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:
We slightly tweaked the format a tiny bit this week, based on much of your feedback. This week we start off with a bit more of a longer/deeper discussion on certain topics before going to Q&A:
– Longer discussion on Apple Watch waterproofing tests
– Discussion of the new Garmin FR225
– ANT+ vs Bluetooth Smart and why it might matter to you
– My thoughts on how long we’ll stay in Paris
– Random other goodness!
Thanks for listening! Subscribing and rating in iTunes is much appreciated, and be sure to send in your questions via the voice mail widget at the bottom of the podcast page!
Clever Training Sports Tech Deals: Garmin Vector (+ a bunch of other things expiring tomorrow)
There’s currently a $300 rebate on the full Garmin Vector pedals, and a $150 rebate on Vector S. This CAN BE combined with the DCR/CT Clever Training VIP program that saves you 10% (plus free shipping, with the discount pre-rebate price). So you’re looking at a final cost of about $1,050. Note, this is the original Vector, and not Vector2 systems – and only while supplies last (meaning, they aren’t making original Vector anymore).
In addition, as with last week, the following deals expire tomorrow. The rebates go a fair bit longer, but not the sale prices:
Garmin FR220: Down to $175 including rebate ($249 normally > $199 on sale > $25 mail-in rebate = $175) Garmin FR620: Down to $299 including rebate ($399 normally > $349 on sale > $50 mail-in rebate = $299) Garmin Fenix2: Down to $239 ($399 normally > $239 on sale)
If you click on any of those links, you can also see the heart rate bundles too, as well as the various colors/versions. Note that the DCR Clever Training discount is not eligible on the Garmin items, though the free shipping is.
Additionally, you’ve got Saris/CycleOps getting into the action, this time with the DCR reader discount still eligible (plus free shipping):
2) Apple Watch might get some new features: This is separate from the firmware update that came last week (I cover that in the ‘updates’ section). I’d really expect at some point it’ll get some of the basics like sleep tracking – since everyone else has it. While battery life is a concern there, you might as well give folks the option to decide when to charge (such as at their desk at work).
4) The Secret Pro Is Back: One of my favorite segments on CyclingTips – always worth the read.
5) Spotify unveils running focused features: This will select music that matches your running cadence. As a Spotify user, I might be tempted to actually run with headphones (I generally dislike doing so). While there are other apps that do this, Spotify’s library is the key here.
9) 50 Ironmans, one a day in every state: Well then, don’t I feel lazy. Will be interesting to watch. As others have noted, his major blockers/issues will primarily be logistical/travel in nature. Just so many ways that a single trip-up can slow things down. (via Slowtwitch Forums)
My YouTube Videos of Note:
I plopped up a new unboxing video this weekend, of the Garmin Epix unit:
Expect more Epix videos over the next month (roughly) as I work towards an in-depth review in late June.
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.
(Hmm…I’m going with not much of interest to me here this week. A few semi-bike related things out there – but nothing core sports tech that I thought was really worthwhile.)
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?
Basis firmware update: A pretty significant firmware update focused on adding Apple Health and Google Fit support, as well as updates for HR while exercising and a stopwatch (and more).
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Anyone else having a problem installing the new time zone maps on a VIRB? Garmin Express can’t seem to find either of my cameras even when they are connected to my PC.
Not sure where to put this, but I was curious.
Ray have you ever tested leap seconds on GPS units? There’s one coming up. link to timeanddate.com
I’m curious about a couple things:
1. Do the devices which show time in seconds actually show :60 on a leap second.
2. Do the various software platforms handle files that have a :60 time stamp in them.
It’s more of a curiosity thing than any sort of real concern over stuff breaking. But I thought it might be a cool “short” article.
I always enjoy your posts – insightful and entertaining all around. Email me your addy and I’ll send you and Bobbie some Clean Energy Patches to try. I’m super sensitive to caffeine but these provide the perfect “HUM” to make that workout a great one. I tell myself I’ll “go easy” that day and after slapping on a patch, I’m good to go! I can’t handle other forms of caffeine (read: I drink decaf) but these guys are on to something which is why we’re working with them at http://www.smackmedia.com.
Best,
Eli
Not sure if it’s a bug on Clever Training, but yesterday and today ALL GPS watches have shown as a lot cheaper than normal. For instance, the Fenix 3 is showing a price of $467.28, the Epix is showing $514.01.
The sadness here is that the new version, while prettier and on a more robust platform, does not have all the features of the classic version.
For example, suppose you are looking at a graph and just want to see your cadence. With classic, you click on SHOW ONLY. Single cllick. With the new version, you must click on each of the six elements of the graph, then click, HIDE, for a total of twelve clicks. If you want to see all six data elements in isolation, with the old version, that’s six clicks. With the new version, its 72 clicks.
At the debut of the new version I inquired about that and was told it was “high on the list” to bring that feature over. Apparently not. RIP classic.
Closing down the old tech should help this. They’ll have more people to put on new features, and development should speed up a lot.
It’s odd… on one hand, it’s been two and a half freakin years… It’s about time! And it’s got to be costing them crazy money to maintain both “worlds”. And Flash? In 2015? (shudders) I totally feel their pain.
On the other hand, as recently as last Christmas support staff posted “Classic is going to be available for a long time”. Yet they announce it’s shutting down in 5 weeks – which is a timeframe a startup that ran out of VC money would give, not a stable, established software company with millions of users.
It feels like someone came in on Monday morning, called a staff meeting, and said “Enough of this BS, we are killing the old website, TODAY.” Tough call, but probably overdue.
I am also sorry to see TP Classic go. You would like to think that newer and better would at least mean preserving all of the functionality of the older version. For me, the “upgrade” means losing more than I am getting.
No, unfortunately not. It’s not one I’ve raced, sorry! The best place there would probably be to check out the forums of Slowtwitch, that’s kinda the epicenter of such information.
I don’t understand how you can unbox like that. Is there anyone (besides you) that actually opens the manual BEFORE turning on and playing with their new toy?
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FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
I travel a fair bit, both for work and for fun. Here’s a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that I’ve put together and posted. I’ve sorted it all by world geography, in an attempt to make it easy to figure out where I’ve been.
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2023 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
With the Fenix 2 having such a discount, would you recommend going for it or saving up for the Fenix 3?
It depends. I think the Fenix3 has a much longer potential lifespan than Fenix2 (which might be basically over for new updates).
Do you have any thoughts on Cannondale-Garmin not actually using the Vectors (but SRM)?
No apostrophe in Ironmans – you never use an apostrophe to make a plural…
Anyone else having a problem installing the new time zone maps on a VIRB? Garmin Express can’t seem to find either of my cameras even when they are connected to my PC.
Try the bluebuds or rbh ep Bluetooth headphones. Makes it feel like nothing when running and works great with sony smartwatch 3
Not sure where to put this, but I was curious.
Ray have you ever tested leap seconds on GPS units? There’s one coming up.
link to timeanddate.com
I’m curious about a couple things:
1. Do the devices which show time in seconds actually show :60 on a leap second.
2. Do the various software platforms handle files that have a :60 time stamp in them.
It’s more of a curiosity thing than any sort of real concern over stuff breaking. But I thought it might be a cool “short” article.
Ray,
I always enjoy your posts – insightful and entertaining all around. Email me your addy and I’ll send you and Bobbie some Clean Energy Patches to try. I’m super sensitive to caffeine but these provide the perfect “HUM” to make that workout a great one. I tell myself I’ll “go easy” that day and after slapping on a patch, I’m good to go! I can’t handle other forms of caffeine (read: I drink decaf) but these guys are on to something which is why we’re working with them at http://www.smackmedia.com.
Best,
Eli
Not sure if it’s a bug on Clever Training, but yesterday and today ALL GPS watches have shown as a lot cheaper than normal. For instance, the Fenix 3 is showing a price of $467.28, the Epix is showing $514.01.
What does that mean that Training Peaks is going to retire classic edition? I have a lot of data there.
The link there details it out pretty well.
The sadness here is that the new version, while prettier and on a more robust platform, does not have all the features of the classic version.
For example, suppose you are looking at a graph and just want to see your cadence. With classic, you click on SHOW ONLY. Single cllick. With the new version, you must click on each of the six elements of the graph, then click, HIDE, for a total of twelve clicks. If you want to see all six data elements in isolation, with the old version, that’s six clicks. With the new version, its 72 clicks.
At the debut of the new version I inquired about that and was told it was “high on the list” to bring that feature over. Apparently not. RIP classic.
Closing down the old tech should help this. They’ll have more people to put on new features, and development should speed up a lot.
It’s odd… on one hand, it’s been two and a half freakin years… It’s about time! And it’s got to be costing them crazy money to maintain both “worlds”. And Flash? In 2015? (shudders) I totally feel their pain.
On the other hand, as recently as last Christmas support staff posted “Classic is going to be available for a long time”. Yet they announce it’s shutting down in 5 weeks – which is a timeframe a startup that ran out of VC money would give, not a stable, established software company with millions of users.
It feels like someone came in on Monday morning, called a staff meeting, and said “Enough of this BS, we are killing the old website, TODAY.” Tough call, but probably overdue.
I am also sorry to see TP Classic go. You would like to think that newer and better would at least mean preserving all of the functionality of the older version. For me, the “upgrade” means losing more than I am getting.
Just a note on the 16.02 Garmin Time Zone update: it seems to break the auto time zone update.
I’m waiting a review of the samsung gear s watch: gps, cardio, music and phone into a unique wrist device!
So the energy patch is interesting, but as it actually provides no nutrients doesn’t seem like it’s an energy gel (or other food) replacement.
Hey DC, wondering if you have any tips/advice/information regarding Ironman Austria Course.
Hi Owen!
No, unfortunately not. It’s not one I’ve raced, sorry! The best place there would probably be to check out the forums of Slowtwitch, that’s kinda the epicenter of such information.
Good luck!
I don’t understand how you can unbox like that. Is there anyone (besides you) that actually opens the manual BEFORE turning on and playing with their new toy?
What’s the manual?