What Have You Fettled Today?

[ColinJ]

I finally bought some double-sided tape and used it to seal the sides of the GPS and stick the rubber grip back on. I'm not convinced that the GPS is now watertight so I might have another go at it later, but it is working for now. Thanks, Phil!

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I thought I would give the GPS a proper road test so I used it on my sunny 100 mile ride on Saturday. The device functioned flawlessly all day. There was still a problem however. With the sun shining towards the device's screen I could read it quite easily. With the sun behind me and the screen in shadow, I couldn't. Sunglasses made the thing completely useless. Even when lifting the glasses I could barely see what was on the screen so I would have to stop to look at it. Using the backlight made a huge difference and I think would solve the problem, but I was worried about the impact on battery life so I decided to run a test ...

I fully charged a pair of 2,900 mAH NiMH cells and switched the GPS on indoors with the backlight on full power. (It is possible that using it on lower power would suffice on all but really sunny days, but I wanted the worst case scenario.) Indoors, the satellite signals are weak so the GPS is having to work harder to find/lock onto them, thus increasing current consumption.

The results are now in:

• Time to low battery warning: 9 hours 20 minutes
• Battery too low for backlight use: 10 hours 30 minutes
• GPS switches off due to low battery power: 11 hours

I found that I could get the GPS to work again long enough to get a location fix even with the batteries officially flat, but it would switch off again shortly afterwards.

So ... I will be able to do all but my longest rides on one pair of batteries. If I carry a spare pair my ride time would be extended to 18 hours, which is more than I have ever done, or intend to do! It takes less than 2 minutes to change them and a pair of batteries is hardly a huge extra load to carry.

 

[Salty seadog]

I thought I would give the GPS a proper road test so I used it on my sunny 100 mile ride on Saturday. The device functioned flawlessly all day. There was still a problem however. With the sun shining towards the device's screen I could read it quite easily. With the sun behind me and the screen in shadow, I couldn't. Sunglasses made the thing completely useless. Even when lifting the glasses I could barely see what was on the screen so I would have to stop to look at it. Using the backlight made a huge difference and I think would solve the problem, but I was worried about the impact on battery life so I decided to run a test ...

I fully charged a pair of 2,900 mAH NiMH cells and switched the GPS on indoors with the backlight on full power. (It is possible that using it on lower power would suffice on all but really sunny days, but I wanted the worst case scenario.) Indoors, the satellite signals are weak so the GPS is having to work harder to find/lock onto them, thus increasing current consumption.

The results are now in:

• Time to low battery warning: 9 hours 20 minutes
• Battery too low for backlight use: 10 hours 30 minutes
• GPS switches off due to low battery power: 11 hours

I found that I could get the GPS to work again long enough to get a location fix even with the batteries officially flat, but it would switch off again shortly afterwards.

So ... I will be able to do all but my longest rides on one pair of batteries. If I carry a spare pair my ride time would be extended to 18 hours, which is more than I have ever done, or intend to do! It takes less than 2 minutes to change them and a pair of batteries is hardly a huge extra load to carry.

I imagine it would be working harder in real routing use. Sounds good though and spare batteries weigh bugger all.

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

Does it continue recording the same route when switching over batteries or save as two separate routes?

Just curious.

 

[ColinJ]

I imagine it would be working harder in real routing use. Sounds good though and spare batteries weigh bugger all.

It could be ... routeing work vs satellite finding/locking work? The next thing is to actually try a long ride with the backlight on.

I'll put new batteries in and walk to the shops with it now while wearing sunglasses and experiment with different backlight power settings to see how I get on in the sunlight.

 

[ColinJ]

Does it continue recording the same route when switching over batteries or save as two separate routes?

Just curious.

That's a good question. I don't know the answer but I will try it in the next few days and will report my findings!

It's a moot point though because I have an Edge 500 running alongside it which does any logging that I want to do. The Legend is much better for navigation though and I was given both so I might as well use them. It is quite handy having the route on one screen and my preferred data fields on the other.

I don't have the backlight problem with the Edge because it has a much simpler screen which works well in sunlight. I'd only need the backlight on in the dark and I don't ride much at night. Incidentally, I did 12 hours with the Edge from fully-charged and it claimed to still have 46% battery left when I got home - if that is true, then I am impressed.

 

[ianrauk]

Full strip down of the PX Ti today for a full clean.. Put a new Ultegra brifter on to replace the 105 one which replaced the broken Ultegra one. New gear and brake cables.

 

[Salty seadog]

Full strip down of the PX Ti today for a full clean.. Put a new Ultegra brifter on to replace the 105 one which replaced the broken Ultegra one. New gear and brake cables.

Out with the old, new in with the new new.

 

[ColinJ]

I'll put new batteries in and walk to the shops with it now while wearing sunglasses and experiment with different backlight power settings to see how I get on in the sunlight.

I ended up cycling to the shops for a realistic view of the GPS screen in action.

When facing the sun, the screen was usually fine as long as I wasn't seeing the reflection of the sun from it. I could probably have done with tilting the GPS back a little (I'll try that next time).

With the sun behind me so I cast a shadow on the screen, I needed full power on the backlight.

With my cheapo sunglasses on it was still a little harder to see than I would like. Maybe wearing better quality sunglasses would help (slightly less dark and with a polarising filter to cut down on the glare)?

 

[bpsmith]

New cables and chain on what might turn out to be my commuter bike in the crappier weather, now I have got into the commuting habit. Just needs new bar tape and the saddle back from my Brother who was trying out the shape.

 

[J_H1026]

Put a new chain on today - seems my investment in a chain wear tool paid off earlier than I thought. First time I've done it, and I know it's a simple job, but it's nice not to pay the LBS £15 labour to do it! Headset bearings are next on the list!

 

[JhnBssll]

Aeroclam saddle bag thingy arrived today along with matching mini multitool - I'm quite pleased with it. I'm fed up with tools bouncing around in my back pocket when I'm riding the new bike - all the others have saddle bags but fancied something a bit different on the aero machine so figured I'd try this out first

It fits a small multitool, 2 supplied slimline tire levers, an inner tube and a CO2 inflator.

 

[Salar]

Fitted retro gripshifts and granny gear to my folder.

 

[stoatsngroats]

Just changed my deore B.B. to an MT800, having checked my BikeHut B.B. tool and found the plastic adapter was the correct one for the MT 800! What a result!
The original Cannondale pedals are getting shiny, and I’ve noticed some foot slip on the last few rides, so I’ll be adding some Nukeproof Neutrons in orange later this week, as I don’t think my knees will respond very well to changing to clipless pedals.
I’ve never used them, and never felt the need.
The recent Ortlieb Sport rollers have shared my bike and the OH’s Cube ebike, and we’re close to being set for France soon.

 

[delb0y]

Cleaned up the rear brakes and put in new pads. It's starting to look like a bike again, but all the technical stuff is still to come... Waiting for payday so I can order cables and a shiftmate.

 

[Salty seadog]

Felted another riders bike who dropped his chain on the inside and couldn't get it out. Could still run the chain through the gap between the frame and small ring but not get it out. Pulled it round and got enough slack on the chain to mount it on part of the big ring taking a small bite out to stand the quick link proud. Couple of taps with the end of the multi tool and the link opened. Jobs a good'un and we all had buns for tea