New Bike

After reading up online and spending about a week looking and a day test riding, I finally settled on a bike that I am very excited about. It's a new Trek FX 7.3 in blue. I tried a couple of road bikes, but they felt pretty uncomfortable (I'm just not used to them), and I think the more upright riding style is better for city commuting. I biked home from the shop Saturday and felt surprisingly confident riding in city traffic. The bike is very light and responsive, it took the hills well, and the breaking felt good too. And it looks great. I can't wait to take it for a longer ride through the park!

The Gadget Search: First Try

I bought a Nike + running system on my lunch break today. Kurt suggested I try it when I posted about running watches last week, (though I noticed that he's been complaining about the sensor in his last few posts). It's nothing like the more expensive systems. From what I read, its accuracy runs in the low 90 percents, and it doesn't monitor heart rate, or make pretty graphs, or have a GPS device. But since I already have an ipod nano (OK, technically it belongs to Andy, but I got it for him, and I mostly use it, just like the guitar), the total cost was only $37 dollars - $29 for the system, and $8 bucks for a little shoe wallet to put the sensor in. If I can calibrate it to somewhere near 95% accuracy, it might be all I need for now. Anyway, it's certain to be more accurate than than the combination of Google mapping and a cell phone I've been using thus far.

Even if I do like it, I'll probably buy a Forerunner eventually. I'm enough of a geek to want the higher accuracy and better tricks, even if I'm not yet enough of a runner to really justify it. I know I said I didn't like the look of the Forerunner, but after seeing the size and look of some of the other ones, including Nike, I think I actually prefer something that's clearly a "device," rather than a watch. But that's for some other day. First, I'm going to give the little Nike pebble a day in court.

Wanted: Running Watch

Remember all that stuff I wrote about simplicity, about running when I want, where I want, for free? Throw that all out the window. I want a fancy running watch with heart rate monitor, and pace calculator and everything else. But which one? At something over $300 regardless of brand, I'm feeling some trepidation. I'd prefer to spend somewhere around $150, but it seems that in order to monitor speed, I'll have to spring for the more expensive version. If there's a good less expensive speed tracker, please tell me. i-run links to an excellent blog story explaining the technology of pace tracking. The story also evaluates most of the main contenders.

I'm turned off by the size and look of the Garmin Forerunners - I just don't like the idea of going out with a big clunky GPS device strapped to my wrist. And since I have an Apple Powerbook rather than a PC, I won't be able to interface with the thing anyway. If you are thinking about a Forerunner, however, there's currently a $50 rebate on the 205s and 305s - get it before May 15th.

So on to the Nike Triax Elite and Polar 625X models, both equally expensive and with similar technology (neither brand seems to use GPS). They're both ugly, but Nike seems a bit sleeker, with an S shaped band and face for easier viewing. Since I'm not an elite runner, or even an elite blogger, I don't have the luxury of testing each out. But I can go to the store and try them on and push their buttons, which is what I have planned for tomorrow - after my run.

Looking for a jacket

The one problem with the IllumiNITE jacket I like is that it doesn't have a hood, and in the heavy rain, I'd prefer to have something over my head, preferably with a brim. So on my lunch break today, I walked over to the New Balance store on Sutter Street to look at their running clothes. I found one excellent option -- this "Nemo" jacket (at left) with a brimmed hood you can zip into the collar. My store offered the jacket in teal only, though black and purple are available on line. Maybe a little expensive at $124, but lightweight and mostly well designed. I was concerned only about visibility: though the jacket has ample reflective piping on the front and sleeves, there is only one line of piping on the back. Presumably, one should be running facing traffic, so perhaps the front reflection is most important, but I don't see why they couldn't add another line or two along the back for extra safety. I decided to look further before deciding. Does anyone have a favorite rain repellent jacket to recommend?

Wanted

The new Asics 2120s

Aspira Softshell Jacket by IllumiNITE