The Official DMF Bicycle Thread

[triangleforge]

If I were still racing, a power meter would find its way into my meager budget -- and carbon wheels probably wouldn't. I did a lot of my indoor training on a Cateye stand trainer that did have a power readout, and it was hugely useful information - I just wasn't ever in a position to spend the money for that info on the road.

The main thing any of these tools will do is help you overcome Joe Friel's maxim that most amateur racers train too hard when they should be going easy, and too easy when they should be going hard. An HRM helps you avoid cheating by going too hard or too easy, and a power meter (especially in conjunction with an HRM, like stateprez sez) does it better, faster, and far more accurately than an HRM alone. As he noted, your heart rate doesn't change that fast with small changes in your cadence, etc. but the feedback from a power meter is immediate.

It's like going from tuning your other bike with a speedo and tach (indispensable, sure, but limited feedback) to tuning with a dyno.

[stateprez]

The main thing any of these tools will do is help you overcome Joe Friel's maxim that most amateur racers train too hard when they should be going easy, and too easy when they should be going hard. An HRM helps you avoid cheating by going too hard or too easy, and a power meter (especially in conjunction with an HRM, like stateprez sez) does it better, faster, and far more accurately than an HRM alone. As he noted, your heart rate doesn't change that fast with small changes in your cadence, etc. but the feedback from a power meter is immediate.

+1.  The main thing that jumped out at me was that I was spinning up my HR for the interval, then easing off to stay in the zone.  I noticed starting with the meter that I would drop 50 watts or so once I reached the interval and backed off.  50 watts ends up being around 20% of my power in the interval- fairly significant.

I've been using the Friel book since the fall.  Recently I've done a few workouts from the Amazon preview of Allen/Coggan "Training and Racing with a Power Meter."  Probably going to pick it up also.

[triangleforge]

I used to race against Andrew Coggan; a nice guy, but odd in the way that really good engineers often have a tough time really relating to, well, actual humans. But he's been researching power-based training longer than just about anyone and knows his stuff.

That, and he's brutally fast.

[spolic]

New bike for me!!!

New 2010 Specialized Stumpjumper FRS Comp.

It's nothing fancy, but it replaces a 13 year old Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp. 

So here is the stable:

Novara Buzz (flat bar road)
2008 Orbea Onyx
2010 FSR

out to pasture
1993 Cannondale Delta V-700
1997 FSR

[Latinbalar]

I have an 05' Cannondale Prophet, with the Lefty Max 140 shock.  Great bike even it its a geezer.

And even though S. Florida is flat there is some great mountain biking down here.

[bulldogs2k]

Wassup guys!  I just bought a schwinn searcher (hybrid road bike) since I couldn't afford a dedicated road bike. 

Does anyone have any experience with scattante road bikes?  Or am I better off with a trek etc?  (budget of under $1k)

[eltristo]

Wassup guys!  I just bought a schwinn searcher (hybrid road bike) since I couldn't afford a dedicated road bike. 

Does anyone have any experience with scattante road bikes?  Or am I better off with a trek etc?  (budget of under $1k)

While I do not have personal experience, they are likely just fine.  As you are not buying it from a mechanic, you can expect it will need adjustments out of the box. 

[bulldogs2k]

While I do not have personal experience, they are likely just fine.  As you are not buying it from a mechanic, you can expect it will need adjustments out of the box. 

Ya, seems to be the answer i've been getting.  Thanks Jebus!

[Jaman]

FINALLY!  a  new mtn bike!

my beloved but extremely tired early 90's Bontrager hardtail has been replaced / relegated to back up/quick jaunt status

just picked up a brand spankin' new Ellsworth Epiphany, XT build yesterday

I have been lusting/drooling over Mr Ellsworth's work for many years, and finally was able to wear down my wife while financial planets were briefly aligned

took her on maiden voyage of 7 or so miles of some of Northern CA/Marin's finest - 1 big long steady climb with a killer 1/2 mile 10+% grade climb at end (made it about 1/3 up before throwing in the towell & walking her up the remainder, sucking wind the whole way) get to the top (about a 900' or so verticle foot total climb) & rewarded with panoramic views of Pacific with some peeks of SF in the distance, and an almost 3 mile downhill bomb to meet my wife & daughter on the beach

absolutely incredible.  this is my first foray into full suspension as well as disc brakes, and it feels like I just went from a Honda XR75 to a KTM 450 EXC.

[iRam]

Just came acrosd this myo.orbea.com.
Theyll be giving away an orca or an ordu. All you need to do is configure a bike, share it and youll be entered on the raffle

[Monster Dave]

^ Thanks - Done!  


I need a new bike!!! Free is the best when the MSRP is nearly 10k!!

But I must admit that I'm still lusting for the 2010 Felt F3:



Saw it in person a bunch of times, the picture doesn't do justice to how nicely this bike was built.

Looking at Felt's current line up, out of what they have I think I'd lean towards the AR4 as another option:



It's the just under $4k price tag that kills me though!

[spolic]

Just came acrosd this myo.orbea.com.
Theyll be giving away an orca or an ordu. All you need to do is configure a bike, share it and youll be entered on the raffle

   Thanks.  entered! 

[stateprez]

Looking at Felt's current line up, out of what they have I think I'd lean towards the AR4 as another option:

That'd be cool until someone rolled up next to you on this:

...that they got for the same price

However, I would wait a year if you're not desperate.  Ultegra Di2 is supposedly coming out which should really start a price battle/realignment for the high end gruppos.

[Monster Dave]

Yeah, that's a nice look'n bike too.

I'm in a hurry to win a free bike, not so much to drop 4k on a new bike...I have other priorities that would have to come first.

[DW]

Just unpacked three suitcases in Singapore, and after a little assembly work suddenly have a mountain bike in my hotel room!  Singapore bike hash #408 is tomorrow morning and I intend to be there. Only problem is that I have been a lazy slob this winter and I'll be terribly jet lagged. Sometimes just finishing is a worthy goal.