From German with love #urgestalt #lightweight #framemywheels

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/icd6hdPsz_/

Merry Christmas everyone! What a morning for a ride. May your dream come true and found the special magic from Santa. I'm sure that you have been good #festive500 #wymtm #fromwhereiride #lightweight #urgestalt #framemywheels

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/iUo-4YPs4_/

Stage Power meter firmware upgrade

Here are the details. 

StagesPower iOS App notes:
*    Bug Fixes and API updates
*    Fahrenheit/Celsius toggle for Zero Calibration Data
*    Battery Level Indicator

That will be useful as to see when to change the CR2032 or when to keep a spare.

The green indicator at bottom screen show how much juice is left.

(More from Bike radar)

"Less high tech, but equally if not more important – the update now features battery level indication. When connected via Bluetooth the App will show the battery meter as shown above, and when connected via ANT+, the power meter will send out a low battery notice which means you have about 10 hours of battery life left."

*    Tools Page - can now read the power meter's calibration data and settings for improved customer service and support. (Feature available with firmware versions after 2.0.21)
*    High Speed Data - the StagesPower App can now record pedaling force (kgf) and torque (Nm) 64 times per second and email the data for post ride analysis in Excel (.csv format). (Feature available with firmware versions after 2.0.21)

V2.0.31 Firmware notes:
*    Bug Fixes and API Updates
*    Low Battery Warning (ANT+)
*    High Speed Data - the ability to transmit pedaling force (kgf) and torque (Nm) 64 times per second via Bluetooth to the StagesPower app for recording and post ride analysis. (The ANT+ power and cadence information will continue to transmit as normal, when High Speed Data is in use)
*    StagesPower Tools - functionality to transmit calibration data and settings to the app for improved customer service and support.
*    Torque Efficiency (ANT+ only, available on Garmin 510 and 810)
*    Pedal Smoothness (ANT+ only, available on Garmin 510 and 810)

Hope you have a smooth and #happyhumpday. Always mad this time of year before Xmas. Looking forward to some #Rapha500 madness! #fromwhereiride #rapha #lightweight #urgestalt #framemywheels

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/hwa_FLvs_l/

I bought a weed hugging hypster bike #lightweight #urgestalt #framemywheels

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/hosrY_vs02/

Happy times! #wymtm #lightweight #urgestalt #framemywheels

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/hbvbp-Pswu/

Stages Power Meter Review

I always want a power meter, but somehow something will come up and the "power money" has gone somewhere else. This $999 gadget is affordable and how I know how shit I'm compare with the Strava estimate.

The way I see things of the power meter world. There is no gold standard of how to measure power. The strain gauges that most crank based systems calculate power via an estimate, from their own-derived algorithm. As long as they are consistent, I think it is ok. How do you know who is right? Absolute value is pointless, as someone does 1000W in one machine using one type of power meter will show a different value with same strain on a different bike and a different power meter.

I started noticing Stages power meter in cycling websites. I basically chose the Dura Ace crank based on the fact that Stages will be available in Australia soon. I have considered alternatives like the Rotor new power meter, but the look gets me. I would not though get a Quarq with SRAM as I will have full Di2. This is just a crime! SRM will give me a solution, and a very expensive solution too!

I started using Stages for about a week or so. For a novice, this is very easy to set up. Point the crank down at 6 o'clock position and click the (((•))) button on the Garmin, select the power meter icon, click calibrate and wa la in less than 5 seconds.

The down side I have is that Stages has recommended to remove the Garmin speed/cadence sensor, since Stages can calculate the cadence for you, all you have is the GPS in the Garmin to calculate speed. I always think this is a less accurate way, particularly to look at VAM (vertical meter gained per hour). But now I think if I climb basal on power, it will be the same and more accurate since the roughness of the bitumen and the wind will be a factor on the climb. Just use cadence and power makes more sense.

However, that make me thinking that putting a power meter on my better bike makes no sense. Since I am not riding this everyday and now force myself putting more KMs in these beauty. There will be a time that I will swap the Tarmac to Dura Ace and use Stages. Why don't I put a Quarq Specialized spider you ask. Well I just said 2 different power meter has 2 absolute values in the same effort at the same form. How do I compare? Besides one such spider is $2000. A crank and Stages combine I will have change for a Rapha Pro Team bundle.Well you can't compare riding a Tarmac to riding this German bitch any day haha.

I deliberately do not include any result, since more detail work has been done by a sponsored blog. http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/06/stages-review-update.html

He has more scientific analysis than I will ever be. If I have that much time to make this, I would rather use the time to ride bike or get a second job so I can have 10 more bikes.

Using a power meter is a way to ignore the "guesstimate" of Strava power. How can I constantly hit 300W on the flat or how can I been averaging 200W on bike track hubbarding I don't know .... On the climbs though, where Strava use to formula to calculate power, seems to be around the ball park.

One real con that will really shit me is I'm already on the second CR2032 battery. Fuck that if I have to change battery every 2 weeks. I will acquire a coin battery company before next Christmas.

Functional, a bit of norm, even rated nerdy, obviously underrated. A few people who really know it really appreciate the value.... it is like me!!! #stagespower #urgestalt #framemywheels

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/hAxdOQvs4n/

Learn that from Italy - lunch ride - da 1 a 3:30 #framemywheels #fromwhereiride

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/g4d7qtPs7T/

Urgestalt goes to Beach

Taking the Beach road today and have some speed work. Holding at 40kmh against the wind is ok. Not much cross deviation compare with the Tarmac. One the speed is on it can be hold at 40kmh. It is a bit tricky in the new Dura Ace that I'm missing a 53-16T combo (in a 11 speed 11-28 cassette the ratio is 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28).

First rides

So here it is



This is my second ride of the bike and I'm already very impressed by it. It has a strong bottom bracket and matches well with the Dura Ace crank. The geometry is totally different from the Tarmac. I think this suit me better on the climb and certainly it's lightness helps (total set up including pedal and cages is 6.35kg). I am not sure it is my form or the bike, but I think the Tarmac is much easier to do sudden acceleration like chasing the attack but Urgestalt is so solid on the saddle that it's perfect for break away and constant efforts. This is a road race bike or a Fondo bike but Tarmac is perfect for criterium.

I put my old Lightweight clincher for now. I'm planning to get a shallow rim Lightweight tubs when closer to 3 peaks.

Specification:

* Lightweight Urgestalt 56cm
* Lightweight Standard IIIc
* Shimano Dura Ace 9070 Di2 (11-28T)
* Speedplay Zero Ti
* Arundel bottle cages
* 3T ARX2 Team stem 120mm
* 3T Ergonova carbon handlebar 42cm
* Lightweight bartape
* Specialized S Work Romin Saddle (To be customized at some stage)

Weight 6.35kg including pedal and cages.

Happy riding :)

- Posted using BlogPress iPhone.

The grand opening. Love at first sight.

This is a blog of my journey with this incredible bicycle. When I know that Lightweight is making a new frame, I was pretty into it. What else is there out there for 2013? Specialized has no new Venge or Tarmac and bringing out all these irrational colourway. Cervelo has RCa that is out of my budget ($11000 RRP for frameset only) and most disappointing Taiwanese version has the RCa geometry and internal cabling for Di2 but they look bother to change their paintwork. It may be good if I want to upgrade my bike without anyone even my wife knowing it, but I'm buying a second bike!

My new frame at Bike Gallery Melbourne

The only concern regarding the Lightweight is not where it came from. I have no trouble of the frame coming from Taiwan. For your information, let's say it is politically and culturally separate from mainland China. So please refer it as Taiwanese frame not Chinese frame. Anyway, my concern is the geometry and measurement (Official PDF file). I need a 56cm frame, but the short tube is 10mm shorter (165 vs 155) and the top tube is 5mm shorter (565 vs 560). So I will need a 120mm stem rather than 110mm and perhaps has to cope with being lower.

I will have my specification and my first ride next post.

- Posted using BlogPress iPhone.

Even the packaging is impressive. Look at that graphics and packaging.

Boys are boys and they could not see a menu until I pointed out.

Handmade for footwork.

Internal guide cable is in for a quick built.