Heads up!!! Here’s your massive Cyber Monday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $619, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals here!
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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Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? These companies help support the site! With Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
You can also pick-up tons of gear at REI via these links, which is a long-time supporter as well:Alternatively, for everything else on the planet, simply buy your goods from Amazon via the link below and I get a tiny bit back as an Amazon Associate. No cost to you, easy as pie!
You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- 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?
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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 Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘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!
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.
My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2023 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
It would be interesting to see a write-up of all the options of power meter, that is… what is the status on all upcoming power meters, cost, and if they are pedal-based, crank-based, rear hub-based and how they differ.
I really Brim Brothers provides more info on their shoe based power system along with some pricing targets. My Garmin Edge 500 could also use a refresh :)
Now that RacerMate One is available, I would like to know when the remaining modules from the program might be up and running.
It looks like Kurt Kinetic will be there… I would like to know if they have any plans to provide ANT+ support for their InRide product.
More details on the Wahoo Kickr trainer please!
Looking forward to hearing more about The Stages Power Meter please!
Wi you be doing your turbo trainer round up onces the show has finished?
More info on the Kickr (price/release date) and the Genius (stablity of new software, etc..) I have been in trainer purchase limbo for the past two months, waiting for that information and your review before I make a decision. Would love your help!
4 things:
– road tubless wheel/tyre;
-Garmin update on 800 and Vector;
-Tacx ANT+ turbo/powermeter;
– Power2Max
I’m with above…it’s coming up on indoor training season for most of us, so ranking of recommended power meters and indoor trainers that “will be” available this year, and not talked about for 2 years(ie Vector).
Hi Ray. When you run in to the Garmin guys, you could always drop a suggestion about a feature for the Garmin 310/910: Custom Multisport Mode – i.e. define a pace alert for the swim, power alerts for the bike and HR alerts for the run… Also be nice to have custom messages at predefined intervals (Mile 8 of the bike gets you “Have a Gel”).
Why doesn’t Garmin do a “random route generator” on the 800 the way the new MIO will do? I would love that. Just tell it I want to do X miles and finish where I started and follow a new route each time.
Is the motoactv discontinued or being upgraded?
Any news on the replacement for the Garmin Edge 800?
I would like to see a run down on Bluetooth LE uptake, specifically integration with existing products, and any new products that will use this technology. I’ve invested in some of the Wahoo BTLE equipment for my wife and me, and would like to see what else is on the horizon.
Also, +1 for more details on KICKR (e.g., price, release date). Although it is sunny and 80 degrees today, we’re fast approaching indoor training season in Seattle!
Ray-
While @ Interbike — I assume that you will be chatting with the Garmin folks. Please pass on the following:
1. Thank you for the recent FR 910xt update.
2. In the next 910 update can they please fix the Multisport mode Open Water Swim bug. It is hard to conceive a watch that is advertised (see Matt Lieto ad) and is meant to be a multisport watch that one cannot upload a triathlon without a bug??!!?? The OW swim leg is still wonky and doesn’t work. If I upload a brick (B-T2-R) there are no issues.
3. In the next fix can they please address the mile pace bug (when running) — it still reports 24 seconds as the mile pace when looking at laps in the history.
Thanks! Have fun at Interbike – keep up the good work – get some sleep.
Quoc Ngo said…
I really Brim Brothers provides more info on their shoe based power system along with some pricing targets. My Garmin Edge 500 could also use a refresh :)
I agree. I’m holding off on the purchase of an Edge 500 to see if Garmin makes an announcement. It’s been almost 3 years since the Edge 500 was introduced. Long time for modern electronics.
Hi Ray,…speaking with Garmin folks are they planning any update for the Edge 800 so solve the altitude/slope issue (at least to bring the 800 at the same accuracy level than the 705 if not better)…and power features like AVG FTP 3″,10″, 30″ and/or avg 3,10,30£ power ZONE?
About turbos i read somewhere that Tacx Bushido/Genius can be linked at 3rd party ANT+ power meter; in order to get more info also about power feature of their new software, could you ask them those things?
Best regards
Kris
I know it’s not your focus but I’d like to see a post on the new technology for bike fitting. There should be interesting developments from Retul and Cyclelogic.