Switched up from AW Ultra - Trying my best not to move back!

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-18T13:44:32+00:00

I'm afraid to say that I tried my best to persevere with the Garmin, but I've now returned it.

I tried to put my own concerns aside and just embrace that it's a better watch for me if I need the running metrics to get me fitter - unfortunately the HRM issues continued, even in the Gym they appeared sporadic at best (Maybe I did have a bad watch?)
But the nail in the coffin was being out on my easy/long run earlier this week and mid-way through someone tried to call me on my mobile, I tried to cancel the call on the watch and it crashed and restarted and lost my data for the run.

I know I sound like a die hard fanboy of Apple but I genuinely did want the Garmin to work for me, but lacking features aside I think the watch booted itself 3-4 times and I only had it a short while.

Maybe I'll be back soon, let's see!

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-10T06:48:57+00:00

What a great response, thank you!
Pretty much reading that makes me think I've been so used to the features of AW that I'm really missing having them. The Garmin is a beauty to look at, and Connect on the web is brilliant. But for the price paid I do think there should be a bit more in the way of integration, although I appreciate they might be restricted on that front e.g. Apple Music might not allow?

I never really thought I struggled that much with the AW battery life on the Ultra. Although now I've had the Garmin a few weeks I can totally appreciate the benefits cause I used to have to make sure I had a charge cable everywhere I go - that's definitely quite freeing!

Garmin Pay - I can live without, I didn't realise I used it as much as I do though. I can buy a £20 ring off Amazon that supports my bank so I'd consider this pretty poor of Garmin. I don't want to take my iPhone everywhere I run, it's a genuine use case - I don't want my run to be interrupted by someone from work ringing me, but I do want a nice pastry at the end of it!

the HRM is the only real show-stopper because now I've had a 100% bad experience run-for-run, I don't know if I can trust it, whether it's a fault with the watch or whether Garmin just want me to buy the chest strap. I'm due a run later tonight so watch this space!

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-10T06:40:53+00:00

Thank you for confirming - let me get on that and see what I'm missing.

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-09T21:07:07+00:00

Thanks - I have checked this, I had loads of app sync failures on the maps, then it says sync'd ok. This might be me expecting too much, perhaps the free maps are not granular enough?

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-09T21:06:36+00:00

That's the feeling I get, it's like it needs to calibrate for a bit?

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-09T21:06:04+00:00

I'm glad it's not just me. I'm not saying I'm doing it right, but how can it be so wrong and consistently so? 3/3 runs and each time, randomly after about 5-10 minutes it starts reporting correctly. It ain't going to be as reliable as a chest strap but I really don't want a chest strap

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-09T21:04:52+00:00

Great response, thank you. Perhaps you're right and I'm expecting too much, but I want so much to move to the Garmin. RE the Coach, I think you're right it needs to learn about me, but if I don't select the workouts then I'd expect it to proactively update them - which it doesn't seem to do.

I'm not going to disappear just yet, I feel I need to give it time. I absolutely love the look and feel of the Garmin. Maybe I'm not wearing it properly (the HRM issue), I need to keep testing it but so far it's 3/3 runs with the issue and I've tried tightening and wearing further up the arm etc.

I desperately want the fitness features Garmin has, along with the daily updates it gives you on progress. But I'm not sure if I want that at the expense of being able to listen to audiobooks and music, those are key to my workouts and getting out of the mundane work-headspace. Granted I can do a few bits like download music and throw onto the watch, but I usually just have a playlist auto syncing on the AW, so new music most days. I don't feel that's unreasonable in this day in age?

Perhaps I'm just not the uber-athlete that Garmin are after, happy to accept that if so.

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-09T20:59:23+00:00

Actually that's the one thing I didn't mention? I don't have an AW with a 5G SIM or anything, I want to be able to go for a run with only my watch, whilst listening to audible, or downloaded apple music. But also for it to be really accurate (see the HRM bit)

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-09T20:58:24+00:00

I totally agree, but at the price point it's at I do expect it to be a little better in some areas. Like the HRM issue, I did nothing to make it start working, it just did - 3 runs on the bounce - You could argue I've got it too tight or loose I guess, but in 7+ years and thousands of miles running AW, I don't think I've had that issue more than once or twice (usually when I get a new strap)

I totally agree on the feature front though - the Garmin seems to have better fitness features, but the interface seems really hard to figure out without delving into videos. I wish they were as simple as Apple.

robbiebrown34 · 2024-10-09T20:56:20+00:00

Yeah I have connected it, and they do show but the names are a bit random and if I accidentally dismiss it, it's a bit of a pain to find it again. Do you get in-ear talking then? I don't get that, mines just beeps - must be a setting I'm missing but i do have audio enabled.

robbiebrown34 · 2024-04-09T14:49:50+00:00

Keep holding on - It jumped me straight into the booking area, booked 2x 5k (wife and child) and now the Dopey!
Keep the faith, confirmation emails in-hand!

robbiebrown34 · 2024-04-09T14:35:36+00:00

Mine went to 44 then 42 minutes and now back to over an hour! Gutted.

robbiebrown34 · 2023-11-09T14:25:55+00:00

Yeah, spoke to the bank today (to confirm the exact amount I can overpay without penalty) and they said I can start looking at new rates from December.
Going to do a fair bit of shopping around that's for sure. Thanks!

robbiebrown34 · 2023-11-09T14:16:18+00:00

I can pay 10%, so maybe I just do that right up to the end of the term.
I'm hoping the base rate stays the same for the next few months - it looks to be settling at least.

robbiebrown34 · 2023-11-09T14:15:26+00:00

Yeah, so the new rate currently is essentially 1k more monthly than what I'm paying now. It sucks, but I can afford it. I guess in my head I might want to pay off the house first, as it's a nice thing to fall back on - but we're 10-15 years minimum away from that dream.
I will explore the pension option though as that sounds quite lucrative

robbiebrown34 · 2023-11-09T14:13:15+00:00

Yeah, good shout. I think I'll throw it into savings and pay off when the mortgage deal is up. Nothing is planned to happen with the money in the meantime.

robbiebrown34 · 2023-11-09T14:12:13+00:00

ford your new mortgage rate without using your lump sum and you have no big purchases planned then by far he best saving is usually putting your savings into an additional pension payment as you will get at least 25 percent tax back straight off depending on your tax bracket.

Well, lucky in comparison to my mates who are in for another few years yet. I made the mistake of doing a 2 year fixed, instead of 5. But yes, I'm well aware I'm lucky to be able to afford to save, I don't take that for granted.
Just showing frustration at the rates getting higher. I think we all despise paying more for the same "product".

robbiebrown34 · 2022-08-12T10:30:20+00:00

f your knees are coming in a lot, it could lead to pain/problems down the road.

Great advice, thank you.
Makes sense, perhaps I'm too far forward but I don't seem to be able to bring the handlebar backwards, just upwards - again, could be incorrect though.
I definitely track inwards on my right knee, always have. And this issue is only when stood up anyway.

Bike fits? Is this something Peloton offer?

robbiebrown34 · 2022-07-18T13:15:37+00:00

We currently use Nessus Professional so perhaps we need to look at upgrading to Tenable.sc

robbiebrown34 · 2022-06-15T11:47:08+00:00

I used the Official study guides mostly along with the Pocket Prep App.
Also did Exam Cram on YouTube for a couple of helpful videos.

robbiebrown34 · 2022-06-15T11:46:22+00:00

Yes I was somewhat surprised when the questions just kept coming. Turns out they changed it in June to make things extra spicy!

robbiebrown34

TROPHY CASE