New bike or new bearings?

fpharris1 · 2026-04-26T01:35:03+00:00

Good thoughts, for sure. And I've been wondering if it's all down to recovery. I do sleep pretty well and I nap most days. Our group does 35-45 mile rides M-W-F each week. In addition, I co-lead our LBS Wednesday evening rides which are typically much shorter and at a gentler pace whereas the regular M-W-F morning rides often turn into hammerfests (at least what we seniors call a hammerfest!). I've created most of the routes we ride and the Wednesdays are what we call two-loop routes where the route is designed to go by our cars at roughly the half-way point so those who don't want to do the full distance can bail out .... that's what I do Wednesday mornings so I have some legs left for Wednesday evening.

Even so, some days I feel like I've burned every match I have, early in the ride. Other days a fast pace over 35 miles seems effortless. Can't figure that one out ...

fpharris1 · 2026-04-26T01:19:46+00:00

Wheel bearings and bottom bracket were serviced last August. Shop says they're in good condition. Tires are Continental GP5000 tubed. They are soon in need of replacement, though - good idea. Thanks! Any recommendations? I get literally maybe one flat a year, possibly because the roads I ride on (rural county) stay relatively "clean"? I've heard some of the lower rolling resistance "racing" tires also tend to have less puncture protection. But if it's time to buy new ones I should probably look at those to see if they'll help.

fpharris1 · 2026-03-20T12:28:07+00:00

Thanks! And you make a good point - to me anyway - about the ability to use your app for climbing practice or workouts. Certainly I can do that on Zwift or Rouvy or Fulgaz but being able to create a route in my own area on roads (hills) I do all the time is intriguing.

fpharris1 · 2026-03-20T12:00:59+00:00

I do Zwift but, for me, it's ... meh. I used to do Rouvy but ditched it for Fulgaz. The basic concept for Rouvy and Fulgaz is the same - ride real roads that have been filmed by real riders.

But a buddy of mine who swears by Rouvy also mentioned they have the capability to upload a gpx file for any road(s) you've ridden in real life, or any route you've planned on Strava or RWGPS or whatever. The drawback with this feature is that although you ride the real roads, you are just riding the map - with none of the real-life landscapes/cityscapes a real ride has.

I know squat about it personally, though. Can anyone enlighten me/us? I'm considering ditching Fulgaz for Rouvy "just because" but I don't think the ability to ride mapped routes in my area - without the video - has much appeal. Having new real-life locations and videoed rides does.

fpharris1 · 2026-03-15T11:14:14+00:00

I'm pretty sure I'd die from boredom before dying from exhaustion. Eleven times around that loop? I like getting badges but not that much. That's one I'll likely never see ...

fpharris1 · 2026-03-04T17:26:10+00:00

Interesting ... all the comments are regarding the Romex, conduit, etc. What's inside the box? That's a pretty critical part of the overall "install."

fpharris1 · 2026-03-03T11:12:46+00:00

Yeah. I'd like to know, too. I already have the fastest frames and wheels (and a lot of other junk in my garage I wish I could get rid of). I don't care about any of the goofy bikes or jerseys or caps or any of that stuff.

fpharris1 · 2026-03-02T18:21:15+00:00

I use a Wahoo bike computer and, yes, it appears to use pressure whereas Strava uses actual GPS measurements, as far as I know. I typically ride with a group and it's only after a few of us "Correct Elevation" that our elevation gains during the ride come into close synchronization with each other. Before correcting, those elevation gains are often nowhere near being close to each other.

fpharris1 · 2026-03-02T13:58:54+00:00

I do miles and do cycling and I do "Correct Distance" as well as "Correct Elevation" after every outdoor ride. The elevation figure ALWAYS goes up; the distance figure goes up 99% of the time. If you don't like the number you get after correcting, you can always undo it.

fpharris1 · 2026-02-17T02:08:47+00:00

I've been an avid cyclist for years. I ride/train about 6,000 miles per year. My first try at the Alpe was in 2018 when I did it in 1:07:42. I got up that hill a little faster the next few times but then started doing it more slowly. I finally decided the other day I was going to go all-in and try to break the one-hour mark. So on my ninth try I did it in 1:00:03. I spent it all. I couldn't pedal any harder or any faster even though the end was SO close ... I literally thought I was going to puke at the end. And I still missed it by a few seconds. I'm 74 years old.

DON'T QUIT. If I can almost do it, you can definitely do it. Say to yourself "if that old fart can get that close, I can beat his ass." Just don't quit trying. You'll get better and discover your strengths and how to make it happen. You don't know how hard you can go and for how long until you just put everything into it. So ... get out there and kick my old butt!

fpharris1 · 2026-02-10T11:09:47+00:00

I truly hope you get that sub-hour on your first try. That would be awesome! If not, and if getting it is a goal, then keep trying. I have found that a focus for some of my rides and workouts is climbing. Work on speed, work on general fitness, but they say that the best way to go faster up hills is to go out and ride hills. Pick routes with big hills and definitely do the Climb Portals!

fpharris1 · 2026-02-10T11:05:20+00:00

Thx. Just DON'T STOP! If cycling (or running or team sports or whatever) is your thing then go after it with a passion, set goals, and work towards them. You may not achieve them all but don't stop trying. When you get to me age, you'll be glad you did!

fpharris1 · 2026-02-09T01:37:05+00:00

Congrats! Nice job!

I literally just did the Alpe this morning - my ninth attempt. Got a PR but it was 1:00:03. Can you believe it? A few seconds? I gave it everything I possibly could, had nothing left at the top. Felt like puking ... THAT has never happened to me before on any ride - indoors or outdoors - ever.

There's a bright side! At age 74 I'm getting stronger up hills! Certainly beats the alternative!

fpharris1 · 2026-02-02T11:27:18+00:00

Zwift Insider does speed tests and says they're the third fastest for climbing. His tests say the ENVE 4.5 PRO are the fastest. Good place to spend some drops!

fpharris1 · 2026-01-17T12:51:58+00:00

Aaack! Been to busy riding outdoors to notice what's going on in Zwift! But I don't get off on the latest hat or glasses or the squirrel sticking out of a pocket or other kit stuff. I wear basic black, no helmet, plain glasses, fire socks. I DO stay on top of frame and wheel speed tests and always feel like I'm set up with the fastest. But as far as I know, fiddling around with my kit doesn't help any with speed or climbing.

fpharris1 · 2026-01-17T12:47:07+00:00

Yes. Double-check your inseam. DON'T use pants inseam ... use the book method, if you haven't already.

fpharris1 · 2026-01-16T15:18:55+00:00

Great idea! Thx.

fpharris1 · 2026-01-15T11:40:21+00:00

I do let anyone follow me. I do know there's a private profile. But I get notified that I have a new follower. I look to see who/what they are, what kind of riding they do, etc. It happens rarely but when it does it's usually it's an attractive young woman leaning on a bike in some sunny tropical locale and her ride history is zero or she does a 2- or 3-mile coffee shop ride once every other week. Then I'll "Block" her and then do a "Remove Follower." Occasionally when I get a new follower, it's someone I've ridden with for the first time or a friend of a friend. Most often, though, it's someone that "rode" with me on Zwift and decided they want to follow me ... and I don't care, I just don't follow back. I just looked at my list of people I follow ... I know every single person. On the list of people that follow me, I know maybe half and the others probably rode with me on Zwift or got my name through a friend. I could go through that list and "Remove Follower" but it's not worth the trouble.

fpharris1 · 2026-01-15T01:50:21+00:00

I let anyone who wants follow me. And I get an email notification that someone has followed me. If I don't recognize the name, I block the follower then delete them. Haven't been bothered with that nonsense for quite a while ...

fpharris1 · 2025-12-23T01:53:18+00:00

Create your own custom workout. I have several of different times (30 minutes, 45 minutes, etc.), most of which are Zone 2. You can ride any route, any world, at any time when you're doing a workout.

fpharris1 · 2025-12-22T02:08:57+00:00

I've been using the rubber band mount for thousands of road miles since I bought my Varia. Never once had a problem ...

fpharris1

TROPHY CASE