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.
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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.
Great looking food as usual. Wondering have you seen the Uuni pizza oven? Think it would be right up your street for park pizza days :)
I had not seen that until your comment. It looks brilliant. I’ve officially begun negotiations with The Management on when I’ll be allowed to procure it.
this oven looks awesome!!
I’ve had mine a month or two and they are even better than they look. You do have to turn the pizza every 15 seconds though otherwise it burns. Pizza in 60 seconds though ?
If you want to swim to the Torcy’s lake, it is on the other side of the lake (find the circus entrance), every saturday morning from 9AM to 12AM, tuesday & thursday at 7PM.
Ray, I’ve got the same bed/couch thing in my house (kid’s room/guest room). I get what you mean. Congrats on finishing it alive (and no blood in sight)! I hope you had help…
Please don’t call that thing ‘ravioli’. ( Stefano from Italy )
Well, the Italian cookbook I was following called it a ravioli. So…they win.
Love when you present an Italian dinner and there’s nothing an Italian would recognize as Italian food (actually the “charcuterie” and mozzarellas look like they are)!
i agree, please please please don’t call this “ravioli” ;) someone here in Tuscany could be really upset :D
Ahh, my apologies. I was under the impression that as “an Italian”, you’d know how to make fresh pasta and could provide a tip on deflating raviolis. Alas, it took an American (down below) to do that.
Well, in that case – I expect a detailed unboxing and review post on your Moet purchase. Bonus if you can work in some drone coverage :)
Hi:
One bike related question. I have *never* ride a road bike, and I always think How are they in quasi off road enviroments like that gravel road you were following towards the lake?
Road bikes can handle small sections of gravel/loose pavement in a pinch at lower speeds with a lot of concentration, but they aren’t going to be very stable. It’s easy for the skinny tires to slip out and cause you to fall over.
If you are looking to do more riding on rough surfaces, I would look into either a gravel bike or cyclocross bike. These bikes will have larger tires that will give you better traction while riding on rough surfaces. They’ll have a bit more rolling resistance on the road, but that’s the price you pay for better off-road handling.
How do you secure your beautiful carbon fibre bike with a power meter on it while you go swimming in a lake?
I ask because I have a similar setup plus carbon wheels on quick-releases and am afraid that if I left the bike (even locked) for an hour there is a 50% chance I wouldn’t find it upon return. Am I too panicky?
+1 I was wondering the exact same thing!
In most places I go, there’s other triathletes nearby, and rarely other people beyond that. A lock works.
Also, it’s rarely an easy to get to place. So it’s not something that your average bike thief is going to make the effort to get to.
I love fresh pasta and all my recipes (especially those square filled things we all call ravioli) say to let the pasta rest before cooking. Most recommend around an hour. I think it has something to do with the gluten stretching or something scientific like that.
sometimes I try to imagine the length of your TODO lists… You’d get a super high score on the habitica app :)
Interesting. Never heard of the app before.
No offense, but that was “grilling out” and not in any way real BBQ. :)
Strange. A Weber was involved. Thus, it qualifies.
Nope, not if it wasn’t “low and slow” with plenty of wood smoke… :)
Just having some some fun here, no worries. Seriously though, there are definite regional differences in what BBQ means. Invite some folks from the American South to a BBQ and they’ll be expecting something different.
link to amazingribs.com
95% of the time a Weber is used for grilling. Grilling is relatively high direct heat for a reasonably short period of time. One grills steak, hot dogs, burgers, etc. BBQ involves relatively low indirect heat for a long period of time (hours). One BBQs brisket, pork butt, and here in Oklahoma even bologna. Whole chicken, ribs, and lots of other things can go either way.
Just different cooking techniques (think crock pot vs pan fried), but often the same atmosphere. However, with a rough chunk of meat the difference is profound as BBQ allows the meat to break down and tenderize.
(Not to bust your chops, but some reader in KC, NC, St. Louis or Texas is having an aneurism).
> There are two lakes that are known for permitting openwater swimming (with passes) in the region.
Are some special permissions needed for openwater swimming in a lake?
I’m not in France (but Amsterdam), but I always assumed that swimming in any body of water where it isn’t explicitly forbidden (like I do getting out my door and down the ladder into the nearby canal).
Not generally required. Both the lakes that tri groups use in the Paris region are private parks, so they’ve got funky rules.
Ray
Any chance of getting a couple of cupcakes delivered to my folks who are staying in Paris tonite and tomorrow night pre-cruise?
Unfortunately we’re out of town until tomorrow night (on the north western coast of France), otherwise we could probably arrange something. Hope they enjoy the city!
Sorry!
No worries. By the way, anywhere on the site I can list for sale a new Cannondale slice 57cm with dura ace di2 hi mod that I bought, 80 miles on it more than half of which are on a KICKR vs outside, but ultimately will not be pursuing Tri and therefore want to purchase a road bike instead?
I don’t have anything here unfortunately :(. I think your best bet would be the Slowtwitch classified section.
Ray,
Do you have a link or any clue as to where you bought that poster of Paris in the bottom picture?
Yup, we just walk across the street and buy it in the city hall. It’s a coloring poster that The Girl has been slowly working on.
You can find it on the official city store here: link to boutique.paris.fr
(Note: lots of fun things to buy on that site, so be warned you may get distracted)
As well as a few others like this: link to omy.fr
I just searched Google for “Paris coloring poster”, and found a few other options too.
OMG! A Balthazar bottle of champagne, even a Jeroboam (4.5L) is for most people almost too heavy that you can’t pour it in normally let a alone a Balthazar! For those who don’t know: a standard bottle of champagne or Magnum (1.5L) is poured with your thump in the indent(punt) of the bottle and hold the bottle with the rest of your fingers. But indeed: there is no wrong time for drinking Prosecco, same goes for Champagne ;)
Good luck with all the preparations for the arriving kid
We have that same bed in our home office along with the router, etc. Over 12 years ago I painted the room red knowing one day I would have to repaint. Well that day came a few months ago. It was such a pain to move that bed and all the cables. I feel your pain. But eventually it all gets done and the pain fades away. Just like marathons, and childbirth!
This is why you need an entire wheel:
link to youtube.com
Food and Cycling and DIY always a good Combi !
Is that Sous Vide cooked meat? (noticed the plastic bags)
Nah, it just came in the bags from the butcher.
I have your excuse for buying a wheel of Parm Reg – A restaurant I go to in Tokyo cuts out the top of the wheel leaving a rim so it looks like a bowl. Then they bring it by your table and toss fresh hot pasta in the Parm Reg wheel/bowl coating it with goodness…
One of the Italian spots across town does the same thing – pretty cool.
On the ikea convertible bed with draws. Mark my words – be very wary before buying an ikea bed! My daughters is great after about 8 hours building and 3 hours of excessive cursing.