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!
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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.
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.
Hey ray, have you heard any more on the Fec update for the kickr? It’s long overdue relative to wahoo’s estimates…..
No, I’ll check-in. Though, you can get it already on the KICKR using their open beta program, if that helps.
If you get an echo don’t put it right up against the wall and if you can keep the volume away from max. (Helps with the way it handles echo and noise cancellation)
As to Kickstart, I’ve always thought projects could do better with pricing or rewards. I understand the desire to have people sign up early to get more interest in your product but think the lowest price early bird option shouldn’t also be the earliest shipped. Seems like they could have a higher priced option for those who want the product early and a low priced but last shipped option for those who just want it cheap. Might be able to get more money that way
Hi Ray,
What do you really think about the SpeedX Leopard? Is it worth to invest in the bike (I am really surprised to get a full carbon and Di2 groupset for less than 2000$ ….). If you have chatted with them, do you know if the built in sensor will be able to be connected to other devices than the built in computer (like a 920XT …). Also I did not see any map navigation in the promo video…?!
Thanks,
It seems like they are trying to do too much. Designing a carbon frame and building it is not cheap or easy but they are doing that along with all the new electronics? What type of frame is it? Stiff so meant as a racing frame (Tarmac, Modone)? comfort (think Domane, Roubaix)?
I agree that it seems like biting off a lot. And I think the timelines are super-aggressive as well. But, happy to be proved wrong.
Same question also for me.
Just a note, I’ve found that they already built the gps integraded bike computer (it replace bike stem), and it’s called Speed Force (179 $)
link to indiegogo.com
link to beastbikes.com
Maybe you can ask them to try one of this.
Bye and thanks for all your interesting news and reviews.
I think they did offer one of the other units. Let me circle back with them.
As software upgrades are released, at what point will you re-evaluate the HR features on the Garmin HR or other HR watches? Glitches gone, replaced by….
For the most part, the HR sensor is the same on all Garmin units. Over time the software in it updates, so I’m constantly trying new software (for example, trying new Fenix3 HR beta software constantly).
If I see something major of note, I’d update accordingly.
That beta Fenix 3 HR update appears to be buggy. I’ve lost HR functionality and some other bugs seem to have manifested (compass not working, the unit is noticeably slower, etc). Any problems with your update?
For me on the latest beta, there are other bugs I’ve run into – though not the ones you listed. For me my altimeter stopped working, and I’ve had some crashes.
I suppose it’s why it’s beta…
The SpeedX is super interesting but maybe the worst stack/reach combinations ever. The stack/reach are all super short and long, meaning you are taking the most aggressive road bikes geometries and making them shorter and longer. Hello early 1980 steel bike geos…. this will be very uncomfortable to ride with suspect handling.
How pregnant is Mz. Dcrainmaker aka The Girl? I keep hoping for a pic.
Pebble- they’ve had a lot of sales lately. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
She’s posted a few pics of herself to her Instagram feed: link to instagram.com
She’s due in July. :)
Thanks for the link. Cheers!
Hi Ray,
Any info on Lumo and their delaying of shipping the Lumo Run until July? Any cause for concern?
Thanks.
Hi Ray! It would be interesting to hear how you see Polar V650 against competitors currently. V650 has evolved quite a bit since it’s release, but no doubt others haven’t been sitting on their thumbs either. Personally I’m missing only turn-by-turn navigation and wireless sync. Luckily the latter seems to be very near, based on last release notes.
I “need” you to do a review on this watch:
link to wsd.casio.com
Thanks!
-Casey
Yeah, I looked at that a bit at CES in this post: link to dcrainmaker.com
In short, it’s laughable. It doesn’t have GPS, and feels (and is) super-plasticy (though does have a baro altimeter). Basically, had they had GPS it might have been interesting, but without it it’s just a horribly overpriced Android Wear device.
The first thing I noticed about the Leopard, after the Win Tunnel post the other day, is that the computer protrusion isn’t flat. Tsk, tsk…
Cool site, and thank you for linking to http://www.Readwrite.com. I take it that this is a community for sports tech enthusiasts, and an engaged community at that. Contact me if you’re interested in being added to the RW mastermind group for devices.
Sorry to put this here but there doesn’t seem to be a more appropriate place….. what’s going on with “Modern” Garmin Connect? Ever since its release it’s been slow as hell, I’ve NEVER been able to get it to load first time and it repeatedly takes 3 or 4 attempts. In the past its not been a problem as I’ve been able to use legacy Garmin Connect which has been 100% pain free. Tried to go there tonight and it appears that Garmin have switched it off as it keeps reverting to broken “Modern”. After 20 minutes I’ve not been able to load an activity :(
What the hell is going on?? :(
Never had a problem with modern Garmin connect loading, and working properly after about the month or so it was around, but it appears they must be doing something to their site today, because it has been wonky all day.
It ate too many chocolate bunnies over the weekend. Slow and sluggish today.
yea, I was kind of bummed they removed access to the old version. I still would use the old course creator since on my big monitor, the new one only lets me use the top half of the screen for the map & elevation profile. Given its been like that a couple years now, I doubt they will fix it.
Quarq’s website doesn’t say anything about a firmware update… the last firmware date on their website says Version 24
June 17, 2015
Anyone try to update their Quarq PM recently??
It isn’t a firmware update, just connecting the 1.8version of Qualvin to the powermeter enables the power balance feature.
Thanks, I had to figure out how to get Qalvin 1.8… it’s not available on Android. It’s on the PC, though, and I updated both of my Rikens. Looking forward to seeing L-R data now!
Any thoughts on the Quatix 3 that has just come out?
It’s essentially the Fenix 3 hardware, but just with a few software tweaks for the Quatix 3, focused on the marine crowd. We’ve seen Garmin do the same iterations previously with the Fenix1 and Fenix2 lineup (among other watches).
Yikes indeed!
Brazil, which is as big as Europe, currently has zero indoor cycling tracks…
Hallo Ray,
there was a campaign on Indiegogo called Speedforce. A cycling computer which is integrated into the stem. It seems to be from the same guys as the SpeedX.
link to igg.me
What do you think about this thing?
Best Regards
Thomas
It’s interesting looking. Though personally I prefer to have a computer separate from the bike ‘frame’, so I can easily take it with me or move it to other bikes.
(Using ‘frame’ in a more general sense this time)
What do you guys think about the Shimano Dura Ace power meter confirmed (lol) rumors ?