Week in Review–July 6th, 2020

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:

Here’s a smattering of current sports tech deals. The Apple Watch Series 5 one is probably one of the most solid ones.

	Product	Sale Price	Amazon	Other site	Sale Notes
	2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi, 64GB) - $70 off!	$269	Amazon		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 Wahoo SYSTM, 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.
	Apple Airpods (2nd Gen) - $50 off! $159	$79	Amazon		⚡These aren't the latest anymore, that's the newer 3rd gen units. But if budget is in mind, it's hard to beat these - seriously, at $79 it's the lowest price these have ever been.
	Apple Airpods Pro (2nd Gen) - $50 off! $249	$199	Amazon
	Apple TV 4K (32GB) for Zwift - $50 off	$79	Amazon		⚡⚡ I use this for almost all my Zwifting. This is a fantastic deal, which runs Zwift, RGT, FulGaz, Rouvy, and more. While Apple just released their newest version (2022), virtually no cycling apps have taken advantage of it yet. And thus for now, the edition on sale for $79 seems like a steal.
	Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen/2022) - 8% off $279	$229	Amazon		⚡This is the first time we've seen the new Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) on sale!
	Apple Watch Series 8 - $50 off! $399/$499 (cellular)	$349	Amazon		⚡This is only the 2nd time we've seen the new Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) on sale!
	Apple Watch Ultra - $50 off!	$749	Amazon		⚡This is only the second time we've seen the Apple Watch Ultra on sale, and appears to be for all band styles as well! And it's not only in-stock, but even for same-day delivery in some areas.
	Apple Watch Ultra - $50 off!	$749	Amazon		⚡This is only the second time we've seen the Apple Watch Ultra on sale, and appears to be for all band styles as well! And it's not only in-stock, but even for same-day delivery in some areas.
	Beats PowerBeats Pro Wireless Sport Headphones - $100 off $249	$149	Amazon		⚡ I like the PowerBeats Pro with the over-the-ear design, for more security in workouts, than my Beats Studio Buds. I use these as well as my Beats Studio Buds (and have used the PowerBeats Pro ones longer). $100 off is a solid deal.
	Beats PowerBeats Studio Buds - $60 off $149	$89	Amazon		⚡I've been using these since last summer (2021), primarily on my indoor workouts, but also on some of my runs (for example, in testing out most watches with music). I like them and they've become my go-to buds.
	DJI Action 2 Dual-Screen Combo Edition - 31% off	$359	Amazon
	DJI FPV Combo - $300 off!	$899	Amazon		⚡This deal is on DJI's larger FPV drone, the original one. They've also got the smaller but less powerful one too - Avata, which isn't on sale. This is for the FPV combo deal, saving you $400. This includes the drone, FPV goggles, and controller.
	DJI Mavic 3 - $150 off $999	$2,049	Amazon		This is the second time we've seen the DJI Mavic 3 on sale (for a non-bundled deal). With all the firmware improvements since the fall, it's finally getting to a more stable place in terms of features. Of course, you can also now get the DJI Mavic 3 Classic for a fair bit cheaper, minus the zoom lens. Albeit, I personally think the zoom lens is handy (if used correctly).
	Elite Direto XR Smart Trainer- $400 off! $1,000	$599	Amazon	REI	⚡This is by far the lowest price we've seen on this trainer to date!
	Elite Sterzo Smart - 40% off	$74	Amazon	REI	This is Elite's steering block, for steering in apps like Zwift.
	Elite Suito-T Smart Trainer - $340 off! $799 (incl cassette)	$509	Amazon	REI	This is by far the lowest price we've ever seen on the Elite Suito or Suito-T trainers. Note: The Suito-T is the same exact trainer as the Suito, except without the cassette pre-installed.
	Elite Tuo Smart Trainer - $233 off! $580	$347	Amazon	REI	⚡This is by far the lowest price we've seen on the wheel-on Tuo. While most trainers have shifted towards direct drive, this is a good option at the lower end.
	Garmin Edge 1030 Plus - $200 off $599	$391	Amazon		⚡While the newer Edge 1040 came out this past summer, the Edge 1030 Plus is still an incredibly solid bike computer - arguably the 2nd best bike computer (behind the Edge 1040).
	Garmin Edge 530 Cycling GPS - $50 off! $299	$249	Amazon	REI	⚡ This matches last year's Black Friday sale, and is the lowest price to date on the Edge 530. This is one of the main units I use for my day-to-day riding and testing.
	Garmin Fenix 7 Series (All Models/Styles) - $100 off! $699+	From $599	Amazon	REI	⚡This is the first time we've seen the Fenix 7 series on sale! This sale is $100 off all Fenix 7 series models, be it in the Fenix 7S/7/7X or any of the Sapphire/Solar variants.
	Garmin Fenix 7 Solar Sapphire - $250 off!	$751	Amazon		⚡⚡ While most of the Fenix 7 series is $100 off, this particular unit is $250 off, which is a massive savings!
	Garmin Fenix 7X Solar Sapphire - $150 off!	$849	Amazon		⚡⚡ While most of the Fenix 7 series is $100 off, this particular unit is $250 off, which is a massive savings!
	Garmin GPSMAP 66i with inReach - $100 off	$499	Amazon	REI
	Garmin HRM-PRO Plus - 22% off $129	$101	Amazon		⚡This is the first time we've seen this on sale - and so it's actually pretty notable. I don't even think it's supposed to be on sale, but this is just Amazon doing Amazon. This is one of the two main HR straps i use these days (alongside the Polar H10). Either way, definitely take this and run!
	Garmin Instinct 2 Series - $100 Off	From $249	Amazon	REI	⚡This is the first time we've seen the Garmin Instinct 2 series devices (all variants) on sale. The Instinct 2 base is from $249 (on Amazon), a very solid deal - especially with all the major software updates it's had over the last year.
	Garmin Instinct 2/2S Solar - $50 Off	From $399	Amazon	REI
	Garmin Instinct 2/2S Surf - $100 Off	From $299	Amazon	REI
	Garmin Varia RCT715 Camera Radar - $50 off	$349	Amazon	REI	This is the first time this product has been on sale, since announcement earlier this year.
	Garmin Varia Radar (RTL515) - $50 off $199	$149	Amazon	REI	This is Garmin's standalone radar/taillight option, and $149 is pretty much the standard sale-price. This product is universally loved, and works with Garmin/Wahoo/Stages/Hammerhead/Bryton, and other bike computers.
	Garmin inReach 2 Mini Satellite Communicator (2-way) - $75 off	$327	Amazon	REI	This is the first time we've seen this unit on sale, as it only came out earlier this year. It's my defacto satellite communicator when out of coverage area, and I've used it on a number of major treks this year out of cell range already.
	GoPro Hero 11 Black - $100 off $499	$399	Amazon		⚡ Amazon now has the Hero 11 Black for $100 off the retail price of $499. This does *NOT* require the GoPro subscription (previously called GoPro Plus). The Hero 11 has become my daily action cam (well, actually, I bought two of them).
	Google Pixel Buds Pro - Noise Canceling Earbuds (All Colors) - $50 off!	$149	Amazon		⚡This is the first time we've seen a sale on these, given they were just announced about 5 weeks ago.
	Google Pixel Watch - 15% off!	$299	Amazon		⚡This is the first time we've seen the (just released) Google Pixle Watch on sale!
	Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle - 38% off	$59	Amazon		⚡So, the Three Peanuts (girls ages 3/5/6) have used this for over a year now, abd they love it. It's silly simple (there's no real connectivity here), and the videos they ride with are also absurdly laughable. Yet, they love it. Seriously, they fight over it.
	Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee & Espresso Kit - 30% off	$118	Amazon		⚡ 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!
	Polar Grit X - 17% off $429	$357	Amazon
	Polar H10 Chest Strap (Dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart) - 40% off $89	$54	Amazon		⚡So this has been fluctuating all day between $54 and $75. So it's a bit of luck of the draw. Either way- these are super low prices and great straps. This is one of my main chest straps I use as a reference device in testing. Works great!
	Polar Ignite 2 - 22% off $229	$179	Amazon		While the Polar Ignite 3 just came out, this is a reasonable deal on the older model.
	Polar Pacer - 15% off!	$170	Amazon		I believe this is the first time we've seen the Polar Pace (base unit) on sale. Note - specifically the black/grey people.
	Polar Pacer Pro - $80 off! $299	$219	Amazon		⚡I believe this is the first time we've seen the Polar Pace Pro on sale. Note - specifically the red/white one is $219, the others are $230-$240.
	Polar Vantage M2 - 20% off! $299	$240	Amazon
	Quarq DZero DUB (Road) PM Spider - 40% off	$250	Amazon	Competive Cyclist	⚡This is a major deal. SRAM has allowed retailers to put things on sale that were never allowed before, including power meters. This is the road/gravel variant of the MTB one I use (the XX1).
	Quarq DZero DUB XX1 PM Spider - 40% off	$449	Amazon	Competitive Cyclist	⚡This is a major deal. SRAM has allowed retailers to put things on sale that were never allowed before, including power meters. This is the same exact model I use on my mountain bike. Works well.
	Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro - $100 off!	$399	Amazon		⚡This is the first time we've seen the new Galaxy Watch5 Pro on sale this low!
	Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1-2TB - 36% off	$89	Amazon		I use a small fleet of these T7 SSD's for various video projects, alongside the Sandisk SSD's. I literally have one of each color, just to keep things simple. They work great for quick storage. Note: Different colors have different sale prices - I don't understand why.
	SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO SD Cards - 18% off	$51	Amazon		I use the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Cards exclusively for all my video/photo shooting on my Panasonic GH5 and Nikon cameras (video and stills), including up to 6K recording with the GH5. I've mostly used 128's, but more and more lately I'm filling up cards faster with higher bitrates, so this sale is gonna have me pickup a bunch of the 256GB ones instead. The 128GB/ 512GB/1TB ones are also on sale too viathe same link. Note that usually I wait till these are about $40-45, so this is a good, but not yet fantastic deal.
	Saris H3 (Hammer 3) Smart Trainer - $260 off! $1,099	$639	Amazon	Competitive Cyclist	While not quite as low as some of the crazy clearance deals this past summer, this is still a good deal overall.
	Saris H3 Bundle - $280 off!	$719		REI	While not quite as low as some of the crazy clearance deals this past summer, this is still a good deal overall. Bundle includes pre-installed cassette, sweat guard, and ANT+ USB stick.
	Saris MP1 NFinity Motion Platform - $440 off!	$759	N/A	Competitive Cyclist	⚡This is by far the lowest normal sale price we've seen to date, save for their 'everything must go' clearance sale
	Scosche RHYTHM+ 2.0 - 44% off! $79	$49	Amazon
	Skydio 2+ Starter Kit - $200 off! $999/$1349	$899	N/A	Skydio Site	In terms of autonomy and self-following from a drone, nothing beats Skydio today.
	Stages Bike SB20 - $700 off! $2899	$1,799	N/A	Competitive Cyclist	⚡ A very solid deal, making it the least expensive smart bike out there, despite being probably the best built one. (Note: While this sale is marked as 43% off, the reality is most of the time the price hovers around $2,300-2,500) - still, by far the lowest price we've ever seen).
	Suunto 5 Peak - $60 off! $299	$239	Amazon		This is Suunto's mid-range/budget multisport GPS unit, and at $239 it's a solid deal.
	Suunto 9 Peak - $170 off $569	$399	Amazon		While Suunto recently released the newer Suunto 9 Peak Pro, this existing model still benefits from many of the software updates.
	Tacx Flux 2 Smart Trainer - $180 off $899	$719	Amazon	Competitive Cyclist
	Tacx Flux S Smart Trainer - $150 off! $749USD	$599	Amazon	Competitive Cyclist
	Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer - $280 off! $1,399	$1,120	Amazon	Competitive Cylicst	⚡This is Tacx's top-end trainer, and while sales have been more frequent in 2022, this is still a solid deal for a solid trainer.
	Tacx NEO Bike Smart V1 - $470 off! $3,199	$2,719	Amazon	Competitive Cyclist	This is the V1 version, whereas the new Tacx NEO Bike Plus came out this past week with some very minor tweaks, however, that bike is $3,999 ($1,300 more than this!). Thus, this kinda looks like a steal.
	Therabody Theragun Elite - $100 off	$299	Amazon		⚡ This is arguably my wife's favorite sports tech gadget. She uses it pretty much daily. Thus, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this deal. Also, please don't tell her, she might just buy another one...
	Therabody Theragun Mini - 21% off	$159	Amazon		My wife uses the Theragun Elite, which is a bit larger than this Mini model, and also includes more tips. But, as noted - people seem happy with all these models.
	Therabody Theragun Prime - 34% off	$198	Amazon		My wife uses the Theragun Elite, which is just slightly more expensive than this model at $299 on sale right now. But hey, I hear good things about all of these.
	Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM V1 - $200 off $379	$199	Amazon	Competitive Cyclist	⚡This is the slightly older ROAM V1, which isn't quite as fancy as the new V2. Still, $200 off is a very solid deal, and it, recently got the new Wahoo Summit Segments feature, as well as other features - so it's still getting the majority (if not all) new firmware features.
	Wahoo KICKR AXIS Feet - 40% off	$47		REI	This is the lowest price we've ever seen on the Wahoo KICKR AXIS feet, which, if on a hard surface like concrete, will give your KICKR bike slightly more movement side to side. Note these come built-in to the KICKR 2020/2022, but you can install the AXIS feet on all Wahoo KICKR units (not CORE/SNAP).
	Wahoo KICKR Bike - $500 off! $3,499	$1,999	N/A	Competitive Cyclist	⚡⚡⚡ This is an incredible deal, by far the lowest the KICKR Bike has ever been. Especially given the just-announced V2 bike is even more expensive now at $4,000. And frankly, aside from built-in WiFi, there's not much otherwise on the newer V2 bike. I plan to take advantage of this deal and finally buy one for myself, this is astounding.
	Wahoo KICKR SNAP - 40% off $499	$299	N/A	Competitive Cyclist	This is lowest we've ever seen the KICKR SNAP priced. While the trend has moved towards wheel-off/direct drive trainers, this is still really solid deal if your budget it tight.

DCRAINMAKER.COM Posts in the Past Week:

Here’s all the goodness that ended up on the main page this past week:

Sunday: DCR Video: Riding Zwift on the Actual Champs-Élysées
Tuesday: Garmin Acquires Firstbeat Analytics: A Quick Analysis of the Winners and Losers
Tuesday: Polar’s Unite Fitness Watch: Hands-on Details and First Run
Friday: Stages Bike (SB20) In-Depth Review

YouTube Videos This Past Week:

Here’s what hit the tubes over on the You of Tube, definitely don’t forget to subscribe there to get notified of videos the second they hit!

Stuff 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 (and in this case, some of these are from the past few weeks to clear out the backlog):

1) The Banned Vanmoof Ad: The ad was OK, but of course, the real magic was having it manage to get banned in France – and just drawing attention to the situation.

2) Google acquisition of Fitbit getting closer scrutiny from EU: It’ll be interesting to see what, if anything, Fitbit launches this fall. Given the company is still operating independently of Google, it puts them in a tough spot – unless they simply decided to go towards Wear OS anyway for new devices per their previously announced plan with Google.

3) Apple sleep tracking planned for over five years: While a good headline, I’m sure someone had it on a notepad somewhere to add sleep tracking. Ya know, given it’s been on every other competitive wearable company for 5-6 years. Plus, they did buy a sleep tracking company a few years later. That said, I completely agree on the REM sleep aspects of the interview.

4) Peloton rolls out Roku streaming app: It’s a super smart strategy to be as device agnostic as possible on the platform side (for those without bikes). They also rolled out Apple TV support back a bit ago this fall. Still, these apps lack significant amounts of workout target type metrics that the bike does have.

5) Lululemon buys Mirror for half a billion dollars: Well then.

6) Google Glass Part 2? Google buys North, a company focused on smart glasses. Ultimately, this product category won’t catch on in sports until GPS is integrated, battery life is 6-8 hours, do *everything* a watch or bike computer does, and the entire package looks like normal glasses. It’s this last line item and 2nd to last item that’s currently failing. (via Patrick)

7) Older Apple Patent around Cyclist Wind Resistance Shows up in News Cycle: However, this first came around 3-4 years ago when the patent was first applied for, but the patent hasn’t actually been issued yet best I can tell. Which, makes sense…cause it’s pretty much exactly what the PowerPod/iBike from Velocomp has been doing for probably a decade prior to Apple’s patent.

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.

Garmin Instinct Beta Firmware Update: Compass bug fix

Garmin Fenix 6 Series/MARQ BETA Firmware Update: Bug fixes

Polar Grit X Firmware Update: Some bug fixes, some tweaks to existing features

Suunto 7 Firmware/Software Update: Adds better integration to Google Fit, improved GPS accuracy, other tweaks

Wahoo ELEMNT/BOLT/ROAM Firmware Update: ‘Stability Improvements’

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Thanks for reading!