Categories: Defining MomentsNostalgiaTechnology

On Rule #74: Going Unplugged

If rider A rides 30kph toward rider B who is riding 22kmp, at what time with they lay down The V?

I think the most exciting Christmas present I ever received as a child was an Avocet 30 in what must have been 1989. Being in Minnesota and it being December, it meant my bike was going nowhere near the road any time soon, so I kept the silver dollar-sized computer in my pocket wherever I went, just so I could look at it, touch it, and imagine how much I was going to look like Greg LeMond now that I had this computer. My heart broke a little bit that next summer when I realized he had abandoned the Avocet in favor of a Ciclomaster CM34 with a built in gradient meter and altimeter. Perhaps this signalled the beginning of the end of my love affair with data on my bike; it faded almost as soon as it had begun.

I have a Garmin 810 which I use primarily on rides with whose routes I’m unfamiliar, or on any gravel ride in the mountains for safety reasons. It makes me feel like I’m riding with my iPhone on my handlebars. It probably has Facebook on it. While riding, it serves as a constant distraction; how much have I climbed, how much longer is the climb, where is the next turn. Even when I know a turn is coming up and precisely where it is, I still find myself distracted by the little changes on the screen as the directions flicker across.

The background noise serves as constant static between me and the sanctity of the ride, always there simmering just below the surface. What bothers me about it is that these questions are raised by the availability of the data, not by a need to have the questions answered. Brad Wiggins reportedly crashed out of the Giro d’Italia because he was staring at his power meter data, wondering if it was accurate. This was not a relevant question to be asking when descending a mountain pass in the rain.

Riding is one of the few opportunities we have where we can escape the internet, data, and the noise of our daily lives. Data has its place in Cycling, but there is an undeniable liberation in untethering and riding just for the sake of riding.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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frank says:

Dec 21 2015 at 9:59 pm

@Ccos

My cross bike and mountain bike don’t have a computer on them and I feel so liberated on them (perhaps its also because I can ride over a lot of crap that I can’t with my S5). When I race, I only have the screen listing speed, distance and time on my computer. Seeing my heart rate has freaked me out in the past and affected my riding and not in a good way.

This.

Data reviewing is for after the ride. FFS was Wiggins really doing that when he crashed? It’s less embarrassing to admit to that than saying you’re a descending pansy?

Even after the ride, it can be very bad unless you are doing it according to a very well-informed plan. Viewing after the fact, you'll still be pushing too hard during the ride knowing it's being recorded.

@Chipomarc

@Mikael Liddy

As someone who is prone to not feeling the phone buzz in my back pocket, the ability to see when the poop has hit the paddles with the Velominippers at home & my presence is required elsewhere is attractive.

So happy I’m retired, single, and have no friends = I really don’t have to deal with incoming calls.

Oh, this explains loads.

@Mikael Liddy

To go in the complete opposite direction as the article, one of these has me intrigued as I look to replace the Garmin 500 that is becoming less & less accurate.

http://www.lezyne.com/product-gps-powergps.php#.VnjE6PmqpBc

What has me sold beyond the dual satellite system, is the pairing to the phone for texts & phone calls. As someone who is prone to not feeling the phone buzz in my back pocket, the ability to see when the poop has hit the paddles with the Velominippers at home & my presence is required elsewhere is attractive.

No nippers or poop to contend with, but work does call while I'm on the road (when did work turn into a 24-hour clock?) and I thought the Apple Watch would do the trick. Nope. hate that fucking thing. I can miss a phone call from time to time.
frank says:

Dec 21 2015 at 10:02 pm

@freddy

Ditched the computer two years ago. iPhone in the middle back pocket logs my ride on Strava. I’m good…except for one thing: gauging the group speed when it’s my turn at the front of the pace line. Thinking about a RFLKT or something else that works with my phone to display speed. My bike has ANT+ so that’s another possibility. Am I going to hell?

Yes.

When you go to the front of the line, just keep the rhythm. The pressure in your legs will be different but it is the same as riding on a flat and maintaining speed up a false flat; you just apply some more pressure to the pedals and keep the legs turning over as they were.

The data in this case is really just the result - train your body to feel what it takes to shift between an incline or taking the wind on the shoulder. It can become very intuitive.
Chipomarc says:

Dec 21 2015 at 10:09 pm

On the old bike I only have time and current speed on the computer, but you can cheat by wearing a Garmin Forerunner on your wrist.
John Elliss says:

Dec 21 2015 at 10:58 pm

In market there is many gadgets available for cyclist but while you are professional cyclist so you do not cheat while ride on cycle. Play with honesty and sportsmanship which defines professional cyclist and that is what i believe.
PT says:

Dec 21 2015 at 11:08 pm

@frank

@freddy

Ditched the computer two years ago. iPhone in the middle back pocket logs my ride on Strava. I’m good…except for one thing: gauging the group speed when it’s my turn at the front of the pace line. Thinking about a RFLKT or something else that works with my phone to display speed. My bike has ANT+ so that’s another possibility. Am I going to hell?

Yes.

When you go to the front of the line, just keep the rhythm. The pressure in your legs will be different but it is the same as riding on a flat and maintaining speed up a false flat; you just apply some more pressure to the pedals and keep the legs turning over as they were.

The data in this case is really just the result – train your body to feel what it takes to shift between an incline or taking the wind on the shoulder. It can become very intuitive.

My bike doesn't have a computer, logging things via Strava on my phone in my (jersey middle) pocket is enough for me too. Rides are usually either short or long and the time can be checked at the turnaround/coffee stop if need be.

I rode with some very good track riders on the road once, man those guys were intuitive.
Veni, vidi , et cecidi birota says:

Dec 22 2015 at 1:06 am

First post, been vouyering a long while (is that a word)

Over 20 years have used many varieties of speed, cadence, HR etc etc, even a heads up unit.

In the end I figured I dont need any of it. If I cant remember a ride I will go back n do it again. Alhzeimers is wonderfull, I go new places n have a new wife everday. No racing anymore so not trying to prove my V commitment.

I abide by most of the rules and try hard everyday to do better.

Cheers one n all
Teocalli says:

Dec 22 2015 at 1:17 am

@Chipomarc

@Mikael Liddy

As someone who is prone to not feeling the phone buzz in my back pocket, the ability to see when the poop has hit the paddles with the Velominippers at home & my presence is required elsewhere is attractive.

So happy I’m retired, single, and have no friends = I really don’t have to deal with incoming calls.

So happy I'm old enough to remember times pre mobile phones and the need to be constantly on line. The world never came to a standstill without me for a few hours back then and won't now.
RedRanger says:

Dec 22 2015 at 2:40 am

@frank

@RedRanger

You wrapped your bar tape backwards, and did you really put a RED Garmin on a V-painted bike?? So close. So far.

I wrapped my bars the same way I've always wrapped them. The way Fizik has posted in their YouTube site.

As for the Garmin, sadly the color options for a 500 are limited. And the grey 500 wasn't a smoking deal and it didn't come with the sensors I wanted. I have been trying to find a black or orange cover. So if you see one on the nets let me know.
Oli says:

Dec 22 2015 at 3:04 am

@frank

The tape is totally the right way.
RobSandy says:

Dec 22 2015 at 3:27 am

@frank

@Chipomarc

@Mikael Liddy

As someone who is prone to not feeling the phone buzz in my back pocket, the ability to see when the poop has hit the paddles with the Velominippers at home & my presence is required elsewhere is attractive.

So happy I’m retired, single, and have no friends = I really don’t have to deal with incoming calls.

Oh, this explains loads.

I thought that but wasn't going to say it.