Great ride in, after tightening the freehub on the rear axle that I obviously didn't do well enough when I replaced the cassette. The new computer is going to greatly improve my performance because I can read out my speed and force myself to maintain it.
Year to date I'm at 2,452 kilometers of biking vs. about 4,900 potential kilometers. Moderate winds, but sunny and really nice overall.
Listened to This American Life on the way in. Great show on how New York state called in the same gent who fixed New York City's budget in the 1980s to fix the state's. The politicians didn't like his no nonsense approach to balancing budgets and his recommendation was rejected. This was contrasted with Barbados, which adopted a US dollar peg in the 1990s, then got the trade unions and company management to agree on how to work together for the sake of the entire country. Granted, Barbados with only 300,000 people is easier to manage than the state of New York, but they got it done.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Veterans with brain injuries
I was in Oregon with high school buddies the previous weekend, then in Toronto all last week, so no cycling. But I fit in a run in Beaverton, Oregon which coincidentally is the Nike headquarers. I also fit in a boardwalk run in the Beaches, Toronto with old friend Steve, so didn't feel like a complete slouch.
Here at work in Vancouver the company launched a staff "stepping" program to encourage everyone to get active, so we all have pedometers and daily tracking sheets. I did a run/hike last night around West Van and built up 8,500 steps, then the ride this morning picked up another 4,000. I calculated it would be 5,500 rotations, so with the downhill coasting, 4,000 makes sense. It should be a lot higher on the ride home.
I bought a bike repair stand in Portland, and also picked up some tools over the weekend as well as a cycle computer. I replaced the worn rear cassette by taking it off with the new cassette remover and chainwhip tools. When you replace a worn cassette, you have to also replace the chain so I did that as well. That last sentence implied it was easy, but with trial and error it took about four hours. When I rode in today I found the cranking to be far smoother with better power transmission. Unfortunately my rear wheel started wobbling, and a check on the internet showed I didn't lock down the axle enough. So I get to do it all over again tomorrow.
The new bike computer is great and tells me that I biked on average about 30 kilometers per hour, with a maximum speed of 65 down a long hill. The ride is exactly 18.5 kilometers and not 18.1. Time was 48 minutes, but I needed about 4 minutes to check out my wobbly rear wheel. The weather was sunny, with some wind, and it was a fine ride.
The show today was on veterans who experience hidden brain injury from shock waves during bombings. Because the symptons aren't connected to visible injuries the traditional military response has been to toughen up the soldier and get rid of the psychological problem. However, the problems are not always psychological and can be from damage to the brain. The army is not doing enough to diagnose, treat and take care of soldiers with this type of injury. The associated cost could be huge to the military, because soldiers can suffer permanent brain damage that affects their ability to earn an income and live a full life after their service.
Here at work in Vancouver the company launched a staff "stepping" program to encourage everyone to get active, so we all have pedometers and daily tracking sheets. I did a run/hike last night around West Van and built up 8,500 steps, then the ride this morning picked up another 4,000. I calculated it would be 5,500 rotations, so with the downhill coasting, 4,000 makes sense. It should be a lot higher on the ride home.
I bought a bike repair stand in Portland, and also picked up some tools over the weekend as well as a cycle computer. I replaced the worn rear cassette by taking it off with the new cassette remover and chainwhip tools. When you replace a worn cassette, you have to also replace the chain so I did that as well. That last sentence implied it was easy, but with trial and error it took about four hours. When I rode in today I found the cranking to be far smoother with better power transmission. Unfortunately my rear wheel started wobbling, and a check on the internet showed I didn't lock down the axle enough. So I get to do it all over again tomorrow.
The new bike computer is great and tells me that I biked on average about 30 kilometers per hour, with a maximum speed of 65 down a long hill. The ride is exactly 18.5 kilometers and not 18.1. Time was 48 minutes, but I needed about 4 minutes to check out my wobbly rear wheel. The weather was sunny, with some wind, and it was a fine ride.
The show today was on veterans who experience hidden brain injury from shock waves during bombings. Because the symptons aren't connected to visible injuries the traditional military response has been to toughen up the soldier and get rid of the psychological problem. However, the problems are not always psychological and can be from damage to the brain. The army is not doing enough to diagnose, treat and take care of soldiers with this type of injury. The associated cost could be huge to the military, because soldiers can suffer permanent brain damage that affects their ability to earn an income and live a full life after their service.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Last post of the week: Up to 2,413 Kms YTD
Have a client meeting Friday morning, so no biking. Going direclty to Oregon to see high school friends for the weekend, so will not get much excercise. I'm part of a "stepping" team competition here at work so I have to see if the pedometer works on the bike. If not, I'll add some running.
Capitalism Doomed?
2 day update: Got a flat on Monday AM so wound up getting a partial ride in, but the ride home was fine. Left the house without a spare tube because I ran out of patches, and specifically said to my wife that I hoped I wouldn't get a flat ("Ha ha....") Of course I had a nail in the tire by the time I got to Cypress. Tuesday it rained in the AM, but was beautiful on the way home.
NPR On Point's show was on the success of state capitalism vs. private capitalism. China and Singapore were discussed as being able to unilaterlly manage their economies without interference from private corporations or elected bodies, e.g. Congress. If China needs to change policy or spend money right away it can do it, whereas the U.S. Congress needs to have hearings, draft motions, etc. before getting anything done.
Good discussion on how large businesses in N. America and Europe are accustomed to getting their way through lobbying and relationships, but when they enter China or state-run markets they are in a far more subordinate position. Also a discussion on China's growing problems: Sure, they have a lot of jobs, but most of them are low-paying, subsistence jobs that help exports, but there's no money left to create a domestic consumer economy. As China's wages go up there is the threat that export jobs are affected, and the economic gap is not filled by employing these workers to produce for the domestic market. Singapore is hailed as the ideal economic model for state capitalism, and achieves a balance of personal liberties and economic freedom, all controlled by a benevolent government. Having worked there, it should be stated clearly that Singapore is easy to manage because it's geographically small and therefore easier to control than say India or America.
NPR On Point's show was on the success of state capitalism vs. private capitalism. China and Singapore were discussed as being able to unilaterlly manage their economies without interference from private corporations or elected bodies, e.g. Congress. If China needs to change policy or spend money right away it can do it, whereas the U.S. Congress needs to have hearings, draft motions, etc. before getting anything done.
Good discussion on how large businesses in N. America and Europe are accustomed to getting their way through lobbying and relationships, but when they enter China or state-run markets they are in a far more subordinate position. Also a discussion on China's growing problems: Sure, they have a lot of jobs, but most of them are low-paying, subsistence jobs that help exports, but there's no money left to create a domestic consumer economy. As China's wages go up there is the threat that export jobs are affected, and the economic gap is not filled by employing these workers to produce for the domestic market. Singapore is hailed as the ideal economic model for state capitalism, and achieves a balance of personal liberties and economic freedom, all controlled by a benevolent government. Having worked there, it should be stated clearly that Singapore is easy to manage because it's geographically small and therefore easier to control than say India or America.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Superweeds, and I'm not talking "weed"
Had an early phone call so I lifted my game and made it in 46 minutes. 13C, no wind or rain. Year-to-date I've biked 2,359 KMs vs. a potential 4,308 KMs if I had biked 100% of the time to work. That's 55% of the time on the bike, 45% on the bus.
Today's NPR On Point show was on the evolution of agricultural superweeds after Monsanto introduced Roundup in the 1970s. It worked great and allowed farmers to stop manual tilling to control weeds, and with fertilizer reduced the need to rotate crops. More money, more efficiency. But some weeds are now resistant and farmers are getting nervous again. Should industry spray more, use stronger chemicals and live with the risk of even more resistant weeds and environmental pollution?
Here comes the need for balance again. Non-farmers and activists simply say "Told you so" and "Go organic", but practical farmers say "It's not economical anymore to pull weeds, and we can't hire people to do it." In the middle of that, progressive farmers are using a combination of reasonable chemical application, crop rotation and ground cover plants to keep weeds at bay and avoid over reliance on chemicals. I would absolutely avoid strengthening the chemicals because without doubt we know that superweeds and pollution will materialize. I think the public needs to pay more for food if it results in a more sustainable environment. The public won't WANT to pay, but as with other things (e.g. national debt, reliance on cheap oil, and poor lifestyle habits) people have to be realistic about the repercussions of continually relying on an economic answer to their problems.
Today's NPR On Point show was on the evolution of agricultural superweeds after Monsanto introduced Roundup in the 1970s. It worked great and allowed farmers to stop manual tilling to control weeds, and with fertilizer reduced the need to rotate crops. More money, more efficiency. But some weeds are now resistant and farmers are getting nervous again. Should industry spray more, use stronger chemicals and live with the risk of even more resistant weeds and environmental pollution?
Here comes the need for balance again. Non-farmers and activists simply say "Told you so" and "Go organic", but practical farmers say "It's not economical anymore to pull weeds, and we can't hire people to do it." In the middle of that, progressive farmers are using a combination of reasonable chemical application, crop rotation and ground cover plants to keep weeds at bay and avoid over reliance on chemicals. I would absolutely avoid strengthening the chemicals because without doubt we know that superweeds and pollution will materialize. I think the public needs to pay more for food if it results in a more sustainable environment. The public won't WANT to pay, but as with other things (e.g. national debt, reliance on cheap oil, and poor lifestyle habits) people have to be realistic about the repercussions of continually relying on an economic answer to their problems.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Is the internet making us dumber?
AM: 10C, wind E6, drizzle, 54 minutes. Slow because I had a big breakfast after an early call. Won't do that again!
The NPR On Point show was a debate between two guys who argued about the effect of the web, SMS, Twitter etc. on our ability to consume and process large amounts of material, such as reading an educational text or history book. Our brains are being trained to demand stimulation and sound bites, because of hyperlinks in web pages, etc. The contrary point is that it develops more nimble thinking. As always, I think a balance is required, but without doubt we're all getting more peripheral info about many things, and not the reverse. I'm glad I did an MBA and have written research based reports that require organization and consistency. It helps me remember that processing and creating a large, focused amount of material requires time and revisions. Whereas blogging for example can be done purely as a stream of thought, without care for a real theme, perfect style, etc.
The NPR On Point show was a debate between two guys who argued about the effect of the web, SMS, Twitter etc. on our ability to consume and process large amounts of material, such as reading an educational text or history book. Our brains are being trained to demand stimulation and sound bites, because of hyperlinks in web pages, etc. The contrary point is that it develops more nimble thinking. As always, I think a balance is required, but without doubt we're all getting more peripheral info about many things, and not the reverse. I'm glad I did an MBA and have written research based reports that require organization and consistency. It helps me remember that processing and creating a large, focused amount of material requires time and revisions. Whereas blogging for example can be done purely as a stream of thought, without care for a real theme, perfect style, etc.
The Perfect Tomato, in the rain
AM: 13C, wind SE 15km/hr, 60 minutes at least. Downpour, took lots of time of my ride, and complicated by flat tire that needed replacing before I left. Small nail right through the tire.
PM: Went to friend's house to watch the Stanley Cup, which Chicago wrapped up. Got a ride home from Jeanne.
NPR On Point show was on tomatoes, of all things. But it was completely fascinating. Evening ride was on grey divorce, ala the Gores. Really pretty boring as I'm not too grey and am happily married.
PM: Went to friend's house to watch the Stanley Cup, which Chicago wrapped up. Got a ride home from Jeanne.
NPR On Point show was on tomatoes, of all things. But it was completely fascinating. Evening ride was on grey divorce, ala the Gores. Really pretty boring as I'm not too grey and am happily married.
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