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:
A few things have popped up this week, so here’s a quick mention:
⚡ Both myself and my wife have been using these since last fall, after years of using the Beats Studio Buds...man, these things rock. Sure, they're good for sports, but frankly, I use them on planes, editing, and such more than anything else. In fact, I've been listening to them now for 8 hours as I type away on my flight across the ocean. Only briefly putting them in the case to top-up.
⚡The Fenix 8 is now down to $799 for the 42/47mm AMOLED editions, and from $899 for the Solar/MIP editions. This is the first big sale, outside of a short $70 discount back in January by Uncle Amazon.
This is the lowest price to date on this watch, bringing it down to a very strong $499. This unit includes maps and is more or less a plastic Fenix 7 Pro. The FR970 just came out this week, adding ECG functionality and a few other software features...but at $250 more!
This has become one of my favorite drones, given it's tiny size (fits in my running shorts pockets) and ease of use. While there's the new Pro drones, those are nearly 2x the price (and more for Pro-Max), and honestly, the video quality isn't really achieving that price point. Also note the checkbox to get yet an extra free battery (thus 3 batteries in total, based on the way it's currently coded in Amazon).
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) Garbage Can Running Race: Just when I think I’ve heard of or seen most types of running races, this is a new one. This particular athletic endeavor involves dragging a wheeled garbage can as fast as able for an unclear distance. Apparently flour is part of it too. It’s all a bit…fuzzy to me. But it looks spectacular:
2) Fitbit to end sideloading music onto watches: The writing on the wall for this was actually a year or two ago when they stopped allowing it on their more recent units. While I think in general, people loading MP3 files or such onto watches is mostly a thing of the past (save a few diehards), with most using streaming services, I’m surprised that this is something that requires fancy software – versus just enumerating as a mass-storage USB drive with a simple ‘Music’ folder.
3) The Argument For More Buttons on Smartwatches: I’d (obviously) agree, including with testing the Watch5. Just like that writer’s location, it’s hot and sweaty right now in Amsterdam, and trying to swipe to get to certain pages on the Watch5 Pro during workout mode is challenging at best. This is obviously no different than in the past, except now Samsung and Apple are targeting more and more of that endurance focused market with new modes like triathlon and longer battery life for GPS sports.
4) New Aerosensor System Launches Crowd-funding Campaign: This aptly named Aerosensor (no, really, that’s the product name), has been lurking in the background a number of years in development, and I’ve met with them a few times at trade shows during that timeframe. It was previously called Velosense. They’ve now launched, and CyclingTips has a pretty good in-depth article on it. Without diving into specifics on this product, it’ll be interesting to see if the aero sensor (for cycling) industry can find their way. Pre-COVID, the challenge was these products were just too finicky to use for most athletes. Even the most geeky/advanced athletes often had challenges getting repeatedly accurate (or at least consistent) results, mainly due to a blend of knowledge in how to use them, and numerous ‘gotchyas’. Then COVID came along and basically killed off any reason for racers to go out and buy a $1,000 device to test their position, since races were largely off the table (especially the big races people trained an entire season for). I have no doubt if we fast-forward umpteen years down the road, with technology improvements, aero sensors will be as common on a high-performance bike as a bike computer. In fact, probably built into the bike computer (like we saw with the iBike). But the road between now and then is long.
5) Peloton has more layoffs, increases hiring of engineers, increases prices, and more: This is an interesting one. I’d agree that they’re likely overbuilt in the customer-service departments (as well as retail presences), but I’m not convinced that switching entirely to 3rd party delivery is the answer, given how horrifically bad the 3rd party delivery has been (though, the memo addresses that head-on too). To Peloton’s credit, the new CEO has been moving very fast in making changes, and also undoing changes too when the data doesn’t support them working. The next earnings call is in 11 days, where we’ll see how numbers looked (subscription mainly). Remember, the last earnings call showed yet more subscriber growth (in an industry where everyone else is losing numbers like crazy). But maintaining that over the summer is tricky at best (this would only show the first portion of that). As a side note, Peloton is apparently honoring the old prices till Aug 19th on a case by case basis.
6) Cycling Tips Founder Wade Wallace Resigns: All the props in the world to Wade for building what is easily the best cycling news site out there, with a massively talented bench of writers. I’ve met and chatted with Wade a number of times over the years at various events, and he’s a good egg for sure. And atop that, in building that company, all of the people he has hired are simply awesome individuals as well. Good luck to Wade in whatever he does next.
7) Zwifter’s Nearby Sidebar – A Deep-Dive: Just when you think you know a fair chunk about how something works, comes this post, which dives into all the insane nuances of the Zwifter’s nearby sidebar with boatloads of little features that you may have seen, but not entirely understood. This covers it. The image at the end of the post is worthy of offering in a poster format.
8) Man in the Netherlands Caught Trying to Steal Palm Tree on Mobility Scooter: This has nothing to do with endurance sports, and everything to do with the country I live in. Also, the point of ‘Week in Review’ was technically never to be always sport related. This is funny enough that I just had to include it. The quotes in there are amazing. For context, Hornbach is basically an also-orange big-box Home Depot of the Netherlands.
I’ve seen a few purported leaks in the past week or so about a Suunto 9 Peak Pro in the near future.
With 40 hours GPS battery life and what looks like fast charging.
Not much else known about it yet.
Hey Ray. Have you heard/seen any firmware update for the 955 and the problems some are having with the Training Status/Acute Load not loading properly. Mine has been stuck at the same load since I bought it. I did comment on the forums and for the past month they said their engineering team was looking at it. Not ideal for one of the main features on an expensive piece of training equipment to just not work. I know a lot of people are having problems with this based on the forum, so wasn’t sure how big/serious this is and if you have heard of a fix coming.
I haven’t had those issues on the FR955, but I am currently having those issues on the Enduro 2, and I know it’s essentially the exact same issue (I outlined it in more depth in my Enduro 2 review).
I suspect it’s a core reason why Garmin has delayed roll-out to the Fenix 7/Epix/Enduro 2 series, while they figure it out. I also know it’s considered a pretty critical issue, but it’s not clear if they’ve got a root-cause for it yet. :(
I have my 955 unopened in it’s box ready to be sent back with the reason of faulty firmware and no public progress in form of alpha/beta to show that Garmin is trying to solve any issues.
They recently added a forum for the FR955 alpha/beta. Typically they do that within the same day/or days of adding an actual beta. Again, my guess here is that they’ve taken a bit of a step back to try and untangle whatever is happening here.
In my case (and most others), I haven’t heard of many issues with the FR955 – people seem pretty happy. Of course, if you’re caught by the same bug there that I am on the Enduro 2, then that’s sucky.
I have returned the 955 inside the regulated 14day on online purchase. Therefore unopened box.
I felt there was so many reported bugs that would potential affect me in my Garmin usage so
I waited to order 955 until there was hints of an upcoming beta.
So I waited and there was no beta with potential bug fixes and that was a part that made my decision.
So I have to continue to use my Fenix 6 until I feel that 955 FW i mature in the parts I use the most. Then I will order a new 955.
On the zwift list, do you know if they’ve considered heart rate zone( just colour as per the user gets on their own screen) It’s be useful in races at least as IRL you can look at someone and maybe sometime see if they’re suffering.
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Hi Ray
Seems like Garmin’s recent 7.10 update for Vivoactive 4 and Venu is causing lots of user issues. In case you’re interested:
link to forums.garmin.com
Keep up the great work!
Any news on new suunto products the have such a great app but lack of new watches
Yikes. That looks non-optimal. I’ll take a deeper poke this week.
Thanks Ray – looks like Garmin have now pulled the 7.10 update for Vivo4/Venu: https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/healthandwellness/f/vivoactive-4-series/304608/pulled-vivoactive-4-4s-software-update—7-10
I’ve seen a few purported leaks in the past week or so about a Suunto 9 Peak Pro in the near future.
With 40 hours GPS battery life and what looks like fast charging.
Not much else known about it yet.
The wheelie bin race is basically just me every threee weeks or so when my teens forget to take out and I see the truck coming up the road.
Substitute snow for flour here and it’s done
So true!!!!
Hey Ray. Have you heard/seen any firmware update for the 955 and the problems some are having with the Training Status/Acute Load not loading properly. Mine has been stuck at the same load since I bought it. I did comment on the forums and for the past month they said their engineering team was looking at it. Not ideal for one of the main features on an expensive piece of training equipment to just not work. I know a lot of people are having problems with this based on the forum, so wasn’t sure how big/serious this is and if you have heard of a fix coming.
did you receive 11.12 update?
many issues were solved
Yea, I have been on that update and still having this problem.
Yeah, I feel ya.
I haven’t had those issues on the FR955, but I am currently having those issues on the Enduro 2, and I know it’s essentially the exact same issue (I outlined it in more depth in my Enduro 2 review).
I suspect it’s a core reason why Garmin has delayed roll-out to the Fenix 7/Epix/Enduro 2 series, while they figure it out. I also know it’s considered a pretty critical issue, but it’s not clear if they’ve got a root-cause for it yet. :(
I have my 955 unopened in it’s box ready to be sent back with the reason of faulty firmware and no public progress in form of alpha/beta to show that Garmin is trying to solve any issues.
They recently added a forum for the FR955 alpha/beta. Typically they do that within the same day/or days of adding an actual beta. Again, my guess here is that they’ve taken a bit of a step back to try and untangle whatever is happening here.
In my case (and most others), I haven’t heard of many issues with the FR955 – people seem pretty happy. Of course, if you’re caught by the same bug there that I am on the Enduro 2, then that’s sucky.
That was created 2 weeks ago so it feels more like a “smokescreen” to calm disappointed 955 user.
Sorry for being so pessimistic.
Just to clarify though, you haven’t even opened the box and are claiming it’s faulty? I’m confused.
Both yes and no.
I have returned the 955 inside the regulated 14day on online purchase. Therefore unopened box.
I felt there was so many reported bugs that would potential affect me in my Garmin usage so
I waited to order 955 until there was hints of an upcoming beta.
So I waited and there was no beta with potential bug fixes and that was a part that made my decision.
So I have to continue to use my Fenix 6 until I feel that 955 FW i mature in the parts I use the most. Then I will order a new 955.
On the zwift list, do you know if they’ve considered heart rate zone( just colour as per the user gets on their own screen) It’s be useful in races at least as IRL you can look at someone and maybe sometime see if they’re suffering.
I suspect they’ve considered it, but for whatever reason haven’t implemented it.
Thanks for being a supporter!
Garbage can races have nothing on outhouse races.
link to youtube.com
That’s amazing Though, I feel like regulations should require a standard issue outhouse, built atop whatever sled someone wants.
According to the link below Polar have had no software updates since 21st June?
link to support.polar.com