Shimano have finally announced details of their new Dura Ace 9200 and Ultegra 8100 groupsets. This post focuses on a few aspects that have been overlooked by other sites or are more specifically of interest to ultra-distance cyclists.
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The Kinekt Suspension Stem gives a very smooth and comfortable ride, but I found that it’s only suitable for certain types of bikes and the chunky form requires some getting used to the aesthetic. I would recommend this stem to people who want to use it on a more utilitarian rather than a performance bike and want to feel like they’re riding on a cloud. However, in most other situations, I would instead recommend the RedShift ShockStop stem because the fit is more adaptable, it gives a better ride feel and it has a far sleeker look.
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The RedShift Quick-Release Aerobars allow cyclists to frequently switch between riding with or without aerobars. They are quite comfortable and reasonably adjustable, but the adjustability wasn’t sufficient for me and I always leave my aerobars mounted, so the extra weight of the quick-release mechanism is unnecessary.
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Here are the details of my bike setup and equipment list that I’ll use in the Swiss Ultracycling CHallenge race next week. I’m very picky about everything that I take on an ultra-distance bike race, but I’m not a weight weenie, I prefer practicality and to be adequately prepared for most situations.
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Garmin’s previous top-end cycling computer, the Edge 1030, was released in late 2017, so it’s no surprise that they announced an updated version in June 2020, the Edge 1030 Plus. I was expecting more from the new model including a better screen, but this suggests that the real update, possibly called the Edge 1040 or 1200, should arrive in 2021, so I recommend waiting if you don’t have an immediate need for a top-end unit with an extra-large screen.
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The RedShift ShockStop suspension seatpost makes a massive improvement in riding comfort and reduces fatigue when gravel biking and doing long-distance cycling. I found that it outperformed the similar Cirrus Kinekt seatpost on almost every criterion: comfort/function, aesthetics, price and weight.
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Many gearing options have become available since the Gear Ratios page was written in 2016 that make it easier to get lower gearing on road bikes. This includes super-compact gravel cranksets, 12-speed systems, and single-chainring setups. I therefore re-wrote the page to be clearer and include all of the latest options including extensive tables of all useful cassettes.
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The Cirrus Kinekt 2.1 Suspension Seatpost adds minor suspension to road, gravel and urban bikes. It not only to improve comfort and performance when venturing off-road, but may also be useful for people who stay primarily on paved roads but want to maximize their ability to ride further by improving comfort.
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As always, I focused on products aimed at bikepacking and ultra-distance cycling during my visit to Eurobike 2019. I noticed some promising trends in the industry and in the show itself, plus lots of interesting products to peer at and fondle.
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I’m heading to Ireland next week to take part in the TransAtlantic Way race. I’m looking forward to ocean views, small lanes, lots of short, sharp climbs, maybe some wind and rain, and some pretty long daylight hours. I’m using a different bike than the two that I used for the TransContinental Race in 2014-16. As always, I’ve modified and customized most of the components and accessories to make this a very unique and personalized machine.
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I look at ways to have front suspension on a road or gravel bike. I review the Specialized FutureShock fork found on the Roubaix and Diverge bikes and the RedShift ShockStop stem that can be put on any bike. I also list aftermarket gravel bike suspension forks and the effect of lower tire pressure.
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The RedShift Dual-Position Seatpost allows cyclists to easily change the fore and aft saddle position while riding, so it’s useful for people riding a road bike with clip-on aerobars who want the saddle setback to be optimized for both positions. I found it to be well made and to function admirably.
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Comparison of power data collected from PowerTap GS and Stages 2nd generation cycling power meters. No significant differences were found in average power, power in any part of a typical range of values, and no change between when the cyclist was fresh or fatigued.
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The Edge 1030 has a larger screen than the Edge 1000 and has excellent daytime visibility and the battery life is finally sufficient for ultra-distance cycling.
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