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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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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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Donkey Label Bike Tool Roll Review

Anyone who knows me will tell you I hate cluttering up my saddle with a saddle bag.  I'm a stickler for keeping things in my pockets.  If you want to get technical, it's in the rules.  Because of that, my pockets often look like an overstuffed lunch bag.  Or, you might think I've got half of a Home Depot shoved into my jersey.  Either way, it's not a flattering look.

For years, I used a variety of solutions to corral the various tools and gear in my pockets.  I switched back and forth from a pump to a CO2 inflator.  I tried different multi tools.  Tubes went into a separate pocket with a band around them.  Sometimes I just rubber banded everything together and stuck it in a pocket.  For a while, I tried using a small camera case to hold everything together.

The bottom line is if you like keeping stuff in your pockets, it's going to get messy at some point.

That all changed when my wife bought me a bike tool roll.  A Donkey Label bike tool roll to be exact.

Click through to see my review of the Donkey Label bike tool roll and learn how to purchase one yourself.

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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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Dura Ace Track Stages Power Meter Install

Power meter options for track bikes are very limited, and the Dura Ace Stages power meter is one of the most reasonably priced and simple to use on the market.  Based on the Dura Ace 7710 Octalink platform, the Stages power meter offers a simple, elegant power measuring solution for fixed gear bikes.  Painstaking refinement has gone into the algorithm used to calculate power to meet the unique demands of a fixed gear bike, improving performance and reliability in data recording.

Check out the video of the installation, re-posted from Periscope.  Throughout the installation, there's a little bit of Q&A about power meters based on questions from live viewers.  Click through the jump to watch the video and check out the video show notes:

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