Specialized Turbo Vado/Como/Tero/Tero X User Club

[JVD]

Of course, I really need test ride the 2021 Como and 2022 Vado to see if I like them and which feels right for me. I did find another Specialized dealer that is a 3 hour round trip in a completely different direction that actually has a 2022 Vado 4.0 in L in stock along with the same Como 3 as the other dealer, although the Vado is black, and I prefer the other 2 colors, and the Como is identical yet $300 more than the other dealer. There's a red and a white 2022 Vado 4.0 L that is more like a 7 hour round trip away.

My LBS received a bunch of 2022 Vados and Comos in the past week or so. I assume you've been able to find bikes to test ride and hopefully purchase. I just bought a Vado 4.0 about 2 weeks ago and am loving it!

 

[JVD]

There is nothing like PAS-only in the premium mid-drive motors. A mid-drive motor only pays the attention to the product of how hard you push your pedals (torque) and of your pedalling rotational speed (cadence). The product is called "pedalling power" or "human power input". In given Assistance Level, the bike controller multiplies your pedalling power by so called Boost Factor, and such mechanical power of the motor (combined with your own) is transferred to the rear wheel.

Meaning: "Mashing" pedals times slow cadence would give the same pedalling power as "spinning the cranks" times (less energetic) pushing the pedals. You won't get more workout by staying in a high gear; you're going to damage your knees by doing so. If you learn spinning the cranks faster but with less of pedal pressure (in a lower gear), you will deliver exactly the same pedalling power to the system with the same effective motor assistance. And the same number of calories burnt.

Spinning the cranks has many health benefits. It is also good for the drivetrain (less wear). Moreover, mid-drive motors are more effective if your cadence is above 70.

My favourite show that I am often giving to my traditional cycling mates is this:
1. I ride at a slow cadence in Eco
2. Then I dramatically downshift
3. Then I spin the cranks.

I am able to deliver so much power by doing so I simply disappear at distance -- without increasing the assistance! (On my last Sunday group ride, I managed the cadence of 135 but cannot maintain it for long).

View attachment 116223
My show. The power indicated here is the pedalling power.

 

[JVD]

There is nothing like PAS-only in the premium mid-drive motors. A mid-drive motor only pays the attention to the product of how hard you push your pedals (torque) and of your pedalling rotational speed (cadence). The product is called "pedalling power" or "human power input". In given Assistance Level, the bike controller multiplies your pedalling power by so called Boost Factor, and such mechanical power of the motor (combined with your own) is transferred to the rear wheel.

Meaning: "Mashing" pedals times slow cadence would give the same pedalling power as "spinning the cranks" times (less energetic) pushing the pedals. You won't get more workout by staying in a high gear; you're going to damage your knees by doing so. If you learn spinning the cranks faster but with less of pedal pressure (in a lower gear), you will deliver exactly the same pedalling power to the system with the same effective motor assistance. And the same number of calories burnt.

Spinning the cranks has many health benefits. It is also good for the drivetrain (less wear). Moreover, mid-drive motors are more effective if your cadence is above 70.

My favourite show that I am often giving to my traditional cycling mates is this:
1. I ride at a slow cadence in Eco
2. Then I dramatically downshift
3. Then I spin the cranks.

I am able to deliver so much power by doing so I simply disappear at distance -- without increasing the assistance! (On my last Sunday group ride, I managed the cadence of 135 but cannot maintain it for long).

View attachment 116223
My show. The power indicated here is the pedalling power.

Excellent info Stefan! I've been riding my 2022 Vado 4.0 for a couple of weeks now and am having fun learning how to get the best workouts. I've found a cadence of 75-85 gets the cardio workout I'm looking for. I'm using a Samsung Fit band with the Samsung Health app on my phone to monitor and record my heart rate and that cadence seems to be about right. I appreciate your comments on shifting and PAS modes and how they work together, and agree based on my first 200 miles. I've also tried out the SMART mode by setting my distance goal and desired remaining battery %. I've found that otherwise riding the same way I would in ECO mode (maintaining the desired cadence range), I get a lower level of cardio workout. So I'm only using SMART when speed and efficiency are more important than my cardio results. I've concluded (so far) that SMART is good for group rides at higher steady speeds and ECO (or SPORT if necessary) is good for my solo cardio workouts. More experimenting to come!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Welcome to the Club, JVD! Your observations are interesting. As I typically ride my older Vado 5.0 with a spare battery, the SMART mode is a no-go in most of situations for me. I prefer tuning the assistance levels for the planned ride type (e.g. group ride, long solo trip, flat/hills), distance, expected cruising speed, season, etc.

Your new Vado has the Infinite Tune option (you can tune the assistance as you're riding). I badly miss such a feature on my Vado!

 

[gpburdell]

Well this is curious...

I watched the EBR Youtube review of the Tero 4.0EQ and it seemed like they have a different mount for the TCD-w.



The non-EQ models sold in the US appear to use the TCD MTB mount that attached to the handlebars, while this mount appears to attach between the stem and handlebar much like how the Trek/Bontrager Blendr system mounts attach. This new mount also appears to allow tilting up/down without any tools.

On the UK site they show the cables routing behind a one piece front handlebar clamp, though the video shows the cables outside the clamp.


It'd be interesting to see if they'd sell those bits to folks who didn't buy the EQ model.

It does seem a cleaner setup than the MTB mount.



Here's the review:

 

[mschwett]

it’s a nice bike! but what a mess of cables

 

[Art Deco]

it’s a nice bike! but what a mess of cables

View attachment 117786

Yes. For an expensive bike, they really should do a better job of hiding the cables.

 

[gpburdell]

it’s a nice bike! but what a mess of cables

View attachment 117786

Yeah, bad enough having two hydraulic lines plus shifter, but then you add the TCD-w wire to the motor, and the wire to the handlebar remote.

Then on the 4.0 EQ model add cable for the dropper seat post and wire for the headlight.

All sorts of stuff going every which way.

Not keen on the headlight-on-a-bit-of-wire contraption either, but since the EQ model isn't available in the US I guess I needn't be concerned about that.

 

[mschwett]

Yeah, bad enough having two hydraulic lines plus shifter, but then you add the TCD-w wire to the motor, and the wire to the handlebar remote.

Then on the 4.0 EQ model add cable for the dropper seat post and wire for the headlight.

All sorts of stuff going every which way.

Not keen on the headlight-on-a-bit-of-wire contraption either, but since the EQ model isn't available in the US I guess I needn't be concerned about that.

and what is the one on the far right of the image, appears to go from the left shifter area directly to the fork?

 

[gpburdell]

and what is the one on the far right of the image, appears to go from the left shifter area directly to the fork?

I'd expect it to be the front brake hydraulic line.

At least they didn't add a remote lockout for the fork and thus yet another cable!

 

[mschwett]

I'd expect it to be the front brake hydraulic line.

At least they didn't add a remote lockout for the fork and thus yet another cable!

ah yes. duh!!

 

[Nubnub]

It'd be interesting to see if they'd sell those bits to folks who didn't buy the EQ model.

It does seem a cleaner setup than the MTB mount.

View attachment 117773View attachment 117774

Here's the review:

I have a couple of the stem/handlebar garmin mounts that I don't use. One was in the uninstalled extra parts from my 4.0 SL eq. Since I didnt know what it was I just used a regular garmin mount and I'm fine with that. The second came with my Tero. They did put the mtn bike mount on for the Mastermind but also included the stem mount in the extra parts. So I don't use that one either. If you want one of them, let me know and I can mail them to you.

 

[GenXrider]

My LBS received a bunch of 2022 Vados and Comos in the past week or so. I assume you've been able to find bikes to test ride and hopefully purchase. I just bought a Vado 4.0 about 2 weeks ago and am loving it!

A 2022 Vado 3.0 in red showed up at a bike shop that is a full 4 hour round trip. I wish it was closer to test ride. If I was going to get one, that would probably be my best bet. But, I'm not cutting back on my work schedule this year as I was planning, so might hold off another year - still have an older hub drive e-bike I can ride for now.

 

[ReedM]

Mission Control version 2.12.0 Build 112 is out.

 

[kahn]

Mission Control version 2.12.0 Build 112 is out.

I have 2.12.0 but how do I identify the build? And Playstore says I have current.

 

[ReedM]

@kahn: Open Mission Control (MC). Don't need to be connected to bike or have blue tooth on. Go to Diagnose, select Contact. Under the Mission Control text, I have 2.12.0 Build 112

 

[gpburdell]

I have a couple of the stem/handlebar garmin mounts that I don't use. One was in the uninstalled extra parts from my 4.0 SL eq. Since I didnt know what it was I just used a regular garmin mount and I'm fine with that. The second came with my Tero. They did put the mtn bike mount on for the Mastermind but also included the stem mount in the extra parts. So I don't use that one either. If you want one of them, let me know and I can mail them to you.

Sounds like the mount is interchangeable with Garmin quarter-turn? Interesting…

i appreciate your very kind offer. I’ve not yet purchased an ebike, though, so I’m unsure how I’ll outfit it.

 

[kahn]

@kahn: Open Mission Control (MC). Don't need to be connected to bike or have blue tooth on. Go to Diagnose, select Contact. Under the Mission Control text, I have 2.12.0 Build 112

Thanks. I found it under Settings. Same build.

 

[kahn]

Sounds like the mount is interchangeable with Garmin quarter-turn? Interesting…

i appreciate your very kind offer. I’ve not yet purchased an ebike, though, so I’m unsure how I’ll outfit it.

Yes, Specialized uses the same mount for their handlebar computer as Garmin

 

[Nubnub]

Sounds like the mount is interchangeable with Garmin quarter-turn? Interesting…

i appreciate your very kind offer. I’ve not yet purchased an ebike, though, so I’m unsure how I’ll outfit it.

Since the bike may come with both the stem and handlebar mounts you can probably tell them how you want it when you order it. Agree with you that the stem mount with the cable routing looks much cleaner and I may swap mine in that way.