Mark Allen
@markallen.io
Making software that helps people be more active and trying to ride my bike stupid long distances. Based in Toronto. https://markallen.io
Write to escape your default setting - kupajo.com/write-to-esc...
December 5, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Write to escape your default setting - kupajo.com/write-to-esc...
I know posting your Spotify Wrapped is lame, but I worked hard at this.
December 5, 2025 at 4:47 AM
I know posting your Spotify Wrapped is lame, but I worked hard at this.
I guess this is a signal I'm working on the right thing (an AI career coach / journalling tool): I spent hours this morning making the logo at the top of the page change color based on the sky at that time of day, but didn't bother reading the journal prompt for today.
October 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I guess this is a signal I'm working on the right thing (an AI career coach / journalling tool): I spent hours this morning making the logo at the top of the page change color based on the sky at that time of day, but didn't bother reading the journal prompt for today.
Is this a new Apple dark pattern? On Mac OS 26, I've got a persistent badge saying "1 update" on the System Settings menu item, but there is no update, it's just an ad to subscribe to AppleCare+ on my new phone. Kind of lame!
October 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Is this a new Apple dark pattern? On Mac OS 26, I've got a persistent badge saying "1 update" on the System Settings menu item, but there is no update, it's just an ad to subscribe to AppleCare+ on my new phone. Kind of lame!
Found in the comments of an Australian YouTube video.
September 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Found in the comments of an Australian YouTube video.
Haven't stopped thinking about how amazing the third act of Eddington was, especially in light of the past week.
September 12, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Haven't stopped thinking about how amazing the third act of Eddington was, especially in light of the past week.
When I die, all I request is a sarcophagus of me in this EXACT pose.
September 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
When I die, all I request is a sarcophagus of me in this EXACT pose.
I've been pretty good about staying off Twitter, but sometimes I can't resist.
August 24, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I've been pretty good about staying off Twitter, but sometimes I can't resist.
Last bit of bike faffing before London-Edinburgh-London next week: Swapped out my Ultegra 11-34 cassette with an XTR 11-40 to handle the hills of Scotland. Even managed to save 10g in the process!
July 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Last bit of bike faffing before London-Edinburgh-London next week: Swapped out my Ultegra 11-34 cassette with an XTR 11-40 to handle the hills of Scotland. Even managed to save 10g in the process!
Love a good early afternoon concert. Mount Eerie at The Great Hall in Toronto.
June 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Love a good early afternoon concert. Mount Eerie at The Great Hall in Toronto.
Randonneurs Ontario Devil's Week is a wrap! 600, 400, and 300 km brevets were completed, but the 200 was cancelled today due to a Humidex of 46 🥵.
These rides were hard, but I performed much better than I expected. Turns out not having cancer is really good for your cycling performance!
These rides were hard, but I performed much better than I expected. Turns out not having cancer is really good for your cycling performance!
June 23, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Randonneurs Ontario Devil's Week is a wrap! 600, 400, and 300 km brevets were completed, but the 200 was cancelled today due to a Humidex of 46 🥵.
These rides were hard, but I performed much better than I expected. Turns out not having cancer is really good for your cycling performance!
These rides were hard, but I performed much better than I expected. Turns out not having cancer is really good for your cycling performance!
Only in randonneuring does bike prep involve putting on both aerobars AND fenders. Using Devil's Week this week (200, 300, 400 & 600km brevets in a week) as a test to see if I'm ready-ish for London Edinburgh London in 7 weeks.
June 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Only in randonneuring does bike prep involve putting on both aerobars AND fenders. Using Devil's Week this week (200, 300, 400 & 600km brevets in a week) as a test to see if I'm ready-ish for London Edinburgh London in 7 weeks.
My favorite Deep Research trick is to initially prompt ChatGPT with "I want to hire an analyst to compile a report on [topic], help me create the project brief", then turning around and saying "Now do the research". Works way better than writing the Deep Research prompt on my own.
June 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
My favorite Deep Research trick is to initially prompt ChatGPT with "I want to hire an analyst to compile a report on [topic], help me create the project brief", then turning around and saying "Now do the research". Works way better than writing the Deep Research prompt on my own.
I cancelled my Strava Premium subscription after their draconian API changes a few months ago. I didn't realize that was going to force them to fire their copywriter.
May 30, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I cancelled my Strava Premium subscription after their draconian API changes a few months ago. I didn't realize that was going to force them to fire their copywriter.
I’m so old now that I wear earplugs at the Nils Frahm concert.
May 14, 2025 at 3:54 AM
I’m so old now that I wear earplugs at the Nils Frahm concert.
Civilization peaked when Legos lived in a chaotic tub and kids built weird, half-functional space prisons. It all went downhill when adults started treating them like IKEA for nerds.
April 30, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Civilization peaked when Legos lived in a chaotic tub and kids built weird, half-functional space prisons. It all went downhill when adults started treating them like IKEA for nerds.
Going to suck for @miamiheatofficial.bsky.social fans to show up to the game and find out they are already down 26 points.
April 29, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Going to suck for @miamiheatofficial.bsky.social fans to show up to the game and find out they are already down 26 points.
Please. The real alpha move is sending your wife pics of you as R. Crumb characters. They love that stuff.
March 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Please. The real alpha move is sending your wife pics of you as R. Crumb characters. They love that stuff.
I've really enjoyed doing TrainerRoad workouts directly in Zwift during the feature's beta. Combining TR's adaptive training and Zwift's in-world experience is the best of both worlds. I nailed several interval workouts in the last month that I probably would have failed before.
February 12, 2025 at 12:55 AM
I've really enjoyed doing TrainerRoad workouts directly in Zwift during the feature's beta. Combining TR's adaptive training and Zwift's in-world experience is the best of both worlds. I nailed several interval workouts in the last month that I probably would have failed before.
I've cracked the #Luka trade. Here's my airtight conspiracy:
1. The Adelsons bought the Mavs with the expectation that TX would legalize gambling, letting them do Adelson things in Dallas centered around the arena and team.
1. The Adelsons bought the Mavs with the expectation that TX would legalize gambling, letting them do Adelson things in Dallas centered around the arena and team.
February 5, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I've cracked the #Luka trade. Here's my airtight conspiracy:
1. The Adelsons bought the Mavs with the expectation that TX would legalize gambling, letting them do Adelson things in Dallas centered around the arena and team.
1. The Adelsons bought the Mavs with the expectation that TX would legalize gambling, letting them do Adelson things in Dallas centered around the arena and team.
Last weekend I was trying to complete The Über Pretzel (zwiftinsider.com/route/the-ub...) in Zwift and accidentally ended the route about 60km in after I bumped a navigation button on my Kickr Bike brake hood. Never have I been so mad about a video game setting.
February 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Last weekend I was trying to complete The Über Pretzel (zwiftinsider.com/route/the-ub...) in Zwift and accidentally ended the route about 60km in after I bumped a navigation button on my Kickr Bike brake hood. Never have I been so mad about a video game setting.
And my final year in review from @veloviewer.com, which I didn't want to generate until I finally hit my 400 hour goal on the last day of the year. Made it in under the wire!
December 31, 2024 at 9:56 PM
And my final year in review from @veloviewer.com, which I didn't want to generate until I finally hit my 400 hour goal on the last day of the year. Made it in under the wire!
I was surprised to see someone tossing out their Christmas tree so early after the holiday, but upon closer inspection I suspect this one is from the 2023 season.
December 31, 2024 at 12:46 AM
I was surprised to see someone tossing out their Christmas tree so early after the holiday, but upon closer inspection I suspect this one is from the 2023 season.
RIP to the world's greatest Rivendell owner.
December 30, 2024 at 3:13 AM
RIP to the world's greatest Rivendell owner.