Vuelta a España.The most entertaining grand tour of the year is living up to its reputation. After nearly two weeks of competitive racing, the maillot rojo has changed hands on 5 occasions already. There have been several standout performances, chief among them Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen who continues the trend of Deceuninck–Quick-Step riders returning to the top step of the podium. He now has a clear lead in the points classification and looks set to take it all the way to Madrid... should he survive the climbs to come. Specialized's one bike for all occasions, the mighty Tarmac SL7 is yet again proving the Venge won't be missed. |
|
|
| | Specialized 2021 Tarmac SL7 S-Works Frameset Carbon/Silver/Green | | $8,499.00 | | Buy Now |
|
|
|
It's definitely gold.He might not have had an enjoyable Vuelta but one thing has been settled for Olympic champion Richard Carapaz - his bike is gold.After all the hullabaloo surrounding the unveiling of the Ecuadorian's new Dogma F, the critics can be silenced! We love Richard's new machine and can't wait to see the Dogma F when it finally lands on Kiwi shores later in the year. We are currently taking pre-orders for the new Dogma and look forward to seeing this on our roads in the near future. In the meantime, take a look at the the Olympic edition in the gallery below. |
|
|
| | Pinarello Dogma F (pre order only) | | $1,000.00 | | Buy Now |
|
|
|
Still dreaming of a new machine?Our team are manning the phones between 10am-3pm.We're also actively monitoring our email addresses. Please be patient as we are adhering to government guidelines - a reminder only essential items will be dispatched at this stage. General enquiries sales@kiwivelo.co.nz Web enquiries support@kiwivelo.co.nz Workshop isaac@kiwivelo.co.nz Bicycle sales & distribution matt@kiwivelo.co.nz |
|
Making the most of digital.It's been well over a year since we last capped off some of the best things about indoor training. Don't get left behind because you can't ride outside with those beyond your bubble. Venture further afield with the help of your smart trainer, Zwift and the World Wide Web.Not all trainers are equal - Getting started. Smart trainers are by definition, endowed with Bluetooth (BT) and ANT+ connectivity. Bar a few exceptions, they all require power to make use of their full functionality. What distinguishes a top-end trainer is a greater degree of realism and higher resistance map. This translates into a better user experience at lower wattages. We liken it to driving a V8 on the motorway at 100kph vs. a 1.2l; the bigger engine is working less to sustain the same output whereas the smaller unit is producing more revolutions to keep pace. Trainers such as the Wahoo Kickr, Tacx Neo and Elite Drivo all possess relatively (against Direto, Core, Zumo etc) high peak wattage capacities. While most of us will never achieve such lofty caps, a larger range benefits the end consumer by offering the most realistic experience possible at 'normal' riding pace. Most interactive trainers accommodate disc or rim brakes and will work on a broad spectrum of bicycle types. You'll need a powerful fan, towel, side table and a device (PC, tablet, phone etc.) to get started. |
|
|
| | Wahoo Kickr Headwind Smart Fan | | $479.90 | | Buy Now |
|
| | | |
| | Elite Fly Ultralight Bottle 750ml - Clear/Silver | | $24.90 | | Buy Now |
|
| | |
| | Muc-Off Sweat Protect 300ml | | $29.90 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Trainer Elite Posa Laptop/ Support Stand | | $169.90 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Trainer Elite Mat Red | | $149.00 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Elite Training Mat Folding | | $99.90 | | Buy Now |
|
|
|
Zwift. What's that all about?Zwift immerses riders in a virtual world where they can train with others, complete set workouts, fulfil challenges, race and even join academies to make the leap to the professional peloton. It's subscription based and worth every cent!https://zwift.com/download Getting started on Zwift is pretty straight forward. For those with a BT compatible device, connecting direct to the trainer and heart rate monitor is a breeze. If you're like some of us KV however, you may need to use the 'Zwift Companion' app to create a virtual bridge. Companion App Download the companion app for Apple or Android. It's free and actively talks to the Zwift software. Think of it like a remote. The app hijacks your cell phone and broadcasts a BT signal that can be recognised by the host device i.e. PC or laptop. All that's required is for both the phone and computer to be connected to the same WiFi network. This is a reliable way of pairing to a computer where bluetooth services are not available. In addition to the connectivity benefits, Companion facilitates dialogue between users (chat), allows you to enter events and acts as a heads up display. Useful indeed! |
|
| Using the power meter on your bicycle Very few power meters have BT connectivity, most rely on ANT+ to communicate with a device. The ANT+ signal is weaker than BT and may interfere with some WiFi channels. You can still use this as a means of utilising your own power meter to connect to Zwift. Products like the Garmin ANT+ dongle or Tacx's ANT+ Antenna allow your PC to recognise the signal. As ANT+ was only ever intended to send data across small distances it may need a little encouragement in order give consistent readings. Try adding a USB extender cable and running this below the bottom bracket of your bicycle. If problems persist you may need to change the Wifi channel on your router. The link below details the channel centre frequency for ANT+ and will help identify/remediate any challenges that may arise. https://zwiftinsider.com/how-to-fix-ant-dropouts-in-zwift/ |
|
Got a competitive streak? Racing on Zwift.For those missing the competitive side of cycling, Zwift has plenty to offer. Races are available almost every hour of the day and are generally mass start, self-graded. There's something for all abilities. To enter an event, you'll need to ensure both the trainer and heart rate monitor are paired. In the world selection screen navigate across to the right hand side to see what's on offer. These range from mass-start to handicap races and everything in between. There are clubs and teams that would love your company! Select the grade you'd like to enter (there are suggested watts per kg guides if you're unsure) and wait for the prompt in-game to join the start box. Remember to wind it up before the flag drops! In order to be eligible for the official results, riders must register with 'Zwift Power'. This is an independent body that keeps tabs of rider weight, heart rate and power outputs to mitigate cheating. See below. It's also a great tool for analysing your data post race. All metrics refresh every 90 days. https://www.zwiftpower.com/ Remember riding in the virtual world is hot work! Have plenty of bottles on hand in a well-ventilated room. Cleaning your bike post ride is essential. |
|
|
| | Wahoo Kickr 5 Smart Trainer | | $2,199.90 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Wahoo KICKR BIKE Indoor Smart Bike | | $6,999.00 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Wahoo Kickr Core Direct-Drive Smart Trainer | | $1,499.00 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Saris H3 Direct Drive Smart Trainer | | $1,949.00 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Elite Direto X Smart Trainer | | $1,749.00 | | Buy Now |
|
| |
| | Elite Direto XR Trainer | | $1,999.90 | | Buy Now |
|
|
|
|
|
