Device / Service Review UMIDIGI 3 and UMIDIGI 5

 


Long time no write. I guess it may be a little odd to come back with a review but I recently was unexpectedly surprised by some great service on decent product. About a year i found a reasonably priced GPS watch that didn't require my phone for GPS. I was skeptical but it was worth a chance for the price. I bought the UMIDIGI Uwatch3 and it turned out better than expected with a few minor pitfalls.

 

I hooked the device up to my iPhone with no issues and got it all setup. I used it for step, heartrate, swim, kayaking, sup, cycling, walking, and minimal running but mostly for sports that I didn't have my phone or a bike GPS for as was my plan (oh and as my everyday watch). It uploaded outdoor sports to Strava including the GPX track and heart-rate allowing me to see everything I was looking for although some heart-rate inconsistencies were found between Strava and VeryFitPro (device App).  I recommended the watch to quite a few others including my Daughter.

 

Here is where it gets interesting, just under a year after I bought it and mentioned to my wife that it seemed bulletproof it started acting strange. I pressed the button to check the time while watching a Basketball game and the screen was scrambled, within a few minutes the screen would not even turn on. All of the other functions continued and sent the details over to my phone but I was unable to start activities/view the screen etc. I used it like this for a few days as a basic step counter/info capture device but was missing the other functions. 

I decided to buy another but the model was no longer available and the Uwatch5 was on sale on Amazon. I picked one up and waited on its arrival. Once it came i also received an e-mail letting  me know it came with a one year Warranty. I was unaware of this so I messaged them to ask about the Uwatch3 Warranty. No questions asked (Other than what wasn't working and a photo) they sent a prompt replacement.

After receiving the Uwatch5 which I have only had a few days there are a few things I like better and one thing I don't like about the replacement model/software. I like the additional sport modes, the larger watch face, the available watch statistics. I enjoy the 5 ATM water resistance for my activities.

The one downside on the Uwatch5 vs Uwatch3 is something I hope UMIDIGI changes. The STRAVA upload only includes the speed and distance without uploading the GPX and heart-rate data that is clearly visible in OyeFit (New APP). If they add this then this device would be perfect for me.

 

Uwatch5 seems to locate the GPS Satellites quicker while both watches function with GPS. Both watches only need to be charged every few days unless you are using GPS regularly and then the time between charging decreases but is still more than acceptable for me. All in all both are great for the price.

VeryFitPro

 OyeFit

 

Apps are both useful for showing your details but as previously mentioned uploading to Strava is better handled by VeryFitPro (Uwatch3) than by OyeFit (Uwatch5)

 

Well enough mumbling about this device, I will have to get back to writing about my rides and stuff but no promises.

 

For now... I'm out... 

 

 

A Slow Start

It has been a slow start to riding this year with the majority just being commutes. Whats my excuse? Do I need one? Lazy? Gym time? Caught every bug that came through so-far this year?

Well I guess all of the above. Hoping to leave the excuses behind and amp up my riding. I can't really call it training as i have not signed up for any races/events to train for thus far this year. We will see what the next couple months bring.

Here is a snapshot of my in-region riding for this year. I have done a couple fun rides out of the region but nothing to brag about. 

Anyway, this proves I still exist.

For now, I'm out... 

Twas the Night Before #Bikeschool

A story by @Luke_Wanderer

Twas the night before #BikeSchool
And all thru the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse

The cables were strung past the headtube with care
In hopes that Prof @greg_loper soon would be there

The #BackRow was nestled all snug like some #Freds
While tweetstorms of #Tacos danced thru their #Threads

And @twittyboyd in her 'kerchief, and @egggman in his cap
Has just parked their sus, back from gnar #braap

When back on the track there arose such a snitter
They knew by the sound - the Fastest Hour on Twitter

Back on their bikes, clipped in in a flash
Feathered the brakes, avoided a crash

Sun shone on dust of the just-ridden track
Settling thick on his dry #Camelbak

Thru that dust cloud to their eyes did appear
A full carbon fattie and a fixie (one gear)

With sun-weathered pedallers so lively and quike
They knew in a flash, it must be @bikerly & @lovingthebike

More rapid than SRAM Eagles their enduro rigs came
And they whistled, and shouted, and called them by name

Now @JonahDiPasquale, now @icemanbb, now @barbchamberlain & @jennfax!
On @HyperboreanWolf, on @YYCbikewinefood, on @kui360 & @altaplanning!

O'er top of the step up, thru the rock garden
Just like the roadies, the fuck up we'll harden

As mud clots that off the #CX wheels fly
When they come to an obstacle & jump up sky high

So up off the double those rad pedallers flew
With frame bags of goodies and a burgeoning crew

And then in a twinkling was heard a small ping

A mad grunted "Damn! I've broken some thing."

Then someone said "It's only a spoke.

You've 31 more. Keep shredding the stoke!"

So dressed in some lycra and non-kit type garments
They mashed off on flats, heeding their Garmins

Bundles of gear on each Thompson post
#BikeCampers all, in search of a host

Their flasks, how they glinted. Their growlers, so very
Full of fine ale, waiting to share-y

Their laboring lungs, a forge needs such bellows
And the beards on some chins, yes sturdy these fellows

And smooth-faced others, no slackers these shes
Flowing sweet lines thru rocks, shrubs, & trees

All of fair face and nary a belly
Busy off shredding, not watching some telly

Happy and fit, right jolly and keen
Their travel mode modern, sustainable, green

From winks of their eyes and quick nods of their heads
@twittyboyd & @egggman knew there was nothing to dread

They stopped in a glade and went straight to their work
Setting up glamp, hot chicken jerk

And laying her finger aside of her nose
@twittyboyd snotted like some farmers blows

With that they all jumped on their steeds at full stride
And set off with cheers for a quick sick night ride

And I heard someone say ere they rode out of sight
Happy #Bikeschool to all, 9pm EST every Thursday night!

#bikeschool

(Stole/Stealing this quickly from this evenings postings as they are great!! - Need to crash will steal more in the am if he keeps going.)

On another note I am riding the Singlespeed again so may get some creative juices flowing sooner or later myself again... 

I'm out!

The Best P2A Ever!!

Paris to Ancaster has been a fun race that I have endeavored a few times. I have not raced this as a yearly tradition as schedules don't always work. Usually if there is an opportunity at the last minute I sign up. This year wasn't that much different in the sign up process at least. I waited until the last minute and then realized there was a 20K option. I wasn't aware it was self timed so asked a couple silly questions on twitter regarding a tandem category.

Either way we signed up. My son and I for the 20K ride. We arrived at the start line in time to fight with the tandem bike from the time we got there until almost seconds before the ride. Fortunately the left side tentioner held up through the whole ride. Was a stressful start.

From there the awesome happened, conversations with my Son about everything he liked about the race plus the hockey stats that he knows better than me. 

My absolute favorite was this moment on a long and gradual climb. "Dad you are really breathing hard, I am not breathing hard" me: "Good job buddy!" Little man: "Are we almost to the top?" Me - still exhausting the lungs "Not too much further" and this continued a few more times. I could not keep the smile off my face through this as I did my damndest to chat at full effort. Then the rest stop - Little man grabs 2 cookies and I gasp for water. We down our choices and I give him water as that is probably a good idea and on we go.

Downhill reveals rail trail and the hardest part is riding through the safety stalls on a tandem with my son on the back. Rail trail went by in no time, possibly more because of our chat than anything. and out of nowhere 2.2kms to go yells an on-looker. Felt like no time had passed at all. 

Now onto Martin road, Little man and I had chatted about what was coming and how big the hill was. We had made it up every hill to this point and even had hecklers saying the only way we made it up the hills was the motor on the back.

I do not disagree with this statement, he pushed hard the whole ride! And then we heard as from nowhere "EVAN!!" as Krista had made her way down the mtb trail along side Martin hill and was pushing us to make it up at least a little further. 

We fought through for a bit but eventually gave in.

I don't think the smile came off of either of our faces for quite some time after the ride/race/etc...

See you again next year P2A

Ride to Conquer Cancer 2017

 

 This past December my family suffered the loss of my mom, Anne Osborne.  In memory of our mom my brother Jeff and I will be participating the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.  In two days we will be covering 225KM, riding from Toronto to Niagara Falls, all in an attempt to have an impact in the fight against this horrible disease.

I have set a fundraising goal of $2,500 and I need your help to get there.  All of the funds raised go directly to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the world’s top 5 cancer research centres and will move us closer to conquering cancer in our life time.

Please consider helping me accomplish my goal in raising funds in memory of my mom and to end this heartbreaking disease.

Thank you for your generosity and support in my ride to Conquer Cancer.

Sincerely,
Mike

Get Pie with a little help for your friends!!

Saturday was so much fun! I picked up a FB comment a few days back from Steve S regarding a 200KM ride. I had never done anything of this distance before! We went out and rode point to point 50-70K at a time to stop for Pie and other goodies (ride was nicknamed the Pie-Athlon by coordinator Steve). The company was stellar and the riding was amazing. 

I loved the rain when it came but that didn't seem to be the thoughts of the group. Had it been hot and dry I would likely have been crumbled on the side of the road like the crust of the French Rhubarb Pie. What a great group of riders also including a long time friend Riot...

Anyways after this long without posting I should cut this short..

For now I'm out... 

How Dare They!!!

As I rode in this morning on the multi-use trails I came up behind 2 walkers. They were walking in this crazy 2 abreast pattern and were not paying any attention to those around them. It almost looked as if they were talking to each other and enjoying the wonderful morning. How Dare they!! Did they not know i would have to slow my bicycle and go around them. Did they not know i slept in and had a morning meeting I had to be at work for? Bah, how inconsiderate these slow moving creatures were on the trail. I think we need to mandate single file walking on the multi-use trails. This type of activity needs to stop.

Odd the things that come to your mind on morning rides some times. I am of course being absurd and thought of how complaints come regularly about us being on the road in the first place. And of course the absolutely horrid thought of us ever being 2 abreast.

Fake rant over :)