Modern Man's Daydreams Have Turned Into Nightmares.
Posted January 24, 2012 @ 3:48pm
There has been a lot of talk on the "International Network" lately about gravel racing and "fat road" bikes. I'm not talking about cyclocross bikes. I'm not talking about 29'ers with drop bars. I'm not talking about "Montster Cross." I'm talking about road bikes. Many of you might hear "road bike" and think Pro-Tour machines, full carbon, 23mm tires, tubulars even. When I hear road bike, I'm not thinking like that. It doesn't matter if it's fresh tarmac or pea gravel. Any bike for any surface. And forget 45c or 50c tires. A decent road bike, in my opinion, should be able to fit 28c tires or even 32c. Most companies do not offer this. Surly does with their Pacer. Perhaps Jamis, or Masi. I'm sure there's other brands, too. There are also still some classic road bikes out there, too, such as the Bridgestone RB-1, & RB-2. But when a market is created for a segment that doesn't really exist, then I...
You've got 5 days to get your postcard in to enter for the http://www.almanzo.com, the premier gravel event in the upper midwest, and, arguably, in the country. But never mind the hyperbole, just do it. You won't regret it. Chris Skogen deserves and commands your respect. This man is tireless, and the entire reason that gravel racing has gone bonkers in the last 5 years. 
After 44 trips around the sun I've learned a few things. Some of them I wish I could forget. But by far the one of the most sanguine experiences I've recently had was a junket for Paved Magazine to Aigle, Switzerland last August to view the new Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting product launch. Never much of a fan of Swiss Miss™ Instant Cocoa, but this was an outstanding product, in a truly outstanding setting. Hopefully you'll read all about it in an upcoming issue of Paved, but until then, here's some photos from the trip. Enjoy.