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 past week.
Sunday: Week in Review–December 8th, 2013
Monday: A Rio de Janeiro Runaround
Wednesday: Adidas Smart Run GPS In-Depth Review
Thursday: Check it out! The exclusive DCR branded Safer Swimmer openwater swim buoy!
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) Road Bike Party 2: I suspect that most cyclists will have seen this by this point in the week, but just in case you somehow missed it, sit back and enjoy!
2) Ironman and Anti-Doping: A look behind the scenes on the numbers and testing stats for anti-doping tests.
3) Withings Releases Naked Ad (NSFW): Well, can’t say I saw that one coming. It’s really impressive though, and astounding how difficult it must have been to produce. However, it’s DEFINITELY NSFW (for many work places), thus why I’m not embedding the YouTube video below.
4) London Cyclist sees what it looks like from a truck drivers perspective: An interesting look at things from inside the cab of a truck and blind spots where cyclists can fall into. Really interesting actually. (Via Cycling Tips)
5) Skiing Movies: Downside Up (T’es pas bien là ?) Trailer: Yes, it’s in French, but, it has English subtitles. Though ultimately your stomach will turn no matter the language you speak.
6) Stages Cycling Opens up European Office: For those in Europe looking for the Stages Power Meter, starting in January you’ll get your chance.
7) The Lance Line: In his quest to stay within the news, lots of random tidbits this week. (via RaceRadio)
8) The dirt (and freezing water) behind Sweden’s premiere event, ÖTILLÖ: Ok, this just looks bat-crap crazy. Read the story behind it, or just watch the video below. At least watch 60-90 seconds of it. You won’t be able to stop.
9) Oh Specialized: Not really been the week for you. But, at least with two separate incidents behind you, you’ll be ready to tackle next week. Plus, at least you didn’t recall any brakes this week…
10) Brim Brothers Targets mid-next year: The latest on their power meter production and release timelines in a single tweet.
11) Because we need more ski videos: For those who forget, I grew up ski racing. We don’t get a lot of good ski racing clips. And given it’s winter time (where I am), you’ll see more ski than swim. (via Caley Fretz)
12) Barclays to end London Bikeshare Sponsorship: Interesting piece from the NY Times on it, and other sponsorships of large bike share programs. (via WashCycle)
13) Ziplining your car over a river: And yes, of course this was in Russia. Though, it did lack the dashcam video.
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.
Honestly, nothing worthwhile this week. I think at this point we’re close enough to CES2014 that we’ll probably see things go fairly quiet.
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:
Well, a wee bit of a busy week in the update department:
Adidas MiCoach Site Updates: Lots of new little features and fixes.
Garmin VIRB Edit 2.2.3: New version, bug-fix focused.
Garmin Fenix 4.02 Beta: This followed very quickly after 4.01 beta, mostly bug fixes (a ton of them). Plus added cadence support w/o footpod needed.
Leikr firmware update: Some minor updates for bug fixes.
Magellan Echo Firmware Update: Includes both additional languages as well as bug fixes.
O-Synce firmware update: This appears fairly minor but does add W/kg data field (for power meter users), as well as notification of power meter battery being low.
TomTom Runner/Multisport firmware update: Mostly improvements/fixes, but also some new timeout features to improve battery life.
Training Peaks unveils new public beta/platform: Pretty cool UI changes here. As a user you can switch back and forth between beta and non-beta.
Trainer Road puts out new version: Includes Bluetooth Smart support on Windows, lots of other smaller fixes.
iPhone Apps:
iPad Apps:
Android Apps:
Windows Phone Apps:
No sports related Windows Phone Apps updated on my phone this week.
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Thanks for reading all!
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Withings removed the “beta” designation from healthmate.withings.com. The only real visible change is that you can get a week view of activities and sleep.
Ray you missed VeloCityLight on kickstart. Rear light that displays your speed via ANT+ to get the drivers attention.
If someone can figure out how to make an actual brake light for bikes, then I’m in.
+1 to the brake light. I actually think about that a lot while I’m riding, and this use of ANT+ definitely seems like it could be an important piece. I’m sure it’d be fairly easy to design a small contact in to a lever that was hard-wearing enough to be reliable (the contact being open would mean braking), and if ANT+ could be used to send the signal to the brake light, the wire from the brake lever would only need to go to the cycle computer. That would be amazing. And it only really needs to be on the lever for the rear brake.
Anyway, like I say, I think about it quite a bit. I fully never expect it to happen, and if it does it’ll be a silly price or only on a particular lever that won’t fit my entry-level road bike.
There have been a few dynamo powered brake lights. As the dynamo output varies depending on speed, it is possible to measure when you are slowing down. No need for a separate speed sensor. eg look at the Busch & Muller Braketec.
If you haven’t heard about it, you should look up the SOS triathlon (Survival of the Shawangunks). Not nearly as crazy as those scandinavians, but a pretty nuts race.
Hi Ray,
Ifor, thanks for posting this and for the support. Mark: The VeloCityLight does the brake light 0:55 secs on the video and in other parts.
Cheers
Euan
Euan, the VeloCityLight isn’t really a brake light. Apparently, it glows brighter as you slow down, which is good I suppose, but it isn’t an instantaneous brake light, triggered by the actual brakes. The VeloCityLight would have whatever delays your ANT+ speed measurement is subject to — lots of delay if speed was coming from GPS; less delay, but still present, if speed from a speed/cadence sensor. Imagine if your car, instead of having an instantaneous brake light, used this system to warn drivers behind you of a sudden stop. I don’t think so. That’s why I said “actual brake light” in my previous comment. If someone can figure out how to put a real brake light on a bike, I’ll be lining up to buy it (turn signals would be great while we’re at it …)
I thought the Withings advert was very clever
Not sure I can see the usefulness of a brake light on a bike, but I’d reckon the best way to do it is through an accelerometer inside the light itself, so neither wires nor wireless connections are needed at all; the less stuff you have to install on the bike and connect, the better.
Having been overtaken by cars while going downhill past Fred woohoohoo speed, it is firmly my opinion that motorists don’t care exactly how slow you are, but if they REALLY wanted to, they’d only need to match your speed momentarily and check their speedometer.
I know what you mean, but there are a few times that I’d really feel more comfortable with a brake light — approaching roundabouts and traffic lights is one. Also, worth mentioning that I do nearly all of my riding in and out of a city on busy roads, and I tend to be quite a bit faster than the cars on quite a few sections, so I’ll overtake on the outside and slip in ahead of them (like a motorbike would) and then have to ride at their speed through junctions. At that point, you can feel vulnerable if you have to slow down — if the car behind is focusing on you and not the road ahead, maybe they won’t see that traffic is slowing, and they won’t get any clues from your bike (unless you slowly ease up, which is I guess what we do, which is probably why it always works out OK 🙂
Also could be useful for those times when you’re drafting someone who hasn’t noticed you on their back wheel (or vice versa), especially now it’s winter over here.
Accelerometers do make the idea far simpler, but I really think it needs to be on the lever itself, so you get that extra split second of lighting-up before you actually start braking — just like you do in a car. It’d mean you could touch the brakes slightly to give that signal before you actually slam the anchors on.
Anyway, just my 2¢. It probably wouldn’t make that much difference in reality, but any extra bit of safety is welcome. And to be fair to car drivers, I’ve always felt pretty safe in traffic, even without a brake light.
You would think that, at least with the high-end electronic groupsets like Shimano Di2, it wouldn’t be very difficult to incorporate a brake-light capability. The wiring is already there; the battery is already there. You just need to add the actual brake light as an option.
For #9, which brake issue?
Trek’s:
link to cpsc.gov
or SRAM’s:
link to sram.com
That’s it – I was referring to the multiple recalls. Though, SRAM’s was probably worse timing-wise given it was the night before the CX WC.
No more Bike Ride Party?
link to m.bikemag.com