After riding for a full season without any speedometer or odometer (since my Sigma Sport BC1600 broke down,) I finally caved in and bought a new computer last year.

Despite the past problems, I’m still a fan of Sigma Sport (to an extent,) and the display and button setup on this model looked good, so I grabbed one. Plus, the Sigma Sport BC1106 “team edition” color was on sale for $19.99 at Nashbar, and I couldn’t pass up a good deal.

(The team edition is red, which looks weird on my silver/blue Trek, but perfectly matches my white/red Cannondale.)

Installation and Setup

Setting up the BC1106 was as simple and straightforward as any wired computer can be. The only problem is the time consuming initial installation, thanks to the wire that must be wrapped around the brake cable.

The instructions involving setup were clear. After easily setting the time and wheel diameter, it was time to roll.

In Use

I really like the interface of Sigma Sport computers. It’s nice and simple. And the fact I was familiar with it already was a big plus.

This computer was on par with my BC1600 from years prior, with two minor differences. First, this one takes an extra two seconds to reset everything before a new ride. Second, the “sweet spot” on the buttons is a little different and took some getting used to. (The buttons are big, but there is a certain angle where you have to hit them.)

The display on this one is a tad bigger and brighter, which I like.

Functionality

The BC1106 offers 11 functions:

• Current speed
• Average speed
• Comparison speed / average speed
• Maximum speed
• Clock
• Trip distance
• Total distance bike 1+2
• Trip riding time
• Total riding time bike 1+2
• Memory function
• 2 wheel sizes programmable

I only set this up for one bike, so I can’t speak to the multi-bike and wheel size functions, but all the features I used seemed to work fine.

We Have a Problem!

Well, the computer worked fine for a few rides. Then one day I’m descending a 4 mile hill at 40mph. I tucked down to go faster, checked the computer, and it said 28mph! Next thing I knew, it said 0mph!

Since I was still cruising down nicely, I was sure the magnet had fallen off, because I thought I heard a little “ting” on the road. Nothing else seemed to happen, so I just rode calmly to the bottom (there was no way I could stop on that steep downhill!)

Once I had a chance to slow down, I stopped and checked, and everything looked perfect! The sensor and magnet were still lined up as before, the wire was still hooked in, and the clock function on the computer still worked.

It must be another case of the mysterious burnout of Sigma Sport computers!* This is the third computer I’ve had from Sigma Sport, and the third one that failed mysteriously! But while the others lasted a couple years each, this one lasted for about a week! The total time was about 7 hours and total distance just about 109 miles.

*Keep reading to see what happened…

The Sigma Sport Big Magnet

As luck would have it, a few hours after that fateful ride, the mail arrived, and there was my big magnet I ordered from Sigma Sport. I had ordered it mainly to test my BC1600 Wireless computer, but it will make a good test here…

As I went to remove the old magnet, I noticed something… the plastic case was still firmly attached to my spoke, but there was an empty hole in it! The actual magnet must have ejected on the downhill! Now it makes sense!

But man, talk about a poorly built magnet. It fell apart while cruising down a smooth road!

Anyway, the big magnet solved the problem and has worked well for six or eight months now.

Customer Service

I never bothered doing anything with a warranty since the computers did last a couple years each, but after three failures, I decided to email them my story about all the mysterious failures.

A Sigma rep responded the next day thanking me for the information and said she forwarded it to the service techs. I can’t say how good they are with warranties, but they are kind and courteous at least.

My final verdict is…

I used to think Sigma Sport was so great, but now I have had two Sigma computers mysteriously quit working, and the third one I get falls apart within a week!

So… “fool me once, shame on me. Fool me three times, well, the point is you won’t be fooling me any more!” Actually, the joke is on Sigma Sport’s competitors, because I’m finding these computers so cheap it’s still a better value to replace them consistently than to switch brands!

If you don’t mind replacing $20 computers every year or two, this is a good option.

Official website: www.SigmaSport.com

If you were just out for a dirty or dusty ride, it’s a good idea to give your bike a quick wash before you put it away. Bike washes always sound like a hassle, but if your bike isn’t covered in muck, you can do the job in five minutes.

Here is how you do it…

You need:

• Bucket of water
• Hose (or garden sprayer)
• Dawn liquid dish soap
• Sponges (one big, one small)
• Brushes (optional)
• Clean rag or towel

The cleaning process:

1. Stand the bike upright.

For a quick cleaning, it’s perfectly fine to leave the bike together. You can hold the bike upright with one hand, place it in a repair stand, or lean it against a fence.

You could remove the wheels to make it easier to reach certain tubes, but that’s not absolutely necessary, especially if the bike isn’t that dirty.

2. Wet the bike.

Start the cleaning by wetting the bike with light spray from a hose, or wet a sponge and wipe down the frame to get everything wet.

If you’re cleaning a road bike, go easy on the water pressure. You don’t want to force water into your headset, bottom bracket, or hub bearings.

3. Soap the bike.

Mix up the dish soap in the bucket, and use a sponge with that sudsy water to wipe down the frame, fork, handlebar, seatpost, etc.

4. Soap the drivetrain.

Use a smaller sponge with the sudsy water to wipe down the dirtier parts like wheels, crank arms, derailleurs, etc.

If there is some grime caked on there, use a brush to scrub the cassette, rings, and derailleurs, if necessary.

5. Rinse.

Use a light spray from the hose to rinse the bike off.

6. Dry

Now you can shake off the excess water and let the bike air dry outside or pat it dry with a clean cloth.

That’s it. Now your bike should be clean and happy!

Finishing touches:

While your bike is clean, you should also make sure it is lubed up and ready to ride.

If you use a dry lube like ProLink, you might want to add a little to your chain now. It will clean the lube the chain at the same time.

If you use a fancy lube like Dumonde Tech, it doesn’t wash off unless you specifically degrease the chain, so no need to relube in that case.

Note: This is the quick bike wash guide. If your bike is really nasty, check out my complete guide to bike washing: “How to Clean, Lube, and Polish Your Bike.”

If you regularly carry your bikes on a roof rack, but also park your car in a garage, you’re probably paranoid about driving into your garage with the bikes still on the rack!

If you’re on the internet, chances are you have seen pictures of $5,000 road bikes bent in half, courtesy of the garage door. So your worries are perfectly understandable.

And if you ever quit worrying, well, that will be the day you drive into the garage without thinking!

But you can put your mind at ease without sacrificing your bikes if you try one of these three ways to prevent that dreaded collision between your bikes and garage door opening:

1. Keep the Garage Door Opener Remote Out of Reach.

If you have your garage door remote right in the driver’s seat, you’ll probably hit the button to open it and drive right in like normal.

So if you put the bike on the roof, put the garage door opener in the back of the car. Then you’ll have to stop the car, get out, and walk around the back to grab the remote. At this point, you should realize the bikes need to come off the roof!

You could even leave the remote in your seat bag or Camelbak for an even bigger reminder.

2. Tape a Reminder Note On the Garage Door Opener Remote.

Find a picture of a broken bicycle and tape it onto or beside the remote. Or onto the dashboard.

Preferably, you would do this in a way that forces you to look at the picture before hitting the button. If the remote is clipped to your visor and you hit the button by memory, a little picture won’t break the habit.

3. A “Stop! If You Are Carrying a Bicycle” Sign.

If a little picture on the remote isn’t good enough, make a large warning sign that goes on your garage door or right inside the garage (as long as it’s clearly visible.)

It could say “Stop! If You Are Carrying a Bicycle” or “Do You Have Bikes On Board?”

As long as you notice it before you drive the whole way into the garage…

Bonus Tip: Use Sidewalk Chalk.

If you have a paved driveway and only need a temporary reminder about the bikes, use sidewalk chalk to write yourself a message. You could draw a picture of a cyclist and the word “Stop!” (Just don’t write “Allez!” or “Go!”)

Just remember that this would need to be done before every outing, and it would not be useful on a rainy day.

Photo credit: Dan Hershman

I eat banana smoothies all the time. They’re delicious and packed with nutrients. Plus, they are so refreshing after long days out in the sun!

My typical smoothie goes together like this…

Ingredients

1-2 cups Milk
1 Banana (chopped and frozen)
2-3 Eggs (organic)
1/2 cup Plain Yogurt
1 Tbsp Flax Seed (powder)
Dash of Vanilla (optional)
Dash of Orange juice (optional)

Preparation

First, I put everything but the milk in the blender. I don’t actually measure anything, but the proportions I listed are about right. (You can adjust as necessary.)

Then I pour in enough milk for the smoothie to blend. More milk gives you a thin smoothie, less milk gives you a thick smoothie.

Blend till you achieve the desired thickness. Add more milk if necessary.

Drink!

Notes on the ingredients:

Milk – I usually use 1% milk, but you can use skim or whole milk if desired. Ideally you can get raw milk from a local farmer.

Banana – I like to eat bananas when they are yellow with maybe a few tiny brown spots. When they get brown, I cut them up and place them in the freezer, which I then use for these smoothies. This is great for post-workout smoothies because you want higher-glycemic carbs, and bananas (especially once they turn brown) are full of high-glycemic sugar.

Eggs – Yes, I use raw eggs. That’s because I get them either from my own chickens or a local farm. And I use the whole egg, because the yolk contains many, many nutrients.

But beware, this could be dangerous! There is a risk of salmonella! Try this at your own risk! (If you can’t get fresh, local eggs, you could try something like Egg Beaters instead, but that’s pasteurized and processed, so I’m not a big fan.)

Yogurt – Make sure you get plain yogurt. This is the stuff that is not flavored nor sweetened. I get the Stonyfield Farms brand. (Most yogurt, even a vanilla flavor, contains way too much added sugar.)

Flax seed – Flax is a tasty way to get some Omega-3 fatty acids. I grind up flax seeds in the blender and then dump some in my smoothies, oatmeal, etc.

Vanilla – Used very sparingly, this can sweeten up the smoothie if you went overboard on the plain yogurt (which is a tad sour.)

Orange Juice – I really like adding a dash of OJ to my banana smoothies. Maybe just one or two tablespoons. It adds a neat flavor without taking away from the banana. (Less is more, in this case.)

I have sampled nearly every sports drink out there, but Cytomax always eluded me. The name has been popular for many years, and the Cytosport company makes products for all sorts of athletes, but it was just this past year I tried Cytomax Performance Drink.

I bought it on a whim, when the option of a “Peachy Keen” flavor caught my eye. It was just something about a peach flavored sports drink that drew me in!

When I opened the canister, I got a whiff of peach rings! Know those sugar-coated, gummy candies that are red, orange, and yellow? The ones that are totally artificial and way too sweet, but oh so good? Well, this peachy keen Cytomax smells and tastes like those peach rings!

Things got even better from there. Turns out that Cytomax mixes very easily. Just add it to water and shake a couple quick times.

And you’re left with a very thin consistency and no aftertaste. I was surprised how “clean” it left my mouth. There was no stickiness like with many other sports drinks.

The only downside was that the sweetness made it less refreshing. (Whether i was using 1 or 1.5 scoops for a 16oz bottle, it was quite sweet. Not sugary, but sweet. Artificially sweet…)

Cytomax Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

I was so wrapped up in the peach flavor that I completely ignored the ingredients. That is, until I thought about the artificially sweet flavor…

They actually tricked me on this – the label says “no aspartame, no sucrose.” Being a sports drink, I figured it contained maltodextrin or something as the main carbohydrate. I was wrong!

Cytomax contains the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium. It’s one thing to put that in diet drinks, but to put it in a sports drink powder? Last time I checked, a good sports drink was supposed to provide two things: calories from carbohydrates, and electrolytes. So why remove one of the main ingredients?!

Worse still, I found crystalline fructose on the list. This is basically a powdered form of high fructose corn syrup!

It’s cool that there are some vitamins, minerals, etc., and the “herbal lift” (i.e. caffeine) is an interesting concept, but please, skip the sucralose and other artificial junk!

Funny thing is, they have something called Cytomax Natural Powder, which is basically the same thing but without any artificial sweeteners or flavoring. So why not keep that one and ditch this artificial junk?

Cytomax Taste Test

As I mentioned, the Peachy Keen flavor tastes like peach rings. It is an artificial peach flavor.

It was a great novelty, but it gets old after a few times. I could never drink this on a daily basis.

The other flavors do sound tasty though:

- Cool Citrus
- Fresh Apple
- Pomegranate Berry
- Tropical Fruit
- Go Grape
- Tangy Orange

Cytomax In Use

If you go by the claims on the label, this would sound like a miracle!

“PROVEN Acid Buffering”
“STABILIZES Power Output”
“REDUCES Perceived Exertion”
“REDUCES Oxygen Consumption”
“INCREASES Recovery Rate”

Are you sure this isn’t on the banned substances list?!

The real question is, will you notice these benefits? I doubt it. If you switch from plain water, maybe. But if you switch from another form of sports drink, I can’t imagine that you’ll definitively use less oxygen and stabilize your power output. (And the point of stabilizing your power output, well, that’s a mystery to me.)

In my experience…

The first two times I used it, I felt crappy and ended up with a headache. I almost quit using it, because I blamed those side effects on the abundance of artificial sweeteners.

But then for the third time, I made sure I had a good breakfast and felt great beforehand. Then I did a 4.5 hour ride after some weight lifting and consumed two bottles of this stuff. I felt great the whole time.

So, it seems this drink works fine for me. I can’t attribute the initial crappy feelings or headaches to the sucralose. But I also can’t attribute “feeling good” to this drink either. If I’m well rested and have been eating healthy, I can feel good by drinking any sports drink.

P.S. This stuff permanently stains the inside of your water bottle.

My final verdict is…

There are some things about this drink I really like, as well as things I hate. Unfortunately, the prevalence of artificial sweeteners means I won’t recommend this drink, nor will I buy it again. (And the rest of my canister will be going in the trash!)

Since I did like the taste, texture, and ease of mixing, I may try that Cytomax Natural Powder someday, but it’s more likely I’ll switch to Hammer Heed.

Official website: www.Cytosport.com

Buy online: www.REI.com or www.PerformanceBike.com