Fleetwood - Kutztown Loop

I have recently taken up cycling.  I'm not sure exactly why.  If you know me, you know the exercise couldn't hurt, and that's part of it.  But I have to be honest, the real motivator for me, as it usually is, is technology.  I'm not talking about super-light alloy frames or Tour de France-class derailers.  That may come if I stick with this long enough.  I'm talking about an innovative way to track and analyze bike rides, and no, it's not a Microsoft product.

Yesterday, I purchased a product from Garmin called the Forerunner 305.  It's a GPS unit purpose-built for tracking exercise.  After a simple configuration, I strapped the unit to my wrist and the heart monitor transmitter around my chest, hit start and started my usual Fleetwood - Kutztown cycling loop.  GPS data tracked my speed, distance, elevation and more.  The heart monitor sent heart rate data to the wrist unit wirelessly.

At the end of my ride, I plugged the wrist unit into my computer's USB slot and analyzed my workout with the included software.  Then I uploaded the data to Garmin's online application at http://www.motionbased.com.  Using these tools, I was able to find out everything that can be known about my workout including a map with my actual route superimposed.  Sorry for what seems like a commercial, but this thing is cool!  I will be using it on the MS ride in NYC coming up.

Here's a map of my Fleetwood - Kutztown Loop.  Follow the link to see more.