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I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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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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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.
“By most definitions, it’s a horrible ‘action cam’.”
Sony explicitly states that the RX0 is “definitely not an action cam”: link to cinema5d.com
It seems to be geared more towards the professional film making crowd looking for an excellent sensor in a minimal rugged package.
Yeah, I guess the question is what scenario you need a rugged packaged camera that connects to non-rugged gear to record it?
To me, that’s marketing double-speak. All of their marketing shows action scenarios (underwater for example), yet none of their marketing talks to the limitations of recording externally. Their media event was all about showing action
For example, you can’t record that 4K footage underwater. And there’s almost not validity in having a crush-proof casing when you can’t use it with external out because it would be crushy then. Ignoring the fact that I’ve never actually seen any scenario where a crush-proof case is needed (neat party trick though).
I will point out though that their multi-camera control continues to dominate what others in the space do (GoPro/Garmin/etc…).
I think on board stitching on the 360 has gotten much better since the latest update (3.3?). I rarely see stitching artifacts in my videos any more (except straight down, of course). Occasionally you’ll see them when one camera is in direct sunlight and the other isn’t.
I also tried RAW mode. It didn’t go precisely as your article indicated. I had no way to choose resolution on the iPhone app, but the raw clips themselves weren’t 4k since they were larger than that in file size. VIRB Edit went through the on-computer stitching pretty automatically, but the resulting final video seems to be 4k. Whether that’s due to being a time lapse or whether they haven’t yet fully upgraded VIRB Edit for macOS I don’t know.
Yeah, if you were on MacOS, that’s why it resulted in 4K. Hopefully we’ll get the update any day now from Garmin to enable 5.7K on Mac. I had to do the demo thing I did all on PC, since it supported 5.7K at the time (obviously, MacOS got the update a week or so ago).
For me on stitching on the VIRB – it’s good at distances, but less good close-up (i.e. handlebars). I haven’t really seen much GoPro footage that speaks to that range.
Still waiting for that in-depth of the Vector 3’s… ?
They haven’t delivered a final hardware or software variant yet (nor started shipping), so I’m holding off till then. But on the latest beta/RC firmware, things are looking pretty solid.
Any word on when shipment is expected? At announcement it was end of September so we’re now two weeks passed their initial expected shipment date.
It sounds like it’s roughly day to day. The hold-up is purely on the manufacturing side right now. The last I chatted with them about it was a touch over a week ago at the ANT+ Symposium. It’s possible things could be cleared up by now.
Thanks for the reply Ray ?
Thanks – standing by impatiently waiting for shipment…
Now, if we can just get an update from Wahoo on the Climb….
Climb is going to be a ‘barely skidding into home in early December’ sort of thing.
Hi Ray
the link to the SNAP v2 firmware looks like it takes you to the older firmware for the V1 – can’t see anything for the V2 ?
Yeah, I can’t seem to find the V2 firmware page yet. But, the firmware did go out.
Ray, over the years I have read your reviews and advice and truly appreciate all you do to help non-technology folks like me. I read your blog about power and running and I am confused. I use Garmin 920 xt but it appears that the 920 will not work with the update to show power? I want to learn more about using power data to improve my running but I really don’t want to purchase another watch. Did I misunderstand? THANKS
Correct, the FR920XT doesn’t support Garmin’s new/upcoming running power app. Though, it does support Stryd’s running power app.
Plus, there’s other companies (like RunScribe) coming out with units (actually, they just started shipping) that should work on older units too.
Thank you Ray, I appreciate that you take the time to reply personally
How did he record for 78hours? I guess from looking at the gpx export, joining GPX files together!
Why wouldn’t you be able to record for 75 Hours or more. I’m pretty sure that my Edge 1000 would go indefinitely if you keep attaching USB backup batteries.. Is there a limit to the size of a GPX file??
There’s no set limitations I’ve heard of in that timeframe, but most of the people going that long are doing it with wearables, not bike head units. And usually, with UltraTrac/Low-battery type settings, which don’t work as well on a road bike at road-bike speeds (they’re designed more for hiking speeds, since the update rate is much lower).
I don’t see head units on most of the pics in the Strava link, though do see one photo that might be a V650 – it’s hard to tell from far away.
Or he _really_ did have faith in Garmin…
Longest I have recorded on my Edge820 is 32,5 hours (little over 23 hours moving time), continuously connected to an external USB power pack. At least two other people had to kiss their Strava record goodbye because their Garmin 810 crashed…
It shoes his max speed at 205km/h, so if it was done as a single recording, perhaps he had it done with low GPS accuracy ?
I used a Garmin 910xt & their (old) Power Monkey to get me thru a number of 24-hr ultras. The watch is supposed to go for 24 hrs but I’d always have it turned on beforehand & the race length is the same as the expected battery length so I’d always recharge it for a bit, either at a longer rest stop or strap it to my wrist & do it on the go to ensure I captured the whole race.
Dumb decision to not allow on-the-go/during-race recharging with newer models, which is why I still use the 910 for 24-hr races.
All the newer models (in the last 2-3 years) support charging on the go. It was really only some in-between models (more than 3 years) that don’t allow it.
Where it’s tricky is the 2017 newer models have a sucky connector for wearing it on your wrist compared to the 1-2 year old models. But technically it’s possible.
Thanks for the info. I know it didn’t work with the 920 & the 735 had too short a battery life to even get many thru a full tri, let alone an ultra. Haven’t upgraded since because the other two work fine & haven’t seen enough features, yet, to justify a third GPS watch, along with the Virbs (plural), eTrex (plural), & Nuvi (plural).
Is it not possible to use the ‘resume later’ option which I have in my Fenix 3? I guess you could charge it when you stop to eat/sleep and then press resume activity..
He mentioned in one of the comments that Suunto was fixing the GPS data initially.
He mentioned something about SUUNTO in the comments. So my guess is Spartan or Ambit
Hey, recently in Poland was a cycling ultra-marathon around Poland. One participant registered a nonstop tour and posted it on strava: link to strava.com (3,153.4km / 142:40:16 h)
Ugh, how about a different comparison for 480p quality.
I can’t think of anything equally as ugly.
Ray, how are you doing with Apple Watch Series 3 review ? When can we expect that ?
We are all anxiously waiting :)
Cooking on it, I don’t have a specific day yet. Sorta a head to head race in whether Vivoactive 3 or Apple Watch 3 will be finished first. Both going out on daily rides/runs, like my afternoon ride today: link to analyze.dcrainmaker.com
Have the Apple Watch GPS freakouts been a common occurrence?
For HR yes. For GPS, only once.
I am getting consistently longer distances (faster paces) on trail runs with the Apple vs the Vivoactive HR. Wish it were true, but alas, I trust the Garmin. Not as bad when I am street running, but still off. The GPS track doesn’t look that bad however. I need to dig deeper to see if I can tell what is going on.
Polar shut off of older Watches – Garmin data available and NOT locked in cloud
I looked at your twitter feed and someone was complaining that Garmin had done something similar in not allowing you to view activities prior to 2010. I just checked and can see activities to January 2007, which I believe is about the time I picked up my first 305 and only about six months after you picked up your first 305. So, it appears I can view every Garmin activity I have ever done since I have owned a Garmin first in January 2007. Not sure who these trolls are but Garmin data seems still available from my very first activity. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
Ray:
Could influence Garminto add Varia Radar & Varia HUD for the Fenix 3? I think this is highly unlikely, but it can not hurt to ask.
x2
It’s unlikely because there’s no space left in the code. The changes you see above are basically single line-item type changes which don’t require extra code.
Ray:
I was wondering if your 2017/2018 trainer review is going to be available soon? I have the itch to buy a new trainer for this winter. I am trying to be patient, so I can get your input, which is always helpful.
I think there are a lot of people waiting for this one.
Looking to replace my Bkool pro and want to make a better choice this time.
I’m hoping tomorrow. Most of it is done, just need to finish some pics.
Ray, any updates on the Edge 1030 grade issues (i.e. reporting approx. half the grade above around 7%-8%)? Fixed in any new betas?
Thanks!
The current unreleased beta firmware is said to fix the grade issues. While I am running it, I haven’t had a chance to re-find a 7-8% hill nearby on ride.
I think Polar may only be the tip of the iceberg. The GDPR essentially makes it illegal to assume consent when it comes to data collection and sharing. From next year onward every company, public service or anything that gathers data will have to explain explicitly how the data is going to be used and who it will be shared with.As a health service worker this is going to be huge but I think tech firms are going to be having nightmares about it.
True, I do agree that GDPR makes life difficult.
But I don’t agree with Polar throwing GDPR under the bus for their pre-Flow woes. Which is what they’re doing. They’re basically saying (via Twitter/etc…) that because of GDPR, they can’t run PPT any longer. And perhaps that’s accurate. But that’s sidestepping the issue of simply not updating Polar Flow Sync to support these legacy devices.
Would it be possible to prevent motorized doping (at least in pro peloton) by checking power files? I mean if a motor is used wouldn’t you see low power/high speeds cases?
Clearly if you’re going to do it you’d be smarter than that. For example, you’d start using a rear hub based power meter and a downtube motor. Then you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference: faster speed would show more power, and whose to say if the power was coming from a motor or your legs? You wouldn’t put out 1200 w for several hours and solo away from the peloton (from what I’ve read, the batteries don’t last all that long anyway), you’d just add a little extra on hard climbs or sprints or something, below the threshold of unbelief.
Personally I’d ban anyone using a motor for life. It seems to me a higher level of cheating than PED’s. Lance Armstrong and other dopers had to generate every joule with their legs, they just enhanced their muscles with PED’s so that they could generate more of them. Relying on batteries and motors is worse.
While it might be challenging to see motor usage in files, it certainly could be done with algorithms pretty easily.
There’s actually been a contingent of people (that I agree with), that would say that power files from accurate power meters would probably be more useful in doping (of all types) than the blood passport in certain stages (like climbs). It makes it really easy to spot non-human efforts, or efforts that aren’t known to be possible without drugs.
The CT link for the Virb shows the price as $799. Must have been a quick sale! :)
Grr…my bad, I misread the date and it just ended. :(
“I think it calls into serious question whether you should buy any device that you can’t get the data off through other means if the web platform behind it dies.”
While this is true and I also don’t like that nowadays everything relies on some webservice, technically you can get the data off via websync, but it’s much more complicated and in a fileformat that no one supports (polar hrm), not even polar flow – actually for that matter, AFAIK you can’t import any activities to polar flow via file upload regardless the filetype.
And besides that, you can’t load training plans onto your watch without ppt or create them directly on the watch (at least for my RCX3)
Exemplary approach to the famous quote: “My biggest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my bicycles for what I told her they cost!”
Hey
Ray awesome site! when will your winter 2 017-2018 winter cycling gear guide be published?
It would seem, from your video, that you had some time with Hammerhead recently. Do you think they will be hitting their current timeline to start shipping the Karoo in the last week of October, or will it slip again? Have you an concerns about the continual slipping of this release date?
What do you think about the timing of the next upgrade cycle of Garmin Fenix 6/ 945, etc? Worth waiting?
I have been running with an Apple watch 2 (got for music/GPS/HR….but not really using music as much as I thought) and riding with it and Strava on an iphone. Phone dies after 30 miles, but recording on watch instead helps alot. But getting more into my training with longer rides, I just bought a Garmin 1030. Adding swimming now, and apple just doesn’t share their data off their watch well enough. I think my next addition will be Vector 3’s& Tacx Neo. Then heading into winter seems like a reason to wait for what I suspect will be a spring upgrade world for wrist units.
Your thoughts? Worth waiting until spring. Will the next go round bring any leaps forward or mostly incremental?