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.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
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.
-
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?
-
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.
I believe a set of Lightweight wheels is around $6,000, so what’s another $800 for a pressure and temperature sensor?
I wonder how much noise the Revbox is going to make.
Yup, I’ve read good things about wind trainers in terms of road feel (better than fluid), but they’re all supposedly so loud they make your ears bleed.
They’re not too bad but the way it works is definitely worth it. I have found the wind created means a much nicer environment in terms of volume of sweat produced.
Hard to explain but because there is no inertia it really shows when you aren’t pedalling in circles. Other trainers claiming road feel hide this behind their inertia.
I certainly know you get bang for buck in terms of time spent on the trainer and when you need really big efforts the resulting load is impressive.
Re tyre pressure sensors, Garmin already do this albeit for motorcycles (link to buy.garmin.com).
Ray
As a triathlete what aero helmet do you use on your longer half and full ironmans?
I recently purchased a giro attack with the visor because I want to be comfortable with an semi-aero helmet that won’t get too hot like the full aero helmets.
Here’s what I use today: link to dcrainmaker.com
On top of power, speed, cadence, heart rate, and barometric pressure, we’re now concerned about tire pressure and tire temperature?! I’m coming to the realization that my problem isn’t with my dashboard, it’s with my engine (and perhaps ballast tanks).
I think if I had a helmet that beeped at me every time I tilted my head too far back or too far forward, I’d run myself into a tree. It feels a bit like the HR zone alarms on my Garmin watch, it beeps at me, and I scream back “I KNOW, I’M WORKING ON IT!” But constant beeping for every head movement, from drinking to stretching to just getting tired…that would make for a very long 112 miles.
Other tire pressure sensor: link to kickstarter.com
Did you saw any new ANT+ BLE bridge products at Eurobike?
None that I saw.
I went to a seminar a few years back where Allen Lim and Christian VandeVelde were presenting. Allen believed that looking directly at the ground and dropping your head in line with your shoulders was the most aero position for your head and the tail sticking straight up didn’t make much of a difference. I ride as much as I can like that and you can clearly tell the enhanced speed difference. It isn’t safe at all times but you can get a mirror that will display what’s in front of you.
You have no idea how disappointed I am that the LAZER helmet doesn’t come with actual lasers.
Have you had a chance to test out the Revbox, and if so, do you have a review?
Only little bits here and there. The unit they sent me was damaged in transit, and they never sent a new one.