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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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!
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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?
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- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
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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.
Is the Ultegra crank your usual crankset, or just for the 4iiii?
Just the test. I vary between lots of cranks depending a bit on what power meter I’m using that week/month/bike.
Love the Reconjet. Hope you’ll have a review soon for it and, as always, love your blogs. Thanks!
Any comments on the 787? I still haven’t been on one yet!
It’s my second time being on it. I like it, though even for an avgeek like me, they all start to feel about the same when you fly 2-4 planes a week. Of course, the windows being my favorite feature on it.
Also looking forward to the Recon Jet comments! And hope you can make it to Vancouver someday soon.
Have you ever lost a flight due to be working out or taking a few extra photos? 38mins is pretty impressive. I would love one day when perhaps it’s “low season” for you to dedicate an entire post with the tips and tricks for traveling on such a tight schedule. have a great week!
Astoundingly enough, I’ve only ever missed a single flight. And not due to photos. A snowstorm actually in the DC area. I had budgeted 2 hours to get to the airport, it took 3 hours. :(. Go figure the flight actually went out on time.
I trust you’ve been to austin before but if you haven’t then do your best to get to salt lick or county line, two of the best BBQ joints. I’d recommend post workout however.
Franklin Barbecue and La Barbecue may be a little easier to get to without a vehicle.
Surprised that nobody has mentioned the new look? Is the beard here to stay or is it like me …a can’t be bothered to shave as its the (Easter) holidays thing? ;)
Mostly laziness lately. :)
Haha, you took a 787 to the 787! Though probably not exactly into Austin but still. So welcome back to Austin! Too bad you’re only here for the next 48 hours, though the weather should be great for some riding. If you’re ever here on a Thursday, you need to checkout the driveway (link to drivewayseries.com). I’m curious which job bring you to the US and what your plans are in Austin?
Wow – I thought you had written off the CompuTrainer!
Ray, try to hit Las Manitas for breakfast a coupla blocks from the Capitol on S. Congress. Best migas in Christendom.
Did the boiler (at home) come back online?
Yup! They came back about a week later to finalize stuff.
How do you arrive so “late” for an international flight and not have them give your seat away/cancel your ticket? I’ve heard of that happening to several people, when they actually arrived with “plenty” of time. Is it because of your inevitably ridiculous frequent flier/world elite status, or just luck?
Have a great trip!
I check in ahead of time online, so then it’s just a case of showing up before the 20-minute cutoff. There are some places (such as Heathrow), where it’s technically 40 minutes at the checker at the security line.
Oh my, the blue de Montagne et poire, I need that. Basically I need to be back in France. I wish I had known about all these sneaky tidbits of roads closed and running paths when I was there! I’m considering it research for the next time I get over there, hopefully soon.
Ray, Welcome to Austin! If you are staying downtown, I hope that you get to run on around Laby Bird lake. They added recently a beautiful boardwalk on the south side east of I35.
If you want to swim, check out the Barton Springs outdoor pool. It is spring fed, 68F all year long and very clear. Can’t beat swimming with fish.
For biking, checkout the dam loop (360->2244->620->2222). That’s 35 miles at the edge of the hill country.
Enjoy your stay!
What are you doing in Austin? Thats my city!
Ray, I am an exercise procrastinator and a bit of a niteowl, so often I workout late at nite. I think I have too much gear to remember sort, pack, sync, power-on, tweak, etc. and I have a simple set-up. The workouts you manage with a half-dozen rigs is literally amazing, especially around your career and travels! It’s inspiring. Keep up the great work!
Ah a proper butcher, how I miss those.
How much luggage do you have with you if you’re showing up 38 minutes before an international flight? Did you bring your bike with you on the trip?
Just carry-on luggage is my norm. No bike this trip as I’m just bouncing around too much.
Hi Ray
Curious as to what you meant when you said it takes the Kickr 10-15 minutes ‘to settle’ ?
I calibrate my Kickr with the Wahoo iPhone app, or in TrainerRoad itself, and was under the impression that I should be ‘good to go’ after that ?
Thanks in advance
Generally I see most trainers, including the KICKR take a few minutes to stabilize. While I know Wahoo has sometimes claimed otherwise, since my initial review I’ve always done a calibration/spin-down at the 10-15 minute marker and had great results with it.
Hi Ray
Appreciate the feedback – thanks
Ray, how do you fix your tail light to the aero seatpost? I never found a proper solution for that so i can use my tri bike only in summer…
In the case of the Fly6, it includes an aeropost adapter thingy (rubber mount system).
That said, I also secured one using zipties just to the back of the rear bottle rack without the fancy thingy. Used it that way all winter until I took it off for the photos you see above.
Well… regarding late arrival… it depends on the terminal (for BA its usually terminal A, which is less crowded than E or F) and your “priority” status to jump across the lines for security checkin…
38 minutes would hardly suffice in CDG for the US bound flight, but i don’t think its a problem for UK bound flight… For example… they start boarding UK bound flight maybe max 20 minutes before the flight, while US bound flight almost 1 hour before the flight…
Definitely terminal dependent. As you noted, BA at CDG is T2A, and no problems there. However, the Air France flights out of E/F are a nightmare, would never try it there.
For United flights to the US, I routinely do 45 minutes without issue. The difference is those leave out of T1, which is super-easy to clear in that timeframe.
Ray,
Any chance of getting in touch whilst you’re in the Bay Area? I know you’re a busy man, been trying to catch you via email!
Jason
In addition to a chef friend, everybody should have a cupcake-baker friend.
Any initial thoughts about 4iiii Precision?
Good, bad, looking promising, needs work….
Pocket bike stand??