I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.

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UK based here! Canada! Germany! France! Spain! Italy!
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Ray Elsewhere
Did you know I write a weekly column over on Slowtwitch?
Check out my Product/Electronics posts in Ray’s Sports Electronics Mailbag - they are packed full of gadget goodness.
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
- What are your least favorite countries/places?
- What are you favorite countries/places?
Follow me on Twitter
- RT @Jeukendrup: Photo from Ironman Lanzarote last weekend! Such an amazing bike course!! http://t.co/aeycRgtVEB #, 6 hours ago
- RT @mrogati: An API for all your #QuantifiedSelf data by @human_api: http://t.co/gPQfRFV6Jk. Hackathon on 6/29; how about a sleep + weathe… #, 9 hours ago
- @cthompson01 I think the other 103 pounds of junk I took back may have limited my 'take back a wine bike' potential... #, 10 hours ago
- New Post! A look at aerotesting with ERO Sports and the Alphamantis System: http://t.co/h9FaULBUJ5 #, 10 hours ago
- @DrGalactus Sometimes you just gotta prioritize... #, 10 hours ago
- Seen at grocery store: A new option for frame mounting wine bottles (below seat). http://t.co/BMOU9Jb3NN #, 10 hours ago
- RT @OnevFoto: today's #potd http://t.co/uDgQnIPvV2 by @tfrank_de via @cyclingtips #, 2013/05/24
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
In Depth Product Reviews
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
Read My GPS Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent gadget recommendations guide (2012) – covering almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day to day? I also just put together my complete 2012 ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
Understand technology and sport in the How-To Guides.
I enjoy explaining new things to folks – especially showing people how to get the most from their gadgets. Here’s an ongoing list of “How to” guides.
Read my Top 25 most useful posts.
It turns our I’ve written a fair bit of stuff over the past few years – and after it disappears from my front page, a lot of it never really sees the light of day again without Google’ing skillz. Or a photographic memory…which I don’t have. I’ve taken a look back and found stuff that…continues to find a trickle of readers via web searches or forum links.
Have some fun in the travel section.
I travel a fair bit, both for work and for fun. Here’s a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that I’ve put together and posted. I’ve sorted it all by world geography, in an attempt to make it easy to figure out where I’ve been.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.
O-Synce Navi2Coach Cycling GPS Unboxing
Picked up this unit at CES, even though I had seen it in demo back at Eurobike/Interbike. It’s an Edge 500 competitor, and I’m pretty impressed with it. It had incredible customization, and a super clean and easy to use software suite. Also, note the swappable battery (for those doing really long rides). Probably aiming for mid-February review on this, but thus far, I’m optimistic.




















Looking forward to read your review. Just bought the same device, but don’t have any experience with the edge 500. Hope that the navi2coach has better navigation functionalities. By the way had an issue with the accu slot, which I could open easily with just one finger. Returned the device and will receive a new one.
How far are you with the review of the navi2coach?
I own a recently purchased Navi2coach, and as an old-user GPS systems (My magellan meridian platinum has been by my side a little time;-) I can give some constructive improvements to future firmware updates.
- You can’t go to system menu while navigation or training, so you can’t easily change backlight settings for example. You have to stop the trainin I think
- Menu structure could be easier
- Creation of GPX on the device itself (this would be apreciated since my Galaxy S3 can read USB devices).
- Some problems with english versión of Training lab. (you can’t create other sport than cycling).
- Training lab: more options to import- export GPX and FIT format one to other.
Bottom line: I think these are minor soft fixes. The device is awesome. I’m very happy with it, and want to colaborate to improve it.
Excuse my english, it’s not my native language.
By the way….Excelent reviews Mr DCRainmaker…the best reviews web i’ve ever seen…Congratulations.
Can’t wait to read your depth review about it!
I need a new cycling computer. It will be a garmin edge 500/510 or a navi2coach.. (with power2max)
Great blog! Thanks
Would be great if you can publish review on this navi2coach.
You were aiming for mid February, hope the device did not broke down.
Do you have updated schedule for this one?
I don’t have a specific date unfortunately. The unit is working fine (it’s cool!), I’m just a bit backlogged with trainers and reviews. My throughput is roughly one review per week (of any sort). KICKR is up next.
I’m about to head out for a two-week trip with little cycling, so at the moment we’re looking at closer to the end of March. Sorry!
Thinking about buying a new device and pending between Edge500 and Navi2Coach. Any hints?
I am in same position, did put money aside for edge500 or navi2coach.
I have another viewing angle: is navi2coach driver supported by (training log) tools like TP/WKO device agent, RaceDay Apollo and so on. If not, or not on short term, then I better buy Garmin computer.
Lets see.
Any day now we expect a in-depth review from DC Rainmaker. Anybody that already bought their Navi2Coach should update to the newest firmware to get any bugs and some additional functionality (elevation graphs e.g.). Just go to the home page o-synce.com under support to download the .zip file. Upgrading is as simple as copying the two files over to the device via USB (Mac or PC) stick.
There is plenty of stock of the computers in the US, as well as the companion ANT+ remote. Bikemania.biz was the first to get it public, so i’ve plugged them, but searching will give you others.
The .fit file produced by the N2C computer is compatible with all the popular training programs out there. The Training Lab software supplied for free from O-synce (only PC) works great, but if you need a file converter, there are many free ones out there that do a better job.
try http://www.gpsvisualizer.com or strava exports: link to cosmocatalano.com
Golden Cheetah can also import/export many formats AND runs on a Mac!
have fun…