Road Cycling

[Shimmyhill]

Nice! Let me know how you get on with the buttons. It's the only small niggle left for me......

Will do, not sure how I will get this one past the wife as it looks different enough to the 520 that she may notice!

 

[Derek W]

https://www.strava.com/activities/2579488972

Popped out again last night. Increased the distance and a bit more climbing. Looking to do a 25mile route with a shade under 1500ft climbing tomorrow. As it's my first week back for two months I'll not be pushing cycling every day!

 

[Roady]

Whoop my BB has shipped. Bargain. Wheelsmfg Shimano compatible & OSBB compatible BB. May have to wait for some spacers to fit though.

Spoiler

Spacers are discontinued but sourced some on ebay for £7 delivered. BB normally around £60. Tredz had an 'order today to get £5 discount' popup discount code. Perfect. Topcashback for 4.2% off, doubled with a promotion/voucher from them 'today only'. Paid via Paypal which prompted me I had an additional £2 off for some reason. Cool. Paid with AMEX through PP which also gives Nectar points, so around 1.5% further 'cashback'. Bringing the BB in at £47.90, so sub £55 including spacers for the BB, then £88 for the Ultegra R8000 cranks! So complete switch to Ultegra cranks, including changing to a quality BB for £147.

But I do need to source one of those Shimano crank arm cap things. I have one on my turbo trainer setup so will just nab that for now if it fits (5800 cap on R8000).

@Roady Yup. I've almost done 14000 miles on that bike, and not a single issue with eTap. Tbh, I've not really had an issue at all, apart from general wear and tear usuals.

Great to hear! Mostly dry miles with your riding I think?!

Great eTap info, to be honest price will decide things for me, there seems to be far more deals on DI2 and being able to mix & match older/newer/different series really helps. I really don't mind the 'fiddle' factor of fitting DI2. It'll be a good useful learning curve! Electronic & Discs are the future! Will probably be 12 speed by the time I get around to it...

@Roady strava does have TBT, I watched a video about it as a recent update on the Roam imported the cues. Unless it’s making them after the update?

Yeah? Cool. Will have a test on my ELEMNT at some point to confirm and see how well it works! Although the lack of TBT did encourage me to move all of my routing/map planning to rwgps. Now I'm using it I can't imagine using anything else!

1) FOUND THE RATTLE!!
<snip>
I saw Road.cc did a review of the Roam (https://road.cc/content/review/264803-wahoo-elemnt-roam) and gave it 3.5/5. Most of their complaints seemed to be about the speed/lag. I can say after two days I've had none. Switching between pages is almost instant, and there's a slight lag when loading the map screen, but we're talking 0.5-1 second here at most. Certainly nothing to be fed up with after constant use.

So glad you found it and something simple! Not sure why that 'door' is there? Looks like you can screw the unit into the mount under it, but also for a bottom mounted camera fitting maybe? Glue it from inside to keep it aero, or use the taped one on your winter bike and the more aero on your summer...

Interesting road.cc noticed lag on the ROAM, I'd purely put mine down to it being an original ELEMNT and full of activities/routes...

It's like the reviews for the 1030, not great to begin with then after lots of firmware updates it's very good.

Sounds familiar to the ELEMNT when it was first released... To be fair sounds like the story for anything released these days...!

I've had my R5's for approaching 2 years, as my only pair of shoes. Sizing seems fairly accurate. Mine are 43 which are similar sizing to my "normal shoes". They are a little narrow at the front but haven't had any problems due to that.

Don't seem to have much wear other than marks from failed clipping in attempts on the sole and a couple on the very front of the shoes. Seemed to take a while to totally dry (stuffed with paper etc) when I got soaked a few months ago. Wouldn't have wanted to need them next day.

Thanks, good to hear about the sizing. I missed out on a pair for £31 which was an absolute steal, but they just got relisted. I'm probably happy to pay up to ~£50-60 for them as barely used as they're just for commuting. Fingers crossed!

Will do, not sure how I will get this one past the wife as it looks different enough to the 520 that she may notice!

Changed the wheels & tyres on my others halfs commuter and she didn't notice! Just when asked a week later said it felt 'nicer & faster'. That'll be the Conti 4 seasons over the schwalbe marathons...!

 

[dod]

Anyone got Fizik shoes? How do you find them, the fit and the sizing? Looking at some R4B's..

Have you ordered those yet? Interested to see how the fit comes up.
I've a pair of Izumi that are giving up and now one of the boa's has broken this morning. Wasn't really planning buying but got a pair of the Fiziks in the basket

Not had a chance to check if the boa can be fixed mind, and Pearl apparently offer a lifetime guarantee but I'll never find the receipt

 

[Saytan]

Will probably be 12 speed by the time I get around to it...

shimano went 8 years between 9 and 10, and 8 years between 10 and 11

but the competition already have it, and even shimano have it on MTB, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it soon. it's an effective way of providing something new in a world of diminishing returns on upgrades

 

[Lethal`]

I think my BB is on it's way out after like 5000 miles

Mostly dry miles too... the previous BB (same model) lasted 30k miles!

 

[Roady]

Had an annoying wait on my commute home last night, there's part of my journey where the cycle path I generally use (get too much abuse if I don't) where I have to cross the carriageway both 'ends' of it. My wait time was only around 3 minutes while waiting for a gap in the traffic. Typically it felt like 10!

Spoiler: Chariot Commute rambling

Joining I have to hold up traffic (to turn right across oncoming traffic - image is from 2009, so no path, but cyclepath starts at that pull-in), before then giving way at the 'end' (joining from the right here). Both on gradual gradient. Looking on Strava you get an idea of the power required (500W) to get the Chariot moving from a standstill up to 12-14mph onto a 2-3% gradient. Couple a few of those type of start/stop efforts with the sustained efforts (required to maintain speed into cross-headwind) I generally put in, it really does explain the fatigue I feel after a Chariot ride. Bear in mind my FTP is currently around 250W. So for some of those efforts I'm sat at FTP/just above. Interesting, here's where the cross-wind turned into a slight cross-head. The Chariot is like a sail when gusts do that - you can really feel the 'tug' of a gust! Knocked 2mph off my speed!

Have you ordered those yet? Interested to see how the fit comes up.
I've a pair of Izumi that are giving up and now one of the boa's has broken this morning. Wasn't really planning buying but got a pair of the Fiziks in the basket

Not had a chance to check if the boa can be fixed mind, and Pearl apparently offer a lifetime guarantee but I'll never find the receipt

You can probably just buy the Boa dial? Especially being Pearl Izumi, but you might have to get it from the states. Although Highland Bikes in Inverness are listed as a PI dealer, could be worth giving them a shout.

4 days until the R4B listing finishes so can't really give any feedback for a week or more, sorry!

shimano went 8 years between 9 and 10, and 8 years between 10 and 11

but the competition already have it, and even shimano have it on MTB, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it soon. it's an effective way of providing something new in a world of diminishing returns on upgrades

Ah yeah, but I was half talking going eTap as AXS will be the norm in a couple of years...

But 11-speed DA came out in 2012 so we're due 12 speed DA next year anyway...

I think my BB is on it's way out after like 5000 miles

Mostly dry miles too... the previous BB (same model) lasted 30k miles!

Which BB & did you change like for like? That seems a huge difference!

How annoying is this. Big price drops/deals on some Stages for older Shimano groupsets. 105 5800 down to £289, DA 9000 down to £289. No 6800 listed, seems to have been discontinued. Even Stages themselves only having 165mm.

Ultegra R8000 is still £479!

 

[Saytan]

But 11-speed DA came out in 2012 so we're due 12 speed DA next year anyway...

as if my hairline wasn't making me feel old enough.

 

[Roady]

...

Wish I still had a hairline.

 

[Shadowness]

Well I can't really fault Wahoo's customer service. Replying from an Instagram story I did, saying get in touch with their CS. Did that early this morning, a new mount and even a replacement back for my current mount are being sent out today, delivered tomorrow!

So that's my winter bike sorted

 

[Lethal`]

Which BB & did you change like for like? That seems a huge difference!

How annoying is this. Big price drops/deals on some Stages for older Shimano groupsets. 105 5800 down to £289, DA 9000 down to £289. No 6800 listed, seems to have been discontinued. Even Stages themselves only having 165mm.

Ultegra R8000 is still £479!

Yeah, like for like. SM-BB71 (can't remember if it's A or B for road).

Can't you just run a 5800/9000 stages with 6800 on the other side? Won't make a blind bit of difference besides aesthetics (and in case of 5800 that's maybe just a logo?)

 

[Roady]

Yeah that's my thinking too, although I hadn't realised the DA 9000 would fit? Pretty sure the 5800 would.

To be fair I'd spotted several 6800's on ebay for around £250 when looking at the 4iiii's prices (which you don't see many SH of), but that pricing on a new 5800/9000 really throws that idea out the window!

Pritchard from Dirty Sanchez just completed 10 Ironman's in 10 days.

EDIT: Anyone have any idea what the **** was up with my ELEMNT's GPS track this morning?!

 

[Saytan]

5000 miles is about optimal for a BB from the manufacturers standpoint

it's long enough that most people either never wear it out or forget when they fitted it so they're not too bothered when it does go pop, but not so long that you don't sell many replacements

(I had a UN-71 cartridge square taper, the single greatest bottom bracket of all time that'd been in everything from a dirt jumper to a long distance tourer over 15 years that I only retired because I no longer had any cranks to suit it. Gave it to a mate and it's still spinning in his tourer now. It must be 25 years old and hasn't ever been treated kindly)

 

[Shimmyhill]

First ride out on the Wahoo Roam and already I really like it, the screen is so much better the the Garmin 520 in sunlight and low light - it’s just so easy to read and looks great not being recessed.

@Shadowness i didn’t have any issues with buttons, they look like you should be able to press at the top but more middle to bottom (screen end) and need a positive press but seemed good - I would say I prefer the action to the 520 as always found them awkward.

I didn’t get to test out the mapping as I either downloaded the wrong club route or we deviated but what I saw of it the re routing seems to work well! One issue with mapping I’m having is updating maps, my unit tells me there isn’t enough space and it’s a know bug - the latest firmware is supposed to fix it but didn’t for me, I have UK so no immediate issue and nice to have so many maps as an option, well when they fix the space reporting issue...

Other than that the app is great, it’s so easy to sync routes and rides - I could happily live the rest of my life never having to use Garmins IQ connect apps and store and it’s nice that the unit actually syncs with my phone without a 5 min dance of switching BT on and off and forgetting devices as I had to with my Garmin - it seemed to have issue with using BT connected to car and then picking up Garmin or more likely the Garmin picking up my phone..... good riddance to that!

It feels very Apple to me, it just works and sure there are niggles but the core unit and app seem so much more intuitive to use and solid talking to each other - aware this is a PC forum....ish... but as an Apple man I like the Wahoo a lot!

 

[Roady]

it just works and sure there are niggles but the core unit and app seem so much more intuitive to use and solid talking to each other

Throw in the fact it's cheaper than the main competition and you have more of an Android than an Apple...

Great to hear you're getting on well with it! My ELEMNT even with its more glossy screen is great, but during the winter/gloom it can be a bit of a pain without the backlight. I tend to have it time out after a few secs as when having it on more it would kill my battery life. Will be interested in hearing how you guys get on with the matt ROAM screens and darkness/backlighting/battery life.

Did a 10mile Zwift iTT last night. Stupidly entered C which meant keeping power down to 3.1w/kg (CAT limit), but I think that helped me pace it quite well - 244W average, which is on par with a bunch of my outside efforts the last couple of months. I'll try an FTP test to confirm around 250W - if I don't get out for the club ride this weekend.

 

[Shadowness]

@Shadowness i didn’t have any issues with buttons, they look like you should be able to press at the top but more middle to bottom (screen end) and need a positive press but seemed good - I would say I prefer the action to the 520 as always found them awkward.

hmmmmm.......have you have any instances of pressing a button and it didn't do anything? (because you didn't quite press it right)

Good to hear it's all positive so far though!

 

[Lethal`]

5000 miles is about optimal for a BB from the manufacturers standpoint

it's long enough that most people either never wear it out or forget when they fitted it so they're not too bothered when it does go pop, but not so long that you don't sell many replacements

(I had a UN-71 cartridge square taper, the single greatest bottom bracket of all time that'd been in everything from a dirt jumper to a long distance tourer over 15 years that I only retired because I no longer had any cranks to suit it. Gave it to a mate and it's still spinning in his tourer now. It must be 25 years old and hasn't ever been treated kindly)

I guess but replacing a BB after about 6 months kinda sucks. The previous had lasted about 3 years. I half wonder if it just wasn't fitted that well, I gave it to a shop to do.

 

[One More Solo]

Thanks to the above for sharing all the Roam info. I’m considering upgrading my Edge 800 finally and it looks really good.

 

[Shimmyhill]

Throw in the fact it's cheaper than the main competition and you have more of an Android than an Apple...

Great to hear you're getting on well with it! My ELEMNT even with its more glossy screen is great, but during the winter/gloom it can be a bit of a pain without the backlight. I tend to have it time out after a few secs as when having it on more it would kill my battery life. Will be interested in hearing how you guys get on with the matt ROAM screens and darkness/backlighting/battery life.

Did a 10mile Zwift iTT last night. Stupidly entered C which meant keeping power down to 3.1w/kg (CAT limit), but I think that helped me pace it quite well - 244W average, which is on par with a bunch of my outside efforts the last couple of months. I'll try an FTP test to confirm around 250W - if I don't get out for the club ride this weekend.

The Roam is a fair bit more than the competition this time round as people seem to compare it to the 530 rather than 830 or 1030.

hmmmmm.......have you have any instances of pressing a button and it didn't do anything? (because you didn't quite press it right)

Good to hear it's all positive so far though!

I think I did before I worked out where to press, will keep my eye on it.

One thing I have seen is the way the Wahoo app has reported my cadence is odd, average of 47 but Strava and rwgps report 74, I’d say 74 is low as a rule but it was a slower ride but why the difference if the data source is the same?

 

[Saytan]

I guess but replacing a BB after about 6 months kinda sucks. The previous had lasted about 3 years. I half wonder if it just wasn't fitted that well, I gave it to a shop to do.

with a HT2 type system the crank does apply preload to the bearings - I guess if there's slightly too much it could cause relatively quick wear