MBlog

Google Earth - FREE

In March we announced MB's integration with Keyhole, enabling users to easily export MB activities into their powerful 3-D satellite imagery application. As a Google owned company we anticipated great things, and they delivered. It's morphed into Google Earth with more functionality and improved imagery. Including; 3-D city models (US cities), Google Local search, and fly-throughs. That's right, simply export an activity from MB and you'll be flying-through the route in no time. Even better, they offer three versions and the first level is FREE! So, do yourself a favor and download Google Earth. You'll be amazed with MB's seamless integration.   

Thanks Google Earth....

BTW - We need to change the Keyhole buttons to Google Earth. In the mean time, the Keyhole buttons export activities to Google Earth or Keyhole, depending on which application is installed on the machine.

Erik Saunders in ROAD

One of MB's very own pro athletes, Erik Saunders, not only made the cover of ROAD Magazine, but the editor wrote a piece dissecting his Sea Otter Stage 2 race on MB. It's a great piece, offering insight into the pace and heart rate of pro road races.

The endurance level of the pro ranks always amazes me. I wonder what my time I'd clock at this effort, or more likely, how long I could maintain before blowing up? Interested in trying...the Fort Ord roads are open to cyclists and offer some of the best riding in Monterey County.

ROAD is a young magazine with limited distribution, and a strong up-and-comer. The clean larger format makes for an enjoyable read. If you haven't picked it up yet, check out the July issue and see a little MB on page 88.

A special thanks to Erik Saunders and Neil Browne, Editorial Director at ROAD .

 

Escape from Alcatraz Course Maps

MotionBased has teamed up with Tri-California to bring superior course mapping to the triathlon community. The Accenture Escape form Alcatraz Triathlon will kick-off the partnership with simulated MotionBased course previews and new aerial images (see the infamous sand ladder below).

The MB crew is proud to say that we put some sweat into this project. After tracking each course, we captured piles of data. Of course it's all going to good use on MB and the below is available there too, but here's another view of the bike course elevation profile.

In an attempt to track the swim course. I had the pleasure of working with Tri-California's Swim Clinic. The clinic pairs it's clients with pro triathletes for a day of training and a practice swim of the course. It's a great clinic and I recommend it for all levels. Especial if you have any anxiety about the swim, so, I guess that's everyone.

They had two sessions. I tracked two pros and a couple age groupers at each. My goal was to get a pros track, since they swim the best line. I used Forerunner 201's and positioned them in the back of their swim caps. At the end of the two sessions, I had nothing. The pros devices didn't record enough track points to generate a track, and even though the the age groupers recorded great tracks they didn't swim good lines.

Here's what I think happened with the pros; they don't stop to sight, they charge much harder, and they swim like there supposed to, head down. The device was frequently under water and wasn't able to recover to get a signal.
The below picture says it all......

Alexis Waddel & Eileen Castillo

My greatest success came from a good ol' camera. I created a sighting slide show, then took it a step further with geobloggers. Below is sample of what you'll find at geobloggers.

We hope you like the maps and look forward to supporting more Tri-California events. We'll have a booth at the event, so feel free to come by and talk shop or pick up a Garmin Forerunner 301 and MB Subscription.

Hope to see ya there,

Mike

madmax