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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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!
5
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.
Dear Favero: now do SPDs.
Major redesign would be required and I wonder if people responsible for original Assioma development are still working in Favero. It has been long time and their were rather hot signing prospects for wealthier companies.
@Michal. Nope. Go watch GPLama’s Assioma SPD pedal conversion video, this is totally doable.
If it were a post about IQ^2, the answer to A) would be July 2029. Fortunately, it is not.
we will never see the pedals we paid for or get out money back…
Shimono SPD-SL is nice move but Shimano SPD would be awesome.
the new Favero SPD-SL were leaked in Feb this year, no?
Anyway, good to hear they are confirming SPD-SL, it’s been a while since the original ASSIOMA so hopefully they have some new electronics for us rather than just a new pedal body.
What upgrades in electronics are you wanting?
I LOVE my Favero pedals. I wish they’d come out with some pedals for MTB.
Please please please let it be backwards compatible!
I don’t really see what could be backwards-compatible – the spindle is mechanically different. Even the image they posted shows it, and the images leaked a few months ago also showed it. So you have a different pedal body, and a different spindle; this leaves the washers that could be the same I guess?
It’s hard to imagine that Ray doesn’t have a pair on his bike as we speak, and knows the answers to some/all of these questions already ;)
Yes, but does he have them on the new Dura Ace groupset as well? :-)
I was wondering whether Shimano would do something smart like release a DA pedal body designed to accept various power spindles and let other companies do the power bit.
I hope they do updating on the electronics so they can do even more cycling dynamics. I love my Assioma’s they have been rock solid.
Looking at Shimano’s EV diagrams, the PD-R8000, ES600, M8100, M8120 and M8140 appear to all use the same spindle – just with different nuts. The spindle drawing looks the same, though the part numbers are different which I’m hoping is because they like to include the different lock nuts.
If that’s correct, and the new Favero Shimano spindle supports R8000 bodies, then the ability to get Power from reasonably-priced SPD road, gravel/CX/xc, trail/gravity AND flat pedal bodies is pretty exciting.
Yes! Finally a powermeter compatible with SPD-SL cleats! Please keep the price similar to the version with look cleats
“Now, Shimano has actually seemingly answered one question, or confirmed something – which is that it’ll be SPD-SL. ”
I guess this is a Shimano/Favero typo
Re: question B about backwards compatibility… i asked Favero in March and they said no unfortunately:
Dear Mr. Naylor,
thank you for your kind email.
We confirm that there will be interesting news in the nearby future, nevertheless please consider that it will be not possible to convert your Assioma due to technical reasons involving a slight difference in the internal sensor.
We remain at your complete disposal for any further information you might need and, in the meantime, please accept our
Best regards,
**** name redacted***
FAVERO ELECTRONICS srl
One wonders if Garmin will lower the price of the Rally pedals when these come out?
Wonder why they didn’t target SPD first , surely that would be a bigger market
Ie it’s not much of a deal to move to assiomas if using 3 bolt shoes
Where it is if using 2 bolt / SPD (which I am), ie need new shoes and that’s what has out me off
I guess SPD implies more probable misuse and warranty issues.
SPD on road for trekking/ultra is probably OK, but hardcore MTB and power pedals will probably not match.
I love the reviews of I have seen of the pedals….I am praying they engineer away the pods. I just couldn’t do it.
Once you clip in, you don’t see or feel the pods anymore. They make an SPD, MTB version more sketchy, but on the road it’s no issue at all.
Given the image shows the pods, I suspect they’re still there…
Should I feel stupid for just buying the Garmin Really SPD-SL pedals (at 20% off)?
You paid a price for a product that you wanted and fit your needs/budget.
Why should you have regrets now, based purely on a product that we don’t even fully know yet (specs, pricing, etc.)?
I know the grass is greener… but consider what you bought and why… and I presume you should just be happy with that and move on. New stuff always comes, and if you plan to wait for the next best thing… you will wait forever.
This is basically the response I’m looking for! I guess, everyone seems very excited about the Faveros, but if that’s simply due to price, then I don’t have reason to feel stupid.
Unless there’s some advantage to the Favero over the Garmin aside from price that I’m not aware of. (I think they’re slightly lighter, but that’s negligible).
So Ray, if I’m satisfied with Look cleats and heavily invested in Garmin ecosystem, is there any reason not to go for Vector 3s? They are now cheaper than Faveros, and MUCH cheaper than the new Rallys. It seems like the only benefit to the Rallys is adaptabilty?
And I know you’ve written about it before but I can’t find it – what are your feelings about single vs double sided meters for regular old BOP-trying-to-become-MOP age groupers?
Are there any advantages to Look SPD-SL over Shimano SPD-SL, Because I have the Look version and it’s absolutely fine, so what is the real difference if any at all? My cleats are the Look Grip ones that come with the pedals, I have the Look Keo 2 Carbon Pedals.
The main advantage is the wider placement of the contact and grip points at the rear on the Shimano SPD-SL cleat. It gives more security walking, especially on slippery surfaces, and is better than even the Look Grip option that is narrower for contact surface, IMO.
Thanks! I did notice the Shimano ones are wider, if the new Favero version is the same price I will make the switch and I want Favero to be my first power meter.
Maybe Shimano bought them and will bork them like they did Pioneer.
A couple of months ago I wrote Favero asking specifically about an SPD-SL release. They confirmed it, saying they’d ship “soon.”
It would be great if they brought an MTB version to market. I understand Ray suggesting that cranks are a better option in the Garmin Rally review, but the ability to share between XC, CX/Gravel bikes would be excellent. Obviously the Rally’s are an option, but pricing wise a 2 sided Assioma is around a 1 sided Garmin.
*Better option for MTB’ing (avoiding rock damage etc).
Hi Guys i am getting a Shimano Dura Ace PD-R9100 , would this be later compatible with the new Assioma Favero? or just Shimano Ultegra series?
I asked the Taiwan agent yesterday, the answer made me depressed ==> only support Shimano R6800, (R7000?), R8000, no Dura Ace
Why would the crank matter? A pedal-based power meter doesn’t know what it is attached to, yes?
I have Cannondale SISL2 Hollowgram cranks and plan to buy these pedals.
/
July 19 per Assioma’s instagram
link to youtu.be
Video on German. I think they are a day early.. ;)
It’s a bummer to see someone not only break an embargo, but then actually “like” two comments on his video that others have made noting he broke it a day early.
People accidentally breaking embargoes is actually very rare, but doing so purposefully, then doubling down on it is really a self-rectifying problem in this industry. Companies and other creators don’t forget it. Seriously, I have an actual written list for every creator that has violated an embargo, even by a single minute (a clever/common tactic to boost SEO) – and I won’t work with folks that do.
they are the “normal” version, not the Shimano.