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.
Looking at your Sunday Beach Ride photo, I noticed that you have no tool bag, am I the only one who sweats getting stranded a long way from home with a flat? Are you tubeless?
No, I had swapped it to the Specialized loaner bike…then forgot to move it back again. I realized it about half-way out on the ride. Doh.
I highly recommend going tubeless. Haven’t had a flat since. I still carry a pack tough. Also, finish line came out with a new tubeless sealant that never goes bad. I think that is a “game changer” for tubeless.
I don’t have a single negative with tubeless except refreshing the sealant every couple of months. Better ride and no flats. Some tires can be a pain to seat the first install.
A tubeless sealant that never dries out, might be less likely to seal though too. Just something to think about.
I was going on a big ride through some unpopulated areas about two weeks ago and figured I should check my tool bag, and realized I had been riding without a spare tube for about six months when I had fixed a flat on my wife’s bike. I’m lucky I run tubeless I guess. I did a slight detour on the beginning of my route to stop by a shop and pick up a tube though. I didn’t want to push my luck.
Hi Ray!
Just a little something that might be interesting for you. A user (no, not me) in the online-forum of the german cycling magazine “tour” just build his own powermeter, for about 50€. AND IT WORKS! The case needs a bit of work (waterproofing), but overall, it looks great. Check it out.
link to forum.tour-magazin.de
Oh, and I love your weekend-posts. Thanks for that and all the other greatness!
Interesting, and certainly cool geekery!
I think though that being 10% out is a bit much. It’s part of the challenge. Barry from Brim Brothers (who were very close at cleat based power meters), often noted over the years that getting 95% of the way there was the easy part, but the last 5% was the hardest. Many other companies have echoed that statement with power meters.
That design roughly reminds me of where Keith Wakeham was with his DIY unit he created, and then how much more work was required to make it a ‘product’ when he went to 4iiii. Which isn’t a knock on Keith, I’m pretty sure we chatted about it here and there. It’s just that taking something from a one-off (even a perfect one-off) to mass production is incredibly difficult.
Still – always cool to see!
Ray,
Do you know when you’ll be releasing your in depth review of the Shimano Dura-Ace Power Meter?
I’ve been utilizing it on my bike since January and haven’t noticed anything crazy with it. I did perform the firmware update when I first got it. Is yours having the slight difference of Left vs Right?
Thanks again,
Ken
This week. Was cooking on text today actually.
I haven’t dug deeply into all the left/right analysis bits. That’s on the plate for tomorrow.
Can´t wait for the review :)
Planning for a ride in Singapore? You can join a group ride with Joyriders, largest amateur cycling group in Singapore. PM if interested
As for ramen, I am quite happy with Sapporo Ramen Miharu in Millenia Walk. Pretty authentic Sapporo style. However, since you are in Singapore, you need to try the local style, laksa!
Definitely! I’ve basically only got Tues/Weds/Thurs morning as viable options for an early morning ride. Not sure if that’s a possibility or not. And as much as I’d love to do a full island loop, I think that might be tough to fit in schedule-wise. :(
yep, possible! 5AM start every weekday here : link to goo.gl
Too late for today, but most welcome to join Wednesday or Thursday. Wednesday should be a reasonable human pace, about 45km. on Thursday it can go faster (but there are different pelotons), and the route is slightly longer (60km – half a round island!).
more details here : http://joyriders.sg
Let me know if you’re joining, I’ll make a special effort to wake up (ugh!)
Cool! I don’t get in till Monday, so I’ll do some conferencing with The Girl and figure out which day is most fitting to the rest of the schedule. Though I assume with a painfully early 5AM departure most rides are back by 7-8AM?
Checkout the Kalamunda UCI Grandfondo loop if you looking for some good riding roads.
I’m sure you have found Little creatures already, ride up to Hillarys or Yelo cafe.
Yup, nice place up there. I did some mountain biking there a few weeks ago, and then rode that closed off road portion of the UCI route last week – awesome section of road!
what are your TRI starting plans for 2018?
I follow this blog for a year and only found very old posts about your tri competitions
TBD on exact races. I’ve got the sprint next weekend, and then will try and find some sprint/Oly races in either late April, or from May onwards. Hoping to do one a month this year.
I believe I did two last year, not as much as I’d have liked, but it was a messier year travel-wise with some of the big sports tech events landing on the exact same weekends as the major Paris races. :(
I’ll probably firm up a schedule in the next few weeks, but everything local in Europe I suspect.
How is the Tri scene in France? I’ll be doing the Vichy 70.3 this summer and never raced in France. How are the B roads? I have read that the cycling course is not that good…
Check up Mark Wiens on Youtube for places to eat in Singapore. – He’s travelling the world eating in all kinds of places. Also some of the more obscure and lesser known places.
… or just Eat like Bourdain :)
Sad that you’ve only got a week in Singapore. * Sigh* So much food, so little time.
Hopefully that’s not the jetblack whisper drive trainer you have been testing and commenting on twitter about the other day with different standards.
How long until you will have a review out?
Unfortunately it is. My experiance mirrors Shane’s: link to youtube.com (actually, a fair bit worse, he got luckier).
I’ve written an “interim review” (actually fully typed up and shot already), that I’ll publish next Tuesday when I’m eating noddles in Singapore (so I can pretend to not work).
I’ve never done an interim review before, but it seemed appropriate. Which basically means the unit isn’t ready yet, but to watch this space in a few months when I’ll give it another whirl. I think they’re doing some innovate things, but it’s just not baked yet.
If you are looking for tasty noodles, my personal recommendation would be:
I Want My Noodle, located at 1 Scotts Rd, 03-14/15, Singapore 228208.
You can google about it.
Mmm…that looks solid! And their Instagram game is strong. If nothing else, I want a t-shirt with that shop name on it.
Re: Ramen
My favourite spot for ramen in Perth is Nao in the CBD. Miso soup base with pork spare ribs is my goto. I’m salivating just thinking about it.
Another pretty decent joint in Osborne Park is Hakata Gensuke. It’s a chain specialising in tonkotsu ramen (pork bone broth).
Good luck with the Tri. Great you gave got to spend some time here in Perth. Has been a great summer, no 40 degree days this summer, quite unusual.
Noodle suggestion for Singapore:
‘the noodle man’ smith st singapore in the heart of Chinatown. You can watch freshly made noodles being prepared whilst you wait to enjoy them. We used to haunt this place when we lived there. Kid friendly too
Let me know if you want any cycling group suggestions. I have a mate there who cycles regularly with a group
LOL! Ray will be spoilt for choice in Singapore. Too many nice food outlets in here till you dont know which to recommend!
Morning weekday 5am ride community here is strong! Ride usually ends hy 6 30am.
Yeah, contemplating the Thursday 5AM one still…but definitely not Wednesay…since it’s 2:37AM as it is now!
If you haven’t made it there yet – the Zion Riverside Food Markets are well worth the trip while you’re still in Singapore!