Observations on the state of things…

  • On badge addiction

    On badge addiction

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    Badge Addiction – (noun): an irrational fixation on the pursuit of intangible awards or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from the dependency. The phrase “gamification” was coined in the not-too-distant past, to describe the introduction of game-like elements (most notably, achievements and awards) into everyday activities. As a result of gamification, ordinary people…

  • Replacing Peloton Crank Arms

    Replacing Peloton Crank Arms

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    Can I replace the crank arms on a Peloton bike? Yes, you can, but you can’t just substitute your own crank arms (as you can with the pedals, cleats, or shoes). The Peloton crank arm on the left side of the bike is fairly conventional, but the one on the right is welded to the…

  • Metric Century in Zwift

    Metric Century in Zwift

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    This morning I decided that the time had come to snag that cool gray jersey that Zwift awards you when you do a 100km ride. Here’s how I went about it. Before I start, let me be clear that this post is not about preparing for a metric century in Zwift … you can prepare…

  • Peloton or Zwift?

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    For your indoor-riding money, which is better: Peloton or Zwift? I have both, and although Peloton riders and Zwift riders each have more or less the same goal of getting a good cycling workout, they almost could not be more different. After about 1,000 Peloton rides (just about every day for a couple of years),…

  • How Your Peloton Bike Calculates Speed

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    Among the metrics displayed on your Peloton screen is “speed”, presented in MPH with no explanation. I have been a daily Peloton rider for years, and I have always wondered how that speed is calculated. Recently, I though it would be nice to know how many watts I’d have to produce during a workout to…

  • The Red Baron

    in

    a Biography of Rittmeister Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: In February 1999, when this page was originally posted, this was the Internet’s primary resource on the Red Baron. Wikipedia has pretty much put an end to pages like this, but I leave it here, in more or less its original state,…

  • What I learned from my second Century

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    I wasn’t completely sure I was going to be finishing the French Creek Iron Tour until I passed mile 80. Around mile 70 the course heads out of the wooded hills into farmland where the sun and the wind start to make you think, “how much do I really want this?” I really do enjoy…

  • Why I wear a Lumos Helmet

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    My last helmet, a Giro Atmos II, made the ultimate sacrifice in a high-speed crash last October. I replaced it with a Lumos helmet, a high tech alternative with lights and Apple Watch integration. But is it really a step up?

  • French Creek Iron Tour

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    My First Century For my first century ride, I chose the French Creek Iron Tour. Of the local events I know about, this was actually the hardest (over 6,000 feet of climb). I picked it for two reasons: one is that it was fairly close to home so I didn’t have to get up too…