Monday 16th July 2007
It Beeps!
Garmin on the handlebars, ready to navigate. Brooks saddle has been fitted to Lead Balloon. Before setting off, I straddle the saddle to assess height, find it's a bit low, and jack it up by 1/4 inch. In the meantime, Garmin detects I've travelled 3 feet. He must be keen to get going, just hold your horses, Garmin! Set off at last. He displays 'South to WP0101'. He beeps! (approaching WP0101). He gives false directions! (North East to WP0101), etc. This will take a bit of getting used to.
Just before Big Hill, I decide a stop for faffage is in order. Adjust angle of handlebar mount, and change orientation option from 'Track up' to 'North up'- That way, I can understand it better when the display says 'South East to WP0109' or whatever.
Compare Garmin route planning approaches. Precise detail (I'm a stickler for it) vs. broad brush approach (the Burton expedition). Soon find my large number of waypoints can be a distraction.
Way-points are so precise. Arguably, too precise. As you approach the way-point, if you've slightly misplaced it, Garmin tells you to dog-leg to the way-point (this is with the off-road option). Tomorrow will try the on-road option - rather assumes the moor road is on the Garmin's map as some sort of track. Also could see if there's an option to reduce the level of Way-point precision, to maybe 5 or 10 metres. (No luck on that front: can’t find one).
So engrossed in the Garmin and following its directions, I nearly missed the owl, which appeared as a disturbance in my peripheral vision. I temporarily abandoned all thoughts of getting to work to watch this wonderful creature working the moor, not too far off to my right. Then along came a white van, and it was time to move on.
Garmin is great out in the open, where you can see the road stretching ahead, but navigating through towns is not so hot - as you don't have time to consult the Garmin and look around. Might be safer walking through parts of town.
Oh, and did I mention the weather was nice and breezy, not at all rainy like the last few days seem to have been. I enjoyed this ride, hammering the Brooks into submission in a hard-assed no nonsense way.
Time out 1:01 (including stops)
Managed to dodge the showers on the way back home. Some very dark clouds up ahead, but I only got slightly wet.
Return 0:51 (may the wind always be at your back)
Tuesday 17th July 2007
Tried some other options on the Garmin to suppress the 'dog-legging' tendency where way-points are just off-road. This has made no difference. Will just have to learn to live with it.
A very stiff cool breeze from the South West, which is going to bring with it some rain, but hopefully I'll be at work before it arrives.
On the holey road to redemption: someone has answered my prayers and filled those pot-holes which nearly gave me grief last week.
We have a Z.C.C. situation. Zero Curlew Count. Where could they be hiding. Don't suppose it's too wet for them. Finished breeding and taken the kids to the coast, perhaps?
Two yellow cranes making their way up to the wind turbines - some serious Meccano action about to take place.
Sun comes out towards the end of another enjoyable journey. "Shake Some Action" by the Flamin' Groovies echoes around my head from 6 Music this morning.
Time out 0:57
Decided to spend some time fine-tuning the route:
1) remove some way-points to simplify navigation
2) move the way-points slightly before a change of course, so that Garmin will give adequate warning of direction to next way-point
Hope this will help. Took about half and hour of tinkering with day 1.
Coming back, decided to see how easy it is to deviate from planned route and re-join it at a later way-point. Garmin was very good at giving me information about how to pick up the route - although it probably would have preferred me to stick to the plan it was flexible enough to go with the flow, so to speak, and eventually I came back into line.
Return 0:52 (may the force be etc)
Wednesday 18th July 2007
Weather a bit overcast and South-westerly moist breeze. Disturbed three pigeons in quick succession on the lower slopes of "Mont Beegeel". Perhaps they were feasting on the Bilberries which are very plentisome at this time of year. Again only small birds on the tops. Come back curlews, all is forgiven.
Found myself singing the theme tune to "The Monkees". This song was sweet and inoffensive in its time. Only thing is, the words began to mutate for My Generation...
"Here we come: walkin' down the street,
we get the funniest looks from every one we meet.
Hey, Hey, we're the grumpies,
people say we grumpy around
that we're too busy whingeing
and puttin' everybody down"
"We're just tired of bein' friendless
as we make our way to the grave
but we’re not just vegetation
and how we zimmer with rage"
Too dark, I think you'll agree. The words in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the writer (in fact I'm not really sure where these came from – deep within my cycle, perhaps).
Tomorrow is Georgina's 21st birthday. There is shopping to be done tonight, so Matthew is going to pick me up after work, and throw Lead Balloon in the back of the car.
Time out 0:55
Home in the car with Matthew, as explained earlier. Back home, after shopping done and taking a shower, decided to check the derriere for the spot which appeared last week. This was done using a mirror in the privacy of the bathroom.
Have been religiously applying the tea-tree oil in the vicinity. The area is now as smooth and amazingly blended (to quote the good Captain Beefheart), but no sign of the Scarlet Pimpleness. The tea-tree oil has been amazingly effective! I may well write a learned paper on the efficacy of tea-tree oil. A sort of tea-tree treatise, if you like.
It Beeps!
Garmin on the handlebars, ready to navigate. Brooks saddle has been fitted to Lead Balloon. Before setting off, I straddle the saddle to assess height, find it's a bit low, and jack it up by 1/4 inch. In the meantime, Garmin detects I've travelled 3 feet. He must be keen to get going, just hold your horses, Garmin! Set off at last. He displays 'South to WP0101'. He beeps! (approaching WP0101). He gives false directions! (North East to WP0101), etc. This will take a bit of getting used to.
Just before Big Hill, I decide a stop for faffage is in order. Adjust angle of handlebar mount, and change orientation option from 'Track up' to 'North up'- That way, I can understand it better when the display says 'South East to WP0109' or whatever.
Compare Garmin route planning approaches. Precise detail (I'm a stickler for it) vs. broad brush approach (the Burton expedition). Soon find my large number of waypoints can be a distraction.
Way-points are so precise. Arguably, too precise. As you approach the way-point, if you've slightly misplaced it, Garmin tells you to dog-leg to the way-point (this is with the off-road option). Tomorrow will try the on-road option - rather assumes the moor road is on the Garmin's map as some sort of track. Also could see if there's an option to reduce the level of Way-point precision, to maybe 5 or 10 metres. (No luck on that front: can’t find one).
So engrossed in the Garmin and following its directions, I nearly missed the owl, which appeared as a disturbance in my peripheral vision. I temporarily abandoned all thoughts of getting to work to watch this wonderful creature working the moor, not too far off to my right. Then along came a white van, and it was time to move on.
Garmin is great out in the open, where you can see the road stretching ahead, but navigating through towns is not so hot - as you don't have time to consult the Garmin and look around. Might be safer walking through parts of town.
Oh, and did I mention the weather was nice and breezy, not at all rainy like the last few days seem to have been. I enjoyed this ride, hammering the Brooks into submission in a hard-assed no nonsense way.
Time out 1:01 (including stops)
Managed to dodge the showers on the way back home. Some very dark clouds up ahead, but I only got slightly wet.
Return 0:51 (may the wind always be at your back)
Tuesday 17th July 2007
Tried some other options on the Garmin to suppress the 'dog-legging' tendency where way-points are just off-road. This has made no difference. Will just have to learn to live with it.
A very stiff cool breeze from the South West, which is going to bring with it some rain, but hopefully I'll be at work before it arrives.
On the holey road to redemption: someone has answered my prayers and filled those pot-holes which nearly gave me grief last week.
We have a Z.C.C. situation. Zero Curlew Count. Where could they be hiding. Don't suppose it's too wet for them. Finished breeding and taken the kids to the coast, perhaps?
Two yellow cranes making their way up to the wind turbines - some serious Meccano action about to take place.
Sun comes out towards the end of another enjoyable journey. "Shake Some Action" by the Flamin' Groovies echoes around my head from 6 Music this morning.
Time out 0:57
Decided to spend some time fine-tuning the route:
1) remove some way-points to simplify navigation
2) move the way-points slightly before a change of course, so that Garmin will give adequate warning of direction to next way-point
Hope this will help. Took about half and hour of tinkering with day 1.
Coming back, decided to see how easy it is to deviate from planned route and re-join it at a later way-point. Garmin was very good at giving me information about how to pick up the route - although it probably would have preferred me to stick to the plan it was flexible enough to go with the flow, so to speak, and eventually I came back into line.
Return 0:52 (may the force be etc)
Wednesday 18th July 2007
Weather a bit overcast and South-westerly moist breeze. Disturbed three pigeons in quick succession on the lower slopes of "Mont Beegeel". Perhaps they were feasting on the Bilberries which are very plentisome at this time of year. Again only small birds on the tops. Come back curlews, all is forgiven.
Found myself singing the theme tune to "The Monkees". This song was sweet and inoffensive in its time. Only thing is, the words began to mutate for My Generation...
"Here we come: walkin' down the street,
we get the funniest looks from every one we meet.
Hey, Hey, we're the grumpies,
people say we grumpy around
that we're too busy whingeing
and puttin' everybody down"
"We're just tired of bein' friendless
as we make our way to the grave
but we’re not just vegetation
and how we zimmer with rage"
Too dark, I think you'll agree. The words in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the writer (in fact I'm not really sure where these came from – deep within my cycle, perhaps).
Tomorrow is Georgina's 21st birthday. There is shopping to be done tonight, so Matthew is going to pick me up after work, and throw Lead Balloon in the back of the car.
Time out 0:55
Home in the car with Matthew, as explained earlier. Back home, after shopping done and taking a shower, decided to check the derriere for the spot which appeared last week. This was done using a mirror in the privacy of the bathroom.
Have been religiously applying the tea-tree oil in the vicinity. The area is now as smooth and amazingly blended (to quote the good Captain Beefheart), but no sign of the Scarlet Pimpleness. The tea-tree oil has been amazingly effective! I may well write a learned paper on the efficacy of tea-tree oil. A sort of tea-tree treatise, if you like.
