Technical Stuff
Seen some great tech stuff? Â Seen some dreadful tech stuff? Â Have some tech questions? Â Then this is the page for you.
If you have tech questions then, if you are lucky you may get some answers. Â You never know but the answers may even be useful.
Note that for any advice given then it is up to the reader to use that advice advisedly at their own risk.
Y’all may have noticed the Jumbo Visma teams wearing a new helmet at Flanders. And Marta Cavalli won the women’s Amstel Gold in the same helmet. My PEZ review of the new Laser Vento KinetiCore.
Oh … and Wout needs to pull through and do his fair share of the work!
https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/lazer-vento-kineticore-helmet-review-more-aero-and-more-protection/
If you don’t already have a direct-drive smart trainer, this is worth considering. Especially if you already have an on-bike power meter. My PEZ review of the new Wahoo KICKR ROLLR.
https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/wahoo-kickr-rollr-review-and-set-up-guide-pez-first-ride/
Hey all! Been absent because (a) actually kinda busy with work (proposal for contract re-compete) and (b) been getting our house ready to sell and downsizing. Plan is for my wife and daughter to move down to the Hilton Head, SC area (buying a new house there), but I’ll be staying up in Babylon on the Potomac to continue working (not quite there yet for retirement). So I’ll rent an apartment and do long weekends down in SC on a regular basis. At least as long as my government customer absolutely needs me up here. If they ever decide I… Read more »
My latest for PEZ. Review of MAAP kit for fall riding. Cheers y’all! https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/layering-up-for-fall-with-maap-kit/
I know some might consider this sacrilege, but my PEZ review of the Specialized Turbo Creo e-bike. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/specialized-turbo-creo-gravel-ebike-review-and-setup/ It’s not cheating … its a HOOT!
I’m getting to the age where they are starting to make some sense!
I have a WAHOO ELEMNT and it has developed an annoying issue. When I turn it on it goes INSTALLING for some minutes then goes ERROR INSTALL FAILED before going into ride mode. I have contacted WAHOO support and they came back with this :- >>>> I would ask you to connect your Elemnt to a hotspot if possible: * To do this, please set up a hotspot on a phone that does not have your Elemnt app installed and that you normally do not use with your Elemnt * Then please go to the Elemnt app on your own… Read more »
Have you tried a hard reset?
Press the front, lower right hand corner button + the Power button on the Left side of the unit for 10 seconds.
You may or may not lose all your settings and any ride data stored on the unit. It’s considered a “last resort” whenever a unit freezes up, gets stuck, or won’t turn back on.
And if that doesn’t fix your problem, doing a hard reset should allow you to access Settings and do a factory reset.
Thanks. I’lll give Wahoo a couple of days to come back to me and if they don’t then I’ll give that a go.
Thanks, they have come back with these suggestion. Will try it later.
Whenever I’ve had an issue (only a few times) with either my BOLT or ROAM, a hard reset has solved it.
Finally fixed it. The Factory reset did not fix the problem in itself but after doing that and repairing with my phone and then initiating the update from the companion Ap on my phone is installed OK and now seems to turn on/off normally. Phew!
A wee blast from the past concerning Battaglin (and Tommy Prim).
https://www.velominati.com/guest-article/guest-article-prim-and-proper/
A good re-read.
I liked the new Pez review of Sportful kit. I was unfamiliar with the brand. I’ll let Chuck do the honors of providing a link if he’s so inclined.
Bonus question – Can anyone identify the blue and white bike in the review photos?
I think it’s a Battaglin
https://officinabattaglin.com/products/custom-steel-bikes/power-plus-evo/
I believe you called it correctly. I tried a quick search for Power + bike and all I got was a list of e-bikes. Very nice looking frames, too bad they’re so expensive. Not that I need another bike!
When did “need” become a factor in getting a new bike………?
In the form of “need” to maintain domestic tranquility and “need” to keep a roof over my head. I’m pretty sure I’m at S-1, and plan on parting with 2 or 3 bikes due to lack of space.
Review was done by the PEZ himself aka Richard Pestes. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/sportful-evo-jersey-ltd-bibshort-review/
More new kit! MAAP OffCuts jersey make with “leftovers” from prior production runs. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/maap-offcuts-review-enviro-conscious-jersey/
I know these are ridiculously expensive, but they are also ridiculously good/great shoes IMHO. My review of the Lake CX403s for PEZ. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/lake-cx403-shoes-review-the-carbitex-difference/
If you know anyone with a disc brake bike looking for “bargain” carbon fiber wheels, e11even is worth a look-see. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/e11even-disc-brake-wheels-review/
Another shoe review! But at least this pair is a little more wallet friendly. Northwave Extreme GT2. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/northwave-extreme-gt2-shoe-review/
Nice review. Detailed and thoughtful write-up.
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words.
If anyone is in the market for a new cycling computer, here’s my review of the new Wahoo BOLT. It now has color. Wahoo have upped their game to take on Garmin. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/the-new-wahoo-elemnt-bolt/ Oh … and we’re in the midst of the every 17 year cycle of Brood X cicadas here. My second experience. Truly a marvel of nature. Cheers!
And more new kit! My review of the La Passione RVV jersey and bibs. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/la-passione-rvv-collection-review/
More new kit! This time, GORE’s new take on their Fabian Cancellara kit. I am Spartacus! https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/gore-cancellara-jersey-bibshorts-review/
I know I risk ridicule from some of y’all, but my latest for PEZ. Review of Specialized HyprViz kit. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/specialized-hyprviz-go-with-the-fluo/
I have nothing against Fluoro/High Viz. I don’t understand folk wearing camouflage gear and I’m not keen on black either.
A few years back on a slightly misty morning a cyclist was going the other way with a flashing light and a bright jersey. It was only when he was nearly up to me that I spotted the other guy infront of him with no light and all black gear.
That’s called a death wish.
Forgot to shift gear into Neutral?!
https://fb.watch/4ZdpJSlUKM/
That is weird to say the least as you’d expect the pedals to continue to turn after the wheel hit the deck if it was spinning due to momentum. Would like to see the video from a bit earlier as to how he dismounted.
My “mini review” of the new Pirelli P ZERO Race clinchers in PEZ Gear Break today. As well as a bunch of other stuff for this Friday. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/gear-break-16-04-2021-pirelli-myvelofit-komcycling-rapha-efeducation-nippo-abus-sockguy/
Another shoe review. This time, the new Shimano S-PHYRE RC902. Totally flash in blue. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/shimano-s-phyre-rc902-shoe-review/
I like the variable arch support. I have very high arches and most standard insoles don’t give me sufficient support. I’ve done some of my own customisations with variable results. Anyone know of similar aftermarket customisable solutions that fit road shoes? I’ve tried SOLE which are are a good system but I found the basic sole was too thick for lying shoes and I was getting too compressed around the widest part of my foot. I did have ideal with the Stelbel to get custom inners within the price but with Covid lockdowns etc I’ve not been able to take… Read more »
@Teocalli – I use Bontrager insoles in my Lakes. I have low arches and the OEM insoles had too much arch support. I know Lake makes a custom insole but I wanted to see if something off the shelf would work for me. Not custom, but the Bontrager insoles work well for me. https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bontrager/inform_biodynamic_insoles/ I don’t have any experience with these, but both SOLE and Surefoot make cycling specific custom insoles.
AIIRC you can return the Bontrager insoles if they don’t work which is nice.
Giro do a sole with three levels of arch support. I have very low arches and use only the lowest option, so if you’d like the “highest” options let me know and I’ll send them to you.
I’ve found an aftermarket solution. Will save the details to see how they work out and can be the basis of an article if they turn out OK. It’s a very similar solution.
This comment doesn’t really belong here but… I had just finished reading this shoe review on PEZ a couple days ago and went out to get my mail. I was pleasantly surprised to find my OTR prize waiting for me, forwarded by Chuck since it was sent to him accidentally. So thanks to Teocalli for the original prize and thanks, Chuck, for taking the time to send it along. Just like dancollins, the phone/tool wallet will be a step up from the zip lock bag I had been using.
Excellent. Sorry for the cockup in sending via Chuck!
Happy to pay it forward!
Between Tubeless and Sponsorship Pressure (?) will we see more Pro teams moving away from Tubs?
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-of-flanders-on-clinchers-deceuninck-quickstep-break-with-tubular-tradition/?utm_medium=social&utm_content=cyclingnews&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR0PhogaRRFQn5zaY5CUvXTfuKWsOvUCsWwV_CU99mvPmKdg7UxlEDI47nc
Sadly…most likely. Really ticks me off.
Hmm – one for all those happy to buy Far East ‘knock offs’. Mavic find 100% failure rate in fake wheels.
https://road.cc/content/tech-news/mavic-warns-against-buying-counterfeit-wheels-281435?fbclid=IwAR2KkoPVGdWkGvwZMa4C-pKnmO0wCGo414WcTC9GcGoOmcHchSqOT4-46T0
Gulp! Canyon bars and seat post!
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/canyon-issues-stop-ride-for-aeroad-after-van-der-poel-handlebar-failure/
Not great PR for Canyon. This may show up some issues in the ‘direct to customer’ model vs using a LBS. Not least that I wonder how many of their customers would be capable of swapping out bars so any fix will likely require some form of credit/claim to have an LBS replace the bars – once they’ve worked out what they are going to do.
At least one report I’ve read says that the culprit may have been an overtightened brake lever. Given where it broke, a plausible explanation. At least Canyon is taking it seriously and addressing the problem. If there actually is a problem with the bars, direct to consumer vs LBS isn’t the issue, i.e., faulty bars are faulty bars and not a function of the business model. But yes, replacing them could be an issue for those who aren’t mechanically inclined. If not installed by Canyon, then a question of future liability. And maybe a LBS wouldn’t want to touch them… Read more »
Who needs the latest top end spec rig? Though the focus may well have been on aero gains rather than weight.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mathieu-van-der-poel-uses-budget-spec-aeroad-cf-sl-for-strade-bianche-win/?fbclid=IwAR3-hjxvhAxtzXNle57c9bcEKbx_icTSBXSkxlqe9nz-iJWjGINo98zqYEI
Another review on PEZ. Specialized S-Works Ares road shoe. Worn by the likes of Sam Bennett and Julian Alaphilippe. Won’t be surprised if Sagan ends up wearing them too. But for us mere mortals … bloody expensive! Also, the styling/look might not appeal to everyone. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/specialized-s-works-ares-shoes-review-channeling-your-inner-sam-bennett/
Black shoes should be lace up!
Waiting for MangoDave’s Golden Tickets to show up, so taking the time to give these beauties a right proper cleaning.
I’ve got a couple of those on worn out Shamal rims that I am thinking about rebuilding with new rims, though not sure whether anyone makes the ‘3 group” spoke pattern that matches Campag so my only option may be to rebuild with Shamal rims. The only thing putting me off is the internal nipples on the Campag rims which look like being a ‘mare to lace.
Campagnolo sells a little magnet that slides into the spoke nipple, so you can then use another to guide it to the spoke hole. It works quite well actually.
Yes I saw that. Will have to look at rim options but might be best to stick with Shamal and then I can reuse my existing spokes. Hopefully.
Oh, very nice! They felt smooth, didn’t think they would need a proper cleaning. How do they look inside?
The hub bearings were still really clean actually, dirt had worked its way into the freehub area, so good to get that cleaned out. I also pulled and re lubed the cartridge bearing in the freehub body itself, will be super smooth when you get them back. 🙂
Anyone in the market for a new helmet? My review of the new Lazer Sphere MIPS. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/lazer-sphere-mips-helmet-review/ Next in the review queue for me are the new Specialized Ares road shoes.