Progression
I'm a numbers guy. I like to know my heart rate, the air temperature (to the nearest tenth of a degree, thanks), how fast I'm riding (+/- 0.1 mph), what my maximum speed was (again, +/- 0.1 mph), how far I went and, thanks to the ubiquity of GPS devices, where I went (with elevation, please).
However, when I want to know this information has changed over time.
I've been running computers on my bikes for... well... longer than I care to mention here. Let's just say that my first computer was a CatEye Solar. Man, that thing was huge! I also had the Solar II, which was even larger. Since then, I've had too many computers to list.
Until now. As the batteries have died, instead of replacing them, I've just removed the computers from my bikes.
I strap my watch to the bars so I know the time (I often have a narrow riding window, so not knowing the time is not a luxury), but otherwise, the only thing on my bars is my light.
At first, I missed knowing all of this information. It was similar to when I had to return the Edge 705 to Garmin, I really missed having that device on my bars. (Actually, there are times that I still do... but I digress.) Now, I just log my ride with my phone using a program that ties into the built-in GPS. I keep the phone's screen off, and it's stashed in my jersey pocket. I don't look at it during the ride at all. However, when I get back from the ride, I have all the numbers I want. It's my record of the ride.
I wrote about the three ways to use a GPS: routing, logging, and the displaying of information. Of these, the only I am using now is logging. What is the effect of all this? I am free to just ride. I still get my numbers fix, but I don't let it interrupt my ride.
Going from a state of high complexity and lots of information at my fingertips to no information and increased simplicity is the right kind of progression.
6 comments:
You must be "riding," then, and not "training." :) Yeah, I think it's time I go for a ride, too.
First I wanna say , is where can I get a hill like that?
Which phone are you using for this? iPhone?
Griese, that hill is located in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.
icycle, I'm using the ATT Tilt (aka HTC Kaiser) and the Run.GPS program.
But as a numbers guy, you are presumably still interested in things like heart rate and cadence - can this setup record that data?
My guess is not, but also that it can't be long before smart phones are able to do this. I am also looking forward to their being able to handle some of the navigation tasks that make dedicated GPS devices attractive, but in my experience with an Edge 305, imperfect.
So keep trying out that new gear, and let the rest of us know when it's finally time to take the plunge!
Dave,
The program that I use on my phone will handle Heart Rate (not cadence)but I've yet to find a HRM that uses bluetooth. One day, I hope most of these devices will be able to communicate with each other.
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