Tested Archive

Packing Ultra Light Electronics

By Frank | Filed in Tested, Touring

Keyboard, stand and iPhone camera

Packing for Halifax isn’t easy. Temperatures have warmed, but it’s still cool and coastal. Then there’s the electronics. What’s the least I can bring to take photos and document the bike tour while posting to the blog, too?

I left the Apple store with much of my wallet still intact. Would I get the new iPad and take it instead of the MacBook Air? That would save more than a pound from my panniers.

I arrived early, right after opening, so Brandon had time to consider some alternatives with me. “I love it when someone has a project,” that being my upcoming bike tour and my desire to pack ultra-light.

So instead of a new iPad, which would’ve been nice, too, instead all I bought was a wireless keyboard. And a small stand for the iPhone. This configuration is ultra-weenie – the keyboard and stand added up to only $100. I’m typing this post with this poor-man’s setup and the photo is linked from the iPhone camera.

I’m pleased. I’ve saved pounds of electronic weight. I’m still loaded for bear and fully capable of documenting my Halifax tour. And if moisture gets to the keyboard, it’s inexpensive to replace, unlike the iPad or Air.

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Final Preparations

By Frank | Filed in Photos, Rides, Tested

Bruce Gordon's stainless steel toe clips, pedals by White Industries

It’s time for the last few preparations as I finalize my bike for the Erie Canal ride coming up in just a few weeks.

Campus Wheeelworks in Buffalo wants the bike shipped to them 2 weeks prior to my departure — one week for shipping and the balance for reassembly. Then I’ll be ready to pick up the bike when I arrive September 14th. My pal, Kent, arrives the 15th and we push right off for Niagara Falls, one of several side trips on this ride.

In a previous post I reviewed the Speedplay pedals; they’re great for a Century ride, but it’s not the pedals as much as the shoes that give me pause. Packing more than a single pair of shoes is not in the plan. Since this is my first tour I’m committed to packing light — I thought of bringing flip-flops for the occasional trip to the hot tub, but I’ll go bare foot instead. Next I’m thinking of ditching the bathing suit. The Mac Air is still in though.

There's more to this decision than just size


The hardest decision lies ahead — which camera to bring? One likely candidate is the Canon S95; it’s petite and powerful, but panoramic landscapes in HD is not its strong suit. The Sony A55 can do it all — shoot HD video and capture stunning stills; it’s not heavy, but it has the bulk of an SLR and space is a premium as well as weight.

Fenders were a special order

Fenders are a special order in an area where it seldom rains; it took almost 3 weeks to get the ones I wanted. In the Northeast, as you know, 3 days of rain is not uncommon, so fenders are essential. Staying dry is important, trite to say, because if I get soaked to the skin as I did during the Bike to Work ride in May, I lose concentration and risk slipping on wet roads. Someone told Kent that a plain old shower cap makes a good waterproof cover for a helmet; we’ll see. One of the heaviest items on board will be rain gear: coat, pants, shoes and shower cap.

It’s just days away from shipping the bike; I’ll ride it all weekend to make sure everything’s nice and tight.

See my previous post with video.

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