Over the past 7 years I have really grown to love riding bikes. There’s something really neat about covering miles and miles and miles under your own volition, but not all weather makes for equally pleasant riding conditions. A year ago this time I just bundled up and went out in the cold regardless. I was focused on getting more time in saddle to see what happens.
This year? Not so much. With my reading list, home improvements, pregnancy, running consistency goal and general excitement in learning more about requisite organization and the possibility to work with some experts in that field, a little cold air causes my two-wheeled friends to remain stationary.
Today, however, I skip the run and opt to ride even though it’s still cold out. My double run from a couple days ago has left me with some extra soreness in my achilles and ankles and the iBike is begging to be set up. So no run today and I meet up with Travis, the local iBike expert, to do my coast downs.
As it turns out, I continue to have trouble with the speed and cadence unpairing (everything’s wireless and must be paired to work). To do the coast down to determine CdA and rolling resistance and whatever else is used in the formula to infer actual wattage, one must have speed. We are able to get things working long enough to do several coast downs and the 4 mile ride so that I now have a setting for my winter riding garb on the road bike. Success!
Unfortunately, the unit unpaired right after. Again! Boo. But no worries, we have figured out the problem and that problem is fixable. There were some mount units that do not lock tightly enough in place and are causing this problem. Travis is going to loan me his extra mount and we’ll get this gizmo operational soon enough.
That’s the thing with being an early adopter with new technology. Sometimes there are kinks to work out! What I see in iBike is a company committed to fixing these and also committed to a cutting edge method of wattage measurement. I think this iBike adventure is going to be great fun. Plus, I’m bound to learn a lot about riding efficiency that wouldn’t be obvious riding without power or with another power meter tool. Which will be fun. Learning is fun. Right? I agree.
How many miles? Ha! Just under 30. Not much, eh? At this rate, my butt’s probably going to get dropped on this Tuesday’s lunch ride. Oh well…I’ll have my power readings though.
Recent Comments