October 2022 ~ TRISTUPE.COM

Monday, October 31, 2022

THE ASICS WORLD EKIDEN IS BACK FOR 2022, INVITING TEAMS OF RUNNERS TO COMPETE VIRTUALLY FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

THE ASICS WORLD EKIDEN IS BACK FOR 2022, INVITING TEAMS OF RUNNERS TO COMPETE VIRTUALLY FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

- The virtual race returns for its third consecutive year having attracted over 25,000 teams comprised of 96,000 participants in 2020 and 2021 combined.

- Teams of up to six can register to take on the relay and experience the positive impact of sport on the mind.

- Registration now opens at ASICS World Ekiden 2022 (raceroster.com)

[OCTOBER 31, 2022 – Kuala Lumpur] – ASICS is today inviting teams of up to six runners to sign up to compete in the ASICS World Ekiden 2022, as the race returns for its third successive year.

Taking its inspiration from Japanese running culture, the ASICS World Ekiden challenges teams to complete a marathon distance over the course of six legs of varying distances from 5 - 10km. Teams must pass their digital tasuki - the narrow band of fabric used traditionally in Ekidens - from one leg to the next, working together in the true spirit of Ekiden for the team to succeed.

Free for everyone and open to all, the ASICS World Ekiden welcomes participants of all levels and abilities, making it accessible to anyone from anywhere around the world to experience and embrace the competition. The race returns for 2022 following a hugely successful opening two years for the event which has so far brought together a combined 96,000 runners from around the world. Between them, they’ve covered over 475,000 kilometres – equivalent to almost twelve laps of the earth’s circumference!

What’s more, the participation of legendary former and current athletes has become a staple of the ASICS World Ekiden. Renowned athletes including Yuki Kawauchi, Emma Bates, Beth Potter, and Koen Naert have all been featured as part of teams taking on the challenge of Ekiden in previous years.

The race uses the ASICS Runkeeper™ app to help participants form their team, stay connected through training inspiration, and track their race progress via a live online leaderboard to see how they rank among fellow participants across a range of categories. Runners can also share their Ekiden journeys and be a part of the conversation using the #ASICSWorldEkiden.

Yasuhito Hirota, ASICS CEO said: "We simply can't wait for the ASICS World Ekiden to begin again. The race window has become a highlight of the year for us here at ASICS, as we know it has for thousands of people all over the globe. It's been our privilege to share this staple of Japanese running culture with the rest of the world, and to see runners take on the Ekiden's values of teamwork and commitment is truly inspiring. We hope everyone enjoys participating in 2022 as the Ekiden further contributes to ASICS' founding mission of helping people to achieve a sound mind in a sound body. Good luck to all teams and see you on our leaderboard."

How to sign up

1. REGISTER FOR FREE

Captain an Ekiden team of up to six runners. Each teammate will run between 5K and 10K, together completing a combined marathon distance.

2. TRAIN & TRACK

Working together is the key to the Ekiden relay. The ASICS Runkeeper™ app will help you collaborate with your team on challenges and training plans.

3. RUN THE RACE

Log your leg of the race in the ASICS Runkeeper™ app between 10-22 November. Work hard and run fast as you pass the virtual tasuki from one teammate to the next.

4. CELEBRATE & SHARE

Share your team’s results with friends and family on social using #ASICSWorldEkiden #ASICSWorldEkidenMY.

Win Prizes by participating and completing the ASICS World Ekiden 2022 (Malaysia Edition)

1) INSTAGRAM Weekly Lucky Draw

Each week, starting from now until November 9th, Malaysian teams can stand a chance to win weekly prizes and ASICS products simply by just registering!

POSTING PERIOD: NOW TILL 09 NOVEMBER 2022

How to Participate in the Weekly Draw :

Register your team via the ASICS Runkeeper™App
(download via Apple Store or Google Play)
Fill in your team member’s name using the IG Story template provided here.
Upload the IG Story template (with your team member’s name) on your IG Story and tag
@ASICSMalaysia (ensure IG profile is public)
The winning teams will be announced via @ASICSMalaysia every Thursday till 9 Nov 2022.

1) Complete and Win a GRAND PRIZE

Malaysian teams who complete the Ekiden Virtual Race between 10-22 November 2022 will stand a chance to win ASICS products worth up to RM1,000!

Winning Categories :

1 x Fastest Team: - The quickest team (by time) to complete the race wins

1 x Run & Win Lucky Team: The winning team will be selected at random based on the list of teams who have completed their races

The winning teams will be announced on @ASICSMALAYSIA IG Story after the Ekiden race closes (after 22 Nov).

To find out more about the ASICS World Ekiden 2022, including training tips and all race information visit ASICS.com or join us at #ASICSWorldEkiden.

Corsa Sport Rain - Review

Underrated - Corsa Sport Rain

I recently gave my underbone motorbike, a Modenas Kriss 110 to a friend's son as he will need it for his commuting at his local university. Sent the bike for a service as it was almost not ridden since the Pandemic, and with the old set of tires already showing sign of cracking on the side wall. It is only right to give the bike in a safe working condition to someone you considered to be your family. The previous tire was the Pirelli City Angel. Yes, I uses expensive rubber even for a small bike - again, safety always first!

Handsome. 2019 new tire

Taking into consideration where the bike will be used which is near the coast line and has more rain than expected. I've decided to change both the front and back with a well known rain tire that were well rated by the Grab/FoodPanda/Lazada/Shopee riders. The Corsa Sport Rain came highly reccomened for dry and wet handling, apart from being a mileage eater - everything a student would need in terms of economy and safety.

The Angel City with at least 50% remaining

The Angel City likely has seen close to 10k km of usage, and still solidly threaded. Only giveaway to the safety is the sidewall cracking/drying up. This also meant that the wet grip is greatly compromised as the compound has hardened up and unable to bite into the tarmac when wet. So do not compromise on tires.

Spot the line cracks along the lettering

Priced at about RM120 for back and RM110 for front including installation, the work/job was completed while the engine oil was changed and all moving parts checked for freeplay. Luckily the sprocket set and chain is still new (last changed 2019 and not went past 10k km), so the only cost for this visit today remain to be the tire, engine oil and spark plug.

Very convincing thread for rain and dry weather

The Front tire was replaced at the same time, and rightly so as different thread on motorbike can be detrimental to the handling due to different level of grip. Also, the sidewall was already showing sign of failure/cracking and changing it with the rear is the only right thing to do for safety.

Old Angel City

New Corsa Sport Rain

Now, a bit of Corsa Sport Rain. The name gives the impression of a very continental feel, only that it is a proud product from Indonesia and has many years of experience. We all know the amount of motorcycles there are in Indonesia, and this is indeed a good indication of the usability and R&D that may had went into the design as they share similar weather as us. Read more about them here

My experience of using this is fairly limited to about 50km as I ride it to ensure everything is ok. First feel is that the tire felt good and grips pretty well on turning. My benchmark is of course the older Dunlop all purpose tire and the Angel City, which in my opinion is a huge safety consideration in rain for me. Braking distance was indeed better than the aging Angel City, and the start-stop typical of riding a motorbike provide good indication of power transfer and comfort over usual road bumps.

Hopefully, the new owner will enjoy the ride!

TRAIN WELL, REST WELL, PACE YOURSELF

TRAIN WELL, REST WELL, PACE YOURSELF

TIPS FROM A MULTIPLE IRONMAN FINISHER & COACH - RUPERT CHEN

The IRONMAN Malaysia and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi is looming just over a week away ahead of race day on November 5, with over 1,500 participants set to descend in Malaysia’s historical picturesque Langkawi island as the event makes a comeback after a two-year hiatus.

While there will be many seasoned triathletes gracing this edition, both the IRONMAN races would also see first-time participants eager to have their first taste of this multisport event.

To help understand what it takes to compete in an IRONMAN, 2016 IRONMAN Asia ambassador, multiple IRONMAN finisher and Triathlon Coach, Rupert Chen, shares his first IRONMAN experience, as well as some important tips for newcomers.

1) Tell us about yourself. What inspired you to get into IRONMAN?

Before IRONMAN, I was working in the corporate world as an engineer. I eventually got tired of it, and left. After that I started venturing into longer distance triathlons. I did my first IRONMAN race back in 2010, probably as an escapism from the corporate life (laughs). I have done a total of seven full IRONMAN since then, and four of it was in Langkawi.

2) What are the early challenges that a new IRONMAN participant would most likely face?

When I first started, there wasn’t much guidance available yet. Even YouTube was relatively new at that time, so there wasn’t much content for the athletes. But now, there is plenty of content online, besides more coaching to facilitate for triathlons in Klang Valley. It’s easier for people to get community training together. This is why I would recommend beginners to find a coaching group or a club to train together.

3) What does an IRONMAN participant require before competing for the first time?

The essentials you will need for an IRONMAN race is firstly a bicycle, along with equipments such as a helmet. For running it’s easy, as you only need shoes. If you were to join triathlon, you will need a triathlon suit. If you wear a triathlon suit, you can just use that suit throughout swim, bike and run. For swimming you need goggles and swim cap. Of course, there are other things you can add on like a visor, sunglasses, socks, and sun block.

It is also essential to orientate yourself with the routes as that will help you strategise your game plan – when to attack and to take it easy. Arriving a few days earlier is key. If you have the chance to join simulation events a few weeks or months prior, that would be advantageous too in your planning.

4) Tell us about your first IRONMAN experience?

I went in with a lack of experience and was under-prepared. I remembered having to arrive the day before by ferry. I was inexperienced and did not know about the check-ins for the transitions. I only arrived there after my meeting at 4 or 5pm. So, I barely had time to check in, but managed to settle everything. By that time, I was so stressed out at that I barely had any sleep. The good thing was that I knew in order to finish this race, pacing was very important. I learnt to hold back and pace myself. I finished the race after over 15 hours!

5) How did you prepare for your first IRONMAN?

At first, I wasn’t sure how much running or biking I should do. So, it was just trial and error for me at that time! I just practiced whenever I could. As I was working full-time back then, the time to train was limited, so I would wake up at early as 3am in the morning to train, and after work I would continue training as well. I wasn’t getting enough sleep and I got pneumonia after that. My preparation and fitness was terrible, but I was just happy to finish the race.

6) Give us the rundown of your first IRONMAN experience? (From start till finish)

I don’t think I even slept the night before. The race start was in Kuah, Langkawi at that time. I started out by swimming, and I couldn’t even swim freestyle completely and had to mix it up with breaststroke. I remember the terrain on the old course was hilly. I finished my bike session around late evening, and by the time I was done with my run, it was almost 11pm.

7) Key lessons from your first IRONMAN?

Preparation is key, and you need some long-term planning. You cannot start preparing two or three months before, it takes at least half a year of preparation, and a lot of consistency in training. You don’t need bombastic training. The most important is having consistency and a lot of easy to moderate sessions. You just keep stacking them up and you will build a significant amount of fitness. Of course, with a coach, you can cut out your trial and error.

8) What message would you give to first time IRONMAN participants?

Proper training is pivotal for a race. Another is to pace yourself well. If you overuse your energy for the first part of the race, you will be left with nothing after that. Nutrition is also crucial for a full IRONMAN. Learning to take in the right amount for nutrition is important, meaning you must eat enough without overeating. And the most important thing is remember to go out there and have fun!

About 2022 IRONMAN Malaysia & IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi

Date : 5 November 2022

Venue : Langkawi, Malaysia

About Langkawi :

Located within a cluster of tropical islands that attract visitors the world over, the race will take athletes on a truly Malaysian cultural journey through tropical, hilly and demanding terrain passing traditional kampungs (villages), mangrove clusters and rainforest vistas.

IRONMAN Malaysia has been accorded with :

1. ATHLETE CHOICE AWARDS - IRONMAN

● Overall Swim Experience (2018)

● Best Post-race Celebration (2018, 2017, 2016)

● Will Attend Next Year (2018, 2017, 2016)

2. 2018 Best Triathlon Races in Asia Awards by AsiaTri.com

The Event Experience :

IRONMAN Malaysia (Full Distance) - Swim 3.8km, Bike 180km, Run 42.2km

The ocean swim starts from the picturesque white sandy beach of Pantai Kok with a two-loop triangle out and back course.

The two-loop bike course heads out of Pantai Kok towards Jalan Teluk Yu on a clockwise loop from the Northwest point of the island around the rolling hills of Datai towards the southeastern part of the island. Passing through several local villages ‘Kampungs’, athletes will get a true taste of the colourful sights and sounds and local communities of the island. The aid stations along the bike course are all supported by the local communities in Langkawi. Athletes will enjoy the local wildlife and winding terrain, passing The Langkawi Falls on route to the Datai turnaround. At the end of the 2nd loop, athletes will continue along the coastline of Pantai Kok heading towards Transition (T2).

The run course will showcase the best Malaysia has to offer as athletes pass through the scenic ocean front of Cenang Beach. Athletes will run along the side of the Langkawi International Airport runway. The tropical flat run course brings athletes into the beach front of Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa for their 2 lap run.

IRONMAN World Championship Qualifying Race - There are 55 qualifying slots to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi (Half Distance) – Swim 1.9km, Bike 90km, Run 21.1km

The ocean swim starts from the picturesque white sandy beach of Pantai Kok with a triangle out and back course.

The one loop bike course heads out of Pantai Kok towards Jalan Teluk Yu on a clockwise loop from the Northwest point of the island around the rolling hills of Datai towards the southeastern part of the island. Passing through several local villages ‘Kampungs’, athletes will get a true taste of the colourful sights and sounds and local communities of the island. The aid stations along the bike course are all supported by the local communities in Langkawi. Athletes will enjoy the local wildlife and winding terrain, passing The Langkawi Falls on route to the Datai turnaround.

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Qualifying Race - There are 30 qualifying slots to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland.

About The IRONMAN Group   

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.  

About Advance  

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.

Ironman Malaysia 2022 - Comeback after 2-Years Hiatus!

IRONMAN Malaysia Returns After Two-year Hiatus

Langkawi set to host dual spectacle with IRONMAN Malaysia and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi attracting more than 1500 participants on November 5

26 October 2022, Petaling Jaya : IRONMAN Malaysia and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi are set to make their long-awaited return to the idyllic shores of Langkawi Island, with more than 1,500 triathletes having confirmed their participation across the two race distances for November 5.

IRONMAN Malaysia and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi are among the first international events to make a return to Langkawi after two years of postponement.

As Malaysians mull their year-end holiday destinations, IRONMAN Malaysia

comes at the ideal time to not only promote the event, but also highlight the historic sun-kissed island to fellow revellers.

Langkawi Tourism Association Chief Executive Officer Zainudin Kadir said the island is hoping to generate RM55 million from the IRONMAN Malaysia this year.

“The IRONMAN Malaysia generated RM50 million when it was held before the pandemic. We are confident of surpassing that figure this year and are targeting to generate RM55 million.

“We are expecting at least 30,000 to 40,000 people to descend to Langkawi for the event. It’s a massive boost for the local tourism industry, from the hotels to the F&B and transportation sector. Seeing that 90% of the island revenue depends on tourism, the return of sport events like IRONMAN comes at the perfect time,” said Zainudin.

Dato’ Alexander Isaac, member of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), said the IRONMAN community contributes massively to the local economy.

“The local economy benefits greatly, as the triathletes will arrive a week before the event, and they usually stay on a week after. They bring their families along too, who usually tour the island sightseeing.

“All sectors will benefit directly and indirectly from this, as the spending creates a chain reaction,” he said.

The IRONMAN Malaysia route starts off at Pantai Kok where triathletes are released via a rolling swim start to complete the 3.8km or 1.9km swim leg with a 200m run to the first transition near the Danna Langkawi luxury resort.

They next get on their bikes to head out of Pantai Kok towards Jalan Teluk Yu around the rolling hills of Datai towards the southern part of the island.

The final leg of this event, which is the run, will showcase the best Malaysia has to offer as athletes pass through the scenic ocean run of Cenang Beach.

The Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa will serve as the final destination where the triathletes cross the finish line after a day-long, non-stop excursion.

Athletes have more than one reason to be happy at the finish line at the Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, where the Race Pack collection and Expo will also be located.

“IRONMAN Malaysia has a great history. The Langkawi courses provide scenic beauty and rewarding challenge. We have been waiting a long time to return to Langkawi, and I’m sure the participants are looking forward to test themselves in this breath-taking setting,” said IRONMAN Asia Managing Director Jeff Edwards

IRONMAN Asia Regional Director CG Lim said the event will play a key role in not only ending the year on a high, but boosting the local tourism economy.

“Many local traders have benefited greatly when we last hosted the event in Langkawi back in 2019. We are honoured to stage this event in such a location, while boosting the local economy in various ways. We welcome not only the participants, but also their families and friends to be a part of this,” said Lim.

The IRONMAN Malaysia offers up to 55 qualifying slots to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, while there are 30 slots available for IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi participants to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland.

This event is supported by its Premier & Technical partners in Asia including Active, Breitling 1884, Fulgaz, Qatar Airways, Roka, Santini, VinFast and Wahoo.

For more information on this event, please visit https://www.ironman.com/im-malaysia

About 2022 IRONMAN Malaysia & IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi

Date : 5 November 2022

Venue : Langkawi, Malaysia

About Langkawi :

IRONMAN Malaysia has been accorded with :

1. ATHLETE CHOICE AWARDS - IRONMAN

● Overall Swim Experience (2018)

● Best Post-race Celebration (2018, 2017, 2016)

● Will Attend Next Year (2018, 2017, 2016)

2. 2018 Best Triathlon Races in Asia Awards by AsiaTri.com

The Event Experience :

IRONMAN Malaysia (Full Distance) - Swim 3.8km, Bike 180km, Run 42.2km

The ocean swim starts from the picturesque white sandy beach of Pantai Kok with a two-loop triangle out and back course.

IRONMAN World Championship Qualifying Race - There are 55 qualifying slots to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi (Half Distance) – Swim 1.9km, Bike 90km, Run 21.1km

The ocean swim starts from the picturesque white sandy beach of Pantai Kok with a triangle out and back course.

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Qualifying Race - There are 30 qualifying slots to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland.

About The IRONMAN Group   

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events including Haute Route®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.  

KLSCM 2022 Marathon and Half Marathon GPX

In case you need it, I've taken the liberty to create on Garmin the GPX file for the upcoming KLSCM Marathon and Half Marathon route with Water Station. Location is approximate based on the details provided by the Race Organiser Official KLSCM2022 App now available on Apple and Google store.

Official App, which I was told, is in "testing" after I post the stuff below

Update 12Noon October 28, 2022.

Please do take note that the Organiser did not commission me to do this, and thus the mapping you see below should be used at your own risk. Also, the organizer has not released the official GPX file yet, and hence the route in their KLSCM 2022 Official App is not...err.. official as yet (as mentioned to me in this twitter post below).

If you felt comfortable reading this far, and agree not to hold myself or the organiser accountable for the sharing below, carry on :D

Or you can always wait for the organiser to release their official version of GPX file.

FULL MARATHON

Click here for Marathon GPX

Uncle Ee-Van fixing things on GPX

HALF MARATHON

From App

Click Here for Half Marathon GPX

Uncle Ee-Van and his magic GPX

note: Half Marathon has some correction due to Mapping error (it over extend when i saved). Issue solved. If you downloaded before October 28th 11.30am, please do so again.

BONUS : 10KM Route

CLICK HERE FOR 10KM GPX

Pirelli DIABLO™ ROSSO SCOOTER - New Set

New rubber, lets go!

Those of you following this write up will know that I first installed this set of tire on March 2019 and has provided two reviews including the long term usage here on December 2021. The tire has since done close to 13k+ km and well needed for replacement.

New at KM10 March 2019

October 2022 at 13K++ KM

The front tire was surprisingly still with at least 50% thread left. This meant I could still use it in my daily commuting and change both tires within the next 3-years. By then, the front will still be within the 6-years window but I will change it if there are sign of physical stress such as side wall cracks. It is not worth to take the risk for a few hundred savings.

Front new

Front as of October 2022. More than 50% left. Good condition

The process to change the tire was less than 30mins. I kept reminding myself that it is not like changing a bicycle tire as on a scooter, the mechanic has to remove everything that links to the wheels, including exhaust and the brake sets as they share common mounting points. Also, this is a good opportunity to check for any excessive wear and tear on the shaft or do any minor replacement if required. Was lucky none of it was required so the cost for the day remains to be the tire change and labor charges.

New replacement is week 22 of 2022. Not fresh tire but at least 3-months old in storage. Acceptable

Love the thread. Compound is proven on wet, dry, corner and straight!

Checking the disc, shaft and bearings

All ready again!

With new tire on the rear replaced, I am more confident and felt way safer to ride on any weather. Again, for commuting and very little to no aggressive riding, some may say this is an overkill - it may be as the one model down, the City Angel may be more suitable. But at RM20 price differences between the two, I am willing to pay for safety and solid wet and dry handling. Did I mention the stopping power and comfort?

Sport&Outdo : SportSet Headband Headphone Unboxing and Review

Not everyday I will receive a Red Dot Award (2021) winner item for review. This is a headband that is also a headphone from Sport&Outdo (S&O). A headband AND a headphone, this was how they won the RedDot Award in 2021 for Concept Design.

Weighing at 59grams with playback time of 5hours, Bluetooth 5.3 protocol and IP67 waterproof, this set of headphone (speakers on the side, pointing to your ear) allows an out-of-ear-canal experience. A good True Wireless headset for work and play.

While this is not a bone conduction headset, the functionality and design intend is the same - open ear concept so you stay aware of your surrounding while doing what you love, and looking good with it.

Priced at USD99(now) and available at Sport&Outdo. Ships globally.

First up, the unboxing! Stay tuned as I put this SportSet through extensive wear testing!

The S&O SportSet

First look at this SportSet reminds me of the mid-2015ish sweatband known as Halo-band which has ability to "divert" sweat away from the eyes via some internal rubber/silicon drain. Now, add on a True-Wireless Speaker (TWS) and you get the S&O SportSet.

A good indication on how it will look like on the model

The S&O team sent me their first version for me to stress test and to provide feedback. It is a privilege and I intend to share with them my user experiences. First up, the box that contain the SportSet (as it is known for "Headband Headphone"). The box gives an impression of exclusiveness and premium-feel. Embossed printing and simple to the point feature.

Click here for the Unboxing Video

Complete Playlist for S&O SportSet on My Youtube Channel

Embossed wording.

The Logo could had been made more prominent

The back/bottom of the box has the Red Dot Award Winner indication and also tell of the technology and thoughts the team put in.

Simple and to the point. Take note this is a Bluetooth 5.3 Codec and with IP67 Waterproof. Also, the unit i received is marked as "M" size for my 58cm head circumference

S&O did not skim on the technology of the SportSet. It comes with Bluetooth version 5.3, which is considered the newest codec that offers 2x the speed, 4x the range and 8x the amount of transferable data. The iteration of 5.3 also meant better battery/energy savings, faster device switching between two devices, minimal lag is communication and more secured/encrypted data exchange. This also meant better sound quality at a lower bitrate (thus saving energy/longer playback).

Two other sales/distribution in London and Germany

Important Specs to Help You decide

What's in the Box

The box reminds me of unboxing a new phone. The top black portion holds the charging cable (USB-POGO pin aka pin that is like Pogo stick/spring loaded) which is magnetic and snap automatically into the charging pins. It is also one direction due to polarisation of the magnet. The other item is the user manual in two language (English and German). The missing Chinese user manual surprised me and perhaps the target market is more international by S&O

Makes you wonder if there is a phone below isn't it?

The POGO pin charger and user manual

The POGO and the charging status (green steady blinks)

Charging is a fast 40mins for a 4-hours usage. A 5-min charging gives a 2-hours usage, which is really impressive if you planned to have a short run and your SportSet ran out of juice.

The Unit and the Elastic bands

3-length of band for the customised fit. 190mm, 200mm and 210mm length is ready

The length is clearly marked on the metal fastener and with side indication

Only one way to slot in and secure

The silver part = speaker!

The S&O logo on the right side is the ON/OFF button

The charging pod is on the left side

Bottom hole is the microphone outlet

How they both lined up

There is a marking on the unit itself on the R-L orientation

Quick slide and snap into place

Similar for the other side

S&O claimed the unit to be 43 grams on the unit itself, the additional is the elastic band fixture at longest 210mm

Pairing The SportSet to Devices

One of the promises of Bluetooth Version 5 is the ability to link two devices at the same time and switches between them seamlessly. Pairing on my iOS16 was simple and quick. The name will appear as SportSet and linking was immediate. Linking to my Garmin Fenix7x device was also quick and seamless. Once they were both linked, streaming music and having playback coming in from either devices was fast and swift.

Click Here for the iOS16 pairing with SportSet

Click Here for the Garmin Fenix7x pairing with SportSet

Click Here for the Switching Over Experience! Fast and Seamless!

It is a Headphone with mini-speaker, not bone-conduction

Unlike the bone-conduction headphone that hooks over the ear (Shokz or AfterShokz as it was formerly known), the SportSet sports two mini-speakers that lend the playback function. My initial concern that the sound may be muffled was quickly put to rest as the position of the speaker is actually directed to the ear. At the loudest setting, the sound/music was audible and caught on my Insta360 camera. Either it was that loud, or the Insta360 has awesome mic-pickup ability (which is actually the mic-pick up)

Right side. Take note of the Speaker orientation towards my ear

The biggest differences between the SportSet and Shokz (Open Run Pro, absolutely top of the range model) apart from aesthetic (how it look on the user) and technology (speaker vs bone conduction) is with this SportSet i am able to hear the broadcast clearly AND the ambient sound around me clearly. On the Shokz, the ambient sound (traffic or people talking to you) drowns out and it is as if you were wearing an in-ear unit.

Complete unboxing

Sound wise, it is as expected. Less bass pumping through and mostly midrange and high range. While the Frequency Response mentioned 20Hz to 20kHz. Just do not expect audiophile quality. How does it compare to the Shokz? Very similar minus the vibration on the side of the ear. The Shokz "delivers" the bass via low vibration, so you feel the bass, instead of "hearing it".

Wearing it and How it look on me

Wearing the SportSet was easy. It reminds you of wearing a headband - well, it is technically a headband. While it may look pretty strange for a bald person like me, it may look normal for someone with hair. At the moment, the elastic band is only in florescent green with black band and wording, Would be nice if there are other options (wish list)

Front

Comfort

Have you ran with a headband or sweat-band? How about liking your workout with a headphone/earphone/bone-conduction headset? If you did, and you are comfortable to do so, this could be your 2-in-1 solution. The fitting on the SportSet is via the elastic front panel (removable and as mentioned, come in 3-length). As the unit itself is not stretchable, you may have to get use to the feeling of the back portion pressing on your head. However, it still felt comfortable without much restriction - and unlikely it will slip down while running as the silicon surface will provide sufficient hold.

Left side

From the back!

Does It Work With Other Cycling or Running items?

While we were in the spirit of testing and checking the suitability of this unit to work on multiple scenario, I've tried it on two diffferent type of cycling helmet, running cap (and offline casual cap) and except for the Aero-helmet, the other items worked really well with the SportSet unit.

S&O SportSet with Aero-Helmet

S&O SportSet with Normal Helmet and Running Cap

Technical Specs

BT version: BT 5.3 (competitor is BT5.1)

Operating distance: 20m(barrier-free environment)

Work time: 5h (competitor is 10hours)

USB Cable: USB-POGO Pin

Docking Battery spec: 120mAh

Earbuds charging time: ≤40 Mins

Frequency: 20HZ-20KHZ

BT decoded version: SBC AAC

Earbud weight: 43g (59grams with L 210mm band)

Waterproof level(device): IP67 (competitor is IP55)

BT protocols:

a2dp/avctp/avdtp/avrcp/hfp/spp rfcomm/pnp/hid/sdP core/l2cap core

Price: USD99 at the moment. This is 45% cheaper than top of range competitor ( Shokz Open Pro (USD179.90))

Thank you S&O!

I am grateful and privileged to be included in this first commercial version of the SportSet. The team has asked me to "do whatever I want" to test them out and provide feedback. In return, they asked for my opinion and improvement. Open channel collaboration like these is hard to come by - as most brands are protective and only interested in selling. I've already listed down a few improvements I would want to share with them.

Leave comments below if you see opportunities to make this even better as well. I believe our view (as users, current headphones, earphones, bone conduction) may be very similar. Here are my list just based on first feel and unboxing

Aesthetically:

More compact unit, thus making the "side less bulky"
Choices of color for the headband
Make the headband to be like cloth material so it is like a head covering (like Buff)
Instead of "Sport&Outdo", just use their S&O logo. Subtleties is nice

Technical

Longer battery life for use on longer runs (Marathons or Ultras that extend post 5-hours) wihtout sacrificing the current size. (can't expect more compact speaker system with longer battery life)
Siri or Google Assistant button/function
Potential to incorporate a red LED blinker at the back or a safety reflective strip incorporated into the rear band