Heads up – Massive Black Friday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals here!
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 and Facebook, 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!
Sports Tech Deals of Note:
Ok, not much left this week. Sorta a lull. But hey, if ya need a GoPro Hero 8 Black, it’s still on sale!
Product
Sale Price
Amazon
Other site
Sale Notes
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro (12 Months) - $389 off (50% off!)
As a side note, you can cancel and take advantage of this. Which, is precisely what I did when I realized my existing plan was gonna be stupid expensive. In any case, I use the Adobe Creative Cloud Pro suite for a lot of what I do.
We did see lower just back in July, at $199. So I'd probably hold out a bit more here. Assuming that happens, you can't beat this watch at this price point (heck,not even at $226 either).
Perhaps this deal will get better, but right now at $20 off...nah. Given the price of the Garmin Epix Pro has flirted into the $429 range a bit over the past few days (and is a vastly better watch), this needs to drop down closer to $299 to be worth picking up during Black Friday pricing.
⚡ This is an awesome deal. I use my iPad primarily for TrainerRoad as well as Zwift when not with a larger display. I also occasionally use it for other apps, namely Indievelo, Kinomap, Rouvy, and Peloton. But I pretty much test every smart trainer app on it. For all these cycling apps, the graphics capabilities is really pretty irrelevant, so having the absolute top-end/latest model won't make any difference. I prefer the budget options.
These are the just-released AirPod Pro 3, with optical heart rate sensors in them. These are my daily-driver headphones these days, and even more notably, the heart rate accuracy is incredibly good in these.
This is the first major sale for the Apple Watch SE 3, which came out just 2 months ago. It's essentially Apple's 'budget' offering, yet it still has all the same software features as a higher-end Apple Watch Series 11, as long as the hardware permits.
This is the first time we've seen the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on sale, and given it's $100 off, that tends to be the typical sale price for the holidays/Black Friday for the current/just-released version.
This is the singular piece of apparel that's lasted the longest in my collection - some 15-16 years of buying the same socks. Heck, some of them are probably half that old. EIther way, this be the ones I use. Love them (well, except for hiking and trail running, then I use other stuff that goes higher). I'm wearring them as I wrote this post too.
This is a great price for this watch. Note though that technically speaking, this is a price reduction (took effect Nov 14th following the launch of the Pace 4). Most companies would first call it a sale, then make that sale price the new price as a price reduction. But COROS often beats to a different drum. Kudos on being upfront about the reduction though!
This is a great price for this watch. Note though that technically speaking, this is a price reduction (took effect Nov 14th following the launch of the Pace 4). Most companies would first call it a sale, then make that sale price the new price as a price reduction. But COROS often beats to a different drum. Kudos on being upfront about the reduction though!
This is last year's model. And sure, the Action 6 came out 48 hours ago, but honestly, the initial rection hasn't been kind there. I just started testing it, so more to come very shortly.
Look, don't buy this drone. This is the drone that never should have left the napkin at the lunch table at DJI's HQ. The unit breaks easily (as I, and many others found out), and doesn't really do anything super well. Literally, buy any other DJI drone except htis one...you're welcome.
⚡ This is a great little drone as your first drone, especially for sports usage, where it'll do an astonishing job following you (running, cycling, etc...). And, you can crash it a gazillion times without any problem.
NOTE: This is not sold by DJI directly via Amazon. DJI itself is NOT selling the OSMO 360 in the US, and WILL NOT support/repair it in the US. That said, it's a solid deal if you're ok with those risks.
This is Elite's previous-gen trainer, but it's still a reliable workhorse. This bundle is paired with the Zwift Cog/Click, though, you can also buy it without a cassette for the same price.
These is the new model just released this past summer with stronger anti-scratch resistance (I even dragged it down a textured concrete pool desk, lens-down, to show this).
⚡The Favero Assioma Pro MX dual-sided power meter pedals deal is a no brainer. I use them in my testing constantly along with the PRO RS pedals. Note for US folks: Favero does include all taxes and tarrifs in the price.
⚡The Favero Assioma Pro RS dual-sided power meter pedals having their first sale yet. This deal is a no brainer. I use them in my testing, and will likely pick up another set in this sale. Note for US folks: Favero does include all taxes and tarrifs in the price.
FeedBack Sports Pro Mechanic Bike Repair Stand - $50 Off
⚡ This is (by far) the lowest price we've seen on this watch to date. This is their first full smartwatch focused on kids activity tracking and gamification.
⚡ This is the go-to sale price for the Fitbit Charge 6. It happens often, but it still doesn't take away from the fast that it's argueably the best bang for your buck fitness tracker out there.
If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive activity tracker, you won't go wrong with a Fitbit (or this Inspire 3). It's got literally all the same software features in the Fitbit app as a higher-end Google Pixel Watch or other Fitbit device, except...just tiny.
⚡ This is Garmin's newest kids-focused and LTE connected smart watch. Our three daughters have been using it for about two months now, after using the original Bounce 1 for years. This is a *massive* upgrade over the Bounce 1, both in features/hardware, but frankly also battery life. My review should be up next week, but if you've got any questions drop them in the comments below.
This is the activity tracker that both of our oldest daughters have used for years (age 8 & 9), as well as most of their friends now. They/we all like it. Check out my full in-depth review for all my thoughts. That said, the new Bounce 2 came out two months ago, and while my review isn't out yet, it's a far better product. But, quite a bit more too. The TLDR on that review will be that it's the best kids smartwatch/tracker to date (for both parents and kids), but obviously will cost you $100 more.
This is Garmin's premier line of diving watches, which is based on the Fenix 7 seies, rather than the Fenix 8 series. Still, it's by far one of the most capable dive+everything else watches on the market.
Garmin Descent MK3i (Dive watch with air integration) - $250 off!
This is Garmin's premier line of diving watches, which is based on the Fenix 7 seies, rather than the Fenix 8 series. Still, it's by far one of the most capable dive+everything else watches on the market. The 'i' version (MK3i) means that you can connect it to an air tank monitor transmitter pod.
⚡This is a very solid deal, and is still one of the best bike computers Garmin has ever made, especially when you look at the battery side of things (it lasts far longer than the Edge 1050).
⚡At $249, it's pretty much impossible to beat this deal in terms of bike computers. There's no competitive option that beats it on features/battery/etc at this price, or frankly anywhere near it. Sure, it doesn't have a touchscreen, but it's not as bad as it used to be (I did a stint on it this winter for a week or so, and was fine).
⚡⚡This is the lowest price we've seen on the Garmin Edge 540 Solar to date, which has gained virtually all of the new Garmin Edge 1050 features as well. And notably, lower than the Edge 540 without solar (which is kinda silly, but hey, win for us!).
This is the lowest price we've seen on this to date. The Enduro 3 is simply the Fenix 8 with a MIP/Solar display (but without the scuba or voice calling features). It gets all the Fenix 8 features and updates otherwise.
⚡⚡⚡ This is a fantastic deal. By far the lowest price we've seen this! The Epix Pro has a flashlight which the regular Epix lacks, plus the newer Garmin Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor with ECG support.
⚡⚡⚡ This is a fantastic deal. By far the lowest price we've seen this! The Epix Pro has a flashlight which the regular Epix lacks, plus the newer Garmin Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor with ECG support. Note: Availability on this deal fluctuates, just keep checking back, I'm sure it'll pop back again (it always does).
⚡⚡ If you wanted the battery life of a Fenix MIP series without the cost of a Fenix 8, this is basically your best deal. Plus, unlike the base Fenix 7 series, the Pro series includes the flashlight and Gen5 HR sensor with ECG.
⚡ If you wanted the battery life of a Fenix MIP series without the cost of a Fenix 8, this is basically your best deal. Plus, unlike the base Fenix 7 series, the Pro series includes the flashlight and Gen5 HR sensor with ECG.
⚡⚡ This is very unexpected, and is an Amazon-specific deal, not a Garmin-supported one. Thus, I expect it won't last more than minutes/hours. Grab it while you can! [Update: This keeps fluttering back and forth, just keep checking!]
⚡ The Fenix 8 keeps getting all the new software features of the Fenix 8 Pro that was launched two months ago. Setting aside that Fenix 8 Pro which gained LTE & Satellite Messaging, this is otherwise the most capable sports watch on the market.
⚡ The Fenix 8 keeps getting all the new software features of the Fenix 8 Pro that was launched two months ago. Setting aside that Fenix 8 Pro which gained LTE & Satellite Messaging, this is otherwise the most capable sports watch on the market.
As a general rule, the Fenix E is the watch that literally nobody is buying, and makes no sense at higher prices. The hardware is simply the Epix Gen 2 with Fenix stamped on it. That watch is going for $400, though I expect we'll see it down to $300 over Black Friday. However, one *KEY* difference with the Fenix E, is that it includes all of the software features of the newer Fenix 8, whereas the Epix Gen 2 doesn't get all the new software features. Otherwise, save your $200.
⚡ This is (by far) the lowest price on the Forerunner 265, which was recently replaced by the Forerunner 570 (but at nearly twice this price). What's fascinating about this sale price, is it's well beyond the usual sale prices for Garmin for this product. This pricing is 100% an Kansas-themed 'Hello!' to COROS and their just released COROS Pace 4 at $249.
The Foreurnner 55 is a great option if you simply don't want to spend a ton, but still want a super-capable runners watch (and general activity/sleep tracking watch). I've heard a lot of you get it for teenagers that run, as a great/inexpensive way to track their runs, and still be a good everyday watch.
⚡ This is the lowest price to date on the Forerunner 965, which is logical given the Forerunner 970 came out this past spring (which essentialy adds a flashlight and some other running metrics/features).
⚡ This is a very unexpected sale, just launched, on this very new watch, which is Garmin's top of the line Forerunner watch with virtually all the same software features as the Fenix 8 (but in a plastic case and without the diving features).
The Garmin Inded BPM is Garmin's medically certified blood pressure monitor. It integrates directly into your Garmin Connect account. I use it on occasion as a comparison for wearables, and it works just fine (obviously it's already medically certified by the FDA, so I say 'works' here in the sense of usability/functionality/etc...).
The Instinct 3 series came out earlier this year, with both an AMOLED and Solar variants. The big upgrade over the previous editions is the inclusion of the flashlight in all sizes, and a massive ugprade of sports features.
The Instinct 3 series came out earlier this year, and the Solar edition in particular has 'unlimited' battery life in certain scenarios. The big upgrade over the previous editions is the inclusion of the flashlight in all sizes, and a massive ugprade of sports features.
This is Garmin's radar without the light, so it's a bit smaller as a result. Same radar tech though, and compatible with Garmin/COROS/Hammerhead/Wahoo bike computers.
This is Garmin's standalone radar+taillight option, and $149 is pretty much the standard sale-price. Even despite all the new radars out there, this remains the most accurate option on the market. Now, only if Garmin would just re-release it with USB-C. C'Mon Garmin...maybe next year?
This is the first time this product has been on sale, since launching last spring. I'd argue it could have used a $100 off sale...but hey...they don't consult me.
⚡ The Garmin Venu 4 just came out two months ago, and one of the big ticket features is the LED flashlight built-in. However, it's also got a ton of other new features, as Garmin merged the codebase with the Forerunner/Fenix series, resulting in a boatload of added things like Training Readiness, Acute Load, and more.
⚡ This is the lowest price we've seen on the newest product in the entire Garmin Holiday 2025 sale lineup. This is basically a blend of a Forerunner 970, Venu 4, and Fenix 8...but super thin. It's argueably one of the best deals here at $599, though, Garmin is still clearly trying to figure out the right pricing to drive purchases.
⚡ This is the first time we've seen the Vivoactive 6 on sale, which is essentially a Venu 4, but without the voice/calling/ECG features (and a few other tidbits). It's probably one of the best deals in Garmin's lineup (sale or otherwise).
⚡ This is the lowest price we've ever seen for this. This is my defacto satellite communicator when out of coverage area, and I've used it on a number of major treks over the past two years when well outside of cellular service, both in a 24x7 tracking mode for friends and family, but also there in case of emergency. Would strongly recommend for anyone doing anything in the wilderness.
This came out last fall, and is the second time this has been discounted, but now to the lowest price to date. The key difference with the new Plus model is that it adds the ability to send photos and voice messenges via satellite. I've used it a bit, and it's pretty cool because it makes it a lot faster to just say something rather than type it out, but the $499 price seemed excessive. $399 makes it slightly more palatable.
This is GoPro's budget option, which includes a full color touchscreen on the back as well. The main benefit is it's super small, but note it's not quite in the same quality ballpark as their higher-end cameras. If you want size and GoPro ecosystem on a budget, this is an option. But with the DJI Action 4 just $20 more than $199, that offers notably better quality.
We have more Nest cam's than I can count. No really, we have half a dozen at the DCR Cave alone, plus more at home. We love them. Nest Cam's really only go on sale about 1-2x per year.
The newer Pixel Watch 4 came out back in October. I see the Pixel Watch 4 as a pretty substantial hardware upgrade over the Pixel Watch 3, notably due to satellite SOS, as well as a user-replaceable battery.
This has become one of my favorite drones, given it's tiny size (fits in my running shorts pockets) and ease of use. Plus, you can crash the crap out of it (hundreds of times for me and my wife) without any issues. This combo includes an extra battery and fast charger.
⚡ This is a solid deal on a solid drone, and one of the two main ones I use when taking videos of myself hiking or running. This includes the two extra batteries as well as the fast charger (so 3 batteries total).
This is one of the other more popular display-laden rowing machines. I haven't tried this, but my sports-tech reviewing buddy DesFit has (linked at side) and liked it.
⚡ This just came out this past August, and is a great little unit. The pod isn't quite as tiny as the Go 3S, but the features and quality are a huge step up (especially the removable MicroSD card).
This is one of the best 360 action cams on the market, alongside the GoPro Max 2 (both have their pros and cons, check out my full comparison guide linked).
This is one of the most popular indoor trainer fan companies out there, which rivals the Wahoo Headwind fan but cost a fraction of the price. Of course, it lacks ANT+/Bluetooth integration, but realistically if you really want that you can add a smart outlet for $10 to toggle it on/off from your phone if need be. It's one of the ones in my rotation.
⚡ Let's be honest: This place runs on Nespresso (or, well, the knock-off pods we buy). But, the machine is Nespresso. Without it, reviews most definitely would not get done (and certainly not on time). This is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me!
Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven - $120 off
I use the Fyra 12 (with wood pellets), and love it. The Karu 12 is essentialyl the newer version of that, and there's both a gas-only version, and a multi-fuel option (gas or wood). Love it!
⚡The Pixel Watch 4 LTE includes satellite SOS connectivity, even if you don't activate a cellular plan on it. I'd strongly recommend getting the LTE version for $50 more, to future-proof you a bit there (or, to save your bacon in the woods).
This is a great dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart (with two Bluetooth Smart connections) chest strap that you'll often find me using as a reference strap in heart rate sensor testing. We only tend to see deals on it around Black Friday, always topping out around 20%.
If you're looking for a good solid high-quality strap, that does both ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart, for a reasonable price...look no further than the Polar H9
⚡This is one of the two the high speed drives types I use to store the footage I'm actively video editing. I typically buy the 2TB and 4TB ones, and then eventually offload the footage onto a NAS array when I'm done.
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Camera w/ 28-70mm Zoom - $400 offThis is the main camera I use for still photography and video b-roll. I semi-recently wrote about all the photography gear I use, linked at side here.
Suunto Aqua Swimming Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones - 22% off!
This is a very solid deal. It's got virtually all the software features of Suunto's higher-end watches (minus the app store), and just came out this past May.
While the new Suunto Vertical 2 just came out a month ago, if you wanted to stock-up on MIP-based display watches before they disappear, here's your chance. This is also the lowest price we've ever seen on the Vertical 1, which is otherwise still a very soild watch.
I have bigger Synology NAS units at the DCR Studio/Office, but I also have a smaller unit (this one) that I use to keep various piles of data here too. I like the Synology stuff, as it's generally quite dependable.
This is the go-to sales price for the NEO 2T, though has become more frequent over the past year. It's still an incredible trainer, and is the top-end non-moving trainer from Garmin/Tacx.
⚡ This is the lowest price we've seen to date on the Tacx NEO 3M, and finally takes it down to a semi-logical price (compared to it's competitors). This is a good buy, and obviously, given it's only a year old, I definitely don't expectany sort of new version of this anytime soon (the last NEO series unit was about 5 years between versions).
This is another very popular fan that people use for indoor training/cycling, especially due to inclusion of the remote and remote holder to clasp on your handlebars.
This simulates the up and down motion on Wahoo KICKR trainers moving your bike up and down. Also, there's virtually no product except SNAP, that Wahoo likes to put on sale more. Wouldn't be a sale around here unless this thing was discounted.
⚡ This is a very solid deal for this bike, and the lowest price to date. I actually like the KICKR BIKE SHIFT more than the higher-end KICKR BIKE V2/Pro, mainly because it's both quiter, and seems to be more resillient to issues (less complex design).
⚡ ⚡ This is a very very good deal, for the KICKR CORE 2 that just came out two months ago. My full review was just published last week after an absolute boatlod of riding, and even buying an extra unit to validate things. This model is the one with the Zwift Cog/Click, whereas the 11sp cassette model is also the same price.
⚡ ⚡ This is a very very good deal, for the KICKR CORE 2 that just came out two months ago. My full review was just published last week after an absolute boatlod of riding, and even buying an extra unit to validate things. This model is the one with the Zwift Cog/Click, whereas the 11sp cassette model is also the same price.
⚡This is actually the lowest price we've ever seen on the KICKR V6. Wahoo says we won't see a new top-end KICKR this fall, with them instead focusing on the new KICKR Bike Pro, KICKR CORE 2, and all their new bike computers/radar/etc...
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 (and in this case, some of these are from the past few weeks to clear out the backlog):
1) Under Armour trying to offload MyFitnessPal: Obviously, this will go for far less than what Under Armour paid for it, if it goes at all. Sure, there’s a buyer at any price. But it’s hard to imagine there’s very many mainstream buyers at any meaningful price.
2) iFixit Tears Down Oura Ring Hardware: As always, iFixit is great. And yes, I’m considering doing an Oura ring review. I’m just not a huge ring person, so that’s the main hold-up – since a proper review of something like this realistically requires wearing it for 2-3 months.
3) Ironman Athletes aiming for class action over competitor fee refunds: Maybe it’s just me, but I think offering a spot in next year free of charge is a pretty fair deal (especially given the contract language is pretty clear that a cancellation means no refund). I’m rarely a big fan of WTC’s practices, but in this case it seems like a good compromise.
4) Stryd Race Calculator: That’s pretty cool, especially the modeling part. It’s kinda like a Best Bike Split for running races, using Stryd of course.
6) Details on Apple’s Dance Metrics: I’m curious though, this seems like a lot of work for potentially questionable data – and ultimately unlikely to meaningfully impact calorie burn, assuming calorie burn is largely correlated to heart rate anyway.
7) Bicycle Speed Wobbles: How they start, and how to stop them. I’ll be honest, I think CyclingTips is producing even more fascinating content since COVID-19 started than any other year. Probably because race-content isn’t typically my jam, whereas these sorta science-focused bits are definite reads.
Sports Tech Device 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 are 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? Oh – and if you want to get a head start on things, this page is a great resource for watching Garmin and a few other firmware updates.
[The above site that I typically use as a starting point for Garmin is currently offline this week, so stay tuned as I hopefully return next week with this section. Though, off the top of my head, there’s no major firmware releases this week aside from the GoPro one I noted above…oh, and Fitbit’s just-released Smart Alarms and Dynamic GPS for the Charge 4.]
Version 2020.10 “Routable Cycle Map of the United States” showed up in Garmin Express for E1030 this week. ~3 hour download.
I imagine the Dance metrics are rounding out device appeal for users that aren’t inclined to train for a specific goal. Makes social events more enjoyable.
That lawsuit is absurd. But I’m not surprised. People have no concept of what races do with their money. At. NOLA 70.3 a few years ago, the race was cancelled on race morning due to some pretty severe weather. When people got home they started posting angrily that the weather had cleared as if the weather hours later and 10 to 20 miles away was relevant.
I did get a free Alcatraz entry out if it so I can out ahead! Ironman is doing everything they can. I want the company to be around next year so I can race again.
Agreed. Not only is it spelled out in the contract, but it’s entirely reasonable. Most of the money is spent (a great deal of it on overhead for the organization). It’s nobody’s fault, so the loss needs to be allocated somewhere. It would of course be a different situation if you could argue that cancellations were pretextual with the aim of pocketing the money, but that’s obviously not the case. You can’t even make the case that this is an unreasonable term that nobody would expect, which has only been slipped into the contract. This is the norm in contract law. If you pay someone for a service, they’re required to incur a lot of expenses before final delivery, and an act of god prevents delivery, there’s no refund. You might potentially get unjust enrichment damages for the money that hasn’t yet been spent, if the contract is silent, but not where it explicitly places the risk of loss on the buyer.
As long as the user consented to whatever they put in their ‘I agree’ button, then realistically, they can use it within those terms. I think by now, most of the masses just press ‘I agree to all things for the love of god stop asking me questions’.
Still, I think the biggest issue UA has is basically the admission that they *can’t* turn that data into something profitable. In other words, if UA couldn’t do it with in theory some of the best people out there working on it, how can anyone else possibly market with it?
Is that true though? I’ve been a MFP user for over a decade, and some of that time a paid user (as I am now). While MFP was great when it came out and has a lot going for it, I wouldn’t call it a cutting edge application. It looks like it was designed 15 years ago. And if I’m a data scientist, is UA really the place where I’m going to go?
And the same goes for Endomondo. There has been zero development on that platform for the last 3-4 years, and their IOS app itself was last updated oct 2018. And for some reason there has been serious outages the last 6months with an excuse that they were moving to different platforms.
They just don’t care anymore. these platforms were really only an excuse to point customers towards their own webshop. – I’m sad though. i’m a big lad, and UA was actually some of the only companies that have athletic clothes for bigger guys. But supporting a company that just let go of a platform where i’ve been a paid subscriber for 10 years is not exactly fun. until last year there were no way of exporting data out of Endomondo. And only to fulfill GDPR regulations was it implemented. – glad i do have a backup now. :-)
Given that the firmware update cupboard is A bit barren this week I will observe there is an update for the TACX NEO 2T Firmware from 34 to 36. Release notes say quieter in “simulation mode” at low power.
I would be more sympathetic towards IRONMAN if they would not lie in your face. I was registered for an Ironman in September (was supposed to be my first) and would not have been able to race next year, as I will have to finish my PhD thesis. So I contacted them about ten days before the deadline to withdraw with a 50% refund, explaining my situation and asking if they had any news about the race. I got an answer three days before the deadline that the race would go ahead as planned. After, I contacted a colleague from the country, who told me that she was sure the race could not go ahead as planned after consulting the news and the regulations in place. So I withdrew. The day after the deadline, IRONMAN announced that the race could not go ahead as planned. Doesn’t really make me feel like investing into another IRONMAN race anytime soon. Other, even much smaller, organisations have handled this so much better (for example the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon, or the organisers of the Alpenbrevet in Switzerland).
Yeah I agree. There is no way that I will be able to do the rescheduled race but I have just had to suck it up as I signed the damn contract and that is that. I would hope that I can push out til 2022 though.
Hey Ray,
thanks for your work!
I really would love to see/read a proper Ōura ring review. As a tech geek and not wanting to wear my big Fenix 3HR to bed next to my wife, a ring would be a nice option.
Keep the great reviews coming!
Cheers,
Denis
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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 2024 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.
Version 2020.10 “Routable Cycle Map of the United States” showed up in Garmin Express for E1030 this week. ~3 hour download.
I imagine the Dance metrics are rounding out device appeal for users that aren’t inclined to train for a specific goal. Makes social events more enjoyable.
Definitely agree about cycling tips and COVID-era content! This period convinced me to join their VeloClub.
That lawsuit is absurd. But I’m not surprised. People have no concept of what races do with their money. At. NOLA 70.3 a few years ago, the race was cancelled on race morning due to some pretty severe weather. When people got home they started posting angrily that the weather had cleared as if the weather hours later and 10 to 20 miles away was relevant.
I did get a free Alcatraz entry out if it so I can out ahead! Ironman is doing everything they can. I want the company to be around next year so I can race again.
Agreed. Not only is it spelled out in the contract, but it’s entirely reasonable. Most of the money is spent (a great deal of it on overhead for the organization). It’s nobody’s fault, so the loss needs to be allocated somewhere. It would of course be a different situation if you could argue that cancellations were pretextual with the aim of pocketing the money, but that’s obviously not the case. You can’t even make the case that this is an unreasonable term that nobody would expect, which has only been slipped into the contract. This is the norm in contract law. If you pay someone for a service, they’re required to incur a lot of expenses before final delivery, and an act of god prevents delivery, there’s no refund. You might potentially get unjust enrichment damages for the money that hasn’t yet been spent, if the contract is silent, but not where it explicitly places the risk of loss on the buyer.
It’s bizarre. Would people rather IM went out of business?
I wonder what the MyFitnessPal data is worth- years of people logging every meal including brand names – it seems like a marketer’s dream
I’m sure that like in any other service these days, there’s no legal way of using the data in that way in the US, Europe, or many other places.
As long as the user consented to whatever they put in their ‘I agree’ button, then realistically, they can use it within those terms. I think by now, most of the masses just press ‘I agree to all things for the love of god stop asking me questions’.
Still, I think the biggest issue UA has is basically the admission that they *can’t* turn that data into something profitable. In other words, if UA couldn’t do it with in theory some of the best people out there working on it, how can anyone else possibly market with it?
Is that true though? I’ve been a MFP user for over a decade, and some of that time a paid user (as I am now). While MFP was great when it came out and has a lot going for it, I wouldn’t call it a cutting edge application. It looks like it was designed 15 years ago. And if I’m a data scientist, is UA really the place where I’m going to go?
And the same goes for Endomondo. There has been zero development on that platform for the last 3-4 years, and their IOS app itself was last updated oct 2018. And for some reason there has been serious outages the last 6months with an excuse that they were moving to different platforms.
They just don’t care anymore. these platforms were really only an excuse to point customers towards their own webshop. – I’m sad though. i’m a big lad, and UA was actually some of the only companies that have athletic clothes for bigger guys. But supporting a company that just let go of a platform where i’ve been a paid subscriber for 10 years is not exactly fun. until last year there were no way of exporting data out of Endomondo. And only to fulfill GDPR regulations was it implemented. – glad i do have a backup now. :-)
“I’m just not a huge ring person”
Mmm, maybe Ray is the reason Garmin/Polar/Suunto isn’t releasing a ring…
Given that the firmware update cupboard is A bit barren this week I will observe there is an update for the TACX NEO 2T Firmware from 34 to 36. Release notes say quieter in “simulation mode” at low power.
I would be more sympathetic towards IRONMAN if they would not lie in your face. I was registered for an Ironman in September (was supposed to be my first) and would not have been able to race next year, as I will have to finish my PhD thesis. So I contacted them about ten days before the deadline to withdraw with a 50% refund, explaining my situation and asking if they had any news about the race. I got an answer three days before the deadline that the race would go ahead as planned. After, I contacted a colleague from the country, who told me that she was sure the race could not go ahead as planned after consulting the news and the regulations in place. So I withdrew. The day after the deadline, IRONMAN announced that the race could not go ahead as planned. Doesn’t really make me feel like investing into another IRONMAN race anytime soon. Other, even much smaller, organisations have handled this so much better (for example the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon, or the organisers of the Alpenbrevet in Switzerland).
Ray,
fyi: gpsinformation.net is down.
Indeed, working with them to resolve exactly that. :)
Yeah I agree. There is no way that I will be able to do the rescheduled race but I have just had to suck it up as I signed the damn contract and that is that. I would hope that I can push out til 2022 though.
Hey Ray,
thanks for your work!
I really would love to see/read a proper Ōura ring review. As a tech geek and not wanting to wear my big Fenix 3HR to bed next to my wife, a ring would be a nice option.
Keep the great reviews coming!
Cheers,
Denis
PLEASE Oura review! ;)
whoop doesn’t seem to be there yet. I wonder if Oura has similar flaws.