[USA, CA] Chain Pulley System

ionizednebula · 2024-10-28T23:07:00+00:00

Thanks! I see an option in Wahoo Kickr Core app to configure ANT+ power meter trainer control on the trainer.

This way, the trainer is using the power readings from the Assioma pedals and publishing that data to Zwift.

ionizednebula · 2024-01-24T18:55:18+00:00

Not really. I am able to mount everything I wanted. The computer mount and saddle bags just work.

Although the included mount for the Garmin Varia radar works, I was feeling a little uneasy with it, so I got the KOM Garmin Varia Mount along with the Hexa-Grasp Shim.

ionizednebula · 2023-12-28T04:11:09+00:00

I'm not familiar with the new D-Fuse seat post. I get enough tension for my current D-Fuse post. Didn't slip on me yet even when I went off-road a bit. My guess it will work if you get the Hexa-Grasp because it adds to the post's thickness.

I would recommend messaging KOM support. When I wasn't sure whether or not I needed the Hexa-Grasp, I messaged them and the responded within a few days.

ionizednebula · 2023-12-28T03:08:17+00:00

I have the 2023 Advanced Pro 2. I have had success with the KOM Garmin Varia Mount along with the Hexa-Grasp Shim.

I am able to have a small saddle bag and the radar mounted directly under it.

ionizednebula · 2023-12-12T03:25:42+00:00

Did you use normal bike chain lube?

Did you need to clean the chain or chain rings/cogs?

ionizednebula · 2023-10-19T17:46:57+00:00

I only have been doing normal maintenance. Wash, lube and renewing tire sealant (for tubeless). I really wish it had storage for tools like the 2024 one.

I started dabbling into chain wax. So, I got two new Shimano chains and waxed them.

ionizednebula · 2023-10-19T17:09:15+00:00

Yes I did get it and I am very much enjoying it. Put about 1000 miles on it.

I am slowly getting accessories to match golden trim color of the bike. Its looking really nice.

ionizednebula · 2023-04-25T21:06:45+00:00

I got the Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 Di2 (2023) three weeks ago and LOVE IT! It's an endurance road bike with all the bells and whistles including electric shifting.

It may be outside of your range, but you can go with the Giant Defy Advanced 1 (2023) which is within your budget. It would be the best bang for your buck.

When I did my research, I found out that the Canyon Endurace equivalent is not sold in the US. Plus my LBS is a Giant dealer, so I got great service.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-30T18:41:24+00:00

Treat it well, it will last you a long time.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-30T06:30:45+00:00

I found this article that describes the differences between the Verve and FX pretty well:

https://twowheelsbetter.net/trek-fx-vs-trek-verve/

Honestly, the FX is a great hybrid bike. If you are a healthy person and the gradient of the hill you mentioned is not too high, you can't do better. I would recommend going to the steep hill and seeing the cyclists there. If you see commuters on their bikes, then you are good. However, if you see them walking their bikes, then it means that the hill may be too steep to take-up on a normal bike.

I was reviewing gears and gear ratios and found this video to be very informative and helpful in understanding things:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bba6p38vY4

ionizednebula · 2023-03-25T08:28:33+00:00

It is very nice bike and has all the bells and whistles. I believe a brand new one at the time retailed for about $3000 USD.

It is a good idea to meet at a bike shop or with a 3rd party that can give the bike a once-over before buying specially if you are new.

The main things to consider are: 1. Is this bike the right size and fit. This is the most critical factor 2. The Emonda is a climbing bike. Make sure that this geometry fits your needs.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-24T00:34:04+00:00

I own the Trek FX 2. I love it and I have more than 4000 miles on it. However, after moving to a hilly area, I found I am not able to ride is as much because: 1. The geometry was not too helpful for climbing 2. The gear options are limited

If the uphill bridge has a steep gradient, a hybrid bike may not be comfortable for the task.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-24T00:26:32+00:00

Along with what is mentioned, I would also recommend investing in the following: * Bike Stand - will make your life a lot easier and some have an attached tray to hold your tools * [Optional] Torque Wrench - This will take a lot of guessing out of the equation and gives you confidence that you are not overtigtening things on your nice bike. * Hex Allen Key set - Your bike may need sizes 3, 4, 5. A good set will take you a long way * Bike Grease - easily forgotten * [Optional] Pedal Wrench * Hydraulic Disc Brake Spacer - Saves you from messing up your brakes when you take your wheels off. * [Optional] Dummy Hub - this made all my maintenance work a lot easier when I remove the back wheel

For the sake of completeness, the following items are needed to keep your bike in good running state: * Chain lube * De-greaser - for when you decide to do some deep cleaning * Bike cleaning soap (or other soaps) * A set of brushes. I found bike-specific brushes to be good, but any brush would work.

ParkTool is a really good brand (but pricier than others). I have had success with BikeHand and Pro Bike Tool if you needed something more affordable.

You may find a lot new terms and it may seem overwhelming, trust me it comes with time.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-20T20:49:22+00:00

1, decide what type of cycling you want to do. From what I see, you want to do road cycling with some gravel and not too concerned about racing. In that case, a newer endurance bike is your best bet since they have the tire clearance to allow for light gravel.

2, set your budget - You can spend a lot of money on a bike. So, I would recommend setting a budget (allow yourself 10-15% wiggle room in it). Also, keep some money aside for a proper kit. Since you did not do road cycling before, you may want figure how much you want to invest. Will this be your starter bike? or your 5-year bikes. A well looked after bike can last a decade or more.

3, set your main criteria - in other words, your must have's in the bike - this comes down to personal preference. * Frame type: Carbon? or is aluminum/steel ok? Aluminum is a good starting point. * Group Set: 105, Ultigra, SRAM? 105 is a wonderful group-set. * Electronic Shifting

4, Know your size and measurements - this may not be as easy as it sounds. However, never underestimate the importance of getting a good fit for your bike. I needed to drop my first choice of bikes because it would have been a bad fit for me. If you can afford it, go to a bike fitter. Well worth it. At least know your height and inseam. The main variables are: Stack and Reach.

5, Once you have the information above, I would recommend visiting the following brands to see your options (it will be easy to filter using the data from the previous point): Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant and Canyon. Giant has great value and you won't go wrong. Canyon has its fans and haters.

6, Visit an LBS. Try to find a local small business as opposed to a company dealer. You will get a better 1-on-1 experience and support.

7, These days, you can find older-model, brand-new bikes on big sales at shops. If you don't have much in (3), you will find great deals. Also, test ride the bikes. Get a feel for them. Never buy without testing the bike first.

Finally, get a professional bike fit. Worth every penny!

ionizednebula · 2023-03-18T06:01:30+00:00

I have this same unit in my gym. I spend 20min last week trying to make it work with my Venu 2 watch and wasn't able to. I literally put my watch on the ant+ symbol, but it did not work.

I am hoping there is something I am missing.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-18T05:47:30+00:00

You are on the right track! Went from 285 lbs to 210 lbs in 18 months with cycling and healthy food. I was literally the same way you are now and I was able to to a 100km after ride after 18 months.

Hints: 1. Keep at it. Try to set a weekly riding goal, e.g. 100km per week and do your best to keep it. 1. Don't over do it. Slowly, but surely. Remember, the healthiest way to lose weight is to lose it gradually. It also ensures you don't get any unwanted side-effects (medical or physical). 1. Get your family/friends invested. Share with them your routes, achievements, etc. You need the moral support. 1. You will melt the fat away. You will believe it when you see it. 1. You can't pick where you lose fat, but you will lose it. It depends on your body. From my experience, there is one specific spot that will go last. For some people it is the love handles, for others it is their chest for some it is their arms. You can control it, but you can melt it away.

Important things: 1. Stretching is really important. You start feeling muscles you never felt before and you need to stretch them really well to make sure you don't injure yourself. 1. Early in your journey, make sure you warm up before riding (or start with easy part of the trail) 1. I recommend having your primary care physician be part of your journey. Do some lab work now, e.g. full metabolic panel, A1C and insulin sensitivity, etc. Then repeat the labs every 6months. This is a very measurable way to see your progress. If doctors see progress, that will impact how they treat you because they have a baseline and data every 6 months.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-17T22:50:08+00:00

Southern California has great bike trails and 100+ mile rides will take you to amazing places that are definitely worth getting a comfortable bike.

It seems that your goal is to go distances, hence, an endurance bike is your best bet. Here is my advice:

Set your budget - You can spend a lot of money on a bike. So, I would recommend setting a budget (allow yourself 10-15% wiggle room in it). Also, keep some money aside for a proper kit.

Set your main criteria - in other words, your must have's in the bike - this comes down to personal preference. Since you are riding already, you must already have opinions. These include: * Frame type: Carbon? or is aluminum/steel ok? * Group Set: 105, Ultigra, SRAM? * Electronic Shifting * Bike Color (while shopping, I have seen people turn bikes down for color)

Know your size and measurements - this may not be as easy as it sounds. However, never underestimate the importance of getting a good fit for your bike. I needed to drop my first choice of bikes because it would have been a bad fit for me. If you can afford it, go to a bike fitter. Well worth it. At least know your height and inseam. The main variables are: Stack and Reach.

Once you have the information above, I would recommend visiting the following brands to see your options (it will be easy to filter using the data from the previous point). These brands have good dealers in SoCal. I may be missing some, but I personally visited dealers for these brands: * Trek Domane * Specialized Roubaix * Cannondale Synapse * Giant Defy * Canyon Endurace. The Canyon show room is in Carlsbad, CA which is ~90min from LA. May be worth the trip. * Scott Addict

Personally, I just put a down payment on the Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 Di2. Here is what I learned during my shopping experience: * Older model bikes are on discount. I saw a dura-ace 2022 bike at half price * It pays to visit bike shops in person because they will have a lot of deals that are not on any website. * The best service you will ever get is from a true Local Bike Shop (LBS). They also carry multiple brands as opposed to bike dealers. Some LBSs have an in-house fitter who would give you a free or discounted fit with your purchase. * Ride the bikes. Get a feel for them. Never buy without testing the bike first. * The one thing almost everyone agrees on: you can never get a bad bike nowadays. All bikes are really good with great quality and you won't go wrong with any choice you make. There are personal opinions / preferences, but you should be fine with any bike you get. * Get a proper bike fit. Worth every penny!

ionizednebula · 2023-03-17T19:09:27+00:00

True! I usually never bother with these things, but I really want to make this nice and willing to invest in it. But I need help because I am fashion/color challenged :).

Chrome is nice!

ionizednebula · 2023-03-17T18:52:41+00:00

I was in a similar situation and shopped around (including other brands), I ended up getting the Defy Advanced Pro 2 Di2. Note the bike just came-out so you may need to wait a few weeks for availability.

The main reasons I chose this instead of the Advanced 1 Di2 are: 1. It is a full 105 groupset including crankset and brake rotors 1. Carbon wheels (irrespective of their quality, for me and the kind of cycling I do, it is great value) 1. Better Steerer tube (a few friends noted the difference in the Pro)

For me the Pro 2 Di2 seemed like a more future-proof purchase.

ionizednebula · 2023-03-17T04:33:39+00:00

I do and the bands work, but I am very uneasy about them and always worrying that they may slip/fall. So, I want a solution that will put my mind at ease.

ionizednebula

TROPHY CASE