OVERVIEW

If you are a gadget and data freak, then the latest Speed + Distance system from Timex will get you excited. Combining a full-featured 100 lap watch boasting all the usual bells and whistles with a compact GPS unit provides a wealth of information including current speed, top speed, pace (minutes per mile/kilometer), best pace, average pace, distance per session, as well as an odometer. A multi-lap chronograph records this information for post-workout analysis.

With its ability to use during running and biking, on trails and roads, the S+D system immediately caught my attention as a potent training tool. Always looking for a new toy, I spent the last few weeks putting the S+D system through its paces to see how it measured up.

SET-UP

Setup is painless. Strap the GPS unit onto your arm or clip it onto a belt, switch it on and wait for it to beep indicating that it has acquired a signal. During the initial activation, this process may take a minute or two. Afterwards, connection time is much quicker. As an added bonus, whenever the GPS unit is activated the time on the watch is synchronized with the GPS satellite's atomic clock to provide an unfailingly accurate timepiece.

A couple of tips to speed up this process—do not turn on the GPS unit until outdoors and don’t move around until the signal is acquired. I made the mistake of beginning a run before the GPS was dialed in, and it didn't lock onto a signal until I finally stopped at a red light five minutes into my run. If the signal is weak during a session, the watch also beeps and displays a message. This typically occurs when your route takes you through wooded areas, in canyons, or in areas surrounded by buildings.

PROS

Well, if knowledge is power, then this is the watch that Superman wears. This is especially true during runs with its ability to provide you with a constant stream of information.

Want to figure out your pace during a long run? How about measuring your favorite running trail? Or, use the Zone Pace alerts (similar to high/low heart rate alarms) to run at a specific pace range (e.g. 6:45-7:15 minute mile pace). A beep will sound if you fall out of the range. Maybe fast-mile repeats are more your thing. The Distance alert can be set to beep every mile, 400m, or whatever distance you choose. While many of these structured workouts previously required a track or measured route, the Timex system gives you the freedom and flexibility to do these sorts of workouts wherever you want. For many of us, that feature alone is worth the price.

On the bike, the benefits are less significant since current bike computers already provide most of this data. The nice thing here is that there is virtually no set-up required and you can easily switch the system from one bike to another. I tossed the GPS unit in my Bento Bag on the top tube and, strapped the watch to my handlebars using the foam pad included with the system and hit the road in a fraction of the time it would have taken to install and calibrate a new bike computer.

Accuracy of the system is quite good. I have a measured run course and the watch was dead-on at 1 kilometer and 1 mile. I completed a 10k out-and-back and noted only a very slight variance between the 'out' and 'back' portions of the run. Accuracy on the bike was not quite as precise but still quite acceptable. I ran the Timex in parallel with my Specialized wireless computer (which I previously calibrated on a measured mile) and there was approximately 2% variance with the Timex system. In all instances, the S+D system indicated slightly less than the exact distance. Since the GPS technology employed by Timex measures only point-to-point distance, expect a greater variance on hilly terrain. In other words, if you are planning a little hike up Mt. Everest, you may be a little disappointed in the results.

CONS

Most of my gripes relate to the GPS receiving unit. This is a first-generation system and while the weight and size of the GPS unit is not significant it is noticeable (it is about the size of a garage door opener). I suspect that the next generation will be much more compact and we probably aren’t too far removed from an all-in-one watch solution.

I found the belt clip ineffective at anything faster than walking. Furthermore, I also experienced more 'weak signal' messages in this setup. The arm strap provides a much more consistent signal but can feel a little constricting. However, once adjusted, the GPS unit is not too noticeable when in motion. On the bike, the GPS unit can be positioned on the top tube or handlebars. No matter what the activity, the S+D system works best with a clear view skyward.

Three AAA batteries power the GPS unit and battery life is a real concern. The user manual indicates an anticipated 12-hour life for the GPS batteries. While the watch includes the ability to monitor the GPS battery level, it is not very accurate and, once the batteries get weak, the signal reliability is marginal and terminates without warning. If you want to use this for everyday runs and rides then be prepared to buy lots of batteries or, better yet, invest in a rechargeable set.

The price, at $225, isn’t cheap but compared to other systems, such as Nike’s $235 SDM Triax system, it is competitively priced.

WISH LIST

At the top of my list is a heart rate monitor capability, so that I can calibrate my speed to my effort. This would further enhance the S+D system’s status as a premier training tool. Another nice feature would be a PC interface to save session data.

A smaller GPS unit would also be appreciated but I can live with the current version. A less power-hungry GPS unit or, at the very least, a rechargeable GPS unit would also cut down on the hassle and expense of constantly replacing batteries.

The system would also benefit from additional features, such as a dual odometer to distinguish between running and cycling mileage. Currently, the watch indiscriminately lumps all distance into one total.

Finally, a full waterproof system would make the S+D system a great tool for open water swims. While the watch is water resistant, the GPS unit is only "splash resistant".

CONCLUSION

If you plan to use the S+D system primarily for biking, then it is a functional but more expensive (and battery hungry) alternative to the plethora of bike computers already available. However, if you are frustrated with setting up bike computers, it offers a simple solution. As the price and hardware shrinks, we will undoubtedly see more bike computers adopt this technology.

For running, the S+D system is great and offers invaluable feedback for data junkies. Individuals who cannot live without a bike computer, will quickly become addicted to the S+D for runs.

Is the S+D system worth the price? If you like gadgets, are obsessed with getting the most information out of workouts, and can justify the expense and short battery life, then definitely yes.