WW4M: Fyxation Mesa MP Pedals

 Note: What Works For Me, or "WW4M", is an occasional post here and there where I share what I have been using for a long time and that just, you know.......works! Also, the Standard Disclaimer applies here. Again- this works for me. Your mileage may vary.....

Fyxation Mesa MP pedals

Back in 2012, a decade ago now, I received two sets of pedals from Fyxation to review on my old site, "Twenty Nine Inches". Thus began my love for these flat, metal pinned pedals. 

I suppose that when I think about these pedals I think about two things. "Longevity" and "Value". See those black Mesa MP's there? That image is from 2012. Those pedals are still kicking ten years later after several Winters of abuse, dirt rides, gravel rides, and single tracking. 

So, durable and long-lasting equipment for cycling is a good thing. But add in the fact that the Mesa MP's have stayed below $100.00 a pair for a decade and that makes them even that much more impressive. And when I say "under $100.00 a pair", I don't mean 'just under'. No- I mean that these pedals are currently listed at $62.95 a pair on the Fyxation site right now. 

The Mesa MP's have removable and replaceable pins, which makes them even that much more of a deal. Now, I will tell you that these are not the massive 'daggers of death' pins, the like of which many MTB pedals have out there now. No, they do not stick out that far and there are maybe not as many pins as some have, but there is enough to get me by in Winter with boots, so, yeah.... Like I say- this works for me. 

I also like the impact grade nylon body with its sealed bearings. It's NOT a metal bodied pedal, and this is very important to me. Metal pedals suck the heat from your feet when it is really cold out. I can feel the difference and this is why my fat bikes all have Mesa MP pedals. (It's also why I use carbon handle bars on my fat bikes, but that's another story)  The only nit I have about these is that the metal pins can rust. But if that bums you out get the Subzero Mesa MP's which have stainless steel metal pins. I have those as well.

So, inexpensive, great grippy pins, long lasting bearings, and a durable, warm-in-Winter nylon body. That's what works for me. This set of pedals has been so good I bought a couple more, and Fyxation sent me a couple more as well a few years back here now. I have these on several bikes and I don't plan on riding my fat bikes without them. 

WW4M: Fyxation Mesa MP Pedals

 Note: What Works For Me, or "WW4M", is an occasional post here and there where I share what I have been using for a long time and that just, you know.......works! Also, the Standard Disclaimer applies here. Again- this works for me. Your mileage may vary.....

Fyxation Mesa MP pedals

Back in 2012, a decade ago now, I received two sets of pedals from Fyxation to review on my old site, "Twenty Nine Inches". Thus began my love for these flat, metal pinned pedals. 

I suppose that when I think about these pedals I think about two things. "Longevity" and "Value". See those black Mesa MP's there? That image is from 2012. Those pedals are still kicking ten years later after several Winters of abuse, dirt rides, gravel rides, and single tracking. 

So, durable and long-lasting equipment for cycling is a good thing. But add in the fact that the Mesa MP's have stayed below $100.00 a pair for a decade and that makes them even that much more impressive. And when I say "under $100.00 a pair", I don't mean 'just under'. No- I mean that these pedals are currently listed at $62.95 a pair on the Fyxation site right now. 

The Mesa MP's have removable and replaceable pins, which makes them even that much more of a deal. Now, I will tell you that these are not the massive 'daggers of death' pins, the like of which many MTB pedals have out there now. No, they do not stick out that far and there are maybe not as many pins as some have, but there is enough to get me by in Winter with boots, so, yeah.... Like I say- this works for me. 

I also like the impact grade nylon body with its sealed bearings. It's NOT a metal bodied pedal, and this is very important to me. Metal pedals suck the heat from your feet when it is really cold out. I can feel the difference and this is why my fat bikes all have Mesa MP pedals. (It's also why I use carbon handle bars on my fat bikes, but that's another story)  The only nit I have about these is that the metal pins can rust. But if that bums you out get the Subzero Mesa MP's which have stainless steel metal pins. I have those as well.

So, inexpensive, great grippy pins, long lasting bearings, and a durable, warm-in-Winter nylon body. That's what works for me. This set of pedals has been so good I bought a couple more, and Fyxation sent me a couple more as well a few years back here now. I have these on several bikes and I don't plan on riding my fat bikes without them. 

Choosing

Could it be the Tamland Two?

 So, a disclaimer first: I have a LOT of bicycles that are pretty nice and this entire post is probably not very relevant to many of you readers out there. So, understand that I have nothing to worry about in terms of "what bike to use". I have what many would say is a 'first world problem' I fully understand that. But I am writing a blog post and this is the subject, so....

Gents Race. It is coming up real soon, and I have not many miles in my legs yet. Well.....that's not news. generally I don't have much for miles by this point in the year due to event planning. That is not an excuse this year. 

So what? Well, this plays into what I want to go with for my Gents Race rig, and mind you, this is the last Gents Race that they are putting on. Or so they say. I mean, they could pull a 'Tom Brady' on us all and have another Gents Race next season. Who knows? I have no other option but to believe them now. I guess I'd better be careful what I put my faith in, right? 

Or it could be this one.....

Anyway, I was originally thinking of pulling out my Twin Six Standard Rando v2, but..... It is a single speed and riding that with geared riders in an event where you are supposed to be sticking together may not work so well. Then there is the highly likely possibility of strong winds the day of the event. I've ridden in this event many years and can think of maybe one- maybe two years that it was not really windy. Some years it was ridiculously windy. A single speed would be no good. 

Not when I'm not really ready to grind out 65 miles, or whatever they have for a course there, in poor conditions. I'd need to feel more confident than I do with my fitness to go single speed at this point.

...or maybe this bicycle.

Which is kind of a bummer for me because I think I rode the first one on my Black Mountain Cycles when I first got it and that was when it was still a single speed bike. I thought maybe I'd grab that one for old time's sake, but yeah..... Single speed. 

I could do it anyway, but I don't have to when I have other gravel bikes. Back in 2011, the BMC was my gravel bike. As in- the only one. I know we forget sometimes, but a specific bicycle for gravel did not exist when I did the first Gent's Race in 2011. 

Now? Pfffft! You cannot turn around and not knock over a gravel bike. They are everywhere! And I have.....gulp.....five gravel bikes! Five? Well, add in my Fargo, my Pofahl, and my old Karate Monkey to that list, and maybe even my fat bikes, because all are up for gravel use in my mind. But 'gravel specific'? Well then- Five. That's nuts! 

Since two of them are dedicated to single speed use now, I''ll choose from my three geared gravel bikes. Any one of them would do fine. Any one of them would be an advantage to me in my sorry state of fitness right now. So, don't go feeling sorry for me. I have it covered, and I am privileged, I get it. But I still have to do one thing.

Choose.

Choosing

Could it be the Tamland Two?

 So, a disclaimer first: I have a LOT of bicycles that are pretty nice and this entire post is probably not very relevant to many of you readers out there. So, understand that I have nothing to worry about in terms of "what bike to use". I have what many would say is a 'first world problem' I fully understand that. But I am writing a blog post and this is the subject, so....

Gents Race. It is coming up real soon, and I have not many miles in my legs yet. Well.....that's not news. generally I don't have much for miles by this point in the year due to event planning. That is not an excuse this year. 

So what? Well, this plays into what I want to go with for my Gents Race rig, and mind you, this is the last Gents Race that they are putting on. Or so they say. I mean, they could pull a 'Tom Brady' on us all and have another Gents Race next season. Who knows? I have no other option but to believe them now. I guess I'd better be careful what I put my faith in, right? 

Or it could be this one.....

Anyway, I was originally thinking of pulling out my Twin Six Standard Rando v2, but..... It is a single speed and riding that with geared riders in an event where you are supposed to be sticking together may not work so well. Then there is the highly likely possibility of strong winds the day of the event. I've ridden in this event many years and can think of maybe one- maybe two years that it was not really windy. Some years it was ridiculously windy. A single speed would be no good. 

Not when I'm not really ready to grind out 65 miles, or whatever they have for a course there, in poor conditions. I'd need to feel more confident than I do with my fitness to go single speed at this point.

...or maybe this bicycle.

Which is kind of a bummer for me because I think I rode the first one on my Black Mountain Cycles when I first got it and that was when it was still a single speed bike. I thought maybe I'd grab that one for old time's sake, but yeah..... Single speed. 

I could do it anyway, but I don't have to when I have other gravel bikes. Back in 2011, the BMC was my gravel bike. As in- the only one. I know we forget sometimes, but a specific bicycle for gravel did not exist when I did the first Gent's Race in 2011. 

Now? Pfffft! You cannot turn around and not knock over a gravel bike. They are everywhere! And I have.....gulp.....five gravel bikes! Five? Well, add in my Fargo, my Pofahl, and my old Karate Monkey to that list, and maybe even my fat bikes, because all are up for gravel use in my mind. But 'gravel specific'? Well then- Five. That's nuts! 

Since two of them are dedicated to single speed use now, I''ll choose from my three geared gravel bikes. Any one of them would do fine. Any one of them would be an advantage to me in my sorry state of fitness right now. So, don't go feeling sorry for me. I have it covered, and I am privileged, I get it. But I still have to do one thing.

Choose.

Country Views: Wind And Rock

Escape Route: Sergeant Rd. Bike Path

With all the snow gone now and temperatures into the 60's-70's on occasion, I think "Brown Season" is over. While it may not look much like it from today's post, Spring is afoot and "The Greening" is happening again. Just like every year I've been around here. 

So, I've now switched gears to "Country Views" for the remainder of Spring, Summer, and most of Fall. With that out of the way, let's get to the ride....

The weekend saw me working on a couple of bike repair jobs that have come my way. Now- I don't actively seek this sort of work out, mind you. So you local wrenches can relax. But, having spent well over two decades wrenching, my name comes up here and there as a resource for repairing bikes and well, sometimes the customer asks about me. I could use the extra resources I get in trade, so..... 

If you are a local to me wrench and are offended, well- do a better job of customer service and advertising then. If these people ask me to fix their bikes, I figure that they turned over a few rocks to find me, and if they are willing to look that hard for me, well then...... 

Nuff said......

The point is, I didn't get out for a ride on the weekend, because of work. Monday I took some time off to ride, because Tuesday and Wednesday the weather is supposed to turn colder and wetter. I'm not passing up a Sunny day in the 60's every time for work. Just some of the time! 

What you cannot see here is the wind. It was brutal.

Farmers are starting to get things lined up for planting season.

Well, Monday was supposed to be gloriously warm. Up into the 70's by later in the afternoon. But this time of year it gets cold at night and it takes a while to warm things up. So, it was in the mid-50's when I left for my ride. That meant a light jacket and gloves. But by the time I got about seven miles into the ride I had to stop and peel off the jacket and gloves because the temperatures were already into the 60's. 

And of course, it is March after all, so it was windy. 20mph with 30+ mph gusts out of the South. Good times! I, of course, rode straight South into it.

Aha! What do we have here?

I see! The County maintenance road grader.

The wind wasn't the whole story either. It seems that the County is certain that Spring is here to stay as the maintenance of the gravel roads has commenced. I ran across a county maintainer, and I saw where several places had fresh gravel dumps. 

Some of that rye grass cover crop is greening up nicely out South of Waterloo.

The steed of choice for the day.

Riding South was a total chore. I must have gone about nine miles straight into that wind and that was enough. But, I needed that. See, I am trying to get ready for the Gent's Race in a couple of weeks, and I am woefully out of my reckoning when it comes to riding long rides right now. 

That work was good, and I kept a steady pace. Coming back with that wind was ridiculous. Despite running up on some of the most chunk-a-licious fresh rock dumps I have seen in a while, I was carrying some speed. I was really glad I didn't choose that road to go out on! I had fresh gravel going out, but this- whatever it is they are using- is insanely chunky. 

Two hours in the bank. Better than nothing......

Country Views: Wind And Rock

Escape Route: Sergeant Rd. Bike Path

With all the snow gone now and temperatures into the 60's-70's on occasion, I think "Brown Season" is over. While it may not look much like it from today's post, Spring is afoot and "The Greening" is happening again. Just like every year I've been around here. 

So, I've now switched gears to "Country Views" for the remainder of Spring, Summer, and most of Fall. With that out of the way, let's get to the ride....

The weekend saw me working on a couple of bike repair jobs that have come my way. Now- I don't actively seek this sort of work out, mind you. So you local wrenches can relax. But, having spent well over two decades wrenching, my name comes up here and there as a resource for repairing bikes and well, sometimes the customer asks about me. I could use the extra resources I get in trade, so..... 

If you are a local to me wrench and are offended, well- do a better job of customer service and advertising then. If these people ask me to fix their bikes, I figure that they turned over a few rocks to find me, and if they are willing to look that hard for me, well then...... 

Nuff said......

The point is, I didn't get out for a ride on the weekend, because of work. Monday I took some time off to ride, because Tuesday and Wednesday the weather is supposed to turn colder and wetter. I'm not passing up a Sunny day in the 60's every time for work. Just some of the time! 

What you cannot see here is the wind. It was brutal.

Farmers are starting to get things lined up for planting season.

Well, Monday was supposed to be gloriously warm. Up into the 70's by later in the afternoon. But this time of year it gets cold at night and it takes a while to warm things up. So, it was in the mid-50's when I left for my ride. That meant a light jacket and gloves. But by the time I got about seven miles into the ride I had to stop and peel off the jacket and gloves because the temperatures were already into the 60's. 

And of course, it is March after all, so it was windy. 20mph with 30+ mph gusts out of the South. Good times! I, of course, rode straight South into it.

Aha! What do we have here?

I see! The County maintenance road grader.

The wind wasn't the whole story either. It seems that the County is certain that Spring is here to stay as the maintenance of the gravel roads has commenced. I ran across a county maintainer, and I saw where several places had fresh gravel dumps. 

Some of that rye grass cover crop is greening up nicely out South of Waterloo.

The steed of choice for the day.

Riding South was a total chore. I must have gone about nine miles straight into that wind and that was enough. But, I needed that. See, I am trying to get ready for the Gent's Race in a couple of weeks, and I am woefully out of my reckoning when it comes to riding long rides right now. 

That work was good, and I kept a steady pace. Coming back with that wind was ridiculous. Despite running up on some of the most chunk-a-licious fresh rock dumps I have seen in a while, I was carrying some speed. I was really glad I didn't choose that road to go out on! I had fresh gravel going out, but this- whatever it is they are using- is insanely chunky. 

Two hours in the bank. Better than nothing......

Dropper Post Madness

Seen on social media Sunday.

 The "dropper post". That thing mountain bikers came up with to make descents and cornering more stable and safe. If you are a mountain biker, well.....you know. I don't have to convince you of the benefits. 

But when it came to other disciplines of cycling, dropper posts were, well.....'that mountain biker thing', and many were not going to give that component a chance because....'mountain biking'. Really, what other reason is there?

Weight? Hmm..... maybe. I could see that, but if you wouldn't even try one just based upon that reason alone, well, why would you ever ride a time trial bike, aero wheel sets, or use wider tires? All weigh more than their traditional roadie counterparts do, (in the case of a time trial bike, it is a sum of the parts, but a "real road bike" still weighs less). 

So pushing off the dropper post just because it weighs more than a traditional post is taking the easy way out of thinking about this component. I mean, mountain bikers would never be using suspension if the weight argument wasn't quickly put aside due to the overwhelming benefits of suspension in many cases. 

The Otso Cycles Waheela S was one of several new gravel bikes outfitted with a dropper post in 2018.

 I tried a dropper post on a gravel bike in 2018. It was a component that was being pushed forward, yes- by mountain biking- but gravel folks were somewhat more open to trying that idea. Anyway, I gave it a go, and at that time, I said that the dropper post was an advantage on descents for gravel riders, and probably roadies too. It wasn't even close to a subjective opinion. I had demonstratively proven that a dropper post was a clear cut advantage on descents by my using it on a Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational that year. 

I was easily cruising away from my riding partners on descents due to the aero advantage lent by getting lower on the bike. This is why the UCI outlawed the "Super Tuck" as riders were using the position to get more aero and have more control over their bicycles. So, on one hand the advantage was clear, but on the other hand, why roadies didn't figure this out several years ago is a mystery to me. 

They used dropper posts, yes. Mavic even had them on their Service Course bikes at the tour one year. But they weren't there to make riders more secure on descents and more aero. They were there so riders of different leg lengths could be fitted more quickly. (What?!!) Talk about being in denial......

But now, all of a sudden, this dropper post thing seems all new and real because some guy won a "monument" of cycling with it. It would be high comedy for many of us out here who have known this for years if it wasn't so seemingly daft. But - there ya go! Roadies using dropper posts for what they were meant for.

Dropper Post Madness

Seen on social media Sunday.

 The "dropper post". That thing mountain bikers came up with to make descents and cornering more stable and safe. If you are a mountain biker, well.....you know. I don't have to convince you of the benefits. 

But when it came to other disciplines of cycling, dropper posts were, well.....'that mountain biker thing', and many were not going to give that component a chance because....'mountain biking'. Really, what other reason is there?

Weight? Hmm..... maybe. I could see that, but if you wouldn't even try one just based upon that reason alone, well, why would you ever ride a time trial bike, aero wheel sets, or use wider tires? All weigh more than their traditional roadie counterparts do, (in the case of a time trial bike, it is a sum of the parts, but a "real road bike" still weighs less). 

So pushing off the dropper post just because it weighs more than a traditional post is taking the easy way out of thinking about this component. I mean, mountain bikers would never be using suspension if the weight argument wasn't quickly put aside due to the overwhelming benefits of suspension in many cases. 

The Otso Cycles Waheela S was one of several new gravel bikes outfitted with a dropper post in 2018.

 I tried a dropper post on a gravel bike in 2018. It was a component that was being pushed forward, yes- by mountain biking- but gravel folks were somewhat more open to trying that idea. Anyway, I gave it a go, and at that time, I said that the dropper post was an advantage on descents for gravel riders, and probably roadies too. It wasn't even close to a subjective opinion. I had demonstratively proven that a dropper post was a clear cut advantage on descents by my using it on a Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational that year. 

I was easily cruising away from my riding partners on descents due to the aero advantage lent by getting lower on the bike. This is why the UCI outlawed the "Super Tuck" as riders were using the position to get more aero and have more control over their bicycles. So, on one hand the advantage was clear, but on the other hand, why roadies didn't figure this out several years ago is a mystery to me. 

They used dropper posts, yes. Mavic even had them on their Service Course bikes at the tour one year. But they weren't there to make riders more secure on descents and more aero. They were there so riders of different leg lengths could be fitted more quickly. (What?!!) Talk about being in denial......

But now, all of a sudden, this dropper post thing seems all new and real because some guy won a "monument" of cycling with it. It would be high comedy for many of us out here who have known this for years if it wasn't so seemingly daft. But - there ya go! Roadies using dropper posts for what they were meant for.

Trans Iowa Stories: Keeping The Secret

  "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 clicking on the "Trans Iowa Stories" link under the blog header. Thanks and enjoy!  

One of the things I felt bad about during the lead-up to Trans Iowa v14 was all the times I had to dodge the fact that this was going to be the last Trans Iowa. You'd maybe think that wouldn't have been a big deal, and honestly, I thought it would not be a big deal either. That is, until you get things like a book idea thrown at you, or requests for interviews. 

I also had to deal with sponsors speaking to me as though they were in this for the long haul and that really was awkward for me internally. Especially when dealing with WTB, the Grinnell Steakhouse, and my contacts in Grinnell. I hadn't thought about those angles either. Actually, it ended up becoming a stressful thing towards the end of the run up to v14. It probably doesn't help that I am not good at keeping secrets either. 

Bar Yak sent out these cue sheet holders pre-v14 as prizing for the event.

One of the more regretful situations I found myself in was something completely unexpected. A book about gravel events was being put together by author Nick Legan and he was featuring Trans Iowa as one of the 'bucket list' events in the nation at that time for gravel riders to do. 

This got really sticky as the book was set to come out right when I was going to kill off Trans Iowa. I felt like my event shouldn't have been included, but how could I say that and not give myself away? I didn't know how and so I played along, even helping to promote the book along the way pre-release. Uggh! That felt pretty dirty, but I was sticking to my guns regarding my decision to keep the secret. 

Nick Legan's "Gravel Cycling" came out the year T.I. ended.

Another unexpected uncomfortable situation arose when I was asked by "The Path Less Pedaled" for an interview. This occurred just before Trans Iowa v14 and again, I had to keep it real and not give any hint as to the fate of Trans Iowa. In the end, the interview came out after Trans Iowa, so it was even more odd and basically, I felt that was a train wreck. But again, I didn't know how to avoid that either. 

Maybe I should have politely declined the interview and  risked coming off as aloof or worse. I don't know. But that was another regrettable situation I found myself in. 

Speaking with my volunteers was another tough thing to do without spilling the beans. Especially with Tony, as I stated in the previous edition of this series. But occasionally I was in contact with Ben, or Matt, and I could speak freely, or communicate without worry. That was nice. But it didn't happen often. 

Speaking of Ben, he was doing these coffee mugs and stainless steel flasks as promotional gifts which he engraved with event logos and the like. He offered to do up a bunch of stuff for me, via our Riding Gravel partnership, and so the Trans Iowa v14 bottle opener was planned for all those who attended the event. I also got cups and flasks for the volunteers as special gifts. That was a nice gesture on Ben's part and I was able to give some nice things to my inner circle of supporters. 

But back to "The Secret". Remember that I mentioned my blog post I had been crafting to announce the end of Trans Iowa? Well, in March of 2018 I was tweaking on it for the umpteenth millionth time and when I went to hit "Preview" I accidentally pushed "Publish"! I was immediately aware of my mistake so I hit "Return To Draft" and I think maybe the post was live for like three to six seconds. But that was all it took for a few who subscribed to my blog to catch it and I actually got an email from a reader who had thought he had read this but it was gone. I came clean with him, but I asked him to keep it under his hat, which he promised to do, and he really had no horse in the race anyway. I was horrified. How many others had seen this? I did not know....

So, with THAT hanging out there I lived for about a month not knowing who- if anyone- might post on social media that Trans Iowa was ending and that I would end up with that mass chaos I was trying to avoid all along. But meanwhile I had to keep a stiff upper lip and carry on. I couldn't let on to anyone that this was anything but another edition of Trans Iowa.

Next: Changing Gears On The Finish

Trans Iowa Stories: Keeping The Secret

  "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 clicking on the "Trans Iowa Stories" link under the blog header. Thanks and enjoy!  

One of the things I felt bad about during the lead-up to Trans Iowa v14 was all the times I had to dodge the fact that this was going to be the last Trans Iowa. You'd maybe think that wouldn't have been a big deal, and honestly, I thought it would not be a big deal either. That is, until you get things like a book idea thrown at you, or requests for interviews. 

I also had to deal with sponsors speaking to me as though they were in this for the long haul and that really was awkward for me internally. Especially when dealing with WTB, the Grinnell Steakhouse, and my contacts in Grinnell. I hadn't thought about those angles either. Actually, it ended up becoming a stressful thing towards the end of the run up to v14. It probably doesn't help that I am not good at keeping secrets either. 

Bar Yak sent out these cue sheet holders pre-v14 as prizing for the event.

One of the more regretful situations I found myself in was something completely unexpected. A book about gravel events was being put together by author Nick Legan and he was featuring Trans Iowa as one of the 'bucket list' events in the nation at that time for gravel riders to do. 

This got really sticky as the book was set to come out right when I was going to kill off Trans Iowa. I felt like my event shouldn't have been included, but how could I say that and not give myself away? I didn't know how and so I played along, even helping to promote the book along the way pre-release. Uggh! That felt pretty dirty, but I was sticking to my guns regarding my decision to keep the secret. 

Nick Legan's "Gravel Cycling" came out the year T.I. ended.

Another unexpected uncomfortable situation arose when I was asked by "The Path Less Pedaled" for an interview. This occurred just before Trans Iowa v14 and again, I had to keep it real and not give any hint as to the fate of Trans Iowa. In the end, the interview came out after Trans Iowa, so it was even more odd and basically, I felt that was a train wreck. But again, I didn't know how to avoid that either. 

Maybe I should have politely declined the interview and  risked coming off as aloof or worse. I don't know. But that was another regrettable situation I found myself in. 

Speaking with my volunteers was another tough thing to do without spilling the beans. Especially with Tony, as I stated in the previous edition of this series. But occasionally I was in contact with Ben, or Matt, and I could speak freely, or communicate without worry. That was nice. But it didn't happen often. 

Speaking of Ben, he was doing these coffee mugs and stainless steel flasks as promotional gifts which he engraved with event logos and the like. He offered to do up a bunch of stuff for me, via our Riding Gravel partnership, and so the Trans Iowa v14 bottle opener was planned for all those who attended the event. I also got cups and flasks for the volunteers as special gifts. That was a nice gesture on Ben's part and I was able to give some nice things to my inner circle of supporters. 

But back to "The Secret". Remember that I mentioned my blog post I had been crafting to announce the end of Trans Iowa? Well, in March of 2018 I was tweaking on it for the umpteenth millionth time and when I went to hit "Preview" I accidentally pushed "Publish"! I was immediately aware of my mistake so I hit "Return To Draft" and I think maybe the post was live for like three to six seconds. But that was all it took for a few who subscribed to my blog to catch it and I actually got an email from a reader who had thought he had read this but it was gone. I came clean with him, but I asked him to keep it under his hat, which he promised to do, and he really had no horse in the race anyway. I was horrified. How many others had seen this? I did not know....

So, with THAT hanging out there I lived for about a month not knowing who- if anyone- might post on social media that Trans Iowa was ending and that I would end up with that mass chaos I was trying to avoid all along. But meanwhile I had to keep a stiff upper lip and carry on. I couldn't let on to anyone that this was anything but another edition of Trans Iowa.

Next: Changing Gears On The Finish

Attitudes

Thanks to N.Y. Roll for the new shop hat.

 Since I've started working at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective I've had to learn and unlearn several things. The mission of the collective is a lot different than a normal retail bike shop's mission, and after having worked retail all my life, a non-profit situation is a challenge.

It's what I wanted too. Challenges and learning new ways. I mean, I could have had a regular bicycle mechanic's job in town by now. There was an opening or two I was aware of, but I didn't pursue the leads I heard about and obviously no one came knocking on my door either. 

And I'm okay with that. 

This all has become even more pronounced lately since we've gotten busier. I've met many of the 'regulars' by this point and several new folks as well. Because of the nature of the CVBC and it's mission to certain segments of the local populace that are, quite frankly, under served, I am seeing a different person than I have most of my years in retail. Besides economic and social differences, I have been most struck by one characteristic of the customers I've met so far. 

An attitude of gratitude. 

Sure- Many of the folks I've served along the way have been grateful. I've experienced many good returns for my hard work in terms of praise, thanks, and goodwill. But those were outliers in my experience. Most of the time, I felt like I was seen as a thief, an opportunist, or worse. 

But I've seen another side of humanity since working at the Collective. Many of our customers speak their gratitude, and several show it by, of all things, bringing us soda pop. I know, kinda odd, but it seems to be the currency of thanks that these folks are comfortable and familiar with. They even go out of their way to ask what flavor I want, and then they bring liters of the stuff, (literally) to the shop in a show of their gratitude. And it isn't like these folks have a lot of resources either. 

Conversely, back in the old retail shop days, I rarely got a show of gratitude and mostly these folks that came through those shops I worked at were well equipped to show their gratitude, but their attitude wasn't such that they could even think like that. Which I don't miss, by the way. That gets really tiring. 

To those of you who have always shown and expressed your gratitude- Thank you! You know who you are and I remember you. But I think that the example of the customers I have seen in the CVBC are an inspiration to and for us all. 

If I could only aspire to be half as grateful and expressing of such as those folks are. Well.....

And that has made this new job worth more than I could have ever imagined so far......

Attitudes

Thanks to N.Y. Roll for the new shop hat.

 Since I've started working at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective I've had to learn and unlearn several things. The mission of the collective is a lot different than a normal retail bike shop's mission, and after having worked retail all my life, a non-profit situation is a challenge.

It's what I wanted too. Challenges and learning new ways. I mean, I could have had a regular bicycle mechanic's job in town by now. There was an opening or two I was aware of, but I didn't pursue the leads I heard about and obviously no one came knocking on my door either. 

And I'm okay with that. 

This all has become even more pronounced lately since we've gotten busier. I've met many of the 'regulars' by this point and several new folks as well. Because of the nature of the CVBC and it's mission to certain segments of the local populace that are, quite frankly, under served, I am seeing a different person than I have most of my years in retail. Besides economic and social differences, I have been most struck by one characteristic of the customers I've met so far. 

An attitude of gratitude. 

Sure- Many of the folks I've served along the way have been grateful. I've experienced many good returns for my hard work in terms of praise, thanks, and goodwill. But those were outliers in my experience. Most of the time, I felt like I was seen as a thief, an opportunist, or worse. 

But I've seen another side of humanity since working at the Collective. Many of our customers speak their gratitude, and several show it by, of all things, bringing us soda pop. I know, kinda odd, but it seems to be the currency of thanks that these folks are comfortable and familiar with. They even go out of their way to ask what flavor I want, and then they bring liters of the stuff, (literally) to the shop in a show of their gratitude. And it isn't like these folks have a lot of resources either. 

Conversely, back in the old retail shop days, I rarely got a show of gratitude and mostly these folks that came through those shops I worked at were well equipped to show their gratitude, but their attitude wasn't such that they could even think like that. Which I don't miss, by the way. That gets really tiring. 

To those of you who have always shown and expressed your gratitude- Thank you! You know who you are and I remember you. But I think that the example of the customers I have seen in the CVBC are an inspiration to and for us all. 

If I could only aspire to be half as grateful and expressing of such as those folks are. Well.....

And that has made this new job worth more than I could have ever imagined so far......

Friday News And Views

 A "Trans Iowa" On Foot?

The online news source, "Axios Des Moines" reported Monday concerning a runner's attempt to beat the FKT across the state of Iowa. The runner, Paul Noble, started in Muscatine, Iowa last Sunday and was hoping to reach Sigourney that day. His itinerary from there: Sigourney to Indianola, Indianola to Messena, Messena to Council Bluffs. 

The route followed Highway 92, for the most part. Noble hoped to be done sometime on Wednesday. The time to beat? His friend, Taylor Ross holds the record to beat at 4 days, 15 hours, 32 minutes, and 41 seconds.

And Paul Noble pulled it off. "Axios Des Moines" reported yesterday that Noble made it to Council Bluffs with a total time of 94 hours and 50 minutes. Congratulations Paul Noble!

From Cannondale/CX World's social media feed.

Cannondale/CX World Ends Cyclo Cross Efforts:

On Monday a bombshell was dropped by Cannondale/CX World Team that they were ceasing operations immediately. The team had contested cyclo cross races in North America and Europe for 16 years. 

Comments: Pretty stunning news when you consider that this team was a stalwart of the North American scene and was the last big outfit doing cyclo cross in North America. 

One has to wonder if the gravel scene's rise to prestige in North America, the UCI recognizing gravel with a series, and the series like Life Time's Grand Prix are taking away riders and focus from cyclo cross now to the point that marketing is switching gears to gravel. 

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that this has something to do with it, but there probably is more to it than just that. Supply chain shortages generally mean that niche, low selling items get cut to make way for higher value production. (Noticed a Twitter pole asking when CX riders last bought a complete CX bike at a shop. Average answer? Five years ago, and most said they never had, preferring to build up their own from frames or they bought used) Inflation pressures certainly have to be considered here. Travel and staffing costs for the team have probably been a heavy burden of late. 

But a lot of athletes are turning to the gravel scene now. So, you have to think that this- especially here in North America- is a really big issue for cyclo cross.

State Bicycle's 4130 Alouette is a fixed gear gravel bike.

Would You? Could You? Go Fixed?

State Bicycle announced this past week that they have a new fixed gear gravel bike called the 4130 Alouette. It is steel, (natch!) and can take up to a 42mm tire, comes in four color schemes, and in either a flat bar or drop bar configuration for sub-600 bucks. 

Comments: Fixed gear gravel riders are nothing new. Rare- yes - but the fixed gear gravel rider has existed for a long time. I came into contact with fixed gear via gravel during Trans Iowa. In fact, it was a bicycle you probably would never have pegged for an appearance at Trans Iowa. It was a fixed gear Rivendell with a rack and panniers ridden by Ken Yokanovich. And he finished the 300+ mile T.I.v3 course in 15th place out of the 24 official finishers that year.  

That was back in 2007. We had another fixed gear finisher in Ben Shockey two years later, and finally, the last guy to pull off the feat on a fixie in Trans Iowa was Jay Barre in T.I.v10. All did 300+ miles fixed in less than 34 hours. 

And fixed gear riders have appeared in several other gravel events as well. So, while it may seem really crazy and odd, I get it, and it is not a new thing. That State Bicycle has come out with this should only help propel the idea and I expect at least a few more folks will take up fixed gear gravel riding. 

As far as the bike- it's good enough,but the geometry they chose is just too steep and high for my liking. Too 'track-ish', if you will. I still want a fixed gear gravel bike, but it would have to be done in the geometry I prefer: Low bottom bracket (I don't lean in corners enough to worry about clipping pedals) and a slacker head tube angle. The State 4130 Alouette has a 65mm bottom bracket drop. No thank you! I'd have to have at least a 70mm drop for my way of riding, but that's just me. 

Mid-South overall winner Cole Paton (L) with Bobby Wintle (Image courtesy of Orange Seal)

Mid-South Goes Off With Dry-ish Year:

Uncharacteristically cold morning temperatures gave way to warmer, but windier weather for the Mid-South 2022 event which led to a dry-ish course for the assembled riders. Cole Paton, of the Orange Seal Off Road Team won the event overall.

Comments: Two years ago the Mid-South event marked the end of "normal affairs" for quite some time. With the COVID-19 virus moving from 'pandemic' status to 'endemic' status, the return of the Mid-South was welcomed by many gravel riders and I could sense a joy and happiness from social media posts I saw over that weekend which communicated somewhat of the atmosphere surrounding the event. 

Oddly enough, or maybe not...Mid-South doesn't crack the door open much in the endemic cycling media. Mid-South, for as 'big' as it has gotten, still seems to carry that stigma of being a 'not-a-race' race where there is certainly worthy competition for media coverage but it gets either zero (Velo News) or it gets pushed down the page in a hurry. 

Whatever. I'm here for it and I hope that Mid-South keeps it real. If anything, I think it would be great to see that event take an even more focused slant toward the 'everyman' riders and the Pro teams and riders can go do those other fancy-pants events. But I know that is probably a very unrealistic viewpoint these days. And furthermore- It isn't my event. So, my opinion here- that's all....... But I do appreciate Bobby Wintle's efforts to celebrate everyone and not just focus on the prestigious front runners.

SILCA Tubeless Tire Sealant Announced:

Sporting a foaming latex formula laced with 6mm, 9mm, and 12mm carbon fibers reclaimed from carbon wheels, F-1 racing parts, and airplane carbon fiber, SILCA Ultimate Tubeless Sealant claims to easily seal up to a "6+mm" puncture. 

The sealant is so effective at coagulating that it must be introduced to the tire by pouring the sealant in at the time of tire mounting. SILCA claims it will easily plug up any injector or valve stem.

Comments: Hmm.... " Must be poured into the tire during tire install!" (Copy quoted directly from marketing material provided by SILCA) Okay, well that means that I'd have to crack open a bead after the claimed wet period for this sealant which is 160-180 days to reintroduce more sealant? That is about six months, which I would be surprised to find to be true, but let's say that pans out. Well, can you wear out your tire in six months? Maybe some of you would,but for those that would not, then you have to go through the hassle of remounting a bead, and sometimes that can be a crap shoot. Tires stretch, and sometimes rim to tire fit is loose anyway. Sometimes you have a puncture protected belt that makes mounting a nightmare anyway. 

If you could just crack open that valve stem and reintroduce sealant, it would alleviate any potential headaches. But if you buy into the SILCA Ultimate sealant, well, sorry..... Now you have that trade off. Maybe for some it will be worth it. And one has to wonder- Will this clog my valve stem more easily anyway? I'd recommend airing up with your valve stem at 10 o'clock or two o'clock to help prevent just that.

Meanwhile, there are at least six other really good sealants that you don't have that compromise to deal with. That leaves me to think that this is for that person that wants to feel like they have the ultimate sealing sealant, and the marketing guys at SILCA made sure you will with the name. (See what they did there?)

Hmm.... As for me? I just don't see the advantage for my riding here. 

That's a wrap for this week! Have a great weekend and get out and ride!

Friday News And Views

 A "Trans Iowa" On Foot?

The online news source, "Axios Des Moines" reported Monday concerning a runner's attempt to beat the FKT across the state of Iowa. The runner, Paul Noble, started in Muscatine, Iowa last Sunday and was hoping to reach Sigourney that day. His itinerary from there: Sigourney to Indianola, Indianola to Messena, Messena to Council Bluffs. 

The route followed Highway 92, for the most part. Noble hoped to be done sometime on Wednesday. The time to beat? His friend, Taylor Ross holds the record to beat at 4 days, 15 hours, 32 minutes, and 41 seconds.

And Paul Noble pulled it off. "Axios Des Moines" reported yesterday that Noble made it to Council Bluffs with a total time of 94 hours and 50 minutes. Congratulations Paul Noble!

From Cannondale/CX World's social media feed.

Cannondale/CX World Ends Cyclo Cross Efforts:

On Monday a bombshell was dropped by Cannondale/CX World Team that they were ceasing operations immediately. The team had contested cyclo cross races in North America and Europe for 16 years. 

Comments: Pretty stunning news when you consider that this team was a stalwart of the North American scene and was the last big outfit doing cyclo cross in North America. 

One has to wonder if the gravel scene's rise to prestige in North America, the UCI recognizing gravel with a series, and the series like Life Time's Grand Prix are taking away riders and focus from cyclo cross now to the point that marketing is switching gears to gravel. 

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that this has something to do with it, but there probably is more to it than just that. Supply chain shortages generally mean that niche, low selling items get cut to make way for higher value production. (Noticed a Twitter pole asking when CX riders last bought a complete CX bike at a shop. Average answer? Five years ago, and most said they never had, preferring to build up their own from frames or they bought used) Inflation pressures certainly have to be considered here. Travel and staffing costs for the team have probably been a heavy burden of late. 

But a lot of athletes are turning to the gravel scene now. So, you have to think that this- especially here in North America- is a really big issue for cyclo cross.

State Bicycle's 4130 Alouette is a fixed gear gravel bike.

Would You? Could You? Go Fixed?

State Bicycle announced this past week that they have a new fixed gear gravel bike called the 4130 Alouette. It is steel, (natch!) and can take up to a 42mm tire, comes in four color schemes, and in either a flat bar or drop bar configuration for sub-600 bucks. 

Comments: Fixed gear gravel riders are nothing new. Rare- yes - but the fixed gear gravel rider has existed for a long time. I came into contact with fixed gear via gravel during Trans Iowa. In fact, it was a bicycle you probably would never have pegged for an appearance at Trans Iowa. It was a fixed gear Rivendell with a rack and panniers ridden by Ken Yokanovich. And he finished the 300+ mile T.I.v3 course in 15th place out of the 24 official finishers that year.  

That was back in 2007. We had another fixed gear finisher in Ben Shockey two years later, and finally, the last guy to pull off the feat on a fixie in Trans Iowa was Jay Barre in T.I.v10. All did 300+ miles fixed in less than 34 hours. 

And fixed gear riders have appeared in several other gravel events as well. So, while it may seem really crazy and odd, I get it, and it is not a new thing. That State Bicycle has come out with this should only help propel the idea and I expect at least a few more folks will take up fixed gear gravel riding. 

As far as the bike- it's good enough,but the geometry they chose is just too steep and high for my liking. Too 'track-ish', if you will. I still want a fixed gear gravel bike, but it would have to be done in the geometry I prefer: Low bottom bracket (I don't lean in corners enough to worry about clipping pedals) and a slacker head tube angle. The State 4130 Alouette has a 65mm bottom bracket drop. No thank you! I'd have to have at least a 70mm drop for my way of riding, but that's just me. 

Mid-South overall winner Cole Paton (L) with Bobby Wintle (Image courtesy of Orange Seal)

Mid-South Goes Off With Dry-ish Year:

Uncharacteristically cold morning temperatures gave way to warmer, but windier weather for the Mid-South 2022 event which led to a dry-ish course for the assembled riders. Cole Paton, of the Orange Seal Off Road Team won the event overall.

Comments: Two years ago the Mid-South event marked the end of "normal affairs" for quite some time. With the COVID-19 virus moving from 'pandemic' status to 'endemic' status, the return of the Mid-South was welcomed by many gravel riders and I could sense a joy and happiness from social media posts I saw over that weekend which communicated somewhat of the atmosphere surrounding the event. 

Oddly enough, or maybe not...Mid-South doesn't crack the door open much in the endemic cycling media. Mid-South, for as 'big' as it has gotten, still seems to carry that stigma of being a 'not-a-race' race where there is certainly worthy competition for media coverage but it gets either zero (Velo News) or it gets pushed down the page in a hurry. 

Whatever. I'm here for it and I hope that Mid-South keeps it real. If anything, I think it would be great to see that event take an even more focused slant toward the 'everyman' riders and the Pro teams and riders can go do those other fancy-pants events. But I know that is probably a very unrealistic viewpoint these days. And furthermore- It isn't my event. So, my opinion here- that's all....... But I do appreciate Bobby Wintle's efforts to celebrate everyone and not just focus on the prestigious front runners.

SILCA Tubeless Tire Sealant Announced:

Sporting a foaming latex formula laced with 6mm, 9mm, and 12mm carbon fibers reclaimed from carbon wheels, F-1 racing parts, and airplane carbon fiber, SILCA Ultimate Tubeless Sealant claims to easily seal up to a "6+mm" puncture. 

The sealant is so effective at coagulating that it must be introduced to the tire by pouring the sealant in at the time of tire mounting. SILCA claims it will easily plug up any injector or valve stem.

Comments: Hmm.... " Must be poured into the tire during tire install!" (Copy quoted directly from marketing material provided by SILCA) Okay, well that means that I'd have to crack open a bead after the claimed wet period for this sealant which is 160-180 days to reintroduce more sealant? That is about six months, which I would be surprised to find to be true, but let's say that pans out. Well, can you wear out your tire in six months? Maybe some of you would,but for those that would not, then you have to go through the hassle of remounting a bead, and sometimes that can be a crap shoot. Tires stretch, and sometimes rim to tire fit is loose anyway. Sometimes you have a puncture protected belt that makes mounting a nightmare anyway. 

If you could just crack open that valve stem and reintroduce sealant, it would alleviate any potential headaches. But if you buy into the SILCA Ultimate sealant, well, sorry..... Now you have that trade off. Maybe for some it will be worth it. And one has to wonder- Will this clog my valve stem more easily anyway? I'd recommend airing up with your valve stem at 10 o'clock or two o'clock to help prevent just that.

Meanwhile, there are at least six other really good sealants that you don't have that compromise to deal with. That leaves me to think that this is for that person that wants to feel like they have the ultimate sealing sealant, and the marketing guys at SILCA made sure you will with the name. (See what they did there?)

Hmm.... As for me? I just don't see the advantage for my riding here. 

That's a wrap for this week! Have a great weekend and get out and ride!

Thursday News And Views

 So much news this week! I had to break it up into two posts because had I stuffed this all into one "FN&V" this would have been a novel-length post. And this sort of thing is not unprecedented for the blog. Older readers might recall that "News and Views" posts used to pop up on random days all the time back when this blog got started. So, with that said, let's dive in.....

The logo for the new "Randy's Ride" event.

Pirate Cycling League Announces "Randy's Ride":

Randy Gibson, a co-promoter for Gravel Worlds for years, was senselessly killed by a drunk driver while he was riding his bicycle in 2017. Since then, PCL members have honored Randy and his legacy in several ways, one of which was a ride on the last gravel route Randy did on the first weekend in October.  

More and more folks have joined in over the years, and so Gravel Worlds/PCL have decided to create an event celebrating Randy Gibson and the gravel cycling community he loved with the announcement of "Randy's Ride" to be held October 2nd, 2022. 

The event will definitely just be a ride. There will be no hoopla or event schwag, prizes, or timing. Basically it will be a group ride for fun and as an aside we can donate to several causes along with the PCL who will match donations up to $2,000.00. Benefactors will be  Randy Gibson Memorial Fund, Adventure for All, and Nebraska NICA.

Five bucks gets you registered for the ride. Registration is here.  https://www.bikereg.com/randys-ride.

Spinergy Wheels Stands With Ukraine:

Generally I don't get political here, but this effort on the part of Spinergy Wheels is commendable, I think. They are giving a portion of every sale of special "Stand With Ukraine" wheel sets to an outfit called World Central Kitchen who are feeding Ukrainian refugees at eight points along the border as well as supporting restaurants within the country to help feed people in the war-torn country. 

You can do this customization of their PBO spokes with one yello and one blue spoke on any Spinergy wheel set on their site that uses those spokes including the GX and GXX wheels, both of which I have and ride on. (Standard Disclaimer)

You can learn more at Spinergy's website.
 

An image I used in my RidingGravel.com review of the Breakaway bottles.

Polar Bottles Breakaway Series:

So, I just got done posting my review of Polar Bottles Breakaway series of bottles for the bike that includes a nifty little one called the Session Muck. It really was developed with full-suspension MTB's in mind, but it also works really well with the under-the-down-tube placement on a gravel or touring bike where clearances might get a little tight with the front wheel.  

Well, they also have a 30 ounce size perfect for my long-distance rides. Bonus- they do not leak goo all over my bike if I use a hydration mix. Nice! So, as many of you know from last year, I was searching for ways to carry high capacity water bottles and I was dealing with under-the-down tube mounting issues as well. These bottles help solve all of that for me.  

So, I got to keep the reviewed bottles, of course, but Polar is sending me a few more, so once again- Standard Disclaimer applies. I'll be having more to say about my bottle/hydration strategies as the season progresses. 

Ergon Announces CLF ALLROAD Carbon Seatposts, Bar Tape, Orthocell Pads:

Sea Otter is coming in a couple weeks or so, and the news is percolating up to the surface from different companies already. Ergon sent a press release out Wednesday covering new ALLROAD offerings. 

Some of you may remember the Ergon ALLROAD saddle I reviewed late last year. Well, the full line of those saddles are on the way and should be out later this Spring. 

The often seen, but seldom used Ergon suspension seat post finally gets released full-scale now under the ALLROAD range. Previously, there really was no market for the post because you could not use it for mountain biking and gravel riding was in its infancy. Earlier than this, I had actually had my hands on one of these seatposts but then Ergon suddenly did an about face and pulled it from the market.  This post, or an early version of it, has been seen since about 2006 off and on.

The post weighs a bit more than 200 grams at 220 claimed. The post will retail at $249.95 USD. There are set back and straight versions. The setback has 25mm of offset. 

I have been asked off and on over the years why Ergon had straight bar grips but there was no option for drop bars. Well, now there is the "BT Gravel" and "BT ALLROAD" bar tapes at 3.5mm and 2.5mm thicknesses respectively. The tapes will be $39.95 and $37.95 USD respectively. The BT tapes will be offered in five colors each, but there was no images or descriptions given as to what those might be. 

Additionally, there was announced an "Orthocell Pad Kit", which is like those four piece gel pad kits you can get for under the bar tape comfort. The difference here is that Ergon is using a high density foam instead of gel.  An Orthocell Pad Kit will set you back $29.95. 

Okay, look for another slew of news tomorrow! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!