Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) 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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
Most vivid memory, Julie Moss crawling across the finish line. Most memorable, watching my sister finish!
I’ve never been able to watch it live. Kicked the family out so I can watch unhindered
The first time was on the Belgian news in 1996 when Luc Van Lierde won!
Go Belgium! :)
The whole grit – from 8+hour finishers to these finishing barely in time limit
best was last year when the athletes ran past our condo and i could cheer them on!
Julie Moss…the crawl……..
kona is the best
Watching Chrissie win was always fun!
Don’t know the year, watching people cross the line at the time cut off
Normann Stadler on his kouta
I watched first time last year, the win of Frederik Van Lierde in 8:12:29.
My thougt was this must be insanely hard, why are they doing this?
The first contact with Triathon on Hawaii has been in Magnum, PI. Never seen that cool style again ;-)
Team Hoyt, those guys inspired me to do an ironman.
I remember stumbling on it being on TV, and I loved watching those who finished right before the time cut-off. There is always so many people who are so supportive all the way through til the end. It’s really motivating to see and hear the stories of so many of the competitors with difficult journeys.
Definitely watching Julie Moss finish on ABC WWS. I was a big time runner then and still am(yes a long time) having only recently gotten hooked big time in triathlons. You are never too old to start something new.
Last year on the net!
I think, it was a young student heading to the finish – Julie Moss
No decent TV coverage here in Germany, so watching Kona always involves praying for the livestream being stable in the middle of the night.
My favorite memory is seeing the starting line with my wife on our honeymoon in HI.
Watching the age group swimmers struggling to climb out of the water to barely beat the cutoff time.
Watching it late night tv reruns.
Watching Rinny jump into Tim’s arms after she won last year. Priceless!!!
Ironman often falls on Canadian Thanksgiving… So the first memory that comes to mind is the smell of a roasting turkey and watching a live stream from Kona.
last year, on the net
2012 Ironman World Championships. The family decided to take a vacation to the middle of nowhere, so I decided to figure out how to stream it on my iPhone…while I was driving there. Couldn’t totally focus on it, but it was totally awesome to keep up to speed with it! Even streamed it walking through a grocery store. #trigeekproblems
I never win!
Kona is Natscha Badmann, she won 6 times. She is so strong. 16 time she participated – extremly motivating.
2008 chrissy wellington! She is a big inspiration!
Watching my first Kona 25 years ago when I caught the Ironman bug.
Pauli Kiuru and 1993
Macca vs Raelert in 2010
to see step by step Crissie win the kona championship 2 weeks after her bike accident.
Hey Ray…I’m not begging to win. This competition but broke my tomtom multi sport today! Pot hole dislodged the multi sport, car finished it off! Guessing it’s not waterproof anymore? So my kona weekend memory is now this image #gutted #doh #oops
Being this is my first year getting into triathlons, this is my first year. And they are amazing!!
Watching Chrissie Wellington win despite being injuries from a pre race bike crash.
Every time an Aussie wins!
First time live streaming right now!
Mindy’s marathon blast in 2013. Wow.
Pictures across the media of dehydrated Julie Moss collapsing before the finish line…
Watching the NBC re-broadcast in the early/mid 2000s and watching/seeing Sister Madonna Buder participating and FINISHING……..when she was in her 70s!!!
First time watching Kona was the duel between Allen and Scott .amazing !
Now I’m watching it on YouTube!
Watching it as a kid. Knowing what they were doing was extraordinary. 2013 I started doing smaller distances (1/4 or 1/8) myself. Lost 20kg and now for 2015 planning longer distances. Maybe a 70.3 IM? Who knows if I will make it to a full IM in the future. They had my respect then and they still have it!
Watching the final finishers
Yes please, also Kona FTW.
The German Train
Watching youtube Kona videos and getting inspired to do a triathlon!
I remember visiting Hawaii several years ago, reading all about the event in a local paper while enjoying a delicious cup of Kona coffee!
Best memory for sure is seeing my countrymen Marc Herremans cross the finish in his wheelchair in 2006 five years after finishing the pro event in 6th place. Unbelievable performance!
Christie Wellington’s first win
Scott Rigsby finishing
I’ve never seen the race live, but this year I will cheer for Alex Zanardi !!
Sian Welch & Wendy Ingraham Finish. Absolutely crazy to push that hard right at the end.
The germans (from my hometown) ;-)
a few years ago, thought how impossible it looked. Few years later did one myself.
Iron war, of course. Ray for president!
Seeing 30 minute recaps on nbc sports. Or was it versus?
hope i’m not to late, they already started. hope cona is again for a Van lierde….
Julie Moss
Sun between spokes of Chrissie Wellington.
My co-worker leant me the 25th anniversary DVD. I don’t remember anything about it in particular, except that that was the moment I knew I was going to do it. Someday.
As a child Watching Julie Moss crawl to the finish line. We lived on a farm and I should have been helping work but I snuck inside to watch tv which was not allowed during the day. I happened to watch the ironman and watched Julie crawl and stumble. To this day I have wanted to do that. This year I completed three tri races and working on an Olympic distance next year. I am woman I will do this too
Watching it right now with Kienle on the bike – real machines these guys!!!
Pauli Kiuru
Watching Dave Scott on TV many, many years ago, and thinking, One day…one day.
Sponge sharing between Chris McCormack and Andreas Raelert. “It’s like Iron War”
Spoted on island Brac in Croatia…
Kienle mashing it on the bike right now. It will keep me focused on the turbo trainer this winter.
Chrissie Wellington dominating.
Watching Kona hightlights on youtube.
Incredibly high cadence in front of swimming pack
Last year – watching Kina and decision g I could do a triathlon and the next day entering my first!!
Watching Mark Allen come back from 13 minutes down against Thomas Hellriegel in ’95 and knowing that I had race in Kona some day.
When my colleague starting doing triathlon I learned about Kona – remembering seeing a web based video and reading about it.
Watching my friend via livestream finish Kona with a front hand spring across the finish line!
I watched the world championships every time they they were on TV but didn’t start racing until I was 34 yrs old. My most vivid viewing memory is every year. I’m not sure why it makes me so damn emotional but even the down years strike a chord.
Julie Moss crawling… Definitely
I was 12 watching ABC Sports, and seeing Julie Moss melt down, still gives me chills. I still really wanted her to finish 1st.
Live coverage for this year! (after some videos from previous editions). Pity that I am too far away from Kona, but who knows…
Cheers!
Watching the men biking 112 miles at a faster mph than I do 12 miles.
watching a VHS of Cristian Bustos almost defeating the greatest Mark Allen, almost…
Sian Welch and Wendy Ingraham when they were crawling to the finish line in 1997!!!
Watching Rinny last year was incredible
Dream race would be watching myself there someday
I’ve pretty much seen all clips online, but the first one about any Ironman was from Kona in the late 90s. I’ve loved the expressions on Rinny’s face and Chrissie’s face on their respective victories – so strong!
Watching on YouTube guys flying on their bikes way faster than I could ever imagine.
Macca vs Raelert late on in the run 2010. Ironwar reference
Watching last year with my family.
The Ironman performance of Julie Moss is surely one that will stay with me
Last year was awesome!
Julie Moss!
first and best – Chrissie Wellington 2011
watching Julie Moss in the 80’s. i thought it was absolutely insane.
last year M Carfrae
first time on TV, last year 2013, Carfrae
Watching Craig Alexander win in 2011 in 8:03:56!
2012, Leanda Cave
Back on Wild World of Sports as a kid – when they all still wore the banana hammocks and it was pure grit.
I just found it on Google
My most gripping memory was seeing Paula Newby Fraser collapsing towards the end of one of the Ironman finishes (I didn’t see it live). If it can happen to her, it can certainly happen to me (and it has!).