Heads up!!! Here’s your massive Cyber Monday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $619, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) 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.
problem being is CO2 emissions in a city, Paris is a big one, so I am always skeptical about doing something breath-intensive in such places.
Nice! We’ll be there next month for a little over a week and I have been looking around for where to get at least my runs in– getting a bike is probably unlikely given all the other stuff on the itinerary, but if I can at least do the running, it should be great. Had already planned the river run but good to know that it’s doable. Going to have to try your favorite run route, too! This post couldn’t have come at a better time, thank you!
Perfect I’m going to be in Paris in July and have a 1/2 IM 2 weeks after I get back so I need to get into the pool a couple times if possible.
Bertie’s is on my short list, do you have any stats on when they typically run out (it would be a good stat to track).
thanks
bob
Hi Bob!
Typically she sells out in late afternoon – around 4-6PM. We decide each night how many to make the next morning, based on a lot of factors – though quite honestly the weather is the biggest factor. All of the flavors are done by noon (though we open earlier), so between 12PM to 1PM you’ll have the best selection of everything.
Looking forward to having you drop in!
Ray,
you should give a try to : Parc de St Cloud, ( direct acces by Metro, Line 9) this parc has some nice vistas on Paris because of its elevation, you can find there, trails and paved roads and some gentle hills
link to maps.google.com.
Cheers,
Mat
Ray,
You are all about full service!
Thanks! I am going to Paris for work in Sept and would be eager to run these routes. Would be nice if you could also suggest some nice routes for cycling near Paris that I can go by train during weekends.
I love these posts, great for knowing where to swim/bike/run when traveling! But if I’m jet lagged and willing to get up real early on the bike (with lights) before the city wakes up, does that provide any additional opportunities on the bike?
Yes and no. It can get you relatively traffic free routes, especially along the river. When I’ve done some early morning rides, even 7AM on a weekend is plenty early to avoid almost all traffic. Parisians aren’t exactly early morning people, so it doesn’t take much to get ahead of it.
In that case, I’d pretty much just stay along the river, primarily on the South bank (though you can only go one-way in some sections).
I’m absolutely terrible at planning trip logistics outside the U.S. Need to plan a trip with the wife.
Any chance you’d publish a guide on how to find reasonably priced accommodations and airfare, given how much you travel.
Or, maybe just specific to Paris.
I realize it’s not gadget related; just seems like an area you’d be more knowledgeable about than most.
Or, maybe a recommendation to a blog that already does this.
Thanks.
If you like trailing or hiking go to Fontainebleau forest, at the south of paris (not very easy to go from Paris but your effort will be rewarded).
There is a wonderfull track called “25 bosses” (can be traduced by something like “25 hills”) . It is the HOTSPOT near Paris to walk/run like in mountain (we go here for training). There is also good tracks for cycle, but I have never tried it.
Search on google.com and openrunner.com “25 bosses fontainebleau” or “fontainebleau massif 3 pignons” to have more details.
And sorry for my beautiful french accent !
Parc Buttes-Chaumont is a great place to run hills. Smells fabulous too. I do my long runs out the canal St. Martin, did a 13.5 a few weeks ago. Very pleasant.
Hi Ray,
I came across your blog recently and I have to say that it’s a very good one (very interesting content).
Regarding your recent post, you can have a look at my blog (am crazy about running), in the JogIn part. I have listed and tested all the parcs in Paris where you can easily run : link to jogin.fr (I plan to translate it in english but I run out of time at the moment).
And btw, am part of an association of Blogger & Runner here in Paris so if you’re interested in meeting other crazy sportsmen like you, give me a shoot.
A+
Pierre
I’ll be in Paris July 8-11, coming from Detroit. I’m touring Europe with my wife on motorcycles for 3 weeks. We’ll be stopping for a cupcake and maybe seeing Notre Dame…no workouts scheduled though!
Chuck
I also really dig running on the “promenade plantee” between Bastille and Bois de Vincennes. As for cycling, I usually head down to La Vallee Chevreuse past Versailles.