SpeedCoach vs. Velocitek

[Esteroali]

So, my SpeedCoach got lost in the Gulf yesterday. I'm trying to decide what to replace it with. I still have the charger and heart monitor. It was the original SUP version, that I bought used on Distressed Mullet. I'm not sure if I should wait til I see another used model pop up for sale or go with the Velocitek SUP unit. I don't really have plans to download data. I just like the speed to help with training techniques. Thoughts? I'm not really into plunking down 500 again.
PS the lanyards don't function as safety cords.

[Quickbeam]

So, my SpeedCoach got lost in the Gulf yesterday. I'm trying to decide what to replace it with. I still have the charger and heart monitor. It was the original SUP version, that I bought used on Distressed Mullet. I'm not sure if I should wait til I see another used model pop up for sale or go with the Velocitek SUP unit. I don't really have plans to download data. I just like the speed to help with training techniques. Thoughts? I'm not really into plunking down 500 again.
PS the lanyards don't function as safety cords.

Just curious, what do you mean "the lanyards don't function as safety cords"?

I just bought a Speed Coach, so if the supplied lanyard doesn't work I'd like to know. Thanks.

[Esteroali]

I wasn't planning on surfing when I started my paddles so I put my Speed Coach on. I went through the pass and tried a couple waves and fell once, not a face plant fall, just a fall. When I hot back to beach the unit was gone, the lanyard still attached to board. The unit ripped off from lanyard. Lanyard attachment to unit weak. I would put a strong cord to unit.

[Quickbeam]

So was it the lanyard that failed or was it where the lanyard attaches to the unit that failed?

[Esteroali]

Good point. It was the lanyard attachment not the actual lanyard.

[Quickbeam]

Wow, that's pretty scary. When I was deciding between the SpeedCoach and the Velocitek, there were a number of reasons why I went with the SpeedCoach. One of those reasons was the lanyard attachment. Not much use if it is going to fail. That really is concerning.

If it was me, I would be calling Neilsen-Kellerman and see if they would do anything for me. Maybe not because I think you said you bought it used, but even so that attachment point should not fail. Not for what the unit costs.

[Esteroali]

I think I got mad and threw the lanyard away.

[Area 10]

How useful are the stroke measurement statistics on the Speedcoach? I tend to paddle in very windy conditions and so I wonder how useful they would be since stroke rate is so heavily affected by the conditions. I like the idea of it, but wonder whether it would only really be useful somewhere with fairly windless flat water.

[kayadogg]

I've been using a Speedcoach for over a year. I have the lanyard attached to an ezplug on my board. I use hook and loop tape to secure the Speedcoach to my board. I've used it in the surf very often, even in some sizable surf. It has come off from the hook and loop tape a bunch of times but the lanyard has always held. They also include a float that you can attach to it, which I don't use but it's there if you need the extra peace of mind. This is the first I've heard of the lanyard breaking and I know many people that use a Speedcoach in surf.

[Esteroali]

Update: First off NK customer service promptly addressed my issue. The lanyard failure of the original Speedcoaches is a known issue. The metal clip that attaches the lanyard to the unit breaks. Luckily I produced a photo of the lanyard and NK is replacing my unit. You must have a newer unit which comes with the float. I use a Go Pro clip attachment for the unit and a secondary SUP mount to attach the lanyard. All that was left after I flipped was the lanyard. Very happy with NK rep Madeline Delaney.

[Quickbeam]

Congratulations! Nice to see a Company that stands behind their products. Good on ya' Nielsen Kellerman!

[kayadogg]

Nice to hear your good experience with NK. I've never seen the first version lanyards. The new version doesn't use a metal clip to connect the lanyard to the device, which has probably fixed the issue (plus the added float helps too). Thanks for posting the update.

[Esteroali]

This is from NK rep Madeline Delaney

Hi everyone! In case anyone was nervous about their lanyard after that last post, I wanted to let you all know that we did make a lanyard change late last year to address an issue that a few people had with the weak point of our older lanyard style. In addition to the lanyard, we changed the way we attached the float to SUP units, and for SUP units we re-introduced the leash mount. We know the SpeedCoach GPS does not float, and we want to help you give them their best chance at keeping them on your board and in your boats! If you have the old style lanyard (picture attached) and would like to switch to the new style, send us an email at techsupport@nkhome.com with your mailing address or give us a call at 800-784-4221 and we will get a new style lanyard in the mail to you for free. On SUP boards we strongly encourage using a floating key fob (ours or someone else’s) and a leash mount (again, ours or someone else’s). As always, if there is anything we can help with, please don’t hesitate to let us know!

[Quickbeam]

I have had a couple of dealings with NK in the short time I've owned the Speed Coach. Nothing serious, just a couple of minor things that were resolved very quickly. I was impressed at the time with the service I received. And from everything I am reading about how they are dealing with yourself Esteroali and also how they are dealing with the larger issue, I just say major, major kudos to NK. Is so nice to see a Company that goes the extra mile for their customers.