Two Fun Products

[jbotti]

I found this I phone (and other smart phones as well) App. It's called ski tracks. It costs .99 and it tracks your vert, avg speed, max speed and will map out where you have been all over the mountain and it will do this for each individual run as well. You can check it out at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ski-tracks-gps-track-recorder/id365724094?mt=8

The other one is a blue tooth app for ski helmets. I have not tried this and I saw this from a review that Phil did on Epic. What I like about this is that it is adaptable to any helmet and everything is hands free (or you can also go manually). Phi's is the only reveiw that I have seen. It looks like a nice product.

Here is the link:
http://www.uclear-digital.com/HBC120snow.html

[midwif]

I took a quick look at the App site.
Only good for iPhones.

Too bad, I have an Android.

The epic ski pass has a built in thig a ma jig that tracks when you get on /off the lift.
Gets your vertical this way. Jim was tracking how much my friend Heidi and I were skiing when at Beaver Creek
this past february.

Hmm, maybe there is one available for Android phones......

[Gary]

Speaking of tech stuff.

I've seen pics of these new goggles that display speed, vertical, and a host of other facts on the inside of the goggle...just like what a fighter pilot might have..How cool is that.

I'm thinking as cool as it sounds...might be a distraction if you're using it while skiing....

But having that info might make for fun beer talk end of day! g
 

[jbotti]

Also there is a big difference between spending $500 for the super hi tech goggles and $0.99 for an I Phone App!!

[Gary]

Yeah...but for $500....there's so few less buttons to push..

At this stage I don't see myself buying a pair of those goggles but I'd love to see what they look like.

Yes JB..the app would certainly be more practical...come on Mr. Dodge Boots....you should be the first guy on this site with those space age, jet fighter goggles....

I mean if I were to ask for a vote here...I'm sure you'd get elected, heck man, ya got my vote!    G

[jbotti]

I guess I have learned over the years what I really value and what is worth parting money for. It took me a while to find what I believe are the best goggles (the smith IO with two lenses that are a snap to change) and the last thing I want are goggles that do something I will find fun for a day (and then probably never use again) and not be nearly as good in flat light which I ski in 40% of the time. I truly need good flat light goggles and I am willing to pay up for them (although I got my IO's on SierraTradingPost for $70!). It seems like the bulk of the gadgets that I bought or was given, I have rarely used. But for .99 I gladly downloaded this app and I will at least use it the first day. If I never do again, no worries, I will have already gotten my money's worth!!

[jim-ratliff]

Jbotti:

Piling on.  So how much super-computer power do you normally have with you on a bike ride?  Power Tap hubs? heart rate monitor? GPs computer.  in fact, all you probably need to do is carry your bike GPS in a pockiet?

But my vote might go to Todd on this one.  Computer whiz in hiding.!!

I was high-tech back when my K2-4 skis had the fancy blinking red light on the front showing the computer inside was doing its thing; have gotten left behind since then.

[jbotti]

I do ride my bike with some serious computimg power but it all goes into what I consider necessary. I have an SRM power meter on my bike which gives me watts, cadence, MPH, distance, speed, calories burned, altitude and spits out a graph of my power, cadance, speed etc levels for the days ride. Some percentage of this I can live without, but I need a power meter. This is the only way to train on a bike with consitent feedback (HR varies depending on heat and how long you have been riding whereas watts never lie about your output). I guess this is a long way of saying that I find a good power meter necessary!! I can also say that I don't have the other bells and whistle devices that map your ride, give you your average grade on each climb and a whole host of ther stuff that you don't need (but are fun) because I will only use them once and they aren't necessary. I will download the Bike Tracks app (same co as ski tracks) for .99 and I may use it more than once or not! Again the price is right.

I can see that many are enjoying listening to me talk about being frugal. OK, point well taken.

[jim-ratliff]

Of course, the real point is that none of us are any different (except Lynn, and she buys ski jackets).

[ToddW]

I was sure she did more than that.  But then my memory is no longer very reliable.

[LivingProof]

I know in the Apple Stores, they sell a device that attaches the I-phone to a bike's handlebar and enables GPS technology. Great - crash your bike, buy a new phone.

But, this season, I'll play with skiing app! Engineers are data people.
John,
I am not familiar with power meters on bikes. Just guessing, but, is it a mathematical logarithm that computes power based on actual gear ratio's, cadence and speed? What cycling benefit do you find from monitoring power output?

I use a HRM and, from experience, I know when I'm riding with insufficient rest or feeling great. It also curbs excesses riding up hills or into wind, and, tells when loafing with wind at your back.

[jbotti]

There are several ways to estimate power/watts, but the only truly accurate way is to measure torque on the cranks. That's the way SRM does it and up until this year their approach has been under patent. You will likley see the price of good power meters comes down now that SRM's patent has expired.

[midwif]

I was sure she did more than that.  But then my memory is no longer very reliable.

And just what do you mean by that young man?


Seriously, ski jackets are so banal.
You guys are setting the both the artistic and high tech pace!
Beautiful skis, advanced toys.....er, important calculating gadgets, er,  I mean....
Well, you know what i meant.

L.

[jim-ratliff]

There are several ways to estimate power/watts, but the only truly accurate way is to measure torque on the cranks. That's the way SRM does it and up until this year their approach has been under patent. You will likley see the price of good power meters comes down now that SRM's patent has expired.

JB: What/how do PowerTap hubs measure?

[meput]

JB,

Back to topic. Downloaded Ski Tracks early last March and used it for 19 days of skiing in March and April. It works. It is a lot of fun to review the #of runs, downhill mileage, vertical skied,  max speed, etc. The current version fixed some data hiccups. One day had a max speed over 100 mph. That was corrected when the 1.3.1 version was downloaded. New version adds the ability to record notes re: conditions, temp etc for a day. No significant battery hit for running Ski Tracks in the background. Start it at the beginning of the day and stop it at the end.

I ski with my iphone. Might as well have it working for me while I ski.

LP,
A power meter is a strain guage. Matters not whether in the cranks, hub or, soon to be released, in the in the pedals. Important training tool for the racer types. May not add a lot over an HRM for the recreational types.