Keeping Tempo: 1-25-08

The GamJams Best Training Music Ever Playlist so far promises to be loud, eclectic and motivating. Thanks to the podium-placing David Kirkpatrick, Jeff Anderson and Todd Bickling for being the first three to send some tunes across the line. So far in the mix are everyone from Ted Nugent to Johnny Cash, Bowie to Boston, The Killers to Evanescence. See the original entry for how to add your own tunes to the mix. It's all for a good cause - to raise some funds for Junior Development, and also to give us a little more inspiration to slog through those long trainer days.

• There's an interesting thread on VeloFish's site about the issues he has had with PowerTap - the product, and the company (Saris). I deal with a PowerTap issue annually (working with their customer service folks now, in fact, over an intermittent data dropping problem), so I'm always attentive of the problems other folks experience, and how Saris deals with them. Normally it's with remarkable promptness and transparency, which has helped them retain many loyal users, often in spite of frustrating technology glitches. But what I like best about the PowerTap folks is that they pay attention to what's going on out here in the cycling blogosphere, and aren't afraid to enter conversations about their product, even (and especially) when they're being called to the carpet for some perceived shortcoming. Case in point - Jesse Bartholomew, Product Manager for PowerTap, responds to Fish's complaint directly in the comments of his post. Whether you prefer another product or not, there's a lot to be said for companies that mobilize actual people to address the complaints of we mortals, and don't just throw resources at the guys with UCI licenses.
• Do any MTB riding or adventure racing in West Virginia? Cyclists in The Mountain State need help from all corners. CityBikesMike points out a WV Wilderness Bill that takes Bicycle Advocates from surprise. Evidently the WV Wilderness Coalition has gotten a bill fastracked in Congress, which if passed would result in the closure of some 50 miles of multi-use backcountry trails. IMBA and WVMBA had worked with the Coalition previously to forge agreements on the use of trails, but this new bill was shopped to Congress without the input of any cycling advocates. The release on Mike's site asks for interested folks to contact WV members of Congress. Presumably, you don't need to be a WV resident to do so - especially if you're a tourist who travels to WV for riding and racing, and spends money while you're there.
• There's better news out of Virginia Beach, where the city approved a Cycling Safety Resolution. N Plus One has the story.
• Hey 757 - take the "Who Dat" Quiz on BikeVoice's site. Too hard? You can peek at the answers here.
• Finally, just in case you're not spending enough time reading local racers' blogs, here are two more: Jennifer Bodine, of the newly formed Capital Area Women's Elite Squad (CAWES), has launched Real Life to chronicle the teams travels and travails. And JAA, evidently of HPC-List, rolls out Keep the Shiny Side Up. Please welcome them with your attention and an irreverent comment or two.