• Commander - Kelly Rowland (Amazon MP3)
• Happiness - Alexis Jordan (YouTube)
• All The Lovers - Kylie Minogue (YouTube)
• Dancing On My Own - Robyn (Amazon MP3)

Highlights from the trip

The penthouse

We stayed at Vallarta Shores overlooking the beach, just south of Blue Chairs. The place was beautiful with a huge open-air common living space and deluxe kitchen. Each penthouse also had a private pool and three bedrooms, all with private baths. Amenities included wifi, TV’s in each room, mini-stereos with iPod hook-ups, daily maid service, and our very own private chef, Carlos.

A day on the mighty Pacific Ocean

On Saturday morning, we met up with Captain Ernesto Alfano and his beautiful and very friendly wife of ADA Sailing. We did a private day cruise on the Pacific Ocean, just to the south of Puerto Vallarta along the Mexico coast. We stopped for several hours to snorkel and swim in the sparkling turquoise waters, just south of Le Kliff.

Friends, new and old

While I knew a handful of the twelve Kansas City guys well, it was good to spend time with old friends, and get to know a few others better. I also had the opportunity to meet a long-time social networking pal Dan, who happened to be in Puerto Vallarta on an overlapping vacation. The group also made a new friend, Felipe, a friendly traveler from Toronto, who joined us for many of our activities.

Photos from the trip

Group shot

The group on the beach at sunset

Small group at La Noche for drinks.

Condo, decorated for Mike’s 30th Birthday

Mike, Birthday waltz

All aboard the ADA, destination Banderas Bay

Turquoise waters of Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta

Specifications of the Northrock SC7

• Lightweight Aluminum Frame
• RST Sofi T Fork - High Impact Absorption
• Shimano M191 Crank & Altus Drivetrain (21-speed)
• TEKTRO Linear Brakes
• SRAM MRX 3.0 Twist Shifters with PROMAX Levers
• VELO Plush Comfort Saddle & Ergonomic Grips
• Kenda 700C Tires
• Alloy Rims with 14G Stainless Steel Spokes
• Quick Release Wheels & Adjustable Seat Post

Pros

Lightweight, solid bike with a comfortable, smooth ride. I am 6′3″ 200lbs and the Northrock SC7 fits me nicely. Seat height adjusts with ease using quick-release lever on seat post.  The brakes work like a dream. Shimano Crank, Drivetrain and Tektro Brakes are some of the best components around. I wasn’t familiar with the Northrock brand, but the frame has a lifetime warranty. The Northrock SC7 was $259.99 at our local Costco, so the price is definitely a pro. A hybrid bike with similar components is several hundred more at local shops. Costco’s generous return policy is also a pro.

Cons

The pedals  on the Northrock SC7 are plastic and feel a bit cheap. The seat moves slightly from side to side when biking. The SRAM MRX twist shifters are listed as a feature, but I worry they won’t last as long as a convention shifting mechanism. Many experts say any bike purchased from a retail outlet should have a tune-up from a bike shop right away. This could could easily add $50-$75 to the cost of the bike. I’m no expert, but the Northrock SC7 rides and shifts smoothly, so I think I’ll skip the tune-up. Be sure to physically inspect the bike for damage from customer mishandling prior to purchase.

Photos - View all

Discussions about Northrock SC7

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Fifteen of us at our house in Park City, Utah

Our larger than life house

On the gondola at Canyons

Jason & Zack at Canyons

Time-out at Canyons Resort

Roger & David on gondola at Canyons

Josh & Zack on gondola at Canyons

Ready to bobsled at Utah Olympic Park

It will be my first time in Seattle, so wish me luck. I’m not a fan of clouds and rain, so I’m crossing my fingers the April showers adage, doesn’t apply in Seattle.

If you’re in Seattle, let me know, so we can meet up! The conference runs April 5-7, but I’m coming to Seattle April 2, to ensure I have time to explore the city.

Brother’s with mom: Ryan, Garrett, Mom & Blake

Natalie, Blake & Keaton

The Whitehouse from the top of Washington Monument

Washington Monument and clear blue sky

Me inside Washington Monument

Inside the rotunda at the United States Capitol

Me in front of the United States Capitol

Mike, Kurt and I at Sculpture Garden in DC

Tired of carrying dozens of customer loyalty & rewards cards in your wallet? CardStar is the answer. Save & create scan-able bar codes which are stored in the app. When you approach the counter, launch the app and select the name of the merchant. Price: Free.

Update: I’ve tried using CardStar at my local grocery store and gym. Neither could scan the bar-code from my iPhone.

Gowalla

Not only does Gowalla do all of the cool stuff the other location-based apps do, it makes it fun by giving you stamps & rewards for each place you visit. Gowalla has one of the most polished iPhone interfaces I’ve seen. You can also use it to update your Facebook and/or Twitter status. Price: Free.

iFitness

Track individual exercises & workouts at the gym. iFitness also has a number of built-in workout programs. The application keeps track of the exercise, repetitions & weight. It also keeps historical data to allow you to track your workouts over time. Price: $1.99.

Tweetie

If you love Twitter, don’t be caught without Tweetie. The Tweetie iPhone app packs more features than the Mac equivalent, including: location-based/geo-enabled tweets, ability to quickly look up user names, shrink URL’s and add or snap photos with a few taps. You can also use Tweetie for multiple Twitter accounts. Price: $2.99.

Secluded beach near Puerto Vallarta

Our lonely sail boat

Ready to zip line at Canopy River

Me zipping through the mountains