Remember years ago when Tomorrow’s World (BBC TV) told us how amazing the future would be, that we’d all have robot cleaners and loads more spare time because computers would handle everything for us? It all seemed, and still seems so far away. Computers have largely resulted in people spending a massive proportion of their time on computers.

I’m helping to organise a conference for the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Anyone who’s ever organised such a thing knows that one of the time consuming challenges is the administration involved in people registering for the event, especially dealing with reserve lists and cancellations. 

Imagine the scene: you’re at the café having that well earned coffee and specialist scientific body fuel (OK, cake), chatting with your mates and life feels good. So good in fact, that you completely forget to pick up your Garmin GPS and ride off without it. Now, assuming there are still decent honest people in the world (and most are, contrary to what the mass media seem to want us to believe), the average person will resist the urge to put your beloved device on eBay and instead wonder how they might set about returning it to the owner. Did you know that you can configure your Garmin device to display a customised message when it starts up?

So you’re thinking of getting a Garmin Edge 800, probably the best bike computer on the market in 2011/12?
There are many different bundles to choose from, and when I was deciding which to go for, I knew I wanted the performance monitoring kit, with the heart rate and cadence sensors. Since I’d read that it was possible to load custom open source maps to the unit anyway, it seemed an easy decision to make.
Adding the OS Discoverer Maps to a bundle typically adds around £50 to the price. Should you buy the same maps later as a standalone article, it will cost you around £160 to £180 (for the whole UK version).
So, is it wise to just go for free Open Streetmap maps to save money? If you’re thinking about getting an Edge 800 and are weighing up this particular dilemma, I hope this article will help you make the right decision.

Whilst out cycling with a friend, we ventured off on an unknown road in the general direction of home. As we came over the brow of a hill, the view of the Vale of Clwyd smacked us in the face. It was quite a cold, crisp day and the sky was mostly clear. We paused to enjoy the view and I took out my phone to take a few shots.

Many years ago I’d come across some software for stitching photos together to make seamless panoramas, and frustratingly I didn’t seem to have it anymore.

I got to the meeting place with five minutes to spare. Two other riders were already there, all geared up and ready to go. As we chatted, a stream of people arrived, most by bike and some by car; all greeted warmly. It felt like a family. Not the regular sort of mildy dysfunctional family complete with a black sheep or two, but a sort of family of kindred spirits, drawn together by shared interests and shared experiences.