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.
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You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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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.
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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.
Ray,
I’ve been asking myself the same question since the entire software debacle began.
I am eligible for the RM1 software and am excited to see some forward movement in getting it out to us. However, if I had it to do all over again knowing what we do now I would have went with a Tacx or TrainerRoad.
I have lost all faith in RacerMate and will be surprised if we really do see RM1 released this summer.
To late. With the RacerMate One issues, I lost faith and just bought a PowerBeam Pro. I have my fingers crossed the fall software updates will be worth it. Then again, the Joule 3 is pretty awesome.
I’m no doubt biased by being an RM1 beta tester, but I would say absolutely. RM1 is head and shoulders better then the old product. The interactivity is unmatched. Some will no doubt complain about something, but it’s a very good product from what I’ve seen. Now it just needs to be wrapped up and shipped.
I was waiting patiently, but now I’ve moved on to ErgVideo. I’m also not so bullish on recommending the platform to friends because of the issues.
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I would agree with the sentiment that other platforms are/have caught up.
I own a CT. I also work on GoldenCheetah (I wrote the CT support due to frustration with the old software).
Its not just that Tacx are nipping at their heels – TrainerRoad.com and GoldenCheetah do most of this stuff for free or with a lot more added value.
But if I was a new user I would expect this software to be standard.
I *was* going to buy this two years ago .. but now I don’t feel like I need it.
Even with the RM1 software pending (I’ll believe it when I see it) it’s looks like a lot better software is out there to the point where I would consider selling it for one of their competitors.
I bought a computrainer three months ago through a third party, and hence I am reliant on their goodwill for any software upgrade. $200 is pretty steep for having put in $1,400 already, and if I knew it was going to have been this long, I would have gone with the Bushido instead.
In both design and service, in no way could I recommend Racermate to anyone. The competition has caught up and exceeded Racermate’s due to their self-inflicted wound. At least the new software will be out before the company folds for good.
I have been using a Computrainer since 1999. $200 is a pretty small investment for the amount of return I get from it. Yes, I will purchase the upgrade.
Not at that price. Was excited by it when first announced but then became quite satisfied with ErgVideo and TrainerRoad.
Rob
I am eligible for the free software, but honestly I could care less if I ever get it. I have ergvideos, I also use Golden cheetah along with some sufferfest videos. You just put your threshold power in the excel file load it along with a video and it all plays through the golden cheetah interface. There is NO WAY I would pay for the upgrade!
Am I the only SW “professional” that cringes when reading this?
“While we believe these delivery dates can be met, they cannot be guaranteed because of the inherent complexity of software development.”
I’ve owned my Computrainer since 1996.
I like the hardware and will continue to use it.
Software wise, I’ve switched to Golden Cheetah’s Mac version. I won’t be buying RM1.
Confidence in a RM1 release has long since lapsed. I’ve owned a CT for three years and frankly all the cables and bodged HW interfaces are as much of a pain in the butt as the ancient ailing SW.
I have since purchased a Powerbeam Pro and enjoy using Trainer Road, I look forward to controlling the resistance load remotely with Trainer Road and I’m excited about the cycleops SW too.
The only thing I still use the CT for is SpinScan – and if someone can tell me of a third party app to do that with a Powerbeam Pro – then the CT will be going on e-Bay!
The big assumption here folks is that the new software will actually work as advertised, at least from a functionality and stability perspective. Give RM1 tortured development scheduled, and the fact that it’s supposedly ‘all new’, I’m very skeptical. I hope I’m wrong, but IMHO ‘1.0’ software is never as pretty as hoped. In the meantime I’ll use ErgVideo, perhaps waiting for RM2! Best of luck to you early adopters!
I have been a real thorn in RM’s side throughout much of this debacle. Anyone can make a bad decision (failing to get contract terms negotiated before starting a project of this size) but the lack of information (including locking out forums) was unprecedented. After people complained, RM actually seemed to be offended that their customers were irritated, particularly those who bought a unit and were promised software. All these things said will I buy the software? Yeah, probably, though not until this Fall to Winter. Like it or not I have not found a trainer that is as durable and reliable as the Computrainer. I have put thousands and thousands of miles on mine. They also seem to be unusually good as to customer service and warranty issues, notwithstanding the most recent calamity. My recommendation to RM is to (1) beg forgiveness of their loyal customers and (2) offer some level of discount to early adopters (this will help with cash flow to encourage purchases sooner rather than later). My opinions, yours may differ.
I’ve actually been pretty disappointed in RacerMate since I bought a CT in 2002. The current software was pathetic in 2002, let alone 2012. For me, these delays have just been the excuse to move on. My wife still uses our CT but I have gotten a Tacx Bushido and love it. It has its own software hiccups but being completely wireless makes it easy to transport. When we go to a group spin, my wife brings the basic trainer rather than the CT. I actually look forward to what cycleops produces. CT is way over priced for what you get. And they don’t seem to have made any effort to earn my future business.
I would also add that computerized just plain missed the boat on issues like cables. I purchased cant+ and love it for the ease of set up I now have. But there’s nothing coming in RM1 that adds that functionality natively and other than spin scan (which is worthless anyway) there’s nothing lacking with the wireless setup.
It seems like technology marched on but computrainer didn’t.
I planned on buying it at one point, but the drama has lowered my expectations. I’ll wait months until after the release to see if other buyers are satisfied.
CT has been a big part of my mix for many years. I’ll be buying. Don’t really need it, but maybe it will fix the heart rate issues. Or maybe not.
ErgVideo is great, Real Course works fine, I can still bang out 3D workouts. Maybe RM1 will surprise me with improvements on those.
PowerBeam Pro screen shots look great! But, as much as I love Saris as a company, their customer service, and the Powertap, Poweragent software has the most screwed up user interface I’ve ever encountered. Then again, maybe Saris will use a 3rd party developer….
I see the value of upgrading the software, but at that price point it is difficult to justify. Especially when I’ve already poured money into ErgVideo and other software to do what they are releasing in the One software.
I have been using my computrainer since 2003 and it has never skipped a beat. The software, however, is a little painful. Looking forward to the upgrade, I hope it is worth the wait. I think they would significantly increase sales and leave the competition behind if you could have “virtual”races over the internet with other CT’s. Xbox and nintendo have been doing that for years.
I have had a CT since 2005, and rode them for years prior in a gym setting, doing head to head races. I have suffered with numerous “no communication” errors, swapped cables, intermittent wireless heart rate glitches, updates to the stereo to USB cable, together with the odd responses of the performance pacer on hills. I’ve built a cool custom platform with hidden wires and lockable heavy duty casters. Through all that, I have always been a supporter. But this software debacle has soured me. Despite the contract issue, this was never going to be released in 2010 as originally indicated. I will still probably buy RM1, but RM needs to do something to regain my trust and enthusiam for them. Otherwise, I will be gladly move to some other platform or device that has any marginal advantage over the CT. Their attitude through all this has been abysmal.
Our family has used Computrainer since 2004. The hardware is great, the software has needed upgrade for years. Reliability is the key. Numerous software crashes during training really take the edge off a great product. The hope that RM 1 with a new pc (8 years is an eternity in pc development) and the use of HD video keeps me waiting. $199 is not an issue if it works. We just need it now.