Product Review: Ripxx GPS Sensor
Training Technology at its Finest
By Jason Giacchino
Let’s be honest, by the year 2011 we sort of expect to have such high tech gadgets as a little box we strap to our body and ATV that can communicate with earth-orbiting satellites to deliver all sorts of useful information about our training.
Electronics company Ripxx agrees and for 9, they’ll set you up with their Sport Performance Measurement device, which does exactly that. We may not have flying cars or jetpacks yet, but don’t let anyone tell you 2011 isn’t pretty slick from a technological standpoint.
The Facts
You strap the Ripxx to the back of your chest protector with the top button facing the sky. As you move Ripxx is continually recording your position, acceleration, speed, orientation and altitude. Some statistics are shown on the built-in screen for immediate feedback, but where the Ripxx really shines is when you plug it into your computer. Once the full dataset is uploaded, you have access to a wide range of statistics and simulations that show exactly how and where you performed.
The Ripxx Sport Performance Measurement device is designed to work with runners, bicyclists, skiers/snowboarders, and in our specific arena: motorsports. The unit measures all sorts of useful data such as:
• Elapsed time of run
• Time of day ride was made
• Length of run
• Speed: top speed and average speed
• Acceleration: top acceleration and average acceleration
• Jumps: distance, height, time in air
• Vertical drop from any two points
• Steepest part of run
• Altitude: highest altitude reached
• Turns: sharpness, speed, lateral drift
• Number of runs on a given trail
• Number of trails run at a given location
And what if you don’t wear a check protector? We had success mounting the unit around a leg (above the boot), the waist, and even to the handlebar cross pad.
Hardware
At 4.5″ x 2.5″ (x 0.5″), the unit is surprisingly compact. It makes use of a contained rechargeable battery pack (cell phone style) that actually charges while the unit’s plugged into your computer’s USB port. We were averaging about 8.5 continuous hours out of a charge.
Data Acquisition
Set up is a nonevent and we found just knowing the unit was tracking us provided a little extra incentive to ride harder. Although some basic data is displayed on the device’s weather-resistant OLED screen, it has to be connected to a computer to access the lion’s share of the stuff you’ll want to know.
Believe it or not to retrieve accurate data, the user must input the mounting position they opted to go with so as to orient the sensor into knowing which way is up, down, forward, or backward so that Google Earth can accurately plot a graphical map.
The measured data is then converted into several useful onscreen graphs and comparison charts, depending on the activity.
Testing
Anyone concerned that the Ripxx is incapable of recording/ reporting the type of data they need to improve their training need not be concerned! In fact playing around with this unit can be a bit of an information overload as there is simply so much information at your fingertips. Lap times, color-coded line selections, 3D modeling (yes basically a video game version of your actual ride in first person view, third person or overhead helicopter camera). Even factors such as jump distance, vertical drops encountered, and acceleration figures are at your disposal.
Interestingly there are even more tools to mess around with if you use yours to hike or cycle.
Complaint Department
Our main complaint has more to do with the nature of GPS technology than it does the Ripxx unit or software: Because the margin of error in GPS tracking can be off by some 20- 30 feet, particularly tight conditions (such as a backyard track) can appear overlapped.
Additionally, and perhaps due to the fact that position of the satellites above the earth change constantly, it seems certain measurements are spot on (such as lap times) while others occasionally give some odd readings (such as air time).
Conclusion
There’s no denying the usefulness of the Ripxx and in fact, as a training tool, it really delivers. We found ourselves fooling around with it quite a bit just because it’s surprisingly addicting to get the unit hooked up to your computer after an epic ride to view some of the facts and stats. Riders who partake in other outdoor activities (skiing, jogging, cycling) will likely find this device a must-have.
Contact
What do you think of this GPS sensor? Something you would use? Discuss it here!