Keefer Madness

Garmin Heart Rate Monitor on the Fritz

// January 30th, 2012 // No Comments » // Cycling, Cycling Products, Health & Fitness

Some of the most popular posts on Keefer Madness have been Garmin related — mostly about fixing and resetting various models in the Edge cyclocomputer lineup.

Well with my first Garmin Edge 305, I got the cadence and heart rate accessories. Cadence is still humming along, but the heart rate monitor has been not accurately reporting heart rate over the past couple months. Two battery changes and various attempts to wet the contacts and my skin beneath have not resurrected the reliability of the heart rate monitor strap.

Do you all have any further suggestions, or is it time to just bite the bullet and buy a replacement heart rate monitor strap. If so, another Garmin-branded one or a different ANT+ heart rate monitor?

High Point, NC to Host 2013, 2014 USA Cycling National Championships

// January 19th, 2012 // No Comments » // Cycling

This is pretty cool — next year and the year after, the cycling national championships are going to be just about our west of here in High Point. One of those two years, I’ve gotta take Tyler down there to check out all the cycling action.

High Point to Host 2013, 2014 USA Cycling National Championships

Road ID: Rules of the Road

// January 18th, 2012 // No Comments » // Cycling

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything cycling related. Sorry, but here’s a nice way to end the cycling post drought.

Road ID put together a nice little set of videos and ordered lists all related to safely cycling on the road and for safely interacting with cyclists on the road.

Road ID: Rules of the Road

PowerTrekk Fuel Cell for Cyclists

// January 12th, 2012 // No Comments » // Cycling, Eco

This is pretty interesting — an eco-friendly power cell. This would be perfect for those endurance rides — both to ensure juice for those emergency call but also to keep your cell phone batteries topped off for GPS applications. I like to use RunKeeper Elite to allow friends and family to check in on my progress out on the road, and this would allow for the GPS to run on all day events with no worry for battery drain.

It could also be used to top off the Garmin 500 as well.

PowerTrekk Fuel Cell for Cyclists

Bicycle Wheel Animations Visible Only Through a Video Camera

// November 25th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Video

My friend Bret tweeted this over to me earlier today. While I’d never subject my road bikes to such aero-killing designs, love the video and ingenuity these people came up with utilizing a bike and a video camera.

These Bicycle Wheel Animations Are Only Visible Through a Video Camera

Cyclists and Cyclist Supports, Please Sign the Right to the Road Petition

// November 13th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

This is an absolutely horrible idea, and is really short-sighted. On the page below, please take a moment to sign, and check out all the well-said comments on the page’s sidebar.

The draft of the Senate’s transportation authorization bill, S. 1813 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, includes a mandatory sidepath law for roads on Federal land that would force cyclists off certain roads and onto trails and paths, regardless of their condition or utility. Tell your Senators that bicyclists have the right to be on the road on federal lands.

Sign the Right to the Road Petition

‘Unkown’ Lance Armstrong at Tour de France 1994

// October 31st, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Video

This is interesting piece that aired during the 1994 Tour de France, when American Lance Armstrong really wasn’t known in America.

It took a lot of interviewing of Texas’ locals before someone correctly identified the young cyclist as a young cyclist.

Look at how young Lance was BTW.

Bike Riding Robot

// October 28th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Tech

Check out this biped robot riding a bike. I wouldn’t want to be in a placeline with the thing, but very very impressive nonetheless.

Originally seen on Bike Rumor’s Robot Rides Bicycle, UCI Cries Foul

Soft-Ride Bike Has Steel Tires, And You Can Ride It Now

// October 17th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Strange & Bizarre

OK, this is just plain weird: a flower-like steel tire/wheel. I don’t think you’ll be seeing this in the mainstream for any type of cyclist, but it’s definitely interesting.

Soft-Ride Bike Has Steel Tires, And You Can Ride It Now

Specialized Shiv Returns as a Full Bike — For Triathletes

// October 7th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

So a couple years back at the Tour de France, Specialized showed off a Shiv frame and it soon was sold as a frame-old pricey aerodynamic bike. You add the wheels and components.

Now, Specialized has redesigned the Shiv, ignoring the UCI rules and making this Specialized bike well.. specialized for Triathletes. It looks great, and the integrated fluid “tank” in the down tube is really cool. UCI sanctioned event participants will continue to have to rely on the time-tested Transition line or the S-Works Shiv TT Module that’s still listed separately from the new Shiv at a pricey $6,100.

Even though it’s not up to UCI rules, I wonder if it’d pass for things more in reach of us normal folk — like US Cycling events? Complete bikes’ prices range from
$1,550 for the Shiv Elite A1 Apex to a whopping $12,700 for the S-Works Shiv Di2. Specialized, if you’re listening, I’d love to get anything in that range to review.

Check out the promotional video below.

Specialized Shiv press release