Road bike training with Garmin Edge 705

// September 11th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling, Misc.

I have been trying to regain some fitness lately. The spectre of beer-gutted middle-aged complacency had been becoming more and more real in recent years, especially throughout the toddler years of our twins. Most weekday mornings I am managing to go running but the feeling of freedom experienced, and the sheer distance that can be covered, during a lengthy road bike expedition appeals to me hugely.

With that in mind, I ventured out from Edinburgh, via Kirkliston, Linlithgow, Grangemounth, Kincardine and Culross, to complete a loop around the River Forth for the second time in as many weeks today. On this occasion I tried out my new Garmin Edge 705 cycling-specific GPS gizmo. It not only guides me around my pre-defined low traffic route perfectly, measures the height gained and lost but also records my heart rate and pedal cadence throughout the ride. As techie boy toys go, it’s right up there. Fantastic.

Over the coming months I’ll be using this new toy to shed the indolent pounds surrounding my lower torso while seeing parts of Scotland I otherwise would never see. My entry to the Etape Caledonia 2011 is already in.

Allez! Allez!

Here is the summary of the route and my (not particularly impressive) stats:

Eyjafjallajökull

// July 28th, 2010 // No Comments » // Misc.

The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in southern Iceland seems to have quietened down over recent weeks. You can check how things are currently, via a couple of webcams set up by Mila, a telecommunications company based in Reykjavík. Cam footage at http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-hvolsvelli.

Time-lapse video has provided me with some of my most memorable cinematic/TV moments. From Ron Fricke’s wonderful Baraka, Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi or the sequences seen in many of David Attenborough’s BBC wildlife documentaries. Have a look at this beautiful Sean Stiegemeier film, shot in Iceland in the area surrounding Eyjafjallajökul during the more active phase of the current eruptive cycle. Music is by Jónsi of Sigur Rós fame.

Theresa Andersson. Fun with loop pedals.

// July 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Misc.

Just click the triangular play button …. you’ll be glad you did.

À votre santé

// June 25th, 2010 // No Comments » // Misc.

Château Seigneurie d’Arse, the first step to getting arseholed I expect.

Guillaume Néry base jumping at Dean’s Blue Hole, Bahamas

// June 23rd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Misc.

This video shows constant weight free diver and former world record holder Guillaume Néry base jumping at Dean’s Blue Hole, Long Island, Bahamas. Ever since seeing Luc Besson’s 1988 film Le Grande Bleu I’ve been fascinated by free diving. The video conveys some of the sheer jaw-dropping awesomeness of this pursuit. It is a beautiful and at the same time insane thing to do with your body.