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!
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:
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/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.
Review of Fitbit Charge HR….Pleeeeeease..
FWIW, I’ve had mine about 5 days and am absolutely loving it. Tracked it’s HR monitor against my FR220 during a short run this weekend and it was generally accurate, though it did have more spikes. I waited months for it to come out and so very am very pleased with my purchase.
Wow… you make the most with your time buddy! Well done! Have a good week!
Hi Ray
Always fun to read about your weekends.
Btw: typo at “files miles” should probably be five miles.
/Morten
Riding your Giant Defy! Normally don’t see that bike in pictures
It´s nice to get a real perspective on things in Paris. Tks Ray!
What´s your take on the optical hr on the fitbit charge hr? Just waiting for your review to close the deal on one.
I haven’t done as much analysis of the Charge HR accuracy yet, that starts tomorrow after I publish the Surge review.
Sullivans Island nice!! Fresh pralines at slave market irresistible!!
Through all the recent activity in Paris I’d been wondering about your perspective. Thanks for sharing a level-headed viewpoint.
The potential and aesthetic of the Garmin VivoActive now has me on the fence regarding the Fitbit Surge. The reported flakiness of wrist-based optical HRM in general has me thinking that a non-optical wrist-based tracker plus a Scosche Rhythm+ (or alternative) will be a better option. Your pending Surge review will undoubtedly help tip the balance one way or the other!
Me, too!
Yup, it’ll be up tomorrow. Enjoy!
That’s a great photo of the fishing trawler. Hope you get a bit more time to see Istanbul this time around, it’s on my bucket list for sure!
You forgot to add…
6) I watched the Seahawks turn an awful game into a Packers nightmare!
What an awesome ending indeed!
(Technically speaking it finished up around 1AM my time, which might not make it the weekend anymore…)
Yep, you are right, it finished past 1AM (also my time). You can cover it in the next 5 random things for next week… :-)
But it’s a 3 day weekend.
I’m pretty sure any MLK day observations in Europe would be uncommon at best. Even in the US many private companies do not make it a holiday, so many don’t get anything but a normal weekend.
I realize that. But Ray has been liberal in his definition of a “Weekend” in the past. I was just giving him an out if he wanted to include the victory in the weekend.
It is true, in most cases this would have made the round-up. In my case, I was sadly only watching it with Twitter updates, as the hotel didn’t have TV coverage of it, and I wasn’t having much luck with any streaming services.
Fear not, the Super Bowl will most definitely make the cut. Well, unless they lose. In which case there’ll be no mention of it.
At first glance, I thought Ray was in the cockpit and literally “flying” back to Paris.
I would have invited you to Georgia which is next to turkey but unfortunately I’m not in country :(
I am heading to Paris in a few weeks. Thanks for the timely post on resturants, a running route right passed our accommodations and security situation. Serendipity for sure. Also we will be stopping for cupcakes. I can hardly wait.
Welcome to South Carolina! After reading your weekend review about Charleston, I realize that I should stop whining about the weather here and enjoy the “winter.” I was just telling my wife that I’ve had enough of these 40 degree days, I’m ready for summer. Today it’s in the 60’s and beautiful sunshine…I got in a run and a bike ride.
Welcome to Turkey. I’d love to take you for a ride.
Nice detail on the remote control on you Giant Defy (how you mounted it)!
Did you have to get used to it (how you place your hands, how you have to operate it)?
Only took about a ride or less for me. You can customize the buttons a bit, but I just leave it at the default. To be honest, I don’t tend to change the options a ton during my normal rides. Really only when I’m doing something with mapping when I want to swap back and forth.
Glad you knew to go to Istanbul, not Constantinople… ;)
Great trip! I was in Istanbul a few years ago. Beautiful city! I was amazed to see the differences between cultures in the same city.
After checking a lot of reviews online I decided to buy a Fitbit Surge, and a HR for my wife. I trained weights today and cardio. I checked the heart rate against the elliptical and it was 8 point higher then my Surge. I arrived at home and tested my surge with my Relion Blood pressure monitor, and it tested exactly like my Surge and HR. Really liked my purchase. Thank you for your postings. Love your blog!
Now I am trying to find a tracker that will help my son’s competitive soccer fitness and speed program. I heard that Adidas has a good one.
Hmm that things looks like a Vietnamese Pho
Thanks for sharing, now I have to go eat something :)
That bowl of ramen looks suspiciously like phô :-)
While similar in looks, it’s very different. First, Pho is across the street and down two restaurants. And second…it’s not Pho. :)
(Actually, third, Pho is usually much wider noodles).
i have to go to Paris for several days in march, but as i am in training for the rotterdam marathon, i need to continue the runs. As i am staying near st Cloud, Do you think the track round hippodrome de longchamp (bois de boulogne) is perfect for some tempo/interval runs ? ( i do not like to run next to the traffic fumes near the seine for example), but maybe this track is used by bikers ?
Or maybe the 400m or so track in the middle of the seine between the eiffel tower and pont de grenelle ?
Thanks in advance for your tips
Hi Marcel-
Longchamp is a good place to go (for bike or running), but I honestly wouldn’t do it for intervals, since it actually has a big ole hill in the middle and at night it’s not lit.
Your other thought – along the river, is actually where we often do them. That area – Les Berges is awesome now, and all closed to traffic for running. Basically the entire stretch between the Eiffel Tower and Museum d’Orsay is flat and along the river, so plenty of distance for mile repeats if need be. Plus, it’s lit at night and even a bathroom about half-way.
Also of note: link to dcrainmaker.com
Enjoy!
Thanks!
ok Longchamp during daytime and les berges anytime.
maybe i will visit the cupcake shop to fill up the carbs :)
rgds
Marcel