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Week in Review- December 27th, 2014

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:

Monday: Week in Review–December 22nd, 2014
Tuesday: Mio Fuse Activity Tracker and Optical HR Sensor In-Depth Review
Tuesday: Wahoo introduces gym strength workout recognition to TICKR X, announces TICKR X API

Definitely got a busy week coming up now that Christmas is past, and then the extra-crazy week at CES to follow in the first full week of January.

Last Call on Holiday Sports Tech Sales: Ends Today!

The vast majority of sports tech deals end today, Saturday December 27th at 11:59PM US Eastern time.  So if your friends and family gave you socks instead of a GPS device – here’s the highly condensed version of the major sales good through the end of today.  Full listings in my Holiday Deals post.

Garmin Edge 500: Edge 500, all colors – $149 (regular $199), Bundle with HR strap and Speed/Cadence Sensor, all colors – $199 (regular $300)
Garmin FR10: Garmin FR10 – $99 (regular $129):
Garmin FR15: Garmin FR15, all colors – $139 (regular $169), with HR strap – $169 (regular $199)
Garmin FR210: Garmin FR210 – $149 (regular $179), Bundle with HR strap – $169 (regular $249), Bundle with HR strap and footpod – $199 (regular $299)
Garmin FR610: Garmin FR610 – $199 (regular $309), Bundle with HR strap – $229 (regular $349)
Garmin FR310XT: Garmin FR310XT – $179 (regular $199)
Garmin FR910XT: Garmin FR910XT – $239 (regular $399), Bundle with HR strap – $269 (regular $449),
Tri Bundle- HR Strap, Quick Release Kit, Speed/Cadence sensor – $299 (regular $499):
Garmin VIRB Action Cam: Garmin VIRB – $99 (regular $129)
Garmin Vivofit: Garmin Vivofit, all colors – $79 (regular $129, was $99 briefly), Bundle with HR strap, all colors – $129 (regular $169)
TomTom Runner: TomTom Runner, all colors – $99 (regular $149)
TomTom Multisport: TomTom Multisport $149 (regular $199)
TomTom Cardio Units: TomTom Runner Cardio – $40 Active.com Credit, TomTom Multisport Cardio – $40 Active.com Credit: Sale now till Dec 31st

Phew!

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 Part 3: Here’s the third edition in this popular video series, this time shot mostly stateside.  Definitely go forth and enjoy!

2) I ran every day for 365 Days and here’s what I learned: A cool piece with snippets of a year of running every day.  Serious congrats there!

3) Surfing with icebergs: Because sometimes just surfing isn’t hardcore enough.

4) Wanna know how pro cyclists’ salaries are determined? Here’s a good look at what they typically make, and the many factors that go into it.

5) A Runner Races the Washington DC Metro: Pretty cool, no doubt a serious distance haul in this attempt to try and make it.  Check out the video for the results (and see the notes below the video on YouTube).

6) The Bionic Bra: This will automatically tighten or loosen as the situation demands – for example running versus sitting.

7) Victoria’s Secret line of heart rate strap bras: Meant to post this a while back after a number of readers sent it in, but the above post just reminded me of it.  In any case, a logical move for the company.  Though do note that you take your existing HR strap transmitter (i.e. Garmin, Polar, etc…) and pop it into the connectors.

8) Studying Bike Tires – Part 1: The beginning of a scientific look at aerodynamic performance of bike tires outside on road conditions (as opposed to indoors where testing is a bit easier).  Geeks only need apply for this one.

9) Man makes theft getaway in kayak…forget paddle: I’m ashamed to admit this is basically in my backyard where I grew up in Seattle.  Surely most Seattleites know to not leave the paddle behind when a heist is underway.

10) Rapha major clearance sale: Saw this just this morning, and a pretty solid deal for upwards of 50% off.  No benefit here for the site, but I know many cyclists like this gear (but like me, won’t shell out full price for it). (via Neal Rogers)

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.

ECHO H2: Hydration, Lactic Acid and Glucose Sensor: Wirelessly monitor your hydration, lactic acid & calories using Kenzen’s disposable smart patch. (sent in from reader Richard W.)

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?

Garmin Fenix2 Firmware Update: Just a slew of bug fixes, but likely worthwhile for Fenix2 users. (via GPS Information)

Thanks for reading!

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17 Comments

  1. Hans Oosterhof

    Hello Ray,
    thanks for finding time again to give us some week-in- reviews again.
    have a good time in Canada from a white Netherlands.
    Hans

  2. Rick

    Ray, the wife can’t wait for your in-depth review of the Victoria’s Secret HR bra. :-)

  3. Leonard Sandin

    Hi Ray – any thoughts or comments on Suuntos latest Movescount breakdown? Sometimes seems to be off line more than on line….

    Leonard

  4. Josh Parks

    After Healbe (which I didn’t support) I am completely off of Indiegogo. The Echo H2 looks pretty far out there. Another one I’m listing in the I’d rather wait and pay full price for rather than dive in now and get burned. Could work but I don’t trust Indiegogo

    Vapor ware! Until proven otherwise.

    Go luck (seriously) to the team. I hope they have something.

  5. Trevor

    First time commenter here… First off, thank you for putting so much time and effort into your site here – it is a wealth of useful information.

    Second, I’m anxiously awaiting your review of the FitBit Charge HR and Surge.

    I am curious to learn your thoughts about the JawboneUP 3 – all of the other activity trackers seem to have been mentioned, but no reference at all to Jawbone? Is it simply so pathetic that it doesn’t even merit consideration?

    Thanks again!

  6. Scott Buchanan

    Hey, all seems rather quiet on the CES front…. especially as last year saw the launch of the Vivofit and Virb at the show. Is anything being expected/rumoured?

    Have seen prolonged deep discounting of the Virb Elite (~£125) here in UK…. clearing old inventory for Virb 2?

    BTW will you be there?

    • Yup, I’ll be there – covering more than ever before.

      As for being quiet on the CES front – most companies work really hard to try and keep things quiet this time of year so you buy stuff leading into Christmas, as opposed to waiting a week later. ;)

    • Lars Blesvik

      I too am looking forward to your coverage from CES. Have you seen any movements towards a smaller and thinner GPS unit for bike, think Edge 500 meets Edge 1000? I have very little interest in big units with poor quality screens and short operation time, but it seems this is the only new items to market of late..

    • Lars Blesvik

      Oh, and a big thank you for all your work and insight through the last year!

  7. Donnie Barnes

    Okay, this Echo H2 thing looks VERY interesting. And makes me wish that much more that Garmin will let Connect IQ talk to Bluetooth devices. If the Echo H2 works as advertised and if I could log it with my Garmin instead of having to have a phone on me, life would be very good.

    –Donnie

  8. neil rosson

    I asked a bunch of questions about echo H2 & they didn’t answer any of them bar one. I think if i was going to back them i would want a bit more information than that is currently presented.

  9. Navnit

    Impressed to see you manages to get time for this even during holidays season :)
    Pretty cool video and special thanks for sale note.

  10. this is cool. something simillar Ray linked to in a weekly review a couple weeks ago;

    link to indiegogo.com

    makes me think this technology is legit.

  11. Burnnerman

    Doing all that BMX/Mountain bike stuff on a road bike was pretty awesome.