Bike Tagger, and the Matrix Saddle Tagger. 

Of course, you have to supply ypur own Air Tag, and you have to buy into Apple's ecosystem to make use of it, but this is something that could help in the event of a theft with recovering a stolen bicycle.

Comments: Cool idea with some limitations, but I see this as a step in the right direction. I can see HPC/motorized micro-mobility devices having this sort of thing built in from the get-go for owners of vehicles like that. But "normally" powered bicycles are probably going to have to be equipped with such devices in the very near future, with bicycle prices being as high as they are. Commuters by bicycle also should be able to add aftermarket devices, like the Lezyne accessories here, which will work with any smartphone. 

If we expect more people to use bicycles in utilitarian ways, this sort of thing needs to be more widely available.

Friday News And Views

Is The Bicycling Retail/Wholesale Segment Looking At A Whiplash Effect?

Over the past two years supply of bicycles, parts, and accessories has been very spotty, if not dried up altogether. There still are segments of the marketplace still showing holes in inventory. I just tried ordering inner tubes for the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective and came up with nothing, so there is one area that maybe is still in short supply. 

But several signs point to a complete reversal of this supply shortage and many are predicting that within the next six months that the bicycling industry will be sitting on piles of inventory with demand ebbing every day already. 

In fact, many companies are already positioning themselves in a posture of inventory reduction and belt-tightening. Last week, it was widely reported on social media, that Quality Bicycle Products, the largest distributor of bicycle products in North America, was laying off employees. A sign of cost-cutting due to an over-stock situation they may be facing? Possibly. 

Other companies are already running sales on certain items. Trek, for one, is clearing out hybrid bikes and ebikes with a sale that is already in progress. Look for a lot more of this in the coming months and into next season. It sure looks like we're going in whiplash mode- from under stocked to over-stocked- in a big hurry.

Velo Orange Utility Bras & Rack: Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Velo Orange Shows Off New Bar/Rack Idea:

Last week Velo Orange teased a new handle bar and rack idea that is going into production. It's called the Utility Bar and Utility Rack. The handle bar sports a unique through-bolt set up that can accept water bottle cages, or this cool front mini-rack. There will be a flat bar version along with the riser bar version with bars in black or silver. 

Both the handle bar and the rack are made in ChroMoly and you can match up the rack with either the flat or the riser, or use other accessories like Anything Cages, or other racks. There is no set ETA on when these will be available. 

The flat bar version Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Comments: I'm not a big fan of weight "up high" out ahead of the steering axis because it causes "flop" and handling is more of a chore. However; some weight can be tolerated and I think this idea would be okay with me. Obviously, a ChroMoly bar and arck are going to add their own amount of weight up front, but on something like a cargo bike, or on my townie, this makes a lot of sense for errands and the like.

I guess the price will be the determining factor for many, but this is a cool idea, and adds versatility to any bike you use for general purpose riding. Bikepacking? Well, yeah, maybe. I guess I'd be more apt to look at cutting weight where I could on a long-distance tour, and adding a steel based alloy bar and rack might not make as much sense as a standard "rackless" type harness for the handle bar. But again- I still think this is a great idea.  

Lezyne Matrix Air Cage Image courtesy of Lezyne

Anti-Theft Air Tag Accessories From Lezyne:

Every week I see posts on social media from distraught bicycle owners saying that their beloved bike has been nicked. Locks and devices made for bicycle security have been available to help prevent theft in the past, but what if a criminal defeats your security device?

That's where the Apple Air Tag laden Lezyne Matrix accessories might help. A small tracking "Air Tag" is embedded into three accessory items from Lezyne- The Matrix Air Cage, the Matrix Bike Tagger, and the Matrix Saddle Tagger. 

Of course, you have to supply ypur own Air Tag, and you have to buy into Apple's ecosystem to make use of it, but this is something that could help in the event of a theft with recovering a stolen bicycle.

Comments: Cool idea with some limitations, but I see this as a step in the right direction. I can see HPC/motorized micro-mobility devices having this sort of thing built in from the get-go for owners of vehicles like that. But "normally" powered bicycles are probably going to have to be equipped with such devices in the very near future, with bicycle prices being as high as they are. Commuters by bicycle also should be able to add aftermarket devices, like the Lezyne accessories here, which will work with any smartphone. 

If we expect more people to use bicycles in utilitarian ways, this sort of thing needs to be more widely available.

Ti Muk 2 Upgrade Path

 

Now that I have had the Ti Muk 2 for a bit I have a few things I want to get upgraded/straightened out on it. One thing is going to happen very soon here, the next thing fairly quickly, and the third thing probably not for a long time- if ever. 

The imminent upgrade happening is tires. the Ti Muk 2 came to me with Flowbeist and Dunderbeist tires which are great for traction but have a LOT of "rolling thunder", and they can be a lot of work on harder surfaces. Plus, I probably should save these for Winter and true off road.

So, I have a set of Terrene Cake Eaters coming. Lower knobs. Still has traction, but more for drier conditions and not bad on gravel. I have a big idea which a couple of other guys are wanting to join me for and those 45NRTH tires are just too rumbly and slow for this idea. Once those tires come in I will probably go tubless on the Whiskey carbon rims and see how that goes.

The second upgrade, which will happen soon is getting a rear rack. The reason for the rack is to get that rear generator light away from the rear tire and off that seat stay. It is in a position now that almost guarantees that I will destroy it. So, a rear rack settles that issue, and allows me versatility in carrying stuff, maybe even using panniers. The only question is what rack? Obviously the Salsa Alternator Rack is a good choice. If I can find a 170mm spaced one. Then I like the looks of the Tubus, but OMG! The thing is a tank. I don't need anything that gnarly. But anyway, whatever I get, I can then put that light on the back where it belongs and have a lead dress for the wiring that is tidy and safe.

The final upgrade is being considered, and I know what I want, but it will be so expensive, and not 100% necessary. I'm thinking about the fork. Salsa has a Kingpin Deluxe Fork with dynamo routing. Obviously that would really clean up the routing for the front end and make it more protected against harsh conditions. But.......five hundred clams. Ouch!

Stay tuned......more soon.

Ti Muk 2 Upgrade Path

 

Now that I have had the Ti Muk 2 for a bit I have a few things I want to get upgraded/straightened out on it. One thing is going to happen very soon here, the next thing fairly quickly, and the third thing probably not for a long time- if ever. 

The imminent upgrade happening is tires. the Ti Muk 2 came to me with Flowbeist and Dunderbeist tires which are great for traction but have a LOT of "rolling thunder", and they can be a lot of work on harder surfaces. Plus, I probably should save these for Winter and true off road.

So, I have a set of Terrene Cake Eaters coming. Lower knobs. Still has traction, but more for drier conditions and not bad on gravel. I have a big idea which a couple of other guys are wanting to join me for and those 45NRTH tires are just too rumbly and slow for this idea. Once those tires come in I will probably go tubless on the Whiskey carbon rims and see how that goes.

The second upgrade, which will happen soon is getting a rear rack. The reason for the rack is to get that rear generator light away from the rear tire and off that seat stay. It is in a position now that almost guarantees that I will destroy it. So, a rear rack settles that issue, and allows me versatility in carrying stuff, maybe even using panniers. The only question is what rack? Obviously the Salsa Alternator Rack is a good choice. If I can find a 170mm spaced one. Then I like the looks of the Tubus, but OMG! The thing is a tank. I don't need anything that gnarly. But anyway, whatever I get, I can then put that light on the back where it belongs and have a lead dress for the wiring that is tidy and safe.

The final upgrade is being considered, and I know what I want, but it will be so expensive, and not 100% necessary. I'm thinking about the fork. Salsa has a Kingpin Deluxe Fork with dynamo routing. Obviously that would really clean up the routing for the front end and make it more protected against harsh conditions. But.......five hundred clams. Ouch!

Stay tuned......more soon.

Minus Ten Review- 10

This is what snow in Winter looks like. Same week ten years ago.

Ten years ago on the blog here I was riding 29"ers in the snow and it was working fine and it was fun! Packed down snow in 30°F temperatures with Sun shining brightly. Had I had a fat bike it would have been totally awesome.

Fun fact: No one was riding bikes out of doors in 2007. I had the outside to myself back then. It is great to see that, at least in this one way, fat bikes have changed attitudes about Winter cycling.

The other thing here I note is that I am running a triple crank set. No one does that in 2017. Well, in the general sense, and that's not because triple crank sets are "bad". Misunderstood? Maybe. Not applicable to "modern geometry"? Probably. Not offered due to one component giant's stranglehold on patents which lock the workable tech away from being used by anyone else? Totally.

That tire set, the GEAX Saguaro, actually had a pretty stellar tread pattern for snow. It would be interesting to see something similar in a current fat bike sized tire. Trouble is that 4 inches of tread blocks across a fat tire would weigh a lot! So, this will likely never happen.

This would be one of the last rides I would do on the Haro Mary. It was about that time I realized it was just too small, and I had other bikes coming and going in the rotation which worked a lot better. I'll say it again- I should have gotten the size Large! Dang it! Live and learn.......

Still one of Salsa Cycles best ever paint schemes in my opinion.

Then there was the Thule T2 I bought to haul the fairly new to me Salsa Cycles Dos Niner down to El Paso with. This would be my first rodeo riding down there. I was super stoked to try those 29"er wheels out on a real mountain.

The Thule T2 is probably the forerunner of all the racks you see now similar to it. There are a lot of them that are better now, but this design has aged well. I am on my second one now. This one in the image rusted out living on the back of our vehicles.

The Dos, well, I'll get around to talking about that more in a future "Minus Ten Review" post. For now I will say that it was a favorite in the stable in 2007 up to this point. Back then Salsa was using Scandium enhanced aluminum alloy. It was supposed to be lighter, and it was pretty light, but there were some other issues with it that cropped up down the trail.

Anyway, the image of the Dos on the back of our then vehicle signaled the beginning of Spring Break. That is still happening ten years down the road, and if you are one that is going somewhere, or is somewhere now for the week, have a good one!

Minus Ten Review- 10

This is what snow in Winter looks like. Same week ten years ago.

Ten years ago on the blog here I was riding 29"ers in the snow and it was working fine and it was fun! Packed down snow in 30°F temperatures with Sun shining brightly. Had I had a fat bike it would have been totally awesome.

Fun fact: No one was riding bikes out of doors in 2007. I had the outside to myself back then. It is great to see that, at least in this one way, fat bikes have changed attitudes about Winter cycling.

The other thing here I note is that I am running a triple crank set. No one does that in 2017. Well, in the general sense, and that's not because triple crank sets are "bad". Misunderstood? Maybe. Not applicable to "modern geometry"? Probably. Not offered due to one component giant's stranglehold on patents which lock the workable tech away from being used by anyone else? Totally.

That tire set, the GEAX Saguaro, actually had a pretty stellar tread pattern for snow. It would be interesting to see something similar in a current fat bike sized tire. Trouble is that 4 inches of tread blocks across a fat tire would weigh a lot! So, this will likely never happen.

This would be one of the last rides I would do on the Haro Mary. It was about that time I realized it was just too small, and I had other bikes coming and going in the rotation which worked a lot better. I'll say it again- I should have gotten the size Large! Dang it! Live and learn.......

Still one of Salsa Cycles best ever paint schemes in my opinion.

Then there was the Thule T2 I bought to haul the fairly new to me Salsa Cycles Dos Niner down to El Paso with. This would be my first rodeo riding down there. I was super stoked to try those 29"er wheels out on a real mountain.

The Thule T2 is probably the forerunner of all the racks you see now similar to it. There are a lot of them that are better now, but this design has aged well. I am on my second one now. This one in the image rusted out living on the back of our vehicles.

The Dos, well, I'll get around to talking about that more in a future "Minus Ten Review" post. For now I will say that it was a favorite in the stable in 2007 up to this point. Back then Salsa was using Scandium enhanced aluminum alloy. It was supposed to be lighter, and it was pretty light, but there were some other issues with it that cropped up down the trail.

Anyway, the image of the Dos on the back of our then vehicle signaled the beginning of Spring Break. That is still happening ten years down the road, and if you are one that is going somewhere, or is somewhere now for the week, have a good one!

A 29"er Hauler

I have been using a Thule T2 rack on our vehicles for several years now. The fold-up rear hitch mount rack could hold two 29"ers, albeit just barely. Especially if they had big tires. Well, I finally had to replace my rack due to severe rust, (don't leave yer rack on all winter long, ya dufus!), and I went for the T2 rack again. Guess what? It's been updated!

Rack folded up

Rack folded down!

Looks pretty much the same, eh? Well, there are a few details that set this one apart from the older T2. This time Thule recognized that 29"ers are a force to be reckoned with, and allowed for more travel on the ratcheting arm that secures your front wheel. No more grazing the front tire, or pushing down on it to gain clearance.

The next thing they did was to install integrated locking cables to secure the frame on the ends of the ratcheting wheel  holder. You simply pull out the cable from the end of the tube, and it retracts when you unlock it from your bike. (Note: The original place for lock cylinders on the base of the ratcheting wheel holder is still there, but lock cylinders for those are not supplied.) So, you can lock each bike to the rack, and a separate key and lock cylinder now comes with the T2 to lock the hitch pin to the hitch as well. Nice!

Getting Close There!

What's Not So Nice? Well, as with the previous T2 I had, the wheel tray might get into the rear bumper cover of certain vehicles in the folded up position. This is an issue with our 2003 Highlander. I had to trim a significant portion of the tray off to clear the bumper on the old rack. This shows how close it is on my "Truck With No Name". I couldn't put my index finger in between the bumper and the tray without pinching a bit. The other thing I noted was that my fat bike won't fit on this rack either.

Looks like I may have a project making some Snow Dog compatible wheel trays for the T2!

Over all though, the T2 does work great. It folds up out of the way when not in use, and you can drop it down to get access to the back of vehicles with hatch backs, or to lower the end gate on a truck. (My truck's end gate clears like a champ.) You don't have to remove wheels from bikes, so through axles are no issue, and nothing touches your frame, unless you use the locking cables.

The rack doesn't sway around, is stable, and is reasonably weather resistant. (Don't be stupid like me and leave it on all winter though!) You can even get a two bike extension for the T2, increasing capacity to 4 bikes. The T2 holds bikes from 20"ers to 29"ers, and is adjustable for wheel base.

Expect to pay something well north of 4 hundred bucks for one of these. I say it is well worth the dollars if you take seriously long trips with bikes, or just appreciate a nice, secure, easy to use rack.

A 29"er Hauler

I have been using a Thule T2 rack on our vehicles for several years now. The fold-up rear hitch mount rack could hold two 29"ers, albeit just barely. Especially if they had big tires. Well, I finally had to replace my rack due to severe rust, (don't leave yer rack on all winter long, ya dufus!), and I went for the T2 rack again. Guess what? It's been updated!

Rack folded up

Rack folded down!

Looks pretty much the same, eh? Well, there are a few details that set this one apart from the older T2. This time Thule recognized that 29"ers are a force to be reckoned with, and allowed for more travel on the ratcheting arm that secures your front wheel. No more grazing the front tire, or pushing down on it to gain clearance.

The next thing they did was to install integrated locking cables to secure the frame on the ends of the ratcheting wheel  holder. You simply pull out the cable from the end of the tube, and it retracts when you unlock it from your bike. (Note: The original place for lock cylinders on the base of the ratcheting wheel holder is still there, but lock cylinders for those are not supplied.) So, you can lock each bike to the rack, and a separate key and lock cylinder now comes with the T2 to lock the hitch pin to the hitch as well. Nice!

Getting Close There!

What's Not So Nice? Well, as with the previous T2 I had, the wheel tray might get into the rear bumper cover of certain vehicles in the folded up position. This is an issue with our 2003 Highlander. I had to trim a significant portion of the tray off to clear the bumper on the old rack. This shows how close it is on my "Truck With No Name". I couldn't put my index finger in between the bumper and the tray without pinching a bit. The other thing I noted was that my fat bike won't fit on this rack either.

Looks like I may have a project making some Snow Dog compatible wheel trays for the T2!

Over all though, the T2 does work great. It folds up out of the way when not in use, and you can drop it down to get access to the back of vehicles with hatch backs, or to lower the end gate on a truck. (My truck's end gate clears like a champ.) You don't have to remove wheels from bikes, so through axles are no issue, and nothing touches your frame, unless you use the locking cables.

The rack doesn't sway around, is stable, and is reasonably weather resistant. (Don't be stupid like me and leave it on all winter though!) You can even get a two bike extension for the T2, increasing capacity to 4 bikes. The T2 holds bikes from 20"ers to 29"ers, and is adjustable for wheel base.

Expect to pay something well north of 4 hundred bucks for one of these. I say it is well worth the dollars if you take seriously long trips with bikes, or just appreciate a nice, secure, easy to use rack.