Hacking the Newest Ride of the Fleet - Wahoo Kickr V1 2014

 Craiglist got me again. Picked up a Wahoo Kickr V1 2014 after borrowing TO's V4 - there is a bigger difference than 3 between these models, namely Wahoo wants nothing to do with the V1 apparently.

I have been spending a lot of time not on a real bike, in Zwiftland, getting soft and fighting depression. Healing I guess, missing yet another big chunk of my life as if was Covid2.

Check before the CL purchase, Todd. This happened with the Faraday too, I tend to jump at pretty, though dead, technology.

The V1 "works" but way undereports power. Wahoo let me know the firmware won't be updated by them at least, then confirmed hardware is broken if the speed is not reporting

After way to much obsessing and searching and even joining Reddit and Discord to find info, I got out the tools to find the PCB board. It turns out there are 2 - the power controller one is opposite the heavy flywheel, the "brains" were hiding all along up near the optical sensor near the top axle.

A video on YouTube is here that gets one to the boards fast: Wahoo Kickr V1 PCB Board Location, Removal and Survey

Some stills are below, and I will start inventorying the chips and parts.

I am thinking it would be most interesting to use an Arduino or Raspberry Pi to replace the "brain", maybe skip the optical board altogether.

Oh Canada...Best Day Ever Until It Wasn't

 (exerpt from email nearly 3 weeks after impact)

No, though I did think I might have broken a finger or 2 at the time on your tree (same

day/ride!)

ON that ride I later fell into a poison oak bush. Rushed home to get family to airport (w.o. me,

I had Canada plan) with too light a cleaning.

Then I went to Whister Saturday, epic ride up n down "Dark Crystal" in the evening. Hairball but superhero traction on granite.

Next day, Whistler bike park - more epic, and on the last run down (yes, I tried not to admit it), I turned RIGHT into

"In Deep" double black tech, to avoid more air time on Blue Velvet, and went down at the base of the first granite drop, 

pelvis (really hurt) and shoulder.

15 seconds into https://youtu.be/uq9Ts8GslXM (video one week before I was there - white rock in the middle = my pelvis).

GoPro really flattens, my front hit and bike got loose, fell left, bike right of the rock below)

After lots of cursing, got back up and walked/rode down, but noticed by left shoulder was not holding my weight 

(apparently dislocating itself on braking bumps). Got to mid-mountain via Blue Velvet (1 armed, weeping), to be 

told likely rotator cuff and or joint damage. Truck ride down into the village, and I went to do XRays. 

No broken bones, but told I have arthritis appropriate for my age.

Next day and following before flying home, legs swoll up. Remember that poison oak bush? July 5, urgent care

sends me to ER to check for blood clots in my legs given the swelling. No clots, but super-over-raction

to Poison Oak. Prednisone for 10 days, legs back to normal size, bad sleep and dead skin like a sunburn.

Meanwhile more Cal Sports (this time Dr Epply), Ultrasound, MRI and Xray and finally the suggestion 

for surgery within the next 6 weeks.

I am able to move it/no sling, and am shopping for a shoulder PT for my Blue Shield PPO (some live

sessions req'd vs zoom)

Did I mention I passed a Kidney stone too? Hehe, its been a Cruel Summer.

Ride safe, clean up that poison oak - hiking n maybe some running for me. Cheap bikes in XL if you are in need.

-Todd

Stacks of Maintenance

 This week:

- new TRP Slate 4 brakepads for the Yeti, arrived in time for Wente so we went to Wente

- the Zombie E-Bike Faraday stopped assisting. Lights were fine, but I tore it all apart. THEN I read the troubleshooting manual online; pressing the controller button for 3 seconds then waiting 5 minutes did the trick. While putting it all together again I cleaned up the wiring, bundling the ugly wirenuts in the frame portal

- flat tire on the Solo Velo - staple in the rear required some plier action, and a patch for the tube. Bike got called out as way stylish on my commute compared to the electric Zombie usual. I felt better riding it to, like I was Alleycatting with Simpson ;)

- new batch of TRP Hylex pads from Amazon for Old Blue, the Raleigh CX rig. Installation was a pain requiring a “burp” at the lever to loosen the pistons

Scout 290 Long Term Review

 Yo, little TF in NY, do consider the Nukeproof Scout290, I can cut you a deal:

Wente 2023: Relay Fitness on a Solo Ride != Good Results

I really fried myself at Wente 2023. 

Went out a bit hard, had a lovely 3 laps chasing Ian, worked on the 4th and cramped out on the 5th. Like, really cramped, in ways I never have before. Completely conscious, just my legs bucked, hamstring and quads all at once. 

I was able to stand, and stand on the pedals to control the bike properly, just pushing a bit was too much.

I could walk to, so I did a bit, and got passed by a bunch of riders, including the mighty Phorest, who said he was cramping too. BUT afterwards he said he RODE THROUGH IT, by standing on the pedals!

Oh well, preparation matters. 5 laps was still 45 miles, so 10 would have been 90, so this really requires preparation and a plan - not something Wente's awesome course encourages. I need relay buddies next year.

Camping with Z was fun too. 

Using the Tesla and having Elon pay for the miles was good too.

And the Yeti cleaned up nicely...

New Pins n Drills

 As with the cleats of my running career, we use powertools to attach the pins.

Some of the pins broke going in, I hope the stainless is not too brittle - some got hot and were really stiff to get out or in.

I put 12mm on one side and 10mm on the other to see which I prefer, test ride tomorrow am time to goto sleep!

2.5 mm allen key cut n turned into a bit

12mm side

10mm side

Post Boggs, Maybe Wente, Just Ride

 Dropped the Pike to 50psi, and removed the last token. We will see how loose it feels in Marin.

Santa almost went with DL to Wente work weekend, but he chose to risk the maybe-cracked Trek.

And so I take it tomorrow.

Yeti worked great for Boggs, race tires feel too fast but have not really failed.

Moved on to G-Form Pads

and you can too. Knees too  

Ordered new spikes for the Race Face Chesters - they are bent if not dull.

10mm, standard length

12mm, out of spec

and nuts, AC says I don't need em

Falling Behind! Seats from Canada to Flippin a Bell, to Fenders Fenders Fenders

 Lets go backwards. I did a hack on the Meta's 11sp XT crank to hold on the ring - the stripped bolt completely went, so I drilled a big hole, Dremeled it flat and used roadie crank bolts and backings to hold it on.

I just swapped the Cro-Mo Railed WTB Volt from Pinkbike onto the Meta hardtail anticipating another muddy ride in the am. Big Mudhugger Fenders on the Meta as well, running Chester flats that gouged my right baby-cow going down Cindy a few weeks ago.

This saddle was available to swap the Intense because also on Pinkbike I found a Yeti - branded Cro-mo railed WTB Volt, to match the Yeti, the Peak Bike. This bike did great on a big Pine Mountain XC loop last weekend, a great pedalling machine, I suffered the least of the crew. Experienced quicksand-like bogs without the clay, along with axle-deep water crossings.

Been spending too much time on Zwift this year, in the shed. The batteries that powered the house in a storm work just fine turning a fan and running the laptop. Burning up the tanwall Gran Prix 5000, but I also noticed the trainer is taking a hit, its axle wearing a grove and it looks crooked. The short training efforts are intervals, a good change we should maybe consider keeping.

3 months of wet really throwing off the riding, requiring lots of maintenance because I prefer the mud over the cars in the rain.

The Conclusion of the Yeti Hunt

Hunted the SB115 to the SB150 and back, found a match on Pinkbike and made a deal! For the build, the fast and most efficient start was to move the parts from the Intense 951 to the new-old frameset. A new 210mm 30.9 One Up was the only "new" part required. Well, also needed a bottom bracket, thanks to JN for the bearing press and pro inspiration for the Hunt...

We may have reached "Peak Bike"

Only the seatpost didn't fit...

Press fit BB getting Pressed In

Intense parts fit down to the quick-link...

Maiden ride, the commute...

Todd's Bikeshop Cam