Gadgets

New Gadget Anybody?

I want to go out for a run but I'm stuck in the flat all day waiting for a delivery - I had to pay extra for the privilige of having my saturday ruined, what was I thinking? I'm using the down time to surf the net and discover new gadgets that I can't possibly live without.

How about the iPod radio remote for starters?

I was reading Joggerbloggers post this morning about the joys of finding unexpected songs on his shuffle, including tunes from his mother in laws lifelong collection. This would absolutely horrify me. I can't bear even my own old songs appearing unexpectedly during my run and since I've been trying out The Filter to manage my playlists this tends to happen quite a bit.

None of this should be too much of a problem of course I could always skip the inappropriate song and move on. When I'm running though, and the nano is attached to my arm or worse still, secreted in a highly inaccessible zipped pocket of my backpack, skipping songs requires you to be double jointed or stationary.

That is where the little remote comes in handy, I can clip it to my shirt and lose the nervous anticipation of the next song. The radio is just a bonus feature.

**UPDATE 19/01/07**
Well, I went for it. My little gadget arrived on Wednesday. It's true that the radio reception isn't superb but I managed to put up with up during my bus commute and it was so enjoyable I managed to zip straight past the hospital and had to back track.

As I said though, I was buying it for the remote feature and not the radio. I tested it on this weeks commute and immediately came across a problem as it no longer fits in my Nike armband because of the large adaptor at the base. I managed to fit it through the little hole in my backpack though so it looks like me and the backpack are going to have to remain bonded. Its good to be able to control the music during my run though.

Gadgets

Running - The Purists Sport?

Running is normally considered the minimalist sport, much favoured by purists who just like to pop on a pair of shoes and head out of the door to freedom. I somehow manage to thwart this image and see a necessity in spending the best part of a months salary on "essential" running clobber.

This snap shows a representative sample of the gear I require to push one foot in front of the other. Its amazing I can even move under the weight of all this gear.

Dr Nick asked me, a few entries back, whether the GPS actually improved my running performance or whether it was just the gadget factor. Thats quite a toughy really. It has undoubtedly improved my running but only really by providing me with the incentive to get out there and run.

I suppose the actual question he wanted answering was "will it improve my running?". This again is a tough question. I tend to think if it was going to work for you, you'd have one by now.

I enjoy the post run analysis more than the actual running. If I forgot the garmin - I just wouldn't bother running, it has become the most important feature to me. I run to feed its little data banks. If you were just such a data fiend I reckon you wouldn't have any difficulty rationalising the expense.

Here's my list of "essential" running gadgets and utilities from 2006:

1. Garmin Forerunner 305 - see above for my sad addicts confession. Here for a review and comparison with other speed and distance monitors. Plenty of other bloggers have seen the light as well and adorn their sites with the maps and stats acquired en-route: Steve's Running, Trail Runner, Celeste and Getting Buff


2. SportTracks - Training log software. I'm tempted to put this in at number 1 as it is the reason that the garmin forerunner is such a dream gadget. Without SportTracks the gps system would be seriously emasculated. SportTracks is available for free download and I can't recommend it strongly enough for anyone with a gps unit. It is by and far the best sports diary I have come across. Whats more it continues to be a work in progress, with the developer working closely with the users to make it increasingly brilliant. Most of the stats I dsplay in this blog are cut directly out of SportTracks.


3. Runners World Marathon schedules - I'm not up for the marathon yet but these have been made available as downloadable schedules for the garmin forerunner. You can select the schedule based on standard predicted finish times or alter each for your specific target. I've been playing around with these schedules as part of the testing phase and have found them to be excellent. Even without completing the full program I now have a load of training routines to add variety to my runs.


4. iPod Nano - I don't run with this all the time, sometimes its a joy to hear the birds and the rowers. The good thing about running with music though is that it adds an element of bouncing fun and it stops me hearing my gasping breath. It also stops me from hearing the fattist abuse hurled from white vans. I haven't been tempted by the Nike+ phenomonen, mainly because I have the forerunner, but you can see some interesting Nike+ paraphenalia at Booyaa.


5. The Filter. One of the reasons I don't use the iPod too much while running is that I struggle to develop suitably stirring playlists. I just can't be arsed to dedicate that much time to iTunes. My latest discovery is another free download and seems to be working wonders for my playlist doldrums. I can highlight a few songs that typify the mood I'm after and then press a magic button on The filter console and watch it search through my library to propose a whole new playlist. Apparently it learns from its mistakes and takes into account both my preferences and those of the online community. It seems pretty good so far.

Gadgets

Garmin Forerunner 305 Review

My last speed and distance watch, the Polar RS200SD was beginning to get a bit tatty, so I took the opportunity to try out the latest thing in sports watches - the Garmin Forerunner 305.

Continue reading "Garmin Forerunner 305 Review"

Gadgets

Possible Solution to Speed and Cadence Issues

I still have the ongoing problem with the intermittent response from both the speed and the cadence sensor. As my new bike is turning up next week I need to get it sorted out as a matter of urgency.
I don't want anything to get in the way of some serious training so I have done a bit of research and it looks like this might be a useful tip.

To increase the transmission range on the S510/S520/S710/S710i/S720 s-series speed/cadence sensors only:
- Remove sensor from the bike.
- Undo 2 small screws holding the two halves of the sensor together with a small philips screwdriver.
- Carefully remove one section of the housing (end with cable ties).
- Carefully slide the exposed printed circuit board a little way out.
- Remove the jumper plug from the inner most pin and insert it over the two pins closest to the edge of the circuit board. This will give the maximum range. Shorting out the inner two pins with the jumper plug gives the medium range.
- Re-assemble carefully in the reverse order.
- Becareful not to over-tighten the two screws which can either distort or crack the case leaving the unit not water resistant.
- Further information can be found on Page G82 of the S510 user's manual or Page G90 of the S710i/S720i user's manual.

web link

Gadgets

Speed Sensor failing with the polar s series

After about 2 weeks of playing with the new toy the speed function failed, I removed the sensors and remounted but regardless of position I couldn't get the function to return. As it was failing it would work off and on so on download it appeared I had been stop starting constantly. The cadence monitor has started doing the same thing.

The HRM receiver and transmitter works fine if I ignore the bike features but then I could have spent considerably less on a heart rate monitor without the bike features.

I have contacted polar and they have given me a number of pointers to check out. Read on if you are having the same issues.

Continue reading "Speed Sensor failing with the polar s series"

Gadgets

More Graphing Genius

I promised to show you a few snaps from the Nokia 5140 after I've downloaded the days commute:

This just shows the altitude, heart rate and cadence functions on a pretty decent colour display. It would show speed as well but I seem to be having problems with the speed sensor.

This is a really useful summary feature that isn’t even available on the PC software. Have you noticed that it says I’ve used 839 calories? That’s just the cycle home – I should be a flippin rake by now, instead I continue to look like a brick shit house on wheels.

Gadgets

Polar 725 - Graphed and ready to go

Here's an example screen shot from the polar precision performance software that comes bundled with the S725. Quite why I need precision performance when I'm only commuting to work. mmmmmm I think I like to waste money.

Anyway it great to be able to relive my trip to work, I can see the point at which my heart appears to stop - that's the level crossing and how I constantly have to stop and start for traffic lights and then how I start taxing myself as I steam up the very minor hill in Hyde Park. Trouble with commuting is that todays ride is the same as tomorrows and the next days and so on. The incentive to upload the files wears off after a while.

Perhaps in the spring I better start adding some proper cycle training into the mix and start heading for Richmond Park at the weekend.

Gadgets

Nokia 5140 and Polar Connectivity

I've just downloaded the polar link for cycling gadget/accessory thing for my mobile phone.
Yes of course its another ridiculously unecessary item of gadgetry!

Anyway, its amazingly easy to download files from the Polar 725 watch - much easier than to the pc and it shows a useful summary and graphic file of the work out.
I could now email it to someone if I had anyone even remotely interested or instead I could entertain myself with it for a few moments and then move on to the next project.

I'll try and upload a few screen shots later.

Gadgets

Day 1: Unpacking the Polar S725

A good day was heralded by the arrival of a new toy - the Polar S725 heart rate monitor cum cycle wonder computer. One of my more unnecessary purchases to date but surely it ranks amongst the most exciting.
I've read a few reviews that suggest the polar S725 and S720 are rather traumatic to install especially if you go for the optional/vital IR interface connection. I wasn't in the least worried - bravado in the face of technical gadgetry is one of my strong points.
Bravado is all it is though - I was practically crying by the end of the night as no amount of button pressing or cursing was going to make the monitor communicate with my computer.

Continue reading "Day 1: Unpacking the Polar S725"