The theory of BIG
Merten, Friday, May 4. 2007
I just dug out something again from the internet to share with you. Have you ever heard about the "theory of BIG"? This is a very good read that applies mostly to cyclists, but is also valid to skaters.
Check this out. Btw - I score about 7 on the list, which makes me an "effective cyclist". Well that's about true I hope. Cycling to work is good fun, and the 13km each day add a good portion of excercise to my daily life, and is faster than car or public transport. Also it saves me tons of money to spend on skating gear
Just watch out that you have good brakes, when cycling in traffic you'll need them, even if you are BIG. as some people really seem to be dreaming most of the time.
Check this out. Btw - I score about 7 on the list, which makes me an "effective cyclist". Well that's about true I hope. Cycling to work is good fun, and the 13km each day add a good portion of excercise to my daily life, and is faster than car or public transport. Also it saves me tons of money to spend on skating gear
Just watch out that you have good brakes, when cycling in traffic you'll need them, even if you are BIG. as some people really seem to be dreaming most of the time.
Urban adventures
Merten, Wednesday, May 2. 2007
As much as I like skating fast, there is more to the sport than that. I really fancy group streetskates and the occasional skate "stroll" as well, and I'm always interested to try out these sort of routes. Yesterday (being a bank holiday) proved to be a perfect date for such a skate.
Bridges, Containers, and Hamburg's urban jungles
I've worked out a 45km loop skate which can be charakterised as 50% speedskating, 50% "urban adventure". After a bike routecheck, Michi and I tried the full thing on skates yesterday. The route uses many parts of an inline marathon course which will be run again in July, but as nothing was closed there's a good deal more pedestrian walkways, cycling paths and other "obstacles" involved as usual. Sights along the route include the super-modern fully automated container terminal of Altenwerder, with the lost church of St. Gertrud next to it (all other houses were torn down in favor of containers), a variety of interesting bridges like the Kattwyk bridge, then cutting through the harbour using the old Elbtunnel to reach the tourist center of Hamburg, St. Pauli Landungsbrücken (and that's not part of the marathon
). Then continuing past Hamburg's newest urban development area, HafenCity, to reach one of our preferred training roads and finally arrive back at the car.
Through the Elbe tunnel - Hamburg Harbour - Hafencity development areas
The full trip of 45km took us no less than 5 1/2 hours, mostly due to us taking it real slow and cautious at the interesting "obstacles". With some optimisation it should be doable in 3 hours, and then it's a great variety trip for those Sundays where there is no race for a change. The route is not recommended for weekdays though, as traffic in the harbour prevents you from using the streets where needed.
Bridges, Containers, and Hamburg's urban jungles
I've worked out a 45km loop skate which can be charakterised as 50% speedskating, 50% "urban adventure". After a bike routecheck, Michi and I tried the full thing on skates yesterday. The route uses many parts of an inline marathon course which will be run again in July, but as nothing was closed there's a good deal more pedestrian walkways, cycling paths and other "obstacles" involved as usual. Sights along the route include the super-modern fully automated container terminal of Altenwerder, with the lost church of St. Gertrud next to it (all other houses were torn down in favor of containers), a variety of interesting bridges like the Kattwyk bridge, then cutting through the harbour using the old Elbtunnel to reach the tourist center of Hamburg, St. Pauli Landungsbrücken (and that's not part of the marathon
). Then continuing past Hamburg's newest urban development area, HafenCity, to reach one of our preferred training roads and finally arrive back at the car. Through the Elbe tunnel - Hamburg Harbour - Hafencity development areas
The full trip of 45km took us no less than 5 1/2 hours, mostly due to us taking it real slow and cautious at the interesting "obstacles". With some optimisation it should be doable in 3 hours, and then it's a great variety trip for those Sundays where there is no race for a change. The route is not recommended for weekdays though, as traffic in the harbour prevents you from using the streets where needed.
Runners we are not
Merten, Wednesday, May 2. 2007
I guess many of you who skate marathons have heard this before when telling other people about your sport: "Ah, like the runners do". It seems we are stuck with this fundamental misunderstanding that speedskating is similar to running. Which in my opinion is complete nonsense.
Anyway, I went to watch a running competition on Sunday (as it was Hamburg Marathon and passed closer than 200m from our place). I must say I feel attracted by this sort of race as well. Just fighting yourself over three or more hours, no "external" excuses afterwards, just trying to maintain a constant pace without overexercising yourself. Marathon runners are heroes of that mental game.
But still, if you talk to people, have them compare speedskating to a bike race. Usually that gets the picutre across much better. Fighting in cooperative yet competitive groups, sharing a common goal, and trying to perform best in a tactical situation. That's what makes skating this interesting. But: I'd like to see an inline race with such a dense atmosphere some time, that was really cool.
Anyway, I went to watch a running competition on Sunday (as it was Hamburg Marathon and passed closer than 200m from our place). I must say I feel attracted by this sort of race as well. Just fighting yourself over three or more hours, no "external" excuses afterwards, just trying to maintain a constant pace without overexercising yourself. Marathon runners are heroes of that mental game.
But still, if you talk to people, have them compare speedskating to a bike race. Usually that gets the picutre across much better. Fighting in cooperative yet competitive groups, sharing a common goal, and trying to perform best in a tactical situation. That's what makes skating this interesting. But: I'd like to see an inline race with such a dense atmosphere some time, that was really cool.
