C.O.G. 100 Update: Cues And Number Plates

An example of a cue sheet

C.O.G. 100 Cue Sheet Tutorial:

Today I am going to go over how cue sheets work for the C.O.G. 100 event coming up in a few weeks. If you've been around this blog long, you already have seen these, and of course, if you have ever done Trans Iowa before, you've most certainly seen these. That said, I think I may be the only guy using cues like this. I am not aware of anyone else's cues being like these. Most do not use this format, but the "Tulip Style", which is a bit different.

A quick background at how I ended up using this cue style: Originally, Jeff Kerkove and I were provided with a sample cue sheet for the Great Divide race by Mike Curiak to use as a template for our cues. I modified this and the first few Trans Iowas were pretty much based off of a hybrid of those cues and my ideas. I started looking for something different at one point that would be an improvement over those old cues. Then I stumbled across a cue template that I borrowed from somewhere on the web and I have used it ever since. That maybe was around ten years ago. There have been small changes since, but basically, the cue format has remained unchanged since 2008 or so.

So, now you know.......

First off, there will be a LEGEND provided for the cues that will include a LOT of info that you will need to keep throughout your ride in the C.O.G. 100. This cue sheet page will be the fourth one in your set, so you can refer to it, but following are the symbols and what they mean:

• Mileage: Under the column, "Mile", you will see a number referring to when you should look for direction during your ride. So, obviously, a working computer, that is accurate, and easy to read, is a MUST! Mileages will be given in tenths, but keep in mind that you may end up being a few tenths off up to maybe a mile off depending upon the accuracy of your unit and how much you wander while riding, if you pull off the road for any reason, and especially if you make a wrong turn. The latter may cause a huge discrepancy. Riders are required to pay attention and deal with discrepancies accordingly. I use a GPS generated mileage figure and over the years, I have been said to be pretty spot on. 
• The "Dir" Column: Next to the "Mile" column is the column telling you WHAT TO DO at that particular mileage marker. Following in this list is the symbols and what they mean when you see them in the "Dir" column. (NOTE- There are a few symbols in the LEGEND that I won't go over here because I didn't need to use them)

1. "R" = Right Turn
2. "L" = Left Turn
3. "BL"= Bear Left
4. "BR" = Bear Right
5. "!X!" = Dangerous Crossing
6. ">>" = Straight

•  "Road Info/Description": The biggest column refers to a more detailed direction or notation for you to follow or be aware of. In this column you may see a (G) which stands for "Gravel" or a (P) which stands for "Paved" to help you understand better where you are supposed to be. 

So, let's put together an example. 13.4, BL, On 60th St means that when you reach 13.4 miles you need to "Bear Left" on to a road called "60th St". Iowa roads use GREEN street signs on silver metal poles at corners to indicate road names. These are not always on the same corner. So, for example, at one corner the sign may be on your right side, but down one mile and the next sign could be on the other side of the road! Riders must use awareness of their surroundings so as not to miss a sign's location, and prevent getting off track.

By the way, there will be five cue sheets and they measure roughly  4" X 4 3/4"s inches. THE CUE SHEETS ARE EASILY DAMAGED BY MOISTURE! So, be careful handling them with wet gloves, for instance. Don't spill your energy concoction on them, and don't let them get wet from precipitation. Just don't let them get moist! It will be BAD if you do.

A Note On Crossings: I have been putting "DANGER" in the cues when a "!X!" (Equals Dangerous Highway Crossing) is present for several years now. This is no joke. Major highway crossings in rural Iowa mean cars and trucks are traveling at high rates of speed, anywhere from 65mph-75mph, generally speaking, and closing rates of vehicles on your position is in mere seconds. Outrunning a vehicle through a crossing is NOT A GOOD IDEA. Don't do it. WAIT for a clear road both ways and proceed with EXTREME CAUTION. As I mentioned in my course recon report, there are 12 of these crossings and they affect everyone equally. Trying to gain an advantage by putting yourself at risk isn't worth it.

Numbers: A brief note on the numbers we use. they are made out of Tyvek and have punch holes in each corner for attachment. we will provide pipe cleaners and zip ties to help you get them attached to your bike. Not on you! On your bike. The front handle bar being where we like them to be. This is so we can better score you. Please help us out with that. Also, number plates will be issued at the same time as cues- at the start line, so please be there early. I am saying 7:00am. That should allow for everyone to get checked in and ready to roll by 8:00am.

Finally, everyone should be thinking about a system to deal with the cue sheets. There are several ideas available. I happen to appreciate the QPro by Bar Yak. These hold down your cues despite winds and allow you to see your cues easily. Switching out cue sheets can be done on the fly too. Plus there is an accessory mount which is perfect for mounting a computer. That said, there are other solutions, but trust me. You'll want to get a cue sheet holder. Don't "follow the other guy" or have someone do nav for you. Too many times that has led to problems in these types of events.

Okay, there is your latest C.O.G. 100 update. Stay tuned to the C.O.G. 100 site for the latest.

Tubed Tires Aren't Dead Yet

It seems extraordinary that anyone would introduce a new tire that wasn't tubeless in 2019.

I remember when I started working as a car mechanic in 1997, my boss at the time was curious about me and my previous job as a bicycle mechanic. He sometimes would ask about how we did things. When the subject came up about tires, he was incredulous when he learned that bicycles, the newest ones of the day, still used tubes in their tires. He found it hard to believe that such an antique technology was still being employed for such a high performance machine.

Of course, those were the days when the first attempts at tubeless mountain bike tires were being tried. Stan Koziak was stalking the pits of NORBA races, selling his system to convert tires and rims to tubeless. Mavic, Michelin, Vittoria, and others were working out a system to eliminate tubes in mountain bike wheels that would be known by the acronym, UST. However; it would take about ten more years before the idea of tubeless tires became ubiquitous in mountain biking circles. We still haven't gone completely tubeless throughout the world of bicycles, but obviously, most high performance bicycle tires are offered as tubeless.

So, it seems weird to see any new performance bicycle tire introduced that doesn't have a tubeless option. However; there still are tires coming out, nice high performance tires, that are not tubeless rated. So, does that matter? I know a lot of people assume that if it isn't tubeless, it isn't good. Some folks won't ride anything that cannot be set up tubeless. But tubed tires, despite the feelings that it is backward technology, is still a thing. Many folks still use tubed tires for all sorts of riding.

Me? Well, I break my rides into two camps. Those bicycles that are used for my regular riding or for testing on RidingGravel.com, or those bicycles that are not used a lot, or are my fat bikes. For those in the latter group, I use tubed tires. Why? One word- maintenance. Tubed tires, despite what many people think about how they ride and what they think about flat protection that tubeless brings, are lower maintenance tires. All you have to do is air them up once in awhile. Tubeless tires require that you replace sealant, valve stem cores occasionally, and maybe even clean out the tire once in awhile. Plus, you have to worry about what tire seats up on which rim, because tubeless ready is one thing with some companies and another with others. But the main thing for me is that fat bikes and other rigs I own that don't get ridden much do not deserve to be set up tubeless, in my opinion. That is because most of the time, I would have to do tubeless maintenance almost every time I rode them. A big hassle I'd rather not go through. The only exception there being fat bikes in Winter. (I still may go tubeless there at some point.)

So, tubed tires are still a "thing", and really, I don't ever see that changing in my lifetime.

Tubed Tires Aren't Dead Yet

It seems extraordinary that anyone would introduce a new tire that wasn't tubeless in 2019.

I remember when I started working as a car mechanic in 1997, my boss at the time was curious about me and my previous job as a bicycle mechanic. He sometimes would ask about how we did things. When the subject came up about tires, he was incredulous when he learned that bicycles, the newest ones of the day, still used tubes in their tires. He found it hard to believe that such an antique technology was still being employed for such a high performance machine.

Of course, those were the days when the first attempts at tubeless mountain bike tires were being tried. Stan Koziak was stalking the pits of NORBA races, selling his system to convert tires and rims to tubeless. Mavic, Michelin, Vittoria, and others were working out a system to eliminate tubes in mountain bike wheels that would be known by the acronym, UST. However; it would take about ten more years before the idea of tubeless tires became ubiquitous in mountain biking circles. We still haven't gone completely tubeless throughout the world of bicycles, but obviously, most high performance bicycle tires are offered as tubeless.

So, it seems weird to see any new performance bicycle tire introduced that doesn't have a tubeless option. However; there still are tires coming out, nice high performance tires, that are not tubeless rated. So, does that matter? I know a lot of people assume that if it isn't tubeless, it isn't good. Some folks won't ride anything that cannot be set up tubeless. But tubed tires, despite the feelings that it is backward technology, is still a thing. Many folks still use tubed tires for all sorts of riding.

Me? Well, I break my rides into two camps. Those bicycles that are used for my regular riding or for testing on RidingGravel.com, or those bicycles that are not used a lot, or are my fat bikes. For those in the latter group, I use tubed tires. Why? One word- maintenance. Tubed tires, despite what many people think about how they ride and what they think about flat protection that tubeless brings, are lower maintenance tires. All you have to do is air them up once in awhile. Tubeless tires require that you replace sealant, valve stem cores occasionally, and maybe even clean out the tire once in awhile. Plus, you have to worry about what tire seats up on which rim, because tubeless ready is one thing with some companies and another with others. But the main thing for me is that fat bikes and other rigs I own that don't get ridden much do not deserve to be set up tubeless, in my opinion. That is because most of the time, I would have to do tubeless maintenance almost every time I rode them. A big hassle I'd rather not go through. The only exception there being fat bikes in Winter. (I still may go tubeless there at some point.)

So, tubed tires are still a "thing", and really, I don't ever see that changing in my lifetime.

C.O.G. 100 Final Course Recon Report

We saw a lot of wildlife during recon, like this hen Pheasant, on our way to Grinnell

The C.O.G. 100 course needed to be verified one last time before the event, and Saturday was the day we targeted. It was one week removed from the wicked blizzard we experienced in Iowa, but the following weekend, (this coming one), is supposed to be pretty warm, and we know from experience that the roads around Grinnell get really soupy and ugly when they are unfrozen. We didn't want to risk that, and this past weekend presented us with our best chance before the thaw to get recon done on hard, relatively dry roads.

We got rolling by 6:00am to get to the Frontier Cafe in downtown Grinnell for breakfast. Once our bellies were topped up, we hit Miller Park to start recon. By the way, Miller Park is a sheet of ice right now! It was very sketchy. That said, this was the worst part of the entire recon, as far as surfaces we drove on. So, that was what we had hoped for and we were able to knock out the recon and be back home by 1:00pm.

One note I wanted to make sure gets perfectly understood- We can not have racers parking at Miller Park. There just is no room there. I detailed this in my most recent e-mail communique to the racers, but I need to underscore this and also for anyone coming to see the riders off. Please respect our wishes in this. It will make everyone's day a lot smoother.

After we left Miller Park we found that the County had cleared away the massive drifts and piled up snow upwards of 20ft high in places along the roads. The storm we had was odd, in that it rained heavily, with lightning and thunder first, and this saturated the roads. What traffic happened before they refroze, when the snows hit, had rutted out the roads and mud must have been a big problem. During our drive, the frozen mud ruts were so bad they tried to throw N.Y. Roll's Subaru off into the ditch on various occasions. This was not localized, but we found this to be the case for probably 60% of the course. It is torn up out there, and likely will still be this way come the end of this month.

These huge piles of snow won't be so big in four weeks, but I bet the remnants will still be there.

Notice the huge pile of snow alongside the road here. There was less of this than I thought there might be, but where piles of snow survive alongside the roads come the end of the month, the roads will likely be soft and wet yet, no matter the weather. Be prepared with fenders or clip on splash guard devices to keep the mucky mire off of you.

A big hill on the C.O.G. 100 course. Note the frozen ruts in the mud.

You know from having done Trans Iowa, and from knowing about my courses, that hills would figure into this course. But did you know that flats, the thing that single speeders might hate the most, are also on the course? Be prepared to spin your brains out.

There will be one mile of Level B Road on the C.O.G. 100 course, and this is what it looks like now.

A row of windmills on the ridge will be a scene on the C.O.G. 100 course.

One thing I did not expect at all was all the wildlife we saw- mostly in the form of various birds. Pheasants were plentiful. We went by one field where there must have been a dozen of them. Bald Eagles were also seen at regular intervals. I bet we saw close to ten of those. I saw several hawks and even a Coopers Hawk was spotted. We saw a couple of deer, and about half a dozen wild turkeys.

The course does go through two small villages and only one of these has a convenience store. This will occur on course at Mile 83. You will be able to see this convenience store at a right hand turn at that point. You will have to go off course, straight at the right hander, and travel about two blocks to get to it. It is small, doesn't have a lot, but they do have water and some basic vittles.

Since most everything was frozen yet, we didn't trash out N.Y. Roll's car too bad!

As many know, gravel races are held on open roads. We kept a car count, since we were out at about the same time as the event will happen. We saw 19 cars and one farm tractor while out on course. This includes about 5-6 cars we saw on pavement, so traffic for the 110 mile course should be pretty low. But......there still will be some, and this is why you must ride on the right side of the road, especially up hills!

Besides this, you will have to cross major highways 8 times and County highways 4 times for a total of 12 dangerous paved road crossings. Remember! YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU! Traffic is not being held up and you must use extreme caution when crossing major roads. These are ALL clearly marked on the cue sheets which you must use for navigation. Besides this, there are short sections of pavement to consider. We have about a three-four mile stretch of it to start out, then a half mile section with a broad, paved shoulder at the 27 mile mark. There is a bit more pavement there about 80-ish miles in right before the convenience store mentioned. There is about a mile stretch of pavement at about 100 miles, right before the end, and the last couple miles back into Miller Park are paved as well. So, please ride right and single file when out on these sections, or use any pavement you see to the right of the white line on the lane.

Speaking of cue sheets, I will be posting another C.O.G. 100 update soon specifically looking at cue sheets, how to read them, their size and number of sheets. Those riders from Trans Iowa, (there are several of you in the field), already know the drill, as the cue format will be EXACTLY as I have done for the past what? Decade? More or less, that's when I refined this down to its current format, I believe. So, no surprises for you folks who are T.I. vets. Also, along with that cue sheet tutorial I will be posting about number plates as well. Once again- same drill as Trans Iowa. So, you "rookies" to one of my events will have to check that all out.

More big snow banks out on the course.

The course features a good mix of hills, flatter sections, one Level B Maintenance Road, minimal amounts of pavement, some cool scenery, quaint villages, and of course, cemeteries. There are some things I cannot give away since it would indicate the course. So, keep your eyes open because you will see cool stuff here and there.

By the way, we only saw one dog, but dogs are a concern and you should be aware that Iowa farmers keep dogs and generally speaking, they are of the rather large variety. The one we saw was a German Shephard, but Great Pyrenees are another farm dog breed favorite.

As far as conditions for the event go, I suspect there will be some snow banks left yet, but most of what we saw will be melted by the time of the event. I seriously doubt any road maintenance will be done beforehand, but I could be wrong. Still, I highly doubt we will see the course be deep, fresh gravel everywhere. I say this because I feel that the frost will have barely come out of the ground by the time of the C.O.G. 100. County maintenance crews usually don't do mass gravel spreads until after the frost has completely come up. There is a high chance that patches of fresh gravel will be out there though, so be aware that if you are on smoother dirt and hit a patch of fresh stuff, it can and will upset your bike and that could easily lead to a crash.

Okay, that's a wrap on the recon. more soon. Stay tuned!

C.O.G. 100 Final Course Recon Report

We saw a lot of wildlife during recon, like this hen Pheasant, on our way to Grinnell

The C.O.G. 100 course needed to be verified one last time before the event, and Saturday was the day we targeted. It was one week removed from the wicked blizzard we experienced in Iowa, but the following weekend, (this coming one), is supposed to be pretty warm, and we know from experience that the roads around Grinnell get really soupy and ugly when they are unfrozen. We didn't want to risk that, and this past weekend presented us with our best chance before the thaw to get recon done on hard, relatively dry roads.

We got rolling by 6:00am to get to the Frontier Cafe in downtown Grinnell for breakfast. Once our bellies were topped up, we hit Miller Park to start recon. By the way, Miller Park is a sheet of ice right now! It was very sketchy. That said, this was the worst part of the entire recon, as far as surfaces we drove on. So, that was what we had hoped for and we were able to knock out the recon and be back home by 1:00pm.

One note I wanted to make sure gets perfectly understood- We can not have racers parking at Miller Park. There just is no room there. I detailed this in my most recent e-mail communique to the racers, but I need to underscore this and also for anyone coming to see the riders off. Please respect our wishes in this. It will make everyone's day a lot smoother.

After we left Miller Park we found that the County had cleared away the massive drifts and piled up snow upwards of 20ft high in places along the roads. The storm we had was odd, in that it rained heavily, with lightning and thunder first, and this saturated the roads. What traffic happened before they refroze, when the snows hit, had rutted out the roads and mud must have been a big problem. During our drive, the frozen mud ruts were so bad they tried to throw N.Y. Roll's Subaru off into the ditch on various occasions. This was not localized, but we found this to be the case for probably 60% of the course. It is torn up out there, and likely will still be this way come the end of this month.

These huge piles of snow won't be so big in four weeks, but I bet the remnants will still be there.

Notice the huge pile of snow alongside the road here. There was less of this than I thought there might be, but where piles of snow survive alongside the roads come the end of the month, the roads will likely be soft and wet yet, no matter the weather. Be prepared with fenders or clip on splash guard devices to keep the mucky mire off of you.

A big hill on the C.O.G. 100 course. Note the frozen ruts in the mud.

You know from having done Trans Iowa, and from knowing about my courses, that hills would figure into this course. But did you know that flats, the thing that single speeders might hate the most, are also on the course? Be prepared to spin your brains out.

There will be one mile of Level B Road on the C.O.G. 100 course, and this is what it looks like now.

A row of windmills on the ridge will be a scene on the C.O.G. 100 course.

One thing I did not expect at all was all the wildlife we saw- mostly in the form of various birds. Pheasants were plentiful. We went by one field where there must have been a dozen of them. Bald Eagles were also seen at regular intervals. I bet we saw close to ten of those. I saw several hawks and even a Coopers Hawk was spotted. We saw a couple of deer, and about half a dozen wild turkeys.

The course does go through two small villages and only one of these has a convenience store. This will occur on course at Mile 83. You will be able to see this convenience store at a right hand turn at that point. You will have to go off course, straight at the right hander, and travel about two blocks to get to it. It is small, doesn't have a lot, but they do have water and some basic vittles.

Since most everything was frozen yet, we didn't trash out N.Y. Roll's car too bad!

As many know, gravel races are held on open roads. We kept a car count, since we were out at about the same time as the event will happen. We saw 19 cars and one farm tractor while out on course. This includes about 5-6 cars we saw on pavement, so traffic for the 110 mile course should be pretty low. But......there still will be some, and this is why you must ride on the right side of the road, especially up hills!

Besides this, you will have to cross major highways 8 times and County highways 4 times for a total of 12 dangerous paved road crossings. Remember! YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU! Traffic is not being held up and you must use extreme caution when crossing major roads. These are ALL clearly marked on the cue sheets which you must use for navigation. Besides this, there are short sections of pavement to consider. We have about a three-four mile stretch of it to start out, then a half mile section with a broad, paved shoulder at the 27 mile mark. There is a bit more pavement there about 80-ish miles in right before the convenience store mentioned. There is about a mile stretch of pavement at about 100 miles, right before the end, and the last couple miles back into Miller Park are paved as well. So, please ride right and single file when out on these sections, or use any pavement you see to the right of the white line on the lane.

Speaking of cue sheets, I will be posting another C.O.G. 100 update soon specifically looking at cue sheets, how to read them, their size and number of sheets. Those riders from Trans Iowa, (there are several of you in the field), already know the drill, as the cue format will be EXACTLY as I have done for the past what? Decade? More or less, that's when I refined this down to its current format, I believe. So, no surprises for you folks who are T.I. vets. Also, along with that cue sheet tutorial I will be posting about number plates as well. Once again- same drill as Trans Iowa. So, you "rookies" to one of my events will have to check that all out.

More big snow banks out on the course.

The course features a good mix of hills, flatter sections, one Level B Maintenance Road, minimal amounts of pavement, some cool scenery, quaint villages, and of course, cemeteries. There are some things I cannot give away since it would indicate the course. So, keep your eyes open because you will see cool stuff here and there.

By the way, we only saw one dog, but dogs are a concern and you should be aware that Iowa farmers keep dogs and generally speaking, they are of the rather large variety. The one we saw was a German Shephard, but Great Pyrenees are another farm dog breed favorite.

As far as conditions for the event go, I suspect there will be some snow banks left yet, but most of what we saw will be melted by the time of the event. I seriously doubt any road maintenance will be done beforehand, but I could be wrong. Still, I highly doubt we will see the course be deep, fresh gravel everywhere. I say this because I feel that the frost will have barely come out of the ground by the time of the C.O.G. 100. County maintenance crews usually don't do mass gravel spreads until after the frost has completely come up. There is a high chance that patches of fresh gravel will be out there though, so be aware that if you are on smoother dirt and hit a patch of fresh stuff, it can and will upset your bike and that could easily lead to a crash.

Okay, that's a wrap on the recon. more soon. Stay tuned!

The Touring Series: A Welcome Home Party

This is the final post in the "Touring Series" Thank you for following along! Next week I'll pick up with new entries which will fill in the time between this tour and the first Trans Iowa. Look for an outline of what to expect next week. 

This entry isn't really part of the "Race Against Death Tour" proper, but since it is having to do with that tour, and since a significant event happened along with it, I have always thought of this event as the "period' at the end of the story of this Tour. With that, I hope that you enjoy this entry and will stick around for the next series. Thanks! Now, on with the last chapter.......
 
With the "Race Against Death Tour" over and done with, a few days after arriving at home a party was thrown in honor of the three travelers at the home of their boss from the bike shop.....
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August 19th, 1995: With the tour behind us we went back to our "regular" lives at the bike shop. It was still pretty busy, being August and all. I slipped right back into the regular routine. Saturday after work was going to be a big party at Tom's house for our return home. More of an excuse for a party, rather than a real reason, but what the heck, ya know?

So I decided to ride my bike over since I planned on having a few beers and escaping the notice of "The Law" on my bicycle after being "under the influence" was easier on two wheels under my own power. So it was that I pedaled over and found the party just beginning. It was just like any other gathering for me. I never was too adept at being "in the flow" of a party with a bunch of people, and this time was no different. Troy and Ryan were there, of course, but I didn't really connect with them.  I sat around, made a few comments, and had my fair share of beer. Later in the evening, I decided to bug out. I wasn't really feeling it.

And to be honest, it was an anti-climatic deal anyway. I was done with the most exciting thing I had ever done on a bicycle with no prospects of anything around the corner, an empty house, and no one to share my experiences with. WooHoo! Yeah.....big deal and all. So I turned the ol' Mongoose towards home and waved goodbye.

Now in those days, I didn't ride much with a light. I usually went at a fairly easy pace in the dark and just took it easy. We had bike paths, so staying out of harms way was easy to figure out. Back streets and bike paths all the way home, and I'd be in the sack trying to forget about all of this. Or so I thought. Turned out that this last hurrah for the tour had a pretty weird punctuation mark!

My plan was to hit the main bike path through George Wyth State Park, link up to the East Lake Trail, which would dump me out near the San Souci bridge. Then some industrial area back streets would guide me to my neighborhood and home. About a ten mile ride in all. It started out just grand. No wind, coolish temperatures, and plenty of street lights to guide me on the way into Geo. Wyth. That's where the speeds were dropped down really low. Darkness in that canopied trail was thick and it was hard to see. That being gotten through, I figured it was a no-brainer now the rest of the way in. That is until I got to the start of the Sans Souci bridge.

I heard crying. Crying like a young ladies cry, and it was saying, "Please help me!" between heavy sobs. I stopped to make sure I was hearing this for real. Yep! No doubt about it, and I could tell it was coming from the direction of the grassy sided dike that lined the river here. I dismounted my bike in search of the source of this crying. Well, it didn't take long to find it. A young woman laying in the grass. She looked to be a teenager. Maybe in her very early 20's at best. I told her I wasn't going to hurt her as she shrank away from me at first. I said I only wanted to know if she needed help. She sat up and said yes, she did need help. She had been pushed out of her boyfriend's car and had no way home. I said, "Pushed out of a car! Are you okay?!" She said she didn't know.

I asked her to stand up if she could, and she did with little effort. Well, at least she was moving all right, and I couldn't see any outward signs of trauma. I began to suspect her of lying about the car deal. She seemed really out of sorts too. Maybe high on something. Who knows in this town! Well, things seemed odd, at best, but I figured I could at least get her home. I mean, after the last week plus of weirdness, this wasn't too far out of the ordinary for me. She steadied herself on my arm as I pushed my bicycle with the other, and we started out down the side walk.

I asked her again about the car, since it seemed rather incredible that she could have been dumped out of a moving car without injury. Well, it seemed the car had been at a stop when she was shoved out. Okay.......maybe she's legit, I am thinking now. Well, apparently she had broke the news that she was pregnant. Okay......now I'm upset and concerned!

I felt really bad for this gal now and was determined to see her get home. I kept telling her it would be okay- we'd get there- don't worry about me. At one point she tugged me to a stop and asked, "Are you an angel?" Hmmm.....I shrugged that off. I was taken aback. Surely this was the oddest thing anybody had ever said to me. I just wanted to keep moving, but I felt an odd feeling inside me when she asked that question. Then, in an instant, all hell broke loose.

Red lights were flashing all around us. An intercom voice said, "Put your hands where we can see them and move away from each other! Slowly!" A blinding light was in our eyes. It was two squad cars and I could see men moving cautiously towards us. Well, I was confused! What the........... And then I was answering questions. "No sir, I don't know her name. No, I have no idea why she was there. I was just trying to help her." Meanwhile, I could hear her upset pleas to not bother me. That I had nothing to do with the deal. I told the cop my story, and then he asked that I just stay put for a bit while they pieced the story together from the young women's side. I agreed to stand still and wait.

Maybe it was ten minutes, I don't know, but it seemed like an hour. What would happen now? Would I be arrested? Would I be taken in? I stood there and then after that excruciatingly long wait, a cop ambled back towards me. He said, "Well, it's obvious to us you had nothing to do with her and what happened to her, so we're going to let you go. But, I suggest you head straight home!" he stated firmly. I said, "Don't worry about that, Sir!" And with that, I mounted up. As I pedaled away, I heard the young lady say thanks. I waved goodbye.

As I started across the street to hit the last couple of miles to the house I was freaked, amazed, happy, and wired all at once. I swore I would get home as fast as I could. I didn't want anymore weirdness on this night, as I figured I had burned through all my "good luck cards" already. I passed through quiet city streets quickly, reached my house, and hit my bed still breathing hard. I was at home.

It was all over. Some welcome home!
______________________________________________________________________________

Yes.......that happened. I never really found out what happened to the young lady. We watched the newspaper at work for any news, and we only discovered a report a few days later, basically telling us what I already knew. The young man who pushed her out of the car was being sought by the police, and there was no further update. Curiously, it was reported that the police were summoned because the young lady, desperate as she was, had been knocking on doors, crying for help. Apparently the residents were scared and reported her to the authorities. She, having no further recourse, threw herself into the grass, having given up on finding anyone to help her, and that is where I found her. That was the end of her story as far as I ever knew it.

But it wasn't the end of my story. Next week I will lay the outline out for the next series- "The Story Of Guitar Ted". This will be about bicycles.......kind of. It will be about my background. It will be personal at times. It will fill in a lot of gaps about my past that many of you are not aware of. It will, maybe, help you see why I did things the way I have done them in the recent past. I hope you will join me on the journey of a different kind.

The Touring Series: A Welcome Home Party

This is the final post in the "Touring Series" Thank you for following along! Next week I'll pick up with new entries which will fill in the time between this tour and the first Trans Iowa. Look for an outline of what to expect next week. 

This entry isn't really part of the "Race Against Death Tour" proper, but since it is having to do with that tour, and since a significant event happened along with it, I have always thought of this event as the "period' at the end of the story of this Tour. With that, I hope that you enjoy this entry and will stick around for the next series. Thanks! Now, on with the last chapter.......
 
With the "Race Against Death Tour" over and done with, a few days after arriving at home a party was thrown in honor of the three travelers at the home of their boss from the bike shop.....
______________________________________________________________________________

August 19th, 1995: With the tour behind us we went back to our "regular" lives at the bike shop. It was still pretty busy, being August and all. I slipped right back into the regular routine. Saturday after work was going to be a big party at Tom's house for our return home. More of an excuse for a party, rather than a real reason, but what the heck, ya know?

So I decided to ride my bike over since I planned on having a few beers and escaping the notice of "The Law" on my bicycle after being "under the influence" was easier on two wheels under my own power. So it was that I pedaled over and found the party just beginning. It was just like any other gathering for me. I never was too adept at being "in the flow" of a party with a bunch of people, and this time was no different. Troy and Ryan were there, of course, but I didn't really connect with them.  I sat around, made a few comments, and had my fair share of beer. Later in the evening, I decided to bug out. I wasn't really feeling it.

And to be honest, it was an anti-climatic deal anyway. I was done with the most exciting thing I had ever done on a bicycle with no prospects of anything around the corner, an empty house, and no one to share my experiences with. WooHoo! Yeah.....big deal and all. So I turned the ol' Mongoose towards home and waved goodbye.

Now in those days, I didn't ride much with a light. I usually went at a fairly easy pace in the dark and just took it easy. We had bike paths, so staying out of harms way was easy to figure out. Back streets and bike paths all the way home, and I'd be in the sack trying to forget about all of this. Or so I thought. Turned out that this last hurrah for the tour had a pretty weird punctuation mark!

My plan was to hit the main bike path through George Wyth State Park, link up to the East Lake Trail, which would dump me out near the San Souci bridge. Then some industrial area back streets would guide me to my neighborhood and home. About a ten mile ride in all. It started out just grand. No wind, coolish temperatures, and plenty of street lights to guide me on the way into Geo. Wyth. That's where the speeds were dropped down really low. Darkness in that canopied trail was thick and it was hard to see. That being gotten through, I figured it was a no-brainer now the rest of the way in. That is until I got to the start of the Sans Souci bridge.

I heard crying. Crying like a young ladies cry, and it was saying, "Please help me!" between heavy sobs. I stopped to make sure I was hearing this for real. Yep! No doubt about it, and I could tell it was coming from the direction of the grassy sided dike that lined the river here. I dismounted my bike in search of the source of this crying. Well, it didn't take long to find it. A young woman laying in the grass. She looked to be a teenager. Maybe in her very early 20's at best. I told her I wasn't going to hurt her as she shrank away from me at first. I said I only wanted to know if she needed help. She sat up and said yes, she did need help. She had been pushed out of her boyfriend's car and had no way home. I said, "Pushed out of a car! Are you okay?!" She said she didn't know.

I asked her to stand up if she could, and she did with little effort. Well, at least she was moving all right, and I couldn't see any outward signs of trauma. I began to suspect her of lying about the car deal. She seemed really out of sorts too. Maybe high on something. Who knows in this town! Well, things seemed odd, at best, but I figured I could at least get her home. I mean, after the last week plus of weirdness, this wasn't too far out of the ordinary for me. She steadied herself on my arm as I pushed my bicycle with the other, and we started out down the side walk.

I asked her again about the car, since it seemed rather incredible that she could have been dumped out of a moving car without injury. Well, it seemed the car had been at a stop when she was shoved out. Okay.......maybe she's legit, I am thinking now. Well, apparently she had broke the news that she was pregnant. Okay......now I'm upset and concerned!

I felt really bad for this gal now and was determined to see her get home. I kept telling her it would be okay- we'd get there- don't worry about me. At one point she tugged me to a stop and asked, "Are you an angel?" Hmmm.....I shrugged that off. I was taken aback. Surely this was the oddest thing anybody had ever said to me. I just wanted to keep moving, but I felt an odd feeling inside me when she asked that question. Then, in an instant, all hell broke loose.

Red lights were flashing all around us. An intercom voice said, "Put your hands where we can see them and move away from each other! Slowly!" A blinding light was in our eyes. It was two squad cars and I could see men moving cautiously towards us. Well, I was confused! What the........... And then I was answering questions. "No sir, I don't know her name. No, I have no idea why she was there. I was just trying to help her." Meanwhile, I could hear her upset pleas to not bother me. That I had nothing to do with the deal. I told the cop my story, and then he asked that I just stay put for a bit while they pieced the story together from the young women's side. I agreed to stand still and wait.

Maybe it was ten minutes, I don't know, but it seemed like an hour. What would happen now? Would I be arrested? Would I be taken in? I stood there and then after that excruciatingly long wait, a cop ambled back towards me. He said, "Well, it's obvious to us you had nothing to do with her and what happened to her, so we're going to let you go. But, I suggest you head straight home!" he stated firmly. I said, "Don't worry about that, Sir!" And with that, I mounted up. As I pedaled away, I heard the young lady say thanks. I waved goodbye.

As I started across the street to hit the last couple of miles to the house I was freaked, amazed, happy, and wired all at once. I swore I would get home as fast as I could. I didn't want anymore weirdness on this night, as I figured I had burned through all my "good luck cards" already. I passed through quiet city streets quickly, reached my house, and hit my bed still breathing hard. I was at home.

It was all over. Some welcome home!
______________________________________________________________________________

Yes.......that happened. I never really found out what happened to the young lady. We watched the newspaper at work for any news, and we only discovered a report a few days later, basically telling us what I already knew. The young man who pushed her out of the car was being sought by the police, and there was no further update. Curiously, it was reported that the police were summoned because the young lady, desperate as she was, had been knocking on doors, crying for help. Apparently the residents were scared and reported her to the authorities. She, having no further recourse, threw herself into the grass, having given up on finding anyone to help her, and that is where I found her. That was the end of her story as far as I ever knew it.

But it wasn't the end of my story. Next week I will lay the outline out for the next series- "The Story Of Guitar Ted". This will be about bicycles.......kind of. It will be about my background. It will be personal at times. It will fill in a lot of gaps about my past that many of you are not aware of. It will, maybe, help you see why I did things the way I have done them in the recent past. I hope you will join me on the journey of a different kind.

Minus Ten Review 2009-9

I had a cyclo cross bike once. Once......

Ten years ago here on the blog this week I was revealing the silly purchase I made of a Raleigh Rainier single speed cyclo cross bike. Cyclo cross bike? Yes. I bought and owned a true-blue cyclo cross rig for a very short period of time.

You see, in 2009 there were no "gravel bikes", no geometry made specifically for riding gravel roads, and certainly nothing in the way of real tires for this pursuit. To wit- I was trying to run some IRC 42's on this bike, which were one of the only "non-hybrid" tires this size you could find. Then I found out 42's weren't a good fit in the back and I had to size down to a 35mm tire. But that wasn't the biggest issue I had with the bike in the end.

The Rainier was a fantastic cyclo cross bike. Steep-ish head tube angle, high bottom bracket, and quick feeling when you stomped on the pedals. But I had absolutely zero intentions of ever doing a cyclo cross race. I admire the niche and those who are into that, well, good on ya. It just isn't anything I ever wanted to try. No appeal at all for me. So, what in the heck was I doing with a single speed cyclo cross bike? 

Well, having put on a few Trans Iowas by this time, I noted that cyclo cross bikes were the rig of choice. I figured I had better check this out. They were lighter than a single speed 29"er, and some said faster too. I had to find out for myself. What I found out was that cyclo cross geometry was not right for gravel travel. Of course, this revelation was met with much resistance when I spoke of it later. I was called crazy and worse by many commenters. Well, as they say, who's laughing now? I could, but I am not that guy. I just knew back ten years ago that this CX thing wasn't the best thing for gravel travel.

So, this bike wasn't around long. I maybe had it a year. Maybe..... Can't remember. But I know I sold it off to a guy by the name of George and maybe he still has it. Dunno.... It was a cool looking rig, anyway, and if you were into CX, well, it probably was a great rig. Again.....Dunno for sure, but I bet it was.

Minus Ten Review 2009-9

I had a cyclo cross bike once. Once......

Ten years ago here on the blog this week I was revealing the silly purchase I made of a Raleigh Rainier single speed cyclo cross bike. Cyclo cross bike? Yes. I bought and owned a true-blue cyclo cross rig for a very short period of time.

You see, in 2009 there were no "gravel bikes", no geometry made specifically for riding gravel roads, and certainly nothing in the way of real tires for this pursuit. To wit- I was trying to run some IRC 42's on this bike, which were one of the only "non-hybrid" tires this size you could find. Then I found out 42's weren't a good fit in the back and I had to size down to a 35mm tire. But that wasn't the biggest issue I had with the bike in the end.

The Rainier was a fantastic cyclo cross bike. Steep-ish head tube angle, high bottom bracket, and quick feeling when you stomped on the pedals. But I had absolutely zero intentions of ever doing a cyclo cross race. I admire the niche and those who are into that, well, good on ya. It just isn't anything I ever wanted to try. No appeal at all for me. So, what in the heck was I doing with a single speed cyclo cross bike? 

Well, having put on a few Trans Iowas by this time, I noted that cyclo cross bikes were the rig of choice. I figured I had better check this out. They were lighter than a single speed 29"er, and some said faster too. I had to find out for myself. What I found out was that cyclo cross geometry was not right for gravel travel. Of course, this revelation was met with much resistance when I spoke of it later. I was called crazy and worse by many commenters. Well, as they say, who's laughing now? I could, but I am not that guy. I just knew back ten years ago that this CX thing wasn't the best thing for gravel travel.

So, this bike wasn't around long. I maybe had it a year. Maybe..... Can't remember. But I know I sold it off to a guy by the name of George and maybe he still has it. Dunno.... It was a cool looking rig, anyway, and if you were into CX, well, it probably was a great rig. Again.....Dunno for sure, but I bet it was.

Salsa's New FS Models Portend A Change In Standards

Anyone notice the new logo too?

If you pay any attention at all to mountain biking, and to Salsa Cycles in particular, you know that their full suspension line up was due for an overhaul soon. In the fast paced world of mountain biking, anything a few years old or older stands a fair chance at becoming "antique". Suspension systems and geometries for bikes ten years ago are so woefully poor and out of fashion now that if you were to walk into a repair shop to ask about fixing one, you'd likely get a weird look and a long story about why you shouldn't do it. Not that you couldn't, but with the advancements in technology and geometry, it wouldn't make sense to, most likely.

And with Salsa's latest full suspension offerings out now, there is something here of note that portends a sea change in "standards" which is going to, most likely, render every full suspension 29"er out now an antique in five years. That new "standard" is called "Super Boost". But before we get into that, let's have a look at the Salsa FS line up, shall we?

The "Rustler" 27.5"er

Horsethief 29"er

Spearfish 29"er

Note: All Imagery Courtesy Of Salsa Cycles.

Okay, those are the bikes, and there are more colors and specs and all of that. I'm not going to rehash those things, as you have likely been subjected to enough of that media blitz anyway. If not- GO HERE.  

Pivot Cycles was the first to champion "Super Boost" in 2016

I'm going to focus on why this debut signals the end of what you know for rear wheels for full suspension bikes going forward. It's not Boost, it is Super Boost. (Although, notably, the Rustler 27.5"er is Boost rear end)

When someone decided to try a full suspension 29"er trail bike in the "oughties", one of the biggest negatives was wheel flex. Laterally, 29"ers pretty much sucked compared to the rigidity that 26"ers had in terms of wheel stiffness. This is one of the reasons why many said 29"ers would never be for anything beyond XC bikes. Another issue was the longer chain stays. Shorter chain stays were valued for their ability to lend a more playful feel to the rider on a trail bike. Lofting the front end was easier, and getting your weight behind the rear wheel was next to impossible with many 29'ers of those days.

A few things came along which made 29"ers a viable choice for big country, and eventually, even down hill bikes. First was the 1X system from SRAM which eliminated the need for a front derailleur. This allowed the designers of mountain bikes to shorten chain stays, make room for bigger tires, and move suspension pivot points to locations that were off limits previously. This was an advantage to those wanting to use 29"er wheels in their FS designs. Secondly, Boost rear end spacing incrementally increased the spacing between the rear flanges of the rear hub, triangulating the rear wheel spokes in a more rigid fashion than before. This allowed designers to utilize 29"er wheels in longer travel applications. So, if a little was good, more could be better. This is essentially what "Super Boost" does. Refer to the chart above/left and click the image to embiggen to see what the differences are between Boost and Super Boost.

But why will Super Boost become the de-facto rear spacing for full suspension bikes? Well, think about this for a minute. If Salsa is making Super Boost full suspension available on a mass scale, then they needed to have partners to supply certain bits to accommodate this change. Hubs are the lynchpin of this standard. Without Super Boost hubs, this idea is not getting off the ground. Salsa is, at best, a "mid-tier" brand, not a company with enough economic "horsepower" to effect a change on the scale of industry-wide acceptance of a new standard without other companies joining in. WTB is listed as the brand for the new hubs.WTB is also not going to start branding Super Boost hubs without a larger OE order than what Salsa can muster. So, it stands to reason that other brands will be debuting Super Boost rear suspension models. My best guess is that around Sea Otter time, we will see these new bikes being trotted out.

Pivot Cycles was actually the first brand I ever saw promoting Super Boost, back in 2016, (see here), but other small brands have championed the size since then. Now some companies in the boutique world actually support Super Boost, like Industry 9. So, this didn't come from left field. This has been bubbling to the surface, and now it is poised to become the rear spacing/hub standard going forward.

Salsa's New FS Models Portend A Change In Standards

Anyone notice the new logo too?

If you pay any attention at all to mountain biking, and to Salsa Cycles in particular, you know that their full suspension line up was due for an overhaul soon. In the fast paced world of mountain biking, anything a few years old or older stands a fair chance at becoming "antique". Suspension systems and geometries for bikes ten years ago are so woefully poor and out of fashion now that if you were to walk into a repair shop to ask about fixing one, you'd likely get a weird look and a long story about why you shouldn't do it. Not that you couldn't, but with the advancements in technology and geometry, it wouldn't make sense to, most likely.

And with Salsa's latest full suspension offerings out now, there is something here of note that portends a sea change in "standards" which is going to, most likely, render every full suspension 29"er out now an antique in five years. That new "standard" is called "Super Boost". But before we get into that, let's have a look at the Salsa FS line up, shall we?

The "Rustler" 27.5"er

Horsethief 29"er

Spearfish 29"er

Note: All Imagery Courtesy Of Salsa Cycles.

Okay, those are the bikes, and there are more colors and specs and all of that. I'm not going to rehash those things, as you have likely been subjected to enough of that media blitz anyway. If not- GO HERE.  

Pivot Cycles was the first to champion "Super Boost" in 2016

I'm going to focus on why this debut signals the end of what you know for rear wheels for full suspension bikes going forward. It's not Boost, it is Super Boost. (Although, notably, the Rustler 27.5"er is Boost rear end)

When someone decided to try a full suspension 29"er trail bike in the "oughties", one of the biggest negatives was wheel flex. Laterally, 29"ers pretty much sucked compared to the rigidity that 26"ers had in terms of wheel stiffness. This is one of the reasons why many said 29"ers would never be for anything beyond XC bikes. Another issue was the longer chain stays. Shorter chain stays were valued for their ability to lend a more playful feel to the rider on a trail bike. Lofting the front end was easier, and getting your weight behind the rear wheel was next to impossible with many 29'ers of those days.

A few things came along which made 29"ers a viable choice for big country, and eventually, even down hill bikes. First was the 1X system from SRAM which eliminated the need for a front derailleur. This allowed the designers of mountain bikes to shorten chain stays, make room for bigger tires, and move suspension pivot points to locations that were off limits previously. This was an advantage to those wanting to use 29"er wheels in their FS designs. Secondly, Boost rear end spacing incrementally increased the spacing between the rear flanges of the rear hub, triangulating the rear wheel spokes in a more rigid fashion than before. This allowed designers to utilize 29"er wheels in longer travel applications. So, if a little was good, more could be better. This is essentially what "Super Boost" does. Refer to the chart above/left and click the image to embiggen to see what the differences are between Boost and Super Boost.

But why will Super Boost become the de-facto rear spacing for full suspension bikes? Well, think about this for a minute. If Salsa is making Super Boost full suspension available on a mass scale, then they needed to have partners to supply certain bits to accommodate this change. Hubs are the lynchpin of this standard. Without Super Boost hubs, this idea is not getting off the ground. Salsa is, at best, a "mid-tier" brand, not a company with enough economic "horsepower" to effect a change on the scale of industry-wide acceptance of a new standard without other companies joining in. WTB is listed as the brand for the new hubs.WTB is also not going to start branding Super Boost hubs without a larger OE order than what Salsa can muster. So, it stands to reason that other brands will be debuting Super Boost rear suspension models. My best guess is that around Sea Otter time, we will see these new bikes being trotted out.

Pivot Cycles was actually the first brand I ever saw promoting Super Boost, back in 2016, (see here), but other small brands have championed the size since then. Now some companies in the boutique world actually support Super Boost, like Industry 9. So, this didn't come from left field. This has been bubbling to the surface, and now it is poised to become the rear spacing/hub standard going forward.

Friday News And Views

Tweet from BRAIN regarding 26"FS bike sales for Jan/'19

That Guy From Niner Said This Would Happen Someday:

Maybe 11-12 years ago now, Chris Sugai of Niner Bikes made a bold prediction. He said that in ten years, (from then), 26 inch mountain bikes would be dead. I suppose this prediction's success or failure hinges on what "dead" means. In terms I understand, I would say he was correct. 26 inch wheeled mountain bikes, basically, are dead. Especially so in that the context of which Sugai was speaking back then, 26" mtb is not seen at all today. Which is to say, yes....there are 26" mountain bikes being made yet. But as far as any real world impact goes, (ie: racing, enthusiasts, aftermarket parts), the wheel size is dead, and has been for several years now.

So, this Tweet from BRAIN ("Bicycle Retailer and Industry News") really was kind of humorous. It is our reality now. However; there is one thing, in my mind, which really was the death knell for 26"ers, and while 29"ers had something to do with it, that wheel size wasn't the reason. It was really the industry's move, in 2011-2012, to produce 27.5" mountain bikes to the exclusion of 26" bikes. Basically, 27.5" replaced 26" bikes. So, one could argue that 26" mountain bikes are not dead, they "evolved". Besides, we weren't far from actually having mountain bikes having 27.5" wheels in the 80's. Imagine if that had taken hold then.

But in the end, it doesn't matter. It is what it is, and congratulations to Chris on getting it right.

Arrgh! It be ten years now that the Gravel Worlds be goin' on lads!

 Ten Year Anniversary Gravel Worlds Jersey:

Ten years. It's a marker. A yardstick by which we measure time. It is a milestone of sorts when you are talking about events. Years ending in zero are often celebrated, and Gravel Worlds is celebrating its first one by offering a special, one time only design in the form of a jersey which you can get. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.

So, first of all, I have nothing to gain by your interest in that jersey, if you have any at all. Nope. I just am helping to spread the word because I like riding gravel, and I really like the people behind the Pirate Cycling League and Gravel Worlds. They are good folks, and the people surrounding the event- sponsors, oasis hosts, and "trail angels", are all top notch. I feel they have done a great job of making Gravel Worlds a great event since before it was Gravel Worlds. So, that is why I am "pimping their gear" here.

Oh, and yes.....I did order one. I will proudly wear it at Gravel Worlds, and elsewhere, in 2019 and beyond. Check it out and get one if yer so inclined.

Wolf Tooth's Dropper remote for drop bars.

A Dropper Remote For Drop Bars:

When I tried out the Otso Waheela S last Summer, it was equipped with a dropper post. Now, at first, I was thinking it was a waste, because......a dropper post for gravel? Well, let me tell you, a dropper post for gravel is rad. It helps stabilize the bike on sketchy, deep gravel descents, and it helps you get aero, and downhills are way faster dropped than not. The difference is huge.


My only beef with the system on the Waheela S was that the remote was next to the stem. A very inconvenient place, to be honest, for a dropper remote on a drop bar bike. Apparently, Wolf Tooth took my comments, (and likely had been thinking about this all along anyway), and made this dropper remote especially for drop bars. I think it is really a cool idea. Others.....not so much. Why?

Well, some said, "Why don't you just make the left brake lever a dropper remote?" Obvious, isn't it? I mean, it is obvious why Wolf Tooth didn't do this. First of all, this assumes you have a 1X set up. I know a lot of you 1X folks will find this amazing, but not everyone wants, or is infatuated with not having a front derailleur. Secondly, and most obviously, Wolf Tooth doesn't make SRAM or Shimano 1X left side levers. So......yeah. Obvious, like I said.

Others said that they didn't like it because they would hit their knees on it. Now let's think about that for a minute. If this were true, it means that you are already less than one half of an inch from hitting your knee most of the time when you are out of the saddle climbing. It isn't out of the question that you probably would have a pretty high percentage chance of bonking your knee once in a while as it is, if that were the case. If that is the case, you've gotta wonder if maybe there is another issue at hand that needs addressing. I don't know, maybe it's just me........

And furthermore, you can turn that lever out of the way, so really, I think this is just a non-issue. Some did say 70 bucks was too much to pay. Okay......go buy the other offerings like this then. What's that? There are none. Yeah......... Listen, I think it is a great, easy to get to, clean way to make a dropper work without it being in the way or having it preclude a front derailleur set up. Nice work, Wolf Tooth!


That's it for this week. Look for a C.O.G. 100 course recon report Monday.

Friday News And Views

Tweet from BRAIN regarding 26"FS bike sales for Jan/'19

That Guy From Niner Said This Would Happen Someday:

Maybe 11-12 years ago now, Chris Sugai of Niner Bikes made a bold prediction. He said that in ten years, (from then), 26 inch mountain bikes would be dead. I suppose this prediction's success or failure hinges on what "dead" means. In terms I understand, I would say he was correct. 26 inch wheeled mountain bikes, basically, are dead. Especially so in that the context of which Sugai was speaking back then, 26" mtb is not seen at all today. Which is to say, yes....there are 26" mountain bikes being made yet. But as far as any real world impact goes, (ie: racing, enthusiasts, aftermarket parts), the wheel size is dead, and has been for several years now.

So, this Tweet from BRAIN ("Bicycle Retailer and Industry News") really was kind of humorous. It is our reality now. However; there is one thing, in my mind, which really was the death knell for 26"ers, and while 29"ers had something to do with it, that wheel size wasn't the reason. It was really the industry's move, in 2011-2012, to produce 27.5" mountain bikes to the exclusion of 26" bikes. Basically, 27.5" replaced 26" bikes. So, one could argue that 26" mountain bikes are not dead, they "evolved". Besides, we weren't far from actually having mountain bikes having 27.5" wheels in the 80's. Imagine if that had taken hold then.

But in the end, it doesn't matter. It is what it is, and congratulations to Chris on getting it right.

Arrgh! It be ten years now that the Gravel Worlds be goin' on lads!

 Ten Year Anniversary Gravel Worlds Jersey:

Ten years. It's a marker. A yardstick by which we measure time. It is a milestone of sorts when you are talking about events. Years ending in zero are often celebrated, and Gravel Worlds is celebrating its first one by offering a special, one time only design in the form of a jersey which you can get. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.

So, first of all, I have nothing to gain by your interest in that jersey, if you have any at all. Nope. I just am helping to spread the word because I like riding gravel, and I really like the people behind the Pirate Cycling League and Gravel Worlds. They are good folks, and the people surrounding the event- sponsors, oasis hosts, and "trail angels", are all top notch. I feel they have done a great job of making Gravel Worlds a great event since before it was Gravel Worlds. So, that is why I am "pimping their gear" here.

Oh, and yes.....I did order one. I will proudly wear it at Gravel Worlds, and elsewhere, in 2019 and beyond. Check it out and get one if yer so inclined.

Wolf Tooth's Dropper remote for drop bars.

A Dropper Remote For Drop Bars:

When I tried out the Otso Waheela S last Summer, it was equipped with a dropper post. Now, at first, I was thinking it was a waste, because......a dropper post for gravel? Well, let me tell you, a dropper post for gravel is rad. It helps stabilize the bike on sketchy, deep gravel descents, and it helps you get aero, and downhills are way faster dropped than not. The difference is huge.


My only beef with the system on the Waheela S was that the remote was next to the stem. A very inconvenient place, to be honest, for a dropper remote on a drop bar bike. Apparently, Wolf Tooth took my comments, (and likely had been thinking about this all along anyway), and made this dropper remote especially for drop bars. I think it is really a cool idea. Others.....not so much. Why?

Well, some said, "Why don't you just make the left brake lever a dropper remote?" Obvious, isn't it? I mean, it is obvious why Wolf Tooth didn't do this. First of all, this assumes you have a 1X set up. I know a lot of you 1X folks will find this amazing, but not everyone wants, or is infatuated with not having a front derailleur. Secondly, and most obviously, Wolf Tooth doesn't make SRAM or Shimano 1X left side levers. So......yeah. Obvious, like I said.

Others said that they didn't like it because they would hit their knees on it. Now let's think about that for a minute. If this were true, it means that you are already less than one half of an inch from hitting your knee most of the time when you are out of the saddle climbing. It isn't out of the question that you probably would have a pretty high percentage chance of bonking your knee once in a while as it is, if that were the case. If that is the case, you've gotta wonder if maybe there is another issue at hand that needs addressing. I don't know, maybe it's just me........

And furthermore, you can turn that lever out of the way, so really, I think this is just a non-issue. Some did say 70 bucks was too much to pay. Okay......go buy the other offerings like this then. What's that? There are none. Yeah......... Listen, I think it is a great, easy to get to, clean way to make a dropper work without it being in the way or having it preclude a front derailleur set up. Nice work, Wolf Tooth!


That's it for this week. Look for a C.O.G. 100 course recon report Monday.