Heads up! There’s some pretty substantial sales that just started. For watches, the Garmin Epix is down to $499, and the Fenix 7 to $449, with the Pro editions also $200 off! Meanwhile the top-end Edge 1040 cycling GPS is down to $499, and both the Edge 540 & Edge 840 are also on sale. As is Varia radar for $149. Some incredible deals, and ll the deals are here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
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:
With TPC (The Pro's Closet), you'll save $40 on purchases over $200 with coupon code DCRAIN40 for tech and non-tech purchases!
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.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
1
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.
2
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!
3
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.
4
My Photography Gear: The Cameras and Equipment 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! It’s a nice break from the day to day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
5
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.
Flight delayed and spent 10 hours at Kona waiting for my next flight out. Great time exploring the area.
Masses of people and beautifull nature.
Watching on TV and wishing I was there and taking part.
Liam
I will hopefully this weekend, when Rasmus Henning ends his career with a win :)
Watching on TV and wishing I was there and taking part.
Liam
Luc Van Lierde winning on his debut!
Getting ready to watch it tonight to give me more inspiration for me when I do my first ironman next year
Love your giveaways! Compliments from Portuguese living in Ile de France
the crawl
I first heard of Kona when I was 18. The internet didn’t really exist back then and I went and bought a book about the Ironman Hawaii.
Hearing there was such a thing as the “Underpants run” for the first time. That cracked me up real good (of course not as much as reading about Ray’s underpants run in Canada, but that’s not strictly Hawaii-related).
I first heard about Kona when I was 18. 18 seems like a long time ago.
Pauli Kiuru racing at Kona
As a Belgian the mast favourite memory of Ironman Kona are the fwo victories of Luc Van Lierde … even with a course record set the second time… Lets hope Bink Vanhoenacker can make history again today.
Simply stepping off the plane and smelling the flowers…
Pizza on the beach..
The thought of actually entering Kona makes me brick it ;-)
Entered!
I used to lust after Kona mountain bikes. Does that count?
Would love to run there but can’t afford getting there. But I can definitely dance a Hula and imagine being on Kona Beach :-)
Thanks for all the good reviews
Rasmus Henning finishing 5th in kona 2009 with a brokken hand.
Never visited, but hey would I like to!
Have fun
The finish of the 1999 edition when the Hoyts despite not making the bike cutoff managed to get to e finish line before midnight. I still get goose bumps every time I watch it. Its the ultimate source of inspiration
My best memory? Maybe sometime making my own memories ;-) .
It’s a dream of my life!
Dreaming to do the IronMan of Kona some Day
Never been there (yet), but Kona is the dream destination for once of my training buddies, so for me Kona is friendship & training. And again DC thanks for tour vive asas
when rasmus henning forgot to remove his swimsuit and rode the entire bike leg with it
Yes please, thanks.
I love seeing the champions decked out in the bright leis and wreath crowns at the finish!
Jonas Coltings Ultraman adventures.
Some day I will be there
Kona underpants run
Chrissie Wellington handing out medals to the age-groupers.
The beach and the sea and feeling free!
The win of Thomas Hellriegel in 2007.
Hawaiii is incredible !!! go Eneko !!!!
Hawaian skirts !
Last years Chrissie Wellington win even though she had a severe injury.
People crawling to the finish line
Couldn’t miss Kona on my honeymoon to Hawaii
Mmm…Triathlon..
Remembering one of the races on TV …. Thinking i would never be able to do that. Working towards my second marathon now and thinking i can do this!
Easy….Macca’s 2nd Win
Kaunaoa Beach and swimming with turtles! And also endless lava fields crossed with road on which poor triathlets take second part of Hawaii Ironman.
Realizing the first couple placings get pulled into a clean up area only to arrive at the finishing line looking like they are in a sporty fashion shoot
How can you combine the most beautiful place in the world and the most intense effort? Easy Kona!!!
I always watch the race on TV/live stream starting 6 pm our time.
Usually I fall asleep at maybe 4 in the night.:-)
And wake up with the race again, hearing the voice saying “You are an ironman…You are an ironman….” .
I cry. It is so overwhelming. I watch until the last Agegrouper comes in an than I start training.
Hawaii? Elvis! ;)
Watching Macca and Chrissie
Watching the Kona race and realizing I’ve got a long way to go before doing something of that scale.
Mmmhhh…. this is a tough one!
I’ve never been in Hawaii, so I guess my only memories of the place come from watching Magnum P.I. episodes on TV when I was a kid!
Since I haven’t been to Hawaii, I’ll have to say that My favourite Hawaii memory is Magnum PI in his glory days.
Also I will be following the Swedish athletes in the race on saturday!
Kör hårt!!
watching it on tv each year – some day in person.
D4veH4le@gmail.com says: It has gotta be the story of the 1983 womens result with Kathleen McCartney passing Julie Moss in the dark. Julie had completely bonked and well…lets say politely soiled herself…and continued on slowly with the pregnant giraffe walk. Tough Event, for tough people!!
biking through the lava desert
watching the Blazeman roll across the finish line.
My fist holiday with my wife was in Hawaii. We loved it!
Haven’t been to Kona (yet). But all theses breathtaking scenes of the athletes on this beautiful and impressive island. Especially the great run duels in the energy lab give me a motivation to train even more.
Cant wait to watch Kona IM! Must be tough doing a tri in a grass skirt.
watching a video online of the race a few months ago and being inspired to finally get my act together and start training for and competing in Tri
Epic race…
going to hawaii on vacation next year!
I’d really, really love to go there someday…
But is kinda half the world to travel from Italy
I always look forward to seeing Chris Lieto on the bike part.
Favorite Kona Moment – When Chrissie Wellington got a flat I think in 2009. She forgot to put the valve and wasted her CO2 as it all blew out again. She stood on the side of the road and watched all her challengers pass her for about 5 min. Finally a fellow competitor lent her a CO2. She came back to take the lead and the win.
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Hawaii … dream
I wish I have Kona related memories, maybe in 3 years time… Only starting triathlon this year.
Three weeks ago I dream to win the Kona in final rush against Macca
Watching the race and hope to qualify one day
Watching Kona to see two people cross the finish line just seconds past the cut-off time.
I’m just glad that Lance will never race there!!! And I really hope he’ll give his Leadville 100 title back.
Best memory from my one and only time visiting Hawaii – getting in a kayak and paddling out until my arms gave out, then coasting back to the shore.
Best memory from my only time visiting Hawaii – getting on a kayak and paddling out until my arms gave out, then coasting back to the beach.
A reason to take those old holiday image slides out of their box!
Favorite memory from Hawaii – paddling on a kayak in the beautiful blue sea.
I been to Hawaii once! While I was in the Navy, it was pretty amazing!
Seeing all the different ages groups. definitely inspired me to run more :) Rob
Favorite memory from Hawaii – paddling on a kayak in the beautiful blue sea.
Just when I broke my 310XT :))
Watching the last hour of the race. The atmosphere is amazing!!
Seeing all the different ages groups competing. definitely Inspired me to run.Rob
Watching Chrissie Wellington competing over the years – Road Rash (2011), punctures (2007), nothing stops that woman – She’s a true inspiration to me, and I hope we’ll see her in Kona again.
Every year u setup my laptop and watch the race and clean my bike because its the end of the season for me. great times.
If I get it, I will be there next year (or the following one, or …)
Watching Chrissie Wellington win.
Pietro from Italy
Can’t wait to watch IM! Must be hard doing a tri in a grass skirt
Not necessarily kona-related, but when I was four, my family was vacationing in Hawaii, and we stumbled upon a Dead Sea lion on the beach with huge chunks missing from the sharks. Needless to say, I didn’t go back in the water during that trip.
Not necessarily kona-related, but when I was four, my family was vacationing in Hawaii, and we stumbled upon a Dead Sea lion on the beach with huge chunks missing from the sharks. Needless to say, I didn’t go back in the water during that trip.
Snorkling with about a dozen manta rays for over an hour right off the Kona airport is still the coolest thing I have ever done!
Amazing snorkeling amongst coral and turtles.
I drank Kona beer at the Polynesian Resort in WDW, is that tenuous enough for you??
Growing up I remember watching the bike leg and seeing the Zipp Y frames. I thought those were the coolest bike ever.
I liked reading about the first ironman and the crazy participants
The race between Chris McCormack and Andreas Raelert in 2010.
Constantly refreshing the browser because I have to read (yes, read!) the race progress through forum’s posts due to the slow internet connection I have.
Still, the last few km are very fun when nobody posts an update, hehe
Been into running lately and even finished a 50k ultra. Someday hope to join a triathlon at least once !