The 2023 Guitar Ted Death Ride: "W-V-W" - Part 1

 Escape Route: West 2nd @ slightly after 4:00am.

 I mentioned earlier last week that I had a day off work and that I had planned a "big ride" for that day. Well, it was going to be my version of the Guitar Ted Death Ride for 2023. I used to invite people to come along with me on this, but since the pandemic and since I "retired" from event promoting I don't do that anymore. I just go solo on this deal now. 

My route was planned to be the same that I failed at in 2020. A route that went South to just East of Dysart, through Garrison, on to Vinton, then just West of Independence and then to Jesup and back to Waterloo. The route, as planned, was right at 100 miles from my house and back again. You can read the 2020 report on the failed attempt HERE. 

This was a "redemption" ride, to finally get that one done. This report will let you know how it all went. I did change up a couple of things this time outside of the route but that did affect the ride. One- I started far earlier and two- I planned better for nutrition. The first attempt failed mostly because I was so amped up about not getting COVID that I forgot to buy food to eat at Vinton. Of course, I bonked. 

This time I took more "on the road food" and I was adamant that I would buy food at Vinton. I also did plan on not eating before I left. I always seem to ride better on an empty stomach, at least for a while, to start out. I planned on stopping about 12 miles in to eat on the road at the corner of Quarry Road and Aker Road. 

Funny, but there isn't a lot to see in the country at night!

The sky was juuuust starting to blush in the East as I took this on Quarry Road.

I also did not take any sort of a computer. I had the route all ready to upload into the Wahoo, and it said it went in, but I could not recall it on the device once I did have it, and what is more, I couldn't find a few other rides that should have been on the device, one or two that were there before. This was discovered mid-week when I did a dry run of my set up. So, I hand wrote my cues, mounted a cue sheet holder, and boom! No worries. (As for Wahoo, and any other GPS, I think I am done with them. More on that in another post)

The other big thing I did was to get up really early and take off. My original plan was to get up at 3:00am. I set an alarm on my phone, but while the app said it was alerting me to wake up, it wasn't. Good thing I woke up on my own at 3:30am. I made it out and was riding by about 4:10am.

Riding at night brings a different sensory vibe. You hear things more keenly, and I noted how there were fewer crickets than usual this year. Probably due to the drought we're in. This drought condition would be a big factor in several ways on this ride. 

"First Breakfast" at the corner was good, and I was moving along at a steady, and a bit slower, pace. Their were no clear "lines" in the gravel, and the Light and Motion light I was using was not a good match for gravel riding as it tended to wash out details and contrasts. I had to keep a firm grasp on the bars to keep the ship pointed in the right direction. 

Headed South, it was getting close to Sunrise.

In the middle of that "S" curve is where Black Hawk County ends and Benton County starts.

The weather was warm, it was still in the low 70's when I got going, and it was very humid. So humid that the moisture condensed on my Rudy Project glasses and my camera lens which then attracted the dust from the roads. This fouled my glasses to the point that they were useless and screwed up a few camera shots until I swiped the lens off. 

There was little wind, which was nice, but what wind there would be was forecast to be out of the North and pretty significant. I was not looking forward to a head wind! 

A super-rare James Greer McQuilken Round Barn on the corner of 52nd St and 11th Ave in Benton County.

A lone silo stands sentinel as the Sunrise is in progress.

It was so humid that I was soaked with a combination of sweat and humidity. I wasn't looking forward to the Sun making things even more uncomfortable. However; as the Sun began to rise it got cooler. The air must have trended drier as well during this time since I started feeling almost too chilly at times, especially in my feet. 

There She is!

There is a very intriguing C Road I wish I could ride down there!

As the Sun came up I saw the roads better and I was able to turn off the light. There were decent lines, but a lot of loose, chunky gravel too. I was starting to battle some issues already before I was 30 miles in. My right trapezius was aching like a son-of-a-gun and I was afraid it might cause me to cut the ride short, but a self-massage while riding seemed to alleviate that to a degree that I forgot about it. 

A fun dirt road and then.....

....A second breakfast at the place I entered the Old Creamery Trail.

I planned a stop at the Old Creamery Tail where I intersected it and that trail is a pea gravel trail which I was to ride all the way East over to Vinton. Here I ate more, took some ibuprofen for the sore muscle, and some electrolyte tabs. Then I was off again on what may have been the most difficult part of the ride for me. 

The Sun made things difficult, but that wasn't the worst of it.

Again, the trail was hard to navigate due to the angle of the Sun when I rode it all the way to Vinton.

While I was able to work the shoulder thing out, I got the "sleepies". I was having a super-hard time staying alert. I ran across a couple joggers that kind of snapped me to for a short while, but I ended up slapping myself, trying to stay awake. Eventually I just had to stop when I found a trailside bench halfway to Vinton out of Garrison. Here I took a brief "cat nap'.

That helped, and I was able to roll into Vinton a little after 8:00am in the morning. I went straight away to Casey's Convenience Store to resupply, and to eat, because I figured that my on-the-road food wasn't cutting it for whatever reason. A slice of breakfast pizza did the trick.

A Monster and a slice-o-pie fixed me right up!

I was pleased at this point and I was about to head out on what I figured would be the hardest part of the route. There would be a headwind and some tough navigation. Plus the Sun would be up and at full steam. Would it get hot and humid? I did not know, but the weather was supposed to be fine. 

Next: "W-V-W" Part 2

The 2023 Guitar Ted Death Ride: "W-V-W" - Part 1

 Escape Route: West 2nd @ slightly after 4:00am.

 I mentioned earlier last week that I had a day off work and that I had planned a "big ride" for that day. Well, it was going to be my version of the Guitar Ted Death Ride for 2023. I used to invite people to come along with me on this, but since the pandemic and since I "retired" from event promoting I don't do that anymore. I just go solo on this deal now. 

My route was planned to be the same that I failed at in 2020. A route that went South to just East of Dysart, through Garrison, on to Vinton, then just West of Independence and then to Jesup and back to Waterloo. The route, as planned, was right at 100 miles from my house and back again. You can read the 2020 report on the failed attempt HERE. 

This was a "redemption" ride, to finally get that one done. This report will let you know how it all went. I did change up a couple of things this time outside of the route but that did affect the ride. One- I started far earlier and two- I planned better for nutrition. The first attempt failed mostly because I was so amped up about not getting COVID that I forgot to buy food to eat at Vinton. Of course, I bonked. 

This time I took more "on the road food" and I was adamant that I would buy food at Vinton. I also did plan on not eating before I left. I always seem to ride better on an empty stomach, at least for a while, to start out. I planned on stopping about 12 miles in to eat on the road at the corner of Quarry Road and Aker Road. 

Funny, but there isn't a lot to see in the country at night!

The sky was juuuust starting to blush in the East as I took this on Quarry Road.

I also did not take any sort of a computer. I had the route all ready to upload into the Wahoo, and it said it went in, but I could not recall it on the device once I did have it, and what is more, I couldn't find a few other rides that should have been on the device, one or two that were there before. This was discovered mid-week when I did a dry run of my set up. So, I hand wrote my cues, mounted a cue sheet holder, and boom! No worries. (As for Wahoo, and any other GPS, I think I am done with them. More on that in another post)

The other big thing I did was to get up really early and take off. My original plan was to get up at 3:00am. I set an alarm on my phone, but while the app said it was alerting me to wake up, it wasn't. Good thing I woke up on my own at 3:30am. I made it out and was riding by about 4:10am.

Riding at night brings a different sensory vibe. You hear things more keenly, and I noted how there were fewer crickets than usual this year. Probably due to the drought we're in. This drought condition would be a big factor in several ways on this ride. 

"First Breakfast" at the corner was good, and I was moving along at a steady, and a bit slower, pace. Their were no clear "lines" in the gravel, and the Light and Motion light I was using was not a good match for gravel riding as it tended to wash out details and contrasts. I had to keep a firm grasp on the bars to keep the ship pointed in the right direction. 

Headed South, it was getting close to Sunrise.

In the middle of that "S" curve is where Black Hawk County ends and Benton County starts.

The weather was warm, it was still in the low 70's when I got going, and it was very humid. So humid that the moisture condensed on my Rudy Project glasses and my camera lens which then attracted the dust from the roads. This fouled my glasses to the point that they were useless and screwed up a few camera shots until I swiped the lens off. 

There was little wind, which was nice, but what wind there would be was forecast to be out of the North and pretty significant. I was not looking forward to a head wind! 

A super-rare James Greer McQuilken Round Barn on the corner of 52nd St and 11th Ave in Benton County.

A lone silo stands sentinel as the Sunrise is in progress.

It was so humid that I was soaked with a combination of sweat and humidity. I wasn't looking forward to the Sun making things even more uncomfortable. However; as the Sun began to rise it got cooler. The air must have trended drier as well during this time since I started feeling almost too chilly at times, especially in my feet. 

There She is!

There is a very intriguing C Road I wish I could ride down there!

As the Sun came up I saw the roads better and I was able to turn off the light. There were decent lines, but a lot of loose, chunky gravel too. I was starting to battle some issues already before I was 30 miles in. My right trapezius was aching like a son-of-a-gun and I was afraid it might cause me to cut the ride short, but a self-massage while riding seemed to alleviate that to a degree that I forgot about it. 

A fun dirt road and then.....

....A second breakfast at the place I entered the Old Creamery Trail.

I planned a stop at the Old Creamery Tail where I intersected it and that trail is a pea gravel trail which I was to ride all the way East over to Vinton. Here I ate more, took some ibuprofen for the sore muscle, and some electrolyte tabs. Then I was off again on what may have been the most difficult part of the ride for me. 

The Sun made things difficult, but that wasn't the worst of it.

Again, the trail was hard to navigate due to the angle of the Sun when I rode it all the way to Vinton.

While I was able to work the shoulder thing out, I got the "sleepies". I was having a super-hard time staying alert. I ran across a couple joggers that kind of snapped me to for a short while, but I ended up slapping myself, trying to stay awake. Eventually I just had to stop when I found a trailside bench halfway to Vinton out of Garrison. Here I took a brief "cat nap'.

That helped, and I was able to roll into Vinton a little after 8:00am in the morning. I went straight away to Casey's Convenience Store to resupply, and to eat, because I figured that my on-the-road food wasn't cutting it for whatever reason. A slice of breakfast pizza did the trick.

A Monster and a slice-o-pie fixed me right up!

I was pleased at this point and I was about to head out on what I figured would be the hardest part of the route. There would be a headwind and some tough navigation. Plus the Sun would be up and at full steam. Would it get hot and humid? I did not know, but the weather was supposed to be fine. 

Next: "W-V-W" Part 2

The GTDRI Stories; The Pay-Off

Three weeks after the GTDRI in 2016 I was headed to Gravel Worlds

 "The GTDRI Stories" is a series telling the history, untold tales, and showing the sights from the run of Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitationals. This series will run on Sundays. Thanks for reading!

The run-up to riding in a Gravel Worlds for me usually was not a planned one. I rode a bike when I could ride a bike, and because I had obligations to test product and write reviews, often times the focus was not on training. So, typically my efforts at any gravel event were subject to my priorities I had previous to said event. That meant I usually wasn't trained properly, or at all, for any sort of success. 

I had come close to finishing Gravel Worlds before. Within 40 miles twice, and it seemed to me at the time that a bit more than 100 miles was going to be all I'd ever get in. But I kept signing up for stuff and they were all longer rides. I stayed away from Gravel Worlds for three years or so there in the early twenty-teens, but in 2015 I went back and got cooked again. 

2016 was a unique year. I had done a few longer rides in the heat on gravel, because by this point I was doing gravel reviews only, no MTB stuff. I had excuses to ride gravel, and so I was doing just that. Recon for the GTDRI was huge in terms of a build up of miles and endurance. The actual GTDRI was a full-on dress rehearsal for a Gravel Worlds. Even the heat was spot on.
 

Late into the 2016 Gravel Worlds. A shot of me by Kevin Fox.

Even the timing was right. That GTDRI being about three weeks ahead of Gravel Worlds, my "taper" was pre-programmed for me, and that was very fortunate. I did NOT plan any of this. It all just fell into place. But looking back on the success I had at Gravel Worlds in 2016, it is easy to spot how the GTDRI was integral to training fitness and bearing up to the miles that equalled a finish at Gravel Worlds. My only finish!

Another shot of me at the 2016 Gravel Worlds by "Gravel Guru"

I finished alongside my good friend, Tony McGrane.

So, I credit the GTDRI and the preparations for the 11th version of that ride for my only Gravel Worlds finish. Somehow, it all worked out to be just what I needed. to have. I don't think that, had you told me I'd finish Gravel Worlds less than a month later, I would have thought that the GTDRI was a good ride for me as I stood in that ditch waiting to get picked up. But I do believe that now. 

So, in a strange turn of events, the GTDRI stories had to include this successful ride as well, because in my opinion, the eleventh GTDRI is responsible for my success at Gravel Worlds, so the story belongs here. I don't know that I'll ever get that done again, so I always celebrate that success every chance I get now days.

Official finishing patches. This image and the one above are by Kevin Fox.

I'll close this out by relating a story about this Gravel Worlds. I found it very strange at the time, and even now I think it is rather curious, but there was a big to-do amongst some folks there concerning my finish before it happened. Somehow word must have passed after Tony and I left the last checkpoint that were were looking like we'd finish. I say that because we came across Kevin Fox several times and the Gravel Guru even tracked me down for an image. 

It seemed a bit strange because, while I get that many were pulling for me, it seemed a bit over the top for just well-wishing me to a finish. But I could have that all wrong. I just found it a bit strange in that it seemed I was getting a bit of a VIP treatment here. Nice, but strange. 

Next: Things changed

The GTDRI Stories; The Pay-Off

Three weeks after the GTDRI in 2016 I was headed to Gravel Worlds

 "The GTDRI Stories" is a series telling the history, untold tales, and showing the sights from the run of Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitationals. This series will run on Sundays. Thanks for reading!

The run-up to riding in a Gravel Worlds for me usually was not a planned one. I rode a bike when I could ride a bike, and because I had obligations to test product and write reviews, often times the focus was not on training. So, typically my efforts at any gravel event were subject to my priorities I had previous to said event. That meant I usually wasn't trained properly, or at all, for any sort of success. 

I had come close to finishing Gravel Worlds before. Within 40 miles twice, and it seemed to me at the time that a bit more than 100 miles was going to be all I'd ever get in. But I kept signing up for stuff and they were all longer rides. I stayed away from Gravel Worlds for three years or so there in the early twenty-teens, but in 2015 I went back and got cooked again. 

2016 was a unique year. I had done a few longer rides in the heat on gravel, because by this point I was doing gravel reviews only, no MTB stuff. I had excuses to ride gravel, and so I was doing just that. Recon for the GTDRI was huge in terms of a build up of miles and endurance. The actual GTDRI was a full-on dress rehearsal for a Gravel Worlds. Even the heat was spot on.
 

Late into the 2016 Gravel Worlds. A shot of me by Kevin Fox.

Even the timing was right. That GTDRI being about three weeks ahead of Gravel Worlds, my "taper" was pre-programmed for me, and that was very fortunate. I did NOT plan any of this. It all just fell into place. But looking back on the success I had at Gravel Worlds in 2016, it is easy to spot how the GTDRI was integral to training fitness and bearing up to the miles that equalled a finish at Gravel Worlds. My only finish!

Another shot of me at the 2016 Gravel Worlds by "Gravel Guru"

I finished alongside my good friend, Tony McGrane.

So, I credit the GTDRI and the preparations for the 11th version of that ride for my only Gravel Worlds finish. Somehow, it all worked out to be just what I needed. to have. I don't think that, had you told me I'd finish Gravel Worlds less than a month later, I would have thought that the GTDRI was a good ride for me as I stood in that ditch waiting to get picked up. But I do believe that now. 

So, in a strange turn of events, the GTDRI stories had to include this successful ride as well, because in my opinion, the eleventh GTDRI is responsible for my success at Gravel Worlds, so the story belongs here. I don't know that I'll ever get that done again, so I always celebrate that success every chance I get now days.

Official finishing patches. This image and the one above are by Kevin Fox.

I'll close this out by relating a story about this Gravel Worlds. I found it very strange at the time, and even now I think it is rather curious, but there was a big to-do amongst some folks there concerning my finish before it happened. Somehow word must have passed after Tony and I left the last checkpoint that were were looking like we'd finish. I say that because we came across Kevin Fox several times and the Gravel Guru even tracked me down for an image. 

It seemed a bit strange because, while I get that many were pulling for me, it seemed a bit over the top for just well-wishing me to a finish. But I could have that all wrong. I just found it a bit strange in that it seemed I was getting a bit of a VIP treatment here. Nice, but strange. 

Next: Things changed

Fat Tires On Gravel: From Krampus To Gryphon

Does The Gryphon Mk3 Measure Up to The Original Vision? 

In  this series I wanted to bring you along historically and philosophically on my journey towards getting a certain 'flavor' of gravel travel exemplified in a specific type of bicycle. I hope that it has come across to anyone that has read the entire series so far that this bicycle I had envisioned was something that, at first, did not exist. Also, that in some ways, history had to evolve to a point where the vision I had could be realized practically. 

In other words, what I was after was probably, most likely, a very odd thing. That said, I presented this series as a way for anyone else that was curious about my Singular Gryphon Mk3 to understand where I was coming from in regard to my high praise of the bike. 

But does the Gryphon Mk3 do everything I wished for in 2014? Is this "that bike" that I had envisioned back almost ten years ago now. That's where this post comes in. Now, this is not a review on the Gryphon Mk3, I already have done that here: "Country Views: A Gryphon On Gravel " This post will be looking to see if what I thought I was getting into a decade ago has panned out with this bike in 2023 and beyond. 

Okay, so first of all, my thoughts were spurred on to this idea by my exposure to the Surly Krampus. That bike's wheels and tires were what I thought were the story. Those Knards in a 29" X 3" size were amazing tires and whatever wheels that the bike had must have been good enough that the tires shined brightly for me. So, the most important part was that the tires and wheels had to work, or this idea may have never happened, or have been possible to pull off, if say the tire market for big, poofy 29" tires went away. Thankfully, that did not happen.

Heavy tires and wheels killed this idea on this Fargo

The wheels and tires, therefore, were paramount to getting where I wanted to go. Surly 29" X 3" Knards are still listed on the Surly site, but they are hard to find out in the wild. Even the Krampus comes with 2.6" tires now, making that bike "just another hardtail". The magic is in the tire size, and to a somewhat lesser extent, the rim width, so getting those right is very important to this idea. 

The tire couldn't be some knobbed-up, enduro type thing either. That would have killed the idea straight away. The appeal for this idea was based mostly on the Knard's easy roll on gravel and its "farm implement" type flotation capabilities. With choices becoming slim, I was forced to look elsewhere for satisfaction, and especially because the 29 X 3 Knard was becoming a rare bird. 

You might say that the Extraterrestrial is what I was looking for, but Surly only makes that in a 2.5 and it is very heavy. I have a set and I wouldn't have pursued this fat tires on gravel thing any further had those been my only tire choice. 

Of course, I ended up with Teravail's Coronado tires in the 29" X 2.8" size. They are that tire that isn't a full-on enduro knobby, and they seemed to occupy a similar space as do the Knards, but even a bit better in terms of capabilities. The 2.8" size I knew well, from my time on the 27.5" X 2.8" Trailblazers, so I knew that the contact patch of a 29"er would only enhance what I liked about the Trailblazer. Plus, the Coronado comes in a lighter, tan walled version, which was even better for my purposes. 

 A rare type of tire best suited to my purposes.

So, the Coronado was sourced and now I had to decide what to do about wheels. Fortunately for me, I had a set of wheels which was perfect for this platform. Those being what I called my "Project Wide Gravel Wheels v2". Those were built to prove a point, and they did that well, but then I had them sitting around because, well.....they sucked on my gravel bikes. But for this Gryphon idea? The axle standards were perfect for the Gryphon Mk3, a stroke of luck, to be sure, and so they ended up becoming perfect for the tires, being a great width, and certainly a great hubset in the DT Swiss 350's. So, a stellar set of wheels for a big, poofy tire and they actually fit the Gryphon Mk3 as well. It was meant to be!

I cannot stress enough the importance of the wheels and tires which are at the heart of the idea for this bike. But without the right frame and fork, I would be without a completion of the dream. Fortunately for me, Sam Alison of Singular Cycles brought forth the Gryphon Mk3. His decisions were paramount in making this dream of mine come to fruition. The Gryphon's design cues: Eccentric bottom bracket, non-suspension corrected frame, drop bar specific design - These were all critical towards making my vision for fat tires on gravel a reality. 

The frame being made from steel, again, a big deal, but not a "deal killer". I am grateful for Sam's insistence that a frame ride well and look 'classic', as if it was a bike that had been evolved from those lines that form what many of us bicycle nerd types think of when we think of "adventure drop-bar bikes". I mean, it is obvious Sam is onboard with that ideal. Just look at anything the man has produced in terms of design and that is readily apparent. So, the aesthetics of the Gryphon Mk3 were appealing to me as well. 

 So, it all came together and it just worked. I had that similar feeling as I once had with the Fat Fargo, but now I had 29"er wheels and tires, not the momentum-sapping 27.5"ers. I had a very comfortable riding position. Not "sit up and beg", like a newer Fargo, but lower. Not so low that I would tire of being in an aero position too long, as with my Noble, or Tamland Two, which have pretty low stack heights for a gravel bike. Those bikes have their place, but I was looking at something that would do a trick those bikes couldn't do, and we are not concerned with aero so much here. I mean, the fat tires kind of took care of that, didn't they? Yes. 

No, this is the bike that will do those days when the gravel is very fresh and chunky and will smooth out the ride. It is the bike I hope to be on when flotation is king. Sand, really loose terrain, or even mild snowy conditions fit that idea. 

Is this "that bike" then which I was wanting? I will say that it has been better than I expected it might be so far. Obviously, it is still pretty new to me, and also obviously I haven't had the opportunities to test every bit of the idea I had envisioned so long ago now. 

But I have a good feeling that this bicycle is that bicycle.

That brings this series to a conclusion, for the time being, but look for periodic updates to occur as situations allow. And as always- Thank You For Reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Fat Tires On Gravel: From Krampus To Gryphon

Does The Gryphon Mk3 Measure Up to The Original Vision? 

In  this series I wanted to bring you along historically and philosophically on my journey towards getting a certain 'flavor' of gravel travel exemplified in a specific type of bicycle. I hope that it has come across to anyone that has read the entire series so far that this bicycle I had envisioned was something that, at first, did not exist. Also, that in some ways, history had to evolve to a point where the vision I had could be realized practically. 

In other words, what I was after was probably, most likely, a very odd thing. That said, I presented this series as a way for anyone else that was curious about my Singular Gryphon Mk3 to understand where I was coming from in regard to my high praise of the bike. 

But does the Gryphon Mk3 do everything I wished for in 2014? Is this "that bike" that I had envisioned back almost ten years ago now. That's where this post comes in. Now, this is not a review on the Gryphon Mk3, I already have done that here: "Country Views: A Gryphon On Gravel " This post will be looking to see if what I thought I was getting into a decade ago has panned out with this bike in 2023 and beyond. 

Okay, so first of all, my thoughts were spurred on to this idea by my exposure to the Surly Krampus. That bike's wheels and tires were what I thought were the story. Those Knards in a 29" X 3" size were amazing tires and whatever wheels that the bike had must have been good enough that the tires shined brightly for me. So, the most important part was that the tires and wheels had to work, or this idea may have never happened, or have been possible to pull off, if say the tire market for big, poofy 29" tires went away. Thankfully, that did not happen.

Heavy tires and wheels killed this idea on this Fargo

The wheels and tires, therefore, were paramount to getting where I wanted to go. Surly 29" X 3" Knards are still listed on the Surly site, but they are hard to find out in the wild. Even the Krampus comes with 2.6" tires now, making that bike "just another hardtail". The magic is in the tire size, and to a somewhat lesser extent, the rim width, so getting those right is very important to this idea. 

The tire couldn't be some knobbed-up, enduro type thing either. That would have killed the idea straight away. The appeal for this idea was based mostly on the Knard's easy roll on gravel and its "farm implement" type flotation capabilities. With choices becoming slim, I was forced to look elsewhere for satisfaction, and especially because the 29 X 3 Knard was becoming a rare bird. 

You might say that the Extraterrestrial is what I was looking for, but Surly only makes that in a 2.5 and it is very heavy. I have a set and I wouldn't have pursued this fat tires on gravel thing any further had those been my only tire choice. 

Of course, I ended up with Teravail's Coronado tires in the 29" X 2.8" size. They are that tire that isn't a full-on enduro knobby, and they seemed to occupy a similar space as do the Knards, but even a bit better in terms of capabilities. The 2.8" size I knew well, from my time on the 27.5" X 2.8" Trailblazers, so I knew that the contact patch of a 29"er would only enhance what I liked about the Trailblazer. Plus, the Coronado comes in a lighter, tan walled version, which was even better for my purposes. 

 A rare type of tire best suited to my purposes.

So, the Coronado was sourced and now I had to decide what to do about wheels. Fortunately for me, I had a set of wheels which was perfect for this platform. Those being what I called my "Project Wide Gravel Wheels v2". Those were built to prove a point, and they did that well, but then I had them sitting around because, well.....they sucked on my gravel bikes. But for this Gryphon idea? The axle standards were perfect for the Gryphon Mk3, a stroke of luck, to be sure, and so they ended up becoming perfect for the tires, being a great width, and certainly a great hubset in the DT Swiss 350's. So, a stellar set of wheels for a big, poofy tire and they actually fit the Gryphon Mk3 as well. It was meant to be!

I cannot stress enough the importance of the wheels and tires which are at the heart of the idea for this bike. But without the right frame and fork, I would be without a completion of the dream. Fortunately for me, Sam Alison of Singular Cycles brought forth the Gryphon Mk3. His decisions were paramount in making this dream of mine come to fruition. The Gryphon's design cues: Eccentric bottom bracket, non-suspension corrected frame, drop bar specific design - These were all critical towards making my vision for fat tires on gravel a reality. 

The frame being made from steel, again, a big deal, but not a "deal killer". I am grateful for Sam's insistence that a frame ride well and look 'classic', as if it was a bike that had been evolved from those lines that form what many of us bicycle nerd types think of when we think of "adventure drop-bar bikes". I mean, it is obvious Sam is onboard with that ideal. Just look at anything the man has produced in terms of design and that is readily apparent. So, the aesthetics of the Gryphon Mk3 were appealing to me as well. 

 So, it all came together and it just worked. I had that similar feeling as I once had with the Fat Fargo, but now I had 29"er wheels and tires, not the momentum-sapping 27.5"ers. I had a very comfortable riding position. Not "sit up and beg", like a newer Fargo, but lower. Not so low that I would tire of being in an aero position too long, as with my Noble, or Tamland Two, which have pretty low stack heights for a gravel bike. Those bikes have their place, but I was looking at something that would do a trick those bikes couldn't do, and we are not concerned with aero so much here. I mean, the fat tires kind of took care of that, didn't they? Yes. 

No, this is the bike that will do those days when the gravel is very fresh and chunky and will smooth out the ride. It is the bike I hope to be on when flotation is king. Sand, really loose terrain, or even mild snowy conditions fit that idea. 

Is this "that bike" then which I was wanting? I will say that it has been better than I expected it might be so far. Obviously, it is still pretty new to me, and also obviously I haven't had the opportunities to test every bit of the idea I had envisioned so long ago now. 

But I have a good feeling that this bicycle is that bicycle.

That brings this series to a conclusion, for the time being, but look for periodic updates to occur as situations allow. And as always- Thank You For Reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Friday News And Views

Limited edition Japhy. Image by Jason Boucher (Courtesy of Esker Cycles)

Limited Edition Japhy Announced By Esker:

This lovely lavender hard tail bike came across my inbox  on Monday from Esker. They have a special coating in this hue and a special component package for a limited run of bikes.

Dubbed "Shredkote", the Cerakote ceramic finish is very thin and super-durable. I've written about Cerakote before. You can learn more there at the link if you care to.

The bike is tied together by a collaboration with MRP on a "Shredkoted" Raven fork. The bike has clearance for 29" X 2.8" tires and features Esker's "Portage" drop outs. There are only 10 that will be made in this hue and spec, so check it out HERE. The proce is listed at $3.450.00.

Comments: The Japhy is the bike Salsa should have made as the El Mariachi v3. But....they didn't. That's okay because Esker has done it and this bike would rank highly as one I'd want to throw a leg over for mountain biking. Bonus for me as far as this presser goes is that my friend Jason Boucher took the images for this special release. Nice! Congrats Jason on the stellar images.

5DEV cranks. (Image courtesy of 5DEV)

5DEV Expands Range Of Titanium Cranksets:

Relatively new player, 5DEV, who CNC machine titanium into beautiful cranksets and stems, has announced an expansion of choices for their wares. 

The cranksets will be available for Enduro, DH, MTB, gravel, fatbikes, and road bikes in the following lengths: 155, 165, 167.5, 170, 172.5 and 157.5 for eCranks.

The prices will range from $1,399.00 - $1,499.00 a set.

5DEV parts are made in San Diego, California. 

Comments: Titanium can be lighter for frames and components, but the appeal to me has always been corrosion resistance and the ease of maintenance in terms of the finish. What immediately pops out for me here is the fatbike/gravel bike uses when the bike doubles as a commuter/road bike in Winter. Corrosion resistance is a sought after trait, in my view, since Winter roads can eat aluminum components and corrode steel like caterpillar on a leafy green plant. Whatever the heck chemical soup the State uses now is pure evil for bikes. Titanium resists that devil and it flees from its presence. (But the State needs to ditch that evil mixture ASAP anyway) 

An example of Cris King's new Splash: (Image courtesy of Chris King )

Chris King Precision Components Announces New "Splash" Colorway:

Chris King announced on Tuesday that they have a new annodization process which allows for a base color and a "splash" of a contrasting color. This has resulted in their new Splash component offerings. 

Using a bronze-like base color the components feature a bright splash of turquoise color. 

Available in all their components, the new Splash components will be a limited release with only 50 of each component being made. The colorway will be released in Chris King pre-built wheels as well. 

Comments: Good thing Chris King keeps finding ways to reinvent anodizing. It practically is the only thing the company has done to stay relevant in the market place. Sure, the components are really good, but somehow the company's products seem to be less desirable. Maybe that's an impression of mine that misses the mark. Let me know....

This new "Splash" thing? For myself it seems to be the analog to 1980's crackle-finish Super-Strat guitars. (Throws the horns and bobs head) 

Image from 2014 Eurobike courtesy of Frank B.

Wheel Size Causes Consternation Amongst Certain Riders:

Wednesday's post on the new 750D gravel wheels was received with some familiar negativity from certain sectors of the cycling cognoscenti. This was very reminiscent of the push-back seen when 29 inch MTB wheels were proposed in 1999. (YES! It's been 24 years now!)

Ironically the same individual and company is responsible for both wheel sizes to be in existence now. That said, like many ideas in bicycling, or overall, for that matter, this bigger wheel has a similar predecessor. I was forwarded an Italian magazine article from 2014 which showed a 750 sized wheel which was proposed as a wheel which one could swap into a 29"er frame and use as a road riding wheel set. It was also implicated as a possible road bike solution for taller riders. (Thanks to reader "Frank B" for that info!)

Note that this happened before "gravel" became a thing worldwide. The image says the overall diameter of the wheel and the tire is 740mm, so this was called "750" by the developers of the idea. I have no further technical data to share, but the wheels were never commercially available. 

It just goes to show you that cycling companies are always thinking of some way that they can entice you to part with your dollars, and hopefully, at the same time, provide riders with a tangible benefit.

That's a wrap for this week. September is on the doorstep! get out and ride while you can!