English
Over the last few months I have been very fortunate to test some fantastic new kit, I have taken the time to review some of the best kit I have been using recently.
I was ecstatic to be made a Garmin Ambassador in April this year and provided with a Garmin Edge 500 to use as a training tool. Having used the Edge 705 previously it was extremely easy to use with a very intuitive menu system. The 500 does everything the 705 does, minus the colour screen mapping, but it manages to do so in a much smaller, sleeker case. The new twist mount is also much easier to use than the older mount, single handed 90 degree twist in and out.
The main use of the Edge 500 and the 705 I used previously is as a training tool and both do a fantastic job. Huge amounts on data are available on the go and then post ride the amount of in-depth data through the software included has proved invaluable. A major feature to me personally is the ability to link up to other ANT+ wireless devices, such as Heart Rate via the optional strap or a Cycleops Powertap.
The only slight downsides of the 500 over the 705 that I have discovered so far are the microphone level which is slightly lower and harder to hear in noisy conditions, such as the wind or busy traffic. The 500 also uses different file formats which make it slightly more time consuming when importing data into the Training Center software provided or the 3rd part WKO+ software I use. Neither of these affect the use of the device and I would imagine that Garmin will soon have fixes for the software issues.
I couldn’t imagine training without the Edge 500 as along with the Powertap it has completely revolutionised my training and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a very powerful training computer.
USE Carbon Road Handlebars:
These bars are such a new product in the USE line up that they on not in many shops yet. They are very light handlebars, weighing in at 199g for a 44cm bar they are aimed mainly at the sportive rider rather than the out and out racer. They feature some unique touches that really make them stand out from other top end bars on the market. The shape, bend and drop are all very comfortable and I felt happy with them from the very first ride. The bars also do a great job of reducing road buzz and even when moving from bars with gel pads and thicker tape to these I found the USE bars just as effective and overall more comfortable.
Cable routing is taken care of thanks to the built in cable holders, a feature I have not seen on any other bars. They do a great job and make it really easy to setup the cables and then tape up the bars. I am using the bars with SRAM Rival shifters and they match up perfectly. All other double cable shifters like high end Shimano and Campagnolo should work equally well.
Another neat feature is a flat spot near the shifter mounting, it is a simple but effective way of blending the transition between bars and hoods making them more comfortable when your holding onto the hoods, which for me is 95% of the time.
The final unique touch is how the bars keep the 31.6mm diameter right through the flat section and into the start of the bend. There are a few advantages by doing this, one being it is simply more comfortable. The second, perhaps accidental advantage is that you have more options when attaching devices, such as computers or lights to the bars.
Overall they are the best bars I have used; the weight is competitive with anything else on the market and the shape, style and features really help them stand above the rest.
The latest training tool in my quest for greater fitness on the road to Australia and the 24hr Word Solo Championships is this Indoor Bike from Cyclops with built in Powertap technology. It may seem strange to get an indoor bike in the middle of summer, but the one part of my training where I felt was lacking was the ability to do multiple reps of high intensity work away from the constantly changing nature of the roads. I have not had the bike long, so a full review will follow in future but my initial impressions are very positive.
The whole bike is very sturdy and even when pedalling at maximum effort there is no movement at all. The bike is infinitely adjustable so you can dial in exactly the position you want, from MTB to TT. The display is clear and quick to update information. I can see this bike becoming a major part of my training in the run up to the Worlds.
I was recently sent this new product to try out along with a few other Wiggle athletes. The bands have big claims and top level sport stars are endorsing them, but I will be honest and say I was very sceptical when I first saw the band. They claim to improve balance, power and flexibility but just how it manages it is a mystery to me.
I followed the tests shown on YouTube and to my amazement the band appeared to do exactly what it claims! All the tests “worked” on me and I also gave it to Nia to try and there again is seemed to work just as it shows on the video. It was rather convincing and I must admit I was swayed to believing in it, despite still not knowing how it works… witchcraft maybe?
I have since tried the band on several other people with varying levels of success, but after discussing it with some people they have planted a few more seeds of doubt in my mind. I am going to continue wearing it and conduct the tests shown on the video weekly and also do some cycling specific tests using the Cycleops Indoor bike and Powertap hub to provide accurate and fairly scientific data on weather or not the band can really improve power.