Product Reviews

Over the course of the past few years, I’ve reviewed a number of products. Most of them, it’s simply because I went out and bought the product and gave it a whirl. In some cases, it’s because a company sent me their product to review. I differentiate within each review how I came about the product. I tend to be super-detailed in my reviews – some might even say over the top. That’s just my style, leave no stone unturned! If you have any questions about any of my reviews, feel free to leave a comment at the end of each post.

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Other Reviews

Bod Pod & Consumer Scale Comparison Tests: Part I

I’ve always wanted to do some sort of comparison test between many of the consumer scales that are out there today that measure both weight as well as body fat against one of the more expensive options such as the … Read More Here

Converting a $99 Target Schwinn beach cruiser into my Wedding Bike

When we were planning our wedding that happened back in July, one detail that kept creeping up was our ‘departure vehicle’ – that is, how exactly we’d be departing the ceremony and arriving at the reception.  Often times the bride … Read More Here

Behind the scenes on my aquatic product review posts

Monday night I had my usual Monday easy swim, and since it’s summer, I was able to do it outdoors in the town pool (during the winter, I’m stuck indoors).  I had planed afterwards to spend a bit of time … Read More Here

The Seattle Century 2011 Ride Report

Since my triathlon season has largely transitioned to running for the rest of the year, I was able to mix things up a bit and enjoy doing a fun century ride with my Dad while I was out in Seattle … Read More Here

Gadget or Gimmick: CamelBak Flow Meter

Back a while ago I ordered the CamelBak Flow Meter (with my own money).  This nifty little $30 gadget is designed to sit inline on your existing CamelBak drinking straw/tube and measure how much you consume.  It’ll also tell you … Read More Here

The ANT+ Bike Speed/Cadence Sensor: Everything you ever wanted to know

After the popular ‘everything you ever wanted to know’ post I did back this winter on the footpod, I decided it was time to continue the series with the Speed/Cadence sensor.  Thankfully, the speed/cadence sensor is actually a bit less … Read More Here

Experimenting with using the Garmin GTU 10 tracker during Ironman Boise 70.3

This past weekend I did a bit of an experiment with the Garmin GTU 10 (GTU = Garmin Tracking Unit), and Ironman Boise 70.3.  Many of you followed along on a separate Twitter account as both The Girl and I … Read More Here

A look at CompuTrainer ANT+ integration via ctANT+

On Wednesday an application developer jumped onto the scene with what is probably the coolest new completed CompuTrainer development in years: The ability to use ANT+ sensors directly with CompuTrainer.  This replaces much of the cabling that is typically required … Read More Here

My photo shoot day at Men’s Health Magazine

(Quick side note: If you saw yesterday’s post regarding wireless downloading from the FR310XT straight to the web via an iPhone without a computer, I’ve updated it with new comments from Garmin.  In short, they’re looking for feedback as to … Read More Here

A look at the Trek/Bontrager frame integrated DuoTrap ANT+ Speed/Cadence Sensor

A few weeks ago The Girl brought home her new bike, the Trek Speed Concept, which is one of the very few bikes out there that includes the option to add a frame-integrated ANT+ speed/cadence sensor.  The sensor kit fits … Read More Here

Biospeed Aerus Bike Case Review: How I travel with my bike

A Bit of Background: If you travel as much as I do for work (150,000+ miles last year), you’ve got no choice but to get creative with your training.  There’s simply no way you can be competitive at all three … Read More Here

Checking out the EZ-Trainer iPad ANT+ App

With the introduction of the Wahoo Fitness ANT+ Dongle last year, there’s been a flood of iPhone apps that have supported adding ANT+ data (Heart Rate, Power, Speed, Cadence, Weight Scales, etc…).  Everything from small apps you’ve never heard of, … Read More Here

Zeo – In Depth Product Review

WARNING: Zeo has since gone out of business. When I first heard about the Zeo I assumed it was simply yet another device that ‘measures’ sleep.  But once I got the unit and started to dig into it, I realized … Read More Here

Behind the scenes on product reviews

It occurred to me recently that it might be a bit entertaining to get a ‘behind the scenes’ view on how product reviews come together.  While product review posts actually total a very small number of the total posts I … Read More Here

Sport Tracks 3.0 Upgrade Review

Over the past few months I’ve gotten a ton of questions around Sport Tracks 3.0 and what I think of it.  In the past I’ve recommended Sport Tracks in the past pretty heavily because of it’s free status and because … Read More Here

Guest Post: ‘The Girl’ Speaks!

(Quick note from Ray: The following was actually written before we got engaged this past weekend.  She had no idea about that, and she put together this post a few months back and I hemmed and hawed waiting to post … Read More Here

The NYC Tri Expo and Underwear Run

Quick Administrative Note: In an effort to bring you the latest scantily clad triathletes running around central park, the normally scheduled Weekly Mailbag post will instead appear tomorrow.  Thanks! As you might have guessed by the title, I’m up in … Read More Here

The New Garmin Forerunner 310XT Openwater Swim Mode…In Depth.

Last week Garmin quietly introduced a new upgrade to the Garmin Forerunner 310XT watch that now enables an open water swim mode.  This new feature aims to allow you to get accurate distance in the water while using the watch … Read More Here

Little Washington

The weekend started Friday after a nice flight back from the West Coast.  Upon arriving home I found all sorts of packages had arrived.  While some weren’t terribly exciting (new seat post for an older bike), I did get one … Read More Here

Washington DC Capitol Cupid’s Undies Run

Earlier in the week a few friends (almost all simultaneously) shot me an e-mail about an upcoming ‘run’ around the Capitol building here in DC.  Except, unlike most running events that round the rotunda, this particular one lacked one key … Read More Here

Review of i-gotU GPS Travel Logger

When the folks that make the i-gotU GPS Travel Logger sent me an e-mail earlier this summer asking me to review their latest gadget…I happily said yes.  As many of you know, I love taking photos, enjoy travelling, and also … Read More Here

Ironman Canada – Underwear Run

Well, technically it’s called the ‘Underpants Run’, but – essentially all the same.  For those of you who’ve been around the block a while on this blog, you might remember I stumbled into the back of this last year during … Read More Here

Review of Tech4O Trail Leader2 Sports Watch

Back in late December I was contacted to review a new sports watch that’s out – the Tech4O TrailLeader 2 Sports Watch. A couple days later it arrived on my doorstep – just in time for my various end of … Read More Here

Baking the shoes – review of Sof Sole Energy foot beds

A few weeks back I was given the opportunity to review and check out a pair of Sof Sole Adapt Energy foot beds, as well as some socks. These are designed to fit into your shoes to more appropriately support … Read More Here

Spot Tracker Review

Here’s the third post in as many weeks reviewing various devices I’ve accumulated over the past year.  As always, these are more for long-term reference that people find than they are for daily readers.  Although I think many of you … Read More Here