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Blog Featured April 8, 2021

Reconciling Garmin Training Status?

One of the reasons I bought a Garmin fēnix 6 was so I could more accurately track my activity levels, which I hoped would lead to better insight into my fitness level, workout recommendations, and a better handle on my training status. What I seem to be getting though is borderline useless… Below is a table indicating the last month of activity: what Garmin suggested, what I actually did, how it impacted…

Blog Featured April 7, 2021

When Failure Nets Success

I failed my winter goals. Well, partially anyway. After hitting the first target, I set a new one, and that’s where I just couldn’t do it. Perhaps it was just too lofty, a technology barrier, or my fortitude too weak. Ultimately it doesn’t really matter, a fail is a fail. Right? Pessimistically; hell yes. Optimistically; that’s crazy talk. Setting hard to reach training goals is just a tool to motivate action towards…

Blog Featured March 17, 2021

Why Canyon? Why make it worse?

I’m generally pro-Canyon. I have a 2018 Aeroad, and it’s a great bike. I’ve had no issues with the bike that weren’t my own making. The story with the 2021 Canyon Aeroad, on the other hand, hasn’t been as peachy. First there was the self-destroying seat post, then there was the integrated handlebar that falls apart. I totally understand why they issued a stop-ride order afterwards, broken handlebars are not something to…

Blog Featured March 12, 2021

No Spoke Holes, No Problem

One of the concerns that I and, I imagine, many others have around buying a set of Far Sports tubeless rims without spoke holes is the potential for massive hassle when it’s necessary to replace a nipple. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I got the chance to experience this process first hand today. I have no idea what happened to the spoke/nipple above, I didn’t even notice it myself until a sharper-eyed friend…

Blog March 12, 2021

What’s the opposite of a mullet?

I can’t disagree with the assertion that it’s faster to put a deeper wheel in the front, because it’s right. But, as someone who’s a bit on the lighter side, the thought of putting an 88mm front wheel on the bike is WAY outside my risk tolerance. I’ve almost gotten swept on my 65mm wheels so often that I barely ride them; would just rather be that tiny bit slower (maybe) on…

Blog Featured February 18, 2021

Mixed Messages

This summer I almost got flattened by a car. The details aren’t super important, but had the car’s timing been a slightly different, or had there been oncoming traffic, the best case would probably have involved an ambulance ride. The important part starts when I chased down the car, slammed my hand on the side window, and started berating the driver. It was colossally stupid for me to escalate the situation with…

Blog February 16, 2021

Dipping a toe into the Canyon seat post debacle

Canyon messed up. Clearly, no doubt, they messed up. I’m going to assume everyone is familiar with the new Aeroad’s issue; if not, go read up, we’ll wait. The root problem is that they tried to get too clever with the seat post design on the new Aeroad. It fits too tight at the back for the amount of flex that the design allows, and a non-load bearing part of the seat…

Blog Featured February 12, 2021

Zwift Indoor Trainer Setup

I’ve been planning to do this walk through for a while now, and with large swathes of North America in the grip of a polar vortex, it seemed like a great time to spend some quality time with my smart trainer.…

Blog Featured February 8, 2021

How long should a device last?

Rechargeable batteries have a finite lifespan. This is an unavoidable thing. Of course it’s possible to manage that lifespan to extend it a little, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s going to die, and it’s probably something that is going to happen in 2-3 years. Knowing this, is it responsible for a company to build a device where the only course of action is to throw it away and buy…

Blog February 3, 2021

The seatpost clamp bolt cries out for justice…

YouTube dream builds are a guilty pleasure. One that, given that Gee has 706k subscribers, is shared with quite a few people. There are quite a few reasons why I like watching them, but it’s mostly for the articles… er… I meant tips on how to build a bike. THAT SAID, not all the builders are of equal skill. There are many time where i just have to shake my head at…

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