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.
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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.
I saw the show once but I must be honest, I liked “The A-team” better ;-)
Watched it a few years back on a gym treadmill – made the workout sooo much better. Saw a guy without legs competing and that was truly inspirational!
Best memory was reading about Miranda Carfrae’s second Championship in 2013 about 5 minutes ago…
Watching it in the background when I was a wee boy and my dad was watching it, preventing me from watching cartoons :).
Dave Scott and Mark Allen in the eighties.
The first time I followed the entire race was last year. Seeing Frederik van Lierde and Mirinda Carfrae winning the race.
Seeing the helicopter shots of the bike leg through what looked like some otherworldly blast furnace, then being there in person and thinking it wasn’t as hot as I expected (in the car), and then getting out and feeling the heat radiate off the pavement and thinking, “ohhhh.”
The age groups start.
I first saw it a year ago.
Watchin this year a little bit
Like many above, my best memory of Kona is the Julie Moss finish.
Its Like the Iron war!! Ironman World Championships 2010 – Chris McCormack says to Andreas Raelert and goes on to win the championship!!!
Chrissie Wellington. Just Chrissie.
firefighter in full suit and equipment on the marathon!
The epic win of Frederik Van Lierde in 2013. Viva Belgium !
Watched yesterday to see Jan Frodeno’s incredible Marathon recovery!
This year’s men’s age group start, amazing!
My first memory of Kona is a few minutes ago when I read about what did the AMAZING Alex Zanardi. He’s the man.
I can’t beat Julie Moss’s finish. It was inspirational.
seeing Sebastian Kienle winning in 2014 with a 5min gap!
Sian Welch & Wendy Ingrahams crawl in 1997.
The win of our Frederik Van Lierde last year and following my neighbours timing and being surprised about his great finishing time!
Julie Moss finish in 1982.
Watching daniela ryf. Great swiss woman, great race.
Watching the Dave Scott-Mark Allen battles on TV
Beautiful scenery watching on TV few years back…
It has to be Julie Moss.
Karen Smyers’ win.
Watching Ironman 2014 coverage on HR-online (Germany):
“Well, ironman participation is expensive, though. Imagine: Sorry kids, there’s no holiday this year…but daddy got a new bike;-)”
Watched a summary once. Fenix2 please :-)
Chrissie Wellingtons smile even after getting a puncture and having her C02 go off without getting any into the tyre.
First fuzzy memory was mid 80’s watching the bike leg, wondering why my dad was so fixated on the screen.
My husband making me watch Kona while cooking and preparing for kids Bday. I said it was ridiculous but I couldn’t tell him at the time that I secretly kind of enjoyed it.
Watching Kona 2012 highlights from Youtube
Rinny run last year…power house.
Rinny running down everyone!
Watched Mirinda Carfrae Kona 2013
Yesterday was my first experience watching Kona. Watching Kienle crush it and Carfrae running down a 14 minute deficit was awe-inspiring. Makes me look forward to IM Chattanooga next year!
I’ve seen small bits on tv, but I’d love to see it in person.
The Kona top competitors and their athletic abilities are very fascinating to watch. But watching videos of Julie Moss (and other less famous athletes) hitting the wall and collapsing then crawling to the finish line was amazing.
In 1999 or 2000, in Romania . Forgot it for some time, but it come back to haunt me :)
Watching Kona while training and dreamingof being there!
This was the first time I followed Kona (online only, no TV coverage in Portugal, AFAIK)
Craig Alexander’s amazing race in 2011!
Watching it last year after having taken part in the Tri du Roi (bumped into you Ray) and being inspired to do even more ! Oh and it is my 40th birthday when you draw…..
The first time I watched Kona, I’d got two of my best mates round for a Kona party! We stayed up all night watching, it was awesome! I’ve watched it every year since, apart from this year because i’m out in Afghanistan!
Watching Luke McKenzie tearing it up in his trucker hat to finish second in 2013.
I remember watching on TV the marathon leg of the race against a backround that looked like the moon except they were actually running past lava fields.
Watched it for the first time as a kid on TV, probably around 2000.
I wachted it yestarday in full and kona was very interesting ,the only thing is that i was looking for you in there but no luck.jjj
Julie Moss crawling… That was epic
Coffeeeeee boat!! :)
First I watched Kona on Youtube 2 or 3 years ago. It was amazing. It gave me the stimulus to do my first IM this summer.
Watched the Ironman World Championship Triathlon 2013 Hawaii Kona GoPro age group 50-54: road movie on youtube and I salute all those took part and especially those over 50s…still going strong!!
Watching Miranda Carfrae run through the field to win in 2014 watching my first live Kona. Having started racing Olympic tri’s the year before it was amazing to see her strength on the run over the ironman distance!
Sitting with my leg in a cast 5 years ago, broken ankle with 2 months of no walking to go, thinking “hey, I can do this”. Training still but getting closer to the big races
The best moment watching was in 2004 NBC coverage. At the end of the race, I was on the TV broadcast 3 times running down the finish shoot and jumping across the finish line. The phone call poured in from friends and family shortly after.
Macca vs Realert
Stadler vs. McCormack in ’06!!!!!
Screaming my hero Sebastian kienle to the win! And thereby waking my whole dorm! I’m now the weird thriathlon guy who scream till past 2am :-D
Watching Chrissie Wellington win and do the Blazeman roll at the finish line.
Watching the crawl a few years back. Crazy yet inspiring! Did my 2nd half this year.
YouTube. Got me interested in trying a small event next year!
Anderson finishing her ironman in 16hr 59min at the age of 77!
Watching Julie Moss’s “finish” on youtube a couple of years ago…
Staying up all day and night (UK time) i watched the entire race in 2011 from start to finish on the live feed website, and watched Chrissie Wellington complete her last, and in my opinion, her most impressive victory given her injuries going into the race. The deficit she overcame from the swim and bike demonstrated pure mental strength and self-belief. Amazing performance – i now write on my water bottles too :-)
Mark Allen & Dave Scott 1989 enough said ;)
Team Hoyt – unbelievable endurance, love and strength.
Best memory would be seeing Craig Alexander on the last km of his last win…very inspirational.
My first memory is watching the news about a guy named Mark Allen doing an event like this in just over 8 hours, back in the 90’s.
The McCormack Raelert handshake in 2010, some combination of sportsmanship and psychological warfare.
Today is the first time actually!
Watching some videos from the last year’s race just now!
Watching in the early 90s the highlights on tv. I’ve Always wanted to do a triathlon . Never thought I could, now that I’m in my 40’s it actually seems doable!
Following the kona debut of Danish talent Vesterby in 2012, finishing 12. Being a huge motivation.
Chrissie Wellington first win.
Hey Ray!
I watch Kona for the first time last year! It was the night before my brother raced in IMAZ! It motivated us all and since then I’ve completed my first marathon; which is the first step on my way to becoming an Ironman. I know you hear “great job” all the time man, but Your blog is the most thorough out there. It’s my go to site for all my fitness tech questions and more. Thanks for all your hard work.
Every athlete is inspiring to watch. I can only dream of the talent and determination needed
Julia Moss crawling to the finish.
Kona 2012. Watching my friend who qualified for Kona in his first season of triathlons. It was great to hear Mike Reilly announce his name as he crossed the finish line. As a result, it inspired me compete in my first triathlon this year.
Watched it in the 90s gobsmacked by the enormity of it. Finally did my first ironman in 2011
Just seeing the people with all the personal stories. First time on TV last year.
My first memory of Ironman dates back to de mid 80s. Not only fascinated by the sport, but also the surroundings of the island
Caught the stream a few years ago, hooked since.
Seeing the massive american victories in th 80´s, and the gal of the sub 10 hour barrier.
On my 60″ Samsung while eating kale chips! Those were some good chips
Julia Moss
Watching it on the telly with my hubby!
All of them. Love watching all of it.
But definitely remember the als roll at the finish. The 80something year old nun. And all the middle of the packers and last ones to finish stories.
In early 2013 I saw the coverage of the IM Kona 2011, where Crowie set the time record. I was so excited by this and seeing all the other finishers crossing the line that I started triathlon and to be there one day too.
Kona 2014: “Alex Zanardi you are an IronMan!” …This will be the best memory forever
Last finishers from 2012.
Some highlights on TV in 1994…
After watching Kona’14………I would like ever hear: “Yes, you are an Ironman”.
watching macca win
Kona 2011, definitely the most inpressive finish
Watching/following David Pleše on Kona 2013 and 2014.
Watching athletes train on Queen K and Alii Drive this year. It was hot!
First time this year!
Not sure if this was Kona or not, but the other day I was watching a clip about the Iron War from years ago and then a more recent clip of two guys battling it out and one of them said “this is like the Iron War.” Then they shared a sponge, shook hands as they ran and one guy have the other a “good game” pat. Lots of love going on there.