For the fitness oriented consumer who wants a product that won’t look out of place on their wrist, can be worn all day (try wearing a heart rate chest belt all day) and can monitor things like reps in the gym, stairs climbed etc.  this appears to answer all those and more.  We’ve a long history with Garmin products and while this isn’t a solution for cyclists on the trail in the same way as a traditional bike computer, it can be very useful for monitoring your fitness and (perhaps more importantly) activity levels all the time.  Check out the full press release below.

UK/April 12, 2017/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced the vívosmart 3, an activity tracker¹ with an ultra-slim design and a hidden display that’s only on when you need it. The vívosmart 3 brings high-end fitness monitoring tools such as VO2 max and fitness age, and wellness monitoring with all-day stress tracking, to the popular vívosmart family.

Thanks to Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology, the vívosmart 3 provides 24/7 heart rate monitoring¹ and automatically tracks activity including steps, floors climbed, calories burned, intensity minutes, sleep and more. With Move IQ™ and a new Strength Training activity which automatically counts your weight training reps, working out will be convenient and effective. It also features smart notifications to keep users connected while on the go. The vívosmart 3 boasts a battery life of up to five days, and can be worn while swimming or showering.

“Health conscious customers are becoming more interested in the meaning behind their activity stats,” said Andrew Silver, Garmin EMEA Product Manager, Fitness. “As in, I like seeing the data, but how does it correlate to my overall wellbeing? With its new fitness and wellness monitoring tools that tell you things like fitness age and stress level, the vívosmart 3 is able to provide users with those answers, and that is a game changer for the activity tracker industry.”

The vívosmart 3 introduces exciting fitness monitoring tools designed to provide customers with a better understanding of their body’s overall physical performance. It’s the first product in the Garmin vívo family to estimate VO2 max, a measurable indication of aerobic performance previously available only in higher-end Garmin running watches. Users will see their VO2 max score translated into a fitness level, ranging from poor to superior. VO2 max is also used to calculate fitness age; based on their VO2 max, fitness age gives users an easy way to understand if they are making progress in their fitness. The lower their fitness age is compared to their real age, the better. Through hard work and exercise, users can increase their VO2 max and reduce their fitness age. The vívosmart 3 also includes a new Strength Training activity that lets users stay focused on their form and does the rep counting for them. Strength Training keeps track of reps, sets and even rest times during user’s free weight and bodyweight exercises. This data gets sent to Garmin Connect™ where it can be reviewed later in greater detail.

For those seeking to live a healthier life, improving one’s emotional wellbeing can be as important as increasing time spent at the gym. To this end, thevívosmart 3 adds wellness monitoring with the all-day stress tracking feature. When users are not on the move, the vívosmart 3 tracks heart rate variability, which in turn is used to calculate and measure stress level, displayed as a wedge graph right on the device. Stress levels high? The vívosmart 3 features a breathing exercise that users can access from the device to encourage relaxation and help lower stress level. A longer timeline of stress level is accessible on Garmin Connect which can help customers identify patterns and make lifestyle changes to avoid or better cope with stress-inducing situations.

In addition to tracking steps, heart rate, floors climbed, calories, distance and sleep, the vívosmart 3 also measures activity intensity through Intensity Minutes which are measured against goals recommended by leading health organizations. And thanks to Garmin Move IQ^TM, users don’t need to worry about starting or stopping a particular timed activity for it to get recorded. Move IQ automatically recognizes activities like walking, running, biking, swimming and elliptical training without any action on the part of the wearer. Once synced with Garmin Connect, these recorded activities are viewable as part of a detailed timeline.

The vívosmart 3 automatically syncs with the Garmin Connect mobile app throughout the day to save stats for easy access later. In Garmin Connect, a free online community, users can track their workouts, strength training activities, stress levels, sleep patterns and join online challenges to compete against friends and earn virtual badges. They can also receive Garmin Connect Insights, smart wellness insights personalized to each user that provide cues to help them reach goals, a pat on the back when milestones have been met, and relevant healthy tips from experts. For extra motivation, Insights also show users how they stack up in comparison to other people like them.

Connection meets convenience with smart notification vibration alerts delivered right the wrist for emails, texts, calls, calendar reminders, app alerts, social media updates and any other notification from a compatible smartphone². Users will also benefit from the ability to control music on their smartphone from the vívosmart 3, send an alert to locate a misplaced smartphone, and remote control a Garmin VIRB camera (sold separately).

With its inconspicuous band and new slimmer profile, the vívosmart 3 complements every athleisure style. The device features a hidden display only visible when activated via gestures, alerts or notifications. When not in use, the screen disappears from view. Available in black (small/medium and large) and purple (small/medium), the vívosmart 3 is the perfect companion for the office, the gym, the pool, the studio and everywhere in between. The vívosmart is shipping now, and has a suggested retail price of £129.99/ €149.99.

The ever-expanding Garmin fitness segment develops technologies to enhance and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Whether users are runners, cyclists, swimmers, multi-sport athletes, or simply looking to stay active throughout the day, there is a Garmin product that can help them reach their health and fitness goals.

For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation.

Follow the conversation online at: facebook.com/garminUK, twitter.com/garminUK, or youtube.com/garminUK.

¹ See Garmin.com/ataccuracy

²  See Garmin.com/ble for more information

³ Battery life varies based on usage and smartphone model

Round 1 was held in Tollymore Forrest Park where racers unperturbed by heavy rain the night before tackled a predominantly single track course that was tough given the conditions. Craigavon continues the series and racers will tackle a shorter lap than in previous years but consequently more of them.  Full details below including pre-registration link.

Directions: Craigavon Lakes

Located at the Craigavon Water Sports Centre off Lake Road which is off roundabout 3 on the main Portadown to Lurgan road. If leaving the M1 motorway come off at junction 10 and follow the signs for “Craigavon Centre” then look for the signs for the “Watersports Centre” at roundabout 3.
click here to view in google maps
Co-ordinates: N 54.449832, W 6.38237

Race Timetable: 
09:00 – Sign on opens
10:00 – Under 6s fun race
10:15 – Under 8s
10:30 – Under 10s
10:45 – Under 12s
11:10 – Prize giving for U8s, U10s and U12s
12:00 – Under 16s, Senior 4 men, Senior 2 women, Under 14s
13:30 – Prize giving for U14s, U16s, S2 women and S4 men
14:00 – Senior 1 men, Juniors, Senior 1 women, Senior 2 men, Senior 3 men
15:45 – Prize giving for S1, S2 and S3 men, Juniors and S1 women

NOTE: SIGN ON CLOSES 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF EACH RACE.

Practice times
For the main course
09:00 – 11:45
13:15 – 13:45
Practice time may also be available on the Saturday afternoon.  3 pm to 5 pm.
NO PRACTICE ALLOWED ON COURSES WHICH HAVE RACES GOING ON

Race Fees:
Seniors: £15 (€15) if you pre-register and pre-pay,
£18 (€20) if you pre-register but don’t pre-pay,
£20 (€25) if unregistered.

Juniors: £10 (€10)
Under 14s & Under 16s: £5 (€5)
Under 8s, 10s & 12s: £2 (€2)
Under 6s fun race: £1 (€1)

Pre-registration: – OPEN
Until 7 April 2017 (8 pm)

To see who has entered click on the link here.  (Password to open – “Water”)

Gridding: Will be based on the results from Round 1 of the 2017 Ulster series – but only for riders who pre-register and pre-pay.

Notes: Ensure bicycles are in good working order and that bar-ends have been fitted.
No electric bikes or motorised bicycles permitted.
No cyclo-cross bicycles permitted.

Catering: Catering will be provided by an external supplier on site (the café is no longer there).  Riders will receive a token for food.  All others will be able to purchase on the day if required.

Additional information:
Craigavon Watersports Centre: offers excellent toilet and shower facilities on site and there is a café in the Centre. The trails are open to the public for cycling and, on the day before the race, the course will be marked out using yellow markers from about 3 pm onwards.

Facilities: Craigavon Lakes
Car Parking: Ample
Toilets: On site
Showers: Yes
Bike Wash: Yes
Cafe: Not anymore
Gazebos: Only host club gazebos at start finish area.

Host club website: Apollo CT
Race organiser: Robbie Smyth (email)
Contact number: 07762 683632

Enduro World Series unveils 2016 Calendar

The Enduro World Series continues its proud tradition of uncovering the world’s best riding destinations as it reveals its 2016 calendar.

The new season will once again feature eight rounds across three continents, including four completely new venues in Chile, Argentina, France and the USA.

Next season is set to kick off in style as the series heads to Chile in March. After the success of the Chilean round in 2014, it seemed only right the EWS should head back to South America and revisit our great friends and organisers at Montenbaik. But this time the high mountains and iconic volcanic terrain of Nevados de Chillan has been replaced with the beautiful Patagonian coastline of Valdivia. The opening round of the season will feature two days of racing on incredible singletrack that heads all the way down to the South Pacific Ocean.

For round two in April it’s another Patagonian event, but this time the series makes its first foray into Argentina. The city of Bariloche sits amongst the Andes Mountains and riders will be blown away by the famous Cerro Catedral ski resort in the north Patagonian Andean Zone located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Bariloche offers the perfect mix of big mountain adventure against a backdrop of the region’s most celebrated and cosmopolitan town.

In stark contract to Patagonia, May sees the series turn its attention to the rolling green hills of Ireland for a return trip to County Wicklow and the legendary biking.ie organisation. Ireland may not be home to the biggest mountains in Europe, but what it lacks in height it more than makes up for in character. Home to some of the craziest fans the series has ever seen, it’s safe to say riders will be pleased to see Carrick Mountain back on the calendar after this year’s incredible event. Fun will be high on the agenda at this one day race with a laid back vibe.

Round four sees another popular venue make a welcome return, with the spectacular La Thuile back in action. Sitting just over the Italian border with France, La Thuile lies in the shadow of Europe’s most famous peak, the magnificent Mont Blanc. This small resort offers mile upon mile of natural Alpine singletrack. A firm favourite with riders when the series visited our Italian partners and great hosts Superenduro in 2014, La Thuile offers two days of classic lift accessed enduro amongst some of the Alps’ highest mountains.

It’s over the pond to North America for round five and another new venue, Aspen Snowmass in Colorado. It may be world famous for its skiing and as a long standing host of the X-Games, but this beautiful area is now becoming known for its ever growing trail network. This two day race hosted by trusted friends at Big Mountain Enduro will feature more lift access terrain to alleviate some of the effects of the high altitude on the riders. The towns of Aspen and Snowmass are amazing mountain locations offering an exciting and almost European flavour of enduro whilst deep in the heart of the American Rockies.

August heralds Crankworx in Whistler, Canada for round six. This most iconic of riding destinations never fails to impress with it’s myriad of famous trails flanking this great resort. A staple stop on the series, Whistler is truly one of the most diverse and challenging venues in the world. This epic race will once more push riders out their comfort zone and into some of the most spectacular scenery Canada has to offer.

Round seven heads to Valberg-Guillaumes in France. This new addition to the calendar sits in the Southern Alps and is the oldest ski resort in the area. Whilst the venue may be classically French, the racing style won’t be. In a break from Tribe Events EWS tradition, the race will feature more pedal liaisons and less ski lift access than in previous years in order to challenge the riders and mix things up on some unique and stunning terrain that will differ greatly to anything seen before at a French EWS event.

There is only one place the series can draw to a close in October, and it has to be Finale Ligure. This classic venue on the Italian Riviera features every year and with good reason – sun, sea and several hundred miles of singletrack. This rider favourite always delivers an incredible finish to the season, and this year athletes can once more look forward to two days of racing through ancient villages and towns before being rewarded with the obligatory dip in the warm water of the Mediterranean sea at the finish line.

Chris Ball, Managing Director of the Enduro World Series, said: “I’m incredibly excited to announce our 2016 calendar and work once again with all of our incredible and experienced local organisations. As we move into the fourth year of the series it’s great to revisit classics such as Finale Ligure and Whistler, but I’m particularly excited to see the series heading back to South America with two new venues that vary greatly, from the Patagonian coastline of Valdivia to the high Andes of Bariloche. Add Valberg-Guillaumes in France, the wild crowds of Carrick in Ireland, the well regarded La Thuile below Mont Blanc and an exciting new visit to the world famous Aspen Snowmass and we have yet another all round test and adventure for all of our riders.”

2016 Calendar

Round 1 – March 26/27 – Valdivia, Chile

Round 2 – April 2/3 – Bariloche, Argentina

Round 3 – May 15 – County Wicklow, Ireland

Round 4 – July 16/17 – La Thuile, Italy

Round 5 – July 30/31 – Aspen Snowmass, USA

Round 6 – August 14 – Whistler, Canada

Round 7 – September 17 – Valberg-Guillaumes

Round 8 – October 1/2 – Finale Ligure, Italy

Since it ended I’ve been a little burnt out, feeling that there was too much time pounding a keyboard rather than the trails.  I’ve been using the time since the Emerald Enduro to address this a little but I’m not quite there yet.  I do have big plans for the future though including a website refresh and some new content ideas.  Spoke.ie has and will continue to be a home for all things Irish mountain biking and the odd bit of road too.  We will be back!  Bear with me a little longer and thanks for all the support over the years.

Madison Saracen – 2015 BDS, Round 1 – Ae Forest from Sportline on Vimeo.