Los mejores regalos para un ciclista

Se empiezan a acercar las fechas de regalos de San Valentín y ahora que la cuesta de enero ya se acaba podemos preparar un buen regalo para nuestra pareja y si es un aficionad@ al ciclismo y si no sabsepas por dónde empezar, te dejo una lista de buenos productos, que como aficionado, he encontrado que són los mejores en sus respectivos apartados. Os dejo los links del producto en amazon si os interesa comprarlo, consultar precios u opinión de otros compradores. Si os decidís a comprarlo en amazon leed antes estas recomendaciones.

1. Un GPS es seguramente el gadget más útil que he comprado, a parte de poder ver las estadísticas de la salida actual, monitor cardíaco o sensor de velocidad, registra la salida para poder analizarla o subirla a alguna de las redes sociales para deportistas como Strava. Te permite también seguir rutas que te puedas bajar o preparar un entrenamiento teniendo en cuenta las estadísticas que monitoriza.
Actualmente tengo un Garmin Edge 500, que en mi opinión es el mejor por calidad/precio y del que pronto tiene que llegar a España la próxima versión Edge 510.



2. Un rodillo es la mejor forma para entrenar en casa, para los que el trabajo no nos deja mucho tiempo libre y sobre todo para las temporadas en las que hace frío no hay mejor manera para mantener la forma que subido a tu bici. Mi opción aquí fue un Minoura B60-R, es un rodillo asequible viendo el precio de algunos rodillos de marca Tacx. Soy consciente que el precio no es barato y mí también me costó comprarlo, pero ahora que lo tengo me arrepiento de no haberlo pedido antes. Recordad usar los vídeos de motivación para cuando subáis a la bici.

  

3. Para los que no queráis gastar tanto os dejo unos cuantos productos más asequibles, algunos los tengo y tengo pendiente escribir alguna línea sobre ellos, otros están en mi lista de deseos.



4. Otra buena opción es mirar en dx.com donde entre otras muchas cosas tienen accesorios para ciclistas a precios muy por debajo de las tiendas europeas, por ejemplo opté por comprar:

• Unos pantalones largos para la temporada de inviero, aunque no salgo mucho y por ello no quise comprar unos de marca en otra tienda, que encuentro que tienen precios desorbitados.
• Una mini-camara para grabar las bajadas por trialeras y subirlas a youtube, la verdad es que por el precio que tiene la mini-camara está más que bien, aunque me ha durado dos días.

Me falta decidirme por una luz, espero poder hacer un mini estudio con las luces más interesantes en dx.com y colgarlo próximamente.

5. Para los más extremos o hasta por seguridad es una buena opción una cámara deportiva, o cómo muchos la conocen una GoPro, por la marca más conocida y que las puso de moda. Aquí tenéis una buena comparativa entre los últimos modelos de GoPro o la review de un modelo una cámara deportiva por menos de 40€.

Recordad que a parte de comprar a partir de nuestros enlaces de amazon.es o utilizar Wishlist Manager, también podéis sacar provecho de #WhereToBuy, una web en la que hemos colaborado en su desarrollo, y con ella podremos comparar fácilmente precios entre amazon y ebay.

Muchas gracias! 

Training videos: how to use Tacx real videos with a Minoura B60-R

After getting my new trainer I needed some extra motivation to train hard, radio and TV are not bad but they make me loose concentration and stop pedaling. A friend lend me an old Tacx Real life video, the Mount Ventoux one, which was some years old already, he uses it for an old Tacx Fortius (this is newer) model trainer, but as mine is not a Tacx I have to use the Tacx Real Video Player application, that can be downloaded at their website, but it seems this kind of old video is not compatible with current formats.

After reading some forums, at Tacx and personal websites, those videos were produced for the iMagic and Fortius models of trainer before the TTS (Tacx Training Software) application was available. Those older RLVs used a .pgmf file to be recognized by the software, unfortunately the TTS software does not work with those files anymore and a substitute .TTS file is required for the video player to recognize, after copying the .tts file to the needed directories it was no way to make it work, so I gave up frustrated.

After talking with my friend, he lend me another video more recent, and this one works seamlessly, no need to copy files and it works great. In the player you can specify another brand trainer if you don't have a Tacx, no problem, it seems the number of "speeds" for other brands is 7 so no problem here for me as the Minoura B60-R has 7.

I also want to try some other videos, I will be posting soon. Here you got some Tacx videos that look interesting:



And remember that you can configure your Garmin Edge 500 to see your speed deactivating the GPS when you are on your trainer, mine a Minoura B60-R

How come Armstrong never tested positive for doping?

After the USADA (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) made the report public where accused the cyclist Lance Armstrong with "conclusive and irrefutable" evidence of doping, you could think how the cyclist managed for not getting a positive?

The USADA has explained in detail how Armstrong managed to avoid all these years, but there are many lights in shadows in those explanations.

First USADA doubts that Lance Armstrong never tested positive. In fact in 1999, tested positive for cortisone after leading the Tour, but was not punished because he claimed it was caused by the application of a lotion.

Later, in 2001, his teammates Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis claimed that Armstrong told them he tested positive for EPO during the Switzerland Tour but "came to a financial agreement to keep hidden the test".

So the idea that Armstrong never tested positive is wrong, at least according to the USADA.
These are some of the keys to why he never tested positive:

1. Avoiding controls

It sounds absurd, but the USADA says it happened. "The runners are advised not to open the door if there was a control EPO after eating", says the report. Also, in 2000 his teammate George Hincapie said that Armstrong retired from a career in Spain because there was a drugs test.

Other preventive measures was to have a surveillance team for possible controls and retire to distant places such as Puigcerdà (Spain), to make it virtually impossible for them to appear.

Finally, according to the report, "the staff of the team was able to predict when runners would be controlled and apparently had inside information about the test."

2. Using undetectable substances

Between 1998 and 2005, they failed to prove that there was blood doping or through HGH (human growth hormone). In addition, the EPO, with a very short detection time, could not be verified until 2000, which adopted the method of detection in urine. Moreover, testosterone was also very difficult to detect.

These are some of the drugs allegedly used by Armstrong.

3. With a good doctor who knows how to pass the controls

Armstrong had a long relationship with Dr. Michele Ferrari, who supposedly knew what he was doing about doping.

EPO controls (erythropoietin) can be faked by stimulating the natural production of this substance, whether climbing at high altitude or sleeping in a hypobaric chamber, which stimulates red blood cell production and increases the hematocrit.

In this case Dr. Ferrari advised the use of hypobaric chambers to reduce the effectiveness of the detection of synthetic EPO.

4. With saline solutions

According to the report, the team injected saline with the end to evade doping controls.

One of the boldest examples of the use of saline to fool the testers was in 1998 when Armstrong's doctor got hidden in his coat, a bag of saline solution was applied to the rider to lower his hematocrit level before a blood test.

Although Armstrong has disappointed all of us, he has done something good creating LiveStrong, the foundation that he created to support people with cancer, remember that if you buy anything from their product line you are supporting a good deed.

And really as a biker I am truly disappointed by Lance but at least he gave the spirit of overcoming such illness to many and also moved a whole country and a good part of the world to love biking, at least for a few years. Now biking is better than ever, getting more and more adepts by the day, and as a bike lover can't be more satisfied, and aiming to get a living with it, don't forget to check all our biking articles.

Thanks for reading!

Garmin Edge 500 vs Edge 520 review comparison. Should I stay with the Edge 500?

First of all I want to make clear that my impression on the Edge 520 is taken from the many reviews out there, I am not lucky enough for Garmin to send me one to review, and, of course, my Edge 500 was bought with my money, I am not a renowned person in the bike world to get one for free as some do, I am just a biking enthusiast and this is just my impression of a product as a humble biker.

In this post I want to share my point of view of how the Edge 520 does not impress much on over the Edge 500 owner and the reasons why I will stay with my Edge 500 for the time being. A device like this is perfect for not using your phone as a tracker, which probably has already a GPS, and also is a valid option, but as you may know its height accuracy is pretty bad. On the other hand the Edge series have a barometric altimeter which is perfect for this kind of tracking. Using an external GPS tracker is perfect for not overusing the battery of your phone and save it for emergencies.

Here you can check the current prices and offers of the best Garmin GPS for bikers, the Edge 500 (mine), the Edge 510, the new Edge 520, the Edge 810 and the Edge 1000 which are the top models from Garmin.

Size

The size I think it is the most important point on why I will stay with mine, the Edge 500 is pretty much smaller than the Edge 520, which is almost as big as the Edge 800. The Edge 500 is compact and has the perfect size for enough fields to check at riding time. I even use it as a hiking GPS, I put it on the outer mesh pockets to get enough GPS signal reception and works just fine. The weight of the Edge 520 has increased to 80g. when the Edge 500’s is just 58g.

Edge 500: 10
Edge 520: 5
Winner: Edge 500

Screen

The touch screen seems nice and it is clearly more user friendly, counting it works good with gloves as they state. I don’t know if it really has any real usefulness, here I lack enough information but I am really doubtful on how this can improve the manipulation of the device and over all on riding conditions. The buttons on the Edge 500 works exactly as they should, they offer enough tactile information to know if you really pressed the buttons, and being on the side offer you the ability to keep your balance manipulating the device while you are on movement.

The color screen in the Edge 520 is a nice touch but I don’t think it is really needed, if they assure me it does not use more battery then it's okay, if not they should have stayed with the black and white one.

The Edge 500 has a small reflection when found in direct sunlight but is not enough to not see the fields on the device, also the light is good for riding on dark situations. Also is recommendable to use a cheap cover to avoid wear on the unit.

Edge 500: 7
Edge 520: 8
Winner: Edge 520 for small gap

Connectivity

Of course connectivity possibilities have been much more improved, now being able to share through your mobile your ride information, with current social network addiction, many of us like to share our rides online as soon as possible. Until now, the Edge 500’s integration with services is good enough, due to these services improving and trying to make as easy as possible the user’s experience, Strava for example let you upload your ride in a couple of clicks, also you can use Garmin's service, Garmin Connect, and also you should check our comparison of Strava vs Garmin Connect. It’s not instant but good enough for me. The connectivity with sensors and power meter remains the same, which was good enough. Perfect for use at home with your trainer, check our Minoura B-60r review, during winter.

Edge 500: 7
Edge 520: 8
Winner: Edge 520 for small gap

Software

The software is where the Edge 520 should improve more over the Edge 500, as I have not tested the Edge 520 I only can assume that it will improve the Edge 500 capabilities. It has many new options Strava integration being the most expected, weather integration, fields depending on the profile, etc. Many users have always been critic with the courses functionality on the Edge 500, maybe I am the only lucky one that got an Edge 500 that worked more or less okay with courses, some minor error drawing in big courses but apart from that it was even useful, as I stated before I also use it for hiking courses. Another typical problem is the lack of refresh on some stats or the battery gauge hanged on 99%, but minor problems really that can be easily fixed.

The Edge 520 probably will have bugs on its first weeks of life, but Garmin has enough time to improve the software on their device and introduce new features which we would love to see.

Edge 500: 6
Edge 520: 8
Winner: Edge 520

Battery life

The Garmin Edge 500 has an official battery duration of 18 hours, according to Garmin, I never experienced with the battery, so I would have to believe it as true. On the other hand the Edge 520 has a duration of 20 hours, it seems the battery may have increased and probably the device is more battery efficient, but the two options are more than enough for a good ride.

Edge 500: 8
Edge 520: 9
Winner: Edge 520 for small gap

Price

I bought mine for around 200€ (around $240) at amazon in 2012, which was the complete package, with HRM strap and cadence sensor. The Edge 520 has a price of $330 for the basic package. The increased price on the Edge 520 may cause some entry level enthusiasts to opt for other brands or the old model at a reduced price, and of course to use the Strava integration you will need to pay the premium features which rise the price on 60€ per year.

Edge 500: 7
Edge 520: 4
Winner: Edge 500

Conclusions

With price:
Edge 500: 7.5
Edge 520: 7

Without considering the price:
Edge 500: 7.6
Edge 520: 7.6

So, taking into account the price, it is really hard to beat the Edge 500, the Edge 520’s improvements have its drawbacks, it really don’t make it advance the Edge 500.

The idea of this post was to give enough reasons to stay with our Edge 500 or, if you have not any of the two devices, to get a small idea of the changes between the two generations.

But don't get me wrong, the Edge 520 is a great device, so, my recommendations depend on your situation:

• If you are happy with your Edge 500: stick with it for a couple of years, at least, wait for other options and wait for how the 520 evolves.
• If you have it but you want to improve your experience: get an Edge 800 or the Edge 810 vs the new Edge 1000.
• If you don’t have any of them: with my points at hand, decide which can be better for you. Look for offers on the Edge 500 or price reductions if it gets below 180€ or $200 for the complete package can be a good deal. If you want the Edge 520 it may be a good option too even considering the increased price tag, or you can check for other GPS devices of other brands, which I am preparing a new post to do a small comparison of some of them.

You can compare easily the prices of the Garmin Edge devices on ebay and amazon with #WhereToBuy. Big Thanks to all the readers and visitors!

Garmin Edge 520 Review
Reviewed by Fernando Mateoon Jan 14 2013
Rating: 5

Minoura B60-R magnetic trainer (3620091) review. The best for the money

A few months ago I started looking for a roller to train at home when the weather did not allow to go out either because of time when we could not get out before nightfall. I knew I did not want a wind turbine roll because they are quite noisy and also knew that many (but not all) of the top roller market (JetFluid CycleOps Pro, CycleOps Fluid2, Kurt Kinetic Road Machine, etc..) were far from what I wanted to spend for some occasional use. Then I had to decided to get a magnetic trainer and among them I found a huge variety of brands and prices.

Checking forums and reviews I found on BikeRadar, a website that makes continuous testing of bicycles, accessories and more, the Japanese Minoura B60-R magnetic roller (3620091). In the BikeRadar website is the only trainer that got a perfect score from the testers (5 stars). This does not mean that is better than the top trainers but its cost-value relation is very good. We can compare the price with other trainers mentioned in the post, we can see it has a great price-value ratio:

After thinking about it, as the price was a little expensive, I bought it at amazon.de, where it was cheaper for me, and after a few days of testing it I can highlight a few points about it:

• The design is simple, lightweight yet extremely durable and stable. The legs are detachable at its rubber pads and provide excellent support. One can stand up and do sprints without any fear to fall.
• It is very smooth and virtually silent. Generally the noise of the chain is greater than that of the roller. This is important for those living in apartments.
• Totally reliable, as it comes equipped with a quick release, once placed on the rear wheel allows support and perfect closure.
• It has a torque-enough for any workout.
• Its magnetic plate has 7 levels of adjustable resistance for modifying the conditions during training, it also has a remote control that is placed on the handlebars.
• It is perfect as a entry level trainer and for those low on budget.

Specifications

• Resistance: 7 levels
• Remote: Yes
• Flywheel: Steel disc, 1.5 pounds
• Usable tire range: 24 to 29 inches x 2.10 inches
• Max load: 265 pounds
• Dimensions: 24 by 15.7 by 18.5 inches (W x H x D)
• Weight: 13.2 pounds
• Warranty: 1 year (mag unit), 5 years (frame)

Should I buy it?

If you are concerned about your training or as a recovery method without breaking the bank, also compatible with training videos like Sufferfest or Tacx videos thanks to its remote controller.

Pros:

• Robust and well built
• Good resistance on max setting
• Remote control for changing resistance also make it compatible with training videos
• No plug necessary

Cons:

• A little noisy
• Boring without external help like videos or youtube

Alternatives:

• If you are in for non smart trainers there are many brands available with similar specs like CycleOps, Elite
• If you are most interested in smart trainers with slope simulation and online competition like Tacx trainers

If you are considering buying any of these trainers on amazon consider doing it through our links or you can try #WhereToBuy to find the best prices for this trainers comparing Amazon and Ebay.
Thanks for reading!

Minoura B60R magnetic trainer (3620091)
Reviewed by Fernando Mateoon Jan 12 2013
Rating: 5

My deal extreme experiment: Buying a bike light

Update 2015-11-15

After a couple of years looking from time to time different models of bike lights from Chinese manufacturers I have decided to get a Nitefighter BT40S as the reviews and product itself looks promising and not too cheap. Also if you want to spend a little less check for the Solarstorm bike light which costs a little less and many users are most than happy with them.

Also remember that for a good riding illumination you should use 2 lights, as we already stated in our essential night riding safety tips, one on the handlebar and the other in the helmet. We will talk about it when we test the light and post a review.

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When you enter dealextreme you feel overwhelmed by the big number of items, some similar, some useless and some that you should never buy without a comprehensive quality test, but you can find some interesting gadgets.

All of our wishlists have some unnecessary items on which you don’t want to spend much, sometimes you just want to experiment or try something of low quality to check if it can be useful to you before buying the real thing. So, my approach when I go to dealextreme is this one, find something that can be useful or I like but I don’t want to spend much money on it, like, in my opinion, a bike light. We are talking about needs here so maybe for me it's not yet necessary but for other people, like the ones who commute on bike at night, which is indispensable. So, I found that on specialized bike stores there are a lot variety of lights but I don’t have yet experimented with any, so I don’t know which one to get. We should differentiate 2 kinds, I will call them signalizing and lightning, probably have other names but I'm pretty sure that you will understand what I meant.

• Signalizing lights normally come in pairs, one front and one rear, the main idea for them are commuters that go around the city which is visible enough but cars can’t differentiate you. Those don’t make much light but enough to illuminate the front. Normally those are cheap.

• Lightning lights normally is a big light, the main idea is to use it on dark roads, they can produce enough light to ride at a decent speed on a dark forest road, but in the other side are bulky and consume a lot of batteries. The price of the good ones is important and some can be around 200$.

As the good one are really expensive my idea is to get one of the lightning kind so I can experiment with rides at night or dark, with a backup, if the main light fails, to return safely. I will be checking the reviews and decide soon. Any recommendations to check?

And remember that with #WhereToBuy you can compare prices between amazon and ebay. Big Thanks!