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More Time To Get Fit - 2025

I have the USWE Outlander Pro, the predecessor to the Race 2.0. It works great. It's light and doesn't move around when riding. The nipple comes apart easily for cleaning (cuz you put sugar in it and need to get rid of the growing black mold). The bladder fold-top is super nice. White is fine - it cleans up pretty good in the clothes washer.

When the bladder is full, there is practically no extra room. You can get your phone and a key in there if you drink a little first. So don't expect to carry anything extra.
 
I use a black diamond distance 8 for running and riding. Little more room than your traditional running pack. Mine is green which I don’t see on their website but they do have blue.

blackdiamondequipment.com

Distance 8 Backpack

Made for long days on the move, the Gen 2 Distance 8 Pack is built with UHMWPE ripstop body fabrics and an entirely unique harness system that moves with you. Stretch-woven “wings” extend from the back panel along the sides to provide a secure and chafe-free fit. Easy to use Z-Pole storage can...
blackdiamondequipment.com blackdiamondequipment.com
 
Robert, Mike, Tally, which bike computer do you use? I’ve been relying on my watch and while it’s done well, a map and visible metrics would be so much nicer to have without having to look at my wrist all the time.
 
Ridley said:
Robert, Mike, Tally, which bike computer do you use? I’ve been relying on my watch and while it’s done well, a map and visible metrics would be so much nicer to have without having to look at my wrist all the time.
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Im just using my Garmin watch and a subscription to Strava for cycling. I would really like a head unit with navigation and power meter set up but that’s pretty pricy and Im also too ignorant about the details to know what plays nice together and where the best value is.
 
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Power meters add a few dead presidents for sure. Like you, I have a Garmin watch so I think it would be best I stay in that environment since it’s what I’m familiar with.
 
Ridley said:
Robert, Mike, Tally, which bike computer do you use? I’ve been relying on my watch and while it’s done well, a map and visible metrics would be so much nicer to have without having to look at my wrist all the time.
Click to expand...
I have a Hammerhead Karoo 2. I also have a Garmin Fenix 6x watch, which doubles as my bike computer on certain of my bikes (my enduro, for example) where a pricy bike computer is at risk.
 
I bought a Segei power meter recently and so far I have no complaints. It was significantly cheaper than the Quarq power meters I have on all my other bikes, and it was the only spider-style meter that plays nice with 30 tooth chainrings (mandatory on my enduro rig).
 
I’m using a Garmin Edge 840. I’ve been in the Garmin ecosystem for almost 20yrs and have no good reasons to switch. Wahoo doesn’t even have a workout builder, which I use all the time. I may move to the 10-series for my next computer though. Seeing intricate details on maps is a little too difficult on the smaller 8-series screen. It’s only rly a problem for MTB though as turns aren’t that tight on roads.

The interface of the Edge is very detailed with a million options. And you will need to change things as Garmin’s defaults aren’t optimal. Because of this, avoid the 5-series because it doesn’t have a touchscreen. Setting up anything on the wife’s 540 is infuriating.

I also have a Sigeyi power meter now, 3 actually. My Stages dual-sided on the gravel bike lost calibration (>10%), wasting ~$1000 since the company went under. Some well-trusted reviewers praise the Sigeyi. And it was a great solution to put a spider-based PM on my gravel bike with a Rotor crank. The PMs were $350 from powermetercity.com, before tariffs. The MTBs got them too.
 
Thanks Robert, Mike, and Tally really appreciate your input.

On another note, I’m up at Palisades waiting in line to get my race packet for Broken Arrow.
 
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W00t! Just in time for a weekend trip to the sierras! 20% off from Jensen using the code FATHERS20 father’s day discount code. It might still be valid. $115 OTD with the code, tax and free shipping

Gonna go play with it now :)
 
Mike95060 said:
View attachment 578494

W00t! Just in time for a weekend trip to the sierras! 20% off from Jensen using the code FATHERS20 father’s day discount code. It might still be valid. $115 OTD with the code, tax and free shipping

Gonna go play with it now :)
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There is NBD (new bike day), NTD (new tire day), so I guess this would be NPD (new pack day) for you Mike.
 
I survived my Broken Arrow run. Lots of fun. Finished 199 out of 490+ runners, and number 14 in my old man age group. My goal was sub 1h 30min, but I missed that by 3 minutes. I’m really proud of this considering I’ve never run a race before, and only dabble in running in order to spend time with my ultra runner wife.
 
I just noticed something. I know Garmin estimates your VO2 max but prior to yesterday’s race mine was 47, after the race it dropped to 44. Kinda shocked by that considering it was my biggest vertical run (2k feet) ever so there was really nothing for my watch to compare the effort against. Anyone have any ideas for the big drop?
 
i’m heading out for my first “walk” in 21 weeks. hoping to get 1/4 mile down the road and back.
 
Ridley said:
I just noticed something. I know Garmin estimates your VO2 max but prior to yesterday’s race mine was 47, after the race it dropped to 44. Kinda shocked by that considering it was my biggest vertical run (2k feet) ever so there was really nothing for my watch to compare the effort against. Anyone have any ideas for the big drop?
Click to expand...
Yep. Any exercise at a higher altitude will make it plummet. You perform worse because of less oxygen intake - higher HR for a given pace - and it thinks your VO2Max went down. It doesn’t seem to compensate for the altitude.

It’s kinda useful that it doesn’t compensate. If you stayed at altitude, you’d notice the VO2Max go back up as you acclimated. You could use all the info for better training. Of course, it’s also wrong cuz your VO2Max didn’t actually go down.

Great job on the race.
 
stangmx13 said:
Yep. Any exercise at a higher altitude will make it plummet. You perform worse because of less oxygen intake - higher HR for a given pace - and it thinks your VO2Max went down. It doesn’t seem to compensate for the altitude.

It’s kinda useful that it doesn’t compensate. If you stayed at altitude, you’d notice the VO2Max go back up as you acclimated. You could use all the info for better training. Of course, it’s also wrong cuz your VO2Max didn’t actually go down.

Great job on the race.
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Thanks Robert, really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I guess this means one thing, gotta spend more time up in the high country…darn.

My wife ran the 18k at Broken Arrow and she’s not too happy with me. Our courses shared an aid station at about mile 4.5(ish). I beat her to that aid station by over 20 minutes. Now she wants me to run the 23k with her next year so she can take me into deeper water. I want to do it with her, but damn that woman is crazy and she scares me a little 😁

So now I’m off to my next challenge, first gravel bike race. There is one in Butte County coming up in early July, or maybe the one in Susanville in September. I’m looking to ride a short course 40 miles or less for my first one. This should be fun.
 
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