I was sent this blog post by a coworker of mine. This bike could solve a lot of problems with the new commuters on the road. It has all the easy access items one would need on a bike to let fellow riders and drives know what they are doing.
For the full article: http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/11/11/the-smartphone-bicycle/
Posted in cycling
Tagged commuter, concept bicycles, cycling
Take a look at what engadget.com has to say about Apple filing for a bicycle accessory similar to their Nike+ system.
Oh what fun!
Posted in cycling
Tagged Apple, bicycle computer, cycling
without a doubt the next race events I will be taking on are cyclocross. I can’t wait til I can afford a cyclocross bike…Racing offroad, hopping on and off the bike–sliding through mud–sounds way too fun not to be involved.
If you have a cyclocross bike you’s like to donate, or get rid of leave a comment and let me know.
from Velo news:
Cyclocross fans can get a great view of all the live action of the pro USGP races in Louisville this weekend — regardless of their geography. VeloNews.com is hosting live streaming video of the pro women’s and pro men’s races on Saturday and Sunday, thanks to a special partnership with CyclingDirt.org. The pro racing begins at 1:45 p.m., EDT, both days.
The U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclcross kicked off last month in Madison, Wisconsin. VeloNews.com hosted live video of those races also, where Katie Compton swept the women’s events and the Cannondale-Cyclocross.com duo of Jeremy Powers and Tim Johnson each took a win.
This weekend, the USGP descends on Louisville, Kentucky, host of the 2013 world cyclocross championships.
Posted in cycling
Tagged cyclocross
BBC News – Cycling surges in the land of the automobile.
America is known for its enduring love affair with the automobile. But in the last few years cities across the US have reported a surge in bicycle use, as people search for greener, healthier – and cheaper – transport options. The BBC’s Daniel Nasaw looks at what Washington DC is doing to push two-wheeled travel.
Interesting read from across the Pond
Posted in cycling
Just saw this post on Programmable Web CycleStreets Brings Bicycle Journey Planning to the UK and had to share. The good folks at Cycle Streets.net are/have created a cycle journey planner that will cover the whole of the UK.
The CycleStreets system is based on a Journey Planner and Photomap launched by Cambridge Cycling Campaign in June 2006 and is currently in beta. The web application uses map data from OpenStreetMap and tile rendering and tile serving from OpenCycleMap. The Photomap functionality lets users view and add cycling-related photos. These can then be categorising and placed in gallaries. The hope is that this will add value to the service and be useful in influencing decision-makers. The Journey Planner allows the user to plan routes, see photographs of locations on the journey and choose the fastest, quietest or most direct route.
The API they created is currently being used in a variety of web & mobile apps as well:
The API is used directly by the CycleStreets web application, the CycleStreets for iPhone, the Bike Hub Cycle Journey Planner app, London Bike App, London Cycle App and the list keeps on growing.
check out the post, grab some code and get cracking on a US version…
Posted in cycling
Tagged mapping, mobile apps, tech, web apps
The 2011 tour de France route has just been announced. I was eagerly awaiting this announcement for a potential vacation (but will be postponing live tour watching for another year.) But the route looks awesome as usual. Here are some quick facts from Road.cc:
2011 Tour de France route facts
• 10 flat stages,
• 6 mountain stages and 4 summit finishes,
• 1 individual time-trial stage (41 km).
• 1 team time-trial stage (23 km).
• 2 rest days,Route highlights
• le Galibier climbed twice,
• 23 level 2, 1 or highest level mountain passes or summit finishes,
• no bonuses will be awarded during the intermediate sprints and stage finishes.Where the race for yellow will be won (and lost) – stages 18–20
Normally you can look at the Tour route and immediately see where the race is likely to be decided, and this year the organisers have helpfully lumped all those key stages into a hellish triple-header in the final week, which will sort out the podium from the also-rans. Here’s how it’ll pan out…
Stage 18 – Pinerolo to Galibier, 189km
Starting in Italy, the riders get a brief flat introduction before kicking into the ascent to the highest point on the 2011 tour. From an altitude of 426m they ascend 2.3 vertical kilometres in 60km to top out at 2,744m on the Col D’Agnel, which is also the border with France. A sharp descent is followed by the Col D’Izoard (980m in 18.5km, 5.3%) and after coming off the second huge climb of the day it’s time to hit the final ascent up to a mountain-top finish on the Galibier, at 2,645m. That’s three enormous hills to tackle and no chance of clawing any time back on a final descent.
Stage 19 – Modane to L’Alpe D’Huez, 109km
Such a short stage but such an important one: from Modane the peloton has to tackle the Galibier again, this time from the other side via the Col du Telegraphe. There’s a huge descent into Bourg D’Oisans before the ascent of the Alpe D’Huez, 24km of pain and the second mountain-top stage finish in as many days. Who’s going to have the legs to be up in the mix for two stages in a row?
Stage 20 – Grenoble to Grenoble, ITT, 41km
There’s no let-up in the last-week pain as the Saturday brings an individual time trial around the alpine city of Grenoble. And it won’t be flat, either: there’s two climbs on the loop, up to Eybens and the bottom of the climb to the ski station at Chamrousse. The route hasn’t officially been unveiled but there’s really only one sensible loop that takes in those two spots, and it features 500m of climbing which means it’s more of an all-rounder’s course than one for a true TTer.
Keep checking back for updates…
1 – Passage du Gois La Barre-de-Monts > Mont des Alouettes Les Herbiers
2 – Les Essarts > Les Essarts
3 – Olonne-sur-Mer > Redon
4 – Lorient > Mûr-de-Bretagne
5 – Carhaix > Cap Fréhel
6 – Dinan > Lisieux
7 – Le Mans > Châteauroux
8 – Aigurande > Super-Besse Sancy
9 – Issoire > Saint-Flour
10 – Aurillac > Carmaux
11 – Blaye-les-Mines > Lavaur
12 – Cugnaux > Luz-Ardiden
13 – Pau > Lourdes
14 – Saint-Gaudens > Plateau de Beille
15 – Limoux > Montpellier
16 – Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Gap
17 – Gap > Pinerolo
18 – Pinerolo > Galibier Serre-Chevalier
19 – Modane > Alpe-d’Huez
20 – Grenoble > Grenoble
21 – Créteil > Paris Champs-Élysées
Posted in cycling
Tagged TDF, Tour de france, Tour de Frfance 2011
Just saw the link to the film Chasing Legends on @PhilLiggett’s Twitter feed Here is a link to the site with tour dates to see the film/ I hope it comes to DC or at least the East Coast. If you know of any showings in DC, Philly, NYC or Baltimore let me know.
Posted in cycling
Tagged chasing Legends, cycling, film
This past Sunday, October 3, I completed my first half-iron man at the Half Full Tri in Ellicott City, MD. It was not a full 70.3, it was 70 even. The race organizers were emphasizing the number 70–the race was a benefit for the The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults–and the importance of the number represents the estimated number of adolescents (ages 15-40) diagnosed with cancer each year (70,000 in the U.S.).
The race organizers held a top-notch event bar-none. The transition area and bike racks were not the usual A-frame model, where everyone is trying to merge their bikes without causing any undue damage to their neighbors bikes–no, these racks were boxes on the ground that held your tire–but the kicker was each station was not just a race number for a marker but had our names on it–very cool.
The race went better than I anticipated, coming off a two-week sinus infection and trying to ramp my body back up for the race, I guess I hit the peak just right.
It was a chilly morning as we were preppin in transition, my bare feet on the cold wet morning grass were feeling the pain of the chill–which made the thought of finally getting in the water very welcoming. By the time they finally started my wave I had a made a few new friends and was ready to hit the water. The swim was not the typical group mayhem swim but rather a “time trial” start…We went in two at a time. The swim was nice and for not getting in as much swim practice as I could have (writ 5 swims in the two months leading up) I hit the times I wanted.
Transition 1 felt slow but I was trying to prep and make sure I had everything I thought I needed for the ride. 2 weeks before the race some local athletes pulled together a ride preview–this was a valuable experience knowing what the course looked like. The ride was fun and I never hit any of the bunch crunches I anticipated on the ride (except for the 2 cars I got stuck behind–both on hill climbs….)
Heading into T2 I was psyched to see Sara and the pups waiting to see me and cheering me on, that really gave me the boost I needed to hit the half marathon. I spent a decent time in transition again, hoping to have everything set I needed…10 minutes into the run I realized I left my race belt (with bib attached) in transition–but no going back at that point, besides I still had the ankle timer.
I was able to make some random conversations on the run with other athletes which was nice. The run was hillier than I anticipated so not having had a preview of the course I changed my race plan and decided to walk the sharper hills and water stops. There was a point around mile 7-8 when we circled back through the park that I was certain I had run off course, but thankfully I had not–I was just that alone..Around mile 11 I found my final push and was able to cruise (long uphills included) straight to the finish.
On entering the finish chute I was overcome with emotion, the crowd cheering–strangers giving me looks of admiration and heartfelt applause , the realization I made it–and the coolness of hearing my name called out–yes, that little chip is magic!
People asked how it went, I say well–probably better than I expected. I say it was humbling and rewarding–satisfying. There was a moment on the bike course when my shadow was cast in front of me and I zoned out for a little, watching the road, watching my shadow and it occurred to me that I wasn’t chasing shadow dreams anymore, I had/have become the person I want to be–I wanted change and became that change. I reclaimed me. There is a point when all the talk in the world means nothing and action/deeds shine forth but it’s not proving something to anyone else–only to yourself. There is a line from Jane’s Addiction’s Ocean Size I always liked–wish I was Ocean Size, no one moves you, man, no one tries–I want to be more like the Ocean, no talkin man all action.
On a long group ride earlier in the season (it was a Sunday morning) I heard an older rider say I don’t go to church–I am in my church. I understand that now in a way that is deeper than the surface assumption in thought. I am free when I’m out there, I’m purely in a moment. I compete against me–I compete against the voice in my head telling me how hard it is, how rough I feel, how I should just stop, that I should be working or doing something else. I compete against the voices I hear of other people telling me I can’t do it, am crazy for doing it, waste my time doing it. I ride, run and push til all that noise burns away and what is left is pure spirit. I appreciate things in a new way. I am humbled, I am grateful and I look forward to getting back out there again. I hope I’ll see you out there too.
Two weekends ago I participated in the Half Full triathlon at Centennial Park in Ellicott City, MD. What a way to cap off a long season. There had been little training leading up to this 70 mile event. Tony and I had been concentrating on the LiveSTRONG Philly Challenge (which was to be our first century). But even with the lack of consistency, I had a lot of fun with it.
The morning of October 3, was chilly and as I was making my last minute preparation with my bike, I was thinking, I hope that the water is warmer than the air right now. After I was done, I headed to the lake to begin my .9 mile swim. The start was different than other tris I have done in the past. They employed a time trial start, which consisted of pairing two swimmers up and sending us off every 15 seconds. I didn’t know how this would work, but I liked it a lot. I tell you, getting out there with only one other person is better than a water start where there is a mad rush once the horn sounds. Didn’t really have too many issues with running into other swimmers since we began spread out. Now, with the water temperature being above the air’s, I did have some issues with my goggles fogging up.
Once out of the water, and on way to T1, we had a long up hill run to our bikes. I don’t know what the exact distance was, but if I were to guess, I would put it somewhere around 200 meters.
Now, the bike ride was something to look forward to. Prior to the event, they put together an organized course ride allowing us to get a taste of what was to come. Knowing the course really helped. I was able to have a fairly detailed race plan for the bike section of the race.
So, getting on the saddle for the next 56 miles was going to be a blast. The temperature had not gone up, and the sleeves I decided to wear were very welcome on the fast descents. I had a pretty decent ride. Every time I hit a hill, I was climbing like a champ. The only thing with the cooler temps, was not drinking as much as I should have. Late into the ride, a fellow rider pointed out that the bottles in my rear cages were too full and that I better get drinking before the run. So, Gatorade became my dear friend on the last 10 miles of the ride.
Now, back into T2, getting the swapped out for the run went smoother than I thought, except for one thing, nature’s calling. Now, the other participants (the relay teams) were extremely nice in letting me jump in front of them to get onto my half marathon.
The half marathon was by far the hardest aspect of the race. There was little that I could have done to prepare for that distance after the bike ride. You find out how tough you are, not physically, but mentally when you get into crazy distances like this. As soon as I started the run, I began to have a sharp pain in my right foot every time that I stepped. But grit and perseverance will take you a long way.
Crossing the finish line was a great feeling. The spectators that came out were wonderful, and cheering you the chut, awesome! I am looking forward to doing this again (better prepared of course).
Tony K
Lyle G