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The Greatest Black Friday and Cyber Monday Bike Deals

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days of the year.  Whether you're buying for yourself or another cyclist on your holiday list, you can take advantage of some significant price drops and doorbuster specials.

I've compiled a list of some of the biggest and best Black Friday bike deals out there for your shopping convenience.  I'll update these links as necessary to keep your deals up to date and current so you get the best deals possible!

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How to Tune Shimano Di2 From Your iPad or iPhone

Shimano has been in the electronic shifting game since Dura Ace 7970 was introduced in 2009.  Their E-Tube system debuted with Ultegra 6770 in 2012 and continues to be the standard in electronic shifting systems today.  You had to take your bike to a local bike shop that had an expensive adapter and computer program to tune the drivetrain and update firmware.

Since then, Shimano has released the E-Tube app for iOs.  By adding some Bluetooth Low Energy components to your drivetrain, you can update firmware and tune your shifting from your iPad.  It's never been easier to tune and update your Di2 system.

Click through the jump to learn what you need to use your iPad to tune your E-Tube Shimano Di2 system, including a video overview of the app and how to use it.

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Solos Smart Cycling Glasses Review

Imagine riding in a tight pack, shoulder to shoulder with the rider next to you.  The group rides under the 1K to go banner at high speed, nervously shuffling as the finish line beckons.  You take a split second to look down at your power meter display to set yourself up for the sprint.  In that moment, the rider in front of you taps his brakes and you hit his rear wheel, crashing hard.

Next, imagine flying down a sinewy descent, carving sweeping turns with aplomb.  You glance down at your computer to get a speed check and miss the small pothole in the road in front of you.  Your front wheel hits the square edge and flats the tire, you lose control and crash.

The Solos Smart glasses aim to make those two scenarios a thing of the past.  By creating a pair of cycling glasses with an integrated heads-up display, Solos has put your most critical information right in front of your eyes.  You never have to look away from the road to check your power or speed.  Keeping your eyes on the road keeps you safer.

Do these $500 cycling glasses stack up to their price tag?  Click through the jump and I'll go in depth on the newly released Solos Cycling glasses.

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Vittoria Corsa G+ Review

Vittoria has a reputation for producing some of the best tires on the market.  Their Corsa, with its corespun cotton casing and super gummy rubber is a favorite race day tire.  It's too fragile for training, though.  The sticky tread can wear in a matter of a thousand miles, meaning you may have to replace your tires 4 or 5 times per season!

That can get expensive, so Vittoria made a few changes.  The revised tread compound and added durability led to the creation of the G+ series of tires.  Click through the jump to read my Vittoria Corsa G+ review and find out if this is the perfect training tire for you.

Vittoria Corsa G+ Review

As with all of my reviews, I've run these tires through the ringer.  I've got around 1800 miles of smooth tarmac, dirt roads, busted up asphalt and post winter salt under them.  I'll include my opinions on Vittoria's technology, tire mounting, actual size, performance and durability below.

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“Friction Facts” Bicycle Chain Lube Process

Bicycle chain lube has come a long way in the past 20 years.  Gone are the days of dripping 3-in-1 oil on your chain, wiping it with an old washcloth and calling it good.  These days, chain lube is researched almost as much as any other component on your bike.

In the quest for “marginal gains, ” chain lube is one of the new frontiers.  While aerodynamic gains are still the king of the hill in terms of gaining seconds during a time trial or race, chain lube efficiency can save a few extra watts.  Combine those few watts with savings from ceramic bearings, derailleur pulley bearing, and pedal bearings and you could be saving 5-6% of your energy.

Friction Facts is one of the kings of evaluating your drive train efficiency.  They have published tons of material on chain lube efficiency in the past.  After doing some reading about the process, I decided to give it a try and see how effective (and long lasting) it is.

Check out my experience after the jump and learn how you can try this bicycle chain lube process yourself at home.
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