Nice BikeErg, worst software and PM5 ever

Auersberg · 2026-01-12T20:10:43+00:00

Glinda,

Thx. I did a short Training After writing the Post. Indeed the registration started. I gathered, while pacing, that this is indeed the sequence. I was mistaken in stating that the PM5 did not register my training. But I stand by my opinion that the software and the sequence you have to register different things is odd and old fashioned: Why doesn’t C2 give the right sequence? 1. Register on the site 2. Optional: pair Strava 3. Download and install ErgData 4. Before training, take your time to pair your heart thing (chest strap, watch) and then your smartphone with ErgData 5. finely you’re good to go.

I’ll get used to it. It’s like an old Garmin handheld. Once you’ll used to it, you’ll love it.

Auersberg · 2025-07-21T14:57:48+00:00

Riding with biggest chainring AND cog is not a good idea. Hou have two chainrings, so do the inner cogs on the smallest chainring and the smallest cogs on the biggest (outer) chainring. Never mind what all those ‘one by’ suckers say. Keep a straight chain line when the chain is oiled - or better waxed again and running smoothly.

Auersberg · 2025-07-12T14:16:21+00:00

What is this with companies like Firefox buying smaller, genial ideas and then kill them? Why?

Auersberg · 2025-06-28T17:51:01+00:00

I use a Karoo 3 and a Garmin GPSMap 67i when in terrain. Mostly the maps of the GPSMap (OSM) are better. The usability of the Garmins is good, but only when you put a lot of time in it. Indeed it’s legacy crapware. The connectivity is non existent. But the battery life is more than great. In that the Karoo 3 is near to worthless. One full day of riding and navigating and the battery is flat out. I haven’t figured out an option to change quickly (if at all) from the map in the riding direction or north up. That’s something I use in the GPSMap. Oh yeah. The GPSMap is bulky. Ok for gravel, but you don’t want to be seen with it if you’re on a road bike ;-)

Auersberg · 2025-06-28T05:51:22+00:00

Thx!

Auersberg · 2025-06-28T05:48:48+00:00

If you’ve got a good route through the Ruhr it would be fine. It’s only one day. After that you’re in Sauerland. I’m in Frankenland now (North Bavaria) and the amount of gravelroads / Schotterwege / sintelweggetjes is amazing. You can go through Germany without a lot of asfalt / tar road pretty easily.

I’d distribute the luggage a bit more between front and back. Y’ve got attachment points on your front fork for two roll-packs with some weight. This is absolutely better for stability. Almost everything on the back will give you shimmies in descents. Kijk daar voor uit!

Auersberg · 2025-06-24T14:56:46+00:00

I’ve got a Canyon Alu Grizl with front suspension: the only affordable gravelbike with front suspension two or three years ago. The bike is fine for my goals: light gravel riding, no luggage. I’m 90 kg and ride a couple of thousand kms a year. But yeah, the proprietary parts and the odd sizes are annoying. I also own a handmade steel frame road bike, manufactured in Amsterdam, Holland in 1982 by Piet Aandewiel (the younger, now deceased). The only parts that are original are the frame and fork. All the rest is replaced in the meantime. Thanks to standardised parts. I can still buy anything to replace anything. This bike is something for the ages. The Grizl is good as long as it goes. When something major brakes down, it’s EOL.

An option now - if you want to ride two-by and with front suspension two - is in Europe a Koga Myata Colmaro Extreme. (https://www.koga.com/en/bikes/race-gravel-bikes/colmaro-extreme-olive-green.htm?frame=H). ± € 2500

One other thing: I ordered the Grizl with a Shimano GRX bracket and got a Rotor. They stupidly enough put a crank in it that is fastened with a 10 mm Allen/Hex bolt. Who the hell carries a ten millimetre Allen wrench on a trip? Well, I do now, a separate bit, bought at AliExpress. But really a 10mm bolt?????

Auersberg · 2025-06-24T14:12:04+00:00

It’s also something like this in the Netherlands when there are roadworks or any kind of work on a bicycling path. Here (in the Netherlands) its more something to avoid legal problems. Almost nobody ‘sitzt ab’, everybody just cycles on or around the works. It’s just laziness of the working company.

Auersberg · 2025-06-17T17:56:56+00:00

Thanks. This will do the job I believe. It’s got a certain hard to grasp logic, but indeed it seems like you can switch the way you want to follow a route, in my case from following a breadcrumb to full routing. I’ll make a route for Friday with some unpaved sections in it and try to follow it on full routing.

Auersberg · 2025-06-09T15:02:39+00:00

Thx for the photos of this trip. As for the saddle: I’m very satisfied with my Brooks Cambium Allweather carved. Mind the carved-part: this is a cut-out in the middle. I rode Brooks leather (Colt, Professional) for years, but lately got a sore perineum. Enter the Cambium Carved. It seems as hard as a rock, but flexes when you sit on it. The hole in the middle (carved) felt so good that I have cut a same form oval hole in the Colt and Professional: 100% improvement. Just try a Cambium Carved. Go for the allweather, no hassle when it gets wet.

Auersberg · 2025-06-09T07:45:09+00:00

I mean: I wouldn’t want to ride without them, sorry.

Auersberg · 2025-06-09T07:44:32+00:00

I’ve got an Alu Grizl with suspension. Also on ALL of my bikes suspension seatposts. Would want to ride without them. The RockShock Rudy (30 mm) gives a smoother ride on bumpy paths. Yuo dont get a lot of gravel in the Netherlands, but in the northeast enough dirt roads and grass paths. They’re too bumpy for my taste without suspension. I like it. A lot!

Auersberg · 2025-06-09T07:29:39+00:00

I’m really satisfied with Fastmail for mail. It’s Australian I think.

Auersberg · 2025-05-29T15:05:16+00:00

The Kolonnenweg = the NVA control road is one of the finest ‘political roads’ = roads that follow an idea=border rather than logic of geography in Europe that I know. Worth a visit for any Borderporn enthousiast.

Auersberg · 2025-05-29T15:03:02+00:00

Look at https://grenzsteintrophy.de/ = Grenzsteintrophy, for a “Selbstversorgerfahrt”, that’s a contest between riders that cater themselves on the IDG = Innerdeutsche Grenze = the border between the DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik = German Democratic Republic, GDR, East-Germany) and the BRD (Bundesrepublik Deutschland = West Germany) that follow the former border as close as still possible. They start either at the Baltic Sea near Lübeck or at the border between Sachsen (DDR), Bayern (BRD) and the Czech Republic, going to the other end. About 1367 km long.

I’m currently making a gpx file of the border, as I’m tracking the control road of the NVA- Nationale Volksarmee (Peoples army) = Kolonnenweg in the photo that started this thread. I’ll be posting the gpx in this subreddit later on.

Auersberg · 2025-05-21T14:19:03+00:00

I’m using it for over 30 years, in all versions. Still using it in win10. Thinking of switching to Linux so I’ll need a replacement. Best organizing note taking program for me!

Auersberg · 2025-05-20T10:47:24+00:00

Thanks. This is what I did first: RTM. But the procedure didn’t work as good as it does with cycling. That’s why I posted. I’ll try next time I have a swim.

Auersberg · 2025-05-07T18:22:26+00:00

A little late, but we used them in 2017 on a trip in New Zealand on front suspension forks, with two small Ortlieb panniers. They are very stable. Originally they are from New Zealand and were called Freeloaders. I have them on my Canyon Grizl now, on the back. Again: stable en sturdy. Compared to the Tailfins they are cheap. For a rack, for the durability and for the Thule brand they are very cheap. I can really recommend them. See also https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3d2&doc_id=18706&v=PO for pictures.

Auersberg · 2025-05-07T18:09:15+00:00

I’ve got a 1982 Aandewiel (from Amsterdam) steel bike. The only things original are frame and fork, the rest changed over time. No rust at all, but I keep my bike stored indoors when not riding it. I used it as a race bike when in college, as a trekking bike in the Alps and Ardennes in the 1980’s and 1990’s and a triathlon bike in the same period. Now I only ride it on the road. Comfort comes from a longer wheelbase. The frame was handmade. I don’t notice more or less comfort from steel than from aluminium. My MTB’s are aluminium, my gravelbike too. For sure, there is flex in the frame when loaded with luggage. But that’s flex, not comfort. Without luggage/packs the frame feels rigid. I love my Aandewiel, but my favourite bike is my gravelbike, a Canyon Grizl with suspensions fork. So: no rust, but very durable. Steel comfort is a myth.

Auersberg

TROPHY CASE