For the better part of the past year, I’ve been most enamored with the Motoactv fitness smart watch. But because it’s been most like a watch, but because it seems like the device most able to be independent from a mobile or web service and still have some value. The problem with the Motoactv is finding one. For as far as I can tell they just aren’t being made anymore.

That’s fine as that availability aspect pushed me to look at other devices. The one sitting at the top of that pile has been the Nike+ Fuel Band. What I like most about the Fuel Band is the design for sure. It’s like like those rubber bracelets many of us carry out thrown away at one time or another. I’m starting to understand some about how it works. And seeing the biggest limitations (can’t swim with it, doesn’t track biking, and don’t see an API to integrate it with my newly acquired N9), I’m something on a pause to getting it. Still, a lot about the Fuel makes sense, and I think is the true motivation behind what I’m trying to do.

Technology is only relevant when it’s personal (and/or when it makes a lot of money).

In looking no longer to get the device that’s cool, but the one that’s effective to the kind of living that I see for myself and close folks around me. A little more than just aspirational tech, it’s got to enable me to do for myself what I probably would have done before.

Now, I’m plenty active already. At least my calendar seems to bear that out. Thing is, I’m active but without much of a clue towards how it’s effecting me physically other than in sleep and eating choices. If I could learn a bit more about the kind and moments of activity that I’m doing, then maybe that information turns into something that makes for longer term changes.

I’ll use the example of 30 Days of Biking last year. Even though I didn’t bike everyday, I was able to see when I ride and where. That made me change a few behaviors towards how interact with friends in the community and that’s made me much wiser cyclist. The tech that helped that along was my mobile, but was more surprisingly the USB generator I win right before I started. Having a fully charged mobile more often meant that I could stay on the bike longer and get life for in areas of town I’d resolved to only driving before. That’s what I see as the purpose of tech.

Companies are right in wanting to make ecosystems for their products. But we also have the responsibility to make ours. The tech we ascribe to had to fit a wider purpose. And when it does, what becomes of your most precious assets?

I’m not doing anything special when riding other than making sure that I have a sufficient amount of layers on when I do. When its under 40F, three layers are the minimum. Visibility is par the course, but also is being comfortable enough to walk into whatever establishments I’ll be attending with little sweat or change of clothes needed.

This morning, the main thought that I had was heat though. I would have been nice to have something like the generator that I have on my bike (used to power my mobile) as something that sent some heat to the handlebar grips. I wondered about this only for a while, for I had the cold on my ears and nose changing those thoughts quickly, but in reading a review about the Tesla Model S at The Verge just a bit ago, I was reminded of that thought this morning, and the things we settle for which could be thought-better and designed for smarter use:

…For instance, there’s quite literally no ignition, nor one of those start-stop buttons that have become popular in recent years. There’s no power switch at all. As long as the key fob — shaped like a Model S — is on you, you just get in and start driving. When you’re done, you just get out. It’s a weird thing to get used to, because you feel like you’re missing a step somewhere.

The key fob has some other tricks up its sleeve, too. Walking away automatically locks the car, which causes all four door handles to retract flush with the body — it made me feel like I was in a sci-fi movie every single time it happened. When you walk back up to the car, the handles extend. But these aren’t mechanical handles: pulling on them detects your touch, which triggers a motorized latch and allows the door to be opened. Besides being wicked cool, the motorized handles give the Model S an ever-so-slight aerodynamic advantage when it’s in motion…

Its one of those things you don’t think about until its designed, and then once you’ve experienced it, you wonder why this isn’t normal. I feel that way about my Trek Valencia. Things like remembering to bring the right kind of lock should be avoided (a capable and heavy lock should be built into the frame, as should a cable lock for the quick visit moments). Or, if I opt to have lights on my bicycle, that there should already be insets for lighting systems that don’t use batteries, but a generator and my body as the fuel for it.

And then that heated grips thingy. It almost doesn’t make sense to those who bike a lot. Most will do like I did this morning and have the wind-breaker gloves with a wool set of gloves under them. But, your hands still get cold. As a matter of fact, I was surprised not just that my hands got cold, but how that effected my riding (I usually don’t get that cold in the hands with this setup). It limited how far I wanted to ride, and make me think even faster on how to get to a local business that had heat and hot chocolate.

In that story about the Tesla Model S, it was noticed how the charging stations just happened to be put near those places you didn’t mind getting out of the car and enjoying the neighborhood. I think that’s pretty smart, and really isn’t the way we go about designing infrastructure that supports getting around. I imagine in Charlotte that something similar could be done given the simple streets and needed cycling/commuting changes.

When I pick up my Civic later today, I’ll be using a key fob to open it, a key to turn it on, and have to remember also that the heat needs to go on. I’ll put my bicycle on the rack and be on my way. Shame that my bike doesn’t have a garage at that mechanic’s place where I could put it, then drive to it when its a little less cold, and a little more able to be taken advantage of for my commute. Trek designed an excellent ride in my Valencia, but in terms of making something that was designed for a commuter, I think the route Tesla is taking offers some lessons, and perhaps some opportunity unmet.

Read this interesting perspective at Urban Velo. Made me think about my own perspectives on riding and a few other areas.

…A friend of mine has been living in the United States for about nine months. Back in Japan, his primary form of transportation was a motorcycle, but since it would have been prohibitively expensive to bring a CB250 on the plane he was left with the options of bicycling, riding the bus, or walking. As a fellow member of the two-wheeled cult, he naturally threw a leg over his host-family’s loaner bike and headed for the college part of town. That was his first and last foray into bicycle transportation in America.

No, thankfully, he didn’t suffer any sort of gruesome injury, nor did he encounter any unusually aggressive road rage. Nonetheless, he quickly determined that the culture of the American roadways was completely devoid of courtesy. And as such, it would be nothing short of unsafe for him to use a bicycle, or even a motorcycle, for transportation during his stay…

Feel free to read the rest at Urban Velo, and probably consider just how much of life you might not be as sensitive towards given your culture’s allowances or dangers.

I guess with 2013 right around the corner, I should probably do one of those look back things. Then again, I deem my year-in-life a bit differently, so all I’ll talk about is cycling… unless you’re reading my words elsewhere.

Cycling.. bicycling, has been a particular passion for me this year. I estimate that I’ve probably ridden about 25% more this year than I did last year. And probably haven’t ridden this much since being in/near college. Outside of a few moments, I’ve enjoyed what’s happened on two wheels, and look forward to growing in this space in 2013 and beyond. Till then, a few highlights.

Making New Friends, Revisiting Stereotypes

Earlier this year, after being invited to a fashion show, I made a few new friends and one of them was looking to get back into biking. She and I took off on a ride one Sunday and I ended up with my steel road bike getting a broken derailleur. Freak accident, but I was helped by a fellow cyclist and then invited to his church. It was at his church that I realized that it wasn’t just them, but myself that had stereotypes concerning cyclists that made for some uneasy and unhealthy moments. I’ve learned a bit since then… and adjusted not just my perception of cyclists, but of all interests that end up with some kind of focused fan-base.

30 Days of Biking Challenge in April

In April, I participated for the first time with the movement called  the 30 Days of Biking Challenge. The goal was to get on the bike every day for 30 days, and I didn’t do too bad. I did have a bit of a moment when I couldn’t bike due to a major flat taking out my primary bike (the backup bike mentioned earlier had not yet seen repairs). But, I did make good on getting on the bike 23 days, and it gave me a chance to just develop a new habit of using my bike for shorter trips rather than my car. I also found that I could be a bit of a bike-snob to many. Something about getting on the bike so much really does something good and bad to you.

Add/Remove
Late in 2011 I added a nice steel bike to my stable. It was a gift from a mentor-friend of mine. After it breaking down on me, I got a bit sad, because even though it was a small bike (about 2-4cm too small in the frame), it was still quite enjoyable to ride on the weekends. I called it my <em?Porsche – harking back to a friend of mine who used to drive his Porsche on the weekends only.

That bike went to the son of a friend of mine. I guess that I could say it was a sale or a trade, but really, I didn’t want anything for it. The bike is missed (it was a steel, classic road bike), and maybe 2013 or close thereafter will see me acquire something similar and get back into a pure road riding affair.

Cycling in 2013
I’ve been asked a good bit this summer and fall if I would continue cycling around Charlotte. I will do so. I don’t see a point in keeping things so driving-oriented. I do think that work activities will make me adjust some of that frequency, at least until the weather warms. In the meantime, I want to explore different technologies to enhance my Trek Valencia.

For one, I want to dig into integrating a smarter and better lighting system on my Valencia. I really liked Project Aura, but see even smarter, and better integrated ideas. Perhaps 2013 will see me move on these integrated lighting ideas a bit more.

Besides the 30 Days Challenge in April, I ended up becoming the winner of a Bike2Power generator for my bike. I really like the idea of having a self-generated source of power. However, some structural decisions made with the Bike2Power generator made for a mixed experience on my end. I would like to do something a bit more integrated such as the generator hubs that I’ve been looking at for a good while.

Lastly, I’d like to do something to integrate my mobiles more into the cycling. I don’t know if I want to be as integrated as what happened with the Prius Bicycle Project (neural tracking, whew), but I do want that contextualized following of my rides and adaptability of the gearing that such a measure offers. I want a smartwatch, but I should probably look at integrating one of those with my bike (that’s not something I thought of before).

All in all, I just see more pedals, more tech, and a bit more advocacy going forward. There are some neat things that can happen on a bike. And perhaps I’ll be amicable enough to those around me to have a few folks join in some of the travels.

This month, I’ve thrown my activities into joining several thousand (!) others in doing the 30 Days of Biking Challenge. The goal is ismply to get on the bicycle each day for 30 days. For me, I thought this would be a pretty doable proposition – with any exception of spring rains. Well, Its been nine days of the month, and I’ve ridden five. Can’t make up days, but I can make better efforts.

Adding to the challenge of riding is that I’m also jumping into doing this with Loving the Bike – a global community of cyclists who pretty much just enjoy the activity of getting in between the wheels. There are beginners, athletes, and every once in a while someone famous to the bicycling community stops through. Its an interesting group, and one of whom I’ve grown to appreciate their insights at the weekly Twitter chat #bikcschool.

With the Loving the Bike edition of things, there’s some collecting of your ride data for points and a prize. Initially, I was doing this with just the emails that I’d send in after I rode, but after a bit of a reset, I’ve had to revisit how I’m logging this.

Oh yea, the reset. Like I said earlier, I’ve not ridden all of the days of April. I sufferered a broken valve stem (the core part that keeps the air in the tire) on Day 4 and didn’t have the funds to get a new tube. things have been very tight this month with MMM, and so I had to just sit still and wait a while. And let me tell you, once you get on a roll riding, its like a bad case of withdrawal for you to stop – for any reason.

I eventually got the ability to get that fixed and as of today I’m back on the road. Aside from the headwind, it was really a nice day to get out and ride. I needed it – and perhaps a few others around me.

What do I hope to get out of this 30 Days challenge? Well, to be honest, initially it was just something to add a bit of variety to my day. But, that pause set things in a bit of different focus. I’ve been in the midst of several decisions over the past weeks, along with looking for some work to help with the expenses. You can lose sight of what matters when you are fighting to make sure that gas stays in the tank and a roof stays over your head. Riding was an escape from that, not a push to go forward. After addressing the inner tube on Saturday, I left Sunday alone from riding (despite the holiday and visiting) to think about how I would go forward if biking would be a part of that. I settled on (a) logging things better, and (b) being less afraid to tackle the challenge of living in this city with a intent towards biking.

The log is simpler than whatever I was doing before. A Google Docs spreadsheet, a few formulas, and some attention to whatever the URL is that I’m posting pictures to – its simple and works. The aspect of being courageous towards riding and life is different. Its not that zealous energy that I’ve had in times past. It can’t be if its going to last. Its got to be more focused, more intentional, and yielding towards that perspective of life that I have in which others might not. I’ve got to be ok with that, and then go ahead and take hold of it.

How am I doing today? Well, so far so good. But, there’s a number of days to go – let alone a birthday and poetry collection to begin wrapping up. Constantly evolving… focus. Just another gear in between the wheels.

Then the street was taken from me
I couldn’t get any closer to her shoulder or hair
So I had to find another pedal
And a pace that was even faster
I wish it were flatter
And that I had an engine
Because the hill is challenging my convictions
Speaking promises I didn’t know I was meant to make
So I stood up some
And pressed through the cold winds further

Then I saw what could have only been a mirage
Well, only if it were a desert and I were parched
There you were coming towards me
And all the energy that was taken from me
And all the strength to remain in this a bit further
No longer mattered
Because I saw the same grit in your pedals
The same arms carrying this love up a hill
On that pink frame I never saw before
You pedaled down beside me
Took from my hand the flowers intended to blossom in yours
Placed them in basket
And planted your hand in mine
We turned to face down the hill
And with a glee our feet arose from the pedals

My car was taken from me
And I was convinced that the strength on my pedals alone would be enough
Until you joined yours to mine
And we found that this life was still going to have hills
Our determination to go up them
And not stop praying to make it up, over, and through
Was all the engine we needed
Because a love like this takes two pedals
One to go up
While the other paces down
All the fuel this engine needed
Was a car to be removed
And our lives to pedal a bit closer.

This poem was in inspired by, and submitted to, the Lovely Bicycle, Velo Valentine Bike Giveaway Contest. I was a bit late on my submission. But, not on the inspiration apparently.

When we had a few social moments during that Sunday school time, it was asked of me a few times about my riding. One of the questions that ended up catching me off canter was something like, “so, you’re one of those Spandex wearing folks?” I think I nearly took offense at it now thinking back some. My answer was off-putting in two directions, “oh, no no. I’m not that serious of a cyclist.”

That’s when it hit me. I’m guilty of being stereotypical against cyclists. That felt… weird. I like biking. In fact, I enjoy the many friendships and travels that cycling has afforded me to date. But, I don’t see myself as those whom are more into the pedals than I am. On the other side of that, I’ve been told that I was elitist in my appreciation (zealousness) of that two-wheeled freedom.

Ouch. Being on both sides of a stereotype is no way to live. Its about as double-minded as one gets. But, it was so clear to me in that moment after I answered the man that I had to make a decision as to how I would proceed. 

Much like I would have to evaluate people on their character, or churches on their love for one another, I’d have to mature in my appreciation of cycling. I’d have to get past the appearances piece, the affluence piece, the effects of being a cyclist that just aren’t seen so clearly here (and in some other places I cycle).

Gosh… the mirror is a strong thing. Thank God for there being another gear on a bike. I can move forward past this. And hopefully in the next frame that I’m asked or talk about cycling, I’m better able to talk about what I like and don’t like without contextualizing it in such a politically-charged manner.

The first story isn’t really my own. It is a story of the impact that modernization and the shifting economic tides have taken on cycling in China. If you aren’t familiar with the trend, the growing affluence and economic prospectics within China has quickly taken the bicycle out of the primary sphere of things. I think that the statement goes something like, to a newly married couple they need only a home, a radio, family, and a bicycle (that’s not the entire thing, but its close). Now, the culture has moved such that the automobile is now the symbol of moving ahead in society and therefore the infrastructures to support that are on those things that economies adn cultural shifts happen.

I came across a website that is documenting this trend in one area within China. What’s interesting here is that despite the move away of cycling, the fact that it is a transportation center-in-the-making, and that cycling is still in the recent memory of many of the residents, there’s some bowing towards cycling, even though its more or less being pushed to the sides of the road. Interesting stuff. I’d definitly recommend taking a look at CoLab Radio’s Bike Lanes of Kunming.

After sitting on that for a few days, I started thinking a bit about how backwards I am going with trying to bike more places. I mean, if bicycling is considered something that doesn’t promote forward progress to a growing economic region (China), what kind of sense does it make for me to persue cycling more in Charlotte if its clearly not forward thinking (being facecious, I know better). But, it was something that I thought long and hard about. And must admit that I was probably also a bit jaded from the reading of Operation AJAX that I recently downloaded to my iPad (get it, its very well done for a history book done comic-style).

The second gear (story) has to do more about what you stumble into when you do let a culture of cycling kind of take effect. After attending a friend’s birthday party Saturday night, one of the people from the party and I decided to get together to ride on Sunday morning. Things got started a bit early as she needed to push the time earlier. We connected at a (kinda) halfway point – I rode about 9.25 miles and she about 5 miles. We then continued on a loop and she made it home tired but pleased about the ride. I continued, only to have my derauler break less than a mile from where she and I parted. Bummer.

I pulled off to the side of the road (actually, someone’s lawn) and tried to see what happened. It just flat broke and bent all up. That was quite not good because I was essentially at the halfway point of my ride (about 18miles into it). The bike was not rideable. I couldn’t even get it to the point of making it a single speed. However, a gentleman and his wafe saw me and offered me a ride back to my part of town. It was totally out of their way, and very much opposite from their direction of home. Yet, they offered. And showed me the value of bicycling that goes beyond simple pedals.

We talked about cycling and faith. His wife showed me a picture of one of his bikes in great condition (a very pretty Trek Maldone 5.2) and another that was smashed. He had been hit by a driver and the bike was literally unrecongnizable. We talked about their trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the rides he did there. I was very much encouraged towards how his wife was there to help him do the ride, she supported him greatly. Then I learned of his riding across the country. That was amazing. And then we talked about my faith and how I got to Charlotte, why I ride, etc. I was given some good wisdom to take with me the rest of the day. Wisdom that was of a better exercise than the 15 or so miles that I had left to ride.

And so I end up with this lesson. Bicycling isn’t just about exercise. Its not about being defiant of cars. And its not about being cheap and green. Its about a method of wise standing with the culture around you. And if you bike well, then you are rewarded with the kinds of experiences that can be life enriching. There are dangers, and there are definitely challenges in respect to how your culture moves forward themselves.

Its when you live between the wheels that you see this. You get a chance to pace youself a bit better for the life that’ ahead just as much as you are able to roll. For me, I’m set to figure out that there’s another gear to this life that I’ve got to handle better. And I can’t do it with an old frame. That will break on you at the worst time. You’ve got to take your best frame, your strongest legs, and a realization of whom you are, and then take those steps forward. It might not be the future that you want, but, it will be the kind of future that’s best for all – at least, that’s what it feels like in this gear.

I was too excited. I didn’t make it a half-block before I realized that I needed to dress a bit warmer. I found one of my Nike-Fit shirts and put that under the mock-neck and cycling shirt I was wearing. On with the wind-proof gloves, and into my bag went the iPad, gifted mobile, and my Nokia wind-breaker (yep, they apparently make those too). I got outside and enjoyed myself.

By the time the day was done, I had to be ready for the cold. It was a lot of hours since I’d left the house to connect, and now it was dark, the temperature dropped 15-some-odd degrees, and the wind picked up a lot. And yet, there was this smile on my face. I knew very well that it was cold, and I don’t like the cold. But, this was going to be a good ride. It was a good night to ride.

Biking around Charlotte is sometimes looked at as something of a challenge. Many people simply bike for fashion, and those that don’t are dealt the social card of “not being good enough even for a car.” Its a strange paradox, especially when I enjoy driving and riding so much. And yet, I know that if I can just get onto those pedals for a few hours, sense will be made out of a lot of it.

Its cold now. My joints are telling me that its nearly time to put the bikes into hibernation and find something else to do to keep the blodd going and the energy fresh. But, I’m not sure that I want to be subjected to the cold. Yes, it means we move a bit slower, we pay attention to dark, frosted streets, and don’t take chances when the clouds look like grey Cool Whip. Yea, I get it. Cold. But, not enough just yet to keep me from riding. At least not when the weather breaks.

Because at that point, I’m not caring about Charlotte or the cold, just what the next hill will look like and if I’ll see someone else redefining this city by a different kind of temperature.

Ford e-Bike Concept

I just wonder what’s the best application of that motor. Is the electronic motor augmenting the pedal power that you already put down? Or, is it mean to take over for short periods (a quarter to a half mile) while you catch a breather during a commute? I remember when doing a ride in the Danville, VA area and I was totally riding on fumes when I saw another riding, but he had a Trek model with an electric motor. I started to throw a face, but then I realized he was smiling and I wasn’t.

Then you have the parts of concepts which include the application of a mobile phone as a route recorder, GPS, and social connector. I thnk that’s great And could totally do with that kind of integration. I’m just not sure that such efforts to integrate the bicycle into mobility are thinking wide enough (in terms of how many types of phones folks that would use this most would best use). There’s some part of this where I’m like "yea, this makes sense." And another where I’m basically thinking, "no, this isn’t it."

I’ve beefn feeling more and more like I’m in the mode of riding everywhere. Granted, some items keep me from doing more than simply riding, and that’s caused me to think about riding in a somewhat more detached manner. A motor on a bike, sure, that makes sense, only if the motor is charged from me pedaling before. Lights that show a visible safety area around me while on a busy street makes sense. As does the bike like Ford’s which is able to adjust the suspension based on my riding history and road conditions.

If the concepts can go far enough to provoke a dream, then get me out riding towards making that dream reality, then the marketing’s gotten me sold.