BING MAPS TdF app

Ever check out BING MAPS?

There was a Tour De France app added last year for the 2010 Tour. I just discovered it. Hoping it gets updated for 2011.

Some screen shots...

The main view...


A sample aerial shot - happens to be the finish line


I think when the tour is active BING goes link crazy and send you related cycling hyperlinks to click to your heart's desire.

the next big challenge

I was considering the High Pass Challenge (HPC) but after having (unrelated to cycling) a knee issue in one leg and a lower leg muscle issue in the other, I am passing on it for this year - I don't even know if they are sold out of registrations for the 600 cyclists this year or not.

I'm still going to try and ride these events with a friend this summer:
Cascade Spawning Cycle (CSC) - Sept 19th
Kitsap Color Classic - Sept. 26th

Then, I think it's back again to cold weather riding and commute-type trips, though with my work and home so close now, I may have to extend my riding quite a bit to get in the miles I'd like to. Of course, I'll throw in plenty of hills along the way too.

Cascade Crit

After STP weekend, I went the following weekend to see the Cascade Crit (almost by accident) in Bend, OR.

The start of the (masters? 35+ and 45+ race?)


More pics and video (I hope) forthcoming.

how cool would this be?

REI offers tours in many places of the world for hikers and bicyclists, like this one in Italy.



Though this cycling one, Vienna to Prague, has my eye.


Someday, perhaps.

starting to get geared up for 2010 events

I've registered for the 33 mile Chilly Hilly now, in addition to registering for the STP this year.

Also, in the past few weeks, I've gone on rides of 20-26 miles on varied terrain elevation with my friend, Bill, who is also planning to do the rides with me. We've also got a team coming together of mixed ability riders, but most of us are late 30s-mid 40s, not in prime shape but determined. There might be as many as 7 or 8 of us already... misery loves company.

It's about time to start looking for sponsorship (joking... sorta).

Our film - featuring cyclists - please vote for us!!!

My co-producer, Rob, and I (he's also a cyclist) entered a film contest in our city (Renton) and we got the "Best Use of Renton" award, which is pretty cool. Not like a cash prize cool, but cool nevertheless.

Now, we're up for the "Viewers' Choice" award and the videos are posted online and visitors from the web can vote for their choice (up to 1 time per day - voting closes November 11th).

Why might you want to vote for us? We have a scene with a local cycling team and also visit a LBS where the guy offered to do a track stand for us.

See the box on the right hand of this page to navigate to where you'd need to go view and vote!

Note: the film contes is called "Film Frenzy" and it's the second time the city has sponsored a contest like this where filmmakers have 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a film that can be up to 4 minutes long. To complicate matters, they throw in a few "curve balls" the films must include. This year, it was: include the clock tower in the film, a piece of public art, and the phrase "I used my Curve Card", a local marketing slogan.

More about the film contest.

a cautionary note

I like my socks to match what I'm wearing, typically, when I'm dressed in my business casual work clothes. I change at work from cycling attire (I bring my work clothes once a week to have on-hand so I needn't ride to work with them wadded up in panniers or risk getting them wet/dirty/etc.).

I usually change in the restroom on our floor rather than the workout fitness room locker room, a habit I adopted during the year the locker room was closed for remodeling. In the morning, since my ride is under 3 miles and generally down hill, I don't need to re-shower in the AM... at least no coworker's have complained about it.

As I change in a bathroom stall, I usually hang my clothes over the top of the door and set items like socks to the side, propping them up on the top of the TP holder, for example. Well, this morning things did not go so well. Like a tired or distracted first baseman missing what should have been an easy out, I bobbled the rolled-up socks and they landed with a *sploosh* into the toilet.

My first thought was to somehow save them and dry them out, however, the thought of having wet socks perched on my desk, staring at me soggily, only further irritated me. So I opted to trash them and instead wear socks that don't match what I'm wearing.

Funny considering on the ride in I was thinking "it's such a really great day for riding" buzzing down the road with happy, positive thoughts in my head, unaware of the sock drama about to unfold minutes later.

update

I have had a chance to get out and ride 4-9 miles a couple times each week for the past couple weeks. Due to a minor outpatient surgery, I'll be off the bike or trainer for a week or two. Better to do it in the winter than the spring or summer, I guess.

I did get a few nice things for Christmas in addition to the indoor bicycle trainer, such as the red Novara brand (REI) jacket I'm wearing in this photo. I also got the socks and the under helmet head cover (beanie?) as gifts too. The shoes are new-to-me slightly used SIDI brand shoes. Regular price new is $135 and I found a guy who was selling them for only $35! I suspect he was getting out of road biking entirely.


A pic of me and the bike at the end of the Cedar River where it joins Lake Washington. Roughly the half way point in a 9 mile round-trip ride from my house, roughly the last 2 miles is uphill the whole way.


Pausing near the Cedar River (up river from the mouth) at a bench dedicated to my deceased great uncle, who was a former police chief in our town in the 1950s and 1960s. Impossible to read the small plaque, but it has his name and dedicates the bench to his memory.


Can't wait for more improved weather and health so I can get back to riding again.