Friday News And Views

Teravail Cannonball 32"ers Available:

Image courtesy of Teravail

The 32" wheel introductions have most often been focused on MTB product. However; gravel usage has been teased by several manufacturers and now we have a true gravel component in 32" diameter. The first "gravel" tire for 32'ers is the Teravail Cannonball. 

The Cannonball design was intentionally focused on gravel usage, so while this tire in a 2.2" width may strike some as still being XC MTB focused, it is by design intentions a gravel tire. 

The 32" Cannonball features Teravail's Superstructure Casing which is made up of extra-fine, hardened Nylon fibers to help reduce punctures but retain a supple riding casing. The rubber compound is Teravail's Fast Plus which is claimed to be Teravail's fastest rolling rubber compound in their range. 

You can check out either the tan wall or black wall version of the 32" Cannonball by clicking HERE. 

From Wilde Bicycle Co. social media.

32"er News From Wilde Bicycle Co. 

Seen on social media this week: A Wilde Bicycle Co. post teasing a new, as yet unreleased 32"er MTB XC bike. The post indicated this is a test mule for possible future production. 

There were no concrete dates or timelines given as Wilde wants to wait on a suitable suspension fork to test the frame with. 

Comments: Again, 32"ers are being jumped on by smaller, more agile companies which don't have to wait on production lines to be geared up for large runs. 

Although, I have heard through the grapevine that current factory production is not anywhere near maximum levels, and this may also play into how smaller companies have been able to push smaller production runs through for 32"ers. 

However this plays out, my theory is that there is a small amount of 32"er curious, bike nerdy folks who are possible sales targets for 32" wheels and once those folks have their bikes? I think any sort of larger, general cycling population being interested in 32"ers won't be as eager to bite on the unknown. Big brands who aren't going to have 32"ers out until late this year or early in 2027 may find the 32"er market has satisfied their appetite for this wheel size by buying from the smaller companies who were able to pivot to 32"ers more quickly. 

And I could be completely off my rocker. We will see.......
 

Image courtesy of SILCA

SILCA Announces Super-Secret v2 Lubricant:

SILCA Super-Secret lubricant has always fared quite well in my "Guitar Ted Lube-Off" tests and it is my current go-to lubricant for my gravel bikes. It does exceptionally well in dry gravel conditions. However; it wasn't all that great in the wet and so I never really trusted it for Spring, Winter, or if things got wet at any time of the year. 

SILCA has now upped its game with Super-Secret v2 lubricant. The claim is that it is faster, longer lasting, and holds up even in wet conditions. So, I bought some and it will be here shortly. Look for more "Guitar Ted Lube-Off" content soon!

And speaking of the Lube-Off, I last updated the testing HERE.  That was later into last year. I haven't been lax in testing since then, I just haven't updated anything here yet. This will certainly change, obviously, with the new Super-Secret v2 coming here soon. 

 I also have another lube which just arrived and is not yet on the open market. I will be testing it as well. So, this new Lube-Off should be interesting and pitted against the old contenders. Those include Super-Secret v1, the Effetto Mariposa Flowerpower wax lube, and Stan's Dry Lubricant. This Lube-Off should prove to reveal the best lubricant ever for gravel riding. 

I know.....big claim. But I think it will be true, and I am excited to try out these two new lubricants over the end of Summer and into Fall. Stay tuned..... 

New Dura Ace C-50 (mage courtesy of Shimano)

 Do New Dura Ace Wheels Point To What Could Come For Gravel?

On Wednesday Shimano released the poorly held secret that they have new Dura Ace carbon wheels available now. 

These are a range of rim depths and a rear disc wheel for road, triathlon, and perhaps cyclo cross usage. They don't have current "fashionable" inner rim widths for gravel. 

However; what we do see are carbon fiber spokes. The total wheel weight for the 50mm deep Dura Ace wheels (shown) is 1,302 grams for the pair. Curent Shimano RX-880 wheels have a 25mm (vs 23mm for Dura Ace) inner rim width and a 32mm depth vs the 50mm depth of the new Dura Ace. The total weight of the RX-880's is just shy of 1,400 grams at 1,397 grams. This is with stainless steel spokes. 

Obviously trends have changed and Shimano, never one to jump on changes right away, may not be pushing the cutting edges of wheel tech with a new RX series wheel yet. But it is hard to discount what Chinese wheel companies are doing now and for the prices they are doing it at, which are pretty incredibly low. 

Should Shimano come out with an even wider inner rim width gravel wheel set with carbon spokes with a total wheel weight of under 1,400 grams, it would be a huge development. Let's say the newer wheel had a 30mm inner rim width, and carbon spokes. Maybe a 40mm rim depth. It would be very competitive, as long as you bought a bike with those wheels already on it. Dura Ace wheels are well over 2K for the pair, and this is not at all competitive with Chinese gravel wheel sets, many selling for well under 1K for a pair.  

With Shimano you do get a company with service, widespread availability of repair parts, and most bike shops understand and can work on Shimano components. Chinese wheel sets? Hmm..... Not so much. But if you are willing to take a chance..... 

Image courtesy of DT Swiss

DT Swiss Revamps 1800 Wheel Range

Usually we talk about the bougie, expensive wheels here on the FN&V, but not everyone wants, needs, or can afford those carbon fiber wonder-wheels. So, what's a regular Joe or Jill supposed to look for?

How about a reliable, durable, and practical wheel set? This describes DT Swiss' 1800 range of wheels to a "T". 

There are three newly refreshed wheels in the 1800 Spline range now with the Aero (A), Endurance (E), and the Gravel (G) 1800 models. In those three divisions there are some options as well, most notably the option to get a front wheel with a DT Swiss branded Shutter Precision dynamo hub. 

Most of the range goes for a little north of $600.00 USD, so these won't break the bank and you can get solid DT Swiss reliability from the 370 hubs to the spokes and the new rims featuring a 26mm inner width. There are separate rims from this range available also for those looking to build some wheels. 

See the range HERE.  

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

Ritchey Updates Streem Handlebar:

It seems that the old odball tag which used to be used for flared drop bars is no longer valid. No more "alt-bar" descriptions for these drop bars in 2026. 

Especially since a traditional road drop bar like the Streem now has 10° of flare. This road riding bar now has what Ritchey said in their press release is a design which is "...in line with how riders approach road riding today." And this - "....the compact shape, gentle backsweep, and increasing-radius bends give riders a natural interface for their hands when the road goes long or the pace gets honest. So, backsweep and flare. Hmm..... Gravel has made a dent, it would seem. 

The new Streem is available in aluminum construction in the WCS and Comp ranges with the difference being the WCS has triple-butted tubing. Check out the new bars, which have been priced lower than the outgoing models, and all of Ritchey's handlebar options HERE. 
 

Thanks so much for reading Guitar Ted Productions. Now get out there and ride those bicycles! Summer is fading fast! 

Fleet Review: Part 2

Last week I presented my "Fleet Review: Part 1" where I showed off all my gravel bikes. Click the link to see those in case you missed that. This time I am featuring my off-road and fat bike bicycles.  This will not be everything and there will be at least one more Fleet Review post after this one. 

Okay, here we go with a look at the off-road specific bikes I have here at Guitar Ted Productions

2003 Surly Karate Monkey

2003 Surly Karate Monkey

This is my very first 29 inch wheeled bicycle. Well.....the frame and fork, headset, and seat collar are 2003 bits! The rest is far newer than 2003. Of course, if you remember, Surly wasn't selling complete Karate Monkeys back then. Just a frame and a fork.  

Long-term blog readers have seen this bike before. It has had disc brakes and drop bars on it for most of the time I've owned it. It never has had a derailleur mounted to the frame. Always single speed! It even has briefly been a fixed gear bike.  

Notable bits are the XTR hubs, vintage 2000 or so. Those are laced to Salsa Delgado rims. The head set came out of my 1996 Diamond Back V-Link Pro and is a Race Face head set. The apple green Brooks B-17 was gifted to me for this bike by one of you dear readers. The chain wheel is from a mtbr.com member who had a cottage company called Homegrown or something to that effect. He only did single speed stuff in various anodized colors.  

I could have placed this bike in my "other" category, since it is mainly my commuter bike, or in the gravel category, as it was my main gravel bike for years, or as a mountain bike, because this is what it is, a mountain bike. 

I have kept this bike because 9a) I really like it, and 9b0 it was the bike I have done my longest ever one day ride on, approximately 165 miles, on the first Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational in 2006. 

2006 OS Bikes Blackbuck

2006 OS Bikes Blackbuck:

This is an oddball bike. Well.....aren't all first gen 29"ers oddball? They all look like they've been rammed head on into a brick wall with those steep, out of fashion head angles. The Blackbuck is no exception. 

But even if the Blackbuck had modern slack, long and low geometry, it would still be weird. It has parallel head tube and seat tube angles. The bike could be had with the special Blackbuck fork, which was a short axle to crown affair with a long offset giving this bike a steep 74° head tube angle and razor sharp, super nervous handling. (Yes, I have the steel rigid Blackbuck for as well) It is a single speed specific design, yet you could get this floating rear derailleur hanger if you wanted to gear it up. The blackbuck has a really short wheel base, in comparison to modern 29"ers, and it carves Mid-West single track with precision as a result. 

The fork is a Bontrager Switchblade with 38mm offset. The 470mm axle to crown works nicely here giving the bike a 71-ish degree head angle. The head set is from Chris King's first run of pink anodized head sets. The brake levers are 1996 Avids with adjusters to make them work with cantilevers or linear pull brakes. I built the wheels using White Industries hubs donated to me by my friend in SoCal. The rims I won at a giveaway at QBP for Frostbike when only myself and one other person showed up for a giveaway of a pair of Salsa Gordo rims. Back when 29"ers were still considered weird! 

The anodized seat collar, a Salsa model, was given to me by Tim Krueger when he still worked at QBP. The green ano cranks are Sugino branded and were anodized by a local guy back in the 2000's. 

Great bike. Nice to ride around here in the Fall because the sticks and blow-downs cannot rip off a rear derailleur, since there isn't one to rip off! 

2005 On One Inbred

2005 On One Inbred: 

Here we have a really rare one since it is a very early On One Inbred. I got this from a distributor on close out because they were going to be On One dealers in the USA, then something happened on the back end business-wise and whatever stock the distributor had they closed out before any were announced to the public.  Anyway, I grabbed this size 18" example with its matching steel segmented fork in early 2006. 

I set this bike up as a single speed and entered the first Dirty Kanza (now Unbound) in 2006, so this is one of the first 34 bikes to do that event. (Along with myself, of course!) Anyway, I grew tired of the bike and sold it to a coworker not many years afterward. Then the bike went out of my reckoning for years. The coworker, Craig, gave it to his brother who was going to college. Then he used it as a mountain bike in Kansas and Colorado. Eventually the brother grew tired of the bike, and because I had told Craig I wanted first dibs on teh bike if it ever was to be sold, he brought it back to me. 

Well, the fork came home first. It was cracked though, after years of mountain abuse, so it went to the scrap heap. The frame came later with a lot of teh parts bolted to it you see above. Craig didn't charge me a penny! So, I have it back now and it doesn't get ridden much, but I have this history with it and..... 

You know? 

The wheels I built from WTB Frequency i23 rims on American Classic hubs. The handle bar is a Wilde branded made by Nitto of Japan. The shifters are SRAM TT bar end shifters on Paul Components base mounts. The fork is an On One Carbon version of the steel fork. 

Origin 8 Scout XLT

  2016 Origin 8 Scout XLT: 

This is a bittersweet addition to this list. This was my son Jacob's last bike. An Orgin 8 model frame I sourced on close-out to take the place of the 2012 Salsa Cycles Mukluk he had outgrown. Most of the parts came over from the Salsa, but the wheels are Beargrease wheels I got from N.Y. Roll. The fork was the replacement fork from his Mukluk which had been recalled. I never cut the steer tube because I figured Jacob might outgrow this bike and then I could swap the fork over to a larger frame, but that need never came.  

I struggle with keeping this or selling it, or giving it to a needy kid, or.... I don't know what the right thing to do is for myself yet. But my feeling is this bike is likely going away at some point. But right now I have it, so here it is..... 

2025 Salsa Cycles Titanium Mukluk

 2015 Salsa Cycles Titanium Mukluk (Ti Muk 2)

Long-time readers know this bike. It's the Rohloff equipped, dynamo hubbed fat bike I call the Ti Muk 2 because I had a 2011 Titanium Mukluk for a while before this bike came here. 

This was a very special bike because my brother, MG, rounded up a bunch of folks to make this purchase super-low cost for me. They paid the majority of the asking price, I paid essentially very little, but the main point is that this bike was a gift and a surprise one at that. 

It's my main Winter commuter and sometimes single track machine. It has carbon Whiskey rims and the tires are tubeless and this makes riding this bike way easier than most fat bikes are to ride. The 14 speed internally geared hub has all the range I'd ever want here. It is the perfect Winter bike for me.  

2014 Blackborow DS

2014 Salsa Cycles Blackborow DS

DS stands for "Dual Single Speed". The bike has an odd "dinglespeed" set up where you can manually drop the chain on an inner set or an outer set of gears. As long as the teeth count from both cogs equals the other set, the chain doesn't need to be shortened or lengthened and you don't have to re-tension the drive train. 

So, you end up with a Low or High gear set up. This allows this bike to be simple, light in weight, yet it has a low enough gear to crawl through very deep snow with its 100mm wide rims and 4.8" tires. 

And oddly enough, the bike is stock but for a Thompson seat post and the saddle. 

2011 Salsa Cycles Mukluk

2011 Salsa Cycles Mukluk

Another very special bike to me. I got the frame and fork for my 50th birthday funded by several friends. So, it is hard to let this one go, even though I rarely ride it these days. 

This one needs a new drive train, and I probbaly should rebuild the wheels....again. This bike has had a few wheel issues since I have had it, with the worst being centered around a pair of bad Phil Wood fat bike hubs.  

This one could also very easily become a frame on the wall thing too. We will see..... 

That's a wrap on the off-road stuff I have. Next will be utility bikes and parts bikes. Stay tuned..... 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Reeb Cycles

Reeb Cycles Offers Taiwan Made Hall Pass Hardtail:

The hardtail is dead! Long live the hardtail! For so many years people were saying full suspension bikes would eventually push out the rigid rear-ended mountain bike. However; once 29"ers came around, a resurgence in hardtail MTB's occurred and the industry hasn't looked back since. 

Currently there seems to be a run on new 29"er, slack front ended, steep seat tubed designs. Recent introductions from Esker, Otso, and now this one from Reeb cycles point to a healthy amount of choices out there in this style of bicycle. The Reeb model is called the Hall Pass, and it is made in Taiwan to help make the bike a bit more affordable. 

A frame will run you $1.299.00  or you can choose from one of six complete builds including two single speed versions of the Hall Pass. Hit the link above for more on this frame designed around a 130mm travel fork. 

Image courtesy of Hutchinson Tires

Hutchinson Announces New Touareg Race Gridskin Tires:

One of my favorite tires I've used on gravel was the Hutchinson Touareg 700 X 45mm tire.  I finally had to retire my pair, and then found the Hutchinson brand was difficult to get here in the USA afterward. So, I moved on.

However; I may have to revisit that as Hutchinson has now released a Touareg Race with its high end "Gridskin" sidewall technology.  

This knitted mesh reinforcement was first used to great success in Hutchinson's road tire range and now is offered in this gravel race tire. The application of Gridskin does not result in higher rolling resistance and adds minimal weight, according to Hutchinson. 

Hutchinson uses its high-end race rubber compound for this model. Dubbed "Mach Tread 3.0", it  is claimed to be Hutchinson's fastest tread compound ever. 

Hutchinson offers this tire in 700c diameter and in 40mm, 45mm, and 50mm widths. Check it out on Hutchinson's site HERE.  

Image courtesy of GRVL

GRVL Shows New ADVNTR Hydration Pack:

Many riders prefer hydration packs for longer gravel rides due to the easy access to water/electrolytes and for cargo carrying capacities as well. For those in this camp, the GRVL brand offers their new ADVNTR hydration pack with a removable cargo pouch. 

The pack comes with a 2L hydration bladder. This bladder is removable from the pack and is easily washed out and easy to refill. 

The pack itself is made from X-PAC fabric which is tear resistant and lightweight. A one click, four point harness is adjustable for the rider from a chest size of 36" to 44". 

The cargo pouch is held in place by clickable connectors so it is easily removed for a race-day effort or attached easily for longer, ultra-distance efforts where more capacity for food and accessories is desirable. 

The ADVNTR hydration pack comes in three colors and is priced at $159.00USD. See this pack on GRVL's website HERE. 

Comments: Another vowel fearing company in the gravel market, GRVL is a performance apparel brand which is branching out into bicycles (1816 brand) and now this hydration pack. It looks like a "high on the back" type pack which may allow usage of jersey pockets. We may be getting one in for review, so stay tuned on this front. 

Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co. 

Wilde Bicycle Co. Partners With Cane Creek On "Logo-less" Headset:

Wilde Bicycle Co. and Cane Creek have partnered again on a head set. This time it is a traditional external cup 1 1/8th inch threadless type head set with no logos. Wilde says in the press release:

 "The branding is very subtle as our logo isn't the point, having a headset that seamlessly blends into
a classy build is. If you don't like the Wilde icon logo on the lower cup, simply rotate it toward the
back and hide it under the down tube."

Available in Purple, Black, or Silver for $120.00 USD. See Wilde Bicycle Co.'s website for more details HERE.  

Comments: I was a bit nonplussed when I first read the press release, but upon further reflection, I began to see how this appeals to me. Logos on parts are, on one hand, just a way to low-key "brag" about your bike. Plus, they can take away from the larger aspect of having a nice, slick looking bicycle overall. I mean, do we really need to know where that part is from? I just want these things to look good and.....well, you know......work.  

I would imagine this chance to get a quality head set with no logos will be a limited time thing. Plus, at one hundred and twenty bucks, it isn't out of line, in terms of pricing, so I see good value here. That is if you don't care about product logos on your components.  

Image courtesy of BMC Bicycles

BMC Shows Off New Gravel Bike:

BMC just released details on the new Kaius 01 model. They used the tagline "Unbound Speed" in their marketing language. An obvious reference to the World's Premier gravel event called Unbound Gravel. 

Using such language would point to a bike with some aero and big tire clearance capabilities, as this seems to be the preference of the top-tier racers at Unbound BMC does not disappoint on both counts in this new bike. 

Boasting tire clearance for 700c X 52mm tires, there is plenty of tire capability for a race like Unbound Gravel. Aero? The new Kaius is designed with such an eye towards aero that the bottle cages are integrated into the design! 

Image courtesy of BMC

The new Kaius 01comes in four different specifications with the top three in the range coming in a choice of two color schemes. Prices range from $14,072.99 USD for the Kaius 01 ONE down to $7.676.30 USD for the Kaius 01 FOUR. A frame set, including fork and integrated bottle cages, goes for $5,754.56 USD. 

Comments: The price to be at the top of the heap in gravel technology just went crazy. I'm pretty sure we won't be seeing any BMC Kaius 01's around here any time soon, unless there is a sponsored athlete or a rich professional with a LOT of disposable cash on hand in the local area. Sheesh! 

I wouldn't ordinarily post about a halo bike which most cannot afford or justify purchasing. However; this bike has all the characteristics which seem to be what brands think racers, (not necessarily gravel riders, by the way), seem to be asking for in a bicycle for gravel racing. The geometry is of particular interest here. 

BMC has provided a 71° head tube angle for smaller sizes to a steepish 72° head tube angle for the largest sizes. Yet they have kept the same trail figure across the range of sizes. They accomplished this by altering the fork offset for each head tube angle. Very unusual and a very detailed design specification here. 

There is no room for a telescopic suspension device here either, with BMC betting on tire volume and their ride tuned compliance in the carbon to account for rougher roads and trail. This keeps the front end low. This is reflected in the short axle to crown and shorter stack heights across the range. A true racing machine with fat tire clearances.  

New Podcast Drop!

If you have a little off-the-bike time this weekend why don't you give our latest episode a listen? It's about the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska, and specifically their gravel route. 

N.Y. Roll and I hosted Jayme Frye and Adreinne Detanico of BRAN to find out what the deal is with BRAN. 

It is a small-scale, fully supported, cross-state ride which originally began on pavement. While the event is a week long ride, people interested can choose to ride three, two, or even single day section of the route. 

The ride is more grassroots in feel and smaller than something like RAGBRAI. The gravel ride is actually pretty much a group ride, or a ride of groups. But give the episode a listen to get the gist. 

Find out more about the BRAN event HERE. 
 

 That's a wrap for this week! get out and ride those bicycles!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Kona Bicycles

 Kona Offers Steel Drop Bar Mountain Bike:

Kona released news on Tuesday concerning a new steel framed drop bar mountain bike they are calling the "LBF" (Legend of Big Fork) 

This new model sees Kona adopting a rather "Fargo-like" bicycle with several features like multiple bosses for bottles or bags, a Rock Shox SID XC suspension fork, and 2.4" tires on Race Face rims. 

The drive train is from SRAM and features bits from their NX, GX, and Apex offerings. The brakes are SRAM four piston caliper/Apex lever units and the handlebar and stem are Ritchey Design models. With a slack head angle of 67° and a fork offset of 44mm this bike should be really stable on off-road trails. 

Retail is set at $3,699.00 USD and more details can be seen at Kona's webpage for this bike HERE.  

Comments: Again, another Fargo-like offering with a real focus on the MTB stuff. I'm all for this, but the tire choice seems narrow-ish and the price seems a bit steep. Is that just me, or is this bike pricey? I'm thinking it might be just me because I have an embargoed release set to go live next week with something sort of similar to this with a very similar price point. 

Guitar Ted On Substack:

Just a PSA concerning my work appearing on Substack. Right now I have only one article up, and it is something which appeared here already, so if you are a regular reader here, you've seen this before. 

I may not be posting there on the daily, in fact, I can tell you I will not be doing that. But I will post over there and it probably will be a bit different content. Stuff not necessarily bicycle related. I won't be doing a regular schedule either. I am not going to tie myself down in that regard. 

If you are interested in content from me which will likely range from the more personal side to maybe talk about other subjects I find interesting, such as guitar, music, and racing cars, well maybe this will be of interest to you. 

If you want to get notifications of anything which may pop up there please subscribe on Substack and you will be notified when I publish something. No charge. No big commitment. Thanks for considering this. 

Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co,

Wilde Bicycle Co. Announces One "Just For The Fun Of It"

Wilde Bicycle Co. is headed up by Jeffrey Frane, who was the head of All City Bikes for QBP, and a Minneapolis cyclist for quite some time. One of his favorite bikes to get around on is an old Surly 1 X 1. So, it may not come as much of a surprise then that Wilde Bicycles is offering a cruiser inspired 26"er.  

The model, dubbed the "Moto Cruiser", will be offered as a frame/for/handlbar module or as a complete single speed or geared bike. 

Pre-orders are open now at Wilde Bicycle's site HERE.  

Comments: I loved my old Surly 1 X 1 cruiser when I had it even though it was a size too small for me. I could see this Wilde model being someones fun get-around urban bike in a similar way. The color of this bike is right up my alley too. But all this said, I have to keep calm and let it pass. I've just got too many bicycles already, and I need to cut down on the fleet as it is. 

I probably could cut one, maybe two out to bring the Moto Cruiser in, but I'd rather do the first part without the Moto Cruiser. We shall see if I can manage to trim down this year.  

Image courtesy of Wolf tooth Components

Wolf Tooth Updates Tire Pressure App:

Wolf Tooth just sent out news of an update to their tire pressure setting app. The app, which takes into account different specs and aspects of a rider's wheel/tire combo and riding style, helps riders to arrive at a recommended air pressure setting. 

New updates include: 

• Added MX/Mullet option for mountain
• Added 32” tire option for mountain and gravel
• Added radial tire casing option for mountain
• Added option to use casing width in inches for gravel
• Added tire width up to 3.3” for mountain
• Misc bug fixes

You can learn more about the Wolf Tooth Tire Pressure App HERE.  

Comments: I've heard good things about this app, (and the SILCA one), so I should probably give them a try. Might make for an interesting review later on.  If you've used one of these apps, or another I am unfamiliar with, let me know what you think of them in the comments. Thanks!

GRVL Apparel Company To Promote 12/24hr Gravel Challenges:

The challenge is a self-supported 12 or 24 hour ride on curated courses across the UK, Ireland, and Italy. 

From the press release: 

"Riders can select from a range of GRVL and Ambassador designed routes spanning iconic cycling regions including the Chilterns, Cornwall, North Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Peak District, Yorkshire, South Wales, Kent, and more."

Furthermore; the time when the challenge is attempted is optional (Editor's Note: I would imagine there are reasonable limits to the window for these challenges) The best times being Spring and Summer according to the press release. 

The challenge is dubbed "Nychthemeron", a word derived from the Greek meaning "Night and Day", or a complete 24hr period. If you want to learn more see the site link HERE. 

That is a wrap for this week! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions. Now go ride a bicycle!

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co. 

Wilde Bicycle Co. Announces Heighliner Titanium Adventure Bike:

Due to a leak of information, Wilde Bicycle Co has decided to release the information and pre-orders on its newest model dubbed the Heighliner. 

Featuring clearance for 29" 2.25" tires, fully internal cable housing, and UDH compatibility, this new model is Wilde Bicycle Co. head Jeffrey Frane's favorite bike currently. In fact, he designed the geometry himself. 

The frame has double-butted titanium tubing with a T-47 bottom bracket. There are two water bottle mounts in the front triangle, one Three-Pack mount under the down tube, and a top tube bag accessory mount on the top tube. 

The frame is made at the ORA factory in Taiwan. Pre-orders for a June 2026 delivery are open now. Price for the frame and fork is $3,300.00. The details can be reviewed on the webpage for the Heighliner HERE. 

Image courtesy of Moots

Moots Announces Scrambler Adventure Bike:

Moots released information yesterday on a new model called the Scrambler. This drop-bar, wide tired bicycle is designed around a 100mm travel suspension fork.  

Available as a frame only or with a Rock Shox SID fork and Shimano GRX/XT build, the bike will only be available for  -according to the press release - "a limited time".  (End of January 2026, to be exact)

Tire clearance is stated at 20" x 2.4" maximum. The frame is a Boost spaced frame. Completes will ship with Chris King MTN30 AL29" wheels. Tires will be the WTB MACRO 29" X 2.4".  

For details see Moots page for this model HERE.  

A Gen 2 Fargo pictured in 2015.

The "OG" Would Like To Have A Word:

This trend to 29"er MTB sized rubber, drop bars, and a penchant for telescopic front forks in the realm of "Gravel™" these days reminds me of something....

I cannot quite put my finger on it now. Was it some bike back in 2008 or 2009 with a marketing tagline which went something like "Adventure by Bike"?

Anyway, you get my point by now, I am sure. It was inevitable we'd see all things garvel eventually reach a point where the lines were blurred and what we were looking at now became what we already have seen for sixteen years now.  

You'll note I did not write any "Comments" for the first two entries. This is the comment section on those two entries. Welcome to "Adventure by Bike" Moots and Wilde. There's plenty of room on the couch here and for the rest of you brands who think they have discovered something here.  

I'm not criticizing here, but unless you remind people of the past, they will make up their own stories. So, check the history and be informed.  

Image courtesy of Vittoria Tire

Vittoria Announces Future Availability Of Eco-Friendly Brown Hued Tires:

On the heels of my recent post concerning these tires (HERE), it has come to light recently that Vittoria Tire is indeed going to sell the eco-friendly, brown gravel tires. Tires which have been claimed to be faster than their carbon black infused siblings. 

The full range of Vittoria's PRO gravel catalog will eventually be available in this compound and casing made with 92% renewable, recyclable materials. 

Vittoria claims this brown-hued compound is 5% faster, has 19% more grip, and has 18% better puncture resistance than its current gravel tire range. 

All this performance and earth-friendliness comes at a price though.  Tires in the range are well over $100.00 each at $112.99. This compares to Vittoria's current range which runs at $81.99 for each tire. 

Comments: Wooo! That's a big jump in performance at a big jump in price. Would you be willing to slap on nearly $225.00 of tires, (before shipping and taxes), and have your bike seen with brown rubber? Yeah..... That's a big ask, but I'm willing to bet a lot of people are going to give this a go on their gravel bike. 

A comment left indicating the Luxy Bar redux is a possibility. 

Do You Really Want It? Then Say So!

Thursday (yesterday) an long ago memory was stirred when I saw "Brant Richards" pop up in my email.  

Brant Richards was heavily involved in UK MTB as a writer and parts designer up until about seven years ago when he and a partner opened up a boutique clothing business called HebTroCo. But before the trousers came into Brant's life, he designed a lot of cool stuff like the On One Inbred, some nice forks, steel frames for trail MTB, and this odd flared drop bar called the Luxy Bar. 

Now Brant seems as though he's back into bicycles, at least for a bit. He hit me up yesterday asking what I thought about a reissue Luxy Bar. So lokk, if you ever wanted one, wanted another one, or are "Luxy-Curious", give a shout. Hit the comments and say something. 

If you don't ask, you won't receive anything.  

That's it for this week! Get out and ride those bicycles! 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co. 

MADE Show This Weekend:

The annual MADE Show, a gathering of custom frame/fork/component makers in Portland, Oregon, is happening this weekend.

Several teasers are out already showing some tantalizing views of things which will be on display to see for attendees. However; Wilde Bicycle Co. has gone a little bit further with its preview on two new models it intends to show this weekend.

The first is the Dog Star, a retro-inspired MTB bike with all the cues you'd expect from a mountain bike throwing it back to the early 1980's. You've got the distinctive lugged frame construction, the flat fork crown, and cantilever brakes, of course. But this bike has some distinctive features which include double top tubes and a double brake bridge, ala King Fabrications.

The Earth Seed (Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co. )

Probably the most surprising bike I've seen in a while is the new Earth Seed (That name!), which is a mixte' framed gravel bike. I think it is an intriguing bike, and I would rock one if I had the need or chance to. You can see more of these bikes on Wilde Bicycle Co's website. 

Image courtesy of Chris King Precision Components

New Matte Jade Hue From Chris King:

Chris King Precision Components has a new hue out now dubbed "Matte Jade". It will be available now on all Chris King components such as their head sets, bottom brackets, and hubs.

Chris King says of the hue, on the Matte Jade webpage, the following:

"It's green, but it's a lot more than just green. It has a curious depth to it. The finish is matte, but still Jade glows. It has an iridescence, a liveliness, that's hard to pin down, as though every time you look at it, it's slightly different."

Comments: Chris King indicates this is now a permanent choice in their color palette, so it is not a limited edition color. I like green, it is my second most favorite color behind purple, and I can see this becoming a part of a bike build. In fact, I've had something in mind for a long time now which this would work really well with. Maybe someday I'll push "go" on it.....

Image courtesy of Bike-On

A Power Meter For The Masses?

Bike-On, a start-up company soon to be on Kickstarter, is aiming to bring power measurement to a much lower price-point than ever before with their new chain mounted device. 

Claiming accuracy on par with other well known power mewasuring systems, and compatibility with any chain-driven bicycle, the asking price of $`175.00USD seems a bit unbelievable. 

The device, consisting of two roller, jockey-type wheels, a housing, and a tether to your frame, encloses an epoxy-sealed measuring unit which is claimed to be waterproof and weather resistant, even working in cold temperatures.  The device is also easily switched from one bike to another, with no need for re-calibration, in minutes. 

Check it out HERE.  

Gravel Worlds Weekend:

This weekend the Gravel Worlds event out of Lincoln, Nebraska will be taking place with running events and various distances for cyclists to take on. The 'big' event being the traditional 150 mile distance which is the one all the big-time Pro and fast amateurs will be striving to come out on top in.

The 350 mile event, once known as "The Long Voyage" (R.I.P. to the awesome name there)will take in three states, as the route will travel into Iowa, a tiny portion of Missouri, and back again to the start in Nebraska.

Comments: This event was once a "do not miss" event for me, but times have changed. The event is no longer anything like it once was, (I stand by this statement), and it just isn't my cup of tea anymore. 

Having said this, I still will say this event is spectacular in its own right and I hope anyone partaking in it has a wonderful experience. Tail winds to you all who toe the line tomorrow, (and today if you are in the 350!)  

Thanks again for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Have an awesome weekend and ride those bicycles! 

Friday News And Views

Bikepacking/Touring Opportunity In Minnesota:

I was cruising social media last week and came across something which I felt was a great idea for a tour. While this exists for all-wheel drive vehicles and dual-sport motorcycles, it is mostly on gravel and minimum maintenance roads. In other words, it is perfect for gravel bikes or bikepacking bikes.

The trail starts and stops in New Albin, Iowa, but it looks to me as though you could start and stop in a few other places. While this is 435 miles in total, I would think shorter loops could be easily fabricated if the 400+ miles is intimidating or not possible due to time constraints.

Heywood Ride promoter Marty Larsen chimed in on the post I saw and commented that the roads used for this route included several of the same roads used for the Heywood 390 route, and recommended it as being great for views and riding. That's a pretty good recommendation right there. 

If you are curious, see the SEMAT site HERE.  

Wolf Tooth offers "Raw Silver" in select sizes. (Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth)

Wolf Tooth Offers Raw Silver Chain Rings:

This week saw the release of some chainrings by Wolf Tooth in a "Raw Silver" color. This is a bit unusual as most of Wolf Tooth's componentry is anodized in bright, colorful hues.

Currently the Raw Silver is only available in SRAM 8-bolt direct mount or 110BCD sizes.  You can see more by checking in on Wolf Tooth's site HERE.

Comments: I like silver components, but I wish for the older style anodization like Shimano used on the original XTR, or for a polished, more shiny look. The Raw is a move in the right direction, but when I think silver, I think of more "pop" than these offerings seem to have. Perhaps seeing them in the flesh would change my mind. 

Image courtesy of FARA Cycling

Gravel Bicycles Evolving:

This past week saw an introduction of the latest generation of gravel bike from the Norwegian company, Fara. Their newest offering, the GR4, can handle 2.2" 29"er tires and still has the capability for a 1X only, 46T chain ring.

The carbon fiber frame and fork also has in-frame storage and accessory mounts for bike packing. The GR4 is only compatible with wireless shifting groups and will not work with any mechanical components at all.

Comments: The geometry of this bike is rather interesting. It is pretty much exactly the same as that Raleigh gravel bike that could take 50mm tires and was that awful tan/brown color. I cannot recall the name of the model, but it came out in 2017, I believe, so this one is nothing new in the light of geometry and tire clearances.

What I've always questioned is this propensity for wanting super-short chain stays. I always think of what the roughest seat on the school bus was, (right over the rear axle) and shake my head. A little of what Joe Breeze said also comes to mind here. He said a longer, uninterrupted tube/carbon shape will have the best ride feel. But apparently you have to feel fast, even though it sucks to ride, to be fast. 

We did get rid of skinny tires, for the most part. Maybe someday short chain stays will also fall out of favor for what really works best for the rider. 

Image courtesy of Wahoo Fitness

Wahoo Fitness Upgrades Kickr Rollr Indoor Trainer:

The entry level Wahoo Kickr Rollr Indoor Trainer has been upgraded with power output capabilities. Now riders can use this trainer to train with power.  

The onboard power output meter is not as accurate as an onboard the bike power meter due to the Kickr Rollr's rear wheel freedom of movement, but you can get a good baseline to work off of despite this. Wahoo indicates that any third party power meter can be connected to the Kickr Rollr for more precise accuracy if so desired.

Because of the Kickr Rollr's design, almost any bicycle can be used with it, which makes this the perfect trainer for multiple rider households. The front wheel is clamped and wedged into the unit, making out of the saddle and harder efforts safer.

Pricing:  US$699.99 / CA$874.99, UK£549.99, EU€599.99. AU$999.99, Japan¥120,000 - Available to buy now.

Wilde Spelljammer (Image by Jarod Bunk)

Wilde Bicycles Offers Limited Run Spelljammer Bike:

Wilde Bicycles announced on Wednesday of last week that they are commissioning a small batch of rim brake "randonnuering" bikes called the Spelljammer..

The bike will be steel, (natch), and fillet brazed by a single artisan in Taiwan. Wilde indicated in the press release that finding anyone to make such a bike in Taiwan is increasingly difficult as the skilled people who know this trade skill are disappearing due to retirement and death. Wilde suspects then that this may be the last bicycles of this type to come out of the island nation. 

Also noteworthy: The rear drop outs are from the same casting designed by Anna Schwinn 

Spelljammer frame sets are $1,600.00 USD and preorders are open now for a Summer 2026 delivery. See the site for more details HERE.

That's a wrap on things for this week. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions. Now egt out there and ride those bicycles!

Friday News And Views

 Note: This edition of the "FN&V" will be a bit of a 'catching up' due to not having a FN&V last week. Some of the 'news' will be a bit older than usual as a result..

A view of the inner workings of an Ochain unit (Image courtesy of Ochain)

Last week SRAM announced the acquisition of MTB component maker, Ochain. The company is well-established in the down hill and enduro circuits. Their claim to fame is a device which decouples the direct interface between a chain ring and chain. The Ochain device allows for a certain degree of rotation of the chain ring without the crank moving, thus allowing full-suspension bikes to achieve a more efficient and 'chain free' operation.

Ochain is a device which solves the age-old problem of suspension 'kick-back' and makes suspension work 'freer' due to the decoupling aspect. SRAM claims the Ochain device results in a 'calmer and quieter' bike.

Comments: SRAM has, in the past, filed various patents on chain ring design to address various aspects of 1X drive trains and suspension use. None of which, to my knowledge, have come to see the light of day....yet. However; it is interesting to note SRAM's history of innovation by acquisition. Ochain being the latest brand to be acquired by SRAM. Many people forget SRAM bought brands like Rock Shox, Sachs, (thus bringing chains into their catalog), and TIME (for pedals), along with Hammerhead for GPS/controller duties.

I doubt SRAM will sit with Ochain only being used for MTB and full-sus e-Bikes. I look for some sort of further development to make this acquisition more versatile. Just what may come of this should be interesting. 

Image courtesy of Wheels MFG.

Wheels MFG Announces New Single Speed Kit For Hyperglide:

Wheels Manufacturing announced last week that their Solo Cog single speed kit will be available for Shimano HG style free hubs on August 22nd, 2025. The SOLO HG Single Speed Kit will be available in various anodized colors. This kit will have several spacers for centering your cog, or Wheels MFG Solo Cogs, which will be sold separately.

Both the kit and the cogs are machined from aluminum. The spacers are from 6061 aluminum and the cogs from 7075 series aluminum. The spacer kit, which comes with a color-matched lock ring, goes for $51.9 USD.

The Solo Cogs come in 16T, 18T, and 20T for now with more sizes promised. These cogs are going for $46.99 each USD. 

Comments: At $99.00 for the full set of spacers, lock ring, and cog, this is not a "cheap" option. (You can get a Surly spacer kit and cog for around $75.00 - $80.00), but it is in line with others I can find in aluminum and anodized hues. 

Image courtesy of Ortlieb

Ortlieb Announces New "Quick Rack" System:

If you have a bike which you'd like to have a rack on, but only occasionally, or a bike that doesn't have rack mounts, you might want to check out Ortlieb's new Quick Rack. 

This rack attaches via a unique collar and axle attachment design, (please click the link for details) and Ortlieb claims this can be installed in fifteen seconds. So, an applicable solution for anyone who may need a rack at a moments notice.

With a load capacity of 44lbs, and ability to accept any of Ortlieb's bags for rear racks, this seems like a pretty cool way to add some versatility to a bike you use for any mission.

The Quick Rack sells for $130.00 USD.

Comments: At first I thought this rack attached with an ordinary alloy type seat post collar, but it is not anything like this. (Again, check Ortlieb's site for details) I'm in a situation where I do not have to rely on one or two bicycles for everything, but, if I were in this sort of situation, the Quick rack might come in pretty handy.

I cannot vouch for the incredible quick change out time, but even if it took three times as long, it would be a pretty easy to consider swap, in my opinion. The only other curious thought I have here is if this would be a steady enough platform to rely upon for commutes, or errands, or even touring.

Rough Stuff MTB Rally:

Wilde Bicycle Company is sponsoring the Rough Stuff Rally August 1 -3, 2025 at Copper Harbor, Michigan. Jeffrey Frane, of Wilde Bicycle Company has this to say about the festival:

 "The Rally is two days of riding, revelry, and community on some of the best trails in the world. Friday we have shuttle runs from 4-8pm accessing legendary trails such as The Flow, Danimal, and Overflow followed by a bluff top sunset Happy Hour. Saturday is the main event, a 22 or 43mile loop of the trail system taking in a highlight reel of singletrack followed by a gourmet dinner at the Campground hosted by Chef Adam Blake with bonfire, music and free refreshments from Fat Tire to follow." 

Interested? Registration is open now and you can join in for $120.00. by checking in HERE. Entry gets you free shuttle service on Friday, an event t-shirt, an stocked aid station on Saturday, the free meal, and free refreshments Friday night and Saturday night. 

A schedule of events for the Rally can be found HERE. 

Image courtesy of Surly Bikes.

Surly Shows Updated Ogre:

Surly Bikes showed on Thursday an update to their Ogre 29" inch wheeled commuter/bike packing bike. With tire clearance for 29" X 2.5" tires, or 27.5" X 2.8" tires (with fenders!!), this bike could be a very versatile bike in a person's bike stable. Or it easily could be your only bike.

As one might expect from Surly, the Ogre has a plethora of mounts, is Rohloff compatible, and has a mount for Surly's own Bill or Ted trailer. This version of the Ogre is in a hue Surly calls "Orlock's Shadow". Se mor about the Ogre and other surly products by clicking the link HERE. 

Comments: The Ogre has, in my opinion, "old school" 29"er geometry. If it looks like the front end has been pushed in, this is because the Ogre has a 72° head tube angle, which most 29"er's haven't used for well over a decade now. Not that this is "bad", but it is unique now in 2025. 

This Ogre reminds me a lot of what a modernized version of my 2003 Karate Monkey would maybe look like. It even is close to the same color, which is Campstove Green. So, the comparison is easier for me to make, I suppose. 
 

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! NOTE: A press release from Pinarello will be featured at 7;30am CST today here. Stay tuned...