Saturday, March 26, 2011

Bicycling geekery

This post is for those interested in bicycle geekery and data tracking. Although I'll see if I can sneak in a picture of a cute baby as well. What would a blog post be without one.

It's also for Grandpa Doug, who very kindly gifted me with an awesome new bicycle computer at Christmas time. This thing does it all but turn the pedals for you. Simple things like speed, time, elapsed time. Cycling specific stuff like cadence. Heart rate monitor. With the addition of GPS, it handles routing as well as display grade.

I've been playing with it while pedaling on the trainer inside. This morning was sunny, gorgeous... and 20 degrees F. Inside again.

Fortunately, I have some video distractions. I've been watching the recon video of the 2009 L'Etape du Tour, an organized ride that lets you try out one of the stages of the Tour de France. In 2009 the route included the Giant of Provence, Mount Ventoux. The recon video produced by Cyclefilm was filmed in the autumn of 2008 and the scenery is just gorgeous. Makes it a little easier to bear pedaling in place, inside.

I've got a half-dozen or so rides on the computer, here is just a small bit of the data from the computer:


As you can see, I need to tweak the cadence sensor. I was actually pedaling the whole time but it seems to drop out as I go along. The display would also show a map of my route, but since I wasn't actually moving (save for through the hills of Provence in my mind's eye) I took that bit out. I'm looking forward to using the computer once I actually hit the roads this spring.

And here's an outtake from the recon video:





And a gratuitous tip o' the hat to the small lad.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Leprechaun

Sammy tipped his cap to me this morning and said

"Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!"



Back atcha, little leprechaun!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Look Ma, No Hands!

I got an email from Sam today, along with some pictures.

Hi Papa,

So, I hate napping this week, but I can STAND in my crib! Mommy had to help me a little bit, but then it was "Look Mom, no hands!"



Thursday, March 10, 2011

ATL in the house

My sister and her family visited for a few days this week, making the unusual- and appreciated- choice to drive north from Atlanta during their spring break to cold Cleveland instead of the beach.

The weather was actually not that bad- 40s and some sunshine during their visit. We enjoyed catching up, and did a few tourist activities- Malley's ice cream, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Bier Markt/Bar Cento for dinner on Monday and the Cleveland Museum of Art on Tuesday. Liberally sprinkled with good food at home and games of Yahtzee.

Sammy sure appreciated seeing his aunt, uncle and cousin!


Uncle Ken used his professional skills to entertain.


We all enjoyed dinner at the Bier Markt/Bar Cento.


Sammy had his first proper frites.