One of the more, you could say, creative products I have seen in a long time is Bike Balls. A rear bike light with the suggestive shape of a certain male anatomy, Bike Balls hang off of your seat rail and naturally bob around as you ride, supposedly providing more visibility than a regular rear bike light.
Bike Balls are made from a water tight, outer silicone housing that holds a red LED module inside. The LED module is powered by two replaceable coin cell batteries. The power button and the mounting strap are integrated right into the silicone housing–simply wrap the strap around your seat rail and then clip it to itself.
Attempting to justify Bike Balls’ technical superiority versus simple novelty factor, the Canadian design team claims that by placing the LED inside of a silicone shell, the lit visible area increases from 18 square mm to 1872 square mm as the entire housing glows. Since the light bobs around on the back of your bike seat, this random movement grabs the attention of people behind and beside you, ensuring that you will be noticed.
Bike Balls has three modes: two flash modes in slow and fast patterns, and one that turns the light on solid. Gently squeeze the Balls to turn the light on and switch between the modes. Gently squeeze again to turn the Bike Balls off.
Awesome or absurd? You decide. For $13 CAD, you too could ride with Bike Balls .
Although you may not believe it possible, your Instagram photos just got better. Olloclip created a 4-in-1 lens attachment for your iPhone that works with all your favorite apps in both photo and video mode, to make your images even better. Fisheye summit selfie, anyone?
The 4-in-1 lens fits in the palm of your hand and quickly connects to your iPhone when you need it. The four lenses included are a Fisheye, Wide-Angle, and 2 Macro lenses in one small, convenient package. If at first you don’t see the exact picture you’re looking for, simply flip it over to switch lenses.
The Fisheye lens captures approximately a 180° field-of-view, while the Wide-Angle lens is great for when you need that extra wide shot, approximately double that of the normal iPhone. The 10x Macro Lens has an approximate 18mm focus distance and the 15x Macro Lens an approximate 12mm focus distance. To access either Macro lens, simply unscrew and remove the Wide-Angle or Fisheye on either side.
Olloclip uses precision ground, coated glass multi-element optics for the lenses. The barrels are made from aircraft grade aluminum using a CNC machine and then anodized. The iPhone attachment itself is made from a soft plastic material to ensure a secure fit every time.
Top tip—be sure to turn off your flash. The Olloclip lens covers the flash and if you have it on, you will see bright spots in your picture. The iPhone flash is not powerful enough to cover the wider angles that the Olloclip provides.
Building off the original 3-in-1 iPhone 4 lens system that resulted from a successfully funded Kickstarter campaign in 2011, Olloclip now offers a wide variety of products, including the Telephoto Lens, Macro 3-in-1 Lens, and Quick-Flip case.
The Olloclip 4-in-1 photo lens retails for $69.99 and is available now from the company website, or from retail stores such as Target and Best Buy.
Just in case you haven’t already become sick of hearing my voice, I thought I’d list a couple of new recordings that were put on the web this week.
For those who want to hear the presentation I did for the Sunday morning services last week of a Presbyterian congregation in New London, PA, you can listen to it here . This was a conversation that I did with their pastor sitting at a table in front of the congregation. He’d never done anything like that and yet we both really enjoyed it.
For those who want to hear a recent podcast I did with the brothers at Family Room Media in Sacramento, you can listen to it here .
And, of course, as with most Fridays there’s a new podcast over at The God Journey . This one is about continuing to live in our first love.
“It’s like rai-ayy-ann on your wedding day…” Alanis Morissette famously sang. And it’s not ironic, it actually doesn’t matter one jot! This wedding proves that, for one, you’ll end up with some incredible pictures (today’s images are by the awesome June Cochran ). I’m talking happy guests dancing in the rain, colourful umbrellas adorning the ceremony, and a whole heap of merriness and creativity totally untroubled (hell, even enhanced!) by the showers.
Shoshana and Sam mixed Jewish tradition and boho chic together effortlessly, and handcrafted so many thoughtful details for their W Day. They are also testament to the fact that wedspiration can strike anywhere: their colour scheme was inspired by coffee packaging they came across at their local grocery store!
As will as bringing their own creative talents into play, they called upon family and friends to play a very central part, both in the lead-up to the wedding, and on the day itself. As Shoshana puts it (and I SO agree with her) “Ask for help… people really want to be a part of your celebration so don’t be afraid to assign tasks.”
And doesn’t Shoshana look beautiful? Her French lace Sarah Seven dress is divine and I love how she’s accessorised her look with fresh flowers in her hair – she looks sensational.
Tragically, Sam’s grandmother died a few days before the wedding but the couple knew even before the event that she wasn’t in a position to travel. So they chose a beautiful white latticed blanket that belonged to her as their chuppah covering. Sam told me, ” I was extremely close with my grandmother, so it was very meaningful to have a tangible token from her with us. And that it was covering us during our ceremony was even more poignant.”
This detail is so very special and an illustration of exactly why I started Smashing The Glass – to inspire you with the most beautiful, creative and symbolic ways to personalise your Jewish (or Jew-ish) wedding from start to finish. Shoshana and Sam’s W Day has it in bucketfuls. Take it away you two!
how we met
Shoshana, the Bride: Sam and I met in graduate school at NYU while studying Food Systems. We actually had a mutual friend in common (that lived in Colorado) that told me to look for Sam in one of my classes. I spotted him, eventually introduced myself, became friends for about 6 months and then started dating. Much more to the story than that but that’s the simple story!
our wedding in a nutshell
When I chose the colours for the wedding I wasn’t sure how they were going to play out – in other words I didn’t have a vision for what items I wanted to be coral or blue. A personal passion and hobby of mine is creating shibori textiles – japanese indigo dip-dying techniques. So, I decided to do a huge DIY project and made 22 nine-foot table runners. Sam was a huge help and it was a bonding experience for us. I’ve even started selling them since then.
On another note, Sam’s 98 year old grandmother passed away four days before the event. In the Jewish tradition, a funeral can wait until after a joyous occasion, so the wedding went on as planned, and flew to Massachusetts right after for the funeral. It was incredibly sad and certainly changed the initial tone of things, but she was celebrated throughout the weekend. We even had to change out mini-moon from the mountain of Colorado to the beaches of Cape Cod. When families come together to support one another through joy and difficult, it all works out well in the end.
We got married at the River Bend in Lyons, Colorado. It’s a small mountain town along a beautiful river. We wanted a summer wedding near water and this was the best water venue we could find in a land-locked state. It was a perfect setting.
Besides envisioning an outdoor wedding, the two things we wanted were good food and good music. The rest came about organically. Our colours were inspired by a coffee package we came across at the grocery store. We used a wedding planner, Julie Lundy , for some of the coordination, but majority of it we did ourselves, along with our families.
invitation design
Our friend, Sarah from MPH Design who is a graphic designer offered to design the invitations as a wedding gift to us. She and I are both inspired by Indian textile prints, so she used that as the basis for the design.
A Sarah Seven dress
I had no idea what I wanted in a wedding dress before I started looking, so it took me awhile to narrow things down. Ultimately, the last place I visited ended up having “the one”. Sarah Seven , in San Francisco, which is where we lived at the time, is where I bought it, and the style was “Helene”. It was the only style I kept coming back to in my head so I just followed my intuition and it turned out beautiful.
accessories
I wore fresh flowers in my hair, a pair of rose gold “rose” studs given to me by my Aunt Esther, and a bracelet gifted to me by my Mother-in-Law, Joyce. I wore my mother’s veil during the badeken ceremony, but I didn’t wear it down the aisle – too traditional for me. I also wore a belt on my dress which I bought from Sarah Seven .
coral wedges
I hardly ever wear heels so my wedding wasn’t going to be the exception. I found a coral pair of wedges from Sole Society that were perfect for the occasion. It poured rain at our wedding so the shoes were trashed by the end and I tossed them!
hair+ make up
I feel privileged to have worked with two of the best hair and make-up styles in the area – Beth Walker for make-up and Ashley Smith for hair. I don’t wear a lot of make-up so I knew I wanted a natural look with a pop of colour on my lips. And for hair I wanted a low, side bun look which Ashley nailed on the first try!
The handsome groom
Sam was really excited to work with a custom tailoring company for his suit. Even though they were based in Arkansas, Strong Suit did an amazing job of taking measurements over Skype and the suit was beautiful and he looked extra handsome!
the ceremony
We worked with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone for many months leading up to the wedding, and she was an integral part of the entire experience. Her depth of knowledge, spirituality and energy brought Sam and I together throughout the various ceremonies and rituals on our wedding day. We chose to sign a ketubah and have a small badeken in advance of the larger ceremony and it was all magical. During the big ceremony, we had a close childhood friend of mine read a poem by Pablo Neruda, as well as friends and family read the Seven Blessings. Our ketubah was from Tallulah Ketubahs .
chuppah design
I found some inspiration on Pinterest – both for the frame and the flowers. Our friend Tyler’s family owns a construction company and so he offered to help us build our chuppah from scratch. Sam and Tyler bought all of the materials, stained, sanded and cut the wood and Tyler put it together. We loved the chuppah so much that we donated it to the venue to use for future weddings.
Sam, the Groom: Like Shoshana said, my grandmother died a few days before the ceremony. We knew even before the event that she wasn’t in a position to travel, so my mother found a beautiful white latticed blanket that belonged to my grandmother that we wound up placing over the chuppah. I was extremely close with my grandmother, so it was very meaningful for me to have a tangible token from her with us. And that it was covering us during our ceremony was even more poignant.
flowers
Shoshana, the Bride: Our wedding venue is owned by the Lyons Farmette down the road, where we were able to source local produce and flowers for our wedding. Unfortunately, the night before the wedding a huge rainstorm came in and demolished the flowers, so our amazing florist, Helen, worked with local vendors in a pinch to select beautiful flowers for arrangements. I gave Helen some Pinterest images to work with, but she is so talented that she created stunning arrangements for everything. For the table centerpieces, my Mother-in-Law, Joyce, and I rented some eclectic pieces and Helen filled them with gorgeous flowers.
Our fabulous photographer
We interviewed several photographers and then we found June Cochran and just loved her style of photography. We hired a videographer only for the ceremony.
Catering, Wedding pies and a white wine cake
We worked closely with Chef Dale Lamb to create a menu that we loved (and we heard our guests loved, too!) Chef Lamb works one on one with his clients, and sources meat and produce locally which was important to us. He’s amazing to work with.
Food is incredibly important to both of us, personally and professionally, so we worked hard to make sure everything was top notch in this realm. We really wanted pie for dessert so we ordered a variety of delicious pies from the Long I Pie Shop . Our dear family friend, Diane of Culinary Hearts Catering , gifted us our cake. It was a white wine cake with lemon curd filling and goat cheese frosting – incredible!
entertainment
We had a jazz trio during dinner and a DJ ( DJ Jahsonic ) for the rest of the evening. Fun fact about our DJ is that he’s the host of a world-renowned reggae radio show based here in Boulder, Colorado, so we were thrilled to let him infuse the evening with some of his tunes, along with a variety of music we asked him to play. We didn’t do photo booths or anything like that. The venue was so beautiful and the food delicious that it provided enough entertainment.
spice favours
We aren’t into gimmicky things, so we wanted a favour to be simple if we were going to do it at all. Sam hand blended a spice mix and we gave out tins of that to each guest.
advice to brides and grooms currently planning their wedding
Just remember, DIY literally means you have to Do It Yourself! Keep that in mind along the way so you don’t save everything for the last minute. Ask for help, people really want to be apart of your celebration so don’t be afraid to assign tasks. That said, DIY makes it that much more special and we wouldn’t change a thing.
Shoshana & Sam’s LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – June Photography Wedding Planner – Julie Lundy Venue – River Bend Catering – Chef Dale Lamb Flowers – Lyons Farmette Bride’s dress – Sarah Seven Bride’s shoes – Sole Society Make up – Beth Walker Hair – Ashley Smith Groom’s suit – Strong Suit Dessert pies– Longi Pie Shop Cake – Culinary Hearts Catering DJ – DJ Jahsonic Bartending – Garnish Bartending Stationery – MPH Design Rabbi – Rabbi Tirzah Firestone Ketubah – Tallulah Ketubahs Shibori table runners – The Bride ( shoshana21@gmail.com )
Ever tried to snowboard and spent more time on your backside than actually on top of the board? Even seasoned riders biff from time to time and butt plant into the hard pack snow or worse yet—ice. Well now there is no need to crawl away in humiliation and pain, as the Ass Armor compression short takes the hit for you.
Ass Armor is a low profile compression short featuring D3O impact-absorbing technology that supposedly performs 67% better and is 40% thinner than traditional foam-based materials. The bespoke D3O smart impact protection is made from 6mm of a pre-curved composite material, D3O XT, composed of polymers and dilatant fluid (becomes thicker when pressure is applied). It is temperature stable and offers high performance impact protection. While an additional thin layer of comfort padding further eases shock at your coccyx, the flexible tough shell is puncture resistant.
Ass Armor is the brainchild of Casey Scherr who bruised her tailbone after a day of riding in Aspen. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Scherr partnered with U.K.-based D3O, the industry experts in impact-absorption, to come up with a solution to protect your tailbone.
Ass Armor is a unisex dry-fit stretch short. Constructed with minimal seaming to avoid any extra tightness or chafing, it has a separate elastic waistband for snug comfort. The cool-handed fabrication is designed to wick away moisture and maintain a breathable feeling under layers of gear.
Key to note, Ass Armor is comfortable enough to wear for hours and doesn’t alter your figure in a pair of snowboarding pants. If anything, just remember—it’s “All About That Bass.”
Scherr believes that hardcore tailbone protection should be a staple in everyone’s snowboarding kit, whether you’re just learning to ride, or are more advanced and want to go big on the mountain or in the park. Ass Armor compression shorts retail for $89.99 are available from the company website.
Wonder if this will work for those learning to ice skate or even for scary winter sledding.
Two relatively new companies are both taking a unique approach to protein bars. Instead of turning to the usual soy based ingredients to make up the bulk of the protein, organic grass fed meat and even insects are used instead. Both Epic and Chapul claim to have turned to what our ancestors ate as inspiration, creating a handful of interesting protein bar flavor combinations.
Epic bars launched earlier this year with 3 different meat based combinations: Beef, Habanero, Cherry Bar; Bison, Bacon, Cranberry Bar; and a Turkey, Almond, Cranberry Bar. The latest flavor to hit the market is Lamb, Currant, Mint Barthat. All bars retail for $34 for a box of 12 or $8.50 for a 3 bar sample.
The Epic bar steers clear of any processed and sugar-based ingredients in favor of 100% organic grass-fed animal protein blended together with savory nuts and fruit, providing a very paleo and gluten-free friendly snack to fuel your adventures. Epic bars are loaded with anti-inflammatory omega-3's, muscle-building conjugated linoleic acid, and antioxidant rich vitamins A and E.
In place of animal protein, Chapul Bar founder Pat Crowley instead turned to crickets as a rich source of edible protein. Inspired by native techniques used in the American Southwest and Mexico, Pat found that crickets are one the planet's most energy-efficient creatures. No soy. No dairy. Just innovative flour made entirely from crickets.
Chapul Bars come in three flavors: peanut butter, chocolate, and Thai, selling for $2.99 to $3.59 each. The protein bars are made from natural ingredients such as dates, agave nectar, coconut, ginger, lime, and dark chocolate, with all containing cricket flour. Each flavor is inspired by a culture where insects have historically formed part of a healthy diet, and 10% of all Chapul profits are donated to water conservation projects in those regions.
A snack of bison and crickets anyone?
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After finishing a season of testing ski equipment and ski apparel, it struck me just how sophisticated ski socks have become. In the old days, we used to simply throw on a pair of thick wool socks and head off into the snow. With changes in ski boot design and an increase in types of fabrics available, ski socks have evolved dramatically.
Generally, the better quality ski socks utilize some combination of moisture management and anti-microbial properties. Socks are designed anatomically correct, so offer a better fit and won't slide down inside your ski boots. The majority are reinforced in the toe and heel, with cushioning around the shins, calves, ankles, and bottom of the foot. Some ski socks are even braced around the Achilles tendon and arch for further support.
Which ski sock is going to work best for you comes down to a combination of the fit of your ski boots (thinner vs thicker socks), how aggressive you ski, the terrain you’re skiing on (reinforcement, cushioning, friction absorption), and the weather conditions (warmth). Of the brands and models I tested, some suit me better than others, but all are well designed and well made. With the end of the ski season near, you can find some pretty good deals on ski socks right now.
The new version of the Falke SK2 ski socks turned out to be my personal favorite. It’s an all-rounder that fits most ski boots and has a wide-range of cushioning. Made of 45% polypropylene, 24% acrylic, 20% wool, and 11% polyamide, the socks provide exceptional warmth. As Falke is a German brand, the SK2 socks are easier to find in Europe and retail for €25. For North American purchases, online retailers are a good option, as Falke does not have extensive US distribution.
Point6 Ski Light/In Sync socks were amongst the warmest. The Point6 ski socks are made from 62% merino wool for next to skin comfort, moisture-wicking, and anti-microbial properties, with an additional 26% nylon and 6% Spandex for reinforcement and support. Point6 uses a compact spinning process which makes the socks extremely durable. Point6 was created by the same team that originally founded SmartWool, so they know wool. The Point6 Ski Light socks retail for $22.
Lorpen’s Tri Layer Ski Socks use three different types of fabric to improve wicking action and moisture management, keeping your feet warmer, drier, and more comfortable. The next to skin layer is made from PrimaLoft Eco Polyester, which wicks moisture away from your foot. The middle layer is merino wool, whose natural fibers spread moisture quickly for effective evaporation. The outer layer uses a nylon knit cast onto high friction areas for extra durability. The Lorpen Tri Layer Midweight ski socks retail for $24.
Fox River designs two versions of performance ski socks that I really like. The first is a lightweight combination of merino wool and silk. The other has a slightly warmer construction using merino wool and PrimaLoft. Both socks feature a memory-knit construction to hold form and are anatomically designed for a better fit on each foot (L/R). Spandex compression zones add support and the socks are cushioned for extra shock absorption. The merino/silk version, called the VVS MV Ski , retails for $23 and the PrimaLoft Rocky retails for $21.
Correctly adjusting your pack takes four simple steps. Each are essential to the comfort and enjoyment of your trip, whether it’s to a stone-hut field station on a distant peak or the hoof-trampled meadows frequented by rutting elk.
Here are the steps you need to take:
1. Remove panel or stay(s) from your internal-frame pack and adjust them to fit the contour of your back. Have a buddy help you and stand in a normal posture.
2. Adjust the distance between shoulder straps and hip belt. Shoulder straps should curve comfortably around your shoulders, hip belt should fit comfortably over your iliac crest (hip bone).
3. Buckle your chest strap, adjusting throughout the day for comfort.
4. Balance the load using your load distribution and load lifter straps.
Listening to the sound of waves crashing against the jagged cliffs below, I slowly climbed up the first of the Twin Sisters, or Twin B#*ches as they are so affectionately known by the ride veterans. As cars buzzed past along this gorgeous stretch of the Big Sur coastline, the words of Ernest Hemingway filled my head:
“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle."
Photo: Chris Hunter
Ever since moving to California, I have always wanted to discover what lies along the length of the coast. Although a lover of road trips, I am not one to drive simply for the sake of viewing scenery from the car. So when the opportunity arose to explore the famed California Highway 1 by bike as part of the California Coast Classic, I leapt at the chance.
As fellow first year rider Dan replied after I asked him why he chose to participate: “Sure, you could easily drive along Highway 1, but in order to truly experience the coast – see it, smell it, taste it, hear the ocean crashing against the shore – you need to do it on a bike.”
Run annually around the end of September, the Arthritis Foundation California Coast Classic is the only sanctioned event allowed to ride entirely along the coast from San Francisco to LA. Intimate (maximum 300 riders are allowed) and fully supported, all you have to do is pedal, stopping frequently to enjoy the unbeatable scenery, the occasional coffee and pastry, locally sourced food, and wildlife along the way.
Photo: Chris Hunter
With interesting and challenging routes set out each day, the California Coast Classic takes you through all of the iconic landscapes and cities along the Pacific Coast – up and down the hills of San Francisco, past the beaches of Santa Cruz and Monterey, along the dramatic coastline of 17 Mile Drive and Big Sur, over the rolling hills of San Luis Obispo wine country, through the kitschy Danish colony of Solvang, down the palm tree lined boulevards of Santa Barbara, and finally into the quintessential LA experience of Malibu and Santa Monica. Just beware of those Santa Ana winds
Over the course of the 8 day, 525 mile ride, you are strongly encouraged to pull over once in awhile and take time to enjoy everything the California coast has to offer. You have all day to make it to camp and the ride is not a race. As any veteran rider will tell you, and there are many in this big, happy, bike loving family, there is absolutely no point in powering through the miles only to sit around camp all afternoon.
Photo: Chris Hunter
Each morning when dropping off our gear at the baggage truck, we received the Daily Ride Guide (DRG) covering the route directions, length, rest stop locations, and elevation profile for the day. Always included was a list of suggestions on where you should be sure to stop, whether it be to enjoy a cold beer and river foot soak at the River Inn in Big Sur or to taste some of the famous clam chowder at the Fish House in Moss Landing.
When in doubt, always follow 11 year ride veteran Jerry. With Santana or Herbie Mann booming from his handlebar speakers, Jerry knows all the scenic side roads (including how to catch a sneak peek at the 18th hole at Pebble Beach) and special food stops along the entire route. It was no surprise when I pulled up to Old West Cinnamon Rolls in Pismo Beach to find Jerry outside, along with the rest of Jerry’s Kids , enjoying his cream cheese frosted cinnamon roll and large cup of coffee.
Eddie Merckx once said, “cycling is 95% mental and 5% physical”. After riding 525 miles down the California coast, I now understand. Sitting around the campfire one night, veteran rider Ross asked what surprised me most about the ride. I replied that is was my ability to ride for 8 days in a row, anywhere from 60-90 miles a day, without collapsing from exhaustion and all the while thoroughly enjoying myself.
Photo: Chris Hunter
Perhaps it was the unwavering support of the most incredible group of volunteers who managed to keep up the enthusiasm and cowbell ringing gusto for over a week, or the endless distraction of the ever changing but always breathtaking scenery. Most likely it was because I was reminded every time I passed by a rider with a blue bike tag that I was cycling alongside people living with arthritis.
People with both knees replaced just a year ago out there pedaling up that same steep hill. People who have children suffering from or have even lost a child to juvenile arthritis. A guy riding a unicycle for goodness sakes. My backside may have been sore and my legs tired but that was nothing compared to what some of the other riders go through on a daily basis.
By the time I pedaled up that last steep hill to Palisades High School in Santa Monica, I already knew I would be back next year. I was now part of the family.
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Part fitness tracker, part personal coach, Moov helps you train smarter. A few weeks ago, the folks at Moov sent me one of the devices to check out on the bike, running, hiking, and strength training. Using a combination of hardware and software, Moov translates your movement into a personal coaching session.
Similar to something like Xbox Kinect, Moov uses a 9-axis motion sensing system (comprised of magnet, angular rate, and gravity sensors) combined with intelligent software to recreate and analyze your motion in 3D, including speed, orientation, and even form. While collecting workout data is a given, the power behind Moov is in giving you coaching advice to help you get the most out of your workout and improve your performance over time.
Moov comes with a small charging dock–you slip the round device into this dock and charge it up via a USB cable. Once the sensor is fully powered, choose from a variety of apps to pair the device via Bluetooth to your smartphone–cycling, running, 7 minute workout, swimming, and boxing. I have been using the cycling app the most, while also playing around with the running and 7 minute workout apps.
Cycling
When you head out on your ride, simply strap the larger Moov band around your ankle and the device acts essentially like a cadence sensor. Collecting all your ride data as normal, Moov also assesses the terrain and your cadence, offering up suggestions to shift up or down in order to make you more efficient on the bike.
On my road bike, I use a Garmin Edge 1000 bike computer with a Garmin speed/cadence sensor . Below, you can compare the data collected from my Garmin in Strava with that of the Moov device. Since the Moov app uses your phone’s GPS to calculate speed and distance, those numbers pretty much match as expected. The cadence numbers, on the other hand, do not. Moov was a good 13% off my average and max cadence. Much like Strava, Moov uses their own power estimation–given that I do not have an actual power meter installed on my bike, these numbers are simply relative from ride to ride.
While most hard core cyclists are already fully kitted out with cadence sensors, power meters, and bike computers, as well as intuitively knowing what cadence is personally comfortable and sustainable, I do think Moov could be useful for beginner cyclists who haven’t quite figured out how cadence and shifting affect their riding. The only problem is, you need to wear headphones in order to get the feedback and I don’t really condone wearing headphones on the bike. If you mount your phone on the handlebars you can receive visual cues, however.
Run & Walk
I found Moov most useful for running or even hiking. Strapped around your ankle, the device measures a host of data about your running style include cadence, length of your stride, and impact force, while the coach gives you consistent feedback on how you could improve your performance in each category. You can choose from a variety of coaching sessions such as sprint intervals (designed to burn calories), speed endurance (to help you build distance and speed), running efficiency (run further and better), brisk walking, and open training data collection. I find real time feedback on my performance much more helpful than analyzing my run data after I get back home. If you get tired of being yelled at by the nice lady, you can choose the level of feedback or updates you want to receive each workout.
One thing to note, make sure in your Settings>Privacy>Location Services that the Moov apps only track your location when the app is in use (While Using vs Always). Otherwise your phone battery will drain rapidly.
Seven Minute Workout
The seven minute workout comes in handy when you are traveling and don’t have time for a run or ride. The app walks you through each exercise, while the Moov device helps you keep track of how many reps you complete in a certain amount of time so you never lose count.
After a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year, Moov is now ready to sell to consumers at a retail price of around $79. Each box comes with a Moov device, charger, wrist band, and ankle band.
October has to be my favorite month for backpacking in the Sierras. The temperature is somewhat cooler than the heat of our September summer but the weather is usually sunny and stable, with most of the tourists (and mosquitoes!) gone for the season. I had much of the backcountry to myself, seeing only a handful of people during my trip and most of those close to the trailhead.
Probably my favorite area in the Lake Tahoe region, Desolation Wilderness covers 63,960 acres of land just south west of the lake. The scenery is stunning, featuring endless alpine lakes surrounded by alpine and sub-alpine forests, high granite peaks, and glacially formed valleys.
There are 15 different trailheads to access the Desolation Wilderness, from both the east and west sides. I began my backpacking trip at the Echo Lakes trailhead as I love hiking along those two lakes, there is plenty of overnight parking, and the area is quick and easy to get to coming from San Francisco. I left my house with a full mug of coffee first thing in the morning and was on the trail before noon.
In addition to the beautiful scenery and close proximity to San Francisco, I enjoy hiking in the Desolation Wilderness because you can bring dogs on the trails. I did not bring Lola on my backpacking trip (see earlier posts about her lack of camping etiquette) but I have previously brought her along for day hikes throughout the area. One of her favorite places to hike and swim is Grass Lake, a few miles west of the Fallen Leaf Lake trailhead.
My backpacking plan was a three day, two night trip to test out gear and just enjoy some solitary time in the backcountry. The PCT runs right through the heart of Desolation Wilderness, so I planned to follow the trail for a couple of days, with my first camp at Lake Aloha and second camp at another lake of my choosing further up the trail.
Sometimes called the centerpiece of Desolation Wilderness, Lake Aloha lies between 6-8 miles west of the Echo Lake trailhead, after only a moderate altitude gain. Lake Aloha is a breathtaking sight with acres of shallow waters enveloping numerous granite islands. After a stove malfunction, this ended up being my only campsite for the trip, as I did not want to camp too far up the trail in case I ran out of edible food.
From Lake Aloha, there are plenty of smaller lakes to visit nearby, including the popular Lake of the Woods and Ropi Lake. On my hike out, I took a sidetrip along these lakes before catching back up with the PCT. Numerous 9000 foot peaks in the area will also keep the peak baggers among you busy for days.
Desolation Wilderness boasts an abundance of wildlife, including black bears. I had an entire family of chipmunks hang out with me at camp and I awoke to somewhat scary prints next to my tent. At first I thought they might be black bear prints but now I think they were more likely wolverine, coyote, or even bobcat tracks.
If you like to fish, bring your gear as the lakes and streams are supposedly full of trout. You can catch your own meals every night instead of eating freeze-dried food in a bag.
As the weather looks great for this weekend, I am tempted to head out again for one last backpacking trip before the winter season officially begins.
Know Before You Go:
Permit: A permit is required for both day and overnight use. Day permits can be obtained at each of the trailheads. Overnight permits are regulated by quota for each of the 45 zones , from Memorial Day to September 30. If you plan to go during high season, you can reserve your permit as early as April. You must camp in the permit zone for the first night but can camp anywhere the rest of the nights of your trip. Overnight permits cost $5 plus $6 for "processing".
Fishing License: If you plan to fish, you will need to have the appropriate license from the California Department of Fish and Game.
Bear Can: There are black bears in the area so you will definitely want a bear can or some sort of bear bag rig up.
Cooking: Unlike Yosemite , fires are strictly prohibited in Desolation Wilderness. Bring your camp stove for cooking meals and making coffee.
Water Purifier: Even though the lakes and streams are crystal clear, you will want to filter your water to avoid getting sick.
Leave No Trace: Practice Leave No Trace principles. Bury human waste and pack out all garbage and toilet paper.
Climbers: Bring your climbing shoes! There are endless amounts of granite boulders to play on once you get to camp or even along the trail.
Map: For hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking in the Lake Tahoe region, I use the waterproof and tear resistant topographic map from Adventure Maps.
I have recently met a woman who cares for orphans in the Sudan. I published her letter to me a few weeks ago that touched many of you.
She is in the States at the moment and I got an email from her today. I can’t imagine a better follow-up than what I posted about community a few weeks ago. But this is community reaching out to the hurting and marginalized in our culture. This was just an aside to a longer email:
I will be speaking Friday and Sunday evenings in Connecticut and doing street outreach in the Bronx on Saturday. I can’t be THAT close to New York City without finding a bad area to go love on.
You would think someone here from the Sudan, doing some speaking, might need a Saturday to relax and recharge her spiritual batteries. Perhaps this is how she does that! But this is the kind of heart God builds in us to reach the world the way he wants us to reach the world—not as an obligation but as an infectious, can’t-help-myself, compassion for people.
The property we have now purchased and are refurbishing for them.
We continue to be amazed at the generosity that has overflowed in regards to our project to move 72 orphan children and their caretakers out of a slum and into a safer and more sanitary site. We have received $23,500.00 to date and with our matching grant that means we have $47,000.00. We advanced $53,000.00 to them the last couple of weeks so that they could buy the land, pay all the necessary fees, and begin to get some work done on it. They are overjoyed and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from so many people they have never met. With every correspondence he tells me to pass on their gratefulness.
I got this email from them after they were able to buy the property: “Glory and honor with praise return to our almighty God. We have gone every step to examine the property along with the advocate. The properties were clear we paid cash 3.7 million Kenya schillings. So property is for the children now. The land is in the Municipal council so transaction is a bit high .So we needed another 72,000 schillings for the transaction, survey and transfer fees to start processing the title deed for the land. I have already hired a guard watchman to see the property. May the Lord bless you so much for all what you did along with your team.”
You are that team. Thanks for your help. For those that don’t know, we’ve had a fifteen-year old high school student from the St. Louis area who began to make and sell hand-made dolls to sell, with all the proceeds going to the orphanage in Kenya. To date she has already made and sold over 100 dolls and is sending over $2,000.00 to add to our total! You can read more about that and even order dolls if you wish further down the blog!
So we are nearly half-way to our goal of $100,000.00, and much is being done in Kenya to secure this land and to begin to refurbish the buildings there. Personally, I’ve been so blessed whenever Sara gives me a new total. We simply made this need available without trying to pressure anyone to give out of obligation or guilt, and the generosity of hearts to help us relocate these kids brings tears to my eyes. I know Kent feels the same. We were among these kids on the last day of our trip there and so touched by their plight and the deplorable living conditions they were in.
But neither of us wanted to respond out of the raw need as well. Since we were in touch with 18 different orphanages, we needed some time to process what we saw, and hear where the Lord wanted us to begin. Both Kent and I are excited about this process and are gratefully for all of you who are carrying this with us.
If you would like to be part of this to support these brothers and sisters and see the Gospel grow in this part of Africa, please see our Sharing With the World page at Lifestream. You can either donate with a credit card there, or you can mail a check to Lifestream Ministries • 1560-1 Newbury Rd #313 • Newbury Park, CA 91320. Or if you prefer, we can take your donation over the phone at (805) 498-7774.
Getting to know the Jesus of Scripture through the Gospels is critical to understanding the rest of the Bible. See how he lives, what he says, and how he interacts with others he encounters.
One last bit from my conversation in Christchurch with Sara, John and Mary Beaumont, and David and Nina Rice:
We need young people to get to know God as a consuming fire that captures the whole of their being and instills in them a passion for him that takes them far beyond anything we’ve ever seen or done. That’s what had taken our hearts at a young age. God wanted to make himself known to every one with such a burning reality that everything else in our lives takes a back seat to him and his reality.
While I was in Chamonix, I tested out a pair of the new XR Mission trail running shoes from Salomon. Intended for short to mid distance running, the shoes are designed to work equally well on both pavement and trail. With a 10mm drop from heel to forefoot, these trail shoes balance cushioning on harder surfaces with a more natural feel over uneven terrain.
Constructed with a nylon mesh upper, the XR Mission trail shoes are nice and breathable for those warm weather runs. Salomon's Sensifit synthetic leather overlays are tied to the Quicklace system, cradling your ankle and mid-foot while keeping your foot securely in place inside your shoe.
I am a huge fan of the Quicklace system as it makes the trail shoes easy to get on and off quickly, plus removes any worry of your shoes coming untied mid-run. All Salomon shoes feature some sort of pouch for storing the end of the lace system out of your way. Unfortunately, the XR Mission pouch is right beneath the laces, meaning you have to tuck in the end before you tighten your shoes or it becomes very difficult to do afterwards.
With the rest of your foot secure, a roomy toe box lets your digits move freely as you run. The sides of the toe box feature a stretchy material that expands with your foot the longer you run, providing comfort and cutting down on blister possibilities.
The Contragrip lugs along the length of the outsole provide plenty of traction and enable quick stops or turns on slippery surfaces. After a planned short hike to a climbing crag at the top of the Brevent cable car turned into a full on snow slog, I can say these trail shoes even offer superior traction over snowy and icy slopes.
The women's version of the XR Mission is built on a completely different last than the men's, ensuring both sexes get a more comfortable and custom molded fit. The EVA midsole on these lightweight trail shoes (8.5 oz.) delivers plenty of cushioning for running along paved trails through the Chamonix valley or through the back streets leading to the various trail heads. A protective toecap erects a virtual pain barrier for the occasional stubbed toe on the trail.
Bottom Line: The XR Mission trail shoes offer a lightweight, supportive option to train for that upcoming trail race or for those who like to mix up their weekly running routine with a bit of pavement in addition to trail.
The Salomon XR Mission trail shoes come in a variety of fun color combinations for both men and women and retail for $110.
Well I’m back from the Colorado/Michigan trip and finally digging out a bit from the email avalanche that welcomed me home. Still got a bunch more to do, but I thought you’d enjoy this.
I got an actual letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Those are pretty rare these days. It was from a prisoner in an Arizona jail who has been deeply touched by God’s life through some of the books I’ve been a part of. I wanted to share his story with you because if this stuff works in prison, there’s no corner of our lives where Jesus can’t breath the same life and freedom into our worlds. Enjoy!
I am finishing a 5-year sentence in Department of corrections for Grand Theft. I just wanted to take the time to share with you the impact that “The Shack”, “He Loves Me”, “So You Don’t Want to go to Church Anymore” and “Authentic Relationships” has had on my life and how much freedom I have found in just relaxing in my Father’s love.
I am learning to trust and that includes giving up my own way. I am the middle adopted child of dysfunction and chaos. I am 47 years old and I am recovering from the mistaken assumption that life is all about me.
Coming to prison has actually given me time away from the “system of religious obligation” and has freed me to simply know, love and trust my Father. “Living loved” is so simple yet so life changing. One of the most moving phrases I found in your books was “that people take time to relax and let me be the bother in Christ I really am!” I just really related to that.—real, pure and simple. I loved it. I have really taken to heart the truth of embracing the process of life-even the darker shades- and I find myself less angry, unforgiving and selfish. The veil has been lifted and I am completely loved and accepted!
I received Christ at 30 in the ministry of a group of loveless, joyless people, teaching loveless joyless people how to be loveless and joyless. I really believe now, in looking back, that I had to go under the law for almost 20 years to enable me to relate to and empathize with those still under the yoke of slavery. Now that I have discovered true freedom my heart aches for those being crushed by religion. I understand that I am not called to change or convince anyone, just to simply love and encourage them as Father places them in my path.
The Scripture declares, “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is obedience – NO. There is church attendance – NO, there is law – NO. It clearly states that where God is- there is freedom. I think real freedom is so fleeting to the body of Christ, that most would not recognize it, even if it bit them on the butt!
I am free to love, to grow and free to fail and free to make mistakes and bad choices! Now that’s freedom. Love really does cast out fear. I was recently reading in my Bible and came across this passage that I believe Father used as the process to raise me from the dead and show me and give me life (Luke 9:22). “The Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Thank you again brother for your hand in helping to raise me to life.
I have found it true your word about “embracing the journey” and even in prison. I am in love with God, people and I want to live again. Talk about a miracle. No such thing as instant gratification in the Kingdom. I get to be a kid again and life is so worth living. Obviously, there is much more to my story- drugs, suicide attempts and other ugly chapters in the “unfolding story “ of my life that do not need to be re-hashed anymore. It is my heart’s desire that Father would see fit to allow our hearts and lives to intersect one day and I could simply allow you to be the brother in Christ that you really are. It is not a stretch to say, even though I‘ve never met you, that I love you dearly and you have uplifted me and help strengthen my weary heart and it is my sincere prayer that this letter may do the same for you.
Dude your rock! Your obvious and sincere love for the family of God is so desperately needed in people who are drowning while standing on dry ground. I see life, relationship, love, mercy and grace in everything I see, read or participate in and somehow people are drawn to the heart of this old, worn-out old fishermen from California. Words alone cannot express how grateful I am to you, Sara and everyone at Lifestream! Listen to my heart, my friend, as I whisper love, grace, and freedom back to your heart. What an awesome Dad we have.
You can see our Year In Review Photo Album at Ofoto.com for those that want to see some of the places and people we got to hang out with over the past year. We couldn’t include every one or every body, but this will give you a taste of an incredible year…
Also please keep in your prayers the victims of the horrendous tsunami in Asia. And if you can afford to give generously to help in the rebuilding of those stricken countries, please consider doing so. There are many fine organizations that can be a conduit for God’s generosity through you.
And may your New Year be filled with God’s presence as he works in you!
Want to save your dog’s life? Invest in a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. And not because you can clean open wounds with it (distilled water is the preferred rinse these days). If your dog is like mine, he’ll swallow almost anything, from garbage and roadkill to rocks and chocolate. I’ll never forget the night I caught him gulping down a glove. We used this trick and sure enough, up it came. A couple minutes later, so did a pair of my wife’s undies. A real two-fer!
Most stuff your dog ingests will eventually, um, pass through, but often it’s safer to get it out sooner rather than later. And that means vomiting. Hurling. Tossing his cookies. Even if he doesn’t want to. If you’ve figured out what harmful substance he's wolfed down within a couple hours of his swallowing it, this trick might work.
Most of us carry three percent hydrogen peroxide in our first aid kit, so all you need is some way to get it down your guy’s gullet. A big syringe or squirt bottle works. Put a couple tablespoons into the syringe, open his mouth, and make sure it gets swallowed. Keep him close, walk him around a bit on a lead, and in ten or fifteen minutes, the “problem” ought to be on the ground where it probably started. If not, one more squirt and a little more strolling should do it.
Just like humans, you don’t want caustic or sharp materials coming back up, so think twice before using this life-saving trick. Be very sure the offending substance is soft, flexible, and won’t do more damage coming back out again. But in many cases, hydrogen peroxide can save you an expensive trip to the vet, and possibly, surgery.
And for many of those other ingestibles, some suggestions:
For fish hooks, feed your dog cotton balls soaked in gravy. With luck they will catch the hooks and move them right through his G.I. tract. But see a veterinarian just in case of problems.
For poisons or caustic substances, call a poison control center immediately (see below). If the dog will drink, give milk or water to dilute. Get to the veterinarian.
Poisonous items your dog shouldn’t swallow (and their risks):
1. Grapes, raisins (kidney failure) 2. Onions, garlic, leeks (destroys red blood cells) 3. Chocolate (theobromine causes tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms) 4. Avocado (ingredient persin is toxic) 5. Alcoholic beverages (liver damage, difficulty breathing, coma) 6. Coffee, tea, caffeine (muscle tremors, bleeding) 7. Dairy products (diarrhea) 8. Macadamia nuts (paralysis) 9. Candy and gum (artificial sweeteners cause gastrointestinal upset) 10. Meat fat and bones (cause pancreatitis, choking hazard) 11. Persimmons, peaches, plums (pits, seeds) 12. Raw eggs (salmonella, E. coli) 13. Raw fish (“salmon poisoning,” E. coli) 14. Salt, salty foods (sodium ion poisoning) 15. Yeast dough (swells in stomach)
If your dog has ingested any of these or other poisonous substances, call the ASPCA poison control center at 888-426-4435.
The popularity of Stand Up Paddle Boarding continues to grow, with board sales more than double this year over last. Looking to address the specific hydration needs of this emerging category, CamelBak has created a new line, with two hydration vests and one hydration pack, designed specifically with Stand Up Paddle Boarders in mind.
Working together with pro paddler Slater Trout, CamelBak ensured sport specific details were included in each of the new vests and pack. All three styles incorporate technical elements such as quick drying, non-corrosive materials, paddle holsters, safety whistle, reflectivity, and rear stash overflow storage space for an inflatable PFD.
The Molokai ($100) hydration vest is designed for the long distance paddler. Front cargo pockets give you quick access to your sunscreen, snacks, or waterproof electronics case. The 2L Antidote Reservoir with Quick Link opens wide, closes with a snap, and lets you refill water without unloading your gear. The hydration vest harness is adjustable, so will properly fit any size person.
The Baja LR ($120) is a race ready hydration vest and uses CamelBak's 2L Antidote Lumbar Reservoir to stabilize water on your hips, leaving your shoulders free to paddle as fast as you can. The harness is also adjustable and lumbar compression straps cinch in the reservoir as you consume water. Over 3L of additional cargo capacity means you can fit in an extra layer alongside your snacks and sunscreen.
Finally, the Tahoe LR ($70) is the perfect hydration pack for the more casual paddler. With a fanny pack design, the Antidote Lumbar Reservoir and Camel Clip Bite Valve give you quick access to drinking water when you are out enjoying the lake and the sun.
The CamelBak Stand Up Paddle hydration vests and hydration pack will start selling in February 2012, just in time for you to head to Hawaii on your winter vacation.
During long endurance events like my ride up Haleakala or tour down the California coast, I like to use heart rate as an indicator of how hard I am working in order to keep from blowing up too early. Without some sort of bike computer, this is pretty difficult. So, I was excited to test out the new Mio Alpha heart rate watch as it would not only enable me to ditch the heart rate strap, but a simple glance at my wrist was all that was needed.
The Mio Alpha heart rate watch uses LED lights and an electro-optical cell to sense the volume of blood under your skin. Sophisticated algorithms are applied to the pulse signal so that your heart rate can be detected even while working really hard.
The Mio Alpha uses Bluetooth Smart to connect to your phone in order to deliver heart rate data to all your favorite apps such as Strava, Endomodo, or MapMyRun. You can set up three heart rate zones on the watch for both audible and visual alerts during your workout.
Although I have never been a huge fan of the heart rate strap, its not that awful to wear. For me the big bonus with wearing a watch is the visual clues. Also, you can easily throw the Mio Alpha on first thing in the morning to measure your heart rate for a good indication of your fatigue level.
When comparing the Mio Alpha results with those of my heart rate strap, my average heart rate over the course of a ride or run is pretty much the same. You may notice anomalies at certain moments in time, however.
For example, sometimes I have looked down at the Alpha when sucking air up a steep hill and saw that my heart rate was 114. I don't think so. The rate usually corrects itself pretty quickly, however. My heart rate strap has been known to throw out figures like 220 during rides so it is not much better. It may take a couple of tries to lock on to your heart rate when you first put on the watch. Warming up a little first helps.
The Mio Alpha itself is dead easy to use, with basically two buttons on either side of the watch face. Just don't expect the watch to do anything else but tell you the time when not in use and reading your heart rate during a workout. This means you need to have your phone with you when running, riding, hiking, etc. in order to record all your workout data. For the high price, you would expect a bit more.
Bottom Line: If you are really not a fan of putting on a cold, wet heart rate strap before heading out for your ride or run, and you use a phone app to record all your workout data, the Mio Alpha should be on your holiday wish list.
The Mio Alpha heart rate watch retails for $199 and is available now.
Find the gear you need at the best price with our new Gear Search Tool .
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You may never end up eating chinese food on the trail, but the new chopstick and spork (or foon in GSI speak) combination adds a whole new level of fun and functionality to the lowly utensil. You will thoroughly impress your friends when you pull the Kung Foon out of your pack and start stirring the boiling pasta without burning your hand.
As with other GSI foons, the Kung Foon maintains its compact shape while performing the duties of both fork and spoon. Adding yet another level of muti-functionality, GSI gave the utensil some extra reach and fun eating factor with the addition of a pair of chopsticks.
The chopsticks slide into the handle of the Kung Foon to create a longer utensil you can use to cook with or scoop out that last morsel of your re-hydrated pouch meal. The foon itself is multi-functional with barbed tines for stabbing that hot dog and a deep spoon bowl for soups or cereal.
Available starting January, the Kung Foon comes in stainless steel/plastic ($9.95) or titanium/rosewood ($16.95) and includes a custom stamped, steel gift tin to carry your precious piece of backcountry gear.
A few months ago a wonderful brother of mine, Dave Aldrich , a graphic artist from Massachusetts sent me the picture below that he had taken recently, embellished by a brief verse he had written. Seeing it on my desktop over the last few weeks has reminded me over and over again to push away from the things that scream for my attention and allow my thoughts and mind to focus on my Incredible Father, tell him how much he means to me and listen for anything that might be on his heart for me. Even if it is just a moment turning away from my computer when I’m in the office, a pause when I take the garbage can out to the street, or some quiet minutes in the car before I turn on the radio or CD, I have been wonderfully refreshed in my awareness of God’s presence.
It also reminds me to take those longer periods of hiking in the woods or sitting in the back yard with my Bible and being still enough to know that He is God! The busyness of this world and its endless chores just needs to be put aside now and then so that we can steal away to the quiet where God so simply and freely makes himself known.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psa. 46:10
It feels like almost every day, I read that more wilderness areas have banned mountain bike access. Recently, there was Ants Basin and Castle Divide near Sun Valley and closer to home, Byrne Preserve in Los Altos, CA. With the latter, equestrians complained that mountain bikers rode too fast around blind corners and scared the horses. Justifying their decision armed with erroneous Strava data from a couple of riders, the city council flat-out banned further mountain bike access despite heavy protest from the cycling community. As mountain biking continues to explode in popularity, we face the continued threat of having trails closed to biking. Part of the solution lies in improving the way we are perceived by other trail users.
This is one reason I have started to use the Timber mountain bike bell on all my mountain bike and gravel rides. Apart from Tamarancho, there are pretty much zero bike trails around Marin that are not also multi-use trails.
I find that the cowbell-like bell alerts others to my presence from far away, especially those wearing headphones, and a smile and a wave as I pass goes a long way to making everyone happy. I also always ask first if it’s ok to ride past a horse.
Curious as to the reaction, I stopped a few people to see if they liked hearing my mountain bike bell rather than me having to say “On your left” or “Coming up behind you.” All of them agreed that the sound of a bell was instinctual to know someone was coming. They found it less abrupt, as you could hear it from a distance, rather than being startled by someone behind them screaming, “On your left!”
I also find the bell great for alerting off leash dogs. When the dogs hear a bell, they stop and stare at you, versus startling a dog who may not know which way to move and dash out in front of you.
A simple slide button turns the bell on and off. As the constant noise can be a bit annoying on a long ride when you just want to enjoy a bit of nature, I turn it on for bike paths, blind corners, and sections of trail I know are crowded. It makes a nice gentle ring over gravel terrain but can get pretty loud as soon as you hit rocks or other rough terrain. So loud that I had to dampen it with my thumb a couple of times. Note: Be sure to orient it towards the ground to get a mellower sound. If I lived in bear country, however, I would want the bell on all the time and as loud as possible.
Will the Timber mountain bike bell change the world? I am all for any step towards making nice between trail users. I would also love to see more time and money spent on some sort of educational outreach for ALL trail users on how to get along with each other instead of figuring out ways to ban access to one group or another.
At $20, the Timber mountain bike bell is a no brainer. Who cares if other riders give you funny looks. You know they will be out buying their own bell the next day.
Here we go, ENO is giving away some free stuff! One catch, though, you gotta work for it. In the spirit of fall, Halloween , and the upcoming Phish festival (stop by ENO’s booth) we want to see the most creative costumes. Super heroes, ghouls, witches, robots, dinosaurs, animals, 1/2 animals whatever it may be post a photo to our Facebook fan page. Most creative costume wins! We will keep the contest open to the first week of November so you have some time after all the fun festivities. Simply post the photo and wait to see if you’ve won! We will select 3 prize winners! Good Luck!
Hint: Extra points if ENO is somewhere in the photo
Rules:
Same rules apply from online Photo Contest.
Click here for details. Winners will be chosen November 7th.
A friend from South Africa just sent me this and I thought many of you would enjoy it too. It is an extract of an article in response to Christianity Today of August 2002:
Research had shown the leading influences in American society to be movies, television, the Internet, books, music, public policy and law and family. The Church was not among the top dozen.
“About the future of the Church, George Barna comments: “There are a number of high-profile pastors who have been saying that the local church is the only hope for the future. As emotionally comforting as that may feel, its just wrong. Jesuc Christ is the only hope for the future; the local church is a human institution that God may or may not work through.
“In the near future we will inevitably see new models of the local church that don’t look or behave like the congregational church we have historically fostered. Those new models – as far as they enable us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength – are just as valid and viable as existing models. The more we can place our faith in Jesus Christ and follow the teachings of the Bible rather than devote energy and resources to saving institutions and structures we created, the better off we’ll be”
Though most of you know I hate the word models when used of life in Father’s family, I think he gets it mostly right here. Perhaps a better word would be that we’ll see new expressions of local church life as we listen to the Head not try to design a better a better mousetrap to stuff people into. In fact, those new expressions are already covering the world. I’ve seen many of them in places throughout the world. But they happen not where people are looking for a way to do ‘church’, but where they are seeking to live deeply in relationship to Jesus and finding ways to care for each other as a family. Their emphasis is not on meetings and starting some ‘thing’, but on following him as the source of all life an connecting with others as God gives opportunity. Then he will make clear how to share that life together in a way that stimulates each other spiritually and makes his life available to the world around us.
Cycliq originally created the Fly6 as a way to capture any incidents that may happen when you are out riding your bike–basically to be the eyes in the back of your head. Though it’s not going to exactly prevent accidents (although riding with a tail light can aid in visibility even during the day), the tail light camera can help you better understand and even prove what happened–not to mention capture some great ride video in the meantime. As car-bike incidents are sadly all too common here in the Bay Area, I thought it would be great to start riding with the Fly6 when out on the road.
The Fly6 works by continuously recording 10 min HD videos (1280 x 720 at 30fps) until the microSD card reaches capacity. As soon as this happens, the camera just starts recording over video from the beginning. The Fly6 detects if you have a major incident–when the unit is tilted more than 30 degrees from horizontal for 5 seconds (i.e., your bike is on the ground), then it jumps into incident capture mode. Here, the tail light camera will continue to record for 1 hour before shutting off and also ensure that the previous 1 hour of footage does not get written over.
In addition to a camera, the Fly6 operates as a regular tail light. You can toggle between three different modes on the 30 lumen light–two flashing and one solid. Depending on how long you ride, the rechargeable battery will last for a couple of rides–up to 6 hours.
My Fly6 came with a 8GB microSD card, enough to capture around 2 hours or so of a ride before starting to record over itself. If you want to capture your entire ride, you can simply upgrade to bigger microSD card up to 32GB (8 hours capacity).
The tail light camera comes with a seat post mount that is simple to secure to your bike and easy to slide the Fly6 in and out. Camera setup was easy enough. Upon connecting the device to your computer, you need to modify and save the CONFIG.TXT file before removing the device and powering it on for changes to take effect. This is to ensure the correct date and time appear on the video for evidence purposes.
Screen capture from Fly6.
My first ride with the Fly6 worked great–it captured the last 2 hours of a 3.5 hour ride. Note that video is captured as .avi files. My Mac didn’t like these files so I downloaded the suggested VLC player to review the videos and the Smart Converter for converting the footage to a .mov or .mp4 file to then edit in iMovie. I am not a huge fan of downloading new software I won’t use often so this is a bit of a nuisance.
Something happened between downloading video from my first ride and subsequent rides. Ever since the first ride, the Fly6 will only capture the very last 1.5 minutes of any ride, just before I shut the camera off and remove it from my bike. Perhaps the microSD card needs to be completely reformatted or the Fly6 is stuck in Incident Mode or something. I am not sure but I haven’t been able to figure it out yet.
Whether you want a bit of reassurance when out on the road or simply want a way to capture the awesome action happening behind you in a ride or race, the Fly6 tail light camera provides a less Fred-esque option than mounting a GoPro to your bike or worse yet, helmet. The Cycliq Fly6 retails for $169 and is available now. The company is soon to release a front light camera version called the Fly12 that you can pre-order for $259. It looks pretty cool as well.
Below you can see some video clips captured by the Fly6–the first one is of Ridgecrest Boulevard, a popular cycling route along Mount Tamalpais. The second clip comes from up near Marshall, CA where you can see what it looks like when a car passes you.
Ever wanted a kayak that you, and you alone, can throw in the trunk of your car and drive to your favorite paddling destination, even if there’s no boat ramp. Well, you don’t need two people to carry the 6-piece, packable, hard shell Pakayak. That means no more roof racks, no more dragging it across the beach or rocks to your water hole, and no need for a garage or storage unit.
The Pakayak Bluefin 14 weighs 55 pounds, has two watertight bulkheads, two large watertight hatches, plenty of deck rigging and a perimeter reflective safety cord. The cockpit measures 18” x 34”, so comes in at a standard large size. The kayak breaks down into 6 separate pieces that all nest inside each other to create a 3.5-foot package, down from 14 feet when fully assembled.
To ensure the strength and watertightness of the Pakayak, the company uses the same basic technology from underwater dive cameras and dive lights. The design not only provides the seal but also increases the strength at the connection points creating bulkheads that are stronger than the hull itself. Finally, a four-point clamping system ensures the interlocking sections remain watertight.
According to the company, the Pakayak can be put together in under 5 minutes–just clip, clip, clip and you’re done. No tools required and there are no loose parts to worry about.
Expected retail is $1695 but the company is still in the prototyping phase and calculating all of their costs. They will be launching a Kickstarter campaign in mid June to take pre-orders.
As I am spending longer and longer days on my mountain bike this summer to get ready for the Breck Epic, I need more than just one water bottle to get me through the ride (on my new bike I won’t even have the liberty of a water bottle cage). With a 2.5L reservoir and just enough space for the essentials, the Osprey Syncro 3 makes the perfect dirt shredding companion.
The Syncro 3 verges on the minimalist side and that’s just the way I like it–all I want with me on a ride around Marin is water, snacks, tools, my phone, and a jacket. The 2.5L reservoir (included) fits inside the main compartment, with a hanger to hold it in place. The larger Syncro models feature a J-zip front tool organizer pocket but not the 3L size. Instead, I just shove my tool roll, along with my jacket, in the bottom of the rather large front stretch pocket. A smaller zipper compartment with key clip provides enough room for your iPhone 6 and some snacks.
Though you have to accept that sweat happens no matter what, Osprey tries to alleviate the back soaking with a trampoline mesh backpanel and full mesh straps and hipbelt. The usual blinker light attachment and reflective hits come in handy for those that might use this as a commute pack.
The LidLock is somewhat useless with my Smith Forefront helmet but if I was to use this pack for a cycling sportive, it might serve useful. I would be curious to know how many of you actually use the LidLock on a regular basis?
My only criticism with the pack is in the reservoir construction. The Hydraulics LT reservoir design uses a detachment point in the middle of the hose to make it easy to remove the reservoir and leave the mouth end section on your pack. They only problem? It’s super hard to get all the water out of either end of the tube when breaking the connection in the middle rather than at the base of the reservoir. The tube never fully dries and could lead to the buildup of nasties over time. Perhaps it is user error.
The Osprey Syncro 3 retails for $80 and is available now. The Syncro hydration pack series also includes a 10L and 15L version.
it looks like we’re going to make one more transfer of funds to Kenya to help our brothers and sisters there. To date we have sent over $14,000.00 to help. Even though the tensions in the country have lessened, the need is still great and we want to send one more offering to help our brothers and sisters there who have been rendered homeless and jobless by the violence earlier this year. We received the following update last week from our contact there:
Thank you for standing with us and your involvement to this ministry especially through the books we have received. Our hearts have been changed and (brought) great changes in the ministry. (We have helped) 1201 people, including adults and the children. This is so great and with over 50 families who are now standing on their own. This includes hiring the houses and self support. This is wonderful work which you have done.
Although there is large number who are still in need of our help day after day. But we shall not care for all of them but God will direct us those who are ahead of us. Thank God for the love you have shown to us. We still have around 40 families who are still in total need, we visited last week . so we still pray for the brothers and sisters to help with anything which God has granted in your hands.
Here are pictures of some of the people that have been touched by your generosity:
Please pray with them if Father lays them on your heart. And, if any of you want to help us help them on a financial level, please go to our Invoice Page and click on the ‘Pay Invoice’ button. You can then list “Donation for Kenya” and the amount you’d like to give. If you use the ‘Donation’ button you will need to also send me an email letting me know you wanted this to go for Kenya and not for Lifestream. All donations to this cause are tax deductible and every dime sent to us will go out for relief in this Kenyan crisis.
Or, if you prefer, you can also send a check to Lifestream • 7228 University Dr. • Moorpark, CA 93021. And if you send us a check, please email me and let me know it is coming so we can wait to do the funds transfer when all is accounted for.
In closing, I have got one extra treat for you today. If you want to see what warmed my heart this past weekend, take a look at this !
