Cycling Thread

[Northendzone]

Rode at tunnel mountain today, what a perfect day for it.....had to laugh at mt buddy, we stopped to catch our breath and some kind of pheasant starts approaching him and sort of comes after him and it shows no interest in me. We leave the area and the bird continues to follow us. Eventually we lost it. My buddy's shirt had some red in it and the pheasant also had red on its breast......I assume that the bird saw my buddy as some kind of threat.....

[JMN]

haha of course you laugh, but your buddy must've been so confused. I remember being attacked by a bird once during golf while my friends laughed at me too.

Getting some practice in since it hasn't been raining - love this new bike!

[Timbo]

Anyone use their iPhone on their bike?
I just purchased the Toppeak Smart Phone Drybag fo my iphone it installed easy peasy
I also downloaded the app Strava (free version)
From the Strava site.Strava lets you track your rides and runs via your iPhone, Android or dedicated GPS device and helps you analyze and quantify your performance.
My questions are has anyone here used something similar and does the odd jamming and road vibration damage your smartphone?
I am considering putting some rubber or high density foam between the mounting hardware and the mounting spot.

And is anyone using Strava or is there a better app in your opinion and why?

Thanks in advance

[M*A*S*H 4077]

^^ I haven't used one before but I was looking at them yesterday at Bow Cycle. I'd appreciate you reporting back with how it works!

[KTrain]

I have the same bike mount for my phone. I'm on a road bike so there's minimal bouncing/vibrations but I haven't any issues

I use Runkeeper for the most part because I like to keep track of running, cycling and gym equipment all in the same place.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

^^ I haven't used one before but I was looking at them yesterday at Bow Cycle. I'd appreciate you reporting back with how it works!

Day 1
I purchased it at Cyclepath for $29.95
I installed it quicker then it took me to get it out of the packaging.
Approx 30 seconds with a allen key/wrench
It can go in both portrait and landscape orientations but you cannot change orientations on the fly.
It is water proof as it rained on me on my test ride.

Plastic cover did not impede use of iphone functions such as swiping .
I put on the maps GPS and I could hear directions.

Durability : time will tell.

Cons:
You should remove your iPhone from your current case as removal from dry bag becomes a little tough .
Plastic parts could break in cooler weather
Not set up for video use

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Anyone use their iPhone on their bike?
I just purchased the Toppeak Smart Phone Drybag fo my iphone it installed easy peasy
I also downloaded the app Strava (free version)
From the Strava site.Strava lets you track your rides and runs via your iPhone, Android or dedicated GPS device and helps you analyze and quantify your performance.
My questions are has anyone here used something similar and does the odd jamming and road vibration damage your smartphone?
I am considering putting some rubber or high density foam between the mounting hardware and the mounting spot.

And is anyone using Strava or is there a better app in your opinion and why?

Thanks in advance

I used to use the Map My Ride app. It was pretty good, and fairly accurate. I never mounted my phone on anything, and just kept it in my jersey or my bag. I ended up buying the Garmin Edge 500 Red package, as I wanted the cadence and heart monitors, plus the display right on the bike. Obviously it's a big step up in price, but I feel it's worth it. You can also switch bikes with ease.

[Coys1882]

I use Strava for my rides and I bought a mounting case for my iphone (4s) from wahoo fitness which also picks up my HR sensor.

Love strava though. The segment creation and tracking is quite a bit of fun. I love seeing how I fair against other cyclists on certain sections. It's amazing how fast some guys are.

**EDIT** Example of a segment: http://www.strava.com/segments/4854808

So now anyone using Strava will have their time on that 'race' recorded and ranked on the website.

[macker]

For long rides the only way to go is Garmin. I can get 18 hours per charge and satellite is dialed in quick and never cuts out. Also need to have Alberta Backroads maps loaded to get you out of trouble. You can upload Garmin to Strava quite easily if that is part of the reason that you ride. Most phones lack durability and battery life for most rides. Nothing like having your data cut off mid ride or racing back against your battery life.

[macker]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

I use Strava for my rides and I bought a mounting case for my iphone (4s) from wahoo fitness which also picks up my HR sensor.

Love strava though. The segment creation and tracking is quite a bit of fun. I love seeing how I fair against other cyclists on certain sections. It's amazing how fast some guys are.

**EDIT** Example of a segment: http://www.strava.com/segments/4854808

So now anyone using Strava will have their time on that 'race' recorded and ranked on the website.

Strava is a deadly app http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/...y-death_289714

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by macker

For long rides the only way to go is Garmin. I can get 18 hours per charge and satellite is dialed in quick and never cuts out. Also need to have Alberta Backroads maps loaded to get you out of trouble. You can upload Garmin to Strava quite easily if that is part of the reason that you ride. Most phones lack durability and battery life for most rides. Nothing like having your data cut off mid ride or racing back against your battery life.

I've found this with my iphone vs my garmin. I rode out to the end of 66 and back. My garmin was correct at 127KM, but my phone showed 89km. If you are doing short rides like commuting or sticking near the city, I find the phone to be ok. But longer rides, I find it inaccurate.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by macker

Strava is a deadly app http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/...y-death_289714

ugh - I hate that. It's a tragic accident but dude was 40 years old - he should have known better and assumed the risk.

[Northendzone]

There is always someone else to blame....thankfully there was a lawyer around to attempt to fix this travesty of justice........

[macker]

True enough. I am mixed on Strava as it pushes me in ways that no other app does. I have some KOMs and when one falls I get an email and realize I have to step up and see if I can get it back. This is easier to manage with running but put me on a bike and it can be dangerous to the point I will often wonder what is the point. Broken collarbone worth going after that DH KOM? Often even my best efforts on a bike will only put me in the top 30%. Guess I need a motorbike

[Timbo]

I have no KOMs but I am certainly KOBC (King of Base Camp) You will always find me at the bottom. I'm using Strava to compete with myself.

[Coys1882]

If it's not flat land I'm not really interested in DH KOM - it's a disaster waiting to happen. For me anyway.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I've found this with my iphone vs my garmin. I rode out to the end of 66 and back. My garmin was correct at 127KM, but my phone showed 89km. If you are doing short rides like commuting or sticking near the city, I find the phone to be ok. But longer rides, I find it inaccurate.

I would guess that the Garmin takes into account the altitude change to do a better estimation of distance - i.e. going up an incline looks like a shorter distance is covered; the phone will likely not be sampling as frequently, so curves are treated as straight lines sometimes - all resulting in what appears to be less distance.

How do either compare with a cheap bike computer though? Do you find the Garmin is better than the bike computer calculating speed and distance from the tires revolutions?

[habernac]

Garmin is infinitely better for distances measured. Love my 500, I've got it set up for all 3 of my bikes.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I would guess that the Garmin takes into account the altitude change to do a better estimation of distance - i.e. going up an incline looks like a shorter distance is covered; the phone will likely not be sampling as frequently, so curves are treated as straight lines sometimes - all resulting in what appears to be less distance.

How do either compare with a cheap bike computer though? Do you find the Garmin is better than the bike computer calculating speed and distance from the tires revolutions?

Garmin does both. You have a wheel/cadence sensor, as well as the GPS. If you calibrated your gsc 10 (wheel/cadence sensor), that will take precedence over the GPS.
I haven't tried any newer bike computers so I can't comment on reliability or accuracy.

One thing I like with my 510 is I can pair my phone with it, and then transmit where I am. When I start, my wife will get an email with a link, and when she opens it, she can follow me. I'm the slow dot on her map. It shows her my speed, cadence and of course location. This only works when you have cell service though. So if I'm riding too far out, like to the end of 66, I don't bother with it.

[KTrain]

I know a few people who purchased bikes from Jensen. Just thought I'd pass along their site which has a bunch of stuff on sale right now. Some bikes are almost 50% off.

http://www.jensonusa.com/Sale/