Of technology, eBay and mobile phones

For some time I've lusted after a topographical sat nav system called Satmap. I've always considered it far too expensive figuring it would weigh in at somewhere in the region of £450. Bear that in mind for a moment.

I've often marvelled at the technological advances in the last 20 years, that have lead to the point where you can trade easily over internet, with sites like eBay and through companies own webpages. And particularly that now that you can do it from a mobile phone! It's nothing short of miraclulous, even to me, an IT professional, especially when I think back to my first mobile phone in the early 90's, which doubled as a handy pocket sized lump hammer or offensive weapon!

Well it came into it's own the other evening when I sat in bed and (possibly tired) I bought, on a bit of a whim, a Satmap off eBay! I saved £100 off the RRP and I reckon I can peel another £25-£40 off the maps and accessories I'll eventually get for it. But I'm still concerned this rather expensive whim is a bit hard to justify.

The whim was not entirely without provocation. I currently use a cheap PDA with a bluetooth GPS reciever and a copy of Memory Map to do the same job. However, it's clunky and unreliable. It's prone to crashing and letting me down when I need it most. It's not waterproof or shockproof (which the Satmap is). Just recently I went through an annoying spell of occurrances of it letting me down and was only just short of drop kicking it into the depths of one of the welsh forests. So, there's my justification, however weak!! I'll post up how I get on with it.

Maybe this is a case of that old issue I have when I get bored - I buy things! I had a very minor fall about 2 weeks ago in Brechfa Forest and hurt my ribs (again!). It didn't stop me doing my Gap Road ride last week, but I have been somewhat uncomfortable at times. I obviously have some sort of weakness there, so with that in mind have resolved to back off with the trail centre riding. I'll do some more gentle stuff like perhaps a little commuting and then some gentle XC riding (the Satmap should come into it's own then).

The Brecon Beacons Gap Road

One to tick off the list for me. I did this ride some 16 years ago with my brother. Revisiting it means that I have completed all but one of my most significant rides I did in the early days and I can carry on where I left off mountain biking as a kid!

The Gap is an old Roman mountain road through the Beacons. We started from Pontsticill Reservoir and climbed up to the mountain pass, past dozens of squadies on exercise! Through the pass is an awesome rocky descent down natural rock steps then onward on a long gradual bone shaking clatter down to the farmland below. We took in a couple of bridleways and a canal towpath on the way round the roads to Talybont-on-Usk, where we had a cracking pub lunch in the Star Inn.

The final leg was a never ending climb from 125m up the old Brinmore Tramway and onto the hilltops, eventually topping off at about 520m. Down off the top was another rocky descent to the Reservoir and the car park where the midges there truely insane!! Grinning was the order of the day!! :-)

It's an interesting track for me from another point of view as I last came here in my Suzuki Samurai. I find it sad to see lanes like this so heavily restricted to vehicles. This particular road can easily sustain vehicular traffic and now all it's usage is compressed into about 10 weeks of the year. I loathe this outlawing of the 4x4 as it just punishes those who were law abiding. You won't stop the renegade element especially on dirt bikes.