Food & Fitness

Gadget Confusion

Diana at Scale Junkie has set up a fantastic Summer Blog Party, and there’s a step challenge that I was quick to sign up for over at Always the Big Girl. The idea is to wear a pedometer to measure how many steps we take for the month of July. I’ve never counted my steps but I keep track of how long I spend walking each day, so I am very curious to know just how many steps I usually take. All of this led to me going to the store yesterday to buy myself a pedometer. I wanted something small that I’d be able to wear throughout the day, but most of them were big and clunky. So I asked the sales person for help and he found me a very cute little one that would fit perfectly for me and barely even be noticeable. How could I refuse? I bought it for $30 and happily envisioned me and this little pedometer going everywhere together for the next month. We would be inseparable. I’d already decided that it would become on par with the George Foreman grill, non-stick pan and parchment paper in my love for it.

That is, until I opened it.

Has anyone ever heard of the CATEYE VELO 8? No? Me either. It’s described as a “Cyclocomputer”. After reading the little pamphlet that comes with it, I still have absolutely no idea what this little gadget is. The guy at the store assured me it was a pedometer, but judging from the diagram of how you fasten this cute little gadget onto your bicycle, I’m guessing that it is not, in fact, a pedometer.

So unless I can manage to find a pedometer today, I might be rather late in joining in on this step challenge. As for the cyclocomputer that I currently have, I don’t imagine that there will be a problem with me returning it, although it does seem kind of cool and I’d use it if I only knew what exactly its function is! Any ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Speaking of bikes, the bike that I won finally came out of the shop- and its huge. Way too big for me. Alas, I shall not become known as the Girl on the Yellow Bicycle. However, on the upside, my father has very kindly offered to buy it from me because it fits him perfectly, so I shall be buying myself a bike very soon. So even though I’m disappointed that the bike doesn’t fit me at all, I am still quite excited that I’ll be getting a bike. And maybe I’ll even be able to use this little gadget, if I can work out just what its supposed to do!

48 Comments

  1. Gena

    Oh, I’ve got to get some pics of me and GP on our bikes! Thanks for the reminder!

    My watch is a pedometer/odometer that requires you to calculate your stride length and can tell when you change speeds. It’s super fancy. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too sensitive for everyday activity sort of walking, but great for actual exercise walking.

  2. Susan

    Can you return the high-tech gadget? Hope so! I don’t mind gadgets – as long as I know what to work ’em! 🙂

    So you’re getting a new bike, is that right? I’m glad your Dad was so nice to offer to buy the too big bike from you.

  3. Charlotte

    I’ve never used a pedometer although you’d think with my love of numbers that I would have. I am the dilbert of fitness. Sigh.

    that is way cool of your dad – you must post pics of you all on your new bikes!

  4. the Bag Lady

    The Bag Lady wore a pedometer when she worked as a cook, but it was just a cheap thing she got in a box of cereal. It worked some of the time. Should drag it out and wear it now, because she walks a lot more around home than she did standing in front of a deep-fryer for 14 hours a day. You have no idea how happy she is that she doesn’t do that anymore!

    Too bad about the bike being too big for you, but how nice of your dad to buy it from you! Looking forward to seeing photos of you with your new one!

  5. Sagan Morrow

    MizFit- I think I’ll be going next weekend to pick one out! I’ll be working 12 hour days the next few days (eek!) or else I’d do it sooner.

    Mark- thanks for the link! I’ll have to check it out.

    Dr. J & Running Knitter- there will be pictures:)

    Gena- that sounds like a pretty nice gadget you’ve got. Gadgets are so much fun.

    Loveofoats- not too sure yet, but I think it’ll be a European style bike.

    Dara & Charlotte- when I get a pedometer I’ll write all about my experiences with it for you:)

    Susan & Bag Lady- I’m very glad he’s buying it from me! Otherwise I might have needed to haggle with the bike shop people to see how much they’d give me for it.

  6. Fitarella

    yay for a new bike!! I think i’ve heard the word Velo over at Rachel’s blog (fitnessformommies.net) so me thinketh it is a bike toy and not a pedometer 🙁

  7. oatmeal

    I’m too cheap to get gadgets :p If I want to know how many steps I’m taking, I just count how many steps I take every minute, keep track of how long I walk, and do an estimate from there :p

    Too bad about the free bike! At least it didn’t have to go to waste 😀

  8. Sagan Morrow

    Fitarella- yes, it’d appear to be a bike toy. Sighs!

    Oatmeal- hm, that could be one way of counting steps! 🙂 Should definitely give that one a try hehe.

  9. Big Girl

    Sorry to hear about the pedometer fiasco. I got a great one from Amazon, let me know if you want details.

    Thanks for the link on your post. I appreciate it =)

    Yeah for Dad’s. That’s great that he’ll be getting you shiney new bike…how fun.

  10. Crystal

    Huh, i can say that I’ve never heard of a cyclocomputer and would have no idea where to put it without a detailed diagram and lots of photos. hope upon your return of that lovely little gadget you wind up with a nice pedometer.

  11. Cammy

    The Cateye is a great little bicycle computer. You could put it on your shiny NEW bicycle to find out your speed (it will track up to 185 mph *G*), your distance and your time. I think it will even calculate calories burned. ::is jealous since the TRek computer doesn’t do that::

  12. Crabby McSlacker

    That was nice of your Dad!

    I’m bummed to hear about the Yellow Bike size problem though… if it’s the Lipton bike they were giving away, they were generally going to WOMEN’s health blogs so you’d think it would come in a reasonably small size!

    I hate when things are designed first for men and women are just an afterthought.

  13. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  14. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  15. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  16. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  17. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  18. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  19. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  20. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  21. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  22. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  23. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  24. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  25. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  26. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  27. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  28. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  29. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  30. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  31. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  32. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  33. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  34. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  35. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  36. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  37. every gym's nightmare

    aw, that sucks. i hate when sales people dont know what they are doing.

    ive never heard of that, and i fancy myself a bit of a pedometer expert.

    the one i have that has lasted me the longest, is the most accurate and the least noticable is my sportsline. it clips shut so the screen isnt exposed until you open it so its easier to read, and the buttons are on the side so you dont accidentally hit them and restart it (which is annoying.)

  38. Sagan Morrow

    Big Girl- Pedro DOES look pretty awesome. I think I might get my very own Pedro! In terms of size, is he very big?

    Crystal- thanks for commenting! And yeah, I’m not so good with gadgets so I can see myself REALLY messing it up even with a diagram:)

    Cammy- hmm… well I might have to try it out!

    Geekgirl- I’m so glad you liked it! Did you change anything in the recipe?

    Crabby- it IS too bad about the sizing… although my whole family is pretty small. So maybe it would fit for most people?

    Dadivastreet- thanks for stopping by! I guess a pedometer is the type of thing that you really need to feel super comfortable with.

    Kelly- theres a nice one from Sportline that MizFit had on her site but they don’t ship to Canada:(

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