For this installment of Mac Mondays, I’m going to look at products you can add to your iPhone, iPod Touch and general audio devices that could help you better enjoy your ride. I currently don’t own any of the products listed below; but, I did find them interesting and will probably add all of them to my accessories arsenal.

When I reviewed Cyclemeter a couple of weeks ago, I liked how the information was displayed on my iPhone’s screen (check out the review here) but I was concerned about how to safely mount my phone to the handle bars (I used the Joby Gorrillamobile). After searching the internet I came across the BioLogic Bike Mount for iPhone by Dahon. The Bike Mount is a weatherproof, silicone lined shock resistant case that pivots 360 degrees to allow you to use your iPhone in portrait or landscape mode. There is an opening on the back of the case that allows the rider to take videos or pictures while riding. The Bike Mount (compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS) is currently listed on Amazon for $54. I am very interested in this product but will have to wait to purchase an iPhone 4 Mount (supposedly available later in 2010).

The next product that I am definitely going to buy is called One Good Earbud. It is a “two-channel-mono” earbud that provides safety while out on a ride. Since both stereo channels of music are mixed into one earbud (providing a great audio experience), riders have one ear free to attend to potentially dangerous items in their immediate environment (as usual, vehicles). One Good Earbud is available for any audio device ($19.95 US + shipping) and the Mobile Pro for smartphones version has a built-in microphone ($27.95 US + shipping).

Finally, earphone cables can be an issue while out on a ride. While searching the internet, I discovered Tuneclip. It allows you to wind your earphone cables around a reel-shaped body and enclose them in the device. Tuneclip also has a clip on the back of it that allows the user to attach it a shirt or just about anywhere else. Cables can be easily adjusted to the required length needed while Tuneclip keeps the rest of the cables out of the way of your equipment. Available from Tunewear for $14.95 US.

I’ve only listed three potential accessories that I’ve found interesting. I know that I’ve missed many unique and useful gadgets…what are they? Please let us know.

Bike Repair for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is a reference guide to help you fix 34 bike problems.  Riders identify the problem area(s) on their bikes, pick the appropriate bike part, chose the problem and follow the step by step solution to fix or adjust the problem area.  Most of the solutions have high quality photos with instructions and part identifications to help you repair your bike quickly and easily.  The problems section covers: wheel, rear derailleur, front derailleur, chain, handlebar/headset, crankset/pedals, brakes, disk brake, shifter, suspension and others.  Bike Repair also has a list of bike parts and it notes maintenance for each part (just in case you haven’t experienced a problem in a specific area, yet).  The only thing missing is a preseason/pre-ride tune-up checklist to help you have a better ride.

The best things about Bike Repair are that you don’t need to be connected to the internet to get solutions to problems (information and solutions are stored on your device) and the solutions presented contain a few simple phrases and tasks that make it easy to fix your problem.  Bike Repair is just like carrying your bike manual to help diagnose problems that can and do occur.  Available in the iTunes App store for $1.99.

For quite a while now I’ve been wanting to check out “The Sufferfest” cycling training videos. David from Sufferfest Studios, Singapore sent me their videos a few weeks ago but since it’s not exactly indoor training season I haven’t been able to give them a test run.  This past Monday there was a torrential downpour going on outside, so I took that as my sign to finally take a “Sufferfest” indoor ride.

Sufferfest Studios claim to have:

“The hardest, most exciting, most get-on-your-bike-and-suffer-your-ass-off cycling training videos in the world.  Our videos are the only ones to feature officially licensed footage from professional race organisers like the ASO and the UCI, brilliant, hand-picked music, and structured workouts that you simply need to follow (if you can).”

Sufferfest currently has three cycling videos available; Fight Club, Downward Spiral, and Revolver. With Sufferfest, there is no easy, medium, and hard degree of difficulty with their product line. They are part of the Sufferfest family for a reason….each video will make you suffer.  Of course the amount of suffering will depend on how hard you push yourself.  The videos explain what level of exertion you should be at for each stage, so it’s up to you to be honest with yourself and put out what is asked of you.  If you don’t want to put out a hardcore effort, the videos will still help bring out the best in what you’ve got to deliver.

Each of the videos sell for $9.99US and are downloadable from the Sufferfest Website which also means there is no shipping costs involved. The price is very reasonable and if you are somewhat computer literate, you should be able to download the video and then burn it to a DVD with no problems at all.  It worked quite easily for me…and I’m sure if you experience any technical difficulty the Sufferfest staff will help you out.

For my first crack at it, I went with Fight Club.  This video puts you into the UCI World Championships and you are constantly under attack.  I popped in the DVD, got on my bike and started spinning.  I’ve never watched or taken part in a cycling training video before so I was in for a new experience.  The ride started off with a warm-up and then got right into the suffering.  There was a variety of sprints, climbs, and recovery before the one hour video came to a close.

What I liked best was the use of humor.  Each of the captions that came on the screen telling you what was happening or going to happen next, was quite humorous and helped ease the suffering…a little.  Along with the captions is a soundtrack of music to help motivate you.  The Fight Club video is pretty much what I would call techno dance music, which is far from my favorite type of music…but it didn’t seem to bother me too much.

By the time I was done, I definitely got my sweat on and really was in need of some of that soap Brad Pitt was producing in the movie “Fight Club”.

I asked David how the sequence of video was put together.  He let me know that he is not a coach, but has ridden his bike for many years and created workouts that would drive him into the ground and entertain him at the same time.  That is the formula behind the videos, and for a more in depth description of how the Fight Club cycling training video came to be you can check out http://www.thesufferfest.com/videocast-workouts/anyone-wanna-fight-fight-club-is-live.

If you’re like me, you’d much rather be outside riding and never have to settle for an indoor ride. But if you must do it, one of the Sufferfest videos is sure to spice things up.  If you’d like to have a look for yourself and try on some suffering, the videos can be purchased at www.thesufferfest.com. At under $10, it’s a great bargain and worth trying out.

I know there are a lot of people who have used the Sufferfest videos…if you’re one of them, let others know what you think by leaving your comments below.

Here is a quick trailer for the Fight Club DVD:

Three weeks ago today, I started my virtual bike fit process with Victor from Bicycle Lab.  I’ve explained the pre-fit and mid-fit process previously, and have shared my comments…and it’s time to wrap it all up with my post-fit review.

It didn’t actually take three full weeks to complete the process.  We pretty much finished things off over a week ago, but I wasn’t able to debrief my comments into a blog before I took off on my trip to Belize.  First of all, I have to once again say how much of a pleasure it was working with Victor.  He is extremely knowledgeable and has a passion for helping people connect better with their bikes.  I’m sure all professional bike fitters are great at what they do, but I’m extremely happy that I was able to work with Victor because of the comfort and connection I had in my relationship with him.  I loved working with him so much that I even ended up buying a new Garmin Edge 500 from him as well….I’ve had that on my wish list for a few months now.

After several videos, pictures, and phone calls the recommendation from Victor was the following:

1. Cleats – Move cleats back as far as they will go. Try and keep the same angle of the cleats. Put supportive insoles in shoes.
2. Saddle – Slide saddle back 2cm and level Lower saddle .5cm or 5mm.
3. Stem – Change stem to an 80mm – 6 degrees.

The weather over here totally cooperated with me and warmed up just in time for me to get out on the streets and test out my new adjustments.  At first I didn’t notice a great deal of difference from how I was set up before….but as I continued to ride, I started to feel it.  I’ve got a rotator cuff issue with my right shoulder and on the first few rides of the year, it generally starts to ache about 70 minutes into the ride.  I could feel my shoulder start acting up a little, but the burning that I’m used to never came.  That fact alone makes the fit a roaring success.  I’m going to stay in touch with Victor over the coming weeks and let him know how it’s going.

There may be a few more tweaks here and there, and he’ll let me know if there are any other adjustments to be made.  Another sign of a good bike fitter….one who sticks with you following the fit.

We, as road and tri bike cyclists, invest a ton of cash into our rides. When we’re spending that kind of money, it makes total sense to invest  just a little bit more to customize it to your body.

A professional bike fit will cost you between $300 and $500, plus any equipment change costs.

None of us are built exactly the same and a 53″ frame is going to fit you much differently than it fits me.  A bike fitter will ensure that your ideal size frame is adjusted to suit your own personal body.

If you’ve had a professional fit, how did it affect your ride?  If you haven’t, what questions do you have about getting one done?

When I upgraded to my new Trek Madone last April, one of the things I was hoping to get out of it was a spectacular fit that provided me with hour upon hour of comfort to go along with increased performance from the bike.  It’s been a great road bike, and really can’t complain too much about the fit and comfort….but then again, it’s in my nature not to settle.  I have this strange little personality trait where I just have to keep striving to make something better.

So here I am.  One year of riding on my Madone.  Comfortable.  At one with my bike.  Why would I ever think of changing things?  Like they say, if it ain’t broke…why go and fix it.

To be honest, if I would have known of a professional bike fitter when I bought the bike last year, I would have hit them up for a fit.  But, to my knowledge there was no such professional around these parts.  So I had the bike shop give me their fit and was sent off happy enough with my new ride and the way it fit.

Then I met a guy on Twitter.  His Twitter ID was @BicycleLab and he oozed great cycling wisdom from many of his Tweets.  I told him that I wished there was someone doing what he does over here, and he came back to me with some fantastic news.  He told me that if I had a camera, video camera, and tripod he would be able to give me a virtual fit.  Upon learning more….and given the fact that I already considered this guy a cycling guru, I decided to enlist his services.

Victor Jimenez from the Bicycle Lab has over 20 years of experience in custom fitting bikes to their owners.  He started off with a high end retail bicycle shop, and taught clinics on bicycle fit, repair, frame selection, and riding skills to enthusiasts.  Today, Victor focuses on helping cyclists obtain the most out of their sport and is passionately committed to helping the bicycle become more utilitarian here in North America, and worldwide.  Basically, he just truly wants to help people.  Once you meet him, there is no denying that truth.  Bicycle Lab is a small business that offers one-on-one bicycle fitting and mechanical services. They also design and build custom road and triathlon bikes under their own Karma Cycleworks brand.

Okay, so back to the fit.  They say that change is one of the hardest things for us as human beings to adjust to.  That it is the cause of great stress in our lives.  But to get the most out of life, we have to try new things and experience various circumstances and situations.  Yet, so many stay contained within their comfort zones.  Fearing the unknown.  Fearing to make a change.  These same feelings likely play a part in our relationship with our bikes as well.  “I’m comfortable on my bike…why would I want to mess with it?”

I know that my body type is far different than any other guy out there riding a 53” Madone, so why haven’t I tweaked it to mold to my body?  I haven’t been convinced that I have the utter most ideal fit on my bike…and I’m not going to let these questions linger any longer.

I want to see what will happen.  I want to know I am set up perfectly on my bike.  That the fit cannot get any better. The time has come and I’m ready to put it all in the hands of the Bicycle Lab.

Stay tuned…..