COROS has begun a social media teaser marketing campaign for what they’re calling “a distinct type of bike laptop”. The teaser doesn’t say a lot, however clearly, I’ve bought some ideas. COROS e-mailed current clients with a easy one-image graphic that claims “COROS Dura – Coming June 2024”:
The alt-text on that e-mail says “A Totally different Form of Bike Laptop”
That e-mail hyperlinks to a Dura homepage which in flip has a 17-second computer-generated video, the place presumably the finances was too tight to rent a correct CGI lighting crew. Thus, you possibly can’t see a lot. Together with that, there’s textual content under it which says:
“We have now usually been requested once we would create a motorbike laptop.
Whereas we now have at all times been captivated with biking, we didn’t wish to develop a brand new head unit with out creating one thing completely different.
We’re proud to announce COROS DURA, the last word biking journey and coaching companion.”
These be some massive phrases there, particularly the final sentence: “Final biking journey and coaching companion” is unquestionably aiming excessive.
Now, like I mentioned, the imagery may be very very darkish. However, I possess a magical energy: Adobe Lightroom. Mentioned energy permits me to rapidly brighten darkish pictures. So, we will take that picture on the prime, through the YouTube video, and produce out the shadows:
The super-bright white mild factor is just some graphics that within the video scan down the unit’s entrance. I can’t take away that. Nonetheless, we see that it seems the entrance is break up into two chunks. First, is a decrease chunk, taking over about 2/3rds of the entrance of the unit. I’d presume that’s the display.
Nonetheless, if we take one other angle and brighten it up, there’s additionally a distinct space on the prime proper that’s seemingly not linked. This has the ‘DURA’ identify in it, in addition to being a lot smaller. You’ll be able to see the very backside fringe of it, simply within the decrease proper nook. This might be a secondary display, a lightweight, a photo voltaic panel, or maybe only a place to stay gummy bears. Time will inform.
In the meantime, within the decrease rightish nook, you’ll see a spherical thingy. This gorgeous clearly appears to be like like a Digital Crown. That is smart, given all of COROS’s watches have digital crowns, so attempting to translate software program UI ideas can be a lot simpler if they simply stored that rolling wheel.
Past that although, we don’t know a lot, besides June.
Nonetheless, I’d recommend the next tidbits are worthwhile contemplating, in no specific order:
– The GPS bike laptop panorama is surprisingly crowded, at quite a few value factors. You’ve bought what I’d name the ‘Huge Three’ (Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead) with the apparent and big lead. Then you definitely’ve bought a slate of non-Western budget-focused firms (Bryton/Magene/iGPSSport/and so forth…) producing look-a-like merchandise. A few of these are fairly good, however most (all?) of them endure from bizarre often UI quirks or bugs which may or may not matter to some customers. Lastly, you’ve bought a bizarre assortment of has-been GPS manufacturers on the market too (e.g., the Cateye/Lezyne/and so forth). These firms have targeted on different merchandise (e.g. Lezyne makes plenty of different nice issues), however have largely uncared for their GPS lineup. Nonetheless, they affect the lower-end of the value sphere. Oh, after which there’s the Sigma Rox. They produce some actually stable bike laptop models, however are mainly solely catering to particular geographies (e.g. Germany).
– Competing on this panorama would require fairly a little bit of focus, and a really heavy-handed replace cycle. If we focus simply on the Huge Three for a second, they’ve present and former gen choices that scale right down to the mid-$250 vary relying on varied gross sales/offers. This consists of issues just like the Garmin Edge 530/830, Wahoo BOLT V1, and Garmin Edge Discover sequence. These are nonetheless very stable models, particularly when put up in opposition to any new entrant or finances competitor. They’re closely full-featured, well-established, battle-hardened, and do something virtually anybody would need them to do. Likewise, regardless of the quirks present in Bryton and different models, these next-tier models usually get the core performance largely proper. In fact, they promote at finances costs (many sub-$200) to account for lack of superior performance, model identify, and mentioned quirks. Mentioned one other manner: In the event that they had been higher, customers can be keen to pay extra.
– Now attending to COROS. The corporate has established itself as a really legit participant within the watch sport, primarily targeted on the working aspect (together with climbing). Nonetheless, the biking aspect has largely been an afterthought, till lately after they added a telephone companion mode. Nearly the entire physiological sort metrics cater to runners, not cyclists. Nonetheless, at its core, they’ve sorted out and handled issues like sensor pairing, recording from energy meters, FIT file stuff, uploads/obtain from TrainingPeaks, Strava & Komoot, and numerous different issues. These are the entire plumbing that bogs down new entrants. It’s demise by a thousand cuts, however COROS has largely gotten previous these cuts due to their watch enterprise.
(COROS Companion App Mode, indoors, additionally an out of doors variations)
– The place COROS actually must focus is making certain fully seamless integration through their app, and with the remainder of their watches. Mentioned otherwise: COROS’s foremost pitch in 2024 must be “The bike laptop for COROS watch customers”. Making certain super-seamless integration with their watches for issues like coaching load, restoration, and extra. And importantly, making certain these metrics are cycling-focused and appropriate.
– If they will try this, they’ll have a novel mixture that Wahoo gained’t be capable of simply counter as the corporate continues to exit and discontinue the Wahoo RIVAL watch realm. Additional, Wahoo (and Hammerhead for that matter), by no means targeted on these coaching load sort metrics. Although, Hammerhead does have their partnership with also-watch competitor Suunto, which does get your rides into the Suunto platform and counting in the direction of coaching load sort metrics.
– Above all, COROS must assume very very fastidiously about value. As I’ve mentioned numerous occasions earlier than “COROS is most threatening after they undercut others on value”, and that’s going to be much more essential right here. I’d encourage them to actually comply with their unique COROS Tempo watch when it first got here out: Undercut on value, provide good-enough options and a bug-free expertise, after which comply with via with a really sturdy replace cycle. If they will try this, they’ll be in good condition.
—
With that, I sit up for a busy June. I’ve been doing a heck of loads of using recently, and there’s lots extra to come back. As at all times, keep tuned for loads of cycling-focused full in-depth opinions of all kinds of issues, each time issues occur. Thanks for studying!
FOUND THIS POST USEFUL? SUPPORT THE SITE!
Hopefully, you discovered this publish helpful. The web site is known as a labor of affection, so please think about changing into a DC RAINMAKER Supporter. This will get you an ad-free expertise, and entry to our (largely) bi-monthly behind-the-scenes video sequence of “Shed Talkin’”.
Assist DCRainMaker – Store on Amazon
In any other case, maybe think about using the under hyperlink if buying on Amazon. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t value you something additional, however your purchases assist assist this web site rather a lot. It may merely be shopping for bathroom paper, or this pizza oven we use and love.
