Why not use your GPS bike computer to track your day of skiing? You already own it and you know you don’t have to worry about the battery dying. Yeah, your phone could work, but phone batteries typically drain quicker when using both GPS and cellular services. And, you need your phone for music and posting to your favorite social media apps.
The Bolt Sack:
The Bolt Sack is an idea I got sometime last year when I got into trail running and running longer miles. I was running with an older Garmin Forerunner 25 and it would only last for 15-20 miles. Not only was the battery poor, the GPS signal sometimes took long to acquire and would drop throughout the run. This led to some frustrating moments so my frugal mind decided to see if I could run with my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. Click here to read my first post about the Bolt Sack, related to trail running (Post here).
After researching existing methods and testing a few options, I developed the Bolt Sack. Using Velcro, some webbing and outdoor fabric, I was able to sew together a sack that securely holds the Bolt to the top of my hydration backpack. In this position the Bolt lays perpendicular to the incoming GPS signal, allowing the device to maintain a strong connection with the GPS satellite.
I did try to run with the Bolt laying in my backpack pocket, but it kept losing the GPS signal. I also tested it on my trail running vest in the vertical position (see vertical strip of Velcro below). Again, it was not able to lock onto a signal and dropped it every ten seconds or so. When I moved it to my shoulder, like a parrot, it locked on right away and didn’t lose the signal the entire run. From my “highly scientific testing”, the Bolt’s GPS transmitter only works when laying flat, like how it lays when it is in its bike mount.
Loveland Ski Area:
While I didn’t create the Bolt Sack solely for skiing, it worked so well during my ski trip in early April (2019), I thought I would share my experience. During the two days of skiing at Loveland Ski Area I was able to press start on my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and record the whole day without worrying about draining my cellphone battery or keeping my watch charged. It was also nice having the hydration bladder in the backpack as the dry air and elevation took a toll on me. Keeping hydrated was clutch on the second day and allowed me to ski the whole day.
Below are the stats from my second day at Loveland. Do keep in mind Strava adds lift rides to the total distance, it impacts average speed and the moving time. I think the most beneficial stat that one can get from recording their day of skiing is total elevation gain. What goes up must come down, so the elevation gained is also the elevation that you skied down.
Total elevation can define your day quickly. I was hanging with my friend who works on the Ski Patrol team at Loveland, so we took it easy and stopped for lunch. I could have easily added another hour of moving time and probably would have bumped my total elevation gain to 30K. +20K is still a solid day on the slopes and it was fun have the data to look back on.
Loveland Ski Area: If you are looking for a great place to ski, check out Loveland. I skied Monday and Tuesday in early April and had the place to myself. There is plenty of terrain for all skill levels. This was my first time skiing in 9 years and my first time out skiing out west. I could not have asked for a better time. It was also a 45 minute drive from downtown Denver, so it allows for affordable lodging options all along I-70.
Are you skiing with you GPS bike computer?
– theBidon
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