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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.
Watching Chrissy Wellington win her last Ironman in 2011. Truly inspirational!
Watching the ironman 2011 win by Graig Alexander, the fantastic youtube summary, that is to say…
Watching the live coverage of Ironman World Championship – Kona 2014 from the comfort of my home in Singapore through the livestream from the official ironman.com website and the adrenaline rush of witnessing Sebastian Kienle running through the finishing line and emerging as champion!
(Badly want a FR920XT, will pay for shipping costs). Thank you DC Rainmaker and Clever Training for this opportunity!)
This year was the first time – very impressive.
The first time I watched Iron Man, I remember seeing a guy who participated in the biggest loser and finished the Iron Man race, but just missed the time limit. Still very inspiring, and I hope to be part of the Iron Man legacy in a few years or so!
Never seen the race live but walking down the finishing stretch while visiting still gave me a thrill. One day!
Kona could be a bit tougher. Too many people finish it ;)
Really hard race, I would like to be able to do what those ironmen are doing!!!
I have just ordered a watch fenix 2,but once i found the 920XT,i finally decided to buy this watch.
Comments not accepted- so next try…. First Time I watched years ago via livestream- due to bad transmission rate the screen stopped several times…. On German TV three years ago they had black screen on the finishline- the last 500m!! I like the fight during the whole distance- not only ‘The winner is’
I’m really keen on the FR920- my HRM is broken and I really need to control my heartbeat- And with all the new features I probably run faster in the end….
My HRM is broken and I want to start better Training with the FR920!! Keep on writing Ray!
Just a few years ago on the web – but btw: New Norwegian record on the IM distance this year by Allan Hovda: 9:15:50 :-) congrats!
Saw it when browsing the different events….
2007, had travelled to Hawaii for the first time from the UK, just happened to be Ironman weekend. Watched some of the race in a bar in Honolulu, very jet lagged.
When julie moss crawling to finish 1982.
Watching a video of Chrissie Wellington overcoming a flat tire in Kona 2008
Great blog btw!!!
Maybe take part at ironman one day ;)
Chrissie winning in 2007
When Macca crossed the line first in ’07 with his sponges still in his suit! He was too spent to even tidy up for his winner’s photo! Inspiring stuff!
stuffed up my email when I entered
Chrissie working hard to win from behind when injured.
Thomas Hellriegel race in 1997 winning championship!
The first time I watched the full coverage was in 2010, when Raelert fought against Makka – that was awesome. Reminded me of the Ironwar!
First memory from Kona, was seeing Torbjørn Sindballe setting the bike record in 2005.
Looking up Kona 2014 on YouTube, seeing a video mentioning David Beckham and thinking to myself that we’re obsessed with ‘stars’ for no good reason.
Well, I must say that even though I knew about the legend, the first time I followed it (on the internet) was this week-end.
Watching youtube video 2 years ago with the highlights from 2011
I believe it was in 2010 when i moved back in Italy. The next week i resume my running and swimming workouts. Haven’t stopped since..
It was the first time… When I read that my city’s representatives are going to take part…
I must admit, my first Kona experience was watching Sebastians Kienle’s victory on German television far past midnight…
First memory would be the tension and build up watching the start…
My first Kona experience was watching it on Eurosport somewhere in the eighties when I was still a very young kid. I was really surprised to see people biking and running in what appeared to be their swimming suits (I had missed the swimming bit obviously) and in the extreme sunlight of Hawaii. Back then I thought those people where crazy, little did I know about myself though…
A video on the web and it’s so scenic. I see why everybody wants to qualify.
This year is the first year I have watched….
2011 with Crowie continuing the Aussie dominance with the record time.
Go Aussies!!!
My first Kona experience was listening to the commentators pronouncing wrong every single European athlete name…
I were watching some TV sports channel (I can’t remember which). I saw people crying and not able to stand on their feet. It was actually inspiring, I started to run then.
I’ll be watching my friend Dave in kona this year :)
My first impression of Kona “Impressive, and wondered what kind of sacrifice they made to finish that”. It was part of my motivation in getting fit. A year later and minus 17kg, Im still struggling to finish my first marathon length run. But I’m getting there :)
My first memory of watching ironman is a grainy one, because it was Ironwar on VHS. To this day i think it’s incredible that fellow human beings race over those distances, rather than just try to survive. But i guess it’s that endeavour that draws us all back..
Luc Van Lierde in 1996 becoming the first European to win at Kona
First memory was watching Paul NF epic bonk in 95 – one of the most inspiring things I’ve even seen in a run.
Dave Scott finishing 2nd in 1994.
Watching Norman Stadler crush the bike in 2006 and become the first true cyclist to win at Kona.
Watchin’ Leanda Caves and thinking it is impossible to reach what she had.
Watching it in person in 2006, seeing the support the athletes gave each other across the finish was awesome.
Watching Marinda Carfrae crush it on the run in ’13 (and again in ’14) and endless hours on the trainer re-watching past races and listening to Al Trautwig do the play-by-play — it never gets old.
Mirinda Carfrae finish! WOW!
Watching Dave Scott and Mark Allen – not live but few years later on youtube – nevertheless first KONA I saw
It was Frederik Van Lierde crossing the finish line last year. What a season he had.
Julie Moss in ’82
Streaming from Finland with HD in 2011.
watching chrissy wellington win back to back to back to back
it was 2007 and I knew right away that one day I would become one.
did it this year :)
Laurent Jalabert. Support our national cyclist.
Craig Alexander making it a back to back in 2009.
THE crawl over the line…
After all these years Ironman still remains one of the best movies I saw. Oh wait.. Its about other Ironmans – 10 times stronger and more powerfull. The ones wich I still dream to become..
My favoutite memory is watching Sebastian Kienle on the 2013 edition. He is a great athlete!!!
I love the technology these days! I watched the live streaming for hours and hours – right up until the end. Maybe next year we can have live streaming of data off the bikes or if there are cameras on the bikes, huh? Craziness!!!
Watching youtube just now :)
The Hoyts would be my favorite for non pro. For pro it would be Wellington’s bike after she flatted and blew her co2.
Julie Moss give it her all and end up crawling over the finish
Chris Legh in 1997
Watching Kienle win, after seeing him already live at his “home” 70.3 event.
The Julie moss crawl yearssss agoooo!!!!
Julie Moss crawling over the line!
I’ve discovered Kona on Youtube a coupe of years back.
My first time was last year, I always practice 3 sports in my life ( swim, bike and run ) and last year a friend of mine invite me to watch Kona and I was amazed and finally I discover this fantastic sport !. I will start doing triatlon this year so finally I can merge my favorites sports !.
Being quite new to the sport my most vivid memory of watching coverage of Kona is the NBC highlight show this year of last years race. It was cool to see Gordon Ramsay talk about how much harder it was than he ever expected. And of course this year having gone “all in” to triathlon I watched the live feed most of the afternoon and evening while recovering from my half marathon earlier in the day (and I needed to follow the progress of my coach who was there racing).
Watched last year’s race earlier this year on YouTube when I signed up to do Nation’s Tri for Team in Training. Now, I’m hooked!
I started to run this year and I like this sport a lot. This year I watched with my husband Kona and I’m impressed with these iron guys !.
First impression after few pictures of Kona : Mark Allen’s sunglasses, first sport product I was aware to not have.
Just so happy for Sabastian showing that a true uber biker can win the big one!
I want to do one…one day!
I watched it last year for the first time, and other than not likingbthe dramatic editing I loved watching the stories. I was glued to the TV for hours.
I have been watching YouTube videos. Discovered the event reading your blog :)
The best moment was … last Sunday when I saw Cyril Viennot finishing 5th and breaking the best French time ever at Kona. So deserved for him.
Vague recollections as a child of seeing pictures of the bikes and wondering why they were so odd.
I remember seeing it as a kid and thinking it was insane…. now i’m just thinking its slightly crazy (but i really want to try)
I watched it years ago with my sister after she completed her first Ironman. I love it.
Last year Frederik Van Lierde win The kona competition!
Started watching IM as a kid. Thought they were all crazy until I took up triathlon at age 50. My goal is to qualify for Kona before I’m 55. Crazy is the new reality for me.
#1 Watching those who look like they should be competing and seeing them do well. It has always given me hope and motivation. As someone who struggled with weight for a long time, watching them has helped me get to my fitness level and commitment I have today. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do an IM, but I know from watching them it’s not impossible.
#2 trying to scroll to the end of this post to comment!
4ys ago when I start running..I saw a video on youtube and whatched the event afterwards on web all night
The Julie Moss Crawl!
Watching the NBC “highlight” broadcasts with my 9yo, who can’t wait until she’s allowed to enter an IM.
I have some vague memories of the wide world of sports broadcasts from when I was a kid. Thought it was cool.
Watching Kona 2013.
Mostly youtube videos, and I have no idea what year…probably 4-5 years ago.
Watching highlights on youtube! I want to go there at some point! :)
Julie Moss!!!
My first memory of Kona was only last year – this shows my age and my inexperience!
Last year was the first time I followed the event, because an acquaintance of mine participated. My interest in tri has grown since, I participated in a cross country sprint this year and plan to go longer next year.
Honesty alert: I didn’t even know about Kona until a friend of mine competed about 5 years ago. She’s there now!
Watching the last portion of the run on TV and wondering how anyone could have the endurance to withstand what they had already been through and still keep running. So impressive.
First memory is seeing the memorable crawling finish…
best memory is seeing age groupers with extraordinary stories competing
The pictures of Paula Newby-Fraser in 1995 hitting the wall two years before I made my first IM
Having a few beers with the guys from my tri-club and watch the race from europe till late night
2013 – watching the last contestant getting out of the water, still making the limit….and at the same time seeing all the volunteers cheering for her and clapping.
Watching the Ironman smelling grandma’s cooking