Bonus Post- About That Bike

Hold on just a minute..... What about this bike?

Earlier on Saturday my usual "Minus Ten Review" post went up and I posted an image of Ben Witt's 36"er he lent me for a few months. I got a message from N.Y. Roll that asked for more information, so this is what this post is about. What I know about this bike. Maybe you wanted more about it as well? Hope so, but if not, pass on by....

Okay, so the first thing you need to know about Ben Witt is that he is a thinker, tinkerer, and loves mechanical things like bicycles, motorcycles, and cars. His father, Mark, runs an auto repair shop in Northfield, Minnesota, so Ben has been around this stuff all his life.

I came to know Ben when he got a hold of me to take a look at a 29"er design he helped develop back when he was the owner of Milltown Cycles in Faribault, Minnesota. Ben spent a lot of time working up ideas on BikeCad, a design program on the internet that allowed you to make drawings which could then be used to fabricate a bicycle frame and fork. Ben was aware of a local to him frame maker, Mike Pofahl, and Ben has had several designs brazed up by Mike over the years, including my Pofahl Special gravel grinder.

The very same 36"er as above, only in its unpainted state, next to a 2007 Salsa El Mariachi 29"er. Image by Ben Witt

Ben sent me an image one day and he was telling me about this 36" wheeled bike he was having built. The image was a BikeCad drawing and Ben shared a lot of his development thoughts which we discussed as his project went along. Now before I get to the story proper, there are a couple of things you need to know about 36 inch wheeled bicycles circa 2006-2007.

Other than a novelty cruiser built by the Coker brand, there were no 36'ers, and most definitely no "serious" 36"er bikes for gravel or dirt. 36" wheels existed mostly for unicycles. See, unicycles rely on wheel size for their "gear", just like the old time high wheeler bikes did. The taller the wheel, the faster potential speed the bike, or unicycle had. With the development of the chain for tricycles in the late 19th Century, the mechanical advantage of multiple cogs and wheel size was employed to make the basic bicycle as we know it today. So, anyway, 36 inch wheels were a unicycle thing.

Spokes, rims, and tires for 36" wheeled unicycles in 2007 were pretty crude. The tires, with a thick casing and thick, smooth rubber tread, were not conducive to any potential successful, or fun, single track activity. So, Ben got a tread cutter, similar to what a moto-cross racer would use to trim knobs on tires, and he cut his own tread pattern into the stock unicycle tires. Wheels were laced, the frame and fork was brazed by Mike Pofahl, and Ben supplied the other components. By Frostbike 2006 the beast was rideable and I rode it at Frostbike for the first time then.

Originally, the frame and fork were bare steel. Ben wasn't sure the wheels would hold up under the pressures of disc braking, and the fork, which placed the back of the front tire precariously close to the down tube, might flex enough to actually contact it. So, I am not sure the bike was considered a "mountain bike", but it was really fun to ride and the potential for what could be was certainly opened up for discussion.

Eventually Ben had another, improved 36"er built. By this time folks were catching on to the idea, and several other 36"ers started popping up. It wasn't like hundreds of them were being made, but a few here and there. The OG 36"er got painted and Ben lent it to me for a time, which is what the previous "Minus Ten" post was mentioning. I'm not sure what happened to it, but I know Ben was pursuing the sale of it at one time.

And that's what I know about that bike.....

Bonus Post- About That Bike

Hold on just a minute..... What about this bike?

Earlier on Saturday my usual "Minus Ten Review" post went up and I posted an image of Ben Witt's 36"er he lent me for a few months. I got a message from N.Y. Roll that asked for more information, so this is what this post is about. What I know about this bike. Maybe you wanted more about it as well? Hope so, but if not, pass on by....

Okay, so the first thing you need to know about Ben Witt is that he is a thinker, tinkerer, and loves mechanical things like bicycles, motorcycles, and cars. His father, Mark, runs an auto repair shop in Northfield, Minnesota, so Ben has been around this stuff all his life.

I came to know Ben when he got a hold of me to take a look at a 29"er design he helped develop back when he was the owner of Milltown Cycles in Faribault, Minnesota. Ben spent a lot of time working up ideas on BikeCad, a design program on the internet that allowed you to make drawings which could then be used to fabricate a bicycle frame and fork. Ben was aware of a local to him frame maker, Mike Pofahl, and Ben has had several designs brazed up by Mike over the years, including my Pofahl Special gravel grinder.

The very same 36"er as above, only in its unpainted state, next to a 2007 Salsa El Mariachi 29"er. Image by Ben Witt

Ben sent me an image one day and he was telling me about this 36" wheeled bike he was having built. The image was a BikeCad drawing and Ben shared a lot of his development thoughts which we discussed as his project went along. Now before I get to the story proper, there are a couple of things you need to know about 36 inch wheeled bicycles circa 2006-2007.

Other than a novelty cruiser built by the Coker brand, there were no 36'ers, and most definitely no "serious" 36"er bikes for gravel or dirt. 36" wheels existed mostly for unicycles. See, unicycles rely on wheel size for their "gear", just like the old time high wheeler bikes did. The taller the wheel, the faster potential speed the bike, or unicycle had. With the development of the chain for tricycles in the late 19th Century, the mechanical advantage of multiple cogs and wheel size was employed to make the basic bicycle as we know it today. So, anyway, 36 inch wheels were a unicycle thing.

Spokes, rims, and tires for 36" wheeled unicycles in 2007 were pretty crude. The tires, with a thick casing and thick, smooth rubber tread, were not conducive to any potential successful, or fun, single track activity. So, Ben got a tread cutter, similar to what a moto-cross racer would use to trim knobs on tires, and he cut his own tread pattern into the stock unicycle tires. Wheels were laced, the frame and fork was brazed by Mike Pofahl, and Ben supplied the other components. By Frostbike 2006 the beast was rideable and I rode it at Frostbike for the first time then.

Originally, the frame and fork were bare steel. Ben wasn't sure the wheels would hold up under the pressures of disc braking, and the fork, which placed the back of the front tire precariously close to the down tube, might flex enough to actually contact it. So, I am not sure the bike was considered a "mountain bike", but it was really fun to ride and the potential for what could be was certainly opened up for discussion.

Eventually Ben had another, improved 36"er built. By this time folks were catching on to the idea, and several other 36"ers started popping up. It wasn't like hundreds of them were being made, but a few here and there. The OG 36"er got painted and Ben lent it to me for a time, which is what the previous "Minus Ten" post was mentioning. I'm not sure what happened to it, but I know Ben was pursuing the sale of it at one time.

And that's what I know about that bike.....

Minus Ten Review 2009-17

Ben Witt's first 36"er. The first one I ever saw or rode. I actually had this a while.

Ten years ago this week I bet you can't guess what I was up to my ears in. Go ahead......guess. I know that you know the answer.

That's right, it was Trans Iowa time, all the time, for the whole week. Well, almost the whole week. I did have a couple of diversions including getting Ben Witt's first 36"er that he had made by Mike Pofahl, the frame builder from Northfield Minnesota.

But it was definitely mostly about Trans Iowa. T.I.v5, to be exact. I was detailing the fact that we had several drop outs from the roster. Not that it was unexpected. It happened every year. I was also enlightened to find out that the drop out tradition has continued with the inaugural Iowa Wind And Rock. They had 71 on their roster, apparently, the day of the pre-race, and started 57. Damn droppers. I know the IW&R folks never said anything negative about this, but that had to chap their hides a bit. And really, it is completely unnecessary and totally unfair to the organizers to just not bother showing up for an event when the organizers have busted their asses for the riders.

Here's what I said ten years ago:

"Anyway, I see we are down to 59 riders as of today. I have said all along that just above 50 is where I'd expect the roster to get to before the start. With the expected "few" no-shows, this is a stone cold lock now. We may even get below 50, which would be dipping into record low numbers for a T.I.

Does that matter? Not to me. I don't measure the success or failure of T.I. by numbers. If the event comes off safely, and folks get some satisfaction from the challenge, then that is all that really matters in the end"

I'm willing to bet that the IW&R folks also really care about the same things more than folks not showing up, but still- shame on you folks if you just didn't show up without warning. Of course, I can say that now, because I am not running that event, but I know exactly how it feels to be on the end of the stick IW&R is, and it sucks when you just don't bother to be a responsible adult and you just don't show without warning. Trust me. 

Anyway, I'll have more to say about this when I get to my "Trans Iowa Stories" series here on the blog. Stay tuned for that.

Minus Ten Review 2009-17

Ben Witt's first 36"er. The first one I ever saw or rode. I actually had this a while.

Ten years ago this week I bet you can't guess what I was up to my ears in. Go ahead......guess. I know that you know the answer.

That's right, it was Trans Iowa time, all the time, for the whole week. Well, almost the whole week. I did have a couple of diversions including getting Ben Witt's first 36"er that he had made by Mike Pofahl, the frame builder from Northfield Minnesota.

But it was definitely mostly about Trans Iowa. T.I.v5, to be exact. I was detailing the fact that we had several drop outs from the roster. Not that it was unexpected. It happened every year. I was also enlightened to find out that the drop out tradition has continued with the inaugural Iowa Wind And Rock. They had 71 on their roster, apparently, the day of the pre-race, and started 57. Damn droppers. I know the IW&R folks never said anything negative about this, but that had to chap their hides a bit. And really, it is completely unnecessary and totally unfair to the organizers to just not bother showing up for an event when the organizers have busted their asses for the riders.

Here's what I said ten years ago:

"Anyway, I see we are down to 59 riders as of today. I have said all along that just above 50 is where I'd expect the roster to get to before the start. With the expected "few" no-shows, this is a stone cold lock now. We may even get below 50, which would be dipping into record low numbers for a T.I.

Does that matter? Not to me. I don't measure the success or failure of T.I. by numbers. If the event comes off safely, and folks get some satisfaction from the challenge, then that is all that really matters in the end"

I'm willing to bet that the IW&R folks also really care about the same things more than folks not showing up, but still- shame on you folks if you just didn't show up without warning. Of course, I can say that now, because I am not running that event, but I know exactly how it feels to be on the end of the stick IW&R is, and it sucks when you just don't bother to be a responsible adult and you just don't show without warning. Trust me. 

Anyway, I'll have more to say about this when I get to my "Trans Iowa Stories" series here on the blog. Stay tuned for that.

Friday News And Views

PBO spokes on the Spinergy GX wheels are.......different.

Non-Metallic Wonders:

Many times we assume certain things are always going to be a certain way. The Sun is coming up tomorrow, you will pay taxes, and some day you will die. Pretty sure bets. But sometimes we think things are going to always be a certain way......until they aren't. 

Such were my thoughts about spokes early into my mechanic career. Steel is what spokes are made of. Why wouldn't they be? They are about perfect for the job at hand, and if things are designed and assembled correctly, they can last the lifetime of a bicycle. Then someone made spokes out of titanium. Hmm.......that wasn't as good. Then someone made spokes out of carbon fiber. Yeah...... Not so much. Then someone made spokes out of aluminum, and you know what? That works, but they are odd and not common. Then I saw PBO spokes in the late 90's. What the what? Yep- fiber based spokes. Okay, well Tioga did that tension disc thingie, maybe there is something to this too.....

So, anyway, I have these wheels from Spinergy with the PBO spokes to review for RidingGravel.com and I have to say that yes- there is something to this. But anytime you are going up against a widely accepted and proven technology, the question that begs to be asked is "why go a different direction?" It's a fair question to ask about the PBO spokes too. I will have to ride these quite a bit more to answer that question, but to my mind it's going to take a pretty substantial benefit to beat steel spokes. We'll see.......

Colored treads......again.

Panaracer Does Colored Treads And New Sealant:

I remember colored rubber tires when I was a kid. Then that disappeared and came back again in the late 70's/early 80's with BMX. Then it kind of went away again until the 1990's when colors popped up on Michelin MTB tires, some other barnds too, and then it went away again. Urban fixie riding had a dalliance with colored tires. Schwalbe kind of dabbled in it for a while. Then nothing again....Until now.....

Panaracer has revived colored rubber tires in its Gravel King series, (what else would it be!) and they just announced three more limited edition tires. I maybe can see myself riding the Ivory colored tires, but the other two colors are.....not for me. I actually really like Gravel King SK's and recommend them often to those who ask me. But the colored ones, not so much. That said, there is a Gravel King SK tire I have my eyes on, but it isn't a skinny one!

Panaracer sealant, yada,yada,yada....Look at the tire!

In an image sent to me in a press release about Panaracer's new sealant with Walnut shell chunks in it, (really!), I saw a tire I am interested in. The 700 X 50mm Gravel King SK skin wall tire. Yes! I like that idea a lot.

See, it is about time to switch up tires on the old Fargo, and I've been wanting something 50-ish wide and the Gravel King SK 700 X 50mm tire seems about right for the job. That it could be skin wall is even better. Maybe I might even try that new fangled walnut shell infused sealant of Panaracer's as well. We'll see, because I make my own sealant which has never been a problem for me, and there are other killer sealants on the market also. (I recommend Orange Seal and the Muc Off sealant) So, Panaracer has some high hurdles in the sealant game to leap over before I would be impressed. But they do make a good tire, and the Gravel King is about as good as there is for gravel travel out there. So, this 50mm one has my eye. Stay tuned.....

The press release said something about a more puncture resistant Gravel King and that 650B sizes were available. I could see a 650B X 50mm tire on a couple of my rigs at times. I'll have to look into that as well. I know Donnelly does a 650B X 50mm MSO, but it is black wall. I know........picky, picky, picky! 

Saturday snow in late April? Yep.

 Just When You Thought Winter Was Gone:

Well, that's a slap in the face! Last weekend it got up into the high 80's both days. Sure, it was windy as all get out, but it was so warm. Not at all humid either. Just glorious. Now a week later, the bill comes due.

 That bill is in the form of much colder weather, snow in some places, and rain everywhere else. Temperatures for highs Saturday will hover around the 40's in most places in the state. 50's if you are lucky. Then Saturday night/Sunday morning it is going to freeze. Like really freeze!

But I gotta be honest, this freeze is not at all unusual. I think for at least the last few Trans Iowas, and I know many of them, it has been under 32° at some point during the night Saturday or early Sunday morning. So, a sub-freezing night at this time of year is nothing new. But snow is odd, and rainy weather plus sub-freezing temperatures makes for a bone chilling weather pattern. Break out the thermal tights! (Where did I put those again?)

That is a wrap for this week. Hope that you get out and ride some. I'm going to try to get out at some point.

Friday News And Views

PBO spokes on the Spinergy GX wheels are.......different.

Non-Metallic Wonders:

Many times we assume certain things are always going to be a certain way. The Sun is coming up tomorrow, you will pay taxes, and some day you will die. Pretty sure bets. But sometimes we think things are going to always be a certain way......until they aren't. 

Such were my thoughts about spokes early into my mechanic career. Steel is what spokes are made of. Why wouldn't they be? They are about perfect for the job at hand, and if things are designed and assembled correctly, they can last the lifetime of a bicycle. Then someone made spokes out of titanium. Hmm.......that wasn't as good. Then someone made spokes out of carbon fiber. Yeah...... Not so much. Then someone made spokes out of aluminum, and you know what? That works, but they are odd and not common. Then I saw PBO spokes in the late 90's. What the what? Yep- fiber based spokes. Okay, well Tioga did that tension disc thingie, maybe there is something to this too.....

So, anyway, I have these wheels from Spinergy with the PBO spokes to review for RidingGravel.com and I have to say that yes- there is something to this. But anytime you are going up against a widely accepted and proven technology, the question that begs to be asked is "why go a different direction?" It's a fair question to ask about the PBO spokes too. I will have to ride these quite a bit more to answer that question, but to my mind it's going to take a pretty substantial benefit to beat steel spokes. We'll see.......

Colored treads......again.

Panaracer Does Colored Treads And New Sealant:

I remember colored rubber tires when I was a kid. Then that disappeared and came back again in the late 70's/early 80's with BMX. Then it kind of went away again until the 1990's when colors popped up on Michelin MTB tires, some other barnds too, and then it went away again. Urban fixie riding had a dalliance with colored tires. Schwalbe kind of dabbled in it for a while. Then nothing again....Until now.....

Panaracer has revived colored rubber tires in its Gravel King series, (what else would it be!) and they just announced three more limited edition tires. I maybe can see myself riding the Ivory colored tires, but the other two colors are.....not for me. I actually really like Gravel King SK's and recommend them often to those who ask me. But the colored ones, not so much. That said, there is a Gravel King SK tire I have my eyes on, but it isn't a skinny one!

Panaracer sealant, yada,yada,yada....Look at the tire!

In an image sent to me in a press release about Panaracer's new sealant with Walnut shell chunks in it, (really!), I saw a tire I am interested in. The 700 X 50mm Gravel King SK skin wall tire. Yes! I like that idea a lot.

See, it is about time to switch up tires on the old Fargo, and I've been wanting something 50-ish wide and the Gravel King SK 700 X 50mm tire seems about right for the job. That it could be skin wall is even better. Maybe I might even try that new fangled walnut shell infused sealant of Panaracer's as well. We'll see, because I make my own sealant which has never been a problem for me, and there are other killer sealants on the market also. (I recommend Orange Seal and the Muc Off sealant) So, Panaracer has some high hurdles in the sealant game to leap over before I would be impressed. But they do make a good tire, and the Gravel King is about as good as there is for gravel travel out there. So, this 50mm one has my eye. Stay tuned.....

The press release said something about a more puncture resistant Gravel King and that 650B sizes were available. I could see a 650B X 50mm tire on a couple of my rigs at times. I'll have to look into that as well. I know Donnelly does a 650B X 50mm MSO, but it is black wall. I know........picky, picky, picky! 

Saturday snow in late April? Yep.

 Just When You Thought Winter Was Gone:

Well, that's a slap in the face! Last weekend it got up into the high 80's both days. Sure, it was windy as all get out, but it was so warm. Not at all humid either. Just glorious. Now a week later, the bill comes due.

 That bill is in the form of much colder weather, snow in some places, and rain everywhere else. Temperatures for highs Saturday will hover around the 40's in most places in the state. 50's if you are lucky. Then Saturday night/Sunday morning it is going to freeze. Like really freeze!

But I gotta be honest, this freeze is not at all unusual. I think for at least the last few Trans Iowas, and I know many of them, it has been under 32° at some point during the night Saturday or early Sunday morning. So, a sub-freezing night at this time of year is nothing new. But snow is odd, and rainy weather plus sub-freezing temperatures makes for a bone chilling weather pattern. Break out the thermal tights! (Where did I put those again?)

That is a wrap for this week. Hope that you get out and ride some. I'm going to try to get out at some point.

Country Views: Planting Begins

Things are starting to look less dead and more orderly out in the country.

Wednesday was supposed to be "beautiful" according to the early weather reports last weekend. It wasn't "bad", but it wasn't "beautiful". Dreary? Yeah...... Cool-ish and gray.

The wind on Sunday, which was ridiculously strong and sent me packing, was there yesterday also but it was a mere breeze. Not the gale force blast that had me doing max effort going South. This was tolerable, if not a bit tough, and so my goal was to be met this time. That was to go down and see Petrie Road's Level B section for the first time this year.

The frost was long out, and the winds with little to no rains have left the roads very dried out, sandy, and deep. That was a good sign that Petrie's Level B might be rideable. But that dirt slot has its own mind and you just never know what you'll come across. I've seen water sitting on the roadway at the mid-section of that mile when it hasn't rained for weeks. So, just because everything else was dry didn't mean that Level B would be passable.

But as the saying goes, "You'll never know unless you try".

First check!

I got through the head wind, soft, sandy roads, and turned on to the Level B section. I crested a small hillock to see the above. Torn to hell by tractors and a mudpit waiting. But it looked like there was a way around it. While the dried tractor tire lug impressions made for a ride like a constant rumble strip, I was able to navigate that mess while riding. Not even a dab! I was stoked. Now up that sandy hill......

Checkmate!

That sand wasn't dry! It was saturated and I had to search for the best line I could. The skinny 40mm tires were doing the "pizza cutter" thing and resistance to forward movement was very high. Eventually, I cut too deep and came to a halt. That was as far as I could ride.

Fortunately I only had to hoof it about 20 yards and then I came out of that super saturated sandy bit to more solid footing. Back on the Bubblegum Princess and pedaling again. This time I made it to the top section. The highest point of that Level B, and where I generally stop to take in the surrounding view.

It's a pretty rare day that you don't see at least a little bit of water at the top of the ridge here.

After that visit I planned my descent into the valley and this is where I had to dismount twice more to navigate two stretches of just torn up, saturated, muddy ground. It was a mess, but there was a way to walk through it all. During this walkathon, I noted an ag machine spraying nitrogen fertilizer. It was travelling at a pretty good clip so he got three good looks at me as he made his rounds. He was probably freaking out about some crazy old looking dude on a pink bike passing down the dirt road. No doubt he thought I'd lost my marbles.

The big planting rigs have been busy already

I got out of that mess and headed back North again with the wind at my back. It was apparent that I had been working hard going South because going North was super easy. Fast even! Along the way I saw a lot of planted fields already and many farm machines were moving about the countryside.Planting of corn is well underway here, and I've no doubt the rest of the week will be similar in rural areas of Iowa with all sorts of machinery moving from field to field.

This is what most of the gravel is like now. Loose, sandy, and deep.

The messed up roads continued to dominate the scene with little to no solid ground to ride on. My bike was fishtailing and the front wheel was pushing sandy gravel all the way back to Waterloo.

I did see a road maintenance crew out consisting of a dump truck full of gravel and a grader machine. Both were busy dumping and smoothing out fresh gravel across the roads. So, either I was pushing through sandier, deep gravel or over chunky, fresh deep gravel. High resistance training! My legs were done by the end of the ride.

But I did get to ride, (kind of) Petrie Road's Level B section, so that was fun. I'm sure it will straighten up given time and better weather, which by the looks of things, isn't going to be for a while. It looks mostly cool, wet, and cloudy now through the end of the weekend. That actually might help straighten out the other roads though, which would be a very welcomed thing. It also would have made for an epic Trans Iowa, had I still been running that this year! They say my date for that always seemed to have the craziest weather.

Anyway..... This may slow down the planting season a bit, but I'd guess within the next two weeks it will be all over for corn. In the meantime, we should be on the lookout for big trucks, pick-up trucks, farm machinery, and county maintenance graders and dump trucks. Traffic is going to pick up for a bit out there!

Country Views: Planting Begins

Things are starting to look less dead and more orderly out in the country.

Wednesday was supposed to be "beautiful" according to the early weather reports last weekend. It wasn't "bad", but it wasn't "beautiful". Dreary? Yeah...... Cool-ish and gray.

The wind on Sunday, which was ridiculously strong and sent me packing, was there yesterday also but it was a mere breeze. Not the gale force blast that had me doing max effort going South. This was tolerable, if not a bit tough, and so my goal was to be met this time. That was to go down and see Petrie Road's Level B section for the first time this year.

The frost was long out, and the winds with little to no rains have left the roads very dried out, sandy, and deep. That was a good sign that Petrie's Level B might be rideable. But that dirt slot has its own mind and you just never know what you'll come across. I've seen water sitting on the roadway at the mid-section of that mile when it hasn't rained for weeks. So, just because everything else was dry didn't mean that Level B would be passable.

But as the saying goes, "You'll never know unless you try".

First check!

I got through the head wind, soft, sandy roads, and turned on to the Level B section. I crested a small hillock to see the above. Torn to hell by tractors and a mudpit waiting. But it looked like there was a way around it. While the dried tractor tire lug impressions made for a ride like a constant rumble strip, I was able to navigate that mess while riding. Not even a dab! I was stoked. Now up that sandy hill......

Checkmate!

That sand wasn't dry! It was saturated and I had to search for the best line I could. The skinny 40mm tires were doing the "pizza cutter" thing and resistance to forward movement was very high. Eventually, I cut too deep and came to a halt. That was as far as I could ride.

Fortunately I only had to hoof it about 20 yards and then I came out of that super saturated sandy bit to more solid footing. Back on the Bubblegum Princess and pedaling again. This time I made it to the top section. The highest point of that Level B, and where I generally stop to take in the surrounding view.

It's a pretty rare day that you don't see at least a little bit of water at the top of the ridge here.

After that visit I planned my descent into the valley and this is where I had to dismount twice more to navigate two stretches of just torn up, saturated, muddy ground. It was a mess, but there was a way to walk through it all. During this walkathon, I noted an ag machine spraying nitrogen fertilizer. It was travelling at a pretty good clip so he got three good looks at me as he made his rounds. He was probably freaking out about some crazy old looking dude on a pink bike passing down the dirt road. No doubt he thought I'd lost my marbles.

The big planting rigs have been busy already

I got out of that mess and headed back North again with the wind at my back. It was apparent that I had been working hard going South because going North was super easy. Fast even! Along the way I saw a lot of planted fields already and many farm machines were moving about the countryside.Planting of corn is well underway here, and I've no doubt the rest of the week will be similar in rural areas of Iowa with all sorts of machinery moving from field to field.

This is what most of the gravel is like now. Loose, sandy, and deep.

The messed up roads continued to dominate the scene with little to no solid ground to ride on. My bike was fishtailing and the front wheel was pushing sandy gravel all the way back to Waterloo.

I did see a road maintenance crew out consisting of a dump truck full of gravel and a grader machine. Both were busy dumping and smoothing out fresh gravel across the roads. So, either I was pushing through sandier, deep gravel or over chunky, fresh deep gravel. High resistance training! My legs were done by the end of the ride.

But I did get to ride, (kind of) Petrie Road's Level B section, so that was fun. I'm sure it will straighten up given time and better weather, which by the looks of things, isn't going to be for a while. It looks mostly cool, wet, and cloudy now through the end of the weekend. That actually might help straighten out the other roads though, which would be a very welcomed thing. It also would have made for an epic Trans Iowa, had I still been running that this year! They say my date for that always seemed to have the craziest weather.

Anyway..... This may slow down the planting season a bit, but I'd guess within the next two weeks it will be all over for corn. In the meantime, we should be on the lookout for big trucks, pick-up trucks, farm machinery, and county maintenance graders and dump trucks. Traffic is going to pick up for a bit out there!

Not A Normal Week

Defeated by a horrendous South Wind, but at least I was out riding Sunday.

It's been 15 years ago that I was in a position where April was......just another month. As you know, last year was the last Trans Iowa ever. (Maybe you didn't know that? Click here.) So this April has been quite a change for me personally. That said, it hasn't been without its reminders and odd feelings.

Of course, last weekend's Iowa Wind and Rock event was something that was a big event for me. It was kind of a moment of closure for me, personally, and as I watched the event from afar via social media, it was a reminder of the days when I was out there running around for the weekend running an event. In one sense I missed it, mostly the people really, and hanging out in weird places in the rural countryside. Then there were things I remembered and I won't miss at all.

But in another sense Iowa Wind and Rock, falling at a time when I never would have run Trans Iowa, felt, well....... I'm not sure how to put it. The thing is, this week, leading into the final weekend of April, is what is ingrained in my psyche as "Trans Iowa crunch time". So much so that, for no apparent reason, I haven't been able to sleep well this week. My mind is racing, but there is nothing pressing. Normally there would be. I think I've been kick started into "Trans Iowa mode" by last weekend's event and other influences, which are there, but perhaps more subtle.

I liken it to back when I wasn't playing junior high and high school football anymore. I remember every August for several years in my 20's smelling the humid grass, feeling the heat, and the way the light of day was. It was reminding me it was time for football training. But I wasn't a football player anymore. In that same manner, the warbling song of the Robins in the morning, the greening of the grass, the tulips blooming, they all remind me that it is Trans Iowa time. Only I don't do that anymore. Yeah......but my subconscious still thinks I am, I guess. Does that make any sense? Dunno......

I went out for a ride Sunday with no other aim but to get a ride in. I wasn't trying to escape Trans Iowa madness. I was just riding a bicycle. It was liberating. So, it hasn't all been haunting memories and intuitive reactions to an event that isn't there anymore. I looked at my foyer the other day, which at this time of year would be piled high with a stack of boxes and storage tubs readied for a Trans Iowa. That stuff wasn't there. I smiled. One less burden to bear. I've been hanging out with my family more this month. In fact, we spent a good couple of hours just sitting with each other just before I wrote this post. That would NOT have happened if there were a T.I.v15 to worry about.

So, it's been a weird month, a really odd week, and I suspect Saturday and Sunday this weekend will be really weird. In good and bad ways. One thing I know- I'll be doing something for the first time in over 15 years Sunday as I play my guitar in the church band.

Strange days indeed.

Not A Normal Week

Defeated by a horrendous South Wind, but at least I was out riding Sunday.

It's been 15 years ago that I was in a position where April was......just another month. As you know, last year was the last Trans Iowa ever. (Maybe you didn't know that? Click here.) So this April has been quite a change for me personally. That said, it hasn't been without its reminders and odd feelings.

Of course, last weekend's Iowa Wind and Rock event was something that was a big event for me. It was kind of a moment of closure for me, personally, and as I watched the event from afar via social media, it was a reminder of the days when I was out there running around for the weekend running an event. In one sense I missed it, mostly the people really, and hanging out in weird places in the rural countryside. Then there were things I remembered and I won't miss at all.

But in another sense Iowa Wind and Rock, falling at a time when I never would have run Trans Iowa, felt, well....... I'm not sure how to put it. The thing is, this week, leading into the final weekend of April, is what is ingrained in my psyche as "Trans Iowa crunch time". So much so that, for no apparent reason, I haven't been able to sleep well this week. My mind is racing, but there is nothing pressing. Normally there would be. I think I've been kick started into "Trans Iowa mode" by last weekend's event and other influences, which are there, but perhaps more subtle.

I liken it to back when I wasn't playing junior high and high school football anymore. I remember every August for several years in my 20's smelling the humid grass, feeling the heat, and the way the light of day was. It was reminding me it was time for football training. But I wasn't a football player anymore. In that same manner, the warbling song of the Robins in the morning, the greening of the grass, the tulips blooming, they all remind me that it is Trans Iowa time. Only I don't do that anymore. Yeah......but my subconscious still thinks I am, I guess. Does that make any sense? Dunno......

I went out for a ride Sunday with no other aim but to get a ride in. I wasn't trying to escape Trans Iowa madness. I was just riding a bicycle. It was liberating. So, it hasn't all been haunting memories and intuitive reactions to an event that isn't there anymore. I looked at my foyer the other day, which at this time of year would be piled high with a stack of boxes and storage tubs readied for a Trans Iowa. That stuff wasn't there. I smiled. One less burden to bear. I've been hanging out with my family more this month. In fact, we spent a good couple of hours just sitting with each other just before I wrote this post. That would NOT have happened if there were a T.I.v15 to worry about.

So, it's been a weird month, a really odd week, and I suspect Saturday and Sunday this weekend will be really weird. In good and bad ways. One thing I know- I'll be doing something for the first time in over 15 years Sunday as I play my guitar in the church band.

Strange days indeed.

Gravel All The Things

Slap the word "gravel" on it, and you're good to go. Image by Grannygear

Bicycling was fun- then the bicycle industry got a hold of the activity. I tell, ya..... It's crazy now with the e-bikes and "gravel-all-the-things" mentality. It would seem that marketing speak would be something that most folks would have a good sense of rejection for. You know- the ol' "BS" meter kicks in and you just toss that out with the other 9,000 tons of informational garbage that is hitting your brain everyday. However; I am afraid that I have heard evidence that some of this polished up tripe is actually sticking. People are believing the hype.

I remember ten years ago when I was thinking about building a custom gravel bike. Some tool a bit sharper for the job. But that said, I had been having a blast on a 2003 Karate Monkey on gravel for years up to that point. I had a Fargo 29"er, which I still have, that is my all-time favorite gravel sled. You don't need a gravel bike. I've said that for years. However; it has reached my ears that now people think that they do. Not only that, but many think it has to be carbon and that it has to be expensive.

My friend Grannygear just filed a report for RidingGravel.com where he covered the Sea Otter festival. It used to be a mountain bike festival, but this year it was a gravel and e-bike affair. So, they lose the "MTB" part of the name now. It just doesn't fit. But anyway, the bicycle industry was falling all over itself once again inventing reasons you need a 9K titanium gravel bike, or some doohickey labelled "gravel" that in any other era would have been just some pedestrian bicycle part or accessory.

Now on one hand, sure- I think this stuff is cool. But....I am a bike nerd. This does not bring in any folks who previously were not cycling. It just alienates them more than ever because the Industry is making everyone feel that they "are not doing it right" unless they buy all the stuff. Well, listen up, Industry- people do not need "the stuff" to do gravel. 

My hope was always that gravel cycling be "all inclusive" of anyone on any bike. To that degree that people want to ride in rural areas, I feel that is the simplest way to put it. I get it- not everyone will want to try this. But I have always thought it was an opportunity to persuade folks too fearful to ride in urban areas or on paved highways and secondary roads for fear of being murdered by a motorist to get out and ride a bicycle. Too bad the Industry hasn't caught on to that. Now they are just converting roadies and mtb'ers, folks they already had in their pockets, to thinking they need a "gravel this-or-that". It's just really sad.

Well, that said, I do see hope here and there. N.Y. Roll leads a beginner's gravel ride every Monday in the area. I see the "Gravel Scouts" doing similar things in the Iowa City area. I aim to continue the Geezer Rides for beginners going forward. Many events are now offering "beginner distance" courses. So, the grassroots folks get it. C'mon, Bike Industry. Get yer head out. It's not about "the gear". It's about the people. Get the people involved and the gear will sell itself eventually.

Gravel All The Things

Slap the word "gravel" on it, and you're good to go. Image by Grannygear

Bicycling was fun- then the bicycle industry got a hold of the activity. I tell, ya..... It's crazy now with the e-bikes and "gravel-all-the-things" mentality. It would seem that marketing speak would be something that most folks would have a good sense of rejection for. You know- the ol' "BS" meter kicks in and you just toss that out with the other 9,000 tons of informational garbage that is hitting your brain everyday. However; I am afraid that I have heard evidence that some of this polished up tripe is actually sticking. People are believing the hype.

I remember ten years ago when I was thinking about building a custom gravel bike. Some tool a bit sharper for the job. But that said, I had been having a blast on a 2003 Karate Monkey on gravel for years up to that point. I had a Fargo 29"er, which I still have, that is my all-time favorite gravel sled. You don't need a gravel bike. I've said that for years. However; it has reached my ears that now people think that they do. Not only that, but many think it has to be carbon and that it has to be expensive.

My friend Grannygear just filed a report for RidingGravel.com where he covered the Sea Otter festival. It used to be a mountain bike festival, but this year it was a gravel and e-bike affair. So, they lose the "MTB" part of the name now. It just doesn't fit. But anyway, the bicycle industry was falling all over itself once again inventing reasons you need a 9K titanium gravel bike, or some doohickey labelled "gravel" that in any other era would have been just some pedestrian bicycle part or accessory.

Now on one hand, sure- I think this stuff is cool. But....I am a bike nerd. This does not bring in any folks who previously were not cycling. It just alienates them more than ever because the Industry is making everyone feel that they "are not doing it right" unless they buy all the stuff. Well, listen up, Industry- people do not need "the stuff" to do gravel. 

My hope was always that gravel cycling be "all inclusive" of anyone on any bike. To that degree that people want to ride in rural areas, I feel that is the simplest way to put it. I get it- not everyone will want to try this. But I have always thought it was an opportunity to persuade folks too fearful to ride in urban areas or on paved highways and secondary roads for fear of being murdered by a motorist to get out and ride a bicycle. Too bad the Industry hasn't caught on to that. Now they are just converting roadies and mtb'ers, folks they already had in their pockets, to thinking they need a "gravel this-or-that". It's just really sad.

Well, that said, I do see hope here and there. N.Y. Roll leads a beginner's gravel ride every Monday in the area. I see the "Gravel Scouts" doing similar things in the Iowa City area. I aim to continue the Geezer Rides for beginners going forward. Many events are now offering "beginner distance" courses. So, the grassroots folks get it. C'mon, Bike Industry. Get yer head out. It's not about "the gear". It's about the people. Get the people involved and the gear will sell itself eventually.

The Analogue Experience Is Dead

Connected, and thus, disconnected from what makes things special.

I once worked with Ergon persona extraordinaire, Jeff Kerkove, and he had a certain saying that has stuck with me over the years. He used to say "Cell phones are the Devil". Well, actually he also said "Road cycling is the Devil". So, take it for what it is worth. Anyway, the point here is that cell phones have disrupted the human experience of "Life" and how it was supposed to be lived.

And to be fair, I cannot say it is cell phones, but technology, is really what it is. Everyone agrees it has fundamentally changed the way we live, how we experience things, and how we relate to each other. Broad topic there and I don't pretend to have any answers. But I did want to narrow the focus down to cycling and gravel events in particular. (And for some context this is an excellent article which speaks to what I am saying about this.)

When I helped get Trans Iowa started in late 2004, our first event in 2005 was pretty much all analogue. Sure, we had cell phones, but coverage in terms of cell service in 2005 was a joke. There were plenty of areas in Iowa that had no coverage at all. So, unless you were in an urban area, along a State, US, or Interstate highway, you weren't getting cell coverage. That was most of the first few Trans Iowa courses.

Cell phones were primitive, compared to today's computers we carry around. I mean, all you could do with a cell phone in 2005 was call someone. The internet? Ha! GPS? Whatever. Mapping? Nonexistent. All this had little to no effect upon the experience of the riders. But it changed and it changed in a big hurry. By 2009 it was apparent that riders were able to have talks with support people in homes and get encouragement, coaching, and information not available a mere four years previous. Check out my quote from the T.I.v5 race report where I compare what racer Charlie Farrow did with zero cell phone connection to what others had done with it. -

"This may sound harsh, but this is my gut feeling. If you had this cell phone "life-line" going on during T.I.V5, then you did the route with outside support. The people that accepted that support will have to live with that thought. Folks like Charlie Farrow will not. You decide which way is "right"."

And I still feel this way. But actually calling someone isn't the only way to get support. In fact, now it is even more subtle. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have taken over from voice communications. These "social" media platforms have now become the communication lifelines that racers and ultra-distance gravel riders have employed to be their psychological edge, or their means of assuaging their decision to not finish in some cases. It's a weird, complicated web which has a lot of strands to it. That said, without that technology/social media factor, things would be a lot different, as far as experience goes for the riders, and in my mind, all for the better.

Now days support people actually track their riders via GPS Image by Jon Duke T.I.v13

One other recent development in technology has allowed riders to be tracked via GPS. This can be followed by support people and they can, in turn, show up anywhere on course to..... Well, you get the idea. 

Just the mere fact that this is a feature of modern GPS based bicycle computers and cell phones is another mental support to riders. You know someone knows where you are all the time that could bring you a coat, take unwanted gear, give you food, or just to "be there". It's all happened out there on courses at events..... But even if it hadn't, just knowing it could is an edge. It didn't used to be that way. Decisions were solely upon the rider, and if you were wrong...... Well, no one was going to bail you out, and even if they could, it would be a long time before they got there. That made decision making......well, critical. More so than it is the way things are now.

It's interesting. The first run-in I had with GPS tracked riders was at T.I.v13. A certain support person was tracking the progress of his rider. Now to be fair, he wasn't communicating with him, just tracking him, but I could see the possibilities right away. We ran into this again at the C.O.G. 100 this past month. People were tracking their riders and expecting me to calculate finishing times on the spot, off the top of my head, for their rider. They may have been thinking to themselves, "I could just go out there and find them sooner than this doofus can do math in his head." Probably true.

In my opinion, all this detracts from the experience. It dilutes the way Life was meant to be lived, without guarantees of success, of happiness, or even of living. (See above linked article) And to be fair, technology is not a guarantee of any of that, but that's not how it is viewed. Not if we are being honest with ourselves. But like I say, that's a much bigger discussion. I do know it screws with the intentions for a "self-supported" gravel event, and anymore, it is a farce to say any event is "self-supported". Not as long as each rider is carrying one of those super computer devices in their jersey, bag, or on their bike. 

But maybe I'm just a retro-grouch and I just don't get it. Fair enough. But if I had my druthers, I would put on an event where everyone locked their cell phones in a locker and then did the event. Of course, that raises some concerns, but think of how that changes the vibe. Your thought processes are going to be different. Maybe.

Maybe not.........

The Analogue Experience Is Dead

Connected, and thus, disconnected from what makes things special.

I once worked with Ergon persona extraordinaire, Jeff Kerkove, and he had a certain saying that has stuck with me over the years. He used to say "Cell phones are the Devil". Well, actually he also said "Road cycling is the Devil". So, take it for what it is worth. Anyway, the point here is that cell phones have disrupted the human experience of "Life" and how it was supposed to be lived.

And to be fair, I cannot say it is cell phones, but technology, is really what it is. Everyone agrees it has fundamentally changed the way we live, how we experience things, and how we relate to each other. Broad topic there and I don't pretend to have any answers. But I did want to narrow the focus down to cycling and gravel events in particular. (And for some context this is an excellent article which speaks to what I am saying about this.)

When I helped get Trans Iowa started in late 2004, our first event in 2005 was pretty much all analogue. Sure, we had cell phones, but coverage in terms of cell service in 2005 was a joke. There were plenty of areas in Iowa that had no coverage at all. So, unless you were in an urban area, along a State, US, or Interstate highway, you weren't getting cell coverage. That was most of the first few Trans Iowa courses.

Cell phones were primitive, compared to today's computers we carry around. I mean, all you could do with a cell phone in 2005 was call someone. The internet? Ha! GPS? Whatever. Mapping? Nonexistent. All this had little to no effect upon the experience of the riders. But it changed and it changed in a big hurry. By 2009 it was apparent that riders were able to have talks with support people in homes and get encouragement, coaching, and information not available a mere four years previous. Check out my quote from the T.I.v5 race report where I compare what racer Charlie Farrow did with zero cell phone connection to what others had done with it. -

"This may sound harsh, but this is my gut feeling. If you had this cell phone "life-line" going on during T.I.V5, then you did the route with outside support. The people that accepted that support will have to live with that thought. Folks like Charlie Farrow will not. You decide which way is "right"."

And I still feel this way. But actually calling someone isn't the only way to get support. In fact, now it is even more subtle. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have taken over from voice communications. These "social" media platforms have now become the communication lifelines that racers and ultra-distance gravel riders have employed to be their psychological edge, or their means of assuaging their decision to not finish in some cases. It's a weird, complicated web which has a lot of strands to it. That said, without that technology/social media factor, things would be a lot different, as far as experience goes for the riders, and in my mind, all for the better.

Now days support people actually track their riders via GPS Image by Jon Duke T.I.v13

One other recent development in technology has allowed riders to be tracked via GPS. This can be followed by support people and they can, in turn, show up anywhere on course to..... Well, you get the idea. 

Just the mere fact that this is a feature of modern GPS based bicycle computers and cell phones is another mental support to riders. You know someone knows where you are all the time that could bring you a coat, take unwanted gear, give you food, or just to "be there". It's all happened out there on courses at events..... But even if it hadn't, just knowing it could is an edge. It didn't used to be that way. Decisions were solely upon the rider, and if you were wrong...... Well, no one was going to bail you out, and even if they could, it would be a long time before they got there. That made decision making......well, critical. More so than it is the way things are now.

It's interesting. The first run-in I had with GPS tracked riders was at T.I.v13. A certain support person was tracking the progress of his rider. Now to be fair, he wasn't communicating with him, just tracking him, but I could see the possibilities right away. We ran into this again at the C.O.G. 100 this past month. People were tracking their riders and expecting me to calculate finishing times on the spot, off the top of my head, for their rider. They may have been thinking to themselves, "I could just go out there and find them sooner than this doofus can do math in his head." Probably true.

In my opinion, all this detracts from the experience. It dilutes the way Life was meant to be lived, without guarantees of success, of happiness, or even of living. (See above linked article) And to be fair, technology is not a guarantee of any of that, but that's not how it is viewed. Not if we are being honest with ourselves. But like I say, that's a much bigger discussion. I do know it screws with the intentions for a "self-supported" gravel event, and anymore, it is a farce to say any event is "self-supported". Not as long as each rider is carrying one of those super computer devices in their jersey, bag, or on their bike. 

But maybe I'm just a retro-grouch and I just don't get it. Fair enough. But if I had my druthers, I would put on an event where everyone locked their cell phones in a locker and then did the event. Of course, that raises some concerns, but think of how that changes the vibe. Your thought processes are going to be different. Maybe.

Maybe not.........

The Story Of Guitar Ted: Working For The Dark Side- Part 2

A Guitar Ted Productions series

Welcome to a brand new series on G-Ted Productions! This series will jump off from the time where the "Race Against Death Tour" ended and will take you up to the beginnings of Trans Iowa in late 2004. This is an eight year period where my life was transformed. You could say it was metamorphosed from the old to something quite new.

This won't have a lot of bicycle stuff in it at times, but it is all essential to the story of "Guitar Ted". This isn't about where the name came from. That's all here.  No, this is about the person. 

As with previous historical series on the blog, images will be a rarity. Cell phones, social media, and digital images were not available to take advantage of in those last days of analog living.  

In this edition of the story I continue with my story of working as an auto mechanic.
_________________________________________________________________________________
 

Remember that 1991 Honda Accord Station Wagon I mentioned last week? Well, in a twist of fate, I ended up owning that car. It was a big deal at the time which helped to change my life. Here's how.....

As you may recall, I started working at Schuerman's in February of 1997. I had to drive all the way across town to get there, and the quickest way was by using the "expressway", which was Highway 218/27 for the most part, until I got into Cedar Falls. This highway had several raised portions and bridges over the Cedar River and Black Hawk Creek. In March, on a Friday morning, I got into my 1989 Dodge Dakota 4X4 convertible truck, (Yes- a rag top pick-up), and I started driving to work. It was raining, and the temperature was about at freezing.

As I entered the expressway on a ramp, which then dumped out immediately onto the bridge across Black Hawk Creek, I lost control as the bridge deck was sheer ice. I remember trying to steer the truck and nothing happened, I was headed for a cement retaining wall at 50+ mph. Right across the path of speeding traffic!

Miraculously, I did not hit anyone, but when the truck hit the wall at that angle, it lifted up, pivoted on the nose, spun around, and the tail end hit the wall which then pushed me back across the roadway in front of more cars. Again- I didn't hit anyone else! But I did hit the opposite side of the bridge with the other corner of the front end, effectively giving the truck a pointed front! I was unhurt.

Anyway, a bunch more cars crashed, Eric saw me on his way to work and said he'd tell "Sherm", (as we called Jim), that I was going to be late, and I ended up coming in three hours late or something. Eric gave me a ride home, as he lived in Washburn, which caused him to go by where I lived. Oddly enough, Jim got into an accident going home when a young lady lost control on the still icy roads and creamed his Toyota T-1000 truck. Jim always referred to that day as "Black Friday" afterward.

Well, the whole point here was that Eric wasn't going to get me everyday, and I needed a vehicle. It just so happened that the 1991 Honda Accord wagon was for sale with 14,000 original miles. I secured a loan, and got that car. The truck? Totalled. The last time I saw it was when it was at the tow truck station.

It all seemed too good to be true, considering that had I not been hired at Schuerman's only four weeks earlier, I would have been stuck in that 1989 Dakota rag top for years, and honestly, it wasn't a very good vehicle by this point. I had been in two accidents with it by the time I got to Schuerman's, the most recent one being the third and final one. The transfer case had crapped out on me and I had to get it replaced shortly before I got hired at Sherm's.. So, it had it's issues and likely would have had more since it was going on 8 years old by that time. The Accord wagon was 2 years newer and essentially "NOS", with only 14,000 miles on the odometer. Heck, it still smelled new inside! The big thing here was that the Honda became a bike hauling rig, and I'll get into that in my next post.

Next: Staying In Touch