Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, and plenty more! Go check out the full list 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!
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.
inexplicably and unexpectedly projectile vommiting on a sunny Sunday morning run
I don’t know that I’ve had any ‘funny’ training moments, but I do try to make other people’s gym workouts more enjoyable. I’m the girl on the treadmill who is lip-syncing as animatedly as possible, with the occasional fist pump to the music. (How else am I supposed to pass the miles without losing my mind?)
My favorite funny training story was when my wife and I were cycling beside the Donau river near Vienna. We were riding along nicely when a triathlete rode past and didn’t say hi. We believe we’re in it together and say hi to everyone… We rode along a bit behind the offending triathlete and when we turned the corner to a 3km straight he looked back and gauged how close we were to him, got down on the aero bars and started to work. Given his unfriendliness we decided to have some fun. We rode as hard as we could digging deep and gained on him half of the distance he had at the start of the straight (no aero bars but motivation). At the end of the straight I saw him get ready to come off his bars and we eased back, put our hands on the tops of the bars and looked oh so relaxed :-) He turned back to see how much distance he’d taken out of us and … we were closer. I still can’t get over the sight of him saying “Nooooo!” and shaking his head. My new record HR was just a bonus…
Accidentally dropping my water bottle during a race. I found it afterwards and it was pretty scratched up. It still comes along on every ride though!
On a training trail run close to the end, decided on a “shortcut”. An extra 45 min getting out of thigh deep mud and lost my shoes in the ooze.
On a training trail run close to the end, decided on a “shortcut”. An extra 45 min getting out of thigh deep mud and lost my shoes in the ooze.
Forgetting to tie up my swimmers at the start of an ocean race. Lost a few valuble minutes in the breakers trying to retrieve my modesty. Not too many people noticed.
I want this watch :)
“Hi”,
that should be enough…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi
Hi!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi Ray. Love your site.
Mike
let’s just say “hi” !
Running at night in countryside in Greece, under 40°C, with no idea where I was going to.
I grabbed the front brake too hard while going down a hill and instantly flipped. Only a little road rash, my future wife behind be was laughing the whole time. It’s amazing how time slows down as you flip through the air…
hi
Congratulations for your Blog. I am addicted to it.
Greetings from Barcelona, Spain
Congratulations for your hard work on the Blog. I am addicted to it.
Greetings from Barcelona, Spain
Hi!
Just ran my first Half Marathon and ready for the next!
mrraulq@hotmail.com
try this again….
mrraulq@Hotmail.com
Cannot think about anything funny from my runs, probably because I can barely think during my runs ;o)
Hello,
I spare you the details, but my funniest experience (at least for my friends) was about eating something, which my stomack did not like and tying to run after in a public parc!
YouYou
I was out riding by myself and and had to stop at a traffic light on an uphill. I was first in line with several cars behind me. Well, the light turns green, I push off and try to clip in. I get clipped in, but quickly lost my balance and fell over sideways. I unclipped while lying on the ground with cars behind me honking as they ended up having to wait for the next green light. I was unhurt with the exception of my ego and a little bar tape.
Hello!
Hi!
Hi here into your blog !!
Hi into my blog !!
Hi into my FB profile !!
It would be nice to win for once :)
Tripping over the same sidewalk in two subsequent runs
Hey Ray- While running on the towpath and trying to avoid the mud puddles I fell n the canal…..got out continued running and got all dried up!! I’m sure people thought I was sweating!!! Thanks for your great reviews!
Hi and thanks Ray =0)
I don’t really have a funniest moment. I guess I take this sport too seriously :)
“Hi”
Forgetting my brand new mountain bike shoes at the trail head after my training ride…not too happy considering I only used them once.
5 km from home, late in the evening, running into what looked like solid ice, but what turned out to be very thin ice and 10 cm of very cold water underneath. Well, didn’t laugh much myself at the moment, but some bystanders seemed to enjoy it :-)
One day last summer, while out cycling, I saw a police ATV ahead and decided to see if I could sprint to catch up with it, since I think their top speed is around 25mph and he had a head start. After several minutes, I did catch up and overtook him. As I first came into his peripheral vision, he glanced sideways and then did a big double-take. They must not be used to people overtaking them. But then I became worried I was going to be pulled over for a speeding violation on the bike-way, but luckily the joke didn’t end up being on me that way!
HI! =]
My funniest moment was after doing an early morning swim at Lake McConaughy, in mostly white boardshorts. Yep, you guessed it….turns out the boardshorts left nothing to the imagination when they’re wet. Oh yea, I was there with friends & family. Needless to say I now wear non-see thru compression shorts under those boardshorts now.
By the way, THANKS for all of the in-depth reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi!
Hi,
No funny stories, I’m so boring…
I tipped over sideways while winter mountain biking and mad a perfect bike-angel.
PhillyTri was turned into a duathlon last year. So in my confusion I left my running shoes on in T1 with my bike shoes already clipped onto pedals and left T1. Had to leave bike shoes on the side of the road and rode the 40K with running shoes so I could at least finish.
Funny or perhaps annoying…trying to run out of transition at the bike out section!
Not having tightened left crank arm correctly… On a steep climb with much force applied the crank arm moved a bit aroung the axle – the cranks no more being at 180 degees but at about 150/210. Took me a while to realise why pedaling all of a sudden was disbalanced and *very* awkward…
At the pool: My workout partner was sort of new to training, so she had encountered threshold-type workouts only a handful of times before. We had our written workout plastered on a wet kickboard, and the workout included abbreviations she had seen before, like “K” for kick and “thres” for threshold pace. She asked, “What do I hold onto?” I didn’t know what she was talking about. She tried again, “Okay, I get that ‘thres’ means I need to go faster, but what does ‘hold’ mean?”
Unclipping the wrong pedal in my full race kit, while doing recon for Timberman…yeah, I fell over.
Well in the spirit of falling over clipped in stories … last year when just learning I fell over in my driveway … then stood up and fell over again just because the new shoes were so slippery. I was happy nobody was there to see me but it was sort of hilarious and I was laughing at myself since I wasn’t hurt just felt silly.
forgetting to change into my suit before i jumped in the pool…
keep up the good work!
Wow, some funny stories here! I guess my training has been pretty boring so far…but I’m sure sometime soon I will hardcore embarrass myself!
My funniest so far would be flatting right in front of the high school nearby while out for a ride and then being “that guy” while all the students were being let out for the afternoon.
Hi! Love your descriptive reviews- it’s helping me to decide on the replacement for my 205 that’s on its last legs!
I’d say mine happened during a marathon. At around mile 18 a volunteer said “you are on great timing for sub 3:10!”. Well, that momentarily gave me confidence until seconds later the 3:10 pace group passed me by.
Count me in for 1
Hi!
Running my first 1/2 marathon in Las Vegas last December. I was about 2 miles in when I looked at my watch to judge my time. I forgot to start the timer. I was very unhappy for a while now its just one of those things that happened.
hi! love the blog!
Was trying out a fastforward seat post on my road bike…bolts didn’t quite reach but my husband thought it would be fine ‘just to try’ until we could get to the hardware store. Thank goodness I was on my trainer and not outside because after about 3 pedal revolutions the front bolt slipped sending the nose of the seat straight up and me onto the rear tire and subsequently the ground beside my bike. I was stunned at first but I wish we had video footage. I’m sure it was a sight to see with legs and arms flailing trying to not land on our glass table!
Carrie
i was doing a race in CT that was a two transition race. I set up T2 and rode over to T1 – got totally lost and rode around for 30 min – almost had to hop a fence but eventually found it!
Eric A – new york
HI!
Hey Ray! Keep up the great blogging!
a crow landing on my head after passing by it during me run
this would be the perfect present for my fiance!
while unclipping to stop at a light and falling to the opposite side…..yes there were many onlookers.
Mine isn’t a training ride but at my first triathlon (olympic), I lost my stuff in T2, and spent literally 8 minutes wandering around all the bikes and bikes, and stuff,and more stuff, trying to find the spot I had put my things! I swear someone re-arranged the area while I was on my bike! When I finally got on my way a full 10 minutes later, I was about 1/3 mile into the run and realized I still had my helmet on! Embarrassing is all I have to say.
I seem to be with the majority when I say that it was forgetting to unclip!
They say it’s all about the journey, except when something funny (and embarrassing) happens while training with some of your best friends.
Being a Chicago triathlete, I tend to ride my bike with a few of my fellow group members on the scenic Lake Shore Drive. On long rides, you may start early, but end up coming back to your starting spot during peak time. One day, I smashed down on the pedals and flew past the beach toward Fullerton, I stood up to ease my position and came across a huge gap in the road. I tried to stop, but it was to late. I went flying off the edge, still clipped in and landed io the beach. Luckily no one was hurt, but it was a site full of laughs by tourists and beach goers alike. How embarrassing…if it weren’t for camera phones, my accident may have been just a story instead of a page in some one’s vacation album.
To this day, my training buddies give me a hard time about it.
They say it’s all about the journey, except when something funny (and embarrassing) happens while training with some of your best friends.
Being a Chicago triathlete, I tend to ride my bike with a few of my fellow group members on the scenic Lake Shore Drive. On long rides, you may start early, but end up coming back to your starting spot during peak time. One day, I smashed down on the pedals and flew past the beach toward Fullerton, I stood up to ease my position and came across a huge gap in the road. I tried to stop, but it was to late. I went flying off the edge, still clipped in and landed io the beach. Luckily no one was hurt, but it was a site full of laughs by tourists and beach goers alike. How embarrassing…if it weren’t for camera phones, my accident may have been just a story instead of a page in some one’s vacation album.
To this day, my training buddies give me a hard time about it.
During an extremely wet, rainy spring I was determined to not let the weather deter my indefatigable march towards my cycling mileage goals. A new route took me several miles into marshlands where eventually the road became obscured by water. With only one way in and one way out, I forged ahead – very carefully. While watching the roadway underwater beneath my front wheel, I saw fish swimming through my spokes!
Crashing because i sneezed 35 miles into a mountain climb
Hi. Don’t have a funny training moment, but a follower of your blog and would really love to win this prize!
rollerblading 5km back home one spring evening when all the water on sidewalks turned into perfect ice
HI – worth a try
I realy want this.
Hi :)
username0765 at hotmail.com
Hi, the funniest thing happened to me while i was doing stretching at the end of a running session and my trousers decided to end their technical life breaking just in the middle of my rear side giving the space to other clothings… My pants wanted to show up…. Was a bit embarassing but afterwards was definetely funny…
I have a very bad sense of direction. Once as I were running in Helsinki I got lost and I had to borrow a mobile phone from a stranger to call my girlfriend in order to keep her calm. There has also been many other times I’ve got lost and been forced to ask some route info towards home…
I made a wrong turn on my mtb bike, descending on a very steep trail which slowly disappeared and I ended in a gorge with no easy way out. Had to walk in a creek for 1hour carrying my bike. Next day i went on a different track and ended up in the same creek, just from the opposite site. My inner GPS #ftw
On one of my regular rides there is a 14% descent that ends in a sharp 90 degree corner, leading over a small bridge. So six months ago I came shooting down the descent, braked at the appropriate time, took the corner perfectly… and ran into a sheep. That made me swerve wildly off my line (obviously) and over the side of the bridge. Ten vertical feet later and I was coughing up river water with my bike and I luckily entirely unscathed. I really wish I had that on camera.
Funniest moment is probably when I went running in the snow and as I turned going downhill, slipped and slid several meters in to a bush but quickly getting up again before any one could see me.
Aero tuck down hill without aero bars and a tree root pushing up pavement. Deadly combo. My shoes, Forerunner 405, body and bike all still bear the scars.
After 30 minutes in the water, they kicked us out of the pool for lightning last Monday. I didn’t even know they had storm restrictions on indoor pools!
No good funny stories in my training…so Ill just say Hi and thanks for the great giveaway!
Aero tuck down a hill without aero bars and a tree root pushin up pavement. Not good. My shoes, Forerunner 405, bike and body still show the scars of that one.
Def not unclipping and falling over at stop light
Falling over at a stop sign on my bike. I was already stopped and was waiting for a car when I lost balance and just fell over.
Hi!
Running a 50k on Halloween dressed as a priest.
Funniest training moment so far is still not so funny to me but everyone else finds it hilarious. So here goes, I was pooped on by a bird while running. It landed right on the top of my head. I was not close to home and had to finish my run with bird poop in my hair. And it was not solid. Maybe it was bird pee?
Dr Rick
my wife keeps taking my garmin so its never there when i need it!
Nope, don’t have any training stories, well not running anyways. Lifting weights however….
Hi! :-)
Hi DC….I’d love to get this as a gift for a running friend
I was running in the outback of Australia when I had the feeling that someone was following me (but I hadn’t seen anyone for at least an hour). I turn around to see a herd of kangaroos following me! I stop in amazement. They all stop too and just stared at me. I think they thought I was their leader, showing them to the promised land.
Checking in from South Carolina
Checking in from South Carolina
The funniest moment I experienced happened while I was doing my long run a few weeks ago. I just overtook a woman and her dog, as the dog started to think he had to hold my pace instead of hears. He pulled his screaming mistress at least 25m trying to stick with me. Even though I felt kind of sorry for her I could not stop laughing.