Riding Gravel

It was a few years ago now, when cruising through a cycling clothing shop in a small town in Italy, that I ran across Sportful as a brand name.

Today we have news about a new wheel set from Atomik and how Continental Tire and Trail Forks have partnered up to share gravel ride routes. Let’s go!

I wouldn’t go looking for anything better at this price point in rain gear. In fact, this out-performs jackets I’ve tried which cost a lot more than the Century CC does.

Campagnolo has made the new Levante wheel set with carbon fiber rims, of course, but stuck with a bit more traditional based bearings using a cup and cone set up …

At the end of the day, I have mixed feelings about this seat post.

Located roughly between the farmlands of Bakersfield and the Central Coast of California is an area that I had heard of but never been to. It is not a place one would just drive by on the way to somewhere because it is pretty much in the middle of the proverbial nowhere.

Salsa Cycles announces an all-new model today dubbed the Journeyer. This new model builds on the legacy of the Journeyman, which debuted in 2018 and was a big success for the brand.

The season for gravel events is getting started now, and we’ve got a review of something useful for you from Craft Cadence in their new Top Tube Bag that might make those events a bit more pleasant.

Sea Otter Classic, I did miss you! It had been a long time since I had trod the gravel paths and grassy patches, passing all those vendors in pop up tents, each one hoping for good return on their investment. It was, based on what I saw, a good show.

Lauf decided that they wanted to be able to fit a wider tire. (700 X 57mm) So they went with a few choices to get there which are, as a group, quite a bit different than typical gravel bikes out there.

The Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, announced just this past January, has now unveiled the inaugural class of people associated with gravel cycling’s modern era, pioneering days. The first class of inductees are as follows:

Showers Pass is a well known and respected name in cycling rain wear which is celebrating 25 years of business in 2022. To mark this occasion they chose to introduce the Century CC Jacket.

Then, last year, I was watching a YouTube video from The Move with Lance Armstrong and his merry men commenting on the Tour de France. One of the sponsors was a company called LMNT, an electrolyte additive to a water bottle.

With the goals of producing safer, lighter, better ventilated bicycle helmets that use less plastics to produce, Lazer has introduced KinetiCore technology.

News breaks today of updates to that range of tires. The company has a new puncture protection system and has lowered weights across the range as well as engineering in a lower rolling resistance for their tires across the range.

You would think by this time I would have enough lights in my light box for just about anything, but no. Not quite.

So, right up front I have to address the weather. Yes- the weather. We Mid-Westerners always seem to start out conversations with chatter about the recent weather, but in this case, it really has some bearing on how the ShockStop Pro Seat Post worked for me.

Today in Gravel Grinder News we have a new commemorative PCL event from Nebraska and news from Spinergy Wheels. Let’s jump in.

While bottles for your bicycle are not one of those things you might think about as being important – They are ‘just water bottles’, after all- These utilitarian devices for cyclists are a detail that could be a key part of a successful run at your next event.

Want a geared Stormchaser? Well, your wait is now over as Salsa Cycles announced today that they have a new STORMCHASER GRX 810 1X SUS model.

In today’s Gravel Grinder News we’ve got upcoming reviews to talk about on products from Showers Pass, Craft Cadence, and Polar Bottle.

The Scoutset Bag Brace is a unique, titanium device which stabilizes and carries bags (or maybe even other light loads) well with a simple clamp which takes the place of a steer tube spacer on a threadless steer tube set up. It makes a bicycle with no front rack mount capabilities into a front load carrying bike, or it could be that perfect stabilization device for the bike packer using a large handle bar roll.

It (The GloWorm Alpha 1.0 RF Light) is what I would grab for a night ride that saw me out there in the dark for an hour or more.

Okay, so having an emergency kit- is this an idea for you? That’s the number one question to answer here, in my opinion. I think that answer is “Yes” for some riders, but with some qualifications.

Much like the sacred battles on Olympus, The Theoi is designed to challenge participants both physically and mentally. There are three parts to this event: an intermediate-distance triathlon, a near-vertical gravel time trial (bike) up the mountain, and a demanding off-road/gravel bike race.

Q & A With Enduro Bearings’ Matt Harvey – by Grannygear Enduro BearingsBearings. Those hidden, greasy, spinning balls of mystery. Who can really know them?…

“…the Astral handle bar bag is really quite good. It is easy to get into and is a very useful size.”

So, once again I see a sealant product with great initial set up traits, longevity in terms of use, but with a question mark in terms of its tire sealing capabilities.

The news keeps coming and first up we have event news from Grinder Nationals. Plus Gravel Worlds gets a title sponsor, doping controls make their debut in the gravel scene, and more.

Redshift Sports could have kept on doing what they were doing and could have considered the ShockStop Seat Post a success, but they didn’t. They went straight away in to finding ways to improve upon the idea ….

Today Moots announces a new titanium gravel/adventure bike dubbed the Routt ESC. This new model is a 700c wheeled rig set for those riders which like to go from the gravel to a bit of single track and back again.

Today it has been announced that a “Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame” organization, and in the future, a physical home for the hall, will operate out of Emporia, Kansas

This tire is kind of an oddball in WTB’s line up. The other SG2 cut protected tires I’ve tried are good, but this Vulpine is so much nicer riding

The Bontrager Circuit WaveCel helmet is a lighter, sleeker offering with the added protection that the WaveCel liner affords a rider.

Okay, so FiberLink seems to have an impressive lifespan, it seems to have a pretty good ability to clog a sealant injector nozzle, so I assume a good performance in the field, and it seals up tire casings quite nicely. But, is it a better choice than the most popular brands?

What don’t I like? It’s black and that scares me a bit for daytime use on trafficked roads although it sure looks good. And at my age, I need all the sexy I can get. But not DEAD sexy.

From time to time, I have experienced great joy along when mountaineering or riding gravel…. but this summer took such experiences to another level.

A hundy gets you a couple of bags from a small US company looking to make a dent in the industry, seemingly off to a good start.

But I really would like to try these with a good sprinkling of ‘pixie dust’ on them. A dust that would allow the tire to give me a more compliant ride across all conditions.

Grepp Handle Bar Tape: At The Finish – by Guitar Ted The unusual Grepp Handle Bar Tape has been used on three different bicycles in…

A causal search of Amazon for bike lights will show a huuuuge availability of lights…small to large…pretty much all from China, and at reduced prices compared to the mainstream brands. Like really reduced.

Folks looking for a better saddle in 2022 and beyond really need to make an effort to try out these Allroad saddles from Ergon. They are not like the old Ergon saddles, (which is good), and they deliver on the promise of great fit and comfort on gravel.

In 2020, State launched the bike we have in for review – the 6061 Black Label All-Road. Designed as a lighter, faster, yet still affordable option, the 6061 Black Label All-Road features a heat-treated alloy frame, full carbon fork and unique State-branded 1×11-speed drivetrain.

Today a new U.S. based company has been announced called Wilde Bicycle Co. The company is headed up by former All City Bikes founder and leader for 11 years, Jeff Frane.

Oddly, the Vulpine isn’t as fast a rolling tire on gravel which is loose, chunky, and deep as other tires with similar width. However; once you get out of situations where the terrain is loose and deep, the Vulpine begins to show up as a fast, controllable tire.

Just what the heck is this thing? It has straps like a frame bag, but it isn’t really a frame bag, or a bag at all. It has elements of a tool roll, but it doesn’t go under your saddle. It is shaped like an overgrown wallet, but the permanently attached front strap kind of takes it out of that category.

Maybe what we want is a wheel to cross a county on. Or a continent on. Or a world. And so flash is second to longevity, value, and solid, long days in the saddle. And I do think that the Wanderlusts hit that mark.

The recycled fabric seems tough, stretchy, and washes well in the laundry. I have no issues with the fabric and the recycled element to it makes me feel good about my impact on the environment.

I liked the tread pattern. It looked right up my alley, an alley paved with asphalt mixed with dirt roads.

So, in the end, I come back to that old adage: “You get what you pay for”. In terms of the American Classic Wentworths, that’s not saying they are bad.

It is the bar for those who don’t like the weird, laid-out levers look, and for those who don’t want a lot of flare to the drops. It’s the flared drop bar that looks ‘normal’. It’s the drop bar that takes advantage of what carbon fiber can bring to the table where other carbon handle bars have not. It’s got great ergonomic features, and it rides really well. What more could you ask for in a drop handle bar for gravel riding?

Moving on with our light review round-up, we have the light from Bontrager. As we mentioned in the intro post, what I received from Trek was the Ion Elite R which is one step down from the top of the line light.

The Craft Cadence Cycling Wallet is a fine way to protect sensitive smart phones and to carry things like money, credit cards, keys, and more in an organized, safe way.

What we have here is a new tire from WTB with an old name that has a new mission: Be fast on gravel.

Remembering that these are $35.00 tires (each) means that we probably should not be looking at the American Classic offerings as being equal to, or better than tires costing more, despite what “direct-to-consumer” marketing may seem to indicate here.

The NiteRider Lumina 1100 (and likely the 1200 version) would be my pick for road focused or higher speed gravel rides as well as city cruising.

Every time I did this I felt like I could not feel as much- or any- vibrations coming through the saddle like I was through my hands and my feet. It did not seem to matter if I had a chamois on or if I was in my street clothes, this seemed to me to be the case. That Infinergy® stuff really seems to knock down the higher frequency stuff really well.

Grepp tape is reusable, washable, and recyclable which makes this tape unique amongst the category. I found that it seems to have durability and a stable nature on the handle bar.

The VIS Trail Pro is my choice of the test for a light that is mostly used in the dirt and at speeds under 30mph. The warm color tint and the useful UI; the quality build with high levels of water resistance…it’s a very nice light.

The Craft Cadence Handle Bar Bag is a very sturdy, well made bag which has a lot of versatility and is simple to use.

This race report is brought to you by the Salty Lizard 100’s Race director, Bobby Kennedy. The Salty Lizard 100 just took place in October

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Guitar Ted is flying solo in this…

I will miss the Masi and I hope there are many more bikes like this for us to buy and enjoy. Bikes that are solid and of good value; bikes that don’t break the bank.

This handle bar actually has features that make a difference in ride feel and comfort. Plus, it is fairly light. That’s always a nice thing.

A package of KOM Cycling products arrived some time ago and I have been playing around with the bits and pieces for a while now.

The unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley happened again on October 10th and by all accounts, it was a rousing success, with a big turnout and lots of happy faces.

I give the CZR wheels a ‘highly recommended’ score here. While certain singular features on competitor’s products may seem more appealing, the CZR wheels have a complete feature set, are a part of a systemic tubeless range, which not many other choices in wheels can lay claim to, and a wheel set which performs at a very high level in very demanding conditions.

ealant is a lot like tires are when it comes to opinions. What is legend and what is fact gets lost in the passionate takes some folks have concerning which one is ‘best’. So, as far as this opening introduction goes for this new sealant from WTB, many of you may, no doubt, dismiss it out of hand because of your choices. That’s fine. This review is not being done to evangelize anyone. But those who have a more open mind to new ideas should read on.

The most recent news for the gravel and back road rider is here. Sea Otter has come and gone, the first to be held since the pandemic struck in 2020, and a few things came out of that show/festival. We also have a couple of news items from recent press releases. Let’s check it out!

Lizard Skins was kind enough to supply a couple of the new offerings for 2021 in their cycling glove line. One pair is long fingered and one pair is short fingered and both are what I would call a light weight glove as far as warmth/fabric. I have used them for a bit now, one pair much more than the others…see below about that…and here are my thoughts.

The Craft Cadence Recycled Performance Jersey comes to us with a responsibly sourced material used to make a racy-snug fitting jersey which promises to have a performance to match its cut.

Thank you for joining me for Part 2 of this Round-Up. Hit that link above if you need to read Part 1 yet. Now then, let’s get back to the lights at hand. I am just doing a quick overview for now. When I look at these one at a time I will fill in more details.

When you hear or read the name “American Classic”, you probably are not thinking about tires. But that’s what we are looking at here.

It’s almost Fall. Of course in So Cal that does not mean much except that the days get shorter and it is not 105 degrees. No leaves will fall as they have all died of drought and have already fallen or they have burned up in some forest fire.

Today Fezzari Bikes, the direct to rider company, announces their take on a gravel bike, the Shafer. It is a carbon fiber frame and fork gravel bike with a lot of nice details and a forward-thinking geometry which pushes the boundaries of what gravel bike geometry can be going forward.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Guitar Ted and Andy get right after…

The Grepp tape is based on a synthetically produced, plant based fiber called TENCEL­­™ which comes from trees. The wood pulp is made into a base from which the fibers are then woven into threads. This is what faces your hands with the Grepp tape.

One of my longest rides this year was done on the SR Allroad Core. It was a 112 mile gravel ride with a little pavement mixed in here and there with towns passed through. The ride was 10.5 hours long and I experienced no saddle discomfort at all…

You just knew this was going to happen one day, didn’t you? The UCI- that big, evil, fun-ruining organization was going to come in and destroy everything you loved about the gravel event scene.

The bars were easy to set up and no more difficult to wrap than a standard handle bar, in my opinion. Once everything was set, I set my hands into the drops and pushed down. Whoa! These bars have some noticeable give.

The over-all shape of this bag is unusual, being that it sets on the bike flatter against the head tube and reaches downward toward the front wheel, rather than setting outward, or lengthwise, as many other bar bags do. It is more like a handbag in that way than anything I’ve seen for a bicycle.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Guitar Ted and Andy chat about some…

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel The guys are joined by Dan Roberts…

In today’s Gravel Grinder News we have a new Ride With GPS feature debuting and news about review items from Craft cadence. Plus we have information regarding a new gravel grinder to be held in Southwestern Texas in November. Let’s jump in!

There have been a lot of recent reports and discussions on how much of a difference ‘better’ wheels make on a bicycle and if they are worth the cost of the upgrade. Do lighter wheels actually matter? Is aero everything? Are red hubs really faster?

The WTB CZR wheels not only are light weight, very competitively priced, and super-subtle in looks, but have excellent lateral rigidity which enhances handling and reduces rider fatigue.

Honeybutt Chamois Creme: Quick Review – by Guitar Ted The subject of chamois creme is rarely talked about in casual conversation, with some exceptions, of…

Our look at the new Dura-Ace and Ultegra 12 speed and what- if any- implications it may have for a future GRX offering, and gravel tech in general.

Finish Line’s new FiberLink sealant is a latex based sealant that acts a lot like what you would expect. Initial set up remind me very much of how the competion’s latex selant formula sets up tires, and that is a good thing.

With plenty of miles on each of the tool rolls here, I am ready to give my thoughts on what each one does best and what they don’t do so well. As a bonus, I will also have a quick look at KOM’s “Tube Strap”, which is even more minimalist than a tool roll!

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Guitar Ted gives his full recap of…

I give these Gravel Shorts a high recommendation. The caveat being that they are shorter in the inseam than many baggies. If that suits you, these shorts are winners.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted chat with guest,…

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted have a lot…

The CZR range will include trail bike wheels and these gravel/road wheels which we have in for testing. Focusing then on the gravel side, the WTB CZR wheels will feature an internal rim width of 23mm, reinforced spoke hole beds, and WTB’s “4D” spoke holes which aim each nipple and spoke out to the hub at an angle which removes stress on the spokes which typical straight holes in rims cannot do.

So far the Masi Brunello has been smooth riding, good accelerating (especially with the Astral wheels on there), and quite willing for multi hour rides across varied road surfaces.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted are sans guest…

Today in Gravel Grinder News we have views on the new SRAM XPLR group, news of a carbon drop bar from Easton, and a new sealant from Finish Line. Let’s go!

Tool rolls- Those minimalist storage ‘bags’ which snuggle up under your saddle. You may have seen a few in the past. Well, we at RidingGravel.com have decided to check out three offerings. The SILCA Seat Roll Asymmetrico, the KOM Cycling Saddle Tool Roll, and the Topeak Burrito Pack.

Featured Event: Moran 166 – by Guitar Ted The Moran 166 is a new gravel event which will take place this September in the Upper…

As I wrap up our look at Ravemen lights, I have a go with some of the more budget oriented lights in Ravemen’s range.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted are joined by…

The PR800 is a great light with features that make it a bit more versatile and useful for the long distance cyclist.

My take on these two lights is that they would be great for the serious night rider who is out in the dark on a regular basis.

While it’s true everyone has different needs in a saddle, I’ve found the Terra Argo X.3 to be remarkably comfortable and smooth-riding. It also offers a generous fit range, so it can meet the needs of a wide variety of riders’ needs.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted are back at…

Now I often ride pure roadie wear on my gravel rides if they are long and fast over mixed surfaces…a typical gravel experience for around here. But for less of a ‘pace’ or for stuff like light bikepacking, I would grab the Explore stuff every time

I liked the overall feel and tacky grip, (when it was dry), of this tape. It does damp out some vibration – not all of them – so you end up with a nicer experience in regard to hand comfort. I liked how the cross-section allowed for the tape to have that soft-ribbed grip which aids in situations that might be a bit rowdier than your typical road surface.

…here is the Masi Brunello GRX 22 and it has more shaping in it’s frame than anything made of metal I have ever ridden. And my first impression is that it works. It works well. But that is getting ahead of myself.

Showers Pass, probably best known for rain gear, does have a new pair of shorts out called the “Gravel Shorts”. Of course, this distinction is the ‘buzzword du jour’ these days, but it does differentiate this pair of shorts from the similarly plainly named “Cross Country Shorts” which we reviewed back in 2018.

In today’s Gravel Grinder News we have a new handle bar tape offering from Wolf Tooth and some new on-bike storage solutions from KOM Cycling. Let’s dig in…..

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted get a chance…

So who is this tire for…..They are the kind of rider that wants a bullet-proof, easy tubeless set up, a tire that doesn’t require baby-sitting in terms of air pressure retention, and a tire that wears well. That is a tough combination to get right, but I believe that Pirelli did get this right with the Cinturato Gravel H tires.

HED Wheels, the Minnesota U.S.A. based maker of wheels, perhaps best known for their aerodynamic qualities, has released a new wheel in their Emporia range today. Dubbed the Emporia GC3, it features design cues from HED’s Vanquish RC Pro and Vanquish RC Pro Performance Series wheels and has a 30mm rim depth.

So, who is this tire best suited for? I believe that the way Panaracer has made this tire and the way that they market it as the “strongest version of the GravelKing SK..”speaks to a cyclist who craves a reliable tire with volume for rougher surfaces and/or heavy loads.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted remind you to…

There seems to be a run on green shoes of late as these are the second set I have seen in green….and I like it. Great color, in my opinion. But is it a great shoe?

GORE has been winning with me of late with clothing that really has been working well. This, after some other items that were real misses, has been a great surprise and has filled out my go-to list of staple clothing quite nicely.

Riding with the thicker DSP V2 tape was nice in that there was a bit of a reduction in buzz and the tape had a very noticeable give. It should be noted, however, that thicker tape means that your handlebar grip diameter will be larger. This may or may not be a positive for you.

Today Roval announces two new wheel sets based off their flagship Terra CLX wheels. The goal was to bring carbon fiber wheels and Roval’s design ethos down to price ranges which should be a bit easier on the budget for many more riders than the range topping CLX wheels. Additionally, Roval has a new flared drop bar made in carbon fiber to talk about.

The final video in our “Get Off The Couch And Ride!” series is all about bike fit and why you need one. In this episode, Pat Casey of Peak State Fit walks Salty and Stupid Cycling’s Bobby Kennedy through a bike fit. Meanwhile, Pat shares why a bike fit is not just for racers. Anyone can benefit from being professionally fitted.

I’m pretty impressed by the Cinturato. It does ride well, handles well, especially for a tire with not much tread, and it is almost a ‘set it and forget it’ tire in terms of width and air pressure retention.

Oh, and by the way, it cleans up out of your bottles really well. Just thought I should mention that before closing out here, because I hate it when something nasty starts growing in my favorite water bottles! Roctane- Check it out. I think it works well and it may help you get those big miles in this Summer and for the future.

EPISODE #81 – TIM TUCKER OF GRAVEL UNRAVEL Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted are joined…

The Gravel King SK+ tires have decent roll, are seemingly quite resistant to punctures, and have copious volume for their size. In fact, you had better have room for 50mm tires on your bike if you want to try out these 650B tires.

The overall design of each aspect of the system has a pretty wide appeal, in my opinion. So, yes- it isn’t for everyone. But if you are looking for a way to gain a bit more control, better ride comfort, and more versatility in your gravel/adventure riding, then the Redshift Sports Kitchen Sink Handlebars, Cruise Control grips, and Really Long Bar Tape are well worth looking into. I highly recommend the system.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted get on the…

Okay, so I didn’t know what to expect here, but what I found has been pretty impressive so far. The Pirelli tires roll well, and set up great.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted start off the…

unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley 2021 Announced – by Guitar Ted The shindig in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River Valley area is going to happen again…

The Ravemen range of front and rear lights is intriguing and some of the models have some pretty unique features promising some nice user experiences. At the asking prices, it would appear that these lights are a great value as well. Stay tuned as I get these into use and we’ll find out where Ravemen lights hit and where they miss.

There are several sizes of the Gravel King SK+ tires in the range, we happen to have the 650B X 48mm versions. The tires we have are the blackwall versions, but Panaracer lists a skin wall version as well. None of the funky colors as with other Gravel King variants here though, which you don’t get with the SK+. Just plain black tread.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted bring you another…

I can see these as wheels you upgrade to which you ‘just ride’ and not give much thought to. In other words, perhaps the perfect wheel set for most people’s needs.

The control part is what I wasn’t expecting. When things get rowdy, rough, and sketchy, the Drop Grips especially come into play and make controlling the bike a much easier task. I felt a lot more secure while holding these grips when I hit loose gravel in a turn, for instance.

Spring is here and so are a few items in the Riding Gravel storage area. It’s been a while since we have had any t-shirts available, so we have fixed that now with two designs. One is a Riding Gravel classic and the other one is a new version of a shirt we offered last time we had shirts.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted get right into…

The tubeless ‘dance’ isn’t hard to do once you get the hang of it. That said- it isn’t for everybody. Using tubes is definitely a lot easier and comes with less maintenance issues. Of course, they do fail when punctured, there is no free lunch. You’ll just have to decide which suits you better, and if all this maintenance is worth the benefits for your riding.

The news of a new power measuring pedal product from Garmin is out now and our own MG attended the ‘virtual’ press release event. Following are the details and comments on this new pedal system for power measurement from Garmin called “Rally”.

The WTB Proterra i23 wheels are a subtle looking, value priced wheel set at $649.00 for the pair. You get smooth EZO sealed bearings, easily serviced parts, and WTB’s proven tubeless rims. Nothing ‘shouty‘ going on here, just a workingman-like wheel set. Plus, they pass the critical ‘wobble/oscillation test’ which means they will handle well on sketchy gravel. Better than most other value priced and stock wheel sets.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted go through a…

Today Riding Gravel continues the series of videos which will focus on how anyone can get from ‘zero to race day shape‘. Realizing that COVID-19 may have caused many of you to take up couch surfing and that your riding time may have suffered from a lack of focus,

Salsa Cycles has announced the 2021 versions of their popular Warbird and Stormchaser models. These models reflect color and spec changes only. The designs remain the same as the 2020 models.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted kick off the…

The Redshift Sports Kitchen Sink Handlebar, Cruise Control Grips, and Really Long Bar Tape combine to make a system that is intriguing for the gravel and back road cyclist. Add in the loop bar section and it becomes more versatile with an added possibility for cargo bag attachment, accessories attachment points, and obviously as an aero position for riding into winds. There is a lot going on here.

So, if you can get past the fact that the GXX is not going to win any lightweight wheel contests, the GXX wheels will give your bike a smoother, more controlled ride with less energy wasted trying to herd the bike down a rougher road. That’s worth a lot right there, in my opinion.

If you are racing, or if you want a great tire that makes riding to gravel and dirt roads more fun and speedy, this is your tire.

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY BIKE RAGS Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted get right into…

Today Riding Gravel continues the series of videos which will focus on how anyone can get from ‘zero to race day shape‘. Realizing that COVID-19 may have caused many of you to take up couch surfing and that your riding time may have suffered from a lack of focus, Bobby Kennedy of Salty and Stupid Cycling has created a series of videos to help anyone get off the couch and ride.

Spring is showing signs of kicking into gear and you know what that means, right? Gravel and back road riding season, that’s what! But is your bike ready? If you shoved your bike into the corner and didn’t do any maintenance, it will need doing now.

The WTB Proterra i23 wheels are a subtle looking, value priced wheel set at $649.00 for the pair. You get smooth EZO sealed bearings, easily serviced parts, and WTB’s proven tubeless rims. Nothing ‘shouty’ going on here, just a workingman-like wheel set.

Winter is hitting the Riding Gravel headquarters hard, but that doesn’t mean that things are not happening. Today we have news on some upcoming products from WTB, Redshift Sports, and Finish Line which are due to arrive soon, or already have, which we will be reviewing.

This is an interesting choice and reflects again that the gravel cycling segment is pushing road biking technology forward in a way that was unforeseen only a few years ago.

EPISODE #72 – SPECIAL GUEST JOHN STAMSTAD Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted are joined by…

Today in “Gravel Grinder News” we have a new rear derailleur and cassette from SRAM plus news of a versatile water bottle cage system from Granite Design.

For my uses, the cell phone, money, and card functionality makes this case an essential part of my kit now. I can pop out my cell phone easily, and I can stow money in there instead of floating it around in a sandwich baggie.

Today Riding Gravel is excited to announce a series of videos which will focus on how anyone can get from ‘zero to race day shape’.

The Cloudburst is a fully seam-sealed rain jacket made with a new fabric called eliteAIR™. This new fabric has the characteristic of being stretchable and very breathable. The jacket also is packable with less bulk than many seam sealed rain jackets.

This tool would definitely cover a lot of needs on a long, self-supported type ride where you may need to do some repair work to keep you going. It’s got a few things in there that are pretty iffy, (the tire lever, the 8mm hex key) , but for the common repairs I think its a winner.

Today we have new wheel sets to tell you about from WTB and Spinergy. Plus a new tubeless plug tool from Dynaplug is also in the news this week.

ABOUT EPISODE #70 Get 10% off from Andy’s Bike Shop – Use code RidingGravel Andy and Guitar Ted keep the goods coming. Andy has some…

HED Wheels announces today that they have a limited edition polished Emporia GA Pro wheel set on offer. These wheels feature HED’s newest rim design for gravel with an internal width of 25mm.

The Challenge Tires Getaway is looking to be one of the better choices for anyone who wants a fast tire for racing purposes, or for anyone looking for a very smooth riding tire in the 40mm range.

he Pakgo Gearpack is a great way to keep organized – be that at home or on the go. It’s a nice item one could keep ready and whether you ride from home or grab the bag to hit a trail head, or a destination to cycle from, the Pakgo will make sure you have what you need to hand.