Thoughts On Shimano CUES

CUES should revolutionize mid-priced cycling (Image courtesy of Shimano)

Yesterday Shimano introduced a new group range which eliminated a slew of its former hierarchy of components from the mid-range on down to the entry levels. 

You've probably seen a bunch of reporting on the CUES (Create Unique Rider ExperienceS) elsewhere, so I won't delve into all the technicalities. I want to share my thoughts on what this does to cycling in retail and in practice. 

The nuts and bolts of this are that Altus, Acera, Alivio, and the 10spd and 11spd elements of Deore are now retired. CUES will cover this range now with the 11 speed only U8000, the 10spd and 11spd U6000, and the 9spd U4000 ranges of components. While, on the surface of it, that may seem like it is three new component ranges, it really isn't. 

That is because everything in CUES is based on 11 speed and a single cable pull ratio, (Shimano didn't say what that was in its presentation), so you can mix any 11 speed crankset, even non-Shimano stuff, in with a 11, 10, or 9spd CUES drive train. Any CUES derailleur will work on any CUES Cassette, theoretically, as long as it has the correct range. You don't need a special chain. Any 11 speed one will do, but of course, you should use a Shimano one. Any CUES shifter will work with any of the CUES rear derailleurs. (You may have to "limit out" a rear derailleur in certain circumstances or relinquish a few cogs in other circumstances that would not be available due to shifter/derailleur/cassette combinations that don't match in speed.) So, in a pinch, you could "get someone going" as a shop mechanic again even though they may have a broken 9 speed CUES shifter and all you have is 11 speed shifter.

All the CUES stuff is claimed to be super-durable, but the key is in the cassette. (Image courtesy of Shimano)

So, in many ways this reminds me of how things used to be with regard to 7,8.and 9 speed stuff that was semi-interchangeable and road and MTB was compatible with each other. While I did not get a specific confirmation that drop bar levers were going to be part of CUES, well they are going to be. You can pretty much count on that to happen very soon. 

Combine all of that tantalizing news and possibilities with the claimed durability of LINKGLIDE cassettes, and well, you've got something cooking here. These LINKGLIDE cassettes have something  which reminds me a whole lot of 7 speed HyperGlide cassettes in that the cogs in each cassette are thicker, taller, and have deeper ramps for shifting than other Shimano cassettes. That should make for great shifting for longer times than with typical cassettes. 

AND this stuff is mechanical. Many were lamenting that the possibility that mechanical shifting stuff was going to become extinct, especially on the road side in light of the Di2 105 group announcement. Well, this should quiet that down. 

U4000 CUES rear derailleur (Image courtesy of Shimano)

I can see myself using U8000 CUES stuff, maybe the U6000 11 speed stuff, especially for day-to-day gravel riding. Gravel accelerates wear, but if I'm using CUES cassettes and drive line gear, I should get more miles and better shifting for a longer time with CUES.

The wide-range cassettes are lending themselves to 1X at this point, but we were told "more is coming" later this year, next year, and the following year. So, I see a full range of cassette options and especially so if the OEM brands get a hold of this and push CUES heavily, which I feel is going to happen. 

One of the other things that slipped in a bit under the radar with the CUES announcement was the new hubs which point to a sea change with Shimano. Formerly they were not about cartridge bearings or swappable axle standards. But that has changed and furthermore; you can swap freehub bodies in a tool-less manner. That makes Shimano hubs a lot more versatile, and therefore attractive, to build wheels with. 

Drop Bar Shifters? Shimano intimated that drop bar compatible CUES was going to happen and that it likely will eliminate Claris, Sora, and some options within the current Tiagra group set. This is awesome, and it would allow a wide range 9, 10, or 11 speed "mullet" set up, (only it wouldn't really be "mullet" since it would be intentional and part of one group, but...). This only brings up the question of what will become of GRX 10 and 11 speed. 

Well, you are going to see 12 speed GRX, that's what. (My opinion, I have no official word here) 

There are a lot more details to the CUES announcement, and a lot more to come, but I think it is an exciting announcement, and a good move by Shimano.

Thoughts On Shimano CUES

CUES should revolutionize mid-priced cycling (Image courtesy of Shimano)

Yesterday Shimano introduced a new group range which eliminated a slew of its former hierarchy of components from the mid-range on down to the entry levels. 

You've probably seen a bunch of reporting on the CUES (Create Unique Rider ExperienceS) elsewhere, so I won't delve into all the technicalities. I want to share my thoughts on what this does to cycling in retail and in practice. 

The nuts and bolts of this are that Altus, Acera, Alivio, and the 10spd and 11spd elements of Deore are now retired. CUES will cover this range now with the 11 speed only U8000, the 10spd and 11spd U6000, and the 9spd U4000 ranges of components. While, on the surface of it, that may seem like it is three new component ranges, it really isn't. 

That is because everything in CUES is based on 11 speed and a single cable pull ratio, (Shimano didn't say what that was in its presentation), so you can mix any 11 speed crankset, even non-Shimano stuff, in with a 11, 10, or 9spd CUES drive train. Any CUES derailleur will work on any CUES Cassette, theoretically, as long as it has the correct range. You don't need a special chain. Any 11 speed one will do, but of course, you should use a Shimano one. Any CUES shifter will work with any of the CUES rear derailleurs. (You may have to "limit out" a rear derailleur in certain circumstances or relinquish a few cogs in other circumstances that would not be available due to shifter/derailleur/cassette combinations that don't match in speed.) So, in a pinch, you could "get someone going" as a shop mechanic again even though they may have a broken 9 speed CUES shifter and all you have is 11 speed shifter.

All the CUES stuff is claimed to be super-durable, but the key is in the cassette. (Image courtesy of Shimano)

So, in many ways this reminds me of how things used to be with regard to 7,8.and 9 speed stuff that was semi-interchangeable and road and MTB was compatible with each other. While I did not get a specific confirmation that drop bar levers were going to be part of CUES, well they are going to be. You can pretty much count on that to happen very soon. 

Combine all of that tantalizing news and possibilities with the claimed durability of LINKGLIDE cassettes, and well, you've got something cooking here. These LINKGLIDE cassettes have something  which reminds me a whole lot of 7 speed HyperGlide cassettes in that the cogs in each cassette are thicker, taller, and have deeper ramps for shifting than other Shimano cassettes. That should make for great shifting for longer times than with typical cassettes. 

AND this stuff is mechanical. Many were lamenting that the possibility that mechanical shifting stuff was going to become extinct, especially on the road side in light of the Di2 105 group announcement. Well, this should quiet that down. 

U4000 CUES rear derailleur (Image courtesy of Shimano)

I can see myself using U8000 CUES stuff, maybe the U6000 11 speed stuff, especially for day-to-day gravel riding. Gravel accelerates wear, but if I'm using CUES cassettes and drive line gear, I should get more miles and better shifting for a longer time with CUES.

The wide-range cassettes are lending themselves to 1X at this point, but we were told "more is coming" later this year, next year, and the following year. So, I see a full range of cassette options and especially so if the OEM brands get a hold of this and push CUES heavily, which I feel is going to happen. 

One of the other things that slipped in a bit under the radar with the CUES announcement was the new hubs which point to a sea change with Shimano. Formerly they were not about cartridge bearings or swappable axle standards. But that has changed and furthermore; you can swap freehub bodies in a tool-less manner. That makes Shimano hubs a lot more versatile, and therefore attractive, to build wheels with. 

Drop Bar Shifters? Shimano intimated that drop bar compatible CUES was going to happen and that it likely will eliminate Claris, Sora, and some options within the current Tiagra group set. This is awesome, and it would allow a wide range 9, 10, or 11 speed "mullet" set up, (only it wouldn't really be "mullet" since it would be intentional and part of one group, but...). This only brings up the question of what will become of GRX 10 and 11 speed. 

Well, you are going to see 12 speed GRX, that's what. (My opinion, I have no official word here) 

There are a lot more details to the CUES announcement, and a lot more to come, but I think it is an exciting announcement, and a good move by Shimano.

Gravel Grinder News: Shimano CUES Drop Bar Components

CUES 10/11 speed hydraulic Dual Control Lever. Image courtesy of Shimano

Note: All Images courtesy of Shimano

As expected when Shimano released the CUES flat bar parts, a drop bar lever for CUES has now been revealed. We first got wind of the parts last year, which I talked about in this FN&V.

Featuring hydraulic and mechanical brake Dual Control Lever options, along with "dummy" levers for 1X set ups, this group stands to become one of the more popular, affordable choices for gravel riders. 

These levers will be available for 9,10, and 11 speed set ups, but like their flat bar siblings, CUES has its own cassette spacing and lever pull ratios so these cannot be mixed and matched with any other current Shimano 9,10, or 11 speed components. 

However; you can mix and match within the CUES ecosystem. So, say for instance that you had purchased a 10 speed CUES flat bar bike and then got a sweet deal on a drop bar frame for gravel. One could just buy the Dual Control Levers, use the rest of the CUES flat bar parts, and save a little coin. 

CUES mechanical Dual Control Lever

CUES drop bar will also have 1X and 2X options for crank sets. In 2X they will offer 50/34 and 46/32 options using HollowTech, two piece design. In 1X there will be a 42T and a 40T option in HollowTech along with a heavier, hot forged two piece model with the same chain ring options. 

Brakes, cassettes, and rear and front derailleurs are all similar to the current CUES offerings with the addition of a braze-on style mount option. Both new front derailleurs are optimized for their companion crank sets. 

Essa 8spd: It should also be noted that a drop bar lever set for Shimano Essa has also been introduced, albeit in just a 1X configuration. Essa is compatible with previous Shimano 8spd parts. 

Comments: This is great news for those who want lesser expensive alternatives to 11 and 12 speed groups and should satisfy many folks in terms of look and feel. 

There have been some reports that I have seen with issues with  CUES rear derailleurs not operating correctly. This may be due to some manufacturing issues, so it is hoped that those things can, or have been addressed. It is also notable here that CUES uses LinkGlide cogs and chains which prioritize shifting precision, and not speed, so instantaneous shifts are not going to happen within the CUES range.

CUES as a concept is valid, but in its implementation it finds some push-back from those in the cycling community. It would appear that the incompatibility with anything else Shimano has out is part of this. But when you think about things, Shimano had to make some kind of call on spacing/shifter ratio. They either had to use nine, or ten, or eleven standard, and then in terms of 10 and 11 you have the difference between MTB and road ratios, which are different as well. 

So, what did you think Shimano should have done? They decided to circumvent all the choices and made a call to make one that fit their intentions. I totally get it, and it does make sense. The wish for a "backward compatible 9/10/11 groupset" is a pipe dream. 

What concerns me more are the reports of rear derailleurs that are not up to snuff in terms of precision or durability. One would hope that Shimano will, or has, addressed this. 

If the rear derailleur issues are behind Shimano with regard to CUES, then this is an exciting development.

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Panaracer

 Panaracer Announces New ZX Gravel King Tires:

Panaracer's Gravel King range of tires has an addition now with the latest racing focused Gravel King ZX.  

The ZX features a slick center section for speed. The shoulders have elongated tread blocks for cornering and braking traction. The Gravel King ZX also has a rounded casing which should promote riding on the center section for straight line speed and then as the rider leans into corners those side lugs come into play for stability in corners. 

The ZX version of the Gravel King will have Panaracer's proprietary ZSG Gravel compound developed specifically for gravel. This single compound will lend great ride characteristics and promote long-term durability. The Gravel King ZX tires also will have other Panaracer technologies utilized such as BeadLock and TufTex. 

Coming soon in sizes from 700 x 35mm,  700 x 40mm, 700 x 45mm, 700 x 50mm, and 700 x 55mm with the 45mm tire weighing a claimed 510 grams and the 50mm weighing 600 grams each. Price for each Gravel King ZX tire is set at $84.99 USD. Availability on the 45mm and 50mm tires is May 2026 with the 40mm scheduled for July, the 50mm scheduled for August, and the 35mm tire slated to be available in October 2026. 

Comments: The profile of this tire, with a flattened top section where the slicker part of the tread is, reminds me a lot of the old, original WTB Vulpine. The air pressure settings you used on that old Vulpine really were critical to the performance of the tire. Too much and the tire felt odd when leaned over in a turn. Too little and you started dragging those shoulder knobs into contact with the ground on straight sections, which kind of defeats the intentions of the design, I would be wary of the Gravel King ZX being similar in this vein.  

Confluence CUES 11 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Salsa Cycles Announces Confluence CUES 11

Salsa Cycles has released a new version of the Confluence e-gravel bike. This Sea Foam Green bike features Shimano CUES 11 speed and a Mahle hub motor for an extra boost which Salsa claims can last up to 45 miles. 

Check out this bike at Salsa Cycles site HERE.  

A Viral Post:

I know most of you have heard the term "it's gone viral" or some form of this term. One thing I never thought I'd see is one of my social media posts going viral. I mean, most of what I post is either very cycling specific or just downright goofy. The latter was what my April 1st Instagram post could be defined as being. 

Here's the text I posted with the accompanying image. "When a steel bicycle frame reaches maturity it splits open and releases its reproductive spores into the atmosphere. These spores the settle in frame building shops where they bond with other frame spores to become new bicycles again."

I misspelled "then" by omitting the "n", but I did not care at the time because I figured hardly anyone would see this off the cuff April Fools post. But I was wrong.

So wrong!  

24,260 views and counting! It's kind of crazy. I cannot say why this took off, but "The Algorithm" must have thought it was funny, I guess.  

From Shimano social media

Shimano Offers Larger GRX 1X Chainrings, Shorter GRX Cranks, & New CUES 11's Rear Mech:

Shimano offered a few tweaks to GRX, its gravel going component group, recently. The trend toward shorter cranks and larger drive rings were addressed with the addition of a 44T and 46T 1X GRX rings coupled with a couple of shorter crank arm choices in GRX. 

Nothing crazy there, but a nice option for those who have a desire to follow this trend with their gravel set ups. 

The CUES thing is a bit more interesting, in my opinion. CUES has been out for a while now and while it was ballyhooed as a versatile, lifestyle group for the average cyclist, enthusiasts have largely ignored it. This is because CUES was designed in its own ecosystem which rendered it incompatible with other Shimano products past and present. 

CUES RD U6030 (Image courtesy of Shimano

Recently Shimano upgraded its lower tier Tiagra group from ten speed to eleven speed and in this upgrade they introduced an 11-36T cassette. Interestingly, CUES, which previous to this new CUES derailleur was designed for LinkGlide technology, has this new derailleur working with HyperGlide, which is what the Tiagra cassette technology is based upon. 

This raises some questions. Is CUES switching over to HypeGlide? What is the hierarchy placement for this new CUES versus Tiagra? Reports say the new CUES rear mech is actually lighter than other CUES derailleurs and the new Tiagra 11 speed rear mech. 

According to reporting online, Shimano has said this new CUES introduction is more about gravel bikes and Tiagra is for sport road riding, citing slight differences in chain line and Q factor between the two groups. 

So, this then leaves us with a question about CUES and Shimano's GRX groups. Shimano, at GRX's introduction, made the top tier GRX 800 an eleven speed group and the lower tiered GRX 400 was ten speed. Is this new CUES derailleur a precursor to a lower tiered GRX eleven or twelve speed group because GRX is going to 13 speeds at the top of the range?  

Maxxis 32" range. (Image poached off social media)

The 32" Watch: Maxxis Delivers On Rumors:

Yesterday at Sea Otter Maxxis showed a full range of MTB tires in 32" size. This was a rumor for months and now it has become a reality. 

This points to OEM acceptance of 32" wheels as a viable retail product. I will be very surprised if most top-tier brands do not have 32"ers in their ranges by 2027, (this Fall). 

In other 32"er news, there was the Fargo and Teravail tire intros yesterday. (See yesterday's post on these things for more details) Velo Orange showed a 32" rim in silver. Also, a couple of prototype bicycles were shown. One was from Esker Cycles and was based on the Lorax. The other was from Revel Bikes and was a 32"er titanium hardtail. Revel also had a "mullet 29"/32" bike in titanium as well.  

In perhaps the biggest news and sign that 32"ers are here to stay, at least for a while, was the spotting of a prototype 32" Fox fork on an Ari Bikes 32"er FS model. You know what this means? It means Fox has an OEM on the hook for production, or thinks it will soon. My bet is XC MTB bikes from one of the bigger brands will be the model type this shows up on.  

Image courtesy of Open Cycles

Open WI.DE 2.0 Announced:

Open Cycles sent a press release showing off its upcoming OPEN WI.DE 2.0 carbon adventure drop bar frame and fork.  

Claiming an amazing tire clearance of  29" x 2.6" (700 x 66mm)! To get this to work OPEN had to use a double-dropped chain stay design. OPEN claims that going from a 50mm to the 66mm tire doubles air volume. This will allow the rider to tackle even rougher terrain. 

To get this all to work, OPEN had quite a challenge on their hands. The result was still lighter, by only a little bit, than the outgoing model. Additionally only 1X drive trains are supported while retaining gravel group set compatibility.  

The OPEN WI.DE frame and fork is going into production now with a promised late Summer 2026 delivery.  

That's a wrap for this week. Get out there and ride a bicycle this weekend! 

Trans Iowa v14: Cue Sheet Holders

Old school cues (V3) and cue sheet holder- A sandwich baggie and a clip!

Continuing on with the series for Trans Iowa v14 Rookie advice, we will cover a question today about cue sheets. Also, I will discuss T.I.'s unique cues and at the end I have been authorized to announce a special offer to Trans Iowa riders. Again- If you have any great suggestions please leave them in the comments! Thanks for all the great suggestions left so far!

First let's get to this post's question!

"What is the best cue card holder you have found? Easy to use and easy to see cards"

Answer: In my humble opinion, that would be a Bar Yak Q:Pro. Why? Because this turnkey cue sheet holder encompasses everything all the good homemade ones have in a slick, good looking package. Plus the cues are held down in such a way that it takes a pretty severe wind to knock them off the clipboard. I've personally used a version of this cue sheet holder, (a modification of both the Q:Pro and Bar Yak's Expedition Complete system), on several occasions with zero troubles. In severe wind, I simply add a small bag clip, like you might find in a kitchen shop or grocery store, to tack down the loose end of my cue sheet baggie. If you were using laminated or card stock cues, you may not even have to do that. In Trans Iowa, your cues will be handed to you in a zip top sandwich bag, which I would recommend that you leave them in, or they may blow away, get damaged, or be destroyed if it is raining.

This is the cockpit of my Fargo Gen I as it was used for my DK My Way Century. The Bar Yak Q:Pro clipboard is front and center.

The Bar Yak Q:Pro

The Bar Yak Q: Pro was developed and is made by Joe Stiller, an ultra-distance cyclist, Trans Iowa Vet, and promoter of the Trans South Dakota race. Joe saw what many folks were using for cue sheet holders- all the home brew solutions good and bad- and he culled all the good ideas, added a few of his own, and has produced the Q:Pro cue sheet holder.

I have to say that it is a solution without peer. If you have to use cue sheets, this is a bomber way to get the job done without a lot of fuss, and it looks slick to boot. (Note- The clip comes covered in a carbon fiber sheet now to help cut down on glare.)

You certainly can come up with other solutions, but most will be less functional and poor copies of this one. I've seen old water bottles flattened out and affixed with a clip, I've seen cues dangling from key chain rings, and I've seen cues stuffed in bags of various types. Essentially, it comes down to how fast you want to get the route done. The Q:Pro will likely be one of the, if not the fastest ways to run through the cues without stopping. Weather will dictate some of this as well, since if it gets to be one of those gale force windy Trans Iowas, you may have to hang on to your sheets in one of your hands!

A Word About Trans Iowa Cue Sheets: I would be remiss if I also did not cover what the cues for Trans Iowa will be like here. It may affect your choices for cue sheet holders.

First of all, the cues are typically about 4" X 5", but they vary slightly sometimes. The last two years I've had them "professionally cut", so the sizes have been more uniform than in years past. The cues are made from a card stock, but it is maybe only what you would call "heavy paper". Suffice it to say that the cues sheet paper is delicate and that the ink will run at the slightest hint of moisture. Be aware and take care!

Genuine T.I.v13 cues in the baggie they were distributed in. This is what you can expect for v14.

Back when I chose this format for the cues, which was around T.I.v4, there weren't very many events and no one was sharing how they did things. I had the choice of using the typical "tulip" style cues, but I thought they were weird, so I went with what I thought was a more direct style. I found the template on an old randonneur site, so it wasn't something I made up. I borrowed it and made it my own, since basically all the other events subsequently went with the "tulip" style. Who knew back then how it would all go? I certainly did not, but now you know the "why" about the cues. As far as the "how they work" aspect, I rarely get any complaints about them. Apparently, as long as you can read them, they are just fine with 99% of the folks that have used them.

Note: I will do a long, detailed explanation post about navigation and the course later.

Now for the announcement! Bar Yak has once again agreed to be a sponsor of Trans Iowa! This is an awesome sponsor and Trans Iowa has benefited from  Bar Yak's kindness before. This time Bar Yak has promised us two Q:Pro set ups to be given away at Trans Iowa along with a special discount for Trans Iowa v14 riders. If your name is on the T.I.v14 roster, and if you want to get a Q: Pro cue sheet holder, you can avail yourself of a generous 10% discount and free shipping. Just make sure your name is on the roster which can be seen by clicking here.

Next: A discussion about tires. 

NOTE: Guitar Ted Productions was not bribed nor paid for the recommendation of the Bar Yak Q:Pro and Bar Yak is not receiving any special consideration for its sponsorship of Trans Iowa as a result of this post or the offer made solely on the decision of Bar Yak to extend the discount to Trans Iowa v14 riders. The discount and free shipping applies only to current roster spot holders on the Trans Iowa site. The discount may be revoked, changed, or the time it is offered may be set at the sole discretion of Bar Yak and its representatives.

Trans Iowa v14: Cue Sheet Holders

Old school cues (V3) and cue sheet holder- A sandwich baggie and a clip!

Continuing on with the series for Trans Iowa v14 Rookie advice, we will cover a question today about cue sheets. Also, I will discuss T.I.'s unique cues and at the end I have been authorized to announce a special offer to Trans Iowa riders. Again- If you have any great suggestions please leave them in the comments! Thanks for all the great suggestions left so far!

First let's get to this post's question!

"What is the best cue card holder you have found? Easy to use and easy to see cards"

Answer: In my humble opinion, that would be a Bar Yak Q:Pro. Why? Because this turnkey cue sheet holder encompasses everything all the good homemade ones have in a slick, good looking package. Plus the cues are held down in such a way that it takes a pretty severe wind to knock them off the clipboard. I've personally used a version of this cue sheet holder, (a modification of both the Q:Pro and Bar Yak's Expedition Complete system), on several occasions with zero troubles. In severe wind, I simply add a small bag clip, like you might find in a kitchen shop or grocery store, to tack down the loose end of my cue sheet baggie. If you were using laminated or card stock cues, you may not even have to do that. In Trans Iowa, your cues will be handed to you in a zip top sandwich bag, which I would recommend that you leave them in, or they may blow away, get damaged, or be destroyed if it is raining.

This is the cockpit of my Fargo Gen I as it was used for my DK My Way Century. The Bar Yak Q:Pro clipboard is front and center.

The Bar Yak Q:Pro

The Bar Yak Q: Pro was developed and is made by Joe Stiller, an ultra-distance cyclist, Trans Iowa Vet, and promoter of the Trans South Dakota race. Joe saw what many folks were using for cue sheet holders- all the home brew solutions good and bad- and he culled all the good ideas, added a few of his own, and has produced the Q:Pro cue sheet holder.

I have to say that it is a solution without peer. If you have to use cue sheets, this is a bomber way to get the job done without a lot of fuss, and it looks slick to boot. (Note- The clip comes covered in a carbon fiber sheet now to help cut down on glare.)

You certainly can come up with other solutions, but most will be less functional and poor copies of this one. I've seen old water bottles flattened out and affixed with a clip, I've seen cues dangling from key chain rings, and I've seen cues stuffed in bags of various types. Essentially, it comes down to how fast you want to get the route done. The Q:Pro will likely be one of the, if not the fastest ways to run through the cues without stopping. Weather will dictate some of this as well, since if it gets to be one of those gale force windy Trans Iowas, you may have to hang on to your sheets in one of your hands!

A Word About Trans Iowa Cue Sheets: I would be remiss if I also did not cover what the cues for Trans Iowa will be like here. It may affect your choices for cue sheet holders.

First of all, the cues are typically about 4" X 5", but they vary slightly sometimes. The last two years I've had them "professionally cut", so the sizes have been more uniform than in years past. The cues are made from a card stock, but it is maybe only what you would call "heavy paper". Suffice it to say that the cues sheet paper is delicate and that the ink will run at the slightest hint of moisture. Be aware and take care!

Genuine T.I.v13 cues in the baggie they were distributed in. This is what you can expect for v14.

Back when I chose this format for the cues, which was around T.I.v4, there weren't very many events and no one was sharing how they did things. I had the choice of using the typical "tulip" style cues, but I thought they were weird, so I went with what I thought was a more direct style. I found the template on an old randonneur site, so it wasn't something I made up. I borrowed it and made it my own, since basically all the other events subsequently went with the "tulip" style. Who knew back then how it would all go? I certainly did not, but now you know the "why" about the cues. As far as the "how they work" aspect, I rarely get any complaints about them. Apparently, as long as you can read them, they are just fine with 99% of the folks that have used them.

Note: I will do a long, detailed explanation post about navigation and the course later.

Now for the announcement! Bar Yak has once again agreed to be a sponsor of Trans Iowa! This is an awesome sponsor and Trans Iowa has benefited from  Bar Yak's kindness before. This time Bar Yak has promised us two Q:Pro set ups to be given away at Trans Iowa along with a special discount for Trans Iowa v14 riders. If your name is on the T.I.v14 roster, and if you want to get a Q: Pro cue sheet holder, you can avail yourself of a generous 10% discount and free shipping. Just make sure your name is on the roster which can be seen by clicking here.

Next: A discussion about tires. 

NOTE: Guitar Ted Productions was not bribed nor paid for the recommendation of the Bar Yak Q:Pro and Bar Yak is not receiving any special consideration for its sponsorship of Trans Iowa as a result of this post or the offer made solely on the decision of Bar Yak to extend the discount to Trans Iowa v14 riders. The discount and free shipping applies only to current roster spot holders on the Trans Iowa site. The discount may be revoked, changed, or the time it is offered may be set at the sole discretion of Bar Yak and its representatives.

Friday News And Views

Gravel Amplifier:  Farmhouse Classic

Many years ago gravel events were much more intimate and often reflected a very personal touch which was imprinted on the event by the organizer. It was not uncommon for the event to start at a home, for instance, or start at someone's private property.

Such was the case with the early Farmhouse Classic gravel event organized by Joe Fox, owner of Cycle City bicycle shop now in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe had the event start at a farm in Northwest Missouri, not far from Kansas City. While I never had the chance to ride the event then, it did have a high reputation as being one of those  events you thought of when thinking about "grassroots gravel".

Last year, on our way down to Mid-South, we stopped in at Cycle City and I had the chance to chat with Joe Fox. Joe has been a gravel rider in many events going way back, including Trans Iowa, the event I used to run. During our conversation, I mentioned the Farmhouse Classic and I told Joe he should consider bringing it back again. Joe quickly brushed the suggestion off and made a few remarks about it being a big commitment and how he was pretty tied up running a shop nowadays. Totally understandable stuff

But, for whatever reasons, I see now that Joe has indeed resurrected the Farmhouse Classic. (I'm sure my suggestion had little to do with this happening, by the way)  It is set up now to be a benefit for the Parkhill Bison Composite NICA Team. There are 68 mile, 35 mile, and 20 mile ride options. The event will occur on July 19th out of Lathrop, Missouri, which is located Northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

Journeyer CUES 11 Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

 Journeyer CUES 10 & 11 Speed Bikes:

Salsa Cycles announced this week the availability of Shimano CUES groups on their Journeyer gravel/adventure bike frames. CUES is Shimano's group set specifically made to work through several speed and set up types. So, there is a 9 speed, 10 speed, and 11 speed CUES all with cross compatibility using derailleurs, shifters, and crank sets across the range including drop bar and flat bar versions.  For a more detailed look at CUES see my article on the group HERE.

The drop bar CUES was a highly anticipated version of this mechanical shifted group as it was hoped that it would reduce costs and make a gravel bike more accessible to the masses. Salsa has dropped both 10 speed and 11 speed CUES equipped Journeyers now, so how do they stack up?

Journeyer CUES 10 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Well, for context here a frame set is available foor the Journeyer which includes a carbon Waxwing v2 fork. The cost for the frame set is $799.00. The CUES 10 equipped version clocks in at $1,699.00 and the 11 speed CUES Journeyer is $1,999.00.

Okay, bicycle prices have increased by quite a bit. It used to be you could get an entry level road bike for under 1K. This Salsa model was called the Journeyman when it came out in the late twenty-teens and the base model was under 1K.

Comments: So, we're still talking base, entry level stuff here and now - just to get in on a Salsa, you are looking at over $500.00 more these days. This is if you want a Salsa Cycles bike. Plus, CUES is not getting rave reviews on the bicycle mechanic pages I scroll routinely. 

Of course, alternatives exist and one no6table choice in this category is State Bicycle Co.  Their All-Road 6061 gravel bike compares with the CUES 11 Journeyer. It has a 1X 11 speed "State Bicycle Co." drive train, (read: MicroShift Sensah derailleurs and shifters. Also a group set with mixed reviews), and a carbon fiber fork as well. It retails on State's site for $300 bucks less than the Salsa CUES 10 Journeyer. So, a pretty competitive price, but you do not get a dealer back-up, and all that might come with that. So, yeah..... Apples and oranges, but this is how the market stacks up these days on the entry level gravel bike end of things.

Image courtesy of TRP

Vistar/Classified Wireless Group Set Details Announced:

TRP sent out an email blast to its customer email list last week detailing its Vistar wireless group sets for gravel and road. Featuring wireless shifters and rear derailleur, the group is also paired with Classified's two speed internal geared rear hub. 

Users can leverage the TRP Vistar app to customize shifting, set up the system as a sequentially geared system, or use it manually as a 2 X 12/13. Cassettes are made from one block of metal and there are two ranges each for road and gravel to choose from. 

Comments: Since the system is app based, it probably will be upgradeable to future 13 and 14 speed systems. The Classified rear hub is kind of an acquired taste in that you need to buy into the limited range of Classified compatible wheel sets, although the choices are expanding all the time at this point. Still - none of your old wheel sets will work. Plus you have to buy a "Smart through axle" which acts as the receiver for the signal to make the rear internal gear switch. ($165.00) Plus a bar-end mounted controller unit as well. ($65.00)

If one could just use the system as a 1 X 12 and buy the derailleur, shifters, and controller unit, the price isn't so bad, but to get a two gear addition, equivalent to a front derailleur, which requires a special wheel and cassette? I still do not see the value in this way of doing things. 

NOTE: There is something you'll hear about next week which will really make Vistar/Classified look less attractive. Stay tuned.... 

Portrait of Charlie Farrow at Trans Iowa by Michael Roe

Tailwinds To Mr. Farrow On His Tour Divide Attempt:

Tour Divide starts today and one of the participants in this year's running is Charlie Farrow of Duluth, Minnesota.

You may not know Charlie, and I don't blame you. I know him from his participation in Trans Iowa for several years. Charlie has forged a legendary status just within the confines of Trans Iowa, but there is so much more to the man. Most people are completely unaware of his feats of cycling endurance. I wrote a bit about Charlie specifically in my Trans Iowa Stories series. This post gives you a taste of what Charlie's legacy is, and his story is still being written. 

As with many great figures in sports and elsewhere, Charlie Farrow would not like this being said of him. He would pass it off as his being just a guy living his life, most likely, if I know him at all. In my opinion, Charlie is a "cycling renaissance man", eschewing the electronic gadgets, latest gear, and instead he does things in his own, unique way. For instance, Charlie never used a cell phone during Trans Iowa, even though it was required equipment. Once, during Trans Iowa v8, he was so lost he had to wait until he reached a small town to use a phone so he could call me to get directions from where he was back to the course.

I have been told by my friend Ari Andonopoulos, a good friend of Charlie's, about Charlie's Summer rides where he takes off, with out connections to the World other than a sending of a post card occasionally from his route as he piled on the miles. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Charlie does Tour Divide without a GPS tracker and no cell phone. It's just the way he rolls.

Tailwinds, Charlie! I hope you reach your goal!

That's a wrap for this week! Get out there and ride those bicycles!
 

Friday News And Views

The new Surly Moonlander (Image found on various Internet sites)

A 'Fat' Friday News And Views

Surly's New Fat Bike:

Last week I found an image of an information card featuring a 24" X 6.2" wheel and tire combo called the Clown Royal and Molenda respectively. I posted the image I found on "X" (Twitter) and then was contacted via Facebook messenger about the wheel/tire combo and I was told the wheel and tire combo was real. It was coming on a new Surly fat bike to be introduced in about a month. Guess a 'month' was a few 'days' in reality!

Tuesday I found a Bike Radar story featuring the same and this bike is the new Moonlander which has a Pinion gearbox. The bike features the 9 speed Pinion gearbox located where the bottom bracket on a typical frame would be. This 9 speed gearbox allows for a single speed external, 1 to 1 ratio drive train set up. (Other sizes for the drive ring could be utilized as well) The bike does not have wider axle or bottom bracket standards (with a twist, you'll learn in a bit) and can also accept 26" X 5.1" tires, 27.5" X 4.8", or 29" X 3.0" tires. 

Image first posted by fatbike.com

Surly went with a compact triangle on this bike eschewing the huge frame bag idea in favor of a bike that can be mounted and dismounted more easily.  The bottom bracket is high to allow for more clearance over uneven or deep terrain. The rear end is extended to better center the rider's weight over both tires. This is a flotation bike, of course, so that all makes 100% sense. Perhaps more surprising than the wheels is that the front axle is also spaced at 197mm like the rear end.

There is a bunch of accessory mounts, as one might expect, and the bike comes in four sizes, Small, Medium, Large, and XL. The bike is priced at $4,199.99 and there is only one spec level. Steel frame, natch! There is a rack sold separately that fits this bike.

(L-R) Molenda and Bud.  Image courtesy of Surly

Comments: Wow! This is likely the most unexpected fat bike innovation yet. People have been dreaming of super-fat tires for years. Is this the way to go? While I have not seen all the dimensions given for this wheel, the overall diameter is  31" (according to this detailed and fair review by Neil Beltchenko on Bikepacking.com) Surly couldn't have used 26" or larger diameter compatible wheels because the weight and the height of those wheels would have limited the bike's appeal and fit for smaller folks. Besides, when it comes to flotation, contact patch is what it all is about. 

And that really is what this bike is all about - Flotation. Unless you are trying to ride deep sand, loose snow, or mud, (or other unrideable loose, deep grounds), this bike is not going to be all that fun to ride. (See linked review above for confirmation of this) I suppose you could build up a wheel set with 29 X 3's, but why? That kind of defeats the whole idea behind this bike, which is to go where no other bike can go. That Pinion box and single speed drive train set up add to the off limits versatility. That said, you have a rear derailleur hangar there as well.

Cool rig. Expensive, but probably not out of line seeing that these tires and wheels have to be pretty expensive on their own due to low production numbers. That and the gearbox drive the price on this. I don't need it as I have my flotation covered with the Blackborow DS and it's 4.8" tires (although I could put 5.1"ers on it). Also, did Neil say the bike he reviewed had TPU tubes in it? What?!!

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Salsa Shows New Colors/Spec For 2024/25 Fat Bikes:

Salsa Cycles showed a pared down offering of fat bikes for 2024/2025 in their Beargrease and Heyday ranges. (Heyday used to be Mukluk)

Both the Beargrease and Heyday are now only available in two specs and colors. There are frame/fork only options as well. Heyday is a 26" wheeled bike and the Beargrease is optimized for 27.5" fat bike wheels. 

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

Comments: The interesting thing here is the usage of Shimano CUES on one spec level each for Beargrease and Heyday. CUES, as you might recall, is Shimano's new system for drive trains from 9 speed to 11 speed with all components swappable. CUES does have its own pull ratio in the shifters and cassette spacing is different so it cannot be mixed and matched with other current Shimano groups. 

While Salsa did not provide pricing at the release of this information it is assumed that CUES is a more budget friendly drive train, so the interest is high in it. However; there are some claims by mechanics that the quality level is somewhat concerning. So, it will be interesting to see how this goes over on a fat bike with a carbon fiber frame and fork. 

Image courtesy of CUBE Bikes

Shimano CUES To Come To Drop Bar Bikes In 2025:

Speaking of CUES, it was revealed on Wednesday that CUBE, a European brand, has a bike for 2025 showing CUES drop bar levers. The bike, called the Nuroad Pro, comes in at $1,325.00 in US dollars at current exchange rates. 

Comments: This is a big deal for budget bikes and people who are looking for super-wide range gearing on drop bar bikes outside of SRAM and the lesser component makers. That is because CUES drop bar levers (Shimano part #ST-U6030) will be using the same cable pull ratio as CUES flat bar levers making all Shimano CUES rear derailleurs and cassettes fair game to use with these drop bar levers. Looking at CUBE's renderings, it appears that the CUES left lever can operate a front derailleur as well. 

Furthermore; CUES drop bar levers are hydraulic, meaning that savvy mechanics could graft in any Shimano brake caliper so these brake levers could operate post mount calipers on a MTB, for instance. CUBE's spec on the Nuroad shows flat mount calipers.

I suspect CUES will gain a lot of spec on OE bikes coming out in 2025 due to CUES being available in 11 speed. However; 10spd and 9spd set ups will surely be on more budget priced bikes as well. This represents some pretty exciting possibilities here for gearing coming our way. Look for the CUES drop bar levers to appear for sale here in early 2025.

You Know What They Say About "Assume"?

 Recently a discussion found on Facebook between some local (to me) cyclists raised concerns over group ride etiquette and communication in particular. It seems to me that an air of arrogance mixed in with lack of communication skills is combining to be a gate-keep for newer folks to the groups. 

Now, I don't mean to speak for everyone, but I have seen similar issues arise in other places. N.Y. Roll and I thought the issue was important enough that we did a podcast episode on this subject HERE. We got so much feedback on this subject we followed it up with another episode HERE.

It is hard to be welcoming, and you have to work at it to get good at doing the things which, hopefully, become natural after a while. Too many times riders get caught up in being comfortable with their group and lose the ability to see how others that may want to join a group ride need detailed communication and even some training. It may seem tedious and so simple that "anyone should know this", but remember - there was a time you did not know what you now take for granted. 

It is easy to fall into the trap of pushing off the need for a welcoming, kind, and patient attitude when all those communicative and knowledge based things you take for granted are assumed to be "easy" for others to pick up on. News flash: It isn't easy or natural for new riders to understand these things. 

Yes, it may seem ignorant to you if someone leaves for a ride without an air pump or a tube, or that they do not understand what a "drop ride" is. It doesn't matter what you may assume to be "common knowledge" if a rider gets left behind, gets discouraged, and ends up leaving cycling because the group neglected to be welcoming, communicative, and a leader in passing on knowledge. I know. I was "that guy" that was left behind once, and I recall how that made me feel, and I will never forget the person that came back, encouraged me, and rode me back on the group again.

We can all do better....

That's it for this week! Have a great weekend and ride those bicycles!

Trans Iowa Stories: It Was The Third - But It Was The First

An old iron bridge over the Volga River which I reconned for the Trans Iowa v3 route

"Trans Iowa Stories" is an every Sunday post which helps tell the stories behind the event. You can check out other posts about this subject by going back to earlier Sunday posts on this blog. Thanks and enjoy!

 The Trans Iowa v3 story, from my viewpoint, transitioned Trans Iowa as the event it would be until the end. In that sense, T.I.v3 was the first, or maybe a prototype, of what was to come for the next eleven years for the event, and for me.

Since Jeff was obviously leaving- eventually- I was going to be doing everything on my own by 2007. Well, not quite everything. There was one thing I thought I was going to be getting help with, and that was the cue sheet checking and printing. Now, originally, my understanding was that Jeff and I would run the course to double check the cues before the event. I kept hoping that would happen, but as the event drew nearer, it was increasingly clear that Jeff wasn't going to be able to do that. Then I thought he might actually double check the cues against a map, but he didn't, and he simply printed them, left them to me at the shop, and that was his last direct effort in putting on a Trans Iowa. I did ask him in subsequent years to do the graphics for the header on the site. So, in that way Jeff was a part of Trans Iowa up through T.I.v9, after which I took over the designing of the headers.

Anyway, the cues. Well, I had a "last chance" to check the cues the weekend before Trans Iowa. I didn't get very far. Several miles outside of Decorah, in the rambling hills of Northeast Iowa, I became panicked. I pretty much lost it, because the cues were completely off and unusable. Due to an early mistake which compounded itself further into the cues, the mileages were unreliable and several turns were incorrect. I was going to have to scrap this cue set and start completely from scratch with six days to go before Trans Iowa v3.

I had last minute details to attend to besides this. Prizing, number plates, volunteers, organizing the finish line, detailing events for the pre-race event, post race events, and communicating with racers. Top it all off with Zach Dundas' requests, my family's demands on my time, and working at the bike shop, and well...... How I ever got through that week I haven't a clue.

T.I.v3 complete cue set. (Image courtesy of Cale Wenthur)

First, I rushed home with the correct information in hand and a plan. I rewrote the cues immediately after getting home, and then every evening I stayed up late printing the cues for three straight days. I used a home printer that could do maybe 30 sheets at a crack, and ink cartridges were dying at an alarming rate. I had to go out and buy them two times. Paper was another thing I had to purchase. Then they all had to be cut and bagged by hand with scissors and using sandwich baggies.

I would be up until 1-2am doing this, then getting the cues organized took a bunch of time. Finally, on Thursday, I had that all redone and my family, including my six year old daughter and three year old son, stuffed race bags, and placed everything in boxes and tubs for transport the following day.

It was a big relief to have those cues finished, obviously, but I was also worried to death something later into the course might still be off since I had no chances to recon that against the cue sheets. The other thing was that this cue sheet crisis caused me to worry less about the "other stuff". I just didn't have the time to worry about anything else. But the energy expended to get the extra work done on top of being the only mechanic at the shop during a busy Spring made my wife unhappy. She could see what this event was doing to me, and she didn't particularly like it. Keep in mind that the previous two Trans Iowas were half as much worry and work for me. Now it was all on my shoulders.

Also, interestingly enough, we never made any "big announcements" that Jeff wouldn't be there, or that he was no longer helping to put on the event. We never even thought about doing that. It just evolved and next thing ya know, it's a "Guitar Ted" deal. Jeff? Well, it was as if he had slipped out the back door. Even Zach Dundas, in his excellent write up on Trans Iowa in the book, "The Renegade Sportsman", never brought Jeff's involvement in the event into the story. It was portrayed as if I was the only guy behind it. And at the time of the eve of T.I.v3, that was true.

And I didn't even have time to think about that. I just dove straight in, because what else could I have done? I felt like I had just dodged a huge bullet in getting the cue sheet debacle taken care of, and with no time to catch my breath, I was headed to Decorah to do things I had never done before on my own.

Next: The surreal set up and anger at being stiffed.

Analog Navigation

 In celebration of the twentieth year of this blog, I have a few tales to tell. This post is one of them. This series will occur off and on throughout this anniversary year, I hope to illuminate some behind-the-scenes stories and highlights from the blog during this time. Enjoy!

 In speaking with Ari a couple weeks ago (and featured in the podcast I did with him), the subject of cue sheet navigation was brought up. I was reminded how most riders do not understand the impact of cue sheets on events and what a different challenge that can be for the riders. Also, with this blog often serving as the "long-form" explainer for Trans Iowa related issues and topics, the cue sheet idea has bearing on the history of this blog. 

A typical Trans Iowa cue sheet

Now, maybe you are reading this and you don't know what a "cue sheet" is. Maybe you do know what they are, but have never ridden an event using them. Let me tell you, these things can really be a difference maker. 

We use to use cue sheets because when we started gravel events there were no GPS cycling computers. None. 

Imagine this if you can!

So, to send someone out on a course with no markings, (I know! Another nearly unfathomable thing for some folks), we had to give riders 'directions'. You can think of cue sheets as "riding directions" which you must follow to stay on course. 

Using cues meant that you had to do several things. One: You had to be able to read the cues. This may seem obvious, but think about it: How do you read a cue sheet while riding? You must consider several things. First, you have to have something to hold the cues with. Make sure the wind and the bumping around doesn't knock them off your bike! How do you move from one cue page to another? How can you see a cue sheet - either with poor vision or at night? Almost none of this is necessary for using GPS navigation these days. 

Next, you need to pay more attention to your mileage, sight cues, and the cue sheet! Again, with modern GPS you simply listen for the audible prompt and check the arrow to see which way to turn. You don't read signs, landmarks, or mileage on a computer or cue. Simple. Faster. Easier. 

Cues had their own "language" which varied from event to event. There was no real "standard" unless you were using "tulip" style cues which a lot of events were using back then. To my knowledge Trans Iowa was one of the only events to use strictly alphanumerical cues. You had to read them, as there were no symbols used besides the occasional "arrow". This put a premium on "paying attention" to not only the cues, but your surroundings. 

I could give a long dissertation here on why I think cue sheets are a good idea for events, but I'll just say here that the whole "paying attention" thing was the reason I made a  deliberate and intentional move to include as much "vagueness" in my cues as I could while still providing the clearest directions I could possibly give. 

For instance, I quit giving information as to where you were in a city, town, or village, as that should have been readily apparent to the rider if they were observant. Only in the case of crossing highways and County blacktops did I give any warning ahead of getting there.That was a safety concern. 

Anyway, getting back to the blog, I had to use "Guitar Ted Productions" as a means to give long-form explainers for cue sheets, and this became even more necessary as time went on as more and more I found new riders to be unfamiliar with the cue sheet navigation idea. As an example, you can read THIS POST from 2017 where I went into great detail about how the cues were to be used for Trans Iowa v`13.

I did this to not only inform the riders of Trans Iowa, but to keep the formatting of the Trans Iowa site in its mostly unmolested form which Jeff Kerkove set up in late 2004. I think, and have always thought this, that the OG Trans Iowa blog page is a treasure to be archived and curated so that anyone curious about how things got started could maybe get a feel for the event through that page. Especially the rules which were copied outright or borrowed heavily from by a LOT of following gravel events. 

So, in a way, I leveraged this blog to be what maybe should always have been on an event site, but now you know why I never considered that as an option.