Leaving AS5413

         imported      Work · Me · ISP

For information, and because it means that I have revoked a bunch of UIDs from my GPG Key I am no longer working at AS5413 (Vialtus, Daisy, GX Networks etc.) as of June 18th, 2010. It's been a good two years, but the company direction no longer co-incides with the direction in which I would like to go. I've enjoyed the projects I've worked on, been in contact with a lot of great people, and learnt a lot!

Tour of Flanders Photo

         imported      Cycling · Me · Photography · Grupetto

After ordering from the official Tour of Flanders Sportive photographers, I got a photo of me on the Bosberg.

Feel the burn!

CV Update

         imported      Work · Me

I am currently actively interested in new opportunities due to changing circumstances with my current role. I’ve therefore uploaded a current curriculum vitae to this site.

Why I'm excited about Di2.

         imported      Cycling · Me

There’s a bunch of stuff online about the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2. And there’s a lot of comment online, people saying that they feel electronic-shift is unnecessary, and over-complicated.

I’m mostly interested in why I might want to ride Di2, and I think there’s a bunch of reasons that I would want to, despite all the negative comments that are flying around! So, the big thing that I see as an advantage in the system is the fact that it adjusts on a per-shift basis, this is really handy for those of us that really just want to ride our bikes! Sure, I don’t mind cleaning, and tuning my bike, but there’s some periods when I just want to be riding it, it’s what I love, it’s why I own the bike - so to me, if I get auto-adjustment that means that every shift that I’m doing is accurate, between the times that I either tune my bike up myself, or get it looked over then this sounds great! Cable-stretch is pretty annoying sometimes, and does mean that I end up having some rides where my gears might feel a bit squidgy, or over-tight. This is a problem that could be solved by tuning my bike more often, of course, but really - I just want to ride.

Someone commenting on WIRED has some different thoughts to me - feeling that the battery, and motors are prone to failure - of course they are, everything is. Gear cables snap now already, and derailleurs get worn, and bent. However, I guess with cable systems, I can bend my derailleur back and adjust the tension myself to ride home - the question here is, will Di2 be this flexible? I can get over it if not, because, how often does this really happen (only once, for me)? The battery life of the system shouldn’t be difficult to get right - it should last for a while, and I don’t mind carrying a spare battery, I carry spare tubes already.

There are limitations, sure - however, there are limitations of everything. But, I quite fancy it. £1600 for a groupset isn’t what I’m going to be spending just yet - but once we’re down a bit to more suitable price, then I’d really like to give it a go. Maybe on a ‘09 Orbea Orca - the shape is just bang on:

Rollapaluza Best

         imported      Me · Rollapaluza · Photography

As mentioned previously, my new Rollapaluza best time. Not really posted for that reason, but mainly due to test out the new IXUS 960IS I have been given!

Rollapaluza - IXUS 960

Rollapaluza

         imported      Cycling · Me · londonfgss · Rollapaluza

I went to go and do some roller racing earlier this week, at a pub called the Horseshoe in Clerkenwell. The Rollapaluza guys were being filmed, and running a free-for-all race. First time on the rollers, I managed 23.48s, which turned out (once a couple of people had disappeared) to be good enough to get me to the quarter finals. clefty from LondonFGSS took a few photos, so I figured I’d post them here:

A Social Experiment

         imported      Me

Let’s see how many people read the rubbish I post here.

I have 40cm less hair.

Update: