General Cycling Discussion - Do you prefer an on-line or on-paper log?

My log (more of a journal) is to personal to put on-line for anyone to read. Plus, it is too disorganized, with random thoughts on biking that are probably only interesting to me.
Bottom line is that I don't trust technology, and I love to buy nice books and pens, and also I like to draw little pictures.

what's paper?

My log (more of a journal) is to personal to put on-line for anyone to read.

Mine is not online per se but it is electronic. I agree that it's rather personal and I don't like advertising my bad days :o .

It get's backed up weekly and doesn't require me to do the math when I'm half delusional from riding.

call me a retro grouch, but if it's not on a stone slab done by chisel and hammer, it's just not good enough.

I've had various sketchbooks/journals over the years, but was never really happy with what I put in them. Starting up a blog helped with that a lot - I actually type fast enough to get my thoughts out and still be able to read them. That doesn't happen with a pen and paper.

I actually do both. I use a paper journal for more personal thoughts, a separate travel journal for when I'm on a bike tour and my blog for more public thoughts, rants and other weird things. There are benefits to each and the technology can be good for presenting your ideas out to others to see. The question is what the goal of the journal is.

If it's just for self-exploration or "exploration"?

Side question: wouldn't this be more apropos for Foo?

I thought she was just talking about her cycling and logging her information... General Cycling is ok for it.

I keep all my cycling stuff written down. It's ok to have the downloadable this and that, but I like being able to keep my journal on me and whip it out during or after my ride and make notes and stuff about my ride for the day.

Koffee

what's paper?
LOL.

OP you may want to check out www.bikejournal.com

I used it, a little confusing at first but it's because it's very configurable.

This is the second year I have used bikejournal.com.

Very nice.

I used to use a paper notebbok and that system was never accurate or complete and you can really do a lot of interesting stuff with the stats on bikejournal.com

Neither. I created CycliStats (http://www.shastasoftware.com/CycliStats/index.htm) because I wanted the analysis features of an electronic log (summaries by week, month, year, graphs, etc.).

But, I made it a Windows PC program, because I prefer to keep my ride information on my own computer, and because online logs are always slower and more difficult to use.

If you're interested, you can download a free, fully functional, 30-day trial version of CycliStats from the web site.

My log (more of a journal) is to personal to put on-line for anyone to read. Plus, it is too disorganized, with random thoughts on biking that are probably only interesting to me.
Bottom line is that I don't trust technology, and I love to buy nice books and pens, and also I like to draw little pictures.

Neither, I can't imagine anyone living without Cyclistats the greatest cycling logging program ever!

Neither, I can't imagine anyone living without Cyclistats the greatest cycling logging program ever!

Hey, thanks!

BTW - have you downloaded version 4.8 (released last Monday)?

If so, how do you like it, especially the changes in the ride editor window? I was a bit nervous about going to a "tabbed" layout there, but that seemed the only way due to all the fields now available when logging a ride.

Hey, thanks!

BTW - have you downloaded version 4.8 (released last Monday)?

If so, how do you like it, especially the changes in the ride editor window? I was a bit nervous about going to a "tabbed" layout there, but that seemed the only way due to all the fields now available when logging a ride.

Candidly, I liked the non tabbed method better, but I am so in love with the program that I could care less if each tab was password protected! :D Yes, I have the new version. I literally use the software daily, and often check for updates. I always find hidden richness in the program when I take the time to go in a bit deeper. I am such a cycling nut that I certainly don't need anything to enhance my cycling experience. Having said that, your program enhances it considerably!! Thanks for not only the program, but also for the constant tweaking. You could have done nothing in ages, and there would still be nothing even close to being in the same league.

Over the years I've moved away from log programs. It seems for each new hobby I pickup requires some form of logging so I use spreadsheets. I currently maintain 3 logs, Cycling, Running and Flying. Of the 3, my flying log is the most complicated.

Over the years I've moved away from log programs. It seems for each new hobby I pickup requires some form of logging so I use spreadsheets. I currently maintain 3 logs, Cycling, Running and Flying. Of the 3, my flying log is the most complicated.

Gee, we use the same logs. I was a competitive runner for many years, and logged every step. I am a retired airline pilot and have a rather thick pile of log books, and then there is good old cycling. You need to take a look at Cyclistats to see what you are missing! It is so much more than just a log book. Spreadsheets and logbooks can be so boring. Cyclistats is fun!

You need to take a look at Cyclistats to see what you are missing! It is so much more than just a log book. Spreadsheets and logbooks can be so boring. Cyclistats is fun!

I might if they ever make a MAC version.

I use an Excel spreadsheet, and I log my miles on a couple online programs.

I use a simple Excel spreadsheet exclusively, and even that is probably more than I need. Occasionally I print it out but I have no idea why. Guess I like to keep one foot in the "paper world".

Candidly, I liked the non tabbed method better, but I am so in love with the program that I could care less if each tab was password protected! :D Yes, I have the new version. I literally use the software daily, and often check for updates. I always find hidden richness in the program when I take the time to go in a bit deeper. I am such a cycling nut that I certainly don't need anything to enhance my cycling experience. Having said that, your program enhances it considerably!! Thanks for not only the program, but also for the constant tweaking. You could have done nothing in ages, and there would still be nothing even close to being in the same league.

Hmmmm....I was a bit worried about that, but I was running out of real estate and didn't want to force the ride entry window to be really large. Grouping fields on tabs solved the space problem, but at the expense of being able to see all fields at once.

FWIW, I did add some code that helps to deal with it - when you're in any of the fields in the tabbed portion of that window, you can use your Tab key (or, Shift-Tab). If you're on the last field in one tab, the Tab key will automatically bring up the next tab. Or, you can use the "accelerator keys" for each tab (Alt-N for Notes, Alt-H for Heart Rate zones, etc.).

I might if they ever make a MAC version.

I've looked into it, but there's simply no easy way to rework CycliStats into a Mac version, and very few tools that can create commercial-quality software for both platforms.

However, I think it may be possible for CycliStats to run on a Mac using the "Virtual PC" Windows emulator software. I'm conducting a test this week to confirm whether or not this will work. If you're interested, contact me via PM, or via email through my website.

I've looked into it, but there's simply no easy way to rework CycliStats into a Mac version, and very few tools that can create commercial-quality software for both platforms.

However, I think it may be possible for CycliStats to run on a Mac using the "Virtual PC" Windows emulator software. I'm conducting a test this week to confirm whether or not this will work. If you're interested, contact me via PM, or via email through my website.

It would be better if it could run under the Darwin shell. This is open source and frankly, a lot easier and faster than Vpc.

"just say NO to MSFT products!"

It would be better if it could run under the Darwin shell. This is open source and frankly, a lot easier and faster than Vpc.

"just say NO to MSFT products!"

I've not heard of the Darwin shell, but if it emulates a Windows system, CycliStats should (in theory) run under it just fine. You can download the trial version from the CycliStats website (link in my sig) and see.

Might I be so bold as to ask what language CycliStats is written in? If VB, you could look into REALbasic, which can compile for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and is very similar to VB (pre .NET VB, that is); so much so that they include a VB->REALbasic converter. You'll have to supply your own "quality", as with any programming environment.

If it's written in something else, yeah, probably no simple way to "convert" or easily port it without a fair amount of work.

Might I be so bold as to ask what language CycliStats is written in? If VB, you could look into REALbasic, which can compile for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and is very similar to VB (pre .NET VB, that is); so much so that they include a VB->REALbasic converter. You'll have to supply your own "quality", as with any programming environment.



He would probbally run into problems translating the API calls. I used RealBasic in the pre OSX days which really simplified using the Mac API. It's kind of a moot issue now with Cocoa. Especially with Apple's dev environment bundled free with the OS.

For me the Virtual PC Solution isn't really an option. Why buy a software package to emulate an OS to run a program. Besides, spreadsheets work great for me.

Might I be so bold as to ask what language CycliStats is written in? If VB, you could look into REALbasic, which can compile for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and is very similar to VB (pre .NET VB, that is); so much so that they include a VB->REALbasic converter. You'll have to supply your own "quality", as with any programming environment.

If it's written in something else, yeah, probably no simple way to "convert" or easily port it without a fair amount of work.

CycliStats is written in "classic" VB (creating commerical programs in .Net is difficult, because they are easy to decompile, and difficult to implement trial version/registration).

I've looked at RealBasic, and own a copy of it. Unfortunately, there are enough differences between RealBasic and VB that I estimate it would take around 1000 hours to do the conversion (possibly more).

With more and more households having multiple computers, and new PC's selling for less than $600, I imagine the number of "Mac-only" households is below 5%, and shrinking. Given the size of that market, and the amount of work involved, I just can't cost-justify a Mac version of CylcliStats at this time.

Frankly, I'm surprised that Apple doesn't offer an inexpensive Windows emulator for the Mac (or include it with their systems)...there's a lot of good software written for Windows, but Macs owners are denied access due to the lack of an emulator.