This list has modified heavily since it was the birthday list, it’s become more fitness based. Though my birthday is in May, and another May is coming…
Before buying things here myself, money would be used to be ready for any potential financial emergencies, such as car repairs, and especially for paying things off, etc., basically savings, then the items below. But if one wants, money can be given via PayPal and credit card donations can be made here, though there is a fee (not sure the percentage), (also generally 10% of all donations I get there I give to The Trevor Project (suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQIA+ youth). While cash may be more appreciated than the stuff below, I know people think cash is impersonal, so that’s what the list below is for.
Also, as this is mostly health related, I’ve got My Potential Supplements page where I talk about what I might take to make up for a poor diet.
Primary Wants
These items are mostly for my bike, a bike computer (moved up from secondary wants in June 2023), a new watch (mine is fairly old, and the battery is draining somewhat fast), and a smart bike trainer (also moved up in June 2023). I’ve also added some stuff to help keep me warm outside when it’s as cold as it gets here in winter.
The smart bike trainer would be first, but space issues is what pushes that down. Ideally, I’d use it on my computer, to use it outside the main living space, I’d need to have a new iPad, or gaming level laptop, to really be able to use Zwift, Trainer Road, which also complicates things and moves it from a solid first spot. Like I’d probably use it near daily if I could use it on the computer, with Zwift becoming my most “played game” or used app, however one would want to call it. Trying to use it on an iPad or laptop outside the house’s Wi-Fi makes things complicated. Because of the likelihood of needing to use it away from the computer, the iPad section has been moved up to Primary wants.
A New Smart Watch
My watch is getting out of date in terms of fitness tracking. It can’t track lots of activities that the newer watches can, like climbing, and doesn’t track running dynamics. Also it’s GPS is nowhere near as good as the ones here. It’s an older Garmin Venu, and the Venu 2 came out in 2021, with then on the Venu 3 out now, so an idea of how out of date it is. The Venu is more an semi entry level fitness watch than a sports watch. So the idea is to upgrade to a proper sports watch. Plus my Venu is starting to drain a bit too fast. It is still better than say an Apple Watch, but bad for a Garmin.
The “cheaper” of the new watches I want is a Garmin Forerunner 965 ($599.99). Black band or yellow band… though really, the yellow band really kicks it up.
While that is the more “reasonably priced” option. Going up to $899 (for the regular Gorilla glass), or $999 (for Sapphire crystal and Titanium case), one gets the brand new Garmin Epix Pro (gen2). The Epix Pro (gen2) has far more features, far more accuracy (both GPS, and fitness), and has ECG ability, though that’s more for detecting heart attacks, which while helpful, isn’t a mandatory feature yet. Like this watch is beyond amazing, and I want it as my main watch choice, but is it really $300 better than the Forerunner 965?
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 ($800) would be also okay… I’m assuming an Alpine loop. But The Garmin is better for what I do. Also, battery life on Apple Watches sucks…
Bike Computer for Bike
Okay, as of 11 June 2023, I moved the bike computer way up, as it would help a lot navigating routes when not with a group. Also I need a way of seeing my heart rate, cadence, speed, incline, and the like. For the moment, I have an app on my phone that can show most of these metrics, I just have to keep waking the phone up and unlocking it to see them. Also even though I’ve got a new phone, the battery wouldn’t last as long as a dedicated bike computer below.
The Garmin Edge 840 ($449.99) is the main choice. There is a Garmin Edge 840 Solar ($549.99) that does extend the battery some, but probably not $100 more battery for my area. Like for the price of the solar 840, I could get the 1040. Like the Garmin Edge 1040 ($599.99 or $749.99 for the solar version) would be better, especially the solar version, but again, at what I’ll be doing and using it for, the 840 is the sweet spot… The Garmin Edge 540 ($349.99), which lacks a touch screen, has half the memory than the 840, and you can’t put in an address to route yourself somewhere, would be a distant choice. So the choice order basically is, 1040 Solar, 1040, 840 Solar (though again, for that much may as well get the 1040 non-solar), 840 (the sweet spot in price/performance), 540 (where the solar version isn’t worth it, but the 840 is much preferred).
Smart Trainer for Bike
So one of the main wants of a bike period is to use Zwift, TrainerRoad, or other similar apps (more on those later). And this technically is right after a bike computer on this list, perhaps even above it, but space to use it is why it’s down here instead of number one or two. Plus to use it anywhere I can’t see the computer, means an iPad, gaming level laptop, or something along those lines.
Continue reading General Wish List Spring/Summer 2024 (was Birthday 2023)