Nike Triax Elite HRM/SDM system

I also just got this watch. You do not say anything in your post about what your PC configuration
is. I have installed the software and linked succesfully on numerous IBM-compatible PC's running
Microsoft OSes no problem at all. Only take a few minutes. The problem comes with MacOS. They
clearly just did a straight port of the PC version and did little to no QA for Mac (typical)... or
else the QA was done on a very limited range of Mac configurations and somehow miraculously worked
on their one configuration. The good news is, I called them and they said the Mac thing is a known
issue which they are working on resolving. They could not give me a timeline other than to say it
would be 'a few months'. Once available, the new software will be available for download on the Nike
Timing website. Nike timing customer support is great BTW... a real human always answers the
phone... they have a small team of people dedicated just to watch support.

I am primarily a Mac person... so the Mac thing did [censored] me off... but I've decided for now just to
run the software on an old PC laptop I borrowed from work. I too was really mad at first and was
thinking about returning the watch... but I'm **REALLY** glad I didn't. The software is
awesome!!!!!! I don't know how the Timex software compares... but I really like the Nike software.

You get a full screen (800x600) real time graph of every second of every run... HR, Pace, Distance,
Time... it's all there... for any point of your run. You can also graph multiple runs and show as
much or as little data as you want.

The workout builder is really cool too. Similar to the way Polor watches work... you can make custom
workouts with unlimited segments and you can set repeats for each segment or groups of contingious
segments... all with segment chimes and out of HR/Pace zone alarms. Each segment consists of an
activity which you can name whatever you want (run, stretch, coffee break... whatever 🙂 a
measurement (by time or distance) and an intensity (by HR or pace).

You can then take those workouts (you can make as many workouts as you want) and make "plans" with
them (via drag and drop). So you could build an entire marathon training plan from your various
workouts. You can make as many plans as you want as well. Back in calendar view, you can drag and
drop either individual workouts or plans (groups of workouts) into your calendar. You can also drag
and drop up to 10 (I think) "favorite workouts" into a list. When you sync the watch... all of the
workouts in your favorite list and the next 10 days of workouts/plans in your calendar are uploaded
to the watch... and everything saved in the watch is of course downloaded to the application. It is
truly awesome. On the watch... you can then see all these workouts and do them... or if you want you
can also just use chrono mode and not use a workout at all.

Other than the PC link & software and the addition of the HRM... some of the biggest improvements
over the old Triax 100 are...

- User-defineable calibration offset!!!!!!!!!!! Thank god!!!!!! You go to the track ONCE when you
buy the watch and then... unless you switch your brand of shoes... that's it. Once you know what
your personal calibration offset is... you're all set. And if you are noticing the watch read
short or long on known distances from your favorite routes or whatever... you can just tweak the
calibration value. No need to go back to the track.

- Huge display... slightly bigger main display (from 18px to 20???) and significantly bigger
secondary display (from 5 pixels high to 7... those 2 extra px make a huge diff.!).

- Battery hatches on everything (watch, hrm and foot pod)!!! I had one of the original Triax 100's
where you had to open the damn pod up with a screwdriver (4 screws)... basically take the thing
appart... to change the battery!

Another thing I like... which is a very small thing... is that the crystal is dead flat... making it
crisper easier to read I find... i.e. less reflection. And the buttons are really easy to press. I
also like that I can switch what I'm viewing on the fly in both workout and chrono mode... distance,
hr, etc. Before, you could only do this in the (useless) "Run" mode but not in chrono. Oh... and you
can set pace zones now down to the second... DUH!!! And partial laps no longer throw off the average
lap calculation.

I have only TWO small complaints so far...

1... they got rid of the "headlight" mode... which made the light turn on with every button press...
great for night running. It would be nice to have the light flip on automatically when you switch
views at night. Not a big deal as I'm sure I will end up running with the watch in pace view 90%
of the time.

2... I wish there was a customizable view (like the CV10)... there are only the pre-sets. So you
cannot for instance see pace AND hr at the same time.

Other than that... I think I'm gonna love this thing!!!! Awesome software!!! (as long as you run it
on a PC... until the Mac fix comes out)... big display... speed AND heart rate (unlike the
Forerunner) and much fewer 'bits' to stick on yourself (like the Timex). I also feel that the
Dynastream technology might be more accurate (compared to GPS) for real time pace... which is
important to me. And with the manual calibration... calibration is now a non-issue. I came close to
trading in my new Triax Elite for a Forerunner (after being annoyed with the Mac thing)... but I
really wanted both speed and HR.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Seth

Jayson) said:

Folks,

Just got one of these straight from Nike to review.

Buyer beware on this product. The software/linking system doesn't seem to work at all. (I'm a
pretty knowledgable computer nerd, as in I build machines from scratch, so if I can't get it to
run in 2 hours of tinkering, it's a safe bet it's not so good...) Whether this is a problem with
the sample I received, or something endemic to the system itself, I don't know. I've already lost
patience with the thing enough to send it back with a polite thank you. I won't be writing about
it in the magazine I work for.

The watch itself seems improved over the last one I tried. Numbers are bigger and the buttons are
much easier to push. Also, the HRM strap is nice and comfy. But if you're looking for the ability
to graph your pace against your heartrate, you're better off with the funny old Fitsense FS-1. It
may be ugly, but it works.

No skin off my banana here, since I didn't have to pay for this thing, but I don't want to see
anyone else take a plunge for nearly $400 and not get what they paid for.

It's really too bad, they've got a great design and some good ideas. The execution just
isn't there.

The last triax I tested was also flawed in that you HAD to be running before you started the
chrono if you wanted the distance to measure correctly. (In other words, no just hitting the
button then taking to your heels.) Otherwise, a tech told me, a flaw in the watch OS made it
impossible to accurately measure the run. He said that flaw had been fixed in later releases.

If Nike made these watches as nice as their running sunglasses, that would be good.

sj

--
Nova Scotia, Canada

I just got the watch (Nike Triax Elite) about a week ago and
find it to be awesome.

I had a FitSense FS-1 and sold it on eBay for a Timex
BodyLink GPS. I started running Triathlons and thought the
Timex would be a better choice as you could use the watch on
the bike and the run. The Timex has it's problems (at least
for me), the signal would drop in the middle of the run and
the GPS receiver would turn off. I would have to monitor the
GPS periodically to make sure that the unit was still
working. Anyway, I sent the GPS back to Timex and got a new
one, same problem (must be the area I live in, Ft.
Lauderdale).

As you might imagine I soon grew tired of messing with the
dropped GPS signal and wanted to get back into the FitSense.
My previous experience with the FitSense was ALL positive
(well, except the bulky form factor). As I was cruising the
net one day I stumbled on the Triax Elite. I did a little
research and found little bad news on it. The biggest
problem was that Mac users were having problems connecting
the watch to the computer (I have a PC with Windows, no
problems reported there). Other than that, those that I
spoke to really liked it. I went ahead and bought one, and
man this thing is awesome.

As far as the GPS to accelerometer technology, I have used
them both and do not notice a difference in accuracy. The
accelerometer doesn't shut off in the middle of a run, so I
guess the accelerometer is more accurate. The other thing I
really like about the Triax Elite and FitSense is that you
don't have as many devices strapped to your body. The
accelerometer hooks to your shoe and is not noticeable and
the HRM is no different than any other HRM, but that is all
you need besides the watch. With the Timex you have the GPS
receiver and a separate Data Collector to strap on. Also the
Data collector is independent of the watch. This means that
you have to start/stop the watch and turn on/off the data
collector at the same time to get the same readings from the
watch AND the data collector. I found it to be a pain to
remember to start and stop both, and frankly I rarely used
the data collector because of it. Lastly, since the GPS
turned off so much I found it to be more frustrating than
useful and ultimately wore the GPS on a limited basis. So I
was actually using my $300+ watch as a simple HRM (which it
is very good at doing), but I was not getting the benefits
of the BodyLink "System"

Now back to the Triax Elite; when compared to the FitSense
it performs Speed/Distance similarly, which in my opinion is
awesome. The accuracy is great. Downloading information to
the computer is similar, maybe a little easier with the
FitSense, as you only have to go to the PC mode on the
FitSense watch and downloading starts automatically with the
computer (just 1-2 extra mouse clicks with Triax). One
advantage the FitSense has is that the information is sent
to your FitSense internet account where it can be seen from
anywhere via the Web. Another good aspect of the watch is
that it keeps track of the miles you put on a particular
pair of shoes. I consider that was helpful to me as I try
and stretch the life of my shoes too much.

The Triax is better in the fact that you can have setup
multiple intervals on the computer and download them to the
watch. Also, you can fine tune a workout down to every minor
detail. For instance I set mine to beep at me when I have
reached half way so I know when to turn around on a "out and
back" run.

The Triax software is truly awesome, you just got to give it
a try to appreciate it.

Anyway, this is my 2 cents on the watches I have owned.

Seeeeeeeeeeee ya, Rick

"David" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:user-
[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I also just got this watch. You do not say anything in
your post about what your PC configuration is. I have
installed the software and linked succesfully on numerous
IBM-compatible PC's running Microsoft OSes no problem at
all. Only take a few minutes. The problem comes with
MacOS. They clearly just did a straight port of the PC
version and did little to no QA for Mac (typical)... or
else the QA was done on a very limited range of Mac
configurations and somehow miraculously worked on their
one configuration. The good news is, I called them and
they said the Mac thing is a known issue which they are
working on resolving. They could not give me a timeline
other than to say it would be 'a few months'. Once
available, the new software will be available for download
on the Nike Timing website. Nike timing customer support
is great BTW... a real human always answers the phone...
they have a small team of people dedicated just to watch
support.

I am primarily a Mac person... so the Mac thing did [censored]
me off... but I've decided for now just to run the
software on an old PC laptop I borrowed from work. I too
was really mad at first and was thinking about returning
the watch... but I'm **REALLY** glad I didn't. The
software is awesome!!!!!! I don't know how the Timex
software compares... but I really like the Nike software.

You get a full screen (800x600) real time graph of every
second of every run... HR, Pace, Distance, Time... it's
all there... for any point of your run. You can also
graph multiple runs and show as much or as little data as
you want.

The workout builder is really cool too. Similar to the way
Polor watches work... you can make custom workouts with
unlimited segments and you can set repeats for each
segment or groups of contingious segments... all with
segment chimes and out of HR/Pace zone alarms. Each
segment consists of an activity which you can name
whatever you want (run, stretch, coffee break... whatever
🙂 a measurement (by time or distance) and an intensity
(by HR or pace).

You can then take those workouts (you can make as many
workouts as you want) and make "plans" with them (via
drag and drop). So you could build an entire marathon
training plan from your various workouts. You can make as
many plans as you want as well. Back in calendar view,
you can drag and drop either individual workouts or plans
(groups of workouts) into your calendar. You can also
drag and drop up to 10 (I think) "favorite workouts" into
a list. When you sync the watch... all of the workouts in
your favorite list and the next 10 days of workouts/plans
in your calendar are uploaded to the watch... and
everything saved in the watch is of course downloaded to
the application. It is truly awesome. On the watch... you
can then see all these workouts and do them... or if you
want you can also just use chrono mode and not use a
workout at all.

Other than the PC link & software and the addition of the
HRM... some of the biggest improvements over the old Triax
100 are...

- User-defineable calibration offset!!!!!!!!!!! Thank
god!!!!!! You go to the track ONCE when you buy the
watch and then... unless you switch your brand of
shoes... that's it. Once you know what your personal
calibration offset is... you're all set. And if you are
noticing the watch read short or long on known distances
from your favorite routes or whatever... you can just
tweak the calibration value. No need to go back to the
track.

- Huge display... slightly bigger main display (from 18px
to 20???) and significantly bigger secondary display
(from 5 pixels high to 7... those 2 extra px make a huge
diff.!).

- Battery hatches on everything (watch, hrm and foot
pod)!!! I had one of the original Triax 100's where you
had to open the damn pod up with a screwdriver (4
screws)... basically take the thing appart... to change
the battery!

Another thing I like... which is a very small thing... is
that the crystal is dead flat... making it crisper easier
to read I find... i.e. less reflection. And the buttons
are really easy to press. I also like that I can switch
what I'm viewing on the fly in both workout and chrono
mode... distance, hr, etc. Before, you could only do this
in the (useless) "Run" mode but not in chrono. Oh... and
you can set pace zones now down to the second... DUH!!!
And partial laps no longer throw off the average lap
calculation.

I have only TWO small complaints so far...

1... they got rid of the "headlight" mode... which made
the light turn on with every button press... great for
night running. It would be nice to have the light flip
on automatically when you switch views at night. Not a
big deal as I'm sure I will end up running with the
watch in pace view 90% of the time.

2... I wish there was a customizable view (like the
CV10)... there are only the pre-sets. So you cannot for
instance see pace AND hr at the same time.

Other than that... I think I'm gonna love this thing!!!!
Awesome software!!! (as long as you run it on a PC...
until the Mac fix comes out)... big display... speed AND
heart rate (unlike the Forerunner) and much fewer 'bits'
to stick on yourself (like the Timex). I also feel that
the Dynastream technology might be more accurate (compared
to GPS) for real time pace... which is important to me.
And with the manual calibration... calibration is now a
non-issue. I came close to trading in my new Triax Elite
for a Forerunner (after being annoyed with the Mac
thing)... but I really wanted both speed and HR.

In article
<[email hidden]>,

(Seth Jayson) said:

Folks,

Just got one of these straight from Nike to review.

Buyer beware on this product. The software/linking
system doesn't seem to work at all. (I'm a pretty
knowledgable computer nerd, as in I build machines from
scratch, so if I can't get it to run in 2 hours of
tinkering, it's a safe bet it's not so good...) Whether
this is a problem with the sample I received, or
something endemic to the system itself, I don't know.
I've already lost patience with the thing enough to send
it back with a polite thank you. I won't be writing
about it in the magazine I work for.

The watch itself seems improved over the last one I
tried. Numbers are bigger and the buttons are much
easier to push. Also, the HRM strap is nice and comfy.
But if you're looking for the ability to graph your pace
against your heartrate, you're better off with the funny
old Fitsense FS-1. It may be ugly, but it works.

No skin off my banana here, since I didn't have to pay
for this thing, but I don't want to see anyone else take
a plunge for nearly $400 and not get what they paid for.

It's really too bad, they've got a great design and some
good ideas. The execution just isn't there.

The last triax I tested was also flawed in that you HAD
to be running before you started the chrono if you
wanted the distance to measure correctly. (In other
words, no just hitting the button then taking to your
heels.) Otherwise, a tech told me, a flaw in the watch
OS made it impossible to accurately measure the run. He
said that flaw had been fixed in later releases.

If Nike made these watches as nice as their running
sunglasses, that would be good.

sj

--
Nova Scotia, Canada

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-
virus system (grisoft.comgrisoft.comOpen ↗). Version: 6.0.609 /
Virus Database: 389 - Release Date: 3/3/2004

I love mine too. The software is awesome.

One thing tho'... you talked about liking the way FitSense
can keep track of milage on a particular pair of shoes.
Although the Nike doesn't do this exactly... you CAN reset
the Odometer now. With the OLD Nike, the only way to reset
the odometer was to reset the entire watch... which meant
going back to the track to recalibrate!!!! Argh. Anyway,
assuming you are only using one pair of shoes, with your
Elite you could just zero out the odometer every time you
buy a new pair of shoes. That's what I plan to do.

BTW... I just discovered a cool workout feature... must have
missed it in the help docs. You can set an interval to
automatically finish when you HR reaches above or below a
certain level... perfect for recoveries and warm-ups.

The only thing you can't do with a custom workout... which
is only a very minor annoyance to me... is that you can't
use time intervals independent of distance intervals. i.e...
I would like to set up a workout that was a 26K run (for
instance) with a 1 min walk break every 10 mins. However,
since workout segments are defined by either time OR
distance... you can't actually do this. Still... I can set
up a repeating 10 & 1 interval and just look at my watch to
see the distance. Also, it might be nice if the workouts
took laps (based on the chrono settings) when you are using
time-based segments... even tho' that might not always make
sense (i.e. why would I want to take 1K laps/splits when I'm
doing 400m hill repeats). If you want 'laps' in a custom
workout (as opposed to a regular chrono run which will
always just take laps/splits)... you just have to set up
repeating 1K segments. Still... for the most part, workouts
are based on either time or distance or both... but not at
the same time... so it's not really a problem.

And one last thing... favorites and plans should update
automatically when you edit the workouts they are based on.
That could be fixed in a future release of the software. It
might be nice to have more anaylsis features too... like
maybe a graph charting the ratio of average HR to average
pace for your steady state runs over a 3 month period... or
how about estimated VO2Max... or whatever. Nike could
probably get some idea from Polar for this kind of stuff.

--
Nova Scotia, Canada