iOS8 and why you should be concerned

So you've managed to finally upgrade your iPhone so it is running iOS8 and you've managed to escape or fix, the bugs. If like me, you've then set the restrictions on your iPhone so if it gets misplaced or "borrowed", you should still be able to track it down without Find My Phone being disabled. Once all of your customisations are in place, you're pretty happy, aren't you?

Then for the love of your deity, do not look at the new waste of space apps included with the system. I decided to look through the Health app. I thought it looked nifty but useless to me. Then I realised, what you too will realise. This app constantly works in the background working out how many steps you take every day and records it, without your permission! It also records how far you walk/run! Fark that!

No problem you think to yourself. I'll just disable it! Well no, you can't. This is why the picture shows no data. You can clear the data but you cannot stop it from recording, constantly, your motions. Forget all of the privacy issues here for a second (WHAT? Are you kidding me???). No, just for one second. Just think of the battery usage. Even if you couldn't care less who knows about every detail of your life, I bet you are going to get peeved off when you realise there is a useless app installed on your iPhone, which sucks on the battery and you cannot do a thing about it. Am I right? This is worse than the compulsory inclusion of the U2 album!

Yes, I am mighty peeved about the privacy problem this presents. Heck, I disabled Siri and the finger print recognition. 

Swiss Side Hadron 625 review

There has been a lot of hype about this wheel set. There has been a lot of talk about aerodynamic testing in wind tunnels and Formula 1 experience. So how does this hype relate to the experience on real bikes, on real roads?

When you first see these wheels, you can't help but admire them. They look good. Picking them up, they feel light. Taking a closer look at the carbon, it feels flimsy. It buckles when you push it. However, it is not there for strength, rather aerodynamics. Then I found something else, the holes around the spokes were not closed. Swiss Side states there is no aerodynamic benefit, so they left them as is. However, when you are paying about AUD$1000, you expect the work to look a little more polished. I was disappointed. 

I read the documentation which accompanies the wheels. Swiss Side have acknowledged there is a noise problem with the tube valve knocking against the wheel. They suggest you place some electrical tape (not supplied) around the valve. I am normally pretty good with electrical tape. I don't know if it was the anticipation of just riding these wheels or not but the gap was just too small for the tape to fit. I talked to my LBS mechanic (an absolute wiz who rides in a QRTS team). His suggestion made me laugh at first but I tried it and it worked. Use the elastic band which came with the new tube. 

It worked wonderfully. As you can see, I had to use the Swiss Side supplied valve extenders which are very easy to use and install. Just make sure your presta valve allows the inner parts to be removed. 

With the wheels on, I took my bike for a ride. I could not believe how noisy these things are. I walked my bike out to the road over some grass. I could hear the grass crunching. As I started riding, the road noise was being amplified. It was driving me nuts. I met up with some friends and they could not believe how noisy they were. Even pedestrians could hear me. I thought I had made a mistake. 

Then I reached my first "fast" corner. I went through it faster than I ever had. I was amazed. I got out of the saddle and tried sprinting. My bike suddenly came to life. I found myself yearning for a hill. Flying down the hill did not disappoint. These wheels are fast. I then reached a corner which I have had some "issues" with and I am not confident with. I attacked the corner and the bike was unbelievable stable. 

Above all else, I realised these wheels are a lot of fun. I have been testing them for two weeks now. I had a bunch of guys push past me this morning so I jumped on their wheel. I was hardly pedalling and we were flying. I am not sure I will ever get over the noise but you cannot wipe the grin off my face when I am riding now. Surely that is what cycling is about?

They are a great wheelset. When you consider what is available under AUD$1000, you realise these wheels are great value. If you are after a carbon clincher wheelset, with alloy braking surface, then take a long hard look at this wheelset. They are great value for money and really have no comparisons in this price bracket. Now if they could just do something about the noise. 

More details can be found on their website www.swissside.com

RearViz mirror review

I have been reading quite a bit about the RearViz mirror. Safe Cycling Australia (www.safecyclingaustralia.org) has been pushing it and there have been a number of reviews online. I recently received a letter from my local council which included some information about the RearViz, including a discount coupon number. 

So I decided to buy one. I went to their website (www.rearviz.com). Firstly, I suggest you get a measuring tape and measure around where you plan to wear the mirror. For me, this is on my right arm, just below the elbow. I make mention of this as the website is confusing. I have been assured by the company they are changing the sizing of the arm bands supplied and the wording on the website to stop any confusion. 

RearViz are an Australian company. They are very easy to contact and answer any questions you have. 

With the ordering out of the way, I received my parcel quite quickly. The packaging is minimal (thankfully). 

As you can see, I went for the black model. There are a number of other colours and I believe yellow will also be available soon. 

Unpacking the mirror and the armband, it becomes pretty obvious how it is all put together and how to wear it. There are instructions if needed. 

It was 5.40am on a winter morning when I set out. Before I left my property, I sat on my bike and moved the mirror until I thought it was positioned correctly. This is done by rotating the mirror and then opening or closing the mirror to adjust the angle. Very clever.

I got out on the road and it was pitch black. I decided to close the mirror and wait for daylight. After the first car passed with headlights, I decided to open the mirror while riding. A good enough test I thought. After opening it, I realised the angle wasn't quite right. So with my right hand still on the handle bar, I used my left hand to rotate the mirror and open and close it slightly until the mirror was correctly adjusted. Doing this while riding is actually pretty easy. 

From that point on I was amazed. Suddenly I could see cars (headlights) and bikes (front lights) from quite a distance before they reached me. I was so impressed I almost forgot I was joining a group for a group ride. Once in the group I then realised I could not only see cars before I could hear them but I could also keep an eye on the other group riders behind me. Daylight came and I was even more impressed. 

You know something is good when you realise you can't do without it. I realised by the end of my ride, I had been checking my mirror before deviating to the right and I was doing it without consciously doing it. It was an automatic reaction as it is when you are driving a car. 

One thing I must make mention of is the view in the mirror. Other reviews I read mentioned as soon as you changed your view angle by placing hands in the drops (as an example), you could only see the sky. I found none of these problems. I could see the road and cars regardless of whether my hands were in the drops or on top of the hoods. I even had a quick look when I got out of the saddle for a sprint with my hands in the drops. Even though I was throwing the bike side to side, I could still get quick glimpses of the road. It was hard to see anything in the mirror, however whilst in this sprinting position I did suddenly see a car very close on my right. I veered slightly to the left and the car which was going to shave me became a safe distance again. I doubt it was the car's fault but the RearViz certainly helped me out. 

Well done RearViz. This piece of equipment should be on every commuters arm. I ride a road bike for fun and it will be on my arm for every ride from now on. 

Feel good cycling story

I cycle a lot. I try to cycle everyday. I do not commute to work, I simply try to get a ride in everyday before I start work. This ride, to me, is the equivalent of others starting the day with a coffee. Just as the people starting the day with a coffee may get grumpy if they miss their morning coffee, I tend to get grumpy if I miss my morning ride. 

This morning's ride was a special one. A good friend of mine came off his bike six months ago. He broke his pelvis and collarbone. For the past six months, he has gone through metal plates and screws being inserted, to rehabilitation with walking. During this whole time he has not complained, much. 

Then came the news, he has a new bike and is ready to ride it. Our whole group felt the elation one normally witnesses when your team wins. We just all could not stop grinning. This morning was his maiden ride on the new bike and comeback. You could not wipe the smile off his face or ours for that matter. 

Welcome back Steve. Thanks for reminding me why I love cycling and for placing a slight reality check into me becoming grumpy if I miss a morning ride. 

Stay safe on the roads. 

Bicycle fitting

I love #cycling

I own a number of bikes and if I don't get my daily ride I become irritable. I am also pedantic about my bike. If there is a noise coming from it I want it fixed and gone. 

So when my LBS (Local Bike Shop) asked me if I would like a fitting with the new Trek Precision Fit system, I was dubious. I didn't want anybody to touch the setup of my bike as I liked it as it was. I told you, I'm pedantic.

I took in my n+1 bike. I was interested in the system. I also knew the fit on this bike was bad and needed some changing. I didn't realise how big the changes would be. 

A number of checks were done on me before we even got to the bike. How flexible I am, were my feet straight or did the toes point in or out, what were my knees doing, etc. It was quite involved. I started to have my doubts. My bike was then measured up and the measurements were transferred to the Precision Fit machine. I had some sticky dots placed on me and then asked to hop onto the machine (which feels like a bike). As soon as I hopped on a problem was spotted by my fitter. He made some adjustments for me. He then asked me to start pedalling. Now this is where it starts getting spiffy. A camera starts recording. He told me to stop pedalling. On the laptop he started checking the dots and how they lined up. After an explanation as to why I felt uncomfortable in this fit and why, he made some more adjustments. I pedalled again and the video started recording. After a couple more tweaks, I felt a lot more comfortable and the power efficiency was vastly improved (did I tell you it also measures the power in your pedalling?). 

Measurements were then used to change the setup of my bike. Wow. The difference was amazing. Trek's Precision Fit system is pretty amazing. The whole process took about three hours. This is in part due to my bike being a poor fit. 

In conclusion, I am so sold on this process, I took my primary bike in to compare. The measurements for my primary bike were pretty much identical to the measurements the fit suggested I should have. We had to change the tilt of the saddle, move it forward slightly and tilt the handle bars down slightly. Now my bike is even more comfortable and I am pedalling more efficiently. 

A Precision Fit is highly recommended for all. 

Thank you to John from Rival Bikes for my fit (www.rivalbikes.com.au)