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

[Stefan Mikes]

To be absolutely clear: I don't intend to disassemble the cassette. I don't intend to replace the cassette myself either
I'm very happy now. With spotty weather right now, I had some short but very fast grocery shopping rides on my Vado, and it was a sheer pleasure! I intend to ride to see my daughter on Sunday (40 km round trip). I could do it in Turbo but no, that will be in 25/25% Eco since I need more workout. 90 kg or 198 lbs as of today and I need to lose more body mass!

 

[TS25]

To be absolutely clear: I don't intend to disassemble the cassette. I don't intend to replace the cassette myself either
... I had some short but very fast grocery shopping rides ...
I need more workout. 90 kg or 198 lbs as of today and I need to lose more body mass!

That's easily supported: return the dumplings to the store.

PS
----------
sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That's easily supported: return the dumplings to the store.

Entschuldigung?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@TS25: I appreciate your sense of humour; and they say the German are deadly serious...

I sometimes cannot resist drinking or eating something containing sugar; the best way would be refraining from anything like that (because I eat very little and my diabetes pills support body-mass decrease). Yet, sometimes, I cannot resist eating pączki on my rides and my excuse is "come on, you have burnt a lot of calories already!" With regret, I eat pierogi very rarely...

 

[Code54]

I am in Columbus,Ohio. The only Specialized dealers I know of that handle ebikes are in Akron or Cincinnati, both over two hours away.

Check BikeSource at 4840 Sawmill Rd, Columbus, OH 43235. I bought both our Como and Vado there a few weeks ago.

 

[Art Deco]

@TS25: I appreciate your sense of humour; and they say the German are deadly serious...

I sometimes cannot resist drinking or eating something containing sugar; the best way would be refraining from anything like that (because I eat very little and my diabetes pills support body-mass decrease). Yet, sometimes, I cannot resist eating pączki on my rides and my excuse is "come on, you have burnt a lot of calories already!" With regret, I eat pierogi very rarely...

The only sugar I like is maltose ? the one in beer, anyway. But I like that one much too much @Stefan Mikes .

 

[Eric B]

50miles ?? I have a Vado 4 I've ridden 90 miles on a charge . Averaging probably 17 or more MPH. I rode yesterday 31.5 miles Using Turbo twice when I stopped to take a Phone call . Leaving me about a mile behind everyone else . I used it to catch them. Mostly riding in ECO . Yesterday was a Fast ride : We were averaging 22 mph : I have 5 bars of 10 left and 3 lights out of 5 on the battery still. So far I have left the Factory setting alone : I also used the Sport mode for 4 miles : Just to see how much more Juice I used : The 90 miles I mentioned still left me 2 bars of Power : I was going on another longer ride of 50 miles the next day so I charged it up. Had that not been the case I was going to ride around My Block which is 7.5 miles . Just to see if I could get to almost 100 miles with one charge : Granted my bike is just a week and 2 days old .

Today I rode 22 miles, average speed 13 mph, 1,000 elevation gain, mostly trail (Crushed gravel/sand), and used 200 Wh or 9 Wh/mile on my Vado 5.0. Mostly Eco mode with standard settings. The Mission Control App says I averaged 200% support. I’m not sure of the Wh capacity of the Vado 4.0. however it is safe to say that over the course of 100 miles you are using less than 6 Wh/mile, maybe 5. It is interesting how these bike‘s computers pay out the Wh support. I imagine the average cadence has a lot to do with it, although Mission Control does not appear to store the cadence details in the Ride history. In other words in your fast ride you may have pedaled with a much smoother/optimized cadence than I use.

 

[GuruUno]

I am 69-1/2 years old, 6'0" and 228 lbs.
Weather here today was 66 degrees and 1.9mph wind 95% humidity at 7:30-9:30 AM
I did a 27 mile ride with 100% battery at start and returned with 53%, did ECO the entire time, as a test to see if I could ultimately gauge if I could ever do more than 50 miles. Standard out of the box settings on Mission Control, no mods.
27.03mi 630ft
I'm not doubting you ability or the bikes ability, but I wold love to get the distance you get.
Do you weigh 60 lbs?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I did a 27 mile ride with 100% battery at start and returned with 53%, did ECO the entire time, as a test to see if I could ultimately gauge if I could ever do more than 50 miles. Standard out of the box settings on Mission Control, no mods.

What is size of your battery in Wh? Your conservatively calculated range is some 54 miles (the last 5% of the battery cannot be used). I found out up to 70 miles could be made on the 604 Wh battery if the ECO mode is set to 25/25, flat, 200 lb rider. (I typically use more assistance).

 

[GuruUno]

What is size of your battery in Wh? Your conservatively calculated range is some 54 miles (the last 5% of the battery cannot be used). I found out up to 70 miles could be made on the 604 Wh battery if the ECO mode is set to 25/25, flat, 200 lb rider. (I typically use more assistance).

A OEM 604 Wh battery.
So then, today I'll adjust it to 20/20 in ECO and test.
Thanks

 

[BarryS]

I am 69-1/2 years old, 6'0" and 228 lbs.
Weather here today was 66 degrees and 1.9mph wind 95% humidity at 7:30-9:30 AM
I did a 27 mile ride with 100% battery at start and returned with 53%, did ECO the entire time, as a test to see if I could ultimately gauge if I could ever do more than 50 miles. Standard out of the box settings on Mission Control, no mods.
27.03mi 630ft
I'm not doubting you ability or the bikes ability, but I wold love to get the distance you get.
Do you weigh 60 lbs?
View attachment 66772

Can't remember do you have a Vado 4 or Vado 5 ? I am same Height as you but weigh 52 lbs less : Average elevation here is around 670 Ft . Average Humidity in the summer is 70% By comparison when you say 66 Degrees with over 90% Humidity : When it's 66 here the humidity is always well under 50% : Unless it's raining : I know from living in Florida for 3 years : Battery Life in My Truck Sucked : I replaced batteries 2 times in a little over 3 years : I was told that Heat and Humidity are much harder on battery life then Cold is. Confirmation of that : My latest's battery in the same Truck back in Michigan is 5 years old and going strong

My last charge (FULL) took me 71 miles and I still had 2 bars left : To be fair it was 2 when I arrived home and down to one when I turned the bike on to check something an hour later : I wasn't precise on How much time was spent in each mode : The majority was Eco > I did however put it in Sport and Turbo at least 10% of the time just for fun > Probably usage was closer to 20% >

It's gotten pretty cold here for the next few days : With heavy Rain. ASAP I plan to use both Sport and Turbo only .To see How many times I can ride around the 6.4 mile block before I use up the battery : It will be a good test. Since there's 2 good hills to encounter : Plus it's a Rough Surfaced Gravel blacktop . On a Regular NON E -Bike . You can definitely feel it's a harder surface to pedal against vs the Smoother Bike Paths : It's Michigan So many of our paths are in Need of repairs :

There's a ton of country Roads to ride where traffic is almost non existent : Or it flies by at 80 plus MPH

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@GuruUno and @BarryS: Battery range is unpredictable and it greatly depends on the rider's weight (especially in a hilly area) and on rider's leg input. The range is something an individual can only compare between his or her own rides. For instance, my brother can ride any 600 or 625 Wh battery e-bike for 100 miles while I experience trouble to achieve even a metric century on the same e-bike and only if I really try.

 

[GuruUno]

So, I downloaded the BLEVO app and used it today. I find that it is much more informative than the Mission Control App. Well worth the $8.99 for the app.
I also dialed in 25/25 in Eco mode and played with the Blevo app and reduced it 2% more giving me 11.3% assistance.
In any event, it's like going back to mathematics in school to digest all the info.
Posting for discussion, I'm still interpreting it all.
=========================================
BLEvo v3.5.11 iOS

Statistical data for my ride Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:35:13 EDT

Short statistics:

- Elapsed time: 0:50:32
- Miles total: 11.12 mi
- Speed average: 13.2 mph
- Ascent total: +216 ft
- Battery Consumed: 13% (65 Wh)
- Consumption average: 5.85 Wh/mi
- Wh ride: 162Wh
- Wh Biker: 59.9% (97Wh)
- Wh Battery: 40.1% (65Wh)

------------------
Full statistics:

User Settings:
"Default Specy": 13/26/49 CM 20 ACC Std

Assistance average: 11.4%
- ECO: 11.3%
- TRAIL: 26.0%

Ride Time:
- Start time: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:35:13 EDT
- Stop time: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 11:28:36 EDT
- Elapsed time:0:50:32
- ECO: 0:49:59 (98.9%)
- TRAIL: 0:00:33 (1.1%)

Battery:
- Start: 99% (522 Wh)
- End: 86% (457 Wh)
- Consumed: 13% (65 Wh)
- ECO: 12.8% (64 Wh)
- TRAIL: 0.2% (0 Wh)

Consumption average: 5.85 Wh/mi
- ECO: 5.79 Wh/mi
- TRAIL: 17.98 Wh/mi

Battery Temperature:
- Min: 77°F
- Max: 80°F
- Average: 79°F

Motor Temperature:
- Min: 93°F
- Max: 107°F
- Average: 102°F

Miles Total: 11.12 mi
- ECO: 11.06 (99.5%)
- TRAIL: 0.05 (0.5%)

Miles Total with assistance: 9.76/11.12 mi (87.8 %)
- ECO: 9.71/11.06 mi (87.8%)
- TRAIL: 0.05/0.05 mi (87.0%)

Speed average: 13.2 mph
- ECO: 13.3 mph
- TRAIL: 5.7 mph

Speed Max: 30.4 mph
- ECO: 30.4 mph (11:07:34 - mi 6.40)
- TRAIL: 16.4 mph (10:39:32 - mi 0.68)

Cadence average: 69 rpm
- ECO: 69 rpm

Cadence Max: 99 rpm
- ECO: 99 rpm (10:41:41 - mi 1.84)

Heart rate average: 122 bpm

Heart rate Max: 122 bpm

Kcal consumed: 379 Kcal
- ECO: 377 Kcal
- TRAIL: 2 Kcal

Biker power average: 132 Watt
- ECO: 132 Watt
- TRAIL: 124 Watt

Biker power Max: 386 W
- ECO: 386 W (11:15:38 - mi 13.34)
- TRAIL: 220 W (10:39:32 - mi 1.11)

Total Wh Biker: 97 Wh
- ECO: 96 Wh (99.5 %)
- TRAIL: 0 Wh (0.5 %)

Motor power average: 101 Watt
- ECO: 100 Watt
- TRAIL: 235 Watt

Motor power Max: 327 W
- ECO: 279 W (10:39:33 - mi 1.12)
- TRAIL: 327 W (10:39:32 - mi 1.11)

Total Wh motor: 73 Wh
- ECO: 72 Wh (98.5 %)
- TRAIL: 1 Wh (1.5 %)

Max Altitude: 157 ft
Min Altitude: 32 ft

Ascent total: +216 ft
- ECO: 216 ft (100.1 %)
- TRAIL: 0 ft (0.0 %)

Descent total: -167 ft
- ECO: 168 ft (100.9 %)
- TRAIL: 0 ft (0.0 %)

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Interesting info, Guru. I'm overwhelmed with the wealth of information. How far would you ride -- you think -- on the full battery to get at 5%?

 

[Art Deco]

So, I downloaded the BLEVO app and used it today. I find that it is much more informative than the Mission Control App. Well worth the $8.99 for the app.
I also dialed in 25/25 in Eco mode and played with the Blevo app and reduced it 2% more giving me 11.3% assistance.
In any event, it's like going back to mathematics in school to digest all the info.
Posting for discussion, I'm still interpreting it all.
=========================================
BLEvo v3.5.11 iOS

Statistical data for my ride Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:35:13 EDT

Short statistics:

- Elapsed time: 0:50:32
- Miles total: 11.12 mi
- Speed average: 13.2 mph
- Ascent total: +216 ft
- Battery Consumed: 13% (65 Wh)
- Consumption average: 5.85 Wh/mi
- Wh ride: 162Wh
- Wh Biker: 59.9% (97Wh)
- Wh Battery: 40.1% (65Wh)

------------------
Full statistics:

User Settings:
"Default Specy": 13/26/49 CM 20 ACC Std

Assistance average: 11.4%
- ECO: 11.3%
- TRAIL: 26.0%

Ride Time:
- Start time: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:35:13 EDT
- Stop time: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 11:28:36 EDT
- Elapsed time:0:50:32
- ECO: 0:49:59 (98.9%)
- TRAIL: 0:00:33 (1.1%)

Battery:
- Start: 99% (522 Wh)
- End: 86% (457 Wh)
- Consumed: 13% (65 Wh)
- ECO: 12.8% (64 Wh)
- TRAIL: 0.2% (0 Wh)

Consumption average: 5.85 Wh/mi
- ECO: 5.79 Wh/mi
- TRAIL: 17.98 Wh/mi

Battery Temperature:
- Min: 77°F
- Max: 80°F
- Average: 79°F

Motor Temperature:
- Min: 93°F
- Max: 107°F
- Average: 102°F

Miles Total: 11.12 mi
- ECO: 11.06 (99.5%)
- TRAIL: 0.05 (0.5%)

Miles Total with assistance: 9.76/11.12 mi (87.8 %)
- ECO: 9.71/11.06 mi (87.8%)
- TRAIL: 0.05/0.05 mi (87.0%)

Speed average: 13.2 mph
- ECO: 13.3 mph
- TRAIL: 5.7 mph

Speed Max: 30.4 mph
- ECO: 30.4 mph (11:07:34 - mi 6.40)
- TRAIL: 16.4 mph (10:39:32 - mi 0.68)

Cadence average: 69 rpm
- ECO: 69 rpm

Cadence Max: 99 rpm
- ECO: 99 rpm (10:41:41 - mi 1.84)

Heart rate average: 122 bpm

Heart rate Max: 122 bpm

Kcal consumed: 379 Kcal
- ECO: 377 Kcal
- TRAIL: 2 Kcal

Biker power average: 132 Watt
- ECO: 132 Watt
- TRAIL: 124 Watt

Biker power Max: 386 W
- ECO: 386 W (11:15:38 - mi 13.34)
- TRAIL: 220 W (10:39:32 - mi 1.11)

Total Wh Biker: 97 Wh
- ECO: 96 Wh (99.5 %)
- TRAIL: 0 Wh (0.5 %)

Motor power average: 101 Watt
- ECO: 100 Watt
- TRAIL: 235 Watt

Motor power Max: 327 W
- ECO: 279 W (10:39:33 - mi 1.12)
- TRAIL: 327 W (10:39:32 - mi 1.11)

Total Wh motor: 73 Wh
- ECO: 72 Wh (98.5 %)
- TRAIL: 1 Wh (1.5 %)

Max Altitude: 157 ft
Min Altitude: 32 ft

Ascent total: +216 ft
- ECO: 216 ft (100.1 %)
- TRAIL: 0 ft (0.0 %)

Descent total: -167 ft
- ECO: 168 ft (100.9 %)
- TRAIL: 0 ft (0.0 %)

TMI ...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

TMI ...

That's what baffles me from BLEvo...

 

[GuruUno]

Interesting info, Guru. I'm overwhelmed with the wealth of information. How far would you ride -- you think -- on the full battery to get at 5%?

Sure, way too much info, however, as long as it's available, you only digest and eat what you need or want.
I'm going to experiment over the next few weeks to push the limits and see.
I can say by lessening my assistance and working harder that's great with no challenging terrain, however, as always, it's all dependent on where the rides go, the terrain, etc. so in reality, I do not think that I'd ever get more than 50-60 mikes...ever, unless I lose 50 lbs and the rides are minimal exertion.

 

[SoCalDave]

So, I downloaded the BLEVO app and used it today. I find that it is much more informative than the Mission Control App. Well worth the $8.99 for the app.
I also dialed in 25/25 in Eco mode and played with the Blevo app and reduced it 2% more giving me 11.3% assistance.
In any event, it's like going back to mathematics in school to digest all the info.
Posting for discussion, I'm still interpreting it all.
=========================================
BLEvo v3.5.11 iOS

Statistical data for my ride Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:35:13 EDT

Short statistics:

- Elapsed time: 0:50:32
- Miles total: 11.12 mi
- Speed average: 13.2 mph
- Ascent total: +216 ft
- Battery Consumed: 13% (65 Wh)
- Consumption average: 5.85 Wh/mi
- Wh ride: 162Wh
- Wh Biker: 59.9% (97Wh)
- Wh Battery: 40.1% (65Wh)

------------------
Full statistics:

User Settings:
"Default Specy": 13/26/49 CM 20 ACC Std

Assistance average: 11.4%
- ECO: 11.3%
- TRAIL: 26.0%

Ride Time:
- Start time: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:35:13 EDT
- Stop time: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 11:28:36 EDT
- Elapsed time:0:50:32
- ECO: 0:49:59 (98.9%)
- TRAIL: 0:00:33 (1.1%)

Battery:
- Start: 99% (522 Wh)
- End: 86% (457 Wh)
- Consumed: 13% (65 Wh)
- ECO: 12.8% (64 Wh)
- TRAIL: 0.2% (0 Wh)

Consumption average: 5.85 Wh/mi
- ECO: 5.79 Wh/mi
- TRAIL: 17.98 Wh/mi

Battery Temperature:
- Min: 77°F
- Max: 80°F
- Average: 79°F

Motor Temperature:
- Min: 93°F
- Max: 107°F
- Average: 102°F

Miles Total: 11.12 mi
- ECO: 11.06 (99.5%)
- TRAIL: 0.05 (0.5%)

Miles Total with assistance: 9.76/11.12 mi (87.8 %)
- ECO: 9.71/11.06 mi (87.8%)
- TRAIL: 0.05/0.05 mi (87.0%)

Speed average: 13.2 mph
- ECO: 13.3 mph
- TRAIL: 5.7 mph

Speed Max: 30.4 mph
- ECO: 30.4 mph (11:07:34 - mi 6.40)
- TRAIL: 16.4 mph (10:39:32 - mi 0.68)

Cadence average: 69 rpm
- ECO: 69 rpm

Cadence Max: 99 rpm
- ECO: 99 rpm (10:41:41 - mi 1.84)

Heart rate average: 122 bpm

Heart rate Max: 122 bpm

Kcal consumed: 379 Kcal
- ECO: 377 Kcal
- TRAIL: 2 Kcal

Biker power average: 132 Watt
- ECO: 132 Watt
- TRAIL: 124 Watt

Biker power Max: 386 W
- ECO: 386 W (11:15:38 - mi 13.34)
- TRAIL: 220 W (10:39:32 - mi 1.11)

Total Wh Biker: 97 Wh
- ECO: 96 Wh (99.5 %)
- TRAIL: 0 Wh (0.5 %)

Motor power average: 101 Watt
- ECO: 100 Watt
- TRAIL: 235 Watt

Motor power Max: 327 W
- ECO: 279 W (10:39:33 - mi 1.12)
- TRAIL: 327 W (10:39:32 - mi 1.11)

Total Wh motor: 73 Wh
- ECO: 72 Wh (98.5 %)
- TRAIL: 1 Wh (1.5 %)

Max Altitude: 157 ft
Min Altitude: 32 ft

Ascent total: +216 ft
- ECO: 216 ft (100.1 %)
- TRAIL: 0 ft (0.0 %)

Descent total: -167 ft
- ECO: 168 ft (100.9 %)
- TRAIL: 0 ft (0.0 %)

How can the average and maximum heart rate both be 122 bpm? That would imply that your heart rate stayed exactly steady at 122 bpm for 50 minutes. Maybe your heart rate sensor was malfunctioning?

 

[Marcela]

I have a 70 mm stem riser. Makes Vado rides easy on the lower back.

Stefan, you have a part number or link to this stem riser?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Oh, Marcela, that's one of the most standard, mass produced bike parts. You are looking up the "bike stem riser 1-1/8". (It follows the A-HEAD standard).

Examples:

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/TRIWONDER-Bi...=bike+stem+riser+a-head&qid=1601332905&sr=8-4

Amazon.com : Wake Bike Stem Riser Bike Fork Stem Extender Bicycle Handlebar Raiser Head Up Adapter Suitable for Mountain Bike, Road Bike, MTB, BMX, Fixie (Aluminium Alloy, Adjustable, Black) : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Wake Bike Stem Riser Bike Fork Stem Extender Bicycle Handlebar Raiser Head Up Adapter Suitable for Mountain Bike, Road Bike, MTB, BMX, Fixie (Aluminium Alloy, Adjustable, Black) : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com : Bike Stem Riser Bike Fork Stem Extender, Bicycle Handlebar Raiser for Mountain Bike, Road Bike, MTB, BMX (115mm) : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Bike Stem Riser Bike Fork Stem Extender, Bicycle Handlebar Raiser for Mountain Bike, Road Bike, MTB, BMX (115mm) : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Any of them is very good. All of them are adjustable. All of them use provided spacers to achieve the desired handlebars height. I suggest not buying a too tall extender though because the Vado cable slack will be the limiting factor of around 70 mm of stem rise.

This video is instructive, and the process is very simple:

When fastening the vertical screw, pay attention the wheel can still be turned easily, there is enough of cable slack but there mustn't be any play in the fork (in the steer bearings) when you move your bike forwards and backwards with the front brake lever depressed.