The Week in Review is a collection of both all the goodness I’ve written during the past week around the internet, as well as a small pile of links I found interesting – generally endurance sports related. I’ve often wondered what to do with all of the coolness that people write, and while I share a lot of it on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, this is a better forum for sending it on to y’all. Most times these different streams don’t overlap, so be on the lookout at all these places for good stuff!
So with that, let’s get into the action!
DCRainmaker.com posts in the past week:
Here’s all the goodness that ended up on the main page of DCRainmaker.com this past week:
Sunday: Week in Review–March 22nd, 2015
Monday: 5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
A busy work week this past week, but should normalize a bit this week.
Stuff that I found interesting around the interwebs:
Here’s a not-so-small smattering of all the random things that I stumbled on while doing my civic duty to find the end of the Internet:
1) Fitbit adds support for multi-device activity tracking: Cool to see them support this. Basically it allows you to wear a smaller device during the day (i.e. band), and then something like the Fitbit Surge (full watch) for sport activities. They also announced upcoming bike-mode support for the Fitbit Surge, which I’m currently beta testing. I’ll update my existing In-Depth Review once the firmware update goes final/public.
2) Cookie jar won’t open unless you take more steps: Normally I’d stick this in the Kickstarter section, but it’s not strictly fitness, so I figured it’s more interesting here. At any rate – they plan to connect to Fitbit at launch. Cool concept.
3) Photographing Stunt Biker Danny MacAskill in Front of a Solar Eclipse: Very cool behind the scenes look at how they shot a sweet photo.
4) Timeline of Garmin/Suunto/Polar devices: Pretty neat little look at when all the major fitness devices released from each company.
5) A $150 guys swim suit: Sure, some women’s suits are $150, but for a guy’s suit that’s a bit more rare. (FYI: Some readers are reporting odd spam/malware alerts when using visiting this site. I haven’t seen it, but FYI.)
6) Volvo creates spray-on visibility/reflective paint for cyclists: Cool stuff, would be interesting to see how well it works in real life. (via reader JR)
7) First ever Pancake Mile Race? Apparently held this weekend, though I don’t see any photos on their Facebook page. Brilliant idea though. (via reader Alessandro)
8) US Secretary of State gets bike repair help mid-ride: From a Swiss bike shop, while out on a ride there during the Iran nuclear talks. Neat. And don’t let this get political in the comments. (via Sport Tracks Twitter).
9) Amazon bringing yoga instructors to new marketplace: You can now order a yoga instructor on Amazon. I wonder if I can also get Amazon to do the workout for me too?
10) Zwift sends out beta invites for Elite/CompuTrainer/CycleOps trainer owners: Also, sounds like they’re on the way towards shifting towards an open-beta program soon (instead of invite only).
Crowd Funded Projects of Athletic Note:
I regularly sift through Kickstarter and Indiegogo (plus a few others on occasion) looking for sports projects. If you’re unfamiliar with projects, read my detailed post on how I decide which projects I personally back. Note that as always with crowd funded projects, assume the project will be late and will under-deliver on features. Thus far, on the numerous products I’ve helped ‘fund’ (except a leather bike handle), that’s been the case.
(Nuttin much this week!)
Sports Technology Software/Firmware Updates This Week:
Each week I quickly highlight some of the new firmware, app, software and website service updates that I see go out. If you’re a sports technology company and release an update – shoot me a quick note (just one liners is perfect, or Tweet it at me is even better) and I’ll make mention of it here. If I don’t know about it, I won’t be able to post about it. Sound good?
Leikr firmware update: Nice to see the company is still releasing updates for the unit.
Garmin Fenix3 firmware update: Bug fixes.
Garmin Vivoactive firmware update: Bug fixes.
Polar update non-update: Just an FYI that Polar has delayed their M400 footpod update, and V800/M400 smartphone notifications.
Suunto Ambit 3 series firmware updates: Lots of items here, including new features I discussed in this post.
Thanks for reading!
FOUND THIS POST USEFUL? SUPPORT THE SITE!
Hopefully, you found this post useful. The website is really a labor of love, so please consider becoming a DC RAINMAKER Supporter. This gets you an ad-free experience, and access to our (mostly) bi-monthly behind-the-scenes video series of “Shed Talkin’”.
Support DCRainMaker - Shop on Amazon
Otherwise, perhaps consider using the below link if shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but your purchases help support this website a lot. It could simply be buying toilet paper, or this pizza oven we use and love.
What do you think about apple watch waiting can’t pull string until get low down from you
Check that link to the $150 swimsuit. It forwarded me to a suspicious looking “malware cleanup” site with endless popups. Had to force quit chrome to get it to stop.
The OneMileAtATime site I linked to, or the suit site after that?
If you click the link, OneMileAtATime, you get the maleware.
Clicked and no malware or popups on my side. @Eric N. Could be the case that you had something going on beforehand on your side of thing.
Weird, never seen any issues on that site/platform (and not getting anything here either). Like Oscar said, I’d double-check your computer as often times that’s an indication of something on ones computer.
I had the same malware experience with the OneMileAtAtime link.
So did I
Hmm, very weird. I’m wondering if some ad network is throwing it. I’ll throw a note that some folks are seeing issue. I’ve never seen anyone comment on his page (very widely read) of any issues, so definitely odd.
The Volvo paint thing looks neat but it only lasts for 7 days and isn’t waterproof. Per the link to volvolifepaint.com site:
“LifePaint washes off, and will not affect the colour or surface of your chosen material, lasting approximately one week after application.”
Hi Ray
thank you very much for Nº4: TIMELINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your work is our inspiration
THx
Hey Ray
Really looking forward to Surge bike mode. Any idea when the firmware will be released? Their blog doesn’t mention it at all…
Stay awesome 🙂
-Claus
April is the plan.
Re. multiple device tracking. Any idea how Fitbit and/or Withings handles data if you are tracking on a wearable device and via their app on your phone at the same time?
Any word from Garmin if they are going to start to allow multiple activity trackers?
We chatted about it at CES (informally), and they most definitely are working towards it. They were at the time focused on stabilizing some GC aspects first (this was in the week following some Christmas system pain). It’s honestly probably a bigger concern for Garmin than Fitbit, since Garmin has so many wearables where people would want to go to a band during the day (Vivofit), and then a watch during sport (FR920XT/Fenix3). There was timeline attached to it. But I’ll poke and see if anything is set in jello.
Thanks for reply…love the 920 for most of the day, but it’s just not great looking for anything above casual, and too big to sleep in, so would be nice being able to have options and not lose any data!
This would be great for me. I am wearing diff GARMIN stuff for diff things too.
There’s an annual pancake race between Liberal, KS and Olney, England, with a tradition going back 66 years.
It’s a 415 yd S-shaped course, and participants have to continuously flip pancakes while running.
The women’s only record stands at 55 seconds.
link to kansas.com
The Olney race itself dates back nearly 500 years.
Vivofit now automatically logs your sleep. Not that I find the data interesting as I know I sleep badly but its good they have done this update for an older product.
Having a difficult time deciding between the Fitbit Surge and TomTom Cardio GPS w/HR. Runner at heart and want more data and HR feature less a chest band.
Coming from a nike GPS Sports Watch and know either is a huge upgrade this is why i like these 2 offerings. Been nike since 2010 and have over 1.6M fuel and log between 115 to 135 miles a month. But in USA/PA 5 months are spent on treadmill.
Your comments about Surges HR errors and TomToms treadmill errors both concern me.
Any suggestions/thoughts? Will either company firmware fix these issues soon?
Great info and site.
Thank you!
GMRO
Go with the TomTom. While there are treadmill errors with the TomTom, they aren’t in the same impact-league as the HR errors from the Surge.
Also, supposedly TomTom introduced some treadmill fixes this past winter, but I hear/see mixed results on it.
DCR,
Thank you. Was sort of leaning towards the TomTom.
SO any preference between the Runner Cardio HR and Multi-Sport Cardio HR? Any disadvantage of just getting the runner version? I’m not a swimmer but sometimes do mountain bike. Are there more internal canned workouts etc in the multi-sport that could be useful?
Again, GREAT SITE…I’ll be checking back often. Your testing and info is great! Very detailed and glad my review search came up with your site!!!
GMRO
I’d probably go runner. There aren’t any canned workouts for cycling/etc.. on the unit. And with running you can technically change it to speed anyway. It’s the support of the cadence sensor that you get with the multisport (as well as swimming of course).
Hi Ray, have you ever heard anything from Garmin about including auto-rest in 920XT/Swim/910XT swim metrics? It’s something I’d love to see them add, and it worked quite well on the Swimsense.
Nothing that I’ve seen unfortunately.
Can’t wait for your review on the Reconjet. I’m seriously thinking of getting it if nobody complains about hardware and software issues. I have a race in August. Would be cool to see my stats without looking at my watch.
Whilst I doubt I’d ever pay that kind of price for swim shorts it’s hardly rare:
A quick look at Neiman Marcus has Burberry and Etro for around $300, Valentino and Alexander McQueen for almost $500:
link to neimanmarcus.com
Granted they’re fashion labels, but swimwear specific companies such as Onia, KoMocean, and Orlebar Brown sell shorts for around $200.
The 920xt got a firmware update yesterday: link to www8.garmin.com
Here are the pictures of the Pancake Mile:
link to picasaweb.google.com
@Tyler: do you get to eat the pancakes at the race in Olney?