Will you Karoo? Hammerhead makes a strong case for device migration

(PHOTO CREDIT: ABOVE) The Karoo is South Africa’s ‘soul space.’ A part of the country that attracts eccentrics, hippies, crafters and outsiders. (Thank you, Guardian travel ). Searchers of empty space and deserted gravel roads. And it’s from this dry, arid part of the continent that cycling’s most user-friendly head-unit borrows its name. So will it be your next bike device?

For Garmin and other cycling computers, Karoo’s migration from startup to competitor has been hard to miss. It’s used in more than 100 countries and has built a user community in unofficial support groups, with their blog content and through in-app Strava marketing. Never have I rode with such a chatter-inducing piece of tech. Fans include ex-pro George Hincapie; a Velonews profile of Bobby Julich’s Pinarello Grevil has the stealthy black square perched and ride-ready.

If you’ve eyed its features, you’re not alone. It is simple and intuitive to use (though I still struggle with a couple key features) and always improving (recent upgrades included support for e-drivetrains Di2, Sram, Campy EPS and Garmin’s Varia). Weighed against the feature-sets deemed essential by most (by HNH, anyway) - weight, nav and battery life - it is the market leader in many respects. Let’s look at it against those features and the device many will liken it to, the Garmin 1030.

The weighting is the hardest part - Somewhere in a New York City boardroom, a group of Hammerhead product managers and designers are scrutinizing Karoo’s hardware. It is noticeably large. As one curious onlooker remarked during a recent club ride, it’s downright beefy.

To be exact, the Karoo weighs 54 percent more than the Garmin 1030. In future iterations, it’s easy to imagine buttons cut (5 in the Karoo versus 3 in the 1030) and more reliance placed on the device’s phone-like touch screen. Once clicked in, rest assured, the weight is unnoticeable. Steering clear of a device for weight-weenie rage-inducing 68 grams is ridiculous.

The Hammerhead device is definitely beefy: 192 grams compared to 124 grams for the Garmin 1030.

Another item to note: though the company’s site says “the Karoo is compatible with any quarter-turn compatible Garmin mount,” it wasn’t with mine. If fit, but it was crazy tight. I was concerned about cracking the backplate so I only used the Hammerhead-issued mount.**

Navigation - Where Hammerhead has made the most compelling case for user adoption is with its navigation capabilities. Uploading or creating routes on the 1030 is painful by comparison; you have to download GPX or equivalent files, then navigate Garmin’s complicated file system to populate, sometimes requiring multiple attempts. The in-ride experience is also lesser then; following the triangle along the route isn’t hard, but it isn’t obvious or good, either. Garmin will surely remedy this; mapping is very static and out of step with other touch screen experiences.

Using the Karoo is markedly different. I often pull people’s routes from Strava when planning for trips or exploring nearby roads. Karoo has nailed this user-experience:

• Log-in to your Karoo profile online.

• Download the GPX file from Strava.

• Drag and drop the file onto your Karoo profile page, route builder section on your laptop.

• It auto-populates on your device.

Dead-simple. Route planning anywhere in the world will never be the same. The turn-by-turn instructions are easy to spot on the large colour screen and you can still view in-ride vitals (power, HR, etc…). One routing function I’ve not yet mastered is creating in-ride directions, though I now know this involves a long hold while stopped, dropping a pin in the desired location and routing directions auto-populate - something I’ll have to try again next time I need alternate routing options home.

The juice is loose - One of the options I’ve come to love most on the Garmin 1030 is the “auto-off,” which effectively leaves you with a blank screen while riding but still capturing data. This prolongs battery life to more than the stated 15 hours. The stated battery life of the Karoo is also 15 hours; you can play with the brightness and manually put the device to sleep, but the same auto-off function isn’t available. That said, the device keeps plenty of charge. One percent lasted for 10 kilometers on a recent ride where I came in on fumes. The battery life held fine (deep sigh of cold-sweat inducing relief).

Charge times from zero are also quicker with Karoo; getting to 100% took about 2.5 hours versus a 70% charge for the 1030 over the same time period. I’d have to say the devices are pretty even here; if you’re really after long battery life, the Garmin might even have the edge with the above mentioned auto-off capability. I rarely spend more than 4 hours consistently in the saddle however, so for my purposes, either device offers more than enough.

Migrating from the Garmin Ecosystem - Why isn’t the navigation better on other computers? Why are route uploads sometimes difficult? Because Hammerhead as modelled Karoo’s UI like a phone - now familiar and ubiquitous ecosystems for all - you can’t help but ask yourself these and other questions when starting to toy around and ride with it.

Yes it takes a little use to get familiar with the hardware, but any pain points are short lived. DC Rainmaker goes deep on device’s functionality more than I care to and here is a side-by-side comparison of both device’s functionality - but again, against features I think average athletes care about most, Karoo makes a compelling case.

I love the Garmin 1030 and most of the company’s power and GPS devices; they do have user challenges, however, which Hammerhead has addressed. I suspect, given their size differences, one makes a good acquisition target for the other, swallowing up a better UX into slightly better hardware. But that’s pure speculation. For now, Karoo will continue to evolve, as it has since its initial release, and the users who’ve grown to prefer it’s Android-powered OS, will continue to extol its virtues relative to the devices that have long-dominated cycling.

The competition is good. In the Karoo, it has given birth to a very slick, very capable, very user-friendly alternative many should strongly consider.

**I’ve since chatted about this with Hammerhead. They maintain that the “standard quarter-turn mount interface works with aftermarket brackets.”

Ben Perry continues his ride into difficult 2019 transfer market

The brutality of cycling never stops. Off-season. On-season. It’s all the same. A tireless grind. Either you’re riding full gas around road furniture in hopes of making a top-ten, or you’re chasing a contract in hopes you’ll be able to do it all again next year. What a beautiful, awful, amazing and terrible hamster-wheel.

Sure, it all looks glamorous from ten thousand feet. Riding your bike for money. Travelling around the world. Training hard day-in, day-out. However with changes to team sizes, license swaps and teams folding regularly, it’s a precarious line of employment. Some would even say unsustainable. Ask Ben Perry - the 25-year-old with/formerly of Israel Cycling Academy (or whatever the team’s going with in 2020). He’ll tell you.

Perry is a talented, hard-working Canadian rider who had a very decent 2019. He pulled second in the GC at the Tour of Korea, second on a stage of the Volta a Portugal and a couple other solid results. Not big name races, no. But he rode for a pro-conti team. They don’t get a dance card to every prom. Regardless, he showed talent - enough to warrant another lap around the sun.

Alas, he might not get one. Despite verbal assurances that he showed enough promise to continue - Perry is out of contract and looking for work. We chatted as he was on the hunt for a new opportunity. He was introspective and sincere about his experience and plans for 2020. A young rider who is definitely not ready to hang it up, but understands the meat grinder that is cycling might be making that decision for him.

Tell me about 2019 with Israel Cycling Academy - what were the highs and lows?

2019 was a mixed-bag of a year for me. I got sick a bit, crashed. Then I came back to Canada, did a big training block and from about April onward - contributed a lot. I had some good results in Europe, a great ride at Tour of Estonia, a great Tour of Korea, was second overall, and then raced in Belgium and showed some good form. It’s hard to see the tangible, good ride, bad ride, in all that. But from Tour of Estonia onward I had good results and a good period supporting the team.

In 2020 ICA is moving to the World Tour but your contract isn't being renewed. Where does that leave you for next year?

There’s no spot for me at the new WorldTour team, but that’s kind of the way the cycling world works. It’s normal. This guy knows that guy who knows that guy, and at the end of the day, they have to cut a bunch of riders. I was told to be positive, but with the team’s plans solidifying, next year doesn’t leave me with a lot of options, especially with the number of pro-continental teams going down from 24 to 17. Being a Canadian rider doesn’t help much either, cause a lot of sponsors aren’t interested in riders from markets where they don’t do business. It’s tough.

Presumably looking for a team, what's that process like (so late in the season)?

I’ve been really lucky with people pointing me in different directions to talk to people, so I’ve got a few things going but nothing signed or anything. I’ll definitely be able to race my bike somewhere, it’ll just depend at what level and where. It’s stressful. You see it this year that there are riders in the prime of their careers retiring or dropping down levels just to keep going.

How would you describe the 2019 transfer market?

It’s been really crazy. It seems like there’s a collection of teams that are hiring exclusively from certain places. One Italian team is taking only Italian talent, for example. Another taking only Norwegian and Danish riders. It’s been bad for a lot of guys I’m talking with. Hopefully that changes in 2020.

I had three years with ICA and I’m really happy I improved every year. The thing with that is, everyone is getting better every year. Masters riders, kids racing and professionals. None of them are ready to give it up. Right now it’s not looking like I’ll have a chance to ride on any professional level teams; I’m speaking to quite a few continental teams, but right now, nothing.

What's your fallback if worst case, nothing pans out?

I’ll be working hard on finishing my degree by winter 2021; but regardless of what happens I’ll always be riding my bike.

Dan Martin and Nils Politt are set to lead the new-look WorldTour team in 2020 - with the team's talent, how do you think they'll fare next year?

This team going to the WorldTour next year is a pretty big step. The team is getting a lot of support from Katusha and a lot the experience that goes with it. You never know the trajectory of riders, so we’ll have to see how they come out Down Under and onward from there.

Made by hands in Slovakia: sophistication and simplicity dot Isadore's new Autumn kit collection

The Velits brothers never wanted the spotlight in their racing careers. The same is true in their careers as kit makers. Both are self-described introverts who identify with the simpler side of cycling. Their ability to make attention-grabbing kit stems more from experience than a desire to get noticed. The results are only getting better.

“When we built Isadore, it was to create simple stuff we’d wear if we didn’t need to wear team kit,” says Peter Velits (pictured above), an Isadore Apparel co-founder. (His brother and co-founder, Martin, handles product design while Peter manages the company’s business-end.) “We’re both introverts. Our designs have always reflected that.”

If you haven’t seen it yet at your LBS, Isadore’s AW releases are lit-up by yellows and reds to celebrate the season. Their Medio Jacket - considered a signature piece by the company - has been completely rebuilt using better fabrics and more reflective panels. “We are particularly proud on this one,” Peter says about their new kit.

Using their time as professionals for inspiration - Martin raced with HTC Highroad and Quick-Step, and Peter with Quick Step and BMC - most of what’s new has been refined, specifically the cuts. That element - fit - is a clear example of two guys hitting their stride in the apparel game.

I’ve ridden in Isadore for the last couple of seasons - first taking note of it while sitting in a pub in Cambridge, copy of Rouleur in-hand, sipping a pint post-ride. (Christ, I miss the Panton.) Their ads tapped into a vision of cycling I enjoy most, rooted in scenery and travel. From that point onward, their kit has consistently delivered something very unique. Much of it feels like Rapha c.2007 (in that many are merino-based designs), when that company was smaller, and their attention to detail that much greater.

The Long Sleeve Shield Jersey (left, above) - new for Autumn - is a near-perfect three-season jersey. At 72 kgs and 6’1, the medium is cut slim with slightly tapered sleeves (next-to-skin fit when worn with a short sleeve base layer) and wind-paneling on the chest and neck (good enough to withstand a little light rain and plenty of wind).

There are details aplenty here to gawk at: large circles on the lower left back - a very cool design element; the high-contrast beige and navy colour; the elbow pads. This is a jersey reeking of class, subtlety and sophistication, its weight capable of riding through temperatures as low as 7 degrees comfortably - with all the accessories, perhaps colder. I really dig the 70’s vibe and can’t help sing a little Steely Dan when wearing it.

For colder winter rides, there’s the TherMerino Jersey (in black, dried tabacco and cabernet). Temperatures haven’t dictated wearing this jersey yet (in my part of the world), but at quick glance, the warm fleece lining + merino construction and cut are great (left slightly roomier to accommodate a warm, winter base underneath).

My favourite from the company’s AW designs is perhaps its simplest: their grey and black winter face mask/neck warmer with hood. Talk about outstanding, user-driven design. The entire neck is covered in wind-blocking fabric, as is the hood. I have a massive head and it still fits comfortably and looks good underneath my helmet. Made from merino, it’s the cold-weather accessory you’ve been wanting for years but never been able to find.

All in, excellent fall and winter jerseys for a couple of introverts. My sense is, that while the quality of this year’s collection from the company is already very high, the best of the Velits brothers, from a design sense, is yet still to come.

Watch this space…

On a mission to get lost: Dylan Nord's six commuter essentials

I’ve been emailing with Dylan Nord for five years, though we’ve never actually met. So I know him, but not really. I think we crossed paths while writing for AskMen (me, not him). I’d convinced the site to take on more cycling coverage, and after going to the Giro, we connected for a piece on cycling and style.

At the time, his side-hustle - Deux North - was just getting off the ground. A project about abandon, exploration and the pursuit of smooth tarmac beyond your regular 120km Butter Finger (which is awesome, but in a different way).

They’d made some nice-looking kit, probably to fund more rides, and I got some. Soon Hunt videos followed featuring Nord, his bro James (with whom he co-founded DN) and some other folks whose names were familiar. California, Spain - the trips exhibited the exoticism of riding with no set destination. The corporate partnerships - everyone was on Specialized bikes - were also noticeable and impressive. While continuing to write about cycling and lifestyle stuff, we kept in touch.

Fast forward a couple years, Nord had moved to California, working as a brand director for athleisure company, Oliver’s Apparel. We’ve kept in touch since. I’ve worn a bunch of the clothes they’re making for commuting and in life. I reach for them on repeat. They’re well made and they hold up to abuse, which I value. Merino henley t’s, shorts and most recently their passage pants (which were outstanding on a trans-Atlantic to Toronto).

He travels in interesting cycling circles so I figured a short profile was overdue. His current role - marketing lightweight, comfortable clothing - has made him a minor connoisseur on commuting essentials. So here are his. Stuff he’s picked out to make commuting in LA fun, or at the very least, manageable.

Brooks - Pickwick Backpack 12LT “Brooks has been at it since 1866, and in that time they’ve learned a thing or two. This bag is timeless. Simple touches like vegetable tanned leather and cotton canvas lend it a classic look, while features like a padded laptop sleeve and secret compartment make it perfect for everyday commuting.” 

Rapha - Merino Socks “It’s rare to find socks that look good on and off the bike,” says Nord. “But these Merino Socks from Rapha are just that.” Boasting an athletic fit that feels right inside a cycling or dress shoe and won’t fall down on your calf. Above all, Merino wool is antimicrobial, so no need to worry about a sweaty foot smell ruining your 10 o’clock meeting.

Specialized - Stix Elite Light Don’t let the size fool you. these little guys could bring a ship in to shore. Large or poorly mounted lights are never a good look. These lights look and work great, are easy to mount, and simply slide off the mount and plug into a USB port to charge--no cords or fumbling with tiny components to adjust or remove.

Olivers - Passage Pant “Four way stretch, moisture wicking, water-repellant, and made with a durable CORDURA Nylon, these are my go to commuter pants. They fit like a pair of jeans, but are as comfortable as a pair of sweatpants. The stretch and gusseted crotch mean swinging your leg over the seat and pedaling is effortless.” (Editor’s note: these are also outstanding for travel. Deep pocketed for stuff you need and made for all-day comfort.)

West Skincare - Cleanser “If you’re going to be riding to work you might consider packing a little something to clean the sweat and grime of the city away after getting to the office. It’s 2019 and you’re an adult - get it together. The greasy, unkempt look is no longer acceptable.” Check it out here.

Thousand - Heritage Collection Helmet “Safety first, right? Yes, but also looking good is a close second. This helmet is hands-down the best looking commuter helmet on the market and with a variety of colors to choose from it’s easy to find something that feels perfect for you. Plus, the clever “poplock” makes locking the helmet with your bike a synch.” 

Safe travels, readers.

One Way Ticket: The many sides of Jonathan Vaughters

Manager. CEO. Ex-pro. Ventoux time-trial winner. Doper. Family man. Visionary. Leader. You can slap a bunch of labels on the paradoxical figure that is Jonathan Vaughters. All are partly true.

In his recently penned “One Way Ticket: Nine Lives on Two Wheels” - cataloging the most quotable character in cycling of the last decade, you get all sides. In great and humorous detail, he gets into the perils of owning a pro team; the pressure - riding for US Postal Service - to be one of the boys; the challenge, isolation and commitment required to chase a dream, finally landing as a professional in Europe.

While much of JV’s modern history is known - the founding of Slipstream Sports, his co-operation with USADA, his musings on a sustainable future for the sport, One Way Ticket illuminates on how he went tête-à-tête with cycling heavyweights, detailing a struggle to punch above his weight and the ensuing tumult that struck him personally as a result.

The most insightful content is on the business of cycling itself: how to start a pro team; how budgets are put together; cycling’s house-of-cards operating model. All this is told from an insider perspective, from an outspoken individual who has worn many different and enviable hats.

If you read Draft Animals - another look at the less glamorous side of being a pro - Phil Gaimon paints a different picture of dealing with JV - as talent. He is cunning and tactful, able to shine a light on desired riders, and under the gun of fickle sponsors, capable of ghosting and stringing others along masterfully.

JV details all of this, in what is very much a reconciliation of the decisions one makes in life, particularly ones that make you sound like a d*ck. Maybe that is part of JV’s secret sauce? A largess made even larger by an inability to nail his persona down completely; to delve deeply into what drives someone to compete - as David - on a stage dominated by Goliaths?

If this is the JV you want, you’ll find it in here. If you’re pressed for time, skip ahead to the book’s best parts. From “Going Postal,” (pg.164), where Vaughter’s details life with USPS, up to present day.

“Lance was going through his bedtime routine, shaving his legs, brushing his teeth, and the like. While I was mid-sentence writing home, he popped out of the bathroom, pulled a vial of EPO from his thermos and filled a syringe with its contents. He jabbed himself while humming some Pearl Jam tune. He spat in the sink, finished the syringe and turned to me. “You’re one of us now, JV.” Yikes.

Cycling in the modern era is shown from this point on, warts are all. The conflict of cheating. How difficult it is managing a team on scraps. These themes are illustrated beautifully in stories about negotiations with Rigo after a 2017 Tour podium (how do you keep a potential GC winner on a team with no money?); telling and entertaining anecdotes, “revealing a romance between a deeply flawed human and a deeply flawed sport.”

Yes there are lulls in the book, and in his character. The entirety however paints a picture of a personality enmeshed in cycling’s major headlines of the last 20 years. It is revealing in the level of detail, particularly on issues of instability, the chasm between the deep-pocketed teams and the rest and on racing clean -- while describing what it takes to compete and ultimately, succeed.

“Plainly, I wrote this book because I was in the fog of a divorce, in pain, and looking back through the dusty, tattered books of my memories. I realized cycling had defined every fiber of my being, for better or for worse, and this book is part of that. I just felt that there were stories that needed to be told in a gritty and human light, without any spin. You can’t give people texture on Twitter.”

One Way Ticket: Nine Lives on Two Wheels is available from Penguin Random House here.

JV started competitive cycling in the 1980’s. He’s the founder of the US-based EF Education First Pro Cycling and he’s one of the sport’s most towering figures.

That’s what his book jacket says at least. But I think it’s pretty hard to argue with most of it.