Some Things I Am Thinking About

I put short-ish cranks on last year.

 It's Winter. Not much of a chance for longer country rides. With the lack of snow, fat biking went out the window as well. So, I've been left with sitting around more than I'd care to and thinking. 

Dangerous activity, I know, but here are a few things I've been thinking about recently which I may or may not delve into further in 2026.  

No particular order here, just a few things I thought I'd share. 

Shorter Cranks: I've been intrigued by this idea over the past year or so. I put on a set of 170mm cranks on my Raleigh Tamland Two last year to try something out which I had not done before. 170mm may not seem "short", I understand, but this is where I was willing to start. If it was somewhat worse than 172.5mm, (my preferred gravel length up until this point), then it couldn't be that much worse. However, say I went with 165mm cranks and did not like them. Well.......

I guess so far I seem to feel a difference in a positive way running 170mm cranks. So, I could see trying 165mm cranks on a gravel bike. Thing is, I am not into 12 and 13 speed drive trains, and well..... Maybe I could set up something in 11 speed, I just have not looked that hard yet. Something I'm still thinking about.... 

Singular Albatross 32"er prototype. Image courtesy of Singular Cycles.

32'er Bikes: So, I've been interested in this entire development on the 32"er platform. Not so much from a mountain biking perspective, but from a gravel riding one.

Of course, no one else seems to be onboard with this idea, so all the prototyping and testing has been centered around off-road type equipment.  

32" seems a no-brainer from a gravel riding perspective to me though. Momentum of those bigger wheels has to be a factor in being able to carry more speed over the rollers here. Additionally the longer tire contact patch will be something which will make vibrations less, and make the bike more stable on fast, loose gravel descents. 

I know MG is getting one of these bikes to try out, and he will probably try it on gravel. I cannot wait to hear his take on this. Until then, I will be dreaming of a drop bar set up for gravel and 32"ers. 

Maybe someday....

Clik Valve

Clik Valve vs BBB CoreCap: Inflation in terms of cycling is a good thing. You know.....for your tires? I know people are keen on this subject bcause of the number of hits I got covering Clik Valve last year. 

I really like the system. It is SUPER easy to use, and otherwise is no issue at all. Yes - You have to have a proper Clik Valve pump head to enjoy all the benefits of Clik Valve. So, in this way, it is a big commitment. 

A competing valve standard has arisen promising big airflow, less clogged valves, and ease of use. It is from BBB and is called CoreCap. 

CoreCap utilizes the Schrader compatibility you already have and is a system which simply replaces a removable Presta valve core. Simple. Could be a winner. 

I can see the benefits from a tubeless user's standpoint. I do not see it as being "easier" to use, because Clik Valve is so stupidly easy to use it would take a miracle to beat it out in terms of ease of usage. However; the standard does require a change which many people will balk at. (Note: You can inflate a Clik Valve equipped tire with a standard pump. You just lose the ease of use.) 

You can read more about the BBB CoreCap on my blogging compatriot's site HERE. Muddy Moles will be testing these out soon, so keep abreast of his updates, or just visit his blog. I have it linked in the right sidebar on this page. 

That's about it from my brain dump today! More thinkering (if the Winter drags on) to come.  

Four Years Down The Road

Working on a 1992 Shimano shifter

This week marks my 4th year of working at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. This has been an amazing job so far and I thought it might be good to tell the story of how this job has changed me and how much the Collective has changed since I've been there. 

December 2021. Andy, the owner of Andy's Bike Shop, where I had been working for a short time, told me the pandemic and how the economics of the time were crushing his ability to stay afloat. He was going to cut the cord before things got out of hand financially and so, I was out of a job. At the time I was a 60 year old man with no apparent future employment. 

I know everyone has their struggles, and maybe you are reading this and thinking this is not a big deal. I will tell you for me, it was a big deal. I had saved a bit to get through a Winter I knew I wouldn't be working, since this was how Andy had handled the Winter of '20/'21, but after the money would run out, what then? I was in a bit of a pickle.

Lots of options were considered. Worse case scenario, I could go work at a convenience store. However; I was not wanting to work customer-facing retail anymore after doing that most of my life. However; if needs be, then I was willing. Thankfully, this wasn't my course in life. 

A stop-gap money-making opportunity arose at a local moving company. I knew one of the secretaries there and she hooked me up with a "cash under the table" part timer gig helping movers there. This wasn't 'small time' moving bits and things, this was serious, big time moving. Large diesel trucks, huge wooden shipping crates, military home moves, and lots of heavy lifting. I was called up about once every two weeks to fill in when employees missed time or if they had a need for extra hands. 

Let me tell you - moving stuff is a young man's job. It was very physically demanding work, but I was glad for the pay and it helped me and my family out tremendously. Then another opportunity arose which I found out about via a friend. N.Y. Roll indicated a bicycle related job might have an opening and he encouraged me to apply. It was at a non-profit, something I had little knowledge about, but if bicycles were part of the gig, I was in. By mid-January of 2022 I had secured employment at the Collective. 

What cannot be used again gets recycled responsibly

When I started the shop was still "closed" due to the pandemic. Over the past two years before I arrived the shop had not allowed much, if any, public access. The place was a shambles as a result of previous mismanagement and carelessness due to the situation. I was tasked with a massive clean-up, rearranging, and restoring of the place to be operational and a functional contributing entity in the community. 

I guess most people would have assessed the place as having been overrun by junk. I cannot argue with the statement, as there were things being saved which not only were unnecessary for the Collective, but were things taking up huge amounts of space and making clutter. It was mind-boggling. 

There were lots of trips to the recycler, sorting, arranging, and storing of parts we were going to keep. There was a ton of organizational stuff from a programs point of view which I had to wade through, but I had a job! And it was something which was turning in a way I hadn't foreseen. 

I was finding out all about the people you just don't see in a city. The underprivileged, the forgotten, the needy, and destitute. People who lived on the margins of society. I became acquainted with several of these people. Some have become friends. Some have died and are missed. 

Then there were the immigrants, the forgotten veterans of our military, and just people in need. Transportation is critical and bicycles are cheap and readily available. Thanks to donations from the community I am able to be a part of something which helps these folks get moving, be able to get to jobs, and make appointments on time. This part of my job has been extremely gratifying and I wasn't ready for it when I took the job four years ago. 

A volunteer tear-down day where we disassemble bikes for parts and scrap.

I've been able to get volunteer days going utilizing people from the local John Deere plant to help tear down bicycles for scrap and parts harvesting. I've been able to meet a lot of nice folks through this program. I also have been able to assist children's programs by way of bicycle checks and bicycle rodeos. It's been a lot of fun.

Besides this, I have been able to visit a couple of other non-profit bicycle related shops in Ames and Des Moines, while also meeting people from other Collectives. It has been eye-opening, for sure, to have been hired four years ago by the Collective here. 

And one of the best parts is this is not retail. It makes what I am doing 100% different and far more fulfilling. This is the best job I've ever had and I look forward to working the three days I work a week. 

There is a lot more to this job than I have space or time to write about here, but this should give you all a taste of what it is I do for a job these days. I highly encourage anyone interested in this sort of effort to contact your local bicycle related non-profit and if you do not have a local one, maybe start one. It really makes a big difference in a lot of people's lives. 

A Look At Events For 2026

Well, it seems every year I have written up a post concerning what I am going to be planning for in terms of events for the year. A few things have changed since last year and I have a couple of things I want to accomplish before next Winter on the bike. 

Keep in mind this is a list of plans. Many times our plans do not work out. I am no exception to the rule. So, while I may have a strong desire to do the events I am about to list, it doesn't mean it will happen. 

Okay, with the disclaimer out there saying I am not 100% in charge of the future, here we go with what I have on my plate for 2026 in terms of gravel events. 

Leading up to April my goal is to just put in some decent, three to four hour rides weekly. This should get me into riding shape. I do not plan on doing any events, but I may crack off a longer ride if the weather and timing lines up. We will see. My main focus will be just getting out there. 

The "big" deal this year will hopefully be this Legends Of Gravel ride in April down in the Flint Hills of Kansas. 

Once again, in case you haven't heard of this, here is a link to a post about this ride.  

I will also add again the fact that I am not in charge of the organizing nor do I have any influence on how this ride is set up. I was asked to come, (along with certain others) so the ride is named what it is named because of this. 

Link to registration:  https://www.bikereg.com/legends-of-gravel

Once I get beyond this point in the year I have to bring focus to what the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective is doing. May and June are the busiest months there, and extracurricular events are at their height during this point in the season for the organization. Due to these things, I am not considering any events during those times, especially since I am taking off time in April from my job there already. 

This means things like a planned bike packing trip around West Central Nebraska I was invited to are not in the cards for me. It was a nice thing to have included me in the invitation, but I just cannot leave people hanging who are depending upon my participation. Further,ore, being on a limited income, I cannot afford the time off either.  

At some point in July or August I will be doing another ride in honor of my son, Jacob Stevenson. This will get announced when I see a time window for the ride maybe in June. I want to do around a metric to maybe a full century ride on a course somewhat local to Waterloo. 

Details will be fine tuned as the Spring and Summer go along, but this is an important ride for me and I will make GT's Ride For Jacob happen. Worst case scenario is I do it alone on a weekday when I am off work, because typically Saturdays I have to work. But this is all yet to be determined. 

Then the only other thing I am committing to is the Virtual Turkey Burn Challenge in November. Other than this idea, I probably will end up doing something with N.Y. Roll at some point during the year, but we haven't had any discussions on an idea, and it remains to be seen if we do or if we do not do a ride like the Tree In The Road Ride we did last year. 

Besides those ideas, I just want to focus on getting outside, riding as much as I can, and having fun. I don't need for, want to do, or have much interest in attending the "big organized rides" like Unbound, Gravel Worlds, or Mid South again. I'd rather ride for an adventure, and in other places, than do those things over and over again. 

And that's about it. So, nothing hugely exciting here, but if I get to ride all of what I have outlined here it will be a big year of riding for me. I do not expect it all to happen though, except for the ones I have stated I really want to do, (really only a few), and if this is all I get in, well that'd be great too. 

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Poof! Just Like That!

Current state of the Fargo Gen I

 Since the Ride For Jacob on my Fargo Gen I, I haven't ridden the bike much. I wanted to make a couple of changes first. Now that the two main things I wanted to do have been taken care of, I can share the outcome with you all here. 

The first order of business was to swap out the 180mm XT crank set for the 175mm crank set seen in the image here. I also wanted to swap wheel and tires, but this took a strange turn recently. 

See, I did not have any tires I was jazzed about using. Plus, I thought I really wanted a fancy wheel set for this bicycle. I'd be talking about hundreds of dollars just to satisfy a whim. In other words, I could not really afford to do this just now and I did not have anything by way of tires in mind at all. 

A week ago, on Monday, a dear reader of this blog donated a bunch of items to the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. One of those items was a set of tires. 700c X 2.2", to be exact. A size we at the Collective would probably rarely - if ever - use in the next year or two. Instead of having these two tires just sit around taking up space, I purchased them. 

The tires? Ironically they are Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires in the Endurance casing. They had been used, for sure, but they were in very good condition otherwise. Now, all I needed was a wheel set. I barely have any quick release wheels anymore these days! 

But I identified a set which came on my Raleigh Tamland Two. They are not real heavy, but they are not lightweight either. Not in terms of what is out there now which one could purchase. So anyway, I set up the Fleecer Ridge tires with a WTB TPU tube in the rear and a standard butyl tube up front. Now it was time for a test ride. 

First thing I noticed was the vibrations these tires produce. I could feel it everywhere- saddle, pedals, handlebar. I set the tires up at 30psi and was riding in 40° temperatures. The Fleecers rode fast on pavement but on my gravel sections it was tough since we had an inch and a third of rain. This made the tires cut into the surface on unpaved, gravelly bits. 

I decided the unpaved areas were too soft to really get a read on the tires, so I bailed and hit the City side streets. About a mile from the house I heard a "pfffft-ssssssshhhhhheeeeeeeah.  

Poof! Just like that. A flat tire!

See anything missing here? (Check area around where the arrow is pointing)

 Okay. Great...... I cannot remember the last time I had a flat tire. Was it the tire? The TPU tube? I didn't know, but the irony of what I have said about Rene Herse tires was not lost on me in the moment. I turned around and took the walk of shame, a mile back to the house. 

Once I was home I took the wheel off, peeled back the tire, and started pulling the TPU tube out. I figured I would make a mental note of the relationship between the valve stem and the hot patch of the tire as I pulled the TPU tube out. Then suddenly I noted something. 

There was no valve stem!

Upon further investigation it was apparent the plastic valve broke off at the very bottom of the base of the TPU/valve instantaneously dumping all the air out of my tube. It was a failure of the TPU tube, not the Fleecer Ridge tires. 

Phew!

So, this was good news. Now I am not too impressed with the WTB TPU tube, I will say that. Note: There was no valve nut to force too much pressure, pulling the valve apart because the plastic valve is not threaded. This wasn't cut by the rim, because it was obvious the plastic was broken down inside that sheath you see still protruding out of the TPU material. It was an irregular, crystalline looking break. 

No, this was a failure of the material. So, a new thing for me. I've never seen anything like this before. It is but another reason I think TPU tubes need mechanically connected, aluminum threaded valve stems. I think TPU tubes are really great, and I will continue to use them, but these early efforts at TPU product are not without some growing pains. 

On the other hand, later on I remembered hearing something, (maybe a stick?) , tinkle through the rear wheel not long before the valve stem failed. Maybe whatever that was knocked the valve stem? It is a possibility, if what I heard was what I thought I heard. I did not stop or verify this, as things like this happen all the time and unless I feel resistance in the drive train I tend to let things like this go uninvestigated or at least they are of little concern. 

N.Y. Roll said to me on the phone when I was telling him this story that he was glad I was taking these chances so he could learn from my misfortunes. 

Hey! Someone has to do the testing! 

The 32" Watch: Forks Are Coming!

Image forwarded to me. Originally from Rich Dillen

 Back when 29"ers were being developed one of the big stumbling blocks to their acceptance was the availability of suspension forks. "Real" suspension from one of the big brands like Fox or Rock Shox were seemingly vaporware. 

Yes, there were efforts by Marzocchi, White Brothers, and there were modified Manitou forks, but no "real" high performance choice existed until 2005 when Rock Shox released the Reba 29. Fox followed two years later, and then 29"ers were basically on the map to stay.  

Keep in mind 29"ers first hit bike shops in 2001/2002. The wait took a few years, but the forks eventually did come. This will seemingly not be the case for the 32" wheel. 

A reader of this blog, who himself is possibly acquiring a 32"er, sent me the image shown here of what looks like a modified Manitou fork said to fit a 32" wheel application. Ironically it was a modified Manitou fork which Gary Fisher used on an early 29"er which became famous as one of the first suspended 29'ers. 

Rich Dillen's 32"er. (Image from Dillen's social media)

 My source also told me there is a 32" Fox fork in the works as well. This means a couple of things. (1) 32"ers are a legitimate choice, at least in the short term, for an off-road bicycle. (2) It means OE brands are ordering this product to put on future 32"ers from well a well known brand or perhaps several brands. It probably also points to development of a 32"er fork from SRAM, especially if the Fox rumor is true. 

Whatever happens, it does appear there will be an accelerated timeline for 32"ers versus the 29"er and its early development. My guess? You'll see mainstream branded 32"ers by late Summer. I would bet Sea Otter will be rife with these things in April. 

Stay tuned..... 

A Follow-Up On The Make-A-Wish Post

 Earlier in the week I posted a list of wishes for the 2026 cycling season and I invited you, the readers, to chime in with any suggestions for wishes. I did get a few great ideas, and so I wanted to share those here in this follow-up post. 

I'll post these in no particular order, but I will say I think these ideas for wishes from my readers are brilliant. So, settle in for some thought provoking suggestions from the audience! 

Plastic Packaging: In an industry which prides itself on health benefits and being "green", you'd think we'd have eliminated waste in packaging. Especially plastic waste. But while things have gotten better in some areas, we've still a long, long way to go. 

Cardboard is being leveraged to be more versatile in packaging, and this has been a great development. However, when you receive a part from an online cycling retailer and it has several folds of those air-pocket packing materials in plastic, you have to just shake your head in despair.

Probably the worst offender here is new bicycle packaging. I know some companies are making an effort to reduce plastic packing materials, but a new bike generates a boatload of waste in the form of plastic zip ties, plastic sheet and coatings on components, and wheel/drop out protection. Not to mention the sheer amount of zip-loc type baggies you can accrue while building a bicycle.  

I agree with this idea. The bicycle and aftermarket retail segments need to do better here.  

Shimano Parallax hub set. (Image poached from the internet)

Serviceable, High-Quality Hubs: In terms of new bicycles for recreational and enthusiasts, many times companies use inferior, cheaper hubs, (and many other components not usually noticed by consumers). This causes issues when these hubs let in moisture and dirt. Many times these hubs are over-adjusted from the factory. They typically slip by in the build process at bike shops and big box retailers because adjusting bearings takes time. Accountants don't like it when labor costs are high. Then again, try finding an assembler who even has the slightest idea how to adjust cup and cone bearings. Between those two things, these cheap, cup and cone hubs can become quite a liability to the owner of any bicycle equipped with them. 

On top of this, parts to service these hubs are usually not available. Due to how many bicycles do not get ridden much, harvesting these hard to get bits at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective usually nets me a score when I am overhauling a Far East manufactured hub. Thanks to our generous donations we get, I can keep these hubs rolling. But this isn't the case everywhere. 

So, why not just make nice, decent quality Shimano Parallax hubs forever? The tooling can remain the same. Make some decent amount of replacement parts for service shops, and boom! Use these on every entry level to mid-tier bike with QR type drop outs. And then make through axle variants. 

Silver Components: While some efforts have been made to release limited edition ($$$!) silver and polished components recently, there are no really great options for riders looking for silver finished components. 

Obviously, how the stuff works is most important, and looks come second, or third, or.... But the point is, all this black, industrial design non-sense is not beautiful. And bicycles used to be an art-form. Now days, with the focus on aero, carbon fiber, and performance above all else, we have descended into making bicycles with a techno-edginess which, to be honest, is a bit dehumanizing and uninspiring.  

I'm not asking for a ban on black anodized components, or black fishes on components, but look at an original 1992 XTR group,, or any older road groups in a brand's top range, and tell me it is ugly. You cannot. It is beautiful stuff. A SRAM RED AXS crank looks like something spat out of a digital machine, rendering it with no line or surface worth caressing with the eye. You simply just ride the thing into oblivion and spend exorbitant amounts of cash to buy a new chain ring set when it wears out. Soul-sucking, it is. 

 On Shimano CUES: Someone also brought up Shimano CUES in the comments in the post from earlier in the week. While it was an interesting concept, Shimano kept this group-set idea from being great by manufacturing most of its bits for the group at an Acera/Alivio type level. 

This was not what I was hoping for when it was introduced. I was hoping it would be a forged alloy component line with compatibility with all legacy shifters and derailleurs. But Shimano went with a more entry-level approach and then saddled consumers with having no options outside of its ecosystem due to Shimano's choice to make the cable pull ratio specific to CUES.  

So, CUES, while interesting, is "not quite it" when it comes to a group which could have had a major influence in the used bicycle market, OE entry to mid level bikes, and with enthusiasts who want to tinker with bicycles. Instead Shimano made it a closed system and the air was sucked out of the room because of this.  

So, I wish Shimano would reconsider their philosophy in regard to CUES and redesign it with more upscale, all-aluminum bits with an eye to versatility and compatibility with older Shimano parts.  

As always, thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions. If you'd like to comment on any of this, please leave a comment in the comment section.  

Friday News And Views

Image posted by an account "John_Doe" on X social media.

 Rumored Cannondale CAAD14:

Rumors and images have been swirling across the internet of late showing what is purportedly the next CAAD road bike. Cannondale is notable for perpetuating aluminum frame racing bikes, despite everyone else's fascination with carbon fiber, (which Cannondale also does, admittedly).  

Interesting features being discussed online are the return to traditional seat stays, rumored 32mm tire clearances, and fully integrated cabling.  

Comments: I'm not a roadie, far from it. I don't typically show road bikes in this space. However; I found this interesting as it is an example of some classic design cues being seen as "refreshing" in comparison to what is seen on offer from many other brands.  

Are riders being drawn toward classic looks while also desiring modern touches? Perhaps this is what has been missed by other brands who are chasing aero and showing sloping top tube frame design as being what is "cutting edge". Perhaps people are missing bicycles that look like.....bicycles? The only thing missing here is silver componentry. 

What do you think of this?  

Calvin Jones. Image courtesy of Park Tool

Director of Education At Park Tool, Calvin Jones To Retire:

Perhaps you've seen this man's face before. No wonder, as Calvin Jones has become "the face" of Park Tool over the past couple of decades. 

Jone's videos have become a staple resource for home mechanics, bike shop employees, and others interested in knowing how bicycles work over his 28 year tenure as Park Tools' Director of Education. Known for his clear, concise explanations of typical repairs, his video legacy will live on bearing witness to his valuable contributions. 

Jones will still be involved in some Park Tool videos and educational efforts, but he says in Park Tools announcement he plans of doing more riding and will be a contributor to local cycling efforts. 

Comments: Congratulations, Mr. Jones! What a career and your contributions to cycling will always be treasured. In some ways, Calvin Jones is the video equivalent to Sheldon Brown, who if he had lived long enough, would have surely been a staple of You Tube as well. Between those two icons of bicycle mechanics, you should be able to accomplish most any typical bicycle repair. 

Image courtesy of Sam Alison/Singular Cycles

The 32"er Watch: Singular Cycles Albatross:

 Sam Alison of Singular Cycles dropped a few images of the new 32"er bicycle he is testing and planning on releasing later this year in a limited drop. Dubbed the "Albatross" for now, this bike is a 32 inch wheeled MTB design. 

 In the comments on the post seen on Facebook, Sam had a few interesting things to say about the bike's performance and ideal rider size. 

 "The most obvious and immediately noticeable thing is just how well they roll and carry speed. The momentum over rough ground is really quite incredible. 

Climbing traction is also pretty insane..... The long stays, low BB and long contact patch combine to get up just about anything. 

 Of course, it's a big old bike and they are some huge wheels, so you do definitely notice the gyroscopic effect - turn initiation is definitely slower. Practically speaking I think riders will need to be > 6'/183cm for these to make sense."

Sam stated he would have rolling chassis available "soon" for pre-order with delivery hopefully this Spring. Look for details on Singular Cycles site, or reported here soon. 

Image courtesy of SRAM 

SRAM Files Patents For Gear Box E-Bike Drive Train Sans Derailleurs:

Some patent images have been making the rounds on the internet of late showing a drive train system utilizing a gear box. This has been met with interest and with some saying "derailleurs are dead!" Well......maybe for electrified bikes. Which, when you consider the slow evolution of these toward becoming electric motorcycles, makes all the sense in the world.  

By the way, in another, separate filing by SRAM, they have revealed they are playing around with wireless -sans hoses and cables - type brakes. 

Yeah....no.  

Comments: Of course, you might guess this will be all integrated into SRAM's AXS protocol for electronics with a likely addition of automatic shifting. I'd say that is quite likely. 

With weight being less an issue with this type of bicycle, (ahem!), if we can call this a bicycle anymore, you will also probably see automatically adjustable suspension as well. Simply plug in your weight, riding style, and  the bike will self-adjust. Then, to activate your "ride", simply start pedaling at whatever cadence and power you want, and the bike will self-adjust to this input with gearing and power assist adjustments. All you have to do is hang on, guide the bike down the correct course, and be able to use brakes. 

Or you could just play video games. Your choice. 

Honestly, this development isn't surprising, or even shocking. But it probably will be expensive. Yeah.....I'm pretty sure about it. 

Image courtesy of Brembo

Motorsports Brake Giant, Brembo, To Enter DH Bicycle Competition:

Brembo, a name more familiar to F1 and NASCAR aficionados, has released news concerning their partnership with Specialized Bicycles in their DH racing program. 

Brembo will supply braking systems with prototype designs exclusively for the team for now. There was no indication the company will begin production of OE or aftermarket brake systems, but one might assume this is in the cards for the future. 

Featuring 18mm pistons with thermal insulators for heat management, the calipers and levers are both DH specific. Braided steel lines connect the two components in the system. Interestingly, Brembo runs their rotor spokes in the opposite orientation than every other bicycle rotor for disc brakes. Their claim is this is how motorcycle rotors are oriented and causes the rotors to work under tension instead of compression. 

Comments: Interesting development. My take is this is Brembo's dress rehearsal for entering the electric bicycle market. I could be wrong, but this makes more sense than a general entry onto bicycle disc brake systems, since DH is a very demanding category on par with demands for electrified bikes which are heavier and need more powerful brakes. 

So, while it is not out of the realm of possibilities, I do not foresee gravel bikes getting Brembo brakes anytime soon. Perhaps I will be proven wrong, but at any rate, it is an interesting development.  

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Get outside and ride those bicycles!

Two Things

 Twin Six Standard Rando v2 Fixed Gear Impressions:

Well, I haven't been out in the country yet, and I am loathe to remove the studded tires, but I have several shorter rides now on this bike. I thought I would share how it turned out with you all.

First, I added some fenders and this brought up an issue with the fork I wanted to highlight. The carbon fork I went with has a radius curvature inside the crown which isn't very compatible with fenders. It slopes inward too much and prevents one from "tucking" the fender up as high as needs be to clearance 700c rubber, at least in larger sizes like the 38mm tires I have. 

So, instead of using the full-metal fender on the front as I have in the rear, I grabbed an old metal-core, plastic Hard Core model from Planet Bike and truncated the fender just behind where it would have passed under the fork crown. A simple hacksaw job and a bit of file work later and I had all the protection I really need and tire clearance for me 38mm Gravdal studded tires. There were no issues whatsoever with mounting the rear fender. 

Okay, but the ride. How does it do as a fixed gear bike? Well, I think I was spot on with my feelings concerning the frame being stiff enough to handle the high-torque riding fixed gear riding can dole out to a frame. It does not flex in a perceptible way. It feels very solid, and rides like it always had, which is to say not the greatest in smoothness! I'm super happy I went with a ShockStop stem! Of course, studded tires are not known as "great riding tires" either. 

The gearing.... Ooof! At first I was really worried this was a mistake 39T x 16T is around a 68" gear. However; I was riding the T-6 home from work on Monday evening and it is almost all uphill. Some at a fair steep grade. I found keeping the speed up and cranking smoothly and strongly worked out okay for me. It is a different beast riding fixed and climbing is one area where you'll notice this. I think fixed gear makes climbs a bit easier, in a way, since you have zero dead spots. The bike carries you through the usual dead spot in your cadence with momentum, and there is little "pulsing". Those little micro-coast moments right after you push the pedal through a power stroke. It's hard to explain, but to my mind, it is a difference between single speed (coaster) and fixed (no-coast) style bikes.  

Changed The Tires - Better Or Worse?

I mentioned in my posts late in the year last year I wasn't really very happy about how the Schwalbe G-One Overland tires rode. They felt oddly harsh, no matter what pressure I decided to run them at. 

I ran my SOMA Cazedero 700 x 50mm tires for the tail end of the season. I used TPU tubes in them and it was......okay. I still thought the ride quality could have been better. 

After the post-Thanksgiving Winter blast we got here I decided to swap out tires again to some older Pirelli Cinturato H tires I had tested for review back in 2022. I knew these tires rode well from the time I spent on them, and I remember being a bit sad to have to remove them for another tire review. 

Of course, with this colder weather and a different bicycle, there was a question as to whether or not this would be worth trying. My thoughts were if these tires can even show promise over the Schwalbe and SOMA's it would be a win of sorts. 

Well, I was rewarded with a better ride feel. Only slightly so, but again, it was 40°F and the pathways were odd in that I was running over a lot of really frozen ground. On one hand the vibration damping was better, but I also wasn't getting a rolling resistance I was happy with. It wasn't 'bad', but it wasn't great either. Again, I am attributing this to the colder air. I'll keep trying and when warmer weather comes we will see how it goes. 

But for now, these tires are staying on this bicycle. I've a feeling these are going to work out just fine. 

Make-A-Wish List For 2026

The Guitar Ted Productions "Make-A-Wish" List For 2026:

It is a new year, and while many of us have made resolutions we will break in two weeks, I decided to do something a bit different. I thought, "If I could have my wishes in cycling come true for 2026, what would those look like and why?" So, this will be a bit of fun and a look at what I would want to see happen in 2026 in the realm of cycling and why I would wish those things. 

These will be in no order of importance or significance. So, do not read into the list in this way. It is a list, this is all it is. 

• Wish: I would like to see Shimano and SRAM offer 12/13 speed group sets which are mechanical. Why? Because not everyone wants or needs batteries. It is more environmentally responsible, and users could service their own equipment in a pinch. The way we seem to have to add electronics to literally everything in our lives is a misguided and bad approach. Maybe someday we will see the error of our ways, but then again......maybe not. 
• Wish: To see Jim Cummings get inducted into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame:  This should be obvious. The man, along with current inductee, Joel Dyke, just was involved in the formation and growth of the greatest gravel race on Earth, that's all. The GCHoF seems to have electors who hold grudges not related to gravel cycling, or if not, what seems to be the issue here? Lack of knowledge? Please, clue me in, because Jim's not being in the GCHoF is a discredit to the GCHoF and calls into question its veracity in the gravel scene.Now, Jim is up for election for the Class of 2026, and the votes have been cast. If Jim's name does not appear this year in the list of 2026 inductees then the Hall is essentially a farce. If he does get inducted? Wish granted. 

Jim Cummins (L) and Joel Dyke at the 2010 Pre-Race meeting for the DK200

•  Wish: To see less "race oriented" gravel bicycles offered. Guess what? Most people who ride bicycles do not race. I know this may come as a shock to many in the cycling industry, but it is true. So, ya know......keep your aero, internally routed, aggressive geometry bicycles, and give the public bicycles meant to have fun adventures on. Remember "fun"? It doesn't start with "R" and it does not have four letters. 
• Wish: People would be able to find the "real stories" of gravel's early days. I know..... This is probably a losing venture, but I wish for it anyway. Here's a test: Google "Legends of Gravel" and see what happens. The AI generated response I got told me that Andy Hampsten and Tom Ritchey were "pioneers of gravel". They "lent historical weight" to gravel riding. Then it lists riders mostly coming from the period after COVID as "legends". Maybe you don't care about telling the truth about where gravel came from, but I do. And I don't care to make money off it. I just want the correct details out there. At one time I thought the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame might help. I'm thinking it isn't even making a dent.  

• Wish: To see less gravel bikes with 29"er tire capabilities. Yep. I said it. Not everyone needs monster tires and drop bars. If you think you do, there are "adventure bikes" out there which already do the things you are looking to do. Oh.....you want a lighter weight, trail capable "gravel bike"? Might I interest you in a flat bar bike they have called an XC trail bike? Let's not mess around. Big, fat tires on a bicycle which are over 2" in width and less than 3" in width are for mountain bikes. Thank you.  
• Wish: To see high-quality 8 or 9 speed components offered. I know companies like Sun Race and MicroShift offer things like this, but I am talking about "XTR" level 8 and 9 speed parts. Alloy, beautifully anodized, and which would be reasonably priced, mechanical in nature, and have high-durability/wear characteristics. These overgrown, behemoth electronic 1X derailleurs are not only ugly, they actually are more in the way of being biffed than older 8 and 9 speed stuff was.  Yes, I mean triple cranks and front derailleurs as well. 

This Singular Gryphon Mk3, a drop bar MTB, works great with 9 speed components

•  Wish: To see affordable, quality made 8 and 9 speed parts on affordable bicycles. The press releases are never ending which show the latest carbon fiber, 1 X 12/13 bicycle which costs well North of 10K. This is so crazy! These bicycles, while perhaps worth producing for the companies which offer them, are not conducive to getting more people out on bicycles. If anything, it proves cycling is a "country club" sport, and a sport not democratized for wider appeal.  Too often bicycles which are within the budgets of real, everyday folks, are riddled with sub-par components and don't give their riders very positive experiences. I'd really like to see a change here. 

• Wish: Cycling clothing made for average people. You know.....in sizes that make sense for everyone who doesn't race? Most times I cannot buy a jersey or shorts and feel as though I know they will fit because there is no general standards for people who are not racing. There isn't even anything out there which I can say is a good guide for fitting larger folks, or folks with weird proportions. It isn't as though you can go to a store and try on things. You most often times have to guess and pray the companies size charts are realistic.  

Okay, well there is a short list off the top of my head. If you have any comments, I'm here to read them. Just drop those in the comments section. And if you have any "wishes for 2026", please let me know in teh comment section about those as well. 

Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! 

While We Are Waiting

Winter. There are days you can get out and be somewhat 'okay' around these parts on a bicycle. However; there are a lot of days when getting out on a bicycle is not a great idea. 

Ice, wind, snow, cold rain, or lack of daylight can all factor in as possibilities for cutting rides short, redirecting where you ride, or just plain making riding not a smart choice. 

 Just last week we experienced 25mph winds out of the Northwest, gusting to over 40mph, and it was 13°F. That makes the wind chill temperature, (how it actually feels and what the consequences would really be for exposure) a balmy -17°F. 

In other words, it is a great time to be indoors and not out there on a bicycle. You get the picture, I hope. If you are siting there thinking those conditions are "no big deal" I hope you are signed up for IDITAROD. 

Then fast forward to today when it is supposed to be just above 40 degrees and very Spring-like. Yeah...today it would work. But days like last week's cold shot with wind has been more the norm since December started.  

Anyway, one can do nothing about a cold and windy weather situation with snow and ice. Folks here choose their own adventure instead. Many resort to other activities, like couch surfing, sleeping late, or seeing how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop. (Everyone knows the answer is three, right?) 
 

I suppose you could also go do other outdoors sports like XC skiing, hiking, or go to a gym and lift weights, swim, or enter a spin class. Many of you ride trainers and use services like Zwift, and others, to train and compete. 

Well, I've not tried everything, but I've tried indoor trainers and...... Yuck!  Not for this guy! So, I am either riding outdoors or I am descending into the nether regions of Guitar Ted Headquarters to tinker on bicycles. Snow sports used to be a part of my outdoor regimen in Winter, but with how things go now with snow.... Yeah. Not so much. 

I usually find something to keep me occupied. I can always clean. I also can always weed out things I should get rid of and either donate those things to the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective or toss them. 

I can always clean and tune up bicycles. You all know I have quite a few to mess with around here. This is no problem to get my spare time used up.  

And working on my bicycles is far better for my mind than spending time sweating in one spot, going nowhere. Oh.....sure! You "virtually"are going places and riding with "virtual" training partners. Notice: none of this is real riding with real friends. It is "riding" , of a sort, but as far as I am concerned, it is no match for riding outdoors with real human beings. Your mileage may vary. That is fine.....for you. 

I get out when the conditions are not stupidly cold, windy, or dangerous. Meanwhile, during those other times, I tinker around with my stuff. Like the recent building up of the Twin Six fixed gear bike. I spent some time accessorizing it as well.  

It needed fenders, lights, and a bag and a pump for repairs. These things all presented challenges. Some small, some requiring a bit of time away for thought on 'just how do I want to do this?' thinking. Eventually it all came together and now the Twin Six Standard Rando v2 can be grabbed and ridden at a moment's notice. 

And all this fussing and thinking and doing is one hundred times more enjoyable for me than sweating it out on a ride to nowhere.  Meanwhile if the weather is raging outside. It's okay. 

I can wait...... 

Project Fixed Gravel Bus

The key to it all. (Image by A. Andonopoulos.)

 I have hinted at this all throughout December and now it is time to share what I've been up to over the past four or five weeks. I will also add the weather was mostly not conducive to being outdoors throughout this period, so it was a good thing to have this to do during the dive into deep Winter weather we experienced. 

Just a quick recap for those new to this story: I had a Twin Six Standard Rando v2 set up geared since around 2022, and for a year or two before that, as a single speed. When tires for gravel started to plump out to the 47mm - 50mm widths I was finding the Twin Six to be lacking as it barely handles a 44mm wide tire. So, I dreamt of retiring the T-6 and ended up replacing the T-6 with my Singular Cycles Peregrine Mk4 last September. 

Meanwhile, I had become enamored of riding fixed gear again via my road bike standard Shogun 1000, a 1980's vintage road bike, which has very limited tire clearances. My thoughts began to swirl - What would a fatter tire fixie be like? Then it hit me.....

Build the T-6 as a fixed gear bike, and move the Shogun down the road. So, this is what I have done. This now brings you up to speed on my journey up to the point where this project started.  

The first order of business was to build wheels. 

Thanks to Ari Andonopoulos and Jay Barre, I have this sweet Paul Components fixed WORD through axle hub. It is great Paul Components does this part, because it is not only high-quality stuff, but it is about the only game in town for fixed, through axle, and disc brake all in the same hub. Wacky one-speed rear device indeed!

To build the wheel set I needed rims. Fortunately I had a set of Velocity USA Blunt SS rims just chillin' in my shop. They were waiting for such a time as this! I also needed a front hub. I had used the old original front wheel in the Noble Bikes GX5 before in the Standard Rando, but this wheel was a mismatch from the standpoint of the rim. So, I broke the wheel down and harvested the front Stan;s Neo hub for this project.

Topped off with hand-cut DT Swiss spokes from Ari in the rear, and Wheelsmith spokes for the front, and this set of wheels was ready to go. Of course, I used my "signature wheel set" spoke scheme where I use half black, half silver spokes and nipples. The black spokes on one side get silver nipples and the silver spokes on the other side get black nipples.  

The wheel builds were fairly straight forward and besides one spoke, I had no real issues. Then it came to drive train parts. I had two screw-on fixed gear cogs to choose from. One was an All City 17T but is an 1 1/8th pitch. I also have a Dura Ace, vintage 3/32nds pitch cog in a 16T.  Both are black anodized steel. Not sure how they do that, but they are definitely black and definitely steel! 

I went the all-3/32nds route and so I have the Dura Ace part on the hub. For a crank set I came up with a 172.5mm Shimano 105 triple, Hollowgram crank set and I dismounted the three rings and replaced the middle one with a 39T steel ring from some old road crank set. It is a Shimano ring though. 

This meant I had to modify my Wheels Manufacturing Eccentric insert for a PF-30 shell. The left side bearing has that old, pre-DU(M)B spindle which had a 24mm drive side diameter and stepped down non drive side bearing. I knocked the SRAM specific bearing out, grabbed a Shimano outboard bearing sealed bearing cartridge, a plastic bushing, (top-hat) from same bottom bracket, modified the plastic bit, and used this. It worked perfectly. 

With a new SRAM PC 853 chain it now is locked-in and ready to roll. All I needed now were controls, brakes, and cabling. The handle bar is an old favorite, the Kitchen Sink Bar from Redshift Sports. I also used the same Redshift Sports ShockStop stem I had on the T-6 before I broke it up. A Shimano PRO seat post topped with a WTB Silverado saddle gifted to me recently by MG was the seating arrangement. (Thanks MG!!!) Then old Tektro levers in black were mounted as well. All I needed were cables, housings, and brake calipers. 

With everything but the calipers, tape, and cabling. 

 So, with the year closing out I was on the hunt for some brake calipers. It was the only thing I didn't have yet to make this a complete bicycle. Of course, I needed flat mount brakes, but they also needed to be mechanically operated. This leaves you with precious few options. 

You could do the bougie route. Paul Components Klampers or Growtac brakes (Velo Orange sells them), but we're talking hundreds of dollars for two brake calipers. Then you have the next step down in TRP Spyre brakes. Far less money for sure, but no big drop-off in performance. TRP/Tektro has a lower end version of the Spyre, which is slightly less money. Then you get into the sub-100 dollar per caliper brakes which of the lot, only Shimano is a brand I would trust. 

I hemmed and hawed about what to do. I was texting with Ari a few days before Christmas and he pointed out the half price offer on TRP Spyre calipers from an online store. I ended up ordering those as it put the per-caliper price under $65.00. 

Two days before Christmas. No calipers, but I just couldn't resist a test ride!

 I had strung the cables, but no wires, by a couple of days ahead of Christmas. It was pretty nice out for late December, and I had time, so I decided to go out for a short, brakeless ride. This would be on totally flat terrain and maybe for a few blocks and back, but I wanted to get a read on how this gearing was going to work out for me. I knew it was a little steeper than I had my Shogun set up with. 

I think it will be fine for most flattish terrain, but hills will be interesting! I'll just have to see how it goes over the course of Spring and determine what to do after that. 

 I think if Winter is going away, and for good, (fingers crossed), I will set up a different set of tires, But the 45NRTH Gravdal studded tires will grip ice and snow well. In case Winter comes back again, (more than likely), I'll keep them on. So we will see about tubeless tires at some point. Fenders may appear here in either case. I've got metal Planet Bike fenders or a brand new set of plastic Giant Revolt fenders too. We'll see how things fit to decide there. 

Finished Saturday evening 12/27/25

 Twin Six Standard Rando v2 (2020) in Saffron 

• Size: 59cm
• Frame: Steel (Twin Six never really says what, if anything, is special about their tube set) 
• Fork: Carbon T-6 (Again, no details but it does have internal routing for the front brake cable, Three-Pack mounts, and a 12mm through axle.) 
• Wheels: Hand-built using Velocity USA Blunt SS rims (28 spoke hole drilling), Mix of Wheelsmith (front) and DT Swiss spokes. Spokes in each wheel are all black on one side  with silver nipples, and all silver on the other side of the wheel with black nipples. Three cross lacing. (Guitar Ted Special Wheel build) Hubs are Paul Components WORD Fixed Disc (rear) and Stan's Neo (Front) 
• Track Cog: Vintage NOS black Dura Ace, 16T x 3/32nds.
• Chain: SRAM PC-853
• Chain Ring: Steel 39T Shimano of unknown vintage. (Likely 7 speed) 
• Crank Arms: Shimano 105 10 speed Triple modified for single speed use. 172.5mm length.
• Bottom Bracket: Modified Wheels Manufacturing Eccentric for PF-30 shell. 
• Seat Post: Shimano PRO
• Saddle: WTB Silverado
• Head Set: Enduro MaxHit stainless steel.
• Stem; Redshift Sports ShockStop Pro
• Handle Bars: Redshift Sports Kitchen Sink (46cm)
• Bar Tape: Ergon AllRoad
• Levers: Tektro short pull
• Brakes: TRP Spyre/Shimano rotors/Jagwire Pro housings.
• Pedals Fyxation Mesa MP's
• Tires: 45NRTH Gravdal, fully studded, with tubes. 
• Frame Pump: 1990's vintage Blackburn 

I'll have a ride report up once I can get out with this bike for a decently long ride. Indications are the stiffer T-6 frame will be a big benefit toward making the fixed drive train work its best. Gearing? Yeah..... I don't know yet! 

Stay tuned...  

2026 Gravel Events Cost Survey

The 2026 Gravel Events Cost Survey

The Gravel Events Cost Survey is a random look at events across the USA which are primarily gravel based cycling events to see what it costs to go ride organized events in the year 2026. 

I did a similar thing last year  so take a look there for comparisons. Note to any readers of this survey: I have opinions which may not line up with what you believe. This is my take on this subject.  

How The Survey Was Done: I began my survey by taking a look at some promotions that started coming into the inbox here and taking notes on distances offered versus registration costs. Then I added events from BikeReg using their geographic breakdown of the nation and the events listed in each region. I noted some events were listed in more than one region so I avoided those for the survey, or only used an event listed twice across regions in one region that made sense to me. 

Here are the regions as broken down by BikeReg: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains, South Central, Northwest, and Southwest/Texas. (Note: I combined the Southwest and Texas regions because the events overlapped so much) So, I used four events from each region, (last year I used three) trying to use a different state in each region where possible, and this brought in 37events. (I accidentally used FIVE events from one region. Sorry!) I also included the one event I had already been noting previously as mentioned from promotions So a total of 38 events were included. (One more than last year)

 The Events: So, what types of "gravel" events were included? Of course, their are a few "biggies" in the survey: None of which I used last year. But I have unheralded events from all across the nation. So, there is a range from very inexpensive to well over four (!!) figures in cost and everything in between. 

I chose the regional events based upon a few things. First, I only looked at the names of the events and where they were located to get a good representation of events all across the USA. Names of events came into play where I recognized names from a long time ago and are events that have been well-established. I also included some events which had names that just struck my fancy. For instance, "The Lit Whizzy". 

But this year I tried to find as many events with "gravel grinder" in their name as possible, (rather easily done, by the way) and any event with a skull as a logo or having "skull" in their name. I know....weird, but it helped randomize my selections. 

What I Am Trying To Show: My baseline for a gravel event value is based upon how much it cost per mile to register. So, if an event is 100 miles and cost 100 bucks to enter that event has a cost of a dollar per mile. 

You'd think that the biggie events would skew the rating far more to the spendy side but I found that many smaller events are charging a LOT more these days for registration. And it should be no wonder. "Gravel" is the hot ticket for competitive bicycle events these days and the genre' shows no signs of slacking off yet. Event directors and organizations are seeing the big time events charging three-digit entry fees and are following their example. 

Also, this survey is an average cost analysis. I am not breaking down these by regions or in any other way. I am just curious to see how far above the old "dollar-per-mile" limit we used to use for gauging events we have gone now and what the new baseline might be. That's it. I'll give that average cost per mile for 2025 and then give you some trends I have noticed while doing this survey. 

The cost analysis was done over 109 distances/costs. This year's survey has 51 unique distances from 12 miles all the way up to 350 miles.  

Average Cost Per Mile: So, in this year's survey, I found an event with a free distance, a beginner's distance of 18 miles, and the most expensive distance was from an event which charged the a 200+ dollar fee for all its distances making the 40 miler come in at cost of $6.02/mile.  The event with the highest entry fee at $1.400.00 for either distance offered actually wasn't too bad $4.83/mile and $4.00/mile costs. 

Most event distances in this year's survey cost between $1.00 and $2.00/mile. I found this a bit surprising. This wasn't even close, by the way. The next group of event distances - Over $2.00 to $3.00/mile - had  almost 30 less examples. So, I think it is safe to say the overall average is going to be under $3.00/mile yet. At least it is in the examples I pulled from BikeReg this year. 

Comments: My initial impressions were that event prices felt higher than before, but in reality, the events I pulled from seem pretty average and close to last year's average per mile cost. Keeping in mind I am not considering aid stations, swag, after-parties, etc. This is purely money versus mileage. 

I also did not include any "bucket-list" events. Those skew the results, and since one in particular uses a lottery, it is harder to determine "costs" to the rider. Finally, I think focusing on events which are available to most everyone across the nation makes more sense than focusing on the ultra-exclusive, "bougie" events.  

It was immediately apparent while doing my research that a rider gets more value out of an event if they choose the premier/longest distance offered. Many events are really oppressive when it comes to what they are charging for shorter distances to the point it makes me wonder if they are actually trying to discourage folks from taking shorter distance options. Just for an example, one event was charging more than double for its shortest distance per mile versus their longest distance. 

Sometimes this is a factor of events making each distance the same fee. I suppose this streamlines their planning but it sure makes me not want to choose a shorter distance when I can pay less per mile to ride more.  

I tried to sprinkle USAC events in my survey. This did not seem to make much of a difference one way or the other in cost per mile. But those events do have loads of categories. Some non-USAC events did as well, but these were by far in the minority in terms of the 38 events I looked at. There were far more with very simplified categories. 

I did also notice some older events still chugging along but there were far more I'd never heard of, and I was just in there at Bike Reg a year ago. Finally, it seems there are fewer events this year, but I could be off on this. I did not count, it just felt that way to me. 

It's good to know you can still find events with a less than $1.00/mile cost, and many are good values from this standpoint alone. I am not taking into account anything like courses, views, or extras. So, this shouldn't be used to gauge any specific events. I just do this exercise more out of curiosity, and to check in on the health of grassroots gravel across the USA. 

I hope you found that interesting. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.