Cold Weather Riding Tips Clinic Notes

Today I am going to share the notes I wrote for my Cold Weather Riding Clinic that I put on last week at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. This is in conjunction with the post last week on Cold Weather Riding Tips.

Keep in mind that I wrote this with recreational cyclists in mind. If you want to share this with someone you know, please do. That said, I am posting it here, in its entirety, to share information and a resource. If it doesn't apply to you, then that's fine. It isn't for you then. However; there may be a trick or two, or even some knowledge linked that you did not know about. I know I learned a thing or two.

With that said, here following is the paper I wrote for the clinic. I hope that you enjoy checking it out. 

COLD WEATHER RIDING CLINIC

Welcome! This clinic is offered in the hope that it will help you to discover how you can extend your cycling season into the colder months. I'll cover a LOT of ideas here, but I know I won't have time to cover EVERYTHING. You can always ask questions later and get answers by emailing me at g.ted.productions@gmail.com or by visiting me down at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective.

What do I mean by "cold"?  Well, that is going to be different for every person. You may get cold when the thermometer dips below 60°F. You may stay warm and not get cold until it is well below freezing. We are all different in that way. The good thing is that there are simple steps you can employ, and principals you can learn, that will help you no matter what your definition of "cold" is. But first, we need to understand what makes us "cold" during outdoor physical activities.  

 What Is It That Makes Us Cold?:  As a rider, it is important to understand that being cold on a bicycle ride is more than just dealing with the ambient air temperature. Factors such as wind, obviously, and even the speed at which you ride, can affect your comfort levels. But the number one killer of rides in colder weather? Sweat! That's a result of your body working, burning up energy, and also how the body stays cool. Learning how to not only manage the ambient air temperature, wind, and heat that produces sweat are the keys to successful, and enjoyable, riding.

It also bears mentioning that physical condition and health issues have a huge affect on your ability to stay warm and comfortable on rides. Some people are especially challenged in this way by a general overall condition known as "Cold Intolerance" which can be caused by several health and mental issues. (https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-intolerance#outlook) A very common syndrome related to cold intolerance is Renaud's Syndrome. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20363571) Understanding these issues that may affect you, and consulting with your health care professionals may help in these situations.

Going forward, this clinic will assume that you are a reasonably healthy individual without any debilitating health issues. See your doctor before attempting any intense physical activities and be sure to communicate any issues to your doctor before attempting any of the following suggestions if you are unsure about the state of your physical health.

 How To Manage Heat: It is very easy to fall into the trap of putting on all the warmest things you have and then try to go outdoors for any physical activity. Yes, you will be comfortably warm to start out and you may get a feeling of confidence from that, but trust me- this is a recipe for disastrous results later on! Why? Because you are dressed for sedentary activity- sitting, standing, or casual walking- not intense physical activities like cycling, XC skiing, running/jogging, hiking/snow shoeing, or similarly intense activities where heat is produced by the body.

In the realm of cold weather exercise, and specifically when riding a bicycle, it will be best to start out feeling chilly, or even slightly too cold, than to feel as though you are all warm and toasty from the start. Once your body reaches the point where the work you are doing starts to result in heat production, you will start to feel more comfortable, and eventually, warm. Start out feeling all warm and comfy leads to overheating issues and that leads to feeling like you are freezing in the end. Why is that?

Sweat: It is your number one enemy (outside of pre-existing physical and mental issues) that can cause your ride to be miserable. Once you overheat, your perspiration soaks your garments, and when those garments get cold, that creates a conduit for heat to escape at a pace that your body cannot keep up, and this is compounded by the cooling effects of evaporation. This combination can quickly lead to a hypothermic status and eventually - if it is not corrected, or if you do not find shelter- this can lead to frostbite, illness, and death.

Being successful in cold weather then is all about heat management. Managing heat can be done by your initial clothing choices, (Don't over-dress!), by the clothing's design, (vents, material choices, coverage), by using accessory items specific to cycling, and by altering the level of your physical exertion during a ride.

    What Are Vapor Barriers? Probably the least known and least understood defense against getting cold is by managing your sweat by using what is known as "vapor barriers". Essentially a vapor barrier is an impermeable layer used to keep your perspiration from soaking into your insulating layers of clothing and accessories. It is a "first line " of defense against getting cold. Generally speaking, a vapor barrier is most often used on the feet and the hands- The extremities that seem to be most affected by cold, and that most affect our perceived comfort levels when outdoors in cold weather.

What is a type of vapor barrier for the feet or hands? How do those work? Here is a great overview for VBL (vapor barrier layer) footwear geared at the hiking community, but the principles are the same. (https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/gear/want-warmer-feet-on-your-winter-adventures-try-vapor-barrier-liner-socks/) Need something for the hands in terms of a VBL? see these: (https://www.warmlite.com/product/vapor-barrier-gloves/ ) Want an even deeper dive on VBL? See this link: (https://camotrek.com/blogs/news/vapor-barrier-liners/ )

Basically , you want a thin, insulating layer, then a VBL over that. Over this you want to have your insulation layer(s) which are the layers that will keep your feet or hands warm.

Typically a good VBL should only be used for cycling activities on your feet, and possibly your hands. You'll want the ability to vent off excess heat from your head, torso, and arms while riding, so using a VBL on those parts of your body typically is not advisable for cycling. Additionally, since your lower half of your body is doing most of the work during cycling, (excluding the feet), you'll want to use less layers on the hips and legs.

    Cheap Cold Weather Cycling Hacks The VBL idea leads me to one of my favorite "cheap cold weather cycling hack" ideas- That being the lowly plastic shopping bag! Yes, these seemingly insidious, ubiquitous bags of utilitarian purpose that are a bane to our planet have a great secondary purpose as a VBL layer for your feet! I use two bags and I generally cut off the upper half- the bit with the loop handles- and I use the bottom portion. I simply stick my stocking covered foot in there, wrap the thin plastic around so it covers my entire foot, and then slide that into my shoes. This can help keep my feet warm and toasty much longer than I would normally be able to handle things in cool weather, and I don't need to really do anything else special! (Note- This can work on hands as well, but not as efficiently if you require dexterity to operate shifters/brakes, so experimentation there may be necessary)

If you don't have any good windproof clothing, you can do a couple of things there. I have used the old European roadie trick of stuffing newspaper flat against my torso under a jersey or jacket. This keeps the wind off your chest/abdomen, but allows your back to breathe. Since the accessibility to newspaper these days is severely limited, a layer of- you guessed it- plastic shopping bags can do the same trick. You can pretty much use those anywhere you want to block the wind, by the way. You could even cut holes into a garbage bag in a pinch and wear that as a cheap VBL hack for your torso. (Although I'd advise against that for cycling) That same plastic shopping bag can also make your helmet waterproof and windproof, by the way, and limiting heat loss through your helmet is a great way to stay warmer. Just don't over-do it on the head. In my case, I like a little air-flow there on the ol' noggin, but again, we are all different in that way. Experimentation is key here.

Remember all those synthetic "Buff" face masks we had over the past two years? Those are fantastic ear and head coverings, but try one down around your neck. You may be surprised by how much heat you retain via using a "buff" as a neck covering. This also can be pulled up to cover the lower half of your face if you get cold there. Try layering two for really cold weather.

    The Number One Material For Winter/Cold Weather Riding Probably the best insulating material ever for cold weather activities is wool. Specifically Merino wool. Why? Well, wool is a fantastic material, renewable, and environmentally friendly. But for our specific purposes of cycling, wool has this fantastic quality of retaining warmth without a lot of bulk, AND it retains its insulating characteristics even when soaked with perspiration. Merino wool is the specific type of wool that is "itch-less", so it is super-comfortable to wear against the skin. I highly recommend Merino wool socks, glove liners, tights/underwear, base layer shirts and head wear as first defenses in your insulation layer strategies.

Another alternative to wool, for sock wear at least, that I have found to be really warm is Alpaca socks. https://www.pakaapparel.com/collections/socks They are claimed to be warmer than wool, itch free, odorless, and wear longer. I have a pair, and they are perhaps my most comfortable, warmest socks that i own.

Consider any number of options for Merino wool in t shirts, base layers, long underwear, and glove liners. You won't be sorry that you did, and the stuff lasts for years with proper care.

AVOID COTTON GARMENTS AND OUTERWEAR AT ALL COSTS! Cotton may seem like a good, cheap way to go, but when it gets wet with perspiration, your day will end with a freezing feeling. Not good.

    Alternatives To Cycling-Specific Gear:  It is easy to get caught up in the idea that "If you are riding a bicycle, you need cycling clothing", which is an idea that needs to die a quick death. It is a totally false notion and you can save a lot of time and money by seeking out alternatives.

Many people do several various activities outside that are not cycling. I often like to go to the local hunting gear purveyors for ideas and to actually try on things like gloves, etc, Sometimes there are better deals to be had as well. Consider ice fishing gear, snowmobile outfits, running gear, and skiing gear as alternatives to your cycling specific outfitters.

I have even heard of good success in finding older woolen gear from second hand stores like Goodwill, so be opportunistic and observant. You do not have to buy your cycling outerwear from a cycling retailer!

 How To Look After Your Bicycle In Cold Weather: Your body isn't the only thing you'll need to consider here if you plan on doing colder weather cycling. You should also be thinking about your bicycle. One of the easiest, and most effective things you can do to look after your bicycle is to adjust to a proper air pressure and to maintain that pressure in colder weather. The first thing you need to understand is what effects colder air has on tire pressure.

For instance, let's say that you set your tires up during the warmer times for 60psi. When you go to ride at 32°, that pressure you set while inside the warmer confines of your garage or home will end up reading mush lower when you've been outdoors for 15 minutes or more. This is because colder temperatures make air denser and that can reduce pressure within a enclosed volume that is sealed off from the atmosphere. That could drastically affect your performance, in a good - or bad - way, and in certain instances, it could lead to flat tires, which is not an ideal thing, but even more so when it is cold! I would suggest that you set your bike out in the cold air for ten minutes at the least, then set you air pressures.

You may also find shifting is harder to activate (if you are on a mechanical system) and that wheels, crank sets, and steering seem "stiffer". This is because at certain points as the temperatures decline, the grease and lubricants used in your icicles various systems can become temperature affected and thicken, resisting movement more than usual. This is natural and is just something to be aware of.

Otherwise the only other thing that can be a bother is rain or snow, especially slush, which can sit on a bicycles various components and cause oxidation, (rust), and worse. I recommend cleaning off your bicycle and spraying your chain with a coating of WD-40. This is a water displacement formula which helps wash away water, contaminants, grease, and grime, leaving a thin protective film over the bike. This will help keep your bike looking all shiny and new later when things warm up. You could also wax and polish your frame, using any quality car wax, but that is a tedious job.

 

    What Hardwear To Use For Your Riding: There are a couple of things to consider when going out in colder weather that may make your cycling more enjoyable. One of these is a strange grip covering called a "pogie". Pogies were developed originally for cold water paddlers, but these quickly became adapted to cycling by Alaskan cyclists and now are available all over. I like the4-season "Pogie Lites" which are sold and made in Iowa via Bike Iowa: https://bikeiowa.store/products/pogielites?variant=8136388804709

Unlike traditional pogies which have a stiffer construction and hold their shape, Pogie Lites are basically fabric windbreakers for you hands that make a huge difference in your comfort levels. They are easy to install or remove on your bicycle and are proven performers, being used by several ultra-distance gravel athletes and bike-packers world-wide.

Of course, a traditional pogie is the warmest, easiest to use option, but they are also very bulky, cumbersome to install, and far more expensive. But they may be right for you. Read up on several pogie designs and why they are good or bad at the following link:https://bikepacking.com/gear/pogies/

Fenders are a must-have for cold weather riding as anything wet is to be avoided like the plague if you want to stay warm. Also,your bicycle will thank you in the end as fenders often keep grit and grime off the bike which makes the bike last longer and retain that shiny, good looking appearance. Fenders are specific to wheel size and bicycle type, so consult with your local bike shop to find the best options for your bike.

Frame bags are another great idea as you can keep clothing in them which can be used to swap out for wetted out layers, or as a way to store extra layers, or to put extra layers away if you get too warm. A "half frame" bag is usually a great way to get the most out of this idea. A seat bag big enough to do the job is also another way to go. I like Banjo Brothers for the highest value options in this category: https://banjobrothers.com/

Another thing for the most ambitious commuters and recreational cyclists is a set of studded tires. These bicycle tires with carbide studs can take you all the way through winter's worst and back to spring with secure, safe grip and traction. These can be a quite expensive option for cyclists with prices in the $250.00-$500.00 pr/pair range. The ultimate cold weather bike, by the way, is probably the fat bike, which can handle about anything you throw at it in terms of tackling the cold and winter weather.

Q&A Time:

Thank You! Keep in mind that there are a LOT more things and a LOT more concepts regarding cold weather riding that I cannot possibly hope to cover in a single, hour long clinic. However; there is a wealth of cold weather cycling information available on the internet, and again, if you feel like you want to question me further regarding this subject, feel free to connect with me at g.ted.productions@gmail.com or by visiting the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. Thank you!

 

The GTDRI Stories: The Third One

 

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

I've noticed over the years that no matter how hard you try not to run fast out of the gate, no matter how much you tell others not to go out too fast, it never seems to work out that way. That's one of my chief memories of this GTDRI's start. maybe I secretly expected some mercy for all those beers consumed the previous evening. Maybe I expected that the others would be in a similar state as I. Whatever.....

The pace was withering, and I was not 100%, probably not even 75%, and I was just hanging on. All the while, Jason Boucher was bemoaning his "lack of fitness", and displaying a strength that spoke of something the opposite of what he was saying. I've no doubt he believed he was out of shape, but apparently his measure of that vague metric was quite a bit different than mine, or other's measure. 

But however you look at this, it was obvious that Jason and Matt Gersib (MG) had the motors to drop us at will. And they were off the front for most of the early morning hours. Now there was a reason for that as MG was plying Jason with many questions about the still secret Fargo dubbed "Black Electrical Tape" and Jason had to make sure all this was out of ear-shot of the rest of us. So, that may account for those two being out front for an extended period.

The morning fog pointed to a humid day ahead.

Michael Beck coming up on Matt Wills in blue and Jeffrey Bonsall on the right.

About ten miles into the day a Level B road that was a tad bit tacky caused us to have to stop and gather up the group.  I was thrilled about that because it gave me a moment of rest and recovery from the the previous night's shenanigans and the torrid early pace of the ride. David Pals was riding a then new Salsa Cycles Casseroll, This was the first year of the model that David was on which had caliper brakes. He was having problems with clay mucking up the caliper and eventually blocking the wheel from turning in the rear. Again, I was granted relief and the group was really good about the delay. 

(L-R) Jeffrey Bonsall, Jason Boucher, Matt Wills, Michael Beck. Clowning around with point and shoots.

The remains of a deer's leg, shot by Jason Boucher. This sparked a theme for the '08 GTDRI.

While we were fooling around, Jason Boucher, who has been a "camera nerd" for longer than I've known him, was off scouring the spot we were stopped at for some image taking opportunity. He found something. It was a gnawed off leg from some poor deer. This sparked a silly conversation and the saying, "It's all about Death!" became the catch-phrase used during the rest of the ride. 

Endless rollers met us in Tama County. Rider: Matt Wills Bike: Soulcraft custom drop bar MTB SS

Rider: David Pals Bike: Salsa Cycles Casseroll.

The riders stuck together well into Traer and one of the early uses of the station there on the East side of the road, just South of the rail road tracks. Interestingly, this place has decayed noticeably since these days described here, but back then, it was a pleasant enough stop. 

The ride then went into the heart of the "Bohemian Alps" of Tama County. These relentless, steep hills were very taxing on this very humid day of riding. This was the longest stretch with no resupply, so I don't recall much of this part. Somehow, even my original reporting on this ride glosses over that section of the ride. It isn't until we get to Garwin, Iowa where I pick up the story with any more detail.

Riders cresting a hill on a Level B Road East of Garwin, Iowa.

This GTDRI was a tough one. Several miles from the finish I had to stop and douse my overheated body with water. David Pals was not far behind me doing the same thing. We were way off the back, but in true "grassroots", gravel grinding fashion, someone came looking for us. It was Matt Wills, and once we had gathered whatever strength we could muster, David, Matt, and I pushed on to the paved road finish and back to Hickory Hills parking lot. 

The previous year we had a bit of socializing and this year of the GTDRI was no different. Out came the beers again and there was a couple of good hours of camaraderie. Jason's family came down and picked him up, and the whole mystery of "Black Electrical Tape" would carry on from this ride until September at Interbike. Meanwhile, a few of us drove over to LaPorte City for pizza. All in all, this was a successful event which eclipsed the previous two, which was a pretty hard thing to do, since those were really awesome rides as well. 

Next: The Impact Of The Third GTDRI

The GTDRI Stories: The Third One

 

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

I've noticed over the years that no matter how hard you try not to run fast out of the gate, no matter how much you tell others not to go out too fast, it never seems to work out that way. That's one of my chief memories of this GTDRI's start. maybe I secretly expected some mercy for all those beers consumed the previous evening. Maybe I expected that the others would be in a similar state as I. Whatever.....

The pace was withering, and I was not 100%, probably not even 75%, and I was just hanging on. All the while, Jason Boucher was bemoaning his "lack of fitness", and displaying a strength that spoke of something the opposite of what he was saying. I've no doubt he believed he was out of shape, but apparently his measure of that vague metric was quite a bit different than mine, or other's measure. 

But however you look at this, it was obvious that Jason and Matt Gersib (MG) had the motors to drop us at will. And they were off the front for most of the early morning hours. Now there was a reason for that as MG was plying Jason with many questions about the still secret Fargo dubbed "Black Electrical Tape" and Jason had to make sure all this was out of ear-shot of the rest of us. So, that may account for those two being out front for an extended period.

The morning fog pointed to a humid day ahead.

Michael Beck coming up on Matt Wills in blue and Jeffrey Bonsall on the right.

About ten miles into the day a Level B road that was a tad bit tacky caused us to have to stop and gather up the group.  I was thrilled about that because it gave me a moment of rest and recovery from the the previous night's shenanigans and the torrid early pace of the ride. David Pals was riding a then new Salsa Cycles Casseroll, This was the first year of the model that David was on which had caliper brakes. He was having problems with clay mucking up the caliper and eventually blocking the wheel from turning in the rear. Again, I was granted relief and the group was really good about the delay. 

(L-R) Jeffrey Bonsall, Jason Boucher, Matt Wills, Michael Beck. Clowning around with point and shoots.

The remains of a deer's leg, shot by Jason Boucher. This sparked a theme for the '08 GTDRI.

While we were fooling around, Jason Boucher, who has been a "camera nerd" for longer than I've known him, was off scouring the spot we were stopped at for some image taking opportunity. He found something. It was a gnawed off leg from some poor deer. This sparked a silly conversation and the saying, "It's all about Death!" became the catch-phrase used during the rest of the ride. 

Endless rollers met us in Tama County. Rider: Matt Wills Bike: Soulcraft custom drop bar MTB SS

Rider: David Pals Bike: Salsa Cycles Casseroll.

The riders stuck together well into Traer and one of the early uses of the station there on the East side of the road, just South of the rail road tracks. Interestingly, this place has decayed noticeably since these days described here, but back then, it was a pleasant enough stop. 

The ride then went into the heart of the "Bohemian Alps" of Tama County. These relentless, steep hills were very taxing on this very humid day of riding. This was the longest stretch with no resupply, so I don't recall much of this part. Somehow, even my original reporting on this ride glosses over that section of the ride. It isn't until we get to Garwin, Iowa where I pick up the story with any more detail.

Riders cresting a hill on a Level B Road East of Garwin, Iowa.

This GTDRI was a tough one. Several miles from the finish I had to stop and douse my overheated body with water. David Pals was not far behind me doing the same thing. We were way off the back, but in true "grassroots", gravel grinding fashion, someone came looking for us. It was Matt Wills, and once we had gathered whatever strength we could muster, David, Matt, and I pushed on to the paved road finish and back to Hickory Hills parking lot. 

The previous year we had a bit of socializing and this year of the GTDRI was no different. Out came the beers again and there was a couple of good hours of camaraderie. Jason's family came down and picked him up, and the whole mystery of "Black Electrical Tape" would carry on from this ride until September at Interbike. Meanwhile, a few of us drove over to LaPorte City for pizza. All in all, this was a successful event which eclipsed the previous two, which was a pretty hard thing to do, since those were really awesome rides as well. 

Next: The Impact Of The Third GTDRI

Two Things (Again)

Sometimes I see a couple of things after I have already fleshed out my "FN&V" for the week. I think about passing it by, but then I feel like I need to say something and write it up because......that's how I am wired. I need to express myself in writing. (You're welcome) So this may become a series here, or it may not. Stay tuned on that idea.... 

SILCA Sponsors Gravel Worlds:

Gravel Worlds picked up another sponsor last week in SILCA. That company is now Gravel Worlds "official" lube, bar tape, pump, yada,yada,yadda.... 

This is interesting as I proclaimed that SILCA's Super-Secret Lube is my winner overall in the Guitar Ted Lube-Off, a process of finding a dry conditions lube that has been ongoing here on the blog for over a decade. 

The two things are definitely not tied together in any way. That Gravel Worlds arranged for SILCA's sponsorship of their event is a completely different and separate occurrence from my deal here. I just wanted to make that clear right up front.

But I am happy that Gravel Worlds picked up a sponsorship from SILCA. They do actually make really high quality things for cycling. I have great experiences with almost everything I've tried from SILCA. the exception being that tool roll they sell, which was sub-par for gravel riding. 

Otherwise, I was always pretty pleased with anything I received from, or purchased from SILCA. I have not tried their handle bar tape yet, but that is on my radar to do at some point. Anyway, check out SILCA's stuff. Yes- it is very expensive. But I believe it is very much worth the prices they charge.

Image courtesy of YT Industries

When Using The term "Gravel" Gets Out Of Control:

YT Industries released a "gravel" bike on Thursday to much fanfare from the endemic cycling media. I gave it a cursory mention on Riding Gravel's Facebook page. But here is the deal: That ain't no gravel bike. 

I get that people are "underbiking" to trails and that there is a certain amount of "fun" in drop bar biking a single track trail. Just call it what it is, drop bar MTB, and leave the whole "gravel" tag off there.

"But wait! It won't sell if we try to be 100% honest about what this is", they might say, and to that I say, "Well, misleading the people isn't going to work in the end."  The YT bike is a poorly executed drop bar MTB. It is the furthest thing from an all-roads bike that I can imagine. 

You might be thinking I am a curmudgeon and just an old fart that needs to step aside. But I would reply to that by saying "words matter" and calling a gravity sled with drop bars and poor tire clearance with a very incapable fork a "gravel bike" is maybe about marketing to gain a buck, and not about what is really a gravel bike. It is weird at best and an intentional misrepresentation to gain profits at the worst. Probably the fact is that the YT people fully believe that this bike is a "gravel bike" somehow, but this is such a stretch as to be ludicrous. 

You'd be better off "underbiking" on a retro 1990's MTB with drop bars than this rig. 

Two Things (Again)

Sometimes I see a couple of things after I have already fleshed out my "FN&V" for the week. I think about passing it by, but then I feel like I need to say something and write it up because......that's how I am wired. I need to express myself in writing. (You're welcome) So this may become a series here, or it may not. Stay tuned on that idea.... 

SILCA Sponsors Gravel Worlds:

Gravel Worlds picked up another sponsor last week in SILCA. That company is now Gravel Worlds "official" lube, bar tape, pump, yada,yada,yadda.... 

This is interesting as I proclaimed that SILCA's Super-Secret Lube is my winner overall in the Guitar Ted Lube-Off, a process of finding a dry conditions lube that has been ongoing here on the blog for over a decade. 

The two things are definitely not tied together in any way. That Gravel Worlds arranged for SILCA's sponsorship of their event is a completely different and separate occurrence from my deal here. I just wanted to make that clear right up front.

But I am happy that Gravel Worlds picked up a sponsorship from SILCA. They do actually make really high quality things for cycling. I have great experiences with almost everything I've tried from SILCA. the exception being that tool roll they sell, which was sub-par for gravel riding. 

Otherwise, I was always pretty pleased with anything I received from, or purchased from SILCA. I have not tried their handle bar tape yet, but that is on my radar to do at some point. Anyway, check out SILCA's stuff. Yes- it is very expensive. But I believe it is very much worth the prices they charge.

Image courtesy of YT Industries

When Using The term "Gravel" Gets Out Of Control:

YT Industries released a "gravel" bike on Thursday to much fanfare from the endemic cycling media. I gave it a cursory mention on Riding Gravel's Facebook page. But here is the deal: That ain't no gravel bike. 

I get that people are "underbiking" to trails and that there is a certain amount of "fun" in drop bar biking a single track trail. Just call it what it is, drop bar MTB, and leave the whole "gravel" tag off there.

"But wait! It won't sell if we try to be 100% honest about what this is", they might say, and to that I say, "Well, misleading the people isn't going to work in the end."  The YT bike is a poorly executed drop bar MTB. It is the furthest thing from an all-roads bike that I can imagine. 

You might be thinking I am a curmudgeon and just an old fart that needs to step aside. But I would reply to that by saying "words matter" and calling a gravity sled with drop bars and poor tire clearance with a very incapable fork a "gravel bike" is maybe about marketing to gain a buck, and not about what is really a gravel bike. It is weird at best and an intentional misrepresentation to gain profits at the worst. Probably the fact is that the YT people fully believe that this bike is a "gravel bike" somehow, but this is such a stretch as to be ludicrous. 

You'd be better off "underbiking" on a retro 1990's MTB with drop bars than this rig. 

Friday News And Views

Geoff Kabush's Tweet concerning Sea Otter pricing.

Sea Otter Pricing Balloons:

I saw the Tweet alongside this text last Tuesday evening. You can read it yourself, so I won't bother repeating it. You can see for yourself what is being pointed out here. 

It should only be noted as an addendum here that Life Time Fitness purchased Sea Otter in 2021. Is the new price a result of that purchase, or is it something else that is at work here?

Comments: Okay, on the one hand you've had a couple of years where Sea Otter has been affected negatively by the pandemic. Prices may reflect this due to an effort to recoup "lost revenues" and one could perhaps easily see that shipping and supply issues may have caused a rise in prices to some degree. But on the other hand, the price has doubled? 

Okay, commenters were pointing a very sarcastic finger at the popularity gravel cycling for the cause of this, but I don't think that is really what is going on here. I've seen this model for price increases at work before. Here's the deal...

The operating principle here is, what will the market bear? You do not know the answer until you "hit the ceiling" in regard to pricing. So, you raise the price every year by default until, well.....it doesn't work anymore.  Many events do this, not just Sea Otter. 

Also, 2022 saw mass participation at many events max out, possibly due to the fact that most people felt safe to go "do all the things" again. More demand = higher prices. Certainly, economic forces are at work as well, since inflation and higher prices for goods and services are going to put upward pressure on prices. Life Time cannot ignore this as well. 

So, you can say Life Time is "The Bad Guy", but there probably is some credence to seeing this as an economically driven decision to boost pricing as well with an eye to keeping profit margins intact. 

And c'mon! What'd you really expect after Life Time's takeover? Lower pricing? I don't think so....

From Bike Hugger's twitter feed.

And When I Die.....

I saw this on Twitter as well on Wednesday. A cargo bike conversion to a hearse. Electrified, natch! This was seen in France, apparently. I did not research the article. 

Comments: So, this makes sense in that Europe was developed well before automobiles and the streets are narrower, the cities more compact, and the rural byways are often wagon-wide if that. Modern highways exist, for sure, but the majority of Europe is not like America, which is car-centric as it gets. 

So, a hearse on a cargo bike, well that wouldn't fly around here. The church is often not on a cemetery site anymore, or never was, so a funeral procession can be miles, and miles, in length. Also considering the changeable weather, which can sometimes be pretty brutal, and the wild swings seasonally that we have here, well it comes as no surprise to me that I probably will never see anything like this in my lifetime. 

But if I were to die tomorrow....... 

Did you hate the 4 wheeled Hummer?

GMC Partners With Recon To Sell Hummer eBike:

 According to a recent "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article, Recon Bikes, an eBike manufacturer, is partnering with GMC's Hummer brand to sell their rebranded two-wheeled Hummer to consumers via Hummer/GMC dealerships. While the bike will be available direct to consumer, GMC has approximately 1000 dealerships where the possibility exists that this bike might be sold. Exact numbers were not released at this time for the amount of dealerships that will actually sell this bike alongside the behemoth Hummer EV Supertruck. 

The eBike has twin hub motors and can be modified by the consumer to go above the 20mph factory assist level up to 28mph. The bike also has a thumb operated "throttle".

Comments: A few things stand out to me about this. First, the "Supertruck" has a 3 second zero to 60mph performance. THAT should raise some alarms right there if you ride a bicycle in urban areas where this, and other high-horsepower EV vehicles are about to be unleashed. Second: The bike has TWO hub motors? Yep! It's advertised as an all-wheel drive vehicle. THAT should also be a bit of a scare. If you've ever ridden a throttle equipped HPC - essentially riding an electrified bicycle in "motorcycle mode", you understand why having two torque-monsters on a bicycle has the possibility of causing major mayhem. Third: The comments on the BRAIN article reveal the disconnect that US based bicycle purveyors have with these motorized rigs. One commenter bemoans the "modification" factor and another exclaims that it is "our right" to do what we please with vehicles on our own property. 

That's a lot to unpack, but it is a perfect microcosm of an example for why I believe that we are all looking at "mopeds" with electric motors, why this race to "more power" will end up making these into motorcycles, and why the whole lateral move to electrified transportation is not going to "fix" anything about car-culture. 

Kae Takashita won the C.O.G. 100 in 2019

A Nice Throwback On International Single Speed Day:

Thursday I was tagged in a post on Facebook by Kae Takashita where she posted about riding in the 2019 C.O.G. 100. She was prompted by the Paul Components initiated "International Single Speed Day" which was observed on Wednesday. 

I enjoyed the fact that Kae said, "I believe it was the slowest century I had done...."which is saying something since she is an elite level athlete. To have provided such a challenge is a reward and confirmation of N.Y. Roll and my efforts to do exactly that- provide a tough challenge to overcome. 

So, while I am NOT going to revive this idea, I am proud and satisfied that I was involved in putting on a single speed only gravel event. To my knowledge this is the only time anyone has done such a thing. I am really glad that I did this with N.Y. Roll, who was a huge motivator and assisted me in every way to put on that event. 

Too bad that we were thwarted by COVID and that the 2019 version was the only one we were able to pull off. I regret that deeply and I apologize to anyone reading this for our inability to pull off the second C.O.G. 100 due to the circumstances of the times. 

The whole thing with the C.O.G. 100 is bittersweet, to be honest. It was my swansong of sorts, when it comes to events promotions, and I wasn't aware of that at the time. COVID precipitated my decision to get out of that mindset of putting on events for others, which is a good thing - for myself. My mental health and physical health has been rejuvenated as a result. But had I known that the 2019 C.O.G. 100 was going to be "it", I maybe would have done a few things differently. Maybe it's better I didn't know....  

Anyway, thanks to Kae! I appreciated the shout-out and the memory very much.

 That's a wrap for this week! Don't forget to set your clocks back this weekend (if that affects you) and charge up those lights!

Friday News And Views

Geoff Kabush's Tweet concerning Sea Otter pricing.

Sea Otter Pricing Balloons:

I saw the Tweet alongside this text last Tuesday evening. You can read it yourself, so I won't bother repeating it. You can see for yourself what is being pointed out here. 

It should only be noted as an addendum here that Life Time Fitness purchased Sea Otter in 2021. Is the new price a result of that purchase, or is it something else that is at work here?

Comments: Okay, on the one hand you've had a couple of years where Sea Otter has been affected negatively by the pandemic. Prices may reflect this due to an effort to recoup "lost revenues" and one could perhaps easily see that shipping and supply issues may have caused a rise in prices to some degree. But on the other hand, the price has doubled? 

Okay, commenters were pointing a very sarcastic finger at the popularity gravel cycling for the cause of this, but I don't think that is really what is going on here. I've seen this model for price increases at work before. Here's the deal...

The operating principle here is, what will the market bear? You do not know the answer until you "hit the ceiling" in regard to pricing. So, you raise the price every year by default until, well.....it doesn't work anymore.  Many events do this, not just Sea Otter. 

Also, 2022 saw mass participation at many events max out, possibly due to the fact that most people felt safe to go "do all the things" again. More demand = higher prices. Certainly, economic forces are at work as well, since inflation and higher prices for goods and services are going to put upward pressure on prices. Life Time cannot ignore this as well. 

So, you can say Life Time is "The Bad Guy", but there probably is some credence to seeing this as an economically driven decision to boost pricing as well with an eye to keeping profit margins intact. 

And c'mon! What'd you really expect after Life Time's takeover? Lower pricing? I don't think so....

From Bike Hugger's twitter feed.

And When I Die.....

I saw this on Twitter as well on Wednesday. A cargo bike conversion to a hearse. Electrified, natch! This was seen in France, apparently. I did not research the article. 

Comments: So, this makes sense in that Europe was developed well before automobiles and the streets are narrower, the cities more compact, and the rural byways are often wagon-wide if that. Modern highways exist, for sure, but the majority of Europe is not like America, which is car-centric as it gets. 

So, a hearse on a cargo bike, well that wouldn't fly around here. The church is often not on a cemetery site anymore, or never was, so a funeral procession can be miles, and miles, in length. Also considering the changeable weather, which can sometimes be pretty brutal, and the wild swings seasonally that we have here, well it comes as no surprise to me that I probably will never see anything like this in my lifetime. 

But if I were to die tomorrow....... 

Did you hate the 4 wheeled Hummer?

GMC Partners With Recon To Sell Hummer eBike:

 According to a recent "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article, Recon Bikes, an eBike manufacturer, is partnering with GMC's Hummer brand to sell their rebranded two-wheeled Hummer to consumers via Hummer/GMC dealerships. While the bike will be available direct to consumer, GMC has approximately 1000 dealerships where the possibility exists that this bike might be sold. Exact numbers were not released at this time for the amount of dealerships that will actually sell this bike alongside the behemoth Hummer EV Supertruck. 

The eBike has twin hub motors and can be modified by the consumer to go above the 20mph factory assist level up to 28mph. The bike also has a thumb operated "throttle".

Comments: A few things stand out to me about this. First, the "Supertruck" has a 3 second zero to 60mph performance. THAT should raise some alarms right there if you ride a bicycle in urban areas where this, and other high-horsepower EV vehicles are about to be unleashed. Second: The bike has TWO hub motors? Yep! It's advertised as an all-wheel drive vehicle. THAT should also be a bit of a scare. If you've ever ridden a throttle equipped HPC - essentially riding an electrified bicycle in "motorcycle mode", you understand why having two torque-monsters on a bicycle has the possibility of causing major mayhem. Third: The comments on the BRAIN article reveal the disconnect that US based bicycle purveyors have with these motorized rigs. One commenter bemoans the "modification" factor and another exclaims that it is "our right" to do what we please with vehicles on our own property. 

That's a lot to unpack, but it is a perfect microcosm of an example for why I believe that we are all looking at "mopeds" with electric motors, why this race to "more power" will end up making these into motorcycles, and why the whole lateral move to electrified transportation is not going to "fix" anything about car-culture. 

Kae Takashita won the C.O.G. 100 in 2019

A Nice Throwback On International Single Speed Day:

Thursday I was tagged in a post on Facebook by Kae Takashita where she posted about riding in the 2019 C.O.G. 100. She was prompted by the Paul Components initiated "International Single Speed Day" which was observed on Wednesday. 

I enjoyed the fact that Kae said, "I believe it was the slowest century I had done...."which is saying something since she is an elite level athlete. To have provided such a challenge is a reward and confirmation of N.Y. Roll and my efforts to do exactly that- provide a tough challenge to overcome. 

So, while I am NOT going to revive this idea, I am proud and satisfied that I was involved in putting on a single speed only gravel event. To my knowledge this is the only time anyone has done such a thing. I am really glad that I did this with N.Y. Roll, who was a huge motivator and assisted me in every way to put on that event. 

Too bad that we were thwarted by COVID and that the 2019 version was the only one we were able to pull off. I regret that deeply and I apologize to anyone reading this for our inability to pull off the second C.O.G. 100 due to the circumstances of the times. 

The whole thing with the C.O.G. 100 is bittersweet, to be honest. It was my swansong of sorts, when it comes to events promotions, and I wasn't aware of that at the time. COVID precipitated my decision to get out of that mindset of putting on events for others, which is a good thing - for myself. My mental health and physical health has been rejuvenated as a result. But had I known that the 2019 C.O.G. 100 was going to be "it", I maybe would have done a few things differently. Maybe it's better I didn't know....  

Anyway, thanks to Kae! I appreciated the shout-out and the memory very much.

 That's a wrap for this week! Don't forget to set your clocks back this weekend (if that affects you) and charge up those lights!

WW4M: Cold Weather Riding Tips

 This is another "WW4M" post. That means "What Works For Me" and it may not work for you. So, take that with the following words into consideration..... Also- Standard Disclaimer.

Whisky Winston Bar

Today I am doing a "Cold Weather Riding" clinic at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. There are a few things I am leaving out of that talk because I cannot possibly fit everything into an hour-long presentation, so I am providing attendees with some links to do more research. You know, you won't remember everything you hear one time anyway, most likely, so all the research I did will be made public to those folks. Part of that is this post. 

One thing a lot of folks disregard, or don't even think about, is how the touch-points of your bicycle, and even other parts of your bicycle, will affect whether or not you stay warm.  Well, you can really enhance your experience riding in the cold if you employ the following ideas.

Carbon Fiber Components: Carbon is a notorious material from the standpoint of light-weight and strength. But did you know that it also has terrible heat transfer properties? Yes! And that is a good thing for cycling in cold weather. Carbon handle bars make a huge difference  in hands staying warm or not. Part of this is also what grips you use, but carbon versus aluminum is no contest when it comes to hand warmth. Aluminum will transfer heat quite well, and because it can do that, it also conducts heat from your hands to the bar. This is bad news for longer term cold weather outings. However; not everyone can get, or afford carbon handle bars. For you there are more ideas. Read on...

Ergon Bio-Kork Grips

Cork: Cork, which is a type of wood , makes a great grip material. You maybe have seen cork grips on fishing rods and understand that they are comfortable and that they are not too hot or too cold to hold in any weather. 

Well, those same traits that make cork good for fishing rods also works well for a bicycle grip. You can get traditional cork grips, ergonomic ones, (shown), or you can get cork drop bar tape as well. 

Cork does a great job as a grip. It's lightweight, doesn't transfer heat well, and it is soft to the touch. You may even decide that cork grips are for you year-round instead of just for cold weather riding! 

One interesting anecdote: I used Ergon Bio-Kork grips on one of my fat bikes for years. (Grips shown here for reference) They worked great, and if you had any doubt that they were keeping your hands warm all you had to do was to touch that metal collar with the pinch bolt through it. You'd find out that the cork was indeed doing a great job at keeping yer mitts warm and toasty! 

Composite Flat Pedals: Another great idea is to ditch your clipless pedals, thread in some flats, and use standard Winter footwear. But do NOT use metal pedals! Your feet will still get cold! That's because heat transfer from the foot, which is a very vascular part of the body, is exacerbated by using heat-sucking metal pedals, (and clipless applies as well)

The answer is to use a composite pedal which cuts way down on heat transfer. A great example that doesn't cost an arm and a leg is Fyxation's Mesa MP pedals. I've been using these pedals for over a decade now and I have several bikes set up with them. Great bearings, decent grip, and of course, no heat sucking metal.

The bonus here is that with a good set of flat pedals, you can wear whatever footwear you want to keep your feet warm. I'm partial to insulated, waterproof hiking shoes or my go-to really cold weather choice- the Keen snow boot, (whichever model they seem to have is good, usually) 

Other Touch Points: While carbon brake levers are awesome in cold weather, having the option to use them may not be available or possible for many of us. That's when you use ingenuity to overcome the problem! 

I have a big roll of gaffer tape. It's tape used in the visual arts field, but it has many other practical usages. One is to cover levers made of metal to allow you to have a barrier between fingers and heat-sucking metal. Plus, it gives you a better grip! 

It is cheap and can be purchased in wide enough rolls that you can customize your tape to fit almost any lever. Just make sure that you clean the lever first with isopropyl alcohol to get any dirt or skin oils off the surfaces you want to cover up. Gaffer tape is pretty sticky and should adhere to any anodized aluminum surface well. And the tape is cheap enough that you can replace worn bits of tape without feeling like you are throwing money into a fire. 

You can find a ton of uses for a roll of gaffer tape so the investment is well worth it. I use my roll for camera grip, labeling tool boxes, and even for marking a skills course for bike rodeos I do. It's pretty amazing stuff, but I digress....

Saddles: You can even look at your saddle and maybe make an improvement there as well. I've found that natural materials tend to be warmer than synthetic covers on saddles. So, leather, or even those Brooks saddles that are made from a cotton/rubber mix can prove to be warmer on the ol' buns. 

But by far, the leather covered saddles I have are better in terms of feeling warmer. So, give something like that a try. It doesn't have to be a Brooks either, or even that type of saddle. Just anything with a leather cover seems to be better for me.

Finally fenders  won't directly keep you warmer, but by deflecting water, snow, slush, or ice, fenders can keep those precipitates from getting on you, which would keep you warmer. Most likely, anyway, and besides, fenders do a great job of keeping that chemical soup they squirt on roads these days from destroying your drive train. (If you get full coverage fenders, that is)

Okay, that's a wrap for now. Got any great tips to share? Hit me up in the comments!

WW4M: Cold Weather Riding Tips

 This is another "WW4M" post. That means "What Works For Me" and it may not work for you. So, take that with the following words into consideration..... Also- Standard Disclaimer.

Whisky Winston Bar

Today I am doing a "Cold Weather Riding" clinic at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. There are a few things I am leaving out of that talk because I cannot possibly fit everything into an hour-long presentation, so I am providing attendees with some links to do more research. You know, you won't remember everything you hear one time anyway, most likely, so all the research I did will be made public to those folks. Part of that is this post. 

One thing a lot of folks disregard, or don't even think about, is how the touch-points of your bicycle, and even other parts of your bicycle, will affect whether or not you stay warm.  Well, you can really enhance your experience riding in the cold if you employ the following ideas.

Carbon Fiber Components: Carbon is a notorious material from the standpoint of light-weight and strength. But did you know that it also has terrible heat transfer properties? Yes! And that is a good thing for cycling in cold weather. Carbon handle bars make a huge difference  in hands staying warm or not. Part of this is also what grips you use, but carbon versus aluminum is no contest when it comes to hand warmth. Aluminum will transfer heat quite well, and because it can do that, it also conducts heat from your hands to the bar. This is bad news for longer term cold weather outings. However; not everyone can get, or afford carbon handle bars. For you there are more ideas. Read on...

Ergon Bio-Kork Grips

Cork: Cork, which is a type of wood , makes a great grip material. You maybe have seen cork grips on fishing rods and understand that they are comfortable and that they are not too hot or too cold to hold in any weather. 

Well, those same traits that make cork good for fishing rods also works well for a bicycle grip. You can get traditional cork grips, ergonomic ones, (shown), or you can get cork drop bar tape as well. 

Cork does a great job as a grip. It's lightweight, doesn't transfer heat well, and it is soft to the touch. You may even decide that cork grips are for you year-round instead of just for cold weather riding! 

One interesting anecdote: I used Ergon Bio-Kork grips on one of my fat bikes for years. (Grips shown here for reference) They worked great, and if you had any doubt that they were keeping your hands warm all you had to do was to touch that metal collar with the pinch bolt through it. You'd find out that the cork was indeed doing a great job at keeping yer mitts warm and toasty! 

Composite Flat Pedals: Another great idea is to ditch your clipless pedals, thread in some flats, and use standard Winter footwear. But do NOT use metal pedals! Your feet will still get cold! That's because heat transfer from the foot, which is a very vascular part of the body, is exacerbated by using heat-sucking metal pedals, (and clipless applies as well)

The answer is to use a composite pedal which cuts way down on heat transfer. A great example that doesn't cost an arm and a leg is Fyxation's Mesa MP pedals. I've been using these pedals for over a decade now and I have several bikes set up with them. Great bearings, decent grip, and of course, no heat sucking metal.

The bonus here is that with a good set of flat pedals, you can wear whatever footwear you want to keep your feet warm. I'm partial to insulated, waterproof hiking shoes or my go-to really cold weather choice- the Keen snow boot, (whichever model they seem to have is good, usually) 

Other Touch Points: While carbon brake levers are awesome in cold weather, having the option to use them may not be available or possible for many of us. That's when you use ingenuity to overcome the problem! 

I have a big roll of gaffer tape. It's tape used in the visual arts field, but it has many other practical usages. One is to cover levers made of metal to allow you to have a barrier between fingers and heat-sucking metal. Plus, it gives you a better grip! 

It is cheap and can be purchased in wide enough rolls that you can customize your tape to fit almost any lever. Just make sure that you clean the lever first with isopropyl alcohol to get any dirt or skin oils off the surfaces you want to cover up. Gaffer tape is pretty sticky and should adhere to any anodized aluminum surface well. And the tape is cheap enough that you can replace worn bits of tape without feeling like you are throwing money into a fire. 

You can find a ton of uses for a roll of gaffer tape so the investment is well worth it. I use my roll for camera grip, labeling tool boxes, and even for marking a skills course for bike rodeos I do. It's pretty amazing stuff, but I digress....

Saddles: You can even look at your saddle and maybe make an improvement there as well. I've found that natural materials tend to be warmer than synthetic covers on saddles. So, leather, or even those Brooks saddles that are made from a cotton/rubber mix can prove to be warmer on the ol' buns. 

But by far, the leather covered saddles I have are better in terms of feeling warmer. So, give something like that a try. It doesn't have to be a Brooks either, or even that type of saddle. Just anything with a leather cover seems to be better for me.

Finally fenders  won't directly keep you warmer, but by deflecting water, snow, slush, or ice, fenders can keep those precipitates from getting on you, which would keep you warmer. Most likely, anyway, and besides, fenders do a great job of keeping that chemical soup they squirt on roads these days from destroying your drive train. (If you get full coverage fenders, that is)

Okay, that's a wrap for now. Got any great tips to share? Hit me up in the comments!

Getting Lit

Schmidt Edulx II (Image courtesy of Angry Catfish)

I'd been putting this off for far too long, this fixing of my Ti Muk II. It's getting on into the year and Winter is coming soon. I figured I'd better just pull the trigger on something and get it here before it was too late. 

Shopping for dynamo lighting is a weird experience. At least, here in the U.S. it is. You don't have a lot of choices, and when you find something interesting, the information you'd like to have about the product is pretty shallow. 

In my case, I needed to understand what length the leads were off the light head unit. The Ti Muk is a bit of an oddball in terms of dynamo lights. Usually this sort of thing would be going on a randonnuer bike, or maybe an "adventure hard tail" MTB. But with a fat bike, the little details matter, and things like leads need to be a bit longer, so that's one of the things I needed to understand. 

You also have to know if you are getting the mount for the light, because - it appears to me at any rate- some companies don't provide that and seem to give you a "better deal" on the light. Well, that does me no good, ya know.....because I'm not duct taping this thing on! 

I'm also sure some of the retailers are fine, but when many of the ones I saw pop up in my Google search are companies I've never heard of, that gives me pause as well. There were a couple of hits that were from places I knew of, so I went with those choices. Interestingly, one of those had such a wordy and - in my opinion - gruff stance on ordering, that I decided that maybe this was just not going to be a seamless experience. So, I bailed on that choice and took a look at a more local one, Angry Catfish out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

It's coming......whether we want it or not!

The order page had all the info I needed to make a decision, and so I went with Angry Catfish, (that name!), and I actually received a call after I placed the order from them. This was due to the fact that the site had indicated what I had ordered was in stock, but in reality, it was not. I was offered a no-hassle refund, or I could wait for them to order one in. 

Since what I had ordered was in a color I didn't really want, but ya know- it was in stock -only it wasn't. Anyway, that afforded me the chance to order the color I did want at no extra charge to me. Nice! 

So, I have to wait a bit, but at least this problem will get solved and I'll be back on the Ti Muk II just in time for Winter to arrive. As long as the new light install goes smoothly, I'll be good to go now. New drive train, new bottom bracket, new light, and heck.....some more new sealant! That should do me. 

I'll report back when I get the light and let you know- and see- how it goes.

Note: I have no affiliation with Angry Catfish and I paid full retail for the light.

Getting Lit

Schmidt Edulx II (Image courtesy of Angry Catfish)

I'd been putting this off for far too long, this fixing of my Ti Muk II. It's getting on into the year and Winter is coming soon. I figured I'd better just pull the trigger on something and get it here before it was too late. 

Shopping for dynamo lighting is a weird experience. At least, here in the U.S. it is. You don't have a lot of choices, and when you find something interesting, the information you'd like to have about the product is pretty shallow. 

In my case, I needed to understand what length the leads were off the light head unit. The Ti Muk is a bit of an oddball in terms of dynamo lights. Usually this sort of thing would be going on a randonnuer bike, or maybe an "adventure hard tail" MTB. But with a fat bike, the little details matter, and things like leads need to be a bit longer, so that's one of the things I needed to understand. 

You also have to know if you are getting the mount for the light, because - it appears to me at any rate- some companies don't provide that and seem to give you a "better deal" on the light. Well, that does me no good, ya know.....because I'm not duct taping this thing on! 

I'm also sure some of the retailers are fine, but when many of the ones I saw pop up in my Google search are companies I've never heard of, that gives me pause as well. There were a couple of hits that were from places I knew of, so I went with those choices. Interestingly, one of those had such a wordy and - in my opinion - gruff stance on ordering, that I decided that maybe this was just not going to be a seamless experience. So, I bailed on that choice and took a look at a more local one, Angry Catfish out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

It's coming......whether we want it or not!

The order page had all the info I needed to make a decision, and so I went with Angry Catfish, (that name!), and I actually received a call after I placed the order from them. This was due to the fact that the site had indicated what I had ordered was in stock, but in reality, it was not. I was offered a no-hassle refund, or I could wait for them to order one in. 

Since what I had ordered was in a color I didn't really want, but ya know- it was in stock -only it wasn't. Anyway, that afforded me the chance to order the color I did want at no extra charge to me. Nice! 

So, I have to wait a bit, but at least this problem will get solved and I'll be back on the Ti Muk II just in time for Winter to arrive. As long as the new light install goes smoothly, I'll be good to go now. New drive train, new bottom bracket, new light, and heck.....some more new sealant! That should do me. 

I'll report back when I get the light and let you know- and see- how it goes.

Note: I have no affiliation with Angry Catfish and I paid full retail for the light.

Looking At The End Of Year Stuff (Already!)

 I know.....the end of 2022 already is at hand! It seems like it was just August a second ago. At any rate, now I get into thinking about the "end-of-year" stuff I do on this blog every year. 

I'll be looking at possibly doing some of this crossed over to a Guitar Ted Productions podcast episode, so if you'd rather hear me than read me, well- this may be an option. 

There will be the usual fare; A "Rearview" series that recaps everything that happened with me during the year. There will be a review of the bikes I used throughout the year, any changes to them, and the rides I used them for. I'll have the 12 best images of the year- one from each month. I will also do a top-ten list of posts that were top eye-ball catchers for the year. Some of those might just surprise you, by the way. I know I've been a bit taken aback by the list so far. 

And again- some of that content will cross over to a podcast. Obviously, the images would be a no-go! Ha! But yeah, some of that other stuff would make for a good podcast, I think. Of course, you can let me know in the comments about your ideas, criticisms, or shout-outs.

This is just a heads up to anyone new here, or that may have forgotten, that December is mostly about these things I've discussed in today's post. Now you know what to expect....

As always: Thank You For Reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Looking At The End Of Year Stuff (Already!)

 I know.....the end of 2022 already is at hand! It seems like it was just August a second ago. At any rate, now I get into thinking about the "end-of-year" stuff I do on this blog every year. 

I'll be looking at possibly doing some of this crossed over to a Guitar Ted Productions podcast episode, so if you'd rather hear me than read me, well- this may be an option. 

There will be the usual fare; A "Rearview" series that recaps everything that happened with me during the year. There will be a review of the bikes I used throughout the year, any changes to them, and the rides I used them for. I'll have the 12 best images of the year- one from each month. I will also do a top-ten list of posts that were top eye-ball catchers for the year. Some of those might just surprise you, by the way. I know I've been a bit taken aback by the list so far. 

And again- some of that content will cross over to a podcast. Obviously, the images would be a no-go! Ha! But yeah, some of that other stuff would make for a good podcast, I think. Of course, you can let me know in the comments about your ideas, criticisms, or shout-outs.

This is just a heads up to anyone new here, or that may have forgotten, that December is mostly about these things I've discussed in today's post. Now you know what to expect....

As always: Thank You For Reading Guitar Ted Productions!