Friday News And Views

 Sea Otter Sold To Life Time Fitness:

A bombshell announcement was revealed Tuesday this past week when Sea Otter revealed that they had sold to Life Time Fitness. The current Sea Otter leadership and staff has been retained and Life Time has committed to growing the event even larger. 

In a letter sent via e-mail to past Sea Otter attendees, CEO of Sea Otter, Frank Yohannan states, "The growth of cycling across all categories—whether road, mountain, gravel or e-bikes—will continue to be our single-minded priority as we begin our fourth decade of making cycling history. "

Comments: Life Time continues to creep into the world of cycling and the industry with this acquisition. Now it owns an event- but more than an event- Sea Otter is an industry trade show of sorts. How Life Time addresses this facet of Sea Otter will be quite interesting. In fact, we get a little hint as to what that might mean through a quote from the "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" story on this news. Kimo Seymour, Life Time's President of Events and Media, was quoted as saying, “Sea Otter is really expanding beyond purely cycling-related types of exhibitors and issues, so we think there might be an opportunity to do something focused on outdoor versus just purely cycling,” 

I think it is safe to say that we will see more varied outdoors type media and vendors at Sea Otter in the future. Synergies with camping and hiking/running being very apparent here as Sea Otter boasts of its camping opportunities and has lots of outdoor spaces to utilize at Laguna Seca and the nearby former military installation. It also doesn't take a genius to see how that statement from Seymour dovetails right in with what "BRAIN" owner, Outside Interactive, could bring. Outside Interactive has a host of widespread media properties that could fit into this sort of expansion. In fact, "BRAIN" already publishes the Sea Otter Guide for the event. 

Is RAGBRAI Looking To Get Into Gravel?

A rumor reached Guitar Ted Productions headquarters Tuesday which may indicate that RAGBRAI is looking to expand its event offerings to include a gravel event. Obviously, RAGBRAI has flirted with gravel for the past several years, but a full-fledged, separate gravel event? It isn't as far fetched as it may seem at first glance.

Take, for instance, RAGBRAI's new director, Dieter Drake. He came from a competitive cycling and running background and was the director of the "Tour of the Battenkill", a multi-surface event that includes dirt and gravel roads. So, he is likely quite aware of the popularity of gravel events. With Iowa being basically the birthplace of the modern gravel scene, well, it would be quite the plum to have one of the premier gravel rides in the world be associated with RAGBRAI. 

The story I heard was that RAGBRAI was poking around last week looking at possibly taking over a current event. Scuttlebutt has it that certain folk well known to Iowa gravellers are principals in this story. I have heard details, but I am not at liberty to discuss them due to the situation as I understand it now. 

Suffice it to say that this has my attention and I will be keeping an eye on any further developments. But it would not surprise me at all to see this happen. At what level it starts at, and to what level it grows to is all purely speculation now, but looking at who is involved, I would guess bigger rather than smaller.
 

Wildfire Smoke Causes Events To Cancel:

We've seen the effects of the Western wildfires here in the Mid-West before, but this year it has been particularly intense. However; we've had it easy compared to some other places.

Take for instance Montana, where much of the Pacific Northwest fire smoke arcs up into. I even heard Wednesday of this week that a gravel event had to cancel its 2021 date due to the effects of the smoke in the air. Another social media contact that lives up that way also confirmed that almost everything has been postponed or cancelled due to wildfire smoke issues. 

Fall forecasts are saying that relief from the ripe conditions for wildfires is not coming this year. The word is that this wildfire season will probably end up in the top five ever recorded here in the U.S.A. This makes me wonder how many more events might get cancelled or postponed. Gee, if it isn't COVID it is wildfires. This decade is not starting out on a very good note, that's for sure!

Update On "Tool Roll Wars": 

Last Wednesday I introduced the "Tool Roll Wars" that I am engaging in. Three tool rolls that are being contrasted and compared for use in gravel riding. In the comments I heard from Josh of SILCA. He made it known that the current Asymmetrico Tool Roll isn't really up to gravelly standards and that a version of the Asymmetrico made especially for gravel travel is on the horizon. So, good news-bad news.  

Meanwhile the other two tool rolls are quite up to the task and holding up well so far. I'll have a lot more to say on all this later, but there is one side note that I found when ordering from SILCA, (yes- I paid retail for the Asymmetrico), and that was that the experience of purchasing that product through SILCA's website was outstanding. 

I got confirmation of my purchase and a thank you email immediately. Then, every step of the order was accounted for from packing up at SILCA to my mailbox. The order went through several stages and I was able to keep track without going through to a shipping website only to find that "your package is in transit" and nothing more. No- SILCA has details and you get them. I appreciated the entire process and the very timely delivery of the SILCA Asymmetrico to my door. I wager you'd be hard pressed to find a better online retail experience in the cycling realm than SILCA's. 

Contrast that to my dismal experience with ordering direct from Hayes and there is no comparison. In fact, Hayes never did respond to my complaints after a week waiting past the original delivery date of the handlebars I ordered from them. Anyway...... Sidetracked down a rabbit hole again! I just thought that the experience I had buying that SILCA tool roll was so exceptional that I needed to make a note of that.

More on "Tool Roll Wars" soon.......

Thanks for reading as always and have a great weekend!

Friday News And Views

 Sea Otter Sold To Life Time Fitness:

A bombshell announcement was revealed Tuesday this past week when Sea Otter revealed that they had sold to Life Time Fitness. The current Sea Otter leadership and staff has been retained and Life Time has committed to growing the event even larger. 

In a letter sent via e-mail to past Sea Otter attendees, CEO of Sea Otter, Frank Yohannan states, "The growth of cycling across all categories—whether road, mountain, gravel or e-bikes—will continue to be our single-minded priority as we begin our fourth decade of making cycling history. "

Comments: Life Time continues to creep into the world of cycling and the industry with this acquisition. Now it owns an event- but more than an event- Sea Otter is an industry trade show of sorts. How Life Time addresses this facet of Sea Otter will be quite interesting. In fact, we get a little hint as to what that might mean through a quote from the "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" story on this news. Kimo Seymour, Life Time's President of Events and Media, was quoted as saying, “Sea Otter is really expanding beyond purely cycling-related types of exhibitors and issues, so we think there might be an opportunity to do something focused on outdoor versus just purely cycling,” 

I think it is safe to say that we will see more varied outdoors type media and vendors at Sea Otter in the future. Synergies with camping and hiking/running being very apparent here as Sea Otter boasts of its camping opportunities and has lots of outdoor spaces to utilize at Laguna Seca and the nearby former military installation. It also doesn't take a genius to see how that statement from Seymour dovetails right in with what "BRAIN" owner, Outside Interactive, could bring. Outside Interactive has a host of widespread media properties that could fit into this sort of expansion. In fact, "BRAIN" already publishes the Sea Otter Guide for the event. 

Is RAGBRAI Looking To Get Into Gravel?

A rumor reached Guitar Ted Productions headquarters Tuesday which may indicate that RAGBRAI is looking to expand its event offerings to include a gravel event. Obviously, RAGBRAI has flirted with gravel for the past several years, but a full-fledged, separate gravel event? It isn't as far fetched as it may seem at first glance.

Take, for instance, RAGBRAI's new director, Dieter Drake. He came from a competitive cycling and running background and was the director of the "Tour of the Battenkill", a multi-surface event that includes dirt and gravel roads. So, he is likely quite aware of the popularity of gravel events. With Iowa being basically the birthplace of the modern gravel scene, well, it would be quite the plum to have one of the premier gravel rides in the world be associated with RAGBRAI. 

The story I heard was that RAGBRAI was poking around last week looking at possibly taking over a current event. Scuttlebutt has it that certain folk well known to Iowa gravellers are principals in this story. I have heard details, but I am not at liberty to discuss them due to the situation as I understand it now. 

Suffice it to say that this has my attention and I will be keeping an eye on any further developments. But it would not surprise me at all to see this happen. At what level it starts at, and to what level it grows to is all purely speculation now, but looking at who is involved, I would guess bigger rather than smaller.
 

Wildfire Smoke Causes Events To Cancel:

We've seen the effects of the Western wildfires here in the Mid-West before, but this year it has been particularly intense. However; we've had it easy compared to some other places.

Take for instance Montana, where much of the Pacific Northwest fire smoke arcs up into. I even heard Wednesday of this week that a gravel event had to cancel its 2021 date due to the effects of the smoke in the air. Another social media contact that lives up that way also confirmed that almost everything has been postponed or cancelled due to wildfire smoke issues. 

Fall forecasts are saying that relief from the ripe conditions for wildfires is not coming this year. The word is that this wildfire season will probably end up in the top five ever recorded here in the U.S.A. This makes me wonder how many more events might get cancelled or postponed. Gee, if it isn't COVID it is wildfires. This decade is not starting out on a very good note, that's for sure!

Update On "Tool Roll Wars": 

Last Wednesday I introduced the "Tool Roll Wars" that I am engaging in. Three tool rolls that are being contrasted and compared for use in gravel riding. In the comments I heard from Josh of SILCA. He made it known that the current Asymmetrico Tool Roll isn't really up to gravelly standards and that a version of the Asymmetrico made especially for gravel travel is on the horizon. So, good news-bad news.  

Meanwhile the other two tool rolls are quite up to the task and holding up well so far. I'll have a lot more to say on all this later, but there is one side note that I found when ordering from SILCA, (yes- I paid retail for the Asymmetrico), and that was that the experience of purchasing that product through SILCA's website was outstanding. 

I got confirmation of my purchase and a thank you email immediately. Then, every step of the order was accounted for from packing up at SILCA to my mailbox. The order went through several stages and I was able to keep track without going through to a shipping website only to find that "your package is in transit" and nothing more. No- SILCA has details and you get them. I appreciated the entire process and the very timely delivery of the SILCA Asymmetrico to my door. I wager you'd be hard pressed to find a better online retail experience in the cycling realm than SILCA's. 

Contrast that to my dismal experience with ordering direct from Hayes and there is no comparison. In fact, Hayes never did respond to my complaints after a week waiting past the original delivery date of the handlebars I ordered from them. Anyway...... Sidetracked down a rabbit hole again! I just thought that the experience I had buying that SILCA tool roll was so exceptional that I needed to make a note of that.

More on "Tool Roll Wars" soon.......

Thanks for reading as always and have a great weekend!

Tool Roll Wars: An Introduction

The SILCA Asymmetrico tool roll.

 I mentioned the tool roll thing a while back in a recent "FN&V" post and this post will serve as the next update. Basically, I have three tool rolls to look at now. I know......For a guy that said he wasn't into tool rolls to have three now is pretty ironic. But, one thing led to another and here I am! For a quick recap then.....

The KOM Cycling Tool Roll came in first and when I Instagrammed it, a commenter said it was a 'rip-off' of the SILCA Asymmetrico tool roll. So, I figured, let's just see about that, shall we? I ordered one up. Now two things in comparison are fine, but - well, three is better! So, I thought about it and came across a tool roll from a completely different viewpoint. This third one is from a mountain biker's perspective and it shows. The third tool roll is the Burrito Pack from Topeak.

I've got all three packed and have used them all on rides now. I want to get some more miles in on gravel, but I already have some pretty strong opinions on all three already. And for the record, if the KOM Cycling tool roll is a 'rip-off', it is a better version than the one they supposedly ripped off the design from. Now, do I really think the KOM one is a so-called 'rip-off'? No, I do not. Similar? yes, but if you are ripping off a design, that means to me that you are copying it as closely as possible and selling it for a LOT less money. 

The KOM Cycling Saddle Tool Roll.

While the KOM  Saddle Tool Roll is about 15 bucks cheaper than the SILCA one, I find that to be about par for the course with SILCA's pricing which is usually at the premium end of the range for anything they sell. For instance, when you compare the KOM Saddle Tool Roll with the Topeak Burrito Pack, they are the same price, or within about a dollar of each other, depending where you look. So, on price, there is no real disparity here. 

Design-wise, the similarity between the SILCA and KOM seems very close, but upon closer inspection, you would see that the KOM's "ATOP" dial works very differently, has a much longer string length, and has a bit better clasp/hook at the end than SILCA's tool roll. Plus, how the two carry a cargo is not even close. Rip-off? I think not. In fact, the KOM Saddle Tool Roll is a better product. But I'll show why that is in my reviews on RidingGravel.com when I get those written. (Hey! I gotta save something for the other site!)

The Topeak Burrito Pack.

The Topeak Burrito Pack actually is a better design in many respects than either of the other two. Being that the Topeak tool roll is designed with MTB in mind, it is slightly larger, and therefore can swallow a tube, (or two!), that is 'gravel tire sized' better than the roadie inspired tool rolls it is up against here. It also has a couple of details which make it more secure, and that is a really big deal when you are relying on that bag to not only stay on the bike, but retain its contents in high-vibration situations like gravel roads or on rough back roads. 

There is also the fact that you can attach the Burrito Pack off a top tube, so it is not relegated to just under the saddle. While the Burrito Pack does not have a fancy-pants rotary loop closure, it is simpler, and you know.....Velcro works well. So, let's say you have a Velcro failure due to wear. Well, you can sew another patch of it on there. A rotary loop closure dial fails and......what? Probably goes in the bin at that point. And those dials do fail. 

So, that's where I am at with the "Tool Roll Wars" deal now. I'll be writing up separate little reviews on these for RidingGravel.com, but I'll be back here at some point with some commentary as well. 

As always- The Standard Disclaimer applies here.

Tool Roll Wars: An Introduction

The SILCA Asymmetrico tool roll.

 I mentioned the tool roll thing a while back in a recent "FN&V" post and this post will serve as the next update. Basically, I have three tool rolls to look at now. I know......For a guy that said he wasn't into tool rolls to have three now is pretty ironic. But, one thing led to another and here I am! For a quick recap then.....

The KOM Cycling Tool Roll came in first and when I Instagrammed it, a commenter said it was a 'rip-off' of the SILCA Asymmetrico tool roll. So, I figured, let's just see about that, shall we? I ordered one up. Now two things in comparison are fine, but - well, three is better! So, I thought about it and came across a tool roll from a completely different viewpoint. This third one is from a mountain biker's perspective and it shows. The third tool roll is the Burrito Pack from Topeak.

I've got all three packed and have used them all on rides now. I want to get some more miles in on gravel, but I already have some pretty strong opinions on all three already. And for the record, if the KOM Cycling tool roll is a 'rip-off', it is a better version than the one they supposedly ripped off the design from. Now, do I really think the KOM one is a so-called 'rip-off'? No, I do not. Similar? yes, but if you are ripping off a design, that means to me that you are copying it as closely as possible and selling it for a LOT less money. 

The KOM Cycling Saddle Tool Roll.

While the KOM  Saddle Tool Roll is about 15 bucks cheaper than the SILCA one, I find that to be about par for the course with SILCA's pricing which is usually at the premium end of the range for anything they sell. For instance, when you compare the KOM Saddle Tool Roll with the Topeak Burrito Pack, they are the same price, or within about a dollar of each other, depending where you look. So, on price, there is no real disparity here. 

Design-wise, the similarity between the SILCA and KOM seems very close, but upon closer inspection, you would see that the KOM's "ATOP" dial works very differently, has a much longer string length, and has a bit better clasp/hook at the end than SILCA's tool roll. Plus, how the two carry a cargo is not even close. Rip-off? I think not. In fact, the KOM Saddle Tool Roll is a better product. But I'll show why that is in my reviews on RidingGravel.com when I get those written. (Hey! I gotta save something for the other site!)

The Topeak Burrito Pack.

The Topeak Burrito Pack actually is a better design in many respects than either of the other two. Being that the Topeak tool roll is designed with MTB in mind, it is slightly larger, and therefore can swallow a tube, (or two!), that is 'gravel tire sized' better than the roadie inspired tool rolls it is up against here. It also has a couple of details which make it more secure, and that is a really big deal when you are relying on that bag to not only stay on the bike, but retain its contents in high-vibration situations like gravel roads or on rough back roads. 

There is also the fact that you can attach the Burrito Pack off a top tube, so it is not relegated to just under the saddle. While the Burrito Pack does not have a fancy-pants rotary loop closure, it is simpler, and you know.....Velcro works well. So, let's say you have a Velcro failure due to wear. Well, you can sew another patch of it on there. A rotary loop closure dial fails and......what? Probably goes in the bin at that point. And those dials do fail. 

So, that's where I am at with the "Tool Roll Wars" deal now. I'll be writing up separate little reviews on these for RidingGravel.com, but I'll be back here at some point with some commentary as well. 

As always- The Standard Disclaimer applies here.

Friday News And Views

 Shimano Announces Re-opening Of Factory:

 After a full month plus of complete shutdown, and two weeks at 60% output, Shimano has reportedly re-opened their Malaysian factory components works. A factory said to be responsible for parts production from 105 road level and below, and SLX MTB level and below. The component manufacturer, already behind demand leading into the shutdown, is now further behind on making these critical components for the majority of what bike shops sell here in the U.S.A. 

The news, published by a couple of industry specific sites, is good, but with all the critical time lost, coupled with shipping and packaging issues worldwide, this situation has gone from bad to worse for consumers. Things like disc brake pads, disc brake rotors, derailleurs, and wheel components, amongst other bits, are nearly impossible to source. 

In the meantime, other manufacturers have been tapped to provide parts for brands seeking to get bicycles into dealer's and consumer's hands. Brands like Microshift, which does complete drive trains, and other lesser known companies, are trying to fill the void where Shimano was once dominant. While some bits seem well up to the task, it is apparent- to this mechanic at least - that many of these components are sub-Shimano quality and likely will not have similar performance or longevity. 

Furthermore; it has been whispered that some brands may even skip 2022 model year bikes altogether due to the paucity of parts and shipping woes. Some even say the bigger brands are pushing out the smaller brands for factory capacity to manufacture bicycles. Whatever the truth may be, it sounds a lot like 2022 will be a continuance of 2021 in regard to bicycles and parts.  

The KOM Cycling Saddle Tool Roll on my Noble Bikes GX5.

Tool Roll Wars:

Recently I was sent a KOM Cycling Saddle Tool Roll for test and review on RidingGravel.com. (Free and at no charge- I'm not being paid for this, yadda,yadda, yadda...) It's a new product for them and for me, it is another 'dreaded tool roll' deal. You see, I haven't been too impressed by this sort of storage idea in the past.

I tried a tool roll once from a company I shall not name, and the thing ended up falling off my bike at unawares after being rock solid on there for over a week and I lost all my good riding tools. Bah! 

These things are for the minimal-packing cyclist, but yet they are not all that much lighter or compact than a small under-saddle mounted bag. I should think almost any under-saddle mounted bag wouldn't just fall off your bike. So.....the whole idea of a 'tool roll' was kind of lost on me. But there is a certain romanticized view of such things coming from the road riding world, as I understand it. 

Anyway, the tool roll..... I am testing another one. This is a bit like a Silca tool roll, and I was rudely reminded of this by a commenter on an Instagram post I made about the KOM Saddle Tool Roll. "It's a rip-off...", and I'm like, am I supposed to do something about that? It may be similar, yes- probably, but 'rip-off'? So, I figured why not? I ordered up the Silca one as well. (Paid for, not asked to test, yadda, yadda, yadda....)We'll see about the similarities and compare and contrast. Fair and square, without any negativeness or name-calling. 

Tool Roll Wars. It's on! Stay tuned......

Sea Otter Australia Postponed:

While to us here in the U.S.A. it may seem as though things are all 'back to normal', the rest of the world is still grappling with the effects of COVID-19. The latest cycling related issue regarding the pandemic is the postponing of the Sea Otter event in Australia to early Fall. 

This news comes as case loads of COVID-19 are on the uptick in the U.S.A. Most agree that the Delta variant of COVID is to blame as it is much more contagious than the original COVID strain. It is not engraved in stone that we here in North America won't ever have to isolate, wear masks, or suffer cancellations of events again. This bears watching going forward and things like what we are seeing now in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, (see first entry in today's "FN&V") and elsewhere in the world remind us that despite vaccines being available, this isn't over just yet. 

Cannondale Topstone 2

Andy's Bike Shop Is Now A Cannondale Dealer!

I've known about this for a while now, but the public statement just went out this past week that Cannondale Bicycles will now be sold through Andy's Bike Shop in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (If you are unaware, I work as a mechanic at Andy's) 

 Now Andy's Bike Shop sells Kona Bikes, Cannondale, and Reid Bikes. We were pretty happy to land a Cannondale account since it is a brand that has been represented in the Cedar Valley for 30+ years now. After the shop I last worked at went out of business at the end of 2019, Cannondale bikes have been missing from this market area. Not anymore. 

Obviously bicycles are hard to come by, but by the end of this month Andy's Bike Shop should know more about exactly when the Cannondales will be rolling in. I don't know exactly what we'll be able to get, but I hope to see some Topstones and maybe.......their new Super Six Evo SE gravel bike. That'd be pretty cool. Stay tuned.........

That's a wrap for this week. have a great weekend and stay cool!

Friday News And Views

 Shimano Announces Re-opening Of Factory:

 After a full month plus of complete shutdown, and two weeks at 60% output, Shimano has reportedly re-opened their Malaysian factory components works. A factory said to be responsible for parts production from 105 road level and below, and SLX MTB level and below. The component manufacturer, already behind demand leading into the shutdown, is now further behind on making these critical components for the majority of what bike shops sell here in the U.S.A. 

The news, published by a couple of industry specific sites, is good, but with all the critical time lost, coupled with shipping and packaging issues worldwide, this situation has gone from bad to worse for consumers. Things like disc brake pads, disc brake rotors, derailleurs, and wheel components, amongst other bits, are nearly impossible to source. 

In the meantime, other manufacturers have been tapped to provide parts for brands seeking to get bicycles into dealer's and consumer's hands. Brands like Microshift, which does complete drive trains, and other lesser known companies, are trying to fill the void where Shimano was once dominant. While some bits seem well up to the task, it is apparent- to this mechanic at least - that many of these components are sub-Shimano quality and likely will not have similar performance or longevity. 

Furthermore; it has been whispered that some brands may even skip 2022 model year bikes altogether due to the paucity of parts and shipping woes. Some even say the bigger brands are pushing out the smaller brands for factory capacity to manufacture bicycles. Whatever the truth may be, it sounds a lot like 2022 will be a continuance of 2021 in regard to bicycles and parts.  

The KOM Cycling Saddle Tool Roll on my Noble Bikes GX5.

Tool Roll Wars:

Recently I was sent a KOM Cycling Saddle Tool Roll for test and review on RidingGravel.com. (Free and at no charge- I'm not being paid for this, yadda,yadda, yadda...) It's a new product for them and for me, it is another 'dreaded tool roll' deal. You see, I haven't been too impressed by this sort of storage idea in the past.

I tried a tool roll once from a company I shall not name, and the thing ended up falling off my bike at unawares after being rock solid on there for over a week and I lost all my good riding tools. Bah! 

These things are for the minimal-packing cyclist, but yet they are not all that much lighter or compact than a small under-saddle mounted bag. I should think almost any under-saddle mounted bag wouldn't just fall off your bike. So.....the whole idea of a 'tool roll' was kind of lost on me. But there is a certain romanticized view of such things coming from the road riding world, as I understand it. 

Anyway, the tool roll..... I am testing another one. This is a bit like a Silca tool roll, and I was rudely reminded of this by a commenter on an Instagram post I made about the KOM Saddle Tool Roll. "It's a rip-off...", and I'm like, am I supposed to do something about that? It may be similar, yes- probably, but 'rip-off'? So, I figured why not? I ordered up the Silca one as well. (Paid for, not asked to test, yadda, yadda, yadda....)We'll see about the similarities and compare and contrast. Fair and square, without any negativeness or name-calling. 

Tool Roll Wars. It's on! Stay tuned......

Sea Otter Australia Postponed:

While to us here in the U.S.A. it may seem as though things are all 'back to normal', the rest of the world is still grappling with the effects of COVID-19. The latest cycling related issue regarding the pandemic is the postponing of the Sea Otter event in Australia to early Fall. 

This news comes as case loads of COVID-19 are on the uptick in the U.S.A. Most agree that the Delta variant of COVID is to blame as it is much more contagious than the original COVID strain. It is not engraved in stone that we here in North America won't ever have to isolate, wear masks, or suffer cancellations of events again. This bears watching going forward and things like what we are seeing now in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, (see first entry in today's "FN&V") and elsewhere in the world remind us that despite vaccines being available, this isn't over just yet. 

Cannondale Topstone 2

Andy's Bike Shop Is Now A Cannondale Dealer!

I've known about this for a while now, but the public statement just went out this past week that Cannondale Bicycles will now be sold through Andy's Bike Shop in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (If you are unaware, I work as a mechanic at Andy's) 

 Now Andy's Bike Shop sells Kona Bikes, Cannondale, and Reid Bikes. We were pretty happy to land a Cannondale account since it is a brand that has been represented in the Cedar Valley for 30+ years now. After the shop I last worked at went out of business at the end of 2019, Cannondale bikes have been missing from this market area. Not anymore. 

Obviously bicycles are hard to come by, but by the end of this month Andy's Bike Shop should know more about exactly when the Cannondales will be rolling in. I don't know exactly what we'll be able to get, but I hope to see some Topstones and maybe.......their new Super Six Evo SE gravel bike. That'd be pretty cool. Stay tuned.........

That's a wrap for this week. have a great weekend and stay cool!