Bia review: UPDATED with link

[reginaphalange72]

I'm working on writing my Bia review tonight.  What do you ladies want to know?  I want to make sure I don't miss anything!

runaways, hannahb

ETA:  Here's the link
geonerdette.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/product-review-bia-sport-watch-aka-bye-bye-garmin/

[runaways]

I am mostly interested in how it compares to your garmin since I have one of those now. Favorite features? Any issues?

Oh also the whole "2 part" thing...not sure I quite get that.

[ktzmoh]

I'm super curious to read the review.

[hannahb]

Just pros and cons vs a garmin. My garmin is on its way out so will have to get something new soon

[coconutbug]

I'm just curious to see what a fellow Bia user thinks. (I have both the Bia and the Garmin 310XT, and currently prefer the Garmin.)

[labbie]

I'm also curious. Looking to replace my ancient garmin hopefully soon.

Sent from my XT1080 using proboards

[reginaphalange72]

Will do! I was exhausted last night so I crashed hard before I finished it. I'll try to get it done tonight.

Overall, I really love it and have already given my garmin to a friend of mine who is just getting into running (sorry I forgot to update that FS post, WinterIsComing!).

[WinterIsComing]

Jun 5, 2014 10:13:40 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Will do! I was exhausted last night so I crashed hard before I finished it. I'll try to get it done tonight.

Overall, I really love it and have already given my garmin to a friend of mine who is just getting into running (sorry I forgot to update that FS post, WinterIsComing!).

Not a problem!

[biomaj5]

I have a bia as well. I'm curious to see what your likes/dislikes are, compared to mine. I never got around to doing a review post on my blog.

[reginaphalange72]

Here's the link!

geonerdette.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/product-review-bia-sport-watch-aka-bye-bye-garmin/

[biomaj5]

I really like your review! I got mine in the second batch, in April. This is my first gps watch, so I can't compare it to anything but the MMF app on my phone. Obviously, it's more accurate than my phone. On FB, I asked that they add a ave speed for the entire run when they do the mile split at each mile, but other than that, it does everything that I want. Their customer service is amazing too. I dropped my go stick from my car to pavement (it slipped out of my hand), and it cracked. I emailed them, expecting to have to pay to replace it. Within a week, I had a new go stick, for free. I clip it on my fuel belt while running, and on my bra strap under my jersey when I bike.

[runaways]

Jun 5, 2014 12:48:38 GMT -5 biomaj5 said:

I really like your review! I got mine in the second batch, in April. This is my first gps watch, so I can't compare it to anything but the MMF app on my phone. Obviously, it's more accurate than my phone. On FB, I asked that they add a ave speed for the entire run when they do the mile split at each mile, but other than that, it does everything that I want. Their customer service is amazing too. I dropped my go stick from my car to pavement (it slipped out of my hand), and it cracked. I emailed them, expecting to have to pay to replace it. Within a week, I had a new go stick, for free. I clip it on my fuel belt while running, and on my bra strap under my jersey when I bike.

Wait so it can't give you both mile splits and overall average pace?

[reginaphalange72]

Jun 5, 2014 12:53:19 GMT -5 runaways said:

Jun 5, 2014 12:48:38 GMT -5 biomaj5 said:

I really like your review! I got mine in the second batch, in April. This is my first gps watch, so I can't compare it to anything but the MMF app on my phone. Obviously, it's more accurate than my phone. On FB, I asked that they add a ave speed for the entire run when they do the mile split at each mile, but other than that, it does everything that I want. Their customer service is amazing too. I dropped my go stick from my car to pavement (it slipped out of my hand), and it cracked. I emailed them, expecting to have to pay to replace it. Within a week, I had a new go stick, for free. I clip it on my fuel belt while running, and on my bra strap under my jersey when I bike.

Wait so it can't give you both mile splits and overall average pace?

Your mile splits show up on the screen at each mile mark.  The pace that displays for the rest of the run is your average pace, OR your current pace (whichever you choose - the default is average).  Your mile splits also show up on your activity log once it's uploaded to the site.

(It didn't have mile splits to begin with - they have them now.)

Edited to fix typo.

[runaways]

Jun 5, 2014 12:55:36 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Jun 5, 2014 12:53:19 GMT -5 runaways said:

Wait so it can't give you both mile splits and overall average pace?

Your mile splits show up on the screen at each mile mark.  The pace that displays for the rest of the run is your average pace, OR your current pace (whichever you choose - the default is average).  Your mile splits also show up on your activity log once it's uploaded to the site.

(It didn't have mile splits to begin with - they have them now.)

Edited to fix typo.

Okay got it. It sounds like it has a huge amount of potential...I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it to see what kind of updates they make as I get closer to time to replace my Garmin.

[Susie]

That's really interesting! I just got a Forerunner 910xt, and am enamored of its functionality, including multisport mode - but I admit the size/shape of the Bia is appealing. And I love combining it with your Road ID like that!

[biomaj5]

Jun 5, 2014 12:55:36 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Jun 5, 2014 12:53:19 GMT -5 runaways said:

Wait so it can't give you both mile splits and overall average pace?

Your mile splits show up on the screen at each mile mark.  The pace that displays for the rest of the run is your average pace, OR your current pace (whichever you choose - the default is average).  Your mile splits also show up on your activity log once it's uploaded to the site.

(It didn't have mile splits to begin with - they have them now.)

Edited to fix typo.

Not at the same time I don't think. You can make it show you your current speed, or your average speed for the run, and then it'll give you a mile split at the end of each mile. But I want to see both a mile split and ave run speed at the same time.

ETA: I like to see my current speed, and I'm not smart enough to keep track of mile splits in my head after about 3 miles. I also tend to miss about 1 out of every 3 mile splits anyway. I was probably spoiled by the MMR app telling me the split and ave speed for the run at every mile.

[reginaphalange72]

Jun 5, 2014 14:26:05 GMT -5 biomaj5 said:

Jun 5, 2014 12:55:36 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Your mile splits show up on the screen at each mile mark.  The pace that displays for the rest of the run is your average pace, OR your current pace (whichever you choose - the default is average).  Your mile splits also show up on your activity log once it's uploaded to the site.

(It didn't have mile splits to begin with - they have them now.)

Edited to fix typo.

Not at the same time I don't think. You can make it show you your current speed, or your average speed for the run, and then it'll give you a mile split at the end of each mile. But I want to see both a mile split and ave run speed at the same time.

Correct.  As of now, you only see average or current pace (and then the mile split displays for about 30 seconds at the end of each mile).  This would be a good thing to suggest on their FB page.  They're super responsive with that stuff.

[biomaj5]

Jun 5, 2014 14:33:40 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Jun 5, 2014 14:26:05 GMT -5 biomaj5 said:

Not at the same time I don't think. You can make it show you your current speed, or your average speed for the run, and then it'll give you a mile split at the end of each mile. But I want to see both a mile split and ave run speed at the same time.

Correct.  As of now, you only see average or current pace (and then the mile split displays for about 30 seconds at the end of each mile).  This would be a good thing to suggest on their FB page.  They're super responsive with that stuff.

I did that about a week ago, and they said that they would mention it to the development team.

[reginaphalange72]

Jun 5, 2014 14:35:21 GMT -5 biomaj5 said:

Jun 5, 2014 14:33:40 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Correct.  As of now, you only see average or current pace (and then the mile split displays for about 30 seconds at the end of each mile).  This would be a good thing to suggest on their FB page.  They're super responsive with that stuff.

I did that about a week ago, and they said that they would mention it to the development team.

Sweet!

[reginaphalange72]

I didn't put it in my actual review, but I thought I would mention it here. I had lunch with Cheryl (one of the two creators) this past weekend and she is SO NICE. We had such a great time. We didn't talk about Bia stuff the whole time, but it was fascinating to hear about things from her perspective. And I was really impressed with how much her team is doing and how much they care about making this thing just PERFECT for everyone.

[hannahb]

Thanks!

[ktzmoh]

two questions:
1) how does it alert you after each mile?
2) does it have interval functions?

[reginaphalange72]

Jun 5, 2014 15:50:08 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

two questions:
1) how does it alert you after each mile?
2) does it have interval functions?

As far as I can tell, there is no audible alert at each mile (but that's something that could be suggested).  However, the screen changes for about 30 seconds to a full screen that just says:

Mile X
Your mile split time

Then it changes back to the regular screen.

The interval function isn't live yet, but it should be soon.  It's one of the things they are currently testing out.

[coconutbug]

Oooh, I like your Road ID band idea. The stock band doesn't quite work for me, so I'm going to swap it out. Thanks!

[reginaphalange72]

Jun 5, 2014 17:54:10 GMT -5 coconutbug said:

Oooh, I like your Road ID band idea. The stock band doesn't quite work for me, so I'm going to swap it out. Thanks!

It works great and it's way more comfortable!