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:
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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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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.
Watched IM Kona for the first time with my dad as a kid. I remember sitting on the couch thinking how amazing all these people were – and how crazy!!! It’s funny how life is because now I’m one of those crazy triathletes. ;)
Chrissie! And looking forward maybe seeing Gomez or a Brownlee there one day!
In 2010, while on vacation, I volunteering at an aid station on the bike course near Waikoloa area and it was the most amazing experience to be a part of the race helping out the Ironman triathletes.
Watching now online. Having been to Kona and seen some of the course in person gives me perspective.
Watching Chris Lieto crush the bike in 2011!
Watching Allen vs Scott ,just before I decide to try tri.Ho, I never done a triathlon!
Last year . First time – hooked!
Watching Dutch athlete Yvonne Vlerken
On ESPN about 10 years ago.
watching for the first time this year! grew up in Penticton spectating ironman canada and did my first 2 tri’s this year
Watching Rinny dominate the run last year.
A couple of years ago, broadcast TV special focusing on a few pros and a few amateur “human interest” stories. A bit heavy handed on the emotion, but damn, those people are impressive and inspirational!
Watching IM Kona from start to finish for inspiration and motivation – unbelievable athletes
Watching 2011 Kona Featured Age Grouper and Cancer Survivor Teri Griege -She is a friend of mine and her story inspired me to get into triathlons.
Always love the personal stories, but watching Rinny’s run last year was amazing.
am I on time?
On my Tackx DVD during home-trainer session
Funny watching our dad fall off his bike… Lol, he was OK though
I have a friend who ran it and nearly collapsed at the end, he was barely coherent and wants to do it again before he turns 50 in a couple years. The determination and dedication to the sport is what amazes me most.
watching 2014 IM Kona Championship now, 4:26:45 into the men’s pro. Very competitive! And would love to win a 920XT!
Watching Ironman on ABC Sports (I believe Jim McKay commentated) back in the 70’s.
My best memory has to be the race so far today given my mother is currently on the bike leg! (Glenda Goscomb #495) Go mum! I would love to grab a 920xt to help me get there someday!
On Wide World Of Sports in Australia in the late eighties or early nineties. Probably a 10 minute segment.
I remember watching highlights in the late 1980’s thinking ” I could never, ever do anything of those things.”
I’m working toward that goal today. 9 mile runs on back to back days.
It was on one of those sports shows. I watched it and thought, “They are missing all of the pretty scenery!.”.
The first memory of Kona is sitting on a bike on m TAG nearby auf gas fire (outside temperature -18 centigrade) watching the 2009 NBC-report of the race. Since that time I watched every race.
Another one for the Julie Moss crawl
The first time I watched, it was in the early 90s because my boss was competing. I didn’t see him but was bit by the bug.
On a tv in a pub in Barnet many years ago. Pretended not to be bothered by it but got up early next day for sneaky training…
First time watching Kona is online now. Entered to do my first Ironman (UK) next year and just buzzing off watching today’s racing so far. The sight of all the age groupers setting off in the swim is just an awesome sight to behold!
This year is turning out pretty good but will always remember my first!
Wide World of Sports, when I was first amazed at the insanity of the sport and inspired by the intensity of the competition.
Watching for the first time today as I sit in the basement doing some PT on my ankle. Hopefully next year has fewer injuries and a new 920xt.
Watching it end of the 80’s when small parts of it where on Dutch television together with the Almere triathlon.
read of it up to now. this year I’m watching, and they listed the Swiss lady (Ryf) to belong to Swaziland ;-)
Watched 2010. Riveted.
I’ve seen snippets of Kona before, but as this is my first year as a triathlete, I am following the coverage very closely!! So inspiring!!
When MACCA finally managed to win 2nd time!
Julie Moss crawl on YouTube a couple years ago.
Highlights on internet last year, amazing event.
When my brother started to get crazy about Kong races I’ve got also inspired to do triathlon.
i think Paula Newby Frazier in 1995 crashing and then finishing stands out an amazing event
Watching it right now for the first time
The way people hug their families And cry in joy is simply unimaginable
Watching it with my tri club at a sports bar, we had it up on about half of the screens at the place and probably made the rest of the guests wonder what kind of weird people we were, watching some strange sport and not drinking nearly as much as “normal” people..
this is somewhat embarrassing but in the early 80s magnum pi participated and was doing well until he had to drop out to solve a case.
first time? Right now – Incredible…
Seen Ivan Raña last year in his debut making 6th in an incredible effort in the run….
Never watched it before, can’t wait for this year!
With my Tri friends who were in the event, moving!
Watching Craig Alexander(The man) come back and reclaim his title in 2011 and breaking the course record at the same time. He is a true icon in Triathlon
Julie Moss crawl when I thought why people would even compete in such a horrible event not realising that I would dream of making an appearance one day as well.
Watching fellow Dane Michelle Vesterby finishing eigtht last year.
remembering Marc Allen passing Dave Scott for the win…
Victory of Frederik Van Lierde in 2013.
Watching the coverage of Julie Moss’ last few hundred metres of the 1982 Ironman as a kid on Transworld Sport I couldn’t understand why anyone would put themselves through that sort of punishment, but 30 years on that footage is a source of inspiration in those dark moments of races when all you want to do is…. stop….
Julie Moss, definitely
Most memorable: Paula Newby Frazier Hitting The Wall in 1995 Ironman
Macca second title. Epic!
Thank you dc ;)
friend showing me Julie Moss crawl
I remember watching it on Tv in the 90s thinking they were really cool. I watch it now and think they are crazy!! But I would still love to do it!!
The iron war!!!! and the original John Tesh soundtracks were awesome. The first really dramatically produced endurance sporting event…
Last year live stream I decided no to train that day, I can’t rememeber the first time I know about Kona, but maybe four years ago.
My best momment watching Kona was 2 years ago inside a triathlon Shop (3 Shop) in front of my buildind here in Rio de Janeiro. They mounted a big screen and streamed it live from the site. Special Momment with lots of friends!!!
The first time left me awe of them. I was racing kids tri at the time and going to Kona was what I wanted to do.
Macca winning his second most exciting ironman in the last few years.
After being told to read iron war I went and watched the youtube highlights from each year. Moment that sticks in my mind is the father who carried his paralyzed son around through the entire course
Remember seeing the classic ‘hitting the wall’ footage but followed last years Kona just after I had signed up for my first IM.
Macca winning Kona for the First time!!
2013 on the interwebs
Julie Moss crawl
2012, when I watched Pete won by just a few seconds. P.S. the rest of my junior cycling team was not watching…
It would have to be the pre-event programs of those who have battled to complete or have the inspiration of their battles to get them to Kona.
I remember swim cut off last year, very emotinal moment!
I’ve followed Rasmus Henning at Kona, and at that time I thought it’d be great to do the ironman.
Chrissy decimating the field at her first Kona. So amazing.
I’ve watched krona event, but I’ll do my best to start watching at it. Hoping for Garmin 920XT!
I remember Mark Allen and Dave Scott – watching more as a curiosity, but being amazed at what they were doing.
The mass start!
a buddy of mine raced there as a pro a number of times in the early ’90s. i had no appreciation until starting triathlon myself. now, i won’t miss it—crowie’s performance a few years ago was the first of many viewings (and maybe participations!) to come.
Watching Julie Moss refuse to quit.
Watched Kona a few weeks after signing up for my first Ironman just to realise what I had let myself in for. Tough
Watching Natascha Badmann trying to get back on the bike after her crash, that’s the will to win
There was a TV show focused on extreme, weird or not very well known sports around the world. One of the shows was about IM Kona about 10 years ago when triathlon was not that well known and spread here in Spain.
Watching ABC WWOS in the mid-90s. I was not even a teenager but knew I wanted to do one someday. Hopefully 2015 is my year
Reading through the official site and watching an amazing stories of Kona participants on youtube. Can I do it…?
I must have been around 10 or 12 and I saw it on TV. So it must have been around 1990-1992. I remember telling myself “They look so cool. I can do this, I want to do this.” I finished my first IM this year!
One year on the live coverage they showed Lieto urinating on the bike. Always heard pros did that but it was still pretty funny/gross to see it.
My favorite memory is watching the midnight cutoff online with my wife and kids a couple months before my first IM. It was such an inspiration and a tradition we do every year now.
The first time I watched it was in college. I remember thinking that those people are nuts!
Best memory. .. song the underwater shots of the swim with the tropical fish. That would be way nicer than my brown/ black lake. Thanks DC!
Since I am new to triathlons, I never really paid any attention until my friend Jolene asked me to watch it with her last year.
1980, When Dave Scott started with his first win (of what became seven first place finishes).
Would LOVE to sport that new Garmin FR920XT. Thanks to you and CleverTraining for a pair of best in class “go to” sites.
Watching the 2009 championships while flipping through channels, wondering what the hell it was.
Last year was my first Kona. I got in to tri and completed a couple sprints and decided to watch the live coverage online. At the end my daughter asked when I was going to become an iron man. That is great motivation and so I set a goal of summer 2015! One of these watches (an upgrade from my hand-me-down FR305) sure would come in handy in reaching that goal!
Thanks for all the great articles and killer gear giveaways!
Inspired by watching Team Hoyt!
Macca! Wellington!! Crowie!!! So many memorable moments. However, the most recent one which comes to mind is last year when Rinny won. T.O. embracing her at the finish showed such support, happiness, and love.
My best memory of watch KONA Ironman was last year… it was on TV as a highlight special and I was watching it with my kids and all three of them said “that looks fun!” and “Daddy you should do that!”
I’d love the new Garmin 920XT ~ Thanks!
crissie wellington winning kona 2 weeks after a huge bike crash! Can’t imagine the willpower it takes to even do the open water swim with those wounds!
Moss and Dibbens in the crawl to the finish line is the best memory we have.