Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)

[Stefan Mikes]

The Specialized app running in dark mode is very easy on my phone battery. No problem on a 40+ mi ride with stops. And I often have Google Maps or even RideWithGPS running simultaneously.

How many hours in total for the day? More than five and a half?

I also need to mention it never rains in Southern California

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

How many hours in total for the day? More than five and a half?

I also need to mention it never rains in Southern California

Certainly more than 5, which would probably cover most rider's needs if not yours.

When will you realize that not everyone rides like you do?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

When will you realize that not everyone rides like you do?

When will you do realise I was riding with a smartphone on my bars for three years, was using a powerbank and crashed several phones in the process?

Once, a torrential rain made my phone as useless as I almost drowned in the bog and then could not navigate back to my car!

My facial expression said it all!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I also need to mention it never rains in Southern California

Another incorrect generalization.

Most of our rain comes in the winter in several big Pacific storms with lesser rains in between. Rainfall rates can get quite high, especially in the mountains, and flash floods aren't uncommon. The many mountains above 5,000 ft often get snow.

But the pattern's far from fixed. We've already had 2 lighter rains this fall.

Annual rainfall's surely far lower here than in Poland, but it's silly to say that it never rains in SoCal.

Lots of places in the world where rain is an infrequent problem for riders. You just put your phone in a bag or pocket for the duration. Small price to pay for the convenience of having it on your bar the rest of the time.

Everything's a trade-off.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Small price to pay for the convenience of having it on your bar the rest of the time.

Not when you need the GPS navigation at all times. Which generally means any larger group ride or riding off-road. Or, whenever you ride far from home and it started raining.

I would risk saying you belong to a group of riders who can do with a smartphone on the bars. If it were a majority of riders, nobody would buy GPS bike computers.

 

[PedalUma]

I would never ride with a phone and I have an innate sense of direction. The Polynesians sailed to Rapanui, 4,600 miles of open ocean from Hawaii. It is the most remote island in the world.
Furthering the metaphor, I did get to eat a pizza today at an authentic place, not corporate. My way. It was NY style thin crust, the kind you fold, hand thrown sourdough crust with anchovies and fresh basil.
The Specialised I am finishing now has a 500 watt nominal motor with an 864 watt peak with the right to repair. Stick it to the man. Freedom.