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 this past week:
Here’s all the goodness that ended up on the main page of DCRainmaker.com this week.
The Queue is a place where I post quick galleries of products that have just started the review cycle. At the moment, these don’t show up in the main RSS feed since they are just quick galleries. You can however subscribe specifically to The Queue RSS feed here (mostly to just use it as a notification mechanism).
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) What happens to your camera at a ‘Color Run’: Haven’t heard of a color run before? It’s a 5K or 10K race where they throw ‘color’ at you (a paint-like substance). Odd, yes. But, here’s what happens to cameras at that race – behind the scenes from a lens rental company.
2) Runkeeper becomes first app to hit Pebble: It will be interesting to see how this shapes up. Might actually give me a reason to dig out the Pebble that’s been sitting in a desk drawer for a while now. See how it shapes up.
3)A look at the Austin Veloway: I’ve been to Austin before, but hadn’t ever visited this. A 3.1 mile (5K) 23-foot wide cycling/running track wandering around through the bush. Cool stuff.
4) Ironman 70.3 World Championships to rotate cities: I’m definitely in favor of this. Neither Florida nor Vegas really excited me very much for the 70.3 Worlds. Love the idea of it potentially going outside of North America.
7) In other news, TrainingPeaks doesn’t support the Garmin Fenix: A reader sent this in to me, which aims to gather support for TP to support the Fenix. Thus, if your two worlds intersect there….FYI. Actually, I never knew this section of the site existed. Would be cool if other sports tech companies had a voting system too for firmware/site/feature updates.
8) Behind the scenes on those crazy Russian free-structure-climbers: While I don’t advocate illegally climbing structures (especially really tall ones like these where your stomach turns) – this particular ‘documentary’ video is well put together and fairly interesting.
9) The Story of the Barkley Marathons: If you haven’t heard of this race before, then swing on over and read the fairly good Q&A/story on it. Only 14 people have completed it since 1986.
10) The Secret Pro: A pretty interesting series on CyclingTips written by a member of the pro peloton (but with the name withheld). Sorta a ‘behind the scenes’ look at things, where the pro rider can speak a bit more freely.
Crowd Funded Projects of Athletic Note:
This is a bit of a new section. Most of this content used to be found within the main section, but I figured I’d just call it out up here and make it easy to find. I regularly sift through Kickstarter and Indiegogo (plus a few others on occasion) looking for sports projects. 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.
Loopwheels: Pretty much the craziest wheel design you’ll ever have seen. This is designed for 20” bicycle wheels (smaller wheels typically found on folding bikes), and aims to give riders a smoother ride. Note: Ends in three days. (Thanks to John B. for sending in).
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?
Site/Firmware Updates:
Wahoo KICKR gets ANT+ control firmware update: You’ll get this update by using any of the Wahoo Apps and connecting to the KICKR. On a related note, Australian folks can now buy KICKR, and Euro folks get it next week. Details on that on their Facebook page.
Power Pilot Firmware Update: Ok, so this is about 3 months old, but somehow it slipped by. So FYI if you have LeMond Revolution Trainer and a Power Pilot. Also of note is that they have a Google Group now, and, they’ve stated a timeline for open ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart support for the Revolution Trainer by end of year (no Power Pilot required). Amazing the things that Twitter tells you these days…
Trainer Road 2.0 Released: Adds in custom workouts, workout creator, PowerBeam support, re-broadcasting of VirtualPower as ANT+ to head units, and a bunch of other things that were beta aren’t any longer.
iPhone/iPad App updates this week:
Android App updates this week:
Windows Phone App updates this week:
Thanks for reading!
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Hi
Hey I’ve read most of your great reviews for garmin run watches but still can’t find one or one of a similar capability of the 610 but waterproof so I can use it in triathlons, can you recommend any?
Best wishes
Paul
Check out the new Suunto Ambit 2S – it just came out a little over a week ago, and is both waterproof and can be worn day to day (as well as being a triathlon watch).
altitude recordings on the Edge 500 fw 3.20 looks like …an 8 bit game from the ’80s: blocky, squared, large steps instead of smooth, soft transitions. looks like i’m doing motocross jumps, not a bike ride :D :D
Well that loop wheel is great until you hit your first bump and have the wheel come up hit the frame and become a really strong break tossing you off the bike and turning you into superman until you realize you cant actually fly as your crashing into the ground.
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Have you seen this one?
link to www8.garmin.com
Doesn’t appear to get the thumbs up from many.
link to forums.garmin.com
Yup, it came out the week before, so it’s in last week’s ‘Week in Review’.
Oh, I just saw the 510 entry. Didn’t realise the update was the 500 also :)
Ahh, doh! You’re right, you’re link is for the 500. Sorry! Adding it above.
FYI, no running/walking allowed at the veloway!
Hi
Hey I’ve read most of your great reviews for garmin run watches but still can’t find one or one of a similar capability of the 610 but waterproof so I can use it in triathlons, can you recommend any?
Best wishes
Paul
Check out the new Suunto Ambit 2S – it just came out a little over a week ago, and is both waterproof and can be worn day to day (as well as being a triathlon watch).
Not as my brand new Fenix that got fogged after being splashed in 2″ of water.
altitude recordings on the Edge 500 fw 3.20 looks like …an 8 bit game from the ’80s: blocky, squared, large steps instead of smooth, soft transitions. looks like i’m doing motocross jumps, not a bike ride :D :D
it seems you miss this one (firmware update 2.60 for garmin FR 210)
link to www8.garmin.com
Very nice catch! Didn’t exactly see that coming…
FR110 also got an update.
110,210, and edge 500 all list “Changes to support manufacturing.” Wonder what happened to change them all
The new Ant+ radio service update is not compatible with Quarq Qalvin for Android. The app is useless after the update.
Well that loop wheel is great until you hit your first bump and have the wheel come up hit the frame and become a really strong break tossing you off the bike and turning you into superman until you realize you cant actually fly as your crashing into the ground.
Please include RunGap in future “iPhone/iPad App updates this week” posts.
link to appstore.com
Thanks
Got it, thanks!