It's 2023. Let's spend less

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Here is my new cycling blog that focuses on improving fitness and longevity while saving money at the same time.

In 2023, desirable road bikes cost $6000 and up. Indoor smart bikes cost almost as much. I have some ideas to improve performance while spending less.

A wise person (probably) said: "It takes no great skill to overspend on bikes and their maintenance".

Let's go.


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Stages SB20 - Drive Belt Adjustments

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 STAGES SB20 DRIVE BELT ADJUSTMENT  Stages includes belt adjustment tips in their support note on fixing SB20 noises:   Flywheel Making Noise . Several people have mentioned these instructions are incomplete. I’ll try to help . I wish this process was easier. Good news: With practice, you can complete all adjustments in less than 30 minutes. TWO GOALS Adjusting the drive belt accomplishes two things: Align the belt to ride as much as possible in the centre of the drive cogs. This reduces friction and positions the front axle perpendicular to the drive belt. Don’t be too worried about this step. The SB20 manufacturing tolerances aren’t perfect. Getting the front drive wheel roughly aligned and generally perpendicular is about all we can expect to achieve. Get belt tension right. Optimal tension means quieter running and no slipping during hard efforts. For most of us, this is a trial-and-error process.You want tight but not too tight. For me, this is measured as a 1 cm def...
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Stages SB20 - What's Inside?

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The Stages SB20  indoor smart bike was released in 2020. Let's take a look at the electronics that enable it  on platforms like Zwift.com and TrainerDay.com. An external power supply routes power to different bike components through a series of printed circuit boards (PCBs). The bike also includes two battery powered crank-based power meters. Here's an overview the basic functions: USB Board - Wedged vertically under the phone tray. It powers 3 USB ports. Upper Board - Fastened horizontally under the phone support rail. This System On a Chip (SoC) handles wireless communication and controls the bike itself. Switch Board - This wire distribution board sits inside the aluminum handlebar stem. It routes connections for the brake level controls  and under handlebar tape "blip" shifter buttons.  Lower Board - This mainly analog circuit board is attached to the flywheel / electronic brake unit. It controls bike resistance and sends power to other PCBs. Power Meter...
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SB20 - Clicking and Rubbing Noises

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Just about everyone who rides indoors will eventually hear clicking or scraping noises. Some noises are inconsequential. Others can represent a serious issue.  Let's take a look at some of the most common noise complaints with the Stages SB20 smart bike. Parts Before getting started, here are some key SB20 part names : Flywheel Rubbing against Plastic Cover Manufacturing variances, heat and wear can cause the right plastic cover to make rubbing noises as the flywheel spins. These noises persist after pedalling stops. You can eliminate the problem by trimming the right plastic cover as shown above. Flywheel Cogs Rubbing against Front Cover Fastener Adjusting drive belt tension can move the front axle forward causing it to rub or scrape against the metal fasteners holding the front cover in place.  To verify: Remove the front cover. Look at the front cogs. Do they rub against the front cover fasteners when pedalling . Note: Removing the front cover can cause noises to stop. Th...
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What is Erg Mode and Why Can it Suck?

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Free Riding is Easy Let's start with the relationship between resistance , cadence and power (watts) when doing an indoor free ride (sometimes called sim mode ). Free riding follows a simple formula:  Power in watts  =   How hard you push   ⨉   How fast you pedal   Your indoor bike offers constant resistance when you stay in the same physical or virtual gear. Pedal at a constant RPM and you get a consistent number of watts. If you then pedal 10% faster, you produce 10% more watts.  Pedal 10% slower, you produce 10% fewer watts. 📣 Free Riding Summary: When simulated riding conditions stay the same, pedalling faster produces more watts. Pedalling slower produces fewer watts. And don't forget: There is one way to go faster in Zwift.  Produce more watts 💪.    If only indoor riding was always this simple... Erg Mode When doing structured workouts, Erg mode is popular. It allows you to produce a desired number of watts whether y...
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SB20 - Both Power Meter Cranks have Failed - Now What?

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When your Stages SB20 smart bike is working normally, the built-in power meter cranks provide power and cadence data to apps like Zwift . Behind the scenes, they also provide the data that lets the SB20 regulate resistance when running in Erg mode. Some riders also add 3rd party power meter pedals .  They can work very well.   It surprises many people that Erg mode requires the built-in Stages power meters even when 3rd party power meters are in use.   For more information on SB20 erg mode , see: Erg Mode with a Stages SB20 Smart Bike . Question of the Day 📣 Question:  If my Stages crank power meters fail a nd I have another set of 3rd party power meter pedals , can I still use my SB20 bike?  The Short Answer: You can still do free rides and races in Zwift and other apps. You will not be able to use Erg mode.  ------------------- Urban legend: Erg mode still works with 3rd Party Cranks   Some people report that Erg mode still works when they use ...
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Batteries and SB20 Power Meters

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Today's question: How does battery level affect SB20 power meter measurement? Let's do a deep dive and find out! Replaceable Batteries The Stages SB20 power meters have replaceable batteries. An advantage: No degradation of built-in batteries as the power meters age. A disadvantage: No ability to top up batteries to 100% whenever you wish. Battery Life CR2032 button cell batteries are used in the SB20 power meters. Stages says they should last 150-200 hours . Let's verify this claim with bench tests and torque measurements. Estimating Remaining Capacity The StagesPower  app, and others like BT Inspector, report battery capacity. They use the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless protocol to ask each power meter for a battery life estimate.   🔬It doesn't matter which app you use.  All apps report the estimate returned by the power meters. Why Battery Estimates are so Bad Many people complain that battery life estimates from the power meters show 100% most of time. The...
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