Day 149 - Garmin Edge

On Monday, I waxed lyrical about my need for a technology solution to capture my cycling stats and how I was investigating what the leading provider of GPS systems, Garmin, had to offer. Whenever seeking any item of technology, it is critical to first specify your requirements up front, as I find it is so easy to get carried away and buy something with bells and whistles that I'll probably never use! I found a great wiggle comparison blog which I have placed a link to below, together with an excellent table that author Daniel has pulled together.

http://blog.wiggle.com/2013/05/03/which-garmin-edge-should-i-get/

My requirements were very simple. I wanted the simplest, smallest and lightest unit possible, clear uncluttered screen showing duration, miles covered and current time, which would be visible in all daylight conditions and had a long battery life. Using Daniel's table and a few review sites, the decision was easy, I went for the Garmin Edge 500 in black and grey to match my Specialized. I finally took delivery from my favorite on-line supplier, Chain Reaction Cycles, this afternoon. It was very easy to set up and while having no time this evening for a proper ride out, I did apply the fixings to the handle bars and performed a simple test. What is just perfect, is the ease by which I can upload to Endomondo and Strava. So far, I am very impressed, and am really looking forward to giving it a live test tomorrow.

Garmin Edge 500

While I did not get out this evening, I did get an opportunity to take an early morning ride. I was out earlier than normal, just a few minutes past 6:00 am and I could not believe how quiet it was. Not a soul was about. It was, however, like riding in the path of a hairdryer. Warm, wet and windy! Endomondo reported a humidity level of 99% and I don't doubt that. My glasses were streaming, water cascaded from my helmet and I became soggy from the outside in .. not the usual direction believe me. We still managed a respectable 10.5 miles including the long climb up Gully Shute & Hillhead into Colyton, a route I've not taken for some months and which I recall was, back then, a painful experience. 

Back on the home stretch, I secured a PB on the Seafront Sprint jumping to pole position ahead of my fellowAVP team mates reaching an average speed of 26 mph. My first Strava challenge completed!

The route art today is Yogi Bear on a skateboard :)

Stats: 10.49 mi, 52m 27s, Avg 12.0 mph, max 26.4 mph, 581 kcal

Day 147 - Strava

After being up to my elbows in grease yesterday giving my steed a little TLC, I've moved on to technology today, in a big way - what after all would you expect ;)

Two techie matters have occupied my mind of late. Firstly, I've been using Endomondo since Week 1 of my Tour. I selected this performance tracking application after a quick review of what I knew was on the market at the time and over the 5 months since, it has served me very well. Then, in last week's Cycling Weekly, I spotted an article where local authorities were attempting to get Strava, another cycling app, to take routes off their time challenge site which were encouraging unsafe cycling along e.g. narrow towpaths! I then noticed that two of my fellow cyclists, one on the Thursday night ride out with the AVP and another of my FB friends, were both using Strava. I had to take a closer a look.

In my view, Strava is not as intuitive an app on the smart phone as Endomondo but it does look slick. This is true of the web app too. What I particularly like is the lack of adverts even for non-pro users. I disliked the ads that MapMyRide filled my screen with and paid a nominal fee to remove these from Endomondo. Strava definitely has more of a competitive approach to its set up. Whatever route you take, Strava will provide a set of split times for previously identified sectors and then captures your performance to compare against every other user who has ridden the same route. This then gives you a relative position against your peers. It could get competitively addictive!

Something else Strava offers, is the ability to create a community for your Cycling Club to group and compare performance stats. It also makes available a couple of HTML widgets to share this information on members' personal blogs. I'm in techie heaven ... you can see these now added to the right margin (unless you are reading this at some time in the future and I've removed them!). The Axe Valley Pedallers (AVP) community was already set up so all I had to do was to join. On doing so, I saw that there were only 3 others who have done likewise .. so not all are obviously that blown away by this technology - hey ho, welcome to my world!

The challenge I have now, is that if I were to switch to Strava, I would lose all my training history with Endomondo, which I am not going to do. So for the time being, I am dual running with both apps to enjoy the benefits each community offers and will see how practical this is over the longer term.  

The second technology matter relates to the hardware. I've been looking, since that first week, for the best way of attaching my smartphone to my bike, so that I can visually track my progress in real time. I've tried attaching it to the handle bars but this has proven messy and visually unsuccessful. I have also had issues with the apps multitasking with, e.g. Text and Camera, such that I'm always relieved on returning returned home to find that my route has been saved. Years ago, I used a smartphone, with mixed success, as a SatNav device for my car. When I tired of this, I bought a TomTom unit. The quality and ease of use was a measurable improvement and the same again was true when I upgraded to a car with an inbuilt SatNav system. The lesson learned here is that something designed for a single purpose is usually better at it than one purporting to do many. So you can guess where I'm going here ... yes I'm looking at what Garmin are offering by way of dedicated GPS Cycling Computers. What I have also discovered, is that a Garmin unit will also allow me to upload my cycling data to both Endomondo and Strava, may be this will be a solution to both my technology challenges. More on this later in the week.

Back to the purpose of me having a bike ... riding it. I did get out today. Not this morning, an early business call put paid to that, but a post work evening ride, something which has become more frequent of late. My route was the favoured 3 hills to Colyton circuit with the addition of a reverse ride along the Route 2 wetlands cycle path. I'd not done the cycle path in the north to south direction before and I found it a much better direction from a scenic perspective to cycle. The 13.7mph headwind from Colyford back to Seaton was amazing, it took quite some effort and I would have welcomed a Tasmanian Richie Porte to pull me along!

Stats: 10.23 mi, 49m:01s, Avg 12.5 mph, Max 30.7, 543 kcal

Day 88 - 300 Miles 20,000 kcal

The rain cleared sufficiently today for my steed and I to venture out after the abhorrent weather of yesterday. Still very damp under rubber, I headed out on the Gnome on the Run route, first ridden two weeks ago; up Barnards Hill Lane past allotments and out to join Harepath Hill and down through Colyford to return via Axmouth and the marina. You know when it's been raining as a giant puddle always forms at the threshold to the Underfleet cycle path and not another to be seen anywhere else along the same stretch of road. Thank goodness I say again for those long mudguards!

No photos, today. I forgot the camera and after recent issues with Endo, I was not going to risk multitasking again. What makes me laugh is that Endomondo have just launched an update to the app which allows, at the end of a workout, for you to attach any photos taken during it .. very funny!

I'm now 88 days through my tour, it was the 2nd March when I first set out on my steed, almost 3 months ago. Not quite an anniversary yet but still a day to reflect, in that I've reached my 300 mile / 20,000 kcal milestone! I had some doubts all those days ago that I'd still be at this cycling lark and after not seeing the pounds come falling off after week one, being the impatient man I am, I'm surprised today that I'm still at it. I'm enjoying the challenge of getting out every day, seeing the changing scenery, discovering new routes and taking on those hills - although there are times when moving to Norfolk sounds like a good idea!

So, where to tomorrow? I'm hoping the weather stays dry, as tomorrow's the day when the Axe Valley Pedallers meet and I'm looking forward to another peloton circuit and may be this time I'll get that après cycle beer which has so far alluded me!

Stats: 6.80 mi, 36m 37s, Avg 11.2 mph, Max 31.7 mph, 406 kcal

Day 86 - Colyton to Beer

After yesterday's successful ride out to Beer and my new found enjoyment for exploring the Devon country lanes, I headed out this morning to Colyton along the same route taken with the Axe Valley Pedallers last week. Through Colyford and into Colyton past the tram station I rode, not another soul around. Exiting the town up Colyton Hill towards Sidmouth was hard going but once at the top, the ride along the ridge overlooking the rolling hills and the shimmering sea on the horizon was idilic. After a further two miles I crossed over the main Sydmouth to Colyford A3052 at Stafford Cross and, following a tractor, I took the narrow lane down towards Beer.

Stopping briefly to take in the view, I snapped a few pictures. Naturally, Endo' at this point decided to quit again, splitting my journey into 2. I'm beginning to think I need a dedicated unit to track my ride and another to be my ipod and camera. I tried using my old iPhone as my Endo' unit but that suffered battery exhaustion after 30 minutes ... technology, pfft!

Stats: 9.76 mi, 49m 47s, Avg 10.89 mph, Max 27.7 mph, 596 kcal

Day 85 - The Asparagus Run

I was away this bank holiday weekend without my steed so neither managed my early constitutional on Saturday nor this morning. I did, however, manage a 30 minute power walk first thing today, around the particularly sunny and leafy Coventry. I lived 5 years in Coventry and never saw it as green as it looked this morning.

With a 3 hour return journey to Seaton this afternoon, the last thing I thought I'd be wanting to do was to go for a cycle. However, with the sun still blazing and the sea so blue, I actually could not wait to get  out on my bike. I had in mind a cycle over to Beer for a pint of the same. It had been a long hot drive and I was parched. There is a pub in Beer which has a garden overlooking the sea and the draw of this, being able to sit out with a beer watching the sun go down, after an exhilarating ride, seemed a perfect end to the day.

I head out up Seaton Down Hill, a hill I'd not taken since Day 28 when I first made this climb. Pleasingly, I took 9 minutes to make this one mile and 320 ft assent, taking 4 minutes off my last and only time. Turning then left from the Tower out along the main A3052 for two miles before returning south towards the sea along Holyhead Road into Beer. Once in the village, I weaved through the crowds of weekend tourists who were still out enjoying the last rays of sun, arriving at the pub at the five mile marker. I paused looking for a suitable sunny spot in the beer garden, but alas there were none. Meanwhile, while pausing my ipod, I'd managed to close Endomondo! This is one 'feature' of Endo that really does annoy me; the way it closes down at the slightest provocation.

I rode up and out of Beer taking the Coast road and took a slight detour down Beer Hill into Seaton Hole. The reason? .. Asparagus!  Yes, my ' Portuguese' aunt has some asparagus which should by now be bearing produce if not even going to seed. I thought I'd take a look. The crop was not as expected, just 4 small offerings.

Has there been someone else gathering in the crop or is the poor weather we've had to blame? Anyway, finding a new use for my water bottle, I secured the four shoots on my bike and headed off back onto the coast road to complete my somewhat broken circuit.

Stats: 8.67 mi, 49m 47s, Avg 10.45 mph, Max 29.3 mph, 551 kcal

Day 58 - Weekend Circuits

I had some good friends visiting this weekend so headed out early Saturday and Sunday to avoid eating into our socialising. I have not, as yet, found cycling to be the most social activity .. as a minimum your friends at least need a bike of their own!

Both circuits were easier than I expected, considering my enforced grounding.

On Saturday we (my steed and I) headed out to Colyton and returned via Axmouth covering just under 9 miles in 45 minutes .. it felt good. Later that morning, following the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group recommendation that one in ten journeys should be by bike, I thought I'd cycle the mile and a bit down to the builders merchant rather than take the car. When I got there, however, I found them closed for stocktake. No justice! Also, Endomondo decided to play up, failing to track my ride due to a logon error, was not best pleased with that either.

Stats: 8.95 mi, 45m 23s, Avg 11.8 mph, Max 21.8 mph, 503 kcal

On the subject of the APPCG recommendation, please take time to read their Report and sign the e-Petition, it would make such a positive change if only a small part of this were implemented.

Later that evening, I was back in Colyton with friends for a few beers. Coincidentally, we were invited to 'gatecrash' a 60th birthday party in one of the local pubs, so a great evening was had. On Sunday morning, I confess, I was not feeling much like getting back on the bike; the sky was grey, the temperature cool and the late night revelry was resting heavy on my head and other regions. Thinking that a ride would do more good than bad, I kitted up and hit the saddle. To clear the cobwebs, I decided on the 3 hills route .. a painful climb but two great rolling descents to look forward to.

Doesn't this Sunday Three Hills circuit look a little like a baby elephant lying with its trunk in the air?

Stats: 3.57 mi, 21m 41s, Avg 9.9 mph, Max 26.1 mph, 240 kcal

Day 36 - Ten Miles

It's starting to feel like spring is finally here and while the air is still too call to shed the layers, the sun is certainly now giving off some warmth when out of the wind. So, into the sun I rode this morning with the 10 mile challenge in my sights.

I took the 3 hills and visited the landslip closed road, where the council have now erected a very permanent steel fence and signs redirecting walkers onto the upper road to continue their coastal path walk are now in evidence. Nature one, human occupation nil.

Heading down hill to the sea and harbour I reverse the circuit I completed a couple of weeks ago through Axmouth, Colyford and into Colyton. It is an absolutely beautiful day to be out on the bike. My return journey takes me down Seaton Road, across to Harepath and the 90 right to join Seaton Down Hill for the exhilarating, but controlled - after yesterday - decent into Seaton.

Endomondo reports I've completed 10.5 miles but on closer inspection it obviously lost its GPS signal at the start as it's missed a good mile of the route .. so today's circuit was more like 11.5 miles. Also, I'm surprised to see that I've covered 115 miles over the past 35 days, I would never have believed this possible 6 weeks ago!

Stats: 10.6 mi, 1h 12m 47s, Avg 8.7 mph, max 25.5 mph, 807 kcal

Day 31 - Switching to Biped Mode

I left the bicycle behind today in favour of a sociable power walk with my wife. To keep the my Tour de Fitness records straight, I switched Endomondo into walk mode. Interestingly, to me anyway, this app also has a table tennis mode .. I've got to try that one day!

We headed out towards Beer, along a wooded route I have yet to do on the bike. Then taking the non-cycle route through the park and past the labyrinth, we dropped down to the beach and walked out to the marina. From here we returned along one of my well worn routes via the wetlands and the cricket pitch to conclude a very enjoyable and energising walk. This exercising is getting addictive!

Stats: 3.84 mi, 1h 04m 54s, Avg 3.5 mph, max 4.8 mph, 412 kcal

Month 1 Report Card - March 2013

So, having been at this cycling lark for 1 month now, how does my report card look?

Attendance

21/28 days, with 4 days holiday, 2 days of inclement weather and 2 days for recovery seems to me to be a pretty good 'attendance' record. I certainly avoided any real truancy!

Distance

Having covered close to 84 miles this month is probably the biggest surprise of all theses statistics to me. I commented in an earlier blog that the sales guy in the cycle shop said "come back for your first service after a 100 miles". I thought, comparing this to my car, that this would be in 3-6 months, not 3-6 weeks! Admittedly, it's in this latter week that I've really started to ramp up the distance, with over 30 of these miles having been covered in the last 5 days. It will be interesting to see how this continues.

Duration

Time in the saddle has amounted to a few minutes short of 9 hours. This seems acceptable, in that I had always intended my rides to coincide with the 30 minutes or so that I would normally be arguing with myself as to whether still I had time for another chapter of my book before getting up for work. It was not my intention to be spending whole days out riding, far from it, my short attention span would not cope with that!

Fat Burn

The whole purpose of this cycling endeavour has been to get fit, and one measure of this has to be whether I've burned off any of that winter fat that I've been piling on, knowing full well that it was going to be a cold one! Looking at the calories, and I realise this is not an exact science as I've not been wired up to an ECG machine in some hi-tec medical facility, but according to my new electronic buddy, Endomondo, I've burned 6,094 kcals, apparently equivalent to 11 burgers! Disappointingly however, according to the bathroom scales, this has only translated into a 2lb weight loss. I am putting this miserable performance down to the build up of muscle in my legs, I hear it may be heavier than fat, so this must be the reason. As such, I am holding off reporting "must do better" until I've had another month under my belt - something, by the way, I'm also expecting to get looser!

Summary

So in summary, this first month has been a positive one, particularly as some 20+ years ago, the last time I bought a bike, I rode it to and from work on the first day, to work again on the next and then collected it from work in the car some 6 weeks later, never to ride it again! This month, I've increased my stamina from a wheeze around a 2 mile circuit into town and back, to a 3-4 village tour of 7+ miles with plenty of gas still left in the tank. I'm now looking forward the next few months, as the days get longer and the weather becomes warmer - I know, wishful thinking!

Day 25 - Worth Cycling For

Back in the saddle again after a 5 day interlude, the result of wintery weather and a long weekend away up in the north.

I thought I'd ease myself back in gently with a few circuits of the Esplanade to give me sufficient time to finish off my latest Jack Reacher audio book, "Worth Dying For", which I'd not quite completed on my weekend road trip. Lost in the closing chapters, my circuits mounted. I could not, however, hear over the melodic tones of the New England narrator, Jeff Harding, that Endomondo had already called out the 1-2-3-4-5 mile markers before I turned off to conclude my ride. Not realising how far I'd travelled, I took in a wide circuit of the hospital for good measure, Jeff still chatting to me through my headphones.

So, it was to my complete surprise, when checking the stats after securing bike and helmet away, that I had actually completed 7 miles and had been out 45 minutes ... oh my! A new distance record and a bit of a rush to get ready for work. Audio books are certainly 'worth cycling for'!

Stats: 6.98 mi, 44m 54s, Avg 9.3 mph, max 21.0 mph, 507 kcal

Week 3 - Rain Shortens Play

Things were going so well, then the start of spring brought about a return to winter, with driving rain, gale force winds and drifting snow, and no cycling for 5 days. My Endomondo stats are, however, an interesting read - then again, I've always been interested in stats. When I picked up my bike 3 weeks ago, the guy said, "come back after a 100 miles for your free first service". I thought, that would be months away, but I see I've already done over 50 miles in 3 weeks. It is surprising how the miles clock up!

Total workouts:18

Total duration:5h:37m:51s

Total distance:52.53 mi

• Trips around the world:0.002
• Trips to the Moon:0

Average speed:9.33 mph

Average pace:6m:26s

Calories burned:3821 kcal

• Burgers burned:7

Looking at the distance travelled these last 3 weeks, this enforced down time is clear to see.  I am looking forward, next week, to getting back in the saddle.

Meanwhile, I see in the local paper, an advert for a bike club event: "The Axemen Bike Club has organised events for Easter Saturday, (March 30). The fist is an Easter egg ride out to four homes for young adults. The route will be about 70 miles and will take, roughly, three hours". 70 miles, I thought that would bring my service date dramatically forward but at an average speed of 23.3 mph, they couldn't be serious! Indeed, further investigation confirmed that the Axemen Bike Club, is actually a motorbike club! Phew! I was more than a little concerned that I'd never be able to keep up with these cyclists ;) It has, however, made me think of may be looking up the 'real' local cycling club, the Axe Valley Pedallers ... watch this space.

Day 9 - Day of the Grizzly

It's the Grizzly Run today in Seaton and so I took a different route to avoid most of the barriers and organisers. I had to do the hill by the castle though, as my challenge today was to take this in one go - so steep! Luckily the organisers were happy to let me through.

Overall, I was slower than previous days, taking in more steep hills - glad I've worked the gearing now! - and with all the activity in town, it was a more convoluted and random route. Great fun though as I just wanted to tour around, definitely feeling fitter. I've also resolved the kcal issue, when upgrading to the Endomondo Pro, it took across my weight in Kg as Lbs .. apx 1/3 of actual .. I wish!  Not sure how I fix the history, but it justifies my earlier disbelief.

Next week's target, is to break the 5 mile barrier.

Stats: 4.24 mi, 27m 06s, 306 kcal.

Day 8 - Saturday

Another foggy start and not as quick or as easy out of the trap as yesterday's blistering performance. This may mean that taking a rest every couple of days may be a good strategy, but I am keen to keep the momentum as I fear any excuse to not hit the saddle will be easily taken!

Anyway, following yesterday's kcal debate, I tried a side by side comparison of Endomondo and MapMyRide today and who can I believe, Endo 97kcal or MapMy 151kcal? I really do not know what Endo is up to here. Either way, I was pleased, in spite of feeling less than on par, that I was able to add another half mile to the route. You'll notice that my ride this morning took me past the hospital at the 4 mile marker, while I felt like calling in for oxygen, I pushed on regardless!

Stats: 4.56 mi, 27m 36s, 97 kcal.

Week 1 - The Challenge Begins

My first week on two wheels has been an enjoyable challenge. To map my progress to fitness, I'm trying out various Smartphone Apps. I have shortlisted these down to two which my fellow Facebook friends are using: Endomondo and MapMyRide. I'm still not convinced which is best, both have their positive points, more on that probably over the next few weeks.

So, my progress so far, in my view, has been relatively impressive considering my starting point. Here is the week, in brief:

Sunday 3rd March - Day 2

Two outings today. My Pre Breakfast Run, using MapMyRide, was my first trial of moving from warm bed to bike and an outside temperature of zero degrees. I managed a 2 mile ride with a reported total ascent of 98.43 ft and maximum elevation of 111.55 ft. Not sure the relevance of these stats, but I certainly had to dismount to make the final hill home!

Stats: 2.23 mi, 14m 41s, 69 kcal.

The second outing was a 'gentle' afternoon ride down to the sea, using Endomondo this time to track my style. Following a similar route but finishing by 'walking' up a far too steep hill to attempt, at this time, I reportedly burned 174 kcals, imagine how many that would have been had I been actually cycling up the hill!

Stats: 2.03 mi, 14m 34s, 174 kcal.

Monday 4th March - Day 3

I was surprisingly keen to get out this morning, on this, Day 3 and my first week day pre-breakfast run. The weather was again cold, feeling sub zero travelling at 20 mph down hill, with the wind whistling around my ears, I headed off into the town, towards the sea beyond. In a figure of eight rather than my previous circular route, I'm trying out the best circuit to avoid traffic and junctions which will interrupt my flow. Having got caught at the lights, tomorrow's circuit will have to change again.

Stats: 1.97 mi, 14m 18s, 161 kcal.

Tuesday 5th March - Day 4

Fog and with all lights blazing .. a different and longer route today. I'm getting into more of a groove now and the route is starting to take shape. My legs are are starting to really feel the exercise they've not had for years and my seat is suffering at every bump!

Fortunately, later in the day, I took delivery of my first cycling lycra. A pair of padded shorts! ;)
Stats: 2.23 mi, 16m 50s, 190 kcal.

Wednesday 6th March - Day 5

Oh a tough one today. Stopped at the sea wall for a breather so Endomondo split the circuit into two reports. Not a good ride after a poor night's sleep, but nice to get out anyway and the new shorts are a great improvement!

Stats: 1.13 mi, 6m 33s, 74 kcal.

The way back from the sea wall was the uphill homeward stretch and a real challenge for the tired legs. Luckily, however, much warmer than yesterday and only very light rain.

Stats: 1.18 mi, 8m 23s, 94 kcal.

Thursday 7th March - Day 6

A washout! Horizontal rain and strong onshore gusts keep me wrapped up inside. Probably a good thing really as my muscles are starting to rebel!

Friday 8th March - Day 7

Back on the bike. Wet under rubber this morning, glad I was encouraged to purchase the unfashionably long mud guards! Almost doubled the distance today, adding 2 circuits of the beach, after being rained off yesterday but halved the calories burned! Losing faith in Endomondo's algorithm engine ... or has it picked up my increase in fitness? Not sure what's going on there but I don't believe it!

Stats: 4.01 mi, 22m 58s, 81 kcal.

So that's a full week now of bike ownership in which I've seen the distance I've been capable of cycling double and my stamina certainly increasing. I don't think I'll see the same increases in distance next week, but hopefully the hills will be easier, the stops for breathers less frequent and the weather remains good, so that I can at least get out on my bike.