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| The Sigma ROX 4.0 GPS computer |
Well, lookee here. I got a hold of this GPS computer in an offer to test and review it for RidingGravel.com. Of course, the Standard Disclaimer applies here. With that out of the way...
It's a Sigma product. They are a German based manufacturer of cycling computers that has been around for a long time. You generally don't hear a lot about the company here in the USA, but they've always been around. I've used a Sigma wireless computer recently on a bike here and it worked just fine for me. I know the company has had quality control issues in the past, but honestly, so have most of the cycling computer companies at one time or another. So, par for the course there.
Anyway, I have this Sigma ROX 4.0 GPS computer to try out. It has a bit bigger screen and is a bit thinner than the old Lezyne Super GPS I used to use, and it is far smaller than that dreadful Karoo 2 I tried. Small is okay if you have big enough graphics and if it actually works. That may seem like a silly thing to have to specify, but - ya know..... (See that Karoo link)
I'll have more on this one, but I'll tell you this straight away: I already am further down the road using this computer than I ever was with that Karoo. It seems to be intuitive, simple to use, and guess what? It's got that elevation tracker I was interested in. Stay tuned..........
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| Douze Cycles partners with Toyota in France Image courtesy of Douze Cycles |
Automotive Companies Make Inroads To Cycling Sector:
The news on HPC (Hybrid Powered Cycles) seems to be constantly flowing but a trend I've noted is how automotive companies are pivoting to get into the electrified/motorized cycling market. We've already noted here how Ford, Harley Davidson, and Yamaha are either partnering with electrified cycling companies or are doing their own thing outright.
I read now that Toyota has an agreement in France to place Douze Cycles cargo bikes, which use mid-motor designs from Broze and Shimano, into Toyota dealerships. Furthermore, in the article I read, it states that automotive component companies are looking to pivot into manufacturing bits for electrified bicycles now since ICE vehicles are being outlawed in the EU. Makes perfect sense when you think about it.
Comments: As if the "wild, wild West" nature of online HPC sales wasn't enough, now the cycling sector may see the automotive sector take over a big chunk of electrified bicycle sales. Think about how the automobile business has the budgets and the R&D horsepower to make that happen. Think about how traditional bicycle companies are more about impractical, extremely expensive, go-fast HPC's and not bikes for the average person. Add in that the very customer the cycling industry hopes to convert to pedaling already haunts the doorways of auto dealerships, and not bicycle shops, and perhaps we can see where this might be going here.
Auto dealerships are already well on their way to electrified car and truck sales and servicing. Adding in a staff of trained specialist in electric motors and systems for bicycles would be an easy thing here compared to the resistance seen in the cycling service sectors. Plus, the image held by consumers already is that car mechanics have a leg up on electronic systems for cars whereas bicycle technicians are often seen as less than knowledgeable on more technical electronic systems.
I've said it here before: If the auto industry turns to electrified two-wheeled transportation as a serious product for sales and production, the cycling industry will be left behind.
I think a lot of us have already forgotten that 2022 was really the first year since March 2020 that we've seen anything "normal" in terms of gravel events. I wanted to take a moment to note this fact and to take stock of 2022's gravelly adventures in the USA and beyond.
Everything kind of kicked off this year as if nothing had happened. No "Protocols" , no special instructions to distance, wear masks, or the like were noted. I'd say, for the most part, it was an unsaid thing right out of the gate in 2022 that events were going to run as they had up to March 2020. Was that the right call? I guess it was. I mean, I didn't ever read or hear about any negative outcomes, although I'm sure an example or two exists.
The UCI got into the gravel game. I figured this to happen in 2021, but I am betting that this was the plan and the pandemic postponed the plan. However that went, what you saw in the news wasn't the entire story on that series and world championships.
One event was cancelled due to low numbers. Another had a very poor showing. Then you had a participant in the final event, the so-called "worlds", say the following: " I think I would call this the Bike Path World Championships with some gravel". That was a quote from an interview of Nathan Peter-Haas, a rider in the event. So, you won't see this in the mainstream media, but the series and final event was quite a bit less than a smashing success. Meanwhile, US based events were slammed and did quite well with numbers and competitive fields.
Anyway, now the gravel scene, and cycling in general is seemingly free to evolve naturally once again. It will be interesting to see how 2023 goes.
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| Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post. (Image courtesy of Wolf tooth) |
Wolf Tooth Introduces Self-Bleeding Dropper Post:
One of the negatives to running a dropper post is that they can suck air into their systems which can result in unwanted sag when seated and poor performance. Wolf Tooth engineers have been developing an answer to this issue over the past four years and are ready to unveil the new Resolve post.
Apparently, every time the post is activated during a ride, the internal cartridge system self-bleeds and keeps air out of the inner workings.
This means less maintenance and less annoying sag. This won't come cheaply though, as the retail price is set at $349.95. The post is available now in 30.9mm and 31.6mm diameters and can handle round or ovalized saddle rails. Travel is at 125mm, 160mm, or 200mm and Wolf Tooth claims the stack height of the post is a minimal 32mm and the insertion depth is shorter which should make this fit more bikes.
Comments: I don't have many bikes here that could run a dropper post, but this one sounds pretty good. Matched up with a Wolf Tooth dropper lever and I'd think it would make for a great set up. I'd probably use one on my fat bike, because a dropper makes getting going in deep snow a much easier task than with a rigid post.
The whole "self-bleeding" thing? Well, I don't know about that. If it works, that's great, but that's a steep price to find out when a rigid post is what? Sub-100? Hmm....
That's a wrap for this week! Thanks for reading Guitar ted Productions and have a fantastic weekend.
2 comments:
I just don’t see the automotive OEMs (Toyota, Ford, GM) actually making a dent in the bicycle world. They always talk about and promote themselves as mobility companies that span not just auto but cycling, mini 1 person vehicles for the city and even flying cars. But it’s all just for show and PR, like most concept cars. (I say this as someone who’s worked in this industry all my career).
The fact is, the transition to electric vehicles means they have even less resources to spare for such branching out. They still need to make gasoline and diesel vehicles for the next decade or more to pay the bills, yet they also have to engineer completely new electric vehicles where they literally have the future of the company at stake. They don’t have the bandwidth to work on other stuff on top of that.
Also, the OEM auto companies don’t have a whole lot of engineering know how anymore. It’s the major Tier 1 suppliers that do. Bosch, Denso, Brose and the like supply the vast majority of complicated parts on the car besides the powertrain and chassis. Just like in the bicycling world where SRAM, Shimano and Fox do likewise. So the real threat is from them. And we already see that Bosch is a major e-bike motor supplier, maybe even the largest. But they will stick with their expertise area and want to sell to all Bicycle OEMs, not the consumer. Just like the auto industry, this allows them to keep their business simpler and more profitable. So really, it’s SRAM and Shimano that should be watching their backs.
eBikes - from what I've seen locally in WNY, the bike shops sell bike shop brand ebikes to riders who want to go longer/keep up with the faster groups. Other "normal people" are buying and riding the direct to consumer brands; speeding on sidewalks and bikepaths at dangerous velocities. Just my local observations so far.
As for droppers, and believe me, I am no expert, but why can't someone make a simpler one? I am looking for the "mechanical disc brake" equivalent of a dropper post, something cable actuated and only powered by a spring (up) and body weight (down). I understand it might not work as elegantly as the ones out there now, but I don't want to worry about bleeding and sagging on a seatpost.
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