Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $699, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals here!
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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.
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You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
Very nice! Am I misreading Cycleops’ marketing info, though? It seems like the PowerBeam Pro comes with the virtual training software included: see, for example, the listing on Amazon.com here.
It depends on which version you buy. ;)
The $1400 version you linked to includes it, but the $1,170 version I linked to doesn’t. Simple math explains the difference unfortunately.
Maybe I can change the value in ‘Software bundles for free’ to ‘Depends’, and that might solve it.
Ah, interesting. The one you link to on amazon.ca is different.
If you search for “Powerbeam Pro” on the US site, you get two options: the less expensive one still includes the software, but appears to not include the Joule GPS computer.
Hmm… quick question – are you seeing Amazon.ca links or Amazon.com links when you click from the table? The reason I ask is that in theory, since you’re in the US (or at least your IP is in the US), you should only be seeing Amazon.com links. If you were in Canada then it would enumerate Amazon.ca links (or try to). And for me in France, it shows Amazon.fr links (or tries).
Just curious if something be broke. Thanks!
Odd, I’m seeing amazon.ca links for anything that links to them from this site (product comparision, links inside reviews, even the big Amazon.com link in the right-side bar). I’m definitely in the US.
Thanks Brian…I’m working to track it down. Really appreciate the heads up!
Speaking of trainers, any word on kickr availability?
Hang tight!
I’m with you on that one!!!!! :)
Why is the Lemond Revolution ($499) listed as high end when other trainers ~$1000 are listed as moderate. Especially the Kickr which I would consider a high end Lemond Revolution.
Simple wrong categorization on my part. It’s back to moderate. Thanks for catching it!
Right now, I’m roughly drawing the lines at sub-$1K is ‘Moderate’ and above $1K is high-end. KICKR sits on the edge. It competes with the high end trainers (actually, it bests them in most categories), yet it’s priced lower. So I tagged it for both.
Hope this helps!
Been holding out for the kickr but am really intrigued by the VR training suite from Cyclops. Will there be a full review coming? Is anyone else getting in the the open source kickr software game in addition to trainerroad and kinomap? We have 2 feet of snow here and I need VR to get through my workouts. I want to make the right purchase that will allow me to video some rides and have the trainer match them.
Yup, absolutely. With the inRide one done today, I’ve got the Tacx Genius and CycleOps VR suite left. For the CycleOps I won’t re-review the entire PowerBeam, since not much has changed there (tiny little changes I’ll cover), so I’ll just focus on the software. That’ll save me a bunch of time.
My goal is by the end of next week two have both done (ahead of CES, as that’s a really busy time).
As for other KICKR companies – yes, many. Hang tight on those, they’ll be part of my review.
I recently purchased a Mintoura, and was wondering if you could let me know if you have ever used one. I had an old Trek CycleOps, but it ate my tire up, so went for the rim drive. So far, it really saves my tire. Any reason you don’t compare it? Also, anyway of using the other trainers without fear of rubber all over the carpet, your back, etc? My husband is looking for a trainer, but after the Trek trainer, he isn’t sure what to get.
The tables only include products I’ve personally used/reviews – otherwise I’m basically talking about things I haven’t used. Which I think is bad.
There are some trainers that get ride of the wheel as noted. For example, the LeMond Revolution (no longer sold) and the Wahoo KICKR.
That said, as we move into the new year I’m going to continue trying out new trainers.
Thanks!
Ray,
Just recently purchased the powerbeam pro so wanted to outline what the cycleops customer service outlined to me after calling to complain. I ordered the lower end powerbeam pro (read $1,200 version) because I already have a Garmin 500 and thus didn’t need the gps. The lower end unit does come with Virtual Trainer and DOES NOT come with a head unit. Hear in lies the problem….while you can ride virtual routes with changing resistance, you CAN NOT develop standard power-based training session with just wattage and time intervals.
What is absolutely ridiculous is the software obviously “talks” to the trainer to change resistance on the hills, but they left out the ability to do so in setting up power-based training sessions (guessing to boost sales of head units). The result is a bad xbox game without the ability to really work a training schedule. I called to return the unit after recognizing the limited functionality of a $1,200 unit, and they offered to send a Joule GPS. While I appreciate the customer service aspect (the individual on the phone was helpful and understanding), but there is no way this unit can be advertised for $1,200….the only real option is the $1,500 version with the GPS included (Obviously, most would rather have the Joule 3.0, but Im just nit-picking at that point)
Sadly, despite the positive customers service support, it is still very disappointing to spend that kind of money and then feel almost instantly disappointed by the feeling that you must spend an additional amount to “make the system work properly.”
Ray, just ordered a Cycleops Super Magneto Pro. Will be using it with Garmin GSC10 or Bontrager Speed Cadence Sensor (both that you reviewed with my lovely 910 XT. Any advice to get the maximum out of this combination? Many thanks. :)
I would suggest pairing it with TrainerRoad to get the most bang for your buck and get power curves there and then it can transmit that back to your Garmin FR910XT for a single point of training logs.
Hey Ray –
I am a 4 year Computrainer user. Last year I used it almost exclusively with Trainer Road as this was the simplest way to QUICKLY write erg-files for the CT and I think it worked pretty flawlessly.
The CT software is way behind IMHO, and I really haven’t used anything else from a hardware perspective, so I think the CT is good, but I have never compared…..
If you were me, would you sell the CT and get something else or just continue running it with Trainer Road? I mostly train to programmed ERG – mode workouts. I guess I am just wondering if the other trainers are now superior from a hardware perspective as well as a software perspective?
I very rarely ride against videos / VR / etc…. although occasionally I will crack out and ERG Video.
Thanks,
Mike
I’d probably wait till Interbike to see what pops up there. It’s only 10 days away.