Faster by bike

Tromsø is big enough.

2010-05-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

Tromsø: by Bicycle

2010-05-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

Tromsø from a bicycle perspective:

...still tuning up but its mostly like this! :)

to true a wheel

2010-01-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

A very good tutorial here: http://bicycletutor.com/wheel-truing/

Oslo: by Bicycle

2009-06-10T03:09:00.000-07:00

Oslo from a bicycle perspective.

by: Helder

Oslo-Kringsjå=6km

2009-04-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

From Nasjonalteater to Kringsjå.

I have started a new method of cycling in order to beat the unbeatable!
Specially on this tour where I keep on trying to beat the subway, ...silly, I know! But even for silly things we need some strategy. Ok... I do! :) Since I have been trying and trying but I cannot get a better record than the 22m15s.

So I am trying now to increase my anaerobic tolerance in order to get better performance. For that I created a new "Force Training".
In this mode, although it might look really similar trainings (by the values shown), though the "Force training" is much hard.

The fact that the cadence is now lower, it requires more power per revolution. That, of course, decreases performance and until today I always did worst timings on this mode. Today I got it on the same timing as the best record on "Performance training" so it is worth compare! :)
In terms of energy consumption it does not look much more but believe me... its terrible and beautiful!!! heheh

"Force Training" stimulates another type of muscle fibers that requires more oxygen to work.
I wanted to inhale the whole world when I was doing it!
The good side of it is that it increases your tolerance to work in anaerobic mode. So, hopefully I will go back to "Performance training" and be able to break my record of 22min.

Force training is essential if you want to improve your records!
In this particular case I got the same record but its not suppose so. We just use the Force training to prepare your fitness and then go back to normal training (the performance one) and then break our records!

Good luck!
Helder Neves

OsloS-Bjølsen=4km

2009-04-02T10:53:00.001-07:00

From Brugata to Bjølsen SiO

Back on the challenge!!

2009-04-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Its +5°C :)

Back to t-shirt mode!!!

Oslo-Fornebu=8km

2008-10-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

From bus stop to bus stop.

Oct. 02

Sep. 19

Oslo-Sandvika=15km

2008-09-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

From Pilestredet to Bærum city hall, 14.7km

by Train: 34min (bike in the train, without waiting and buy the ticket)
by Bike: 41min

Speed: 22km/h
%HRmax: 77%
Above 80%: 5m07s
Cadence: 67rpm

Paris : Running

2008-09-09T05:24:00.000-07:00

Paris seems so small like this...

by Rogério

% of HRmax ?

2008-09-08T00:47:00.000-07:00

No, I am not a high performance cyclist!
% of HRmax represents your heart beats per minute, converted into percentage for a better understand.
I normally cycle between 70 and 80% of my heart limit. That is a moderate training that most healthy humans can do!
Check the graph bellow and you can see how easy is to beat "Faster by Bike" challenges!

Training:

2008-09-06T03:32:00.000-07:00

The next posts (bellow):

60K - Distance Record

2008-09-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

61,5km = 3h08min
Hønefoss - Oslo
Our HR is much lower in long distances than in short ones. I believe that it has to be with a psychological fact related to the consciousness of the distance that you are up to.
I hate the Wind. I have the feeling it is always agains me!
Someone told me in Lofoten that your knees will hurt badly sometimes before you can say that you are a biker. If thats true, this time was my other knee. The problem was exactly the same as in Lofoten. So I guess that we have to pass through this!!!
I got lost 2 times so I am sure that I can easily beat this record considering a good knee as well!

Manhattan : Running

2008-09-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

by Rogério

Longjumeau: Running

2008-09-02T01:31:00.000-07:00

by: Rogério

Bamberg: by Bicycle

2008-09-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

by Jana

PICTURES

2008-08-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

Now the pictures of Lofoten trip!

Knee back again!

2008-08-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

I am back on track! 40km today :) I am not used to it anymore!
Plus, I am trying a new saddle. This time was a 110€ one and after 30min I was in pain!
I really dont know what to buy! The shops should have testing models like this one I tried.

My knee is working but I feel that its not a normal knee!
...anyway, I will try to tune it up with a gym reinforcement therapy.

Pombal by bike

2008-08-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

11 days after

2008-07-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today, 11days after my knee injure, I still can not bike as before :(
Some other cyclists on road told me:

"I use to have problems on the "knee caps" when I started biking, than you get used to it and it disappear."

Well I really hope so..... because yesterday I have jogged for 30min instead of biking my usual long distance trip.

I can jog :) no pain!!!

Maybe I will learn how to run, since I have to give a pause to cycling :)

So much to share...

2008-07-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

Total length: ~200km
Average spd: 13km/h
Injuries: 1

Traveling with a bike is such a freedom! Maybe the same as walking but faster :)
After 18hours in a train I got the first feeling of freedom, getting out of the train and collect my luggage, which in this case was a bike. So you just feel and depending on your own from scratch.

Cycling offers you a fantastic perception of the surroundings:

...and after 5min on road I understood that was much more to live than cycling, ...so all my training preparation for nothing?! ...well I started up cycling really slow and stopping all the time and hiking, yes that was something I didnt plan to do but the mountains there are breath taking:

So here is my daily report:
.................Road....Hiking
Night 1: ~20km + 600m
Night 2: ~35km + 300m
Night 3: ~20km + 200m
Night 4: ~66km + 000m
Night 5: ~35km + 000m

Ok, I didnt really had plan to engage in any hiking, so I was definitely not ready for all this exercise.
How did it ended up? On the forth night I got a problem on my right knee and after that my trip was never the same! On the same day I was biking 80% with my left leg since my right knee was in pain.
I think I have overworked it with all the climbings + biking :(
It was really sad to see that I could handle my muscles pain, but not my knee pain.

Road road and road.... After 65km I had to stop and sleep.
12hours of rest was not enough for my knee to recover but on the 5th night I realize that the knee pain disappear if I stand up cycling. But this kind of exercising uses the same muscles than hiking and I was getting really broken upon my arrival.

Downhill with a lot of weight:
It can be really fast with all the loaded weight, I've reached 57km/h :)
I havent weighted my bike as I showed you it was quite packed.
I would guess 20kg.

Camping was just perfect, seeking for the right spot, having a better view than in any hostel:

This day when "no worries" but when I woke up the tide has rised up to my tend :) that was close!!!

After this experience I went deep on the experience and I camped in an "island". When I woke next morging is wasnt possible to go back to land, and I had to wait 2hours for the tide to become low again:

I loved that feeling, waiting for the tide...

Arrival:
Once I arrived to my friends place at Svolvær, the feeling was fantastic but everithing seemed wrong. Too warm being in a house. I went for a cold shower and I got better.

Muscle pain:
I have stretched every day before sleep but I actually thing that one should do it every time we stop.
It took me 3days until the muscle pain was complectly gone. Massages and stretching... definitly it helps to continue some easy exercise... on the 3day we went jogging for 30min and on the next morning I was perfectly recovered.
My knee problem thow its still going on :(

Fishing:

We went fishing with some friends and it gave me so much energy that first thing I did once I arrive to Oslo was to buy a fishing rod.... cant wait to give it a try!!!!

oh ohhhh... another thing, I saw a lot of sailing boats... that's written on wish-list ;)

Sum up:
What I can tell about this trip in relation to this blog is:
If you plan to cycle, then cycle! Dont get addicted to mountain climb or swimming, just cycle!
Just by doing that you can really test your training. In another hand you have to understand your body limits and even if you sleep well one night, there are injuries that take more than that to recover.

Take OFF! :)

2008-06-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

Folks... I dont have time to write much, having my train in some minutes!

Its crazy to pack things in a bike. There is no space!!! AARRRRGGGG
And I manage to destroi a tube while inflating it. Unbelievable!

I hope that a video will be available by tonight at youtube. I just uploaded it but I couldn't retrieve the right link yet. Check out at my page!

Pictures worth thousands words so, see you guys next week ;)

Milano: by Bike

2008-06-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Coming soon...

by Michele Broglia

Inverting Biological Clock

2008-06-25T04:23:00.000-07:00

This last week I have been sleeping and eating well. Decide not to take any hard training because I don't want to get hurt.

I am inverting my Biological Clock as planned because I will ride during the "night". There is no night in Lofoten :)
By tomorrow it should be complete.
Its a bit hard to meet People while having this new rhythm but its funny that I am going to bed now for 9hours of sleep :) Hopefully!

Cant wait to test it on the mid-night-sun everyday! By the way, the weather forecast it terrible and I am having problems loading all equipment to the bike. Cant find a proper bag. Miss the huge shops in Portugal

ok, thats all for today,

Good day!

Leiria: by bike

2008-06-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

Coming soon...

by: victor hugo

50k... not alone!!! . . . 2h10m

2008-06-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

Nosoddtangen - Oslo

22km/h = Avg Speed . . .(2km/h fast )
56min over 80%mhr. . .(47min more)
1750 = Calories . . . . . . . .(250cal more)

Feelings:
This time I invited a friend and he accepted it! Yes its not easy to find someone willing to...
Normally I prefer to do it alone on my rhythm. Its bad if I have to slow down, waiting someone but that was not the case. He had to slow down for me!!!

Ok this resulted on a record, of course :) 2h10min
And.... yes I feel my muscles today!!!

Some pain still on my back while cycling but its ok.

Lugo: Running

2008-06-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

Coming soon...

by: Vânia

Pombal: Running

2008-06-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

Coming in September 2008...

by: Vânia

INTRO - The Challenge

2008-06-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

Without cars, cities would definitely have a different structure.
Here you can find walking, running and biking distances in modern cities.

All distances refer to the city center and the following colours refer to the time needed from the city center to any point on these lines:

If you walk, run or bike often then I am sure that you have a rough perception of the distances in your city.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF:

Compose a map, (even though not accurate because you haven't been everywhere but its a matter of checking it out afterwords ;)
"This way you train your mind as well"

For me that is the motivation, "create and check", you have to prove its possible to others ;)

Send me your maps. I'll post them with a link signature to your profile or personal web-page!
citydistances@live.com

REAL 50k " 2h22m "

2008-06-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

" 21pm... oh shit!, I feel like going for a ride..."

Oslo - Nosoddtangen

20km/h = Avg Speed
09min over 80%mhr
1500 = Calories

Feelings:
It is tough, definitely it is... but just the last 10km which I start to insult every hill that faces me until I get over then :)
First, my butt starts to pain (as usually), then my back (kidneys zone) and finally my shoulders. I really have to work out locally my back.
The last 10k were done at 11pm and I was starting to feel a bit cold, not good... not good!!!
After that I just remember to arrive home and eat 6white eggs and fall in my bed. What a nice feeling.
Today there is no pain :) and hopefully the proteins are repairing my muscles :) cant wait to tray again!!!! oohhh... this reminds me of Sangoku!!! My hero!!!

I am eating just once during the trip. Need to start doing it every 30min, but I hate to stop. Then its much dificult to get on the rhythm again.

80%mhr over 15min!!

2008-06-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

"Print a real scale Lion and hang it to your tail"

Yes, thats the best if you want to push your anaerobic limits.
In this exercise I did not plan anything, I just had 20min to reach something before it closes and off I go... Oslo -Økern

4,7km in 14'55min

8min above 80%mhr
7min below 80%mhr

HRmin=73%mhr
HRmax=88%mhr

Feelings:
I think I am ready to start serious speed trainings of at least 2min!
I feel so pleased to see a constant heart rate :)
Its a much pleasant trip with a constant heart beat than a floating one.

Actually I use to do this track often before but I have never monitored it.
Its a quite nice route, it has a lot of different atmospheres during those 5k, small streets, parks, bridges, high-ways... you have to cross a bit of everything, its cool and not monotonous at all!

Its all about technique!

2008-06-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

...and Cod :)

100g:
17g proteins
07g fat

+olive oil, (of course) hehehe

Any progress?

2008-06-09T05:10:00.000-07:00

Time to compare the same route withing 3week:

"Oslo to Kringsjå"

3weeks ago:

Today:

2min faster :)
I am getting close to the subway speed!!!
If you take the tube from the closest station it takes about 16min and now I can do it in 19min!!

Haha.. Im gonna beat it one day ;)

You know... I really start wondering about the altitude measurer.
It is completely different to compare exercises in different terrains.
Hummm... my Polar is getting limited! hummm ...and its boring to produce these charts by hand. Although if you do it... this information kinda sticks to your brain!!!
Might be quite inutile to know this information about Oslo terrains, once you can not share it with anyone!!! :D

"...oh, oh, lets go there, I love those 8%..."

Keep moving, I am planning another 50k ;)

500m swimming

2008-06-08T01:11:00.000-07:00

12km cycling uphill + 500m swimming

I found a very nice track of ~10km always uphill side by side with a river. Its great!

Bike = 12km in 49min. I know that its too slow :/
Swim= 32meters/min. I feel my arms now ;)

Its true that I have just been working my legs
nofatmorerunning was reminding me of that I have to train other things them legs, because biking is a quite locally working out.
rogerio Is always reporting big challenges such as multi-sports that I always think its impossible for me :) But why not give it a try at your own rhythm?

Yes, I had my first multi-sport day, swimming in the middle of the cycling tour its just excellent. And since I am going to Lofoten, this seem to match perfectly :) Who knows if I'll have to cross the sea with my bike :)

Ok thats all for today. I will try to take it serious and come back to you with time records.

"Triathlon" BUT in 3 days :)

2008-06-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

I know, I know... this is not a triathlon :) But I am exhausted anyway!!!

The day after the 50k, I have been hiking for 4hours and the day after that I have been skiing for 5hours. Lets see the result once I take my bike again, LOL

Hiking is fantastic but maybe just in Norway because after 1hour you can be 500m above see level and it works very nice your legs.

Skiing ... I am really adicted, but this time it was a very dificult track and it was very warm 25ºC and I didnt enjoy so much. Anyway we bath ourselfs afterwards :) water maybe 5ºC

And by the way it was the best plane trip ever:

When i think of the guys that manage to do a triathlon... wow!!!! I could never do it in one day!!!

....anyway, I need some rest now! what is curious is that after 24h I was completely recovered from the muscles but not from my mind LOL!
I need a massage, does anyone feel like doing it? Its free!

I am tracing a new trip for Thursday morning :)))))))))
and I am preparing a HR post, be patient.

50k before a break!

2008-05-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

I am going to be away to ski for 4days, so yesterday I took my first 50k. It was about 2h30m on road.

Feelings:

(+) I love to do it at 8am because of the bike traffic on road. It reminds me on the jam in Lisbon, and the old times driving there. hehehe
(+) Its so nice to feel that you can get anywhere faster than the bus :)
________
(-) I hate to slow down or stop. It is terrible to get back to the same rhythm. (ex: to fill up your bottle, to pee, to ask directions or be asked...)
(-) I hate to take the same way back home.
(-) I hate when you aim for 50k and you arrive home and you see just 47km :) and then you cant stop LOL
(-) My butt hurts after 50k. Shit!!!! I got a buy a new saddle!

Keep in touch

Power or Strength?

2008-05-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Today I have checked 2 other gyms in Oslo to ask for a HRmax laboratory test but they dont do it. I am running out of options and I still stick to the theoretical one.

Polar bike computer calculates it automatically because it knows my age so is uses 220-age=194
Last trip I got 89%HRmax and it seems that I cant pass it. Regarding that I remember the people in the gym asking if I am a runner or a biker, because its different. And they told me that to reach my max HR you need to use all your power and not your strength.

I definitely want to work power but when I re-check the cadence in my last charts:
Sprint 1 - 65rpm
Sprint 2 - 75rpm
Sprint 3 - 75rpm
Sprint 4 - 85rpm

A professional told me that anything below 90rpm is strength working. Which means that I am totally wrong, but I believe it is due to my body limitations. We will see how it develops!

In the other hand my cadence shows exactly what happen to our body. As you get tired you feel comfort at higher cadence and thats what happened I guess.
Curiously in all those sprints I has at the same HR :) Its maybe a heart demand :)

Rhythm and Cadence

2008-05-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

Rhythm is the word for me.
Since I am on uneven road and I dont know what kind of terrain is coming next, I do have to change gear (thanks to my Deore for being so fast and smooth). Therefore my aim is to maintain always the same cadence/effort/power. I found a constant rhythm very important, then you can focus on other things as breathing not like a crazy animal :)
Yoga helps ;)

RideTime or ExeriseTime?

2008-05-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

What is the difference?
RideTime and ExeriseTime!

RideTime is the time used actively on the exercise.
ExerciseTime is the time spent from the moment you start the device to the moment that you stop the device.

When you transfer the data to your PC, the program often readthe ExerciseTime and instead of the RideTime. "Ridetime is the one used by the Polar for calculations, therefore it might be the one that you are interested in".

To correct this wrong time value, (or in other words, to make the both times match the RideTime), go to Settings/Bike/AutoStart, and set it to ON. Now the RideTime and ExeriseTime should match*.
Didnt find this answer in any forums and decided to test it myself. :) Hope you find it useful as well!

*Even when you set autostart ON the timings will never match exactly. They vary few seconds because the Ride time sensor has a lag to start and stop. But no worries, it is quite accurate!

For more graphics:

2008-05-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Check the Label: "6 weeks to Lofoten" on the right menu.

How to map 50Km.

2008-05-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

How to make a chart out of 50Km with your CS200CAD.
You need photoshop or illustrator skills.

1 - Set AutoLap [on] in 200m interval.
2 - Set AutoStart [on].
3 - Start your ride and remember that you have to start a new file every 10km due to memory limitations. (200meters intevals x 50laps = 10Km)
4 - Download all files to PolarPersonaltrainer.com
5 - Go to the section "Laps graphic" and make a print screen of each one.
6 - Join them in a single file one chart after another by time order and you will notice that the hight scale varies in all charts. Because of that we have to rescale them in photoshop.
Select green bars and rescale to an equivelent unit.

7 - Your charts all together might be now 2meters wide :) Impossible to display on screen. Now shrink them to the size of your screen and.... voilá!

8 - If you're patient/skilled enough then its easy to trace a new vectorial line over HR and Speed and you get a completely clean chart that its easy to read and send my email to your friends.

If you do not want to have all this work, you HAVE to buy POLAR CS400!!!
The price of a chart like this one is 400€!!! ...fodace!

First Speed training

2008-05-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

The goal was suppose to be intervals of 2min as its recommended but I am not able to do it yet :)

So here is the exercise today,
4x 1min @80~90% HRmax

Feelings:
The idea of this type of exercise is to work your speed sustain. I read that professionals can do it for 12min intervals. I think I'll need some years more :)
You should not override the 90% of your maximum heart rate for a long time because you are working in anaerobic area. This exercise helps to improve your anaerobic dependency, which means that with the time your body will get a better tolerance to it or in other words you get a wider range of aerobic. A sufficient recovery between your intervals is very important giving your body time to "deal" with the acid produced.
None of this important specs were a problem to me! First I can not reach 90%HRmax :) second I need bigger intervals because I get totally wasted :) As we can see in the chart, the recovery intervals seem to increase exponentially. LOL
1min sprint + 2min recovery + 1min sprint + 6min recovery + 1min sprint + <20min>

Doing it on road can be sometimes a limitation, because you can not break your rhythm so you have to find the right conditions.
Its quite fun though, it is like hunting the right spot for sprint. Once you have even terrain its very pleasant because you can see your speed rising, kind of a motivation! But if you're out just for training performance, then don't hunt it!, instead do it uphill, it gives a much faster response from your heart.
But for me biking its not about performance, but a pleasure, a trip, ...

33km on graphs

2008-05-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, I must confess that this technique requires quite some dedication from the user over the cs200cad.
As we have seen, it is able to record a trip up to 5km and produce graphs out of it, which means that if you forget to restart the computer, it continues giving you information but it does not record laps anymore. Therefore, no graphs after 5km - you have to start a new file!

Obviously I have forgotten some times :) but it displays the message [FULL] once in a while.... well... it helps!
Lets have a look over PolarPersonalTrainer and see how does it handle this amount of information.

33km = 330laps (see last post).
Downloading this data to the computer took approx. 5 minutes of beeping! lol

As we can see, 7 files its hard to handle by the interface of PolarPersonalTrainer.
It would be nice to be able to join exercises, since they were done one after another.

Opening a file:
I have set some HR limits on my Polar because I knew I was going to ride this long. So it tells me during the ride when I am over or bellow which kind of kicks you a bit :)
If you have the sounds ON, it beeps anytime you're out of the range and everybody around you starts looking at you, so you better catch up :) I really like it! Like this you can set what kind of training thats you want to do.
You can see that as well in the summary of each file on PolarPersonalTrainer:

Conclusion:

+ You will enjoy to see detailed information of different parts of your trip although they are 7 parts that you need to open individually.

- You can not compare different files or check overall values for your full trip. Instead you have to refer to the individual parts of it.
Things like total time over HR limits, you have to calculate manually and if you want to check the max. speed, you have to open all seven files one by one and see which one contains the highest value for speed.

Tags: full, memory, PersonalTrainer, sounds, zones

MIX training - 33km

2008-05-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

Road = 12km
Mountain = 21km
2h11m

Graphics data coming soon, have to compile all 7 files in a single chart picture. My Polar records only 5km tracks :(

Daily exerc. - The hard one K

2008-05-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

I ride bike on a daily basis since I move to Norway, 9 months ago. Its my transportation to go anywhere.
I believe I do at least 5km a day. Its not much but there is a hill between home and school :)
And it couldn't happen at a worst time of the day :)

In the Morning:

In the Evening:

ENTER THE MATRIX :)

2008-05-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

Today I am really happy because I found a way to "force" cs200cad to produce graphs :)

The secret: go to: /settings/cycling/autolap
Since the site is able to compare laps, you just need to set your cs200cad to record laps automatically of the minimum length available (100m). Then it will start to register absolute values for each lap and being that just 100m it is acceptable to use it as a graph unit.
Each green bar is a unit of 100m and contains speed, HR and cadence values:

Then you just have to switch between graphs to run over time and check your ride a little more in detail :) I love it!

The consequences:
1 - By setting your cs200cad to record laps of 100m means that actually you will receive a report on screen every 100m for maybe about 5sec. A bit annoying but you just need to press any button to get back to the normal screen.

2 - cs200cad is able to store 7 exercise files and each file has a memory limitation of 50 laps!!!
This mean that each file can record up to 5km of ride, but you can use the 7 files to reach up to 35km! Being that the final limit of your Polar cs200cad :)

Its a bit sad to know that you can use your bike computer for only 35km, but we are beginners and this might be enough for a while :)
TIP: You can always set your cs200cad to record data every 150meters which increases your recording distance of 52,5km or by using 200m you can reach up to 70km. Although I don't find reliable to use more that 100m information units!

Tags: graphs, limitations, tip, trick

CS200CAD vs/or CS400

2008-05-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

If you really want to see a graph or chart of your ride you have to buy the Polar CS400. And for that you have to pay more 200€ ....INSANE!!! It costs 400€ and its the cheapest Polar that shows detailed information on your ride over each second of your ride!

NOTE that the only relevant differences between CS200CAD and CS400 are:
- Recorded data rate can be set to every second
- Temperature and altitude sensor (not a big deal for a beginner)

...and two more that could easily be integrated in the cs200cad (come on POLAR):
- Register of HR minimum (which is fun)
- Cadence limits (which will definitely keep your legs moving :)

Tags: compare, cs200cad, cs400, price, vs

Polar PersonalTrainer - Limitations

2008-05-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

So far I was really happy until this point!
Its cute of Polar to provide us this "online diary",

but soon you understand that it is not enough!!!

It shows your progress over the months,

but if you want to isolate and analise a specific ride/exercise,

it just provides information on averages and maximums. As well as the time that you have spend in each HR zone and thats all. No graphs or charts to see the progress over the time!

I was starting to get really frustrated so I wrote to Polar.
Then I realized that I have forgotten little detail while researching for bike computers.
I assume that if you can connect it to a PC its logic that you can access detailed information on your ride BUT its not!
It was really hard to get any information on that matter on the web.
You should get information about it before because some of them allows you to connect to a PC just for fun :\
POLAR CS200CAD DOES NOT REGISTER YOUR RIDE OVER THE TIME.
Therefore you cannot see any graphs or charts about it because the data contains just absolute values.

Tags: graphs, limitations,

Data transfer - SonicLink

2008-05-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

To upload information to Polar site you need the software Polar WebLink.

The cs200cad communicates via microphone under technology SonicLink. It emits beeps in a sequence that the software reads and transforms into data.
I was very sceptical about it but it actually works very fine :) It takes less than a minute until you get your info on the internet.

Tags: connection, pc, recording data, soniclink, transfer data, weblink

Ride review

2008-05-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

It allows you to record up to 7 rides.
You can check averages and max values.

By uploading the data to the polar web site its possible to keep a record of you tours.

Riding

2008-05-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

4 of my favorite riding modes:

First the main screen:

It changes a bit your riding once you can track precisely your "engine" :)
At the same time it give you some freedom. Before I use to count the crank cycles in my mind and now I just have to look at the display its great!

Heart Rate zones:
This is so far one of my best modes:

Depending on the type of workout you can set different zones that you want to keep in.
The computer is really annoying and start to bip once you're out of the range and you have to catch up to get rid of the sound :) its cool.
This is a very interesting mode because then you understand what is the efficient cadence for different situations and keep an economic ride making your "engine" reach longer rides (one example).

Two other nice modes are the current energy consumption:

Which once again you can cross information with cadence and aim for a target on energy over the time.

And the last one is a funny one where you set the distance for arrival and gives you real-time information of other things as the time of arrival:

Its better than looking at speed ;)

Training tools

2008-05-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

My bicycle and me:

My engine monitor:

Polar cs200cad

Concept - Bicycle & Photography

2008-05-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

Riding on the mid-night-sun over 4-5days in Lofoten, Norway

Rough map:

I am trying to trace a path on the northern side so that I can ride side by side with the sun!

Trip:
29 June,
Starting in Å (the end of the road), a little village on the south Lofoten.

04 July,
Is the worst expectation for arriving at Svolvær :)

Accommodation:
Camping anytime I'll get tired.

Expected riding time:
Invert my physiological clock :)
Ride around mid night. (9pm to 3am)

Intro

2008-05-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

This blog will report the last 6weeks of preparation to my first big trip by bike.
All training will be held in Oslo. 15min its enough to get out of Oslo and its beautiful.
If you bicycle in Oslo, get in touch. We can share nice tracks!
Feel free to comment on them - I need feedback on technique!

This time of the year in Norway is always exciting because while here in Oslo we get annoyed by the non darkness at night, up in the north its incompletely different with the fantastic mid-night-sun.

In 2006 I went to Sommarøy and dedicate 2 days watching this phenomenon.

Now I will dedicate one week at Lofoten biking :)

Mounting cs200cad

2008-05-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

The devices are easy to mount.
The issue is to find the right spot for all devices on the bike because even if you place then within the range suggested by Polar, some spots seem not to work properly.
Therefore I recommend you to buy some extra cable tie for mistakes.

The speed sensor - Place the sensors as near as possible to the steering.

I chose this spot for my cadence device. It was the only place that I could imagine safe enough. I mean that its the most protected spot so that I wont kick it. I am a disaster breaking things :)

If you choose the same spot bear in mind the direction that you mount it (see next pic):

So... the device should be tilted as well in for that direction!

Now the computer unit:
First I mounted it on the same side that I had fixed the other devices. Which for me makes sense since the computer will have a free way to communicate with the other devices. But of course :) it didn't work. Sometimes it read the speed but no way to get cadence to work on this spot:

Then I changed it to the middle of the steering which performed the final config.:

Everything seem to work so far. The cadence sometimes takes long time to show up. A good tip is to start riding with the computer on your hand and bring it close to each device for 5~10s. After that just place it on the steering and it remains reading.

OK, lets ride for a while... :) I'll come back later with more reviews on recording data and transfer it to a PC!

The market

2008-05-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

As I told you I am a beginner on this fields and this blog describes what I found during my selection/research process.

I am seeking for graphs and charts that I can store in my PC and which contains cadence information and maybe Heart Rate

All my friends that RUN use the nike+iPod to monitor their exercises which costs roughly 30€.
With this system you can have detailed graphs and charts to keep track on every step to make. Download information to pc and so on its simple and quick! Fantastic to share and kick your friends or give them some energy/challenges, I like that :)

On the bike computers market I found "the thing" is a little different. As far as I understood, for that same budget you got "something" that measures your distance and speed and rarely allows you to compare results.

For 50€ I found some nice ones that allows to store several tours on it and compare averages.

For 100€ I found wire-less systems which made me stick to this budget as a minimum investment. Its clean, discreet and nice - no discussion!!! A 4th wish has just raised!

Then, to find cadence readers was the first issue. Sigma have nice cycle computers but a lot of stuff didn't interest me as: temperature and altitude sensors. The only wireless with cadence that I found in shops was the bc1606ldts but you cant connect it to your PC and it didnt reads heart rate! Thing thing starts to interest me a loot :)
Basically I had to stop looking at my budget and see what the market has to offer!

TWO bike computers where finally selected:
- CATEYE V3
- Polar cs200cad

The first one was not elected, again because it doesn't let me transfer data to the PC. The rest of the specs were there to fight Polar but the main reason remain on the fact that in Norway I couldn't get it easily on the shops and this is a big issue for me because I know that some problems will come up and its better to complain to professionals at a shop than having to ship it back all the time.
Apart from that both of them are wireless and as I said they offer only what I am seeking: Wireless, Distance, Cadence & Heart Rate.
The only big plus that I found on reviews from the CATEYE over the POLAR was the discreet sensor "all-in-one". A small device that is installed on the back wheel and reads both cadence and speed.

OK, the final budget remains between 160€ and 200€ (EU)
Lets go for the full review on the POLAR CS200CAD that was the cheapest computer that I could find that allows to download data to a PC, which was actually my first wish when I thought of buying a Bike Computer!

Tags: bc1606ldts, bike, cadence, cateye, computer, cs200, cs200cad, polar, sigma, v3

Intro

2008-05-18T03:21:00.000-07:00

I will post my personal review on a bike computer that may interest a common user which is starting to take cycling a bit more serious - my case!
I found it very hard to get information on these fields and I am glad for those who share their reviews on simple details.... it makes the whole difference!

So.. here is mine :) This is a way to thank them!

I start to feel like controlling a bit better my performance since I am looking for some progress. Monitoring my tours would give me a nice figure and allows me to compare them.
Actually I was a bit jealous of my friends that run with the nike+iPod and send me regularly graphs and charts with their training sessions :) My first wish!

After some short reads on the web I found very important as well to monitor your cadence to control if you're aiming for resistance or power by keeping a good track on it.

3rd wish is maybe then to track my Heart Rate to keep an efficient/economic cycling. Although I honestly understand that its something for professional control.

Tags: testing mounting installation tutorial unpacking