Saturday, July 17, 2010
Ouch...bike crash
My last post was July 8, and that evening I played softball then headed home. Part of my front fender became loose and wedged itself into my front spokes, and caused a wipeout. Several hours and an ambulance ride later I found myself in Lions Gate hospital with a concussion and range of scrapes. Luckily my helmet took most of the shock, but I wound up breaking a bone in my face, and nothing else. I'm a pretty ugly brute at the moment, with scabs slowly dropping off. And it's taken a while to overcome the concussion, which left me "slow" to say the least. And I've been unable to hardly walk, save bike, but I will feel up to it next week!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Summer finally arrived in Vancouver
One of my kids "borrowed" my iPod and when I left yesterday and today it was buried, so no podcasts.
The weather is fantastic here, with blue sky and warm winds. After not biking for six days, during my ride in yesterday I felt strong as an ox and was probably pumped up from watching the Tour de France. I also think the new cassette and chain are creating much better power conversion so I can go faster. The bike computer displays my speed and because this is a constant motivator to keep up the pace I'm certainly going a shade faster on average.
I left at 6 o'clock this morning before the sun rose above the horizon because I had an early teleconference. I think I need to do this everyday in order to avoid too much sun and traffic as well as to just enjoy the view.
2,630 kilometers year to date. My clear weather goal is to get into Vancouver within 40 minutes and to get home within 55 minutes. If it rains then everything changes because the additional wet weather gear slows down the cadence considerably.
The weather is fantastic here, with blue sky and warm winds. After not biking for six days, during my ride in yesterday I felt strong as an ox and was probably pumped up from watching the Tour de France. I also think the new cassette and chain are creating much better power conversion so I can go faster. The bike computer displays my speed and because this is a constant motivator to keep up the pace I'm certainly going a shade faster on average.
I left at 6 o'clock this morning before the sun rose above the horizon because I had an early teleconference. I think I need to do this everyday in order to avoid too much sun and traffic as well as to just enjoy the view.
2,630 kilometers year to date. My clear weather goal is to get into Vancouver within 40 minutes and to get home within 55 minutes. If it rains then everything changes because the additional wet weather gear slows down the cadence considerably.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Managing budgets in NY and Barbados
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.
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.
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.
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