If you happen to’ve been studying this weblog for awhile you’ve most likely been asking your self, “What’s in it for me?” Effectively, these seconds a day you spend scrolling on the terlet will quickly repay for one fortunate reader, as within the coming days I shall be giving freely an entire complete bicycle!*

*[Bicycle pictured is not the one I’ll be giving away. Not even close.]

As for the character of the giveaway, right here’s an FAQ that can solely depart you extra confused:

So what bike are you giving freely?

I’ll inform you when the time comes. You’ve seen it on this weblog.

When will this occur?

I dunno, possibly subsequent week someday? I’ve to get the bike prepared first. Let’s go together with “soon-ish.”

Is it a gravel bike? I hear gravel bikes are the massive factor now.

Positive, it’s a gravel bike, why not? Any bike could be a gravel bike. Gravel is a frame of mind.

How will you resolve who will get it?

I’ve devised a scheme by which opponents might want to make use of their crafty, thereby making certain the bicycle goes to the craftiest amongst you.

Is that this a brand new bike? A classic bike? Come on, gimme one thing right here!

The bike is timeless. It defies categorization and transcends such mundane considerations. It’s concurrently traditional and leading edge. You’re unfit of it; arguably no human is worthy of it. In a method it sickens me that somebody should personal it in any respect, however for those who actually give it some thought isn’t this the elemental downside of materialism? That as quickly as we take a good looking thought or thought or feeling and make it actual it turns into compromised by the mere undeniable fact that it exists within the bodily airplane as one thing temporal that may now be misused and tarnished and damaged? By merely creating one thing and manifesting it within the right here and now are we not, in that very second, additionally consigning it to demise?

Wait, what have been we speaking about?

I ask the questions, not you.

Effectively take a look at that, the tables have turned, haven’t they?

No they haven’t!

Sure, they’ve! The questioned has develop into the questioner! Now I get to be in daring!

No you don’t! And that’s not even a query! You solely get to be in daring for those who ask a question!

Okay, right here’s a query, how does it really feel to be such a loser?

Superb, you win.

So yeah, hold your eyes peeled for that.

In the meantime, yesterday I as soon as once more traversed the recent and humid metropolis, although deserted Citi Bikes…

…and capacious urine jugs:

It was a sordid state of affairs, however I floated above all of it, holding my nostril excessive within the rarefied air astride my A. Homer Hilsen, and I’m happy to announce my most up-to-date tweaks to it proved fairly profitable:

Particularly, the bars at the moment are precisely the place they must be, and the bike feels significantly better for it:

It additionally felt noticeably quicker (my arrival time would seem to help this), and whereas this might be because of the improved place, it may also simply be that I lastly obtained round to topping off the tires. I used to be fairly reckless in doing soo, too, and I didn’t even use Jan Heine’s tire stress calculator:

I additionally didn’t use his tires. As a substitute I’ve been utilizing Schwalbe Marathon Supremes on this bike because the fall of 2020. Whereas completely different tires have completely different makes use of and it’s form of foolish to match all of them, general I believe that the Schwalbe Marathon Supremes could also be the very best tires I’ve ever used. They’re comparatively mild, they trip properly, they went on simple, I’ve ridden them on every little thing from glass-strewn streets to gravel roads, and thru all that they haven’t given me a little bit of bother. In reality they’re so sturdy the rear tire remains to be exhibiting the little put on indicator thingies:

After all that is the bike trade we’re speaking about, so Schwalbe did what any wise firm does after they’ve obtained a product this good: they discontinued it. Sure, for those who trip a motorcycle and you actually like a component, you periodically get up in the midst of the evening in a chilly sweat, go browsing, and ensure it’s nonetheless out there, and it was throughout one such match that I found the Schwalbe Marathon Supreme is, alas, no extra. As I perceive it, they’ve changed this tire with the Marathon Effectivity:

Conveniently, the 27.5 doesn’t are available something narrower than a 2.15, which completely screws up my entire fender state of affairs:

I’m sufficiently old to recollect after we lamented the shortage of wider tires. Now if you need one thing narrower than your higher thigh individuals suppose you’re a loopy particular person. I blame disc brakes, gravel, and Jan Heine pushing the notion that bicycle tires ought to really feel like strolling round in ballet slippers after washing down a Vicodin with a glass of pink wine. At this price in 5 years we’ll be utilizing tires made from waxed canvas and inflating them orally.

I nonetheless have some Rene Herse tires, by the best way. Perhaps I’ll put them on the giveaway bike…