Trans Iowa V9: Pre-Race Meat-Up Details

Hey- what time did he say to be here again?

Okay, as promised a while back, here are some details on the Pre-Race Meat-Up. I'm going to repeat some information here, but there will be a lot of news in this as well, so pay attention!  This post is here to help inform you, who may be riding in Trans Iowa V9, as to exactly what to do and what to expect concerning this event.

First of all, we were considering an alternative to going to the Grinnell Steakhouse for this meeting. While 95% of the feedback I have ever gotten about the venue is overwhelmingly positive, it doesn't mean I shouldn't consider other possibilities. In the end, it just didn't make sense from a time/money/effort perspective to do something else. Just so you all understand- here is the deal:

The Grinnell Steakhouse is a Grinnell Chamber of Commerce business and Trans Iowa wants to support local business as much as we can. The steakhouse is big enough to handle our group, plus they are willing to go out of their way to accommodate us. Furthermore, they offer us the use of their meeting room at no charge to the event. That's a big deal to me. I like talking to you folks where it is warm, dry, and where everyone can hear me. I mean- we could do the Pre-Race outside behind my truck, ala T.I.V1. I'm sure ya'all would love that at 3:00am in the morning! In the rain. Freezing to death. Yeah.....

David Pals getting things ready for the T.I.V7 Pre-Race

But to me- the most important thing is the social interaction that goes on at the event. Folks are grilling their meals, chatting, rubbing elbows with each other, and sharing fears, plans, hopes, and general chit-chat. I think it has added a lot to the Trans Iowa experience since we came there for T.I.V6.

So, that's a few important reasons why I have this event where I do. Here are some that are also very important:

• Rider Check In: The event will commence at 4:00pm, Friday April 26th. At this time I ask that all riders start showing up to sign waivers, get race numbers, pins, and most importantly- check in and make sure you are accounted for.  If we do not get your name checked in against our roster, I won't call you up later, you won't get cue sheets, and you won't race in T.I.V9.  You have until 6:30pm to get there and do this. That said- if you are eating at the Steakhouse, come early!
• What If I Usually Eat Grilled Alpo And Drink Raw Eggs Before Every Race- Do I Have To Eat At The Steakhouse? No- you don't, so you could show up right before 6:30pm and check in, but I wish you would eat at the Steakhouse, because if you do not, you'll miss out on a huge social aspect of the event. Your choice though.... But whatever you decide- make sure you check in before 6:30pm!!
• Pre-Race Meat-Up: You should have checked in, eaten at the Steakhouse, paid your bill, and have made your way into the meeting room by 7:00pm. I will start the "official goings on" at that time. You will be welcomed, you will hear thank yous and acknowledgements. Then I will talk about the course, tell you about any re-routes, or course dangers. I will reiterate the time cut-offs. I will make sure you all know where the Barn is and where the Start is. I will then take questions. After that, I will do the rider call up. When you hear your name, you can pick up a bag which will contain the cues for the first 52+ miles of the 325 mile event. Then you are free to leave. 
• I suspect this will all be done by 7:45pm, but I am giving myself till 8:00pm, just in case. 
• What If I Can Not Get There Before 6:30pm? Can I Get My Cue Sheets At The Start Line? Really? The answer is a flat "no". Don't bother showing up at all if you even think this is an option, because it isn't an option. I will not- for any reason- give anyone cue sheets unless they show up Friday at 4:00pm-6:30pm. Figure out how you have to make that work.

Okay, that's the itinerary for Friday. It's simple. Don't screw it up!

We will start @ 4am in front of Bikes To You on Broad St.

Finally, you will all be getting an e-mail about menu choices. But so that you have a heads up, following is the meal choices and prices that the Steakhouse will be charging us. They are giving us a bit of a break on pricing due to the size of the group.

“Grill Your Own” Special
Ribeye Steak: 8-oz for $17.95  Boneless Pork Loin Filet or Marinated Chicken Breast for $13.95
Includes the Soup & Salad Bar, Potato & Toast along with a soft drink.
Vegetable Kabobs will also be available @ $5.95 each.
There is also a Kid's Menu and there will be beer available for purchase. 

The e-mail I send will ask you to pick a menu item so that the Grinnell Steakhouse can be sure to have enough fresh food on hand for our group. Look for that in your in-boxes this week. Please respond ASAP when you do get the e-mail. Of course, if you can not attend T.I.V9 for any reason, please respond and let me know this as well.

Any questions? Hit me up in the comments section.

Trans Iowa V9: Pre-Race Meat-Up Details

Hey- what time did he say to be here again?

Okay, as promised a while back, here are some details on the Pre-Race Meat-Up. I'm going to repeat some information here, but there will be a lot of news in this as well, so pay attention!  This post is here to help inform you, who may be riding in Trans Iowa V9, as to exactly what to do and what to expect concerning this event.

First of all, we were considering an alternative to going to the Grinnell Steakhouse for this meeting. While 95% of the feedback I have ever gotten about the venue is overwhelmingly positive, it doesn't mean I shouldn't consider other possibilities. In the end, it just didn't make sense from a time/money/effort perspective to do something else. Just so you all understand- here is the deal:

The Grinnell Steakhouse is a Grinnell Chamber of Commerce business and Trans Iowa wants to support local business as much as we can. The steakhouse is big enough to handle our group, plus they are willing to go out of their way to accommodate us. Furthermore, they offer us the use of their meeting room at no charge to the event. That's a big deal to me. I like talking to you folks where it is warm, dry, and where everyone can hear me. I mean- we could do the Pre-Race outside behind my truck, ala T.I.V1. I'm sure ya'all would love that at 3:00am in the morning! In the rain. Freezing to death. Yeah.....

David Pals getting things ready for the T.I.V7 Pre-Race

But to me- the most important thing is the social interaction that goes on at the event. Folks are grilling their meals, chatting, rubbing elbows with each other, and sharing fears, plans, hopes, and general chit-chat. I think it has added a lot to the Trans Iowa experience since we came there for T.I.V6.

So, that's a few important reasons why I have this event where I do. Here are some that are also very important:

• Rider Check In: The event will commence at 4:00pm, Friday April 26th. At this time I ask that all riders start showing up to sign waivers, get race numbers, pins, and most importantly- check in and make sure you are accounted for.  If we do not get your name checked in against our roster, I won't call you up later, you won't get cue sheets, and you won't race in T.I.V9.  You have until 6:30pm to get there and do this. That said- if you are eating at the Steakhouse, come early!
• What If I Usually Eat Grilled Alpo And Drink Raw Eggs Before Every Race- Do I Have To Eat At The Steakhouse? No- you don't, so you could show up right before 6:30pm and check in, but I wish you would eat at the Steakhouse, because if you do not, you'll miss out on a huge social aspect of the event. Your choice though.... But whatever you decide- make sure you check in before 6:30pm!!
• Pre-Race Meat-Up: You should have checked in, eaten at the Steakhouse, paid your bill, and have made your way into the meeting room by 7:00pm. I will start the "official goings on" at that time. You will be welcomed, you will hear thank yous and acknowledgements. Then I will talk about the course, tell you about any re-routes, or course dangers. I will reiterate the time cut-offs. I will make sure you all know where the Barn is and where the Start is. I will then take questions. After that, I will do the rider call up. When you hear your name, you can pick up a bag which will contain the cues for the first 52+ miles of the 325 mile event. Then you are free to leave. 
• I suspect this will all be done by 7:45pm, but I am giving myself till 8:00pm, just in case. 
• What If I Can Not Get There Before 6:30pm? Can I Get My Cue Sheets At The Start Line? Really? The answer is a flat "no". Don't bother showing up at all if you even think this is an option, because it isn't an option. I will not- for any reason- give anyone cue sheets unless they show up Friday at 4:00pm-6:30pm. Figure out how you have to make that work.

Okay, that's the itinerary for Friday. It's simple. Don't screw it up!

We will start @ 4am in front of Bikes To You on Broad St.

Finally, you will all be getting an e-mail about menu choices. But so that you have a heads up, following is the meal choices and prices that the Steakhouse will be charging us. They are giving us a bit of a break on pricing due to the size of the group.

“Grill Your Own” Special
Ribeye Steak: 8-oz for $17.95  Boneless Pork Loin Filet or Marinated Chicken Breast for $13.95
Includes the Soup & Salad Bar, Potato & Toast along with a soft drink.
Vegetable Kabobs will also be available @ $5.95 each.
There is also a Kid's Menu and there will be beer available for purchase. 

The e-mail I send will ask you to pick a menu item so that the Grinnell Steakhouse can be sure to have enough fresh food on hand for our group. Look for that in your in-boxes this week. Please respond ASAP when you do get the e-mail. Of course, if you can not attend T.I.V9 for any reason, please respond and let me know this as well.

Any questions? Hit me up in the comments section.

Friday News And Views

Kona "Wo" fat bike due in August, $1699.00 USD

More Fat:

So I see on Facebook that a Kona dealer is taking pre-orders on a fat bike. A 2014 model they say is going to come out in August dubbed the "Wo". (Apparently a Hawaii 5-0 reference)

The bike will be an aluminum framed rig with "Kona P2 Fat Disc fork, which I would assume is steel. This bike will feature a mid to lower end spec of FSA/Shimano/Tektro and will be a 2X9 set up.

The interesting bit, of course, is who Kona is using for rims and tires. The tire is listed as a "Vee Rubber" 26" X 4.0. The rims are listed as a "Jetset" model. Hubs are JoyTech. It will be a 170mm symmetrical layout. Obviously, this is an entry level, price buster build meant to tap into the first time fat bike riders out there.

So, this just got real. Fat bikes are coming out from mid-level companies, while in the meantime rumors fly left and right concerning Specialized, Trek, and now Raleigh is being mentioned as a possible player in the fat bike market. In fact, the latest rumor is that Specialized is coming out with a three bike line up sporting fatties. Sea Otter, Trek World, and other summer dealer camps will be closely watched. I'm betting the fat bike market place is about to get real, real interesting.

Ladies are welcomed too...

It's Official:

Year three of the Renegade Gents Race 3.0 will see the third appearance of the Team Careless Whispers attacking the gravel in and around the Ankeny-Ames countryside. April 6th is the official date for this rural pillaging. 

I will be joining the same com-padres as I have the previous two years on this metric century, team time trial style gravel adventure. This event can be a good test of a group working together, or you can take it as a fun ride, or anywhere in between.

Cut off date for registering a five person team is April 1st, so if you are thinking about this, get on the stick. I was about the only non-Des Moines rider the first year, but I hear rumors that a couple of teams might be making the trek down from around here. If so, see ya on the roads.If not- you will just be missing out on fun. You probably wouldn't like fun, so there ya go. (<===HA!)

At any rate, Team Careless Whisper is going to be having FUN. We'll ride hard as well. It's always an adventure, and The Renegade Gents Race is one good adventure to go on.

If a Mukluk and a Pugs had a baby...

Moar Fat Bike Stuff!

Genesis, a U.K. based brand,  also introduced a new fat bike recently. It is called a Caribou, and is steel, of course. U.K. and all.

The Caribou is a classy looking steed, I must say. Based on the ethos of the Salsa Mukluk, with braze ons all over, and utilizing the 170mm symmetrical standard spacing on the rear hub, but using the steel tubing. It looks like the crossing of a Mukluk and a Pugsley, and I must say, I like this hybrid's looks.

In the U.K., you'll be able to get this all built up as a 1X drive train set up, or you'll be able to get just the frame and fork. Interestingly, the bike makes use of Surly rims and tires. That's unusual, and probably won't be the case should other brands jump in.

To that end, this post on Fat-Bike.com details the latest Vee Rubber fat bike tire. It is similar to the Surly Knard 26 X 3.8"er in that it features lots of small-ish blocks. The big deal with this new tread is the price, ($85.00 MSRP), and that it is sealant compatible. Yep- a tubeless ready fat bike tire. You knew it would happen!

Okay, that's a wrap. Spring is springing this weekend, even if it is still very snowy out there! Get outside, ride, enjoy!

Friday News And Views

Kona "Wo" fat bike due in August, $1699.00 USD

More Fat:

So I see on Facebook that a Kona dealer is taking pre-orders on a fat bike. A 2014 model they say is going to come out in August dubbed the "Wo". (Apparently a Hawaii 5-0 reference)

The bike will be an aluminum framed rig with "Kona P2 Fat Disc fork, which I would assume is steel. This bike will feature a mid to lower end spec of FSA/Shimano/Tektro and will be a 2X9 set up.

The interesting bit, of course, is who Kona is using for rims and tires. The tire is listed as a "Vee Rubber" 26" X 4.0. The rims are listed as a "Jetset" model. Hubs are JoyTech. It will be a 170mm symmetrical layout. Obviously, this is an entry level, price buster build meant to tap into the first time fat bike riders out there.

So, this just got real. Fat bikes are coming out from mid-level companies, while in the meantime rumors fly left and right concerning Specialized, Trek, and now Raleigh is being mentioned as a possible player in the fat bike market. In fact, the latest rumor is that Specialized is coming out with a three bike line up sporting fatties. Sea Otter, Trek World, and other summer dealer camps will be closely watched. I'm betting the fat bike market place is about to get real, real interesting.

Ladies are welcomed too...

It's Official:

Year three of the Renegade Gents Race 3.0 will see the third appearance of the Team Careless Whispers attacking the gravel in and around the Ankeny-Ames countryside. April 6th is the official date for this rural pillaging. 

I will be joining the same com-padres as I have the previous two years on this metric century, team time trial style gravel adventure. This event can be a good test of a group working together, or you can take it as a fun ride, or anywhere in between.

Cut off date for registering a five person team is April 1st, so if you are thinking about this, get on the stick. I was about the only non-Des Moines rider the first year, but I hear rumors that a couple of teams might be making the trek down from around here. If so, see ya on the roads.If not- you will just be missing out on fun. You probably wouldn't like fun, so there ya go. (<===HA!)

At any rate, Team Careless Whisper is going to be having FUN. We'll ride hard as well. It's always an adventure, and The Renegade Gents Race is one good adventure to go on.

If a Mukluk and a Pugs had a baby...

Moar Fat Bike Stuff!

Genesis, a U.K. based brand,  also introduced a new fat bike recently. It is called a Caribou, and is steel, of course. U.K. and all.

The Caribou is a classy looking steed, I must say. Based on the ethos of the Salsa Mukluk, with braze ons all over, and utilizing the 170mm symmetrical standard spacing on the rear hub, but using the steel tubing. It looks like the crossing of a Mukluk and a Pugsley, and I must say, I like this hybrid's looks.

In the U.K., you'll be able to get this all built up as a 1X drive train set up, or you'll be able to get just the frame and fork. Interestingly, the bike makes use of Surly rims and tires. That's unusual, and probably won't be the case should other brands jump in.

To that end, this post on Fat-Bike.com details the latest Vee Rubber fat bike tire. It is similar to the Surly Knard 26 X 3.8"er in that it features lots of small-ish blocks. The big deal with this new tread is the price, ($85.00 MSRP), and that it is sealant compatible. Yep- a tubeless ready fat bike tire. You knew it would happen!

Okay, that's a wrap. Spring is springing this weekend, even if it is still very snowy out there! Get outside, ride, enjoy!

A Future Payoff?

Post-hole-a-rama

Yeah, another post with fat bikes in it. Deal with it, ya'all! (Only just kidding) It's still full on Winter here, and quite frankly, in this locale, it is all ice and snow everywhere. The only clear roads are the busiest ones.

So, it was me and The Snow Dog again yesterday. I decided to go in search of the elusive packed down snowmobile trails that could be found by riding from the house. I am not one to drive to a ride unless it is to Camp Ingawanis.

This meant that I would go partially through the commute to work route, which I knew would be in dire need of beating in, and that meant pushing the bike. And boy did I! I ended up going all the way over to Westfield Road, a slog of over a mile, post-holing snow all the way. I know that is nothing compared to what the guys sometimes do at Arrowhead, or the Iditarod, but it ain't easy all the same.

Well, once I got through that, I hit up down town Waterloo, then headed East to go to the former Mitchell sandpits to find any snowmobile trail I could. It was either ice, frozen, slick snow, or muddy, ice ridden pools all the way over there. That or busy side streets. But the promise of packed in snowmobile trail was worth it.

Mush! (Not the good kind.)

Well, I got there and saw the promising sign of a lone snowmobiler going South along the top of the dike where there is a paved bike path underneath all that snow. I was encouraged by the thoughts of really stable, fast paced snow riding. However; when I pulled up to where I could access the trail, it didn't look all that great.

Still- here I was and I was going to give it a go. I got on and started pedaling, but within a few feet I knew it wasn't good. I was sinking in, and the snow was shifting sideways under the tires. You know- just like all Winter long so far. There was just too much snow, not enough moisture in it, and not enough compaction to make fat biking on this foot plus depth snow possible. I was dejected.

So I turned around and took a slightly different, but no less icy, route back home. All the way I figured that while the ride was a bust, I was getting something out of this that might pay off later. Base miles, exercise, mental training, (because the riding really wasn't fun at all), and I just kept reminding myself that good times were coming and this ride would make those times better times.

Or something like that, anyway!

A Future Payoff?

Post-hole-a-rama

Yeah, another post with fat bikes in it. Deal with it, ya'all! (Only just kidding) It's still full on Winter here, and quite frankly, in this locale, it is all ice and snow everywhere. The only clear roads are the busiest ones.

So, it was me and The Snow Dog again yesterday. I decided to go in search of the elusive packed down snowmobile trails that could be found by riding from the house. I am not one to drive to a ride unless it is to Camp Ingawanis.

This meant that I would go partially through the commute to work route, which I knew would be in dire need of beating in, and that meant pushing the bike. And boy did I! I ended up going all the way over to Westfield Road, a slog of over a mile, post-holing snow all the way. I know that is nothing compared to what the guys sometimes do at Arrowhead, or the Iditarod, but it ain't easy all the same.

Well, once I got through that, I hit up down town Waterloo, then headed East to go to the former Mitchell sandpits to find any snowmobile trail I could. It was either ice, frozen, slick snow, or muddy, ice ridden pools all the way over there. That or busy side streets. But the promise of packed in snowmobile trail was worth it.

Mush! (Not the good kind.)

Well, I got there and saw the promising sign of a lone snowmobiler going South along the top of the dike where there is a paved bike path underneath all that snow. I was encouraged by the thoughts of really stable, fast paced snow riding. However; when I pulled up to where I could access the trail, it didn't look all that great.

Still- here I was and I was going to give it a go. I got on and started pedaling, but within a few feet I knew it wasn't good. I was sinking in, and the snow was shifting sideways under the tires. You know- just like all Winter long so far. There was just too much snow, not enough moisture in it, and not enough compaction to make fat biking on this foot plus depth snow possible. I was dejected.

So I turned around and took a slightly different, but no less icy, route back home. All the way I figured that while the ride was a bust, I was getting something out of this that might pay off later. Base miles, exercise, mental training, (because the riding really wasn't fun at all), and I just kept reminding myself that good times were coming and this ride would make those times better times.

Or something like that, anyway!

Bud Lust

Refining the ride. Always refining the ride.

This Winter is on the verge of "kaput", (seriously- I bet all this snow is mostly gone in two weeks), and I have a few thoughts on my fat bike snow riding experiences. I think there are a few things I am going to do before winter arrives next year to refine my gear and my riding experiences.

One has to do with wheels. I do not need anything else other than what I have for 75% of the year. However; when things get loose, deep, and fluffy, I am thinking I am wanting maximum floatation. Especially after this Winter's experiences. There are two things besides wheels I want to aim for, but the first thing will be getting a wheel set with 100mm rims laced into them. This should plant more tread downward to help float me up a bit better on crappy, dry snow, like we've had this year. Honestly, my 82's are doing well most of the time, but I'd like the option of wider rims.

Secondly, I have had a big issue with washing out the front wheel, which kills my momentum, obviously, and frustrates the heck out of me. Lateral traction is tough with a Big Fat Larry. It likes to surf sideways at a moments notice. That's where I think the Surly Bud comes in.

Surly Bud 4.8"er

     The Bud is a big, meaty tire, but I really don't care about that too much. I really like the tread pattern though. That's what attracts me to this tire. Those lateral "paddles" stick up a lot higher than Big Fat Larry's do, and I can not imagine that holding a line in loose snow would not be made easier by having this tire. 

I suppose using a Nate would be okay, but I just think this tire looks like it rolls better and is all about lateral traction. There is one problem here though.... This tire is quite a bit bigger than a Big Fat Larry, (according to Surly's site), and I have a fairly close shave as it is with the 82's and the Big Fat Larry up front. Using a 100mm rim? I doubt it would even fit.

So- I get a new fork, right? Well, I am not all that excited about what is available for a straight 1 1/8th steer tube forks, which is what both my fat bikes take. Custom fork? Yes- that is a possibility, but I have a better idea, and it just shows you how bad I have it for this Bud tire. Bud Lust, if you will.....

I found out that the new Carbon Beargrease will accept this tire up front on a 82mm rim. Perfect! A new bike to fix a small problem. Ha! Bike geeks will understand. But what about a 100mm rim wheel set?

Well, that's something to find out later. (I'd have to use through axle hubs for a Carbon Beargrease anyway. ) The wheels could be used in the meantime for the idea of running the BFL's or 3.8"ers on there with that wheel set, which should "float" better than what I've got now. I'd probably run these wheels on The Snow Dog, which I am not going to be getting rid of. Yes- I probably will get rid of the titanium frame Mukluk.... But right now it is all just scheming and dreaming. Of course, I could always just loose more weight....off me...and I probably would fix a lot of my problems right there! 
                                                                                                                 

Bud Lust

Refining the ride. Always refining the ride.

This Winter is on the verge of "kaput", (seriously- I bet all this snow is mostly gone in two weeks), and I have a few thoughts on my fat bike snow riding experiences. I think there are a few things I am going to do before winter arrives next year to refine my gear and my riding experiences.

One has to do with wheels. I do not need anything else other than what I have for 75% of the year. However; when things get loose, deep, and fluffy, I am thinking I am wanting maximum floatation. Especially after this Winter's experiences. There are two things besides wheels I want to aim for, but the first thing will be getting a wheel set with 100mm rims laced into them. This should plant more tread downward to help float me up a bit better on crappy, dry snow, like we've had this year. Honestly, my 82's are doing well most of the time, but I'd like the option of wider rims.

Secondly, I have had a big issue with washing out the front wheel, which kills my momentum, obviously, and frustrates the heck out of me. Lateral traction is tough with a Big Fat Larry. It likes to surf sideways at a moments notice. That's where I think the Surly Bud comes in.

Surly Bud 4.8"er

     The Bud is a big, meaty tire, but I really don't care about that too much. I really like the tread pattern though. That's what attracts me to this tire. Those lateral "paddles" stick up a lot higher than Big Fat Larry's do, and I can not imagine that holding a line in loose snow would not be made easier by having this tire. 

I suppose using a Nate would be okay, but I just think this tire looks like it rolls better and is all about lateral traction. There is one problem here though.... This tire is quite a bit bigger than a Big Fat Larry, (according to Surly's site), and I have a fairly close shave as it is with the 82's and the Big Fat Larry up front. Using a 100mm rim? I doubt it would even fit.

So- I get a new fork, right? Well, I am not all that excited about what is available for a straight 1 1/8th steer tube forks, which is what both my fat bikes take. Custom fork? Yes- that is a possibility, but I have a better idea, and it just shows you how bad I have it for this Bud tire. Bud Lust, if you will.....

I found out that the new Carbon Beargrease will accept this tire up front on a 82mm rim. Perfect! A new bike to fix a small problem. Ha! Bike geeks will understand. But what about a 100mm rim wheel set?

Well, that's something to find out later. (I'd have to use through axle hubs for a Carbon Beargrease anyway. ) The wheels could be used in the meantime for the idea of running the BFL's or 3.8"ers on there with that wheel set, which should "float" better than what I've got now. I'd probably run these wheels on The Snow Dog, which I am not going to be getting rid of. Yes- I probably will get rid of the titanium frame Mukluk.... But right now it is all just scheming and dreaming. Of course, I could always just loose more weight....off me...and I probably would fix a lot of my problems right there! 
                                                                                                                 

Getting Antsy

Earlier in the month of Feb, when it looked Springlike.

Yesterday I was chatting with a co-worker who is entered into Trans Iowa V9. She was concerned that she hasn't been able to get any quality, long miles in outdoors. It's been hard here since we've had a few disruptive bouts of significant snow, icing, and a few outbreaks of bitterly cold temperatures. In stark contrast, last year was idyllic in February and many cyclists were recording big miles by March for the year.

I know several riders have been sneaking in some miles for racing this season, but many are having difficulty getting into a level of fitness they feel comfortable with in order to do well at T.I.V9. There have been a few drops, some of which I am sure are related to the lack of mileage, from the Trans Iowa roster lately. I suspect to hear about more, to be honest.

As for myself, I am getting ansty to get out and start putting on some big miles as well. Certainly, I have been "out there" doing things on my fat bike, shoveling snow, (hey! it is exercise!), and doing the snow shoe thing Saturday. But nothing beats a good, long gravel road ride, or a few hours in the woods riding a mountain bike. I miss it and want to get out there sooner than later. It's March, and we have more snow than ever, and the Renegade Gents Race is in a month!

I might just ride the Vaya, but I am not sure I want to do that if I have not had a chance to dial it in just so before that ride. Heck- if we still are coming out of Winter then I may be choosing to ride a fat bike. Especially if the roads are soft.

It'll be awhile before this all melts.

And riding mountain bikes is becoming a big, big necessity now with my gig at TNI. That will get alleviated a bit if an upcoming trip to El Paso comes through and then I'll be getting my desert riding thing on. I kinds of don't want to go, because I have so much to do here, but I kind of do. If it does come through I'll be hitting up that East side again and I have a specific ride in mind for two different rigs I have to take down.

But if it doesn't come through I'll likely have to put the mtb stuff on the back burner until well into April. Snowed again last night, so Winter isn't about to let loose its grip on us anytime soon, apparently. The gravel roads will clear up first, and so I bet there is where I will be getting my fix at first. Time will tell.

Getting Antsy

Earlier in the month of Feb, when it looked Springlike.

Yesterday I was chatting with a co-worker who is entered into Trans Iowa V9. She was concerned that she hasn't been able to get any quality, long miles in outdoors. It's been hard here since we've had a few disruptive bouts of significant snow, icing, and a few outbreaks of bitterly cold temperatures. In stark contrast, last year was idyllic in February and many cyclists were recording big miles by March for the year.

I know several riders have been sneaking in some miles for racing this season, but many are having difficulty getting into a level of fitness they feel comfortable with in order to do well at T.I.V9. There have been a few drops, some of which I am sure are related to the lack of mileage, from the Trans Iowa roster lately. I suspect to hear about more, to be honest.

As for myself, I am getting ansty to get out and start putting on some big miles as well. Certainly, I have been "out there" doing things on my fat bike, shoveling snow, (hey! it is exercise!), and doing the snow shoe thing Saturday. But nothing beats a good, long gravel road ride, or a few hours in the woods riding a mountain bike. I miss it and want to get out there sooner than later. It's March, and we have more snow than ever, and the Renegade Gents Race is in a month!

I might just ride the Vaya, but I am not sure I want to do that if I have not had a chance to dial it in just so before that ride. Heck- if we still are coming out of Winter then I may be choosing to ride a fat bike. Especially if the roads are soft.

It'll be awhile before this all melts.

And riding mountain bikes is becoming a big, big necessity now with my gig at TNI. That will get alleviated a bit if an upcoming trip to El Paso comes through and then I'll be getting my desert riding thing on. I kinds of don't want to go, because I have so much to do here, but I kind of do. If it does come through I'll be hitting up that East side again and I have a specific ride in mind for two different rigs I have to take down.

But if it doesn't come through I'll likely have to put the mtb stuff on the back burner until well into April. Snowed again last night, so Winter isn't about to let loose its grip on us anytime soon, apparently. The gravel roads will clear up first, and so I bet there is where I will be getting my fix at first. Time will tell.

Four Seasons Of Fat

See any snow here?

Fat bikes are stirring the pot once again. last week it was a piece on the "Wired" site on fat bikes that was.....well, oddly written. I took that one as just the odd write up. No harm, no foul, but you wouldn't know it from the comments section!

However; things like this poll on "adventure journal" are just a bit on the ignorant side. I could maybe forgive the uninformed individual. I have a harder time with a media outlet that should know better. "Snow bike" is just the sort of term that many use to dismiss the fat bike as being anything one could use for anything but winter conditions. It is a misconception, and shows a lack of understanding the history behind over-sized rubber on off road bikes.

Fat bikes grew from the desert and from the Alaskan hinterlands. The earliest fat 26" tires- something similar to the Surly Endomorph- were developed not for snow, but for riding on sand and loose rock in the desert. Alaskans grabbed this idea for use and continued to refine the bicycle that was built around such enormous tires. This all happened in a vacuum- in a manner of speaking- when one considers this was going on before the internet was widely available. The information was not really going beyond those that were pushing the envelope in this tiny niche of cycling.

A modern day Pugsley with a retro look

Of course, the internet did come around, became widely available, and very popular. In conjunction with this, folks were finding all sorts of stuff they never knew about before, and may never have without the "www". One of those things was the fat bike, and Surly Bikes made that idea available on a wider scale when they introduced the Pugsley in the early 00's. But even then, while the idea of a "Pugs" was pretty cool, folks had no idea exactly where to go with that idea beyond Winter. "It came from the snow", and that's where most folks stopped with their imaginings about these "fat bikes". The fact that the tires were used for desert riding at all was so far under the radar no one really even was aware of that fact.

Then there was the price/building barrier. Pugsleys were a "project bike" when they first came about. You bought the frame and fork, a pair of rims, tire, and tubes, all separately. Then you, or someone else, had to assemble the wheels with a special tool, and then you had to piece together the rig with components. While Surly did everything they could to encourage you and make this easy- it wasn't easy. And it wasn't very wallet friendly either.

Meanwhile the folks standing on the sidelines were getting interested, but were not buying in. Obviously, that all changed when Salsa Cycles and Surly released complete bikes with fat tires in late 2010. The curiosity seekers scooped up every last one that these companies could get out, and then the lights started going off across the country in folks heads as many discovered snow wasn't all these bikes were good at.

Carbon, high tech, and lightweight.

 Of course, there were, and still are, naysayers that claim these bikes are too heavy, lack suspension forks, and don't belong on anything but snow. Of course, this is also being challenged by bikes coming out like the Beargrease, a 28.5lb aluminum bike, and next year's Carbon Beargrease, which will weigh an astounding 24.5lbs. Suspension forks are also imminent. Tinkerers already have modded forks and made full suspension rigs. Even the bigger companies are heavily rumored to be developing their own fat bikes.

Does this all sound like an effort to make a lot of bikes that will only be ridden where it snows? Don't these media folk research the market, (which would take all of 15 minutes to do), to see that folks ride these rigs the other three seasons of the year too?

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that a fat bike is "the best tool for the job" when it comes to going hell-bent for leather up a XC climb, and it isn't the rig you'd choose to do a shuttle run, necessarily, but the reason folks are riding these bikes all year, and for more reasons than to get across snow, is that they are fun.

Last time I checked, "fun" was pretty high on most folks lists of things to pursue. So, if a fat bike is fun to ride, why not ride it all year long? Yep. And people do just that. So, this whole idea of saying these are "snow bikes" is just not a smart thing to say. The fat bike can do lots of terrain other bikes struggle in, like loose rock, sand, mud, and powdery soil. They are getting "with the times" technology-wise, and they are most importantly a hoot to ride on. They are definitely not just for riding on snow.

But that said, it is really fun to do that with a fat bike as well!

Four Seasons Of Fat

See any snow here?

Fat bikes are stirring the pot once again. last week it was a piece on the "Wired" site on fat bikes that was.....well, oddly written. I took that one as just the odd write up. No harm, no foul, but you wouldn't know it from the comments section!

However; things like this poll on "adventure journal" are just a bit on the ignorant side. I could maybe forgive the uninformed individual. I have a harder time with a media outlet that should know better. "Snow bike" is just the sort of term that many use to dismiss the fat bike as being anything one could use for anything but winter conditions. It is a misconception, and shows a lack of understanding the history behind over-sized rubber on off road bikes.

Fat bikes grew from the desert and from the Alaskan hinterlands. The earliest fat 26" tires- something similar to the Surly Endomorph- were developed not for snow, but for riding on sand and loose rock in the desert. Alaskans grabbed this idea for use and continued to refine the bicycle that was built around such enormous tires. This all happened in a vacuum- in a manner of speaking- when one considers this was going on before the internet was widely available. The information was not really going beyond those that were pushing the envelope in this tiny niche of cycling.

A modern day Pugsley with a retro look

Of course, the internet did come around, became widely available, and very popular. In conjunction with this, folks were finding all sorts of stuff they never knew about before, and may never have without the "www". One of those things was the fat bike, and Surly Bikes made that idea available on a wider scale when they introduced the Pugsley in the early 00's. But even then, while the idea of a "Pugs" was pretty cool, folks had no idea exactly where to go with that idea beyond Winter. "It came from the snow", and that's where most folks stopped with their imaginings about these "fat bikes". The fact that the tires were used for desert riding at all was so far under the radar no one really even was aware of that fact.

Then there was the price/building barrier. Pugsleys were a "project bike" when they first came about. You bought the frame and fork, a pair of rims, tire, and tubes, all separately. Then you, or someone else, had to assemble the wheels with a special tool, and then you had to piece together the rig with components. While Surly did everything they could to encourage you and make this easy- it wasn't easy. And it wasn't very wallet friendly either.

Meanwhile the folks standing on the sidelines were getting interested, but were not buying in. Obviously, that all changed when Salsa Cycles and Surly released complete bikes with fat tires in late 2010. The curiosity seekers scooped up every last one that these companies could get out, and then the lights started going off across the country in folks heads as many discovered snow wasn't all these bikes were good at.

Carbon, high tech, and lightweight.

 Of course, there were, and still are, naysayers that claim these bikes are too heavy, lack suspension forks, and don't belong on anything but snow. Of course, this is also being challenged by bikes coming out like the Beargrease, a 28.5lb aluminum bike, and next year's Carbon Beargrease, which will weigh an astounding 24.5lbs. Suspension forks are also imminent. Tinkerers already have modded forks and made full suspension rigs. Even the bigger companies are heavily rumored to be developing their own fat bikes.

Does this all sound like an effort to make a lot of bikes that will only be ridden where it snows? Don't these media folk research the market, (which would take all of 15 minutes to do), to see that folks ride these rigs the other three seasons of the year too?

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that a fat bike is "the best tool for the job" when it comes to going hell-bent for leather up a XC climb, and it isn't the rig you'd choose to do a shuttle run, necessarily, but the reason folks are riding these bikes all year, and for more reasons than to get across snow, is that they are fun.

Last time I checked, "fun" was pretty high on most folks lists of things to pursue. So, if a fat bike is fun to ride, why not ride it all year long? Yep. And people do just that. So, this whole idea of saying these are "snow bikes" is just not a smart thing to say. The fat bike can do lots of terrain other bikes struggle in, like loose rock, sand, mud, and powdery soil. They are getting "with the times" technology-wise, and they are most importantly a hoot to ride on. They are definitely not just for riding on snow.

But that said, it is really fun to do that with a fat bike as well!

SnoBlind

Saturday was a blindingly bright day. One of those days that reminds you that snow + bright sunlight = snoblindness. (That's a technical term!)

I decided to mix things up and dig out my old Atlas snow shoes. I don't cotton to the idea of snow shoeing unless the snow depth is above 10". Since we received a claimed 16" the other day, I was not going to let that chance pass. I don't think I've snow shoed in many a year. It was a good time, but oh! Those hip abductors! That was a work out.

I tried to take some images, but it was so bright, I couldn't see my LCD screen on my Panasonic LX-3 for the life of me, even with polarized shades on. So I could not see to adjust it, and the shots were all over-exposed and weirded out. Oh well! Call it abstract art then, right?

I guess even my camera was snoblind!

SnoBlind

Saturday was a blindingly bright day. One of those days that reminds you that snow + bright sunlight = snoblindness. (That's a technical term!)

I decided to mix things up and dig out my old Atlas snow shoes. I don't cotton to the idea of snow shoeing unless the snow depth is above 10". Since we received a claimed 16" the other day, I was not going to let that chance pass. I don't think I've snow shoed in many a year. It was a good time, but oh! Those hip abductors! That was a work out.

I tried to take some images, but it was so bright, I couldn't see my LCD screen on my Panasonic LX-3 for the life of me, even with polarized shades on. So I could not see to adjust it, and the shots were all over-exposed and weirded out. Oh well! Call it abstract art then, right?

I guess even my camera was snoblind!

Trans Iowa V9: Announcing The Winner

Oh.......not the winner of T.I.V9! No, no, no! This is about the winner of the Retroshift contest that closed February 28th. The contest was open to folks on the T.I.V9 roster only, and you had to tell me why you should get Retroshifters for your T.I. rig.

Well, our winner of the Retroshift contest is Monika Sattler. Here is her short essay on why she thought she should ride Retroshifters on her Trans Iowa rig:

"So there are three big reasons why I would be a great candidate to race the Retroshifters for TI:

First: To personify the "Retro" in these cyclocross retroshifters to its full extent, the rider should be European, because cyclocross originates from Europe. So a good reason to let a German use it. 

Thus, me :)

Second: While checking out the website of Retroshift, I barely see any women! That can be easily changed. So why not a German woman! Thus, me :)

Third, the motto of the retroshifter is "Strong, light weight and fast!" Well, I dont want to make too many conclusions here but that's me! :)"

 

Pretty compelling reasons, if I do say so myself! 

 

So, Monika will be getting here Retroshift set soon, and she will get it installed and start riding it on her CX bike. We'll be tracking Monika's ride throughout Trans Iowa to see how she, and the Retroshifters- fare during the event. Retroshift also has provided us with another set of the levers which will be given out as prizing at Trans Iowa V9.

 

 We'd like to extend our congratulations to Monika on winning these components. Thanks to all who entered the Retroshift contest. It wasn't easy to pick the winner! We also would like to thank Retroshift for sending us these components as a sponsorship for Trans Iowa.  

Trans Iowa V9: Announcing The Winner

Oh.......not the winner of T.I.V9! No, no, no! This is about the winner of the Retroshift contest that closed February 28th. The contest was open to folks on the T.I.V9 roster only, and you had to tell me why you should get Retroshifters for your T.I. rig.

Well, our winner of the Retroshift contest is Monika Sattler. Here is her short essay on why she thought she should ride Retroshifters on her Trans Iowa rig:

"So there are three big reasons why I would be a great candidate to race the Retroshifters for TI:

First: To personify the "Retro" in these cyclocross retroshifters to its full extent, the rider should be European, because cyclocross originates from Europe. So a good reason to let a German use it. 

Thus, me :)

Second: While checking out the website of Retroshift, I barely see any women! That can be easily changed. So why not a German woman! Thus, me :)

Third, the motto of the retroshifter is "Strong, light weight and fast!" Well, I dont want to make too many conclusions here but that's me! :)"

 

Pretty compelling reasons, if I do say so myself! 

 

So, Monika will be getting here Retroshift set soon, and she will get it installed and start riding it on her CX bike. We'll be tracking Monika's ride throughout Trans Iowa to see how she, and the Retroshifters- fare during the event. Retroshift also has provided us with another set of the levers which will be given out as prizing at Trans Iowa V9.

 

 We'd like to extend our congratulations to Monika on winning these components. Thanks to all who entered the Retroshift contest. It wasn't easy to pick the winner! We also would like to thank Retroshift for sending us these components as a sponsorship for Trans Iowa.  

Friday News And Views

Powderkeg

Ssssh! Don't say nuthin', but....

I often find it strange at trade shows when one person is strictly sworn to secrecy and yet another blabs about it all publicly and isn't taken to task for it.  Once again, this happened at Frostbike. So, I figured what's good for the goose is okay for the gander, and here are the two bits that I was strictly forbidden to speak about.

First off, here is where I saw the information, so don't anyone get their panties in a bunch about it.  The first bit is that the tandem shown at Frostbike has a name: Powderkeg, and as anyone knows, "once you name it, you become attached to it!" (movie reference!) Anyway- the point is, by naming the project already, it would seem to further legitimize this as an offering that is coming down the pike at some point. Also mentioned was the thing hanging this project up- which is testing. Salsa wants to be assured this tandem can take what ya'all dish out, but there are no definitions or parameters set for such machines at this point. I suspect that will change soon.

The other bomb in the linked article was sort of slipped in there without much fanfare, but check this out: (Quoted from the Dirt Rag article.)

"...a fat bike suspension fork from a major suspension manufacturer is going to happen soon. It will be spec’d stock on some Salsa fat bikes. No ETA as of yet, or much information at all. After months of test rides on various older forks that fit fat tires, Salsa is confident there is a place in the mountain bike world for a proper fat bike squishy fork. Probably a full suspension fat bike as well!"

Did ya get that? The one thing that holds back fat bikes from becoming full-fledged, year-round mountain bikes is lack of control over that bouncing front wheel. Did you catch the "major suspension manufacturer" hint? Yes- this will not be a cheesy effort. It is coming, and this single facet of Salsa's master plan will be a major turning point in fat bike acceptance and use.

Also, we all know that last year at Frostbike there was a big hullabaloo over a prototyped suspension fat bike that "was held back by lack of a proper front suspension fork". Do you see that finally becoming available?  It sure doesn't take a genius to put that "two-and-two" together, does it? Especially after Salsa kept putting the concept bike out there for folks to see at demos all throughout the summer last year.

In fact, I can't believe Salsa let that slip now. But keep in mind- I didn't say this. Dirt Rag did. So ya'all just as well move along now. Nuthin' to see here.......

Let's Not Forget Our History: 

Codeine

 First it was On One's prototype Codeine that made some folks sit up and take notice. Slated to get 5" of rear travel mated to any 140mm-160mm fork.......wait. What? There are no readily available 160mm travel suspension forks for a 29"er, right? Then Specialized bombs everyone with the 6" travel bike, seen here.

While everyone may get the impression that these are "ground breaking" bikes, they are not.Anyone remember the Lenzsport Lunchbox? A fully capable, 6 inch travel All Mountain rig that I actually got to ride back in about 2007. Then the following year, LenzSport brought out the PBJ 7" travel rig. Both with pretty short chain stays too. Well made, highly regarded and still being made to this day. While Specialized and On One will seem "cutting edge", just keep in mind that it has all been done before.

What it does do though is legitimize "long travel" 29"ers as something viable. Whether or not riders embrace them remains to be seen, but 27.5"ers better be careful if these bikes do take off. And speaking of 27.5"ers, did ya see that Shimano just announced two wheel sets for the size? yep. That'll push that size further than it would have without Shimano.

Gravel Grinder News News: 

Yes- you read that correctly- Gravel Grinder News is going to be a-changin'.  Don't worry, if things go as I hope, it will become better, easier to use, easier to find events that are interesting to you, and perhaps even more gear reviews and what not.

The process to find a good template to switch to has already begun, and a draft for the plan has been made. Now I have to decide on some details, and then we'll be playing with the fine tuning behind the scenes.

It's been an eye opening week from my perspective as far as that site goes. I started it purely out of frustration that no centralized site existed to gather information for folks to see regarding the events out there. It grew to become far more than I intended, and far more used than I imagined. In fact, I only just figured it all out this past weekend. kind of a "Eureka!" moment, if you will. So, that's when all the planning started, and it will take a while to get everything in order. I definitely will post an announcement when it goes live.

Thanks to all the riders and promoters that have made Gravel grinder news a success over the  past 5 years.

Friday News And Views

Powderkeg

Ssssh! Don't say nuthin', but....

I often find it strange at trade shows when one person is strictly sworn to secrecy and yet another blabs about it all publicly and isn't taken to task for it.  Once again, this happened at Frostbike. So, I figured what's good for the goose is okay for the gander, and here are the two bits that I was strictly forbidden to speak about.

First off, here is where I saw the information, so don't anyone get their panties in a bunch about it.  The first bit is that the tandem shown at Frostbike has a name: Powderkeg, and as anyone knows, "once you name it, you become attached to it!" (movie reference!) Anyway- the point is, by naming the project already, it would seem to further legitimize this as an offering that is coming down the pike at some point. Also mentioned was the thing hanging this project up- which is testing. Salsa wants to be assured this tandem can take what ya'all dish out, but there are no definitions or parameters set for such machines at this point. I suspect that will change soon.

The other bomb in the linked article was sort of slipped in there without much fanfare, but check this out: (Quoted from the Dirt Rag article.)

"...a fat bike suspension fork from a major suspension manufacturer is going to happen soon. It will be spec’d stock on some Salsa fat bikes. No ETA as of yet, or much information at all. After months of test rides on various older forks that fit fat tires, Salsa is confident there is a place in the mountain bike world for a proper fat bike squishy fork. Probably a full suspension fat bike as well!"

Did ya get that? The one thing that holds back fat bikes from becoming full-fledged, year-round mountain bikes is lack of control over that bouncing front wheel. Did you catch the "major suspension manufacturer" hint? Yes- this will not be a cheesy effort. It is coming, and this single facet of Salsa's master plan will be a major turning point in fat bike acceptance and use.

Also, we all know that last year at Frostbike there was a big hullabaloo over a prototyped suspension fat bike that "was held back by lack of a proper front suspension fork". Do you see that finally becoming available?  It sure doesn't take a genius to put that "two-and-two" together, does it? Especially after Salsa kept putting the concept bike out there for folks to see at demos all throughout the summer last year.

In fact, I can't believe Salsa let that slip now. But keep in mind- I didn't say this. Dirt Rag did. So ya'all just as well move along now. Nuthin' to see here.......

Let's Not Forget Our History: 

Codeine

 First it was On One's prototype Codeine that made some folks sit up and take notice. Slated to get 5" of rear travel mated to any 140mm-160mm fork.......wait. What? There are no readily available 160mm travel suspension forks for a 29"er, right? Then Specialized bombs everyone with the 6" travel bike, seen here.

While everyone may get the impression that these are "ground breaking" bikes, they are not.Anyone remember the Lenzsport Lunchbox? A fully capable, 6 inch travel All Mountain rig that I actually got to ride back in about 2007. Then the following year, LenzSport brought out the PBJ 7" travel rig. Both with pretty short chain stays too. Well made, highly regarded and still being made to this day. While Specialized and On One will seem "cutting edge", just keep in mind that it has all been done before.

What it does do though is legitimize "long travel" 29"ers as something viable. Whether or not riders embrace them remains to be seen, but 27.5"ers better be careful if these bikes do take off. And speaking of 27.5"ers, did ya see that Shimano just announced two wheel sets for the size? yep. That'll push that size further than it would have without Shimano.

Gravel Grinder News News: 

Yes- you read that correctly- Gravel Grinder News is going to be a-changin'.  Don't worry, if things go as I hope, it will become better, easier to use, easier to find events that are interesting to you, and perhaps even more gear reviews and what not.

The process to find a good template to switch to has already begun, and a draft for the plan has been made. Now I have to decide on some details, and then we'll be playing with the fine tuning behind the scenes.

It's been an eye opening week from my perspective as far as that site goes. I started it purely out of frustration that no centralized site existed to gather information for folks to see regarding the events out there. It grew to become far more than I intended, and far more used than I imagined. In fact, I only just figured it all out this past weekend. kind of a "Eureka!" moment, if you will. So, that's when all the planning started, and it will take a while to get everything in order. I definitely will post an announcement when it goes live.

Thanks to all the riders and promoters that have made Gravel grinder news a success over the  past 5 years.