Week in Review–January 29th, 2011

I’ve long since wondered what to do with all the random tidbits of things I collect each week – or the little thoughts that don’t quite make for a full post.  But I finally came up with a solution: The Week in Review Post.  This takes the place of my Weekly Mailbag – which is over on Slowtwitch.  These are just quick snippets of things that I’ve found interesting.  Nice and easy Saturday reading.  Plus, a recap of my Weekly Mailbag post a well.

So with that, let’s get into the action!

Weekly Mailbag Over at Slowtwitch.com:  
This week I covered a wide variety of items over on the big ST.  Check it out:

1) Limitations and choice with Garmin power meter head units
2) CompuTrainer and RacerMate One Software
3) New Nike+ and TomTom Running GPS Partnership (Nike+ Sportwatch)

You can read all my past weekly mailbags at Slowtwitch here.  Or the pre-Slowtwitch days here.

Posts this past week:  
A wide variety of posts this week covering quite a range of stuff.  Here’s what landed on the page:

Saturday: Week in Review – January 22nd, 2011
Monday: A weekend and wedding update
Monday Night: Garmin Forerunner 310XT Giveaway Results
Tuesday: What do you want in your ideal sports watch?
Wednesday: The State of my State: 2010 Review Edition
Thursday: The Russian DCRainmaker Brother from another Mother

Stuff that I found interesting around the interwebs:  
I don’t know what happened exactly…but I went all overboard on links.  There was just so much cool stuff out there this week.  It’s like people finally got all productive after a holiday slump…craziness!

#1) Real Life of the Triathlon Pro’s: Wanna know what a normal pro triathlete’s life is really like?  Wanna know how they have to battle house cats at host family homes?  Read on.

#2) (Hilarious) Interview with Phil Liggettt: I love Fat Cyclist, always amazing writing.  This (real) interview with the voice of the Tour de France (for us watching Universal anyway) is awesome and well worth it.

#3) UCI Smackdown: You may remember last week’s mention on the UCI bike protocols.  Well, it’s been temporarily repealed (yet not repealed).

#4) UCI Smackdown Part II: Ok, Fat Cyclist again.  If you want to read something hilarious…or  informative on the UCI front…just read this.

#5) Ironman Wedding: Given I’m deep in the midst of wedding planning – I thought this Ironman themed wedding was pretty interesting.

#6) Nokia’s Secret ANT+ Chips in Phones: I think the title covers it all pretty well.  It’s been all the buzz this past week.

#7) Are we seeing the end of the Nike & Apple relationship?  A good article exploring what appears to be a slow falling out between the two giants.

#8) Running the twitter bird: Many might accuse me of having too much time (though, I don’t know how).  However, this one takes the case.  In a cool sorta way.

#9) RunKeeper goes free: Forever (not just January anymore).  RunKeeper’s Pro version is now free – hit up the link for all your download goodness.  Oh…and then catch this good analysis about how RunKeeper is killing their business model (Thanks Ben for the heads up on the second article).

#10) Tour down Under behind the Scenes bike geekout: A great and very photogenic look at the bike parts and advanced cycling technology down at the Tour.

#11) Garmin Vector (Metrigear) Update: Albeit brief, this update basically confirms that Vector will be fully compliant with all existing ANT+ power meter head units out there today (there’s been some speculation that only newer units supporting the updated ANT+ device profile with pedal-based right/left power would be required).

#12) Cyclist ticketed for speeding in my hometown: I’m not gonna lie – I’d love to have been the person to get this ticket…especially given this area of the city is pancake flat.  At least in this area if you’re getting a ticket going 31MPH in a 25MPH zone…you’re likely working for it.

#13) CompuTrainer Workout File Generator: Completely random…yet completely cool.  If you use CompuTrainer workout files to create your own text based workouts, this thread covers a cool little page you can use to quickly create workouts via automated means (totally free).

#14) Wanna Intern at Garmin this summer: Noticed this yesterday in their Garmin Jobs feed (always useful for watching what new technologies they’re looking for people on).  FYI that they want interns for next summer.

#15) Note…don’t ya’ll be expecting now you’ll get 15 links next week…that’d be just gettin’ greedy!

Random Note #1: Pool Mate Pro

Thanks to a reader with a spare Pool Mate Pro, I’ve got my hot little hands on one to put together a review.  I’ve been using it and thus far found it’s going lap for lap accurate with the Swimsense.  Look for an initial ‘First look’ type review post next week.  At some point following that I’ll go head to head feature by feature between it and the Swimsense.

Random Note #2: One Millllllliooooon

Sometime late Monday night one of you became my one-millionth visitor…and interestingly just a few hours prior someone viewed a page which became the two millionth page served around these parts.  Crazy…huh?  Thanks everyone!

(For those curious about those spikes in August, it’s from back to back linkage from Engadget on the Edge 800 and then Timex Global Trainer Reviews)

I would throw a party…but instead later today I’m going to jump into a nearly frozen Chesapeake Bay and freeze my ass off.  Hmm…

Have a great weekend all!

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