Rim Wars: Sometimes The Solution Is Right In Front Of You.

Just the other day 'shiggy person' asked me to see if I had a Surly Extraterrestrial to measure. Well, in fact, I do. 

The wheel set I rode last year for the Ride For Jacob is the original wheel set from a Trek Sawyer I used to have, Because the wheel was spec'ed with a heavy Shimano hub set, I was not too stoked about riding them and ended up throwing various different wheels at that bike until I sold it. 

The ironic bit is that the Sawyer had the Chris King hubs on it when I sold it. But those were offered back to me earlier this year and I bought them to use for a nice wheel set for the Fargo Gen I,

Which....again in a bit of irony..was the bike I used the Bontrager Duster/Shimano hub set on when I did the Ride For Jacob last year. Again, this wheel set hasn't been a favorite of mine but the Duster rims best suited the Extraterrestrials, so I rolled them. 

So, while I was measuring the Extraterrestrial for 'shiggy', (62.63mm @ 19psi, by the way), I realized that I would like this wheel a lot better if the Chris King hubs were laced in their. 

Boom.....

So I think this is the direction I'm going to go in. I'll set up the Dusters with the King hub set. Then The Surly tires will go back on. Problem solved. 

Rim Wars

Image courtesy of Hates Bicycle

So for my Chris King hub set I still have not decided upon rims to build up wheels from them. I was considering carbon, but the prices for those are a bit intimidating from the standpoint of my use case scenario. I mean, this is a bike that is almost twenty years old now! (Fargo Gen I) So, putting on bling-wheels seems a bit too much for me when I think about this bicycle. Making wheels which would be worth more than the rest of the bike seems....not wise. 

So, I have resigned myself to doing a wheel set in aluminum, just to use these Chris King hubs. Earlier in the week I was referred by a commenter to look at Sun/Ringle' Durocd rims. I also am a big fan of Velocity USA's Blunt SS rims. So, I did a compare and contrast with these two choices. They are remarkably similar in some significant ways. 

The Blunt SS

Image courtesy of Velocity USA

I have experience with this rim and it all has been positive. It's a fairly light rim for the inner width at a claimed 425 grams each. These build up nicely and look really good. 

For my uses it would be absolutely fine doing what I'd ask of it. Now, if I were actually mountain biking I would have some reservations. 

The Blunt SS isn't what I would call a rim for really fast, rough riding styles on tough trails. It can be flexy, easily dented, and some say it is problematic doing tubeless tires. (I have never had any issues running Blunt SS's tubeless, so....)

The price for a single Blunt SS 700c rim is $152.00 and these are made in the USA. 

The Sun Duroc 30:

As you can see from the cutaway diagram here, the Sun Duroc 30 is very close in specifications to a Blunt SS. The inner rim width is nearly identical, and in just about every way, the Duroc 30 seems to be analogous to a Blunt SS in the important areas. 

There are two things about the Duroc 30 which distinguish it from the Blunt SS and they are related to each other. 

Firstly, the Duroc 30 is a welded seam rim while the Blunt SS is not. This is a tiny thing in and of itself, but the nod goes to the Duroc here because welded seams can be more durable. Welding can also distort the rim walls, if done poorly, so having not seen any examples of this rim, I cannot say if Sun's production quality is good or no. Based upon other Sun rims I have seen I would guess this is a non-issue. 

The other related thing is weight. A welded seam weighs more than a pin and sleeve one does. So, this bears out as the Duroc 30 is a claimed 465 grams versus the Blunt SS at a claimed 425 grams each. Of course, the Duroc can be heavier just because of its extrusion design also, so we have to account somewhat for this possibility as well. 

The Duroc 30 costs about a hundred bucks each, so a savings of over $100.00 for a pair versus the Velocity product. I do not know where the Duroc is made, but I would hazard a guess that it is not made in the USA. 

Decisions:

I haven't done anything yet, but the Duroc gets some cred from a local rider here I respect, so I would not be afraid to use those rims. The made in USA thing is nice, but at this point spending around $200.00 versus $300.00 or more is a significant difference. One I cannot ignore. 

Soon I will make a decision. What would you do? 

Randomonium

 NOTE: Okay folks, if you haven't been around long enough here to know what a "Randomonium" post is, then here is the deal. I ramble, rant, and randomly moan about all things cycling in one, incohesive, bizarre post. "Randomonium", okay?

The Cotic Cascade

Fargo-like Bikes Appear To Satisfy Fat Tire Adventurers:

Recently I've noted that there is a rash of drop bar adventure bike choices out there now which can trace their lineage back to Salsa Cycle's original Fargo. Modernized a bit, to be sure, and set up with all the "Adventure Warts®" one could ever need. (Note- the term "Adventure Warts®" is my technical term for mounting bosses. ) 

The brand-spankin' new Cotic (Like 'psycotic' without the 'psy') Cascade model being one such introduction. This particular model derives more from a Gen 2 Fargo since it has a suspension corrected fork and no single speed option. Then there is the Panorama Cycles Taiga EXP which is more reminiscent of a current Fargo with a single speed option in the sliding rear drop outs. The Singular Gryphon is also set to make a comeback, but I'll have more to say about that one tomorrow along with some words about Panorama's flat bar Taiga bike on Saturday. 

Grinder Nationals Moves Venue:

The US Endurance sanctioning group has held a Gravel Grinder Nationals in Lawrence, Kansas for the past five years. Winners in each category have been awarded National Championship jerseys. Did you know that? Yep! Way before the bunch over at USA Cycling got a whiff of the gravel scene, these US Endurance folks have been paying attention and jumped in a while back. 

Anyway, after five years in the same place, US Endurance is moving Grinder Nationals. Here's a bit from the press release:

"After a 5-year residency in Lawrence, Kansas, the Gravel
Grinder National Championship presented by US Endurance is moving to the MidAtlantic and
scheduled to take place in beautiful Loudoun County, Virginia on May 7, 2022. Registration opens
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 on BikeReg.com

This year’s event, in conjunction with Dirty Kitten Productions, will feature a 100-mile “Grinder
Nationals” championship race and a 30-mile “Mini G” recreational ride on historic Loudoun
County gravel roads. Riders will start at B Chord Brewing Company & Farm in Round Hill, VA then
wind their way through the surrounding areas of Bluemont, Philomont, Purcellville, and Lovettsville."

Registration is HERE and you can check out more details at their website. 

Rim profiles for the new "Send" rims from Black Bird.

Interesting New Rim Extrusion For MTB From Black Bird:

Rims for bicycle wheels have changed a lot in the past 20 years. Probably the most notable advancement has been in materials technology which has allowed for carbon fiber to be utilized as a material suitable for making rims for all manner of bicycles. 

One thing that has come out of the carbon rim designs of recent years is a use of a wider rim bead/edge to help tires not pinch flat when ridden at lowered pressures and on rocky terrain. Carbon is pretty easy to mold into any shape, so this feature was typically reserved for the most expensive of rims for mountain and gravel biking. 

Well, Ibis Cycles has now spun off a new brand and have designed an aluminum extrusion which mimics the same benefits in terms of pinch flat protection for enduro MTB racing, and presumably, any suitable mountain biking style. The brand Ibis created is called "Black Bird" and the new rim model is called the "Send". 

Ibis cleverly engineered a hollow section at the bead, creating the wider, blunter profile that carbon has utilized for a rim bead, but without the weight penalty of a solid aluminum structure there. The Send II model goes one step further with an extrusion featuring a supportive "strut" underneath the rim bead which further stiffens and strengthens the entire rim. 

Comments: This feature of the Black Bird Send rims is not completely unheard of. I searched the internet and found a few examples of hollow rim bead extrusions, but it is rare, and in this application, totally unique. It would be interesting to see this brought over to the gravel riding segment.

A Country View from 2015

Thinking About 'Riding Plans' Instead Of 'Events':

So, I see events are starting to really push registrations and therefore, commitments, for 2022. Can't say as I blame anyone on either side of the equation here. Promoters are eager to host folks after two years of sparse event choices and riders are eager to rub shoulders with other riders. 

I get that. However; if I've learned anything over this past two year period it is that I dearly love making my own challenges and I don't like the pressures associated with getting ready, preparing to travel, and dealing with logistics that are part and parcel of going to an 'event'. Not to mention the monetary commitment. 

I'm not saying "I'm not doing events." NO! Not at all. I am saying that it will have to be a pretty darn special deal if I am going to put up with the pressures and stresses created by how I deal with events. It's a personal issue, I am sure, and many of you probably don't understand why I wouldn't want to do a bunch of events on gravel. Just think about all the "fun" I'd miss out on by secluding myself to only what I want to put up with. 

I understand completely why many of you might be thinking that. I say- you do you. I'm not saying you should not go all over and see all kinds of people and ride rad gravel events and get all the props for finishing that you deserve. Good on ya! It just doesn't really do much for me anymore. 

I do like riding.On gravel. A LOT! Just not with a number pinned on and all that comes with that. I like stopping, or going, when I like, or when a small group likes to, and not being caught up in big time event pressures. If I want to lay in a ditch and take a nap, (like I did at Gravel Worlds more than once, and elsewhere) I don't want to feel 'bad' about that. If I decide to cut my day short, I don't want to feel like I 'wasted my money' or disappointed anyone rooting for me because it was an event. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars to travel and stay in a motel when I could camp, or ride somewhere near Waterloo. 

I've done all that and I've stayed around here and have done my own 'riding plans' and I know which way was more fun. So, unless an event is REALLY compelling, yeah...... I'm not real sure I'll be going to anything soon. Not saying 'never going anywhere', far from it. I just have really enjoyed things like my "quest" in 2020 and the ToBHC that I did last year. More of that- less of the organized, big production stuff for me. 

That's a wrap on this Randomonium. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions

Randomonium

 NOTE: Okay folks, if you haven't been around long enough here to know what a "Randomonium" post is, then here is the deal. I ramble, rant, and randomly moan about all things cycling in one, incohesive, bizarre post. "Randomonium", okay?

The Cotic Cascade

Fargo-like Bikes Appear To Satisfy Fat Tire Adventurers:

Recently I've noted that there is a rash of drop bar adventure bike choices out there now which can trace their lineage back to Salsa Cycle's original Fargo. Modernized a bit, to be sure, and set up with all the "Adventure Warts®" one could ever need. (Note- the term "Adventure Warts®" is my technical term for mounting bosses. ) 

The brand-spankin' new Cotic (Like 'psycotic' without the 'psy') Cascade model being one such introduction. This particular model derives more from a Gen 2 Fargo since it has a suspension corrected fork and no single speed option. Then there is the Panorama Cycles Taiga EXP which is more reminiscent of a current Fargo with a single speed option in the sliding rear drop outs. The Singular Gryphon is also set to make a comeback, but I'll have more to say about that one tomorrow along with some words about Panorama's flat bar Taiga bike on Saturday. 

Grinder Nationals Moves Venue:

The US Endurance sanctioning group has held a Gravel Grinder Nationals in Lawrence, Kansas for the past five years. Winners in each category have been awarded National Championship jerseys. Did you know that? Yep! Way before the bunch over at USA Cycling got a whiff of the gravel scene, these US Endurance folks have been paying attention and jumped in a while back. 

Anyway, after five years in the same place, US Endurance is moving Grinder Nationals. Here's a bit from the press release:

"After a 5-year residency in Lawrence, Kansas, the Gravel
Grinder National Championship presented by US Endurance is moving to the MidAtlantic and
scheduled to take place in beautiful Loudoun County, Virginia on May 7, 2022. Registration opens
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 on BikeReg.com

This year’s event, in conjunction with Dirty Kitten Productions, will feature a 100-mile “Grinder
Nationals” championship race and a 30-mile “Mini G” recreational ride on historic Loudoun
County gravel roads. Riders will start at B Chord Brewing Company & Farm in Round Hill, VA then
wind their way through the surrounding areas of Bluemont, Philomont, Purcellville, and Lovettsville."

Registration is HERE and you can check out more details at their website. 

Rim profiles for the new "Send" rims from Black Bird.

Interesting New Rim Extrusion For MTB From Black Bird:

Rims for bicycle wheels have changed a lot in the past 20 years. Probably the most notable advancement has been in materials technology which has allowed for carbon fiber to be utilized as a material suitable for making rims for all manner of bicycles. 

One thing that has come out of the carbon rim designs of recent years is a use of a wider rim bead/edge to help tires not pinch flat when ridden at lowered pressures and on rocky terrain. Carbon is pretty easy to mold into any shape, so this feature was typically reserved for the most expensive of rims for mountain and gravel biking. 

Well, Ibis Cycles has now spun off a new brand and have designed an aluminum extrusion which mimics the same benefits in terms of pinch flat protection for enduro MTB racing, and presumably, any suitable mountain biking style. The brand Ibis created is called "Black Bird" and the new rim model is called the "Send". 

Ibis cleverly engineered a hollow section at the bead, creating the wider, blunter profile that carbon has utilized for a rim bead, but without the weight penalty of a solid aluminum structure there. The Send II model goes one step further with an extrusion featuring a supportive "strut" underneath the rim bead which further stiffens and strengthens the entire rim. 

Comments: This feature of the Black Bird Send rims is not completely unheard of. I searched the internet and found a few examples of hollow rim bead extrusions, but it is rare, and in this application, totally unique. It would be interesting to see this brought over to the gravel riding segment.

A Country View from 2015

Thinking About 'Riding Plans' Instead Of 'Events':

So, I see events are starting to really push registrations and therefore, commitments, for 2022. Can't say as I blame anyone on either side of the equation here. Promoters are eager to host folks after two years of sparse event choices and riders are eager to rub shoulders with other riders. 

I get that. However; if I've learned anything over this past two year period it is that I dearly love making my own challenges and I don't like the pressures associated with getting ready, preparing to travel, and dealing with logistics that are part and parcel of going to an 'event'. Not to mention the monetary commitment. 

I'm not saying "I'm not doing events." NO! Not at all. I am saying that it will have to be a pretty darn special deal if I am going to put up with the pressures and stresses created by how I deal with events. It's a personal issue, I am sure, and many of you probably don't understand why I wouldn't want to do a bunch of events on gravel. Just think about all the "fun" I'd miss out on by secluding myself to only what I want to put up with. 

I understand completely why many of you might be thinking that. I say- you do you. I'm not saying you should not go all over and see all kinds of people and ride rad gravel events and get all the props for finishing that you deserve. Good on ya! It just doesn't really do much for me anymore. 

I do like riding.On gravel. A LOT! Just not with a number pinned on and all that comes with that. I like stopping, or going, when I like, or when a small group likes to, and not being caught up in big time event pressures. If I want to lay in a ditch and take a nap, (like I did at Gravel Worlds more than once, and elsewhere) I don't want to feel 'bad' about that. If I decide to cut my day short, I don't want to feel like I 'wasted my money' or disappointed anyone rooting for me because it was an event. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars to travel and stay in a motel when I could camp, or ride somewhere near Waterloo. 

I've done all that and I've stayed around here and have done my own 'riding plans' and I know which way was more fun. So, unless an event is REALLY compelling, yeah...... I'm not real sure I'll be going to anything soon. Not saying 'never going anywhere', far from it. I just have really enjoyed things like my "quest" in 2020 and the ToBHC that I did last year. More of that- less of the organized, big production stuff for me. 

That's a wrap on this Randomonium. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions

Friday News And Views

The Hutchinson Touareg. a tire I really liked.

 Hutchinson Reportedly Pulls Product From North American Market:

News reached me earlier this week that Hutchinson Tire has pulled its products from the North American Market. I have to say that this comes from an industry source and that this is a fairly reliable person. I have also seen distributors close out remaining Hutchinson stock lists and that's also another indication that this story is probably true. 

Comments: I was gutted, to be honest, when I heard the news. Why? Because the Touareg, Hutchinson's newest gravel tire offering, is really pretty good. I happen to enjoy it on gravel, and it is one of the most reliable, easy to get along with tires for 'just riding' in a tubeless format that you could get. 

I also find it rather odd when a company makes a 'big push' to get into the North American market with new product intros, marketing to reviewers, and thus to readers/riders, and by making a foothold in with distributors. They advertise in the media/social media realms, and they push reps to talk about the products. All that to pull the plug within a year, or as in some cases I'm aware of, less time than that. It just seems like these companies think that they can swoop in and take away a bunch of cash right out of the gate, when in fact it may take a commitment of years to make any headway. I feel that Hutchinson just cut off their own nose here by pulling out, in my opinion, far too soon. But what do I know.....

This may have to do with supply chain issues, raw materials shortages, or some combination thereof. In that case, it is understandable, but still pretty sad. That said, as I mentioned, I've seen this game played before in much better times as well. It still baffles me. 

Remembering Odin's Revenge- This was from 2014.

Remembering Odin's:

These 'book of faces' memories deals bring up some things sometimes that I have kind of forgotten about, but - at least in this sort of case- it is a good thing social media does. In this case it was a memory of being at Odin's Revenge, a grassroots gravel event which once was held in West-Central Nebraska. 

Odin's was held out of a town named Gothenburg, so now maybe you might understand the connection to Norse mythology. Anyway, the point is that I- and many others who were daring enough to try this event- have some awesome memories of riding in this unique area. 

Not only that, but the way it was put on is something that only the people who were involved could have done, or ever will do. It is an unrepeatable experience. See- I liken these sorts of events to a family invitation to a shin-dig at the family farm. They invite you in, it has an intimate, unique flair which the 'family' imbues upon it, and you partake of the offerings - or not- and come away with an intensely unique experience that cannot be duplicated, imitated, or reproduced by any other 'family'. Each has their own flavor, if you will. 

And Odin's had a very unique, tasty, and intoxicating, (literally and figuratively!) flavor. I am not going to wax on and on with tales of my adventures out there. However; I will point out that if you have a chance to do a unique, small, grassroots event, you may want to really try to make it to that particular event. It will be sure to have its unique 'flavor' and you know- it isn't going to last forever. You've got a window of opportunity- on your end or on the event's- and when that window closes? 

Poof!

That event, or your ability to do it- or both, is gone forever. Such was the case with Odin's. The event directors just decided to stop it one year and that's that. I am glad I made it to a few of the versions of that event during its run. Obviously, I am speaking from a rider's viewpoint, but I have the unique perspective of having been 'that guy' that shut down a few events as well. So, listen.....I think I have a good perspective on this. Go. Do those smaller events, those unique, grassroots types of deals. Do them this year. Or if they are Spring events- next Spring then. That is- if you care about experiencing great times and supporting these folks that pour their hearts into their events.

That's what I think about now when I think about Odin's Revenge. A unique flavor put out by passionate, committed people that cared deeply. Thank you for what you did for us. You know who you are..... 

Stan's NoTubes Updates Rims;

I recently was remarking how Stan's old trail rim from the 00's, the Flow, was originally only 28mm outer rim width. Well, that was three generations of Stan's rims ago now as Stan's NoTubes has introduced a new range of "MK4" rims. 

The big news here is a new design of the offset spoke bed idea and new, wider inner rim widths. Of course, the Flow carries on as the top of the range trail/enduro/DH rim offering and is now at 30mm wide for an internal rim width. 

My attention is on the Crest rim here, as that is the rim Stan's designates as their 'gravel' category rim within their range. That rim has a 25mm internal rim width, so that is right in the pocket for what I am seeing from the industry in terms of 'gravel' rim dimensions. (Again- why are we so stuck on calling this category 'gravel'? It's very limiting and, really, pretty ignorant, but whatevs......) The Crest MK4 rims are about 400 grams each, have a welded seam, and go for $129.00 each, according to the press release I was sent. 

Comments: Stan's presents a different option with this rim for all-road, adventure type riding. That offset spoke bed is unusual in this category, but not totally unheard of. Stan's also says this rim is available now, so it isn't vaporware, apparently. That's nice to hear in these times, but I have not tried to get these, so I am not 100% on that claim by Stan's. 

I'm not a big fan of Stan's rims due to their insistence on using a slightly larger bead seat diameter than anyone else in the world. It works for some tires, and it doesn't work well, or at all, for some others. Stan's did this originally for tires that were not tubeless ready so one could convert them to tubeless, but in 2021? Unless I hear otherwise, I am of the mind that Stan's use of this slightly oversized bead seat diameter is unnecessary anymore. But besides that, good stuff here.   

That's it for this week. It is a big holiday weekend in the USA, so please be careful out there! Get some riding in and have fun!

Friday News And Views

The Hutchinson Touareg. a tire I really liked.

 Hutchinson Reportedly Pulls Product From North American Market:

News reached me earlier this week that Hutchinson Tire has pulled its products from the North American Market. I have to say that this comes from an industry source and that this is a fairly reliable person. I have also seen distributors close out remaining Hutchinson stock lists and that's also another indication that this story is probably true. 

Comments: I was gutted, to be honest, when I heard the news. Why? Because the Touareg, Hutchinson's newest gravel tire offering, is really pretty good. I happen to enjoy it on gravel, and it is one of the most reliable, easy to get along with tires for 'just riding' in a tubeless format that you could get. 

I also find it rather odd when a company makes a 'big push' to get into the North American market with new product intros, marketing to reviewers, and thus to readers/riders, and by making a foothold in with distributors. They advertise in the media/social media realms, and they push reps to talk about the products. All that to pull the plug within a year, or as in some cases I'm aware of, less time than that. It just seems like these companies think that they can swoop in and take away a bunch of cash right out of the gate, when in fact it may take a commitment of years to make any headway. I feel that Hutchinson just cut off their own nose here by pulling out, in my opinion, far too soon. But what do I know.....

This may have to do with supply chain issues, raw materials shortages, or some combination thereof. In that case, it is understandable, but still pretty sad. That said, as I mentioned, I've seen this game played before in much better times as well. It still baffles me. 

Remembering Odin's Revenge- This was from 2014.

Remembering Odin's:

These 'book of faces' memories deals bring up some things sometimes that I have kind of forgotten about, but - at least in this sort of case- it is a good thing social media does. In this case it was a memory of being at Odin's Revenge, a grassroots gravel event which once was held in West-Central Nebraska. 

Odin's was held out of a town named Gothenburg, so now maybe you might understand the connection to Norse mythology. Anyway, the point is that I- and many others who were daring enough to try this event- have some awesome memories of riding in this unique area. 

Not only that, but the way it was put on is something that only the people who were involved could have done, or ever will do. It is an unrepeatable experience. See- I liken these sorts of events to a family invitation to a shin-dig at the family farm. They invite you in, it has an intimate, unique flair which the 'family' imbues upon it, and you partake of the offerings - or not- and come away with an intensely unique experience that cannot be duplicated, imitated, or reproduced by any other 'family'. Each has their own flavor, if you will. 

And Odin's had a very unique, tasty, and intoxicating, (literally and figuratively!) flavor. I am not going to wax on and on with tales of my adventures out there. However; I will point out that if you have a chance to do a unique, small, grassroots event, you may want to really try to make it to that particular event. It will be sure to have its unique 'flavor' and you know- it isn't going to last forever. You've got a window of opportunity- on your end or on the event's- and when that window closes? 

Poof!

That event, or your ability to do it- or both, is gone forever. Such was the case with Odin's. The event directors just decided to stop it one year and that's that. I am glad I made it to a few of the versions of that event during its run. Obviously, I am speaking from a rider's viewpoint, but I have the unique perspective of having been 'that guy' that shut down a few events as well. So, listen.....I think I have a good perspective on this. Go. Do those smaller events, those unique, grassroots types of deals. Do them this year. Or if they are Spring events- next Spring then. That is- if you care about experiencing great times and supporting these folks that pour their hearts into their events.

That's what I think about now when I think about Odin's Revenge. A unique flavor put out by passionate, committed people that cared deeply. Thank you for what you did for us. You know who you are..... 

Stan's NoTubes Updates Rims;

I recently was remarking how Stan's old trail rim from the 00's, the Flow, was originally only 28mm outer rim width. Well, that was three generations of Stan's rims ago now as Stan's NoTubes has introduced a new range of "MK4" rims. 

The big news here is a new design of the offset spoke bed idea and new, wider inner rim widths. Of course, the Flow carries on as the top of the range trail/enduro/DH rim offering and is now at 30mm wide for an internal rim width. 

My attention is on the Crest rim here, as that is the rim Stan's designates as their 'gravel' category rim within their range. That rim has a 25mm internal rim width, so that is right in the pocket for what I am seeing from the industry in terms of 'gravel' rim dimensions. (Again- why are we so stuck on calling this category 'gravel'? It's very limiting and, really, pretty ignorant, but whatevs......) The Crest MK4 rims are about 400 grams each, have a welded seam, and go for $129.00 each, according to the press release I was sent. 

Comments: Stan's presents a different option with this rim for all-road, adventure type riding. That offset spoke bed is unusual in this category, but not totally unheard of. Stan's also says this rim is available now, so it isn't vaporware, apparently. That's nice to hear in these times, but I have not tried to get these, so I am not 100% on that claim by Stan's. 

I'm not a big fan of Stan's rims due to their insistence on using a slightly larger bead seat diameter than anyone else in the world. It works for some tires, and it doesn't work well, or at all, for some others. Stan's did this originally for tires that were not tubeless ready so one could convert them to tubeless, but in 2021? Unless I hear otherwise, I am of the mind that Stan's use of this slightly oversized bead seat diameter is unnecessary anymore. But besides that, good stuff here.   

That's it for this week. It is a big holiday weekend in the USA, so please be careful out there! Get some riding in and have fun!

Still Waiting

You probably forgot all about the plans for these hubs. Six months have gone by and I nearly had forgotten all about those hubs as well. This is a post that should illustrate what is going on for many folks out there in terms of getting parts. 

Back in January, I got a few ideas lined up and I decided I needed to wait a bit on ordering up anything, because, well......I like to be able to pay for what I ask for that is for personal use. But I know, that may be just me. Anyway.... 

By the time I had worked up enough cash, it was late Winter. And.......all my choices were back ordered or indefinitely out of stock. Andy, who I work for, asked if I wanted to let my order ride. It was really not a hard decision. I let it ride.....

Then later on we were checking in on a couple of other back ordered rims we had asked for and were told that my order was due in August. AUGUST! Those 28 hole silver Bontrager rims I have in the Lab are looking better all the time! This may be the longest wheel build process I have ever been involved with. And no- I still am not desperate enough to use those old Bonty rims........yet!
 

Still Waiting

You probably forgot all about the plans for these hubs. Six months have gone by and I nearly had forgotten all about those hubs as well. This is a post that should illustrate what is going on for many folks out there in terms of getting parts. 

Back in January, I got a few ideas lined up and I decided I needed to wait a bit on ordering up anything, because, well......I like to be able to pay for what I ask for that is for personal use. But I know, that may be just me. Anyway.... 

By the time I had worked up enough cash, it was late Winter. And.......all my choices were back ordered or indefinitely out of stock. Andy, who I work for, asked if I wanted to let my order ride. It was really not a hard decision. I let it ride.....

Then later on we were checking in on a couple of other back ordered rims we had asked for and were told that my order was due in August. AUGUST! Those 28 hole silver Bontrager rims I have in the Lab are looking better all the time! This may be the longest wheel build process I have ever been involved with. And no- I still am not desperate enough to use those old Bonty rims........yet!
 

Friday News And Views

SRAM Force AXS crankset.

A Hit And A Miss:

SRAM's wireless road group has been a pretty big hit with the road going crowd. The new AXS has a lot of folks excited. The recently announced Red version was pretty stylish looking. But people were hanging on for SRAM to trickle down the tech into a more reasonably priced range. Well, their wishes on the pricing have come true. Too bad it looks like a department store group.

I mean, look at this. Could it look anymore bland and....plasticky? It's as if they were out to "out-Tourney" Shimano in the "Mart Bike" category. If this had a bolt on chain guard it would be a dead ringer for an entry level crank set.

But, it is "wireless", and there are no cables, and it shifts whenever, blah, blah, blah. I get it. But why does good design and high tech have to be mutually exclusive? It's as if they tried to make it ugly. Wait....... I hadn't thought of that. Okay, never mind.

But beyond its looks, there are really some limited gearing options if you want to have sub-1 to 1 gears, and that battery on the front derailleur is said to only clear a 40mm tire. Plus, it's hanging out there right where all the dirt, muck, and mire is going to bathe it, collect on it, and gum up the works. That said, I actually got a close up look at the Red AXS group (the GOOD looking one), on a bike with a 40mm tire. (Thanks SRAM Rep Dan!) The issues with clearances are there with big tires, so that still concerns me. However, SRAM has modified the mount for the battery somewhat which should make it so that heavy debris from off the rear tire will not dislodge the battery from its mount. I was also told that this system is imminently weather-proof. Well......we'll see. I still say the Force AXS group needs a re-do, and while you are at it, please put away your ugly stick. Thank you.

23mm inner rim width was once mtb territory. Now it is barely a gravel rim!

The Inner Width Story:

Several years ago mountain bikers saw a move from the old, narrow rim widths and road bikes followed to a degree in that move also. When "gravel" rims were hitting the shelves a few years ago, they started out being marketed as something wider, suitable for the bigger tires gravel riders wanted to use. Typically these were in the 21mm-23mm range. Funny......that was the old mtb inner widths. Anyway, it didn't take long for gravel riders to start seeing bigger tires, and wider inner rim widths. I built a set of wheels a few years ago with WTB i25 KOM rims, and I thought I was pushing the envelope. Now, that is considered about par for the course.

So, I have to shake my head when one of these smaller wheel companies hits me up about checking out their wheels for RidingGravel.com and the inner rim width is under 20mm. Really? That's road racing width from the 00's. That is basically antique, and the marketing is saying it is a "wider rim" suitable for gravel?

I don't know, but information is easy to find these days and I've seen a lot of it for rims. I'm not anybody special in regard to this knowledge- it's there for anyone to see, so I have to chalk that up to just plain not doing the research. Based on that marketing faux pas alone you have to question the company and the product. The story has changed and companies need to keep up on them, or get left behind.

Renegade Gents run amok.

Renegade Gent's Race 9.0:

Well, it is that time of the year again. The Renegade Gent's Race is Saturday. This has been something that is near and dear to my heart, as many long time readers here know. I really look forward to this event and I plan on having a lot of fun.

This will be my 9th time. Yep! I'll have been to every single running of this event. I guess I'll count my lucky stars too, because I easily could have missed any one of them. 9 times to an event without a break is an unusual thing, and I am happy to have seen this through. The event sure has changed, and now the scrum of folks it draws is a mighty throng. The Renegade Gent's Race is one of those things you can enjoy in many ways. I think that is what makes it work for so many folks. That and it kind of kicks off the "normal" season of gravel riding here.

The weather should be darn near perfect too. 70's? Are you kidding me? I better bring some Sun tan lotion. I'm likely to get burnt! This might be the best weather since the first Gent's Race back in 2011. I think there will be some wind out of the South, but whatever. This should be a great day on the bike.

Stay tuned for a race report Monday. Till then, have an awesome weekend! 

Friday News And Views

SRAM Force AXS crankset.

A Hit And A Miss:

SRAM's wireless road group has been a pretty big hit with the road going crowd. The new AXS has a lot of folks excited. The recently announced Red version was pretty stylish looking. But people were hanging on for SRAM to trickle down the tech into a more reasonably priced range. Well, their wishes on the pricing have come true. Too bad it looks like a department store group.

I mean, look at this. Could it look anymore bland and....plasticky? It's as if they were out to "out-Tourney" Shimano in the "Mart Bike" category. If this had a bolt on chain guard it would be a dead ringer for an entry level crank set.

But, it is "wireless", and there are no cables, and it shifts whenever, blah, blah, blah. I get it. But why does good design and high tech have to be mutually exclusive? It's as if they tried to make it ugly. Wait....... I hadn't thought of that. Okay, never mind.

But beyond its looks, there are really some limited gearing options if you want to have sub-1 to 1 gears, and that battery on the front derailleur is said to only clear a 40mm tire. Plus, it's hanging out there right where all the dirt, muck, and mire is going to bathe it, collect on it, and gum up the works. That said, I actually got a close up look at the Red AXS group (the GOOD looking one), on a bike with a 40mm tire. (Thanks SRAM Rep Dan!) The issues with clearances are there with big tires, so that still concerns me. However, SRAM has modified the mount for the battery somewhat which should make it so that heavy debris from off the rear tire will not dislodge the battery from its mount. I was also told that this system is imminently weather-proof. Well......we'll see. I still say the Force AXS group needs a re-do, and while you are at it, please put away your ugly stick. Thank you.

23mm inner rim width was once mtb territory. Now it is barely a gravel rim!

The Inner Width Story:

Several years ago mountain bikers saw a move from the old, narrow rim widths and road bikes followed to a degree in that move also. When "gravel" rims were hitting the shelves a few years ago, they started out being marketed as something wider, suitable for the bigger tires gravel riders wanted to use. Typically these were in the 21mm-23mm range. Funny......that was the old mtb inner widths. Anyway, it didn't take long for gravel riders to start seeing bigger tires, and wider inner rim widths. I built a set of wheels a few years ago with WTB i25 KOM rims, and I thought I was pushing the envelope. Now, that is considered about par for the course.

So, I have to shake my head when one of these smaller wheel companies hits me up about checking out their wheels for RidingGravel.com and the inner rim width is under 20mm. Really? That's road racing width from the 00's. That is basically antique, and the marketing is saying it is a "wider rim" suitable for gravel?

I don't know, but information is easy to find these days and I've seen a lot of it for rims. I'm not anybody special in regard to this knowledge- it's there for anyone to see, so I have to chalk that up to just plain not doing the research. Based on that marketing faux pas alone you have to question the company and the product. The story has changed and companies need to keep up on them, or get left behind.

Renegade Gents run amok.

Renegade Gent's Race 9.0:

Well, it is that time of the year again. The Renegade Gent's Race is Saturday. This has been something that is near and dear to my heart, as many long time readers here know. I really look forward to this event and I plan on having a lot of fun.

This will be my 9th time. Yep! I'll have been to every single running of this event. I guess I'll count my lucky stars too, because I easily could have missed any one of them. 9 times to an event without a break is an unusual thing, and I am happy to have seen this through. The event sure has changed, and now the scrum of folks it draws is a mighty throng. The Renegade Gent's Race is one of those things you can enjoy in many ways. I think that is what makes it work for so many folks. That and it kind of kicks off the "normal" season of gravel riding here.

The weather should be darn near perfect too. 70's? Are you kidding me? I better bring some Sun tan lotion. I'm likely to get burnt! This might be the best weather since the first Gent's Race back in 2011. I think there will be some wind out of the South, but whatever. This should be a great day on the bike.

Stay tuned for a race report Monday. Till then, have an awesome weekend! 

Rim Width And Gravel Tires

Internal rim width- How wide is too wide?

It is no secret that rims have been getting wider. It also is no secret that we have pretty much quit focusing on external rim width and now pretty much speak in terms of internal rim widths. Why? Also, you may wonder why any of this matters. Wide rims are......well, wider, and that's that, right?

Well, not so much. Actually, wider rims do some beneficial things for riders of any bicycle, but I am going to keep the focus on gravel travel here. That said, much of what I am writing about today can be transferred to other types of bicycles and other genres of riding.

First, let's get into why rims were, for the most part, narrow. One must remember it wasn't always the case that rims were narrow. Way back they were wider because tires were bigger and more material was necessary to keep rims strong. Old tolerances were not as tight either, so width helped support the tires that didn't necessarily fit the greatest.

Note the difference in outer rim width versus inner rim width. Image courtesy of Velocity USA.

Then tolerances got tighter and materials technology advanced enough that things swung the other way. To cut weight, both the rim and the tires went on a diet. Rim widths got ever narrower until the 80's/90's when internal rim widths on some XC MTB rims was sub 20mm! That's for 2" plus wide tires!

Road rim widths, internally, were 17mm-19mm wide and stayed that way for a few decades. But then something happened which, in my opinion, opened the door wide for experimentation on rim width. During the late 90's, early "oughties", the down hill mtb scene started to push rim widths out to better support tires in corners and hard landings. Other MTB disciplines started looking at this and with a helping hand from materials technologies, once again, rims started getting wider for mountain bikes.

29"ers were something that also started companies walking down that wider rim lane. I recall when Salsa Cycles announced their Semi (30mm outer) and Gordo (35mm outer) rims, Velocity USA announced the Blunt  (28mm outer) and then the Blunt 35, (Obvious, innit?), and we all started thinking harder about wider rims. Keep in mind that about 12 years ago internal rim widths for most 29"ers was still around 20mm, give or take a millimeter. These new rims were mind blowingly wide.

Tubeless stuff also made wider rims more popular. The whole idea with tubeless was that one could lower air pressures, get more traction, and have similar or lower rolling resistance as with tubes. But, without a wide, stiff foundation for the tire to work from without a tube in it, the problems of burping tires and rolling tires off rims was commonplace. This moved companies to start taking a look at wider rims. Weights went up, for sure, but with new technologies, that weight wasn't as great as it would have been in the decades previous. The ubiquitous usage of disc brakes and the problem solving that came with wider rims brought a new focus on what mattered- inner rim width. 

With tubeless tires, inner rim width is important to note.

 With no regard for cantilever brake's limitations on rim widths, designers of mountain bikes were free to widen the inner rim widths to better support tubeless tires. No longer were riders considering rims only for the lightest weight, like back in the 90's. Now try and find a MTB rim with an inner width below 20mm. Not gonna happen!

In fact, try and find a current, tubeless compatible gravel/all road wheel with an inner rim width of less than 20mm. Yep! Pretty much a unicorn at this point nowadays. So, with the bonus of a good foundation for tires to work off of, and weight penalties being minimized, is there a point where tires and rims don't work as well when inner rim widths get really wide? In fact- yes. There is a point where rims can be too wide.

Now, as I've stated, I'm not going to go all in on mountain bike, fat bike, or road rim widths and tire matching to those. That's a HUGE subject which could fill a book. I'll just keep the focus on my experiences with gravel tires and rims meant for that pursuit.

I've used very narrow, 20-ish millimeter wide rims all the way up to 25mm internal rim width rims with tires ranging from 32mm through 50mm. Basically the gamut of tire widths used for gravel travel. In my opinion, some matching of tire to inner rim widths makes sense here. So, to put a 32mm CX tire on a rim with a 25mm inner width isn't a great idea. the tire casing flattens out, the overall height/volume of the tire suffers, and some elements of "self-steer" will rear their ugly heads on set ups like that. Self-steer is where your wheel kind of has a mind of its own and goes not where you want to point it. I know......that's a pretty technical explanation. Sorry! I would take the time to break that down, but this post is getting long as it is!

Of course, you can put a 50mm tire on a very skinny rim, and I've done that too. You end up having to use a higher pressure to mitigate tire squirm and possibility for roll-offs, and your ride quality will suck. Again- technical speak. But I think you get the picture here. Extreme match-ups are to be avoided. Try to use a wider tire with a wider internal rim width and vice-versa.

A good, all around internal rim width for almost any gravel tire, in my opinion, is 24-25mm. It would seem that most manufacturers agree with that. A few years ago I built up a set of wheels I dubbed the "Project Wide Gravel Wheels". I used a WTB KOM i25 rim set. Yes......that's 25mm inner rim width. I figured I was pushing the limits of "good" and maybe went over the line. Let's keep in mind that even three years ago 22-23mm was considered "really wide" for gravel. But I found that i25 rims were actually ideal for the 40mm-45mm tires I was using. That size even works well for up to 50mm tires, as I have found by using a set of 24mm inner width rims with 650B X 47mm tires.

So, would something even wider work? Maybe for the wider gravel tires, yes, it might. I am thinking about pushing a wheel set out and using internal 30mm width rims, like the Blunt SS shown above. It might prove to be interesting to try that out. You may say, "Well, that's a mountain bike rim!", and it is, technically. But take a look at what mountain bikers are using now and much of what you will find makes an internal 30mm wide rim look "skinny".

There is more to this rim width subject, but this post is already at "novel" length, and either your coffee is gone already, or it's cold. Sorry about that...... I'll update this subject down the road if there seems to be enough interest. I could even upgrade my "Project Wide Gravel Wheels" to "Project Even Wider Gravel Wheels" and maybe that is what I should be doing here. Real world test that idea!

Rim Width And Gravel Tires

Internal rim width- How wide is too wide?

It is no secret that rims have been getting wider. It also is no secret that we have pretty much quit focusing on external rim width and now pretty much speak in terms of internal rim widths. Why? Also, you may wonder why any of this matters. Wide rims are......well, wider, and that's that, right?

Well, not so much. Actually, wider rims do some beneficial things for riders of any bicycle, but I am going to keep the focus on gravel travel here. That said, much of what I am writing about today can be transferred to other types of bicycles and other genres of riding.

First, let's get into why rims were, for the most part, narrow. One must remember it wasn't always the case that rims were narrow. Way back they were wider because tires were bigger and more material was necessary to keep rims strong. Old tolerances were not as tight either, so width helped support the tires that didn't necessarily fit the greatest.

Note the difference in outer rim width versus inner rim width. Image courtesy of Velocity USA.

Then tolerances got tighter and materials technology advanced enough that things swung the other way. To cut weight, both the rim and the tires went on a diet. Rim widths got ever narrower until the 80's/90's when internal rim widths on some XC MTB rims was sub 20mm! That's for 2" plus wide tires!

Road rim widths, internally, were 17mm-19mm wide and stayed that way for a few decades. But then something happened which, in my opinion, opened the door wide for experimentation on rim width. During the late 90's, early "oughties", the down hill mtb scene started to push rim widths out to better support tires in corners and hard landings. Other MTB disciplines started looking at this and with a helping hand from materials technologies, once again, rims started getting wider for mountain bikes.

29"ers were something that also started companies walking down that wider rim lane. I recall when Salsa Cycles announced their Semi (30mm outer) and Gordo (35mm outer) rims, Velocity USA announced the Blunt  (28mm outer) and then the Blunt 35, (Obvious, innit?), and we all started thinking harder about wider rims. Keep in mind that about 12 years ago internal rim widths for most 29"ers was still around 20mm, give or take a millimeter. These new rims were mind blowingly wide.

Tubeless stuff also made wider rims more popular. The whole idea with tubeless was that one could lower air pressures, get more traction, and have similar or lower rolling resistance as with tubes. But, without a wide, stiff foundation for the tire to work from without a tube in it, the problems of burping tires and rolling tires off rims was commonplace. This moved companies to start taking a look at wider rims. Weights went up, for sure, but with new technologies, that weight wasn't as great as it would have been in the decades previous. The ubiquitous usage of disc brakes and the problem solving that came with wider rims brought a new focus on what mattered- inner rim width. 

With tubeless tires, inner rim width is important to note.

 With no regard for cantilever brake's limitations on rim widths, designers of mountain bikes were free to widen the inner rim widths to better support tubeless tires. No longer were riders considering rims only for the lightest weight, like back in the 90's. Now try and find a MTB rim with an inner width below 20mm. Not gonna happen!

In fact, try and find a current, tubeless compatible gravel/all road wheel with an inner rim width of less than 20mm. Yep! Pretty much a unicorn at this point nowadays. So, with the bonus of a good foundation for tires to work off of, and weight penalties being minimized, is there a point where tires and rims don't work as well when inner rim widths get really wide? In fact- yes. There is a point where rims can be too wide.

Now, as I've stated, I'm not going to go all in on mountain bike, fat bike, or road rim widths and tire matching to those. That's a HUGE subject which could fill a book. I'll just keep the focus on my experiences with gravel tires and rims meant for that pursuit.

I've used very narrow, 20-ish millimeter wide rims all the way up to 25mm internal rim width rims with tires ranging from 32mm through 50mm. Basically the gamut of tire widths used for gravel travel. In my opinion, some matching of tire to inner rim widths makes sense here. So, to put a 32mm CX tire on a rim with a 25mm inner width isn't a great idea. the tire casing flattens out, the overall height/volume of the tire suffers, and some elements of "self-steer" will rear their ugly heads on set ups like that. Self-steer is where your wheel kind of has a mind of its own and goes not where you want to point it. I know......that's a pretty technical explanation. Sorry! I would take the time to break that down, but this post is getting long as it is!

Of course, you can put a 50mm tire on a very skinny rim, and I've done that too. You end up having to use a higher pressure to mitigate tire squirm and possibility for roll-offs, and your ride quality will suck. Again- technical speak. But I think you get the picture here. Extreme match-ups are to be avoided. Try to use a wider tire with a wider internal rim width and vice-versa.

A good, all around internal rim width for almost any gravel tire, in my opinion, is 24-25mm. It would seem that most manufacturers agree with that. A few years ago I built up a set of wheels I dubbed the "Project Wide Gravel Wheels". I used a WTB KOM i25 rim set. Yes......that's 25mm inner rim width. I figured I was pushing the limits of "good" and maybe went over the line. Let's keep in mind that even three years ago 22-23mm was considered "really wide" for gravel. But I found that i25 rims were actually ideal for the 40mm-45mm tires I was using. That size even works well for up to 50mm tires, as I have found by using a set of 24mm inner width rims with 650B X 47mm tires.

So, would something even wider work? Maybe for the wider gravel tires, yes, it might. I am thinking about pushing a wheel set out and using internal 30mm width rims, like the Blunt SS shown above. It might prove to be interesting to try that out. You may say, "Well, that's a mountain bike rim!", and it is, technically. But take a look at what mountain bikers are using now and much of what you will find makes an internal 30mm wide rim look "skinny".

There is more to this rim width subject, but this post is already at "novel" length, and either your coffee is gone already, or it's cold. Sorry about that...... I'll update this subject down the road if there seems to be enough interest. I could even upgrade my "Project Wide Gravel Wheels" to "Project Even Wider Gravel Wheels" and maybe that is what I should be doing here. Real world test that idea!

State Of Tubelessness: Ten Years Down The Road- Part 1

Some wheels, like these Irwin Cycling wheels here, make going tubeless super easy.

The other day I noted a thread in the RidingGravel.com forum that was started by someone a bit befuddled by the terminologies and what they meant when it comes to gravel tires. What rims fit which tires? What is UST? and more.

This prompted me to read through the thread and I did stop and add some context to it. But that said, it appears that there are a lot of confused individuals out there yet in 2018 when it comes to tubeless tires for bicycles.

I have, on occasion here on this blog, written a "State Of Tubelessness" post. The first one I could dig up was from 2010, but I had been writing about my trials and tribulations with tubeless tires almost from the onset of the blog in 2005. But for all intents and purposes, my real pursuit of going tubeless started in 2007, so I figured why not detail briefly what has happened over the past ten years in terms of tubeless tires for bicycles.

Obviously somewhere this all started and the beginnings of tubeless tires in our era started in the late 90's with a guy by the name of Stan Koziak. You know his company by the name of "Stan's", but the full name of the company is "Stan's NoTubes", which should give you a clue as to what sort of tires his system are meant for. Stan's was, and still is, a system for converting non-tubeless tires to tubeless usage. That specifically means folding bead and wire bead performance tires that were never meant to be tubeless. Of course, you can run tubeless tires on Stan's rims, but not all will fit.

A set of ZTR Flow rims I still have were tried with many tires in the past.

Once tubeless ready tires came to market, Stan's didn't push the conversion thing too hard. In fact, they dabbled in their own tires for a bit, but even that went by the wayside. Stan's just kept being Stan's and they kept growing as a company, mainly because tire and rim manufacturers couldn't get together on a single standard for tubeless tires. Not that it wasn't tried, or successful, because there is a standard, but it requires a licensing fee. Not something many companies are willing to pay for.

Of course, that standard is UST, or Uniform System Tubeless, which Mavic, Hutchinson, and Michelin first developed in 1999. Later a few other companies would adopt the standard, most notably GEAX/Vittoria, but for the most part, the stringent dimensions and testing protocol of UST wasn't adopted by the industry universally. This caused UST to be pretty much pigeonholed to the XC racer set, and most average mountain bikers were not getting into UST in the early 00's. The fact that true, air-tight tubeless tires were a lot heavier than their folding bead counterparts was also a part of this.

 Meanwhile, 29"ers were becoming a thing, and the rim and tire manufacturers were standing off from adopting any single standard until things shook themselves out. This sort of played into the hands of Stan's who were the "average person's" tubeless "system" of choice. Obviously, Stan's made for a lighter weight set up, because you used a folding bead tire, which in some cases could be well over 200 grams lighter than a UST tire. The trouble with Stan's was that non-tubeless, folding bead tires were difficult to get sealed, didn't last long, and some were failing spectacularly due to the added stresses present without a tube to reinforce the bead and sidewall.

That all began to change in the late 00's as Trek/Bontrager/Fisher began to push for tubeless systems that they could use on their bikes. Since Bontrager sold tires, a system where tire, plastic "TLR" rim strip, and rim was developed which was very user friendly and worked tremendously well. But like UST before it, this was not an "open standard", so other companies were developing their own systems to compete. Specialized had "2Bliss", WTB developed "TCS", and rim manufacturers that did not make tires and tire manufacturers that did not make rims were left wondering what to do.

Rim companies, like Velocity, kind of shot for a :middle ground" in terms of design.

Many companies did not want to err so far toward the UST dimensions that other components would not fit and vice versa. Some of the systems, like WTB's TCS,were close to UST, but some were not. The companies whose tires were not right on the UST mark did so to fit Stan's rims, which were very slightly oversized. But these tires would still fit some other companies rims, which were somewhere in between the UST and the older. standard climcher/tube variances. Rims, like Velocity USA's, were made to fit a broader range of tires as well. Other companies adopted Stan's dimensions, while others erred closer to UST.

So, in 2018, you can probably see why it is that people get confused. Fit issues exist, and remember, tolerances don't need to vary much so that very small variances can mean that some components will not be compatible with others, despite the labels saying 700c, or 622ISO. This gives people fits, because if labels match up, components should as well, or so the thinking goes. However, saying 622ISO is the "fine measurement all should be at", is like thinking every square mile in the country is the same size. They are not, and neither is everyone's rims and tires. That may sound weird, but if you've ever tried mounting a Michelin tubeless tire on a Stan's rim, you know what I mean. You might get the two mounted to one another, but woe be to you if you have a catastrophic failure on a ride and you think you are getting a tube in there.

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow....