LensHero

Well, so I got hit by a bug, the photography bug, and bought a refurbished Nikon DLSR.

But what does one do about lenses, the oft-forgotten critical part of photography hardware?

There are so many choices of lens: Wide-angle, telephoto, fixed, macro, fish-eye, tilt-shift, specialty.

Then there's the myriad manufacturers: Nikon, Canon, Sigma, Tamron.

With so much information on the internet, where does one start? Google doesn't provide clear answers.

Fortunately, there's lenshero.com

A simple site: type in your camera body model, select the type of lens you want, and your budget. That's it.

You get results which you can modify or filter if you wish.

Once you pick the lens, you have a link to a site that it selling it, and also compatibility with your DSLR camera body (DX vs FX) plus lens specifications.

lenshero.com

Try it. Simple.

Bike Photos

Here's some photos of the new bike.

New (used) bike!

I bought a new road bike a couple of weeks back from my co-worker. It's a 2006 Specialized Roubaix Comp (double), in Team Gerolsteiner colors. He's maintained it well and always stored it indoors. Got it for a good price, plus the upgrades from stock, including:
-Carbon handlebar
-Dura-Ace chain
-Ultegra cassette 10-speed.

The blurb from Specialized's website;
"Roubaix Comp Double

EXPERIENCE: ENDURANCE ROAD
Developed and named for a 165-mile suffer-fest run across 500 year-old cobbles, the Roubaix is perfect for anyone who wants to go faster and longer.

Tested and tuned on the toughest roads by members of the Gerolsteiner team and thousands of enthusiasts, the Roubaix--with its dialed geometry, lightweight, high efficiency, supple ride and tuned ergonomics--is regularly first across the line in mountain stages and Saturday morning rides. While most riders won't be seeking UCI points on a Roubaix, everyone will be glad to have a steed that lets them go longer and faster than ever before."

She rides nice and smooth, absorbs a lot of vibrations due to the Zertz inserts in the forks, seatpost, and seatstays. The goal is to build my ride mileage up to attempt a century.

Here's a stock photo for now, until I get the camera and snap a few shots.

Albuquerque Photos

It's been a busy couple of months, but here's some pix from my Albuquerque, NM trip from work.

You can view them at http://picasaweb.google.com/aamehta/Albuquerque#

Albuquerque, NM

Last Friday my manager asked me to go to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to fill-in for a colleague who has a long-term illness. It's only a 3 week gig for now.

I've been in ABQ, or as the locals call it, the Duke City, for 6 days now. Very pleasantly hot, not very humid. Lots of good food and good adventure to go with it.

Hiked a trail in the Petroglyph National Monument today. Will post photos soon of Native American carvings from days of yore.

One ride wonder

A week ago the west-coast retailer from where I bought the Scott Speedster S10 asked if I wanted a complete refund as Scott were taking too long to respond to the cracked frame issue. After much delibration, I accepted the offer and got my $1500 back. So, all that hassle and one good ride out of it. I've got a bad taste of Scott bikes in my mouth.

It's now time to get a replacement locally, and it won't be a Scott. To top that, Karma hit the Saunier Duval-Scott team in the 2008 Tour de France with the doping issue.

I'm looking for a bike with at least a Shimano 105 gruppo, and double (compact) crankset. Bikes coming to mind are:

Cannondale CAAD 9 5
Felt F85
Trek 2.3
Bianchi Via Nirone 7
Specialized Roubaix Compact

I'll be hitting the local bike shops in a couple of weeks.

Vintage is back!

My new bike got a crack, on the integrated headstem. Dang these new-fangled new-age materials. That's what happens when you have an integrated frame. One crack and the frame is done.



Fortunately, the Speedster came with a 3 year warranty on the frame and Scott parts (handlebar, saddle, etc.). So the bike's on it's way back to the retailer, and then they'll take care of it with Scott USA. I've been told to wait 4-6 weeks.

So it's back to my vintage 1985 Trek 400. Old is gold.