Fitness APIs

So, starting to get tech with the various APIs out there; looking to experiment and learn at the same time with the largest source of data I have access to (that is free and/or legal) as well as keep me interested, as I'm not one for "hello world" tinkering these days.

I'm currently deciding on the best approach for the ingestion; correlation and then visualisation; avoiding purposely the ways I've done this sort if thing before. I have got some thoughts to resurrecting some isometric 3D mapping, of the ilk I last did as a distraction to my degree thesis.

So, indirect source wise I have the following:

• Strava (obviously)
• FitBit
• Garmin Connect
• MapMyRide - legacy now really
• MyFitmessPal - just starting to investigate

These are primarily fed through a Garmin Edge 1000; along with speed and cadence on my road bike; as well as HR in a chest strap when I remember it. Power sensors are on the future shopping list; but are way too expensive right now! I've pretty much stopped using a phone as source now, but might do on holiday. For walking/running the FitBit is the source, though I'm considering a Garmin Vivosmart to better align to the Garmin ecosystem - ironically I wouldn't consider that sort of thing in my day job; Garmin is like the SAP of the outdoor device world!

As yet I've not really played with the Android, Apple and Microsoft options; as I'm a fan of wrist watches proper; so it's smart bands or trackers for me. I did briefly play with the Samsung Gear Fit, but couldn't get it to work with my Nexus 5 running Lollipop (Android 5), so the missus now has that.

Will report back on research and selections and time progresses...

Can we blame clubbers, or are cyclists litter bugs?

So, I keep seeing seeing cannisters by the side of the road when I go out for a ride; especially on our club run routes.

Blimey i thought, those night-clubbers, who've enjoy a blast of nitrous oxide of an evening, then decided to discard them on their wasted route home, through the country lanes of Essex, very naughty, but given the number of discarded cans of Fosters, Strongbow etc. no worse than anything else these days...

But then, I saw a gel pack and the realisation came that maybe the culprits were (or at least should be) entirely sober likes of me - cyclists! So it seems folks simply cannot be bothered in their post-puncture haste to clear up; or maybe the 15 grams of cannister weight would slow them down in their need to catch up with the chain gang?

The pro peloton doing it is bad enough, but necessary and I'd hope cleaned up by race organisers; we amateurs don't get that privilege, but are the first to moan when the less frequently used roads we like to ride are fly tipped.

Surely we should impose a little maturity and consideration in order to keep the good name of our hobby?

Sportives calendar

So far got quite a calendar coming on, starting with the Evans events in Gatwick, through the RideLondon 100 then a London to Brighton and back, at night! It's going to be a sore year :)

• 15th Feb - Evans RIDE IT Gatwick (30/50 miles)
• 22nd Mar - Kent Spring Challenge (60 miles)
• 19th Apr - Wiggle Spring Saddle (73 miles)
• 3rd May - Isle of Wight Randonnee (100 Km)
• 21st June - Tour of Essex (72 miles)
• 19th July - Evans RIDE IT Essex (90 miles)
• 2nd Aug - RideLondon (100 miles)
• 26th Sep - Brighton There and Back Moonlight Ride (120 miles)