3GR Report: An Odd Warm One

Mid-50's at the start

November. Fall is gone, the leaves are down, and the days are just about as short as they are going to get. Usually we're dealing with chilly, gray, cheerless days. But not Saturday.

An odd day of warmth was on tap. Friday it started with a southerly airflow that was pumping warm, humid air into the Mid-West. It continued overnight, and when I awoke Saturday to get ready for the next 3GR it was already in the 50's.

I decided to wear foot covers, but that was a mistake. I could tell just on the way over that my feet would be getting overheated. The streets were wet with condensation. The air was wet feeling, it was so humid. What a strange day for November. That said, it was nice not to have to spend time layering up for a cold ride.

I headed out a bit early, so I took a bit of a different route over to the start that included some more gravel/dirt than I normally get on the ride over to Gateway Park. Good stuff. It was a nice ride over and I wasn't the only one who was out enjoying it. Lots of runners were too.

The wind was picking up, and I knew it was going to be a factor. Craig was already there at the meeting spot when I arrived, but he was across the street having coffee. Kind of threw me for a loop there, but when he showed up on his bike, all was made right. Then a few minutes later Robert flew up, thinking he was going to be late. He actually had three minutes to spare.

We took off with the tail wind and made good time going North. We met Mike coming backward toward us on his fat bike and he turned around to join us. There were some big puffy clouds flying on the wind, but it was nice to see what sun we did.

Of course, eventually we had to turn back out of the tail wind and face the facts of our situation going back to Cedar Falls. The wind was coming at us through the section where the rolling hills kicked in and Mike and his fat bike were slowed. I eventually dropped back and rode with him back to Robert and Craig, then we finally reached Mount Vernon Road and turned out of the stiff breeze with sighs of relief all around.

By this time it was also well into the upper 60's and my long sleeved wool jersey was becoming a bit too warm, but who can complain when you get such a day in the second week of November here? We rolled into Cedar Falls and up to Cup Of Joes for the usual and then it was off to home again.

By the time I got home it was 70°F and sunny. I ended up riding a couple of hours in the afternoon with my son, so by late afternoon, I was fried. But you have to take advantage of days like yesterday when they come along.

Trans Iowa V9: Thoughts On Lighting

Trans Iowa is an event that starts in the dark, and usually you will be riding at least a couple of hours in the darkness, maybe a bit longer than that if the cloud cover is thick. So a good lighting set up is a must for every starter.

Figure in that several riders will also see the nightfall on Saturday evening, and may possibly ride up to 10 hours in darkness, it doesn't take a genius to see that a really good set of lights just might be your friend out there. But what constitutes a "good set" of lights for something like Trans Iowa?

Well, here are some things to consider when you start putting together your lights for T.I.V9, (or any night based gravel grinder).

• Power: Unlike, say- a 24 hour mountain bike race- gravel roads do not demand high powered lights in terms of lumen output. If you can muster 120-150 Lumens from a system, you will be good for most gravel riding. * (More on this later.)
• Run Times: Obviously, your light run time is a critical figure that you need to consider. How you replenish battery power, (or if you want to avoid having to do that), becomes a major consideration here. 
• Light Placement/Type: Not only will you need a good light, you may want to consider three good lights. One to see by, one down low to reveal ripples, pot holes, etc, and one to aim at signs and read cues by. Of course, lets not forget that all important tail light. 
• Reflective Materials: It also is a wise thing to use reflective tape, Scotchbrite or similar clothing, and  small flashers to make sure you are seen by motorists, especially going through towns and cities.

  

  Night riders with lights and reflective bits.

*NOTE! Any lighting system you consider for use at Trans Iowa V9 should be able to show you objects far up the road, and preferably allow you to read the surface of the gravel well. This is imperative since you will be traveling at speeds of up to and exceeding 35mph many times going down gravel pitches in complete and utter darkness. I can not stress enough how important this is, since almost all of you will certainly not know these roads and speeding down gravel which may be loose and treacherous in the daylight is bad enough. Add in the darkness of rural Iowa and you may find yourself in a pickle you wish you hadn't gotten into with a poor lighting system.

Plus, as if that weren't bad enough, if the gravel the morning of the event's start is wet at all- it will be like thick, gooey peanut butter that will be getting sprayed up into everyone's faces with the exception of the leaders. Add in darkness, bad lights, and well......you could be in big trouble before ten miles go by. 

Finally, Lumen power output is one thing, but you can find lights that will throw a beam far up a road, or flood the road way without spending yourself into the poorhouse. Of course, if you can afford, or if you want, the best, it will get the job done with aces. I'll be revisiting this subject next week on Saturday, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime, add any questions you have in the comments section.

Trans Iowa V9: Thoughts On Lighting

Trans Iowa is an event that starts in the dark, and usually you will be riding at least a couple of hours in the darkness, maybe a bit longer than that if the cloud cover is thick. So a good lighting set up is a must for every starter.

Figure in that several riders will also see the nightfall on Saturday evening, and may possibly ride up to 10 hours in darkness, it doesn't take a genius to see that a really good set of lights just might be your friend out there. But what constitutes a "good set" of lights for something like Trans Iowa?

Well, here are some things to consider when you start putting together your lights for T.I.V9, (or any night based gravel grinder).

• Power: Unlike, say- a 24 hour mountain bike race- gravel roads do not demand high powered lights in terms of lumen output. If you can muster 120-150 Lumens from a system, you will be good for most gravel riding. * (More on this later.)
• Run Times: Obviously, your light run time is a critical figure that you need to consider. How you replenish battery power, (or if you want to avoid having to do that), becomes a major consideration here. 
• Light Placement/Type: Not only will you need a good light, you may want to consider three good lights. One to see by, one down low to reveal ripples, pot holes, etc, and one to aim at signs and read cues by. Of course, lets not forget that all important tail light. 
• Reflective Materials: It also is a wise thing to use reflective tape, Scotchbrite or similar clothing, and  small flashers to make sure you are seen by motorists, especially going through towns and cities.

  

  Night riders with lights and reflective bits.

*NOTE! Any lighting system you consider for use at Trans Iowa V9 should be able to show you objects far up the road, and preferably allow you to read the surface of the gravel well. This is imperative since you will be traveling at speeds of up to and exceeding 35mph many times going down gravel pitches in complete and utter darkness. I can not stress enough how important this is, since almost all of you will certainly not know these roads and speeding down gravel which may be loose and treacherous in the daylight is bad enough. Add in the darkness of rural Iowa and you may find yourself in a pickle you wish you hadn't gotten into with a poor lighting system.

Plus, as if that weren't bad enough, if the gravel the morning of the event's start is wet at all- it will be like thick, gooey peanut butter that will be getting sprayed up into everyone's faces with the exception of the leaders. Add in darkness, bad lights, and well......you could be in big trouble before ten miles go by. 

Finally, Lumen power output is one thing, but you can find lights that will throw a beam far up a road, or flood the road way without spending yourself into the poorhouse. Of course, if you can afford, or if you want, the best, it will get the job done with aces. I'll be revisiting this subject next week on Saturday, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime, add any questions you have in the comments section.

Friday News And Views

Duds by Twin Six: Get Some!

Packin' It: I wrote earlier in the week about the different ways folks carry their gear on bicycles. I have been a commuter for a decade now, and my favorite mode of carrying stuff has been the messenger bag. It's pretty amazing what one can pack home or to work in one of those messenger bags. Very versatile.

But they are unstable when your riding style gets a bit on the "active" side. Messenger bags also do not really work well for getting things while you are riding from them, or for hydration. Nope. There is where the hydration back pack comes in.

But not just any back pack will do. I need some serious carrying capacity, just in case, and lately I've been toting around an Osprey Escapist 30 pack. This thing is seriously huge. I have stuck my entire rain gear outfit in there, some tools, a few tubes, including a Surly "TOOB" for my fat bike, and I topped off the 100oz bladder for drinking on the fly. All that and there is still room for more.

Yes- it is heavy. But that's the point. I need to not only carry my stuff, but get used to heavy loads for my future events coming up. I won't be carrying so much in those events, but I think that for the Triple D at least, I will be using a rucksack for supplies.

So far the trips back and forth to work have been great with the big ol' pack on, but I think I probably look pretty odd to many folks along the way. like a vagabond, or a dangerous drifter. Ha!

Moar.....cowbell?

RetroRant: 

Yes- it is cyclo cross season. If you have not been around cyclo cross, or have not read about it,  you may be unaware of the "culture" surrounding the event. Cycling events typically are not really good for spectating, but the cyclo-cross crowd figured out that if you add in beer, heckling, and cowbells, the on-lookers can become a factor in the event.

So there are a lot of these "cowbells" getting banged around the courses, and of course, someone figured out that they could make some of the accoutrements of cyclo cross into promotional items. Like this titanium tube with a rattle inside shown here.

At Trans Iowa V3 we had a couple of guys that were originally from Poland and their friends who were banging pots and pans with sticks and rallying the finishers up the steep final pitch to the Trans Iowa finish line. They would run alongside the riders, yelling things in Polish, and making an unholy racket with common kitchen utensils.

I know which of these noise makers presented here today seems more genuine, but to each their own.

Ride your Fat Bikes!

It's A Movement!

 One day, some guy somewhere figured it might be cool if everyone else that had a fat bike rode on the same day as he. He picked  December 1st to do this. He named it "Global Fat-Bike Day, to entice you to do the same. So if you have a fat bike, maybe you could ride it, and know that several of your fat biking brothers and sisters are joining in the fun. Or even better- you could join them on a group ride somewhere!

I know of at least two going on locally on December 1st. One is starting out of Iowa City. See World of Bikes down that way for more info on that one. Or, I know a bunch of us around here are toying with the idea of heading up to Volga Recreation Area for some fat bikin' good times. Who's in?

Cranksgiving 2012:

Locally this ride is happening tomorrow and benefits the Cedar Valley Food Bank. Riders are to meet up at 11am and will collect 10 items from 10 locations.

The first 50 to sign in get a free Cranksgiving t-shirt. It's a worthy cause, so if you are around, join in, why dontcha? Cranksgiving rides also occur in other cities, so inquire at your local bike information sources to see if this might be happening near you soon.

3GR: And if running around fetching groceries isn't your deal, then maybe you'd like to ride some gravel roads? Well, I'll be at the regular meeting spot at 8:30am. Sounds like it may be warm and windy. Should be a good day out on the bike.

And that's a wrap! have a great weekend folks! Ride yer bikes, if ya can.

Friday News And Views

Duds by Twin Six: Get Some!

Packin' It: I wrote earlier in the week about the different ways folks carry their gear on bicycles. I have been a commuter for a decade now, and my favorite mode of carrying stuff has been the messenger bag. It's pretty amazing what one can pack home or to work in one of those messenger bags. Very versatile.

But they are unstable when your riding style gets a bit on the "active" side. Messenger bags also do not really work well for getting things while you are riding from them, or for hydration. Nope. There is where the hydration back pack comes in.

But not just any back pack will do. I need some serious carrying capacity, just in case, and lately I've been toting around an Osprey Escapist 30 pack. This thing is seriously huge. I have stuck my entire rain gear outfit in there, some tools, a few tubes, including a Surly "TOOB" for my fat bike, and I topped off the 100oz bladder for drinking on the fly. All that and there is still room for more.

Yes- it is heavy. But that's the point. I need to not only carry my stuff, but get used to heavy loads for my future events coming up. I won't be carrying so much in those events, but I think that for the Triple D at least, I will be using a rucksack for supplies.

So far the trips back and forth to work have been great with the big ol' pack on, but I think I probably look pretty odd to many folks along the way. like a vagabond, or a dangerous drifter. Ha!

Moar.....cowbell?

RetroRant: 

Yes- it is cyclo cross season. If you have not been around cyclo cross, or have not read about it,  you may be unaware of the "culture" surrounding the event. Cycling events typically are not really good for spectating, but the cyclo-cross crowd figured out that if you add in beer, heckling, and cowbells, the on-lookers can become a factor in the event.

So there are a lot of these "cowbells" getting banged around the courses, and of course, someone figured out that they could make some of the accoutrements of cyclo cross into promotional items. Like this titanium tube with a rattle inside shown here.

At Trans Iowa V3 we had a couple of guys that were originally from Poland and their friends who were banging pots and pans with sticks and rallying the finishers up the steep final pitch to the Trans Iowa finish line. They would run alongside the riders, yelling things in Polish, and making an unholy racket with common kitchen utensils.

I know which of these noise makers presented here today seems more genuine, but to each their own.

Ride your Fat Bikes!

It's A Movement!

 One day, some guy somewhere figured it might be cool if everyone else that had a fat bike rode on the same day as he. He picked  December 1st to do this. He named it "Global Fat-Bike Day, to entice you to do the same. So if you have a fat bike, maybe you could ride it, and know that several of your fat biking brothers and sisters are joining in the fun. Or even better- you could join them on a group ride somewhere!

I know of at least two going on locally on December 1st. One is starting out of Iowa City. See World of Bikes down that way for more info on that one. Or, I know a bunch of us around here are toying with the idea of heading up to Volga Recreation Area for some fat bikin' good times. Who's in?

Cranksgiving 2012:

Locally this ride is happening tomorrow and benefits the Cedar Valley Food Bank. Riders are to meet up at 11am and will collect 10 items from 10 locations.

The first 50 to sign in get a free Cranksgiving t-shirt. It's a worthy cause, so if you are around, join in, why dontcha? Cranksgiving rides also occur in other cities, so inquire at your local bike information sources to see if this might be happening near you soon.

3GR: And if running around fetching groceries isn't your deal, then maybe you'd like to ride some gravel roads? Well, I'll be at the regular meeting spot at 8:30am. Sounds like it may be warm and windy. Should be a good day out on the bike.

And that's a wrap! have a great weekend folks! Ride yer bikes, if ya can.

Fat Bike Single Track Fun

Wednesday I went up to Camp Ingawanis to ride again. I decided to take the Snow Dog since I had heard that more new trail had been cut and with what was already laid in, I figured the Big Fat Larrys would be a nice way to speed up the "burning in" of the new lines.

Also, it had been pretty wet Tuesday all day long. I figured that it might even end up that I wouldn't be able to ride at all. However; when I got there, it seemed okay, so I headed out into fitful bursts of sunlight and cool, crisp temperatures. I didn't get about 50 yards in before I noticed some bobbing white objects in the periphery vision. Deer! Three of them bounded off and deeper into the hardwoods.

Mindful that I may see more deer, I took the corners and downhills with care. I also was testing the soil for grip. It wasn't bad either. In fact, it was much better than I would have ever guessed, and improving with the day. The Camp has sandy soil, and it does tend to drain pretty well.

The Big Fat Larrys were gripping really well, but I knew the rocks and roots to come may be a different story. When I reached them, I took it easy so as not to slide out. Otherwise I was ripping fast on the fat bike. I suppose I would have had more grip with something like a Nate, but the rolling resistance would have been higher, and I didn't need the claw-like traction all the time.

 I got around the circuit to the point where the trail system dumps you down into some bottom land along the Cedar River. Here I stopped and walked about 30 yards to the bank and realized I could probably see the Eagle's nest across the river. As I spotted the nest I saw one of the mature Bald Eagles flying to the nest and into the enormous tree that holds the enormous nest.

Looking a bit more closely, I realized that the nest was nearly directly across from the confluence with Quarter Section Run. Pretty easy to find the nest in that big ol tree on the west Bank of the Cedar if you know that.

Then I went on further and found the newer trail cut in recently. It is going to really make a difference out there! One of the newer cuts has some rocks and out-cropping of rock along with some steeps that will be difficult to master in both directions. But that's okay. It'll make us better mountain bikers!

Then I went on home and started to swap out the brakes on the Snow Dog. I wasn't liking the way I was on the edge with the mech brakes out there at the Camp. Hopefully the new stoppers will correct that issue. They are hydraulic, and a lot lighter, at any rate!

It was a great day to ride, and I could stand it if this was the way it stayed outside till Spring, really.

Fat Bike Single Track Fun

Wednesday I went up to Camp Ingawanis to ride again. I decided to take the Snow Dog since I had heard that more new trail had been cut and with what was already laid in, I figured the Big Fat Larrys would be a nice way to speed up the "burning in" of the new lines.

Also, it had been pretty wet Tuesday all day long. I figured that it might even end up that I wouldn't be able to ride at all. However; when I got there, it seemed okay, so I headed out into fitful bursts of sunlight and cool, crisp temperatures. I didn't get about 50 yards in before I noticed some bobbing white objects in the periphery vision. Deer! Three of them bounded off and deeper into the hardwoods.

Mindful that I may see more deer, I took the corners and downhills with care. I also was testing the soil for grip. It wasn't bad either. In fact, it was much better than I would have ever guessed, and improving with the day. The Camp has sandy soil, and it does tend to drain pretty well.

The Big Fat Larrys were gripping really well, but I knew the rocks and roots to come may be a different story. When I reached them, I took it easy so as not to slide out. Otherwise I was ripping fast on the fat bike. I suppose I would have had more grip with something like a Nate, but the rolling resistance would have been higher, and I didn't need the claw-like traction all the time.

 I got around the circuit to the point where the trail system dumps you down into some bottom land along the Cedar River. Here I stopped and walked about 30 yards to the bank and realized I could probably see the Eagle's nest across the river. As I spotted the nest I saw one of the mature Bald Eagles flying to the nest and into the enormous tree that holds the enormous nest.

Looking a bit more closely, I realized that the nest was nearly directly across from the confluence with Quarter Section Run. Pretty easy to find the nest in that big ol tree on the west Bank of the Cedar if you know that.

Then I went on further and found the newer trail cut in recently. It is going to really make a difference out there! One of the newer cuts has some rocks and out-cropping of rock along with some steeps that will be difficult to master in both directions. But that's okay. It'll make us better mountain bikers!

Then I went on home and started to swap out the brakes on the Snow Dog. I wasn't liking the way I was on the edge with the mech brakes out there at the Camp. Hopefully the new stoppers will correct that issue. They are hydraulic, and a lot lighter, at any rate!

It was a great day to ride, and I could stand it if this was the way it stayed outside till Spring, really.

Crank Length And Single Speeding: More Opinions

Two years ago I sent this missive off to the digital realms concerning my thoughts on crank arm length and single speeding. Well, I was asked just yesterday about my thoughts concerning this subject again, and in specific, to what I thought about these.

Crank length? Here we go again....

If you do not clink the link, what it shows you are some new cranks made for IRD that are available up to 225mm in length.

On the surface of it, this isn't all that alarming, nor does it seem bad or good. Weird? Yes....perhaps. But let's consider what the longer crank set is doing when you use it.

I think modern power meter gadgets have helped us understand what is going on here in a better way. So, as most anyone even vaguely familiar with power meters knows, your pedaling circle has a sector in its arc that produces power, then tapers off, then there is a "dead sector", then things ramp up back into the power making sector, and so on, and on as you pedal. (I am simplifying this for my example.) Let's assume that you produce power for a certain amount of degrees of crank arm rotation. That distance you move the arm changes as your crank arm gets longer. Longer arms mean you are in the power sector longer. Is this "more leverage", or is it "spreading the butter thinner"? You only make "X" amount of power, so my thinking is that the longer the arm, the longer you are in the power sector, and unless you increase the effort in that part of the arc, you aren't making more power, just spreading it over a longer arc. Maybe I'm screwed up there, but that's my take on that, all else being equal.

Longer crank arms = lower saddle height.

But as we all know- all else isn't equal. One of the things a person can do is to use a longer crank arm to adjust your weight on the bike, and relationship to the bars. Since your legs are a fixed length, (well, I assume that most of you are not related to Gumby), when you go with a longer crank length, you should adjust your saddle height downward an appropriate amount.

I used this trick to make the Singular Gryphon I have fit me better. The stem I used is a "standard" Thomson issue, not a high rise one, which I would have had to have gone to if the cranks on this bike were 170mm instead of 180mm. Not only that, but my weight is set differently on the bike as well. More "in the bike", than "on the bike", as it were.

But getting back to those "freakishly long" cranks- I actually rode a bike with 225mm arms. My friend, Ben Witt, had a bike set up with some of these long armed deals and I tell ya- it was a very odd feeling.  It was as if the amount you could push down was never ending. It promoted a really low cadence, (which was abetted by the high gear inch this fixed gear bike was set up with), and I felt as if I was on an exercise machine, not a bicycle. Which is telling, actually, because I figure my muscles would have been fried long before my lungs were on that rig.

All that said- it makes sense for a longer legged individual to get the longer armed cranks. What you are attuned to will help determine this length, but in general, taller, longer limbed folks may want to look at "alternative length" crank arms like the IRD ones. For the rest of us? I think the 180's are not offered enough, but the lengths available serve most of us rather well, and that's why the industry settled where it did on crank lengths.

Crank Length And Single Speeding: More Opinions

Two years ago I sent this missive off to the digital realms concerning my thoughts on crank arm length and single speeding. Well, I was asked just yesterday about my thoughts concerning this subject again, and in specific, to what I thought about these.

Crank length? Here we go again....

If you do not clink the link, what it shows you are some new cranks made for IRD that are available up to 225mm in length.

On the surface of it, this isn't all that alarming, nor does it seem bad or good. Weird? Yes....perhaps. But let's consider what the longer crank set is doing when you use it.

I think modern power meter gadgets have helped us understand what is going on here in a better way. So, as most anyone even vaguely familiar with power meters knows, your pedaling circle has a sector in its arc that produces power, then tapers off, then there is a "dead sector", then things ramp up back into the power making sector, and so on, and on as you pedal. (I am simplifying this for my example.) Let's assume that you produce power for a certain amount of degrees of crank arm rotation. That distance you move the arm changes as your crank arm gets longer. Longer arms mean you are in the power sector longer. Is this "more leverage", or is it "spreading the butter thinner"? You only make "X" amount of power, so my thinking is that the longer the arm, the longer you are in the power sector, and unless you increase the effort in that part of the arc, you aren't making more power, just spreading it over a longer arc. Maybe I'm screwed up there, but that's my take on that, all else being equal.

Longer crank arms = lower saddle height.

But as we all know- all else isn't equal. One of the things a person can do is to use a longer crank arm to adjust your weight on the bike, and relationship to the bars. Since your legs are a fixed length, (well, I assume that most of you are not related to Gumby), when you go with a longer crank length, you should adjust your saddle height downward an appropriate amount.

I used this trick to make the Singular Gryphon I have fit me better. The stem I used is a "standard" Thomson issue, not a high rise one, which I would have had to have gone to if the cranks on this bike were 170mm instead of 180mm. Not only that, but my weight is set differently on the bike as well. More "in the bike", than "on the bike", as it were.

But getting back to those "freakishly long" cranks- I actually rode a bike with 225mm arms. My friend, Ben Witt, had a bike set up with some of these long armed deals and I tell ya- it was a very odd feeling.  It was as if the amount you could push down was never ending. It promoted a really low cadence, (which was abetted by the high gear inch this fixed gear bike was set up with), and I felt as if I was on an exercise machine, not a bicycle. Which is telling, actually, because I figure my muscles would have been fried long before my lungs were on that rig.

All that said- it makes sense for a longer legged individual to get the longer armed cranks. What you are attuned to will help determine this length, but in general, taller, longer limbed folks may want to look at "alternative length" crank arms like the IRD ones. For the rest of us? I think the 180's are not offered enough, but the lengths available serve most of us rather well, and that's why the industry settled where it did on crank lengths.

Packin' It

On the bike.....

I was thinking yesterday about packs, racks, and bags. It seems to be a diverse landscape out there when it comes to how to carry your schtuff, with tons of ways to do it, but which is right?

I know when I used to go "touring", in the old school sense of the term, we would use racks and panniers. Our bikes were probably overstuffed. We likely took way more than we needed to, but ya know what? It worked. Actually- it worked pretty darn well! 

Using that way to haul things, you didn't have anything on your body for a load. A backpack? Wasn't even a thought. So, while the bikes were heavy and cumbersome, we were free to work the load up, over, down, and through on our way to wherever it was we were going. And we got there, for the most part, without much trouble with everything intact. It wasn't very easy to get at stuff sometimes, but we figured it out.

Then along came hydration packs. Mountain bikers weren't going in for panniers, so another way had to be figured out. Smaller rucksacks and hiking gear was used, then purpose built backpacks, like the ubiquitous Osprey Talon 22, which has been the darling of bikepackers, was pressed into service for the big, outback type rides.

.....or on yer back!

Now it seems things have flipped over to being packed on the bike again, albeit with frame bags. Everyone is getting these custom fitted bags that strap into the middle of your frame, or on your top tube, or these ginormous seat bags. It's as if the panniers have engulfed the frame, and the racks went bye-bye.

Meanwhile, backpacks have gotten amazingly good these days. I have been trying out some Osprey stuff, and it is really quite nice. Sits back there without moving around, and feels pretty good, actually. I mean- I don't really feel beat down per se', but my issue is with heat when it gets hot more than anything. But then again- I am built like a pack mule more so than some!

At any rate, I like to use a combination of both a backpack and frame bags myself, and I think many "bikepackers" do things that way as well. What it all boils down to is where you put things: Heavy stuff goes on the bike, lighter gear on your back. I think that would be the general rule of thumb, but it isn't a hard and fast rule. Everyone seems to have their own agenda there.

I know I will be investing in some more stuff like frame bags, and maybe a couple of those big seat packs. I already have a few things, (as seen above on the titanium Mukluk), and my hope is to get out there yet this year to try out some kind of overnighter.  And what about those old panniers? I still have them. They get used a lot too on my "townie" bike. Sometimes I look at that and think, "I could pack these up and go anywhere tomorrow if I wanted to." Yep- nothing wrong with a nice set of panniers either, as long as it works for you.

However you choose to do things, "packin' it" on-board with you and taking off on an adventure with your bicycle is a good thing to do. I highly recommend it.

Packin' It

On the bike.....

I was thinking yesterday about packs, racks, and bags. It seems to be a diverse landscape out there when it comes to how to carry your schtuff, with tons of ways to do it, but which is right?

I know when I used to go "touring", in the old school sense of the term, we would use racks and panniers. Our bikes were probably overstuffed. We likely took way more than we needed to, but ya know what? It worked. Actually- it worked pretty darn well! 

Using that way to haul things, you didn't have anything on your body for a load. A backpack? Wasn't even a thought. So, while the bikes were heavy and cumbersome, we were free to work the load up, over, down, and through on our way to wherever it was we were going. And we got there, for the most part, without much trouble with everything intact. It wasn't very easy to get at stuff sometimes, but we figured it out.

Then along came hydration packs. Mountain bikers weren't going in for panniers, so another way had to be figured out. Smaller rucksacks and hiking gear was used, then purpose built backpacks, like the ubiquitous Osprey Talon 22, which has been the darling of bikepackers, was pressed into service for the big, outback type rides.

.....or on yer back!

Now it seems things have flipped over to being packed on the bike again, albeit with frame bags. Everyone is getting these custom fitted bags that strap into the middle of your frame, or on your top tube, or these ginormous seat bags. It's as if the panniers have engulfed the frame, and the racks went bye-bye.

Meanwhile, backpacks have gotten amazingly good these days. I have been trying out some Osprey stuff, and it is really quite nice. Sits back there without moving around, and feels pretty good, actually. I mean- I don't really feel beat down per se', but my issue is with heat when it gets hot more than anything. But then again- I am built like a pack mule more so than some!

At any rate, I like to use a combination of both a backpack and frame bags myself, and I think many "bikepackers" do things that way as well. What it all boils down to is where you put things: Heavy stuff goes on the bike, lighter gear on your back. I think that would be the general rule of thumb, but it isn't a hard and fast rule. Everyone seems to have their own agenda there.

I know I will be investing in some more stuff like frame bags, and maybe a couple of those big seat packs. I already have a few things, (as seen above on the titanium Mukluk), and my hope is to get out there yet this year to try out some kind of overnighter.  And what about those old panniers? I still have them. They get used a lot too on my "townie" bike. Sometimes I look at that and think, "I could pack these up and go anywhere tomorrow if I wanted to." Yep- nothing wrong with a nice set of panniers either, as long as it works for you.

However you choose to do things, "packin' it" on-board with you and taking off on an adventure with your bicycle is a good thing to do. I highly recommend it.

It All Starts Now

Hoping to spend lots of time out here this winter.

I hinted around in my posting from the weekend that I had some goals in mind for the near future. well, I suppose I will just out them all right now. Much of what happens next season for me in cycling has to start right now.

First up, I want to get my Trans Iowa V9 recon wrapped up before the end of this month. That would put me ahead of schedule to get the cue sheets proofed, and all that would remain there would be a final check in the Spring. I can easily get this out of the way, and I am confident I will. It needs to be done to allow for my peace of mind in attempting the rest of this that follows. Oh yeah.....and today is the day that Finishers can register for T.I.V9! Look for a roster update in the evening.

Second on the List: I think I am looking at another Triple D try. I went last January, and it was a learning experience, a lot of fun, and I finished the course. My wife came along and we both enjoyed our time there. So, that's definitely on my radar again.

Then after that I may try and fit in an early gravel event, but weather and Trans Iowa's course checking must be done first. Then Trans Iowa in late April will be my main focus come springtime. After that, it is full focus on the Dirty Kanza 200. 

Since I'll need to squeeze in training anywhere I can for the DK 200, I think I'll really be conservative with committing to any events past the Triple D. Most everything I do as far as "non-TNI" riding will have to be getting ready for that hot Kansas event June 1st. I really want to finish it off this time. I know it all starts right now, so I'll be doing things a bit differently this winter.

It All Starts Now

Hoping to spend lots of time out here this winter.

I hinted around in my posting from the weekend that I had some goals in mind for the near future. well, I suppose I will just out them all right now. Much of what happens next season for me in cycling has to start right now.

First up, I want to get my Trans Iowa V9 recon wrapped up before the end of this month. That would put me ahead of schedule to get the cue sheets proofed, and all that would remain there would be a final check in the Spring. I can easily get this out of the way, and I am confident I will. It needs to be done to allow for my peace of mind in attempting the rest of this that follows. Oh yeah.....and today is the day that Finishers can register for T.I.V9! Look for a roster update in the evening.

Second on the List: I think I am looking at another Triple D try. I went last January, and it was a learning experience, a lot of fun, and I finished the course. My wife came along and we both enjoyed our time there. So, that's definitely on my radar again.

Then after that I may try and fit in an early gravel event, but weather and Trans Iowa's course checking must be done first. Then Trans Iowa in late April will be my main focus come springtime. After that, it is full focus on the Dirty Kanza 200. 

Since I'll need to squeeze in training anywhere I can for the DK 200, I think I'll really be conservative with committing to any events past the Triple D. Most everything I do as far as "non-TNI" riding will have to be getting ready for that hot Kansas event June 1st. I really want to finish it off this time. I know it all starts right now, so I'll be doing things a bit differently this winter.

3GR Report: Sliding Towards Winter

The sun tries to make an appearance

It's definitely edging away from Fall and hints of Winter to come are everywhere. The months of November and December typically are the cloudiest months of the year in this area. This has been the case around here as November starts its gray plunge toward the end of the year.

This 3GR was to be the one where I brought out a single speed for the ride. I was all set to bring out my custom Pofahl but at the last minute I realized it was set up with the off road gear instead of the gravel road gear. The off road gear wasn't going to work. Too spinny.

So I grabbed the other single speed gravel bike I have in the stable, the Singular Cycles Gryphon, which is set up with a proper gravel riding gear. I set out and hit the meet up point. The only other rider to join me this day was Mike. We set off on the regular route Northward.

It was chilly, but nothing we haven't had of late. Not much wind to speak of either, which was nice. The gravel roads were covered in new chunk, like last week, for the most part. Maybe there were a few more good lines though.

So......about riding the single speed. Well, the Singular is geared with a 36T front and 17 tooth rear cog set up and a 180mm long White Industries crank. The set up is not too spinny on the flats- I can easily do 12-14mph without too much trouble- and yet it allows me to scale the climbs as well.

This was the gearing I used during my last attempt at the Gravel Worlds and was the gearing I used to successfully conquer Frank Brother's Hill earlier this year. Point being that the Singular fits my style and level of fitness pretty well as it is geared. So, this 3GR should be a piece of cake, right?

Well, I haven't ridden a single speed on gravel in awhile, so it wasn't that easy, but I did better than I expected to. I got in over 40 miles total, and with working harder due to the single speed, I got pretty taxed. I actually went down for a bit of a nap mid-afternoon yesterday! A rare occasion for me.

But enough of that- The Singular is probably the perfect Karate Monkey for me. Say what? Well, here's the thing: My first 29"er was a Karate Monkey, and until I was able to expand to other 29"ers, it was kept back as a single track machine.  With those other bikes coming on line, it became more and more of a gravel road machine, and I had it refined down to the nth degree. I actually had two other bikes custom made that were supposed to be "the best", lightest representation of the Karate Monkey, but both resulted in failures at that task. Oh well.....

Then the Salsa Cycles Fargo came along, which did almost tick all the boxes, with the exception that I could not make it a true single speed bike. But wait......the Gryphon! And you know what? It is almost 100% what I would have desired my two custom bikes, (that weren't what I wanted), to be. Go figure- a production bike that was better than any custom I've had done to mimic my Karate Monkey set up. Yep. The Gryphon does what I want- it is a single speed, it doesn't have a goofy rear drop out, it is designed for drop bars, it is lighter, and it rides much more smoothly than a Karate Monkey. What don't I like about the Gryphon? Hmm.....not much, really. Not much at all worth mentioning.

3GR Report: Sliding Towards Winter

The sun tries to make an appearance

It's definitely edging away from Fall and hints of Winter to come are everywhere. The months of November and December typically are the cloudiest months of the year in this area. This has been the case around here as November starts its gray plunge toward the end of the year.

This 3GR was to be the one where I brought out a single speed for the ride. I was all set to bring out my custom Pofahl but at the last minute I realized it was set up with the off road gear instead of the gravel road gear. The off road gear wasn't going to work. Too spinny.

So I grabbed the other single speed gravel bike I have in the stable, the Singular Cycles Gryphon, which is set up with a proper gravel riding gear. I set out and hit the meet up point. The only other rider to join me this day was Mike. We set off on the regular route Northward.

It was chilly, but nothing we haven't had of late. Not much wind to speak of either, which was nice. The gravel roads were covered in new chunk, like last week, for the most part. Maybe there were a few more good lines though.

So......about riding the single speed. Well, the Singular is geared with a 36T front and 17 tooth rear cog set up and a 180mm long White Industries crank. The set up is not too spinny on the flats- I can easily do 12-14mph without too much trouble- and yet it allows me to scale the climbs as well.

This was the gearing I used during my last attempt at the Gravel Worlds and was the gearing I used to successfully conquer Frank Brother's Hill earlier this year. Point being that the Singular fits my style and level of fitness pretty well as it is geared. So, this 3GR should be a piece of cake, right?

Well, I haven't ridden a single speed on gravel in awhile, so it wasn't that easy, but I did better than I expected to. I got in over 40 miles total, and with working harder due to the single speed, I got pretty taxed. I actually went down for a bit of a nap mid-afternoon yesterday! A rare occasion for me.

But enough of that- The Singular is probably the perfect Karate Monkey for me. Say what? Well, here's the thing: My first 29"er was a Karate Monkey, and until I was able to expand to other 29"ers, it was kept back as a single track machine.  With those other bikes coming on line, it became more and more of a gravel road machine, and I had it refined down to the nth degree. I actually had two other bikes custom made that were supposed to be "the best", lightest representation of the Karate Monkey, but both resulted in failures at that task. Oh well.....

Then the Salsa Cycles Fargo came along, which did almost tick all the boxes, with the exception that I could not make it a true single speed bike. But wait......the Gryphon! And you know what? It is almost 100% what I would have desired my two custom bikes, (that weren't what I wanted), to be. Go figure- a production bike that was better than any custom I've had done to mimic my Karate Monkey set up. Yep. The Gryphon does what I want- it is a single speed, it doesn't have a goofy rear drop out, it is designed for drop bars, it is lighter, and it rides much more smoothly than a Karate Monkey. What don't I like about the Gryphon? Hmm.....not much, really. Not much at all worth mentioning.

Not Taking It Laying Down

As I mentioned the other day, I had an uncle die this past week, and yesterday was his funeral. Funerals are not typically something you want to think about much, I know, but this struck me oddly. Not in the way you might think either....

See, I can't say that I am a very social guy when it comes to my relatives. I keep quite busy, my interests are about the polar opposite that many of theirs are, and, of course, most of us don't live any where near to each other. This all manifests itself with long spells between seeing many of these folks. In the case of many of the relatives I saw yesterday, it had been ten years or more since I had seen them.

Okay- so the point is that when you do not see someone for a long time, the changes in their physical appearances may be shocking, since you weren't around to see it happen gradually. Ya know what I mean? Maybe they were all shocked to see me, I don't know. I just know that from my seat, I saw some pretty big changes, and what I saw was alarming.

Overweight, soft, and aged would be the three things I was most struck by. And ya know- I don't mean to make these relatives of mine feel bad, or look bad, because let's face it- Most of America is standing right along side of them when it comes to health issues. We eat too much, don't take care of ourselves, and pay for it dearly later. Most of the time, that's how it seems to play out.

My uncle was seven years older than me. Now he is dead.  I'm not going to point fingers as to why that was, but let's just say it made an impression on me. I have a new resolve today. Not that I was going off the rails, by any measure, but I can do better.

I'm sure cycling has been a good thing for my health. There was a day when I smoked, drank to excess, and stayed out all hours of the night. Some life changes unrelated to cycling changed that, but cycling came along and helped me stay healthier than I probably would be otherwise.

And I ain't done yet. There is more to do. Challenges ahead, and I have one thing I am aiming for to check off my bucket list. That's going to happen in June of next year. I'm pretty adamant that I must complete that course.

Then there is bikepacking. It was all set to go this fall, then my plans were derailled by more important family matters. Now that the issues have begun to clear up, the bikepacking is back on the menu. So what if it is cold.....

I may be getting older, whiter haired, and slow, but I ain't done just yet. I know what path I don't want to go down now more than ever. Although I know someday I'll end up at the same place as my uncle, I hope to take a much more adventurous way around before I get there.

Not Taking It Laying Down

As I mentioned the other day, I had an uncle die this past week, and yesterday was his funeral. Funerals are not typically something you want to think about much, I know, but this struck me oddly. Not in the way you might think either....

See, I can't say that I am a very social guy when it comes to my relatives. I keep quite busy, my interests are about the polar opposite that many of theirs are, and, of course, most of us don't live any where near to each other. This all manifests itself with long spells between seeing many of these folks. In the case of many of the relatives I saw yesterday, it had been ten years or more since I had seen them.

Okay- so the point is that when you do not see someone for a long time, the changes in their physical appearances may be shocking, since you weren't around to see it happen gradually. Ya know what I mean? Maybe they were all shocked to see me, I don't know. I just know that from my seat, I saw some pretty big changes, and what I saw was alarming.

Overweight, soft, and aged would be the three things I was most struck by. And ya know- I don't mean to make these relatives of mine feel bad, or look bad, because let's face it- Most of America is standing right along side of them when it comes to health issues. We eat too much, don't take care of ourselves, and pay for it dearly later. Most of the time, that's how it seems to play out.

My uncle was seven years older than me. Now he is dead.  I'm not going to point fingers as to why that was, but let's just say it made an impression on me. I have a new resolve today. Not that I was going off the rails, by any measure, but I can do better.

I'm sure cycling has been a good thing for my health. There was a day when I smoked, drank to excess, and stayed out all hours of the night. Some life changes unrelated to cycling changed that, but cycling came along and helped me stay healthier than I probably would be otherwise.

And I ain't done yet. There is more to do. Challenges ahead, and I have one thing I am aiming for to check off my bucket list. That's going to happen in June of next year. I'm pretty adamant that I must complete that course.

Then there is bikepacking. It was all set to go this fall, then my plans were derailled by more important family matters. Now that the issues have begun to clear up, the bikepacking is back on the menu. So what if it is cold.....

I may be getting older, whiter haired, and slow, but I ain't done just yet. I know what path I don't want to go down now more than ever. Although I know someday I'll end up at the same place as my uncle, I hope to take a much more adventurous way around before I get there.

Friday News And Views

New 29-3

The 29-3 Becomes One:

The Bontrager 29-3 tires, a front/rear specific design that featured two completely different tires, is no more. Now the 29-3 has been completely redesigned and is one tire for front or rear.

Whew! That's probably a good thing, since trying to explain to folks that two completely different tread designs were the same model was confusing at best. Besides, the "rear" specific 29-3 was not all that popular anyway.

The new 29-3 is a 2.3" wide, (claimed), width, which is spot on for an all arounder. It looks the part too, with blocky tread dispersed across the carcass of the tire in a chevron-like pattern. The claimed weight on the Team Issue is 730 grams and it is a TLR tire as well. There are two other versions, a folder, which is heavier, and a wire bead version.

29-3 tires are available now from your nearest Bontrager dealer.

Puuuuurrrrple!

Chris King Limited Run Purple Components:

If you are like me, you like anodized, colorful mountain bike and road components.  If you are not with me on the color thing, skip this section!

Starting now and ending on December 10th, Chris King is taking pre-orders on a special offering of selected components including bottom brackets, hubs, and head sets. Once the pre-order window closes, Chris King will manufacture the parts ordered, and delivery is set for early next year. For a list of parts and more details, see the Twenty Nine Inches post here.

This probably won't happen again, so if you've been hollerin' for purple this or that, better get yer self down to the LBS and get that order in.

Trans Iowa News; 

If you have not been over to the Trans Iowa site lately and you are interested in this event, you might want to check it out. I've posted new information on the course, cut off times, and important information regarding the Pre-Race Meat-Up and more.

Monday the Registration for Finishers only will begin. Look for a roster update Monday evening. Starting the week after next, post cards from Veterans should start rolling in, and the following week after that we should see the Rookie class post cards showing up. Remember- the Trans Iowa site has fine details listed which you need to adhere to if you want your entry to count.

3GR: The ride is on as long as it doesn't rain at 8:30am at Gateway Park's parking lot, and going on the "usual" route. Hope to see anyone interested there.

Have a great weekend! Ride yer bicycles!

Friday News And Views

New 29-3

The 29-3 Becomes One:

The Bontrager 29-3 tires, a front/rear specific design that featured two completely different tires, is no more. Now the 29-3 has been completely redesigned and is one tire for front or rear.

Whew! That's probably a good thing, since trying to explain to folks that two completely different tread designs were the same model was confusing at best. Besides, the "rear" specific 29-3 was not all that popular anyway.

The new 29-3 is a 2.3" wide, (claimed), width, which is spot on for an all arounder. It looks the part too, with blocky tread dispersed across the carcass of the tire in a chevron-like pattern. The claimed weight on the Team Issue is 730 grams and it is a TLR tire as well. There are two other versions, a folder, which is heavier, and a wire bead version.

29-3 tires are available now from your nearest Bontrager dealer.

Puuuuurrrrple!

Chris King Limited Run Purple Components:

If you are like me, you like anodized, colorful mountain bike and road components.  If you are not with me on the color thing, skip this section!

Starting now and ending on December 10th, Chris King is taking pre-orders on a special offering of selected components including bottom brackets, hubs, and head sets. Once the pre-order window closes, Chris King will manufacture the parts ordered, and delivery is set for early next year. For a list of parts and more details, see the Twenty Nine Inches post here.

This probably won't happen again, so if you've been hollerin' for purple this or that, better get yer self down to the LBS and get that order in.

Trans Iowa News; 

If you have not been over to the Trans Iowa site lately and you are interested in this event, you might want to check it out. I've posted new information on the course, cut off times, and important information regarding the Pre-Race Meat-Up and more.

Monday the Registration for Finishers only will begin. Look for a roster update Monday evening. Starting the week after next, post cards from Veterans should start rolling in, and the following week after that we should see the Rookie class post cards showing up. Remember- the Trans Iowa site has fine details listed which you need to adhere to if you want your entry to count.

3GR: The ride is on as long as it doesn't rain at 8:30am at Gateway Park's parking lot, and going on the "usual" route. Hope to see anyone interested there.

Have a great weekend! Ride yer bicycles!

The Last Leaves Of Fall

Reflections...

The end of one season and starting another. Changes are in the air again. Then there is that massive storm that left all sorts of destruction behind out East. Halloween was yesterday too.

And my Uncle Joe died this week.

I usually don't write about personal stuff here on this blog, trying to keep things bicycle related, but there are some things more important than bicycles.

I know. Hard to believe sometimes, right? But seriously, this has been a week full of reminders for me that cycling, while a great blessing to me and a lot of you, is not the most important thing. At least it isn't for me.

So, that said, I did use cycling to try and help myself navigate through some feelings I've had in the past few days. I hopped on The Snow Dog, and went out to the Green Belt, just tooling around and trying to enjoy the butt end of Fall.

The lake out there is pretty low, so I figured I would try to circumnavigate it on the beach that is exposed now. A couple small spots were technically challenging. A bit of spongy ground, a spot of mud, and some downed limbs and trash from trees piled up were really the only small challenges. The Big Fat Larrys made mincemeat of the task. It was too easy, really.

Fun, but easy. Any other bike would have struggled with that ride. Anyway, I got some thinking done, and being outside was good.

While cycling isn't everything, it sure is a great way, (for me), to process through life and my feelings. I am really grateful for that. I know some folks don't have a mechanism to work through things. Cycling is my way of resetting my mind sometimes, and other times it is a way for me to unwind from stress, while at other times I just have fun.

But like I say, cycling isn't everything. I'm still processing through it all, but the ride sure helped reset my compass a bit.

So, the days will go on and Fall is ending with Winter just around that corner up there. Will it bring snow for fun fat biking times, or will it be another winter of extended single speed and gravel travel? Who knows, but I'm just glad to have some cycling to look forward to at this point.

The Last Leaves Of Fall

Reflections...

The end of one season and starting another. Changes are in the air again. Then there is that massive storm that left all sorts of destruction behind out East. Halloween was yesterday too.

And my Uncle Joe died this week.

I usually don't write about personal stuff here on this blog, trying to keep things bicycle related, but there are some things more important than bicycles.

I know. Hard to believe sometimes, right? But seriously, this has been a week full of reminders for me that cycling, while a great blessing to me and a lot of you, is not the most important thing. At least it isn't for me.

So, that said, I did use cycling to try and help myself navigate through some feelings I've had in the past few days. I hopped on The Snow Dog, and went out to the Green Belt, just tooling around and trying to enjoy the butt end of Fall.

The lake out there is pretty low, so I figured I would try to circumnavigate it on the beach that is exposed now. A couple small spots were technically challenging. A bit of spongy ground, a spot of mud, and some downed limbs and trash from trees piled up were really the only small challenges. The Big Fat Larrys made mincemeat of the task. It was too easy, really.

Fun, but easy. Any other bike would have struggled with that ride. Anyway, I got some thinking done, and being outside was good.

While cycling isn't everything, it sure is a great way, (for me), to process through life and my feelings. I am really grateful for that. I know some folks don't have a mechanism to work through things. Cycling is my way of resetting my mind sometimes, and other times it is a way for me to unwind from stress, while at other times I just have fun.

But like I say, cycling isn't everything. I'm still processing through it all, but the ride sure helped reset my compass a bit.

So, the days will go on and Fall is ending with Winter just around that corner up there. Will it bring snow for fun fat biking times, or will it be another winter of extended single speed and gravel travel? Who knows, but I'm just glad to have some cycling to look forward to at this point.