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, Facebook, and Google Plus, 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!
DCRainmaker.com posts this past week:
Here’s all the goodness that ended up on the main page of DCRainmaker.com this past week.
Monday: 5 Random Things I Did This Past Weekend(ish)
Tuesday: Paris-Nice 2014: Going to watch a stage of the famous race
Tuesday: The Past Week in Review: March 11th, 2014
Wednesday: Garmin Vivofit In-Depth Review
Friday: The Because It’s Almost St. Patrick’s Day…Giveaway
Stuff that 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:
1) FitBit Force Recall Tally: 10,000 unit complaints: Ok then…playing the numbers game a bit, FitBit had previously said it impacted only 1.7% of all FitBit Force users. Thus, they’ve apparently sold ~588,000 FitBit Force units. Yet, the CPSC notice says it impacted over 1 million of the units sold. Interesting discrepancy.
2) Ice Cream Cleanse Diet: I suppose the link says it’s probably not ideal for you. But I see no reason why that should stop me.
3) How to make Nutella Banana Rice Cakes for training fuel: Ben, you’re brilliant.
4) On attempting to catch a baseball from a blimp: Interesting little bone-breaking historical tidbit from way back when. (via my Dad)
5) POC bait and switch: Octal comes in 55 grams heavy: Great analysis from Dan on where the POC helmet was changed since initial marketing.
6) Jawbone’s ‘Up Coffee’ app tracks your caffeine intake, estimates when you’ll finally be able to sleep: In playing with it, it’s clear I need to drink more hot chocolate.
7) Famous Paris Swimming Pool gets renovated into fancy restaurant, hotel: The before and almost-after photos if you follow the link are fairly impressive. Though, I kinda like the graffiti look.
8) Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 – Marcel Kittel throwing his bike: Ahh yes, the classic bike toss. Well played. Actually, this Twitter post later on was pretty funny: “I’m VERY sorry for throwing my beloved Giant Propel on the ground. I still love it! We’re just having an intense relationship. #deepemotions”
9) GoPro High Fashion commercial: I’ll just let the video speak for itself.
10) Class action suit proposed over Garmin Forerunner 610 separating from band: This is sorta a weird suit, given that the issue was fixed pretty early on years ago, and Garmin happily replaced any band with the pin problems (and still does). Same goes for the whole skin reaction issue, even today if you call about a FR610 with rash/discoloration/etc, they’ll swap it out for a plastic one (looks like metal, but is plastic instead).
Crowd Funded Projects of Athletic Note:
Most of this content used to be found within the main section, but I figured I’d just call it out up here and make it easy to find. I regularly sift through Kickstarter and Indiegogo (plus a few others on occasion) looking for sports projects. Note that as always with crowd funded projects, assume the project will be late and will under-deliver on features. Thus far, on the numerous products I’ve helped ‘fund’ (except a leather bike handle), that’s been the case. And finally, me simply mentioning them below is definitely not an endorsement, it’s just me mentioning they exist.
Healbe GoBe: A Method to Automatically Measure Calorie Intake:
Nevermind: A Biofeedback Horror Adventure Game: This game uses an ANT+ heart rate strap to drive your interaction through the game.
Sports Technology Software/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 is 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?
Site/Firmware Updates:
(These are all since just Tuesday)
Leikr firmware update: Adds ANT+ footpod support, indoor running profile.
Adidas miCoach site update: They’ve now added CSV export functionality. Great to see. Now, if they’d only do .TCX or .FIT, we’d be set.
Garmin Forerunner 220 firmware update: Various bug fixes
Garmin Forerunner 620 firmware update: Changes to WiFi connectivity, various bug fixes.
Wahoo Fitness RFLKT+ firmware update: Addresses a battery drain item.
iPhone:
iPad:
(No iPad sport technology related updates since midweek)
Android:
Windows Phone:
(No Windows Phone sport technology related updates since midweek)
—
Thanks for reading!
FOUND THIS POST USEFUL? SUPPORT THE SITE!
Hopefully, you found this post useful. The website is really a labor of love, so please consider becoming a DC RAINMAKER Supporter. This gets you an ad-free experience, and access to our (mostly) bi-monthly behind-the-scenes video series of “Shed Talkin’”.
Support DCRainMaker - Shop on Amazon
Otherwise, perhaps consider using the below link if shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but your purchases help support this website a lot. It could simply be buying toilet paper, or this pizza oven we use and love.
No write up on the Paris smog and free public transport (you’d have liked the free Velib’s I take it)??
I’ll mention it a bit in my post tomorrow. We have Velib passes anyway, so it’s a bit of a wash for us. Though, free Metro is nice. :)
Nevermind looks awesome, only it didn’t reach its funding goal so too late now :(
Ray-
Got the update for Vector. Thanks for letting us know last week. Anyway, is there a site or somewhere where I can read for better understanding for what Torque Effectivess and Peddle Smoothness mean? I just want to have a better understanding of what the numbers mean. It’s all so new so not sure if there’ll be much. It’s all fun whatever they mean! Haha. Thanks Ray.
This post explains it a little bit: link to forums.garmin.com
In addition to the forum, Garmin has updated their FAQ with expanded answers on the new power metrics in the Vector software update. here is the link.
link to support.garmin.com{e619b440-c991-11e0-cf56-000000000000}
You should consider putting up a vote for the best video clip of the week, which is featured on your weekly review. That GoPro fashion video was just plain awesome!
Hey Ray,
So I’m just now hearing about this gobe tracker. Thanks for the share. Do you know where I could find any info/reviews from there showing at ces? Or maybe what your thoughts are. As a triathlete it would be awesome to not have to manually track sleep, hydration and calorie intake (does it break down carbs, protein, fat intake too?).
Thanks so much for the info
Not a ton of info there. It’s definitely interesting stuff, but accuracy of course is going to be paramount. I wish I had more to go on there.
That GoPro commercial is more real world here than you know. The hubs and I were commenting this morning on the fact that we are the worst dressed bikers in Northern Italy. And I’ve learned from the stink-eyes I get from customers that stopping into the local cafe for a coffee in my biking/running gear is frowned upon.
Great GoPro commercial. Of course. Can’t believe how she kept looking at the camera unafraid of how close they were to the mountain face.
One thing is for sure. You’ll never see me participate in any such activity. One crippling injury without jumping out of planes, from bridges, buildings or mountains is enough for me. I may not be able to work out for a while, nor do any sports or physical work; but at least I’m not in a wheelchair, a vegetable or worse dead. I’ll keep my two feet on land or water; and try to keep myself safer, without being a daredevil or adrenaline junky. Thank you.
The UP Coffee app is pretty cool. Works best with a Jawbone Up24, of course. Just looked at reviews and it seems to rate poorly. Unfortunate. There’s little real-estate left on my wrists, anyway. Whichever gets MyFitnessPal first – Polar Loop or Garmin Vivofit – the other device and FitBit Flex go in a drawer. With my BodyMedia Link – worked great but I got skin sensitivity to the unit.
Hi Ray,
I enjoyed the piece about the Pacific Coast League. My Dad grew up in California and rooted for the Hollywood Stars. When I was young, he would tell me stories about the league and some of the more zany players.
It brought back fond memories.
Richard
Regarding the POC helmet, this is from their website:
SIZES: Small (50-56 cm), Medium (54-60 cm), Large (56-62 cm)
WEIGHT CE 190 g (S), 195 g (M), 205 g (L)
WEIGHT CPSC 230 g (S), 250 (M) 285 (G)
Do you think you’ll test out and review the GoBe watch? I’m tempted to buy it, but likely won’t without one of your reviews. I’m not an early adopter, and I’m extremely skeptical of how accurate it could be!
Down the road, definitely. But not immediately.
The Force numbers of 1 million units include those units in transport to retail outlets, in warehouses and on display at the time of the recall. A Fitbit Customer Service rep confirmed in their forums that actual sales numbers are 582,000 sold to consumers. The 1.7% figure now is also inaccurate because while sales have stopped, the number of rashes being reported continues to increase, and is most likely to be something over 2-2.5% at this time. Count me an affected user who is still waiting for answers from the company about the adhesive now suspected to be the cause of the rash. Fitbit remains silent on the specific adhesive involved.