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.
I was hoping for the story of being pulled over by the cops while swimming!
me too!
likewise!!
Maybe he can only discuss it after the trial.
Hmm…might be more of a podcast type story. You know, assuming Ben and I get our crap together.
The only problem with the podcast type stories is deaf people (like me) miss them. Unless they are getting captioned now? ;-) Hope it gets typed out somewhere.
That Raadvad bread cutter is actually Danish. You can get loads of them up here in DK for as little as 10 EUR. There’s a Danish website called DBA.dk. Try and search for Raadvad.
Oh wow – that’s sweet. Those are far better deals than this guy wanted for it, plus, they actually look to be in much better condition.
When are planning to publish Polar M430 review? Sales are starting on this month and I’m eager to see your comments about the device
Likely not till shortly after it starts shipping. So my guess is early June.
Nice rack! I mean the antlers, what were you thinking? Shoulda bought if for the Cave; it’s a cable & HRM strap hanger/organizer. Yeah, yeah, that’s it, a cable & strap holder.
Hello Ray,
Do you have any plans to review mio pai? Seems like an interesting approach to tracking but doubt that the optical heart rate would live up to the promise.
I had planned to. Though, it’s largely fell off my radar. Honestly nobody has asked about it since the winter. And in turn, I haven’t thought about it once until you mentioned it today. :(
Seems like Mio failed with the marketing aspect of it, don’t know anyone who bought it or tried it…Seems like fitbit can stay safe for a while.
Welcome to Italy!! Enjoy your (short) stay in the beatyful Umbria!!
So how much was the guy asking for the cutter? How many power meters worth of cash?
Roughly one half a PowerPod.
Maybe I should start an export business of bread cutters….
Hi Ray! Do you think you’ll try to get a media pass for this year Tour de France?
I’ve got a request in, we’ll see (first time). They were confirming some numbers details last week with me.
Ha, I always enjoy when you mention Florence (SC), since that’s only about 60 miles from where I live here in the Palmetto State.
Nice. I spent some time there for work about 15 years ago.
Funny story actually, my first trip in was coming from another trip overseas. I had taken the Concorde (one of the last flights) from London to JFK…and then rushed to make a connection on a small prop plane with like 8 seats on it going slower than a VW bus. Most solid reality check ever.
Ha ha, that sounds like Florence.
Are you coming to Düsseldorf for the Tour prologue then? ;)
Yup indeed!
Great! Going to be there as well (being German). When are you going to be there? Both days (including the start of the race to Liege) or just for the prologue?
Still TBD a bit to be honest. Definitely for Stage 1 (time trial), but unclear after that. That next day is the Paris triathlon, so trying to figure out my options logistically.
Hi Ray, can you please say two or three Words to this:
link to cyclingweekly.com
Is it serious?
Yes it’s serious. Seems to be a well executed study with a “low bar” to clear for the PM’s. See this thread in the “Wattage Group”:
link to groups.google.com
Yup, I also briefly talked about it within my ‘Week in Review’ post on Sunday. Enjoy!
Ray,
Maybe I missed it, but it looks to me, you are definitely on a training program for a (yet to determine) event?
Just wondering where you will test yourself.
Cheers,
Ken (Hong Kong)
Just some short distance stuff. I’ve got the Paris Olympic Distance tri this summer (early July). And I’m also signed up for the Versailles Sprint Tri this weekend, though not sure I’ll be able to make that (The Girl is out of town and I have The Peanut).
Hi Ray, while you are here in my little slice of Italy (Umbria) consider eating some proper food. I may suggest you “torta al testo” (also called “crescia” or “ciaccia”) stuffed with ham, and a glass of Sagrantino di Montefalco.
Cheers
I wish I had more time to eat. Eat anything actually. Was such a whirlwind trip, that my food intake consisted entirely of one slice of pizza (that wasn’t very good), and four arancini balls (that were very good).
Wasn’t a good day for nutrition. But I did take 34GB of photos!
Ray, I have wondered this for years now, and its time to ask: In all the riding tests you have done, have you ever had a device fall off the bike and crash on the road/trail?
Just seems the law of averages might catch up. I had a Garmin mount snap on my tri bike a few years back and the safety cord saved it (Edge 1k) from the drop to asphalt at 20 MPH.
Just wondering if you had a similar tale.
Have fun, ride safe.
Yup, a few actually.
A) I had one mount snap in off on a 360 camera a year or two ago (can’t remember off-hand which camera it was), due to cobbles. Camera went rolling down the hill.
B) I had a prototype machined aluminum mount snap in half, sending both a GoPro and an Edge 520 flying across the cobbles.
C) A long while ago I had a Spot tracker fall off my bike at speed descending. Hit rather hard, but still survived. This was jury-rigged to my bike, so not really their fault.
D) I dropped a GoPro Karma Grip (gimbal system with Hero5 Black) this winter too, at about 20-25MPH onto the pavement. Seemed mostly fine for a few months.
And I feel like I’m missing something else. Oh, I had a crank arm snap off too once.
All that said, I’ve never broken a bike computer or action cam…surprisingly.
If you do go for a Raadvad bread cutter, here’s what they cost in Denmark: link to dba.dk
Hi Ray.
Well the breadcutter you found is from the Danish Companys “Raadvad”. The company is still around today. But in the private market they go for around 150 kr or 20 Euros.
link to dba.dk
So if you come to Denmark sometime, then look up some of the antique markets. Then you may be lucky and pick one up that is in a good condition.
Awesome – thanks Tommy and Allan!
Definitely some good deals in there. Far better than the prices I was looking at, and some are in really good condition too!
Hi,
I have Garmin Vivoactive HR and garmin foot pod. In addition to running I like to train using Insanity max 30 workouts and the like. The calorie count shown on the vivoactive hr for activities such as Insanity max 30 seems significantly lower than I would expect. Can you advise on the best settings to use to create an an app suitable for the type of activity is cardi based on running default etc. Thank you.