iGPSPORT BiNavi Bike Computer

After trying various bike computers, including Garmin 1040, Wahoo Roam 3, and Wahoo Bolt, and being a bit dissatisfied with the value/price, I decided to take a chance on the iGPSPORT BinaVi bike computer.

According to ChatGPT, here are the highlights and lowlights:

⭐ Highlights (Pros)

📍 Navigation-First Design

Turn-by-turn guidance with clear visual/vocal prompts and auto-zoom approaching turns helps riders stay on route.

🗺️ Advanced Mapping & GNSS

Dual-band GNSS (L1+L5) and support for multiple satellite systems improve positioning accuracy.
Offline maps are available so you can navigate without a phone or data plan.

📊 Rich Data & Connectivity

Supports >160 data metrics and connects via ANT+ & BLE to sensors (heart rate, cadence, power, e-bike, etc.).
Syncs with apps like Strava and TrainingPeaks.

🖥️ Display & Design

Large 3.5″ transflective touchscreen readable in sunlight with glove-friendly buttons.

🔋 Long Battery & Build

Up to ~35 h battery life, USB-C charging, and IPX7 water resistance make it reliable for long rides.
Light and compact compared with some competitors.

🔦 Ecosystem Integration

Works seamlessly with iGPSPORT smart lights and radar (e.g., SR mini tail light), enhancing safety features.

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⚠️ Lowlights (Cons)

🗺️ Map Handling Issues

Some users report map copying being slow or problematic, and maps not appearing until GPS signal is strong.
Some difficulty installing certain region maps (e.g., Brazil) properly.

🔄 Navigation Shortcomings

Rerouting after deviating can be inconsistent or less sophisticated than other brands (user reports mixed).
In certain reviews, route visuals (e.g., thin colored track lines) can be hard to read on maps without adjustment.

📚 Usability & Learning Curve

Some users feel firmware and interface refinement still need work; instructional material could be better.

🕶️ Screen Viewing

Like many transflective displays, some users mention visibility quirks with polarized sunglasses—you may need to adjust angles.

🛠️ Build & Accessories

• USB-C cover and seal quality raised user curiosity (minor concern, but something riders noted).

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Book of Mormon at the Orpheum

Today, we saw  "The Book of Mormon" performance at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco. We had seen it many years ago (and had forgotten a lot of the songs). This performance seemed fresh (and a bit different from the one we had seen last time).

We really enjoyed the peformance a lot (despite having off-cetner seats) - a last minute purhcase through StubHub.

The musical was hilarious and a giant parody of the Mormon religion (and maybe even all religions). There were many funny moments: the song "Hello" at the beginning of the musical, the "Turn It Off" number, and especially the Uganda natives' performance of what they have learned for the elders.

According to ChatGPT:

Overview

The Book of Mormon is a satirical Broadway musical (2011) by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez. It follows two young Mormon missionaries sent from Utah to a struggling village in Uganda, using sharp humor to explore faith, optimism, culture clash, and the human need for belief.

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Plot Summary

Act I
Elder Kevin Price, confident and idealistic, dreams of converting the world and rising quickly within the LDS Church. He is paired with Elder Arnold Cunningham, a kind but insecure missionary who compulsively lies to gain approval.

They are assigned to a poor Ugandan village plagued by disease, poverty, and a violent local warlord. The villagers are skeptical of religion, having already suffered greatly despite believing in God. Price becomes disillusioned when his polished missionary lessons fail, while Cunningham begins improvising wildly embellished versions of Mormon doctrine that unexpectedly resonate with the villagers.

Act II
Price spirals into anger and doubt, questioning God and abandoning his mission. Meanwhile, Cunningham’s fabricated but hopeful stories inspire the villagers to imagine a better future.

When church officials arrive to evaluate the mission, Cunningham’s lies are exposed. However, the villagers defend the emotional truth of his message: the stories helped them survive. Price ultimately realizes that faith’s value lies less in literal truth and more in its ability to give people hope and motivation. The missionaries succeed—not by strict doctrine, but by compassion and sincerity.

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Major Musical Numbers

Act I

• “Hello!” – Missionaries introduce themselves door-to-door in a bright, cheerful opener.

• “Two by Two” – The elders are paired up and sent to their missions.

• “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” – Price proclaims his destined greatness.

• “Hasa Diga Eebowai” – Villagers express despair through darkly comic defiance.

• “Turn It Off” – Missionaries explain emotional repression as a coping mechanism.

• “I Am Here for You” – Cunningham reassures Price in his own awkward way.

• “All-American Prophet” – Cunningham presents a hilariously distorted Joseph Smith story.

Act II

• “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” – Price’s nightmare fueled by guilt, fear, and doubt.

• “I Believe” – Price recommits to faith with over-the-top sincerity.

• “Making Things Up Again” – Cunningham embraces lying as a survival tool.

• “Man Up” – Price confronts the limits of blind obedience.

• “Joseph Smith American Moses” – The villagers perform Cunningham’s reimagined doctrine.

• “Tomorrow Is a Latter Day” – The hopeful finale celebrating belief and change.

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Tone & Themes

• Tone: Outrageous, irreverent, but surprisingly heartfelt

• Themes: Faith vs. literal truth, optimism, friendship, cultural misunderstanding, and the power of storytelling

Here are some videos of popular songs from the The Book of Mormon.

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Zolushka at Palo Alto Oshman Family JCC

Inna decided to see the newly composed/revised version of Zolushka. This was a more mature take on the "Cinderella" children's classic with a unique (more mature) update to the themes in the original version.

"Zolushka" (Cinderella) is a unique Russian-language musical performance taking place at the Oshman Family JCC Click to open side panel for more information in Palo Alto. Described as a "musical fairy tale for adults," this interpretation of the classic Charles Perrault story is presented as an author-led reading featuring live singing and choreography.

The performance is scheduled for tonight, Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Schultz Cultural Arts Hall (Building F).

Creative Team and Performance Style

This production is a collaboration between prominent Russian cultural figures, offering an ironic and modern take on the traditional tale.

• Libretto and Lyrics: Written by renowned writer and poet Dmitry Bykov, who appears as the playwright and narrator.

• Music: Composed by Alexei Ivashchenko, known for his work on the musical Nord-Ost.

• Format: The show utilizes an "author reading" style where actors perform roles with musical accompaniment by the Stellar Jazz trio.

• Cast: The performance features actors Maria Ivashchenko, Artyom Lyskov, and Tatyana Kolosova.

 

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Dinner at Ettan, Palo Alto

Before our planned stop at JCC to see Zolushka, Inna had made dinner reservations for 6:00 p.m. at the highly rated Ettan Indian Restaurant.

We had eaten at Ettan last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ettan is extremely popular and challenging to reserve on short notice.

At around 17:12, I dropped off Inna at Ettan and parked the Tesla Model Y in a nearby parking garage. We looked at the menu and ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Bangalore Days (Inna)
• Snack: Sesame Leaf (Amazing!)
• Appetizer: Ettan Salad, Lamb Galouti Kebab (4 pieces)
• Main: Chicken Biryani
• Sides: Garlic Naan

We absolutely loved the Seasame Leaf Street-food snack! It was the highlight of the dinner. The Ettan Salad was small but delicious. The Lamb Galouti Kebab was average (skip next time). 

The Chicken Biryani had very little chicken (and was mostly rice). Our local Namaste Indian restaurant has better Biryani. The  Garlic Naan was excellent.

 We had an excellent waiter, and everything was very smooth. 

Links

• Ettan (Palo Alto)
• Namaste (Los Gatos)

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Kasia Smolarek at De Anza

Inna decided to purchase tickets to Kasia Smolarek's Classical Guitar concert at De Anza College's Visual and Performing Arts Theater (VPAC). 

When we arrived at De Anza College, we had difficulty finding the VPAC, as I had programmed 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd. (instead of Visual and Performing Arts Theater). Even though we arrived at 19:21 for the 19:30 opening time, we had to drive another 9 minutes. We were about 9 minutes late to the concert and missed the first piece - Domenico Scarlatti's Sonata K.466.

Here’s the program for tonight’s Kasia Smolarek concert (Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the VPAC Theatre, De Anza College in Cupertino, CA):

🎶 Program:

• Domenico Scarlatti — Sonata K.466 & Sonata K.178

• Niccolò Paganini — Caprice Op. 1 No. 24 (a famous virtuosic showpiece)

• Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco — from Caprichos de Goya:

  • XII No hubo remedio

  • XX Obsequio al Maestro

  • XVIII El sueño de la razón produce monstruos

• Francisco Tárrega — Fantasía on Verdi’s La Traviata

• Joaquín Turina — Sevillana Op. 29

• Agustín Barrios-Mangoré — Mazurka Apassionata & Vals Op. 3 No. 8

• Leo Brouwer — La Gran Sarabanda

This program takes you on a journey through Spanish and Latin American guitar repertoire, blending baroque elegance, virtuoso showpieces, romantic transcriptions, dance-inspired works, and modern masterpieces — all performed on solo classical guitar. 

I was hoping that Kasia would play some of the more popular Classical Guitar pieces, but her recital focused on the more obscure (at least to me) Classical guitar compositions.

Of all the pieces she played, I enjoyed the following pieces:

• Agustín Barrios-Mangoré — Mazurka Apassionata & Vals Op. 3 No. 8

• Niccolò Paganini — Caprice Op. 1 No. 24

 Kasia Smolarek Concert Review

Highlights

• Kasia's playing of the following pieces:
• Agustín Barrios-Mangoré — Mazurka Apassionata & Vals Op. 3 No. 8
• Niccolò Paganini — Caprice Op. 1 No. 24

Lowlights

• Not playing any of the more popular Classical Guitar standards
• Spending a lot of time tuning her guitar (after every piece)

Links

• Kasia Smolarek's Concerts
• De Anza Visual and Performing Arts

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Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 Bike Computer

After mountain biking for many years, I realized that GPS directions would really help me to discover new trails (without the fear of getting lost).

I initially considered mounting my iPhone 14 Pro Max on the handlebars. Still, I learned that the jerky movement of the mountain bike could damage the phone's sensitive camera systems.

I did some research (with the help of ChatGPT and Gemini) and identified a couple of suitable bike gps contenders, including:

• Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 - $401
• SRAM Hammerhead Karoo 3 - $402
• Garmin Edge 1050 - $699
• iGPSPORT BiNavi Air - $169

My requirements were as follows:

• Built‑in speaker for spoken navigation cues and audio turn alerts.
• Large, touchscreen + button interface with easy GPX import
• Good sunlight visibility and long battery life
• Physical buttons (useful during bumpy rides)
• Integration with Strava / Komoot / Trailforks / Apple Health
• Low Price ($400)

It seemed that the Wahoo Element Roam 3 was the best fit for me, so I decided to try it. When I received it from Amazon, I also paired it with the following sensors:

• Garmin Bike Speed 2 and Cadence 2 Sensor Black, One Size
• Polar H9 Heart Rate Sensor

The Polar H9 HRM was difficult to pair, and I was forced to install the Polar Flow app to get the HRM sensor to pair.

Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 Review

Highlighs

• Integrates well with the Wahoo App and pairs easily with my iPhone
• Wahoo App integrates with Strava, Kamoot, and Trailforks
• Zooming in/out using the side buttons is very convenient
• Having buttons to start/stop is convenient

Lowlights

• Expensive ($400)
• The touch screen is not very responsive
• The touch screen is dim
• Requires using a separate iPhone to create new routes

ChatGPT had the following summary of the Wahoo Roam 3 Bike Computer:

The Roam 3 is Wahoo’s updated all-around cycling computer, offering robust navigation, a larger color touchscreen, long battery life, and integration with sensors and apps via the Wahoo ecosystem. It slots between the compact Bolt models and the premium Ace, aiming to satisfy riders who want strong mapping features without the top-tier price tag.

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✅ Highlights (Strengths)

🗺️ Navigation & Mapping

• Excellent directional guidance: Turn-by-turn navigation with spoken cues and on-screen guidance makes it strong for exploring unfamiliar routes.

• Extensive maps & storage: With 64 GB storage, there’s plenty of space for global maps and routes.

• Fast rerouting: If you go off course, the unit recalculates quickly and keeps you on track.

📺 Display & Interface

• Large, colorful touchscreen: The 2.8″ display with 16 million colors improves readability and lets you swipe/zoom on the maps.

• Physical buttons help: In addition to the touchscreen, buttons make it easier to operate in motion.

🔋 Battery & Connectivity

• Long battery life: Up to ~25 hours claimed (more in some reviews), which is solid for long rides or overnight adventures.

• Solid sensor support: Dual-band GNSS, ANT+, Bluetooth LE, and Wi-Fi ensure good connections to speed/cadence/power meters and smartphones.

⚙️ Ecosystem & Setup

• Easy setup & third-party links: Pairing with the Wahoo App, plus seamless integration with apps like Strava and Ride with GPS.

• Extras like digital bell & speaker: On-board audio for alerts and a digital bell add convenience.

👟 Real-world usability

Many riders upgrading from older Wahoo units find the Roam 3 a clear step up — especially in navigation and GPS tracking — likening it to going from a “flip phone to a smartphone.”

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👎 Lowlights (Weaknesses)

☀️ Screen Visibility & UX

• Contrast/readability concerns: Some users find the screen harder to see in bright sunlight or shadow compared to competitors or older models.

• Touchscreen limitations: Touch input can be spotty with gloves or when wet, and some map interactions (like pinch-to-zoom during active routes) are limited.

🐞 Software & Stability Issues

• Firmware glitches reported: Reports include random switch to indoor mode, frozen maps mid-ride, problems with syncing routes, and unreliable sensor connections.

• Slow GPS lock sometimes: Some users have noted longer wait times for GPS acquisition.

🔊 Audio & Alerts

• Bell & voice guidance volume: The digital bell and spoken navigation can be too soft to hear clearly on the road.

• Notifications can be intrusive: Some interface notifications block screens temporarily (e.g., “Ride resumed”).

🧭 Mount & Physical Issues

• Mount stability: A few owners find the included mount less secure or “flimsy,” especially on rough terrain.

📊 Training Features

• Not as workout-rich as Garmin: While it handles structured workouts and segments, its metrics suite isn’t as deep as some Garmin rivals.

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🧠 Verdict

Best for: Riders who prioritize navigation, mapping, ease of use, and battery life — especially for long rides, bikepacking, or adventures where routing is crucial.

Consider alternatives if: You want the most robust training metrics, ultra-high screen contrast in all conditions, or you’re sensitive to software quirks and prefer rock-solid reliability out of the box.

Overall, the Roam 3 represents a significant upgrade within Wahoo’s lineup, but real-world software stability and a few UX choices may leave some users waiting for future firmware improvements to reach its full potential

Links

• Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3
• Wahoo Fitness
• Polar Flow (for Polar HRM sensor)
• Komoot
• Strava
• Trailforks

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AURA at Grace Cathedral

Inna heard about the AURA show in San Francisco's Grace Cathedral, and we decided to purchase tickets and see it for ourselves.

Before the show, we stopped by for dinner at Dacha Kitchen & Bar (an Eastern European restaurant 15-minutes away), where we ordered the following:

• Boris: Chicken Skewers
• Inna: Pojarskaya Cutlet
• Alex: Seasoned Salmon

My Chicken Skewers were alright, but Inna's Pojarskaya Cutlet was much better. After finishing dinner, we hurried to Grace Cathedral for the show. There was a long queue to get in.

Overall, I found the show boring and would have preferred to have listened to someone playing J.S. Bach on the Cathedral's beautiful organ.

Here is a short video clip of the show:

ChatGPT had the following summary of the show:

AURA is a ticketed immersive light, sound, and projection experience that transforms the interior of Grace Cathedral into a dynamic visual and musical journey. It combines state-of-the-art projection mapping, original music, lighting effects, and storytelling to make the cathedral’s architecture feel alive.

✨ What Happens During the Show

• Interactive Start: Before the main experience, you’re encouraged to explore the cathedral’s history and architectural details using an interactive web app.

• Immersive Multimedia Experience: For about 30-45 minutes, the cathedral’s nave and ceilings come alive with projected scenes — like swirling storms, blooming skies, waves, forests, and cosmos-inspired visuals — all synchronized to original music.

• Story Through Light and Sound: The sequence of scenes celebrates themes like the harmony between humans and nature, using light and music to evoke emotion and reflection.

📍 Setting & Mood

The show takes place inside a Gothic cathedral, so the effect is both dramatic and awe-inspiring: soaring arches and stained glass are used as living canvases for the projections, with sound enhancing the space’s natural acoustics.

🕒 Experience Length and Practical Info

• Total time: ~45–50 minutes (includes pre-show interactive portion and the main light show).

• Seating: There’s seating available, and doors usually open 20–30 minutes before the scheduled time. Late entry typically isn’t allowed.

• All Ages: It’s designed to be suitable for a wide audience.

🎟️ Context & Reception

• AURA originated in Montreal and Paris, where it drew millions of visitors before coming to San Francisco — the first U.S. site for this version of the experience.

• Reviews and reactions are mixed: some attendees find it breathtaking and memorable, while others feel the multimedia style doesn’t fully highlight the cathedral’s historic art.

 

Links

• AURA at Grace Cathedral 
• Dacha Kitchen & Bar

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Classical Guitar Lessons with Daniel

Lesson 03 - 1/24/2026 19:00 - Music Village - Daniel Yarritu

Repertoire: CGC Graded Repertoire Grade 2

1. Work on hand positions

• Try using a capo to make the stretches easier. Gradually move the capo towards the nut to gradually improve the stretch.
• The right hand needs to push the strings in towards the top for good volume.
• Practice the four-finger exercise: 1234 4321, where each finger is assigned to a fret, spanning four frets. 
• Start higher up the neck, where it’s easier, and move 1) towards the 6th string from the 1st and 2) towards the first fret.
• Work on stretching the fingers sideways.

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Welcome 2026!

 2025 Year in Review

Highlights 

• A fabulous trip to Iceland (Golden Circle) and Scotland (Edinburgh & Highlands)
• A fun trip to Kauai, for surfing, sun, and relaxation
• Inna's trip to Northern Italy
• Inna's company trip to San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico
• Fun weekend trips to 
• Calistoga
• Incline Village (Lake Tahoe), Nevada
  
• Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Mendocino
• Sonoma
• Attending concerts, including the following:
• Hauser: The Rebel is Back
• James Blunt: Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary
• Monterey Jazz Festival
• Gunhild Carling
• Diana Reeves
• Mr. Sipp
• Машина времени: Мы рядом
• Sarah McLachlan: Better Broken
• Stella Swings Ella
• San Francisco Flower Piano
• Attending theater and musical shows, including:
  
• Some Like It Hot!
• Uncle Vanya at Berkeley Rep
• Cirque du Soleil - Echo in San Francisco
• The Illusionist at Palace Theater
• Fringe Festival in Edinburgh:
• Make It Happen
• La Clique
• Ten Thousand Hours (The Assembly)
• Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazzi
• The Great Gatsby: A New Ballet
• Nobody Loves You, A.C.T.
• Enjoying hot springs and spas:
• Blue Lagoon, Iceland
• Sky Lagoon, Iceland
• Myvatn Spa, Iceland
• Cameron House, Loch Lomond, Scotland
• Refuge Spa, Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
• Hiking:
• In Iceland:
• Hiking the Skaftafell Glacier
• In Scotland's Highlands: 
• Hike to Buachaille Etive Beag mountain top
• Hike to Glencoe Lochan
• Hike to Hagrid's Hut
• California
• Hiking the Fall Creek Trail, Felton
• Hiking to Mori Point, Pacifica
• Hiking Seven Springs Trail, Saratoga

Highlights for Boris

• Windsurfing 10 days on Lac Bay, Bonaire
• Wing foiling at Coyote Point and Crissy Field
• Learning to play the Yamaha FG830 acoustic guitar and the Suzuki Violin No. 34 nylon guitar
• Winning multiple USTA 3.0 & 6.0 tennis matches
• SUP Surfing for 7 days on Kalapaki Beach, Kauai
• Building a brand new Windows 11 Server/PC with AMD 9800X3D & Nvidia RTX5070 GPU
• Learning to shoot with the new Canon R8 mirrorless camera (after trading in my Canon 5D)
• Setting up high-resolution audio with Topping DX5 II Dac with Sennheiser HD600 headphones
• Joining the Classical Guitar Corner (CGC) and starting guitar lessons with Daniel

Highlights for Inna

• Touring Northern Italy with the girls
• Visiting San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico (as a Drata employee)
• Loosing weight
• Removing polyps during her two colonoscopies

Highlights for Alex

• Getting a full-time job offer
• Surfing trip to Bali, Indonesia

Home Improvement

• Clearing the spare bedroom of unnecessary items
• Clearing unused books from the kitchen

 

Gifts

Boris:

• Merino Wool Sweater (New Zealand)
• Long-sleeve shirt
• Italian Bugatchi Short-sleeve shirt 

Inna:

• The 13 Yule Lads of Iceland
• Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark
• Prada Pattina in Tessuto Velo Nero handbag

Alex:

• Clark Little: The Art of Waves (surfing photos)
• Jeans

Vladik:

• Merino Wool Sweater (New Zealand)

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The Year in Sports 2025

   

Sports	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Tennis	120	187	78	146	77	77	124	147	228	241	0
Fitness	131	97	2	0	0	14	66	90	9	0	0
SUP Surfing	9	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Surfing	0	0	12	18	42	46	20	23	0	0	0
Windsurfing	21	9	10	19	20	12	15	16	7	0	1
Skiing (Downhill)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Snowboarding	0	2	0	0	3	0	15	13	5	1	6
Skiing (Cross-Country)	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Swimming	4	5	5	5	11	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hiking	7	5	5	0	12	11	16	4	2	0	0
Mountain Biking	1	2	2	10	38	59	4	12	21	1	7
Indoor Biking	0	0	10	10	14	19	0	0	0	0	0
Off-road Motorcycling	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	3	6	11	2

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