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Quick Reads are a new format that I’ve trialled on the5krunner.com for a month. Each read gives you the facts of a story in under a minute, with no padding to wade through. Look on the site for the QUICK READ label in the title, they won’t normally be added to this newsletter in the future. But they are today…
This issue collects a week of them in four groups: Garmin news and deals, sensors and health, strength training, and cycling.
The range is wide. A $150 clip-on sensor sets your next lift using Velocity Based training, the only way to properly assess muscular strain during strength work, while a $20,000 chair vibrates smartly to boost resonant breathing. A sensor worn on the side of the head claims to beat Apple Watch on heart rate, and a Whoop patent explains how it estimates VO2 max without GPS or power.
Quick Reads are summarised stories I don’t have time to cover and include a wide range of topics like new features, kickstarter launches, noteworthy price drops, and company financial news.
QUICK READ: Velocity AI’s $150 sensor coaches by bar speed
A clip-on puck measures how fast each rep moves and sets your next load, reps and rest. It cannot tell what weight is on the bar, and WHOOP’s purchase of PUSH ended badly.
QUICK READ: Smart chairs: the age of the HRV chair is here
Shiftwave’s $20,000 Arc recliner senses your pulse and vibrates in time with it to coach slow breathing. Every study published so far was sponsored, uncontrolled and self-reported.
QUICK READ: Garmin Connect is adding Waze location sharing
Whoever collects you after a puncture could follow your ride in the app they drive with. A bigger version might put riders on nearby drivers’ maps, which helps most on blind country lanes.
QUICK READ: Zwift 1.125 recovers rides lost to a crash
Zwift 1.125 shows a recovery prompt after a game crash and publishes the interrupted ride to Strava and other connected platforms. It also fixes Watopia rides that failed to upload.
QUICK READ: Apple Fitness+ now builds your gym plan
Tell it your equipment, days and goals, and each week’s sets, reps and weights adjust to what you logged. Early testers say one routine covers every session, so split training is out, and $9.99 a month is the entry fee.
QUICK READ: Whoop patent explains its GPS-free VO2 max
Sleep heart rate sets the baseline, outdoor runs refine it for 90 days, and a lab result corrects it. The filing also allows daily rather than weekly updates.
QUICK READ: Stryd data now works in Claude and ChatGPT
Every lap, Critical Power change and pair of shoes is open to an AI assistant you question in everyday language. Membership is required, and nothing can be edited yet.
QUICK READ: COROS Quarterly Update adds DURA offline nav and tyre pressure
Riders gain phone-free rerouting, mid-ride workouts and live power curves on both bike computers. App-wide changes tidy the settings page and speed up photo sharing.
QUICK READ: Centr adds swappable blades to the HYROX sled
Over 124 million kg were pushed in competition last season, and worn contact points made drag vary between venues. The remedy rolls out across 125 events in 30 countries, with a gym subscription to match.
QUICK READ: BP Doctor Fit has a real cuff, no FDA clearance
An air bladder in the strap inflates around your wrist, the method home monitors use. YHE confirmed to me that it has not been through the US medical approval process.
QUICK READ: Garmin Rally XC110 drops to $599.99 at Amazon
Single-sided power for mountain bike and gravel pedals is now 25% under list. It charges by USB-C, lasts 90 hours, and a kit adds right-leg data later.
QUICK READ: Fenix 8 falls to $767, $233 under Fenix 9
Amazon US has the 47mm watch close to its lowest price ever. The newer model adds a brighter screen, quicker maps and two more days of battery, which is not much for the extra money.
QUICK READ: Shimano bike profit doubles in Q3
Component sales jumped 14% between July and September, yet a weaker yen supplies all of this year’s growth. Europe is flat, and China and smaller Asian markets carry the second half.
QUICK READ: Wear OS adds a phone-style status bar
Android handsets have had one since 2008. Google is building the same clock strip into every round watch app, but only developers can see it so far.
QUICK READ: Ravemen new front light designs and new power options
Ravemen’s FR1000 builds the computer mount into the light, so only one unit goes on the bars. FR1500SE and FR500 add power and battery life over FR300.
QUICK READ: Garmin and Apple rings look good but aren’t
Radial displays score on beauty and lose on readability, a 51-study review found. Bars were read faster with fewer errors, and most long-term users had never checked their trends.
QUICK READ: Amazfit lists one update for Active 2 and Bip 6
Amazfit’s software roadmap to February 2027 lists one new feature for Active 2 and Bip 6, EU iPhone notification forwarding, and the company blames the watches’ memory.
QUICK READ: Huawei smartwatch app store gets search and categories
Huawei added a search bar, categories and clearer listings to its smartwatch app store. The layout is better; the app selection is still thin.
QUICK READ: Strava training data now works inside Gemini
Strava subscribers in the US can now connect their account to Google Gemini and ask about pace, races, streaks and how the weather affected a run. The link is read-only.
QUICK READ: AUO still developing microLED watches despite Garmin retreat
AUO told investors it is developing microLED watch displays with multiple customers. Garmin dropped the technology after one generation, so who else is in the pipeline, Apple, Samsung, or both?
QUICK READ: watchOS 27.2 lets Siri AI recall past chats
watchOS 27.2 gives Siri AI memory of past conversations, faster replies and five more languages, plus 61 security fixes. There are no new workout or training features.
QUICK READ: Galaxy Watch sleep apnea check adds three levels
Samsung’s upgraded sleep apnea feature counts breathing disturbances per hour and rates them as mild, occasional or frequent. It starts in Korea in November on Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Ring.
QUICK READ: Half of outdoor brands ignored a new customer
Twenty-six of 52 companies sent nothing in the 30 days after a sign-up and an abandoned basket. Smith Optics leads, and just three put press or review quotes in their ads.
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Last Updated on 10 November 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
