Quote:
Originally Posted by herr_oberst
Are you loving that bike, Z-man? Made any improvements to it?
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Absolutely loving the bike! Been riding just about every other day for the past month. It is great to get back in the saddle, after not doing any biking for nearly 20 years. Bike tech sure has changed in that time! I went for a 14 mile ride today after work -- average speed was just over 12mph for the hour and 12 minute trip. I know -- slow and short - but at least it's a baseline for me!
As for the upgrades:
- Replaced MTB tires with skinnier ones that came with the bike. Since I plan to be on the tarmac 99% of the time, I'd rather have less rolling resistence.
- Replaced old Blackburn speedo (Atom 2.0) with new Planet Bike wireless computer (Protege 9.0).
- Replaced seat bag, added new front bag with iPhone case
- Replaced crappy headlight with Night Rider 500 lumens light. (Wow! What a difference)
- Added a kickstand and mirror
- Cleaned bike & chain
I had a local Campmoor bike guy replace the tires - and asked for a quick tune up, but he said the bike's solid, and I don't need anything -- he did adjust the front brakes as they were dragging a little, while we swapped out the tires. He also said that the derailers are higher-end units, and it is rare to see a Kona Dew Plus with the upgrades that are on my bike, including the front suspension, drivetrain, and the aero wheels I have (forgot the brand). He estimates that my bike without those upgrades would retail for just under $700. So having paid $400 for my 2011 used bike, I did get a great deal on it.
So the frame's a little smaller than ideal for me -- I can crank up the seat an inch, and be fine - for now. After all, I'm not riding to win races, or for show, so this bike fits the bill for me.
Found a neat app for tracking my rides. It's called Run Keeper and uses GPS to map out the ride. The app is nice in that it gives you a decent amount of stats including mph average per mile, elevation changes, time to reach each mile...etc. Only have one trip on it, but so far, I am happy with what the app gives me.
Can't wait to get back on the bike again!
-Z-man