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.
Saturday: A Week of Mountain Workouts in Kananaskis (Canada)
Monday: 5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Wednesday: The Power Meters Buyer’s Guide–2015 Edition
Friday: Because it’s October: Garmin Edge 520 Giveaway
Friday: 4iiii Dual Sided Power Meter: A Short Test Ride
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) Kona Predictions From Best Bike Split: The company is known for making scary precise bike-split predictions using a ton of mathematical modeling. Here’s their estimates for today’s race. Will be interesting to see how close they come.
2) Newest Microsoft Band announced: I’ll pick one up and poke at it a bit once they start shipping later this month. Looks promising, especially if they’ve fixed some of the touchscreen issues during activity that I saw last year.
3) 10 Ways to Spot a Fake Ex-Pro: Fun stuff, and so true. Especially as I often run into various pros and pseudo-pros alike in the industry.
4) Remembering the Tour de Trump: Yes, Donald Trump actually ran a bike race. Serious. Good piece on it. (via Bike Hugger)
5) Garmin releases new swanky Fenix3 bands/colors: Garmin releases new swanky Fenix3 bands/colors: This includes a new Sapphire Rose Gold aimed at women (I’ve been told by The Girl that rose gold is all the rage), and a new leather band option for men. Note that it’s otherwise the same watch, just new fancy bands/colors. Both are also available for pre-order on Clever Training.
6) Virtual reality coming to a spin class near you? Well, I hope not. Having actually tried out a few prototype variations (including one using the Oculus units) of VR while cycling on a trainer, there’s very little that’s good that comes out of it. You somehow feel like you’re constantly about to fall off the bike.
7) Americans Drink Less Soda Now! Yeah! In unrelated news, sales of environmentally polluting disposable plastic water bottles skyrocket.
8) Forced Upgrades – Making the Best Amateur Triathletes Turn Pro: Interesting piece. While I don’t totally agree with all aspects, I do agree that triathlon really needs some form of cycling-like CAT system. Probably not 5 levels of CAT, but I think three levels would suffice (CAT1/2/3).
9) Anti-doping falls behind in women’s cycling: An interesting look at the anti-doping measures in pro cycling on the women’s front.
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?
GoPro Hero4 Session Firmware Update: Adds in the ability to change settings without phone. Probably one of my biggest issues with the unit previously. Combine that with the new $299USD price last week, and it’s looking better and better.
Tacx iOS9 iPad App is Out: I wouldn’t normally mention this in the device firmware section – but apparently if you get your app upgraded you’ll get a free real course video. Boom!
Garmin Beta Firmware Updates: Fenix3, Edge 510, Edge 810: Various fixes
Garmin Production Firmware Updates: Fenix3, Edge 510, Edge 810, Garmin FR15: For the Edge devices, mostly Strava-related tweaks. For the Fenix3 & FR15, a few minor adds/fixes.
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Thanks for reading all!
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Hi there, Polar updated its v800 with smart notifications on Android on Oct 5th, maybe worth mentioning, seems like they are trying..
…and it seems they re-enabled bluetooth in swimming mode with this firmware update.
At least Mio Link + Swimming-Metrics seem to work now:
link to forum.polar.fi
I just purchased a v800 last week, I’ll still keep the m400 for shorter runs, with the backlight on it was giving low battery alerts at two hours. However in daytime it gives 7hr 50 close enough to their claim of 8hrs. The v800 update also includes interval vibration alerts, which I love. To take on Garmin in the future and also protect the asking price they really need to have 99% of the features available at launch. I may have paid the launch price rather than wait for the features to be added and the rrp to be cut from £449 to £354. With that I feel I have a top end device for £228 delivered.
Robert, would you say the the V800 (even if expensive) is worth the money over the M400? I am looking to upgrade form using Beat/Loop/Flow/H7 combo but sitting on the fence a bout these two. V800 have the benefit of being a bit more like a watch on the design, but apart from that?
Stefan, absolutely worth it in my eyes. Vibration alerts are a must for me, as is the longer lasting battery. Plus I’ve found the GPS pace over the m400 is smoother, jumping about seconds rather than minutes. That said the stride sensor would still be the way to go if that metric is important to you. Another thing to mention in the v800’s favour is the recovery advisor. I’ve only been running for 16 months and find it pretty helpful, although I could see that a lifelong athlete may or may not.
Question for Ray, the h7 and scosche rhythm+ are both giving me similar recovery times. Is this due to the algorithm polar uses? I know the v800 does not record hrv during workouts like the Garmin and Suunto devices.
Thanks Robert
You have conformed 2 things that made me lean towards the V800. The Vibrations and the Recovery.
A design that work with a suit and including vibrations makes it possible for me to wear it anywhere, anytime.
And as a beginning runner the recovery advisor have caught my eye as well – my first reason for tracking my pulse while running is my tendency to go to hard.
I have been in a longer quest to lose weight starting at 100kg this early spring and by now reached 92, with no diet, just training 3-4 days a (30 to 90 minutes, steady 60-70% to intervals) week on exercise bike and walking 30 min every morning.
Now when the heat has left Hong Kong and the weather get cooler I feel ready to start running and get outdoors but I’m worried the joints and ligaments in my legs are far behind my cardio
Can anyone tell me if Polar has figured out a way to keep the BT connected to the V800. I’ve long since stopped re-connecting BT after leaving a room and re-entering and BT not reconnecting.
I’d actually forgot about smart-notifications until I read this post.
i would much rather be able to find a zwift spin class near me. and that’s a pretty funny look of a woman with a nice purse and instead of a normal small woman’s dressy watch, she has this enormous fenix3. and she likes it because it matches her outfit? but only when she wears that outfit.
So what garmin should do . I own edge 1000 and new vary radar. The unit with out the edge first complaint was no sound. So the edge cover that. But would would make it amazing if gives you vibrate alert on the fenix 3 when car appears behind you. The sound on the edge is small so you have earphones in you would not there it and could not see were i can adjust the sound. But please add vibrate alert for the fenixe 3 That would rock.
Looking forward to your findings on the new Microsoft Band.
Me too! Looks promising, waiting for Rays verdict 🙂
+1 😀
Also, Fenix 2 got updated earlier this week (to 4.50) -though the update is bugfix-only as far as I could see.
I’m always one for reuse… seems like CT are using your comparison tables! 🙂
Yup, I’m good with that!
Hi Ray,
not exactly in scope of “DCRainmaker”
Kind of Ambit for Hikers,
there was also The Suunto Traverse that was released on Oct 1st. (and now “Kailash” ).
Thanks for the post. I am hoping for a “5 random things” post this week… I am vacationing in Cancun over Christmas and would love to hear about your adventures there.
Editing the photos as we speak!
Just wondering, no marathon for you this year?
Nah, not this year – just too busy. I’ll throw down on some more 10K’s later towards the end of the year. Perhaps crack into the 36min marker (I think my current PR is low 37).
Ray, did you ever do any posts about the first Microsoft Band? I have a Windows Phone at the minute, so not many fitness trackers are compatible with it, but I really like the idea behind the Band and the fact that it’s multi-platform and pretty much the same whatever OS you’re using, so if I change my phone I can carry on using it 🙂
Is there a European/UK equivalent of clever training where we can buy products and support your site?
Ray is working on it, hopefully sooner than later, as I’d love to recompense him for his advice I still drink but doubt he’d be up for a six pint session to thank him? (Used to be double that 🙁 ) anyways something with wiggle. co.uk or bike 24.de would be great. Just saying 🙂
That should be bikediscount.de sorry
Ray –
Do you know anything more about the new swanky sapphires? I’m curious if the leather band on the silver will run well. Also curious if Garmin will include a red band to switch out for the brown leather like they included a black rubber band on the original sapphire. Unfortunately, I can’t find any more details on the Garmin site.
Thanks,
Eric