Texas Biking February 16th 2020

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PowerPod Distraction Bike Ride to E. Lake Houston Parkway

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I started today’s bike ride later than usual after watching the University of Cincinnati vs. East Carolina University basketball game go into overtime. Riding out the driveway I pressed the Elemnt start button at 2:17 PM. Originally I planned on biking to Huffman but with the late start, overcast sky, and the temperature cooler than the forecast called I changed to the “Atascocita – Walden – E. Lake Houston Parkway” route with a slight variation: ride to E. Lake Houston Parkway before going through Walden. Same distance just looking at some streets in the opposite direction. The ride totaled 28.49 miles putting the week’s total at 116.15 miles.

After riding my Lynskey R300 bike since February 2nd I decided to ride my Canyon Endurace CF SLX bike today. This was the first ride since its visit to Tailwind Bicycles and I wanted to see how it rode. It rode nice.

As I got ready to start the ride I tried to get the PowerPod to startup and connect to my Wahoo Elemnt computer like it usually does but it wouldn’t connect. After trying several combinations of PowerPod button pushes and watching the LED blink various ways I gave up and pushed the Canyon outside to begin the ride. I have been frustrated with the PowerPod not working while riding the Lynskey R300 but yesterday it worked properly and in the past worked with the Canyon bike so today’s problem wasn’t expected.

After riding along the route about 4 miles into the ride I thought I would try one more time to get the PowerPod to talk to the Elemnt. Recently Velocomp (manufacturer of the PowerPod) up dated their Powerhouse app to setup profiles on the PowerPod. I made the mistake on Friday of trying to connect 2 Bluetooth items to the PowerPod and bluetooth can’t do that. At the 4 mile spot I pulled over, got my phone out and opened the Powerhouse app to see if it would connect to the PowerPod but it said it couldn’t connect. I figure that meant the PowerPod wouldn’t connect to the Elemnt either but to my surprise after closing the app it did connect to the Elemnt and reported power for the rest of the ride. I don’t know what I did. For now the PowerPod is unpredictable which causes the distraction. Maybe tomorrow it will work, maybe not.

The next 2 days the weather forecast calls for mid 70’s temperatures and little chance of rain. I will biking to take advantage of that.

Links to the Strava activity page and the SportTracks activity page.

Texas Biking February 15th 2020

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The Best Bike Rides and Trails in San Antonio

By San Antonio Current Staff | www.sacurrent.com

The Medina River Greenway is about a 3.5-mile trail connecting the Pleasanton Trailhead to Mattox Park, which is located along McAllister Freeway outside of Loop 410 on the South Side. Because it hugs the edge of Mitchell Lake, you can expect to see some cool sights. When the weather is nice, you’ll see seasonal birds, lakeside wildlife and healthy vegetation. This greenway has paved areas, so it’s perfect for someone who prefers paved rides to rough terrain rides. …

RESCHEDULED – 2ND ANNUAL TRAIL HOPPING WINTER SHAKEDOWN | ALEDO AND QUANAH HILL

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When 16 Feb 2020 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM Location Aledo Trail | 302 Point Vista Drive, Aledo, TX 76608 | Quanah Hill | 229-499 W Lake Dr, Weatherford, TX 76087 Join us for our 2nd Annual Trail Hopping Winter Shakedown!! We’ll be starting off the morning at 10:30 AM at the Parks of Aledo Mountain Bike Trail (302 Point Vista Drive, Aledo, TX 76608). This trail is great for beginners and first time riders, offering six miles of fun and flowy singletrack. We will have first-time rider, beginner, beginner-intermediate, and intermediate groups led by our PMBIA certified MTB instructors.

Arrive by 10:30 so you can sign the waiver, pick up your name plate, and get a quick bike check. Be ready to ride by 11:00 AM. Wheels on dirt after our group picture at 11:00 AM!

You do not have to be a paid member to join us!

Bowie HS & S. ATX MS Composite Mountain Bike Teams is at Flat Rock Ranch.

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Bridgeport was too wet for racing this weekend, but Flat Rock Ranch had perfect ride conditions!

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Bike Ride to Community Drive Porter Texas

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I waited until 1:07 PM to start the bike ride hoping the temperature would get above 60 degrees. Finally it made it to 64 and I donned my cold apparel and set off on the “Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch” route eventually biking 26.38 miles. I rode my Lynskey R300 titanium road bike.

With today’s mileage I am up to 230.9 road miles towards my 345 mile goal for the month. This was the first road biking this week since Monday due to the weather. Tuesday, Wednesday,and Thursday were Zwifting days. My Zwift mileage for February totals 77.4 miles with a goal of 100 miles. These two total 308.28 miles with an overall goal of 445 miles for February.

The ride included some frustration with the PowerPod power meter. Velocomp released a new version of the PowerPod Lite V3 with the added feature of an app to setup the AeroPod. After exchanging messages with VeloComp John said the app should work with my PowerPod BLE. I tried it yesterday and it seemed to work but today’s ride proved otherwise. Below is a message I left on the Velocomp forum after today’s bike ride.

Today I went for my first ride since using the PowerHouse app to connect to the PP BLE. As I got ready to leave to start the ride I opened the app and tried to connect to the PP but got an error message that the PP could not be found even though it showed powered up on my Wahoo Elemnt. Afte turning the PP off and back on several times and changing to a different profile (#2) it finally connected. I thought this meant smooth sailing for the ride. NO!

When I rolled out the driveway and pressed start ride on my Elemnt no power readings. I looked at the PP LED and it was flashing red/yellow and starting to count up to 100. I wasn’t prepared or expecting a calibration ride. So I rode to 50, stopped and waited then continued the ride. When the count got to 100 I thought it was finished but no watts showed on the Elemnt. I stopped and again the LED was red/yellow and waiting to count up to 100. Resumed riding and the count went to 100. Still no power reading and the LED flashing red. I pressed the PP button 5 times, the LED went out, pressed the button again, red LED. I figured the ride was going to be without power readings and turned the PP off again. Riding a short distance I pressed the PP start button again just for laughs and got a green LED and power appeared on the Elemnt screen.

The Powerhouse app and my use of it must be in conflict. When I select a profile # in the PH app does this create a new profile in the PP and erase the existing profile # in the PP? Does it check the existing profiles in the PP and do anything to them? I am still confused and frustrated using the PP with a new bike with new sensors. This is too hard. Why can I not make a new profile in Issac adding the wireless ID’s I can get from my Elemnt app and then go for a ride and the PP make adjustments based on the information I put in the profile in Isaac? If I knew what to expect at the beginning of a ride I could plan on what to do but so far each ride presents an unexpected situation and I must make choices on the fly if I want power readings. Sometimes I may remember what steps to take and other times I have no idea. Too much frustration. I don’t have to go through all of this to use my Wahoo Elemnt computer when I add a new bike and sensors. I guess the PP is too sophisticated for me. I bought a pair of Favero Assiomo pedals that look to be much easier to set up and use. Moving them between bikes is easier than the frustration I get with the PP.

Tomorrow the weather forecast calls for warmer temperatures with a small chance of rain. I plan on biking and will ride the Canyon Endurace for the first time since its time in the shop for a tune up after 14,921 miles.

Links to the Strava activity page and the SportTracks activity page.