Adventure Marketing Gets Axed

Many sponsored athletes have found out they are unemployed recently.

One of the side effects of the recent bicycle sales bubble-bust due to the pandemic issues on the supply chain is that marketing gets cut. Many bicycle related companies see this as the most expendable part of their business, for better or worse. 

An example of this came to light Monday when it was announced on social media by BikePacking.com that Specialized had cut all of its sponsored " athletes under its "Seek and Enjoy Adventure Ambassador Program". In an article on BikePacking.com's website, it was also revealed that Diamondback has done a similar thing in regards to cuts and in the comments section of a Facebook post about this story, it was revealed that Salsa Cycles has also quietly done the same. 

Of course, since Specialized was named as "the bad guy" here, many took to the comments section to excoriate them again. However; it should not be seen as "the big guys being bad again". This is going to be happening industry-wide, and we're just seeing the first-fruits of what some experts are saying will take at least the next three years to work through, if not longer. 

That this has happened on the adventure side of cycling is also not to be wondered at. Bikepacking has a loyal and passionate fan base, but the numbers of cyclists that are engaged in that market are a small amount. Compare to the big gravel events that bring in, literally, thousands of participants at many of the bigger events, and compared to the stratospheric growth in electrified bicycle categories, the adventure market is a tiny number. If you are going to be forced to make a cut in the budget, this is the kind of thing you lop off first. 

And to be sure- if things don't improve soon, other athletes and programs will be cut. That may mean that these big-money drawing 'gravelleurs' we're hearing about may be looking at a lot smaller amounts of support from their sponsors. I'm betting that'll definitely be the case. Interesting times and this will bear watching as 2023 unfolds. 

UPDATED: Take a look at this Tweet snippet that was posted to social media early this morning:

When financial pressures mount, and the Tweet referenced here is evidence that this is, indeed, what is happening to cycling businesses, marketing and promotions budgets get slashed. Again- cycling media and cycling social media is going off on Specialized. This is short-sighted thinking and is missing the point. Expect more layoffs and cuts upcoming in 2023.

Adventure Marketing Gets Axed

Many sponsored athletes have found out they are unemployed recently.

One of the side effects of the recent bicycle sales bubble-bust due to the pandemic issues on the supply chain is that marketing gets cut. Many bicycle related companies see this as the most expendable part of their business, for better or worse. 

An example of this came to light Monday when it was announced on social media by BikePacking.com that Specialized had cut all of its sponsored " athletes under its "Seek and Enjoy Adventure Ambassador Program". In an article on BikePacking.com's website, it was also revealed that Diamondback has done a similar thing in regards to cuts and in the comments section of a Facebook post about this story, it was revealed that Salsa Cycles has also quietly done the same. 

Of course, since Specialized was named as "the bad guy" here, many took to the comments section to excoriate them again. However; it should not be seen as "the big guys being bad again". This is going to be happening industry-wide, and we're just seeing the first-fruits of what some experts are saying will take at least the next three years to work through, if not longer. 

That this has happened on the adventure side of cycling is also not to be wondered at. Bikepacking has a loyal and passionate fan base, but the numbers of cyclists that are engaged in that market are a small amount. Compare to the big gravel events that bring in, literally, thousands of participants at many of the bigger events, and compared to the stratospheric growth in electrified bicycle categories, the adventure market is a tiny number. If you are going to be forced to make a cut in the budget, this is the kind of thing you lop off first. 

And to be sure- if things don't improve soon, other athletes and programs will be cut. That may mean that these big-money drawing 'gravelleurs' we're hearing about may be looking at a lot smaller amounts of support from their sponsors. I'm betting that'll definitely be the case. Interesting times and this will bear watching as 2023 unfolds. 

UPDATED: Take a look at this Tweet snippet that was posted to social media early this morning:

When financial pressures mount, and the Tweet referenced here is evidence that this is, indeed, what is happening to cycling businesses, marketing and promotions budgets get slashed. Again- cycling media and cycling social media is going off on Specialized. This is short-sighted thinking and is missing the point. Expect more layoffs and cuts upcoming in 2023.

Friday News And Views

Whiplash Effect Exerts Negative Energy Upon Bicycle Businesses. 

Last week I noted that a former editor/writer for a major cycling based website, who had himself been recently laid off, told of some big layoffs at Wahoo, the GPS/indoor trainer firm. 

In the social media thread that followed I saw a great explanation of the current issues that face cycling businesses, and several other recreational based industries. The theory is that during the pandemic, demand was not actually increased for cycling products, or by way of association, boats, campers, etc. No, all it did was to pile two to three years of sales cycles into about an 18 month period. 

This then manifests itself by a drop off in demand because these people won't be in the market to buy again for the length of another sales cycle, whatever that may be for a particular item. For bicycles, my feeling, having been around the retail end of things, is that is about 5-7 years, (shorter if it is a mountain bike due to the severity of usage and advancements in tech)

Meanwhile this is compounded by a supply chain that is so convoluted and slow to react that orders placed when demand and prices were at their peak are only now being delivered, right at the very same time that the demand has fizzled out, and inflationary pressures have popped up. 

The results are devastating. One commenter on the thread I saw, who is a supplier to the trade, claimed that up to 40% of dealers they used to call on no longer exist and that "large OE's" are claiming that they are strapped for cash. One commenter intimated that this "bust" will last into 2024. 

What does it all mean for you, the average cyclist? It may be a good thing for some that have expendable income as there likely will be good prices on some things, but overall, it will not go well for average cyclists. Retail outlets will disappear, be assimilated into larger, brand-owned chains, and overall choices will be eliminated and customer experience will suffer as well. 

Shimano Announces D2C Sales Of Pedals, Footwear:

On Wednesday of this past week, Shimano North America announced that consumers in the USA will now be able to purchase Shimano cycling footwear, pedals, and some clothing accessory items directly from its US website. (Sorry Europeans and elsewhere- Shimano is only doing this in the USA for now.) 

Comments: To be honest, I was a little shocked, but again- With less opportunities to put product on dealer floors due to there being more Brand Owned Bike Shops (That usually only sell one brand)  and less bike shops overall, I can understand that this is a better way for Shimano and for those who want Shimano product. I'm not sure how they will handle fitting, since that is of utmost importance with footwear, but pedals, well they are a commodity, really. That I totally get. Interesting move for sure.
 

Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Prepares To Choose 2023 Class Of Inductees:

When the calendar turned from November to December last week, the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame cut off nominations for its second class of inductees which will be installed in Emporia, Kansas the week of the UNBOUND Gravel event. 

A social media post by the hall thanked those who sent in nominations last week. In that post, the GCHoF claimed that they had received "hundreds of nominees". 

What?!!

Furthermore, the post stated that their team of cyclists, cycling business personalities, cycling journalists, and event promoters would be pouring through those nominees to whittle it down to the next class of Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame inductees. Oh.....and the first class of inductees will also have a say in the matter. 

I guess that means me! I'm not sure what that entails- yet -  but it should prove to be an interesting experience. That's something I'll be looking forward to for the coming year, and hey- Maybe I'll be showing up in Emporia again. If I make plans for that, I'll try not to get lost this time on the way down! 

PSA: Double Posts Throughout December:

I thought I'd let you all know that you are going to start, and already are, seeing many days with two published posts a day. That's the way of it when I have so much "End Of Year" stuff to push out before the month ends. 

Most of those double-post days will be on the subject of my bicycles. I know some of you were hoping for a one post round-up of all the bicycles I have, but I'm not into that and the way it is, I have a ton of bicycles to show off anyway. 

I may have used more of my bicycles this year than at anytime previous, so that makes for a lot of posts. Well, you'll see them, if you keep coming back here! And don't worry! Things settle down a lot again once we get to the New Year.

New SRAM gravel suspension fork design patent drawing.

A Linkage Fork For Gravel?

Recently Wheelbased posted this patent application for a design from SRAM which would be a suspension linkage fork for gravel bikes. 

Veteran MTB riders from the 90's will recognize this design instantly as one that has been "done before". The 1990's were the heyday for linkage fork designs and many companies made versions of the idea for 26" wheeled mountain bikes. Companies like Girvin, AMP, and Control Tech made popular forks many riders would be familiar with that were into the mtb scene back then.

So, why a linkage fork for gravel? SRAM claims that telescopic suspension forks are not very aerodynamic and that this design for a linkage fork would present a much more aero-friendly profile to the wind. The idea is that this design proposal would also be lighter, since it could be made almost entirely out of carbon fiber, minus the pivots and maybe the linkages.

1993 Kona Z-Link ad copy

Okay..... But why aren't there linkage forks all over the place for bikes now? Great question! The linkage fork has several benefits which could be employed for today's bicycles, but their main down fall is that their pivot points are susceptible to high-wear due to energy being focused on them through lateral and twisting forces. Once the pivots get sloppy, the fork is almost unrideable at that point. High maintenance is not a goal for any rider!   

It should be mentioned that the spring in the case of this SRAM proposed design is said to be of "plastic or elastomer material". So.... Okay- Why not just use a Redshift Shock Stop Stem? I know- I keep bringing that stem up, but for the minimal travel you'd garner from this SRAM fork, and judging from the proposed spring material, this Redshift stem I use on my bikes would be the superior choice from the standpoint of maintenance, aerodynamics, and cost. (Standard Disclaimer applies)

Give that linkage more travel and then we have a different conversation, but that is not the design intent here. 

Finally, another question: Are we trying to suspend the wheel for _____ benefits, or isolate the rider from higher frequency vibrations most commonly found in gravel (events, races, just riding around)? 

My position on this is that "if" you are trying to do what mountain bikes already are doing, get a mountain bike. Drop bar MTB is a thing. You'd have a realistic amount of travel to do what suspension does best (anything 80mm+) and you get the technology that actually works for that sort of riding that has been developed over the past 30+ years. Not some resurrected relic of MTB's failed past in that linkage idea. Besides.....

Lauf already has what could be described as a linkage fork without pivots which already does what most folks need in terms of the gravel scene, and it is lighter, and it is maintenance free. 

This is a neat idea to ponder, but don't expect to see this on your gravel bike anytime soon.   

That's a wrap for this week. Stay warm and have a great weekend!

Friday News And Views

Whiplash Effect Exerts Negative Energy Upon Bicycle Businesses. 

Last week I noted that a former editor/writer for a major cycling based website, who had himself been recently laid off, told of some big layoffs at Wahoo, the GPS/indoor trainer firm. 

In the social media thread that followed I saw a great explanation of the current issues that face cycling businesses, and several other recreational based industries. The theory is that during the pandemic, demand was not actually increased for cycling products, or by way of association, boats, campers, etc. No, all it did was to pile two to three years of sales cycles into about an 18 month period. 

This then manifests itself by a drop off in demand because these people won't be in the market to buy again for the length of another sales cycle, whatever that may be for a particular item. For bicycles, my feeling, having been around the retail end of things, is that is about 5-7 years, (shorter if it is a mountain bike due to the severity of usage and advancements in tech)

Meanwhile this is compounded by a supply chain that is so convoluted and slow to react that orders placed when demand and prices were at their peak are only now being delivered, right at the very same time that the demand has fizzled out, and inflationary pressures have popped up. 

The results are devastating. One commenter on the thread I saw, who is a supplier to the trade, claimed that up to 40% of dealers they used to call on no longer exist and that "large OE's" are claiming that they are strapped for cash. One commenter intimated that this "bust" will last into 2024. 

What does it all mean for you, the average cyclist? It may be a good thing for some that have expendable income as there likely will be good prices on some things, but overall, it will not go well for average cyclists. Retail outlets will disappear, be assimilated into larger, brand-owned chains, and overall choices will be eliminated and customer experience will suffer as well. 

Shimano Announces D2C Sales Of Pedals, Footwear:

On Wednesday of this past week, Shimano North America announced that consumers in the USA will now be able to purchase Shimano cycling footwear, pedals, and some clothing accessory items directly from its US website. (Sorry Europeans and elsewhere- Shimano is only doing this in the USA for now.) 

Comments: To be honest, I was a little shocked, but again- With less opportunities to put product on dealer floors due to there being more Brand Owned Bike Shops (That usually only sell one brand)  and less bike shops overall, I can understand that this is a better way for Shimano and for those who want Shimano product. I'm not sure how they will handle fitting, since that is of utmost importance with footwear, but pedals, well they are a commodity, really. That I totally get. Interesting move for sure.
 

Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Prepares To Choose 2023 Class Of Inductees:

When the calendar turned from November to December last week, the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame cut off nominations for its second class of inductees which will be installed in Emporia, Kansas the week of the UNBOUND Gravel event. 

A social media post by the hall thanked those who sent in nominations last week. In that post, the GCHoF claimed that they had received "hundreds of nominees". 

What?!!

Furthermore, the post stated that their team of cyclists, cycling business personalities, cycling journalists, and event promoters would be pouring through those nominees to whittle it down to the next class of Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame inductees. Oh.....and the first class of inductees will also have a say in the matter. 

I guess that means me! I'm not sure what that entails- yet -  but it should prove to be an interesting experience. That's something I'll be looking forward to for the coming year, and hey- Maybe I'll be showing up in Emporia again. If I make plans for that, I'll try not to get lost this time on the way down! 

PSA: Double Posts Throughout December:

I thought I'd let you all know that you are going to start, and already are, seeing many days with two published posts a day. That's the way of it when I have so much "End Of Year" stuff to push out before the month ends. 

Most of those double-post days will be on the subject of my bicycles. I know some of you were hoping for a one post round-up of all the bicycles I have, but I'm not into that and the way it is, I have a ton of bicycles to show off anyway. 

I may have used more of my bicycles this year than at anytime previous, so that makes for a lot of posts. Well, you'll see them, if you keep coming back here! And don't worry! Things settle down a lot again once we get to the New Year.

New SRAM gravel suspension fork design patent drawing.

A Linkage Fork For Gravel?

Recently Wheelbased posted this patent application for a design from SRAM which would be a suspension linkage fork for gravel bikes. 

Veteran MTB riders from the 90's will recognize this design instantly as one that has been "done before". The 1990's were the heyday for linkage fork designs and many companies made versions of the idea for 26" wheeled mountain bikes. Companies like Girvin, AMP, and Control Tech made popular forks many riders would be familiar with that were into the mtb scene back then.

So, why a linkage fork for gravel? SRAM claims that telescopic suspension forks are not very aerodynamic and that this design for a linkage fork would present a much more aero-friendly profile to the wind. The idea is that this design proposal would also be lighter, since it could be made almost entirely out of carbon fiber, minus the pivots and maybe the linkages.

1993 Kona Z-Link ad copy

Okay..... But why aren't there linkage forks all over the place for bikes now? Great question! The linkage fork has several benefits which could be employed for today's bicycles, but their main down fall is that their pivot points are susceptible to high-wear due to energy being focused on them through lateral and twisting forces. Once the pivots get sloppy, the fork is almost unrideable at that point. High maintenance is not a goal for any rider!   

It should be mentioned that the spring in the case of this SRAM proposed design is said to be of "plastic or elastomer material". So.... Okay- Why not just use a Redshift Shock Stop Stem? I know- I keep bringing that stem up, but for the minimal travel you'd garner from this SRAM fork, and judging from the proposed spring material, this Redshift stem I use on my bikes would be the superior choice from the standpoint of maintenance, aerodynamics, and cost. (Standard Disclaimer applies)

Give that linkage more travel and then we have a different conversation, but that is not the design intent here. 

Finally, another question: Are we trying to suspend the wheel for _____ benefits, or isolate the rider from higher frequency vibrations most commonly found in gravel (events, races, just riding around)? 

My position on this is that "if" you are trying to do what mountain bikes already are doing, get a mountain bike. Drop bar MTB is a thing. You'd have a realistic amount of travel to do what suspension does best (anything 80mm+) and you get the technology that actually works for that sort of riding that has been developed over the past 30+ years. Not some resurrected relic of MTB's failed past in that linkage idea. Besides.....

Lauf already has what could be described as a linkage fork without pivots which already does what most folks need in terms of the gravel scene, and it is lighter, and it is maintenance free. 

This is a neat idea to ponder, but don't expect to see this on your gravel bike anytime soon.   

That's a wrap for this week. Stay warm and have a great weekend!

Friday News And Views

 The Ships Are Coming In:

I have mentioned before in this space that when the inventory hit the warehouses that we'd go from zero to overstocked in a big hurry. Well, it has started already. 

I have seen several sales promotions recently within the last two weeks, and I bet there will be many more on the heels of this starting now. (Ditto for other segments in the economy)

The image here is all taken from promotions I have seen online. 15% - 30% off is not uncommon to see, and I suspect that deals will be available throughout the Winter as bicycle season wanes in this hemisphere. The big question is, "Will there be any takers?" Inflation is eating up discretionary income at an alarming pace. Given that utilities and necessities to make it through Winter will likely be somewhat of a burden on many, I would be surprised if sales were anything but tepid. 

But I could be proven wrong there. Time will tell all.......

Apologies for making you read upside down!

New WTB Vulpine 700 X 40mm Tires;

 I guess no one noticed that the tire I used to demonstrate the tubeless mounting techniques I posted earlier this week was a new WTB Vulpine 700 X 40mm tire*. Well, I guess I slipped that one by y'all right out in the open! 

Anyway, yeah..... New tire day again and I always am excited to see how tires will turn out once they are mounted. The anticipation of the process, the outcome once I am done, and then that first ride. Good stuff! 

But I have to say that I was a bit deflated, (sorry for that pun!), by the tire as it was evident to me at the onset that the casing didn't look like a 40mm casing. It's funny when your mind and eyes can hone in on details after you've done something so many times. I just knew this tire would be a bit narrow, and once I had it on, (at 40psi, by the way), I was saddened to find that my suspicions were correct. This wasn't a 40mm tire. 

Now with a few days under the tires and a couple of short rides, one tire measures just shy of 40mm and the other just shy of 39mm. Ehhhh!  Yeah, close, but not quite. Quibbling over a millimeter? Yes. And what is more, the promise was 40mm. And maybe these will get there. We'll see. 

At least they are fast, supple, and smooth. I liked the 36mm Vulpines, and these should be a bit better. Still, I'd love a wider one of these. (*Standard Disclaimer)   

The new Litespeed Ultimate G2 frame Image courtesy of Litespeed

Excuse Me- GT Bikes Would Like To Have  A Word With You:

Litespeed made a splash this week with the introduction of a titanium ('natch!) frame which they dubbed the "Ultimate G2". A new platform which they claim is "..a bike that accelerated and climbed with the targeted stiffness found in premium carbon gravel bikes.."

Whoa! Big claim there. So what did they do? Well, Litespeed says that; "It starts with the new visual signature of the Ultimate G2: Interlock Dropped Seatstays." What's that mean? Well, just think of GT Bikes' "Triple Triangle" design and you'll be there. That's really all this is. Also- I am not claiming GT developed the design first. I realize that others did a similar thing as well previous to GT Bikes. That said, it was GT that made hay with this and put the design on the map.

Look familiar? Image courtesy of Litespeed

Comments: So, how does a triple triangle thing make a bike stiffer? It effectively shortens the top tube and seat tube, thereby making those lengths of tubing less flexible than they would have been. 

This should make the rider 'feel' faster because the tubing will be less effective at absorbing vibrations than it would have been without the triple triangle deal, and let's face it- what a rider feels has a lot more to do with 'speed' than the stopwatch does. (Cue high tire pressure believers here)

Not only does this new Litespeed bike have the ol' Triple Triangle' signature here, but they have some pretty backward geometry going on as well. Larger sizes have less than 70mm of bottom bracket drop, a 72° head tube angle, and 50mm of fork offset. Wow! Talk about a 2015 gravel bike design, this is it in spades. 

But it will sell and some folks will think it is the bee's knees. Ride on then.....

British Gravel Ride Book:

I know that this has been out a while now, but I just came across it on social media of late and thought I'd get a few opinions from my U.K. readers on what they thought about this. 

So, what does the "greatest gravel rides in the U.K." even mean? How do you contextualize this thought?  Well, for me it starts out by knowing that the U.K. is 1.7 times larger than Iowa. Okay, we have about 70,000 miles of gravel and dirt roads here. According to what I can find on Google, the UK has approximately 33.528+ miles of unpaved roads. I'm not sure that is close, but that's still a LOT of unpaved road ways. To distill that down to "great gravel rides" in one book? I don't think that's an easy task. But you folks in the U.K. know better than I.

I think it would be fun to go find out though! I'll have to see to it before I get to aged to pedal! 

That's a wrap for this week! October starts this weekend! Wow! better get out and ride before Winter comes!

Friday News And Views

 The Ships Are Coming In:

I have mentioned before in this space that when the inventory hit the warehouses that we'd go from zero to overstocked in a big hurry. Well, it has started already. 

I have seen several sales promotions recently within the last two weeks, and I bet there will be many more on the heels of this starting now. (Ditto for other segments in the economy)

The image here is all taken from promotions I have seen online. 15% - 30% off is not uncommon to see, and I suspect that deals will be available throughout the Winter as bicycle season wanes in this hemisphere. The big question is, "Will there be any takers?" Inflation is eating up discretionary income at an alarming pace. Given that utilities and necessities to make it through Winter will likely be somewhat of a burden on many, I would be surprised if sales were anything but tepid. 

But I could be proven wrong there. Time will tell all.......

Apologies for making you read upside down!

New WTB Vulpine 700 X 40mm Tires;

 I guess no one noticed that the tire I used to demonstrate the tubeless mounting techniques I posted earlier this week was a new WTB Vulpine 700 X 40mm tire*. Well, I guess I slipped that one by y'all right out in the open! 

Anyway, yeah..... New tire day again and I always am excited to see how tires will turn out once they are mounted. The anticipation of the process, the outcome once I am done, and then that first ride. Good stuff! 

But I have to say that I was a bit deflated, (sorry for that pun!), by the tire as it was evident to me at the onset that the casing didn't look like a 40mm casing. It's funny when your mind and eyes can hone in on details after you've done something so many times. I just knew this tire would be a bit narrow, and once I had it on, (at 40psi, by the way), I was saddened to find that my suspicions were correct. This wasn't a 40mm tire. 

Now with a few days under the tires and a couple of short rides, one tire measures just shy of 40mm and the other just shy of 39mm. Ehhhh!  Yeah, close, but not quite. Quibbling over a millimeter? Yes. And what is more, the promise was 40mm. And maybe these will get there. We'll see. 

At least they are fast, supple, and smooth. I liked the 36mm Vulpines, and these should be a bit better. Still, I'd love a wider one of these. (*Standard Disclaimer)   

The new Litespeed Ultimate G2 frame Image courtesy of Litespeed

Excuse Me- GT Bikes Would Like To Have  A Word With You:

Litespeed made a splash this week with the introduction of a titanium ('natch!) frame which they dubbed the "Ultimate G2". A new platform which they claim is "..a bike that accelerated and climbed with the targeted stiffness found in premium carbon gravel bikes.."

Whoa! Big claim there. So what did they do? Well, Litespeed says that; "It starts with the new visual signature of the Ultimate G2: Interlock Dropped Seatstays." What's that mean? Well, just think of GT Bikes' "Triple Triangle" design and you'll be there. That's really all this is. Also- I am not claiming GT developed the design first. I realize that others did a similar thing as well previous to GT Bikes. That said, it was GT that made hay with this and put the design on the map.

Look familiar? Image courtesy of Litespeed

Comments: So, how does a triple triangle thing make a bike stiffer? It effectively shortens the top tube and seat tube, thereby making those lengths of tubing less flexible than they would have been. 

This should make the rider 'feel' faster because the tubing will be less effective at absorbing vibrations than it would have been without the triple triangle deal, and let's face it- what a rider feels has a lot more to do with 'speed' than the stopwatch does. (Cue high tire pressure believers here)

Not only does this new Litespeed bike have the ol' Triple Triangle' signature here, but they have some pretty backward geometry going on as well. Larger sizes have less than 70mm of bottom bracket drop, a 72° head tube angle, and 50mm of fork offset. Wow! Talk about a 2015 gravel bike design, this is it in spades. 

But it will sell and some folks will think it is the bee's knees. Ride on then.....

British Gravel Ride Book:

I know that this has been out a while now, but I just came across it on social media of late and thought I'd get a few opinions from my U.K. readers on what they thought about this. 

So, what does the "greatest gravel rides in the U.K." even mean? How do you contextualize this thought?  Well, for me it starts out by knowing that the U.K. is 1.7 times larger than Iowa. Okay, we have about 70,000 miles of gravel and dirt roads here. According to what I can find on Google, the UK has approximately 33.528+ miles of unpaved roads. I'm not sure that is close, but that's still a LOT of unpaved road ways. To distill that down to "great gravel rides" in one book? I don't think that's an easy task. But you folks in the U.K. know better than I.

I think it would be fun to go find out though! I'll have to see to it before I get to aged to pedal! 

That's a wrap for this week! October starts this weekend! Wow! better get out and ride before Winter comes!

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.

Friday News And Views

The new alloy version of Cannondale's Topstone (Image courtesy of Cannondale)

Cannondale Debuts New Alloy Topstone Range:

Just last week I mentioned in this space that I don't report on every new gravel bike that hits the scene anymore unless that bike is unique in some way. Well, Cannondale met that criteria with me as it made news last Monday with its new alloy Topstone range. 

The main things I noted right away were the slacker head angle (71°) paired with a longer offset (55mm) which isn't typical "gravel bike" fare. However; Cannondale didn't stop there and went with a deep bottom bracket drop of 75mm and chain stays in at 435mm which I think is a sweet spot for good handling on looser gravel. 

Comments: Yes- I like this geometry. This is pretty much smack-dab in the range of numbers I'd call out for a good riding bike. But is the Topstone in alloy form going to be that? Well, there are still a lot of ways to fail in terms of bicycle design and spec, so I cannot say for certain. 

Keeping in mind that the top of the range Topstone 2 that Cannondale lists now sits under 2G, you are not going to get the cutting edge componentry here. Still, Shimano GRX 10 speed is pretty solid fare and should be easy on the wallet when it comes time for maintenance. The wheels are pretty average, but not terrible. You get a fully carbon fork. Light? Probably. Nice riding? Ahh.... Not going to hold my breath there. Could be though.

Overall, I find this bike intriguing enough that I would cautiously recommend it as a great starter gravel bike that should be easy on the wallet and potentially ride really well. Cannondale has all that "connectivity" trickery installed and ready to go here on this bike, which I find gimmicky, and not up my alley. Dropper post ready, yeah..... Take it or leave it. But it does have a lot of versatility with mounting points and it is fender capable, so I like it at this point. 

Feedback Sports New Pro Mechanic HD Stand:

Wednesday Feedback Sports introduced a new version of their popular and versatile repair stand. A beefed up version they call the "Pro Mechanic Stand HD". Featuring bigger legs, main tube, and completely new jaws and clutch mecanisms, the Pro Mechanic HD stand should be able to tackle any heavy two wheeled project in the bicycle or HPC range. 

The stand still folds up and is easily transported. Total weight is said to be 18lbs, so it is light! Max load capacity is 120lbs. The stand also has an available carrying bag, like the original stand does. Jaws have a soft, non-marring rubber insert which is replaceable and shouldn't be an issue with paint jobs. That clamp opens up to 2.6" so it can grab a pretty large diameter tube when necessary. 

Comments: I own and use a stand from when this company was called Ultimate Repair Stands. It has been really pretty reliable and only recently have I had any issues with the clutch mechanism not working 100%. Keep in mind- I have owned this stand for over 20 years! So, whenever folks ask about portable repair stands, I always recommend Feedback Sports' stuff. 

It is expensive, but I'd pay the money again for one considering how long this one I have has lasted. This new HD version is just a tic under five hundred bucks, but if you want the best and want a repair stand you can rely on for years, then I'd not hesitate to go with a Feedback Sports stand.

The new Rondo MYLC Steel (Image courtesy of Rondo)

Rondo Announces New MYLC Range:

Okay, another odd-ball gravel bike. This time it's from Rondo, the brand that seems to be coming at the whole "allroad" bicycle thing from an 'under-biking', mountain biking viewpoint. 

This model I am highlighting is the Rondo MYLC ST, a steel version of this MYLC range which also includes a rather severe looking, angular carbon frame and an aluminum counterpart no less angular. I like the steel version which looks less severely 'artistic' and weird. Maybe that's just me....

The thing here is that this bike goes a long way toward MTB geometry in the front end. Depending on where you set the front fork geometry altering axle chip, you get about a 68-ish degree head tube angle, and a correspondingly steep seat tube angle around the 74 degree mark. The bottom bracket drop changes also, but I think their geo chart is off. In the "Low" setting the drop is listed as 70mm and in the "High" setting it is listed as 75mm. Hmm.......methinks that is backwards. If it were "Bottom Bracket Height", that would be correct, but it is not that. Anyway....

Interesting geometry. I'm not sure how all that matches up if your largest tire you can fit is a 47mm tire. Again, the whole "under-biking" thing is weird to me. Just get a MTB hard tail already. Or, if you really want to "under-bike", find a rigid fork 1992 Klein Attitude with 26" X 1.75 XC tires and try that out. That was true 'under-biking'!

Tweet from highly regarded cycling journo, James Huang

More Supply Chain Madness:

Remember last Friday in the "FN&V" where I pontificated on the current supply chain issues? 

Well, a brief update. I stated last week that "The bicycle business has always suffered most when demand is low, inflation high, and supply is abundant. That's exactly the scenario it seems we are headed for. So, by this Fall don't be surprised to see some sales and lots of inventory in stock everywhere."

And I guess industry analyst, Rick Vosper, was on the same page, since he just got published in "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" saying pretty much the same thing. Only he did it with more words and with some backing in terms of stats and historical data. 

Again- things may seem in short supply in a few areas yet, but look out for Fall and Winter. I am betting that the supply chain glut is coming and that we're going to see a lot of disruption, business failures, and more coming soon.  

That's it for today. I'll have some more thoughts on some newsy stuff from this week tomorrow, so check that out. But really- You should just get out and ride! Thanks for Reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Friday News And Views

The new alloy version of Cannondale's Topstone (Image courtesy of Cannondale)

Cannondale Debuts New Alloy Topstone Range:

Just last week I mentioned in this space that I don't report on every new gravel bike that hits the scene anymore unless that bike is unique in some way. Well, Cannondale met that criteria with me as it made news last Monday with its new alloy Topstone range. 

The main things I noted right away were the slacker head angle (71°) paired with a longer offset (55mm) which isn't typical "gravel bike" fare. However; Cannondale didn't stop there and went with a deep bottom bracket drop of 75mm and chain stays in at 435mm which I think is a sweet spot for good handling on looser gravel. 

Comments: Yes- I like this geometry. This is pretty much smack-dab in the range of numbers I'd call out for a good riding bike. But is the Topstone in alloy form going to be that? Well, there are still a lot of ways to fail in terms of bicycle design and spec, so I cannot say for certain. 

Keeping in mind that the top of the range Topstone 2 that Cannondale lists now sits under 2G, you are not going to get the cutting edge componentry here. Still, Shimano GRX 10 speed is pretty solid fare and should be easy on the wallet when it comes time for maintenance. The wheels are pretty average, but not terrible. You get a fully carbon fork. Light? Probably. Nice riding? Ahh.... Not going to hold my breath there. Could be though.

Overall, I find this bike intriguing enough that I would cautiously recommend it as a great starter gravel bike that should be easy on the wallet and potentially ride really well. Cannondale has all that "connectivity" trickery installed and ready to go here on this bike, which I find gimmicky, and not up my alley. Dropper post ready, yeah..... Take it or leave it. But it does have a lot of versatility with mounting points and it is fender capable, so I like it at this point. 

Feedback Sports New Pro Mechanic HD Stand:

Wednesday Feedback Sports introduced a new version of their popular and versatile repair stand. A beefed up version they call the "Pro Mechanic Stand HD". Featuring bigger legs, main tube, and completely new jaws and clutch mecanisms, the Pro Mechanic HD stand should be able to tackle any heavy two wheeled project in the bicycle or HPC range. 

The stand still folds up and is easily transported. Total weight is said to be 18lbs, so it is light! Max load capacity is 120lbs. The stand also has an available carrying bag, like the original stand does. Jaws have a soft, non-marring rubber insert which is replaceable and shouldn't be an issue with paint jobs. That clamp opens up to 2.6" so it can grab a pretty large diameter tube when necessary. 

Comments: I own and use a stand from when this company was called Ultimate Repair Stands. It has been really pretty reliable and only recently have I had any issues with the clutch mechanism not working 100%. Keep in mind- I have owned this stand for over 20 years! So, whenever folks ask about portable repair stands, I always recommend Feedback Sports' stuff. 

It is expensive, but I'd pay the money again for one considering how long this one I have has lasted. This new HD version is just a tic under five hundred bucks, but if you want the best and want a repair stand you can rely on for years, then I'd not hesitate to go with a Feedback Sports stand.

The new Rondo MYLC Steel (Image courtesy of Rondo)

Rondo Announces New MYLC Range:

Okay, another odd-ball gravel bike. This time it's from Rondo, the brand that seems to be coming at the whole "allroad" bicycle thing from an 'under-biking', mountain biking viewpoint. 

This model I am highlighting is the Rondo MYLC ST, a steel version of this MYLC range which also includes a rather severe looking, angular carbon frame and an aluminum counterpart no less angular. I like the steel version which looks less severely 'artistic' and weird. Maybe that's just me....

The thing here is that this bike goes a long way toward MTB geometry in the front end. Depending on where you set the front fork geometry altering axle chip, you get about a 68-ish degree head tube angle, and a correspondingly steep seat tube angle around the 74 degree mark. The bottom bracket drop changes also, but I think their geo chart is off. In the "Low" setting the drop is listed as 70mm and in the "High" setting it is listed as 75mm. Hmm.......methinks that is backwards. If it were "Bottom Bracket Height", that would be correct, but it is not that. Anyway....

Interesting geometry. I'm not sure how all that matches up if your largest tire you can fit is a 47mm tire. Again, the whole "under-biking" thing is weird to me. Just get a MTB hard tail already. Or, if you really want to "under-bike", find a rigid fork 1992 Klein Attitude with 26" X 1.75 XC tires and try that out. That was true 'under-biking'!

Tweet from highly regarded cycling journo, James Huang

More Supply Chain Madness:

Remember last Friday in the "FN&V" where I pontificated on the current supply chain issues? 

Well, a brief update. I stated last week that "The bicycle business has always suffered most when demand is low, inflation high, and supply is abundant. That's exactly the scenario it seems we are headed for. So, by this Fall don't be surprised to see some sales and lots of inventory in stock everywhere."

And I guess industry analyst, Rick Vosper, was on the same page, since he just got published in "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" saying pretty much the same thing. Only he did it with more words and with some backing in terms of stats and historical data. 

Again- things may seem in short supply in a few areas yet, but look out for Fall and Winter. I am betting that the supply chain glut is coming and that we're going to see a lot of disruption, business failures, and more coming soon.  

That's it for today. I'll have some more thoughts on some newsy stuff from this week tomorrow, so check that out. But really- You should just get out and ride! Thanks for Reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Friday New And Views

The Nine hub by 3X3 (Image courtesy of Eurobike Show Daily)

 New Internal Geared Hub Choice:

Eurobike is happening again and part of the news is a new IGH appeared which is being touted as a very versatile choice for bicycles or electrified bikes, especially cargo bikes. 

The hub is by a new company called "3X3" and the model they make is a 9 speed internally geared hub called, wait for it.....the Nine! 

 Name aside, the hub is able to be used by through axles and in a few varying axle widths. (Nothing listed for fat bikes, by the way)

The article I saw claims this hub has a 554% gear range, which is huge. But, as you might expect, that makes for some hefty jumps between gears- 23.76%. A 14 speed Rohloff hub, by comparison, has a 526% gear range and has a claimed 13.6% jump between each gear. 

Weight for the Nine hub is a claimed 2K. A 14 speed Rohloff is a claimed 1.82K, so a little lighter. No price was given for the Nine hub but a Rohloff with shifter and all the bits is approaching 2 Grand now. 

Series news for the blog

Blog News Concerning Series For Trans Iowa, GTDRI:

The three year-plus long "Trans Iowa Stories" series will wrap up at the end of this month. The final version of Trans Iowa has already been covered and now all that remains is a couple of things to close up the books on that. Speaking of books.....

So, all along, the idea of a physical book has been toyed with, but I also have had the idea of doing this as an audio book as well, or instead of a physical book. 

Either way, I am going to go back after July is over and refine what I have here and perhaps edit out bits that are redundant, not necessary, or that I don't like. Once that process is over, I want to hand off a manuscript to some folks for review and suggestions. Then a decision will be made as to what to do with all that material. 

Now that the Trans Iowa series is almost complete, I have started writing up entries for a series on the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational. This will replace the Trans Iowa series on Sundays, so if you've enjoyed reading the T.I. stuff once a week, I'll have that in GTDRI form for you starting the first Sunday of August. 

Supply Chain Issues Ease:

 From all I can gather from my contacts and sources, it seems that the supply chain issues are easing somewhat. Parts are becoming easier to get. Certain bicycles are becoming more available than they had been. 

But now the potential is that there will be a "whiplash effect" in the supply chain. Meaning that due to the frenzied focus on production, and hiccups regarding delivering goods, there very well could be a glut of product coming through the pipeline very soon.

While shipping and warehousing issues may mitigate this yet in 2022, the fear amongst industry insiders is that a huge inventory of bikes and parts are not going to find enough demand in the market place, at least not in the near future. 

The bicycle business has always suffered most when demand is low, inflation high, and supply is abundant. That's exactly the scenario it seems we are headed for. So, by this Fall don't be surprised to see some sales and lots of inventory in stock everywhere. 

The Belador Allroad by Beria (Image courtesy of Beria)

Beria Belador Allroad Gravel Bike:

An interesting gravel bike came out this week. A "Spanish performance brand" called Beria has introduced a concept not unlike what we've seen with the Cannondale Topstone Carbon bike. The "Active Flex Concept" rear has an upper seat stay pivot and those stays are lower down on the seat tube to promote "give" and lend a smoother ride to the rider without sacrificing speed and a quick acceleration feel. 

The model is actually called the Belador Allroad. (See how sensible the Spanish are with names? "Allroad". Nice!) The bike will have five different specs  across the range with the entry level bike being different in that it will have a different frame made of aluminum. 

There are Shimano, SRAM, and a Campy EKAR equipped model to choose from, and yes- they are expensive. 

Comments: I wouldn't usually post about a new gravel bike these days what with the literally hundreds out there to choose from. You have to have a pretty unique take on the genre' anymore to catch my- or anyone else's - attention anymore. Well, putting pivots on seat stays gets my attention. This is a LOT like a Cannondale Topstone carbon, just done in a way that, in my opinion, makes a lot more sense. 

Lower bottom bracket, decent head tube angle, and a racy stance for what it is. (Low stack height for one thing!) I'm not a huge fan of the super-short chain stays, but this isn't necessarily my kind of bike either. Racing? If I was 50lbs lighter and 30 years younger? Yeah, then it would make sense. But I still find the idea intriguing.

I'm not sure a pivot bearing is of any real advantage here. I mean, there is a claimed 26mm of movement at the axle. How much rotation of a bearing do you really think there will be? Can't be much more than a few degrees of rotation there, but I could very well be wrong. Still- an interesting bike. Not like the rest, that's for sure! 

Cut-away view of the Cinturato RC tire. (Image courtesy of Pirelli)

New Cinturato RC Tires:

Pirelli Tires are advancing their presence in the gravel scene with another tire introduction. This time it is with a "race" tire called the Cinturato RC. 

This new tire has bead-to-bead puncture protection, a tread design with a fast, lower knobbed center and wider spaced out shoulder knobs, and it comes in tan or black side walls. 

Widths available are 700c X 35, 700c X 40, and 700c X 45mm. These are available now. 

Comments: I tested out the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H last year and thought that the tire was a pretty good one for gravel roads. With the smoother tread, I thought it was more toward the touring/recreational side of gravel. Now with the addition of the Cinturato RC, there is a more aggressive, supposedly lighter, and faster tire from the brand. 

If it is anything like the Cinturato Gravel H, then I think this will be another "Tire You Should Know About". 

That's a wrap for this week! Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!