Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple AirTag 4-Pack for just $69, 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.
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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 2024 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.
I cannot accept the beer mile record;-) This should be done with real beer, not with american canbeer. If he is able to do the same with, for example, “Augustiner” or “Tegernseer” beer, I am the first to gratulate. But I fear he wouldn’t be able to run the mile at all.
Depends on the beer — Tegernesse helles lager wouldn’t qualify for a beer mile WR, as the beer has got to be at least 5% ABV. Also, it’s got to come in 355 ml servings; drinking Augustiner would be overly difficult, as it’s generally found in the US only in 320 ml (too small!) and 500 ml size. For that matter, I’ve never seen Tegernesse in a 355 ml either.
Budweiser fits the bill — 355 ml can, 5% ABV exactly. The rules, alas, do not specify that the beer has to be particularly tasty.
I doubt you can really buy Tegernseer beer in US, but who knows. There exists the so called “Tegernseer Spezial” which has 5.6% ABV. So this would be enough. And yes, I also think the Tegernseer beer is only sold in 0.5l bottles and not available in smaller size.
I will ask when I am the next time in the “Tegernseer Bräustüberl”.
Thanks for the fun stuff, but that kickstarter bike!! They are saying loads of things about safety but it is lacking so safety features (hand brakes, mud guards, proper lamps etc). But that is not for here to discuss.
The Polo is cool :)
Yes, here in Spain we start the doping process at the school. We are the only cyclists doped in the Tour of France and other events, and also our motorcycles will be doped today in Jerez. And in the Barcelona´s half marathon (I only run the marathon) I supose we went all doped too.
Thanks for all your post.
Néstor.
Strange, I always thought it was the Spanish beef…
Jajaja, good point. That´s true too, Ray. It seems Marquez, Pedrosa and Lorenzo have it for breakfast today…
Another load of Garmin fixes but still no FR620 cycle mode. From what I remember it was supposed to be a Q1/Spring update. Roll on Q2/Summer…
Fwiw, Spring actually goes to June 20th…
(And yes, it was/is set for “Spring”)
So release on 19th june then ;)
So is WIthings the first to take advantage of the M7 in the 5s? It’s the first claim to use it I’ve seen, but I don’t pay that much attention to this. I remember all the hype about the M7 when the 5s first came out (had to wait in line with my daughter on the first day, since she wanted one).
I turned step counting on in the Withings app on my 5c. (Why a 5c? My 13 year old daughter doesn’t want anyone else in the house to have a better phone than she does.) That was a small mistake, since there doesn’t seem to be any way to turn it off. After every mountain bike ride, I get credit for a series of disjointed “runs” of various length. (My 5c rides in my Camelbak when on the mountain bike.) At least road rides show nothing, and I don’t pay any attention to the number anyway. One small plus is that I was finally able to dissociate my Withings Pulse, which I haven’t used for months, from my Withings account, which they didn’t allow before the app gained step counting.
Nah, almost all of them do it now. Outside of the dedicated apps that utilize it (i.e. MyFitnessPal, etc..), most of the activity monitor hardware vendors do as well now. I believe FitBit was the first hardware-focused company to offer it.
A bicycle that folds to the size of an umbrella, except for the wheels which you apparently then have to carry slung over your shoulder like a spare tire. I’m not sure that’s a big improvement.
As pointed out in the comments over there, the back wheel is actually irrelevant and could be discarded. It’s actually rolling on that small wheel at the back that’s connected to the chain. They could just do the same on the front and be rid of both rims/tires, and then they’d have the “ultimate” small wheel folding commuter, at least so far as wheel size goes.
The other interesting thing is that the bike seems to be supported in front by rollers on top of the front wheel. That front rim will have to be pretty hefty to support the bike, since a normal bicycle wheel is supported by tension in the spokes, and normal rims are comparatively flimsy (just need to be able to handle braking forces/friction and the spoke tension). I’ll bet those spokeless wheels are pretty heavy, and it must be interesting to watch the wheel flex as it’s being ridden.
“the back wheel is actually irrelevant and could be discarded” – not really – the (large) rotating wheel has angular momentum that helps you ride the bike
Let’s try that again (be nice if we could edit comments): No, angular momentum has little to do with the stability of a bicycle. This is well understood.
Awesome. Seems all my life I have used wrong theory to ride a bike. Thanks for clarification !
You’re from Seattle and you didn’t know bike polo was a thing? Cal Anderson, next time you’re back in the PNW! Bike Polo is best enjoyed, of course, after a stop at Molly Moon’s across the street (and the lovely Fleet Feet – because all the best running stores have an ice cream shop steps away).
Hello Ray,
Any news on the Mio head unit firmware update?
I thought it should’ve been here by now but I can’t find anything…
Nothing new, but I don’t believe they set out a specific timetable.
Their CEO did post last night however here: link to dcrainmaker.com
Hi Ray,
I see you showed an update to the “Bicycle Power Meter” app on Android by “Innovative App Designs”. Do you have an opinion on this app?
(Opinions from other readers are equally welcome :) )
I downloaded it at one point to play with, but haven’t had a chance to really dig into it. Might do it later tonight if I’m able to go to the Dubai track and rent a bike.
Ray, did you see that there is a Chocolate Milk Mile as well? :-)
Hi Ray, any idea how to operate the swimming drill mode in the v2.9 firmware? I can only find the option to turn on drill mode for pool swims, but beyond that nothing else seems to have changed in the F2. No luck so far in my internet searches too.
I haven’t used the drill mode yet (only the swim alerts). I’d poke into the Fenix2 post and see if anyone has some tips there.
Have you used it previously in the Garmin Swim?
Nope, I don’t own a Garmin Swim, only had a FR610 (great watch!) before upgrading to the F2. Wanted to track my pool swims more accurately where possible.