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October 2007 Archives
I just came across a little piece of software from 3D3R that seems to be pretty sweet! It's called Bubbles. I found it thanks to a comment over at Mozilla Labs about a project they are doing called Prism. Prism, previously known as Web Runner, is supposed to intergrate web applications such as Goolge Docs into the desktop. That means none of the cumbersome navigation buttons that normal web browsers have. It also eliminates the potential for losing work or open windows when a site forces a pop up window that could possible "hi jack" an open browser running web application. My first thought for something like this was my favorite online "tunes" source, Pandora. Pandora would be awesome if opened in a program that puts a web app like in to a window that minimizes to the windows task bar and uses fewer system resources than having a browser window open all day streaming my tunes. Anyways.... I downloaded the Prism installer from the Mozilla site and had errors saying the downloaded installation files were corrupt. A couple more download attempts yielded the same results. This lead me to a hunt for information about these errors.
While perusing the comments on the 3D3R and a program called Bubbles window the application is minimized to a nice little tray icon. Even cooler is the fact that when you right click on the tray icon you get options to control some functions of the web application. For instance with Google Calendar Bubbles gives you calendar view options as well as options to add events and settings. How cool is that?!
3D3R Software Studio � Technologies
An excellent article has been posted at Freeware Genius about doing a clean Windoze install and installing freeware as an alternative to the expensive programs out there. The list is through and uses a lot of excellent programs. One program that I like that was left off is GIMP in place of Adobe Photoshop. The system image recommendation can be a life saver for some. Reinstall Windows and outfit your system with all freeware programs Review & Download Link | freewaregenius.com
At some our weekends became non-stop how many places and how many things can you do events. This weekend was no different!
The Between the Waters Century that we have been training hard for was a "wash out". Steady rain and 15 mile an hour winds made us opt out. 7 hours of wet feet, wet crotch, and a miserable head wind is not my idea of fun on the bike. The plan is to do our own "century" in the not so distant future. Saturday night was the Fat Frogs Racing team party. That was a good time. Then there was Sunday.
For the first time in 4 days I was on a bike, even better it was outside! Not on one of those evil contraptions called a trainer!
It was a good ride too.... Gilbert (aka Nerf) had the brilliant idea to make it a "Track Bike Sunday". Well that was all find and dandy until we made the turn at the bottom of the Pungo Loop and hit the wind! What felt like a wall hit us and continued to push the entire way back. Oh well, it was fun and what doesnt kill you only makes you stronger! In the evening it was Pumpkin Carving and Beer Butt Chicken (pics will be up soon) at Ellen's house. It was a great time with some great people!
Uggh, Tonight it's back to the trainers and ewwww... Spinervals.
The following is a little video of my first attempt at riding a set of rollers. It was not as easy as many of the videos floating around the net made it look. Amber shot the video with her camera and we learned something new.... it's not as easy to rotate video as it is pictures. In fact it was easier to put in sound effect than it was to figure out the rotate.
Gilbert, aka Nerf, has finally joined the world of bloggers!
Nerf's place
This quote came up today on the QOTD section in the right column of this site.... "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Confucius
That's an interesting thought... maybe it's time to start thinking about what can be done to make that quote a reality.
The BKW site has an interesting how to on cleaning the bike....
I learned to wash bikes in 1990 from a journeyman mechanic who had just returned from a tour of duty with the 7-11 team. He was a master mechanic in every sense of the word. He carried a suitcase that looked all the spy novel to house his tools of the trade. It was a suitcase designed for electricians: an aluminum case with layers that had individual pockets for tools and small parts. I remember the first day he came to work at the shop he brought his case, a travel stand (in the days before travel stands), a 5-gallon paint bucket, a selection of specialty brushes, and a pair of honest to goodness firefighter boots (complete with steel toes). In the days of old, we simply wiped bikes down with a rag and washed the parts in a solvent tank. Those days were about to become a thing of the past.
I had no idea there were such specialized practices for bike washing. There were special brushes for specific tasks, a special type of soap, and a brush technique for drive trains, brakes, the frame, bar tape, and wheels. Over 3 years, I came to master the art of bike washing. I washed well over 1000 bikes in my day. In the summer, I washed them under the baking sun, in the winter I washed them in the small confines of a dark, dank basement. Below are some tricks I continue to employ today (in no particular order):
Brush Selection
Wheel brush - As in wire-spoked British car wheels (not bicycle wheel). This long, cone-shaped brush is ideal for areas that are tight and difficult-to-get-to, from the area between spokes and the hubs to the brake caliper, and below the BB area and the cassette. This brush will also do a number on bar tape, allowing the white to stay PRO white.
Wide brush - This brush is intended for the wheels and sides of the rims and tires. It covers large areas and works beautifully on all flat surfaces. I prefer this type of brush to have a long handle. When the temps are cool and your hands are wet, there is nothing more painful than slipping with the brush and slamming your knuckles into the brake caliper, or worse, the chain rings.
Large sponge or wash mitt - In the old days, brushes were too harsh to use on a sweet paint job because over time they would leave light scratches on the clear coat and create a fog. Today, the concern remains a frame's clear coat but now its carbon fiber's clear coat. Sponges have differing textures, use a softer option so the appearance of the frame is retained.
A note on brushes: Brush selection is a matter of personal preference. When selecting a brush, insure the bristles are made of natural fiber. The plastic bristle brushes have a tendency to hold grease, causing it to spread around rather than remove it. Drop a nasty, greasy natural bristle brush into a a solution of warm water and Dawn liquid soap and the grease literally falls off the bristles.
Cleaners
Avoid harsh chemicals at all costs - If your chain and cassette are so gunked up with spent grease and road grime, it's probably time to replace it rather than clean it. For the really dirty intervals, I use Simple Green, which is a natural de-greaser and all-round cleaner that is ideal for drive trains. Steer clear of harsh chemicals, especially on carbon bikes. Harsh chemicals are not good for clear coats, resins, bonded joints, and good 'ol Mother Earth.
Dawn dishwashing detergent - This blue liquid soap is magic on dirty, muddy, greasy bikes and, if you clean your machine frequently, it's all that is needed to produce a clean, PRO machine. I prefer the original formula and, when mixed with some hot water, there is very little 'ol blue can't tackle.
I opt for frequent washings, this helps to keep the drive train clean and, with the elimination of sand and road grime, the drive train components will not wear as quickly.
Be cautious when spraying water on the machine: avoid spraying water directly into the bearing areas. If your bike is equipped with electronics like an SRM, it's wise to avoid water and chemicals altogether in this area. I use a clean cloth for the SRM and, following a wet Spring, I pull it off and clean the individual components by hand.
In the dead of winter when the hose is in hibernation, I use an tea kettle to perform the rinse. I fill it with hot water and wait until I've washed the entire bike before rinsing. You have to work fast so the soap remains effective but it's key to removing the corrosive salts and oil/grease mixture that lays on top of the roads in winter.
After any wash, I apply a very light coating of lube on the chain and then hang the machine allowing it to air dry. Every mechanic's technique for washing bikes varies and over time everyone develops techniques that work best for them.
I was fortunate to have learned this PRO skill from a complete and utter PRO. A complete bike wash takes me less than 10 minutes and a quick wash takes less than 5. In the spring, I'll re-use the same bucket of soapy water for weeks at a time due to the frequency of washes. When I roll in from a soggy ride, the waiting bucket makes it easy to give the bike a quick wash.
A clean machine is a PRO machine and it allows for the components to work properly while reducing wear. Keep it PRO, keep it clean.
Belgium Knee Warmers: The Art of the Bike Wash
I came across this post with some interesting thoughts on custom frames. With me, relatively new in the cycling world, and not having the money for a killer custom frame I will probably never have the resources to compare them. I can't imagine that with the number of off the shelf bikes there isnt one out there to comfortably fit just about anyone though.
Smithers MINNEAPOLIS � Custom Frames
I just purchased, for $1.45, a copy of Radiohead's new "CD". Is it really a CD though? In this day and age with music coming in digital format and not actually having anything really tangible what should we really call it? We had 8 tracks, cassettes, then a CD.... what is it going to be next? The real reason for the post is this: I have never listened to Radio Head and I don't know if I will like the music or not. I downloaded it and payed a minuscule amount for two reasons. One, it was inexpensive, heck I might have even payed 3 or 4 if I had to just to download the music and try it out on my own time on what ever device I choose to use. The second reason is that I am willing to support a group even it was with a very small amount of money to encourage this kind of music distribution. No recording industry crack heads, no CD distribution centers, no music stores, just the artists and their music.
With such awesome online resources for new music discovery the old methods for marketing and visibility are just not the same. I do not think that I am alone in the fact that I dont buy music based on ads on TV and surely not the crap that's played on MTV. Most of the music has been discovered based on word of mouth and online services like Pandora and lastFM. Some other excellent resources are Jamendo and Magnatunes. These sites have allowed me to continue listening to and discovering an eclectic mix of music and not keep filling the pockets of all the music company executives.
Good job Radiohead on upsetting the balance a bit, hopefully more artists will follow suit.
Critical Mass Ride in Norfolk, VA 10/26 @ 6PM starts at the Starbucks Coffee on Colley Ave. For more information and a video check out:
Foto by Wes: Critical Norfolk
Why bicycles are better than Women...
Bicycles don't get pregnant.
You can ride your Bicycle any time of the month.
Bicycles don't have parents.
Bicycles don't whine unless something is really wrong.
You can share your Bicycle with your friends.
Bicycles don't care how many other Bicycles you've ridden.
When riding, you and your Bicycle can arrive at the same time.
Bicycles don't care how many other Bicycles you have.
Bicycles don't care if you look at other Bicycles.
Bicycles don't care if you buy Bicycle magazines.
You'll never hear, "Surprise, you are going to own a new Bicycle" unless you go out to buy one yourself.
If your Bicycle goes flat you can fix it.
If your Bicycle is too loose you can tighten it.
If your Bicycle is misaligned, you don't have to discuss politics with it.
You don't have to be jealous of the guy who works on your Bicycle.
If you say bad things to your Bicycle, you don't have to apologize before you ride it again.
You can ride your Bicycle as long as you want and it won't get sore.
You can stop riding your Bicycle as soon as you want and it won't get frustrated.
Your parents won't remain in touch with your old bicycle after you dump it.
Bicycles don't get headaches.
Bicycles don't insult you if you're a bad rider.
Your Bicycle never wants a night out with the other Bicycles.
Bicycles don't care if you're late.
You don't have to take a shower before you ride your bicycle.
If your Bicycle doesn't look good you can paint it or get better parts.
You can ride your Bicycle the first time you meet it, without having to take it to dinner, see a movie, or meet its mother.
The only protection you have to wear when riding your Bicycle is a decent helmet.
When in mixed company, you can talk about what a great ride you had the last time you were on your Bicycle.
A development, training, team is being put together in the Northern Va area, but it's only for entry level Cat 5 Mens and Cat 4 Womens racers. After the first year of racing they are encouraged to move on to established racing clubs. This is interesting seeing as some of the riders and I from the Fat Frogs team were talking about how some of the racers, myself included, could benefit from more experience working as a team on the course.
GamJams.net: Where bike racers in DC/MD/VA/DE roll: A GamJams.net Racing Team?
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/590572/21815369
