December 2024

WTH happened to October and November? Several business trips, lots of time on the bike, etc. I’m determined to get out one last email for 2024.

I was in SoCal for the Diabetes Research Symposium and was able to ride (most of) Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara. If you ever get the chance, you must ride it (it’s in the photo below). I did some riding in Hollywood Hills, great climbs (Nichols and Franklin) but the road quality was quite poor on the descents that I did (Coldwater and Laurel Canyon). It was a compromise ride because GMR and Mt. Baldy were closed due to forest fires. Fun, but I would not ride there again. For close to LA stick to Malibu, Mt. Baldy, Topanga, etc.

Finally, I’m ready to share the beta version of TeenTrainer, which I’ve been working on (very slowly…) for a while now. As you all know I’m passionate about health and fitness for teens, and I’m excited about what AI and LLMs can do to make science and physiology insights more accessible. You can text TeenTrainer at 878.348.TEEN, or scan the QR code to start the conversation. You can ask it questions about how it works (it’s self-aware).

Strava recently made an abrupt change to their API access, cutting off a number of app developers who relied on Strava as an aggregator of wearable device data and data from other sources. There are a few lessons in this change when it comes to product strategy and vendor selection. First and foremost, API aggregation was never the core competency nor their core value proposition of Strava in the marketplace. It was always an ancillary service that they offered to incent the buildup of third party apps which would make Strava more appealing. Be cautious when choosing a vendor for a service that doesn’t seem central to their product strategy. There are a number of companies who focus solely on API aggregation (Rook, Vital, Validic, etc.), which in hindsight would be more logical choices for that service. The second big lesson is a negative lesson in how not to do things. Strava pretty much gave themselves a black eye by announcing the change with 30 days notice. For such a big change, it should have been broadcast at least a quarter in advance, and IMO a year in advance. People will understand your shift, or in the case really a refinement, in strategy, but Strava created a lot of ill will in the fitness tech market by handling this so poorly.

I made a few key bike cockpit upgrades this year, the Specialized Romin Mirror saddle and Enve SES AR bars. Wow. LOVE both of these products. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes. I was skeptical but open minded about the 3D printed saddles, and I’m glad I tried it out. If you’re looking for bike upgrades, you might consider these.

I could write a lot about CLM’s (Continuous Lactate Monitors) but will save it for later, in the meantime check out Alex Hutchinson’s latest article on the topic.