A Cyclist's Life in Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Observed trials bike riding originated in Spain.
The aim of trials riding is to jump over obstacles (either natural or artificial) with only the bikes’ tyres touching the ground. Think of it like those dog trials you sometimes see on television, except with humans on bikes! Points are deducted if any part of your body or the bike touch the ground. Some competitions allow the underside of the bike and pedals to touch the ground. During observed trials, each rider attempts the set course with . The duration of each event is usually around 180 seconds; points are also deducted for going over that time limit. The winner is the rider who has the least number of accumulated points at the end of the competition.
Bicycle trials riding originated in Spain in the 1980s. The modified class of trials riding uses a special-purpose single-speed bicycle, built with small 20″ wheels and extremely low gearing, no saddle, no seatpost, and little else. The frame itself is built with a long wheelbase while the wheels utilise a high number of spokes and fat tyres. Trust me, these guys make it look easy – it takes HOURS of practise to reach this level of skill and ability:
A glimpse of future motoring…
It’s a new 100% electric car which is very inspiring indeed! I think this is the way of the future. The aptera type 1 100% electric vehicle will hit the market in 2009, at an expected market price of only US$30,000. I would however like to see Aptera annouce a solar-powered recharging module that could be installed on the roof of your home.
Of course some will say that we’re moving the pollution from the car to the source of the electricity (power stations). But in the future, we can always choose where our electric energy comes from. If we can reduce the number of vehicles which rely on fossil fuels, it will also substantially cut down on the cost of transportation of petroleum associated with their use. I imagine that there are much fewer losses in transferring electricity throughout national electricity grids than the energy required to transport petrol for cars. While we stick with vehicles that use fossil fuels, we’re never going to make any real progress.
Some poeple have already commented that it looks like something straight out of the Jetsons. But if you’re a fan of Space Quest, you’ll aready know that the Aptera TYP-1 electric vehicle introduced in late 2007 shows an uncanny resemblance to the Timebuster 2000 SUX time machine as reviewed in Space Piston Magazine (pictured below).
The benefits of travelling light.
This is a dual-part article on the how and why of travelling light. This part inlcudes some pertinent facts about travelling light which you might not have thought of. Part 1 offers some very sage advice. [Read more →]
«The only baggage you can bring is all that you can’t leave behind» -U2
Between 1999 and 2005, I was fortunate enough to travel to many foreign countries. In the year 2000 I bought a round the world ticket offered by Oneworld visiting more than 10 countries throughout my journey. In 2005, I went and did it again. This time there were 21 different countries on my itinery and I visited continents in both Winter and Summer.
Yet each time, I was able to travel with only a 23L backpack! I chose to use the Berghaus Freeflow 23L model. This weighed between 5-7kg, so I never checked in any luggage either. Many people I met were amazed at how I was able to manage this feat. Check-in staff were especially in awe when they inevitably saw all the places I was going. Some others thought I was just plain crazy. How is it possible? Well it’s suprisingly easy, if you know how and are prepared to make a few sacrifices… [Read more →]
Meridian Zero, the one and only local metal rock band.
Meridian Zero is a local ‘homegrown’ metal rock band based in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. They do give me a lot of inspiration, especially when I see the individual band members playing separately in the videos below. How they manage to create new music by melding all the sound contributions together never ceases to amaze me. Meridian Zero is fast gaining popularity which is also good to see.
After releasing their debut album «Doors of Creation» in late 2007, Meridian Zero is holding several concerts in the Canary Islands later this month to promote sales of their compact disc. One concert will be held in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on the 15th of March, 2008; two concerts will also be held in Tenerife – one on the 29th of March in Los Realejos and the other on the 25th of April right here in La Orotava! Check www.Meridian-Zero.com for more information.
Here’s their video «Fighting to Arrive»:
Here’s the lead guitarrist and good friend Ivan «Scalpel» Ruiz playing the solo from «Fighting to arrive»:
Finding a needle in a haystack
I’m pleased to announce that I have recently become an official sponsor of www.pedaltheocean.com! As a part of the pedal the ocean team, my designiation is ‘Canary Islands support advisor’.
One of my current tasks is to help Greg Kolodziejzyk find a dedicated support boat + skipper to aid him on his -trans Atlantic quest. His aim is to break the Human Powered Boat record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean. I have already joined 3 or 4 online sailing forums to post this request. Here is the official message we would like to spread:
———————–
Be part of a WORLD RECORD!We are attempting to set a record for the fastest HUMAN POWERED Atlantic crossing and are in need of a support/safety boat for a December/January, 2008 attempt from the Canary Islands to the West Indies. We can pay your costs and provide some crew if required. www.pedaltheocean.com contact greg@pedaltheocean.com for more information.
—————————————————–
Exploring the Atlantic ocean with biomimetic submarine human propulsion.
Â
Ciamillo dropped out of engineering school in his third year, but that didn’t stop him from becoming an engineer in his own right. In his 6,000-square-foot cypress-framed workshop in Nicholson, Georgia, he and his staff develop and market a series of bicycle components using various CNC (computer-numeric controlled) machines. The 0G (Zero Gravity) TI, Ciamillo’s invention and the company’s signature product, is described as «a precision-crafted, superlight road braking system» that is produced from «superior materials, optimized geometry, and a patented cam lever system.»
As a machinist, Ciamillo has developed an interest in biomimetics, which is the study of mechanical devices that mimic the biological construction of animals. To design the propulsor of the Subhuman, his 15-foot-long human-powered submarine, he’s looking to the shapes and movements of aquatic creatures for inspiration.
Biomimetic submarine propulsion
Biomimetics («mimicking biolog») is a field that brings biologists and engineers together in a collaborative effort to incorporate nature’s wisdom into product design. Velcro is the most famous example of biomimetics in action. Velcro was developed when a scientist figured out how burrs stuck to dog fur. Today, engineer and machinist, Ted Ciamillo, and Dr. Frank Fish, professor of biology at West Chester University (West Chester, PA) are applying the principles of biomimetics to underwater propulsion. Their goal is to unlock and duplicate the secrets of fast-swimming whales and dolphins.
In addition to being a way to uncover the secrets of how swimming creatures move so seemingly effortlessly, Ciamillo is now incorporating the findings into the propulsion system of a human-powered submarine in which he will cross the Atlantic Ocean. [Read more →]
Pedalling across the Atlantic ocean. A new world record attempt.
In Dec. of 2008, Greg is planning on pedaling his human powered boat «WiTHiN» 3000 miles across the Atlantic ocean in less than 43 days setting a new world record for the fastest human powered Atlantic crossing. Pedal The Ocean explores the limits of what is possible with human power.
2700 miles from Canary Islands to Barbados
Greg will start at the Canary Islands off of the West African coast. The Canary current is a southwestward flow that will take him onto the North Equatorial current which is a broad westward flow. It is fed by the Canary current and its waters eventually end up in the Gulf Stream system, via the Antilles current which should deliver Greg and WiTHiN to one of the islands near Barbados.
The average distance that various ocean rowers covered over this route is 2700 to 3000 miles. Rowing times from the Canary islands to Barbados range from a record of 43 days by Emmanuel Coindre to over 100 days. Ocean Rowing statistics are here.
Our modern sedentary lifestyle is putting our kids at risk of becoming the first generation that will have a life expectancy shorter than that of their parents. Worldwide, between 10 and 15% of our children are obese and 60% of the general population is overweight. Obesity in childhood often leads to obesity in adulthood. Most parents want the best for their children – including the chance to lead a long and healthy life. For obese children this goal is seriously threatened. The solution is education.
GREG’s MESSAGE:
3 million years of evolution has produced an animal whose natural environment probably consisted of walking the distance of a full marathon each and every single day*. Now take that animal (also known as a «human being»), and stick him in a small cage, rob him of natural sunlight, make him sit in a chair all day and feed him a steady supply of chemicals and refined foods.
Is it any wonder that 60% of North Americans are over weight? Described by the World Health Organization as an «escalating epidemic», obesity is «one of the greatest neglected public health problems of our time with an impact on health which may well prove to be as great as smoking.» Being overweight leads to many serious medical problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other health related issues.
An unnatural sedentary lifestyle causes chemical imbalances in our bodies which can lead to a host of psychological problems. Population studies have shown an inverse relationship between physical activity and depression, and there is evidence that active people who become inactive are more at risk of depression that those who remain active. According to a study from Duke University, aerobic exercise was MORE effective than antidepressant drugs in treating depressive symptoms in three study groups.
The cause of the obesity epidemic and skyrocketing rates of depression is obvious in my opinion. We need to become reacquainted with our «natural environment». Break out of your cage. Get outside and get ACTIVE! Ride your bike, run, walk, swim, climb – whatever it takes.
Greg Kolodziejzyk
One for the Aboriginies: A formal apology from the new Australian Government!
This just in: a historic moment in Australian history -Priminister Rudd from the new Australian Government delivers a formal apology for the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples of Australia, in particular «the stolen generation». Yes he actually uses the words «we apologise» and «we say sorry»!
TEXT of the formal apology to Indigenous Australians to be made in federal parliament by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at 9am (AEDT), Wednesday February 13.
«Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry. [Read more →]
Going Green.
Above all else, we strive for a minimal environmental footprint.
- While air is free, we don’t use disposable CO2 cartridges.
- We never pour oil or grease down the drain
- We avoid the use of plastic bags
- We don’t print anything unnecessarily
- We turn off equipment after use (computers, lights, etc)
- We use energy-saving light globes
- We recycle kitchen waste into compost
- Where possible, we buy locally grown food & other products made in Tenerife.
- We think small is beautiful. Contrary to what most people think, we don’t have a big petrol-guzzling van, just a small one.
- We reuse inner tubes by first repairing them. There’s a long lost skill in patching butyl innertubes. We continue patching them until the valve no longer functions or until they are deemed unsafe… then we either use 700c sized inner tubes like the two metre rubber hose they really are to tie stuff up with or we make rubber bands out of them!
- We recycle tyres into belts. (truth be told, we copied the idea from www.velo-re.com and we’re stockpiling them until we can find someone who can locally make a similar item). Chains & sprockets, etc will eventually be used to create one-of-a-kind metal sculptures.
- We ride bikes!
‘entrar es fácil, lo difícil es salir’
I really really like this advert… it’s an anti drug campaign created by the program «twelve months twelve causes», broadcast by channel 5 here in Spain. As the title of the program indicates, for each month of the year there is a new cause – awareness of an important issue.
In translation, the slogan that the man says is: «to enter is easy; it’s difficult to leave» (‘entrar es fácil, lo difícil es salir’). «For a youth without drugs» is displayed at the end of the advertisement (Por una juventud sin drogas). I think it speaks for itself:
Plant a tree online!
Ecotonoha is a project to nurture a virtual tree collaboratively, and at the same time contribute to the actual environment to cope with global warming. As one makes Ecotonoha’s leaves, by leaving a message on the virtual tree, it keeps on growing. And as Ecotonoha grows, real trees will be planted by NEC.
We received 107,054 messages from around the world in the year 2006. As a result, 1,070 eucalyptus seedlings will be planted on Kangaroo Island ,Australia.
We accept your entries until Febrary 13, 2007,and next season will start soon.
The growth of «Tenerife Training» site
The growth of www.Tenerife-Training.net website has been astonsishing over the last 2 years:
- I’m very pleased to say that we recently surpassed 11,500 homepage visits!! I’ve lost track of the exact number-
-
For the past four months, we’ve received an average of 5000+ monthly web-visits and this figure continues to climb steadily.
-
For Jun – Dec 2007, ~82% of people visited www.Tenerife-Training.net more than once. The average number of pages per visitor was 9.2.
-
We also received a record number of visits recently on the 9th of January – 437 in one day!
-
The latest trends show that, on average, 75% of visitors add one page to their favourites folder. To date I can estimate that there have been 17,501 instances of people adding a page to their favourites folder.
The pursuit of happiness.
For me, this is by far the best, most inspirational movie I’ve seen, based on a true story:
Categorías
- Inspiration. (75)
- Island Life (101)
- Learning Curve (33)
- Lucky Dip (12)
- Mental Anguish (72)
- News Reel (88)
- Ride the Volcano! (58)
- Sales Pitch (50)
- Science Simplified (31)
- Spoke Bed (87)
- That's Business (73)
- The Bike Guru (136)
- Vida Enigmática (40)
Search This Site
