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In Depth Product Reviews
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
2
Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
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Have some fun in the travel section.
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My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
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!
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The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
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 2023 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.
Looking forward to review, looking to get first powermeter and unfortunately haven’t won the Lotto yet…
There’s a brief review on one of the german sites
link to powermeter24.com
Looks quite positive.
How does this fit in with the xpedo thrust pedals as this looks to be using their cleats etc.
I had wondered the same at first, but definitely substantially different pedals. The Xpedo Thurst-E units were totally internal in terms of electronics, whereas the bePro has that little side thingy.
Also, different battery schemes too.
Will this be made available in the U.S.? I’m not holding my breath for the powerbeat despite what you reported in the podcast!
Too bad it’s only ANT+ and not dual.
This looks really interesting, waiting to see how it works with high cadence(track sprinting). Pitty it’s only 2000W. Might be good on my road bike most of the year and at times on the track bike when testing where I am.
Do you spend much time about 2000w…?
Training for Rio going well I presume?!
Not long times, but my peak power goes over 2000W at times. I’m not olympic level, but I think many of us bigger track sprinters hit 2kW
700W: link to youtube.com
Yes, that’s 700W steady pace for one minute. I can average 850W for one min, but then it’s a high 1500W peak that drops to about 500W at the end. Forsti doing 700W steady pace for a minute with that low cadence is incredible.
it looks a bit like the limits power meter !
i didn’t see this coming
i see it as a small battery life just 30 hours before it needs charging
plus its USB port they do not like rain much but i fort that might be a problem when riding in wet conditions like here in the UK and Europe
but you never know…
Hello,
Can You check if padals are compatibles with “Garmin cycling dynamics” function?
Thanks
No, only Garmin Vector pedals can transmit that – as Garmin makes that communication channel private.
Thanks
But they can be used with the edge 510? Right?
Stance width increase was my main concern but it seems to be only slight. The pic on the bePro site shows 53mm from centre line of pedal body to the contact with the arm. I’m off to measure my Keo’s ;-)
It’s identical (that’s what that photo I included is showing).
Thought so, just checking. There is a bit of parallax error going on in the pic ;-)
Yeah. There wasn’t a great way to take it, since if I tried to put them nose to tail, the one falls over due to the pod thingy.
Can’t wait till your in depth review ;) This could really be my product. I can pass on cycling dynamics if the pedals cost almost half that of the Garmin Vector (Retailing for about 1400 euro). It supports L/R balance, Torque Efficiency and Power Stroke, just don’t know if a Garmin unit will report and store it in a fit file from a non-Garmin power meter, but if so: more than enough for me.
Garmin head units store power data from every other ant+ powermeter, this one will be no different.
These look to be Keo cleats. Am i right?
Wondering why there isn’t a single Shimano SPD-SL based powermeter… i mean, it’s not a big deal, as the cleats are provided anyways, just currious.
Correct, Keo.
Not to be a post or anything just wondering if you’ll have the review up soon. I am on the verge of buying a power meter and am tempted by these.
But would love to know your thoughts on them before I buy them.
Post should be pest.
Yeah, per the post I started testing on July 25th (well, actually, a couple days later). So far I’m working through them with a review about 2 weeks out still.
I took the plunge and bought some. First impressions very good, some set up issues in getting the right hand side pedal to stay put once set as per the instructions, think that one is now sorted, but do take care on your understanding of clockwise and counter-clockwise, as bePro will not cover damage to the unit caused by turning the lock ring into the sensor and damaging it. My Garmin 800 happy to talk to the pedals no problems there and initial data readings were very good.
Currently have an issue that I have been unable to resolve using the web site FAQ etc and the company are on holiday until the end of August (hope they are having a fun time) but previous correspondence with them before I purchased was answered very promptly.
What issue are you having (I might be able to assist)?
Thank you for the offer of assistance, I feel a little unfair in airing my issues with the product without first giving the bePro guys first shot so please bear this is mind if you considering purchasing from them, it’s possible that the problem is down to pilot error.
Garmin 800 head unit, detects the power meter/meters, after initial calibration which said “calibration successful” and riding off power is displayed, this then decreases in power shown and then gives a “0” reading.
Recalibration out on the road has produced same result. Pedals or Headunit ???
Further attempts to calibrate now result in a “failed calibration”
Couple of quick questions:
A) Did you set the crank length within the Edge 800 bike profile?
B) When you did initial calibration, you did it with crank arms vertical and off bike – correct?
C) When you did secondary calibration, you did the 30s pedaling and then did you eventually get the four digits?
I haven’t tried it with the Edge 800 yet (all of my testing has been with the Edge 810). And I assume you’re on latest Edge 800 firmware?
Thanks for the observations and advice, I got to the point where I went for a take it all off and start again policy. Upon dismantling the right side pedal I am now aware of a lock ring issue, it seems to be slightly cross threaded and fails to secure against the crank arm. I will now wait for bePro to return from vacation and see what there take is on a way forward :-(
Bummer, yeah, I fear mostly mechanical/structural things at this point with the unit, I think software/accuracy-wise things are looking fairly good in my testing.
That’s really odd that they’d actually take-off in August for vacation. I mean, I get August vacations (after all, I live in Europe now) – but usually not for the entire company when you’re selling consumer products. That’s a huge hole.
Hi, when it will be available the review of Bepro?
Hi. That’s time for the review now according to your last comment DCR! Really intrigued to see how this stacks up to the P1 given the lower price.
Yup, I’ve got a bunch of really good data collected right now (and things are looking solid on accuracy). I’m not sure I’ll be able to squeak out a review this week, given the flood of posts I’m working on for Eurobike, but failing that, I’ll be out next week.
My only reason concern at this stage continues to be how well the physical hardware will hold up. Install can be a little funky, but I’ve done it a few times now and have mostly got the hang of it.
Uuuhh.. so close..! The review has to be so close now.. can’t wait..;-)
waiting on this one too. still trying to make my mind up between 4iiii , Powerbeat or this.
I can’t wait for your review! Trying to decide whether to get the Garmin Vectors now, or hold out for a bit and get these. bePro website says they expect availability from Sep 15th. Any recommendations?!
It looks like this PM is at the end of a long Queue :)
Yes, many posts to get out the door. I continue to see zero issues with accuracy of the bePro on every ride conditions I can throw it at. I’ve got probably 15-20 rides on it now.
Meanwhile, I do continue to get more concerned with the long term pod design. My unit is looking pretty rough after just over a month now of usage. Doors easily fall off (though it is internally waterproofed, but still). And the battery life is definitely suspect (charging far more often than I’d expected). Not sure if those are deal killers given the accuracy is solid – but something to be aware of.
(And the above is roughly what my entire review would say if consolidated down into one paragraph).
I’m kidding, I know that we will get great review. I saw even it at your Giant with The Tacx NEO Smart Trainer.
Thank you for posting your conclusion.
Have you considered to get in touch with the company and tell them about your concerns, hardware and battery?
Maybe they will appreciate that, and maybe they allready are working on product enhancements, wich would be nice to know..
Yes, I’ll discuss it with them as I get to the point of writing things up. I’ve already discussed the plastics piece, and was essentially told that it’ll hold up.
If you are concerned about durability, maybe you should try to break them. Seriously! I do own a pair and they’re working perfectly fine so far. They got some scratches, too. Would be interesting to know if those “two-component epoxy resin filler” works as advertised.
I generally don’t try and purposefully break things. I try and use them as intended, up to the limits the companies specify. There are rare exceptions, but I think I somewhat proved my point already in this case, with being less than ideal only 45 or so days in.
I wrote some time ago, about issues I had with the initial fitting and subsequent problems with the pedals. Having reached an agreement with the company, having waited for most of August with no communication from them due to a total factory holiday shut down, that return for assessment was the way to go and that upon receipt they would keep me informed and post out a repaired or replaced pair within 24 to 48 hours.
My tracked parcel arrived to them on the following Monday and by the Friday I sent a query mail to find out what was going on!!! The next Monday saw a reply, the up shot being it would seem that I had miss fitted my pedals, requiring repair and a bill for those works, payable by a bankers draft before any goods would be returned.
Favero on their part did give a generous discount to their published repair costs and have as far as I know added in some extras that included the attachment to torque set the fitting of the lock rings and some extra crank sticker makers.
The locking nut assembly seems to now have been updated to prevent incorrect installation and a software upgrade has made the dynamic calibration easier, I cannot say whether either change is effective as I am still awaiting my pedals return from Italy, with luck they should arrive in the next few days.
In summery make real sure you fit your pedals with care, any markings to the sensor pods by the lock rings will most probably invalidate your warranty, and if returned as such will all most certainly require a payment for repair.
What warranty/guarantee are the pedals being supplied with? If there are durability issues already in testing then it looks as if warranty claims could be high – unless it is a very limited warranty.
From what Rhett Butler describes, there was an installation issue that Favero have recognised by issuing better instructions, stickers, tools and an updated lock ring.
Favero appear to be doing product testing at Rhett’s expense and inconvenience.
As regard Italian summer shut downs – they all do that it seems. We had print machinery in a factory and nothing would be available for a month during summer from the Italian suppliers.
The Saga continues, I took delivery of my repaired pedals last week, reread the new fitting instructions and using the torque attachment that was supplied free of charge installed the pedals, Then mounted the bike onto my turbo trainer (a new acquisition but not purchased solely for the calibrating the be-Pro pedals, although it does make the job much easier) I calibrated both static and dynamic protocols with success.
First ride out seems to have produced good solid data and things were looking up, that is until the right side pedal broke, at the rear pivot point that retains the rear of the cleat and gives the reassuring “Click” when the shoe engages.
An email with photo’s was sent to Favero who have dispatched spare parts and instructions on how to repair, hopefully they will arrive before my departure to the Pyrenees this coming weekend, if they do great but I think I just might take the old pedals a long to, just in case.
Hope it hangs together for you during the trip – keep us all updated.
Really would like some power meter pedals myself to work on a leg imbalance on the turbo over the winter but these are sounding a bit problematic.
Might have to look at the Powertap offering if yours and DCR’s report make the longevity issue a doubt.
Enjoy your riding.
G’ day Ray,
Any chance of getting the Suunto Traverse in the queue?
Rhett, do you have an update of your Pyrenees adventure and the pedals?
Thanks
jerry
Hey Jerry
Pyrenees report is as follows. The repair/replacement pedal arrived in time and was an easy fit, I made the decision to swap out the pedals onto my Roubaix bike for the mountains and the dismantle and re install went smoothly, re-calibration was also not an issue. After 10 days of riding the hills in a mix of weather I’m very happy with my pedals, good uninterrupted data (the pros can sleep safe ;-) ) No problems at all.
They did require a recharge at the mid point of my stay, but that was not a drama as adequate warning was given of low power through the head unit (Garmin 800).
In summery, I would still buy these pedals, fitting needs to be precise but for the money I think they offer good value for money, sure I have had issues but in part that was down to my own haste. The company have on the whole been quick to respond, lets not mention August, and helpful in resolving issues and answering questions.
link to strava.com is the data from one of the rides in the mountains, gives you what you will get in terms of data.
I enjoy your reviews and think you do an awesome job. Your reviews are very thorough (sometimes too thorough for me, but that’s my problem).
I recent noticed something that may or may not be on your radar: Nixon “The Mission” Watch
This is more of a general purpose smartwatch, so it may not be in your wheelhouse. I’ll be watching the queue. And hoping to see its entry and exit.
Ack! Totally did not mean for this comment/request to be part of any particular queue. Was thinking that it was going to a more generic queue comment section.
Apologies for the noise. Rookie move.
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Grant
Looking forward to this review!
The full in-depth review is available here: link to dcrainmaker.com
Cheers!