Interbike, Part 1

Okay, finally my post about my first trip to Interbike.

First off, I have never seen so much bike stuff in one place! I walked into the convention hall, and literally did not know where to start. It was complete sensory overload!

My camera was having issues, so some of the pictures I really wanted didn't turn out. Still, here are the first batch of pictures from the show.

Banana seats, sissy bars, and ape hangers aren't dead.

I would hate to try stopping this pennyfarthing if the roads were wet!

Pegoretti bikes always have such incredible paint jobs.

Timbuk2. We all know my about my obsession.

I heard after the show that Mario Ciopllini was there, but I didn't get a chance to see him.

Vittoria (no relation to the tire company) shoes. Nice!

Incredible bar and stem with an integrated Garmin mount from Calfee.

Several booths were displaying some very nice custom bikes.

Midget Wookie.

Surly made some rollers out of logs and 2x4's. I couldn't pass up another ride on the Moonlander!

A couple of new shirts from our friends at Cyclelogical.

There were Celebrities everywhere. I managed to get this picture of  4x Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington as she was visiting the Hed Booth.

Some great shirts from Handlebar Mustache.

The Spokesmen recorded live podcasts during Interbike from the media center (aka the fishbowl). L to R: Tim Jackson, DL Byron, Rich Kelly, Jim Moss, and David Bernstein.

More to come!

Product Review: Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0

Yes, I know I said previously that next up would be Interbike, but I needed to pause for a review.

Way back in August, during Outdoor Retailer, I met with the fine folks at Timex so they could show me their new bike computer, the Cycle Trainer 2.0.

They were also kind enough to send me one so I could put it through the paces and get some first hand experience with it.

So, two months later, I have been using it every time my butt hits the bike seat. From the mundane commute to and from the bus stop to longer rides around my little town. Rain or shine. I even took it with me down to Vegas for the Tour de Lake Mead.

Here is the press release from Timex:

The Timex® Cycle Trainer™ 2.0 is a GPS-enabled bike computer that tracks speed, distance, elevation, routes, and heart rate with its included Flex Tech chest sensor. With its ANT+ technology, the bike computer also tracks cadence and power for dedicated cyclists. The device offers incredible value for cyclists looking to track their rides and monitor performance, along with a temperature display and a barometric sensor for live elevation and grade data. The product boasts five customizable screens, and hands-free operation with auto start, auto split, auto stop and auto resume functions. The Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0 originally launched in March 2012, and is currently available in U.S. Sports Specialty retailers and on Timex.com, priced at $250. Timex currently offers a compatible bike speed and cadence sensor, available in sports specialty retailers and Timex.com, priced at $59.95.

My opinion of the Cycle Trainer 2.0 is that it does everything you need, and then some. What information you see, and where you see it is completely customizable; with five screens that can display as few as two, and as many as six pieces of information. You can even change the orientation to a landscape view. And, since it is a Timex, it of course has indiglow for easy nighttime viewing.

Ride information is downloaded via a mini-USB cable to the Timex DeviceAgent software on your computer, where you can upload it to your Training Peaks account (the device comes with a free account). You can also configure the screens, and update your profile information using the DeviceAgent software – which is easier than doing so on the unit.

The Cycle Trainer 2.0 comes with a quick start guide that will help you with the basic setup so you can get going, The full manual is available online – although I think it would be better if it was included.

Using the Cycle Trainer 2.0 was very simple. Under most circumstances, It acquired the satellite fix fairly quickly – the only time I had trouble was when I was in the city, and was surrounded by tall buildings. The information that it acquires is rather complete. I haven’t found myself saying, “if only it would tell me _____”, because it already does. I especially like the temperature display, because now you can complain to your buddies on a ride “ did you know that it is only __ freakin’ degrees out here?”

The GPS data is not compatible with Strava, but I haven’t decided if that is a good or bad thing yet.

Retail price for the base unit – which includes a chest strap for the heart-rate monitor is $250. Priced competitively with other GPS enabled bike computers.

More information can be found online at www.timex.com

Video of the Day

Really, the only word that comes to mind is WOW!

All of that, on a carbon Pinarello Dogma 2.

Interbike OutDoor Demo: Day 2

Day 2 of the OutDoor Demo started off bright and early for me. One of the various events that is going on during Interbike is the Tour de Lake Mead – a 23 mile ride from Bootleg Canyon down to Lake Mead, up to Las Vegas Bay and back. What makes the ride popular is that you get to take one of the demo bikes from the various retailers on an extended test ride. That is if you get there in time on Monday to reserve a bike.

Since I didn’t make out to the demo until 2:00 on Monday, I was finding that more than a little difficult. Everyone was telling me that all their bikes were already going out, or that they didn’t have any bikes to send out for the morning. Then I stopped by Moots. They told me that all their bikes were going out, but they would be happy to put me on a waiting list, in case someone didn’t show up.

I showed up expecting not to ride, and was pleasantly surprised when I was told that they had a Vamoots CR for me to ride!

One of the reasons that I was particularly happy I was able to ride the Moots, is I haven't ridden a titanium bike before this time. Compared to my aluminum bikes, or to the carbon bikes that I have ridden, I found the ride of the titanium moots to be smooth, but not flexy. The road chatter that I am accustomed to on my aluminum Specialized was absorbed by the Moots. I came away from the ride with a newly earned respect for the metal, and a new bike on my wish list.

After the Tour de Lake Mead, I wandered around the OutDoor Demo looking for something unique. I wanted to take some more bikes out for test rides, but I didn’t want to go out just for the sake of going out. I wanted unusual.

While I was looking around, the Ride2Recovery group arrived from their 30+ mile ride that started at the Sands Convention center earlier that morning.

If you are not familiar with Ride2Recovery, it is a mental and physical rehabilitation program for our country’s wounded veterans that features cycling as the core activity. Among the cyclists to make the trip was Delvin McMillian, a quadriplegic amputee who rode a road bike that was specially modified to allow him to shift and brake. So inspiring!

One of the bikes I had to ride was the All-Wheel-Drive bike from Tretta that I saw yesterday.

It needs to be said that the Tretta AWD bike is still in the prototype stages.

I don’t know exactly what I expected from it, but I was surprised at how normal it felt riding it. I noticed the front wheel grabbing when I started pedaling, which was the only indication that something was different. The addition of power to the front wheel helped negate the fact that the bike tipped the scales at what I am sure was something north of 30 lbs.

What wasn’t the greatest about it was the fact that the universal joint that transferred power from the cranks to the front wheel constantly clicked while pedaling. Also, when I took it on to anything but a mild dirt road, the chain running along the down tube would start slapping me in the calf and thigh.

One of the reasons I love bikes, is that they are such simple and elegant machines. The pipe-works mishmash between the head tube and fork completely detracted from those smooth and flowing lines. I don’t see the Tretta AWD taking over the bicycle industry. It will end up in that niche market that is home to bikes such as the shaft driven bicycle, and other bicycles that tried to answer the age-old question that no one is asking.

I only made it out on one other bike, and this one was possibly my favorite bike of the day.

That's 4.7" of rubber right there!

The Surly Moonlander is certainly an attention-getter. Huge 4.7” tires definitely draw the stares and comments. People who hadn’t taken one out for a test ride were asking if it was heavy, how it rode, and if it was hard to get started. Well, it isn’t a featherweight (steel frame, freakin’ huge tires and wheels), but it wasn’t as heavy as you would think and thanks to the gearing, it wasn’t at all hard to get going.

The ride? It was an absolute blast to ride. It floated over everything in its path. One of the guys at the Surly tent described it as a “bouncy castle on wheels”, and I really can’t disagree with him. I would love to take it out on a beach, or on a snow packed trail in winter. Definitely a bike I would love to have in my stable of bikes (hint, hint).

I spent the remainder of the day wandering around, seeing Elvis, drooling over the brightly colored baubles at Chris King etc…

It must be a Nevada state law that Elvis must be present at any event or gathering.

Ooh! Pretty colors! (drooling!)

Mobile tunes.

Love the rock art!

Honey Badger don't care! (Google it.)

Best way to beat the heat on the walk back to the hotel? Definitely a contender.

Up next, Interbike!