Introduction I had an interesting week discussing a variety of topics related to the Technology Adoption Life Cycle. From Wikipedia: The Technology Adoption Life Cycle model describes the adoption or acceptance of a new product or innovation, according to the demographic and psychological characteristics of defined adopter groups. The process of adoption over time is typically illustrated as a classical normal distribution or “bell curve.” The model indicates that the first group of people to use a new product is called “innovators,” followed by “early adopters.” Next come the early and late majority, and the last group to eventually adopt a product are called “laggards.” Although all of topics described below fall into the broad category of enterprise systems, the tone and content of the conversations could not have been more diverse. These conversations underscored the disparate relationships among organizations, end-users, and technology. (Side note: Interestingly enough, I had these conversations via three different methods: blog, phone, and email.) The objective of this post is to stitch these all together under one unifying question: Who’s most likely to be on the left of the curve? To simplify matters, I’ll place all organizations into three categories: The Struggling Organization The Self-Sufficient Organization The Adventurous Organization The Struggling Organization Yesterday, I spoke with David Carr of Carr Communications about my book. David used to be the senior editor at Baseline Magazine and now is a freelance editor, writer, and web designer. We talked about challenges that organizations face implementing new systems and why so many projects fail to hit their marks. He was particularly intrigued by my mention of Shane Jeweler’s struggles with SAP.
I also had a nice chat with Sarah Runge, author of the forthcoming book “Stop Blaming the Software – Corporate Profiling for IT Project Success.” Sarah was kind enough to send me a few pages focusing on organization’s pre-implementation challenges: the difficulty of gathering comprehensive system requirements during project discovery the dynamic nature of requirements the inevitable scope creep and resultant problems during IT projects My conversations with Sarah and David concerned issues that organizations have plagued both clients and vendors for years and continue to manifest themselves during many (if not most) major IT projects. In terms of the Technology Adoption Life Cycle, for obvious reasons, organizations that have historically struggled with enterprise systems will rarely—if ever—be on the left of the curve. The Self-Sufficient Organization I continued to support two of my clients upgrading from Lawson version 8 to 9. Previous implementation issues and future enhancements to the product could not be less relevant now (as well as in the short- and mid-terms). Both clients are going live in a few weeks and the focus is very much on what needs to happen to continue paying employees, running financial reports, and the like. Only after the dust settles will “future enhancements” be broached. In terms of the Technology Adoption Life Cycle, organizations “getting by” are usually reluctant to take the lead on a new but largely untested technology. In fact, in both cases, neither organization really wanted to upgrade its applications. Lawson is decommissioning version 8 of the software in the near future. The Adventurous Organization I exchanged emails with a Lawson client in the midst of the vendor’s first implementation of the recently announced Enterprise Search. She had nothing but praise for the application’s integration with Microsoft Office. The ability to essentially google all things Lawson (tables, reports, fields, reports, etc.) will make her job much easier. Finally, I found myself in the middle of an interesting debate on Vinnie Mirchandani’s Deal Architect on whether organizations were ready for Web 2.0 services, SOA, and other “left of the curve” technologies. Opinions varied but all responses reminded me of Nelson Mandela’s quote: “Where you stand depends on where you sit.” In terms of the Technology Adoption Life Cycle, organizations with sufficient financial and human resources and a compelling business need are more likely to implement a largely untested technology, especially if the vendor is willing to work with the “beta client” by providing free or heavily discounted resources in order to promote the implementation as a successful case study. This is the case with the Lawson client implementing Enterprise search. Conclusion The common theme from all of my conversations this week is that organizations that have had problems implementing and maintaining their systems are much less likely to be early adopters. In other words, financial, human resource, and political reasons place the vast majority of organizations squarely in the middle of the curve. When walking is a challenge, it’s hard to imagine running.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Monday, 12 December 2011
Things to Keep in Mind for a Cycle Trip in the Countryside
There are different kinds of bikes that are used for touring purposes. The list includes names such as racing bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, tandems, shopper bikes and hybrids. There are people who have achieved the distinction of touring even on unicycles. Bikes are designed in a way that they serve a particular purpose. For example, a professional racer would require a bike with a light frame, a high ratio for greater speed and a tight geometry for greater power so that it is easy to manoeuvre them. There are multiple options when it comes to a touring bike and if you wish to cycle in Ireland along the paths and trails, you can look for the following features in your bike.
It should offer a comfortable and relaxing riding position
It should have reliable components
It should have a strong rims, wheels and spokes
It should have the correct frame size
It should have a strong frame so that it can carry a heavy load, have bottle cages and mudguards and be replete with bosses and fittings for mounting racks.
It is necessary to choose a frame of an appropriate size
It should possess a good range of gears ranging from low to high
Professional riders cycling in Ireland need to carry a map or a GPS device at all times so that they do not get lost on the way and can be easily traced by the rescue forces. There are several advantages and disadvantages of using a GPS system. The advantages of using such a system include:
The system helps to track your movements during the entire course of the journey and shows your location on a display screen
You can programme the route in advance and the system will guide along the way
The system offers a detail streetwise navigation system through towns and cities with proper labelling of street names
There is no need to keep on changing the map on a frequent basis
You can also add way marks to the system so that your movement is recorded at all times
Such a system will also offer you a precise calculation of the distance covered and the scaled altitude in case you are cycling through a mountainous terrain.
It helps to know the altitude that you have climbed so far
Using a GPS system has its share of disadvantages as well.
If you are not one of those who like to plan their route in advance and carry out all the planning even before you embark on the trip, then a GPS system would not serve its purpose.
Also GPS based mapping systems are not as detailed in comparison to paper maps and therefore may not provide a detailed account of he cycle paths or routes.
A GPS system operates on batteries and these turn out to be expensive if you happen to use alkaline batteries. These are hardly environmentally friendly.
You can use a paper map or a GPS system as per your own preference but do not forget about these whenever you embark on a cycling trip.
It should offer a comfortable and relaxing riding position
It should have reliable components
It should have a strong rims, wheels and spokes
It should have the correct frame size
It should have a strong frame so that it can carry a heavy load, have bottle cages and mudguards and be replete with bosses and fittings for mounting racks.
It is necessary to choose a frame of an appropriate size
It should possess a good range of gears ranging from low to high
Professional riders cycling in Ireland need to carry a map or a GPS device at all times so that they do not get lost on the way and can be easily traced by the rescue forces. There are several advantages and disadvantages of using a GPS system. The advantages of using such a system include:
The system helps to track your movements during the entire course of the journey and shows your location on a display screen
You can programme the route in advance and the system will guide along the way
The system offers a detail streetwise navigation system through towns and cities with proper labelling of street names
There is no need to keep on changing the map on a frequent basis
You can also add way marks to the system so that your movement is recorded at all times
Such a system will also offer you a precise calculation of the distance covered and the scaled altitude in case you are cycling through a mountainous terrain.
It helps to know the altitude that you have climbed so far
Using a GPS system has its share of disadvantages as well.
If you are not one of those who like to plan their route in advance and carry out all the planning even before you embark on the trip, then a GPS system would not serve its purpose.
Also GPS based mapping systems are not as detailed in comparison to paper maps and therefore may not provide a detailed account of he cycle paths or routes.
A GPS system operates on batteries and these turn out to be expensive if you happen to use alkaline batteries. These are hardly environmentally friendly.
You can use a paper map or a GPS system as per your own preference but do not forget about these whenever you embark on a cycling trip.
Saturday, 10 December 2011
The Changing Face of Bike Lights: LED Lights Revolutionise Cycling
Bike lights, LED lights and the changing world of cycling
Anyone who cycles regularly knows that safety on the road is a huge issue. With more cars than ever before on our roads, cycling is no longer as relaxed as it once was unless you are the type who goes out of your way to enjoy cycling in the countryside and even then the one thing which is imperative is good bike lights. LED lights have made safety on the road a lot simpler than it once was, today there is no need for batteries and the worries of running out of battery power at an inopportune moment has all but gone! LED lights have the ability to run for many, many hours on a single rechargeable battery and some lights do not need a battery at all but instead work on a system of magnets which create a charge from contact with the spokes of the wheels. This is incredibly freeing, especially for those of us who enjoy long cycle trips into the wilderness where shops and power points are not a common sight! Shopping around is a good plan, do some research to ensure that you choose the best bike lights. LED lights for cycles come in all kinds of guises and your cycling habits will determine which lights are the best for you.
Bike Lights: LED sets for your needs
When you need the brightest lights available and when you need a set which includes handy accessories there are many on the market to choose from. Some sets will include chargers and waterproof bags for easy storage whilst you are on longer trips, these can be attached to your cycle if you are travelling light and still want to benefit from the best bike lights. LED lights are great for cycling on long trips into the countryside, lonely and long roads can be dangerous even if they are not busy with other traffic. Dangers in the countryside are very different to those we encounter in city or urban landscapes and can include wildlife which is never predictable and comes in all guises; sheep and other cattle are well know for their habit of escaping their fields and having a little stroll up lanes in search of sweeter pastures; they may be picturesque but the sudden appearance of a sheep or cow in your path can be very dangerous.
Choose the very best equipment available in regards to bike lights. LED lights are the most versatile on the market. Horses are another danger and they are large enough and sometimes nervy enough to pose a real danger to the unwitting cyclist. The weather in rural areas can also be very unpredictable and more especially in higher regions which can be prone to sudden mists and fogs which descend rapidly and can pretty quickly cause a cyclist or rambler to lose their bearings...this is when we all need the security of excellent bike lights. LED lights are brighter and more reliable than traditional filament lights and if you are considering a trip into a rural area it is best to begin with shorter routes if you are inexperienced.
Anyone who cycles regularly knows that safety on the road is a huge issue. With more cars than ever before on our roads, cycling is no longer as relaxed as it once was unless you are the type who goes out of your way to enjoy cycling in the countryside and even then the one thing which is imperative is good bike lights. LED lights have made safety on the road a lot simpler than it once was, today there is no need for batteries and the worries of running out of battery power at an inopportune moment has all but gone! LED lights have the ability to run for many, many hours on a single rechargeable battery and some lights do not need a battery at all but instead work on a system of magnets which create a charge from contact with the spokes of the wheels. This is incredibly freeing, especially for those of us who enjoy long cycle trips into the wilderness where shops and power points are not a common sight! Shopping around is a good plan, do some research to ensure that you choose the best bike lights. LED lights for cycles come in all kinds of guises and your cycling habits will determine which lights are the best for you.
Bike Lights: LED sets for your needs
When you need the brightest lights available and when you need a set which includes handy accessories there are many on the market to choose from. Some sets will include chargers and waterproof bags for easy storage whilst you are on longer trips, these can be attached to your cycle if you are travelling light and still want to benefit from the best bike lights. LED lights are great for cycling on long trips into the countryside, lonely and long roads can be dangerous even if they are not busy with other traffic. Dangers in the countryside are very different to those we encounter in city or urban landscapes and can include wildlife which is never predictable and comes in all guises; sheep and other cattle are well know for their habit of escaping their fields and having a little stroll up lanes in search of sweeter pastures; they may be picturesque but the sudden appearance of a sheep or cow in your path can be very dangerous.
Choose the very best equipment available in regards to bike lights. LED lights are the most versatile on the market. Horses are another danger and they are large enough and sometimes nervy enough to pose a real danger to the unwitting cyclist. The weather in rural areas can also be very unpredictable and more especially in higher regions which can be prone to sudden mists and fogs which descend rapidly and can pretty quickly cause a cyclist or rambler to lose their bearings...this is when we all need the security of excellent bike lights. LED lights are brighter and more reliable than traditional filament lights and if you are considering a trip into a rural area it is best to begin with shorter routes if you are inexperienced.
Friday, 9 December 2011
London Cycling Guide Social Media Campaign
New Holland Publishers tasked LJ Interactive with a range of titles to promote through Social Media and Search. All have proved successful; one of particular note was the London Cycling Guide. A brief description of strategy and achievements are listed below. In total sales overachieved by over 250% against forecast with only a £300 budget for digital marketing (we still have some of this left!) How did we do it?
Search - the first thing we did was ensure that the actual webpage was fully optimised for key phrases that potential readers may search for. You may have thought that London Cycling Guide would be the phrase most searchers would use. However after research we discovered that London Cycle Routes and London Cycling Routes would achieve far more visits and also had less competition within Google.
Conversion to order - we added additional content to the page to engage further with readers.
External Social Networks - our key task was to achieve high exposure for this title amongst online audiences. We did this by talking to a large range of London and cycling networks. We achieved exposure on the following networks amongst others:
• Transport for London - ran a competition for the book• Revolution Bike Tours of London - web review, Facebook and Twitter exposure• Cycling Weekly Online - reviewed the book• Fancyapint.com - promotion on their eBulletin and landing page creation + competition• My Velo Bikes - review posted on blog, Facebook and Twitter exposure• Cycle Circuits - posted article on their site and placed link on their product pages• British Waterways - article on the book, plus banner and exposure on their newsletter• Spoke in Motion - review on their blog, free content shown online of several routes• Camden Cyclists - PDF extracts put on site and reviews the book• Go London - exposure on their forum• Londonist.com - reviewed the book and linked• Britishcycling.org - reviewed the book and linked• Roadcyclinguk.com - reviewed the book and linked • Bikeradar.com - reviewed the book and linked
Unbelievably the above exposure for the book cost absolutely nothing, just a little bit of persuasion, a few review copies and a bit of free content. Something to always remember is that it is hard work keeping networks full of lovely content, therefore a bit of free content will always help them along, and networks are pretty happy to link back to you in return for it!
Article marketing - we use article marketing to increase exposure to webpages. By posting articles about the book on article sites, you are guaranteed to get them picked up by other relevant blogs and news feeds. If this happens not only will they increase visits to the page they will also create backlinks to that page.
Branded Social Media - we ran competitions on the branded Facebook and Twitter feeds to promote the title, we also encouraged other followers to retweet.
Author Social Media - The author, Tom Bogdanowicz, is well known in London Cycling circuits having written for many a year for the London Press and The Guardian amongst others. Tom was crucial in promoting the title amongst his peers.
Facebook and Google Ads - finally the bit that cost something! We ran Google and Facebook Ads promoting the title to push sales through the New Holland Publishers website.
Phew! All in all a successful campaign for the London Cycling Guide, one that we'll be picking up again in the early summer. One happy Publisher!
Search - the first thing we did was ensure that the actual webpage was fully optimised for key phrases that potential readers may search for. You may have thought that London Cycling Guide would be the phrase most searchers would use. However after research we discovered that London Cycle Routes and London Cycling Routes would achieve far more visits and also had less competition within Google.
Conversion to order - we added additional content to the page to engage further with readers.
External Social Networks - our key task was to achieve high exposure for this title amongst online audiences. We did this by talking to a large range of London and cycling networks. We achieved exposure on the following networks amongst others:
• Transport for London - ran a competition for the book• Revolution Bike Tours of London - web review, Facebook and Twitter exposure• Cycling Weekly Online - reviewed the book• Fancyapint.com - promotion on their eBulletin and landing page creation + competition• My Velo Bikes - review posted on blog, Facebook and Twitter exposure• Cycle Circuits - posted article on their site and placed link on their product pages• British Waterways - article on the book, plus banner and exposure on their newsletter• Spoke in Motion - review on their blog, free content shown online of several routes• Camden Cyclists - PDF extracts put on site and reviews the book• Go London - exposure on their forum• Londonist.com - reviewed the book and linked• Britishcycling.org - reviewed the book and linked• Roadcyclinguk.com - reviewed the book and linked • Bikeradar.com - reviewed the book and linked
Unbelievably the above exposure for the book cost absolutely nothing, just a little bit of persuasion, a few review copies and a bit of free content. Something to always remember is that it is hard work keeping networks full of lovely content, therefore a bit of free content will always help them along, and networks are pretty happy to link back to you in return for it!
Article marketing - we use article marketing to increase exposure to webpages. By posting articles about the book on article sites, you are guaranteed to get them picked up by other relevant blogs and news feeds. If this happens not only will they increase visits to the page they will also create backlinks to that page.
Branded Social Media - we ran competitions on the branded Facebook and Twitter feeds to promote the title, we also encouraged other followers to retweet.
Author Social Media - The author, Tom Bogdanowicz, is well known in London Cycling circuits having written for many a year for the London Press and The Guardian amongst others. Tom was crucial in promoting the title amongst his peers.
Facebook and Google Ads - finally the bit that cost something! We ran Google and Facebook Ads promoting the title to push sales through the New Holland Publishers website.
Phew! All in all a successful campaign for the London Cycling Guide, one that we'll be picking up again in the early summer. One happy Publisher!
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Tips On How To Discover Thailand By Cycling
Are you considering of cycling in Thailand? Actually cycling is probably the best approaches to enjoy the charming sceneries and sights of Thailand. The road conditions for cyclists in Thailand are generally quite well maintained. In fact, most streets in Thailand have clear signposts for road users. It helps make it much easier to explore Thailand and its wonders by cycling.
Are you considering of cycling in Thailand? Actually cycling is one of the best ways to enjoy the charming sceneries and sights of Thailand. The road conditions for cyclists in Thailand are generally quite well maintained. Basically, most roads in Thailand have clear signposts for road users. It helps make it much easier to explore Thailand and its wonders by cycling.
A lot of of Thailand's secondary roads are marked by their 3 digit figures. Many of those secondary roads have lesser autos and motorists as compared with the major arteries. Normally these are well paved. They are really the preferred cycling options.
Traffic in Thailand is comparatively well behaved and also the drivers are friendly too. Your personal safety shouldn't be a big worry if you adhere to the traffic regulations and try to be safe. Dogs, however, can be an annoyance on the small roads. So it is probably useful to get your rabies shots prior to your trip. You'll find bicycle shops in nearly all the towns in Thailand. The common bicycle equipment and repairs are generally cheap.
It is really worth noting that the traffic going in and out of the capital of Thailand Bangkok is heavy. So it is worth boarding onto a bus or train for the first 50 to 100 km off your starting point.
The Bangkok skytrain and the intercity buses, taxis and most of the domestic airlines in Thailand allow you to carry your bicycle. No bike box is necessary.
However, be aware that the Bangkok subway does not permit any bikes. Intercity trains will transport your bicycle for a fare of about the price of a passenger that is if there's any luggage carriage attached to the train. If you can dismantle your bicycle and carry it as a luggage into the compartment, then it will be free of charge. Intercity non-aircon buses and Songthaews will carry your bicycle on the roof for a fare of about the price of a passenger.
There are plenty of local one day cycle tours and bicycle rental outlets all through Thailand. Renting a bicycle will cost you about 30 to 100 bahts per day. There are also a lot of groups organizing cycling tours in Thailand.
For your cycling practicalities, acquire strong, light and good quality mountain bikes if possible. 26 inch bicycle wheels would be the basic in Thailand and we highly advise you use them. Dual use on road and off-road tyres are ideal for touring purposes. As for equipment wise, it's best to try and travel light.Apart from carrying a few spare spokes, you do not have to carry too many other tools and equipment. Spare parts are cheap in Thailand and most common problems can be fixed on the spot and quickly at any of these bicycle shops throughout Thailand.
Transporting your favorite bicycle from home is probably the best options as you are riding a bicycle you are familiar with. Getting it on board a air plane should be straightforward but check with your airlines for more information. Most of the Asian airlines don't charge a lot more for this.
Chances are you'll also want to purchase a bicycle in Thailand. The range of bikes is reasonable and prices are generally less costly than at home. The best place to purchase is in Bangkok. You can easily buy an international brand, aluminium framed good quality mountain bike in Bangkok. Yet another alternative is to rent a mountain bike in Bangkok for just 300 bahts a day.
Are you considering of cycling in Thailand? Actually cycling is one of the best ways to enjoy the charming sceneries and sights of Thailand. The road conditions for cyclists in Thailand are generally quite well maintained. Basically, most roads in Thailand have clear signposts for road users. It helps make it much easier to explore Thailand and its wonders by cycling.
A lot of of Thailand's secondary roads are marked by their 3 digit figures. Many of those secondary roads have lesser autos and motorists as compared with the major arteries. Normally these are well paved. They are really the preferred cycling options.
Traffic in Thailand is comparatively well behaved and also the drivers are friendly too. Your personal safety shouldn't be a big worry if you adhere to the traffic regulations and try to be safe. Dogs, however, can be an annoyance on the small roads. So it is probably useful to get your rabies shots prior to your trip. You'll find bicycle shops in nearly all the towns in Thailand. The common bicycle equipment and repairs are generally cheap.
It is really worth noting that the traffic going in and out of the capital of Thailand Bangkok is heavy. So it is worth boarding onto a bus or train for the first 50 to 100 km off your starting point.
The Bangkok skytrain and the intercity buses, taxis and most of the domestic airlines in Thailand allow you to carry your bicycle. No bike box is necessary.
However, be aware that the Bangkok subway does not permit any bikes. Intercity trains will transport your bicycle for a fare of about the price of a passenger that is if there's any luggage carriage attached to the train. If you can dismantle your bicycle and carry it as a luggage into the compartment, then it will be free of charge. Intercity non-aircon buses and Songthaews will carry your bicycle on the roof for a fare of about the price of a passenger.
There are plenty of local one day cycle tours and bicycle rental outlets all through Thailand. Renting a bicycle will cost you about 30 to 100 bahts per day. There are also a lot of groups organizing cycling tours in Thailand.
For your cycling practicalities, acquire strong, light and good quality mountain bikes if possible. 26 inch bicycle wheels would be the basic in Thailand and we highly advise you use them. Dual use on road and off-road tyres are ideal for touring purposes. As for equipment wise, it's best to try and travel light.Apart from carrying a few spare spokes, you do not have to carry too many other tools and equipment. Spare parts are cheap in Thailand and most common problems can be fixed on the spot and quickly at any of these bicycle shops throughout Thailand.
Transporting your favorite bicycle from home is probably the best options as you are riding a bicycle you are familiar with. Getting it on board a air plane should be straightforward but check with your airlines for more information. Most of the Asian airlines don't charge a lot more for this.
Chances are you'll also want to purchase a bicycle in Thailand. The range of bikes is reasonable and prices are generally less costly than at home. The best place to purchase is in Bangkok. You can easily buy an international brand, aluminium framed good quality mountain bike in Bangkok. Yet another alternative is to rent a mountain bike in Bangkok for just 300 bahts a day.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Behind The Competition Of A Pro Cycling Race
As fans, we often lack an appreciation for all the elements that are a part of any race, regardless of sport. For instance, auto racing involves far more than a bunch of high-performance vehicles going around a track looking to finish first. Often times the importance of the pit crew is overlooked, as well as the auto maintenance, the role sponsorships play, and so on.
Pro cycling races are no different in this regard. Being successful in a race is the result of training, preparation, and having the right equipment.
Equipment
To compete at a high level in professional cycling, one must possess the right equipment. As you might imagine, this all starts with having a quality racing bike.
A pro cycling bike is far more expensive than your average bicycle. One of the main reasons for this is due to the special materials that are used to make the frame. This is so the bike is strong enough to endure the rigors of racing. Also, these special materials make the bike more lightweight, allowing riders to get more speed. Typically, titanium, steel, aluminum, or carbon is used for professional bikes.
Furthermore, highly durable and lightweight aluminum is used to make the wheels that are placed on these bikes. The spoke system is also unique compared to your average bicycle. The number of spokes is less than normal, as each individual one is much stronger. The result of course is that they are also more expensive.
The gearshift system is another element of the pro bike that is very important in overall performance. It's very sophisticated and allows the cyclist to easily shift gears when encountering the various terrains during a race.
Training For A Pro Cycling Race
A major part of any pro cyclist's success is their extensive training. One really has to make the commitment to be the best that they possible can be. This involves training consistently anywhere from 2-6 hours per day for months at a time before the race.
When not training on their bicycle, pro cyclists are building strength and stamina in the gym. This involves weight lifting and do some cross-training so they are in peak condition.
Eating right is a huge part of training for a cyclist. They will tend to load up on carbohydrates and proteins so their muscles are being repaired and getting the energy they need to be at their best while training and racing.
Pro cycling races are no different in this regard. Being successful in a race is the result of training, preparation, and having the right equipment.
Equipment
To compete at a high level in professional cycling, one must possess the right equipment. As you might imagine, this all starts with having a quality racing bike.
A pro cycling bike is far more expensive than your average bicycle. One of the main reasons for this is due to the special materials that are used to make the frame. This is so the bike is strong enough to endure the rigors of racing. Also, these special materials make the bike more lightweight, allowing riders to get more speed. Typically, titanium, steel, aluminum, or carbon is used for professional bikes.
Furthermore, highly durable and lightweight aluminum is used to make the wheels that are placed on these bikes. The spoke system is also unique compared to your average bicycle. The number of spokes is less than normal, as each individual one is much stronger. The result of course is that they are also more expensive.
The gearshift system is another element of the pro bike that is very important in overall performance. It's very sophisticated and allows the cyclist to easily shift gears when encountering the various terrains during a race.
Training For A Pro Cycling Race
A major part of any pro cyclist's success is their extensive training. One really has to make the commitment to be the best that they possible can be. This involves training consistently anywhere from 2-6 hours per day for months at a time before the race.
When not training on their bicycle, pro cyclists are building strength and stamina in the gym. This involves weight lifting and do some cross-training so they are in peak condition.
Eating right is a huge part of training for a cyclist. They will tend to load up on carbohydrates and proteins so their muscles are being repaired and getting the energy they need to be at their best while training and racing.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Spoke Funds - A New Concept in Investing
Recently spoke funds have begun to emerge as investors look for alternatives to mutual funds and hedge funds. Like mutual funds, spoke funds give investors instant diversification. However spoke funds are not limited to a single strategy (such a growth or value) and have the ability to move into safe haven investments (such as cash or bonds) during times of uncertainty in the stock market.
While most portfolio managers do not invest in their own mutual fund, they do in both hedge funds and spoke funds. Investors typically prefer this approach as they feel the portfolio manager will have his best interests at heart when managing the portfolio. A key distinction between mutual funds and hedge funds when compared with spoke funds is how the money is invested. In both mutual funds and hedge funds, investors monies are pooled together in a lump sum. Why is this bad? The actions of a few investors can effect the performance of other investors.
Typically at the bottom of a stock market cycle, investors want portfolio managers to look for value and opportunity as the market recovers. However, this is not always the case. Behavioral finance has shown us that investors typically panic at the bottom of market cycles. Instead of looking for opportunity, portfolio managers are typically using any cash in the portfolio to pay out to investors leaving the fund. The investors who remain in the fund, don't get the expected performance when markets begin to rise.
In a spoke fund, each investors account is separate, but instead linked together. When the portfolio manager of the spoke fund purchases a security, the same security is bought in all the accounts at the same time. When an investor leaves the spoke fund, only his account is liquidated, having no impact on other investors within the fund.
The spoke fund concept provides investors better transparency, avoids problems inherent with pooled money, and gives a portfolio manager a better opportunity to navigate volatile markets.
Investors who are looking to invest in either a mutual fund or hedge fund should give spoke funds a look.
While most portfolio managers do not invest in their own mutual fund, they do in both hedge funds and spoke funds. Investors typically prefer this approach as they feel the portfolio manager will have his best interests at heart when managing the portfolio. A key distinction between mutual funds and hedge funds when compared with spoke funds is how the money is invested. In both mutual funds and hedge funds, investors monies are pooled together in a lump sum. Why is this bad? The actions of a few investors can effect the performance of other investors.
Typically at the bottom of a stock market cycle, investors want portfolio managers to look for value and opportunity as the market recovers. However, this is not always the case. Behavioral finance has shown us that investors typically panic at the bottom of market cycles. Instead of looking for opportunity, portfolio managers are typically using any cash in the portfolio to pay out to investors leaving the fund. The investors who remain in the fund, don't get the expected performance when markets begin to rise.
In a spoke fund, each investors account is separate, but instead linked together. When the portfolio manager of the spoke fund purchases a security, the same security is bought in all the accounts at the same time. When an investor leaves the spoke fund, only his account is liquidated, having no impact on other investors within the fund.
The spoke fund concept provides investors better transparency, avoids problems inherent with pooled money, and gives a portfolio manager a better opportunity to navigate volatile markets.
Investors who are looking to invest in either a mutual fund or hedge fund should give spoke funds a look.
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