January 2017 Biking Cycling Bicycling Challenge!

SteveCro

dtcjem wrote: »

For those of you riding indoor trainers... Does anyone have a shelf in front of their bike for Ipad or such? I have seen one from Wahoo but its pricey so looking for suggestions or solutions you have found. I currently have my Ipad on a shelf beside me

I do built it myself. I took 4 -2x4's cut them to the height of my handlebars and a piece of 7/16 plywood about 18" square and screwed it to the top of the boards. The stand sits straddle of my front tire and about 4 inches from my handlebars. I sit my laptop on it for youtube videos, Pandora radio or watching Netflix while riding. If your not handy with construction find a carpenter and he could whip something out of scrap pretty cheap. I have maybe $4.00 in the whole thing.

SteveCro

I'm in this month. I missed being in it last month. I will set my goal at 200 miles combination of indoors and outdoors. Depends on the weather and snow for outside.

1/4 - 8.27 miles - outside 18*F with 18 mph winds weather bug says feels like 3*F
1/5 - 8.0 miles - outside 12* F
1/6 - 7.91 miles - outside 8*F
1/7 - 10.39 miles - outside 12*F
1/9 - 8.53 miles - outside 27*F

YTD - 43.09 miles

pedermj2002

_nikkiwolf_ wrote: »

I'm actually considering getting an indoor trainer, to be independent from the weather. I saw some rollers online that aren't too expensive. I just have to figure out if I would actually use them or if they would just end up collecting dust after the first excitement has worn off.
I have a bike computer that measures using a little magnet on a spoke of the front wheel. Would that also work on rollers, or would I have to buy something else to track speed and distance?

With rollers, I don't know. I bought a trainer myself, which means that my front tire is never spinning. I had to go for different cadence and speed sensors. Since I went with Garmin, that meant speed sensor that goes on the back wheel, and cadence sensor on the pedal arms. If you do the same, you'll also need to know a little trick about the Garmin cadence sensor: Pick up and drop the front wheel of your bike about 2 inches before each ride. A part of how it gets turned on seems to be the jarring motion of picking up and putting down the bike while getting ready for a ride.

35dollars

Which garmin cadence sensor have you got - the modern one or the previous magnetic one? The new one definitely doesn't need to be bump-started - it starts with the 1st or 2nd turn of the crank

pedermj2002

The new one. It's a single device that goes on the pedal arm, no magnet elsewhere at all. It might not say it needs to be bump started, but I haven't gotten it to work for me in any other way. I spin the crank a good four times, nothing. I drop the front tire 2 inches, spin the crank twice, and it lights up like it's supposed to.

sijomial

pedermj2002 wrote: »

The new one. It's a single device that goes on the pedal arm, no magnet elsewhere at all. It might not say it needs to be bump started, but I haven't gotten it to work for me in any other way. I spin the crank a good four times, nothing. I drop the front tire 2 inches, spin the crank twice, and it lights up like it's supposed to.

That's interesting. I have the older magnetic sensor on one bike (works perfectly) and the newer crank mounted one on another bike and I've been thinking the batteries in the crank mounted one keep dying very prematurely (two or three rides).
Will have to try your bump start routine next time.

rileysowner

sijomial wrote: »

pedermj2002 wrote: »

The new one. It's a single device that goes on the pedal arm, no magnet elsewhere at all. It might not say it needs to be bump started, but I haven't gotten it to work for me in any other way. I spin the crank a good four times, nothing. I drop the front tire 2 inches, spin the crank twice, and it lights up like it's supposed to.

That's interesting. I have the older magnetic sensor on one bike (works perfectly) and the newer crank mounted one on another bike and I've been thinking the batteries in the crank mounted one keep dying very prematurely (two or three rides).
Will have to try your bump start routine next time.

I wish I could find my BT speed and cadence sensor. It came off when I was taking the bike up from the basement and since outside my speed is calculated with the GPS and my cadence from my Moov Now, I put it in a good place. Now I can't find it. I bet it will show up in the spring when I move my cycling outside again and don't need it.

wobblybots

Goal 400km

03/01 - 15km Turbo HIIT session
04/01 - 12km Turbo session
06/01 - 15km Turbo HIIT session
08/01 - 50km road cycle
10/01 - 10km Turbo Strength & Power session

Total to date: 102km

35dollars

Tue 10 - 23.77 miles

MTD 47.57 / 250, YTD 47.57 / 4000

35dollars

@ pedermj2002

Sounds to me that your cadence sensor is faulty

pedermj2002

35dollars wrote: »

@ pedermj2002

Sounds to me that your cadence sensor is faulty

It might be, but this is the second one in a row that does it. I actually replaced the first one via tech support when I couldn't figure it out, and the sensor just wouldn't turn on. I still have the original, though, and just tried it. Same result. Bump start, and it works immediately. No bump start, and it won't ever turn on.

Rebsrockem

Jan 5: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Pearl Jam
Jan 7: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Buffalo Tom
Jan 10: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Van Halen

DomCraigKing

@_nikkiwolf_

Might be an idea for you and others doing winter rides. Look on Ebay or Amazon for Battery heated gloves. Waterproof, thick, insulated with the added bonus of being gently heated. A rechargeable battery just sits in a small pouch on your wrist and warms the glove all through, I know from experience no matter how cold your hands stay warm as toast no matter how cold it is. They come in around £15 to £30 so not a major expense for something so useful.

SteveCro

I'm in this month. I missed being in it last month. I will set my goal at 200 miles combination of indoors and outdoors. Depends on the weather and snow for outside.

1/4 - 8.27 miles - outside 18*F with 18 mph winds weather bug says feels like 3*F
1/5 - 8.0 miles - outside 12* F
1/6 - 7.91 miles - outside 8*F
1/7 - 10.39 miles - outside 12*F
1/9 - 8.53 miles - outside 27*F
1/10 - 6.5 miles - indoors on trainer - 30 to 40 mph winds with rain

YTD - 49.59 miles

35dollars

DomCraigKing wrote: »

A rechargeable battery just sits in a small pouch on your wrist and warms the glove all through, I know from experience no matter how cold your hands stay warm as toast no matter how cold it is. They come in around £15 to £30 so not a major expense for something so useful.

I got a pair of these, but I wouldn't describe the pouch as small (well, I suppose it is small, objectively, but it feels enormous stuck on the back of your wrist).

(Hasn't been cold enough, since I got them, to try them out yet, so not necessarily a recommendation of this particular make/model - looks like they might be getting a run out on Friday, with the temperature due to hit -6C during my commute))

rileysowner

rileysowner wrote: »

Since I got my 800 minutes in December, I think I will see if I can start the year with 900 minutes on my trainer. If I can find my BT speed/cadence sensor, I may put a distance measure in there, but it seems to be hiding from me.

January 1st 0 minutes. I am just too tired after not getting to sleep until 4:30AM and then waking up at 9AM.
January 2nd 40 minutes - Total 40 minutes 860 to go.
January 3rd 30 minutes - Total 70 minutes 830 to go.
January 6th 18 minutes - Total 88 minutes 812 to go.
January 9th 45 minutes - Total 133 minutes 767 to go.

January 10th 40 minutes - Total 173 minutes 727 to go.

tristramtrent

1 Jan 12km indoor
4 jan 20.24km Burghfield village ave 15.6kmh gain 104m
6 jan 20km The Vyne & back 16.5kph gain 103m
9 jan 12 km indoor
11 jan 27.71 km Woolhampton ave 14.8 gain 120m
It's slower cycling down the canal towpath - mud, gates and other interruptions - peaceful though

35dollars

Wed 11 - 26.98 miles

MTD 74.55 / 250, YTD 74.55 / 4000

Homeward leg was a real slog into heavy headwind. Looking forward to rest day tomorrow

SingingSingleTracker

January 1st 51.6 Miles -- Duration 4:00:09
January 3rd 10.1 Miles -- Duration 00:31:00
January 4th 11.0 Miles -- Duration 1:00:28
January 5th 17.9 Miles -- Duration 1:03:00
January 6th 9.88 Miles -- Duration 00:33:00
January 7th 15.1 Miles -- Duration 1:45:32 (MTB)
January 8th 30.8 Miles -- Duration 2:15:17
January 10th 20.5 Miles -- Duration 1:09:58

January Total Miles: 166.88
January Total Duration: 12:18:24

Rebsrockem

Jan 5: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Pearl Jam
Jan 7: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Buffalo Tom
Jan 10: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Van Halen
Jan 11: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Queen

rileysowner

rileysowner wrote: »

Since I got my 800 minutes in December, I think I will see if I can start the year with 900 minutes on my trainer. If I can find my BT speed/cadence sensor, I may put a distance measure in there, but it seems to be hiding from me.

January 1st 0 minutes. I am just too tired after not getting to sleep until 4:30AM and then waking up at 9AM.
January 2nd 40 minutes - Total 40 minutes 860 to go.
January 3rd 30 minutes - Total 70 minutes 830 to go.
January 6th 18 minutes - Total 88 minutes 812 to go.
January 9th 45 minutes - Total 133 minutes 767 to go.
January 10th 40 minutes - Total 173 minutes 727 to go.

January 11th 55 minutes - Total 228 minutes 672 to go.

SingingSingleTracker

January 1st 51.6 Miles -- Duration 4:00:09
January 3rd 10.1 Miles -- Duration 00:31:00
January 4th 11.0 Miles -- Duration 1:00:28
January 5th 17.9 Miles -- Duration 1:03:00
January 6th 9.88 Miles -- Duration 00:33:00
January 7th 15.1 Miles -- Duration 1:45:32 (MTB)
January 8th 30.8 Miles -- Duration 2:15:17
January 10th 20.5 Miles -- Duration 1:09:58
January 11th 15.8 Miles -- Duration 1:00:00

January Total Miles: 182.68
January Total Duration: 13:18:24

wobblybots

I've had a stomach bug for the last 2 days so I'm sidelined. Hoping to go to my turbo class tomorrow morning but will have to see how I feel.

_nikkiwolf_

@DomCraigKing Thanks for the suggestion with the heated gloves! I might put those on my wishlist, sounds like a good idea for winter.
@35dollars From that picture, the battery pack on the wrist sure looks huge! Please let me know how they worked out on the bike, if you get a chance to test-drive them tomorrow.

@wobblybots I wish you speedy recovery!

--

Lots of snow on Tuesday, everything coated in ice on Wednesday, but today it got warmer (3°C) and started melting, so I took the bike to work. Apart from a little snow sludge in a few spots, it was fine. On the way home I got caught in a cold rain shower. At least it wasn't snow!

04/01/2017 - 3.2km new chain test ride
05/01/2017 - 12.5km commute
07/01/2017 - 3.2km supermarket and back
09/01/2017 - 11.8km commute
12/01/2017 - 10.5km commute
---
41.2 km (of 150km Jan goal) done

And I did it: I ordered rollers for indoor riding! I hope they'll arrive on Saturday, so that I can set them up and try them out on the weekend.

rileysowner

I found my speed/cadence sensor, but it seems that when it broke off the speed sensor part was damaged. I did lots of work and testing with it, and all it will register is cadence, so it is useless for me to get distance. I think I will get an inexpensive wireless speedometer and use that for my indoor stuff.

Rebsrockem

Jan 5: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Pearl Jam
Jan 7: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Buffalo Tom
Jan 10: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Van Halen
Jan 11: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to Queen
Jan 12: 11.1 mi. / 35 min. watching Extreme Calorie Burn (Road To Victory, Colorado) & listening to The Connells

On SATURDAY - - I plan on making the _next_ rest stop!!!! Never done that before so, not sure how many miles, but I'm ready, I hope.

SingingSingleTracker

January 1st 51.6 Miles -- Duration 4:00:09
January 3rd 10.1 Miles -- Duration 00:31:00
January 4th 11.0 Miles -- Duration 1:00:28
January 5th 17.9 Miles -- Duration 1:03:00
January 6th 9.88 Miles -- Duration 00:33:00
January 7th 15.1 Miles -- Duration 1:45:32 (MTB)
January 8th 30.8 Miles -- Duration 2:15:17
January 10th 20.5 Miles -- Duration 1:09:58
January 11th 15.8 Miles -- Duration 1:00:00
January 12th 27.0 Miles -- Duration 1:30:00

January Total Miles: 209.68
January Total Duration: 14:48:24

rileysowner

rileysowner wrote: »

Since I got my 800 minutes in December, I think I will see if I can start the year with 900 minutes on my trainer. If I can find my BT speed/cadence sensor, I may put a distance measure in there, but it seems to be hiding from me.

January 1st 0 minutes. I am just too tired after not getting to sleep until 4:30AM and then waking up at 9AM.
January 2nd 40 minutes - Total 40 minutes 860 to go.
January 3rd 30 minutes - Total 70 minutes 830 to go.
January 6th 18 minutes - Total 88 minutes 812 to go.
January 9th 45 minutes - Total 133 minutes 767 to go.
January 10th 40 minutes - Total 173 minutes 727 to go.
January 11th 55 minutes - Total 228 minutes 672 to go.

January 12th 30 minutes - Total 258 minutes 642 to go.

wobblybots

Goal 400km

03/01 - 15km Turbo HIIT session
04/01 - 12km Turbo session
06/01 - 15km Turbo HIIT session
08/01 - 50km road cycle
10/01 - 10km Turbo Strength & Power session
13/01 - 22km Turbo Endurance session

Total to date: 124km

_nikkiwolf_

Brrr, horrible weather!
I took my trekking bike to work today (now I understand why you need more than one bike ), and it handled the slush on the ground surprisingly well. That didn't make it any more fun to ride when the wind started hurling the snow flakes in my face.
Judging by the shipping status, my indoor trainer won't arrive before Monday or Tuesday. I think I'll take a break from cycling until then.

04/01/2017 - 3.2km new chain test ride
05/01/2017 - 12.5km commute
07/01/2017 - 3.2km supermarket and back
09/01/2017 - 11.8km commute
12/01/2017 - 10.5km commute
13/01/2017 - 10.6km commute
---
51.8 km (of 150km Jan goal) done