The Biking Thread

I did send in a complaint, not like I expect to have it resolved. It was supposedly done because they were not profitable under their current business model. I'd be ok with ads even if they allowed me to see my data. Not knowing how the software works I can't say how hard it would be to see your own individual stats but it doesn't strike me as being THAT hard. I was hoping for this in MMR but they don't do that either. I'd try the free 60 day trial but I'd rather not give Strava my CC number :eek: right now
 
Danhedonia said:
It's a very valid complaint. They 'changed their business model' and I always smell venture capitalists (aka sociopathically greedy individuals) when that happens. They did a disservice to their user base, and likely a disservice to themselves.

I'd be surprised if no one steps in to the gap and brings out a better platform. It's not as if bike computers and spread sheets were that long ago, and that we could never go back.
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And along the way, the new one could be designed to work better on mobile devices other than phones. It won’t flip over from the vertical view to horizontal view on my iPad for example. I’d switch if there was a better option. Trailforks for mountain bike rides has made a good start with their GPS off line features. It could be expanded to include some Strava-like features such as segments, health related numbers, heart rates, etc.
 
nuke_diver said:
because they were not obscenely profitable under their current business model.
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FTFY.

Absolute illustration of why America has gone to shit. It wasn't profitable? Bullshit - they would never, ever have survived as long as they did.

No, they probably did well, then someone came along, said "Let me look at your books. OHO!!!! You could be staggering, filthy rich!!!! (And so could I). All you need to do is bend your customers over. I'll help you."

This is called 'Silicon Valley.' (Although I worked for plenty of these repellent people in Boston)

Ever wonder how and why we have a 1%? This is how.
 
Well I'll give them a bit of a benefit of a doubt that they aren't profitable or very much so. It's quite possible to have a viable business that isn't profitable so long as it is cash flow positive. Amazon did it for a long time. The company I used to work for also did it for a couple of years. They could run ads like MMR does on the free version but they don't want to do that. I doubt that Strava, though well known in the cycling area, is a very big and potential profitable company. Hard to be sure since they are private
 
My karma this year is comically oriented to reminding me of what an asshole I am. Last couple of days I had two of the worst rides of my life. And of course this is after I allowed myself to feel good about my summer biking program and how wonderful it is to ride in Albuquerque.

Ride 1: Friend says he needs to check on refrigeration issue at brewery he has bought into. No, I don't mind changing our ride to go there. He then suggests a route; I point out that there are rednecks in pickups in that hood, and the road has bad surfaces. "Oh, it'll be fine." Within our first mile, we got the elbow-buzz/f-bomb treatment from some douche in a F-250 with a lift kit. Within 8 miles, friend has taken me onto the access road linking on- and off-ramps for I-40. We are on a shoulder-less, pitted surface, with cars passing at 70mph. I tell him "this is a bad idea," and he was nice, but WTF? He got a flat tire, too - kinda made my point.

Ride 2: Albuquerque doesn't have earthquakes. Nor tornadoes. Blizzards are infrequent, and while we do have flash-floods in summer, most people fortunately avoid them. What we do have for shit weather is Wind. Note the capitalization. The spring winds off the mesa are ... different than wind in other places.

It blows consistently, and hard - those theatric whistling noises you hear in movies? We got 'em. And the raw mph is just plain higher than other places.

Like today's ride. 20 miles in, the wind just went haywire. Blowing steadily at around 20 mph (not estimated - from Accuweather), with gusts up over 40mph. I saw a woman in front of me blown off the path - first gust sent her off line; the ensuing harder gust just pushed her right off the path. Jesus H. Christ.

I went from enjoying a 17-18mph brisk pace to pedaling just to get back to the car. You know how leaves cartwheel and tumble in strong winds? And then in other situations, all kinds of shit just blows upwards and towards you? It was the latter. I went down to 5-6 mph in some spots, and felt fortunate not to have to get off the bike. (Several other parties had).

Cycling is usually one of my safe places - I am happy on a bike, I feel good on a bike, I can enter into some vaguely okay-with-my-true-self space on a bike.

This was fucking torture.

These are not serious problems, I know. But I really need to get back to enjoyable rides.
 
I hate wind more than anything. When it gets gusty around here (I probably won't ride if the gusts are expected to be over 40 but have been in 30mph stuff too many times to count) it isn't constant but shifts around all over the place depending on where you are due to the hills I guess. I have had rides where I have literally had a headwind every way I rode. I hate that.

I will torture myself tomorrow if I get up early enough and climb a very steep road here but it will be self inflicted if I do so I cannot complain :Wave: I have to get up early to do this ride since it's supposed to be pretty warm tomorrow and I don't want to do that climb if it's too hot :flamemad:
 
Halfway up the hill today I found myself hating climbs too :eek: Unlike wind however you do have a choice to avoid or turn around and go back down hill. I did neither and finished the climb. I remember that it seemed easier 4 years ago though I was faster today (I haven't done that climb very often for obvious reasons). The downhill was fun...averaged 31mph over a 6.7 mile stretch with a top speed of 47mph :panic: I've never gone that fast before. Though it's not going to last I'm probably in the best cycling shape of my life :old:, but upper body strength is the worse in 10 years probably.

I'll be taken out back to be put down pretty soon anyways :munch:
 
Honestly I was surprised it was that fast. Probably because after an hour of up steep and not so steep hills any downhill seemed somewhat fast and deliciously cool :grin:. Also there were only a couple of cars on the road so I could use the whole lane much of the time if necessary (it's allowed but I haven't been willing to hold up traffic so I don't). I suspect that's why I was faster than I have been in the past and why it didn't seem so fast since it didn't feel uncomfortable. It feels uncomfortable when cars are going past you and you are going nearly as fast as them so they don't zoom by like on the uphill parts
 
My wife, daughter and I started riding again yesterday. Just around our neighbourhood.
I’m good for about 15 or 20 minutes before the seat does my seat in.

After the first ride, I got an email from Fitbit. They were concerned that my Charge 2 might have been stolen. They cited unusual activity as the reason for their concern.
 
dodgechargerfan said:
My wife, daughter and I started riding again yesterday. Just around our neighbourhood.
I’m good for about 15 or 20 minutes before the seat does my seat in.

After the first ride, I got an email from Fitbit. They were concerned that my Charge 2 might have been stolen. They cited unusual activity as the reason for their concern.
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That's hilarious :grin:
 
To address the seat issue, one of these is incoming.

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I don’t care what it looks like. If I’m not comfortable, I won’t ride.
Besides, I read an article that says science figured out that these are better for you and the only reason they haven’t caught on is that when people see them they think, “Something’s wrong.”
 
I've gone through plenty of saddles over the years, and this is the first one that works perfectly for me. Not all channels are made the same.
One man's perfection is another's torture device.

Fizik Arione Versus X
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Tig said:
I've gone through plenty of saddles over the years, and this is the first one that works perfectly for me. Not all channels are made the same.
One man's perfection is another's torture device.

Fizik Arione Versus X
large_58898.jpg
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My ass and underparts tend to get along with the WTB saddles with channels. My new gravel bike that I am using for road as well also has one. I thought I might replace the stock WTB it came with, but it is light(ish, for my standards. I am not riding a time trials bike), and my hind end likes it. So, no need to change anything.
 
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I guess I might do a different post, but is anyone needing any sort of weird, random road bike part? I've got a garage with too much stuff in it.
 
The national bike shortage is amazing. There's nothing, anywhere. The LBS is so backed up on maintenance that they are scheduling appointments and are currently backed up to late July. You read that correctly.
 
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I've heard that inner tubes are running out as a result. Some sizes are hard to find.
 
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