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There is a good article on PezCycling News about the new Dura-Ace 7900 group as a direct response to the SRAM Red group. Below is the link to the article.
www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5978
Photo: Courtesy Shimano
Popularity: 6% [?]
Prius installation of rear hitch and rear bike rack. bike rack article
Have you been thinking about getting a Toyota Prius but have wondered how you will be able to carry my bike around?
There is an answer! Why not have the best of both worlds; great gas mileage and the ease of carrying two bikes around. A rear hitch-mounted bike rack is one of the best option for Toyota Prius owners or shoppers looking into buying a Prius.
Although the Toyota dealerships will install the trailer hitch for you, installation is easy and something you can do on your own. You can install the hitch in about 30 minutes or less.Things You Will Need That Are Necessary:
Things That Are NOT Necessary But Helpful:
Popularity: 29% [?]
I was excited to get my hands on the VholdR All in One Camera. The camera body is small, fits in the palm of your hand. The camera does not include a memory card so I had to run out and pick up a micro SD card, currently the VholdR does not support SDHC cards. TIP: When formatting the memory card be sure to use FAT32 like the quick start suggests. Once I had the card formatted I was ready to roll video.
My first attempts with the camera didn’t go quite like I had hoped. I ran into problems that I later chalk up to user error for the most part. For example, when you turn on the camera it needs to “boot” up. This boot up process can take 10 to 20 seconds, but if you are familiar with an instant digital satisfaction world, like myself, you might not be patient enough. When I didn’t hear any beeps when I turned it on I would start pressing more buttons and I think I froze it up. Speaking of patience, I didn’t give it enough time when I engaged the record. It too takes a few seconds to kick in. If you’re expecting it to instantly start recording (which is indicated by a single beep) then you’ll need to be patient. Once again when I didn’t instantly get the beep I started pushing buttons.
On my first time out with the camera I didn’t stop recording, actually I think I had the play/stop reversed so while I was riding I had it stopped and while driving home I had it in record mode. In this instance the resulting file got corrupted. I have 2 theories as to what happened, because the recording kept going and filled up the memory card the file was not properly closed, thus corrupting it. My next thought is that the resulting 1.4 GB AVI file is problematic. I know a few years back when working with video files we wouldn’t create AVI files bigger than 1 GB so they wouldn’t get corrupted. One thing I do while riding for extended periods of time is I stop and start recording every 20 to 30 minutes. This results in a new AVI file being written to the memory card. It is somewhat of a hassle to stop and start the recording, but it beats somehow getting a corrupted file and losing the entire ride compared to only losing 15 minutes of a ride.
The VholdR is not going to have the instant feedback I’ve come to expect from my digital camera or my DV camcorder. If you go into it with this in mind than you should be pleased with the device. Speaking of DV quality recording the VholdR is not there. The optics for the device are built for size and recording size. If you want DV quality recordings, then strap on your DV camcorder to your bike. Personally, I’m happy with the results with the camera.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Suggested retail price: $400
Source: bike shops, catalogs
Size: 2×4.3×1 in. (5.1×10.9×2.5 cm) WxHxD
Weight: 3.7 oz. (104.9 g)
Battery: rechargeable li-polymer (15 hours)
Features: wireless, programmable, water resistant, 5 to 122F ( -15 to 50C) operating temperature
GARMIN EDGE 605 GPS
Garmin Edge 705 With Heart
HOT!
high-resolution color display
moving map display
no wires
not!
lacks heart rate
GPS altimeter, not barometric
detailed maps costs around $140
Popularity: 14% [?]
Power meters have become the ultimate training tool for the pros, but what can one do for you? It’s simple: With every crank of the pedals, a power meter will show you how to improve your performance. But first you have to understand how to use the technology.
If you are training with a power meter or thinking about getting a power meter there is a must read. Training and Racing with a Power Meter
Thinking about purchasing a power meter and don’t know which power meter to buy? The 2 most popular power meters are the Saris Power Tap SL and the SRM.
I have used both the Saris CycleOps Power Tap SL and the SRM. Although the SRM is a great power meter I would recommend the PowerTap SL for the following 3 reasons.
3 Reasons Why PowerTap SL is so Popular
1. Watts
First of all power meters are getting popular because they are way better than heart rate monitors for monitoring your training. Power output is an objective measure of exercise intensity representing the actual work you put in the pedals.
The PowerTap SL collects huge amounts of data during your training ride. These data gives you a great opportunity to optimize your training and analyze your race performance. These analyzes can be time consuming, but it is here you really get the value for your money.
2. Light weight
PowerTap SL is a lighter version of the original PowerTap. The weight is reduced by using a carbon hub shell combined with a new lightweight aluminum axle combine for the hub. The complete system now weighs 480g including computer.
Saving some weight has a lot of attention from high performing athletes, because no one wants to carry heavy equipment that doesn’t provide extra speed for their bike (at least not immediately…) The hub has a weight that is slightly heavier than Dura Ace and Campagnolo Record, but that shouldn’t have much influence on the overall performance and especially not with the current rules weight limits from UCI (minimum bike weight: 6.8kg).
3. Price
In many years SRM was the only provider of power meters, but only professionals (or rather their sponsors) were willing to pay the price of these power meter cranks. Now you can buy a Powertap SL Hub 28 hole Shimano with software
If you are training with a Power Meter and really want to take your training to the next level also check out TrainingPeaks which is the ultimate software for cyclists and triathletes training with power, heart rate or GPS device.
Popularity: 9% [?]
If you are a Garmin fan you will love the fact that you can now have it all; POWER, no wires on your bike, move the unit from one bike to another with ease, easy to use, and reliable data. These units are awesome! I have been training and using one for the last year and love it. Can’t wait to get my hands on the Garmin 705 with the power meter option.
Trainer. Navigator. Edge 705 pushes you to do your best, then shows you the way back. This GPS-enabled cycle computer knows no limits. Get heart rate, cadence, turn-by-turn directions, power data (from ANT+Sport™-enabled third-party power meters) — the works. Even share your data with other Edge 705 buddies after your ride. All wireless with a color display, this is no ordinary cycle computer.
For a great book on training and racing with a power meter click here: Training and Racing with a Power Meter
Popularity: 7% [?]
Ok all you roadies out there Cerevellum has a prototype for a rear-view video camera and handlebar display unit.
The Cerevellum is an interesting cyclo-computer concept, but it is really much more than that. The system is expandable by way of 4 USB connections on the underside of the head unit so the user can choose the extra features that he or she wants; GPS mapping, power meter, heart rate monitor, etc.
Sounds good so far, but if you look at the rendering, you will see the most interesting feature of the Cervellum, the hindsight component. A small lens in the handlebar end plug (or optionally attached to the seatpost) gives the rider a rearview that is shown right on the head unit’s display screen. Cars or hammer head cyclists approaching from behind can be clearly seen as the rider glances down to view the computer data. More information about the concept is available on the Cerevellum website, so check it out if you want to learn more.
Popularity: 6% [?]
CycleSound had an exhibit at the 2007 El Tour De Tucson bike expo. It is a way cool set up. You get the best of both worlds; bike bag and tunes in one. Just plug your iPod, iRiver, Zen, etc into the bag and listen to music while your ride without cords or earphones.
Why CycleSound?
CycleSound was established with the expressed purpose of developing a superior bicycle sound system that eliminates the dangerous need to use headphones and ear buds.
CycleSound’s mission was to create a high-quality bicycle sound system that delivers a great sound, is light weight, looks cool and survives in the rugged outdoors.
After many designs and test prototypes, the CycleSound system is now a reality. Just plug in your player and enjoy the experience of riding to your favorite music. If you ride with friends, you will become the Pied Piper of the group. It is just like taking your spinning class on the road. You just have to hear it to believe the quality of sound the CycleSound system delivers!!
Popularity: 5% [?]
Pictured above Tyler Ford with his wife Mimi Ford and Sherry Phillips before the start of El Tour de Tucson 2007.
www.Ride-Strong.com, the blog for cyclist, was founded by Tyler Ford in 2007 as the blog for www.RoadBikeRides.com.
MORE THAN $20,000 IN PRIZES UP FOR GRABS FROM ROADBIKERIDES.COM
New Site Allows Cyclists to Share The Best Rides That The U.S. Has to Offer
TUCSON– RoadBikeRides.com is a new user-friendly, interactive cycling website that allows cyclists from across the United States to share the rides that they love. At RoadBikeRides.com road cyclists can submit information on their favorite rides including tips, maps, video clips and links, and also find a new ride in their own neighborhood or in another region of the country. Visitors can register on the site for free and begin submitting or searching for rides right away.
“It’s our mission to make you feel at ease on the road, whether it’s on a new ride in your own neighborhood or whether you’re traveling far from home,” said Tyler Ford, the man behind RoadBikeRides.com. “Our detailed maps will also provide you with suggestions on where to stop and fuel up during a ride, and where to chow down when you’re done. After visiting rides that you’ve researched on our site, you’ll feel like you never left home, because you’ll know exactly where to go.”
To launch the site, RoadBikeRides.com has developed a contest with more than $20,000 in prizes that would make any cycling lover drool. Prizes will be awarded based on the number of points that visitors accumulate. Points are earned by submitting rides, photos or video clips, posting on the message boards, or submitting articles for the site blog at Ride-Strong.com. Complete contest details can be found at www.roadbikerides.com.
The contest opens when RoadBikeRides.com goes live in January 2008 and will run until the first, second and third prizes have been awarded. Prizes include:
• 1st prize is $10,000 in cash, awarded to the first person to earn 5,000 points.
• 2nd prize is a brand new top end bike Orbea Orca Bike (or substantially similar bike) with a retail value of $5,400, awarded to the second person to earn 5,000 points.
• 3rd prize is a Zipp 404 clincher wheel set (or substantially similar wheel set) with a retail value of $2,100, awarded to the third person to earn 5,000 points.
• 4th through to 10th place winners will take home a Garmin Edge 305 GPS unit (or substantially similar GPS unit) with a retail value of $380.
Tyler Ford, the founder of RoadBikeRides.com, is an avid cyclist and triathlete who has had a passion for cycling since 1988. Ford was a top-producing loan officer in Tucson, Arizona but always had a vision of getting involved in the cycling industry in a bigger way than just riding and racing his bike.
In July, 2007 Ford decided to leave his lucrative desk job in order to pursue that dream. He purchased the RoadBikeRides.com URL and founded Outdoor Activities, LLC. Today, Ford is living his dream of serving the cycling community and even sponsors local Tucson cycling teams, GST Racing and Fair Wheel Racing Team.
Popularity: 13% [?]
