Getting Off the Fence

[Bill Wightman]

I started out with the same water bottle set up but after some rough trails and loosing a couple I switched to 'side opening cages', which in the same configuration, has the opening on the top side....if you get my drift(?). A little bit of getting used to but more secure.

If you have a special bottle location(s) you want to keep, but you keep loosing bottles from, you can get some sticky velcro and apply in a way that is easy to undo one-handed blind but also retains the bottle. All my bottles are like that. Takes longer to remove and timing is dicey at a stop light. If the geometry is right you could design a spring latch or similar that requires minimal monkey motion to install and remove the bottle.

 

[GetBent]

Thanks! You folks on this forum have so much helpful advice.

 

[benphyr]

If you have a special bottle location(s) you want to keep, but you keep loosing bottles from, you can get some sticky velcro and apply in a way that is easy to undo one-handed blind but also retains the bottle. All my bottles are like that. Takes longer to remove and timing is dicey at a stop light. If the geometry is right you could design a spring latch or similar that requires minimal monkey motion to install and remove the bottle.

 

[benphyr]

@Bill Wightman
Can you post some pictures of your setup and how it works.

 

[Bill Wightman]

Can you post some pictures of your setup and how it works.

These aero bottles launch easily at the slightest bump.

 

[jond]

View attachment 8495 View attachment 8497 View attachment 8498 These aero bottles launch easily at the slightest bump.

Hi Bill

I’ve got the clear aero xlab and they launch very well.

Question are your black bidons screw top as mine are pop offs and a real pain to open rip nails off. . Great solution too. Velcro is on order.

 

[Bill Wightman]

Question are your black bidons screw top

These are screw top. They leak as I was informed they would but they do not leak very much so no problem. In the best world they would not launch and would have the split rubber valve like CamelBak bottles. I usually drink while in motion at a safe distance, that way I have time to do the valve and velcro, things that others don't have to do. To me it is worth it for the expensive but tangible aero properties.

On a different note we had a cold morning here so I taped over the four vents on my aero helmet and it made a significant difference while riding against a hard headwind. I was riding back in the breeze behind a 21-23 mph group and it was unusually easy (low heart rate) while the DF group up ahead was complaining a lot and people were dropping off the back. The advantage went away when we were riding downwind in the same strong tailwind. It has warmed back up so I will see how hot it gets if I leave the helmet vents taped up.

 

[jond]

These are screw top. They leak as I was informed they would but they do not leak very much so no problem. In the best world they would not launch and would have the split rubber valve like CamelBak bottles. I usually drink while in motion at a safe distance, that way I have time to do the valve and velcro, things that others don't have to do. To me it is worth it for the expensive but tangible aero properties.

On a different note we had a cold morning here so I taped over the four vents on my aero helmet and it made a significant difference while riding against a hard headwind. I was riding back in the breeze behind a 21-23 mph group and it was unusually easy (low heart rate) while the DF group up ahead was complaining a lot and people were dropping off the back. The advantage went away when we were riding downwind in the same strong tailwind. It has warmed back up so I will see how hot it gets if I leave the helmet vents taped up.

That’s great the later model bidon went to screw top. I’ll get onto a new set. Thanks.

Yes a lot of aero helmets come with closing vents these days for aero advantages.

 

[GetBent]

So after 5 weeks, two surgeries, and $71,000 in medical charges, the cast has been replaced with a much bulkier and heavier removable boot. At least I can take it off at night. It is still forbidden for me to put any weight on my right ankle.

I have no idea what I hit which caused me to lose my balance, nor what caught my right foot, twisting it to the right and back, shattering my right ankle. (My ankle was broken before I fell over.) A totally freak accident. I have been cycling all my life, and have never had any thing more than some road rash. Looks like it will be a long while before I get back on the V20.

FYI It is a good idea to keep your cell phone on your body. I had mine in the Moose bag. I probably could have crawled over to get it, but since there was nothing holding my foot to my leg other than soft tissue, decided to wait for somebody to stop. Turns out that was a good move for another reason, there was no cell service there. The guy who stopped had to find a house with a land line.

I am currently looking for a recumbent trike. The idea is that I do not have to put a foot down every time I stop and start. Plus I can pedal very slowly with no risk if falling over. The point is to get back into shape without risking damaging my ankle. Looks like it will be another month or so before the surgeon allows me to do that.

The only half way good news is that two weeks before the accident I switched medical plans. Under the old plan, my deductible was $6000. So far, my out of pocket expenses are only $680.00. Suppose I can make the argument to my wife that the $5320 that I "saved" by switching plans should be used for a high end Catrike, Greenspeed, or similar?

 

[benphyr]

This seems to have gotten on the wrong thread somehow... but if you give your location there might be someone nearby with a trike. I used one for a few months after I broke my wrist after converting it to one handed. It was great to be able to ride.

 

[GetBent]

This seems to have gotten on the wrong thread somehow

Actually, it is in the correct place. This is where I typically post stuff, except when responding to other people's posts.

What is in the wrong place, is the original post about the accident. With all the drugs I had in my system at that time, I have no idea how I even managed to boot up the computer and log in.

I am investigating several options, trikes, a kit to turn the V20 into a tilting trike, and indoor trainers such as Zwift. There are a few used trikes on Craigs List in the Portland area which could work. Of course, I can only do internet research at this time, as I can not walk or drive.

 

[AndyB]

Sorry to hear about your accident GetBent. Zwift works for me, keeps my cycling fitness relatively high in the winter, social if you want that.

 

[benphyr]

Actually, it is in the correct place... There are a few used trikes on Craigs List in the Portland area which could work...

Sorry @GetBent, I should have looked at the beginning of the thread first before commenting. Then I would have realized that this is your thread - I have been chastised most accurately.

If you were in my area and would be able to borrow my trike - alas Ontario is a long way from Portland.! I wish you fast and quality healing.

 

[GetBent]

I have been chastised

Oh, sorry. Did not mean to come off sounding that way.

 

[benphyr]

Oh, sorry. Did not mean to come off sounding that way.

Not at all. I liked how it sounded and besides, warranted chastisement is appreciated, it helps us grow.

 

[GetBent]

Traded the knee scooter for a walker a week ago, and drove for the first time yesterday. Did not kill anyone....

 

[benphyr]

Traded the knee scooter for a walker a week ago, and drove for the first time yesterday. Did not kill anyone....

Happy for you on all counts! Keep growing and healing.

 

[GetBent]

It is here.

​

The idea is to use a smart trainer for physical therapy, and later, to build my strength and endurance back to where it was before the accident. Since I am not sure how much I will use it after I am back to normal, I went for the least expensive smart trainer that would suit my needs. I wanted a wheel on trainer, as they look like it is easier to mount/dismount the bicycle from the trainer.

The trainer was ordered from Clever Training. It arrived with minor damage to the outer carton, but no damage to the inner box, or any of the components. The trainer seems to be well made, and requires very little time and effort to set up. I especially like the beefy clamp to hold the front wheel. The only assembly was replacing the front wheel skewer with one supplied with the trainer. Putting the "V" on the trainer and adjusting was very easy. Downloading the Wahoo app to an iPhone SE was simple, and syncing via blue tooth to the trainer was also easy.

Now for the frustrating parts. There was very little in the instructions on how to use the trainer once everything is set up. The Wahoo app works, but it is even more boring to use than the recumbent trainers at the gym. Maybe after I use it some more, I might find some more functions that I am not aware of now. The info displayed on the iPhone is speed, time, and power. The resistance can be adjusted using Wahoo app on the iPhone. Boring.

The only sensor that is connecting via Blue Tooth to the iPhone is the Kickr Snap's speed sensor. My existing cadence and pulse sensors can connect via an Ant+ dongle, which is available on the Wahoo web site. Unfortunately, it does not have a Lightening connector, so now I need to search the web for an adapter between the older plug and the newer Lightening connector. That just drives me nuts. The Wahoo app only runs on Apple or Android, so why on earth do they not provide parts that are compatible with the platforms that the app runs on???? Of course, getting the Ant+ dongle means that I can not use an HDMI adapter to display on a large screen. Another option is to get a Blue Tooth cadence sensor, then an HDMI adapter would be usable. Since I am not sure how much I will be using this, I will try to keep it simple. So I will stick with the iPhone as a display, and use the Ant+ adapter for now.

I downloaded the Kinomap app because it is free, and includes some virtual rides at no cost. I tried one virtual ride. In spite of only having the speed sensor, it was fun. The system worked like I was hoping it would. The resistance increased on the uphills, and decreased on downhills and flats. The data displayed was speed, power, time, distance and grade. When I realized I was catching somebody, I could not help myself, I just had to crank up the power. So guess who walked in while I was cranking it up? Yup, my wife. Busted. Got in big trouble for over doing it.

Using high top trail running shoes and toe clips since my foot is still so swollen that it will not fit into my cycling shoes.

 

[benphyr]

A couple really quick responses:
-Some phones can do ANT+ (I don't know which phones/operating systems) so if you haven't already it might be worth it to change the settings to ANT+ for the Wahoo app and see if that works.
-IF you have a Apple computer / TV that can be used you could use that with Zwift / Kinomap? or ?another program freeing up your phone for Wahoo app if necessary.

Food for thought. I'm trying to get set up on the cheap too - let me know if you have any tips on good parts to a system that won't cost me my firstborn.

 

[GetBent]

Thanks.

It appears that an iPhone SE does not support ANT+. The Wahoo app and Kinomap run just fine on the iPhone. I do not have Apple computer/TV.

My thought process of getting the ANT+ dongle for the iPhone was simplicity. I did not want to mess with the existing sensors on the "V", and wanted to send their info to the Wahoo app and Kinomap, while also using the info for the bike computer. It will be a few more days before the parts arrive, so standby for further reports. Of course, I really do not need cadence or pulse to run the Wahoo app and Kinomap. I am using the speed from the Kickr Snap rather than the sensor on the "V". The speed sensor on the "V" is on my rear wheel, so it reads zero the entire time, and I really do not want to relocate it.