MapMyRide Community - Cycling Gear

2009 Kestral Evoke SL

deezl54 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:57:27 -0600

Any feedback on the Kestral Evoke SL with Sram Rival and Mavic Equippe would be apprceciated! Thinking of buying one from Bikes Direct.com

AeroDynamic wheels - what's your experience?

paddy1985 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:33:35 -0600

Hi all,

Question regarding aerodynamic wheels. I'm a 80kg (176pounds) triathlete currently training for the IRONMAN in Nice, France for 2010. As I'm currently cycling on low-cost training wheels to save some costs for spring-time, I'm wondering what kinda wheels would suit my triathlon bike.

I've been looking around on the internet, reading loads of reviews of ZIPP / Easton / HED / Planet-X / Mavic / Reynold - wheels but I'm getting confused by all the different responses which range from 'this is ****' to 'I LOVE THESE WHEELS'. So I was wondering if anybody has experience with any of these brands.

Furthermore I've read that most wheels are meant for TT and Triathlons which means flat courses etc. Now the IRONMAN in Nice is everything BUT flat, so how do these aerodynamic wheels react to climbing? Is there a certain tradeoff regading the hight of the rims? (for example ZIPP 303 on the front with 808 on the back?)

I hope that there are some nice thoughts out there, people who can tell me about their experiences with any of these brands or can join the discussion on this topic.

Regards,

Paddy, Oxford, UK

Inexpensive gear for dark and cold rides

joedonovan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:30:52 -0600

My bike commute to work is often in the dark, and starting this time of year in the cold. I have a piecemeal assortment of base-layers, shells, reflective items, and lights that I use. Much of the gear that I use is not really cycling gear but instead is gear from my backpacking days. I am always looking for inexpensive ways to get warmer or more visible on those dark cold mornings (10-30 degrees fahrenheit).

Does anyone have any tips where to get inexpensive bright lights, cheap reflective material, or items to keep warm that work well on a bike? Your suggestions need not be items that were specifically designed for biking but items that work well for you.

For example, my headlights are 2 Duracell Daylite flashlights (80 lumens each) that I bought at the hardware store. They were way cheaper than a comparable light made specifically for a bike.

Any ideas?

Upload my rides to a Garmin 305?

fitzklein — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:18:06 -0600

I've managed to export a tcx from MyMyRide. Also managed to the import the tcx to my Garmin 305 BUT it shows up as Course rather than in my History?

Also I'd like to somehow import that original tcx to my Garmin Connect (web application)?

Oddly both the Garmin Connect app and the MyMyRide app suggest they import/export tcx files but neither application (site) seem capable.

Am I missing something obvious?

Garmin Edge 205/305 or 705

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:22:48 -0600

I am thinking about getting a GPS unit. Ideally i want it to be able to plan a route before hand on my iMac (using this site) then upload it to the GPS unit. Of course the data being displayed must be clear and easy to read. Are these units good for that? I am tempted by the 705 as it has a base map so i can see where i am if I get lost, but am thinking that just carrying a pocket AZ would be a cheaper/easier option. My main concern is that it MUST work with my intel iMac.

2009 Schwinn Fastback

polyneux — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:12:48 -0600

I recently purchased a 2009 Schwinn Fastback for riding around school but I'd like to get into longer rides, my question is does anyone have any experience with this line of bikes? Are they good/bad should have gotten something else for an entry-level road bike?

Upgrading components on Wal-Mart bike

heramb22 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:48:39 -0500

I made the "mistake" of buying a GMC Denali road bike (same one you find in Wally world), and now want to upgrade the components. I think I've already bought most of the Ultegra parts I'll need on ebay, however, I'm a newb to the bicycle world and wondered if there were any good sites to walk through this process. Lastly, would anyone in the North Atlanta area be interested in helping me do this? Also, what would it cost for me to simply bring my bike to a shop and have it done?

rollers band replacement

chefrdr — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:26:48 -0500

I have a set of rollers with a snapped band. I have the proper band and it seems that hercules would have to stretch this band to get it in place. Any tips or suggestions to get the band to expand to the length and get roller secure?

I started by removing front roller, band is on both rollers, now how to stretch it to length is the challenge.

Sipstream bike mounted hydration system

KWellborn — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:05:19 -0500

There was an advertisement for this in the back of my most recent Bicycling magazine. I was wondering if anyone has used this or know anything about it.

Headlight for deep black rides?!

cbrandes — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:29:04 -0600

I have an old vistalight 5w headlight that barely cuts it when I ride home in the dark through the woods. Does anyone have any experience with a bright high quality headlight?

cold weather clothing

big-d — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:09:12 -0500

while i have enjoyed recreational riding for a couple of decades, it has taken the birth of my 3rd son to get me serious about excercise for the sake of exercise. my wife got me running, but when i started cross training to help my "runners knee," my love of riding was rekindled.

i live in utah between the wasatch mountains and the great salt lake. it will be getting quite cold here soon. some of my morning runs and rides have already been a bit cool. i have no experience with cold-weather workout clothing. i started looking at gear online but got confused with "tights," "base layer," "thermolator," and the various "weights." what works best?

2004 carbon bike's structural wear and tear

nfeht — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:33:55 -0500

I've been looking into buying a 2004 trek 5000. I know from rowing that overtime the strength of carbon fiber can weaken. Many boats after 4 years are not nearly as strong or stiff as when they were new. I'm wondering how true this is for bikes. They dont take the levels of force exerted in rowing however they do take a beating over the years. I want to make sure that the frame will have years of rideing left in it, (for rideing not racing).

To get an idea of the usage I give a bike. I often ride 30-60miles solo at speeds of 15-20mph on a 33lb 30yr old raleigh.

Gears

stolenzack — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:03:16 -0500

Hi all!
Right im new to road cycling and have only just made the conversion over from BMXing.

Ive got an old Raleigh Royal and after my first cycle on it i think i need some new gears. The ones i have just dont cut it, even in the highest gear my legs are moving ridiculously fast but im not gaining a lot of speed.

Any advice on which gears i should get as coming from BMXing im not used to gears?

Shifting Gears

ryan77lilly — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:42:32 -0500

Im a fairly new rider 2 months or so. Okay I went on a ride today and now everytime I get into third or fourth gear my chain jumps back and forth between the two gears. Is there anyway to fix this at home and not go to a shop.

Thanks for any help.

cleaning bike chain and gears??

nfeht — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:30:23 -0500

what should I use to clean the gears and chain of my bike. And what lube to use?

side note how do you tighten your breaks i felt my back wheel break slip on my last ride and it isnt working as well anymore.

Cycling Sunglasses?

rick@mmf — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:24:57 -0500

Anyone have any recommendations on sunglasses for cycling? I biked for the first time around dusk last night and my normal dark polarized sunglasses became a bit of a pain as the sun went down. I wear contacts, so taking them off meant my eyes tearing up horribly from the wind, but with them on I couldn't see very well either. My girlfriend has some nice ones that have interchangeable lenses (different colors/shades for different times of day), but hers are also on the very expensive side. I'm ideally looking for something in the

upkeep advice for new rider.

Jodaddy:^) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:15:54 -0500

Hey all. I'm new to riding (2 months) and I'm loving it more than I thought. I ride after work so I keep my bike on my bike rack a lot which means it gets wet once in a while. Is this bad for the bike? Also, what maintenance do bikes need? Oil, cable adjustments, etc. Thanks in advance.

Carbon vs. Aluminum

Taylor B. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:22:00 -0500

Help Please! I am in the process of looking for a new bike. I have limited experience riding with approx. 200 miles (total) on an early 1980s Nishiki steel frame. I tried to make it a summer project (full disassembly and paint job) and the wife got tired of it and told me to buy a new one. (Roger!) I have set my search parameters to Shimano 105 components or better and $2,000 or less. So far I have rode a few Specialized bikes and Trek bikes, both in full carbon and aluminum + carbon seat stays and forks. I have no qualms saying that I did not like the Specialized bikes at all. (Sorry if I offended anyone!) I think a lot of it is that the Trek bikes felt more like my old bike as far as geometry. I kept hearing that the full carbon bikes were more smooth and I was really shocked when that came true. So now I am trying to figure out if carbon is really worth it. I have no problem buying the mainly aluminum frame to save a few bucks. I have to be convinced to buy the carbon by someone other than a salesman looking for a bigger sale. My other question is strength. I want this bike to last. Will a carbon last as long and hold up after a ding or two? So my big questions: If I buy a full carbon bike and crash it, am I going to be worse off than if I crashed a carbon/aluminum?Will a carbon bike last as long as aluminum?

Is the damping effect of a full carbon bike worth it for someone who may not ride as much as I would like? Or if I end up riding a lot will I regret not buying the aluminum?

Thank you very much to anyone who may respond after slogging their way through that! The help is greatly appreciated!

Best Heart Rate Monitor for the money???

sopagd19 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:06:12 -0500

I'm looking at getting a heart rate monitor for my next level of training on the bike. Does anyone have any suggestions on what works best? I'm more of less looking for an entry level heart rate monitor that's accurate and reliable.

Turn by turn directions with Garmin Edge 705

pseudoyams — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:50:34 -0500

I did some searching around for this and am kinda confused so I'll lay it out here, hoping for a straight answer. I have a Garmin Edge 705 that I want to get turn by turn directions on based off a route I created in Map My Ride. I want the turn by turn alerts because I watch my speed, watts, heart rate, cadence, etc while riding and dont want to look at a tiny map on the screen.

So, if I create a route on MMR w/ the follow roads option, save it, then export it as GPX and copy it to DEVICE:\Garmin\GPX folder, will I be able to get turn by turn directions from that? Will all the extra points on the map from the follow roads option create any problem w/ the 705 when navigating a route?

Or, will I need to export the created route to a tcx/crs file, import it into Garmin Training Center, and send it to the device via GTC to get the turn by turn directions feature?

The GPX export/copy seems simplest so if that works Im fine with that. Im just unsure about which way to do this. Thanks for clearing this up for me.

Rob

Jerseys for "Normal size" men?

erichall — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:03:34 -0500

Can anyone offer up suggestions for cycling jerseys for bigger guys? Sizing is tough and I'm looking for 52" chest or larger not a racing or Euro fit. Even a 4XL Euro jersey is a bit snug. Hopefully at the rate I'm going I won't need the large size for long (fingers crossed) but short of having some custom made to get a decent looking jersey that fits I'm lost. -thanks

Tire liners

1705richard — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:52:56 -0500

Anyone ever use tire liners for less flats? My road bike has flats almost everytime I ride it.Maybe bad luck,I don't know.I have new tires and have proper pressure. Looks like each flat is from glass by the looks of the tire.Thought I would try the liners to see if it would help.Tubes are getting pricey.

Wireless/cordless Computer help

dizzyjojo — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:13:16 -0500

Hi,

Having just got myself a lovely new road bike I would like to get it a wireless/cordless computer. Don't want any more ugly wires than necassary hanging about.

I've found one which would do the job I need nicely but was wondering how far the 'range' of these things are? Bascially, could I put it on the back wheel? Is that an ok thing to do? I have carbon forks on the front and dont want to damage them by attaching (even if it's only a cable tie) a sensor to them.

Or shall I just splash out and buy myself the iphone mount for the front? :-)

Thanks very much

Chain ring

1705richard — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:41:46 -0500

I have a 2 ring crank,can I take one of the rings off and just run one? I seem to only us 7 out of the 14 gears anyway.

best shorts for long rides

jofos — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:18:44 -0500

I have started increasing my distance lately and now I'm riding between 30-50 miles a per ride. The shorts I use feel great for the first 25 miles or so but after that things get a bit uncomfortable. I'm sure many of you here ride much more than me and I was wondering what shorts you would reccomend. I'm aware that I have condition myself for the distance but I'm also sure that better equipment makes that conditioning period go smoother. Thanks in advance for your help.

Wheel rim wear

flamin trek — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:13:12 -0500

Hi All,

I ride my bike, and i use my v-brakes to help me stop. I heard someone recently who said that when rims fail from wear it is catastrophic.

Does anyone have any idea if i can tell when my rims are worn out?

My MTB is around 13years old and I've started using it this year for commuting. The brakes cop a bit of a workout and when I ride off road they often get muddy/dirty and i can only imagine this increases the wear on the brake surface.

How do i know when it's time to replace?

Thanks

Need advice about pedal clips/straps/clipless pedals.

chymerikaen — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:50:16 -0500

I'm a total newb when it comes to bike equipment - I've been riding forever, but just casually, but recently started biking more seriously to help lose 100 lbs (I've lost 42 lbs so far). I just ride a Schwinn bike that I bought at Target, and when it comes to things like road bikes, mountain bikes, and more specialized equipment I'm clueless.

I've started lowering the resistance on my bike. I used to ride almost exclusively in higher gears, but have started riding using mostly 10th gear to burn more calories and tone my legs. When I spin the pedals with no resistance, I've noticed that my feet tend to slip off the pedals. I'd like to look into pedal straps or clips or something, but I don't know anything about them.

What would you recommend for a beginner, and do I need to start investing in better equipment like clipless pedals and biking shoes?

Thanks in advance!

cycling shorts

sweigl — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:08:34 -0500

Why does everyone wear those tight bike pants? I like to wear loose fitting gym shorts, which are hard to find, unless you like them below your knees.

I'm a newbie to the sport and would like to know if typical bike shorts are comfortable or not. I don't ride a long way, 6 to 8 miles/day.

Wrong-sized bike

laloosh — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:46:33 -0500

I've got a Trek 920 MTB that I bought new in 1998, which I've recently just started riding again after leaving it in storage for 10+ years. When I bought the bike, I didn't know much about anything bike-related, I mostly relied on the bike shop owner to help fill my needs. I like the bike, but I've come to realize it's actually too big for me. It's a 21" and I'm about 5'10". When I stand flat-footed over the bike, I have *maybe* 1/2 clearance, which I NOW know isn't quite enough (and can also be pretty uncomfortable on uneven terrain!). Is there anything I can do, short of buying a new bike that actually fits my body?

Iphone 'clamp?'

dizzyjojo — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:42:21 -0500

Hi everyone,

I've just discovered imapmyride in the last two weeks and have found that I need a clamp to atatch my iphone to my handle bars. I've asked at Halfords and they have said that Apple my do one but I can't find anything.

Can anyone help please?

Thanks

Jo x