Monday, September 28, 2009

Global Ride DVD's Hawaii RidesReview/Giveaway

I was sent these Global Ride DVD's a long time ago, like March long ago. I had tried it out and just had not gotten the time to review, heck I barely blog much as it is. There are three DVD's in the set I received. These are to be used indoors either with your trainer set up or maybe a Spinner bike if you have one. I will focus on "StrenDurance in Hawaii".

I find indoor rides on the trainer to be quite mundane and it pushes me to the point of insanity. I do understand that it is sometimes a necessary evil due to schedules, weather, which will be a big factor as winter approaches, or the specific training goal one is trying to achieve on a particular ride that could be dangerous with traffic and such. Last ride I did indoors I opened up my back door and contemplated throwing bike with trainer attached and all in the ravine behind my house. For me it is really difficult since I already do plenty of indoor rides in Spin classes and it is a completely different energy.

The DVD consists of landscape with music and coaching. The landscape is almost like there is a camera attached to the cyclists bike that is actually riding the course. At times they switch the view to a car back view so the cyclist is in the picture. There is a coach guiding you trough cadence, heart rate and different cues as gearing up, down and other things to focus on to get the most from you ride. You kind of hear the lady huffing on the mic which is my huge pet peeve. She is also doing the ride on her trainer with you, but as an instructor I can tell you move the mic away from your mouth a little. However, she does a good job of describing at what level you should be riding at. Giving cues of adding gear, cadence goals, and heart rate or perceived exertion goals. There is also music on the DVD, which is the killer for me. It is like that bad keyboard music and it is not motivating at all. Not that you need music to motivate you but indoors you might need that extra umph! Still some people might enjoy this and find it helpful.

There are some features on the DVD to help customize it more to your liking. I like that you can turn the music on/off. Even turn on/off the coaching as well. For instance, you could play your own music yet still have the coaching or vice versa or turn off all audible all together if you prefer. The landscape is a nice feature if you find that just watching TV shows becomes more of a distraction and throws off your performance goals you set for yourself on a ride, i.e. a TT ride.

Overall, it is not at the caliber of a CompuTrainer kind of ride. I do not think that at all, then again the price is monumentaly less. The Hawaii box set I received sells for $75 on their website. I also did not turn that green color like when I go to Bree Wee's blog and see her ride pics. It might work for you if you want to change up your indoor routine or maybe add some variance to your ride if you just ride for time each ride. Like running, the discipline of cycling should not be ride as hard as you can for time everytime. It is important to have different training rides to build your endurance, and strength as a cyclist. I would recommend these videos for people who maybe have not read up on cycling training programs, not fortunate enough to have a coach, likes outdoor visuals while riding indoors, or the benefit of a great knowledgeable indoor cycling instructor. If you would like to learn more about the Global Ride cycling DVD's you can go to their website by clicking here.

Here is a 2 minute preview of the Hawaii Box Set


I know I myself will not make future use of the Global Ride DVD's so I will mail my Global Ride Hawaii box set valued at $75 to someone who would benefit from it. If you are interested post a comment saying, "I WANT IT!" and I will draw a winner next week and ship it out to ya ;-)

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

I'm That Pre-Pubescent Boy Who Said You Had Cooties


That is so me or you if you are rubber and I am glue and everything you say bounces of you and sticks on to me. That was an old one, and boy did I use that line till it blew up. I was in 6th grade and I had the biggest crush on this boy Luis (I still remember his last name, but just in case). So how did I handle my crush? Well, I acted like I hated him of course! I picked on him for his short stature(not that I was a 6ft. Elle Macpherson by any means). I laughed about his what I called "grown man" hair cut. I tried skateboarding since he liked skateboarding(broke my ankle right before Thanksgiving). I would call him LUUUIIIISSSS really drawn out and annoyingisk. There was also punching, pinching, flicking, kicking him in the shins when we played basketball at recess. I laughed at him in a mockingly way always. But wait it gets better...One day at recess I turned the whole class against him. I mean every single person came and hung with me under the pavilion while I led a grass roots meeting on hating him. He was so upset that the teacher noticed something was wrong. I was sent straight to the office without passing GO. Don't worry that was not my first rodeo in our strict Christian school office. I had been to so many office rodeos that I earned myself a day of in school suspension for unchristian and unscrupulous behavior. Where of course I just sat there all day and daydreamed about Luis.
But wait I finally did profess my love to Luis towards the end of the year, well the last week of school to be exact on our year end fun field trip. How did I profess my undying love and affection for him?? I kissed his best friend John behind a tree! I never did let Luis or my friends know how much I was crunching on him. The following year ended up being my last year in Miami. He wrote in my yearbook, I will never forget you. How the hell could you not?!?
That exact behavior is how I handle some things in my life still. The latest being that I have officially become a traitor or like Shane calls me a fu%#ing traitor. I switched from being an 7 year Blackberry user to the coveted iPhone. If you know me you know that since the iPhone was released in 2008 I talked enough shit about it that you could fertilize Texas. I am having fun learning it. Just don't expect me to text or email you back accordingly. I am still learning how to use my fingers just right. I have had Crackberry thumbs for years. When I finally find texts I receive, I respond with can I call you? With my new technological advanced iPhone I am moving backwards. I wait to get to my "real" computer to respond to e-mails. Next I might reply to e-mails with a handwritten letter via the US Post Office.

I am professing my love for you iPhone. All you have to do is like me back. Let me figure you out so I can have my way with you already....
Random Thought of The Day: Is really just a tip that my blog will touch on everything these days since no official training is going on. Next post I promise will be the review & giveaway on on the Global Ride Virtual Cycling DVDs.