Touring bike...

Touring bikes differ from racing bike in that the geometry allows for a more upright, and comfortable, riding position.  The frames and components are also more robust compared to a racing bike, this is to allow for a greater weight to be carried.  Touring bikes are used in the same manner as a touring car, to enjoy the journey.  These bikes allow to you take all the stuff you’ll need for a multi-day trip.  Touring bikes, because there are no restrictions, can have many different types of handle bars and other accessories to accommodate the rider.  The most popular thing you’ll see on a tourer is panniers, which are basically luggage designed specifically to be mounted on bicycles, commuter bikes also commonly use these.   I’m not a huge fan of road cycling in general, I find it kinda boring, but it is a great way to explore, travel and stay in shape as well.

“Road touring bicycles have a frame geometry designed to provide a comfortable ride and stable, predictable handling when laden with baggage, provisions for the attachment of fenders and mounting points for carrier racks and panniers.^[1]

Modern road tourers may employ 700C (622 mm) wheels — the same diameter as a road (racing) bicycle. Other road touring bikes may feature wider rims and more clearance in the frame for wider bicycle tires. Before the 1980s, many touring bikes for the North American market were built with 27-inch (630 mm) wheels which have a slightly larger diameter.

Other touring bikes use 26-inch wheels for both off-road and on-road use. Advantages of the slightly smaller wheel include additional strength, worldwide tire availability, and lighter weight. Some touring bicycles, such as the Surly Long Haul Trucker, offer frames designed for 26-inch (ISO 559) wheels or for 700C wheels, with the frame geometry optimal for the selected wheel size. Specially made touring tires for 26-inch wheels are now widely available, especially in developing countries, where 700C may be difficult to obtain. Hence, on the mass ride from Paris to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme asked all riders to use 26-inch wheels.”

 Source

A heavily loaded bike 

This is the last week!!

This is the last week of my two accelerated courses, I can hardly believe it, flew by!  I remember like it was yesterday, thinking how cool it was that all I needed to create a web page was MS Notepad.  Now look at me, I’ve got an interactive website displaying JavaScript, JotForms, pictures, videos, maps, and spreadsheets!  All in all this course was not what I expected, now that I say that I’m not sure what I  expected, but I definitely didn’t think I’d be learning as much about putting together a website.  Overall I certainly learned a lot of new things and new things about things I thought I already knew, I like that.  I’m in my junior year and have done half my college career online and I’m finally able to take some courses I find interesting rather than requirements and so far it’s made school a whole lot more enjoyable, and easier because I look forward to and am interested in what I’m learning.  Anyways, like I’ve said in earlier post, I’m not a big talker and even less of a writer so this is my last post for this course, perhaps I’ll continue writing, hmm, time will tell…

Moving on to road bikes

So, I’ve run out of different types of mountain bikesL, but don’t fret!  We can still explore the world of road bikes!  I’m going to start off with a very common type of road bike, the type we’re probably most used to seeing, a racing bike.  The majority of “10 speeds” I think we’re used to seeing are in fact racing bikes, well, in geometry anyways; they all may not be of racing quality however.

“A racing bicycle, also known as a road bike, is a bicycle designed for competitive road cycling, a sport governed by according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The UCI rules were altered in 1934 to exclude recumbent bicycles.  The most important characteristics about a racing bicycle are its weight and stiffness^{[citation needed]}which determine the efficiency at which the power from a rider's pedal strokes can be transferred to the drive-train and subsequently to its wheels. To this effect racing bicycles may sacrifice comfort for speed. The drop handlebars are positioned lower than the saddle in order to put the rider in a more aerodynamic posture. The front and back wheels are close together so the bicycle has quick handling. The derailleur gear ratios are closely spaced so that the rider can pedal at his or her optimumcadence. Other racing bicycles, especially those used in time trialling prioritize aerodynamics over comfort..”

Source

This week in Expoloring the Internet...but more of a rant

This week in the internet course I’m taking we learned about a JavaScript tool called jQuery.  It’s very cool, allows users of my webpage to interact with it, move things around and change colors.  I’m still learning more about what it can do and how I can use it, I’ll report back once I find out more about it.  Quick “school related” rant, in one of my other courses I had an assignment due Sunday night, normally I work on school assignments as much as I can during the week and finish them up over the weekend, well this weekend we had a massive snow storm that took down the power for most of the state, so no internet access at home, after cleaning up as much as I could from the aftermath of the storm I hurriedly complete the assignment and drive to work where there was still power to submit the assignment.  Then, on Monday the instructor sends an email extending the assignments due date by 4 days, this is great but I has already submitted my rushed work, now I know the argument that I shouldn’t wait till the last minute and this wouldn’t have happened, agreed, but it would have been nice to know prior to the due date that there would be an extension, that’s all.  Anyway, the grade I received wasn’t THAT bad and perhaps the instructor didn’t have internet access to have sent the email.  It’s just a little frustrating.  Ok, that’s it, enough of me crying over spilled milk. Till next time.

Dirt Jump Mountain Bikes

In this installment, the dirt jump bike, these are purpose built bikes strictly for performing jumps.  These bikes have a much lower top tube and seat so it’s out of the way when performing tricks while in the air.  They also incorporate a stronger frame and wheelset when compared to a cross country bike, which they most closely resemble.  A dirt jump bike really cannot be used, comfortably, for anything else, because of the frame geometry it would be very impracticable to ride for any distance.  Below is a great article describing the dirt jump bike along with a picture of one.

“Dirt Jump bikes are a cross between a freeride bike and a BMX bike. Also termed as an urban and street mountain bike, it features a system that allows the biker to ride over obstacles, requiring a takeoff and an eventual landing. Features of this bike include fast-rolling tires, 4 to 6 inches of front suspension and hardly having any rear suspension. Oversized handlebars allow the rider to fully maneuver the ride, with extended rear cables to allow them to spin the bars without getting tangled with the cables. These rides also have a smaller frame, and have about 24-26 inch tires. The lower seatposts provide riders with much leverage so the rider can perform tricks without the seat getting in the way. Riders prefer this type when they perform tricks as it lessens the impact of the crash, and are much simpler in terms of components that need replacement during accidents.” (original article here)

This week in exploring the internet

This week in my course we learned a little about how to use JavaScript.  We learned only a few basics, but it’s a very powerful tool for creating dynamic web pages.  What do I mean by a dynamic web page you may be asking yourself, well I tell you.  My previous page only displayed the information I put on it, which is great for people just look at the pictures, videos and read what’s there but, they are unable to interact with it or see updated information, unless I updated the page manually.  Using JavaScript I am able to add things like the date and time, which will update and show current information.  Also you can interact with it, I only have limited examples, but for instance you can have a person visiting your site enter their name or whatever data you’re looking for and have the site respond in some way.  Additionally you can use it to perform mathematic functions, I have yet to “play” around too much with that function, the examples we were given only demonstrate problems that we enter, I think with a little trial and error, and my limited C programming knowledge I can allow someone to enter their own variables to solve for.  Till next time…

The "Freeride" bike

The Freride mountain bike is sort of a hybrid type of bike, it combines a lot of the robustness of the downhill bike with some the characteristics of a dirt jump bike ( I’ll talk about dirt jump bikes in my next post).   “Freeriding” differs from most other forms of riding in that there is no set course or rules, you pretty do whatever your skill and comfort level allow.  With a freeride bike you can do some “downhilling”, then some trick dirt jumps, some obsticles and still be able to pedal around the park or mountain that you’re at, unlike a downhill bike which is much too heavy to do comfortably.  Here is a link to a good article describing in more detail the Freeride bike.

Creating forms using JotForm

As part of an assignment for a course I’m taking I was required to add a form page to the webpage I’ve been building since the beginning of the course.   It’s just a basic form asking whomever to rate the site, whether or not they would like to hear back from me etc…, and also to create a form of our own, written using HTML, both were surprisingly easy, especially using JotForm.  JotForm.com is a website that allows you to create semi-custom forms then embed the form you created to your site.  Additionally, the assignment was to provide some feedback about my site, from the feedback I received from the form I created.  Sadly I only had two responses to my form, however they were both positive, so I’m going to take that as my site is working and as streamlined as Amazon.com, NOT!   As you may have noticed from my previous blog posts, I’m not a big talker or writer as it were.  So I’m signing off for now, but stay tuned for the next installment of the still unofficially named “types of mountain bikes”!

The Down Hill bike

The next installment in my "types of mountain bikes", still working on a better name, is the Down Hill (DH) mountain bike.  The DH bike is the most robust type of bike, it has the most suspension travel, biggest brakes, and toughest frame.  A DH bike is pretty much a dirtbike minus the motor.  DH'ing is usually done on a mountain where you can use the ski lift to take you and your bike to the top, but it can obviously be done anywhere, because of the weight and geometry of DH bikes people generally aren't going to want to actually pedal them for very long distances.  Below is an article if found here that provides a great description.  That's it...for now.... 

”For those who ride on downhill slopes and tracks, a downhill mountain bike is the best way to go. They are built to work efficiently for speedy mountain descents with its bigger tires and heavier weight. The full suspension bicycle works well on steep trails and works up to an advantage in terms of gear durability and stability. These usually have disc brakes and a chain guide to protect the ride from accidental chain deraillment. Features of this ride usually includes 7 to 10 inches of suspension in the rear, with strong frames with head angles slack at about 63 degrees. These are ideal only for downhill riding in trails and courses."

The Cross Country Bike or (XC)

In continuing with my current mountain biking topic of defining the differant types of rigs available, this week I will be describing the Cross Country or XC bike. The XC bike is a ligher weight bike not designed for large drops or jumps but mainly for reduced weight. The purpuse of a XC is for longer rides over relative light terrain, tarmack, fire roads, and the occational down tree or rock. XC bikes are most commonly found multi-disipline and obviously cross country races as well as the recreational mounation biker. Below is a more "offical" description that I found here.

"Cross country (XC) mountain bikes are designed primarily around the discipline of cross country racing. Cross country racing with its emphasis on climbing as well as speed and endurance demands bikes that are both lightweight and efficient. In the 1980s and early 1990s XC mountain bikes typically consisted of a lightweight steel hardtail frame with rigid forks. Throughout the 1990s XC bikes evolved to incorporate lightweight aluminium frames and short travel (65 to 110mm) front suspension forks. Recently full suspension designs have become more prevalent, the use of advanced carbon fiber composites has allowed bike designers to produce full suspension designs under 10 kg. Full suspension bikes such as the Specialized Epic and the Mérida Ninety Two have been successfully used to win the World Cross Country Championships. The geometry of Cross Country bikes favours climbing ability and fast responses over descending and stability and as a result typical head angles are 70-71o Although intended for off-road use, Cross Country mountain bikes with their emphasis on lightweight construction are not designed for use on the most steep or severe terrain."

Death and Taxes (my experience with Turbo Tax)

Turbo Tax for those who haven’t heard of or used it before is a State and Federal tax filing software.  I’ve been using the software for the last four years and find it very intuitive and efficient.  I prefer doing my own taxes to save a little time and money and as my finances aren’t they complex I’m comfortable doing them myself.  Even prior to being able to complete your taxes online I would complete the paper tax form available at the Post Office and mail them; that’s when my finances were REALLY not complicated though.  I think Turbo Tax is great because it literally walks you through each step.  Starting by having you fill in what’s in box 1 of your W-2 and box 2 etc… then asking if you have any other W-2s to add.  Once that complete you’re asked in plain English questions about deductions, contributions, 401Ks and anything else you may have.  During the entire process there’s a running total at the top of the program telling you what your return, or what you owe, as you enter your information.  Another great feature is that because the program is online, I can start completing my tax form at work when I receive my W-2 and finish them at home or where ever as I receive new tax information.  Also, it provides an online backup of your takxes should you loose your hard copies. If you’re comfortable with number and want to save a little money or just want to see if what Turbo Tax comes up with is the same as your accountant I say give it a try

The All Mountain bike

I wanted to share with whomever’s reading the definitions of the different types of mountain bike.  I’ll start off with my personal favorite type; the All-Mountain, mountain bike.  I found the perfect definition and have it listed below:

The orignial article  

“All mountain mountain bikes, also known as trailbikes are the workhorse category of mountain bikes. An all mountain bike is a mountain bike built to handle almost everything a mountain biker will run into on a full day of riding.

The all mountain category consists mostly of bikes with about 4 to 6 inches (100 to 160 millimeters) of travel. While they are designed to climb hills very efficiently, they are generally heavier and a bit more stout than the typical cross county mountain bike. They can handle a lot rougher terrain as well.

Trail bikes are what most people should be riding. They are an excellent balance between efficiency, comfort, and control. All mountain mountain bikes are light and efficient enough to get you to the top of the hill, have soft enough squish in the suspension to keep you isolated from rough terrain, and have enough travel to suck up the bigger hits that can leave a cross country racer tasting the dirt.”

HTML webpage design...

Two weeks ago as an assignment for the Exploring the Internet course Im taking we had to add some style to our web pages.  First I want to say that I’m enjoying the HTML webpage design process.  I’ve just been using MS Notepad to write the code but I think it would be worth it to get a program for future use.  I’m not a big talker so actually adding written content to the page is a hassle, as is this, but the designing part is fun.  I’ve taken C+ programming and thought beforehand that I would enjoy it, boy was I wrong!  Took an intro class to the UNIX OS, while it wasn’t as bad as C+, again, wrong!  So when we started doing HTML in this course I figured, here we go again, but it’s quite the opposite.  

to 29’er or not to 29’er

In the last couple of years there’s been a new trend in mountain biking; the 29’er.  The 29’er refers to the 29 inch wheel and tire set rather than the typical 26 inch affair.  They have been around awhile so I’m starting to feel more confident that they will be more than a passing trend.  I’ve been contemplating a new bike for the last year or so and have been seriously considering going with a 29’er.  The initial investment is more, as they’re still new, but if that’s the future of mountain biking it may be worth it to jump into the new technology early.   The benefits are there; larger wheels mean smoother, hence faster, rides, the increased size and rotational mass also means you’ll carry more speed downhill and on flat surfaces.  I’ve also spoken to sales and bike mechanics at numerous different stores, they all say it’s where all mountain biking is going, I still have my reservations, are they just trying to sell the bikes?  I don’t actually know anyone who rides a 29’er so I don’t have any biased reviews to go by, however I’ve read forum and the reviews seem to be mixed.  So at the end of the day, I’m pretty much in the same boat as when I started; to 29’er or not to 29’er.



Convergance of Media

The inception of high speed internet has absolutely changed the way all media is viewed and distributed.  The ability the internet provides to share media with just about the entire developed world instantly is both beneficial and detrimental.  An independent artist can share their work for free or profit from where ever they are, with only basic computer skills.  This allows anyone with the inclination to be a musician or writer and allow the world at large be the judge.  This instant ability to share media also allows large corporations to share media instantly 24 hours a day 7 days a week; no need to get people down the record store anymore.  The flip side to that coin is, that independent artist puts something online and later finds out they infringed on a copyright and find themselves in "a whole heap of trouble"; did I just infringe on "The Dukes of Hazard"?  Also, with media so readily available the large corporations have to contend with computer savvy people finding holes in the law and/or their digital media rights and sharing it with everyone. With the convergence of media blurring the line between the TV, radio, and the PC, more responsibility falls on anyone who chooses to share media on or offline.

Last month while I was in Alaska, which was a surprisingly short 6 hour flight, I did some of the best mountain biking EVER!  Amazing singletrack, killer views, and lung busting elevation - what more could you ask for.  From the condition of the trails everywhere I went it was obvious they are well maintained and used plenty.  I thought we had some great trails here in Massachusetts, and we do, but they’re not in the same league.  The fast windy portions  allowed just enough speed to be gained that it was fun but you didn’t need to slow down to take the corner and the jumps were spaced and sized perfectly as well.  During long climbs I tend to focus on my rhythm, form, and my line, but doing that on Alaskan trails is doing a disservice to yourself. Seemed that everywhere you looked was a scene from a commercial.  So, after almost filling my camera with pictures and videos before I reached the top on day one mountain one, I decided do pick my shot more wisely, only pictures with me, or someone in my group in them.   

It seems to me that the general consensus is that the internet can be both a powerful communications tool as well as a detriment to those who misuse it. The internet has absolutely changed the way we communicate, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Skype, Facetime, plain’ol email (which I believe is now considered “snail mail”)etc… We can communicate much more easily, share photos and videos, and video chat. Personally, the internet hasn’t brought my family closer but, does allow us to see and know what’s going on in each other’s lives a lot better. Personally, I prefer a phone call whenever possible. I only use email or other means when it’s more convenient, like at work. At my office email is king. People email co-workers sitting right behind them. To some extent I believe people feel a sense of power by the anonymity of email, with sarcasm or copying others on an email. Additionally with smart phones and always being connected it’s very easy to share photos and videos instantly, which can also provide problems of its own. I’ve read stories of people sharing inappropriate photos amongst themselves and them then being leaked or accidently put up online. The internet can help us stay connected to friends and loved ones much more easily but should be used as a tool and not the rule.

The internet has enhanced our lives in so many ways. Using the internet allows students access to an almost unlimited amount of information, from dictionaries and thesauruses to encyclopedias and novels, all are available day or night and instantly. Additionally, with today’s high speed internet students are able to listen to audio, watch video and communicate with instructors and fellow students, via email, chat, or even video chat. While a lot of these resources require some sort of subscription (payment) to access I would imagine there are just about as many that are free. As with an open-source system such as the internet you can’t believe everything you read and therefore must consider the source before using or quoting any information found on the internet. In addition to being an excellent research tool the internet also allows students in geographically separated areas access to courses and instructors, as well as allowing students to tailor the time they spend doing course work around their schedule. Personally, attending school would be very difficult if it weren’t for the internet, in fact if it weren’t for the internet I probably wouldn’t be completing a bachelor’s degree. In summary the internet provides much more flexibility and options for students.

Hello, my name is Jason.  I currently work as a central office technician for Verizon Wireless.  I’ve completed an associate degree from Springfield Technical Community College, and after attending a few other four-year institutions decided to complete the I.T. program at UMass Lowell with a minor in management.  Since completing the associate degree I’ve been taking all my course work online, which is great for time management but can prove extremely difficult for unfamiliar subjects, I have a pre-calculus course next semester that I’m not looking forward to.  I am taking Exploring the Internet at UMass Lowell mainly as a degree elective, but also to learn more about and how to better use the internet.  I feel as I have a pretty good grasp in using the internet, but there’s always more to learn, and if not it’s always good to brush up on the fundamentals.  I’m currently serving in the Air National Guard, prior to that I served as an infantrymen in the Army Guard and five years on active duty in the regular Army.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time overseas and done a fair amount of travel stateside.  When I’m not working or studying, I love to go mountain biking, rock climbing, or the Crossfit gym.