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"I logged thousands of miles on my bike — and my laptop."
When Jerry committed to a 100-mile bike ride, his wife thought he was crazy.
But together, they discovered a high-tech way to keep his training on target and to document his epic journey.
How to do it
Before – Use your digital camera to take "before" photos before you start training.
During – Have a friend or family member take video footage of you riding.
After – Use a USB cable to transfer your camera and camcorder footage to your laptop.
More ideas...
- Use a software tool like Blogger to create your personal Web site or blog.
- Type your thoughts and progress every day into your 'training diary'.
- Upload your photos or video to your blog (you now have a 'vlog').
- Analyze your weekly training on your blog or Web site.
- Write up feedback from training partners.
- Include encouragement from friends and family as audio podcasts.
- "If I can do it, so can you!" Motivate others using your Web site or blog.
Top idea
On race day, why not get a friend to follow the route in a car and create photos, videos and a race day diary. They can stop en route at a Wi-Fi hotspot (like at a café, bookstore or hotel) to upload your progress to your video blog. Now friends who can't make your big day can cheer you on from afar.
Jerry's story
"When I told my wife I was going to ride my first century, she just smiled and nodded. But while I was dusting off my bike, she appeared with the laptop and video camera. ‘Let me help you,’ she said. She started by taking ‘before’ pictures of me in my Lycra (some help, I thought), then she took my measurements, including my calf circumference, and entered my physical stats and photos into what would become a weekly training blog. Every week she'd record videos of me on my rides, and I'd blog about how I felt. As the time and the miles clocked up, I was amazed to see that my form, pace and confidence did too. I felt excited—and my blog was proof that I was progressing.
"At 16 weeks on I was ready for the big ride—and so was my wife. She followed the route in our car, and typed notes on the laptop. By the time I'd crossed the finish line, absent friends and family knew all about it from notes, pictures and videos my wife had sent them. And even though I was pretty ragged looking, I admit I still looked better in the ‘after’ pictures."