Garmin’s top-of-the-line multi-sport watch the fēnix 3 just got a high fashion sibling that looks more a Breitling Chronliner and less like a bloated Forerunner. Sure, the new fēnix Chronos still does all the cycling things that the fenix does. It can pair with your ANT+ power meter, cadence/speed sensors, and heart rate monitor and upload it live to Strava (when paired with a smartphone). It also keeps track of routes,compassing, altimeter, and temperature changes, but this one comes in titanium, steel, and steel with a vintange leather band.
“High-end design meets top-tier performance with fēnix Chronos,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “With luxurious materials and trusted Garmin multisport technology, fēnix Chronos is a necessary timepiece for anyone who wants to remain stylish through all of life’s adventures – whether its hiking through mountains, training for a race, or heading to a formal event.”
As you might have guessed all this fancy comes at a price. The fēnix Chronos titanium with titanium band will cost $1,500 (more than twice the cost of the previous top of the line fēnix 3); fēnix Chronos steel with stainless steel band $1000; and fēnix Chronos steel with leather band will cost $900. The price does include a silicone sport band for when you want to get it sweaty.
We’ve called the fēnix 3 one of the best bike computers you can wear on your wrist, and Chronos looks even better. For the official word from Garmin, follow the jump.
Yeah. Today was a pretty big deal in Olympic BMX. That’s because today was the first time an American has won gold in the event that was invented in the United States.
The USA’s Connor Fields (of Las Vegas, Nevada) was one of four American riders who made it into the final medal round in men’s BMX. After getting what he called the best start of his life it made it first to the line for the gold.
“It was in the final turn that I realized these last 17+ years of riding all came down to this one moment,” Fields said about the last 70 meters to the finish. “My experience in London taught me that it doesn’t matter how you get to the finals, it doesn’t matter what gate – everyone has a chance. I had the best start of my life in that final and today was my day. My chance.”
Connor wasn’t the only American to medal. In the women’s event Minnesota’s Alise Post landed a silver medal. American’s also finished in fourth place in both the Men’s and Women’s events. Not a bad day for USA BMX. For the official word, please follow the jump.
Taylor Phinney has been through the fire and come out the other side after breaking his leg at 2014 USA Road Nationals. Now, as he prepares for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, the Lululemon ambassador shares his thoughts on cycling, life, and what it all means.
With the popularity of Smith’s Forefront and Overtake helmets for MTB and road (we ride them both) came the need for some helmets that are a little less serious for people who might not be racing their bikes every weekend.
“The Route and Rover helmets represent a movement within Smith to bring the award winning technologies found in our popular Forefront and Overtake helmets to the everyday rider.” said Graham Sours, Smith Helmet Category Manager. “We ride on the road, in the dirt, and commute by bike and these new models exemplify all of us as cyclists in our own unique way.”
Think of them as an affordable, yet functional helmets for those who don’t feel like spending for top of the line Smith helmets. For the official word from Smith, please follow the jump.
In celebration of their 50th Anniversary Vans is dropping their second installment of their Classics Anniversary Collection which this time includes a couple tributes to some of Vans’ best BMX team members.
With tribute releases inspired by freestyle BMX pioneer Eddie Fiola and cherished BMX innovator Dennis McCoy, the fall assortment upholds Vans’ unwavering support of the BMX sport, and aptly coincides with the release of Vans’ first full-length BMX film, Illustrated—available now on iTunes.
Which reminds us — it’s about time we all watched Rad again, isn’t it? For the official word from Vans, please follow the jump.
Few riders have to worry about rocks and roots coming at them at the same speed they rocket into World Downhill Champ Greg Minnaar’s field of view, but Oakley’s Prizm lens will still make it better.
A three-time mountain bike downhill champion, Greg Minnaar has built a career on assessing and reacting to every detail that comes his way. When he misses a detail, the South African can’t perform at the highest level. Whether it’s a root on the trail or the suspension on his bike, the tiniest details can have the greatest outcome. Minnaar talks about all those minute details while letting loose on his bike on the trails around Santa Cruz, Calif.
And yes, that is Minnar in Santa Cruz. Click the link for more Oakley’s Prizm Lens Technology.
In the latest iOS update to their cycling and running tracking app (version 4.18), Strava has announced that they will no longer support several devices that have worked well with the app in the past saying:
Sadly, we are no longer supporting the following devices: Magellan Echo, Timex Run x50+, Wahoo RFLKT/RLFKT+. Please contact us with questions by going to FAQ & Support in the app.
According to Strava support, users of the RFLKT can still use their devices with Wahoo’s fitness app and then upload to Strava. User of the other devices are out of luck.
“As the Strava app evolves, we continue to assess the work needed to support all the various accessories, sensors, watches and operating systems,” said a Strava representative. “Sometimes, it is necessary to cease supporting some devices so we can redirect those development resources elsewhere. Thank you for understanding, and please reach out to our support team directly with questions and feedback.
Guess the bottom line is, if you’re using any of these devices it might be time to upgrade to something else. . . maybe a Garmin 735xt for instance? If not, then you probably shouldn’t hit the update button.
Blackburn (the cycling accessories company) has a new film they’d like you to see about some adventure bike camping titled Roll With It. It features the set up for a joke: a photographer, a musician, an artist, a food blogger, and an ecologist hit the road on bikes. The film is the rest of the story.
“Camping by bike is an adventure everyone can experience without over complicating it.” says, Robin Sansom, Blackburn’s brand manager. “This film, at the core, is about the unexpected rituals strangers have when they embark on a bike and camp adventure together. We look forward to bringing this to communities all over the world in hopes of inspiring more people to get outside.”
The movie premieres whti month in LA and New York. For the official word, please follow the jump.
We hesitate to give The Lost Sierra Triple Crown grinder series any play, because truthfully, we like keeping our corner of NorCal free from the ravages of bike over population, but sometimes a series is just too good to keep quiet about. And this is one of them.
The Lost Sierra Triple Crown is made up of three events. The first event, Lost & Found, rolls out this Saturday (June 4, 2016) from Lake Davis, California. According to organizers the Lost & Found course “features a perfect blend of pavement, dirt road, gravel road and historic railroad grade with 100 miles, 7,000 feet of climbing, and is 80 percent dirt. The second is the world famous Downieville Classic in August 6, 2016, and the third (and one you should not miss) is the Grinduro in Quincy, California on October 8, 2016.
These events take place on some of the most amazingly beautiful remote pavement, gravel, and singletrack that you will find anywhere in the world. We’d say more, but we’ll just leave it at this. . . from one of our undisclosed rides last summer.
Looking for something to watch on Netflix this weekend while recovering from Memorial Day celebrations? We have just the film. Inspired to Ride, from the producers of Ride the Divide and Reveal the Path, is a beautifully shot record of the first ever Trans Am Bike Race across 4,233 miles, ten states, all self supported.
It’s the antithesis to events like Tour de France and Race Across America. There are no teams, no support vehicles, no special jerseys and not a dime in prize money. . . As they battle lack of sleep, injuries and spirited competition, INSPIRED TO RIDE takes you on an invigorating road trip — amidst the jaw-dropping beauty of the TransAmerica Trail with its varied landscapes, intriguing locals and found stories which dot this path of discovery. . . Featuring Mike Hall and Juliana Buhring plus many more “crazies”.
While a movie about a race like this has the potential to be a snoozer, filmmaker Mike Dion and his crew pull together a film that is visually stunning, constantly compelling, and deeply insightful into the minds of these ultra-endurance bicycle racers. Check it out on Netflix.
Yeah. Today was a pretty big deal in Olympic BMX. That’s because today was the first time an American has won gold in the event that was invented in the United States.
In the latest iOS update to their cycling and running tracking app (version 4.18), Strava has announced that they will no longer support several devices that have worked well with the app in the past saying:
