The Oracle

Or My Crossing into the Matrix…

Red pill, Blue pill, nope, this Mr. Anderson has a Garmin device attached to his wrist and is beginning to question his “need” for his “oracles” advice. How I got to this moment of “alternate reality doubt” begins with my compulsion to slowly and guardedly adopt the latest (and when slightly aged) greatest tech advances that modern thinking can offer. Of course the bicycle, an invention of beauty, simplicity and engineering mastery begs for the latest tech. Yes, I said it, (though I don’t know how to reconcile this conundrum), let’s improve upon mechanical genius with chips n’ code.

Cycling electronics have come a long way, starting with basic tools like bike computers that tracked speed and distance. In the early days, these devices were simple, offering only basic metrics like time, speed, and distance. As technology evolved, GPS units became popular in the early 2000s, allowing cyclists to map their routes and track their performance with much greater accuracy. This was a game-changer for both recreational riders and professional cyclists, offering a new level of data for route planning and performance analysis.

Around the same time, power meters began to emerge. They were initially used mainly by professional cyclists and coaches to measure power output—an important metric for performance training. The PowerTap hub, introduced in the mid-2000s, was one of the first widely adopted power meters. It measured power through a strain gauge in the rear wheel hub, providing real-time data on a rider’s output.

As power meters gained popularity, other companies developed different types, including pedal-based and crank-based systems. Pedal-based power meters, like those from Shimano and Favero, became particularly appealing because they were easier to install and offered better accuracy by measuring power at both legs simultaneously. Over time, these devices became smaller, more precise, and more integrated with cycling computers and apps, giving cyclists a full picture of their performance, from heart rate and cadence to power output and GPS data. Today, these systems are indispensable tools for serious cyclists, offering insights that help riders of all levels optimize their training and performance.

With my once every 15 year purchase of a new road bike (15 years with my use seems to be the end of the most core components), I was confronted with the obsolescence of my PowerTap hub and little yelo computer. Eventually this upgrade my life behavior led (or forced by desire) to the purchase a Gamin head unit paired with Garmin’s power meter pedals, speed sensor and heart rate strap, I had finally once again entered the modern age. Admittedly, I was thrilled, all that data, all in one place, metrics I’ll never understand or use, but very very cool.

Typical of a cycle tech nerd, I soon realized that I wanted portability, I needed this centralized handful of data to follow me what ever ride I chose. Garmin happily obliged with their mobile app and syncing with most indoor cycling platforms. Also moving the Garmin head unit from ride to ride was awesome, it seamlessly locates all the accessories (lights, power, cadence) and you’re ready to ride. The one thing that could remove all this joy — the stupid human factor. It wasn’t long before my stupid human behavior showed a flaw in my Garmin ecosystem. While out for a trail ride, I crashed my mountain bike and demolished my head unit, lesson learned, mounting your expensive electronics to the handlebars of a crash prone bike = recipe for disaster. So, picking up the pieces (literally) I became acutely aware of needing a more stupid proof solution or I would have to abandon my quest to record my every ride. But wait… I can’t be the only crash prone rider, there has to be a better way? Noting others sporting fitness watches, off went the stupid human light bulb — I too needed a watch. The motorcyclist in me says watches are always a bad idea and hardly crash proof, but the speeds involved, the density of surfaces to crash upon are certainly more forgiving in the mountain bike environment, right? I was primed to invest.

My history with watches though not extensive has been eclectic, some elegant, but most clunky, such as my Marx Superman, Timex calculator or Casio G-Shock, the latter was my most advanced watch. Capable of temperature, barometric pressure and altitude readings, this 1994 gem was all a tuner could need or a normal human of the era envisioned as possible. But then, enter the Garmin “Oracle” or Forerunner 945 — a watch shattering any of my thoughts from the 90’s of what a watch could be and hence its influence on my daily existence.

With over 20 screens dedicated solely to disclosing and crediting some of the technologies Garmin licenses to reside within its case, the oracle has some insane functionality. From fitness tracking (heart rate, respiration sleep tracking, steps etc…), GPS routing, Bluetooth and USB interfaces, cycling device and cellular integration, music and an electronic payment platform the oracle provides everything except meal planning. Oh, did I mention it keeps time?

Like most modern tech, the oracle became more demanding of my interaction, willingly I obliged. And obligated I am, being sure the oracle is properly seated on my wrist for sleep to the daily checks of my recovery progress and then monitoring the effectiveness of my blend of activities. But there’s even more to appeasing the demands of the oracle, obsessive monitoring of its many stats such as…

• Recovery time
• Resting heart rate
• Steps taken
• Stairs climbed
• Calories
• O2 saturation
• Weather forecast
• FTP
• VO2
• Heart rate variation
• Heart rate
• Training load
• Lactate threshold
• Race predictor
• and more

Needless to say the oracle can feed OCD tendencies and I may just be slightly afflicted. Today my oracle owns me and did so without ever having offered me a choice of pills.