Sergey Pisarenko

Yes, my beloved motorbike is gone to another owner. This leaves me with zero motorized vehicles. At the outset of 2016 I have decided to part ways with a BMW F800GS Adventure I had purchased brand new about two years ago. With a little help from my matchmaking the beamer and the new owner successfully found each other and left the garage not to be seen again. I’ll keep fond memories of the wonderful spaceship-like machine that enabled an epic and life-changing 8000Km tour of Northern and Central Europe and left positive emotions. I don’t intend to completely quit riding bikes but I have no intentions to own another motorbike in foreseeable future.

[Read More]

This past Sunday I hiked a fantastic route together with my wife. It’s the first real hike this year and given the busy times it’s unsurprising. But it wasn’t just the first of a season. It was the most difficult hike my wife has ever completed and I was left totally impressed with her pace and endurance. Not only we walked for more than 15 kilometers but we also climbed almost a thousand vertical meters. For my wife, who normally prefers flat walks along ridges or lakes, it is a considerable accomplishment.

[Read More]

I have purchased the Cube Cross Disc bicycle second-hand back in 2014 as an ultimate do-it-all machine to replace somewhat petite BMC hybrid bike I had started cycling on. No other bike in my stable went through as many alterations as the venerable Cube, transitioning from an object of admiration to almost scrap and most recently getting resurrected to fulfill a pragmatic new purpose. It was the bike I rode during the legendary Rhine tour. Perhaps it is also the bike I’ve learned most of the bike mechanic skills on.

[Read More]

I am not a peak collector by any stretch of imagination. Indeed I avoid “the best” like plague. I leave “the best” for the unsuspecting tourist crowds and boastful blabbers. But the fact is that I’ve climbed to the highest altitude in my life. And I’ve already paid my dues by feeling the wrath of Gods – reaching the peak left me untouched and the corresponding up-and-down motions were anything but mindful. Yet the purpose of this 2-day mountaineering trip has been fulfilled – I am now formally skilled in the basic skills of alpine walking and climbing.

[Read More]

This is part 2 of a series of articles themed “Preparing for Software Engineer Interviews”. My goal with the series is to document the steps I took while preparing for interviews for a software engineering position after working six years in predominantly support-leaning roles. I won’t break new ground here but rather share personal experience – anything you see here is an echo of what you can find elsewhere on the Internet. [Read More]

I enjoy training for triathlon immensely. The sport attracts me with multidimensionality and the numerous skills involved. There is so much room for growth. It’s an art really. I will regularly share some of my observations as I progress towards my next triathlon goal - completing a half Ironman. Cycling After raving about Zwift and following its 4 month training program I chose to continue my training using TrainerRoad software instead. [Read More]

This is part 1 of a series of articles themed “Preparing for Software Engineer Interviews”. My goal with the series is to document the steps I took while preparing for interviews for a software engineering position after working six years in predominantly support-leaning roles. I won’t break new ground here but rather share personal experience – anything you see here is an echo of what you can find elsewhere on the Internet. [Read More]