the latest new features added this week vs. the accuracy of legacy wellness features.

EP57 Garmin Accidentally Leaks CIRQA Smart Band (ft. AI Insights) Garmin just accidentally revealed their Whoop killer—the CIRQA screenless recovery band. We dig into FCC filings & spy photos.

In this episode, we break down Garmin's spectacular self-leak: a finished product listed on their own website with an "Add to Cart" button. The CIRQA Smart Band is their first direct attack on the Whoop recovery market—screenless, premium metal construction, and potentially subscription-free.

Key Questions We Answer:

• What exactly leaked and how did Garmin expose their own unreleased product?

• What do FCC filings reveal about the CIRQA's specs and premium build quality?

• Why does the part number prove this device is already manufactured and ready to ship?

• How does CIRQA compare to Whoop in features, battery life, and business model?

• Will Garmin require a subscription or undercut Whoop's entire pricing strategy?

The Verdict:

The CIRQA fills a critical gap for Garmin users who want 24/7 recovery data without wearing a bulky sports watch to bed or the office. If Garmin delivers Whoop-level insights without mandatory subscriptions, they could fundamentally disrupt the recovery wearable market. Launch expected mid-February 2026.

Chapters:

0:00 The Spectacular Self-Leak

0:55 What the Website Revealed

2:58 The Part Number Smoking Gun

4:22 FCC Filing Deep Dive

6:37 Premium Metal Construction Theory

7:26 DC Rainmaker Spy Photos

8:51 Why "CIRQA"? The Name Decoded

10:13 The Subscription Question

11:22 Optical Interference Science

12:32 Market Impact & Whoop Battle

Sources:

Gadgets & Wearables

Android Police

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EP56 Garmin Varia RearVue 820 Views and Comparisons (ft. AI Insights)

Garmin Varia RearVue 820: Is It Worth $300? (ft. AI Insights)Is the new Garmin Varia 820 radar tail light worth the $300 price tag? We break down the tech specs and hidden caveats.

The Garmin Varia RTL515 was the gold standard for cycling radar safety. Now the RearVue 820 has arrived with 60GHz radar, 24-hour battery life, and vehicle detection. But is this upgrade really for everyone—or just Garmin loyalists?

🔑 Key Questions We Answer:

• Does the 60° radar beam create more false positives than the old 515?

• Will Wahoo and Hammerhead users actually benefit from this upgrade?

• What's hidden in the fine print about same-speed vehicle detection?

• Is Garmin killing the open ecosystem in cycling tech?

• At $300, who should buy this—and who should grab a discounted 515 instead?

⚖️ The Verdict: A new benchmark in radar performance—but NOT the new standard. Advanced features are locked behind proprietary Garmin protocols, leaving non-Garmin users paying premium prices for USB-C and better battery life alone.

📍 Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: The Wait Is Over

02:12 – Physical Overhaul: USB-C & User-Replaceable Battery

03:21 – Battery Life Deep Dive: 24 Hours in Day Flash

05:28 – Radar Performance: 60GHz Technology Explained

07:42 – Same-Speed Detection: The Fine Print Problem

08:58 – Ecosystem Controversy: Garmin Lock-In Concerns

11:14 – Price & Value: Who Should Actually Buy This?

13:20 – Final Thoughts: Open Playground or Walled Garden?

📚 Sources & Links:

GPLama (Shane Miller) – Cycling Tech Reviews

the5krunner – Varia 820 vs RTL515 Comparison

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IRONMAN moves to 20m draft zone for pros from March 2026. Why not 16m? The science is surprising (ft. AI Insights).

Key questions answered:

• Why did IRONMAN finally change after years of resistance?

• Why does 16m make no difference but 20m does?

• Why did Challenge Roth announce the same change on the same day?

• Why are age groupers stuck at 12m?

• What happens when pro women meet fast amateur men on course?

The verdict: The physics demanded 20m — anything less was security theatre. But the two-tier system creates new headaches.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: March 1st 2026 changes everything

00:33 Why did IRONMAN finally blink?

01:11 The science: RaceRanger testing with Lionel Sanders

01:46 The surprise: 16m makes almost no difference

02:21 Challenge Roth announces the same day — coincidence?

03:03 T100 Tour data: proof it works

03:18 Age groupers: why you're stuck at 12m

04:10 The messy reality: pro women vs fast amateur men

04:53 85% of pros wanted this change

Sources:

IRONMAN Official Announcement

Triathlete

Slowtwitch

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Wareable

PCMag UK

The Run Testers

Runner's World

The Guardian

Birchtree

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Confused by Garmin's lineup? Match your archetype to their watches in seconds!

• Style & wellness watch hidden as jewellery?• Adaptive coach for gym regulars?• Runner ladder: beginner to data junkie?• SOS-equipped adventure beast?• Virtual caddy for serious golfers?

Verdict: the5krunner’s archetype guide beats spec overload—lifestyle first.

Chapters:0:00 Garmin Paradox of Choice1:10 Introducing the Guide2:26 Style & Wellness (Lily 2 Active)3:54 Gym & Lifestyle (Vivoactive 6)4:45 Connected Pros (Venu 4, Venu X1)6:43 Runners (165 Music, 570, 970)9:37 Adventure & Extreme (Fenix 8 series, Enduro 3, Instinct 3)12:31 Tactical (Tactix 8)13:32 Golf (Approach S44, S50, S70)15:12 Data vs Intuition

Source:

the5krunner: Garmin Guide 2026

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EP52 Garmin Quatix 8 Pro Buyers Guide

Original Article: Garmin Quatix 8 Pro Buyers Guide

EP51 Strava IPO: The Athlete's Reckoning

All the details on the reported confidential filing for an IPO by sports leader STRAVA.

It's paybacktime for Strava's initial investors, and it's AD TIME for all you Strava users.

More: The Strava IPO - All You Need To Know