Thursday, February 02, 2012
Sugar and the food industry again
Now more research points to the needs to act, as I previously noted when the Scripps research on sugar and fats in food pointed to addiction effects similar to cocaine.
This time it is the report by a team at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) on sugar levels in foods.
Sugar should be controlled like alcohol and tobacco to protect public health, according to a team of UCSF researchers, who maintain in a new report that sugar is fueling a global obesity pandemic, contributing to 35 million deaths annually worldwide from non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The cost of this in healthcare and economic productive terms is very significant and hence this calls for the same action as with tobacco and alcohol, making the producers reflect these costs in the retail price, along with restricting advertising, package sizes, availability and providing clear labelling as to the potential health effects.
The report itself notes "Many of the interventions that have reduced alcohol and tobacco consumption can be models for addressing the sugar problem, such as levying special sales taxes, controlling access, and tightening licensing requirements on vending machines and snack bars that sell high sugar products in schools and workplaces".
We can expect to see the food industry aggressively fighting this of course as they want to continue to profit and externalize their costs on to society. Higher healthcare premiums, overwhelmed health services dealing with obese patients, special equipment needed, staff and patient injuries, and chronic long term support costs.
Notice that politicians will be particularly weak willed and ineffectual acting on this given the contributions they doubtless receive to election campaigns, manufacturers in their constituencies and lobbying of farming groups. All these factors are trifling compared to the net costs society is foisted with.
Expect to see the usual pronouncements saying that government is enacting measures and researching appropriate steps and then nothing to actually happen because no funding is appropriated in the budget. Some states and cities though may act, as New York did in removing trans fats from use, or by raising local taxes.
Once again people can act themselves. In the same way that you would not offer cigarettes or liquor to a child, now add to that list items like store made cup cakes, cereals like Captain Crunch and of course sodas all of which are designed to adjust behaviour at an early age. When making recipes at home, use only a quarter of the sugar amount, so you can actually taste the food itself and not overwhelming sweetness. As your Grandmother knows best, everything in moderation.
This time it is the report by a team at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) on sugar levels in foods.
Sugar should be controlled like alcohol and tobacco to protect public health, according to a team of UCSF researchers, who maintain in a new report that sugar is fueling a global obesity pandemic, contributing to 35 million deaths annually worldwide from non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The cost of this in healthcare and economic productive terms is very significant and hence this calls for the same action as with tobacco and alcohol, making the producers reflect these costs in the retail price, along with restricting advertising, package sizes, availability and providing clear labelling as to the potential health effects.
The report itself notes "Many of the interventions that have reduced alcohol and tobacco consumption can be models for addressing the sugar problem, such as levying special sales taxes, controlling access, and tightening licensing requirements on vending machines and snack bars that sell high sugar products in schools and workplaces".
We can expect to see the food industry aggressively fighting this of course as they want to continue to profit and externalize their costs on to society. Higher healthcare premiums, overwhelmed health services dealing with obese patients, special equipment needed, staff and patient injuries, and chronic long term support costs.
Notice that politicians will be particularly weak willed and ineffectual acting on this given the contributions they doubtless receive to election campaigns, manufacturers in their constituencies and lobbying of farming groups. All these factors are trifling compared to the net costs society is foisted with.
Expect to see the usual pronouncements saying that government is enacting measures and researching appropriate steps and then nothing to actually happen because no funding is appropriated in the budget. Some states and cities though may act, as New York did in removing trans fats from use, or by raising local taxes.
Once again people can act themselves. In the same way that you would not offer cigarettes or liquor to a child, now add to that list items like store made cup cakes, cereals like Captain Crunch and of course sodas all of which are designed to adjust behaviour at an early age. When making recipes at home, use only a quarter of the sugar amount, so you can actually taste the food itself and not overwhelming sweetness. As your Grandmother knows best, everything in moderation.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Made in USA on a budget
My focus again is bikes, but the same aspects apply to several other engineering related industries, where skills and quality matter over sheer volume and lowest price.
There was a time when the USA was a leading bike manufacturer by volume and I'm not expecting that to return. However there are a range of quality jobs particularly for small innovative companies that do make sense and should be supported here in the USA.
One popular option is to locate the design, research, sales and marketing, support, final assembly and packaging in the USA while actual manufacturing is overseas. The most well known of these is SRAM. But there are also a range of companies making components here in the USA and this is a welcome trend. Many people don't even realize that they can source almost all of the components on their bike from USA companies.
These components tend to be aimed at the serious biking community, off-roaders and commuters rather than the casual urban cyclist. However, by careful use of eBay and internet discount sites along with direct ordering from USA companies sites you can definitely equip your ride well without over reaching your budget.
Parts such as bars, stems, seat posts, brakes and headsets are all available with several choices. Then accessories such as bar tape wrap, bottle cages, bottles, hydration systems, bags and cycling computers can be found too.
My previous blog post was on lighting systems and here I feel most people will not want to skimp on price and quality. Being safe and being seen early and often clear makes sense on the road anywhere and a lot of reasonably priced lights are available from USA companies and quality suppliers such as REI.
Wheels are one area I think there is more opportunity. Right now companies assemble in USA from Taiwan components, with some USA made parts, such as hubs, but there is no entire made in USA wheelset maker.
So, what does a made in USA bike look like with a majority of USA made components that is not a boutique highend purchase from a custom builder? I've been working for the past six months via eBay and internet deals on slowly retro-fitting parts on my ride, a Bike Friday Crusoe, that I originally acquired on eBay. My cost has been a few hundred dollars total on these USA made switch out components, but the ride quality and overall improvements have been worth it. Far better brakes, new replacement headset (old Taiwan one was simply worn out), vastly improved lights, and superb seatpost being the main parts. Then accessories include a wicked stainless bottle cage, bar tape and new 130mm stem. You can see the entire list of components here and their sources, along with the bike itself here.
All this was triggered in part by Bike Friday itself, I was disappointed in how many low end Taiwan parts come on their regular bikes. Well hold that thought, as part of their 20 year celebration they have produced an "almost all made in USA" bike, collectors edition, 20 bikes, sticker shock on these is $6,000 but they will be snapped up I'm sure because Bike Fridays hold their value very well. You can see this machine and the story of how they sourced the parts right here. I wonder how much customer pressure they have got to not just make in the USA but source in the USA. I see encouraging signs in their new releases such as their Llama with Aerospoke wheels and the Tikit commuter with belt drive. Of course you can always buy a bare frame set and add all your own components. Clearly they can do more, without tagging you with a $6,000 sticker price!
So the message here is one of citizen power. As consumers we have choice, see this "Buy American" site, and regardless of politicians and government "stimulous packages" our choices are generally much more effective and direct in influencing our lives. Read the packaging carefully on products and use the internet to make informed buying choices, and as I found recently, if unsure Google for the same item in Canada where their sites actually show you the country of origin details. Just in case you had any doubt about the power of big corporations to restrict your access to information during your buying process!?
There was a time when the USA was a leading bike manufacturer by volume and I'm not expecting that to return. However there are a range of quality jobs particularly for small innovative companies that do make sense and should be supported here in the USA.
One popular option is to locate the design, research, sales and marketing, support, final assembly and packaging in the USA while actual manufacturing is overseas. The most well known of these is SRAM. But there are also a range of companies making components here in the USA and this is a welcome trend. Many people don't even realize that they can source almost all of the components on their bike from USA companies.
These components tend to be aimed at the serious biking community, off-roaders and commuters rather than the casual urban cyclist. However, by careful use of eBay and internet discount sites along with direct ordering from USA companies sites you can definitely equip your ride well without over reaching your budget.
Parts such as bars, stems, seat posts, brakes and headsets are all available with several choices. Then accessories such as bar tape wrap, bottle cages, bottles, hydration systems, bags and cycling computers can be found too.
My previous blog post was on lighting systems and here I feel most people will not want to skimp on price and quality. Being safe and being seen early and often clear makes sense on the road anywhere and a lot of reasonably priced lights are available from USA companies and quality suppliers such as REI.
Wheels are one area I think there is more opportunity. Right now companies assemble in USA from Taiwan components, with some USA made parts, such as hubs, but there is no entire made in USA wheelset maker.
So, what does a made in USA bike look like with a majority of USA made components that is not a boutique highend purchase from a custom builder? I've been working for the past six months via eBay and internet deals on slowly retro-fitting parts on my ride, a Bike Friday Crusoe, that I originally acquired on eBay. My cost has been a few hundred dollars total on these USA made switch out components, but the ride quality and overall improvements have been worth it. Far better brakes, new replacement headset (old Taiwan one was simply worn out), vastly improved lights, and superb seatpost being the main parts. Then accessories include a wicked stainless bottle cage, bar tape and new 130mm stem. You can see the entire list of components here and their sources, along with the bike itself here.
All this was triggered in part by Bike Friday itself, I was disappointed in how many low end Taiwan parts come on their regular bikes. Well hold that thought, as part of their 20 year celebration they have produced an "almost all made in USA" bike, collectors edition, 20 bikes, sticker shock on these is $6,000 but they will be snapped up I'm sure because Bike Fridays hold their value very well. You can see this machine and the story of how they sourced the parts right here. I wonder how much customer pressure they have got to not just make in the USA but source in the USA. I see encouraging signs in their new releases such as their Llama with Aerospoke wheels and the Tikit commuter with belt drive. Of course you can always buy a bare frame set and add all your own components. Clearly they can do more, without tagging you with a $6,000 sticker price!
So the message here is one of citizen power. As consumers we have choice, see this "Buy American" site, and regardless of politicians and government "stimulous packages" our choices are generally much more effective and direct in influencing our lives. Read the packaging carefully on products and use the internet to make informed buying choices, and as I found recently, if unsure Google for the same item in Canada where their sites actually show you the country of origin details. Just in case you had any doubt about the power of big corporations to restrict your access to information during your buying process!?
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Day or Night needs - Bike lights comparison and tests
Another area of technology that has transformed is bike lighting systems and their use. The LEDs and rechargeable batteries provide industrial strength lighting while being compact and lightweight.
The most important change however is the ability to use daylight running lights with real visibility. Why is this so important? The answer is drivers perception and behaviour toward you is transformed.
I did not really believe this but having experienced this first hand, it is huge. I've ridden in all kinds of traffic in major cities around the world, and used traditional lights and then LEDs and "Blinkies". While these work OK at night on side streets, on major roads and during day time, they simply can disappear into the other lights and visual distractions.
This is not the case for these high intensity LED systems which provide light at levels usually associated with high performance cars and trucks. The bottom line is these systems make you visible and a big part of the perception system of other road users, and what that means is, they slow down, they wait, and they move around you because to their perception system you now appear 3 times larger than before.
A bonus is that these higher end systems are available from USA companies, many of whom are doing assembly here in the USA. This is spawned by demand for these lights systems by off-road users, water sports and adventure seekers and even field photographers.
I bought one of these rear lights off eBay - the Light and Motion VIS 180 - used it on my regular day time training ride - and the next day I ordered a CygoLite HotSpot for my wife's bike. This enhanced safety is well worth every last penny for these systems. I also found a used CygoLite 250 lumen front light off eBay. What these light systems can mean is that you are visible even in day light situations, such as riding into a setting or rising sun when road users may miss seeing a bike in the glare.
Check out these videos to see how this looks:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1580/cey.mp4
Sunglare example
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/2372/yec.mp4
Setting sun
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1256/36i.mp4
and then more details in a review here.
A next consideration is narrow beam v wider flashers, and the VIS 180 combines both with a 35 lumen main light and a side flasher, while the CygoLite Hotspot goes for raw 65+ lumens. This is serious light output, so much so, they come with low settings so you do not blind the rider behind you if you are drafting up close. See the comparison shots here if you really still think your "Blinky" LED rear light with 2 AAA batteries that you paid $10 for from China meets the mark (mentioning which these lights are examples of externalizing costs). Need to know where things are really made? Check out Canadian sites such as this one.
For front systems I found this really excellent test video showing what these setups can do for serious commuting and night time riding even in darkness without street lighting. That is obviously the extreme end of the scale, but the bottom line is having these light systems will make you dramatically more visible in all situations. You can see a comparison sampling of available systems here and REI have a good product selection of rechargeable systems and then see this bike review of lights plus this interactive review collection. If you are riding on road situations day or night, then you owe it to yourself to give these systems serious consideration.
The most important change however is the ability to use daylight running lights with real visibility. Why is this so important? The answer is drivers perception and behaviour toward you is transformed.
I did not really believe this but having experienced this first hand, it is huge. I've ridden in all kinds of traffic in major cities around the world, and used traditional lights and then LEDs and "Blinkies". While these work OK at night on side streets, on major roads and during day time, they simply can disappear into the other lights and visual distractions.
This is not the case for these high intensity LED systems which provide light at levels usually associated with high performance cars and trucks. The bottom line is these systems make you visible and a big part of the perception system of other road users, and what that means is, they slow down, they wait, and they move around you because to their perception system you now appear 3 times larger than before.
A bonus is that these higher end systems are available from USA companies, many of whom are doing assembly here in the USA. This is spawned by demand for these lights systems by off-road users, water sports and adventure seekers and even field photographers.
I bought one of these rear lights off eBay - the Light and Motion VIS 180 - used it on my regular day time training ride - and the next day I ordered a CygoLite HotSpot for my wife's bike. This enhanced safety is well worth every last penny for these systems. I also found a used CygoLite 250 lumen front light off eBay. What these light systems can mean is that you are visible even in day light situations, such as riding into a setting or rising sun when road users may miss seeing a bike in the glare.
Check out these videos to see how this looks:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1580/cey.mp4
Sunglare example
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/2372/yec.mp4
Setting sun
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1256/36i.mp4
and then more details in a review here.
A next consideration is narrow beam v wider flashers, and the VIS 180 combines both with a 35 lumen main light and a side flasher, while the CygoLite Hotspot goes for raw 65+ lumens. This is serious light output, so much so, they come with low settings so you do not blind the rider behind you if you are drafting up close. See the comparison shots here if you really still think your "Blinky" LED rear light with 2 AAA batteries that you paid $10 for from China meets the mark (mentioning which these lights are examples of externalizing costs). Need to know where things are really made? Check out Canadian sites such as this one.
For front systems I found this really excellent test video showing what these setups can do for serious commuting and night time riding even in darkness without street lighting. That is obviously the extreme end of the scale, but the bottom line is having these light systems will make you dramatically more visible in all situations. You can see a comparison sampling of available systems here and REI have a good product selection of rechargeable systems and then see this bike review of lights plus this interactive review collection. If you are riding on road situations day or night, then you owe it to yourself to give these systems serious consideration.
Monday, January 16, 2012
IEEE P1622 Election Data Standard published
After almost 9 months of work the long awaited IEEE P1622 first standard for US election information processing has been published as a joint work product between IEEE/OASIS/NIST/EAC and individual contributors. The formal announcement is provided below.
This sets the stage for a significant improvement in transparency and verification of election information in the US and beyond. Several election system manufacturers are now incorporating the specification and data standards into their product offerings. This also has the potential to save costs and improve accuracy and availability of election information prior to and during elections.
In addition with the success of this initial work there are now several other use cases that are being worked on as follow-on specifications for US elections information processing including election results reporting.
While all this is not exactly earth shattering, the long term implications for better elections and election processes are significant. My good friend Dick (Richard) Johnson is sadly no longer with us to witness this achievement, but he was one who advocated for this work within IEEE at an early stage. To see this finally achieved is therefore doubly rewarding.
On Thursday, January 12, 2012, the IEEE Standards Association published IEEE Std 1622-2011, the IEEE Standard
for Electronic Distribution of Blank Ballots for Voting Systems. This standard specifies electronic data interchange formats for blank ballot distribution, primarily to assist in satisfying the needs of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.
Subsequent standards may address other requirements for electronic data interchange formats used by components of voting systems for exchange of electronic data. This scope does not include return of cast ballots by electronic means.
This standard is available at no charge from
http://standards.ieee.org/getieee/1622/download/1622-2011.pdf
This standard is made available for free under sponsorship of the IEEE Standards Association because of the IEEE's desire to support this work of national interest and at the specific request of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).
This sets the stage for a significant improvement in transparency and verification of election information in the US and beyond. Several election system manufacturers are now incorporating the specification and data standards into their product offerings. This also has the potential to save costs and improve accuracy and availability of election information prior to and during elections.
In addition with the success of this initial work there are now several other use cases that are being worked on as follow-on specifications for US elections information processing including election results reporting.
While all this is not exactly earth shattering, the long term implications for better elections and election processes are significant. My good friend Dick (Richard) Johnson is sadly no longer with us to witness this achievement, but he was one who advocated for this work within IEEE at an early stage. To see this finally achieved is therefore doubly rewarding.
On Thursday, January 12, 2012, the IEEE Standards Association published IEEE Std 1622-2011, the IEEE Standard
for Electronic Distribution of Blank Ballots for Voting Systems. This standard specifies electronic data interchange formats for blank ballot distribution, primarily to assist in satisfying the needs of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.
Subsequent standards may address other requirements for electronic data interchange formats used by components of voting systems for exchange of electronic data. This scope does not include return of cast ballots by electronic means.
This standard is available at no charge from
http://standards.ieee.org/getieee/1622/download/1622-2011.pdf
This standard is made available for free under sponsorship of the IEEE Standards Association because of the IEEE's desire to support this work of national interest and at the specific request of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).
Sunday, January 15, 2012
How good are modern bike wheels?
Another use for cadence and speed computer devices is allowing comparisons between different wheelsets. I recently noticed a short 2 minute video of a Kinetix Pro 20" wheel. The hubs are made by American Classic and the complete wheel assembled by them from high end components for Dahon and others folding bikes. Obviously an excellent wheel, but how does it compare to regular 20" aero wheels, or 700cc road bike wheels?
I probably need to road test a Dahon with a set of these wheels on to see truly how it compares, but since no one has shop samples of these machines in the area, tough to do. In the meantime this simple spin test is an indication of how well the wheel rolls generally. This is the spin test from 60 mph for the SparCo 451 20" aero wheel, and then the Williams Cycling 30X wheel, with ceramic hub, same approach.
Verdict is that all three wheels seem to be about 80 to 90 seconds spin time on this test. Which tends to make one think the physics here is the real limit for how smooth and friction free the hub bearings and rachet mechanisms are. Cheap wheelsets however are in the 60 seconds or less range; I tried a couple of low end Shimano hubs and budget wheel rims also.
All of this is rather moot since of course ride quality, acceleration, weight, effort, power transfer, wind cross section, cornering and myriad of other factors that make a wheel handle well on the road, not shown in this test!
There is actually a ton of very high end science, wind tunnels, computer simulations and more being thrown at wheel development - see also this article on bike wheel and tire science. Not surprisingly the math and science only has a limited sense of everything that is going on dynamically with a wheel as it moves under different load and wind situations. The difficulty of research can be seen from this link on tire materials and sizes here (see comments at bottom). Traditionally this has all been trial and error development of course, to see what just "feels better" and delivers better more consistent results on the road against the clock and other peoples equipment. For certain that today's wheels will outperform older equipment simply because of the quality and materials now available.
I probably need to road test a Dahon with a set of these wheels on to see truly how it compares, but since no one has shop samples of these machines in the area, tough to do. In the meantime this simple spin test is an indication of how well the wheel rolls generally. This is the spin test from 60 mph for the SparCo 451 20" aero wheel, and then the Williams Cycling 30X wheel, with ceramic hub, same approach.
Verdict is that all three wheels seem to be about 80 to 90 seconds spin time on this test. Which tends to make one think the physics here is the real limit for how smooth and friction free the hub bearings and rachet mechanisms are. Cheap wheelsets however are in the 60 seconds or less range; I tried a couple of low end Shimano hubs and budget wheel rims also.
All of this is rather moot since of course ride quality, acceleration, weight, effort, power transfer, wind cross section, cornering and myriad of other factors that make a wheel handle well on the road, not shown in this test!
There is actually a ton of very high end science, wind tunnels, computer simulations and more being thrown at wheel development - see also this article on bike wheel and tire science. Not surprisingly the math and science only has a limited sense of everything that is going on dynamically with a wheel as it moves under different load and wind situations. The difficulty of research can be seen from this link on tire materials and sizes here (see comments at bottom). Traditionally this has all been trial and error development of course, to see what just "feels better" and delivers better more consistent results on the road against the clock and other peoples equipment. For certain that today's wheels will outperform older equipment simply because of the quality and materials now available.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Where is the Maytag man?
Remember the Maytag service repair guy advertisements? Home appliance repair has now moved to the Internet and truly replaced him. I recently had my Maytag dryer stop running - and found this superb online video resource maintained by TheApplianceMan that gives step by step instruction on how to diagnose and repair your appliances. Over 250 videos are included. Why can't Maytag provide these resources? Also what about all major appliance manufacturers supporting their products in this way?
In traversing this thread of information it transpires that really Maytag has outsourced its entire repair and support operations, referring you to local distributors and repair. Then another facet is original parts or OEM parts - which is what TheApplianceMan wants to ship you naturally once you figure out what is needed.
What I have learned though is that Maytag make an easy to access and repair dryer from simple parts and materials. This should not be rocket science and it isn't. Maytag do a woeful job of making this easy for owners however. Clearly the next generation of home appliances will know exactly how to self-diagnose and optionally point you out to the right resources on the internet to show you how to clean and maintain them to keep them running optimally. This is also really good for the environment with less stuff ending up in landfills when a simple $15 part can get it up and running again like new.
In traversing this thread of information it transpires that really Maytag has outsourced its entire repair and support operations, referring you to local distributors and repair. Then another facet is original parts or OEM parts - which is what TheApplianceMan wants to ship you naturally once you figure out what is needed.
What I have learned though is that Maytag make an easy to access and repair dryer from simple parts and materials. This should not be rocket science and it isn't. Maytag do a woeful job of making this easy for owners however. Clearly the next generation of home appliances will know exactly how to self-diagnose and optionally point you out to the right resources on the internet to show you how to clean and maintain them to keep them running optimally. This is also really good for the environment with less stuff ending up in landfills when a simple $15 part can get it up and running again like new.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Garmin Forerunner 305, Sigma, Android computer telemetry and cadence sensor.
Just how many bike computers do you really need? Seems like I now have three. My original Sigma computer with heart monitor, the Android HTC myTouch, and now the Garmin Forerunner 305 and ANT+ heart monitor and cadence sensor. All of course give slightly different results and features and strengths.
The Sigma gives the most accurate speed, distance, altitude and heart rate because it is mounted on the bike and measuring directly off the wheel rotation using the wheel diameter. The Sigma has no GPS or storage and download however so its only useful for immediate riding and overall statistics. The on bike display is highly visible and provides instant diagnostics and feedback.
Next the HTC Android running Google myTracks does a terrific job. The GPS calculation accuracy is within 1% of the Sigma bike measurements primarily because of the high sampling rate every 0.5 seconds - essential for bike riding. Uploading to online tracking sites of the ride GPX files is quick and easy. However, there is no heart rate monitor or cadence and adding those devices is problematic as HTC is using Bluetooth connections. I keep the HTC in my back shirt pocket so it cannot "see" the heart rate monitor on my front chest, nor is there a cadence sensor available. This means tracking winter indoor rides on rollers or trainer is not possible.
Enter the Garmin Forerunner 305 which Walmart is now selling. How mainstream is that for a running/bike geek device?! The price varies though wildly, somehow linked to tides and moon phases. So much for Walmart's RollBack - all I've seen is roll up - going from $137.95 to $175.95 in matter of two weeks!
I purchased mine off eBay using some eBucks credit - so that meant I got a great deal. I then found the Garmin GSC 10 cadence device on Amazon for $30 with free shipping. These devices would have cost you well north of $300 together a couple of years back. Getting the GSC 10 working on my Bike Friday with 451 20" wheels however required some ingenuity to mount it successfully.
Garmin provide an additional rubber mount - and I used that one on top of the Paul brake arm, making a cut out on the inside of the rubber to accommodate the bolt on the brake pad retainer. The wheel magnet goes on the spoke nipple to reach the sensor arm on the GSC 10. Then the cadence magnet goes on the inside of the crank arm and while it is slightly ahead of the GSC 10 that still works fine.
Now to get the Garmin Forerunner 305 working optimally you have to remember the following:
1) Switch the 305 on outside and place it down away from buildings so the GPS satellite detection can work. That can take a minute or two - so go do something else while that happens.
2) For better accuracy set the data sampling rate to every 1 second, and not the automatic mode.
3) The cadence sensor wheel rotation is ignored when calculating speed and distance if the 305 can see GPS satellites.
4) Set the pause speed to be 2mph - so if you have to stop the 305 pauses recording
5) Before each ride remember to press down and hold the lap button (on left) until it does a Reset.
6) Press the start activity button and then don't forget to press it again to stop activity when you are done.
7) I wear the 305 with the display face down on the inside of my left wrist - that way a slight wrist rotation shows me quick glance at metrics as I'm riding.
8) Use the Connect.Garmin web site for logging activity - it is way better than the Garmin Training Center software provided with the 305.
Some things I find annoying about the 305 -
1) You have to switch it off - it does not switch itself off after say 15 minutes of no activity
2) No full GPX export capability with speed, heart rate, cadence - you can only export the GPS route track
3) You cannot make it use the cadence sensor wheel speed calculator as the main distance and speed device.
4) You cannot set the sampling rate to 0.5 seconds - which would be much more accurate for bike riding.
5) Having to wait while it scans for satellites - it should remember home setting and offer to skip the scan.
Otherwise the 305 is awesome. For the price it provides superb features and works with all the major online tracking sites that have Garmin interfaces.
I'm still debating on having all three computers running outdoors. When I'm indoors I skip the HTC Android as that is useless. But on outdoors rides the Google myTracks does a great job and the GPX works with sites that do not support Garmin. The Sigma is still the best for on bike display and metrics. I guess we just have to accept there is no one solution for now - until someone comes out with something that is clearly better and at a price that is affordable. Still by investing in ANT+ sensor devices that should be a win-win going forward.
Last but not least DC Rainmaker here provides the fullest review and information here on using the 305 for everything and more than you ever thought of. Kudos to him!
The Sigma gives the most accurate speed, distance, altitude and heart rate because it is mounted on the bike and measuring directly off the wheel rotation using the wheel diameter. The Sigma has no GPS or storage and download however so its only useful for immediate riding and overall statistics. The on bike display is highly visible and provides instant diagnostics and feedback.
Next the HTC Android running Google myTracks does a terrific job. The GPS calculation accuracy is within 1% of the Sigma bike measurements primarily because of the high sampling rate every 0.5 seconds - essential for bike riding. Uploading to online tracking sites of the ride GPX files is quick and easy. However, there is no heart rate monitor or cadence and adding those devices is problematic as HTC is using Bluetooth connections. I keep the HTC in my back shirt pocket so it cannot "see" the heart rate monitor on my front chest, nor is there a cadence sensor available. This means tracking winter indoor rides on rollers or trainer is not possible.
Enter the Garmin Forerunner 305 which Walmart is now selling. How mainstream is that for a running/bike geek device?! The price varies though wildly, somehow linked to tides and moon phases. So much for Walmart's RollBack - all I've seen is roll up - going from $137.95 to $175.95 in matter of two weeks!
I purchased mine off eBay using some eBucks credit - so that meant I got a great deal. I then found the Garmin GSC 10 cadence device on Amazon for $30 with free shipping. These devices would have cost you well north of $300 together a couple of years back. Getting the GSC 10 working on my Bike Friday with 451 20" wheels however required some ingenuity to mount it successfully.
Garmin provide an additional rubber mount - and I used that one on top of the Paul brake arm, making a cut out on the inside of the rubber to accommodate the bolt on the brake pad retainer. The wheel magnet goes on the spoke nipple to reach the sensor arm on the GSC 10. Then the cadence magnet goes on the inside of the crank arm and while it is slightly ahead of the GSC 10 that still works fine.
Now to get the Garmin Forerunner 305 working optimally you have to remember the following:
1) Switch the 305 on outside and place it down away from buildings so the GPS satellite detection can work. That can take a minute or two - so go do something else while that happens.
2) For better accuracy set the data sampling rate to every 1 second, and not the automatic mode.
3) The cadence sensor wheel rotation is ignored when calculating speed and distance if the 305 can see GPS satellites.
4) Set the pause speed to be 2mph - so if you have to stop the 305 pauses recording
5) Before each ride remember to press down and hold the lap button (on left) until it does a Reset.
6) Press the start activity button and then don't forget to press it again to stop activity when you are done.
7) I wear the 305 with the display face down on the inside of my left wrist - that way a slight wrist rotation shows me quick glance at metrics as I'm riding.
8) Use the Connect.Garmin web site for logging activity - it is way better than the Garmin Training Center software provided with the 305.
Some things I find annoying about the 305 -
1) You have to switch it off - it does not switch itself off after say 15 minutes of no activity
2) No full GPX export capability with speed, heart rate, cadence - you can only export the GPS route track
3) You cannot make it use the cadence sensor wheel speed calculator as the main distance and speed device.
4) You cannot set the sampling rate to 0.5 seconds - which would be much more accurate for bike riding.
5) Having to wait while it scans for satellites - it should remember home setting and offer to skip the scan.
Otherwise the 305 is awesome. For the price it provides superb features and works with all the major online tracking sites that have Garmin interfaces.
I'm still debating on having all three computers running outdoors. When I'm indoors I skip the HTC Android as that is useless. But on outdoors rides the Google myTracks does a great job and the GPX works with sites that do not support Garmin. The Sigma is still the best for on bike display and metrics. I guess we just have to accept there is no one solution for now - until someone comes out with something that is clearly better and at a price that is affordable. Still by investing in ANT+ sensor devices that should be a win-win going forward.
Last but not least DC Rainmaker here provides the fullest review and information here on using the 305 for everything and more than you ever thought of. Kudos to him!
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Bike Chains, Wheels, Gears, Brakes and other Parts
Continuing the exploration of better biking facts and the details of small wheel bicycling. Recently I was in Philadelphia for a conference and hence out there riding the streets in the evenings. The downtown streets are challenging with old trolley line rails, cobblestones and just the normal city hubris of road works, pot holes and dug over tarmac, not to mention my kerb hopping to get around obstacles and diversions. The good news is that everyone bikes in the city so traffic expects bikes everywhere. The river areas out beyond the Franklin Museum toward the boat houses and rowing clubs are better off with bike lanes and smooth road areas and jogging paths.
Certainly it is a good way to check out how good your wheels, spokes and hubs are and my latest SparCo 451 wheels passed perfectly absorbing the punishment without complaint or consequences. Not so much for my favorite Kirkland vintage aluminum water bottle cage – it split at the weld between the rails and base. Lesson learned is that solid one piece water bottle cages are needed for extended off road and rough road trips.
Then the latest configuration on my Bike Friday Crusoe held its own well with the local group ride folks doing laps on the parkway. Not least of course because it’s so flat and I’m used to having to deal with serious hills on my daily riding. However I did notice the derailleur starting to make grinding and chunking noises in certain gear settings, but I put it down to the excessive rattling and shaking at high speeds on bumpy roads.
Back to wheels and chains, on my return home I installed new Specialites TA chain rings, KMC X9-SL chain and Paul Motolite brakes. Another lesson learned, if your gear changing is off, the derailleur noisy and general road pace down – you need a new chain! Modern chains wear out quite quickly in typically 1,500 miles of use; old chains did not that much because they were near tank proof and gear systems limited to 5 or 7 cogs. Now chains are tuned for modern extended gear systems and although a 1/8th of inch stretch limit does not sound much it really effects how the chain works with the chain rings and your overall power transfer. Having installed new TA chain rings from France, and a new KMC X9 gold chain, and then adjusted the FSA front changer the effect is dramatically better. Smooth precise changing with the shifters, quieter drive train and more efficient pedalling. All is goodness with this setup so strongly recommend this combination with 54T / 42T and the Capreo cassette. Plus they look absolutely amazing on the bike. Everything Specialites TA claims about their chain rings definitely I can’t fault. The changing and power transfer feels awesome, they made a believer of me, the whole ride quality and handling is now the best ever. Life is good as they say. Which also applies to the Paul linear pull brakes, these are pricey, but buy them off eBay direct from Paul Comp. No doubt that their design is the best out there when it comes to getting precise fit and alignment and stopping power on to the rims.
The travelogue with my Bike Friday doubtless continues with some more trips planned, but at least I am now very satisfied with the components and ride quality. The limiting factor at this point is truly myself and not how I have the machine optimized and setup for what I have invested in the components and frame. I will have to see how this stacks up compared to high end Dahon bikes if I get a chance to road test one of those. I highly doubt there will be much difference at this point as the gear ratios, bike weight and wheel sets appear very comparable so riding style and ride quality may be the determining factors.
Labels: Bike Friday Crusoe
Sunday, August 07, 2011
The 406 vis 451 wheels debate and Bike Friday Crusoe
The Bike Friday Crusoe is a multi-function machine with ability to mount either 406 or 451 wheelsets. So when should you use which wheelset? I’ve been riding my Crusoe for over a year now with Speedster 406 wheels equipped with Schwalbe Kojak tires. This is a great workhorse setup either on road or indoors on rollers. It also packs a solid performance punch combined with the Shimano Capreo cassette.
Now I have just installed a set of Spar Co 451 wheels and Schwalbe Stelvio tires its time to consider the differences. First I’ll discuss general handling characteristics and “feel” on the bike, and then look at the numbers to see if they confirm those subjective opinions. And then compare the specs and performance of the two wheelsets to compare those aspects as well.
Impressions from my first ride on the Spar Co 451 wheels were overwhelmingly positive. They are beautifully made and true, the hubs are completely smooth rolling and the black aero spokes perform great. The handling and cornering is more positive and direct than the 406 wheels with faster more stable overall cornering and better retaining of momentum going into hills. Speed wise the 451 wheels are clearly faster; it feels like you have one extra top gear even though both wheelsets have identical Capreo cassettes.
So why ride 406 wheels? At lower speeds for touring with the extra weight hauling equipment the advantage of the 451 disappears and now the extra tire width and depth of the 406 provides better ride comfort and grip in wet or loose road conditions. The 406 sits slightly lower by 1.5 inches, so seat post reach with the 451 is another consideration and dismounting off the bike back to the ground if you have the seat mast in a high position. Also having a 406 rim opens up more space on the frame for racks and fenders or if you are packing the bike into a 29 inch sized suitcase for air travel rather than the newer 31 inch suitcase. Therefore you will pick which wheelset better fits your use needs, or just have a set of each.
Interestingly you would think that the 451 wheelset would be dramatically faster but of course you have to make it ride faster which means more effort and work and power needed. So for the average Bike Friday rider this is probably a wash, they will simply down shift on the 451 wheel to the equivalent work ratio with the 406 wheel and have that 451 top gear only for high speed downhill sections. For spirited road riders however the 451 means the ability to ride a faster pace and train harder on each ride pushing the higher gearing.
What does it take to install the 451 wheelset on the Bike Friday Crusoe? First you can simply swap out the wheels as the rear frame and front forks have clearance for either wheelset. However the brakes either require V brake extenders (see ThorUSA here) to move the brake pads out 2 inches for the 451 rim, or installing a new 451 size brake set. Overall the 451 rim with narrow Stelvio tires works out about 1.5 inches taller than the 406 rim with the 1.35 form factor Kojak tires. That translates to 4.5 inches further on each wheel rotation, and with the Capreo cassette top gear that means 9.4 meters travelled per pedal rotation compared to 8.7 meters, or 8% higher gear on the 451 compared to the 406 which is why it feels like one higher gear riding on the actual road. That 8% however on a 16 mph average ride pace may net around a 1 mph increase in average speed. Ride speed with cornering stability and hill climbing will be noticeably improved with the 451 rims.
Looking at the specifications the two wheelsets are highly comparable. The Spar Co Bike 451 weigh 550 grams front and 800 gram rear and the Speedster 406 weigh 575 grams front and 760 grams rear giving 1,350 grams wheelset compared to 1,335 grams. The Spar Co uses black aero spokes while the Speedster comes with stainless steel aero spokes. Both are rock solid wheels using 20 and 24 spokes on the rims. The front hubs have indivisible performance in being whisper quiet and super smooth rolling. For the rear hubs the Spar Co freewheel ratchet and hub is quieter and seems to roll a little smoother but both are excellent and both are wildly better rolling than stock Shimano hubs.
That is the roundup on 451 vice 406 wheelset rims. I’ll provide further insights as my road testing proceeds and I also intend to try road riding with the 451 setup with regular road bike folks to see how viable that is for shorter rides. There the Bike Friday at 22lbs kerb weight is giving up 5lbs to an average carbon fiber road bike while the gearing and wheel characteristics provide further differences when group riding. Probably not an issue on around a 20 mile ride, but over 30 miles is sure to be more challenging. You can check out the Crusoe with SparCo wheelset here.
Postscript: I've just become aware of another Taiwan source for 20" wheels, Shimano hub (not Capreo) - FAXSON Cycles and reseller here. Good if your drive train is setup for 10 speed Shimano gearing.
Postscript: I've just become aware of another Taiwan source for 20" wheels, Shimano hub (not Capreo) - FAXSON Cycles and reseller here. Good if your drive train is setup for 10 speed Shimano gearing.
