PhotoJoe 

It’s almost over!

dagray

is it too early for an ****?

Beachgrad05

So have Wahoo Kickr 2016 version on way. I have to pick up from UPS on Monday. Was out for delivery yesterday but their seasonal driver couldn’t get to delivering it. Signature required so I waited around all day. Called them and after an hour on hold...told them to hold it and I’ll pick up. Not getting stuck waiting around the house again.

I have two bikes 11 spd. The kickr comes with cassette. I hear it is 11-25. Cassettes on my bikes are 11-28. Soon I’m getting one bike changed to 11-32 with long cage derailleur for climbing. My question for those that have Kickr trainers does different cassette cog sizing make difference in shifting on Kickr? Will I have problems? Or is it just a matter of both being 11 speed?

dagray

Chain Reaction Cycles got me..... new 90mm stem on the way for my Deda 35mm bars (46cm wide). It is the white Deda "Trentacinque" with the red lettering "35" in 90mm length.

Beachgrad05

I just ordered for pick up Apple TV 4K so can run Zwift on that and use my phone for the mobile link. My poor phone battery even plugged in was getting drained fast today.

Also I failed on the WBR group ride. I was all set up and ready to go early. Too early. My sensors went to sleep and I didn’t realize it. Ride started and I was left sitting at start. Sigh

TrojanHorse

11 speed is all you need. The trainer "reality level" starts out at 50% on zwift, which means less shifting and less need for a low, low gear.

You will see all kinds of people on facebook SWEARING up and down that they replaced the SRAM cassette with a 105 cassette and their shifting improved dramatically. I think they're full of malarkey but you can make your own determination after you get it set up.

ill.clyde

I always spin while sitting in the paddock at the start of those things

Beachgrad05

I was getting set up really early. By time I was ready to spin before start I failed to understand why when I was spinning that it was not showing me doing so in game on pretend trainer. I just put it down to having dumb trainer. Now I know it was because my sensors disconnected.

TrojanHorse

You have to! When that gate opens everybody takes off at 500W+. The group rides are less annoying because you can usually catch up.

Beachgrad05

Finally got my Kickr set up and put my Emonda on it as yesterday I realized my Domane chain is seriously stretched out and in need of replacement. 5 weeks post surgery and I made it 15 miles. If it weren’t for my hip starting to tell me to stop I could have kept going. Seriously the smart trainer makes that much of a difference

https://www.strava.com/activities/1303665194

ill.clyde

20 mindless miles around the Volcano Circuit this morning ... mostly Z2, I did push on my last lap and hit a new PR on the Volcano Circuit.

Also did the 5 lap achievement around the volcano, which put me over the top into Level 9.

ill.clyde

And six days later I hit Level 10 ... mounted the Zwift TT bike (so I wouldn't get any power ups and just the 10 extra XP) and did 40K. Wasn't going to stop until I made level 10 and I was so close to 40K I just went ahead and finished it.

Beachgrad05

I’m closing in on level 7

Beachgrad05

Sold my KK road machine “dumb” trainer today. I got $180 which is a pretty decent price since I’ve had it over 3 years. I hadn’t used it much thx to riding trainer being too boring before I was truly able to use Zwift. I was part of Beta in early 2016 but my mac is so old it couldn’t properly run the graphics. That took a bit of the enjoyment out of using Zwift. By the time IOS version came out I tried it some more but had to buy an adapter to send signal to tv and that was cool but at that point my hip was not cool. Prior to surgery I had done 60 miles on Zwift. In the past 30 days I’ve ridden 130 miles on Zwift. My fitness score on Strava has gone up to 7 from pretty much nothing.

DrIsotope

With the broken hand, I logged 500 miles on Zwift in 20 riding days (27 calendar days.) Haven't looked at it since. But I will tell you the best unlock is the Zipp 808s. Instant 1-2mph speed boost, and it doesn't take an eternity to unlock it. The Tron bike is supposed to be the fastest by a wide margin, but at no point was I ever struck with the desire to take on the Everest Challenge.

This month's Carbo-Loading is shaping up to be the quietest one ever. It's sitting at one PPD.

ill.clyde

I just earned the 808s ... first time on them today, raced, finished 8th but I think we had three sandbaggers, so not terribly bad.

Not sure I'm keen to earning the Tron bike either, but I also have at least three, possibly four, months of indoor training ahead of me. And IRL I'm surrounded by rolling hills ... might make sense to pursue it after I finish the California challenge

Beachgrad05

I’m doing California challenge. I have a ways to go. Think I’m only 1/4 of the way. But in all honesty I just now started using Zwift with any sort of regularity

ill.clyde

I hit 50% of the California Challenge today ... Still a ways to go

jimincalif

Feel like I'm not doing my part in this thread, but it's selling season for me so things are a bit crazy. Trying to keep up the riding though. "Work" is a 4-letter word!

Broke another rear wheel spoke Saturday, NDS, head in, spoke out. The point where the spoke butt tapers down is right where it bends over the hub flange, it appears to fatigue right there. 2nd time same failure. Fortunately I had a spare spoke so I was able to replace it and still ride on Sunday. I'm our club's ride coordinator and the second Sunday of each month features a "sufferfest" ride climbing some of OC's most challenging hills. Didn't want to miss my own sufferfest. Did Highlands, PID, Club House and Beacon Hill (saw 14% there).

I've ordered a new wheel from Colorado Cyclist. Same HED rim, same 28 spoke count, but using a DT Swiss 350 straight pull hub instead of the 240s hub with J spokes. The 240s straight pull does not come in 28 spoke, 24 max. We'll see how this works once I get it.

TrojanHorse

I'm doing the everest challenge. Should finish the first part in the next week or two, which nets a pretty good bike for zwift (some trek... emonda?), and then I'll keep going until I get that damn glow in the dark bike.

Jim - the word of the day is "spare wheelset". Or better yet "spare bike set"

Beachgrad05

Great job on the Everest challenge!

jimincalif

Yup, that's why I ordered another wheel. It will match my front. I will probably replace the other 6 NDS outside spokes on my current wheel too. And I have my bike's original front wheel. The original back is shot, only 20 spokes, I was using it on a trainer at the Torture Clinic last year and broke another spoke on it.

As for the spare bike, I've already told my wife I need 5 bikes, she's fine with it. I have two, but only one is a road bike. I just hate to shop. Tempted to pop for a Ti bike with maybe gravel geometry that's drilled for a rack so I could use it for some light touring too. But now I see the Ultegra 8000 series so I want that. So many choices - first world problems, eh?

Maybe I can buy a spare from you since you never go outside anymore?

dagray

decided to clean up my pain cave area and replaced the 50 foot extension cord with a 10 foot cord.

Now to ride today

IBOHUNT

What did I miss @TrojanHorse

SethAZ 

I keep going outside and riding my bike by myself. Who would ever have thought that staying inside and riding a trainer would actually become the more socially preferable option? It's so wierd.