tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24428256783650447892024-03-13T10:43:48.923-07:00Vector Cycle WorksVector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-88169273072826424792020-12-28T06:40:00.000-08:002020-12-28T06:40:32.984-08:00Thank You.<p>It has been over 2 years since my last blog post. A lot has been happening in that time - much of it good - but there certainly have been some challenges. As some may know, I've struggled with health issues for years, and after a lot of thought and with some recent circumstances in the bike industry, have decided it is best to move on and will be shutting down Vector Cycle Works. I'll try to explain the reasoning here.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Health Issues</h3><p>The biggest problem has been my health, which has been a problem for a long time, as some might know. I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2011, although it was over 10 years of unknowns that finally led to that. The pain I've been dealing with has been massive for a long time, and was exacerbated by my bike accident in 2016. At the beginning of this year, I was taking 8 Tylenol and 16 Ibuprofen a day, as well as 30mg of CBD oil, trying to overcome the pain. I could barely make it through a bike fit. It wasn't working. It got to the point where suicide was getting to be the only way to end the pain, so I pursued treatment. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and started a new medicine. This was good and bad - the medicine is great, and my pain is now almost all gone. The side effects are a problem, though - I rarely go a day without at least one nap, and I'm often nauseous and dizzy. It's hard to make it through a bike fit without being completely worn out. But, I will take that - the pain being gone is truly remarkable. We're still fine-tuning the medicine and overall treatment plan, but I'm hopeful.</p><p>My health issues are not just physical. I've been very introspective, reflective, and depressed lately, and have struggled with who I am as a person and how I fit into this world. I'm a clinically-diagnosed perfectionist and a shell-shocked ex-Marine, and have never had a bike fit (or much of anything else I've ever done) that I've been happy with. That's my nature - I'm never happy with anything I do and, for lack of a better way to put it, it sucks. While this is something that I can deal with and even use to my advantage, it's not exactly the best headspace to be in when it can affect other people. Even when a rider is completely happy with their fit, I am still wondering what I could do better. I've always been a little nervous about every bike fit - meeting a new person, helping them to be happy with their cycling experience, and ensuring they have a good experience in the studio. 1,000 riders later, that's a lot of emotional baggage that I've chosen to carry. Success is never achievable for me.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Work</h3><p>When I first started doing bike fits, I thought I might do 10 or 20 a year, with the intent that I just wanted to do nice things for people - helping people feel good about themselves by being able to enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike. I didn't think it would be a 300+ fit per year project, along with teaching bike fitting and writing for Slowtwitch.com. Bike fitting became a second full-time job, but could never supplant my day job. Due to my health and life balance, I just can't work 80-90 hours per week anymore. I also can't do without health insurance. I've tried to cut back over the last 3 years or so, but it just hasn't been possible. I've had to turn a lot of people away because I simply can't keep up, and I've had a hard time keeping up with e-mails, text messages, and all of the people who have come into my life. I feel like I've become a disappointment to many of you and I'm sorry. I've had a lot of sleepless nights, trying to figure out a way to do it (it's a good problem to have, right?), but haven't been able to come up with a solution. Unfortunately, I've probably waited too long to make adequate changes. My life is completely out of balance, and the health issues continue to get worse.</p><div>To top it off, I have recently had a very interesting opportunity with my day job. I have been put on a project involving the State's management of the COVID-19 vaccination. It's fascinating to be a part of this, but the next 6 months will be a lot of overtime.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Changes in the Cycling Industry</h3><p>Since the beginning, I've fought an uphill battle in the cycling and fit industry. It's not easy to be an independent bike fitter. There are certain companies and organizations that don't want people like me getting involved. They claim it is to protect the traditional bike shop, but it's not that, at all - it's all about about getting their piece of the pie an protecting their bottom line. I've railed against the high costs of cycling for many years - I firmly believe there is no reason for bikes to be as expensive as they are, other than fear of doing things differently. I've wanted to find ways to help lower the cost of entry, although it conflicts with the cost of doing what I do, as a bike fitter. That's a very strange place for me, from a moral and ethical perspective. If I could, I would do all my bike fits for free, but that just can't work.</p><p>One of the cornerstones of my fit process - BikeFit - was recently sold to Quality Bicycle Products (QBP). BikeFit was my first fit certification, I use their products in just about every single bike fit I do, and I have taught their level 1 and 2 certification courses to a bunch of fitters over the years. It has been amazing to be a part of the BikeFit family, and my fit process wouldn't be what it is without BikeFit, along with what I've learned from Dan Empfield and others. It has been an honor to work with and for some of these innovators in the industry, and my process is simply a distillation of what they've taught me.</p><p>Unfortunately, I had a horrible experience with QBP several years ago, and now I won't be able to get the BikeFit products I need without going through a bunch of hoops or starting my own bike shop. I'm not playing their games. I think the nicest thing I can say about them is that I don't see bike fitting as a "bike thing" - it's a "body thing." A bicycle and bike parts are simply tools for riders and I'm here to focus on the rider as the center of the cycling experience, not the other way around.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Thank you, and goodbye.</h3><p>It has been quite a ride, and I am very thankful for so much of what has happened over the 8 years that I've been bike fitting. I've fit well over 1,000 people and had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most amazing people, and every one of you have brought something to my life that means a lot to me. I've heard a lot of inspiring stories. It hurts to say goodbye, but at the same time, I can look back on this period of my life and smile. I think if I tried to drag it out another few years, that might ruin it for me, and I don't want that. Now is the best time to move on.</p><p>What's next? Well, I have a lot of things I want to do. I will be keeping my equipment for a little while longer in order to finish up what I've started with some of you. So, please call me if you need anything. </p><p>I do have another business plan I'm working on, that is very, very different, but meant to be very, very flexible around my health needs. If 2020 has taught me anything, there are a lot of people out there that need more basic things than a bike fit. I need to contribute to society and am going to do more volunteering. At the same time, 2020 has revealed some really ugly aspects of society that make me want to withdraw completely. As I always say, I avoid talking about politics, religion, or Ford versus Chevy, and this year has made it difficult to not discuss those topics. I loathe it all. I've already deleted my social media accounts (except for YouTube), but there will be more. I have zero time for racism, sexism, anti-LGBTQ sentiments, or any of the other truly stupid conspiracy theories that have been going around lately. I'm going to fight for what's right.</p><p>You may know that I play drums, guitar, bass, and have recorded some music in the past (although never made it very far with any music labels) and intend to get back into that, with a couple of different music projects I've been putting together but haven't had time to work on. </p><p>I also enjoy woodworking, painting, 3D printing, and have recently picked up a CNC mill and some welding equipment. I love to create art, and express myself through it, so that's where I plan to look for some happiness.</p><p>Let's not forget interacting with nature, too - we have two new energetic pups who love to take walks, and I realized how much I miss the simple pleasures of moving outside. There are more mountains in the future, along with some camping, environmental advocacy, and travel, when the world allows for it to happen again.</p><p>Oh, and of course, I still like to ride a bike and a ride in the Rassat home country of Giez, France is definitely going to happen in the next couple of years. Otherwise, you might see me on a group ride or other mass rider event around the world, but you'll most likely find me on Zwift on a (hopefully) several-times-a-week basis.</p><p>Thank you all, and good luck to all of you. You have all meant so much to me, and I can't thank you enough for what you have brought to my life. My only regret is that I worry that I was not able to return the favor. </p><p>Goodbye, and love to all,</p><p>Travis</p>Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-21613120098893073792018-11-24T02:54:00.001-08:002018-11-24T02:54:29.035-08:002018/2019 Trainer Updates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's time for an update on the indoor training market. I've written a few blog posts over the years about trainers, along with a series of articles on Zwift for <b><a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/" target="_blank">Slowtwitch</a></b>. It's an area I really enjoy following, as I feel there is a lot of development going on. In the cycling industry, some of the biggest developments and innovations are in indoor training. These advancements are helping you (or your competition!) build a bigger engine more intelligently and more efficiently.<br />
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The last time I wrote about the trainers themselves was in late 2016. At that time, there was a big influx of new smart trainers with a lot of promise, particularly in the lower end of the smart trainer cost spectrum ($500-$600). That batch of trainers had some challenges getting out the door. We saw products launched that didn't ship for several months, other products that needed to be sent back for hardware updates, and most products had one or more other annoyances that had to be corrected via firmware updates. After about 6 or 8 months, it seems like we finally had a solid group of products.<br />
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I had the opportunity to spend some time on several products, although probably not long enough to warrant a decent review. Overall, my experiences were good. Some of that credit goes to the hardware, while much of it goes to the software. Look for some software reviews coming soon, but for today, we're focusing on the hardware. <br />
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Here is a quick look at the smart trainer options available from Vector Cycle Works this year (click on any of the images for a bigger view). In this case, when I say "smart trainer", I mean the types of trainers where the resistance can be controlled by your software of choice - Zwift, TrainerRoad, Sufferfest, Rouvy, Road Grand Tours, FulGaz, etc. These are the types of trainers that increase the resistance when going up a hill on a course or enforce a target wattage during a hard interval in a structured workout. There are some trainers labeled "smart" that have built-in speed and/or cadence sensors to provide information to your software, but the resistance cannot be controlled by the software. We'll try to cover those in a subsequent post.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">CycleOps</span></h2>
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CycleOps has tidied up their smart trainer lineup since we last looked. They dropped a couple of first generation smart trainers and now have two products - the M2 and H2, which are the successors to the Magnus and Hammer, respectively.<br />
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I have set up several Magnuses (Magni? Magnata? What is the plural of Magnus?) and M2s now and feel like they have been a great product. Of the trainers I can sell, the Magnus became a top recommendation because it has a solid frame, dependable mounting system, great compatibility with the various software options on the market, and a smooth power profile while coming in at the $600 price range. The M2 is a nice refinement. The only reason I don't use the Magnus or M2 in the studio is because the Kinetic Road Machine I use is a bit more flexible when it comes to the variety of bikes I get in the studio. The CycleOps products are pretty much "set it and forget it", which is great for most people - just not for a bike fitter!</div>
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<b>H2 - $1,199.99</b><br />
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The H2 is CycleOps' direct-drive trainer. This direct drive trainer will simulate up to a 20% grade and provide up to 2000 watts of resistance with +/- 2% accuracy. It has a 20 pound flywheel to provide a road-like feel, and weighs 47 pounds total. <br />
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The H2 incorporates ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0 for connectivity to all your devices. It can also work in "headless" mode, so if you are not plugged in, it can still be ridden with a feel similar to a At 20 mph, the noise level is 64 decibels.</div>
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<a href="https://www.cycleops.com/product/h2" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the CycleOps H2 here.</b></a></div>
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<b>M2 - $599.99</b></div>
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The new M2 is a nice refinement of the very solid Magnus and has become my "go to" product of choice. </div>
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The M2 provides up to 1500 watts of resistance and can simulate up to a 15% grade. The M2 is both ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0-compatible, operates at 69 decibels at 20 mph, and will fit a wide variety of bikes (although you'll need a <2" rear tire on your 29er).</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.cycleops.com/product/m2" target="_blank">Read more on the CycleOps M2 here.</a></b><br />
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Kinetic rolled out their software-controllable Smart Control products in late 2016. The Smart Control products have one major shortcoming - they have Bluetooth and even a USB connection but don't have native ANT+ communications. That is now changing with their new Control series of trainers, which add ANT+.</div>
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You may find Kinetic's product naming conventions a bit confusing. It basically works like this:</div>
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<li>Smart - these are traditional trainers with the built-in InRide speed sensors to provide information to your software, but do not allow the software to control the resistance. We will cover these in another post.</li>
<li>Smart Control - the first generation of resistance-controllable units, which are Bluetooth-only.</li>
<li>Control - the second generation of resistance-controllable units, which are now ANT+ and Bluetooth. Yes, they are still Smart, and even a bit smarter than the Smart Control.</li>
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The cool thing about the Kinetic products is that you can buy the Smart Control or Control resistance unit by itself and update your existing Road Machine or Rock 'n Roll trainer.</div>
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There is one more Kinetic product on the horizon that isn't listed here - the R1. This is their brand new wheel-off trainer that incorporates the Rock 'n Roll technology. Once we get a bit more detail from Kinetic, we'll get that updated here. If the supposed $1050 price tag is true, this could be pretty sweet. In the meantime, <b><a href="https://www.kurtkinetic.com/introducing-kinetic-r1" target="_blank">there is a somewhat hidden intro website available</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/09/kinetic-r1-trainer-direct-drive.html" target="_blank">you can also read DC Rainmaker's review here</a></b>.</div>
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<b>Road Machine | Smart Control - $512.00</b><br />
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Kinetic has taken their tried and true Road Machine frame (which is what I use in the studio) and replaced the resistance unit with the Smart Control unit. It has a 14.4 pound flywheel, maximum resistance of 1800 watts at 30 mph, and can simulate the resistance of a 10% grade. The price has dropped from $649 to $512 with the introduction of the Road Machine | Control.<br />
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<a href="https://www.kurtkinetic.com/trainers-products/road-machine-smart-control" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the Road Machine | Smart Control here.</b></a><br />
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<b>Rock 'n Roll | Smart Control - $675.00</b><br />
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The Rock 'n Roll challenges you a bit more than most stationary trainers, and this uses the same Smart Control unit as the Road Machine | Smart Control. The price has dropped from $849 to $675 with the introduction of the new Control products. I imagine this and the Road Machine | Smart Control will be phased out in favor of the new Control versions.<br />
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<a href="https://kurtkinetic.com/products/rock-and-roll-smart-control/" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the Rock 'n Roll | Smart Control here.</b></a><br />
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<b>Road Machine | Control - $569.00</b><br />
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The Road Machine | Control doesn't look much different than the Smart Control version, and the specifications are also similar - it has the same maximum of 1800 watts of resistance at 30 mph and ability to simulate up to a 10% slope. The only differences are the addition of ANT+ wireless communications and a slightly smaller 12 pound flywheel. It is competitively priced at $569.00.<br />
<b><br /></b><b><a href="https://www.kurtkinetic.com/trainers-products/road-machine-control" target="_blank">Read more on the Road Machine | Control here.</a></b><br />
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<b>Rock 'n Roll | Control - $749.00</b><br />
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The price of the Rock 'n Roll | Control makes me hesitate a bit, but the rocking mechanism is something that sets the Rock 'n Roll apart from the others and adds another layer of realism to the indoor cycling experience. Is it worth $180? I'm not sure. If I had a Rock 'n Roll frame and wanted to upgrade to a smart trainer, I would definitely take a closer look at the Control resistance unit.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.kurtkinetic.com/trainers-products/rock-and-roll-control" target="_blank">Read more on the Rock 'n Roll | Control here.</a></b><br /><b><br /><br /><br /></b><b><br /></b><br />
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Tacx has tidied up their lineup a little bit, with 6 true smart trainers currently on offer. They got rid of a couple of seemingly redundant products. The NEO 2 and FLUX 2 wheel-off trainers are new generation products, the Genius Smart receives some nice upgrades at a lower price, and the rest of the lineup remains unchanged, but gets some price drops.</div>
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<b>Bushido Smart - $619.00</b><br />
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I've been riding the Bushido Smart for quite a few years now. This trainer is unique because it doesn't have to be plugged in to provide resistance - it is completely wireless, yet can provide up to 1400 watts of resistance and simulate up to a 15% incline. I don't think it has changed much since I got it, but the price has dropped considerably to put it in line with its plugged-in competition. The nice part about this trainer is the portability. Not only do you not need an outlet, but it's a light trainer. My gripe? I'm not so sure the accuracy is all that great with some of the software packages I've used.<br />
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<a href="https://tacx.com/product/bushido-smart/" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the Bushido Smart here.</b></a><br />
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<b>FLUX S Smart - $749.00</b><br />
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This is the first generation FLUX, and I'm not quite sure if it is on the way out in favor of the FLUX 2 Smart or what. It has an accuracy of +/- 3%, 10% maximum incline, a 15.4 pound flywheel, and a maximum of 1500 watts of resistance. At $749.00, this is the most affordable wheel-off trainer out there. There is one major caveat: It only works with bikes with skewers. If you have a bike with a thru-axle, you'll need to look at the FLUX 2 Smart.<br />
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<a href="https://tacx.com/product/flux-s-smart/" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the FLUX S Smart here.</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FLUX-2-Smart_gallery-perspective-768x432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FLUX-2-Smart_gallery-perspective-768x432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>FLUX 2 Smart - $899.00</b><br />
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The new second-generation FLUX 2 Smart offers some nice refinements over the original. You'll have a hard time telling the pictures apart, but accuracy improves to +/- 2.5%, maximum incline increases to 16%, the flywheel is heavier at 15.4 pound flywheel, maximum resistance jumps up to 2000 watts. It also offers support for thru-axle-equipped bikes. On paper, it seems like a nice upgrade.<br />
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<a href="https://tacx.com/product/flux-2-smart/" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the FLUX 2 Smart here.</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/t2080_genius_3_right_smart_interactive_trainer_indoor_turbo_realistic_downhill_drive_gallery-768x432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/t2080_genius_3_right_smart_interactive_trainer_indoor_turbo_realistic_downhill_drive_gallery-768x432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Genius Smart - $799.00</b><br />
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The Genius Smart has received some nice recent upgrades. It now offers up to 2000 watts of resistance and can simulate a 20% incline. What is interesting is that it will simulate a decline, so it will actually accelerate your rear wheel to simulate descents for a more realistic experience. As far as I know, this is the only wheel-on trainer that does this. It is a bit on the expensive side, compared to other wheel-on trainers. At this price, is it worth spending a bit more for a FLUX 2 Smart?<br />
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<a href="https://tacx.com/product/genius-smart/" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the Genius Smart here.</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Tacx_T2850_NEO-2-Smart_Gallery_Perspective-768x432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Tacx_T2850_NEO-2-Smart_Gallery_Perspective-768x432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>NEO 2 Smart - $1,399.00</b><br />
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The NEO was introduced in 2015 as Tacx's first foray into direct-drive trainers. The NEO 2 offers some nice refinements, and the price drops $200. It's an impressive unit on paper, able to simulate uphill grades to 25% (2200 watts) and downhills to -5%. It is extremely quiet, and will also simulate different road surfaces for enhanced realism. Accuracy is rated at better than +/- 1%. It also includes built-in Left/Right power measurement, performs pedal stroke analysis, has a built-in cadence sensor, and incorporates thru-axle support. Overall, this is one very advanced unit.<br />
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<b><a href="https://tacx.com/product/neo-2-smart/" target="_blank">Read more about the NEO 2 Smart here.</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/t2180_vortex_1_main_smart_interactive_trainer_indoor_turbo_best_price_gallery-768x432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://mk0tacxpwbcps2mf5.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/t2180_vortex_1_main_smart_interactive_trainer_indoor_turbo_best_price_gallery-768x432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Vortex Smart - $429.00</b><br />
<br />
Last but not least, the lowest-cost Tacx smart trainer is the Vortex. I like to think of this as the "not wireless Bushido" as the features are similar. It doesn't provide quite as much resistance (950 watts maximum resistance and 7% incline simulation), but it's still plenty for most riders. With a $130 price drop, this remains the most affordable smart trainer here by a long shot.<br />
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<a href="https://tacx.com/product/vortex-smart/" target="_blank"><b>Read more about the Vortex Smart here.</b></a><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
<span id="goog_112199322"></span>Wahoo Fitness<span id="goog_112199323"></span></span></h2>
<div>
<b><a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/">www.wahoofitness.com</a></b></div>
<div>
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<div>
For 2018, Wahoo has refined their two existing smart trainers - the KICKR and KICKR SNAP - and have added the new KICKR CORE. There is no doubt the Wahoo products are solid and the CORE comes in at a relatively nice price for a wheel-off smart trainer, right in there with the Tacx Flux, and right in between the SNAP and KICKR.</div>
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The most compelling piece of the Wahoo product line, in my opinion, is their accessories: The <b><a href="https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#climb-sec" target="_blank">KICKR CLIMB</a></b> and the <a href="https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#hw-sec" target="_blank"><b>KICKR HEADWIND</b></a>. These are compelling because they add to the realism of the indoor experience. I love the idea of the front end of the bike raising and lowering with the slope of the ride with the KICKR CLIMB. At $600, it's a bit spendy. I'm not quite as convinced the HEADWIND is worth the price tag. $249.99 is a bit much for a fan. A very cool fan (no pun intended), but still a fan.<br />
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The most important thing to note on these accessories is that you will need to ensure your Wahoo trainer is compatible, as these are only compatible with the 2017 and newer versions. <b><a href="https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001263264" target="_blank">You can find that information here</a></b>.<br />
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<b>KICKR - $1,199.99</b><br />
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The KICKR has been recently refreshed for 2018, and this is now the 4th generation of this product. The KICKR boasts +/- 2% accuracy, 2200 watts of maximum resistance, a 16 pound flywheel, and 20% maximum grade. The MSRP is unchanged at $1199.99.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#kickr-sec" target="_blank"><b>Read more on the KICKR at this link.</b></a><br />
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<b>KICKR CORE - $899.99</b><br />
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The CORE is new for 2018. I would describe it as a no-frills KICKR - it doesn't include the 11-speed cassette or a cadence sensor, has a lighter 12 pound flywheel, 1800 watt maximum resistance, and 16% maximum grade. It maintains the rated +/- 2% accuracy and compatibility with the CLIMB and HEADWIND. For $300 less than the KICKR, I think this is a intriguing option.<br />
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<a href="https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#core-sec" target="_blank">Read more about the KICKR CORE here.</a><br />
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<b>KICKR SNAP - $599.99</b><br />
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The SNAP had a nice update for 2017. I've set up quite a few of these, and they are a good, solid trainer. They are not quite as accurate as the KICKR (+/- 5%), but for the price, that can be forgiven. The competition in this price range is tough, and the SNAP is a solid choice. The price has dropped to $599.99, keeping it in line with the competition.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#kickr-snap-sec" target="_blank">Read more about the KICKR SNAP here.</a><br />
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<h3>
</h3>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
Decisions, decisions...</span></h2>
<div>
Overall, 2018 has brought a few new products, but mostly a lot of nice refinements. The technology in the indoor cycling arena continues to improve and give us great options as consumers.</div>
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You can further divide the controllable smart trainers into two segments - the wheel-on and direct drive trainers.<br />
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<h4>
Wheel-On</h4>
CycleOps M2 - $599.99<br />
Kinetic Road Machine | Control - $569.00<br />
Kinetic Road Machine | Smart Control - $512.00<br />
Kinetic Rock 'n Roll | Control - $749.00<br />
Kinetic Rock 'n Roll | Smart Control - $679.00<br />
Tacx Bushido Smart - $619.00<br />
Tacx Genius Smart - $799.00<br />
Tacx Vortex Smart - $429.00<br />
Wahoo KICKR SNAP - $599.99<br />
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<h4>
Direct Drive</h4>
CycleOps H2 - $1199.99<br />
Kinetic R1 - $1050.00 (estimated)<br />
Tacx NEO 2 Smart - $1399.00<br />
Tacx FLUX S Smart - $749.00<br />
Tacx FLUX 2 Smart - $899.00<br />
Wahoo KICKR - $1199.99<br />
Wahoo KICKR CORE - $899.99<br />
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If you look at the average prices of these, the delta between the average wheel-on trainer ($617.22) versus the average direct drive trainer ($1056.71) is $439.49. That number is a bit skewed, as there are some products here that will probably go away fairly soon and are priced accordingly. It has also changed in that we have some newer wheel-off models that are targeting that $900 price point, compared to the $1200 range where they first came in. Nonetheless, even with some more affordable models coming in around the cost of the higher-priced direct drive trainers, there still is a significant cost difference.<br />
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Is a direct drive trainer better? Is it $439.49 better? I'm not sure I can answer that - it really depends on what features bring you the value you want. Some considerations:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Direct drive trainers tend to be quieter.</li>
<li>Direct drive trainers require a compatible cassette. Not all trainers include the cassette, and some of them are junk. I would replace the cassette right away with the same cassette brand and gear range (i.e., Shimano Ultegra 11-speed 11-25) as the cassette installed on your rear wheel. That way, shifting will be more accurate and you don't have to mess with your rear derailleur.</li>
<li>Direct drive trainers tend to be lower to the ground - you don't need a wheel riser. This is nice for getting on and off and for perceived stability.</li>
<li>Direct drive trainers don't wear out your rear tire. But, they do wear out your chain and chainrings while not wearing out your cassette on your rear wheel.</li>
<li>You don't have to worry about tire pressure with a direct drive trainer.</li>
<li>You will probably get your hand greasy getting your bike mounted on your direct drive trainer.</li>
<li>Wheel-on trainers tend to be a bit more handy when it comes to swapping your bike in and out.</li>
</ul>
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<br />
Hopefully, this is somewhat helpful. If you are interested in getting a new trainer, these are all available from <a href="http://www.vectorcycleworks.com/" target="_blank"><b>Vector Cycle Works</b></a>. With any trainer purchase, I will deliver it to your house (within 50 miles of Noblesville) and help you get it set up, including setup with any training software (TrainerRoad, PerfPRO Studio, The Sufferfest, Zwift, etc.) that you may be using.<br />
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Call Travis at 317-833-0702 or e-mail at <a href="mailto:travis@vectorcycleworks.com"><b>travis@vectorcycleworks.com</b></a> if you are interested!Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-88769317323803618122018-11-03T18:25:00.000-07:002018-11-03T18:33:33.320-07:00Perfecting the Craft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is a lot going on in my life right now. Last weekend was an intense and wonderful weekend of bike fitting with a handful of some of the many interesting people I've met over the years in the industry, during a time of year when things slow down a bit in the studio. Wednesday was also significant, as it was the last day of my involvement on a IT project that I have been on for almost 2 1/2 years. It was the absolute worst project I've ever been on, extremely stressful, and I was happy to start a new project on Thursday. I am feeling a bit philosophical and introspective, so bear with me here - there is a point to this. I don't like to make this about me, so I hope this doesn't come off that way.<br />
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For you, as a consumer potentially considering getting a bike fit, I feel it is essential to be transparent and as open as I can. By trying to share as much as possible about bike fitting at Vector Cycle Works, I hope to earn your trust and help you feel confident that you made the right choice when you come in for your initial bike fit session.<br />
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I'm not sure how others might describe me, but I tend to think of myself as a pretty intense individual and an absolute perfectionist (and that's not necessarily a positive or healthy thing). I'm pretty driven and dedicated to whatever I pursue, with a tendency to go "all in" when it comes to anything. I have to be careful about that, because it can be detrimental. I need to step back at times, like I am doing here, to revisit where I am and how I got here, and determine if the course needs to change at all. I hope that when my time is up, others can look at what I've done and see some semblance of production, in a positive way.<br />
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When I first got into the computer industry, I wanted to use technology to help others. Frankly, over 20 years into a computer career, that hasn't worked out as well as I'd like. While I have learned a lot of useful skills by being in various roles as a Software Developer, Business Analyst, Team Lead, Development Supervisor, Quality Assurance Analyst, Consultant, and other less formal roles such as mentor or trainer, it seems that I've wandered from project to project over the years, never really being able to produce something that really makes everyone happy. In the IT world, it seems there are low expectations - expectations that software is full of bugs, that it costs more than originally quoted, and it's never delivered on time. The norm is pretty awful. Nobody is ever satisfied, and rightfully so. This is extremely frustrating to me. Yet I still persist, thinking I can still change things for the good of <i>someone</i>. Nonetheless, I have learned a lot over the years.<br />
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Bike fitting has a very different norm. From a consumer perspective, it isn't especially well-defined. It's a niche industry within a niche industry. How many people ride bikes? How many of them actually get a bike fit? How many of them are happy with their bike fit? Relative to the general population, the bike fit consumer community is tiny. Yet, somehow, I threw my hat into the ring, and would say that ring is a pretty tough one - there are some very good bike fitters in the area. What makes a person a good bike fitter? What makes me a good bike fitter?<br />
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Bike fitting is something that I started in order to help myself - riding a bike was fun, but painful. That is where bike fitting fills a void for me - people want to enjoy riding a bike, and I can be the person who can help. For me, that can be very satisfying. Bike fitting stimulates the analog side of me versus the digital side of information technology.<br />
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At the same time, it's not satisfying at all! I lay up at night a lot, always thinking how I could have done better, even if the customer is satisfied. I am, and probably never will be, satisfied with any of my work. That's the unhealthy perfectionist coming out. When someone comes in, I have a singular purpose: to help that person find happiness in cycling. That's it. The fun, and the challenge of it, is understanding that person's definition of happiness on their bike and applying my knowledge and skill set to help them get there. <br />
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There are many influences and limiters on how close we can get a rider to their happy place - my knowledge and skills, the amount of time we have together, how we prioritize the fit, how well we communicate, the environment in which we work, the options that present themselves when solving a particular problem, etc. The software industry is all about problem-solving via good communication, so in a strange way, my experience in IT, particularly in the analytical roles that I've been in, has helped me be a better bike fitter. Communication is key, and the ability to sit back and revisit the work with the intent to make it better ("refactoring the code" in the software world) is also a subtle skill I can apply.<br />
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I think, for the most part, I've been able to meet most of my customers' needs. There certainly have been some misses, and I'd be lying if I didn't say there were. I'd also be lying if I said it didn't bother me. It does. This is one of the things that motivates me to continue to improve. Vector Cycle Works, which at this point, as a single-person service company, is really hard to separate from me as a person. I plan to change that when the time is right. For now, everything is up to me, and my desire to improve and evolve the service on all aspects has been a relentless pursuit. It has gone fast and ramped up quickly. I know there are some who have questioned how quickly that has happened - in the span of just shy of 6 years, I have gone from nothing to a guy who is trusted to perform bike fits at an advanced level and also teach bike fitting to already advanced and established fitters. I can understand why there might be some doubt. I'm OK with that - the perfectionist in me is always doubting and question everything. That's how I learn. Learn from what I do right, but more importantly, learn from what I do wrong.<br />
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With all that said, my best work is yet to come. My best bike fit? The next one. The evolution continues, and those who were fit by me even a year or two ago would see a very different process today. I can't forget where I came from. Accordingly, the studio and the Vector Cycle Works services have changed significantly. It's not perfect, but it's better. I've learned new tricks and adopted new methodologies. Some things have been tried and discontinued because they didn't offer the bang for the buck they promised. I've done a significant amount of work to improve the deliverables - not only the fit itself, but the intake, reporting, and follow-up to go along with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcclJaJ5sSWeih3_1RrvFkOqSIc2L9HDsF6t_M5G3PgkZV1MJrg50vHyysLLCAdUTOwKQZziATFLs23FduM3gQUZ99zEBeAqkj9wlXkHc2YP4TamHm_rz36nLxNhLxUiv0bFDjIVFIwwOB/s1600/9D1A6127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcclJaJ5sSWeih3_1RrvFkOqSIc2L9HDsF6t_M5G3PgkZV1MJrg50vHyysLLCAdUTOwKQZziATFLs23FduM3gQUZ99zEBeAqkj9wlXkHc2YP4TamHm_rz36nLxNhLxUiv0bFDjIVFIwwOB/s400/9D1A6127.JPG" width="400" /></a>Additionally, new tools are in place. I've developed some new software tools to help finding a bike faster, as well as ensure we can work within orthodoxy - using software tools to help ensure we work within a reasonable window that reflects the products available on the market. Another new tool is the Purely Custom fit bike I recently acquired. The new (to me) fit bike has brought out a lot of potential, and it has been a learning experience thus far. The most significant aspect of the fit bike is that it is a tool that allows us to explore more - we can try things that we may have hesitated to do before due to time constraints. It's now really easy to try different points in space to find your ideal.<br />
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When it comes down to it, a bike fit session gives us a lot of choice - we often have several options for how we can approach a solution to your fit challenges. The process is intense, and while I could spend 12 hours on every rider, we have to stay focused on the key elements specific to the rider. I don't strive to be faster. I strive to be more thorough. No stone unturned.<br />
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<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-88167540581259739312018-05-11T03:02:00.003-07:002018-05-11T03:02:33.588-07:00Conquering the Andean<br />
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Recently, <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/vectorcycleworks/posts/" target="_blank">I posted a couple of teaser pics of a bike on Facebook</a></b>. I get the opportunity to work on some fun projects in the studio, and today's project is a brand new <b><a href="http://ride.diamondback.com/andean" target="_blank">Diamondback Andean</a></b> custom-ordered on behalf of a customer. Aside from being a really interesting bike, the reason I wanted to write about this is because of the packaging: Diamondback is making some waves in the industry with their approach to direct-to-consumer bike delivery, which involved rethinking and retooling their shipping department to allow a consumer to receive a bike that's basically ready to ride. Let's take a look at how they are doing things differently and if this is something that the end customer can comfortably assemble and ride safely.<br />
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I've had the opportunity to assemble a lot of bikes when I worked part-time at <b><a href="http://www.lokebicycles.com/" target="_blank">LoKe Bicycles in Fishers</a></b> for a few months in 2016. Bikes destined for the bike shop arrive in a similar state of assembly - the box is as compact as it can be, the bike is well-padded and there is quite a bit of assembly to be done. I am certainly not the fastest mechanic, but most bikes took anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half to assemble. LoKe has a really solid process documented for the assembly of every bike, from the tiniest of kids' bikes to the high end racing machines. The process includes truing the wheels, ensuring the brakes and drivetrain are all working perfectly, cleaning and polishing everything, and ensuring everything is tightened and torqued to spec before it's put on the floor or delivered to a happy owner.<br />
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Diamondback wants to change that process (well, not the happy owner part) with a direct-to-consumer model, essentially eliminating the local bike shop. For the bike shops, this doesn't sound like good news, but this is the way of our world now. Good or bad, this is an option for consumers. I'm all about consumer options, so let's look at this one.<br />
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This bike was for a customer, who we'll call Roger Shrubber. Roger came to me for a MATCH bike sizing, where we discussed his goals and ideas for a bike, we sized him up using the <b><a href="https://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/index.html" target="_blank">F.I.S.T. protocol</a></b>, and came up with a list of bike solutions that fit him along with his measurements. In my opinion, this is the only way to buy a bike - find your happy place in space and put the right bike underneath you. Roger's list included quite a few options, and he had been particularly intrigued by the Andean. With his fit information in hand, he went to the <b><a href="https://custom.diamondback.com/" target="_blank">Diamondback Custom Studio</a></b> website and built his Andean the way he wanted it, even down to using the same aerobar extensions and saddle that he was sized up on. There was one small hitch in the plan - we sized him up for 165mm cranks, but they were in short supply. After a bit of discussion with the folks at Diamondback, we convinced them to allow us to install a crankset from a different source, making a rare exception of not delivering a complete bike. So, what you see here is a bit of an anomaly, and it was nice that Diamondback trusted us to finish the bike. With that, the bike was on it's way, shipped directly to me so I can have it ready to go when Roger comes in for his fit.<br />
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I picked the bike up at the local FedEx store. The first thing that the guy behind the counter said to me was, "dude, your package is huge - let me get you a cart." He wasn't kidding. The box measures approximately 45" long, 37" tall, and 21" wide. It's a bit cumbersome, so thank you Mr. FedEx guy for loaning me a cart.<br />
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Once the bike was at the studio, it was time to start the unboxing process. The top has three tabs, and 4 layers of cardboard. Opening the top exposes the bike, and the first thing you notice is that the handlebars are completely installed, which is part of why the box is so wide. The aerobar extensions are detached, and packaged vertically right in front of the head tube. Roger opted for HED wheels, which are packaged on either side of the frame. An unmarked box sits on top of the back part of the frame and the seatpost sticking out of the bottom of it suggests what is inside.<br />
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Opening the box, we find the User Guide and Owner's Manual. The Owner's Manual is your typical generic bicycle Owner's Manual, with a bunch of generic instructions on how you should probably wear a helmet, have air in your tires, etc. It does come in a nice little sleeve with a magnetic latch. The User Guide is a bit more useful - it includes instructions on how to unbox and assemble your Andean. It probably would make sense to put a label on this box saying "Hey, open me first - the instructions are inside here."<br />
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Digging a bit more into the box, we find the saddle is installed on the seatpost, the bottle cage, and a few other parts and accessories, including a full set of spacers and bolts for the aerobars, which are the Profile Design Aeria, in this case. Also, because of our special order, the Shimano chain was in here in the original packaging.<br />
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Following the instructions in the User Guide, we remove the velcro straps securing the base bar and wheels. I pulled the wheels out first, the rest of the cardboard pieces, and finally the frame. Tucked away near the front of the bike were the Profile Design accessories Roger ordered.<br />
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At this point, I'm ready to put the bike together and would like to put it in the bike stand. The problem is that I can't find the seatpost binder clamp. Digging around, I'm starting to panic a bit when I realize the unmarked box has a secret compartment, with a whole pile of more goodies, including the seatpost binder clamp. Crisis averted. We hit the jackpot - along with the binder clamp, we've got the Di2 charger and plug tool, a torque wrench, thru-axles, an extra rear derailleur hanger, and a bunch of other stuff. The good news is we've got lots of stuff!<br />
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The bad news? Umm, we've got lots of stuff! This is starting to look like a bike that the average consumer might not be able to assemble. I get the impression this would be pretty intimidating for a new owner thinking they're going to get a bike that's almost ready to ride.<br />
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Nonetheless, we continue. After installing the binder clamp, I put the bike in the stand for assembly. Removing the last bit of packaging, I realize that when they describe the packaging that protects the rear part of the frame as a foam roller, they actually are including a real foam roller! A quick look inside the box again, and the piece of foam that was used to protect the bottom of the fork is a pull buoy. Way too fun - what a neat idea!<br />
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Since this bike was a special order without a crankset installed, the installation process was a bit more complex than what most folks will be faced with. Basically, when you get this bike, you have the following to do:<br />
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1. Install the seat post in the seat tube.<br />
2. Put the wheels on.<br />
3. Install the aerobar extensions.<br />
4. Install optional accessories.<br />
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Most of these steps are things a triathlete or cyclist will have to figure out eventually, but may not be comfortable doing themselves. It seems like a lot at first, but Diamondback does a pretty good job of making it all as easy as it can be - the instructions are good, they provide things like carbon paste for the seat tube, etc., and also include a torque wrench so you can get it right. It is nice to have a work stand and all the tools, but you could get by without.<br />
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For this specific bike, aside from the crankset installation, there were a couple of changes we ended up making. When the bike arrived, Diamondback had set the pad stack and reach to be pretty close to what we had indicated online. In this case, because Roger had selected the Profile Design Aeria cockpit, we had the ability to set it up a bit differently than Diamondback did. Diamondback favored their stock stem spacers, while we chose to take those out and use the Aeria's pad/extension risers to get our desired position. We felt it made for a bit cleaner front end, and frankly, looks a little cooler, too.<br />
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We also chose to swap out the round frame-mounted bottle that came with the Andean for an Elite Chrono bottle, which is a bit smaller, but makes for a tidy setup that is easier to get out of the cage. As an added bonus, it matches the color scheme quite nicely, too. If I were to use a traditional bottle on this bike, I would opt for a side-load cage to make it easier to get the bottle out.<br />
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Finally, we are looking to make for a smoother front end flow of the hydration system to the stem/storage box. I am using Autodesk Fusion 360 to design a 3D-printed bracket to mount an FC35 on this bike.<br />
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With all this said, what does this bike and its gigantic box mean for the bike shops? Diamondback is one of several brands working to make direct-to-consumer sales work. I just got an e-mail the other day from Quintana Roo the other day where they were talking up their new packaging. Talking with some of the bike shops in my area, many have realized that they need to adapt - maybe they aren't getting a new bike sale, but some are starting to offer an "Internet bike" assembly service, with some even supporting having the bike shipped directly to them for final assembly for the customer. In my opinion, this has the potential to be a fair trade-off - make a little bit of service money without having the inventory/storage costs - although there might be some questions about how to handle any issues that come up, such as "what happens if the bike is damaged?" or "what if parts are missing?"<br />
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As Bob Dylan said, the times, they are a changin'. As more manufacturers move to direct-to-consumer, will the local bike shop die off? Only time will tell, but I think your LBS is safe for now, if they are willing to evolve with the marketplace.Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-38694423466475666502018-05-02T17:47:00.000-07:002018-05-02T17:47:30.158-07:00Sidetracked Ride Review: Redbud Ride - London, Kentucky - April 21, 2018<br />
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After a pretty scary crash warming up for a cyclocross race in October 2016, I lost all desire to compete anymore, and decided to retire from racing - if you can call "no longer competing at the back of the pack in events I pay for" on par with "retiring from racing." One of the main drivers for my racing was that I wanted to race in all 50 states plus 10 other countries, mostly because this set things up for "racecations" - a way to take the family to fun places that we might not otherwise consider. It's a pretty simple deal - I get to go out and beat myself up for a day, and then we relax and have some family fun for a few days. Everybody wins. We've had a lot of fun in the process, and had hit 11 states before my accident. Although I might not be racing anymore, I still want to continue creating good memories.<br />
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So, being a bit sidetracked, the goal has been tweaked: a metric century or longer in all 50 states and 10 other countries. The attitude is different - I'm a tourist now. The goals are simple: To take in the sights and experience. To explore new places and new cultures, at a speed that allows one to take it all in. To find peace through mileage. To enjoy just riding a bike for the rest of my life.<br />
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These goals are not unlike the majority of the customers I see in the fit studio. For many of us, there's something special about riding a bike - maybe it's the sensation of the speed and wind, or maybe it's a way to revert back to childhood, when a bike was our first real vehicle. Whatever it is, it's a good feeling when you find it. For some odd reason, I feel a need to share these experiences with you, in the hope that you might be intrigued by the events and participate someday, too. I'm here to inform. So, I hope you enjoy the first of what I hope will be many "Sidetracked" ride reviews.<br />
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The first event in this quest was the <b><a href="http://redbudride.com/index.html">Redbud Ride</a></b> in London, Kentucky. I have known quite a few people who have spoken highly of this ride, it's not too far from home, and the timing was good - the Redbud Ride is held on a Saturday towards the end of April every year, and this year it fell on April 21.<br />
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The Redbud Ride consists of 4 different length routes in the hills of central Kentucky, all starting in downtown London, with the longer routes taking you into the Daniel Boone National Forest:<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/7650935">Yellow Route</a></b> - 22 miles, 795 feet of elevation gain<br />
<b><a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/7650902">Orange Route</a></b> - 33.5 miles, 1,481 feet of elevation gain<br />
<b><a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/6635653">Green Route</a></b> - 62 miles, 2,423 feet of elevation gain<br />
<b><a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/7358127">Red Route</a></b> - 101 miles, 4,175 feet of elevation gain<br />
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If you have some extra time to make a long weekend out of it, there are two additional events:<br />
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1. A warm-up ride on Friday starting in Barbourville, Kentucky, about 25 miles southeast of London.<br />
2. A cool-down ride on Sunday morning, starting in Berea, Kentucky, about 40 miles north of London.<br />
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The three rides together really make for a nice way to explore central Kentucky. In retrospect, I wish I would have planned for the additional time. When you register for the event, you don't select a specific route - you choose whatever route you feel up to. I had planned on doing the Green Route to get in my metric century. This was a bit aggressive, considering my longest ride of the year so far had been just over an hour on the trainer with Rouvy. It's also a bit aggressive in the sense of the terrain - coming from central Indiana, we don't have much for hills.<br />
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I chose to do this trip solo, as I had a bit to learn about being a bike tourist. I also didn't have a lot of extra time - head down after work on Friday evening, spend a night at a hotel, ride on Saturday morning, and return Saturday evening so I can be back in the fit studio on Sunday. This was a bit of a whirlwind adventure, which was made quite a bit more adventurous by picking up a nail in my car tire somewhere south of Cincinnati. That's a story for another time involving tire sealants, taxidermy, croissants, and a language barrier. While I didn't get much sleep and at one point thought I would miss the ride in order to get my tire fixed, it all worked out pretty nicely in the end.<br />
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I had only been through London, KY, once before and happened to stay in the same hotel as last time. I wasn't sure what the locals might think of cyclists coming into town for an event like this, but found that the few locals I interacted with seemed to embrace it. The locals were friendly and accommodating. The hotel even started breakfast earlier than normal so Redbud Ride participants could fuel up and get to the start in time.<br />
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The ride starts at 8 AM, although it's an open start time - you can really start any time until around 10 or 11, as long as you get to certain points in time. Since I spent the first part of the morning in the tire shop, I didn't actually get to the start of the ride until after 9 AM. Fortunately, some friends happened to be at the hotel and planned a bit later start due to the brisk temperatures (it was in the low 40s when we started out) and we rode to the start together. They had already signed in and were doing the 100 mile red route, while I was doing the green route and still needed to sign in. We went our separate ways, and I ended up riding most of the ride by myself.<br />
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The route was very pleasant, well-marked, and well-supported. Spring has been a bit slow to arrive this year, so the signature Redbuds weren't in full bloom quite yet. Matter of fact, the trees were all still pretty bare, with hints of green and a few Redbuds just starting to bud. Regardless of the season, it is very pretty territory. The first few miles are in London proper, but it's not long before you start getting into rural areas, and you soon find yourself on some very quiet backwoods roads, following along rivers, with glimpses of waterfalls, rock formations, and some rather interesting local culture.<br />
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The roads were very good and the routes were well-marked. Since I had a late start, I didn't get a feel for what kind of crowd was at the 8 AM start time. I am not aware of how many riders actually participated. Printed maps were available at the start, but the roads were well-marked enough that I really didn't need the map, other than maybe for the first few turns in town, which happen in fairly quick succession.<br />
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The event provided SAG support, and for much of the ride, the majority of the cars I encountered were the SAG vehicles. I was amazed at just how many people volunteered and helped out with the event - from the SAG, to the rest stops, to the volunteers at the start and post-race party, and even a few folks helping to guide on course, there were plenty of volunteers. The locals were friendly, and I found myself waving at a lot of folks along the way.<br />
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The Redbud folks also did a really nice job with the rest stops, which were located every 10-15 miles apart. The food was plentiful with lots of choices from fresh fruit, to various homemade goods like brownies and cookies, to pizza. There were a couple of flavors of Gatorade and water, too. The food was served under tents and chairs were available to rest and hang out with friends.<br />
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I didn't get any pictures along the ride other than the picture at the top of this article. Immediately after the second rest stop, there is a bridge that you are required to walk across, due to the gaps between the planks on the bridge being just wide enough to catch a tire. The ride is also fairly hilly, with most of it gently undulating, with a few flats and a couple of bigger climbs thrown in for good measure. There were two fairly challenging climbs, with the lesser of the two at around mile 11 and the biggest climb around mile 31 of the green route.<br />
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Overall, I found this to be a really enjoyable event, and would certainly recommend it to just about anybody - the 4 different ride routes provide whatever challenge you feel you can handle. I do have a couple of things I wish I would have done differently: Since my tire adventures threw off my schedule a bit, I didn't get nearly as much time in London as I would have liked, and I'm not sure what London had to offer for the family to do. Perhaps some others can chime in in the comments below. I also didn't get to partake in the start when a majority of people started, so still have no idea just how big the event actually was. I personally like a lack of crowds, and enjoyed just being alone with my thoughts and the wind for a few hours on a beautiful Kentucky Saturday. The Redbud Ride has certainly set a high bar for my expectations of rides going forward.<br />
<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-57220180430693756512018-04-29T07:21:00.000-07:002018-04-29T07:27:48.581-07:00What is FUSION?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the end of 2017, I felt it was time to review and update the fitting services offered at Vector Cycle Works. Those who know me know that I am one to constantly scrutinize and reevaluate everything I do in order to provide a better service that is appropriate to the needs of my customers. My knowledge focus, process evolution, and desire to innovate in the bike fitting space is a reaction to what I see and hear with the people who come in for a bike fit.<br />
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There's no doubt in my mind that bike fitting is a very confusing concept from a consumer perspective. There is a wide range of services generally labeled as a "bike fit" - from something as basic as getting the seat height good enough to the in-depth services that dedicated fitters like myself and others do. Prices range from free to $$$$. Within the fitting industry, there are disagreements in philosophies as to what is most effective, with some fitters taking a more geometric approach, while others are more medical (I say "yes" to both, but the emphasis depends on the customer's needs).<br />
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Further complicating matters, you have the concept of a pre-purchase bike sizing (i.e. the Vector Cycle Works MATCH service, formally known as RightBike), which some will call a bike fit, versus what I consider a bike fit, such as the Vector Cycle Works CORE and FUSION services. It's confusing, and hard to understand what to expect when you schedule a bike fit with Fitter X. I'm probably muddying the waters a bit by offering a sizing service as well as two different fit services. So, let's see if I can clarify that a bit here.<br />
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My philosophies are shaped by a few key tenets:<br />
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1. <b>It's not about the bike.</b> I sometimes toy with calling what I do "cyclist fitting" or "ride tuning" or something like that, just to reduce the emphasis on the bike, but that would just further confuse matters, so "bike fitting" it is. The key here is that it's about the human and how they interact with the bike - those few points where you touch the bike. Everything we do is about mating those surfaces up better. We fit the bike to you, not you to the bike. Sure, there may be a need to swap some bicycle components, but the fact is that we are only doing that as a reaction to the needs of the human powering the bicycle. The CORE of what we do as bike fitting goes (see what I did there?) is about accommodating the human, as is. I've come to the realization over time that what I do is closer to athletic training or physical therapy than it is to the services offered by a bike shop.<br />
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2. <b>You are an athlete</b>. Many of my customers come in as a result of being inactive for a period of time (often measured in decades) and deciding that riding a bike looks like a good way to get in shape. They then learn it hurts a bit more than they remember as a kid. Sometimes, these folks sell themselves a bit short - "I'm just looking to get in shape." I don't care what others might say, but I look at every person that comes in here with a sense of pride in them, and as an athlete. You are a cyclist, and you are an athlete. Whether you want to ride another mile without pain or are looking for a higher step on the podium, you are an athlete performing at whatever level is your maximum. As an athlete, you will push your boundaries of human performance, whatever they may be. When we push those boundaries, that's when we learn how much we can do, or how much it hurts to do it or exceed those boundaries.<br />
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3. <b>You are an energy system</b>. There are a couple of terms I use a lot in the studio - stability and energy conservation. A core tenet of every Vector Cycle Works bike fit is energy conservation. In order to be more efficient, we need to not be wasting energy on things that are not being put into the pedals. We expend a lot more energy on a bike than what we put into the pedals. You might be able to sustain 200 watts for an hour, but you will burn more calories than what is needed to produce those 200 sustained watts. Power to the pedals is just one component of the energy system. Unstable on the saddle? That's a waste of energy because the "core" muscles have to work harder to keep you stable. Less than optimal foot/pedal interface? Another waste of energy because the oxygen-hungry muscles in the lower extremity are working hard to stabilize every pedal stroke. Not relaxed? More wasted energy. Wasted energy results in increased fatigue rates, which results in more discomfort further into the ride.<br />
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From what I've seen in the studio, most folks are not optimized off the bike, let alone on the bike. We are all asymmetrical piles of meat and bones, yet we try to interact with this crazy pile of carbon fiber, aluminum, and other stuff which is mostly symmetrical. As with any sports-specific movement, cycling is going to strengthen and develop some muscles (our prime movers) while utilizing, but not necessarily developing other muscles (the muscles that stabilize the movement). We develop imbalances through repetition, and repetitive use injuries are common among my customers. I expect everyone who comes in here to have some level of dysfunction, but the number of people who are on the verge of injury or have already experienced it is concerning. A proper bike fit could prevent some of these, but it's not the complete cure. How does the old saying go? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?<br />
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The Vector Cycle Works CORE bike fit is as good or better than what other fitters will charge $300+ for - we are establishing a stable foundation for your comfort and efficiency. We will make you more comfortable, which allows you to ride longer or more often, which allows you to build the engine so you can be faster, or increase your performance. CORE is as comprehensive and thorough as any accommodative bike fit will be. Every Vector Cycle Works fit is a partnership in comfort and efficiency.<br />
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FUSION takes this further yet. FUSION goes beyond just accommodating who you are right now and accepting that for what it is. I like to think of FUSION as being the ultimate cycling-focused human performance system. We are now delving more deeply into our understanding of the engine and learning what aspects of that engine are preventing it from performing at its maximum. In essence, we are looking to blow the lid off what is holding you back and increase that maximum. It's a little bit of work off the bike to be better on the bike. Here's how it works:<br />
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1. <b>Initial Session</b> - The initial FUSION session is similar to the initial CORE session, with 2 additional pieces: 1) We perform a Functional Movement Screen to identify your deficiencies. 2) You receive an online workout from Functional Movement Systems with videos of functional exercises tailored to your needs. Generally this is about 10-15 minutes a day of simple exercises to help you be a better you. Most require very little equipment, although I've found that a foam roller is a critical piece of equipment. If you don't have one, you probably should (you can get them cheap at <b><a href="http://www.performbetter.com/">www.performbetter.com</a></b>).<br />
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2. <b>Two Week Visit</b> - At your first visit, we will schedule 3 follow-up sessions. At week 2, you will come back without the bike (unless you are experiencing any pain - then we will accommodate). We are going to focus on the functional movement correctives during a one hour session. We're going to work on some basics and build on the online workout you received after your initial session. What is fun about this session is that we start to really dial in what works for you. We will measure, try an exercise, and then measure again. Did your movement improve? If so, we have identified a useful tool. If not, we throw that out. We're not about wasting time - we're looking for the most bang for the buck with your movement plan. You really only need 10-15 minutes a day.<br />
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3. <b>Four Week Visit</b> - Like the week 2 visit, we are going to continue our focus on the corrective strategies, and if you've shown some progress, we're going to continue to build on your base, continuing to move up the ladder of mobilization, stabilization, and strengthening.<br />
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4. <b>Six Week Visit</b> - Your "final" (and I really hesitate to call it that) FUSION session involves bringing the bike back. We tidy up any fit issues, perform an additional Functional Movement Screen, and send you home with another online training plan tailored to the new and improved you.<br />
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So far, we've seen some really nice results in the studio. It's obviously a bit of a commitment - we're looking at close to two months of working together (and I'm flexible - we can stretch that out as you need to, although I'm not an advocate of tightening up that timeline). This works very well leading up to an "A" race or a targeted event, and we just have to start the process out a couple of months before that event. Locally, a couple of very popular events that my customers target include the <b><a href="http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman-70.3/muncie.aspx" target="_blank">Ironman 70.3 Muncie</a></b> in July, the <b><a href="https://www.rainride.org/" target="_blank">RAIN Ride</a></b> in late July, the <b><a href="https://www.rollfast.us/rollfast-cycling/rollfast-gran-fondo/" target="_blank">Rollfast Gran Fondo</a></b> in September, the <b><a href="http://www.hmba.org/brown-county-epic/" target="_blank">Brown County Epic</a></b> in October, or the <b><a href="http://www.hillyhundred.org/" target="_blank">Hilly Hundred</a></b> in October.<br />
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The time is getting tight to complete the FUSION process for IM Muncie or RAIN, but there is time. If you are interested, <b><a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/" target="_blank">you can schedule your FUSION initial session at this link</a></b>. I look forward to helping you get the most out of your ride!Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-55992204037608269712018-04-28T05:24:00.004-07:002018-04-28T05:24:42.215-07:00From Paris, With Love: Adventures of a Bike Fit Dog Volume 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone!<br />
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Allow me to introduce myself - my name is Paris Paisley Rassat, and I am the new Vector Cycle Works bike fit pup. Actually, I have determined that I'm in charge of this joint from here on out. My assistant bike fit human, Travis, goes on and on about how bike fitting is an art with a lot of science behind it, blah, blah, blah, but I got this stuff figured out - I got instincts. I was born and raised Amish, too - so I know a thing or two about work ethic. He babbles on about how I need to pay attention to angles and joint alignments and muscle firing and - this is about the time I start to tune him out - whatever. Wouldn't it be easier just to have someone carry you around? That's what I do. I highly recommend it.<br />
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My assistant bike fit human is alright, though - maybe a bit dim, but sometimes he smells like peanut butter, and I like that in a human. For that reason, I suggest you schedule your bike fit at Vector Cycle Works soon by clicking <b><a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/">this linky thing</a></b>. Vector Cycle Works does have some human snacks and drinks if you're into that kind of thing, too. I say, come for the food, stay for the bike fit!<br />
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Toodles,<br />
ParisVector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-28660786334277847352017-12-31T13:13:00.003-08:002018-11-13T17:13:33.738-08:002018 Service Menu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the calendar turns over to a new year, this is a time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the next year and beyond. 2017 has been a very successful year at Vector Cycle Works, and it's because of the great people that come into the studio. In 2017, we did about 260 fit sessions. That was a lot. Maybe even a bit too much. Every session is a new challenge and a new learning experience, and every session helps me to evolve as a bike fitter. Along with that, a few bike fitters from around the country came to the studio to take the BikeFit Level 1 course, which is always a lot of fun.<br />
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There were a few challenges this year, too. Aside from dealing with a head injury from October 2016, I also had some scheduling challenges, thanks in part to coaching soccer in the spring. This didn't help my availability, and one of my biggest challenges this year was keeping up with the needs of new and established customers. I know I failed a few people on this, and had a few people go elsewhere. I'm one to dwell on these failings because I simply want to be the best service provider I can be. You deserve the best, and I am sorry if I have disappointed anybody. I am always trying to improve, so as the holidays roll through, it's time to make some changes.<br />
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1. <b>No more soccer</b>. The good news is that there is no more soccer, which was especially painful since the soccer seasons are at very busy times in the studio. This should make the April-June window better. We do still have gymnastics meets, which run from January to March, but those are a little easier to work around. The biggest challenge is that the event schedule doesn't seem to get set very far in advance.<br />
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2. <b>More disciplined hours</b>. I know I can get a bit too chatty at times and don't make the best use of my time or yours, so I'm going to be more disciplined about that. I've updated my schedule and services with more defined time blocks, and have set up my weekly schedule where weeknights have more emphasis on follow-ups and FMS sessions. New customers will be limited to weekends, and maybe available evenings by request.<br />
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3. <b>Redefined services</b>. This is where the big changes are and the main reason for this post. I did a lot of soul-searching over the last few months, trying to find a way to make the Vector Cycle Works services more effective, more appropriate to what you want, and to also provide a bit more balance in my own life - if I am pushing myself too hard, I worry about the quality of my work going down, and I can't do that to you.<br />
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So, with that said, here is the updated service menu, and you can read more at <b><a href="http://www.vectorcycleworks.com/">www.vectorcycleworks.com</a></b>.<br />
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<h3>
MATCH Bike Sizing - $100</h3>
<b>MATCH</b> is the new replacement for RightBike. It's basically the same service - you come in, we talk a bit and take you through the FIST sizing protocol, and then I generate a list of bikes for you. I had to rename this because my name is dangerously close to a trademarked name in the industry. As the name implies, we are trying to find a bike solution that is a perfect match for your body. I really enjoy doing this for people, but I have been disappointed with myself because of the results for you. What has happened is that it is generally a week turnaround before you get your report. That's just not acceptable, in my mind. In that week, I'm scrambling to update my bike list, fix broken links, etc. It's a lot of work, and sometimes I've had over 20 hours into getting a list of bike solutions for one customer. I find this disappointing and frustrating, and not good enough service. That's a bunch of data entry time, it's too long for you to wait, and takes time from my efforts to continue to evolve as a fitter.<br />
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I have explored a few different avenues with this, including looking at a few other solutions and paying for another bike database tool, but it has been disappointing. So, over the last few weeks, I have dusted off a part of my brain I haven't used in a while and created a software solution that allows us to generate a report of bike solutions in a matter of minutes. It's still a work in progress, but it's got a lot of potential. I think you'll like it. I'm putting some stuff in place to make it useful to a customer base beyond those who come to Vector Cycle Works.<br />
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<h3>
VERGE Component Testing - Free to Established Customers</h3>
Up until recently, I had the idea that offering free saddle testing was a good opportunity for people to knock out what is often a major complaint and distraction from the rider's comfort. Honestly, this hasn't worked quite as well as I thought. I've had a few saddles that have gone out and never come back and I can't get a hold of the customer. Since I try to keep inventory low, but selection wide, it's hard to balance this. This needs to be better for all of us.<br />
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So, <b>VERGE</b> is the new solution. This is no longer a standalone service. <b>VERGE</b> is a free extra session for customers that have come in for a Match bike sizing or a bike fit. My approach is slightly changed - I always like to work with what you have first, and many times, the saddle is not the reason the saddle hurts - it's something else in the fit. So, I am taking the "fit first" concept a bit farther and using this as an extension to your established base with a Vector Cycle Works fit. As we work through the fit process and discover opportunities for more comfort and efficiency at the touch points on the bike. <b>VERGE</b> is no longer just a saddle thing - it's an opportunity to explore saddles, handlebars, aerobars, and/or crank arm lengths. There can be a lot to be gained with these changes, but I feel a lot more confident in your solution if we have established a base for your comfort and power. <b>VERGE</b> component testing also includes free installation of any parts.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
CORE Bike Fit - $200</h3>
CoreFit has now been renamed <b>CORE</b>. The service is basically the same - an initial 2 1/2 hour session, with a free 1 1/2 hour follow-up. The main difference is that we are going to put a bit more emphasis on that follow-up by scheduling it as we wrap up the initial session. CoreFit turned out to be a very popular service that is more comprehensive than what most fitters in the area change $300+ for. <b>CORE</b> builds on that. All BikeFit fitting parts are included. <b>CORE</b> includes a full report e-mailed to you and a follow-up phone call/e-mail within 3 weeks of the initial appointment, and again after 3 weeks after the follow-up. A free <b>VERGE</b> session is available to <b>CORE</b> customers, as well.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
FUSION Bike Fit - $350</h3>
I'm really excited about this one. <b>FUSION</b> replaces ForeverFit and changes the way we think about what a bike fit is. As the name implies, <b>FUSION</b> is the ultimate fusion of body and bike. While <b>CORE</b> and most bike fitting is seen as an accommodative process - putting a bike underneath you that accommodates you as you are at the moment - <b>FUSION</b> takes this a step further to help you improve yourself as a rider. If you are having a hard time reaching the level of performance and comfort that you like, <b>FUSION</b> is going to help you break through the barriers hidden within you that are holding you back.<br />
<br />
The initial session is about 3 1/2 hours - we do everything we do with <b>CORE</b>, but add in a Functional Movement Screen. The FMS helps us find your deficiencies and asymmetries that prevent you from performing your best, on the bike and in any athletic endeavor. You will receive a 7 week FMS Pro 360 online functional workout, which includes a functional workout designed specifically for you. Your workout is generally about 10-15 minutes of movement-specific training per day. You will leave the initial session with 3 more sessions scheduled - 2 more FMS-only sessions at 2 weeks and 4 weeks, and then a final follow-up with the bike at 6 weeks or so. We can also work in a free <b>VERGE</b> session in there, if desired.<br />
<br />
When the dust settles, we have worked together 4-5 times over a 6-8 week period to help you become an even better you.<br />
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As I mentioned, <b>FUSION</b> is exciting to me, as this is starting to really challenge the way we traditionally think about bike fitting. I've been striving to find ways to take what we know as bike fitting to a deeper understanding. Bike fitting is not a bike thing - we strive for comfort and efficiency to enable a specific type of human performance. If you are looking for more comfort and performance, <b>FUSION</b> is a deep dive into understanding yourself as a rider, athlete and as a human in order to help you reach your true potential.<br />
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Those are the main services. Additionally, we can do FMS as standalone sessions, even if you are not a cyclist. These are billed at $50 per hour and are 1 hour sessions. Any additional fit sessions beyond what is described here, including additional bikes or additional shoes are billed at $50 per hour. The exception to this is existing ForeverFit customers - you still have your ForeverFit guarantee for as long as you own your bike.<br />
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There is so much more going on, but this is the important stuff for now. I am excited about what 2018 will bring and look forward to you being a part of it! Schedule some time at Vector Cycle Works soon at <b><a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/">https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com</a></b>. If you don't see anything that works, call me at 317-833-0702 and we might be able to find some other options.<br />
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Thank You!Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-67709006764014828332017-09-16T03:52:00.000-07:002017-09-16T03:53:33.778-07:00Why Now is a Great Time to get in to Vector Cycle Works<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHswmUhlEFTuzIpCxQqtxYc56nuFCCYhRWTOp-fWsEKo8xNamctNtGLwtp5Gjb6FrwffM3fV5vK2vK8mvS96p2eOAkp0luHkPvYEMwdTUEMLvx9Kh-uaJen0ib_tVK2M6TEc1qy58R8dg/s1600/2017-08-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHswmUhlEFTuzIpCxQqtxYc56nuFCCYhRWTOp-fWsEKo8xNamctNtGLwtp5Gjb6FrwffM3fV5vK2vK8mvS96p2eOAkp0luHkPvYEMwdTUEMLvx9Kh-uaJen0ib_tVK2M6TEc1qy58R8dg/s400/2017-08-27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's that time of the year - the days are getting shorter and it's starting to cool off a bit in Central Indiana. The triathlon, mountain biking, and road racing seasons are wrapping up. The holidays are going to be upon us soon, which generally means a busy time of the year with a lot of calories. Things even slow down a little bit here in the Vector Cycle Works studio. Other than the cyclocross folks, bike commuters, and hardcore riders, it's the time of year when we start to spend a bit less time on our bikes and maybe even put them away for a few months.<br />
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In my opinion, this is an opportunity. This is the time to get in to Vector Cycle Works. Here are a few reasons why:<br />
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<h3>
Get a head start on your next season. </h3>
Bike fitting at Vector Cycle Works is not a "one and done" deal - it's a partnership. If you are looking at improving for next season, this is a great opportunity to get ahead. A CoreFit or ForeverFit bike fit can help you establish a comfortable and efficient foundation for winter training, so you can build your engine for your best season yet. With the Vector Cycle Works ForeverFit and Functional Movement services, you can maximize your work off the bike to improve your performance and experience on the bike.<br />
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<h3>
You still remember what hurts.</h3>
If you've been out riding regularly and dealing with knee pain, saddle issues, back pain, numbness, or any of the many other cycling-related issues cyclists tend to accept as "that's just how it's supposed to be", now is a great time to get a fit while you still remember what bothers you. Maybe the saddle has been an issue, or maybe you just want to try something else. This is your chance to make those changes - with a CoreFit or ForeverFit bike fit or a free saddle test, we can establish a base to get you more comfortable now and follow-up when you start really ramping up your riding again.<br />
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<h3>
There are great deals to be had on a bike right now.</h3>
I was talking with a few of the local bike shops this week and they've got some really nice bikes priced to move. The 2018 models are coming out now and the remaining 2017s are being offered at a really good price. If you are thinking about getting a new bike, this is a great time to do a RightBike session to find out what fits you best.<br />
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<h3>
Focus on your function.</h3>
As an FMS (Functional Movement Systems) pro and guy who deals with a lot of pain, I'm a big advocate of understanding how our bodies work, recognizing our deficiencies, and doing the appropriate work to overcome our limits. With FMS, we can do some work off the bike to improve our overall daily function and experience on the bike. Most of my customers want to just get on the bike and hammer out the miles. I see a ton of hip dysfunction that is holding people back from being their best. A little bit of work to establish balance within the body can help prevent injury, improve comfort, and improve performance. It's a matter of understanding what you need and focusing on that. With FMS sessions or ForeverFit, you get a functional training plan that might be just 10 minutes a day to improve you overall. It's really cool stuff. Whether you are managing pain or looking to get those last few watts, an FMS plan designed specifically for you can help you make big gains with a small investment in time and money.<br />
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<h3>
You can learn to love trainer season.</h3>
I geek out about trainers and training with power. If you are interested in getting a trainer, Vector Cycle Works is a dealer for Kinetic, Wahoo, Tacx, CycleOps, Elite, and a few others. Indoor training doesn't have to be awful. With a trainer purchase, I will come to your house (in the central Indiana area), set up your trainer, and help you get connected with your choice of software to make your indoor training effective. There are really great tools available, and I'm here to help you sort through those and find the best one for you.<br />
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<h3>
The lines aren't as long.</h3>
<div>
One of the challenges at Vector Cycle Works is that there can be as much as a 6-8 week wait to get in. There isn't right now - it's down to just a couple of weeks. If you want to get in, now's the time to do it! If you're not sure where to start, here's what I would do:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>If you don't have a bike or want a new one, schedule a RightBike session. We will spend about two hours getting an understanding of your goals and sizing you up to find your happy place in space. You will then get a list of bikes (it usually takes me a few days) that will fit you. You can then go out and get that bike. Bring your RightBike report with and the shops can usually set it up according to your report so you can test ride. The cost of your RightBike session ($100) will apply to a subsequent CoreFit or ForeverFit bike fit.</li>
<li>Do a free saddle test. If you haven't experienced a saddle that fits you well, you don't know what you're missing. Try out one or all of the 75 different saddles available and find the one that feels the best.</li>
<li>Once you've got yourself some good equipment, it's time to schedule a CoreFit bike fit. The CoreFit bike fit service is $150 and is as comprehensive as for what others are charging $250-400. CoreFit offers a lot of value for the money. It's a great way to establish a Vector Cycle Works partnership. We will delve deep into understanding your body</li>
<li>Get some time in now before it's too cold to ride, or maybe start some indoor training. Maybe use your free CoreFit follow up to tweak things a bit.</li>
<li>Upgrade to ForeverFit. You can upgrade from CoreFit to ForeverFit for the cost difference, which is currently $150. You will get the ForeverFit guarantee for as long as you own the bike, and you'll get a Functional Movement Screen and a 6-week functional training plan. You can use this to help make bigger gains as you get ready for next year.</li>
</ol>
<div>
When it comes down to it, I'm here to help. I often say that I'm an evangelist for cycling and healthy living before I'm a bike fitter. I do bike fitting because I love helping people enjoy riding a bike. Regardless of your abilities or riding experience, you can get more out of your ride. I'd love to help! If you have questions, you can call me at 317-833-0702 or e-mail me at travis@vectorcycleworks.com and we can get a better understanding of your goals and come up with a plan that will help you reach them.</div>
</div>
<div>
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<div>
Or, if you are ready to take the plunge, you can schedule at <b><a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/">https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com</a></b>. See you soon!</div>
Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-80014231341587795082017-07-08T08:04:00.000-07:002017-07-08T08:41:31.101-07:00Free Saddle Testing at Vector Cycle Works<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFXpPG1a40_qyQufGQNicrjD0S0OYQQDF52wvdlol7BQWILB96_3E4qSdTSR8gjtNkn6OtomecQuTsKh1YWKHyGap7NDGHCzi_vmwbURLTxA-cQitwikGroh0bEnPFDAsVF4lNqz-I3y9/s640/IMG_20170708_104257186_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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If you are having a hard time find a happy place on your saddle, Vector Cycle Works offers free saddle testing. The best way to determine if a saddle will work for you is to sit on it!<br />
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A saddle test session usually starts off with a quick conversation about your issues and type of riding, a couple of measurements, and then we set up the test bike based on your current bike geometry. A BikeFit SwitchIt (as shown in the picture above) allows us to change saddles and adjust them quickly - it's not uncommon to go through 20-25 saddles in a saddle testing session, trying to find that one that really feels good. We can quickly swap saddles and tweak position and angle to get immediate feedback. Once we find a saddle you like, we'll mount it on your bike for an extended test.<br />
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If you are experience discomfort or numbness, and are ready to try something new, you can <b><a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/" target="_blank">click here to schedule your free saddle testing session</a></b>!<br />
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Vector Cycle Works is an authorized dealer for several brands including Brooks, Chromag, Cobb Cycling, Fi'zi:k, ISM, Profile Design, Selle Royal, SQlab, and WTB. Inventory is kept to a minimum, but we can order in other models or colors, as needed. There are currently over 80 saddles available for testing and there are more coming soon.<br />
<br />
This isn't a complete list, but here are some of the saddles that are currently in stock and ready for a test ride:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.chromagbikes.com/saddles/juniper" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1600" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zXgU5poXQcqURcCm_KD5zdTq5bYG2mhdZPte5Kozo3oMg5W6zqOQeFtGcZrbvSQu3H3PrpSdJfRs0QObZn3zGPSrL1AZ68dCAP-nRmA7XkBGld26xUu_rD1sCssmbcChAZTh9HWiMc3P/s320/chromag_lynxdt.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chromagbikes.com/saddles/juniper" target="_blank">Chromag Juniper</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chromagbikes.com/saddles/lynx-dt" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1600" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu7UaYppHUvoKC8q8Nz8TbpaSPymBKL_nFmdWKawzrZxCRknVYkv96MK3-wxWyIyNlq4ygGo2Kp6LZ4OKzD8lYvJ08nsagjuqdvlpfPUB7N7QqEn5o2dV9NEwaqtpEkBqnktWwnF3fe3f/s320/Chromag-Juniper-Saddle-Group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chromagbikes.com/saddles/lynx-dt" target="_blank">Chromag Lynx DT</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.chromagbikes.com/saddles/trailmaster-dt" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1600" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUzjglW2msH7ZBBcAYX0NarMErEb-zDOrGvnpi4kVG6g1Bt_H5h0vQQI7LICmwij-bdaSRYQ6JSTRGCoPLQA55JtxqLl4K-u6lnBUrCq6J-SdZmgIdrxtH_OrCbGMvSM5edsyfe1IpEAS/s320/chromag_trailmasterdt.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chromagbikes.com/saddles/trailmaster-dt" target="_blank">Chromag Trailmaster DT </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/fifty-five/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNH1G_0QrH1B8Vq_At1NjOdDDRi4Pz3jcyxsvWSaYcmibjxFNDIyPDkx-uFn6CxcBXQGoYf-3uJeB0lxplJsxVy2W_HYsCQdx9zxwbFR-K08q4Q3X55OADIPjhyphenhyphen_249ViqzJZ7Yla4k8K/s320/cobb_fiftyfive.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/fifty-five/" target="_blank">Cobb Fifty-Five</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/gen-2/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTi0ec7-0x3lbLA5Ex-9VCDulq4IvsD3pBU64ygvq2AtOeAENm_-pdc8WBsyYnNh6VDA-Ue0eIhD4hyhv1GgNxDzcoGoiSm8P3FC_RWq2O0R_f1bid9TmnjcAAMMaJegFwSaRD6UFYpSl/s320/cobb_gen2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/gen-2/" target="_blank">Cobb Gen2</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/max/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09mefcZ7BsqzFf63TpIfJeSmny1ImXo7559ZhiCxpjq8I6youX7kICaGiYCc95bj514M8sd1fzvQH3q0Pz1GATFSctoI6uE_IGtmiGvv6DsNpqf6QxASxTe6nt6Q56fhjyPemDTkjfXbR/s320/cobb_max.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/max/" target="_blank">Cobb Max</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/plus/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaQBNL_l1p_-8-6diTbf2Ta0amPYak2amKEnVWWA1MeQdEM6hKDJpW2p2LVZY5xZ7cM3BHOWrwlXDK1RgBDTZs0mXxXfMCNajowlIc5dTUZ70EWVyyytwHLULWmcO2BRxAJRqEmQc_BfJ/s320/cobb_plus.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/plus/" target="_blank">Cobb Plus</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/plus2/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9pbFU82e6APcbG04S99CU_V7p1-OFF8ZmjRTuXvDd1gyA5fkajdfvngWhENndXkLGc7Y4bi-IWBYPOqCxIQ3MYZAbFlU6gvLqpXto_eksV6qeWFR5P-ZRVTJCxfWKTbV5XKiVoXfWMxN/s320/cobb_plus2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/plus2/" target="_blank">Cobb Plus 2</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/plus-drt/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0L5A4gMo3kvRUhyV2HwuJsrrOdkZ08ZW8sWa8KrCQ4Y2_ANbrvYbZ4KXlKuP8j2KSR6nDsq-wnzzI1iyeQY2wgHkbBTQ3vWBWEwoz3H2gEsJKMTR8nEtCm83OAxzgfH9qKd_nZpmPbbMK/s320/cobb_plusdrt.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/plus-drt/" target="_blank">Cobb Plus DRT</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/randee/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3h_WDmAv315eFrrxo1vx_rAnjcNb3517AsLbwvQHVPmcGwlE1xoxJVTde01IwQ0LcToD5WNEYPeEskNUTKGMMWOnkclKPrkJRR3zoh5FYyRvx40gF2NsXPLml8BcSyqCb9RiG4H_vr86/s320/cobb_randee.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/randee/" target="_blank">Cobb Randee</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/shc/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5TzDON0vD-qjaJ_MzCzAR1bRbH_MDh9yPDarXUHhUW8UI3g2Z7vPf3dyY_5hFhHhjcRUupEcKtQ1fncVQMQDsFD-WYfdEgEWMfl3ISSxtPJ96ktS3t29puka7NhTQL-A1HfOvRj-tt7Q/s320/cobb_shc.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/shc/" target="_blank">Cobb SHC</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/shc-drt/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktsaUMCOW5ZFb5sVDXjsfw7pnJbNMkAw3FJO4egja6EPoutXXgILl-HpLc9O8kVYlviBvJqqWiP5TtAyBu-WnzJuRnzGoTAlskT70oSP34JINL5oxUzEd3P5OtcCJ60BhyphenhyphenI0L1zvdiyKN/s320/cobb_shcdrt.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/shc-drt/" target="_blank">Cobb SHC DRT</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/v-flow/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsjMpEeECI9-k3Iu9Bm1ANn68jV5kGBf1BK8fViYM748S346oCq61ReUo8vKugFnDNrw7BQF4rZ1Pj_DhljOY6v-9DDsdd5A6VxgiqWtlrqbwna7SHsZpbLFuMTBJH7Fj9aP8R3svyF80/s320/cobb_vflow.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cobbcycling.com/product/v-flow/" target="_blank">Cobb VFlow</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/aliante-vs-kium-new.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="1600" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKQNx68F0Z5SPrXTtMlp9imz5LTmykZm4JUblxpLOHQzcr81P9eHZ7etsvqjEmFvogIM835Oouv9quHKIhSZXucKQapTsgHAD-OJQfukQDaK5nqZGAtDXE9FEvV5zeyjVjFLeJVPoEn6j/s320/fizik_aliantevs.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/aliante-vs-kium-new.html" target="_blank">Fi'zi:k Aliante VS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/antares-vs-kium-new.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="1600" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfdCS0_8gaQNaVyAUMorncxxdlfsVcwcKSXmzar8M0OqQnDLbRTe3og_ZR6gdhcR6N6RwVrPdDkiZhjxNzqs0JVVUqVdz0U_4ajhSIa-OYBifnfNcxqcEG1yxxXr5oDI_tQeScbwMIJx9/s320/fizik_antaresvs.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/antares-vs-kium-new.html" target="_blank">Fi'zi:k Antares VS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/arione-vs-kium-new.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="1600" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLhRJC677nVxvMlhwqLtuYN9a8_Z9vQgJDJSvJlP-ZY3DzE-lnHqPCsJ7-VO_cvpRIV5jMfNa3c3WGu4TytiD-SmELGc5sHcUq5Ljm9eU92fQPXuqgek-VsMaMYXLAVKE3YlrEuluUMMB/s320/fizik_arionevs.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/arione-vs-kium-new.html" target="_blank">Fi'zi:k Arione VS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/mistica-kium-regular.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="1600" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt1dHX5hrL7NqWMxRlVlDOxZiVcdOlagJpXVxiBLJYOGJt20SenvexGfPNjN2sZCNV2H0jJEYlk9YbwLocsePRA4u7rOO93CgGa7npNidS9lJu_rXpcCxlhozeyey3nzr_L8C4N0pd2GD/s320/fizik_misticaregular.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fi'zi:k Mistica<br />
(<a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/mistica-kium-regular.html" target="_blank">Regular</a> and <a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/saddles/mistica-kium-large.html" target="_blank">Large</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/women/saddles/vesta-mg.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1600" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSHUmuV9KXh95YfQ1fXvKUOxazCOBo_ARtAeQZEZZFcUS9dG6qI24qcVYG45b40zE2RYErfbmIhfaDtF7oOKTFkBHKfI9zZku-OprS3fUmH2tha5wxge4IalOvnM0nPjZ6BWeOx7Kd6OS/s320/fizik_vesta.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fizik.com/us_en/women/saddles/vesta-mg.html" target="_blank">Fi'zi:k Vesta</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pl-10" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJND_YpMsQ1kKU19oWlKt5qMiEKvXee46aForzVT-A3HbV8CDa8hYuG7NPj4uF1ToVUhM-SwPuemHmhoDVEdeSP-qsZvO9KAHTVmVb5eDuLsxDXNCKNcGenGflpK2aWTQv8EojU1Bt2nv/s320/ism_pl10.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pl-10" target="_blank">ISM PL 1.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pl-11" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMJrLgXCsaczEDw8UOAyLw5_9hPIXAs6n7vqsF4eMVXSirgNxHPIlgzxjjCTt_ruD4d1X0OAmr9IiKeW2FGMN2SER0INewaOmElYzpxZq56Q8I1qUPRm44VnLkmFWDR855419iuxk5V0b/s320/ism_pl11.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pl-11" target="_blank">ISM PL 1.1</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pn-10" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VTm4UeqCjr8HeoJ2Q_glFIkVZXJw-9IU3Zsr67yZKEYAFdSUzrjPj3LC6vwtgoZjoBiYeXS8TIkjSr-y5F7fCj5FpBtMMIk1-wJM_zCa2bWsRzpvy4s35hNOVZykn9b_tgtOmQD_Gp-R/s320/ism_pn10.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pn-10" target="_blank">ISM PN 1.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/pn-11" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlY9mVG5BF48n_y-5yKGFA-uHgOR-e3m3Alo0OM87Hgz1Gihqu9xY1nwwSP5xudKdUPCwhyphenhyphen8xJSr7A8KlHrcVUYPaLSTFJYlFtbNvIni2WwjcQlCr2K5qPjMJbJATXcb1Am-jAldwbBiK/s320/ism_pn11.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/pn-11" target="_blank">ISM PN 1.1</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pn-21" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFxF9DhRxpkqg-Zc0DqYZ_GlfEcjO085Zc7-TxxoeRcJs_5wQekWq9N6srfqnWt5kkHm2xs3UYyLHB0oeCT3Rr3xEO0WsMyN_aCv2HUXssrdQAvwo9_mmrLvkP09kKqaoEkAMBeQdmW_M/s320/ism_pn21.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pn-21" target="_blank">ISM PN 2.1</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pn-30" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnpyhUYdJrf7-HsoBgtNzDhyOmNePwcIhGqoUgVsxRb0d7FRTQukq6zH2Oy91WpzXMYWC3P10sPz0e38orU9FvRX0Qh14px0HqZhaCeFgjsCMv_enVZfQGCUosQetksDzm1lgACgmEJag/s320/ism_pn30.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pn-30" target="_blank">ISM PN 3.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/pr-10" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_paoMJuDkOitcyZ94WLHbu004VfyLaKxjErdASi_fuPdUQvcQ2SUefxZm-1yD3lAKbOtKHOCFc91tyqrG8paS1e5XOTELTjZFUg3bgb_VbdlV4s_Jm0BYjyaEeFrMpKtYGsshAjsTMFC/s320/ism_pr10.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/pr-10" target="_blank">ISM PR 1.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/pr-20" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ175KodaSMdjy1BGNITDPZJ08JWMLpzvC3iMKd7Hg62K7_Zz-JMpn_A7r8KetwzleFfvRmO2Wq2YtuKusfwooG2N7z_ZxYhkCHwUg1cgr00EXYg9TPiVoKFbpP8m8C25nZ2lxIlnexUh/s320/ism_pr20.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/pr-20" target="_blank">ISM PR 2.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pr-30" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jJSvFaXqUsEOZAySSxtxzlNuuygn0_8DlAgvUdPxtJSn6W3lANuSSlFKR9zPWBSTsaUolrlDeGx3eVNhSHXcZiii0jOoBCzqcZUqNFV2drqMHQyFoLh3bNKYlPqZ_xrQEAsOpsHKNxu9/s320/ism_pr30.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/pr-30" target="_blank">ISM PR 3.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/ps-10" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnluSfDyRoR7i8UoIzz5i5eas0olc1mUYepVeruzrWQ046pmuRZ-FvmhP_X54cuQTDYOFPylMTnv9LuulKX3OeKHPSVo7Jc6wBSaX6d26wgZpmE-bJSBB4RtefPOXQPC6NGuLI0IZbR2I/s320/ism_ps10.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/ps-10" target="_blank">ISM PS 1.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/ps-11" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjttnEvvspfgqhcJUYBp4DvHlGxGnIb2ScLUwWha8TMtaLPZwPYBwlGB63HXJ6kGg-CB2SdQzs-Erio8YG38vlOXv6j71TWYEuRbIXdDtUcCjHJQHiXckf7vsQ-ilbCE3HlbGAyk8FMAG/s320/ism_ps11.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/ps-11" target="_blank">ISM PS 1.1</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/adamo-road" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihw_RyubcnYoi8pSukGt3QTQaE9s4frKI5HClikLIGgvbhgyRKhtERm_ZQoRABo51lsJRWtphZ0eRHI2C_NlJxx13tFYBCbLdT6-o2uK77nXtstQ5T5R73IGh2OzzwvqNN-HfB705ZP2M-/s320/ism_road.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/adamo-road" target="_blank">ISM Road</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://profile-design.com/product/saddles/vertex-80-tt/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="505" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX7fkDKtKZ-TXDJTMOqmeZYC4Gt_m0awcim9FfvUOlIhfZ6_kwTyFXHBdQWFZJcUx4Igr7fIwoHatStZyNtDCm1dozHYNHim7K4M1vYPNKUjC-zzHT37M-s-qysEy6KNFYZF2wgq9vdlf/s320/profiledesign_vertex80tt.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://profile-design.com/product/saddles/vertex-80-tt/" target="_blank">Profile Design Vertex 80 TT</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.selleroyal.com/en/scientia-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="839" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLpefKr1wAY3vA3jhKFq1TVODzPBRFV6dudq9hLRTIAKWqi_dTOXjhy9YaLSM0b_c8mJ0wEvV71JGQ5xuR9GVwfk-ZCGrs6j_nHAxb_pvhzBb4n4GC7h5pBhu2R7MlAaeUlutAU7KjVTG/s320/selleroyal_scientiaaseries.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.selleroyal.com/en/scientia-1" target="_blank">Selle Royal Scientia Series<br />(Three Models/Widths: A1, A2, and A3)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.sq-lab.com/shop/en/Saddles/ERGOWAVE/SQlab-bike-saddle-611-Ergowave-active.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="1066" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BwQpEZh4xUtuQum6uatO2oKk3dWJgmzDxFq_Xr4BlriAdvj18gtmIBXX6beBi2iHhqckwD8R2Oawf8nL1gs373FxqH3mbyBlOQzoF_QAsyrMNpvS_0NalD0whnt8_kgVKdU1EGAhJWr_/s320/sqlab_611ergowaveactive.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sq-lab.com/shop/en/Saddles/ERGOWAVE/SQlab-bike-saddle-611-Ergowave-active.html" target="_blank">SQlab 611 Ergowave Active Series<br />(4 widths: 12cm, 13cm, 14cm, 15cm)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/high-tail" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2g10tV2w5Gg7WvRIrxyl_FX2y1csZ6nr277RfjNLgBEswemb7dgonNFWQTdijrSePVb0wdd5VMiVxXxaYUiezL9KtF1sB-TuB6u-wnD8U1ppqfPsuRplAY9e-_xcHhX-nsdYDpJX3L6t/s320/wtb_hightail.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/high-tail" target="_blank">WTB High Tail Series</a><br />
3 Levels: Pro, Team, Carbon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/pure" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9fn-rZRx-Iaxai32_mnfjk9xCXQeZjMeta230r2owdwex71Hvy44nite05C_oVPZY2GVdKv1GncQ0J2erdMgrjEiClzZkyTJnzshHPBU_YDMwrtoEqN1vuFp_7vVf9bWSei7CfhuQ5Lx/s320/wtb_pure.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/pure" target="_blank">WTB Pure Series</a><br />
5 Levels: Comp, ProGel, Race, Pro, Team</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/rocket" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvfydm0T1XuoCB4u4-ekPNzLUHjrUXdUuJQESJaU1mFLyXtlUjBSUm2psqjE-_BciP2QfutaZpv6ZCKsE8tI3jA-96R4JBAjzPD4ffEPm-TUV_HQlVTnn8qZN_YZ4-f5l_EevT48aKl1w/s320/wtb_rocket.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/rocket" target="_blank">WTB Rocket Series</a><br />
5 levels: Comp, Race, Pro, Carbon, Team<br />
3 widths: 130mm, 142mm, 150mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/silverado" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vp1f2jIpwXBoYoN1aGspMQ_1nEt7NSO8SwD2kPe_JVOBTALU6zYsxWjAx1f3L9cDHzPrFbB66W2V45PwQ4VLgqAsOmyhzs0Tx44pr6O1PavESQcmR6untefoouMz1-Vo9dLLDY7WukWU/s320/wtb_silverado.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/silverado" target="_blank">WTB Silverado</a><br />
3 Levels: Pro, Team, Carbon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/speed" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa47qNlQZzQKnGpAcMKh4B0qOXNQovwI3VN4paZEJb8Xc64nwAMGKVpTyrE0tMbY0BUvPm8MiGn7aAepAVkhzdahScioXlvuGYBabZiaeNJKIQirftDuoTSMLMiXyP1T6uPHLEeExPGwt/s320/wtb_speed.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/speed" target="_blank">WTB Speed</a><br />
4 Levels: Comp, ProGel, Pro, Team</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/speed-she" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5rMgwbxcF_32fudAgiIno6RPlETktV82X-1QWsKJAJhtxjQODqVNTRcTZ87RQv7yf01W_1T1GXiCE-4EOnd49x97KoliEP3o16hmmVndYggAH_x4xjEPFfYrbvL6IIL2ON9MLLHWiqME/s320/wtb_speedshe.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/speed-she" target="_blank">WTB Speed She</a><br />
2 Levels: Comp, ProGel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/volt" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ckVisqXOezBv2hdgpQs48O669mBOGHyTpIbPKbTHMn5ff1sazoU61TVNMOd0rmfoTDO1AVx7PHLw1Y0sKKRxCUvGMaNGCq5mvMU5l73ugzO2ID-zv_BL6Xnzy0p6IUcW4Q8vThzyeHtT/s320/wtb_volt.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wtb.com/products/volt" target="_blank">WTB Volt</a><br />
5 Levels: Comp, Race, Pro, Team, Carbon<br />
3 Widths, depending on level: 135mm, 142mm, 150mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-15922761953035912502017-04-11T05:58:00.000-07:002017-04-11T06:00:25.124-07:00Sharing the BikeFit Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvrtT7ugk_8_1lSXzM2YzB2u_VFaVlb4jykTA2C7vQX1_AARd1I35oEOce8PW9U1EjQfT4YSROeSd4jcJxdEaGbzyEB3H-TWcqAThJyaDRct-SdGrtjEtd3JNZnNV_04GI_hamtrg_rIQ/s1600/IMG_20170409_102805994_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvrtT7ugk_8_1lSXzM2YzB2u_VFaVlb4jykTA2C7vQX1_AARd1I35oEOce8PW9U1EjQfT4YSROeSd4jcJxdEaGbzyEB3H-TWcqAThJyaDRct-SdGrtjEtd3JNZnNV_04GI_hamtrg_rIQ/s400/IMG_20170409_102805994_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Vector Cycle Works studio had a bit different feel this weekend - it is still all about getting people more comfortable on their bikes, but this time there were 4 fitters in the room.</div>
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I am a <a href="http://www.bikefit.com/" target="_blank">BikeFit</a> Instructor, and hosted a BikeFit Level 1 class of 3 students at the studio/my home this weekend. Level 1 is an intense two days of a little lecture with a lot of hands-on training. The main objective is to help fitters establish a good foundation for a bike fit by focusing on the foot/pedal interface. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80VYeUWegEg0szDp2uE5K-whEprXgS1V23O_K7kxXYwQmbmz1y5bHKaHFhRtLeRYsw_ct71psaMvTpCPp5fsuyWkzIPSoCOLtvOPEgf6ac6KRgWn8sW6Ypl3smDAnbgCD7hTTlGvTeIE9/s1600/IMG_20170409_104243289_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80VYeUWegEg0szDp2uE5K-whEprXgS1V23O_K7kxXYwQmbmz1y5bHKaHFhRtLeRYsw_ct71psaMvTpCPp5fsuyWkzIPSoCOLtvOPEgf6ac6KRgWn8sW6Ypl3smDAnbgCD7hTTlGvTeIE9/s400/IMG_20170409_104243289_HDR.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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The first day, we go over the details of cleat placement and the various tools that BikeFit provides to improve the rider's connection to the pedal. The foot/pedal interface is often overlooked as part of the fit, yet so important for mechanical efficiency and comfort. Poor cleat placement can manifest itself where you might not expect it. We take the time to understand how to assess, measure, and implement appropriate accommodations for a rider. Our students become the test subjects on this day, getting an opportunity to gain experience with each other and different pedal systems. </div>
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Sometimes, in a class like this, things will go pretty smoothly and you get some relatively straightforward people. That's no fun! We had some interesting things going on, and that was great - the students got experience with different wedge options, use of pedal spacers, use of leg length shims, and got to see some things that might be a bit counter-intuitive. We also got to work with Speedplay, Look, Shimano, and Crank Bros. pedal solutions over the weekend. Each has their nuances, so it's good to get that variety.</div>
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For day 2, we take it a bit further and look at the total bike fit, focusing on the contact points on the bike. We had two victims, err, subjects come in to give the students an opportunity to fit someone with very little background information. We had a young triathlete with a new-to-him triathlon bike, and a mountain biker who had just built up his brand new full suspension 29er. Essentially a couple of clean slate fits. The students get the opportunity to figure out what questions to ask, how to ask them, and how to hone in on the main focus points for the rider. I tend to step back, observe, and interject as needed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdVuQOczU63n2aR0FEjcmOvuOPBmxs55gN9So6ZNcuLH0tRp0yvAeA2vCzu6glihOXU0C_i2XMaW36R0vuBnIT1BT4D6wx8XtPNAbuQBnsYQf2XtQwPINh7NfCLFy-5-x8LYvOebVDaW6/s1600/IMG_20170409_115415631_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdVuQOczU63n2aR0FEjcmOvuOPBmxs55gN9So6ZNcuLH0tRp0yvAeA2vCzu6glihOXU0C_i2XMaW36R0vuBnIT1BT4D6wx8XtPNAbuQBnsYQf2XtQwPINh7NfCLFy-5-x8LYvOebVDaW6/s400/IMG_20170409_115415631_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The students were from northern Indiana, northern Ohio, and the Boston area. I like keeping the class small for maximum interaction and 3 was just right. It was a great group of guys and we had a lot of fun. While class goes from 9-5 with an hour for lunch, a couple of the guys stayed until around 8:30 on Saturday night, where we chatted about all sorts of things related to cycling, fitting, the bike industry, human movement, and anything else that came up. It's great to see the passion in others.</div>
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When I teach, I can't help but reflect on my experience as a fitter. I love what I do, and love sharing the knowledge. Riding a bike should be a wonderful thing, and helping people experience that without pain is what makes me tick. It seems like ages since I was on the other side of the classroom, taking in everything I could from some really top-notch people (teachers and fellow students) who have been a positive influence on my life and have helped shape my style. The students in this class have very different backgrounds and fit experience (from no experience at all to 10 years of fitting), and each had their own learning style. As they get the chance to practice, they will develop their own fitting style, as well. BikeFit is one of many bike fitting protocols, but it's a very effective one, and should provide a great foundation for the students. I look forward to keeping in touch with them and hearing of their fitting successes.</div>
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If you are interested in learning about becoming a BikeFit-certified pro bike fitter, <a href="http://cyclept.com/" target="_blank">you can read more here</a>. I will be hosting another BikeFit Level 1 class November 4-5.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunter does not approve of your fit. <br />
We will work to make it better...</td></tr>
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<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-41990242935885320032017-01-18T11:41:00.000-08:002017-12-09T07:16:23.468-08:00Thinking About Buying a New Bike? Get the Right Bike!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPybe3SMY6fpEbEzmygq98mZaKewOltwwv-pLvwif5WZYLRgrwG8F_YPQg4uQi19wW7cJnCRPIwdfoLAQEv5Uj0z53Arzmfuc963vSOzt_UiUIHmwldgKNfkvxuT9nXnSSHBZNxeOB8vj/s1600/IMG_20161203_074024652%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPybe3SMY6fpEbEzmygq98mZaKewOltwwv-pLvwif5WZYLRgrwG8F_YPQg4uQi19wW7cJnCRPIwdfoLAQEv5Uj0z53Arzmfuc963vSOzt_UiUIHmwldgKNfkvxuT9nXnSSHBZNxeOB8vj/s640/IMG_20161203_074024652%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the services offered at Vector Cycle Works is Match (formerly called RightBike). Match is the service you want if you are looking to buy a new (or new to you) bike. Buying a bike can be better than walking into the local bike shop, having someone look at you and say, "you're probably a 56" and then throwing you on a couple of bikes in stock for a quick test spin. That's no longer adequate - you deserve better than that. You should be one with your bike. This is what Match is all about.</div>
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Match is based on F.I.S.T. (Fit Institute Slowtwitch) principles. This is bike "sizing" rather than "fitting." Those two terms are often mixed up in the industry - "fitting" is often used to describe sizing, and that can be confusing to you as the consumer. Sizing as the geometric component of fitting, but real fitting gets into more detail at the touch points of the bike - where your body meets the pedals, seat, and bars. Match is the pre-purchase sizing, which establishes a good foundation for a Core or Fusion fit.</div>
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So, how does Match work? I thought it would be good to walk through the process and provide a couple of examples. Here is the Match process, in 10 easy steps:</div>
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<li>You want a bike.</li>
<li><a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/" target="_blank">You schedule your Match session here</a>.</li>
<li>You receive an e-mail with a document covering how to get here and what to expect (<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=12eZ47rVXoOmCyGGnJ_Ea6zqw1vUo3B1Q_qcaxpsUd0Y" target="_blank">click here to see it</a>), and a form that helps us get a better understanding of your history and goals.</li>
<li>When you arrive at Vector Cycle Works for your Match appointment, we'll spend some time talking about what matters most to you and the current bike market. Things we cover include:</li>
<ol>
<li>Your riding history.</li>
<li>What kind of bike you're looking for.</li>
<li>Your budget for the bike and any other accessories or changes that need to be made to accommodate your body.</li>
<li>What attributes you like in a bike.</li>
<li>Any bikes you might prefer.</li>
<li>Your goals.</li>
</ol>
<li>We take a few body measurements that will drive the sizing process.</li>
<li>We'll set up the aerobars or handlebars for you. At this point, we're making an educated guess as to what bars might come on the size of bike that will work for you.</li>
<li>We'll find a saddle that works. It might not necessarily be the perfect saddle, but something that at least doesn't interfere with the rest of the fit process. By default, we try to use towards saddles that are stock spec on the bikes you are interested in.</li>
<li>We set up the crank length according to what you might typically find on bikes in your general size. We can go with longer or shorter crankarms, but similar to our saddle selection defaults, we'll start with what is likely found on bikes in your approximate size.</li>
<li>We then perform the F.I.S.T. protocol, setting the bike up based on your morphology and then running through a series of trials to find the position that feels the best and allows you to produce the most power. You will sweat.</li>
<li>Finally, we use some geometry and trigonometry to generate a report of all the bikes that fit your body and budget. We use stack and reach to get an apples-to-apples comparison of bike options. <a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/Choosing_a_Tri_Bike_via_Stack_and_Reach/Stack_Reach_Primer_Chapter_One_95.html" target="_blank">You can read more on stack and reach here</a>.</li>
</ol>
<div>
One thing that makes Vector Cycle Works is independence with a good relationship with the local bike shops. Vector Cycle Works is a dealer for several brands of bikes including <a href="http://www.bombtrack.com/" target="_blank">Bombtrack</a>, <a href="http://www.ceepo.com/" target="_blank">Ceepo</a>, <a href="http://www.chromagbikes.com/" target="_blank">Chromag</a>, <a href="http://www.dimondbikes.com/" target="_blank">Dimond</a>, and <a href="http://www.ventumracing.com/" target="_blank">Ventum</a> but the goal is always to find the bike that fits you well and you want, regardless of where you get it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The main deliverable from a Match session is the list of bikes. We have some reporting tools that allow us to track a lot of brands of bikes on the market. Each person that comes in for a Match session gets a report that can be pretty comprehensive - some people may only have a handful of options, but others may have hundreds. Because you deserve a quality list, it takes about a week or so to get the list to you. The recommendations aren't taken lightly, and it takes time. Match is not for the person looking to make a spontaneous purchase.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With that said, here are three examples of recent Match sessions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Example 1 - Male Triathlete</h4>
<div>
For this example, we have a male triathlete who is relatively fit, has been fit by me on his existing bike before, and is ready to buy something new. He had the following rules:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>A budget around $6,000.</li>
<li>He wanted Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting.</li>
<li>He wanted to buy from his local bike shop, who sells BMC, Cervelo, and Quintana Roo.</li>
<li>He currently rides 165mm cranks.</li>
<li>He liked the Cervelo P3.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Based on those rules, his report turns out to be fairly simple - a handful of bikes from those 3 brands. He's also lucky in the sense that he's not a physical anomaly - he's tall, but not too tall, lean, and male. He has a pretty good budget. He has a lot of options available to him.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You'll also notice that in his report, we shared opinions on what bike would be best. That is because he asked me for my opinion and recommendation. We typically share some thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of certain bikes on the list, but try to keep that as neutral as possible.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/193qsZcvOltvCNhkkm0uvfb6pPZqRE5Xx4qny5xyxAnQ/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">You can see his report here</a>.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Example 2 - Female Roadie</h4>
<div>
For our second example, we have a little bit trickier person - a woman who is less than 5' 4". Frankly, the bike industry can be pretty frustrating for people under about 5' 4", as there aren't as many good options out there that fit well. The problem is not overall height, but inseam and torso length combined with the industry's move to 700c wheels for pretty much everything. That's another story, though.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Our female roadie actually came in with an existing bike, but it was way too big. She knew this going in, so she was ready for the news that she might be buying a new bike. After attempting to make her bike work, we switched from fitting mode to sizing mode. The female roadie had the following rules:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>A budget of $2,000-$2,500.</li>
<li>A preference for a few brands of bikes, but mostly pretty open.</li>
<li>Her inseam is 75.5cm - this is important, especially with smaller people, as it is going to limit which bikes they can stand over. The manufacturers don't always provide the standover information, which is frustrating.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hb8X8vM-zbTR4l3D2xh8bAtdxLdlT1QHf0d2In6s3RM/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">You can see her report here.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In her case, a lot of bikes came up - 191 bikes from 13 manufacturers. Now, some of those are the same bike from different years (the database includes 2015-current, with varying levels of data entry performed based on time. Many of them are the same frame with different components. Nonetheless, she has a nice list of options.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Her report also demonstrates "elegant solutions" for bikes. Based on the person's general size and what we know about how bikes are going to generally be equipped, we select stem combinations that are practical, elegant, and hopefully what might come on the bike out of the box. We don't put a 6' 4" male on a huge bike with a 60mm stem, nor do we want a 5' 1" male on a tiny bike with a 130mm stem. There are some cases where that might be warranted (long torso/short legs/long arms), but if we end up there, we failed somewhere.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Example 3 - Female Triathlete</h4>
<div>
Of these three, this one was the toughest person because of their size. They are a hair over 5', with a 71cm inseam. That inseam means there are only a handful of triathlon bikes that she can stand over, and they are most likely 650c bikes, meaning they have a smaller wheel. These have become rare, and good 650c wheels are even more rare.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Her rules are:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Budget of $4000.</li>
<li>Wants Ultegra mechanical shifting.</li>
<li>Standover height is an issue with a 71cm inseam.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PHRCCh2aYz-Ldihhtij16_LWjZjb1GP2J26Kvx3qg_0/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">You can see her report here.</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This was one where we went pretty deep with our discussion, as this report was a bit of bad news for this person. The primary bad news was that she would most likely end up on a 650 bike. This necessitated a deep dive into 650 bike and wheel options. With some research, we found that while the 650 wheel/tire market isn't as robust as the 700 wheel/tire market, there are options out there. Both Zipp and Enve make 650 wheels, and the Continental GP 4000 S II, is available in a 650, too. So, while not ideal, it's not as bad as it could be. Our triathlete friend has some options.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Summary</h4>
<div>
Those are a couple of examples of the Match process. Every person is different, so the reports can vary quite a bit. It is a lot of fun doing this, living vicariously through others as they get to purchase a shiny new bike! After the report is generated, we're not done, either - ideally, you'll come back for a full fitting, but will help you however you need help. We've met up at shops or homes to look at the bike in more detail and adjust the bike for a test ride. It's whatever you need.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is the way to buy a new bike, so if you're in the market, schedule your Match session soon. It's time to find the right bike for you!</div>
Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-70413031613770190352016-12-23T11:17:00.001-08:002016-12-23T11:17:16.590-08:002017 Vector Cycle Works Services - Introducing CoreFit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
As the new year approaches, it is time to revisit the services offered at Vector Cycle Works. 2016 has been a great year in the studio, and I'm always thankful for all the great people I meet. As my knowledge and processes have evolved, I felt it was time to update my services accordingly.<br />
<br />
ForeverFit is the cornerstone of what I do. It's a very thorough deep-dive into understanding the human body and how it interacts with the bike. It is also about a 3 1/2 to 4 hour initial session. That amount of time is not for everybody and it also limits my availability, as I can't do a ForeverFit on weeknights. I don't feel right making people wait as much as 8 weeks to get in. I've pointed about 20 people to other fitters in the area this year because they couldn't get in soon enough.<br />
<br />
One other important philosophy I hold is that cycling can be for everyone. One challenge for bike fitters is that we are a cottage industry within a niche industry. I am an evangelist for cycling and healthy living before I am a fitter. What percentage of the general population actually own a bike? How many of them ride it regularly? How many of them have actually been fit, or see the value in being fit? How much are they willing to pay for a fit? As we ask these questions, the size of the market gets smaller.<br />
<br />
I want to see more people having fun on bikes. I don't want the cost of bike fitting to prevent people from getting a fit. I have always felt it should be affordable. So, in an effort to be more available to more people, I am introducing a new fit service: CoreFit. I think CoreFit helps round out the services at Vector Cycle Works - providing comprehensive services for the cyclist looking to get more out of their experience.<br />
<br />
With all that said, here is the new menu:<br />
<br />
<h4>
RightBike - $100</h4>
RightBike is the Vector Cycle Works sizing service. This is the "pre-fit" for someone looking to purchase a new bike. RightBike is based on F.I.S.T. protocols where we find the best bike solution for your body. As I covered in a couple of previous blog posts (found <a href="http://vectorcycleworks.blogspot.com/2016/02/when-54-does-not-equal-54.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://vectorcycleworks.blogspot.com/2016/08/when-54-does-not-equal-54-part-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>), the days of walking into a store and having the salesperson guess your size based on your height are over. With RightBike, we'll put you on a fit bike, work through a series of trials, and then let you decide what feels best. We do some measuring, a little math, and you get a list of all the bikes that work for you, with any adjustments that need to be made. We aren't trying to hack together a bike and make it work - you deserve an elegant solution that fits well, is comfortable, handles well, fits your budget and looks good, too. While I am a dealer for a few brands of bikes, I believe in putting your comfort, efficiency, budget, and tastes first, so the list includes all the bikes available in the central Indiana area from the local bike shops, as well as online sellers.<br />
<br />
The cost of RightBike can be applied to a subsequent CoreFit or ForeverFit. So, in a perfect world, you get sized up, buy the bike that fits you best, and come back to iron out the details with a proper fit. In my opinion, this is the best way to buy a bike.<br />
<br />
<h4>
CoreFit - $150</h4>
CoreFit, as the name implies, gets back to core fit technologies to get you comfortable and efficient. Based on BikeFit and F.I.S.T. protocols, a typical CoreFit session typically takes about 2 hours for the initial fit. We will gather some basic measurements of your body and feet, dial in your overall geometry and interaction with the bike, and put the icing on the cake by spending time on your foot-pedal interface. 1 follow-up session is included. CoreFit is guaranteed - if you're not happy, you get your money back.<br />
<br />
<h4>
ForeverFit - $300</h4>
ForeverFit is the ultimate comfort and performance partnership. Building on CoreFit, ForeverFit incorporates Functional Movement work to dive deep into understanding your deficiencies and asymmetries so we can understand what is holding you back from performing at your highest level. ForeverFit is guaranteed for as long as you own the bike, and also offers a 100% money back guarantee if you're not happy.<br />
<br />
If you choose to do a CoreFit and later decide you want to upgrade to gain the benefits of ForeverFit, you can do so for the cost difference.<br />
<br />
Once you have been fit on one bike, a subsequent bike is $100 for CoreFit or ForeverFit customers.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Functional Movement Training - $50 per hour</h4>
If you are looking to get more from your cycling experience, you may want to look at how well you move. To perform well as an athlete, we need to be mobile, stable, and strong. A Functional Movement Screen and Y-Balance test are part of ForeverFit, but can also be done separately. With Functional Movement, we screen and measure your deficiencies, and work together to develop a training plan designed specifically to overcome those deficiencies without preventing you from your normal training.<br />
<br />
Whether you are dealing with pain, nagging injuries, or just looking to get a few more watts on the bike, Vector Cycle Works can help you find a better you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Saddle Testing - FREE</b></h4>
A bad saddle can keep you from spending time on the bike. Don't waste time with the wrong saddle - try one of over 70 saddles available for testing at Vector Cycle Works. Testing is free. Bring your riding attire, shoes, and bike in and we'll find a saddle that works better for you, mount it to your bike, and let you take it home to try for a longer trial. There is no reason to be uncomfortable on your saddle anymore.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Other Stuff</b></h4>
In addition to services, Vector Cycle Works is able to provide expertise on many other aspects of cycling, including:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Bike components</b> - Vector Cycle Works has a wide variety of bike components from handlebars to wheels. All components include free installation.</li>
<li><b>Power meters</b> - Vector Cycle Works is a Power2Max Competence Center and will gladly discuss the power meter market. A power meter purchase includes free installation and batteries for the life of the power meter.</li>
<li><b>Trainers</b> - Indoor training is one of my favorite subjects. If you are interested in getting more out of your indoor cycling experience, Vector Cycle Works is an authorized dealer for Wahoo, Tacx, Kinetic, Elite, and CycleOps trainers. All trainers include free delivery and setup in your home (in the Indianapolis area).</li>
</ul>
<div>
If you are ready to make next season your best season ever, you can schedule time at Vector Cycle Works at <a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/">https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com</a>. If you're still unsure, call Travis at 317-833-0702 for more info and we'll figure out what is best for you. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to seeing you soon!</div>
Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-37518646735567852432016-12-22T01:44:00.002-08:002016-12-22T01:44:49.811-08:002017: A Turning Point in Triathlon Bike Innovation?<br />
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<br />
This is an interesting time of year for a bike fitter. As the new year approaches, most of the manufacturers have introduced their new bikes. For me, this means a lot of data entry as I gather all the geometry information on all the bikes available from Vector Cycle Works, the local bike shops, and online. I track over 90 brands of bikes that are currently in production. I get to spend at least a little time looking at every bike out there, and sometimes the details of a certain bike grab my attention. Sometimes, I see trends.<br />
<br />
The 2017 triathlon bike introductions have brought some pretty interesting changes, with some radical-looking designs coming out around the time of the Ironman World Championship in Kona. The most radical of these are the <a href="http://www.diamondback.com/shop/bikes/road/triathlon/andean/andean" target="_blank">Diamondback Andean</a> and <a href="https://www.cervelo.com/en/triathlon/p-series/p5x?gclid=CIW4ovO_htECFVI6gQodQksMjw" target="_blank">Cervelo P5X</a>. These look like something Batman would ride.<br />
<br />
In the triathlon world, it has become hard to separate the concept of "the best bike" from "the most aerodynamic" bike. Aerodynamic efficiency rules the triathlon bike courses of the world and engineers strive to find ways to save every possible watt. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnels are an integral part of bike design today. This is also a part of why these bikes command some pretty hefty price tags.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, the triathlon bike industry has hit a point of diminishing returns. I call it "peak aero." The trend with triathlon bike design over the last few years has been all about aerodynamic performance, with manufacturers introducing their new high-end models with increasing price tags and white papers desperately trying to demonstrate why this bike is so much faster than the others.<br />
<br />
Problem is, aerodynamics is a cruel science. There are so many factors involved in what makes something aerodynamic, how it is measured, and how wind tunnel data compares to real world information. Two bikes tested in the same wind tunnel on different days can have different results due to atmospheric conditions. The same bike in different wind tunnels can have different results. Testing with or without a rider, pedaling or not pedaling, introduces even more confusion. It's hard for anybody to present a good apples-to-apples comparison of how their new bike is faster than anything else out there. It's not anybody's fault, but it's hard to trust the white papers.<br />
<br />
We're at a point of diminishing returns. I'm certainly no aerodynamics expert, but when you look at the bikes on the market today, for the most part, we're settling in on some very similar concepts across all models. Cables runs are clean, front ends are tidy, and tube shapes are similar. Much of what was introduced on the superbikes of 3 years ago has trickled down to even the most affordable models in the lineup. <br />
<br />
As bikes leave the factory, they are all very good nowadays. I feel that there is a lot of bang for the buck in the sub $3,000 triathlon bike market - bikes like the Felt IA16, Cervelo P2, and many others get a ton of trickle-down technology from their more expensive stablemates. In my mind, it makes it hard to justify the more expensive bikes. How much does one spend for each watt saved over the more affordable model?<br />
<br />
This is good for the consumer, but the manufacturers (and specifically their marketing departments) have a challenge: the bike does not race by itself. The bike is one part of a system, and as it turns out, is a relatively small part. Throw a big blob of meat and bones (i.e., a human body) on top of it, and the bike is only about 20% of the system's total frontal area, at most. Put that human body in a bad aerodynamic position, and it's even worse. As a bike fitter, I can help you get more aerodynamic and we can even go to the wind tunnel, but in all honesty, comfort is going to trump aerodynamics (although you might be surprised just how aero you can get while being comfortable). Throw on the nutrition people need for training and racing, and we are a long way away from that that thing of aerodynamic beauty that left the factory.<br />
<br />
This is where I see a shift happening. Bicycle manufacturers need to tout the other features of the bikes. The shift has started to happen, with an emphasis on a few things:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Non-traditional designs</li>
<li>Integrated storage</li>
<li>Disc Brakes</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Non-Traditional Designs</h4>
Looking at the P5X, you'll notice something is missing. A seat tube. And chain stays. The classic "double diamond" design is being challenged again - Dimond, TriRig, Ventum, Falco, Reap, and others are challenging the traditional design. Many of these have had a parallel design from the past - what's old is new again.<br />
<br />
The early Dimond prototypes were based on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipp_2001" target="_blank">Zipp 2001</a> frame from the early 90's. The <a href="http://www.tririg.com/store.php?c=omni" target="_blank">TriRig Omni</a> and <a href="https://ventumracing.com/bikes/ventum-one/" target="_blank">Ventum One</a> look similar to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_108" target="_blank">Lotus 108</a>, also from the early 90's. The idea is that if you can remove unnecessary parts, you can reduce drag. Some folks think they're ugly. I think they're beautiful in their own way.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Integrated Storage</h4>
Integrated on-the-bike storage is a fun one. If you look at the P5X and Andean, they have been very clever in how they've integrated storage. Cervelo put out a white paper for the P5X. I haven't seen it, and I don't believe most of us can. Dan Empfield did, so <a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Tri_Bike_by_brand/Cervelo/Cervelo_P5X_Aerodynamics_6048.html" target="_blank">his write-up on it will tell you more than I can</a>. It appears that the P5X will save the average rider maybe a minute over the P5 on an Ironman course. How much is that worth to you?<br />
<br />
The P5X and Andean aren't the only ones who have jumped on the integrated storage bandwagon. The new <a href="https://www.dimondbikes.com/marquise/" target="_blank">Dimond Marquise</a> has 3 storage compartments. The <a href="https://ventumracing.com/bikes/ventum-one/" target="_blank">Ventum One</a> has a 1,4 liter water bottle integrated into the top tube. <br />
<br />
Of course, none of this is totally new - Trek has had their integrated rear storage solution on the Speed Concept for a few years now. <a href="http://www.quintanarootri.com/bikes?bikeid=2017-orange-prsix" target="_blank">Quintana Roo has their similar QBox on their PR series of bikes</a>. Many bikes are including top-tube bosses to mount a bento box like the Profile Design ATTK behind the stem, helping to improve airflow through that area. The <a href="https://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/products/250239028/SCOTT-Plasma-Premium-Bike" target="_blank">Scott Plasma Premium</a> has a nicely integrated between-the-arms (BTA) drink system. <a href="http://www.ceepo.com/portfolio/2017-viper-r/" target="_blank">Ceepo offers their Viper-R with storage up front, on the top tube, and in the back</a>. These are just a few examples.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Disc Brakes</h4>
There is one other big thing to point out on the Andean and P5X: disc brakes. While disc brake technology is pretty much the standard in the mountain bike world, it is only now catching on in road cycling. The aerodynamics of the disc itself have been a challenge for triathlon bike designers, and part of the reason for the relatively slow adoption. So far, I am only aware of 3 tri bikes with disc brakes - the P5X, Andean, and the <a href="http://parleecycles.com/ttir-disc/" target="_blank">Parlee TTiR</a>. Over the next 2-3 years, I think we'll see a big shift in braking systems. The wheel manufacturers are all over this and the products are coming.<br />
<br />
I think we're starting to see a shift in triathlon bikes that will start to gain some momentum. Marketing departments will be looking to find ways to quantify things beyond aerodynamics. We'll start to see more integrated storage, more disc brakes, and maybe more attention to other factors like how the bike rides, handles, and brakes. If we can start quantifying these things, we'll see a lot of innovation that will benefit us as consumers. <br />
<br />
While late 2016 has brought a lot of big bike announcements, what is interesting to me are the big players that haven't said anything lately - Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, and many others have been fairly quiet. Is this the calm before the storm?<br />
<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-32672374633392395682016-12-05T02:50:00.001-08:002016-12-05T02:50:26.934-08:00Vector Cycle Works 2.0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Life in the fit studio is as busy as ever, but now there's a bit more room to move. Over the last month or so, Vector Cycle Works has transitioned to a bigger room in the house. I thought I would share a few pictures of the new studio - Vector Cycle Works 2.0!<br />
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Schedule now at <a href="http://www.vectorcycleworks.com/contact">www.vectorcycleworks.com/contact</a>. This is a great time to get fit and ready for 2017.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIhzO5eZAr2WZkbQpmjw6A3uUBa5G4xeVqAa3tGXXeKHkk_yAm1b0rvzkmqSf11grSID0K4-uBe_fhIctiC0eLU_si61qaXQszRFFGt3lgB8a4l9W9kkwW1MmgqahB2RnwqlGMbo-Mjpt/s1600/IMG_20161203_073946287_HDR%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIhzO5eZAr2WZkbQpmjw6A3uUBa5G4xeVqAa3tGXXeKHkk_yAm1b0rvzkmqSf11grSID0K4-uBe_fhIctiC0eLU_si61qaXQszRFFGt3lgB8a4l9W9kkwW1MmgqahB2RnwqlGMbo-Mjpt/s640/IMG_20161203_073946287_HDR%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new studio gives me more room to work. I can step back further when observing a fit. There is still some room for more stuff on the wall, too...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw48sswQ37x7swc93o56BoAzx3plryouxL4j83waqqxosOF2pIZHU4qp5IayNzDCbtlUfIh7r9DkkddpW0s4sPjNqjF3tdEFGn1MW4FU4zBEPVj57HSJtxQXYC6xnL9LI9FqP9Q_M3Jvju/s1600/IMG_20161203_074004482_HDR%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw48sswQ37x7swc93o56BoAzx3plryouxL4j83waqqxosOF2pIZHU4qp5IayNzDCbtlUfIh7r9DkkddpW0s4sPjNqjF3tdEFGn1MW4FU4zBEPVj57HSJtxQXYC6xnL9LI9FqP9Q_M3Jvju/s640/IMG_20161203_074004482_HDR%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We now have a bit more room for Functional Movement work and body analysis.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFoThbxu276QzDDscqyUlCGGuy4TMS6xCcdUiwsFqvVLzd8-Uh1g-zoayVtMjfo1TrPxBQdoQXcwMipMN9uejcfyeaRiDtUjr8E2jjW984NSHBBNfn5koDs0Y7ewsxuHfyhJltLTojuhI/s1600/IMG_20161203_074024652%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFoThbxu276QzDDscqyUlCGGuy4TMS6xCcdUiwsFqvVLzd8-Uh1g-zoayVtMjfo1TrPxBQdoQXcwMipMN9uejcfyeaRiDtUjr8E2jjW984NSHBBNfn5koDs0Y7ewsxuHfyhJltLTojuhI/s640/IMG_20161203_074024652%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddle testing and sizing has some dedicated space now. Handlebars and saddles are closer to the bike, making it a bit more efficient when setting someone up for a test or a bike sizing. Saddle testing is still free!</td></tr>
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<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-87723760648083324152016-09-25T16:30:00.001-07:002016-09-25T16:30:53.509-07:00Trainer Season is Here: Smart Trainer Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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While there is plenty of opportunity to get some great rides in outside (anybody doing the Hilly Hundred in a few weeks?), many of us will choose to start riding indoors soon. Indoor training can be a great way to improve your bike fitness during the winter months, and we are seeing some great new products coming out for 2017. <br />
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The theme for 2017 seems to revolve around smart trainers - trainers that have the ability to adjust resistance for you, based on software providing commands to increase or decrease the load as the workout or virtual course demands. The CompuTrainer is the granddaddy of them all, but has a lot of company from the likes of Wahoo Fitness, CycleOps, Tacx, Elite, Kinetic and others. As a consumer, I love having all these choices!<br />
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One note about the "smart" trainer tag: There are some products that are labeled as "smart", but are not able to control resistance. An example is the Kinetic Road Machine Smart, which was introduced a couple of years ago. It has the ability to provide measurements, but not provide variable resistance. Elite also has a few products labeled as "smart" that are not what we are discussing here.<br />
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Also of note, Elite has introduced a few new products at EuroBike, although I have not seen anything from them as far my availability goes. I can get one of their trainers, so will include that here and add the others if/when they become available. Elite is an Italian company, and we don't get all of their products here in the U.S.<br />
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Here is a quick look at the smart trainer options available from Vector Cycle Works this year (click on any of the images for a bigger view).<br />
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CycleOps</h2>
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CycleOps has one of the more extensive trainer product lines available on the market. Their product line has been fairly stable for a few years, but have introduced a couple of interesting new additions this year - the Hammer direct-drive trainer and Magnus wheel-drive trainer. Both the Hammer and Magnus are smart trainers, like the PowerBeam Pro and PowerSync. They also offer their Silencer direct-drive trainer, but note that it is not a smart trainer - it has 5 levels of magnetic resistance, but is not software-controlled.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3RYoCbHWcY3Q-nuwowtsaBGFqHQ7bxibbdUp8NRvqW6Zqd1e8-GbkNapjBNNQHgrRmY1KFOR2BE14YHnT9TIvVhjSzdgdbHAgAWxVCsXn31vDEx79OP_06lIpcxHFreHwwnwTCZ3M0Bz/s1600/hammer-primary.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3RYoCbHWcY3Q-nuwowtsaBGFqHQ7bxibbdUp8NRvqW6Zqd1e8-GbkNapjBNNQHgrRmY1KFOR2BE14YHnT9TIvVhjSzdgdbHAgAWxVCsXn31vDEx79OP_06lIpcxHFreHwwnwTCZ3M0Bz/s200/hammer-primary.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CycleOps Hammer</td></tr>
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<b>Hammer - $1,199.99</b></div>
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The Hammer appears to be CycleOps' response to the Wahoo KICKR and Tacx Neo direct-drive trainers. This direct drive trainer will emulate up to a 20% grade or 2000 watts. It has a 20 pound flywheel, and weighs 47 pounds total. It incorporates ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0 for connectivity to all your devices.</div>
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<a href="https://cycleops.com/product/hammer" target="_blank">Read more on the Hammer here.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE1KlrHYRfiweuopxEku_3-SxU8aQNAxZcSGB1Gq_QcaGrH4upYonGdBDKvDS6rb2cHqTrprW-2-PFh6cefVHQyJXnczoTyymsQ23LB-2nZxt2vJMojWw2uI1u2Vs0XUKNY19XgYJsnk7/s1600/magnus-primary.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE1KlrHYRfiweuopxEku_3-SxU8aQNAxZcSGB1Gq_QcaGrH4upYonGdBDKvDS6rb2cHqTrprW-2-PFh6cefVHQyJXnczoTyymsQ23LB-2nZxt2vJMojWw2uI1u2Vs0XUKNY19XgYJsnk7/s200/magnus-primary.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CycleOps Magnus</td></tr>
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<b>Magnus - $599.99</b></div>
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The new Magnus is a pretty exciting option, and I think at under $600, is going to provide some tough competition for the KICKR SNAP and Tacx Vortex in the affordable smart trainer space. </div>
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Not a lot of info is out on this yet, but we do know that it will provide up to 1500 watts of resistance, is both ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0-compatible, and will fit a pretty wide variety of bikes (although you'll need a <2" rear tire on your 29er).</div>
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<a href="https://cycleops.com/product/magnus" target="_blank">Read more on the Magnus here.</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEYnWE9QQdiBtAa-do0J9lYAHkihVtz0JYnWt3D-XBhnRf3yvdsCbngMnFy4Sk5imoewaom90Ipm_rfzPz9RK0ZWKHJE4dahEze3anC4qdLtaf6vm_RDJnNsd4y9UQ6EPPhmWC3Fmn2Na/s1600/PowerBeam2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEYnWE9QQdiBtAa-do0J9lYAHkihVtz0JYnWt3D-XBhnRf3yvdsCbngMnFy4Sk5imoewaom90Ipm_rfzPz9RK0ZWKHJE4dahEze3anC4qdLtaf6vm_RDJnNsd4y9UQ6EPPhmWC3Fmn2Na/s200/PowerBeam2015.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CycleOps PowerBeam Pro</td></tr>
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<b>PowerBeam Pro - $999.99</b></div>
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The PowerBeam Pro is CycleOps' first smart trainer, and is still a solid choice with +/- 5% accuracy. It can provide up to 1000 watts of resistance, and will fit 29ers with 2.25" tires. It is available with either ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart connectivity, and you can get their Joule GPS bundled with the ANT+ version for an additional $200.</div>
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<a href="https://cycleops.com/product/powerbeam" target="_blank">Read more on the PowerBeam Pro here.</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/02/cycleops-powerbeam-trainer-pro-in-depth.html" target="_blank">You can read DC Rainmaker's review of the PowerBeam Pro here.</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt6MlqZJ1CEPSTfbBM9bXdDDsM2IXVmYh6yR4y9vwAIt663QdYG33MJiL8GUg_AHlCuo9PdIwDT1Gc60b51bAnPU0JQhXAK4YejkhlnMD3wQ_zdxgCTFMf4Vnjqb1rzGszYy0b2kX-P-c/s1600/PowerSync2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt6MlqZJ1CEPSTfbBM9bXdDDsM2IXVmYh6yR4y9vwAIt663QdYG33MJiL8GUg_AHlCuo9PdIwDT1Gc60b51bAnPU0JQhXAK4YejkhlnMD3wQ_zdxgCTFMf4Vnjqb1rzGszYy0b2kX-P-c/s200/PowerSync2015.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CycleOps PowerSync</td></tr>
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<b>PowerSync - $899.99</b><br />
The PowerSync is available in ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart versions for the same price. The PowerSync is a bit more affordable than the PowerBeam Pro, although the tradeoff is that it won't fit your 29er.<br />
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<a href="https://cycleops.com/product/powersync" target="_blank">Read more on the CycleOps PowerSync here.</a><br />
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<h2>
Elite</h2>
As mentioned earlier, Elite has introduced a few new products at EuroBike including their Drivo and Rampa interactive trainers. Elite uses "smart" to describe their trainers that can send data to your devices, and "interactive" for what most manufacturers call smart trainers. I don't have pricing or availability info on the Drivo and Rampa yet, but will update if I hear anything. For now, Elite offers their Real Turbo Muin B+.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYNmjIQ5FgHW3oUYtrym-j-KZ3z7J2lbj_5bltB0QQ8Omlay1UyXaNoy7fdd1G6yJG6veL4gST5kRp3maU_9JSweuUEJzpQCXmMZI0wOYCyYmehYwQus_MBURpnstIxJ7Kc3UJ5UivpQA/s1600/3-turbo-muin-ottima-rotondita-pedalata_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYNmjIQ5FgHW3oUYtrym-j-KZ3z7J2lbj_5bltB0QQ8Omlay1UyXaNoy7fdd1G6yJG6veL4gST5kRp3maU_9JSweuUEJzpQCXmMZI0wOYCyYmehYwQus_MBURpnstIxJ7Kc3UJ5UivpQA/s200/3-turbo-muin-ottima-rotondita-pedalata_0.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Real Turbo Muin B+ - $1,149.00</b><br />
The Real Turbo Muin B+ is a direct-drive smart trainer similar to the Wahoo KICKR, CycleOps Hammer, and Tacx Neo. It is the most affordable of these-direct drive trainers. I have not ridden one, so I can't tell you how it behaves compared to the KICKR or others. It is interesting because it is a hybrid fluid/magnetic resistance unit. While fluid trainers are nice for their road-like feel, most smart trainers use magnetic resistance in order to control the resistance via software.<br />
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<a href="http://www.elite-real.com/en/products/real-turbo-muin-b" target="_blank">Read more about the Real Turbo Muin B+ here.</a><br />
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<h2>
Kinetic</h2>
While Kinetic offered their Smart trainers a year or two ago, these are not the type that can provide resistance via software control like most smart trainers. For 2016/2017, Kinetic is going all-in with smart trainers and offering their new Smart Control units. One thing to note is that <a href="https://kurtkinetic.com/products/smart-control-resistance-unit/" target="_blank">Kinetic will offer the Smart Control resistance unit by itself</a>, if you want to upgrade your existing Road Machine or Rock 'n Roll.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXeOHCjfqPmLVfDkxpG__RK9hNAsxE86qfRjp1lLnhWZJZtT3Vd8UWajiBUjUMIH_nnDCqOy85SNrHEtmotd0Oeek4rwbPcwmgCz0Jvpo5OYjFxfjtVO5xKsxo2zqFue-wd6J93AY46_U/s1600/Kinetic-SmartControl+Road+Machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXeOHCjfqPmLVfDkxpG__RK9hNAsxE86qfRjp1lLnhWZJZtT3Vd8UWajiBUjUMIH_nnDCqOy85SNrHEtmotd0Oeek4rwbPcwmgCz0Jvpo5OYjFxfjtVO5xKsxo2zqFue-wd6J93AY46_U/s200/Kinetic-SmartControl+Road+Machine.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>Road Machine Smart Control - $649.00</b><br />
Kinetic has taken their tried and true Road Machine frame (which is what I use in the studio) and replaced the resistance unit with the Smart Control unit. At this point, I don't have a lot of info on the Smart Control as far as max loads, etc. I like the potential here. Price-wise, it slots in between the CycleOps Magnus and the KICKR SNAP.<br />
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<a href="https://kurtkinetic.com/products/road-machine-smart-control/" target="_blank">Read more on the Road Machine Smart Control here.</a><br />
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<b>Rock 'n Roll Smart Control - $849.00</b><br />
This could be a really interesting option. The Rock 'n Roll challenges you a bit more than most stationary trainers, and now they've added the power resistance unit. Like the Road Machine Smart Control, I don't have a lot of info on this right now, but it is expected to be available soon.<br />
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<a href="https://kurtkinetic.com/products/rock-and-roll-smart-control/" target="_blank">Read more on the Rock 'n Roll Smart Control here.</a><br />
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<h2>
<b>Tacx</b></h2>
Tacx offers 7 different smart trainers, if you count the new <a href="http://magnum.tacx.com/" target="_blank">Magnum bike treadmill</a> (sorry, I can't get these yet). New this year is the FLUX Smart direct-drive trainer. The rest of the lineup is unchanged. At some point soon, I hope to take a look at the Tacx software offerings, <a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/software/tacx-trainer-software-4-advanced" target="_blank">which look like a lot of fun</a>.<br />
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<b>FLUX Smart - $899.99</b><br />
<a href="http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/08/tacx-flux-smart-trainer.html" target="_blank">It's probably best to just start with DC Rainmaker's hands-on review of the FLUX</a>. Some interesting notes from there is that it is more accurate than it is rated, can provide 1500 watts of resistance, and it won't be getting here before late October or early November'ish.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/flux-smart" target="_blank">Read more on the FLUX Smart here.</a><br />
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<b>Bushido Smart - $799.99</b><br />
I've been riding the Bushido Smart for over a year now. This is unique because it doesn't have to be plugged in to provide resistance - it is completely wireless, yet can provide up to 1400 watts of resistance. I will try to do a long-term review on this in the near future.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/bushido-smart" target="_blank">Read more on the Bushido Smart here.</a><br />
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<b>Genius Smart - $849.99</b><br />
For $50 more than the Bushido, what advantages does the Genius Smart offer? It is no longer wireless and offers a bit more resistance than the Bushido at 1500 watts. What is interesting is that it will simulate a -5% grade, so it will actually accelerate your rear wheel to simulate descents for a more realistic experience. This is where Tacx's software is going to be especially fun.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/genius-smart" target="_blank">Read more on the Genius Smart here.</a><br />
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<b>i-Genius Multiplayer Smart - $1,199.99</b><br />
OK, so this looks like a lot of fun. With the Tacx software, this will simulate 20% uphills, 5% downhills and offers steering input, too. Join up with some friends for some virtual reality fun, like riding your tri bike on mountain bike trails. DC <a href="http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/02/genius-trainer-review.html" target="_blank">Rainmaker has reviewed the Genius system here.</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/i-genius-multiplayer" target="_blank">Read more on the i-Genius Multiplayer here.</a><br />
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<b>Ironman Smart - $1,099.99</b><br />
Honestly, I'm not sure why this unit exists. Throw the Ironman name on the Genius and bump the price up $200 and you're there. Oh, it adds a controller and a Kona course DVD. I guess I'd rather spend an extra $100 for the i-Genius and have more of the virtual reality stuff.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/ironman" target="_blank">Read more on the Ironman Smart here.</a><br />
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<b>NEO Smart - $1,599.99</b><br />
The NEO was introduced just last year and is Tacx's first foray into direct-drive trainers. It's an impressive unit on paper, able to simulate uphill grades to 25% (2200 watts) and downhills to -5%. It is extremely quiet, and will also simulate different road surfaces for enhanced realism.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/neo-smart" target="_blank">Read more about the NEO Smart here.</a><br />
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<b>Vortex Smart - $549.99</b><br />
Last but not least, the lowest-cost Tacx smart trainer is the Vortex. I like to think of this as the "not wireless Bushido", as the features are similar. It doesn't provide quite as much resistance (950 watts), but it's still plenty for most riders. At $549.99, this is the most affordable smart trainer here. Pricewise, it competes with the CycleOps Magnus, KICKR SNAP, and Kinetic Road Machine.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/vortex-smart" target="_blank">Read more about the Vortex Smart here.</a><br />
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<h2>
Wahoo Fitness</h2>
Wahoo currently offers two smart trainers - the KICKR and KICKR SNAP.<br />
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<b>KICKR - $1,199.99</b><br />
The <a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#kickr-sec" target="_blank">KICKR</a> has been recently refreshed. The new version has an updated drivetrain, flywheel, and software to make it quieter and more accurate (+/- 2%). Wahoo also added a handle which, if you've ever picked one of these beasts up, you'll appreciate. The MSRP is unchanged at $1199.99. <br />
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<a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#kickr-sec" target="_blank">Read more on the KICKR at this link.</a><br />
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<b>KICKR SNAP - $699.99</b><br />
The <a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#kickr-snap-sec" target="_blank">KICKR SNAP</a> is unchanged for this season. I've set up quite a few of these, and they are a good, solid trainer. They are not quite as accurate as the KICKR, but for the price, that can be forgiven. The new competition in this price range will certainly put some pressure on Wahoo. The price remains unchanged at $699.99. <br />
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<a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers#kickr-snap-sec" target="_blank">Read more about the KICKR SNAP here.</a><br />
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</h3>
<h2>
Summary</h2>
We are seeing more competition in the smart trainer market, with more affordable options starting to arrive. With smart trainers priced as low as $549.99 for the Tacx Vortex Smart, we've come a long way since the days when the CompuTrainer was the only game in town. There are 4 smart trainers in the sub-$700 range - the Tacx Vortex Smart, the KICKR SNAP, Kinetic Road Machine Smart Control, and the CycleOps Magnus. If direct-drive is your thing, the KICKR, Tacx NEO, Tacx FLUX, CycleOps Hammer, and Elite Real Turbo Muin B+ will give you options starting at about $900. As consumers, we should be happy to have choices!<br />
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If you are interested in getting a new trainer, these are all available from <a href="http://www.vectorcycleworks.com/" target="_blank">Vector Cycle Works</a>. With any trainer purchase, I will deliver it to your house (within a reasonable distance) and help you get it set up, including setup with any training software (TrainerRoad, PerfPRO Studio, The Sufferfest, Zwift, etc.) that you may be using.<br />
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Call Travis at 317-833-0702 or e-mail at <a href="mailto:travis@vectorcycleworks.com">travis@vectorcycleworks.com</a> if you are interested!Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-16814938241687403172016-09-08T05:16:00.001-07:002016-09-08T05:16:43.613-07:00New Products Coming OutAs we head into the end of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, we also reach that time of year where some exciting new cycling products start coming out. Manufacturers are starting to reveal their new stuff for 2017 at some of the big trade shows and events - Eurobike just wrapped up, Interbike is coming up soon, and Kona is often a good opportunity to introduce some new triathlon gear.<br />
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Here are a few things that are being introduced that we should be excited about:<br />
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<a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/09/bikes-and-tech/the-biggest-breakthrough-technology-at-eurobike_419677" target="_blank">Argon 18 is bringing the wind tunnel to your next ride</a>. The optional body positioning sensors are intriguing.<br />
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<a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/08/news/fsa-drivetrain-stack-etap-di2-eps_419526" target="_blank">FSA throws their hat in the electronic shifting ring</a>. The most interesting aspect of this is the app available to fine-tune your gearing and record your habits.<br />
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Wheels are evolving, due to some trends in tire widths, tubeless compatibility, and the increasing availability of disc brakes for road applications. Lots of new stuff for both on or off-road: <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/24/raceface-adds-three-new-aeffect-wheel-models-turbine-r-stems-for-35mm-bars/" target="_blank">RaceFace has new wider MTB wheels</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/26/fsa-wider-wheels-hit-the-afterburner-to-trails-near-you/" target="_blank">FSA calls theirs WideR</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/16/new-wtb-ci31-takes-carbon-rims-wider-rides-city-slicks-into-main-brand/" target="_blank">WTB offers their Ci31 wide wheels</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/26/campagnolo-stretches-top-line-mille-alloy-wheels-shamal-mille-c17/" target="_blank">Campy is offering some wider alloy Mille wheels</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/31/eb16-zipp-303-finally-goes-tubeless-plus-new-disc-disc-premium-202-nsw/" target="_blank">Zipp has been very busy on several fronts including a disc disc</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/31/eb16-crank-brothers-gets-cyclocross-wheels-updates-others-plus-new-tools-pumps-pedals/" target="_blank">Crank Brothers is getting into the cyclocross wheel world</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/31/eb16-stans-notubes-builds-affordable-s1-wheel-line-6-widths-xc-plus/" target="_blank">Stan's No Tubes pretty much went crazy with 6 widths</a> and they kept them relatively affordable</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/09/01/first-look-im-not-mid-fat-im-big-boned-industry-nines-backcountry-360-squares-things-give-tire-breathing-room-eating-big-stuff/" target="_blank">Industry nine offers their new Backcountry 360</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/30/new-enve-ses-4-5-ar-makes-aero-road-bike-wheels-wider-to-match-modern-tires/" target="_blank">ENVE is offering their new wider aero SR 4.5 AR Disc wheelset for an aerodynamic option to go with 28mm clinchers or 30mm tubulars</a>.</li>
</ul>
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We're seeing some big updates in the power meter world, one of my favorite topics. I'm hoping to write in some more detail on these soon. For now:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/31/eb16-quarq-amps-new-dzero-power-meter-w-improved-electronics-simplified-lineup/" target="_blank">Quarq has the new D Zero power meter</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/29/powertap-adds-p1s-single-sided-power-meter-pedal-option-advanced-metrics-ios-app/" target="_blank">PowerTap is introducing a single-leg version of their P1 pedals</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/09/02/eb16-srm-developing-cranks-wifi-pc8-uploads-coming-and-tons-of-colors/" target="_blank">SRM is making updates</a></li>
<li><a href="http://ngpowermeter.power2max.com/en/" target="_blank">Power2Max is offering their third generation NG system</a></li>
</ul>
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Winter trainer season is almost here, and some really good stuff is coming out to make it a bit more interesting (I'll be writing more about these soon, too):<br />
<ul>
<li>The new, improved <a href="http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/kickr" target="_blank">Wahoo KICKR</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/30/zwift-expands-iphones-ipads-launch-zwift-ios-beta/" target="_blank">The Zwift iOS Beta is out</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/26/break-a-sweat-with-elites-2016-17-trainer-lineup/" target="_blank">Elite is offering a bunch of updated products</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2016/08/19/kinetic-adds-smart-control-rock-roll-trainers/" target="_blank">Kinetic Smart Control brings smart trainer tech to the Rock 'n Roll and Road Machine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cycleops.com/product/magnus" target="_blank">New CycleOps Magnus</a></li>
</ul>
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While not a new product introduction, <a href="http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/uci-set-to-scrap-rule-limiting-aero-bike-design-281563" target="_blank">the UCI is dropping the 3:1 rule for bike design</a>. There are a lot of tri bikes that do not conform to the UCI rules out already, but this could open up some doors.Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-70733611232520055752016-08-20T17:43:00.000-07:002016-08-20T17:43:03.707-07:00When 54 Does Not Equal 54: Part 2<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GMil7F0PGpz9ccCHuJwfpn9zJE0-uCsfCOs2WRauCboTr3-V_Cf3FEaP2-yNTI60UMSccYjtaAtF2O2xjamiGcd2VCfJM4UuZ4UHA5tfjaSfrsHqkcNXzTmjQc0EbEI8Lls6FGj_JSKz/s1600/All.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GMil7F0PGpz9ccCHuJwfpn9zJE0-uCsfCOs2WRauCboTr3-V_Cf3FEaP2-yNTI60UMSccYjtaAtF2O2xjamiGcd2VCfJM4UuZ4UHA5tfjaSfrsHqkcNXzTmjQc0EbEI8Lls6FGj_JSKz/s640/All.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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A while ago, <a href="http://vectorcycleworks.blogspot.com/2016/02/when-54-does-not-equal-54.html" target="_blank">I posted some thoughts regarding the variation in the sizes of bikes that are labeled as being the same size</a>. Many manufacturers offer bikes in sizes like 51, 54, 56, 58, etc., but that doesn't really paint an accurate picture of how well the bike will actually fit you. As an advocate of a "fit first" approach to buying a bike, I feel it is important for my customers to understand that if a size 54 from Brand X fits them, that doesn't necessarily mean that a 54 from Brand Y will work, too. A different model from Brand X might not even fit. So, in this "Part 2", I thought it might be helpful to look at some actual data.<br />
<br />
I maintain a list of bikes and all of their geometry information and use this data when helping customers find the right bike for them. The bikes in this list include most of the bikes available from several of the local bike shops in Indianapolis. There are currently 14 brands represented, and I am always adding more as new models are introduced and time permits. The 2017 models are starting to be introduced, so it's time to start hammering away at adding more to the list. This is what bike geeks do for "fun."<br />
<br />
The purpose of this exercise is to get a visual of the range of bike sizes that exist within a given size label. Using a designation such as 54 just doesn't give us the best picture. The better picture is painted using stack and reach, <a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/Choosing_a_Tri_Bike_via_Stack_and_Reach/Stack_Reach_Primer_Chapter_One_95.html" target="_blank">a concept developed by Dan Empfield and which has gained traction with the manufacturers over time</a>. Most of the manufacturers now publish stack and reach numbers on their websites. I've actually run into a couple who still haven't jumped on board with this, and it makes it very difficult to compare two bikes. I love the simple elegance of stack and reach. <br />
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We will pick on size 54 today, since it is fairly common. Bike sizing conventions introduce a lot of variables. Some manufacturers might opt for a different naming convention such as XS, S, M, L, XL. Some brands may have only a handful of sizes per model, while others, like the Trek Madone, can have up to 9 sizes. We also have the concept of geometric classifications such as "endurance", "race" or "women's" geometry. These exist based on the intended use and market, and other classes exist based on the type of riding, such as gravel, adventure, or cyclocross. These are all essentially drop bar road bikes. We'll look at these by their intended use/market, and then see what happens when we combine everything together.<br />
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<u>Road Race Bikes</u><br />
We'll start with the classic race geometry. These are the Trek Madones, Cannondale SuperSixes, and Specialized Venges that you see under the Grand Tour riders. These are the bikes you might think you can't ride because you're "too old," "too inflexible," or "want something more comfortable." The reality is, these could fit you, but you won't know until you are properly sized up. Let's see what happens when we plot these based on their stack (Y) and reach (X) numbers:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPK84wyjZu3imwihbDhfn8tXrtZsKJxoh3oWWP8H964TEOdEWbzZN4ZY6Ya8pfO04S46AP76mSOT_AcnbYs42ruaHwyCqFC8nkIboQCh35Dqf4ZW3lsL_orAHx14oeHHyz6WmlF5l9tb4/s1600/Road+Only.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPK84wyjZu3imwihbDhfn8tXrtZsKJxoh3oWWP8H964TEOdEWbzZN4ZY6Ya8pfO04S46AP76mSOT_AcnbYs42ruaHwyCqFC8nkIboQCh35Dqf4ZW3lsL_orAHx14oeHHyz6WmlF5l9tb4/s640/Road+Only.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road Race Geometries<br />(click on the image for a bigger view)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before getting too deep, let's define what we're looking at here. The X axis of the graph (horizontal) corresponds to the reach of the bike, which is also the X axis of the bike. As you move to the right, the bike gets longer, while moving left, the bike gets shorter. The Y axis of the graph (vertical) corresponds to the stack or vertical height of the frame. as you move down, the bike is lower, and as you move up, the bike is taller. So, the term "shorter" is a bit confusing, but I will use that to refer to the length of the bike rather than the height. Additionally, these aren't necessarily scaled perfectly where one mm of stack is perfectly aligned with 1mm of reach, but I hope this will give an idea of the ranges involved.<br />
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Looking specifically at the race geometries, we can see quite a bit of variance. Looking first at the horizontal differences, we have size 54 road race bikes that have a reach of as short as 376mm and as long as 390mm - a range of 14mm. This is where you might find some overlap with sizing up or down - that shorter bike in a 56 might still be shorter than the longer 54 bike.<br />
<br />
Looking at the stack, we have even more range - the lowest bike has a stack of 526mm, while the tallest bike has a stack of 565mm - a difference of 39mm. That's pretty significant. We can see that we have some bikes that are long and low, which is what you might expect from a road race bike, while others are tall and short. In this case, the longest, lowest bikes are the Trek Emonda H1 and the Felt F1 (the two dots down in the lower right corner of the graph). The tallest bikes aren't necessarily the shortest, with the Scott CR1 being the tallest in this group, with the Jamis Xenith being the horizontally shortest of the group.<br />
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<br />
<u>Endurance Bikes</u><br />
Next up are the endurance bikes, the geometry that I have more people specify they "need" than any other. Marketing has led us to think that upright = more comfortable, but once again, this is where a proper sizing may change your mind. Nonetheless, let's take a look at our selection:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjs0GPpgITi2-dIzn2XEJRT6Bso67-_MwxxuBcVYapMBb-bpWrHVutZSAHJcz0IY5wbg4nxig9QRrnIuqLfVmYvnuIt6jppfi0pAIzIh14lMy0Bkq4NpAl3KGqCUh_hC67JjQR0L6ZLYdE/s1600/Endurance+Only.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjs0GPpgITi2-dIzn2XEJRT6Bso67-_MwxxuBcVYapMBb-bpWrHVutZSAHJcz0IY5wbg4nxig9QRrnIuqLfVmYvnuIt6jppfi0pAIzIh14lMy0Bkq4NpAl3KGqCUh_hC67JjQR0L6ZLYdE/s640/Endurance+Only.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endurance Bikes<br />(click on the image for a bigger view)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here, we can see quite a range, both horizontally and vertically. Horizontally, the reach is as short as 362mm and as long as 385mm - a 23mm spread. Vertically, the stacks vary from as low as 552mm and as high as 597mm - a difference of 45mm.<br />
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I think where this gets interesting is if you combine the race and endurance geometries together into one chart to see how they trend:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAFa3SUPRZATaMIeACN4zN9NpusXGdeF5V5sMXiq-3JDoyu0_Y3eaz2b5UvNkso9fC0lnCNmHxbJ00yCGQRygBP5fbchRRIt1dQ_7OGJFOqVcKH9-LI_PukMSQOyxS_jfLh7zXPigJFOJ/s1600/Road+and+Endurance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAFa3SUPRZATaMIeACN4zN9NpusXGdeF5V5sMXiq-3JDoyu0_Y3eaz2b5UvNkso9fC0lnCNmHxbJ00yCGQRygBP5fbchRRIt1dQ_7OGJFOqVcKH9-LI_PukMSQOyxS_jfLh7zXPigJFOJ/s640/Road+and+Endurance.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race and Endurance Bikes Combined<br />(click on the image for a bigger view)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once we combine these two types of bikes, we can see that we have a wide variety of bikes called 54. Horizontally, these bikes span 38mm, with the shortest bike being the Jamis Quest and the longest being the Trek Emonda H1. It's interesting that the shortest two bikes in each category are from Jamis. The longest endurance bike is the aluminum Fuji Sportif. The Sportif is a bit tall, and if you look at the Felt Z series, you will see these are almost as long as the Sportif, but lower. You can see a pretty clear separation of the race and endurance geometries, with some bikes that cross over - the Felt Z series is longer and lower than some of the race bikes.<br />
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<u>Women's Bikes</u><br />
For fun, let's look at a few women's bikes. The women-specific cycling industry has been on the verge of taking off for what seems like about 30 years now. For the most part, we're still in "shrink and pink" mode - offer some smaller sizes with some pink touches, and it's good enough. That concept isn't necessarily reflected here, since we are looking at just one size. So, what do we see when we add in the women-specific size 54s? Let's look at the race geometries first:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW3mHpkDApGTvYodj6IOD1C8Jtt1NJ_I7RPrHhmS9OW7AuOeb7lYwqlOmGdwvnluNSFVl6DcZJNRO2N6aotJWvsVL5iBNe_sxnbcTFrS0hHulmxBmVNoTGg-Tnw-Qs5Kcu7ap1VargJn0/s1600/All+Race.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW3mHpkDApGTvYodj6IOD1C8Jtt1NJ_I7RPrHhmS9OW7AuOeb7lYwqlOmGdwvnluNSFVl6DcZJNRO2N6aotJWvsVL5iBNe_sxnbcTFrS0hHulmxBmVNoTGg-Tnw-Qs5Kcu7ap1VargJn0/s640/All+Race.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's and Women's Race Bikes Combined<br />(click on image for a bigger view)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A couple of things stand out here: First, there are only 4 size 54 women's-specific race bikes offered by the 14 manufacturers in this list. They happen to be from two manufacturers: Cannondale (CAAD10 Women's and Cannondale SuperSix EVO Women's) and Trek (Emonda Women's and the Trek Madone Women's). I need to look at my list - there may be more out there, but I might not have added them yet. I would think Liv would be listed here, and this may be an oversight on my part.<br />
<br />
Second, with our small selection of women's race bikes, we can see they tend to be a bit more upright and shorter than the men's (or unisex) race bikes. That is also not necessarily a bad thing when we take into "normal" human proportions and saddle issues. But, that doesn't mean every woman has a short torso and long legs. Nonetheless, if we look at the women's race bikes we do have, these are trending towards the endurance geometries. So, let's look at the Women's endurance geometries and how they fit into the men's endurance bike world:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYV4DoJ8gdFFulTKCT4RUIz_65J8XK1L-AkupSnOgpH_Mj4q8M7M1MHg5ONh9KWKkTEWLWpRvFtu9etv5wCEOQxqYENhITXh6QommFHjmik0aav9VGQgdo-ULhOa3ySfbUhWEtaMlDpQ7b/s1600/All+Endurance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYV4DoJ8gdFFulTKCT4RUIz_65J8XK1L-AkupSnOgpH_Mj4q8M7M1MHg5ONh9KWKkTEWLWpRvFtu9etv5wCEOQxqYENhITXh6QommFHjmik0aav9VGQgdo-ULhOa3ySfbUhWEtaMlDpQ7b/s640/All+Endurance.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's and Women's Endurance Bikes<br />(click on image for a bigger view)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You can see a couple of things here - first, we have a few more women's endurance bikes to pick from, and second, they still trend shorter and taller than the men's versions.<br />
<br />
That really leads to a discussion about how appropriate and effective women's bike sizing is. That sounds like some good material for a future blog post. From what I've seen, there are a couple of assumptions about women that lead to the trends we see here. There is an assumption that women tend to have longer legs and shorter torsos. I don't believe that to be 100% true or as extreme as it might be perceived, but I will need to do some research.<br />
<br />
Another assumption gets into the female genitalia. Part of what makes us different is why saddles cause us problems. The pressure points that cause men and women grief are different, and in women's case, can make it more difficult to rotate the pelvis appropriately.<br />
<br />
<u>Let's Add Cyclocross to the Mix</u><br />
Finally, let's look at cyclocross bikes. 'Cross bikes have some different considerations that go beyond the practicality of fit - we have to take into account the race format itself. The cyclocross race format is short, intense, often muddy, requires a lot of getting on and off the bike, and involves shouldering and carrying the bike. Speeds are relatively low compared to a grand tour or crit, so aerodynamics are less important than making power or maintaining traction. So, the frames are a bit different. When I fit a CX bike, the fit is different. I will use the road sizing, but then generally take the bars up and back a bit, and maybe lower the saddle a bit for ease of getting on and off. Overall, it's just a bit different - a few millimeters on the seat, and a centimeter or so in each direction on the bars. We can see how cyclocross bikes look if we just mix them in with the rest:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInT17CNuhgumOns7KsJ2ddJw2tZuxol16f2swfke48VrlhSQFAIg6cMJy8RzCdHgYZQkozgvkd_QEo4IDF2WdDVhi1pEXU_Ct6tMZIfS_B7hzvO4aHgxrD7jLQ30YvH6Y3Hyu26W7OmUg/s1600/All.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInT17CNuhgumOns7KsJ2ddJw2tZuxol16f2swfke48VrlhSQFAIg6cMJy8RzCdHgYZQkozgvkd_QEo4IDF2WdDVhi1pEXU_Ct6tMZIfS_B7hzvO4aHgxrD7jLQ30YvH6Y3Hyu26W7OmUg/s640/All.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race, Endurance, Women's, and Cyclocross All In One<br />(click on the image for a bigger view)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As it turns out, our 'cross bikes seem to mix in all over the place - mostly right in the middle of the endurance geometries, with a few dropping down into the race geometries. I'm not quite sure what this tells us, other than maybe the few manufacturers that I have in the list can't seem to decide where CX bikes live. Maybe as I add more bike brands and new models are introduced in the future, we'll start to see a more distinct pattern here.<br />
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<u>Conclusion</u><br />
I don't know if this discussion will help anybody at all, but I found it fascinating to see what happens when we start looking at the variety of sizes within a stated size. In the future, I hope to continue to look at how geometries align. There are a few things that fascinate me about this, including how sizes may cross over (i.e. Brand X's 58 is shorter than Brand Y's 54), what the deltas between sizes tend to be, and then delving into how brands equip the bikes by size - what the crank arm length tends to be by size, handlebar width trends by size, trends over time, etc. If you made it this far, I hope that you will consider be sized properly by a fitter before your next bike purchase. Don't make a $5,000 mistake.<br />
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Bike sizing is available by appointment at Vector Cycle Works. Schedule now at <a href="http://www.vectorcycleworks.com/contact">www.vectorcycleworks.com/contact</a>.Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-63571984912015075112016-08-17T10:30:00.000-07:002016-08-17T18:29:02.383-07:00Reflections on the Medicine of Cycling Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWy9tX3_wygo7IWKrQUSj3WRB-cwWMNG_aBYKbUiBxbYVILgbYV7_2DtAlo05RV7a1s9xIRBhM3po8P4ksLjX8GHXMkyFP1CuwGaxONfHrajDbk8CUfFZHAYYK5ZxaUPXSyQw6fBkvRtt6/s1600/IMG_20160812_191057746_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWy9tX3_wygo7IWKrQUSj3WRB-cwWMNG_aBYKbUiBxbYVILgbYV7_2DtAlo05RV7a1s9xIRBhM3po8P4ksLjX8GHXMkyFP1CuwGaxONfHrajDbk8CUfFZHAYYK5ZxaUPXSyQw6fBkvRtt6/s400/IMG_20160812_191057746_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It has been a while since I've posted anything here. It's not that I haven't had much to talk about, but life has been extremely busy both in and out of the Vector Cycle Works studio. Sometimes, I like to take a moment to reflect and realize how good things are. It has been really good - I am so lucky to meet the great people I meet through bike fitting and cycling.<br />
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I am and will always be a student of life. Every person that comes in is a unique challenge, a unique character, and a new opportunity to learn. I enjoy and appreciate the time I spend with them and what they teach me. I only hope that I can return the favor.<br />
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In order to rise up to those challenges, my bike fitting processes, philosophies, and choice of tools are constantly evolving and adapting in order to provide a better solution. Bike fitting is not about the bike - it's about adapting the bike to work for the body. To reflect this philosophy, I have a new Vector Cycle Works tagline: "The body and bike in balance."<br />
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In order to find that balance, we must first understand the body, and adapt the bike to it. The body is asymmetrical, but the bike is not. In an order to find comfort and performance, we must understand the challenge in front of us, and determine which solutions are best right now. A bike fit isn't necessarily about where we want to be a year from now, but where we are right now and formulating a plan to get where we want to be. When a customer comes to me, they enter a performance and comfort partnership. Vector Cycle Works is designed to support your evolution. We are not building a better bike. We are building a better cyclist.<br />
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In the constant search for better solutions, I am often reading, studying, experimenting, and exploring things that, at first glance, might seem to be beyond the realm of bike fitting. Bike fitting is often seen as a mix of art and science, and both aspects offer plenty of opportunity to explore. There are a lot of things that a bike fitter can pursue to add value to the service, and there are things that might not add that much value. I often pursue things accepting the risk that the effort might not result in an adequate perceived value for my customers. <br />
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As my exploration gets deeper and broader, the reality of what I do is getting to be more and more quasi-medical, for lack of a better way to put it. The way we interact with our bikes is amazingly complicated, but it's not because bikes are complicated - it's because the body is complicated and always changing.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGEnXTnifH110btXGMCWogun6wgshpDlaGrbo-aSrrJbDV1FRI_srbX_D-CzoUhgurI6rJQ4Hlu5LuIqMUsha5fI7_AN3W3AapmE64IvS6HVmhaDiD8lDaVAA96-hebytNSFYG5wox40e/s1600/IMG_20160812_134710213_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGEnXTnifH110btXGMCWogun6wgshpDlaGrbo-aSrrJbDV1FRI_srbX_D-CzoUhgurI6rJQ4Hlu5LuIqMUsha5fI7_AN3W3AapmE64IvS6HVmhaDiD8lDaVAA96-hebytNSFYG5wox40e/s400/IMG_20160812_134710213_HDR.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Andy Pruitt, one of the pioneers in bike fitting, <br />
leads a discussion of various fitting case studies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I learned about the <a href="http://www.medicineofcycling.com/" target="_blank">Medicine of Cycling</a> conference a couple of years ago and was finally able to attend this past weekend. This was a very enjoyable trip, on so many levels. Part of it is because it was in Colorado Springs, one of my favorite places on Earth. Some of it was because of what I learned while I was there. Some of it was learning that some of my fitting theories and philosophies (which I felt might be a bit "out there") were validated by other people doing much of the same stuff. Much of it was the great people I met at the conference, many of whom I have interacted with in the past, but hadn't met in person.<br />
<br />
With all that said, here are a few key things that were discussed over the course of the weekend that I really enjoyed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Functional Movement Screening</u><br />
When I first started exploring Functional Movement Screening (FMS) and the knowledge around it, I was somewhat skeptical of the value it might provide to bike fitting. Even when attending the classes, it was obvious that I was one of few endurance sports people there. There were a lot of strength and conditioning coaches, CrossFit coaches, and personal trainers. But, I felt there was something of value there - FMS looks at us a species in motion and not just a cyclist, triathlete, or CrossFitter.<br />
<br />
I have a lot of people come to me hoping to get faster. Faster is relative and there is only so much that can be done with the bike itself before we reach our personal limits. It's then a matter of "building the engine" to produce more power. The problem is that the engine is flawed. Our bodies are asymmetrical and a series of deficiencies resulting from accommodations as a result of our history. In order to truly unlock our potential, we have to address those deficiencies.<br />
<br />
I've pursued FMS as a way to identify and potentially correct those deficiencies - helping the rider understand what is holding them back, while helping me understand what I see as I observe the rider on their bike. Greg Choat, a respected and very knowledgeable fitter and strength and conditioning coach from the Las Vegas area, presented FMS to the group and touched on the portions of the screen that align well with cyclists, specifically. Greg's presentation validated so much of what I felt, and he was saying things - almost verbatim - that I find myself telling people all the time. FMS has become a cornerstone of the Vector Cycle Works solution, and I learned a couple of tricks to further cement FMS's place in the process.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Assessment of the Foot</u><br />
It is sometimes difficult to explain the importance of the foot on the bike, how it affects your mechanics, the aches and pains that stem from our feet, and how the foot behaves differently on the bike than it does when walking and running. Foot mechanics were a major topic throughout the conference.<br />
<br />
The foot assessment and metrics I've been using have been good enough, but I always wanted more. Armed with some new tools, the foot assessment will get better, as we'll be quantifying how the foot behaves weighted versus unweighted. This will also give me a better picture of appropriate shoe size for a rider. I will also be delving into custom footbeds, which I had avoided thus far because of concerns of not being able to receive adequate training and support for something so complicated, and at the same time, questioning the return on investment for the rider.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Crank Length and Aerodynamics</u><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAjtkH9PExowJLoIoOnruN-nAt6Wovo2Y9vwC8lbB0x1gds0mjsguuKylNv6I0xKmCg3X2jVxO9ZRr3TEzgCdEtImh3PtaD27k9HNhNqKo70ZBwuOh0vDlc6_rWkYRmKAoUUSGC2lY6c4/s1600/IMG_20160812_164552943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAjtkH9PExowJLoIoOnruN-nAt6Wovo2Y9vwC8lbB0x1gds0mjsguuKylNv6I0xKmCg3X2jVxO9ZRr3TEzgCdEtImh3PtaD27k9HNhNqKo70ZBwuOh0vDlc6_rWkYRmKAoUUSGC2lY6c4/s320/IMG_20160812_164552943.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Cobb discusses his research related to short crank arms<br />
and aerodynamics.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've often talked about crank arm length with customers. There are many advantages to going shorter, and John Cobb presented his results of testing different riders in the wind tunnel as their positions changed over time with different crank arms and subsequent fit adjustments. We can try lengths down to 150mm at Vector Cycle Works, and if you're at a point where you would like to give it a try in anticipation for next year, we'll work together to find the right solution for you. I can get shorter cranks from various manufacturers - SRAM, FSA, Shimano, and many others will make cranks down to 165mm, while Rotor and Cobb will go as short as 150mm and 145mm, respectively.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Bike Fitting as an Extension of the Medical Community</u><br />
One of the more difficult conversations I have with people is that sometimes, I simply can't help them - I'm not a doctor. We may identify issues during the bike fit that are a symptom beyond the bike fit itself, and suggest a need for medical intervention. One of the neat things about the Medicine of Cycling conference was the mixture of people there - fitters, Physical Therapists, and Doctors. I continue to build relationships with professionals in the medical community, and we've got some great Sports Performance organizations in the area that are helping to bridge the gap between sport-specific training and medicine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Where do we go from here?</u><br />
There is certainly more to come. There was a lot more covered, and it was all really good stuff that I feel will help improve the quality of the fitting experience for Vector Cycle Works customers. The evolution continues. There are a lot of bike fitting services available in the area, and they vary quite a bit in their scope and value. My goal is to provide the best solution for you, by having the right tools to do it. Vector Cycle Works has become a bit different approach than the other fitters in the Indy area, and it was good to meet and spend time with other fitters who are on a similar path.<br />
<br />
Of course, the only way for you to know if what Vector Cycle Works does for you is the best option for you is to give it a try. If you don't think ForeverFit is the best bike fitting solution available, not only is it guaranteed for life, but I will give you your money back if you are not happy. You can schedule at <a href="http://www.vectorcycleworks.com/contact">www.vectorcycleworks.com/contact</a>. <br />
<br />
If you haven't had a Vector Cycle Works ForeverFit yet, or haven't been in in a while, I hope you will consider visiting Vector Cycle Works soon!<br />
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<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-16142499899039888982016-04-04T08:48:00.000-07:002016-04-04T08:48:49.971-07:00Can't Find Anything to Wear?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTqrEqD_wiMsF3MxuHzLQoj3PbD7M2E8PA0duCvYBtSUWhE5S0nMr3XK8aHmjZR7k6orDApdl8gqYYTChb1Xhx3EaFjKBXMc0bVCSmG-8ABTVlPpy1Tvmx8Gwzg6EdHl34q6Nm6LK8t0u/s1600/red_dragon_mens_cycling_jersey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTqrEqD_wiMsF3MxuHzLQoj3PbD7M2E8PA0duCvYBtSUWhE5S0nMr3XK8aHmjZR7k6orDApdl8gqYYTChb1Xhx3EaFjKBXMc0bVCSmG-8ABTVlPpy1Tvmx8Gwzg6EdHl34q6Nm6LK8t0u/s400/red_dragon_mens_cycling_jersey.png" width="351" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's Red Dragon Cycling Jersey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If you've been digging through the closet and can't find anything to wear, consider getting some <b><a href="http://www.vectorcycleworks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Vector Cycle Works</span></a></b> gear!<br />
<br />
All Vector Cycle Works clothing is made by Virklon, a Spanish company specializing in cycling, triathlon, and running clothing. They have a wide variety of clothes including cycling jerseys and shorts for men, women, and kids, aero triathlon/time trial suits for men and women, kids' triathlon suits, T-shirts, hoodies, and much more.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UJhsAGr0ZlCVbT0HXUsQIJ7POcEDKa4LkpjClauZOaRiYEJKUD55y8YCv0j2pyKYC4CeON55hX4EbXfksmpNtw1sXSWkF5wguTktB4grxgdhpb6Pm749CcbUMybDFWI0EveXO_g5GhBc/s1600/blue_dragon_womens_aero_tri_suit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UJhsAGr0ZlCVbT0HXUsQIJ7POcEDKa4LkpjClauZOaRiYEJKUD55y8YCv0j2pyKYC4CeON55hX4EbXfksmpNtw1sXSWkF5wguTktB4grxgdhpb6Pm749CcbUMybDFWI0EveXO_g5GhBc/s320/blue_dragon_womens_aero_tri_suit.png" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women's Blue Dragon Aero Tri Suit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love the aero triathlon pieces, as they are not only comfortable and potentially fast, but they also cover your shoulders and upper arms from the sun.<br />
<br />
With Virklon's help, I've designed 4 series of clothing:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Urban Weaponry</li>
<li>Red Dragon</li>
<li>Blue Dragon</li>
<li>Green Dragon</li>
</ul>
<div>
Each series currently has 31 different pieces of clothing, and more are on the way. I hope to work on a new series or two this year - it's just a lot of fun designing! You will also find a couple of one-off kids' pieces I made for my daughters for Christmas to match their bikes.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YSL-E0ySIxQAJqPMiNcn-mvfKFR-q0WVBlfgQzfdGeX4Oc5SoTP0Ibjhoxumh2fsPuEeX7pJ1i6JP6djIuejXh6SPYs5FHHKjR2okbWAzbBqmtLL0dJsQ7ZHP4pt2mdvkV4YTXI6EVWV/s1600/urban_weaponry_kids_tri_suit.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YSL-E0ySIxQAJqPMiNcn-mvfKFR-q0WVBlfgQzfdGeX4Oc5SoTP0Ibjhoxumh2fsPuEeX7pJ1i6JP6djIuejXh6SPYs5FHHKjR2okbWAzbBqmtLL0dJsQ7ZHP4pt2mdvkV4YTXI6EVWV/s320/urban_weaponry_kids_tri_suit.png" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kid's Urban Camo Tri Suit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
If you're interested in checking out the entire collection, you can go to <b><a href="http://www.virklon.com/"><span style="color: red;">www.virklon.com</span></a></b> and enter <b>vector-cycle-works</b> in the teamsAREA team code field on the lower left corner of the home page.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All pricing is in Euros, but when you do the math, you'll find that the prices are really reasonable, especially for good-quality custom stuff like this. Although these are my designs, you are dealing directly with Virklon and I don't charge any extra for the clothes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Shipping is also reasonable - each order is about $10. It will take about a month to get your order - they will schedule it for production about 3 weeks out, and then it usually takes a week or so to get through Europe, U.S. customs, and to your door.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Of course, you don't have to buy Vector Cycle Works kit if you don't want - you can always design your own! Virklon makes having a custom one-of-a-kind kit easy to do - there are no minimum orders, design fees, or group order requirements. You just need some vector image skills. I can certainly help out, if you'd like.</div>
<div>
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<div>
Virklon has been a pleasure to work with, and I am proud to offer Vector Cycle Works clothing. I'd be even more proud to see you wearing it!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2JuJCJCxy6J2KuJJyiOV_RSbEuheCw-bPdQsMDAYsBNvQ1smGA_PHyEeo_TFio6tWXx7b5MXwTjs1hFob-kdDys2UmuThTNh3uveRf6uo2cs76Zuzh6g0B6wWbo8U-VmjhxxbyKfWTE9/s1600/green_dragon_mens_long_sleeve_cycling_jersey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2JuJCJCxy6J2KuJJyiOV_RSbEuheCw-bPdQsMDAYsBNvQ1smGA_PHyEeo_TFio6tWXx7b5MXwTjs1hFob-kdDys2UmuThTNh3uveRf6uo2cs76Zuzh6g0B6wWbo8U-VmjhxxbyKfWTE9/s320/green_dragon_mens_long_sleeve_cycling_jersey.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's Green Dragon Long Sleeve Cycling Jersey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-85561389008986664942016-02-14T17:46:00.002-08:002016-02-14T17:47:12.271-08:00When 54 Does Not Equal 54<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislrACFQUKW8OFo058UmOHQQ8ei4Fhpvupr2gbcBr72fQ8BRb9JdxPG3WzPpi4uv5xDGUMMBwhtfJ2J000ofTMqw18x7mHA5lqtvyGT9TIPFm6uhvCDVn1dTJZOxSPfdWzWctXCwgSbmXS/s1600/IMG_20160204_103815682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislrACFQUKW8OFo058UmOHQQ8ei4Fhpvupr2gbcBr72fQ8BRb9JdxPG3WzPpi4uv5xDGUMMBwhtfJ2J000ofTMqw18x7mHA5lqtvyGT9TIPFm6uhvCDVn1dTJZOxSPfdWzWctXCwgSbmXS/s320/IMG_20160204_103815682.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As Spring approaches, some of us might be itching to get a new bike. As the rule states, the number of bikes you need is N+1, where N = the number of bikes you currently have. Before you rush into the local bike shop, I'd encourage you to consider getting sized up for your new bike by a reputable fitter.<br />
<br />
Bicycle retail is undergoing a lot of change. The days of walking into a bike shop, having somebody look you up and down and say, "yeah, you're about a 54" are over. Well, they should be, anyway. A 54 from Brand X is not going to be the same as a 54 from Brand Y. With better tools like fit bikes at our disposal, finding the perfect bike for you based on comfort rather than a guesstimate is much easier to do now, and we should be doing this. More retailers are taking a "fit first" approach to selling you a bike and this is a good thing.<br />
<br />
Bike manufacturing is also evolving. While bikes are often sized by the length of the seat tube (i.e. a 54 is a 54cm seat tube) starting at the center of the bottom bracket, that length varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer due to the style of the frame, etc. Some are a virtual 54cm (aka "effective seat tube length") based on where the seat tube would end if it were essentially a horizontal line from the top of the top tube, while others will be actual measurement to where it stops (often referred to as "Center to Top" or "C-T"). For example, in my bike database, I have 9 brands of bikes that offer a size 54 (other brands might call it a "Medium" or something similar, while other brands might offer a 53 or 55). The seat tube length on these range from 481 to 570 mm C-T. That's quite a range for something called a 54.<br />
<br />
I often have customers come in thinking about buying a new bike. If they are happy with their bike, they think they need the same size. If they are not happy, they think they need a different size. They could be right and they could be wrong. Sizing varies too much to be able to provide a definite answer to this question. There are also road race geometries, endurance geometries and variations on those that make it even more confusing.<br />
<br />
So, back in the early 2000's, Dan Empfield (pictured above) came up with a better way of describing bike sizes - stack and reach. Stack refers to the vertical distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top center of the head tube. Reach refers to the horizontal distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top center of the head tube. If you want to get into more detail on this, <a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/Choosing_a_Tri_Bike_via_Stack_and_Reach/Stack_Reach_Primer_Chapter_One_95.html" target="_blank">the best place to learn about it is from Dan himself</a>.<br />
<br />
With stack and reach becoming the new standard by how bikes are measured, we now have a better way of finding what size bike works for you. This is what I can do for you during a sizing session. We start on the fit bike and run you through a few trials to find the position you like the best. When you are free from the constraints of an existing bike (within reason), you might be surprised as to what works for you. We have conventions that we can adhere to use body angles and other ways of confirming the fit, the fitter knows what to look for, and you know how you feel. We can focus on your comfort and find the edge - once we go too far, we'll know it, and we can go back.<br />
<br />
From this process, we derive a new pair of numbers: your handlebar X and Y coordinates. With these, we can then reverse engineer a bike for you based on different stem solutions to find the stack and reach that works best for you. We can make a lot of bikes "work" with the variety of stem lengths and angles available on the market today. Of course, we can also put you on a screwed up setup that will handle poorly. We need to take handling, balance, and aesthetics into account. We are looking for elegant solutions. Often, the bikes that come to me that haven't been pre-fit or sized up prior to purchase are not the most elegant solution, but we'll make it work.<br />
<br />
After a proper bike sizing, you may be surprised what fits you. A 56 with a -17 degree 90mm stem in one brand might work, while another brand's 51 with a -6 degree 110mm stem might work for you just as well. You might think you want an endurance bike, but the most comfortable bike for you might not be an endurance bike. Stack and reach, along with the stem dimensions, help us put all of this together.<br />
<br />
Manufacturers have adjusted their sizes accordingly. You can tell which bikes have been designed with stack and reach as inputs to the design process rather than outputs from the design process. Many manufacturers will give more dimensional information on their websites, including the selected stem lengths, handlebar reach (we'll talk about handlebars in a future blog post soon), and crankarm lengths per size. This helps in making a better decision as to which bikes will be the best out-of-the-box solution versus which ones might need a stem or bar swap right away.<br />
<br />
The size variation is not limited to just manufacturer's differences. Your morphology will also affect your bike size. Using myself as an example, I might walk into a bike shop and be told I should be on a 56 or maybe a 58. But, they might not notice I have short legs and long arms (I'm apparently more closely related to apes than most folks). My long torso and arms makes it kind of hard for me to find a bike - I need a long and low bike with a -17 degree stem and no spacers under the stem. That's just the way I'm built. That might mean that I need a smaller bike (a 51 or 54 might work) to get low enough, but might have to have a longer stem (120mm or so) to make that bike long enough. Bikes with "endurance" geometries don't work for me. Long and low is my endurance geometry. I'm an individual, just like everybody else.<br />
<br />
So what size do you need? It depends! When doing a bike sizing at Vector Cycle Works, you'll leave with a list of bike solutions that will fit you so you can find a bike at one of the many bike shops here in the Indianapolis area. Even though I can get you Dimond, Ceepo, Chromag, or Liteville bikes, I am not biased towards any brand and only want what works best for you. Come on in and schedule your sizing session at Vector Cycle Works at <a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/">https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com</a> soon!Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-46866443190764421032016-02-07T22:10:00.002-08:002016-02-07T22:16:36.271-08:00A Look Into the F.I.S.T. Workshop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the most sought after and respected certifications in the bike fitting industry is F.I.S.T. - Fit Institute Slowtwitch. The F.I.S.T. certification is the result of many years of research by Dan Empfield, who - among many other things - is the inventor of the triathlon bike and current head of <a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/">www.slowtwitch.com</a>, one of my favorite place on the Internet. I had been planning on attending F.I.S.T. for a few years now, and the opportunity finally came together. It was a great experience.<br />
<br />
F.I.S.T. is a 5-day workshop at Dan's home, Xantusia, in Valyermo, California. Valyermo is located about an hour and a half northeast of Los Angeles, in the Mojave Desert. I flew into Burbank and made the trip to Xantusia on Sunday, February 1, in what was not exactly stereotypical "sunny southern California" weather - it was cold, raining, and very windy. There were cars spinning out on the highways leading up to Xantusia, and I learned that tumbleweeds can tumble in the rain if there is enough wind. There was plenty.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0LAPv0PqXz0IP0mbC9HVS0A4SyI5ffvnQBzyWZMgtoKOyt5WDtB12l0yYYFtdq9htK_Dp0t7vGCQcyKOKZV3ALH_2wio7uzHbSFUtB1urTGArKWdotOufU8e-8CXDgm7kQOnE8bXJGOh/s1600/IMG_20160131_125821416_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0LAPv0PqXz0IP0mbC9HVS0A4SyI5ffvnQBzyWZMgtoKOyt5WDtB12l0yYYFtdq9htK_Dp0t7vGCQcyKOKZV3ALH_2wio7uzHbSFUtB1urTGArKWdotOufU8e-8CXDgm7kQOnE8bXJGOh/s320/IMG_20160131_125821416_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Xantusia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Arriving at Xantusia, there are two houses on the property. One belongs to Dan, and the other belongs to Mark "Monty" Montgomery, who hosts all of the workshop guests at his bed and breakfast. I was the first workshop guest to arrive, and Monty showed me around the house and to my room, which was in a cabin next to the pool. Monty and I hung out and chatted by the fire until other guests started to trickle in during the rain, sleet, snow, and wind. By Sunday evening, quite a few folks were at the house and we were getting to know each other. Monty is a great cook and provided us with meals, drinks, and snacks for the week. In addition to the F.I.S.T. workshops, Monty hosts training camps throughout the year, including some cycling teams or camps arranged by triathlon or endurance coaches. It's a really neat area if you just want to get away and ride road or mountain bikes, run trails, or swim. It might be something Vector Cycle Works could do at some point in the future.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k8ux-B66rGS6zK3LlzJpdlLBmku5KEUCUgnapHJLNfmiKn1l-zzJV2jOut6tvLK2_ddqbXewEGvruc_ZVy8hKZBn0QLePmBiZjS_pmsXzqg4YMAhqa7302_ui0OZqkd75u_iYY8sS2GZ/s1600/IMG_20160201_134935982_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k8ux-B66rGS6zK3LlzJpdlLBmku5KEUCUgnapHJLNfmiKn1l-zzJV2jOut6tvLK2_ddqbXewEGvruc_ZVy8hKZBn0QLePmBiZjS_pmsXzqg4YMAhqa7302_ui0OZqkd75u_iYY8sS2GZ/s320/IMG_20160201_134935982_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 of F.I.S.T. <br />
Dan Empfield explains the philosophy behind the F.I.S.T. protocol. <br />
Ian Murray is in the background, waiting for his turn to present.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During the F.I.S.T. workshop, Monday and Tuesday are dedicated to road bike fitting, with a mixture of lecture and hands on fitting. Dan has help with the training from respected fitters in the industry, and we had the pleasure of learning from Ian Murray and JT Lyons. Monday was primarily lecture and demonstration, and I was lucky to be one of the demonstration subjects getting fit for a road bike by Ian.<br />
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On Tuesday, we had much more hands on, breaking into groups around one of the 3 fit bikes in the studio, and taking turns fitting each other. It really was a fun way to learn the details of the F.I.S.T. protocol, and a great way to make some friends in the process. Life at Xantusia is pretty laid back and casual, too. We did a couple of rides during the week, with many of us grabbing one of the bikes on site, throwing on our pedals, and hammering out a few miles in the Mojave. We took a nice ride on the "recovery loop" at lunch on Tuesday, which was about 22 miles, if I remember right. The scenery is beautiful, the hills are definitely more challenging than anything in the central Indiana area, and there isn't much traffic on the roads.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Swift of BikeFit demonstrates how we document our changes<br />
according to BikeFit principles.</td></tr>
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On Day 3 of the workshop (Wednesday), we changed gears a bit and switched to learning about one of my other certifications - BikeFit. While F.I.S.T. is more of a geometric approach to bike fitting, BikeFit gets into the details of the touchpoints on the bike - the foot, pelvis, and hands. For the BikeFit portion of the F.I.S.T. workshop, we focused on the foot/pedal interface. Paul Swift asked me and one of the other workshop attendees, David Macleod, to help teach. This was an honor and a lot of fun. After about a one hour presentation, we split the 14 attendees into two groups and allowed everybody to get a chance to have their foot/pedal interface dialed in. It was a pretty big group, and it made for a long day - I think we wrapped up around 8 PM. Judging from the feedback from the others, learning the BikeFit protocol really enhanced the experience for the attendees, and I have a feeling we'll be seeing many of the attendees at a BikeFit certification course in the future. I hope that I'll be teaching again soon, too.<br />
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F.I.S.T. and BikeFit make a really nice knowledge combination for bike fitting. I feel the geometric aspect of F.I.S.T. makes for a really solid cake, and the attention to the muscular and neuromuscular details within the BikeFit protocol are the icing on that cake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan dials in Ian's triathlon bike position.</td></tr>
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For Day 4 and 5, we wrap up the F.I.S.T. workshop with a focus on triathlon bike fitting. After a brief discussion on the theories and principles of the F.I.S.T. approach to triathlon bike fitting by Dan and Ian, Dan demonstrated the techniques by fitting Ian for a new triathlon bike. Ian had wrecked his bike during a race last summer, so this was something that was very useful for him. One of the fun things about the F.I.S.T. experience is that most of us spend our meals and downtime together at Monty's house, including Ian and JT. So, we had some good conversation at lunch about which bikes would fit Ian best. As we had out turns going through the process of being fit for road and triathlon bikes throughout the week, we were all doing a bit of shopping for the bikes that fit us best.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler is dialing in David's position.</td></tr>
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After another lunchtime ride on Thursday, we wrapped up the workshop with some more hands on application, taking turns fitting each other for triathlon bikes. Friday was a bit of a shorter day, with some folks heading out in the early afternoon to catch flights home. I was the last to leave on Saturday morning after hanging out with Monty, Dan, and the dogs for a bit before heading back towards Burbank to catch my early afternoon flight.<br />
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Overall, the F.I.S.T. Workshop experience was really a lot of fun - I can't thank Dan, Ian, JT, Paul, Monty and the other attendees enough for all the shared knowledge, camaraderie, and great conversation throughout the week. I am pretty certain I will be back to Xantusia at some point or another.<br />
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How does this change things for me at Vector Cycle Works? There are certainly a lot of aspects of the F.I.S.T. protocol that I had already been applying over the last couple of years of fitting. The body geometry and how it relates to bike geometry in F.I.S.T. are the basis for most fitting systems out there - the genius behind F.I.S.T. is how Dan has taken so much information about bikes and the human body and distilled it down to a practical methodology that works well for most people. There are a few details I think I will be better at, including bike selection for a customer looking at purchasing a new bike. Bike choice and how it affects handling is also a key piece that was covered during the workshop. A bike that fits well, handles well.<br />
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One aspect of the F.I.S.T. methodology I really like is the use of the fit bikes to create and document a series of "trials" for fitting, which is much easier and faster than doing it right on the customer's bike. While I feel that we can often find a very comfortable place on a customer's bike, we don't necessarily know if it's the most comfortable position because it's too difficult to try variations and find the edge. People can ride lower or more "aggressively" (and I use that term cautiously) than they think, but they won't realize it until they can try it. I can do this with my poor man's fit bike, but it's not quite as fast or reliable as a real fit bike. You will be seeing a new fit bike in the Vector Cycle Works studio soon.<br />
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If you are interested in purchasing a new bike or getting more comfortable on your current bike, come in and take advantage of my F.I.S.T. certification soon - sign up for your ForeverFit or sizing session at <a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/">https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Xantusia. Beautiful, isn't it?</td></tr>
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<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-74100199989714978892016-01-27T17:38:00.000-08:002016-02-07T20:30:40.467-08:00Visiting the ARC Wind Tunnel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today was a fun day - the Auto Research Center (ARC) hosted their "Bike Fitter Appreciation Day" at their wind tunnel in Indianapolis. Wind tunnel testing for cyclists is a relatively new adventure for them, and they had this event to help spread the word. I am really grateful to have this opportunity, and it was a really cool experience. A big "thank you" to Tim Jennings and the rest of the ARC crew for inviting us. Being a cycling nerd and a motorsports dork, I totally geeked out.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting Brent's bike ready for his run. <br />
The black table is specifically installed for cycling tests.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The event started at 8:00 AM. I was the first one there and the only guest there for about an hour before another fitter showed up. So, I had a lot of time to talk to the staff, hang out in the tunnel, and ask annoying questions about every detail of the tunnel. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">They showed me how they configure and calibrate everything. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Another fitter, Brent Emery from Milwaukee, was scheduled for 9:00 AM. After some time getting his bike set up, we got to watch him do a run. Brent happens to have won a silver medal in the team pursuit in the 1984 Summer Olympics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The wind tunnel is pretty cool. It was originally designed for racing and automotive purposes. When not configured for bikes, they can test 1/2 scale cars and 1/4 scale semis with a rolling floor. For cycling, they go 30 mph, but for race cars, up to 118 mph. It uses a 451 HP electric motor, and to quote one of the technicians, they're "responsible for most of the blackouts in the immediate area."</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">For cycling purposes, the wind tunnel is set up with the black table, as shown in the pictures. The rolling floor is not used, and the tunnel is calibrated with the table in place, so that is basically "zero." The table is equipped with 6-axis sensors to measure several parameters. For cycling purposes, we're mostly concerned about the following terms:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Drag</b> - The force opposite the motion of an object. We tend to think of this as a bad thing, and a bike/rider's drag is expressed as CdA - the drag area. We can also think of this as how many watts we need to go forward. A big person will require more wattage than a small person to overcome their larger CdA. The ARC wind tunnel is accurate to within .25 watts. The main objective of wind tunnel time is to find ways to reduce our CdA so we can go faster with the same power output.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Yaw</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> - The angle at which the wind hits the cyclist. Zero degrees of yaw is wind coming straight on. This is what you would experience riding on a completely windless day. Most cyclists don't get perfectly windless conditions, and it is common to experience 15+ degrees of yaw at normal riding speeds. The drag on a bike and rider will vary based on the yaw angle. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The ARC table can emulate up to 30 degrees of yaw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The ARC table has two mounts that replace the skewers, and rollers to spin the tires. They will typically spin the tires during a test, and usually discourage riders from pedaling because the body movement makes it difficult to get consistent measurements.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peek inside the control room.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tim also gave me a tour of most of rest of the ARC facility, although the doors to the 7-post shaker rig and their drivetrain dyno were closed, meaning something secret was going on in there. I did get to see the inner workings of the tunnel itself including the motor, cooling for the actual floor of the tunnel (the downforce of race cars will create a lot of heat on the rolling belt and the supporting structure and instrumentation), and the stuff to control humidity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also got to see their rapid prototyping room. They have three 3D printers, and they actually had a few interesting parts looking around, mostly parts used to mount a race car or semi model and control it in the tunnel. The race car models are mounted to a device called a "sting", which hangs down from above the tunnel. The sting includes instrumentation and motor controls to allow them to do stuff like emulate braking or turning to see how those changes in angles affect the aerodynamics - downforce, drag, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This was really a great experience, and it's nice to have such a facility nearby. Wind tunnel time is not cheap, but if it is something you are interested in, drop me a note at <a href="mailto:travis@vectorcycleworks.com">travis@vectorcycleworks.com</a> and we can see about doing a session. In the meantime, you can learn more about ARC here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="http://www.arcindy.com/">http://www.arcindy.com/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Thank you again to Tim and the rest of the crew at ARC for a great learning experience!</span></span></div>
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Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-6729123685729049382016-01-06T09:04:00.002-08:002016-01-06T09:04:26.993-08:00A Closer Look at Dimond Bikes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At Vector Cycle Works, my focus will always be on being the best bike fitter I can be, and provide the best service I can. Part of that service involves making things more convenient for people, so I've become a dealer for a lot of products in order to better serve my customers. I don't want people to ever think I'm trying to push them into a certain brand because I sell it - I am here to help folks make an informed decision about what is available to them and help them find something that fits their needs.<br />
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When it comes to bikes, I keep a database of a lot of different bikes available via local bike shops and the Internet. The Internet has reshaped how people buy cycling equipment, and the industry is changing accordingly. More manufacturers are going direct-to-consumer (Trek is a recent big announcement). Shops like mine need to be able to adapt to that - if somebody wants to know if a bike that they found online will fit them, I'll find out. <br />
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With that said, I'd like to introduce one of those brands that might fit my customers:<br />
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<b><u>Dimond Bikes</u></b><br />
One of the bicycle brands that has really burst onto the scene in the last few years is Dimond:<br />
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<a href="http://rustersports.com/dimond/">http://rustersports.com/dimond/</a></div>
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Dimond is the brainchild of TJ Tollakson, a professional triathlete and the founder and CEO of Ruster Sports. Ruster Sports not only makes the Dimond, but they also offer their <a href="http://rustersports.com/cases/" target="_blank">Hen House bike travel cases</a>, as well. The company and all manufacturing are done in Des Moines, IA, so you're looking at a made in the U.S.A. bike.<br />
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The Dimond bike is currently offered in one model, which is a unique-looking bike that appears to be missing a few parts. The classic "double diamond" frame design has been thrown out in favor of a beam design. The "Dimond" name is missing an "A" in reference to that missing "A" of the double diamond frame. Cool, huh? <br />
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The concept of a beam bike is not new - Zipp, Softride, and others were making something similar before the UCI banned them in the late 90s, effectively killing the beam bike market. But, because triathlon rules are more open, the concept has been coming back, with great results. At the 2015 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, <a href="http://rustersports.com/athletes/maik-twelsiek/" target="_blank">Maik Twelsiek</a> had the fastest bike split of the day on his Dimond. The removal of the seat post and seat stays helps aerodynamics. An added benefit of this design is the ride - the lack of a seat post helps to provide a smoother ride.<br />
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Dimond bikes are high-end, made-to-order bikes and offered direct-to-consumer. Having talked with the good folks at Dimond, they care about their customers and want to get to know you. To help reach out to consumers, Ruster Sports have put together a network of professional bike fitters and shops who can help guide you in the Dimond purchase process. I am excited to be part of that network, as it fits into the Vector Cycle Works business model nicely: it's all about "fit first" and puts you in the driver's seat during the process.<br />
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<b><u>The "Fit First" Process</u></b><br />
If you are in the market for a new bike, you can come into Vector Cycle Works for a sizing, which involves discussing your needs, goals, preferences, and budget, and getting you on a fit bike to find your fit coordinates. The nice part of this is that we are not dealing with the limitations of an existing bike or trying to make something work that maybe shouldn't. We're starting from scratch with a clean sheet of paper to find your ideal fit. After we are done, I will provide a list of different bikes that will fit you, using different stem and bar configurations, as needed.<br />
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If a Dimond bike fits you and your goals, the next step is to work with Ruster Sports to configure your ideal bike. Dimond bikes are offered in two builds - the <a href="http://rustersports.com/product/dimond-race/" target="_blank">Race Build</a> and the <a href="http://rustersports.com/product/dimond-premium/" target="_blank">Premium Build</a>. Dimond bikes <a href="http://rustersports.com/product/dimond-frameset/" target="_blank">are also available as a frameset</a>, which allows us a lot of flexibility. Ruster Sports are flexible in their component selection - perhaps we sized you up with your favorite noseless saddle and they can accommodate that with the build. They will also do custom paint, if you want something that really reflects your personality and sense of style. Dimond backs up their bike with a 6 year warranty.<br />
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We can also build the entire bike up to your specs at Vector Cycle Works. Perhaps you want to use your saddle of choice, the bars we sized you with, and a Power2Max power meter. Ruster Sports can custom paint the frameset and send it to Vector Cycle Works for the final build. You can truly create your perfect dream bike. You can see some beautiful custom Dimonds on their blog:<br />
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<a href="http://rustersports.com/blog/">http://rustersports.com/blog/</a></div>
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<b><u>Is a Dimond In Your Future?</u></b></div>
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Buying a Dimond is not for the instant gratification type, but good things come to those who wait. Ruster Sports and Vector Cycle Works are not advocates of having a huge inventory of bikes, so I don't have one of each size available for a test ride.</div>
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So, how do you go about riding one? <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009189327840&fref=ts" target="_blank">The Dimond Van is out and about, touring the world</a>. You can find the Dimond Van at different triathlons, and the plan is to schedule a visit at Vector Cycle Works sometime during 2016. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vectorcycleworks/" target="_blank">Like Vector Cycle Works on Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vectorcycleworks/app/100265896690345/" target="_blank">sign up for the mailing list</a> so you can be the first to know!</div>
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In the meantime, <a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/" target="_blank">schedule your sizing session at Vector Cycle Works</a> and find out if a Dimond is right for you!</div>
<br />Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442825678365044789.post-61389108644564571232015-12-30T12:23:00.001-08:002015-12-30T19:41:51.782-08:00How Well Do you Move?It has been a while since I've posted anything, and I've been intentionally quiet on social media through the holidays. Even though Vector Cycle Works is a dealer for a lot of great cycling stuff and could have offered some great deals for the holidays, my main focus is providing the best service. My online silence has been because I chose to use this time to dive deep into finding ways to improve the Vector Cycle Works customer experience.<br />
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Most of my customers are not front-of-the-pack racers. Many are new to cycling and have taken this sport up because they want to get back into shape, or maybe have taken an extended break from riding. I'm lucky to meet these people who are so excited about cycling - it really is a lot of fun, there are a lot of great, enthusiastic people in the various flavors of the sport, and it can be a great low-impact path towards greater fitness and health. But, as many of us soon realize, cycling can be painful. Why does something so simple have to be so complicated? Why does it hurt? Why can't I be as fast as that guy?</div>
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This is the often the point where people come to me. People get a bike fit for a variety of reasons - discomfort or pain being at the top of the list, but getting faster on the bike is right up there. One of my philosophies on bike fitting, which may be a bit misunderstood, is that it is not about the bike - it is about the body. We are a pile of meat and bones with a history that has shaped us to be where we are today. A good bike fit will accommodate us where we are today. </div>
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There are certain geometric conventions used in bike fitting that have been derived from typical measurements of average people that have been proven to be effective in helping us be as efficient as we possibly can. Most of those conventions are a working range. For example, we adjust seat height based on a knee angle measurement, which has a range of about 10 degrees. Ideally, for maximum efficiency and performance, we need to be close to the top of that range. As a fitter, I could shoot for a specific angle and call it good, but using the same formula for everybody who comes in to me would be irresponsible. Unfortunately, most of the people that come to me can't ride at the top of that range safely. It often manifests itself as pain and can result in injury if not adjusted.</div>
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As I fit an individual, we identify where in that range that person can safely be. This is where the individual is at their best - finding the limitations of their body and accommodating that. I can make you faster via your bike fit, but there is a glass ceiling, of sorts. Your body's history, composition, asymmetries, pains, past traumas, and past injuries all add up to make you who you are today. As we get older, that history gets longer. Your history might prevent you from getting the most out of your bike. You are only as fast as you can be, but you want to be faster. While the bike fit can accommodate your current potential, how can you truly unlock your potential?</div>
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I lose a lot of sleep trying to answer that question. I want to help everybody I meet be pain-free and fast. When fitting people, I've often seen some interesting movements and imbalances that I can accommodate, but can't necessarily fix. Some result in a referral to a medical professional. It is one thing to recognize abnormal motion and accommodate it, but another thing to understand what is causing it and correct that. How do we lift the glass ceiling? How do we unlock someone's real potential? </div>
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<b><u>Functional Movement Screening (FMS)</u></b></div>
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We have to look at the source of our movement to find these answers. We need to look at how well you move. I feel I have found something that can help move you in the right direction: <a href="http://www.functionalmovement.com/" target="_blank">Functional Movement Screening (FMS)</a>. I am now an FMS-certified professional.</div>
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FMS is not just about bike fitting. Matter of fact, when I took the certification course, most of the people there were some sort of strength-training professional - personal trainers, strength coaches for college and pro teams in various disciplines, CrossFit coaches and gym owners, etc. I felt a bit out of place, but was quickly assured by the instructor that I would fit right in because we all care about how someone moves. FMS is about looking at the human body as a species rather than as an athlete in a particular sport.</div>
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When you look at us from top to bottom, as a human and as a system as a whole, how well we move is a function of how our various muscle, neurological, and skeletal groups work together. We can't necessarily think of movement as what the quadriceps or hamstrings might be doing, but what they are doing as part of the entire kinetic chain. In any given movement, such as pedaling a bike, some muscles are used to move us, while others are used to stabilize us. A different movement may change the purpose of a specific muscle. Often, if certain muscles are unable to do their job, the related muscles get recruited to do that job. A muscle that might be used to push the pedal (i.e. the glutes), may be compromised and used to stabilize us because of weak "core" muscles or a mismatched/poorly adjusted saddle. Compensatory actions prevent us from using the muscles for their best purpose in that movement.</div>
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These compensations hold us back and are often the reason we get injured. I fit a lot of Ironman triathletes. Many of them come to me with some sort of overuse injury. Once injured, we are 2-3 times more likely to get injured again. We often short-circuit our rehabilitation in an effort to get back into our sport. This isn't just triathletes or cyclists, we see it all the time in sports (and don't even get me started on the state of kids' sports these days, when 10 and 11 year kids are having "career-ending" injuries once limited to adults).</div>
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Part of this tendency for re-injury is because we think in terms of "getting stronger" as a metric for how well we've recovered. We tend to think of strength as how much weight we can move or, in cycling, how many watts we can generate. We shouldn't confuse strength with power. Strength is just a component of power. Being powerful requires having the following elements:</div>
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Mobility</div>
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Motor Control</div>
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Strength</div>
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These can also be thought of as a pyramid - mobility forms a wide base, motor control is a smaller step on top of that, and strength is the top, smallest step. Too often, we neglect mobility and motor control for strength. If you've ever been to a gym, you've probably seen somebody moving some big weights with poor form. I see the same thing with cyclists, it's just not quite as obvious.</div>
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So, to have true power, we must train all 3 elements. The question then becomes, "where do we start?"</div>
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This is where FMS comes into play. I tend to think of FMS as having two distinct parts:</div>
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1. Screening - The testing battery used to identify and measure our movement deficiencies.</div>
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2. Correctives - Exercises prescribed to overcome those deficiencies.</div>
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When I first started looking at FMS, my plan was to utilize the screening as part of the fitting process. I soon realized that the value lies in being able to provide corrective exercises to help "fix" people's deficiencies. </div>
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<b><u>FMS and Bike Fitting</u></b></div>
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At Vector Cycle Works, an FMS screening is now incorporated into the bike fit process. I can also do the screening for non-cyclists. The screening takes about 15-20 minutes and involves doing 7 movements which are scored on a scale of 0 to 3. A perfect score is 21, and that is pretty rare. Most folks I've scored so far have been between 6 and 14. I scored a 12. The scoring system is intentionally simple - it's not about picking out the specific muscle or reason for poor motion. It's about identifying the weakness as a whole. A low score indicates a lot, including the potential for injury, especially where there is asymmetry in movements (many of the FMS movements are scored on both sides, and the lower score is used for the final score).</div>
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Additionally, I now offer 1-hour corrective sessions along with prescribed exercises that customers can do at home. This allows you to do some "off the bike" work to improve your experience on the bike. The screening score by itself doesn't tell us much - it's the scores of the individual movements that tell us where we need to start. We can identify your biggest deficiencies and concentrate on those first. Often, focus on a weakness will improve your score on the other movements.</div>
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The cool part of the FMS process is that we can spend some time together to identify the exercises that actually work for you. Try an exercise and re-measure. If we see an improvement, we'll keep doing it. If not, skip that exercise and move on until we find something that works. A poor score can indicate tightness or weakness, and how we respond to different exercises will help us understand which it is. We use progressions to work our way through mobility exercises, motor control exercises, and strength exercises. It's pretty fascinating stuff.</div>
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This discussion wouldn't be complete without mentioning pain. Pain is what drove me to become a bike fitter and pain is an important factor in FMS. When performing the screening, any motion that invokes pain is scored as zero. This is where I draw the line as an FMS professional and refer you to a medical professional. There are SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) medical professionals to whom I can refer you. I've made a few good connections in the Indianapolis area.</div>
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As a bike fitter, I am really excited to offer FMS as a service to my customers. The idea of identifying what is holding us back and working to move that out of the way will help you find your potential. FMS corrective work is separate from the ForeverFit bike fit, as that is about an accommodative bike fit. Come in, get ForeverFit with an FMS screen, do some corrective work, we'll adjust your fit accordingly and we'll work together to get you a new PR!</div>
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You can schedule your FMS screening and correctives at <a href="https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com/">https://vectorcycleworks.appointlet.com</a>. Come in and make 2016 your best year ever!</div>
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Vector Cycle Workshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178309372455998017noreply@blogger.com0