The Golden Wrench: Replacement Studs for Studded Tires

The Golden Wrench: Replacement Studs for Studded Tires: Studded tires make a world of difference when the streets are coated in a layer of glare ice. The studs, typically made of tungsten carbide...

How to save battery on your Android phone

This is the big question! How do you improve your Android phone battery life?

Well, the answer is simple: Battery Defender! Available on the Market, it's free, has good reviews and actually work (at least I think so).

How does it work? Basically, you setup a night mode, a period of time during which the app will deactivate all networks while screen is off. When you switch on the screen again, network come back on.

Also, it does switch off WIFI when not using it or when screen is off. That way, no wasting battery life while searching for WIFI networks when you don't need...

I use mostly my HTC Desire for GPS tracking and for a 32km commute everyday, it uses about 10-15% of battery. So far, I've almost reached 3 days with no WIFI but mobile network on to receive calls and texts.

I see a big difference but unfortunately, it doesn't do anything screen sucking up the battery life when it is on!

Mobile Atlas Creator removes Google Maps tiles download...

In version 1.9.1, I have discovered that downloading Google Maps tiles is become history...

So, for those who still want to download those precious tiles, try here.

This tyre is the entry level of Schwable brand for road bike. It's available in 23c and 25c with wire (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24894) and recently in folding version (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=63725).

Both version come in various colours.

Personally, I bought two of the wired in blue to replace the Schwable Ultremo R.1. You may ask why since the Ultremo is much better on paper. Actually, I'm commuting everyday to work and Dublin roads aren't very forgivable when it comes to nice and soft tyres like the Ultremo...
So, I opted for the Lugano and I made a good choice.

They lasted long, very long considering the price. I used them to the bone as this picture demonstrate:

Left: brand new Lugano tyre. Right: my former rear tyre.

The right tyre (rear) has 4382km from 10th of November 2010 to 6th of September 2011 is compared to the brand new one on the left. Despite the bad state of it, the tyre never punctured. I've actually realized very late that the thread was so worn... And even like this, I've done 50k with no problem. Plus, I didn't go easy on it by locking a few time the wheel.
So, when you see it costs €15 each, the Lugano is definitely a good tyre for those with budget. You don't need to spend 30€ or more if you are commuting around 100k per week.
Last good note is that they are easy to mount. Actually, all Schwable tyres are easy to mount. And they're all very good.

On the down side, it doesn't have the rolling efficiency of a Ultremo R.1 but I would go for the Lugano every time because of the price and harder rubber.

Google not allowing Google Maps tiles download anymore?

Today, I've just downloaded the Mobile Atlas Creator 1.9.1 version and Google Maps has disappeared from the list of map sources.

It looks like the same thing for the Android App Maverick. In the version 1.95, caching (or tiles download  onto the phone memory) is not allowed.

So, offline GPS maps with Google Maps is ancient history? I'll investigate and hope it is not!

REVIEW: Purple Extreme Golden Degreaser - Industrial Strength

Taking care of your bike is really important if you want to increase its lifespan.

Many parts on a bike get dirty from the rain, dust and durt. However, the degreaser I'm going to review is wonderful for drivetrains mainly. I didn't try it the rest of the bike but I'm sure it'd work as good.

How fast parts less efficient depends on your usage. Personally, I commute 150k a week so I clean the drivetrain every week if it has rained a lot, every two weeks otherwise.
The main components that need cleaning are:

• Chain
• Cassette
• Chainset
• Derailleurs

BEFORE ANYTHING: make sure damp the bike with hot water (not boiled) before applying the degreaser.

The first one is the most important. I usually use a chain degreaser machine and repeat the process twice or more depending the chain state. After the first run, the chain should already be better. The degreaser works so fast, you see the shiny plates going back to their normal grey colors.

The cassette: squirt on the degreaser while pedaling gently then quickly scrub with a tough brush each cog of the cassette. It cleans one side(outside) of the cogs nicely. For the other side (inside), use a rag.

For the rest, mix with water and use a soft brush to clean.

So far, I've used it about 6-8 times (once I cleaned two bikes instead of one) and the bottle is half empty. When you look at the price, quantity available in one bottle and normal usage, the degreaser should last another 2-3 months. So for less than €10 spent over about 5-6 months period, I think it's not too bad.

Overall, this degreaser is the best I've used. I highly recommend it to anyone who need to keep her/his bike in shape. From experience, a chain/cassette last 2000k if you don't take care of it. My commuter chain/cassette has 2000k already and it still looking brand new. But too bad CRC don't sell a 1L container...

Product Description : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=14885

SKYPE: How to buy credit with Paypal funds

Lately, my credit card has expired and consequently the auto-recharge of my Skype account failed.

Now, I don't want to use my credit card to auto-recharge but I prefer using my Paypal funds. For days and days I tried and every time, it was asking me for my new credit card details... But I didn't want that!

Finally, after reading Xth thread on the subject via Skype forums, someone gave this great solution. If you want to pay via Paypal funds and that you have Paypal method setup, just uncheck the Auto-recharge option before going off to Paypal.
Like that, it'll use your Paypal funds.
Therefore, auto-recharge option is only available if you give your credit details... Weird.

If only that never happened...

Last week, on my way to work, a surprise hit me hard!

Broken derailleur hanger! They say it happens when the derailleur too close from the spokes of the wheel but not my case...

Maybe the chain was the problem...

Then again I don't know if it is the cause... But a few weeks before, I found a loose link!

Anyway, it is a three-month old bike so still under warranty... However, derailleur hangers are supposed to break under high stress on the derailleur itself. So might not be covered...
Anyhow, I hope I'll get something back from ChainReactionCycle.com (where I bought it)... Otherwise, €200 more to spend on repairs for a €1300 bike...

Maverick Pro - Android App with very nice GPS capabilities

If you are looking for a nice and simple android app, but with all the best features to do some GPS tracking, Maverick is a good choice. It can be found in the Market for about €5.

Recently, the version 1.75 enables you to move the app on SD card! Nice one there developers!) So don't be afraid to get download it... You won't run out of memory!

 So let's start! The Home interface is simple but well organized:

• top left: "Maps" button to select which you want to use.
• top right: Zoom in/out though the pinch gesture works great too.

Left to Right: Google Maps view, Map menu with plenty of choice, OSM Mapnik view.

The app works so that any maps browsed is cached on your SD card (update: not for google maps since version 1.95). But I would advice to use Mobile Atlas Creator is you plan to use the app on offline mode only. The review about this is coming. Meanwhile, for those who know how to use Mobile Atlas Creator, maybe have a look this post!

• bottom left: Switch between map viewing and some features like track recording, compass and display of speed, altitude and position.

The blue point  on the compass is the destination (called here "Waypoint 4") that is at 5935km from me at the moment when I took the screenshot.

• bottom menu:  
• binoculars allow to search Waypoints(aka Point of Interest or POI), tracks a lot of other stuff.

• The green flag allows to add a POI in the Waypoint.kml file or foursquare.gpx file. Personally, I use the first.

• The GPS grid displays the number GPS available. In the all the above screenshots, I was in a building so 0! But the little squares become yellow when a satellite is in sight.
• Track recording info finally in the bottom right.

The settings are rich:

                                    

As you see, if you want the zoom buttons off, just uncheck the box.

One thing I would like is to have the auto screen orientation. Currently, you have to press "Menu" and "Switch orientation".... Weird...

I hope this review is giving you enough info to decide.

Cheers!

Offline GPS Tracking on your Android phone

Hello,

I have recently bought a great app, Maverick Pro (its review on this blog) that allows to cache automatically Google Maps or any map sources available in the app itself. This is great as I am a big cyclist and I love discovering new roads around Dublin and I don't want to pay the DATA charges to download the maps.
However, while it's caching it automatically when connected to a Wifi AP, you have to browse around the area you want to be cached. And this needs to be done for every zoom level... So you can imagine how painful it can be...

So, I've found a JAVA app (working across Windows, MAC OS-X., etc..) that allows me to download the tiles from Google Maps from a selected area.

The interface is pretty simple. I'll come back to a more detailed review this JAVA app (Mobile Atlas Creator)

Once you have finished downloading the tiles, before you copy them on your MicroSD card, you need to prepare it.

Because the tiles are very small (with Google Maps Street), between 2KB and 12KB, you need to have your MicroSD card to be set with the smallest clusters possible.

For a 2GB card, the smallest is 512B

For a 8GB card, the smallest is 2KB

By default, clusters are usually set to 32KB which with 100,000 tiles can waste a lot of space.

In my case, I have downloaded 686,020 tiles on a 2GB car with 512B clusters, the tiles use 1.14GB of space. On a 8GB card with 2K clusters, all the tiles use 1.94GB of space. You could double that if the 8GB card was using 32K clusters... You can imagine how useful it is if you have only a small MicroSD card.

I'll explain later on how to format a MicroSD card with a different size of clusters.

So, with all those downloaded tiles, you can open Maverick Pro, without any WIFI or 3G connection, and browse around Google Maps like if you were connected to a network. It is really a good app for that which really worth the money.

I'll fully review the app later.

Cheers!

First impressions - Google Sky Map

Hi,

I have just found this app available on the Android Market. I gave it a shot and I am nicely surprise!

If your compass works ok (which is not the case for everyone...), as you move, the sky map does too.

You can limit the info shown with a menu appearing when touching slightly the screen.

Searching for something? Press "Menu" and then a search section pops up.

Just type one later a list of hints appears. Very nice feature!

Then select a result and a cycle will appear with an arrow pointing to the object searched. When you point at objet, you can see it highlighted.

Pretty cool, isn't it?

Other features are available: photo gallery from hubble (no personal upload avaible yet), Time Travel (didn't really test), a night mode (will test when it's dark)...

I'd advice google to use real HD images (if possible) for galaxies, planets, sun, etc. The app would become very attractive then!