End of 2008 Update

Well this has been a year of changes. New job at BT doing security work, lots more cycling (but still not enough), plenty of time spent with the family. Also joined Twitter @ed moses - been posting to that place.

What's in the plan for 2009?

Signed up to do the Dragon Ride in June

More regular updates to this blog focused on my training

New Year, New Challenges

Well it has been a long time since I posted here - must do better!!

The year has started well on the cycling front, my first metric century was completed yesterday (Quest reliability tide) with another one planned for next weekend. I need to spend more quality time on the bike as I build up to June 8th!!

One Thousand Miles!

Wow, I have finally hit the one thousand miles on my bike mark for the year. It may be later than I thought a few weeks ago - but it is much further than I ever thought I would be going at the start of the year.......I wonder what I will be at for 31st December 2007.

New cycling target for 2008

Well next year I have a big target for my cycling, on the weekend of 6th June 2008  I will be attempting the Paris-Robaix Cyclosportive. This is a 260km ride in one day over the same route used for the Spring Classic. It is run over the roads of Northern France and includes 46km(ish!) of Pave.

What have I done!

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Spot the Warrior?

Taking Pictures

Two old heads!

T-Rex and Triceratops at the London History Museum

Who is having more fun here???

Thoughts on the iPod Touch after a few days use....

Well I have had my iPod Touch over here in the UK since I got it from the Apple Store on Tuesday (they had some in as Steve Jobs was there for the iPhone UK launch) and I have the following thoughts:

1. The sound quality seems to have improved since the 5G iPod with video - no measurements, just listening comparison using the same headphones.

2. Web browsing with WiFi is fine - but I wish there was a way to store login credentials for services such as BT Openzone, T-Mobile or The Cloud. The screen is great and works and the device is easy to use on open WiFi - but having to login using a webpage is not great (I am sure I will get better at it).

3. My video screen seems fine and the picture is nice to look at for short form video, up to 30 minutes (Cranky Geeks) - but I am not sure I want to watch a film on it - or something with lots of picture details.

4. The interface is fun with photo and moving around. It fails as a pure music player as I have to take it out and look at the screen to change anything. This is annoying when you only want to change the volume - or skip to the next item in the playlist! I will be keeping my 5G for bedtime listening as I can drive it with my eyes closed (and my wife will kill me if I continue to light up the bedroom while playing with my iPod - she forgives me if it is under the pillow.......some of you will understand this, others will understand in time :-) )

Overall I like the device and will use it alongside my Nokia N95 until Apple brings out an iPhone with HSDPA in the UK.

Hovis Freewheel London

This event was great fun - if you got there early! The chance to ride around Buck House, Horse Guards, St James, The Embankment, Blackfriars, etc with no cars was great. At 11:00 this morning there was hardly anybody on the route and you could ride at a nice, steady, pace - with the chance to look at the sights.

By 12:00 most of the 40,000 people had arrived and the route was packed! Things were still moving, but very slowly. It was great to see the wide variety of cycling life - from small children on their tricycles, commuters on their folders, fixed wheelers and carbon fiber race bikes mixing it together. The only problem was that people were all spread out and some people do not know how to hold a line or take a corner - forcing everybody to go slower (not all bad!).

The best bit, however was the endless supply of free sandwiches thanks to the sponsorship of Hovis.

Thank you to everybody involved in making this a fun way to spend a Sunday Morning and let's do it again next year.

New Photo Gallery

I have setup a new family photo album on the web using the Web Gallery feature of iWork 08. This has made the task very simple and fun - lots of bits to play with.

Keep a regular eye on this as I plan to add pictures from our various trips!

This will mean less pictures posted here over time.

Jenny in the formal gardens at Cliveden

Shell Fountain

The beautiful Shell Fountain on the drive at Cliveden House.

A Ball of Fun!

Jason having fun in the Sun!

Cliveden fun!

Today we had a family trip to the National Trust property of Cliveden House. Here we see Tom working out the questions on the childrens guide.

Cycling update

Well I have been busy over the Summer- what with work and holidays - BUT I have kept up the cycling. I am now over 700 miles for the year, with a couple of events under my belt. At the start of August I did the 53 mile Amersham RCC ride as part of the Archer Sportive - took 4 hours with a stop for water and a puncture just before the end!

I also did a sponsored ride for  Sobell House which was 23 miles around home - fun if lumpy. I must be getting fitter as I was the first person back on the long ride.

Generally enjoying things (but must get out more) - I am going into London for the Hovis Freewheel event on Sunday - I maybe able to upload some pics from my phone.

Test of ShoZu

This is my first post using the ShoZu application from my Nokia N95 - perhaps this is what I need to start me off posting again!

Instructions for Life

I really enjoyed this!