I'm very intrigued by the Light Bicycle gravel wheels. I hope you can get some to review. Related tire question. The Goodyear website is says the XPLR tires are only compatible with the Zipp XPLR rims. Given that the Light rims have similar dimensions, do you think they would work? Based on previous comments, you don't seem to be a fan of the Goodyears, what would you recommend instead? I'm not racing gravel , but I need to keep up on gravel rides with guys that do, lol.
They've already shipped! Light Bicycle agreed to build a loaner set for review shortly after this newsletter edition went out, and they managed to get them out the door before shutting down for the Lunar New Year holiday.
I haven't decided yet what tires I'm going to run, but the hooked format on the Light Bicycle rims will certainly open up more possibilities. I have a set of those Goodyear XPLR Inters inbound already so I'm going to try those first (still need to confirm compatibility with Goodyear, though).
Regarding Goodyear gravel tires, I'm not sure where you would have gotten that impression as I actually have been pretty happy with them overall. They're definitely not the lightest/supplest/fastest/whatever, but I find them at least on par with stuff from Maxxis. If you're looking for something that'll help you keep up with your buddies, I'd first think about why that's the case and then choose your tires accordingly (I know it's been ages since we rode together, but I can't imagine it's because of a lack of fitness!).
I wait with bated breath for your Light Bicycle wheel review! I obviously misunderstood or misread a comment on the Goodyears, so I’m very interested to see if they are compatible with the Lights. I will check out that article you suggested on gear selection to offset weakness. Keep up the good work, I’m really enjoying your newsletter!
Funny story - I always cringe when I hear you say how intuitive eTap/AXS is. The first time I ever rode eTap (or any electronic shifting) was years ago when it was brand new, on a rental road bike in NYC. I started riding and immediately learned how to shift the RD. I remember being frustrated to the point of anger because I couldn’t figure out how to shift the FD though. About 5 miles into the group ride I was on, I hit a bump and inadvertently shifted into the small ring. Now I was spinning at 110+, and I couldn’t figure out how to get it back to the big ring. Being on a group ride I couldn’t stop to look it up, and of course I wasn’t going to ask some New York roadies I just met how to shift. So instead, I just started mashing the buttons in different sequences, probably sounding like a coffee grinder, until I figured out how to shift the FD. SRAM’s setup is certainly simple - if someone tells you how it works! It was far from instinctive, or intuitive, for me though just jumping on it in the field.
Merry Christmas James & all the best for a happy, healthy & successful 2025. Thanks for your work & keeping us informed of all the news in such an easy & succinct way.
Thanks, James! Happy Holidays. What’s the verdict on hookless rims these days, like the Zipp 303s you mentioned? I’m definitely a hookless skeptic — I recently got 9velo wheels where I specifically could choose hooked rims — but I sure would like to get my hands on rims where it’s easier to mount tubeless tires…
As for ease of tire installation, that doesn't have anything to do with hooked vs. hookless. That's typically more a function of the shape and depth of the central channel in the tire bed, as well as the height of the rim sidewalls.
I don't have any issues with hookless on the road *personally*, but at about 72 kg, I'm also well below the stated pressure limits for any given tire size. And I'm also totally fine with it for gravel and MTB.
That said, my issue with hookless is what I feel is an uncomfortably narrow safety window, particularly if you're a bigger/heavier rider that's bumping up closer to those pressure limits. I'd have to dig around to verify the figure again, but if I remember correctly, the pressure safety window is narrower than the typical accuracy of many dial-type pump gauges.
That makes sense. I’m closer to 95kg and like bike packing with another 10kg of bags and gear, so based on what you’re saying I should be pretty careful…
This new french regulation about flashing lights has been enforced in Germany for a few years and Garmin has a product version for that - Varia RTL516. "Normal" Varia radar is RTL515, but you can't buy it in Germany, nor you can order it from German online bike stores, so that's probably the only bike related thing I've recently bought in my home country Croatia.
Although now that both Germany and France have the same regulation I'm afraid the rest of EU could follow soon. Afraid because I feel safer ie. more visible having the flashing light, especially with the way Varia changes its pattern after registering approaching object.
Sorry, probably should have mentioned the 516 as I’m also aware of that model. That said, people shouldn’t have to resort to buying another Varia when Garmin should be able to release a firmware update (unless the issue is somehow hardware-related, which seems unlikely).
I turn the light off on my Garmin Varia RCT, to conserve battery. I use a Dinotte taillight which has a long run time. I try to maintain the camera/radar function along as possible.
I’ve got my di2 shifters set up similarly, with one difference: both buttons on the right and the left are for shifting the rear derailleur. The buttons on the hoods shift the front derailleur (which gets even easier with “front shift next”-just one hood button can control the front derailleur).
I'm very intrigued by the Light Bicycle gravel wheels. I hope you can get some to review. Related tire question. The Goodyear website is says the XPLR tires are only compatible with the Zipp XPLR rims. Given that the Light rims have similar dimensions, do you think they would work? Based on previous comments, you don't seem to be a fan of the Goodyears, what would you recommend instead? I'm not racing gravel , but I need to keep up on gravel rides with guys that do, lol.
They've already shipped! Light Bicycle agreed to build a loaner set for review shortly after this newsletter edition went out, and they managed to get them out the door before shutting down for the Lunar New Year holiday.
I haven't decided yet what tires I'm going to run, but the hooked format on the Light Bicycle rims will certainly open up more possibilities. I have a set of those Goodyear XPLR Inters inbound already so I'm going to try those first (still need to confirm compatibility with Goodyear, though).
Regarding Goodyear gravel tires, I'm not sure where you would have gotten that impression as I actually have been pretty happy with them overall. They're definitely not the lightest/supplest/fastest/whatever, but I find them at least on par with stuff from Maxxis. If you're looking for something that'll help you keep up with your buddies, I'd first think about why that's the case and then choose your tires accordingly (I know it's been ages since we rode together, but I can't imagine it's because of a lack of fitness!).
Mike Levy wrote an excellent opinion piece years ago on Pinkbike where he talked about choosing your gear to help offset your weaknesses (https://www.pinkbike.com/news/opinion-cater-to-your-weaknesses-2014.html). I think that was sage advice then, and that it still applies now.
I wait with bated breath for your Light Bicycle wheel review! I obviously misunderstood or misread a comment on the Goodyears, so I’m very interested to see if they are compatible with the Lights. I will check out that article you suggested on gear selection to offset weakness. Keep up the good work, I’m really enjoying your newsletter!
You covered quite a bit in this instalment 👍. Merriest of Christmas’s James🫡
Thank you, and you, too!
Funny story - I always cringe when I hear you say how intuitive eTap/AXS is. The first time I ever rode eTap (or any electronic shifting) was years ago when it was brand new, on a rental road bike in NYC. I started riding and immediately learned how to shift the RD. I remember being frustrated to the point of anger because I couldn’t figure out how to shift the FD though. About 5 miles into the group ride I was on, I hit a bump and inadvertently shifted into the small ring. Now I was spinning at 110+, and I couldn’t figure out how to get it back to the big ring. Being on a group ride I couldn’t stop to look it up, and of course I wasn’t going to ask some New York roadies I just met how to shift. So instead, I just started mashing the buttons in different sequences, probably sounding like a coffee grinder, until I figured out how to shift the FD. SRAM’s setup is certainly simple - if someone tells you how it works! It was far from instinctive, or intuitive, for me though just jumping on it in the field.
Ok, well yeah, I guess the front shift aspect of eTap isn't as intuitive as it could be. In that sense, my suggested Di2 setup is even better :)
40 sizes from 130-170.
Which mm increment did they skip?
😂
Merry Christmas James & all the best for a happy, healthy & successful 2025. Thanks for your work & keeping us informed of all the news in such an easy & succinct way.
Thanks for the support!
I do wish there was an inline mount that fit a tattico...
Whaaaat thats amazing, thanks!
I've never used anything from Jank myself so I can't comment on their quality, but they do offer quite a few interesting items.
https://jankcomponents.com/products/inline-pump-holder-for-silca-tattico-mini-pump
My 1992 Rocky Mountain Blizzard is probably one of the top 5 bikes that brought me pure joy. I hope Rocky makes it.
Also Happy Holidays James!
Happy holidays to you and the fam! And those two pups, too!!
Thanks, James! Happy Holidays. What’s the verdict on hookless rims these days, like the Zipp 303s you mentioned? I’m definitely a hookless skeptic — I recently got 9velo wheels where I specifically could choose hooked rims — but I sure would like to get my hands on rims where it’s easier to mount tubeless tires…
As for ease of tire installation, that doesn't have anything to do with hooked vs. hookless. That's typically more a function of the shape and depth of the central channel in the tire bed, as well as the height of the rim sidewalls.
I don't have any issues with hookless on the road *personally*, but at about 72 kg, I'm also well below the stated pressure limits for any given tire size. And I'm also totally fine with it for gravel and MTB.
That said, my issue with hookless is what I feel is an uncomfortably narrow safety window, particularly if you're a bigger/heavier rider that's bumping up closer to those pressure limits. I'd have to dig around to verify the figure again, but if I remember correctly, the pressure safety window is narrower than the typical accuracy of many dial-type pump gauges.
That makes sense. I’m closer to 95kg and like bike packing with another 10kg of bags and gear, so based on what you’re saying I should be pretty careful…
Another great newsletter. Thanks, James! Enjoy the family time and have a great set of holidays. See you in the new year.
This new french regulation about flashing lights has been enforced in Germany for a few years and Garmin has a product version for that - Varia RTL516. "Normal" Varia radar is RTL515, but you can't buy it in Germany, nor you can order it from German online bike stores, so that's probably the only bike related thing I've recently bought in my home country Croatia.
Although now that both Germany and France have the same regulation I'm afraid the rest of EU could follow soon. Afraid because I feel safer ie. more visible having the flashing light, especially with the way Varia changes its pattern after registering approaching object.
Netherlands also does not permit flashing lights, as I understand it.
Here in the UK we do, but I do find some front-flashing speeds make it hard to judge their oncoming speed and location - important on narrower tracks
Sorry, probably should have mentioned the 516 as I’m also aware of that model. That said, people shouldn’t have to resort to buying another Varia when Garmin should be able to release a firmware update (unless the issue is somehow hardware-related, which seems unlikely).
I turn the light off on my Garmin Varia RCT, to conserve battery. I use a Dinotte taillight which has a long run time. I try to maintain the camera/radar function along as possible.
I’ve got my di2 shifters set up similarly, with one difference: both buttons on the right and the left are for shifting the rear derailleur. The buttons on the hoods shift the front derailleur (which gets even easier with “front shift next”-just one hood button can control the front derailleur).
Yep, that’s certainly an option, too! What do you use the other hood button for?
Nothing at the moment! I may have to hook it up to my Wahoo and control my music…