So they do this the week after I come back from LA? Google Maps directions now with bike routes included. This is a very cool addition, as I find myself using the “where the hell am I?” button quite a lot on Google Maps. Now the question is, are they going to add a Pro, Cat 1 or “on my fixie” filter that will adjust the journey time? One feature which I love is the crowd sourcing of the routes. They have put their best wheel forward at making suggested directions, but offer up the functionality for local riders to email in suggested changes to improve the quality. One feature missing though, is showing the best coffee and bike shops en route. Then you are talking about true technology for riders. Imagine this coupled with the Copenhagen wheel we posted earlier (http://elcyclista.com/2010/02/the-copenhagen-wheel/)….that would be pretty damm cool.
I have been watching this product for a while with great interest. One of the things I enjoy most about riding is the physical exertion, so isn’t a bike with an engine a scooter? Although, there is something nice in the idea of being able to just flip on an extra 30watts in the last 20 meters of the State line sprint. Joking aside, I understand that this type of product is not aimed at me, and if it succeeds on getting more people out on bikes – then that is an excellent thing. Who knows where that could lead, and it does make a very good option for a daily commute in bike friendly cities. Potentially more interesting is the technology developed within the wheel hub itself, that if adopted could apply to us all. The hub design allows sensors to collect data as you ride. Not the usual stuff we all collect already (speed, distance, watts, elevation..) but data on your actual route like carbon monoxide, NOx, noise, ambient temperature and relative humidity. This in itself is not so interesting but when crowd sourced with other rider’s data you start to build up a very different view of the environment that you ride or train in. Or as the developers call it “fine-grained environmental information”. On a personal level I would love to know in New York summers where the lowest pollution levels are in a city, in real time as I ride. But on a planning level if it could impact city policy and planning on where the best place to put bike routes are, now that would be something. The hub functionality is controlled from the handlebars via Bluetooth and a smart phone and allows you to view the data in real time. It can also be used as an electronic shifter to change gears, and amazingly lock the bike. Genius. So now I am thinking of a product partnership between Apple, Powertap and Shimano to make a race version of this. Sign me up.
Every so often a product comes along that changes an industry, or in this case a sport. The MetriGear Power Meter when it hits the market in Q1 2010 could well be the ipod for the bike industry. If this thing works like they say, then everything else won’t matter. Every other brand will spend the rest of their days trying to copy it, just like the ipod or the iphone. What we know from Interbike. They have been working on this for 5 years and already have working prototypes. It will be priced around $1000, compared to $3500 for a wireless SRM. It is swappable between bikes, by just swapping your pedals. It weighs in at 219g for the complete package, compared to 919g for the SRM. It can measure the power output from both legs with 38 points a second, compared to a combined single measurement on the SRM. It is being developed with the now established ANT+ wireless platform to work with a selection of head units. They haven’t settled on how to translate the data to the head unit, but they have it working by ANT+ to a fob housed in a water bottle for field testing – I love this shit! The measurement technology fits inside the axel of your pedal, which means that today it can really only be used on Speedplay pedals (lucky old Speedplay). If you aren’t following their progress you need to be, they are posting test ride data to their blog. This is going to be good to watch!
Joby are probably best know in cycling circles for their very innovative camera handlebar grips, but not really for frame manufacturing. Now I have no idea if this bike is actually ridable and I am really not sure I would want to take the risk of trying it out on the hills around here. They have taken a Kona frame and chopped it down to the key lug joints and rear triangle and inserted the Joby grips in place of tubing. Now if it folds in half then it could be interesting as a travel bike.
The new Garmin Edge 500 moves Garmin away from maps on your bar top, to a high-end GPS enabled bike computer. The form is a much smaller and sleeker design (although I am not sure about the durability of a white and blue computer) that has the now tried and tested ANT+ technology allowing you to wirelessly connect to your Power Meter of choice. No info on the materials but the blue back seems to be rubberized which would be a nice feature. Other added features over their other devices include a thermometer and a very smart “you are moving and your computer isn’t on!” alarm. How many rides data has been spoiled by not hitting start again after the coffee shop? It also has a longer battery life than the 705, and saves nearly 2 ounces. It is estimated to hit the market in December this year and retail for around $250. Photo courtesy of Garmin.
This is a great example of technologies coming together to create a very different online experience. Think of it like Google Street View, but done in video that allows you to navigate through the video as it is playing. For an online delivery it is pretty smooth and easy to interact with. Imagine this mounted on the back of a bike inside the peleton going up Ventoux. Now that would really be like riding in the pack.
I got the Garmin 405 a few weeks back and have been testing it out before we head off to France. Initial tests show it to have been a great purchase. Out of the box it was really easy to set up, as was linking it to your free account on Garmin Connect. The watch comes with a USB antenna for your computer, so it is just plug and play. Starting out on a ride you just hit and hold the training button and it will pick up satelites in about a minute, hit start and you can roll off. The only complaint that I have is that is is obviously designed for a runner. The touch bevel for controling the unit is very sensitive, so when you get you wrist into a tuck position or a reverse bend when climbing, it can activate. All that I can tell has happened is it switches to pace and back. So if you can put up with the odd “beep” – there is no probems with the data. On getting back home the antenna automatically senses the device, pulls the data and uploads it to Garmin Connect. It does pull speed and averages, but the good stuff is in the mapping (overlayed onto Google Maps) and the elevation info. It also gives you the options to export the data to use and edit in other programs. All in all this is a pretty good kit addition to get you mapping and elevation. Now all I have to do is figure out how I went to 200ft below sea level for 5 mins.
Just ordered one of these to try out on our trip to France at the end of June. My bar top is already a little packed with my power meter so this will give me GPS data. The new Garmin Connect site is pretty nicely done and will drop the ride data right on to Google maps. They made a lot of improvements to the site and have some really nice ajax UX builds. I should get it next week, so I can do a few test rides before we go. If nothing else I will get a nice circular white spot on my wrist from the sheer size of the thing, and the exposed Irish skin in the heat of the Pyrenees.
Had the pleasure of attending a meeting this afternoon at the Monitor Group on Broadway down by Wall Street. Their offices are up on the 50th floor, so the views are pretty amazing. This was assisted by the thunder storm that was rolling in over Jersey (below). Very hard keeping your train of thought and present when you are looking out at this. The irony is that in most of the offices they have to keep the blinds down because of the heat from the direct sunlight.
