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1
In Depth Product Reviews
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.
2
Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
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Have some fun in the travel section.
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4
My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
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!
5
The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
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.
Hi,
regarding the hidden motors, France 2 ( a french television) and Corriere della Sera (an italian newspaper) made a piece about hidden motors and other hidden solutions to cheat…
Here is the article in the Equipe link to lequipe.fr (with the complete french video)
And here in the Corriere della Sera link to corriere.it
ooops… next time I should check the link before replying… as I just added one link that is the same that Ray posted…
No worries, it’s a Monday morning. ;)
Hey Ray, I did the Khorfakkan Oceanic Tri this weekend wearing my Schoche Rhythm+ and normally the Garmin 920xt won’t collect and save HR data during the swim portion when in Triathlon mode (although it will show current HR if you wear the Rhythm close enough to the 920). This weekend it captured the data and saved it. Did Garmin change the firmware to enable this or was it just a fluke?
Weird. I didn’t think anything changed either.
How far away did you wear it? And which FR920XT firmware version?
I wear it immediately next to the 920 like a second watch, but due to a loose strap during the swim it also moved up the arm a few inches. The firmware on the 920xt is 6.20
On the Fenix3, it will record the HR from the Rhythm+ while swimming if they’re close together, but only when in Open Water mode. In pool mode it will only display, not record.
[I don’t know Ray’s rules about links, but if you google “Fenix 3 & Mio Link”, there’s a really in depth Garmin forum thread about it, for the Fenix3 at least.]
Feel free to link!
I had loosely followed that thread for a while, but just aren’t as up to date on it.
It seems I lost my datafields screen setup on the Edge810 with this update. Is this general, or just something my Edge did?
It seems to occur from certain versions to other versions. Sometimes for example if you had a much older firmware version, it’ll reset settings. Other times it keeps them just fine.
I’ve previously deleted a couple of unused profiles off my Garmin 520 (training and race). Every time I perform a firmware update however, it puts them back and sets ‘training’ to be my default (selected when the unit starts up). Luckily it keeps the screen’s I’ve configured for the profiles I do use but it’s super annoying to have to change it back again after every firmware update.
Will try just leaving the unused ones in place this time to see if that makes it happier for the next firmware update.
Seems like Garmin could put slightly more thought / testing into updates before rolling them out.
As a V800 owner this is great news but also ominously suggests nothing new is coming down stream this year. Just hope they are developing this in parallel with what ever comes next so 90% of features work from day one.
What’s the Garmin Edge 1000 firmware reference to FE-C support? I was unable to find it in the actual release note.
This would be great addition, as would then assumingly allow collecting data from ergo rower (C2).
Looks like they called it ‘ANT+ Trainer Support’, FE-C being the official name for it.
Hi Ray, Have you been able to connect the Kickr to the Edge 1000 agter software update to 8.0. Mine just keeps searching for the ant+ trainer senor but doesnt connect while spinning on the bike.
That’s because the KICKR unfortunately doesn’t do ANT+ FE-C.
In order to get the KICKR on FE-C, you have to enable/download the KICKR beta firmware, which supports it.
Gotcha. Thanks.
Are you aware of any issues with the beta firmware?
Cheers.
No, none that I’ve heard of. It’s been out since last fall sometime.
Upgraded the kickr to 1.4.42(Beta). Seems like it still doesn’t want to connect to the edge 1000 running on software ver 8.0. Any suggestions.
Interesting to see FE-C on the 1000. What do you think the chances are of it filtering ( back?!? ) down to the watches?
Hard to say, I know many have asked for it, but every time I ask I get wishy-washy replies on it.
Now that the Garmin Edge 1000 supports ANT+ FE-C, I looking forward to use it with my WAHOO Kickr.
Is there any news when the production firmware will be available for ANT+ FE-C support on Wahoo KICKR?
Are there any negative implications of using the beta firmware?
I haven’t heard of any negatives on the beta firmware. I think it’s fair to say right now Wahoo is treating the KICKR beta firmware like a Google Beta product. In that it’ll be labeled beta for just about ever (last fall sometime).
At this point the only reason they aren’t releasing it that I can see is to try and increase ELEMNT sales with KICKR integration. I suppose that’s fine, but realistically the ELEMNT can hold it’s own – so there’s no reason to make it more complex for consumers.
How can i download the kickr beta with an iPhone?
Maybe using the same procedure like this:link to youtube.com
Hi Ray,
Both Edge 1000 as Kickr are updated to latest version: Connecting to indoor trainer works and resistance control also works except setting target power wattage doesn’t seem to control the KICKR. Any idea’s?
Not working on an iPhone
As a rather tenuous link to the Forerunner 630 firmware update…. do you know or have any idea why Garmin has switched off segment matching? It’s been off for months suggesting that things aren’t looking good for this rather useful feature. Garmin as usual is as forthcoming as a brick wall on the subject.
Sorry, to clarify – what’s Segment Matching?
It’s the Strava like feature where you can create a segment in GC then Garmin populates a leaderboard of every one that has crossed the segment. Unfortunately having created a segment before Christmas I’m still getting the message “The leaderboard is still being created for this segment. Please check back later.”
Then….
If you go to the Garmin Connect status webpage under segments it says “Segments –
Matching of new activities is currently turned off.” its been thus for months.
Was wondering if there was a reason for this and if this feature will ever be turned back on.
Regarding Vaughters – let me preface this by saying I’ve always been just a casual fan, definitely not deep into racing but I would follow TdF every summer along with a few other races. Over the last decade and half, I’ve felt pretty burned by all the cheating scandals. For me, that’s what drove me away. I don’t have any easy solutions, but it’s going to take a long time to earn back by my trust and admiration (and I fully acknowledge there are probably a lot of hard working and clean pro cyclists racing). Vaughters made a lot of great points, but I think they have to do better at rule enforcement and developing a culture amongst the athletes, sponsors and governing bodies focused on honest competition.
Ray,
I had the opportunity to upgrade to the Fenix 3 HR from my Fenix 3 + Schoshe Rhythm Plus setup, but was a little worried about the battery life. Are you planning to release the Gear I Use 2016 write up next month?
Thanks,
Dan
To be honest, the ‘Gear I use’ hasn’t really changed since the last update. For running I tend to waffle back and forth with the FR630 and the Fenix3 for running. Most times I use the Scosche, but sometimes the HRM-TRI if I forget to charge the Scosche.
Any word on when Garmin will update Connect IQ to add recording of data fields? I know they were tracking first quarter of 2016, which is come and past. Thanks for any insight you might have.
They’ve pushed back to ‘Summer 2016’ for that functionality. :(
Thanks Ray. That’s disappointing…definitely looking forward to that functionality.
on Vaughters’ “Mass participation, mass support”
he makes comparisons with running, but most casual runners don’t start or even work up to a marathon. they do 5Ks. 5Ks attract lots of walkers and no one cares that the winner finishes in 15 minutes and they’re still walking for another hour. who is going to be dreaming up a cycling event that’s at all similar to a 5k?
I see Garmin has managed to reference ‘Virtual Partner’ multiple times in the Forerunner 235 4.20 update.
I thought it was bad when they announced the 235 had ‘Virtual Partner’ when it didn’t. Seems even worse to include updates for a non feature. :)
Seriously though if they keep accidentally promising it and its only a matter of un-crippling the software then Garmin should just enable it for the 235.
Agree. I’ve heard the “firmware applies to other watches” but that doesn’t seem to line up when I look at other firmware numbers. Really more of Garmin.
Heads up displays become standardized on ant
link to thisisant.com
By the by, FR235 24/7 HR definitely got an update. My graph is much more granular now – lots of real data rather than a series of plateaus at 15-minute increments. And there was much rejoicing.
Ray, when are you going to do a review on hidden bike motors? ;)
Haha…
I think it’d be fun to actually attempt to debunk some of that piece. If only I had access to a FLIR camera, I’d go around and record all sorts of bicycles around town.
That would be very interesting. I think that some of the heat, especially in the rear hub, may be due to friction. Would be nice if you could demonstrate that.
Yeah. It’s easy to find the FLIR cameras in the US (for rental), but I have no idea where to find them in Paris for rental. :-/
I didn’t see much to debunk. First no shots from pro races just an Italian sportif. Then compare the heat output with the bike fitted with an electric motor (it glows bright yellow/white) with that of the “race” where there is a very dull glow which could be normal heat output (as you suggest). Even the guy in Budapest wasn’t that convinced.
BTW Kiloutou or zilok (p2p) can rent you an infrared camera or you may be able to borrow one from your Marie if you tell them it is to check the insulation in your apartment block.
Thanks David – Very nice, found a few on Zilok that would work. Headed out of town tomorrow for a few days, but may give it a whirl next week.
As for for debunking, I’m basically interested in seeing what a bunch of bikes look like from a heat standpoint. Does a PT hub emit any heat? What does a Di2 battery (or even eTAP battery) look like? What about just a bike share bike? Both my apartment and the DCR Studio are on a pretty busy bike lane street, and would also be fun to go to Longchamp and see what strolls by on the route there.
Sometimes it’s more about curiosity.
Shouldn’t we just be calling it an IR camera? FLIR is Foward Looking IR, typically used in aviation.
Signed,
Your neighborhood pedant
In this case, FLIR is actually a brand name – and is specifically the model that we’re talking about renting.
Ah, thanks for clarifying!
Electronic groupset, which most pro riders use, have batteries hidden inside frames. Batteries send out heat.
Occam’s razor.
The 4.20 update for my FR235 has broken any HR functionality and made it slow – sometimes have to wait for 2 seconds for watch to react to a button press
Try shutting down and turning back on. I suspect that’ll fix it.
Shutting down and turning back on did not help, but reinstalling the update through Garmin Express fixed problems.
Hi Ray, Polar’s works with gopro, do you know yet whether that includes the Hero Session or just the dearer Black and silver cameras?
I’m hearing semi-conflicting things on that. Still circling a bit with Polar & GoPro on it. :-/
Hi Ray, Any news on the Polar/GoPro story from your side as you promised to have more on that topic? Thx!
Still waiting. Just bonked them on the head again. Thanks for the reminder.
Feel free to call me stupid but…..
How do I obtain the KICKR beta firmware? I have Googled and watched the video Ivan suggested in an earlier comment.
I installed the Android Wahoo Untility but pressing the icon 10x results in a message: “No FW versions found”
Any help greatly appreciated!
I just tried it and see beta firmware listed using Wahoo Utility on Android. I’m on 1.4.36. Last time I tried to update to a more recent version it didn’t let me download though.
Any suggestions to get my 810 to connect to my iPhone since the latest couple of firmware updates? – it’s been working great for ages now, after a glitchy few months when I first got it, but I made the mistake of plugging it into my laptop to put a route on last week and ever since I haven’t been able to get it to connect via bluetooth.
Ray-
Will you do a review of the Whoop band? I’m curios how accurate it is, and if the analytics are really that useful or different from the Garmin FirstBeat analytics. Bicycling Magazine has been pushing the product recently.
I second the Whoop request!
I find your reviews to be some of the best on the internet, and would love to see how it stacks up against your other analytics