u/Snoo79652

Well, I now have a new bike with SRAM Rival AXS and a 10 year old bike with Ultegra Di2. I can NOT decide which system I like better.

I love the intuitiveness of the SRAM - right is down, left is up, both is front. It’s really genius. And it works.

But the Di2 - even 10 years old - just shifts so nice. Fast and smooth.

So far I find I make more “mistakes” with the Di2 since there are 4 buttons instead of 2.

Have you had both? Which did you stick with?

Hey all, just got a new bike with a Rival AXS setup, which is awesome. Went for my first ride today and when shifting up from the smallest cog on the rear I noticed an issue. When I press the shifter on the left side to shift the chain up, it doesn’t shift. It doesn’t even really sound or feel like it’s trying to shift. Then I press it a second time and it shifts two cogs up. Like it’s catching up from the missed shift.

This happened pretty consistently on my ride today, and only when shifting up the cogs from the very bottom (smallest), or up from the second and third smaller cog. Shifting from the larger cogs was fine. And shifting down (from largest to smallest with right side shifter) was good every time.

I’m not sure if maybe I need to make an adjustment with the app, etc.

It’s a 10-36 rear cassette if that matters.

Thanks in advance! This electronic shifting is all new to me!

Hey all, the days are getting shorter in New England and my preferred riding time is early morning before work. I really need to be home by 7:15am to get ready for work.

This time of year it’s not really getting light until 6am or just after.

I have no problem starting my rides earlier but I’m very new at this. Whats the general condense on riding in the dark? I have lights on my bike and the traffic is very light at that time as I’m in a rural area.

I’m less concerned about traffic then I am about seeing the road, pot holes, low shoulder, etc. it would only be for the first 15 mins or so when I’m actually in the dark. And even then it’s not completely dark….

What say you? Do you folks ride in the dark?

Hey all, I don’t know too much about the Varia or how it works. Not based on my use does it sound like a good idea for me?

I ride backroads and some intermediate roads but generally light to moderate traffic depending on the road. There are a lot of rolling hills, some steep hills and lots of curves. The biggest issue is that most of these roads have little or no shoulder to ride in. I’m always riding the white line or in the vehicle travel lane.

It makes me nervous especially riding around right curves knowing vehicles coming up behind me won’t see me until they’re very close. I think knowing the cars are there will help me at least be prepared for when they pass me close.

Does this sound like a situation where the Varia would be useful? Is it line of sight only? Like will it only alert me to a vehicle once I can physically see the vehicle?

I’m currently using a phone mount on my gravel bike bars and run Ride with GPS app while I ride. I dot. I basically use it as a quick reference when I’m riding to see speed, distance, etc. But the iPhone screen shuts off and I have to wake it up when I want to do this. And I don’t actually use the gps feature. On top of that, my Apple Watch and Strava track my ride routes.

I’m wondering if it would be beneficial to have a dedicated simple bike computer to be able to quickly see my speed, distance, time, etc then wear my Apple Watch for fitness tracking and to track my workout for upload to Strava. This would essentially take my iPhone out of the mix.

I know there are apps for the phone also that basically turn the phone into a bike computer (Cadence) for example, so….

Keep using my iPhone maybe with an app like that? Or buy a dedicated bike computer? Pro’s and con’s of each?

Tidbit, I’ve been doing much more road riding then anything else and have now ordered a real road bike where I’ll want to be keeping an eye on speed, distance and time easily.

Thanks!

Hey all, I work out in the gym, run and cycle outside, etc. I’m wondering if I can use Fitness+ to track my workouts like I currently do with Whoop Strength Trainer, Caliber, etc.

In those apps I basically track my specific exercises, my reps and my weight. I don’t need guided video workouts that I have to watch on my phone or tv.

I was hoping that Fitness+ would be able to replace the other third-party apps I’ve been using to log my workouts.

I’ve just signed up for Fitness+ so I’m still learning it, but it seems to be mostly video-guided workouts to do at your home. Am I missing something? Very possible that I am.

Thanks!

Hey all, on the hunt for my first road bike after playing around with mountain biking for some time. I’m no professional, just looking to put some miles under my belt.

I found a great condition Giant Defy Advanced 1 and best I can tell it’s from around 2016 (although it looks new). Wondering if this is a good option at the asking price ($950). Owner claims there is 100 miles on it in total.

Thank you!

The other day I did a 20 mile bike ride with my Whoop and my Apple Watch on.

After I finished the ride, the Apple fitness app showed my heart rate steady in the 150’s with some higher spikes, etc. It also showed I burned around 750 active calories.

Once I saved that workout and it synced so my Whoop app as a cycling workout, my active calorie burn for the day dropped to 300 something in my fitness rings on Apple.

I opened Whoop and realized it wasn’t reading my heart rate during my ride (which is weird because it was placed correctly on my bicep). It then calculated that I burned very few calories during my ride because it was showing my heart rate was in Zone 0 for almost all my ride.

Is there any way to have a workout logged in Whoop. But not have it send its own data to Apple?

Hey gang, I have an awesome 2020 V85tt. I love it. But a lot of my riding is around my small town, riding to cafe’s, scenic backroads, etc.

I’m also short. So riding around at slower speeds and in traffic is less then comfortable on the V85, although I can manage.

Because of this, I’ve bought a little Royal Enfield 350 for this purpose. I love the vintage style, the low seat height, the easy maneuvering…

The V85tt is wonderful for longer road trips, but I rarely ride over 200 miles in a day. And even that only happens a handful of times each year. Truthfully I don’t have as much time to ride in general as I’d like. Plus we have a short riding season.

So I’m seeing less and less reason to have two motorcycles - more maintenance, more insurance, etc.

I’m thinking I can get away with one bike - maybe a V7 Special.

My question is - will I really miss the V85 on those longer road rides including some highway? What am I giving up when going from a V85tt to a V7? I’ll also say I rarely use the cruise control on the V85tt. But I do use the heated grips.

Will the benefits of the classic style, low seat and easy around town manners outweigh the losses?

I know there is no right answer, just curious to hear from anyone who may have been choosing between the two and why they chose what they did.

Thanks!

Well, I’ve been mountain biking for a while (nothing serious, some single track a few times a week) and I’ve started to get the urge to put some real miles on. Where I live is pretty hilly and there are a lot of nice unpaved (but maintained) dirt roads to ride.

I don’t have time to be a “serious” rider, we’re talking about a couple rides a week in nice weather - and it’s winter for 5 months here…. So basically I’m not looking to tie up a lot of money in a bike that will sit in the garage a lot. But I know I’ll have to spend SOMETHING to have a decent experience on the bike.

So I’m looking to get my feet wet with a decent road-leaning gravel bike that can keep up with some also unserious biker friends on their older road bikes, but can also be used on some maintained dirt roads.

Again, lots of hills around here.

I don’t mind new or used, but finding a specific model used in my size in my rural area will be tough.

Thanks in advance!

Hey all! I’ve been leisurely mountain biking for a while - nothing hard core just some single track and gravel roads, etc.

After riding my mountain bike on the road to get to the trails that I ride, I started thinking to myself that I would like a road bike to get some miles under my belt and ride when the trails aren’t in great shape. But I don’t know where to start with road bikes. I don’t have a lot of money, I would probably look for something used under $800.

Looking for some recommendations for someone who is just starting out with road biking, but has a lot of experience with bikes in general. I want something that I can put some miles on in a hilly area, but I’m not going to be racing with it either.

I want to be able to run 30-50 miles at a stretch, but probably no more (unless I REALLY get into it)

I’ve even thought about a gravel bike because of the rough pavement in spots around here and we have a lot of unpaved roads. But I have my mountain bike for riding off road, so I feel like a dedicated road bike might be a better option for me.

What do you think?

Oh man I know the door this is going to open. But I think I’m at a point in my life where I need to have one motorcycle and be happy with it.

I’m in my low 40’s, I have a young family, a full time job, lots of other responsibilities….. I’ve had 5 bikes over the past year, and I feel like I spend more time buying and selling then I do riding.

I’ve gone from classic cruiser to ADV and everywhere in between.

At this point I don’t see myself riding much off-road.

I also don’t have the time to do long overnight bike trips. But can do a couple hundred miles in a day occasionally.

Visually I’m a fan of vintage styling (think Triumph and Royal Enfield), and I need to be able to carry some stuff with me when I ride.

I currently own a Moto Guzzi V85tt and a Royal Enfield Classic 350. The little 350 just does it for me. The character of the engine, the vintage styling…. It’s my jam. But man the Guzzi is so nice on longer trips, it has plenty of power, etc.

I need to bridge the gap between the two. I’m perfectly happy riding the 350 but, could it be my only bike? Probably not - sometimes I need more power.

The Guzzi is so good too, but when I want to just putt around town, ride to the cafe, etc, I don’t want to take it. I jump on the Enfield.

So, here is my dilemma. If I want only one bike, where do I go?

My head says Kawasaki W800 or Bonneville T100. But I had a Bonneville - the carburated vintage and it was SO good and SO beautiful, I think a new one would be a let down. They don’t have the same feel to me. And they are so expensive.

Bottom line is, I’m tired of searching for a unicorn. I just want a nice reliable motorcycle that makes me FEEL something when I ride it. That I can hop on in the morning and not worry about which bike I’m going to ride today, etc.

(I hope I’m not making myself into a Harley guy…. But I’d be ok with that if that’s the right move!)

What say you fine folks?

(“You can’t own too many bikes” is not the answer I’m looking for)

Thanks!

Hey all, just looking for a comparison of these two before I buy one. I tend to like traditional barber shop clean scents. But people rave about VIBR so wondering if I should try it?

I’m a Cobalt Boats fan. Their boats from the mid 1980’s through about 2013 were built incredibly well. They felt solid, heavy, great ride quality, sound insulated motor boxes, just a pleasure. Since then, they’ve gone downhill year after year. In fact, I know people who have newer models that they sold to buy good older versions.

I can’t seem to find any bowrider builders that are really high quality. Everything is all about how much tech can we stuff in, how many cup holders, etc. No one seems to care about the build quality of the actual hull anymore.

Are there brands I should be watching for in this segment?

Hey all, I currently have a 2020 Moto Guzzi V85tt which I LOVE. I also have a 2003 Triumph Bonneville while I also LOVE.

I can really only have 1 bike. The Guzzi is so good. I can cruise long distances, ride all day and be totally comfortable and happy on it.

But then I jump on my Bonneville and I’m like “man, this is what motorcycling is all about. Vintage style, buttery smooth engine, just a wonder of a machine.

When I’m riding the Bonneville I think to myself “self, I could be happy for the rest of my life with this beautiful machine”

Then I get on the Guzzi, and I’m like “man this thing is so good for touring, so much character, etc”

What is a guy to do? My personality vibes with the Bonneville. Classic style, beautiful build quality, just an absolute gem. But my practical side loves the Guzzi. Long range, bags for carrying stuff, wonderful personality…..

I feel I have the two perfect motorcycles. But can only have one. What do I do? Sell both and buy a newer more reliable fuel injected Bonny with less character? Sell the Bonnie and ride happily on my Guzzi?

This keeps me up at night…

Hey all, I love my V85tt. But just for fun I’m curious if anyone here has SOLD their V85tt, why you sold and what you bought instead? Was it the right decision for you in the end?