Cycling Magazines

Have you ever been to the California Coast? If not, I highly recommend it. And don’t just drive your car up and down Highway 1. Take the time to get out and actually see the scenery. In fact, if you ever have the chance, check out the California coast on your bike.

California’s central coast boasts some of the best scenery in the world. The old coast road, which runs from Big Sur to Carmel now acts more like a bike path than a highway. The beautiful Bixby Bridge is where the cars go now so the old coast road is perfect for cyclists, be sure to check it out.

Back in the 60’s there were pictures taken of a young man standing on the beaches near Fort Ord. That young man was in training to go to the Vietnam War, and also my father. As a Brooklyn native, he had never seen the Pacific Coast until basic training. To this day, he still talks about the beauty of that area California. The Fort Ord/Toro Creek Loop is no longer home to Military personnel. However, its history is still obvious. The area is a virtual playground to military enthusiasts. Pay particular attention to the signs as there are still unexploded land mines.

There is another ride that will surely not disappoint that ends in Gaviota State Park. The trail will have you riding through inland valleys and over rolling hills. There is no shortage of picturesque farmland and rich vegetation. The route has two large hills, offering both challenge and triumph. The tradewinds can be especially brutal, so be sure to bring sunglasses or goggles to keep you moving. This ride can be a challenge, but will bring you beach front, so be sure to cool off with a dip in the Pacific.

San Eiljo State Park is an awesome place to ride your bike and for a couple of reasons. Two of the best are Huntington Beach and Newport. Far enough away from the hustle and bustle of LA these beaches will help even a very beginning cyclist to chill out and relax. These are 2 of the best beaches in the world and you will know why when you see their beauty. You might actually think about moving to LA.

The Pacific Coast Bike Ride is highly recommended but you want to be a couple of notches better than beginner or at least in pretty good shape. The stretch from San Elijo to Torrey Pines is relatively smooth but the rest can be a challenge. The coastal scenery is too die for and the city of San Diego will have you coming back for more year after year.

The California Coast is one of the most amazing places on Earth. If you have been there, then go back and see it on your bike. If you have never been there then be sure to go and bring your bike. You will find it all so very amazing and you might make it a yearly tradition.

Anybody thinking about training for the computer or IT industry will notice the diverse range of courses on offer. In the first instance, seek out a training company with industry experts, so you can get information on the jobs your training program is designed for. Maybe you’ll find job roles you hadn’t previously thought of. The range of courses is vast. Certain students need Microsoft user skills, many go for career changes into Databases, Programming, Networking or Web Design – and all can be catered for. However, with so many to choose from, you don’t have to decide alone. We’d advise you to talk to a company who knows the computer industry, and will guide you to where you want to go.

Modern training methods now give students the chance to study on an innovative style of course, that costs significantly less than more outdated courses. The price of these courses makes them available to all.

Picking up on all this debate about computer technology at present, how can we recognize what precisely to look for?

Looking around, we find a myriad of jobs and positions available in IT. Finding the particular one out of this complexity is generally problematic. How likely is it for us to understand the day-to-day realities of any IT job when it’s an alien environment to us? Maybe we don’t even know anybody who does that actual job anyway. Getting to the right conclusion will only come via a systematic analysis covering many unique criteria:

* The kind of individual you are – which things you really enjoy, and don’t forget – what you definitely don’t enjoy.

* Is it your desire to realise a key objective – for instance, being your own boss sometime soon?

* How highly do you rate salary – is an increase your main motivator, or do you place job satisfaction a little higher on your list of priorities?

* Often, trainees don’t consider the time involved to achieve their goals.

* Taking a proper look at how much time and effort you’ll make available.

In all honesty, it’s obvious that the only real way to investigate these issues tends to be through a good talk with an advisor that has a background in computing (and chiefly the commercial needs and requirements.)

Most trainers typically provide a big box of books. Learning like this is dull and repetitive and not really conducive to achieving retention. Studies in learning psychology have shown that memory is aided when we involve as many senses as possible, and we put into practice what we’ve been studying.

Start a study-program in which you’re provided with an array of DVD-ROM’s – you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and be able to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills. It’s very important to see examples of the study materials provided by each company you’re contemplating. You’ll want to see that they include full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, so that you have access at all times – and not be totally reliant on a good broadband connection all the time.

There is no way of over emphasising this: It’s essential to obtain proper 24×7 round-the-clock professional support from mentors and instructors. You’ll severely regret it if you let this one slide. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations which use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – with your call-back scheduled for typical office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need help now.

The best trainers utilise several support facilities across multiple time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, any time of the day or night, help is at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems. Never make do with a lower level of service. Direct-access round-the-clock support is the only way to go with IT learning. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; but for most of us, we’re working during the provided support period.

In amongst the top nominees for the top potential problem in IT training can be attending multi-day workshops. A lot of training schools push the positive points of taking part in these events, however, they quickly become a major problem because of:

* Periodic visits to the centre – quite a distance away in many cases.

* Access to classes; normally Monday to Friday and usually 2-3 days at a time. It’s never convenient to take the required leave of absence.

* With only 4 weeks holiday each year, sacrificing half of them for study classes leaves very little time for holidays.

* In a situation where running costs are very high, a lot of companies really push the size of the class – which isn’t ideal (and with less one-on-one time).

* Some attendees want to work as quickly as possible, while others are looking to take a more ’steady’ pace and not be pushed beyond their comfort-zone. This generates tension and bad atmosphere a lot of the time.

* You can’t ignore the extra financial outlay of travelling or accommodation for the duration either. This may well run to many hundreds of pounds more – sometimes thousands. Do the maths yourself – it’ll shock and surprise you.

* A lot of attendees want their studies to remain private so as to avoid any repercussions at work.

* Don’t think it’s unusual for people to keep a question to themselves – purely because they’re amongst other classmates.

* If you occasionally work away from home, it’s apparent that events sometimes become very hard to attend – and yet, the fees were paid along with everything else at the start.

The ultimate convenience is watching a filmed lesson – giving you the opportunity of instructor-led coaching whenever you wish. Just imagine… Using a laptop then you’re free to study in the garden, a park, or just outside. And 24 hr-a-day support is only a web-browser click away in case of difficulty. Note-taking is gone forever – all the lessons and background info are laid out on a plate. If you want to re-do anything, just do it. The bottom line: Much less stress and hassle, less cost, and no wasted travelling time.

There is a tidal wave of change washing over technology in the near future – and it only gets more exciting every day. We’ve barely started to get an inclination of how technology will influence everything we do. The internet will massively transform the way we see and interact with the entire world over the coming decades.

Should receiving a good salary be high on your wish list, then you’ll be happy to know that the regular income for the majority of IT staff is considerably more than with the rest of the economy. Due to the technological sector increasing with no sign of a slow-down, one can predict that the requirement for certified IT specialists will continue actively for quite some time to come.

this morning next door to my office. The girls that work there were wearing very bad cat costumes. I knew it was not a holiday, (any that I heard of) yet they donned costumes. While in line for crummy over-priced bagel I over heard themtalking about it being a spur of the momne tidea. To [...]

I don’t think anyone is surprised that a couple cyclists have been busted for CERA in the retesting of samples from the Beijing Games. Silver medalist Davide Rebellin is one of six athletes who turned up positive. It’ll be interesting to see who the second cyclist is. Ever since I can remember, doping has been part of the drama in pro cycling. It’s a disappointment because he robbed others from their podium finishes and possibly ruined careers of others who were trying to make it while they were racing clean. This puts Andy Schleck as the winner of both La Fleche Wallone and L-B-L, however he won’t be remembered for this.  Just like Oscar Piero did not get to stand on the podium with the yellow jersey at the 2006 Tour de France, he barely gets any recognition for his victory.  Glory is rare in a cyclist’s fragile career and it really means something to him or her when it is achieved.  Robbing someone from that is just wrong.

However, the blame shouldn’t be solely put on the offending cyclist. The pressure placed on them to perform by their teams, sponsors and federations is enormous. Doping products like EPO aren’t used because the athlete is lazy and wants to take shortcuts. It’s in fact the opposite. They are doing all they physically can with their training and they need a way to be able to do more. This is what most of these drugs do – they enable you do more, day after day, without the need for recovery days. I can see how some of these athletes face a decision between possibly getting caught, or certain termination of contract if they don’t perform. Unfortunate, but that’s the reality of pro sports. There is no easy answer.

Setting goals is great, however it can be a disappointing experience if you don’t reach that end goal up to the expectations you’ve set for yourself.    A shift in perspective is all it takes to see everything in a new light.    Sometimes setting smaller goals that focus on the “process” is a better bet than focusing on goals that lead to an “outcome“.

In bike racing, there are so many things that can go wrong that are outside of your control that could very easily negate your “podium finish” goal (or whatever it may be).  There’s no doubt you’ll be disappointed.  However, if you put less emphasis on that end goal and start placing more weight on smaller goals in your journey (i.e. training and lead-up races) you’ll likely end up much more satisfied.  At the end of the day you’ll probably do better in your final event because the self-pressure will be off and you’ll come in with a much more relaxed attitude.

Cycling is a tough sport (the most difficult sport I’ve ever competed in) and I’ve found that you’ll be disappointed many more times than you’ll be elated if you guage your performance based on race results. I believe that people’s longevity in the sport of cycling has a lot to do with enjoying the ride rather than the need to win races.  No matter who you are, you’ll eventually stop winning.

There are four A+ exams and specialised sectors, but you only need to get certified in 2 to qualify for your A+. Because of this, a great number of colleges simply offer two. Yet learning about all 4 will equip you with a more confident perspective of the subject, something you’ll discover is a Godsend in industry.

If you decide to become a student on the A+ training course you’ll be taught how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You’ll also cover fault finding and diagnostics, through both hands-on and remote access. If you feel it appropriate to add Network+ to your CompTIA A+ training course, you’ll also have the ability to assist with or manage networks of computers, allowing you to expect a better remuneration package.

Bearing in mind the sheer volume of discussion covering Information Technology (IT) right now, how can we recognize what precisely to look for?

Beginning with the understanding that we have to locate the employment that excites us first and foremost, before we’re able to chew over what method of training would meet that requirement, how are we supposed to find the right path? Consequently, if you don’t have any understanding of the IT market, how could you possibly know what some particular IT person actually does day-to-day? And of course decide on what accreditation path is the most likely for your success. To get to the bottom of this, a discussion is necessary, covering many different aspects:

* The kind of person you reckon you are – which things you enjoy, and don’t forget – what don’t you like doing.

* What length of time can you allocate for the training process?

* Where do you stand on travelling time and locality vs salary?

* With many, many markets to choose from in the IT industry – there’s a need to achieve some key facts on what sets them apart.

* Taking a serious look at what commitment and time you can give.

When all is said and done, the best way of investigating all this is by means of an in-depth discussion with an advisor that through years of experience will give you the information required.

We can guess that you’re a practical sort of person – a ‘hands-on’ person. If you’re anything like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you really wouldn’t enjoy it. You should use video and multimedia based materials if books just don’t do it for you. Learning psychology studies show that we remember much more when we involve as many senses as possible, and we take action to use what we’ve learned.

Courses are now available in the form of CD and DVD ROM’s, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how something is done, and then practice yourself – in a virtual lab environment. Be sure to get a training material demonstration from the training company. The package should contain slide-shows, instructor-led videos and fully interactive skills-lab’s.

It’s unwise to opt for on-line only training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of the ISP (internet service provider) market, it makes sense to have actual CD or DVD ROM’s.

Often, students don’t think to check on something that can make a profound difference to their results – how their company actually breaks down and delivers the physical training materials, and into how many parts. Trainees may consider it sensible (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years to pass all the required exams,) that a training provider will issue one module at a time, as you achieve each exam pass. But: What if there are reasons why you can’t finish every section? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Through no fault of your own, you might take a little longer and not get all the study materials as a result.

In a perfect world, you’d ask for every single material to be delivered immediately – meaning you’ll have all of them to come back to in the future – irrespective of any schedule. You can also vary the order in which you attack each section where a more intuitive path can be found.

Please understand this most important point: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. You’ll severely regret it if you don’t adhere to this. Always avoid study programmes that only provide support to students with an out-sourced call-centre message system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Training organisations will defend this with all kinds of excuses. But, no matter how they put it – you need support when you need support – not when it’s convenient for them.

As long as you look hard, you will find professional training packages who recommend and use online support around the clock – even in the middle of the night. Unless you insist on direct-access 24×7 support, you’ll end up kicking yourself. You may avoid using the support late in the night, but you may need weekends, late evenings or early mornings.

Consider only learning paths which will progress to industry recognised accreditations. There’s a plethora of small colleges suggesting ‘in-house’ certificates which aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on when it comes to finding a job. Only properly recognised certification from the major players like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and Adobe will be useful to a future employer.

One crafty way that colleges make extra profits is by charging for exams up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. It looks impressive, till you look at the facts:

Patently it’s not free – you’re still being charged for it – it’s just been included in your package price. It’s everybody’s ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Taking your exams progressively in order and paying for them just before taking them makes it far more likely you’ll pass first time – you revise thoroughly and think carefully about the costs.

Go for the best offer you can find at the appropriate time, and avoid college mark-up fees. You’ll also be able to choose where to do your exams – so you can find somewhere local. Paying in advance for exams (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is bad financial management. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with your money just to give them a good cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won’t get to do them all – so they get to keep the extra funds. Re-takes of any failed exams with training companies with an ‘Exam Guarantee’ inevitably are heavily regulated. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.

With average Prometric and VUE exams costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, the most cost-effective way to cover the cost is by paying when you need them. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

Can job security really exist anywhere now? In a marketplace like the UK, with industry changing its mind on a whim, there doesn’t seem much chance. Whereas a marketplace with high growth, where there just aren’t enough staff to go round (as there is a big shortage of trained workers), provides a market for real job security.

Offering the IT industry as an example, the most recent e-Skills analysis showed a skills deficit across the United Kingdom in excess of 26 percent. It follows then that out of each 4 positions that exist in the computer industry, employers can only find certified professionals for three of the four. Appropriately skilled and commercially certified new employees are as a result at a resounding premium, and in all likelihood it will stay that way for a long time to come. Surely, it really is a critical time to consider retraining into the computer industry.

USA Cycling and the Fort Collins Cycling Festival will host the first-ever Echelon Collegiate Cycling Leadership Conference, May 6th and 7th in Fort Collins, Colo. The conference, strategically titled Echelon, is sponsored by Training Peaks and is set to cover a broad range of topics unique to Collegiate Cycling. Organizers hope to bring together the stakeholders of Collegiate Cycling to discuss progress and innovation in the world of Collegiate Cycling. Registration is required via Sportsbaseonline.com by Sunday, May 3rd.

USA Cycling and the Fort Collins Cycling Festival will host the first-ever Echelon Collegiate Cycling Leadership Conference, May 6th and 7th in Fort Collins, Colo. The conference, strategically titled Echelon, is sponsored by Training Peaks and is set to cover a broad range of topics unique to Collegiate Cycling. Organizers hope to bring together the stakeholders of Collegiate Cycling to discuss progress and innovation in the world of Collegiate Cycling. Registration is required via Sportsbaseonline.com by Sunday, May 3rd.

In the first stand-alone event on the USA Cycling Mountian Bike National Cross Country Calendar, The Greenbrier Challenge, Aaron Snyder earned the victory by more than two minutes over his closest competition in the pro men’s cross country event. Johanna Kraus earned the win in the pro women’s race. With Fontana and Sea Otter already factored into the MBNC-XC standings, Max Plaxton and Georgia Gould lead the series. Next up on the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Cross-Country Calendar will be the Idyllwild Spring Challenge, May 2-3 in Idyllwild, Calif.

In the first stand-alone event on the USA Cycling Mountian Bike National Cross Country Calendar, The Greenbrier Challenge, Aaron Snyder earned the victory by more than two minutes over his closest competition in the pro men’s cross country event. Johanna Kraus earned the win in the pro women’s race. With Fontana and Sea Otter already factored into the MBNC-XC standings, Max Plaxton and Georgia Gould lead the series. Next up on the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Cross-Country Calendar will be the Idyllwild Spring Challenge, May 2-3 in Idyllwild, Calif.