Harris Cyclery» Links Archives – Harris Cyclery Blog

Google Maps Bicycling Directions

kevin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:03:32 +0000

After years of repeated requests, Google has added cycling routes to Google Maps. After experimenting for a bit, I found that it doesn’t always give the best routes, but it’s pretty good for an automated system. I think they probably optimized it for shorter rides, if you try to get directions for longer rides it gives you an unreasonable number of turns, probably to keep the overall distance shorter. At least it supports alternative routes and waypoints, like the driving directions, so it’s pretty easy to fine tune the directions to keep you on decent roads. It also assumes a pretty low average speed from a long distance cyclists’ viewpoint, but it’s probably in line with recreational riders.

Here’s what it came up with for a short coffee-after-lunch ride in Worcester. There’s an embeddable widget that gives just bike directions as well:

There’s a pretty good blog post from one of the developers with the details about how routes are calculated, and they’re soliciting feedback to improve directions. I’d like to see bicycling directions integrated into the public transit directions.

Shimano Alfine 11 speed quietly announced.

kevin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:50:50 +0000

Saw this info this morning via Hubstripping. The German cycling website Aktiv Radfahren posted info on an upcoming Alfine 11 speed hub, SG-S700, due in September of 2010 for 300 Euros. Reported 409% ratio, gear steps of 17% and 13%. Article translation is here.

I’ll keep an eye out for more official information from Shimano as it comes.

The Making of a Brooks Saddle

kevin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:54:25 +0000

Jtek Engineering Update and Pictures

kevin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:19:44 +0000

Jay Guthrie from Jtek Engineering has posted an update on the Jtek website with some pictures of his shop.

All of us here at Harris Cyclery wish you the best, Jay and Ryan.

Hipsters discussing Cyclocross, by steevo.

Elton — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:37 +0000

Text to speech videos, bike racing, laughter, by steevo.

“The last time I had butter I was climbing like a cat 3 track sprinter.”