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.
chuffed for you guys, the place looks very beautiful.
Welcome in Paris! Great view from your appartement, you’ll perhaps see Quasimodo in Notre-Dame… If you need help from a french-geek-triathlete, don’t hesitate.
Guys,
You have my sympathy for the HARD life you live. As a good friend of mine would say – call the cable guy, your TV seems stuck on the good life channel!
Keep enjoying it!
That was the right pick. Do the Roman ruins underneath the square yet?
Amazing view! Fantastic option! Crongratulations from Brazil!
Sergio
Congratulations Ray, awesome house.
A BIG WARNING THOUGH: the RER often takes 35 min to CDG but only if you are lucky. It also often goes at snail pace and takes up to 1h10 for this trip. So ALWAYS plan your transfer to the airport with a good margin…
And don’t forget to give me a shout when you pass by Dubai…
There’s a good little ice cream store just beyond Notre Dame on the opposite side of Ile Saint Louis from you. Enjoy your time there and best wishes!! And make sure you get out to Normandy!!
Ha! I knew it! Glad you are enjoying the neighborhood so far, it’s really the best! Wander over into the Marais sometime too, it’s really neat, especially at night!
Smart couple. #2 was the clear choice for those who know Paris.
great, great, great choice! if you need to unload a trainer, I could certainly give one a good home ;-) !
Nice place. My choice would have been the same, plus the neighborhood is quite busy there, crepes shop just a minute away and I think its also around 3kms away from Lourve Museum
I remember getting out from the metro station (express line from the airport) right in front of Notre Dame, so looking out of your house, will be on your left
:)
Have fun you guys!
Amazing. I think you should offer a bed & breakfast option for all of your blog readers, who come to paris on a bike:-)
Not sure if you are religious or not, but I am curious if you have been to a service there. If so, what was it like?
Great choice! We might have chosen the same place if we were you. Last time me and my wife stayed in Paris we were at Hotel Esmeralda which had the same spectacular view of notre dame! Your apartment is right at the heart of Paris and a short walk from Shakespeare and Co in case you want to read english books :D Congrats!
Thanks all!
Ol Nico-
Yes, I found one of them crawling trains back two weeks ago. Not a local/slow train, just an express train going slow. Sigh…
Hi Anon-
We haven’t yet, though we may swing by at some point. They also have various concerts and choruses that perform there too, which are published outside the gates. We’re pretty busy the next few weeks – but we see some later in the month that ought to do the trick!
The house looks fantastic.
Our house lacks closets over here in Germany. So, I am curious… does your house have any closet space or did you have to buy wardrobes?
Jennifer
What a view.
Just out of curiosity: I know you are working in the IT but are you also working in the UC business as I can see a CX600 Lync phone on your desk?! :)
Hi Jennifer
It actually has a fair amount of built-in closet space (primarily in the master bedroom) – though, we continue to wish it had more. We bought a dresser for the bedroom, and all of the storage space cabinents under the TV as well.
Hi Matz-
I design infrastructure solutions for large organizations, including designing Lync (well, previously LCS, then OCS and now Lync) deployments. Additionally, the org I work uses Lync internally – so I love the CX600.
+1 on the Stuck in the Good life Channel Comment. Happy for you guys.
Boy do I miss Europe. I live in HK, they call apt’s here Shoeboxes not for nothing.
Awesome!!
Been a while since reading your blog. So surprised at the change in venue. Very nice indeed!
The place looks ah-mazing. And I loved the House Hunters aspect. It’s my favorite show aside from Wife Swap. Funny enough, I think this is actually located near to the hostel I stayed in when I first arrived in Paris. The BVJ. It’s just around the corner from a sandwich place that has a great sesame brie.
Oh you’re not far from my favorite bookstore! What a fabulous location. I don’t think you’d get me away from the window for to long.
The view? I just assumed you were a Van Morrison fan.
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Shammy [chamois] cleaning all the windows,
Singing songs about Edith Piaf’s soul.
And I hear blue strains of “no regredior”
Across the street from Cathedral Notre Dame.
Read more at link to songmeanings.net
DC rainmaker, I am a fan. For all those of us who dream of Paris, give us an idea of the rent for that Apt you got overlooking the Seine?
This house looks just like a palace form a fairy tale, the view at it during the night time is fascinating! I truly love this post because of the pictures that you’ve inserted to it! I can’t believe someone is lucky enough to live in such a place!
Yes …. somebody up from the sky loves you, guys!!! I try since years to relocate …. Paris is definitely not my dream, but just moving out would be my life’s dream!!
GOOD LUCK in Europe!
I am a new follower of your blog, which I discovered this week while looking for GPS watches review…. I now start to discover your personal story !! I just love your blog. Please keep one writing and welcome to France ! (though a bit late) I am myself a French guy living close to Geneva and just had the idea 2 weeks ago to start training for Sprint triathlon…. still 10 months to go before it, but what a nice challenge.
Xav
Haha, this post brings back good (bad) memories moving up to the 5th floor in Zürich with no lift. Moving in and out was a b—h. Even moving out, the worst part was not necessarily carrying the last bags down, but the fact that if you didn’t grab everything you would have to climb up again when you’re already exhausted.
What a stellar location to live in Paris!
Somewhat late to the party on this one but hey, fabulous place in such a wonderful location.
You could also have considered an apartment in Montmartre. The avid biker and triathlon practitioner would have found/enjoyed good training ground there!
Wow that view is incredible!
Nice move but be carefull with the people. I am french and left Paris 6 month ago for Geneva. The pool behind your flat you speak about is not olympic size and overbusy. Best place to swim is the outdoor heated olympic size pool on Pont de Puteaux (west side near Neuilly) or maybe Keller Pool opposite side of Trocadero.
Come around in Geneva in Spring, some nice col to discover by bike !!
View from your place, just a while back.
That’s pretty cool!
So cool:
St. Germain & St. Michel:
It’s funny you posted this. Last night I was looking in at little store near me and found a book that has historical photos taken along the river (that’s all it was, just river photos). With a number from down on the Quai in front of the DCR Cave/Studio from the 1860’s. Really interesting to see what’s identical…and what’s totally different.
Just in case you were nostalgic for the days when Paris had a bicycle track intra muros : link to dailymotion.com