Keefer Madness

Introducing the Fitbit Ultra. Now Track Stairs, and More!

// October 4th, 2011 // No Comments » // Health & Fitness, Tech

I’m a big fan of the Fitbit, and have had one clipped to my belt almost daily since I first got mine a little less than two years ago. It’s a great little steps/activity tracker, and I’ve been impressed with their support and willingness to stand behind their product — even with early adopter types like myself.

Yesterday, they announced the new Fitbit Ultra, which I’d call the Fitbit 2.0 or maybe 1.5. It looks like the original model, and is priced at $99 like the original, yet it has some improved (and oft requested features) such as customization of the info showed, a clock and a altimeter. Oh yeah, and it comes in multiple colors.

While it’s not enough of a leap forward to necessitate upgrading from the original, it’s definitely worth it for those of you who don’t have one and/or have been on the fence on getting one.

Introducing the Fitbit Ultra. Now Track Stairs, and More!

Fry Fat with Intervals

// January 3rd, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Health & Fitness

This article below from Bicycling.com makes some great and compelling points as to why everyone show incorporate some intervals into their cycling regiment. I especially like the point about boosting your metabolism:

Exercise researchers have found that your metabolism stays higher for as long as 12 hours after a vigorous workout, which adds up to about 15 bonus calories for every 100 you burned during exercise. All you have to do is follow this simple plan.

Fry Fat with Intervals

Bicycle Bungee

// December 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling, Health & Fitness, Video

This is a seemingly simple device to match two riders of varying fitness levels without having to go the tandem route. I’ll be interested to read reviews of this as people start to get their hands on it. On the surface, it seems pretty compelling and could be a good way to add into your workouts both a companion and some resistance training.

Evie's Eleven: 11 Tips to Squeeze More Cycling In

// October 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling

Here’s a great short list of suggestions to get more rides in, and get more out of them. As time continues to be at a premium, I really need to focus on the first one from the list:

Quality over quantity. My coach always says that when you don’t have a lot of time, focus on shorter, quality workouts that include more speedwork.

See the list in its entirety at the link below.

Not Riding Unsettles Me

// October 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling, Health & Fitness

So for the past week or so, between being pretty busy at home and work, and then being off and on sick, I haven’t had the chance, nor energy to workout — not a single ride nor run. Over the past couple years, I’ve come to the realization how much working out — especially cycling calms me, reduces my stress and just improves my overall mood. While everyone differs, for me, more than the day-to-day fitness, the mental fitness it brings me seems to be of utmost importance.

Here’s to getting a ride in consistently the next couple days, and for the majority of this winter whenever possible.

Easiest Way to Lose Water Weight

// September 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling, Health & Fitness

Yesterday, Livestrong.com did a great little writeup on losing water weight. It’s all common sense stuff, but good to get validation. Moving to almost exclusively water in conjunction to a near daily bike ride has been a great way to drop some weight for me personally.

Easiest Way to Lose Water Weight

FitBit Arrived!

// January 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // Health & Fitness, Tech

The FitBit I ordered way back in October finally arrived today. Unfortunately, while the unit works, the dock isn’t a snug fit and they’re replacing it. Expect a full review after I get that new one and have used it for awhile. First impressions though is it’s a slick little unit. The little OLED screen is great and it reports back to its base station often. All the information it collects is available via a web site. More on this soon, including a full review.

A Mouthpiece to Improve Your Cycling

// December 18th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Cycling, Health & Fitness

I just don’t buy this. Supposedly, according to the article linked below from the New York Times, a specialized (specialized, not Specialized) performance mouthpiece is going to make a difference in your training by making your breathing more efficient. I’d love to hear from some people that have tried out this method.

A Device to De-Stress Your Workout

A Little Run

// August 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Health & Fitness, iPhone, Personal Crap

So with my blackout period of no outdoor cycling, I still wanted to get some exercise outdoors. So I did something I haven’t done in a long long time — I went for a run. I strapped on my old Garmin Forerunner 101, my iPod (iPhone actually) and headed out.

The first thing I noticed was a strange paradox — at the obvious [much] slower pace over cycling, the world is a lot bigger when you’re jogging along, yet my planned routes, circling my neighborhood were a lot shorter than I anticipated. I looped through areas around my neighborhood and netted 3.5 miles in a half hour. It wasn’t lightning-fast by any stretch, but satisfying after not doing a lick of running in quite some time.

Regardless, I can’t ever see the day when given the choice, I’d pick running over cycling, though it’s definitely a good way to switch things up and keep from getting into too much of a rut. It was a definite change of pace, but I was pleasantly impressed with my 6.5 mile per hour pace and plan on improving on that over the next days and weeks. I’m going to try to start doing some intervals and see how much those kick my butt.

Ride Like It's Your Last One

// August 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Baby, Cycling, Personal Crap

So today, we’re at a month until our little one’s due date. It’s also the start of my official blackout period of road biking I agreed to with the wife. Basically she wants Tyler to meet her dad, and wants me available and not 50 miles out in the middle of nowhere when she goes into labor.

I also want to be close and available in both those situations. Sure, I’ll be back on the road in a little over a month or so, but Anyway, that being said, I got a final road ride in today (though my official last ride will be a bike commute on Friday if the weather forecast continues to hold up). I can’t explain it, but I flew over my normal routes. It was quite hot, but even that didn’t seem to slow me down. I glanced at the trees many-a-time, thinking I had a nice hard tailwind, but the trees were almost completely still through my little 45+ minute ride.

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