bzgl40 - 2013-04-23 3:53 PM

OMG TrainerRoad is at it again.  Must be strong and refuse to get involved.

 

What is "8 Days in California"?

 

8 Days in California simulates what an 8 day stage race might be like in California through TrainerRoad.com's software. Workouts will simulate a live race with a story overarching the entire event. Riders will be challenged to cover breaks, bring up water bottles and protect their team's GC contender.

The challenge will consist of 8 workouts over 8 days. Workouts will last between one and two hours. There will be flat stages, mountain climbs and even a time trial.

Riders who successfully complete the challenge and do their duties to the team will receive a coveted 8 Days in California badge on their career page.

The workouts for 8 Days in California will be announced one week before it starts (May 5th, 2013). We will release each day's workout the night before it happens.

 

marcag - 2013-04-23 5:38 PM

Sorry.

Back to normal....Did I tell you it snowed on my ride Saturday ? :-)

ChrisM - 2013-04-23 1:54 PM

Sort of hard to see, and it's not a side view, but here you can see how the bottle is hidden behind my hands (using the A2).  And to answer the question, when I use a regular bottle instead of the A2 it is not hard to remove and replace while in aero (well, one arm at least)

axteraa - 2013-04-23 9:09 AM

I rigged a home made mount that puts my Garmin between my aerobars up where they start to bend up.  It sits just below the plane of the bottle so when I take it out the bottle comes out above the computer and I can see and access the computer easily with my hands in aero.  My bottle sits farther forward than what it appears as Chris's does.  Basically the back of the bottle is right around where my elbows are.

Edit for pics:

http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu243/Zenmaster28/garmin-mount.jpg

http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu243/Zenmaster28/side-view.jpg

GoFaster - 2013-04-23 9:46 PM So, my question is how much did it snow? I ask since my riding partner and I got caught in a blizzard for 5min - visibility of about 10M, it was a little carzy. We started to seek shelter, and a few minutes from a gas station the sun came out. Very wierd day...

ligersandtions - 2013-04-23 6:31 PM

Are you sure you don't want to do it??  I think I just might join in the "fun" again!  My knee's really not letting me run, so might as well do a small bike focus (and keep the swimming in there as well).  

I hope they'll let us know the planned duration of each ride more than just the night before....gotta make sure to give myself enough time in the mornings to knock them out!

brigby1 - 2013-04-23 7:06 PM

Almost had that happen at Poconos. The bike was cruising along, but not that fast on a slight downhill. I came up, but they couldn't hear me with the full helmets and motor going. Ended up getting around ok. Passed them on the right too.

TankBoy - 2013-04-23 7:18 PM

Hi all – sorry to be AWOL from the group today, but this morning after my swim I was playing “Around the World with Salty” (you know, that instant-classic drinking game where you read one of Adrienne’s race reports and every time she mentions beer you have to chug one of your own). Just as I was downing my 14^th cold one I had a tremendous idea sparked by my well-hydrated state. Tired of the age-old conundrum of “straw or no straw” I got to thinking, “why not have the best of both worlds?” So I got to work in my shop and using an old servomotor and the sprinters button off of a spare Di2 unit I had laying around I quickly hacked together a serviceable unit that can deploy and retract the drinking straw of my speedfill bottle with a single push of a button. And all without ever having my hands leave the aerobars. As I am sure you are all quick to figure combined that saves me a whopping 100g of total drag, which using the basic formula of 100g drag = 10 w = 1.0/km = 3 whole minutes on an IM!

Not to be out done, I then thought, “Hey! What if I use a stepper motor instead of a servo?” That allowed me to hook into my garmin 810 and by writing a routine formula that analyzes the available metrics of FTP, HR, MPH, NP, IF, TSS, and EIEIO I could then have the straw auto-deploy and retract whenever the Garmin deemed I was adequately thirsty. Of course the reason stepper motors are best for this application is that by also analyzing information from the internal thermometer and barometer along with left and right power from my Elsa power meter I can also quickly determine the exact degree of yaw and have the straw instantaneously micro-adjust to the most aerodynamically efficient position every 1/100^th of a second as conditions warrant. Of course it goes without saying that in order for this to work with any degree of accuracy you also have to use the profile design universal computer mount so that you can move the head unit out in front of the bottle. Otherwise the barometer will obviously not register with enough accuracy due to the microclimate caused by the reduced atmospheric pressure created by having the bottle between the forearms. The upside of this redesign is that I then reprogrammed the sprinters button as a simple override that allows a manual deployment of the straw, providing a useful defensive squirt at any feral animal that may attempt to chase you down. This is an added feature that my wife will especially appreciate on her nighttime solo rides.  She hates breaking aero to fend off the random urban coyote. I should have something up on kickstarter soon.

So, what did I miss today while I was working on this little project? You guys discussing anything interesting?

TankBoy - 2013-04-23 10:18 PM

Hi all – sorry to be AWOL from the group today, but this morning after my swim I was playing “Around the World with Salty” (you know, that instant-classic drinking game where you read one of Adrienne’s race reports and every time she mentions beer you have to chug one of your own). Just as I was downing my 14^th cold one I had a tremendous idea sparked by my well-hydrated state. Tired of the age-old conundrum of “straw or no straw” I got to thinking, “why not have the best of both worlds?” So I got to work in my shop and using an old servomotor and the sprinters button off of a spare Di2 unit I had laying around I quickly hacked together a serviceable unit that can deploy and retract the drinking straw of my speedfill bottle with a single push of a button. And all without ever having my hands leave the aerobars. As I am sure you are all quick to figure combined that saves me a whopping 100g of total drag, which using the basic formula of 100g drag = 10 w = 1.0/km = 3 whole minutes on an IM!

Not to be out done, I then thought, “Hey! What if I use a stepper motor instead of a servo?” That allowed me to hook into my garmin 810 and by writing a routine formula that analyzes the available metrics of FTP, HR, MPH, NP, IF, TSS, and EIEIO I could then have the straw auto-deploy and retract whenever the Garmin deemed I was adequately thirsty. Of course the reason stepper motors are best for this application is that by also analyzing information from the internal thermometer and barometer along with left and right power from my Elsa power meter I can also quickly determine the exact degree of yaw and have the straw instantaneously micro-adjust to the most aerodynamically efficient position every 1/100^th of a second as conditions warrant. Of course it goes without saying that in order for this to work with any degree of accuracy you also have to use the profile design universal computer mount so that you can move the head unit out in front of the bottle. Otherwise the barometer will obviously not register with enough accuracy due to the microclimate caused by the reduced atmospheric pressure created by having the bottle between the forearms. The upside of this redesign is that I then reprogrammed the sprinters button as a simple override that allows a manual deployment of the straw, providing a useful defensive squirt at any feral animal that may attempt to chase you down. This is an added feature that my wife will especially appreciate on her nighttime solo rides.  She hates breaking aero to fend off the random urban coyote. I should have something up on kickstarter soon.

So, what did I miss today while I was working on this little project? You guys discussing anything interesting?

TankBoy - 2013-04-23 7:18 PM

Hi all – sorry to be AWOL from the group today, but this morning after my swim I was playing “Around the World with Salty” (you know, that instant-classic drinking game where you read one of Adrienne’s race reports and every time she mentions beer you have to chug one of your own). Just as I was downing my 14^th cold one I had a tremendous idea sparked by my well-hydrated state. Tired of the age-old conundrum of “straw or no straw” I got to thinking, “why not have the best of both worlds?” So I got to work in my shop and using an old servomotor and the sprinters button off of a spare Di2 unit I had laying around I quickly hacked together a serviceable unit that can deploy and retract the drinking straw of my speedfill bottle with a single push of a button. And all without ever having my hands leave the aerobars. As I am sure you are all quick to figure combined that saves me a whopping 100g of total drag, which using the basic formula of 100g drag = 10 w = 1.0/km = 3 whole minutes on an IM!

Not to be out done, I then thought, “Hey! What if I use a stepper motor instead of a servo?” That allowed me to hook into my garmin 810 and by writing a routine formula that analyzes the available metrics of FTP, HR, MPH, NP, IF, TSS, and EIEIO I could then have the straw auto-deploy and retract whenever the Garmin deemed I was adequately thirsty. Of course the reason stepper motors are best for this application is that by also analyzing information from the internal thermometer and barometer along with left and right power from my Elsa power meter I can also quickly determine the exact degree of yaw and have the straw instantaneously micro-adjust to the most aerodynamically efficient position every 1/100^th of a second as conditions warrant. Of course it goes without saying that in order for this to work with any degree of accuracy you also have to use the profile design universal computer mount so that you can move the head unit out in front of the bottle. Otherwise the barometer will obviously not register with enough accuracy due to the microclimate caused by the reduced atmospheric pressure created by having the bottle between the forearms. The upside of this redesign is that I then reprogrammed the sprinters button as a simple override that allows a manual deployment of the straw, providing a useful defensive squirt at any feral animal that may attempt to chase you down. This is an added feature that my wife will especially appreciate on her nighttime solo rides.  She hates breaking aero to fend off the random urban coyote. I should have something up on kickstarter soon.

So, what did I miss today while I was working on this little project? You guys discussing anything interesting?

TankBoy - 2013-04-23 9:18 PM

Hi all – sorry to be AWOL from the group today, but this morning after my swim I was playing “Around the World with Salty” (you know, that instant-classic drinking game where you read one of Adrienne’s race reports and every time she mentions beer you have to chug one of your own). Just as I was downing my 14^th cold one I had a tremendous idea sparked by my well-hydrated state. Tired of the age-old conundrum of “straw or no straw” I got to thinking, “why not have the best of both worlds?” So I got to work in my shop and using an old servomotor and the sprinters button off of a spare Di2 unit I had laying around I quickly hacked together a serviceable unit that can deploy and retract the drinking straw of my speedfill bottle with a single push of a button. And all without ever having my hands leave the aerobars. As I am sure you are all quick to figure combined that saves me a whopping 100g of total drag, which using the basic formula of 100g drag = 10 w = 1.0/km = 3 whole minutes on an IM!

Not to be out done, I then thought, “Hey! What if I use a stepper motor instead of a servo?” That allowed me to hook into my garmin 810 and by writing a routine formula that analyzes the available metrics of FTP, HR, MPH, NP, IF, TSS, and EIEIO I could then have the straw auto-deploy and retract whenever the Garmin deemed I was adequately thirsty. Of course the reason stepper motors are best for this application is that by also analyzing information from the internal thermometer and barometer along with left and right power from my Elsa power meter I can also quickly determine the exact degree of yaw and have the straw instantaneously micro-adjust to the most aerodynamically efficient position every 1/100^th of a second as conditions warrant. Of course it goes without saying that in order for this to work with any degree of accuracy you also have to use the profile design universal computer mount so that you can move the head unit out in front of the bottle. Otherwise the barometer will obviously not register with enough accuracy due to the microclimate caused by the reduced atmospheric pressure created by having the bottle between the forearms. The upside of this redesign is that I then reprogrammed the sprinters button as a simple override that allows a manual deployment of the straw, providing a useful defensive squirt at any feral animal that may attempt to chase you down. This is an added feature that my wife will especially appreciate on her nighttime solo rides.  She hates breaking aero to fend off the random urban coyote. I should have something up on kickstarter soon.

So, what did I miss today while I was working on this little project? You guys discussing anything interesting?

TankBoy - 2013-04-23 8:18 PM

Hi all – sorry to be AWOL from the group today, but this morning after my swim I was playing “Around the World with Salty” (you know, that instant-classic drinking game where you read one of Adrienne’s race reports and every time she mentions beer you have to chug one of your own). Just as I was downing my 14^th cold one I had a tremendous idea sparked by my well-hydrated state. Tired of the age-old conundrum of “straw or no straw” I got to thinking, “why not have the best of both worlds?” So I got to work in my shop and using an old servomotor and the sprinters button off of a spare Di2 unit I had laying around I quickly hacked together a serviceable unit that can deploy and retract the drinking straw of my speedfill bottle with a single push of a button. And all without ever having my hands leave the aerobars. As I am sure you are all quick to figure combined that saves me a whopping 100g of total drag, which using the basic formula of 100g drag = 10 w = 1.0/km = 3 whole minutes on an IM!

Not to be out done, I then thought, “Hey! What if I use a stepper motor instead of a servo?” That allowed me to hook into my garmin 810 and by writing a routine formula that analyzes the available metrics of FTP, HR, MPH, NP, IF, TSS, and EIEIO I could then have the straw auto-deploy and retract whenever the Garmin deemed I was adequately thirsty. Of course the reason stepper motors are best for this application is that by also analyzing information from the internal thermometer and barometer along with left and right power from my Elsa power meter I can also quickly determine the exact degree of yaw and have the straw instantaneously micro-adjust to the most aerodynamically efficient position every 1/100^th of a second as conditions warrant. Of course it goes without saying that in order for this to work with any degree of accuracy you also have to use the profile design universal computer mount so that you can move the head unit out in front of the bottle. Otherwise the barometer will obviously not register with enough accuracy due to the microclimate caused by the reduced atmospheric pressure created by having the bottle between the forearms. The upside of this redesign is that I then reprogrammed the sprinters button as a simple override that allows a manual deployment of the straw, providing a useful defensive squirt at any feral animal that may attempt to chase you down. This is an added feature that my wife will especially appreciate on her nighttime solo rides.  She hates breaking aero to fend off the random urban coyote. I should have something up on kickstarter soon.

So, what did I miss today while I was working on this little project? You guys discussing anything interesting?

GoFaster - 2013-04-23 10:50 PM

Arend - what did you use to make that?

ChrisM - 2013-04-24 2:09 AM

You had me at beer

TankBoy - 2013-04-23 10:18 PM

Hi all – sorry to be AWOL from the group today, but this morning after my swim I was playing “Around the World with Salty” (you know, that instant-classic drinking game where you read one of Adrienne’s race reports and every time she mentions beer you have to chug one of your own). Just as I was downing my 14^th cold one I had a tremendous idea sparked by my well-hydrated state. Tired of the age-old conundrum of “straw or no straw” I got to thinking, “why not have the best of both worlds?” So I got to work in my shop and using an old servomotor and the sprinters button off of a spare Di2 unit I had laying around I quickly hacked together a serviceable unit that can deploy and retract the drinking straw of my speedfill bottle with a single push of a button. And all without ever having my hands leave the aerobars. As I am sure you are all quick to figure combined that saves me a whopping 100g of total drag, which using the basic formula of 100g drag = 10 w = 1.0/km = 3 whole minutes on an IM!

Not to be out done, I then thought, “Hey! What if I use a stepper motor instead of a servo?” That allowed me to hook into my garmin 810 and by writing a routine formula that analyzes the available metrics of FTP, HR, MPH, NP, IF, TSS, and EIEIO I could then have the straw auto-deploy and retract whenever the Garmin deemed I was adequately thirsty. Of course the reason stepper motors are best for this application is that by also analyzing information from the internal thermometer and barometer along with left and right power from my Elsa power meter I can also quickly determine the exact degree of yaw and have the straw instantaneously micro-adjust to the most aerodynamically efficient position every 1/100^th of a second as conditions warrant. Of course it goes without saying that in order for this to work with any degree of accuracy you also have to use the profile design universal computer mount so that you can move the head unit out in front of the bottle. Otherwise the barometer will obviously not register with enough accuracy due to the microclimate caused by the reduced atmospheric pressure created by having the bottle between the forearms. The upside of this redesign is that I then reprogrammed the sprinters button as a simple override that allows a manual deployment of the straw, providing a useful defensive squirt at any feral animal that may attempt to chase you down. This is an added feature that my wife will especially appreciate on her nighttime solo rides.  She hates breaking aero to fend off the random urban coyote. I should have something up on kickstarter soon.

So, what did I miss today while I was working on this little project? You guys discussing anything interesting?

TankBoy - 2013-04-23 10:18 PM

Hi all – sorry to be AWOL from the group today, but this morning after my swim I was playing “Around the World with Salty” (you know, that instant-classic drinking game where you read one of Adrienne’s race reports and every time she mentions beer you have to chug one of your own). Just as I was downing my 14^th cold one I had a tremendous idea sparked by my well-hydrated state. Tired of the age-old conundrum of “straw or no straw” I got to thinking, “why not have the best of both worlds?” So I got to work in my shop and using an old servomotor and the sprinters button off of a spare Di2 unit I had laying around I quickly hacked together a serviceable unit that can deploy and retract the drinking straw of my speedfill bottle with a single push of a button. And all without ever having my hands leave the aerobars. As I am sure you are all quick to figure combined that saves me a whopping 100g of total drag, which using the basic formula of 100g drag = 10 w = 1.0/km = 3 whole minutes on an IM!

Not to be out done, I then thought, “Hey! What if I use a stepper motor instead of a servo?” That allowed me to hook into my garmin 810 and by writing a routine formula that analyzes the available metrics of FTP, HR, MPH, NP, IF, TSS, and EIEIO I could then have the straw auto-deploy and retract whenever the Garmin deemed I was adequately thirsty. Of course the reason stepper motors are best for this application is that by also analyzing information from the internal thermometer and barometer along with left and right power from my Elsa power meter I can also quickly determine the exact degree of yaw and have the straw instantaneously micro-adjust to the most aerodynamically efficient position every 1/100^th of a second as conditions warrant. Of course it goes without saying that in order for this to work with any degree of accuracy you also have to use the profile design universal computer mount so that you can move the head unit out in front of the bottle. Otherwise the barometer will obviously not register with enough accuracy due to the microclimate caused by the reduced atmospheric pressure created by having the bottle between the forearms. The upside of this redesign is that I then reprogrammed the sprinters button as a simple override that allows a manual deployment of the straw, providing a useful defensive squirt at any feral animal that may attempt to chase you down. This is an added feature that my wife will especially appreciate on her nighttime solo rides.  She hates breaking aero to fend off the random urban coyote. I should have something up on kickstarter soon.

So, what did I miss today while I was working on this little project? You guys discussing anything interesting?

mcmanusclan5 - 2013-04-23 8:50 PM

I currently use power when training on my road bike, but rode my last 2 tri's more on RPE/HR (except on a couple hills where I watched power to make sure I didn't blow up).  I now have a much better sense of exertion/power (most days), though, so just am not sure if I will use the PM as much in a race as in training.  I'd like to, but there are limits to what I can afford (all at once, anyway!).

marcag - 2013-04-24 8:54 AM

What kind of PM do you have on the road bike ?

mcmanusclan5 - 2013-04-23 8:50 PM

OK Utopians, a gear "either/or" question (which you can feel free to ignore!).

Let's assume I'm going to purchase a used 54cm P2C (I like the P3, but the P2 fits really well and is less $$) and that I know it can be set up to fit me very nicely.  Let's also, for kicks and giggles, say I have a rear 808 tuby (I currently ride that on my Venge - which I love on the road - for tri's with my Rovale Rapid stock wheel on front).

Would you, to go with the bike:

A) Get a power meter and a used front 404 tuby (run a 606 rig for races with power); or

B) Get a used sub-9 and a used front 808 tuby (a bit more $$ but in range - could run 808s or disc/808 if less wind) and race on RPE/HR?

I currently use power when training on my road bike, but rode my last 2 tri's more on RPE/HR (except on a couple hills where I watched power to make sure I didn't blow up).  I now have a much better sense of exertion/power (most days), though, so just am not sure if I will use the PM as much in a race as in training.  I'd like to, but there are limits to what I can afford (all at once, anyway!).

Option C is, of course, do it all - but my better half would think better of doing that…

I should also say that I plan (OK, it's a bit of "hope" as well) to upgrade the whole rig either at the end of this season or in a couple years - depends on a couple factors but likely will, if I even feel the need…  Not sure if that makes a difference on wheels and such.

I'm planning to race sprints, a couple Oly's and maaaaybe a HIM if I feel sprightly in the fall.  Next season (and likely as not I'll have this rig another season, realistically) I am thinking on a couple HIMs and maaaaaaaaaaaybe an IM late season.  That will depend as much on my work schedule as anything, though.

Appreciate your perspectives on this, as I'm waaaaay too far in my own head trying to figure it out.  I have a gut feel, but won't bias the responses (if that's even possible here).  

Thanks!
Matt 

marcag - 2013-04-24 9:28 AM

Personally I would get a 404 front, a wheel cover for the back and swap my Powermeter across the two bikes. This assuming you can get an inexpensive tubular 404. I would not pay full price for a zipp tubular. Selling the 808 and buying a set of Flos may be overall cheaper.

A GXP Quarq works fine on a P2 with the right BB.

If you get the P2 with a SRAM crank, the two will be swappable.

I would not buy another Power Meter if you are on a budget

The P2 is a great bike!

brigby1 - 2013-04-24 11:37 AM They're very close in how fast they are too. The P3 is faster, but it's tight enough that it's possible adding spacers for additional height can make it equal or slower than the P2. So if you don't and will not need the additional drop available on a P3, then you could very well be better off with the P2.