Well, I've survived three or four weeks of badminton, American style.
American style? Actually, it's just the same as everywhere else. First Monday nights, then Wednesday's, then move to a new location for a couple of weeks, then back to the original venue, but on a Friday night.
Yes, just like British badminton ...
As for the players; the Monday night guys are pretty keen, and there are a few very good players there. I feel quite at home with the Wednesday evening crowd. There are even one or two Brits to help me feel at home.
If nothing else, I've learned how to mark out a badminton court with masking tape and a bit of knotted rope. You never know when that might be useful.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Anyone for badders?
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Monday, 21 April 2008
LP ... CD ... Blu-Ray ???
SACD, MD, DVD-A, DAT ... 5.1, 7.1 ... DTS ... What is the fascination with the Long Playing Record?
It's scratchy, poppy, clicky and dusty. But some of us still love it.
More here.
Friday, 18 April 2008
PAFC : Business As Usual
So, Plymouth Argyle didn't make the playoffs ... quel surpris!!!
I wonder if they really want the big time. I wonder if Plymouth does too.
Never mind, there's always next season. And maybe things are on the up. A new deal with a Japanese company, an announcement on the Mayflower stand in the offing ...
Let's hope.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Bike News : Index
Bikes:
0a : On Yer Bike
0b : 5 Boro Bike Tour
01 : First Ride Of The Season ... and punctures
02 : 5 Boro Bike Tour : 4.5.2008
03 : 5 Boro Bike Tour : images
04 : More About Punctures ... or not
05 : Princeton FreeWheelers - Wedneday Evening Ride
06 : MTB - Six Mile Run Reservoir Site
07 : Giro di Jersey 2008 : stage 1 Ringoes ITT
08 : Giro di Jersey 2008 : stage 2 Rocky Hill
09 : Giro di Jersey 2008 : stage 3 Corner House GP
10 : Giro di Jersey 2008 : Results and Images
11 : Tyre Damage : Continental GP4000
12 : Tyre Damage : Doh!!!
Future bicycle blogging can be found at VeloStage.* last update : 22.06.2008
Bike 01 : First Ride Of The Season ... and punctures
Well, last week I went out for an hour or so. And today I rode for two hours. I covered close to thirty miles. Not bad considering ...
I was using my road bike, the Trek 1200. As I've mentioned before, I ride a frame smaller than normally recommended for someone of my height - 1.90m / 6ft 3". This means the seatpin is pretty much at full extension, and I've rotated the stem 180 degrees to raise the bars about 50mm / 2in. I feel pretty comfortable with the result.
The real problem with cycling here isn't the standard of driving, although some drivers seem to have homicidal attitudes towards cyclists, but punctures.
I know one of the complaints in the UK is that roads aren't swept enough, but here they don't seem to be swept at all. Given too, that road surfaces aren't nearly as good as you might suppose in a country where the whole economy seems to be driven by the automobile, frequent punctures seem to be the cyclist's lot.
So this year I gave some thought to alleviating, if not solving the problem.
Tyres : I am trying Continental GP4000's. This tyre uses a new material, Vectran, which is supposed to be more resistant to punctures and have better rolling resistance than Kevlar.
In addition, I'm trying some new tyre sealant, Sludge, which has been specially formulated for application through presta valves. In the case of the Continental inner-tubes I am using, the core of the valve unscrews anyway, making application even easier.
On the road, the extra 50gms of sealant in each tyre feels insignificant, but the Contis are a revelation. Despite being pumped up to 120psi, they don't seem to have the teeth-rattling effect my other tyres had at 100psi. Not only that, the tyres seem to hold their path well, even on tight corners. It will be interesting to see what they're like in the wet.
On the downside, the Contis are very expensive here - about the cost of some car tyres. You might get a better deal from PBK in the UK.
The 5 Boro Bike Tour is only a matter of a couple of weeks away ... I'd better keep this up.
* PS : Yes, I know how to spell tyres ...
* see my Bike Index here
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Stuff 05 : Sansa®TakeTV™ video player
I have had one of these devices for a few months now, and I have to say it's one of the best things since sliced bread, particularly if you download UK - or any other, of course - tv shows and would like to watch them on the big screen rather than hunched over your computer.
The Sansa®TakeTV™ video player enables you to copy video media files from your computer, via its USB port and then play them back through your tv.
The system consists of three parts; 8Gb USB memory card, remote and tv docking station, plus connecting cables and power supply. Output is only NTSC, at least in the US version.
There are short-comings. The unit will only play .avi files and certain .divx flavours, but it's still a kick to watch the latest Dr Who a couple of hours after its UK broadcast as I did last evening. The video quality is as good as the original file. HD downloads look very good indeed.
If you want to watch your downloads on tv then I can recommend the TakeTV.
* I should add, I have no connection with the manufacturers or retailers other than as a satisfied customer.
*See my hifi / media index here.
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