Cheers to Saris and their customer service this week.
Back a couple months ago my Powertap SL started showing some funky torque readings and things went crazy. Short of it - a number that should read @~ 519 was reading 342, and has since shown readings from 340 up to 460 - sometimes drastically changing mid-ride. So, they told me I could send it back and get it fixed and until now I just didn't want to part with the wheel and the training data. But, now that I can (more to follow), I will send it in this week. I called them to confirm my RA # was still good. Rick told me all was well and send it on in. I figured while I was on the phone I'd ask about the new PT CPU's so I could get a coded HRM strap. He said the current deal was $200, but since my PT SL was so new they could consider the swap a warranty replacement. So when they send my wheel back to me (to an address they had on file from nearly 7 months ago), they'll send me my new CPU/strap. THEN I can send them the old CPU/strap so I don't have to be without the CPU at all! Man... amazing.
Compare that to Specialized. 9 weeks ago I emailed them about my broken chain stay cable stop. I emailed Kevin once per week for 8 weeks, sometimes getting a "we're working on it" reply, and sometimes getting nothing. Last week they finally came back and said "Oh, Specialized Japan's new operations are open, start over with them." Great, I thought. Now I have to work around the language barrier and the brand new operating procedures of a new branch of Specialized to get this WARRANTY repair done. Fortunately, my guy knows a guy @ this new Specialized Japan distribution branch. But, his response was less than appealing. "We'll attempt to repair the frame for around 20,000 yen ($180-200ish). Attempt and repair and frame are not words you like to hear in the same sentence. Oh yeah, not warranty - but for cost. I emailed Kevin this response and FINALLY... a week and a half later, they've worked out that they will cover the repair under warranty. I'll be without my Roubaix for up to a week while it's being fixed in Tokyo smack in the middle of the summer training season. Needless to say, I'm likely to buy more powermeter tools from Saris but will never buy another bike frame from Specialized. Customer service speaks volumes.
On the good note for the week, I can finally send the PT SL in to Saris for maintenance because my NEW WHEELS have finally arrived. Wheelbuilder.com took care of me and I now have a set of Velocity Aerohead wheels with a PT Pro on the rear. I also got a rear wheel cover to toss on for the handful of TT's I might get myself into. Specs:
Velocity Aerohead Front, 24 spokes, White Industries F1 hub
Velocity Aerohead OC Rear, 28 spokes, Powertap Pro hub
Sapim CX-Ray black spokes/nipples all around
Yes... the disc covers are against the wall behind the front wheel. I should have put them along the wall behind the back, but I'm too lazy to take another picture.
I took the PT pro out for a spin yesterday, and whether it was placebo or just my shoes were on tighter, I set a personal best max 1 sec power and managed to find some of my missing 5 second power. I took the wheels back out today for some high tempo/SST riding. 1 hr 40 min just under 300 watts normalized. On some still slightly tired legs and starting to suffer from dehydration the numbers and PE seemed to match up well enough with what I'm used to. But, more than anything - it's great to know that the numbers I am looking at can be reasonably assured to be accurate instead of always wondering if the numbers on the PT SL were right.
My initial impression of the Velocity Rims is good. They feel a lot flexier than my Open Pro rim on the rear. There's a bit more give which isn't so bad, but I worry about how well that will hold up on the Japan roads - which aren't so great. Time will tell. When the PT SL comes back from Saris, I'll only run the PT pro for races on the more aero rim setup.
All other metrics remain reasonably the same. Took resting heart rate last week at a surprisingly low 38 bpm. Weight is hovering around the 77kg mark, right on the money. Feeling a little fat tonight after a good pasta dinner.
Looking forward to racing this week and getting a good workout. No plans or real goals for the Kyushu 3 hr circuit race. Get on the track, ride in circles as fast as I can go for 3 hours and hold on someone else's wheel for the most of it.
Safe Riding to all,
VW
Back a couple months ago my Powertap SL started showing some funky torque readings and things went crazy. Short of it - a number that should read @~ 519 was reading 342, and has since shown readings from 340 up to 460 - sometimes drastically changing mid-ride. So, they told me I could send it back and get it fixed and until now I just didn't want to part with the wheel and the training data. But, now that I can (more to follow), I will send it in this week. I called them to confirm my RA # was still good. Rick told me all was well and send it on in. I figured while I was on the phone I'd ask about the new PT CPU's so I could get a coded HRM strap. He said the current deal was $200, but since my PT SL was so new they could consider the swap a warranty replacement. So when they send my wheel back to me (to an address they had on file from nearly 7 months ago), they'll send me my new CPU/strap. THEN I can send them the old CPU/strap so I don't have to be without the CPU at all! Man... amazing.
Compare that to Specialized. 9 weeks ago I emailed them about my broken chain stay cable stop. I emailed Kevin once per week for 8 weeks, sometimes getting a "we're working on it" reply, and sometimes getting nothing. Last week they finally came back and said "Oh, Specialized Japan's new operations are open, start over with them." Great, I thought. Now I have to work around the language barrier and the brand new operating procedures of a new branch of Specialized to get this WARRANTY repair done. Fortunately, my guy knows a guy @ this new Specialized Japan distribution branch. But, his response was less than appealing. "We'll attempt to repair the frame for around 20,000 yen ($180-200ish). Attempt and repair and frame are not words you like to hear in the same sentence. Oh yeah, not warranty - but for cost. I emailed Kevin this response and FINALLY... a week and a half later, they've worked out that they will cover the repair under warranty. I'll be without my Roubaix for up to a week while it's being fixed in Tokyo smack in the middle of the summer training season. Needless to say, I'm likely to buy more powermeter tools from Saris but will never buy another bike frame from Specialized. Customer service speaks volumes.
On the good note for the week, I can finally send the PT SL in to Saris for maintenance because my NEW WHEELS have finally arrived. Wheelbuilder.com took care of me and I now have a set of Velocity Aerohead wheels with a PT Pro on the rear. I also got a rear wheel cover to toss on for the handful of TT's I might get myself into. Specs:
Velocity Aerohead Front, 24 spokes, White Industries F1 hub
Velocity Aerohead OC Rear, 28 spokes, Powertap Pro hub
Sapim CX-Ray black spokes/nipples all around
Yes... the disc covers are against the wall behind the front wheel. I should have put them along the wall behind the back, but I'm too lazy to take another picture.
I took the PT pro out for a spin yesterday, and whether it was placebo or just my shoes were on tighter, I set a personal best max 1 sec power and managed to find some of my missing 5 second power. I took the wheels back out today for some high tempo/SST riding. 1 hr 40 min just under 300 watts normalized. On some still slightly tired legs and starting to suffer from dehydration the numbers and PE seemed to match up well enough with what I'm used to. But, more than anything - it's great to know that the numbers I am looking at can be reasonably assured to be accurate instead of always wondering if the numbers on the PT SL were right.
My initial impression of the Velocity Rims is good. They feel a lot flexier than my Open Pro rim on the rear. There's a bit more give which isn't so bad, but I worry about how well that will hold up on the Japan roads - which aren't so great. Time will tell. When the PT SL comes back from Saris, I'll only run the PT pro for races on the more aero rim setup.
All other metrics remain reasonably the same. Took resting heart rate last week at a surprisingly low 38 bpm. Weight is hovering around the 77kg mark, right on the money. Feeling a little fat tonight after a good pasta dinner.
Looking forward to racing this week and getting a good workout. No plans or real goals for the Kyushu 3 hr circuit race. Get on the track, ride in circles as fast as I can go for 3 hours and hold on someone else's wheel for the most of it.
Safe Riding to all,
VW