Focus Paralane: Garmin Rally XC200 Power Meter SPD Pedals

Recently I had the chance to test out a pair of Garmin Rally XC200 Power Meter SPD pedals. These are new power meter pedals from Garmin. What's cool about these pedals is the small size and the SPD compatibility.

Previous iterations of power meter pedals are usually rather large, and with a bulge at the pedal axle. For this version, Garmin has managed to shrink down all the electronics, such that it all fits inside the pedal axle! At the same time, the SPD platform is what I prefer, so that I can use it with my Shimano RX8 gravel shoes. 

I have previously been using one-sided crank based power meters, such as the 4iiii Dura-Ace or the 4iiii 105 versions. Being one-sided, it takes the power generated by the left leg, and multiplies it by two to give an estimate of your total power. This assumes that your power is equal on the left and right legs, which is usually not the case. If it is not equal, the total power will not be accurate. This is the case on the Focus Paralane, where the 4iiii 105 left crank arm is currently installed.

I decided to install the Garmin pedals on the Focus Paralane, since it is the bike I ride most often. Let's take a look and see how it compares to my existing pedals.

XTR M9120 Trail pedals, next to the Garmin Rally XC200. SPD mechanism looks similar.

Focus Paralane: Switching to 105 R7000 Power Meter

It was not long ago when I completed upgrading the Focus Paralane to a full Dura-Ace Di2 groupset. However, on that groupset, there was one component which is not from the latest R9200 groupset, and that is the left crank arm.

I was still using the older R9100 left crank arm with 4iiii power meter, as it is useful to have power readings even though I am not training with the help of a power meter.

When I was using the Dura-Ace R9100 2x11 speed crankset, the right and left crank arms were matched as a set. Then, when I changed to 12 speeds, I only swapped the right crank to R9200, leaving the left crank arm still as R9100 with power meter.

Now, I plan to install the unused R9100 crankset on another bike, and I would like to move the R9100 left crank arm with power meter over as well. Therefore, I need a left crank arm for the Focus Paralane.

I actually have many spare left crank arms, as I have two different left crank arm power meters, the R9100 and also a cheaper 105 R7000 version. In fact, the R7000 power meter was on the Focus Paralane previously, when it was a 1x11 speed setup.

The 105 R7000 left crank arm with power meter is currently on the Cervelo Aspero, but I think it would be more useful on the Focus Paralane, given that I ride it more often and on the road, where power readings are more useful than when riding on gravel.

This gives me a rare chance to have both the Dura-Ace R9100 and 105 R7000 power meter left crank arms off the bikes, for a side by side comparison.

105 R7000 crank arm on top, Dura-Ace R9100 crank arm below. 

They are both of 165 mm crank arm length.

Different surface treatment, and the R9100 crank arm looks more well used given that it has been in use since it was first installed on the Canyon Endurace.

Cervelo Aspero: Dynaplug Racer Pro Tubeless Repair Tool

Here is a tool to plug tubeless tires, easily and quickly. I first read about it on CyclingTips, and it seemed so awesome that I have to try it for myself.

My Cervelo Aspero gravel bike uses tubeless tires, and so this tool would be very useful if I ever encounter a larger hole that the sealant is unable to seal automatically.

This is the Dynaplug Racer Pro, which is one of the more expensive version. There are many other versions for road or MTB tires, and so on.

Dynaplug Racer Pro, with 4 tips for quick and repeated usage.

Non-descript black aluminium tube, along with a mini yellow brush to clean the inside of the plug insert when reloading the plugs.

XTR and Deore XT Trail Pedals: M9020 vs M9120, and M8020 vs M8120

Previously when I was just a beginner SPD user, I prefer the use of pedals with SPD on one side, and a flat platform on the other side. This allows me the flexibility to use SPD shoes or normal flat shoes on the same bike, depending on the type of ride. My favourite pedal is the PD-A530, which has been replaced by PD-EH500.

More recently, I realized that on some bikes, I will only ride them while wearing proper cycling shoes, which in my case means SPD shoes. This applies to almost all my full sized bikes, such as the Focus Paralane commuting bike and the Cervelo Aspero gravel bike.

In those cases, there is no need for a flat platform side on the pedal. Rather, it is best to have SPD on both sides of the pedal, so that I can clip in easily regardless of the pedal orientation.

After the bike fitting done at LOUE Bicycles, I eventually decided to use pedals of different stack height on left and right sides, in order to balance out the unbalanced leg length and hip rotation.

That is how I eventually ended up with so many different pedals, as I only need one side of pedal from each set, to get different stack heights. Anyway this gives me a chance to compare all these different pedals.

XTR PD-M9020

XTR PD-M9120

Deore XT PD-M8020

Deore XT PD-M8120

Packaging for the newer XTR and Deore XT pedals

Dahon MuSP: Outward Folding Handlepost and External Cable Routing

The Dahon MuSP is a really nice drop bar folding bike that I assembled back in 2018. It's a rarely used bike, but it is always available as an option if you need to transport a folded drop bar bike to another location.

As shown below, when folded, it can be placed on the backseat of a car, or in the boot if the boot is large enough. On this Dahon MuSP, I chose an inward folding handlepost for a more compact folded size. Most of the time, it works, but it can also be rather awkward during folding.

The problem with the inward folding handlepost with a drop bar is the difficulty of actually folding the handlepost and drop bar, without the saddle or other parts of the bike getting in the way.

Another issue is that the shifters protrude from the folded bike quite significantly. For storage it is fine, but it barely fits in the backseat of the car, as the shifters are already touching the windows.

Folded Dahon MuSP on the backseat of a car. Shifters are right up against the window.

After much consideration, I decided to try a more conventional outward folding handlepost for this drop bar folding bike. Although the folded size would be wider, at least it would be shorter and perhaps easier to place into the car.

New outward folding T-shaped handlepost on the right, just a tiny little bit taller. Shorter ones are practically impossible to find.

Focus Paralane: Phase 2 Assembly Completed

After finally getting the 12 speed Dura-Ace crankset, I can complete Phase 2 of the 12 speed upgrade to the Focus Paralane. Previously I had all the new 12 speed components except the crankset.

Dura-Ace R9200 12 speed crankset, with 50/34T chain rings.

Focus Paralane: Dura-Ace 12 Speed Crankset R9200

On the Focus Paralane all-weather commuting bike, I had already upgraded most of the groupset to a 12 speed Dura-Ace system. Only one component was missing, and it was the 12 speed crankset. Due to production delays, I was not able to get the crankset at the same time as the rest of the components.

During Phase 1 of this upgrade, all the components have been changed to the latest Dura-Ace R9200 groupset, except for this crankset. Even so, there is no issue with using the older R9100 crankset in the 12 speed drivetrain, as they are mostly compatible, although you may not get 100% of the function.

Now that I have this 12 speed R9200 crankset, I can complete the upgrade in Phase 2 of this project.

Unboxing the new Dura-Ace R9200 crankset! New packaging design for Dura-Ace.

I chose the 50-34T chain ring combination, and a crank arm length of 165 mm. According to my own experience and also bike fitting, this length is good for me.

Most of the box is actually just air, as the crankset has a shape that takes up quite a bit of space.

Dura-Ace R9200 crankset!

Fnhon DB12: Dura-Ace R9100 Crankarms and PRO Stealth Saddle

A few months ago, before I converted the Focus Paralane from a 1x11 speed to 2x11 speed road bike, I had the Dura-Ace R9100 crankset available and not in use on any of my bikes. This is the original R9100 crankset that I had on the Canyon Endurace, since year 2017.

Therefore, I decided to put this Dura-Ace crankset on the Fnhon DB12, because it is black and matches the frame well. Prior to this, an Ultegra 6800 crankset was in use.

Dura-Ace R9100 crankset with the Wolf Tooth 44T chain ring for AXS 12 speed chain.

Looking good with my signature 4 colour chain ring bolts!

Shimano HG vs Microspline vs Road 12 Speed vs SRAM XDR Freehub Body

Nowadays, there are so many different types of freehub bodies, mainly due to different manufacturers and also different cassette requirements.

The most common one is the HG spline standard, or the Shimano spline that has been in use since 8 speed cassettes. In fact, 8/9/10 speed cassettes use the same HG spline. 11 speed cassettes have the same spline pattern, just that it is 1.85 mm longer.

Then, there is the SRAM XD and XDR standard. This are radically different from the original HG spline, as there is only a short spline section. It is originally designed for MTB cassettes with a small 10T sprocket. I first used it on the Fnhon DB12 wheelset, when I changed to the SRAM Force 10-36T 12 speed cassette.

There is also the Shimano Microspline freehub, for Shimano 12 speed MTB cassettes. I have not had the chance to use a Microspline cassette on my own bike, but this is the Shimano alternative to the SRAM XD/XDR freehub.

The most recent addition to the freehub collection is the new road spline for Shimano 12 speed road cassettes. Once again, another design that is different from existing designs.

 

Microspline and XD/XDR can accommodate cassettes with a small 10T sprocket, which is useful for a wider gear range without going to even bigger sprockets at the other end.

The new Shimano road spline cannot have a 10T sprocket, as it is designed just to fit 12 speed Shimano road cassettes with a small sprocket of 11T.

From left to right: Microspline, standard HG (11 speed version), and XDR freehub bodies.

Shimano GRX Di2 vs SRAM Force eTap AXS: Rear Derailleur

Traditionally, rear derailleurs are either road type or MTB type, and were designed quite differently to meet the different requirements.

Road rear derailleurs are small and lightweight, and have short cages to match the road cassettes. On the other hand, MTB rear derailleurs are built to be tougher and thus heavier, and they also have long cages to match the wide range MTB cassettes. Most importantly, it is equipped with a clutch to prevent chain slap and chain drop when riding on bumpy terrain.

Then, in comes gravel riding, and neither road nor MTB rear derailleurs are completely suitable. Road rear derailleurs are a bit too delicate for gravel riding, and the absence of a clutch causes the chain to bounce too much and result in chain drops. MTB rear derailleurs work a bit better, but are also not completely suitable as they are not suited for closer range cassettes.

Shimano has their GRX range of gravel rear derailleurs, while SRAM has the Force 1x series for gravel setups. Here is a comparison between the two different gravel rear derailleurs by Shimano and SRAM.

There are 4 types of gravel rear derailleurs by Shimano. Either mechanical or electronic shifting, and either front single or front double drivetrains. Pick the one that matches your setup!

GRX Rear Derailleur RD-RX815, which is for 2x11 speed gravel drivetrains, up to 34T cassette size.