Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, 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.
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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 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.
bravo and very lucky boy to be there!!!
can you please share the data of your trail run (garmin connect) i’ve seen you wear the 920 ? any comparison with other watch?
thank you and happy trail,ride,swim in NZ
Yup, FR920XT run data here:
Garmin Connect: link to connect.garmin.com
Strava: link to strava.com
I was also wearing a Suunto Ambit3 and Bia watch as well. The Ambit3 ended within .03-miles for the run I believe (don’t have the pic handy at the moment).
You make your own luck, I reckon. I was in NZ for 3 months and only got out adventuring on the first weekend.
thankyou and gohead testing!!
i’m very very waiting the in in in depth rewiew of fr920xt
Hey Ray,
Another awesome post, and trip. You lead a pretty lucky life, which I’m sure you already realize.
I have recently been taking multiple devices with me during some bike workouts. Currently a Fenix2 and an Edge 800. One problem, that you likely have in spades, is how do you keep your workout totals right in Training Peaks, so that the workout doesn’t get counted multiple times? For now, I’ve just been deleting one, but for triathlons, I’d prefer to keep both files around. Do you have a crafty solution? It seems like they could add a field to not include the workout in the totals, but I haven’t seen that.
-Bob
I just do the same actually – I simply delete out one of them, or, rather in my case – about four of them. :)
Hi Ray, great that you got to see so much of Auckland and the countryside over the weekend. If you’re still in NZ on Saturday 1st November and want a hard workout to really test your body before you have to get back onto a plane for your long-haul flight home, there is a bike ride around the Coromandel Peninsula called the K2 which is the toughest one day cycle challenge in the Southern Hemisphere. link to arcevents.co.nz.
Cheers Keith
Funny, I saw a gazillion signs yesterday for that on the route I was driving (I actually drove the entire course). Well, not signs, but rather cool bike structures – just like those seen on the roads during the TdF.
Unfortunately*, I’m leaving Friday. :(
(*By unfortunately, I mean, thank god – as I’m pretty sure I’d die doing that route)
Hi Ray,
nice Trip Report. New Zealand must be fantastic. Seen any Hobbits?
By the way: new bike?
Sad Fact: I’ve never seen Lord of the Rings.
Yup, new bike. I got it at Interbike this past year, got a pretty good deal on it from a local bike shop there. I needed to expand the number of bikes I had due to power meter testing and not wanting to constantly swap power meters mid-test.
Hey Ray
Welcome to NZ! If you’re staying in the city and fancy a run to blow the cobwebs out there’s a decent 5k’er in the viaduct harbour tomorrow night.
link to runningcalendar.co.nz
Cheers!
‘I needed to expand the number of bikes I had due to power meter testing and not wanting to constantly swap power meters mid-test.”
That is a good a reason to get a new bike(s).
Always nice to get a new bike:
I’m sure we all appreciate Velomonati Rule #12// The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
Fantastic to see my home town featured, Tamaki Drive, Bethells Beach & lakes.
I’m one of the crazy ones doing the K2 next week.
Just another day in the office :o) nice.
Loved the month I spent in NZ. Fantastic country.
Interesting one, wish you great time in NZ!
Stunning scenery!
1. I am shocked that with all the travelling you do, you’ve not seen Lord of the Rings! Get it on an iPad and watch it on a plane!!!
2. When did you get the Giant bike? I assume it’s less scary to travel round the world with you than your Cervelo?
I picked it up back at Interbike from a LBS nearby. It’s a bit easier to pack up than the Cervelo simply due to lack of aerobars poking around. Plus, it blends in a little bit better.
Hi Ray, I’m really looking forward to your go-pro review. I am currently weighing up whether to pick up a (cheapish) end of line hero 3+ black or spend the extra for a hero 4 black
If choosing between those two versions, it honestly comes down to one single item: Do you care about 4K footage?
If not, I’d go with the Hero3+ Black and keep the battery life that you lose on the Hero4.
It’s somewhat quirky in that I’m shooting all this great aerial 4K footage for what (if the weather the next few days cooperates) should be a cool little video…but, I can’t actually view it in its full quality on my laptop, or even any monitor/TV I own.
When you do end up in the market, the Dell 24″ 4K UP2414Q is exceptional, and I believe ~US$800. I have one.
Thank you for those marvelous pictures of a place where i will hardly go. You should write tourist guides :)
With the Virb Eite down to $255-ish on Amazon, l’d like to know how it compares to the new GoPro’s.
I don’t care about the 4k capability because I have no playback method.
Primarily, I will be using the camera for cycling and a bit of running and hiking.
Should I jump on the reduced price Elite, wait for an updated Virb, get one of the new GoPro models, or consider something else?
Thanks, Ray!
At $255 it’s a very solid deal. In general my guidance is that the VIRB cameras are far more functional and capable than the GoPro’s, whereas the GoPro’s win at the very high end on resolution (i.e. 2.7K/4K) and on size/weight. If those features don’t matter to you, the VIRB tends to be better.
What’s the reason for the dropouts on your run data (pace)? Were those stops that you made along the way?
There were a number of places I had to stop and go over gates, both ones to keep cows roaming, as well as ones to sanitize your running shoes to prevent spread of diseases.
This looks amazing!!
With the purchase of a new bike sounds like it’s time for a 2014 “Gear I Use” column…
It does indeed…
Hey, I saw one of your pictures seems like a bike bag. Are you going to write a post about bike bag review and how you transport your bike with airlines?
Ask and you shall receive! link to dcrainmaker.com
I was just thinking a couple days ago about digging around DCR to find out how in the heck you travel with so much gear – specifically the bike as my cardboard box approach s*cks pretty bad – hint, cardboard is good for about three cycles of airport handling.
Then gasped when you dropped in the added drone to the travel kit – most awesome pictures – but then was conflicted with either laughing about “breaking it in” with a sand dunk, or feeling kind of bad having the cluster to clean it up and putting the activity schedule off track.
Question, any hints here at DCR as to how to get the kinks out after long airplane flights? At 6′ feet tall the seats makes it difficult at best to transition to biking. Looks like you are taller than that, and can only image the challenge of a 10 hour plus flight.
Yeah, the sand dunk put a solid dent in my schedule that day (as well as potential footage captured at high tide). But, I suppose at least I got it back in the air versus being a write-off for the whole trip, since I have other cool places to go after NZ.
I often try and aim for a 40 minute workout post flight. Usually a run since I don’t often travel with a bike unless I’m in a single locale 7+ days (or in a locale that’s just awesome for riding).
Hi!
Are you staying for Auckland Marathon or leaving NZ soon?
No, unfortunately I leave on Friday.
Oh that’s a shame. Enjoy NZ though!
Glad you got to experience a bit of our beautiful country….there is so much more here so plan a trip with your wife and visit the south as well.
I agree! in fact, we did a trip together to the South Island about 2 years ago: link to dcrainmaker.com
I think NZ is the most fabulous country!
Enter that 5k race in New Zealand. What a cool bib to keep!
Your followers will virtually cheer for you.
What time should I ring my cow bell ( East Coast, USA) for the 6pm start in Auckland?
Unfortunately, I fear I’ll still be working away past the start time….
Great trip report… I can’t imagine what it would be like to be able to travel so much to the places you travel to… So awesome.
Looking forward to the GoPro review. And the pics/vids.
That’s a beautiful country. Wow! You’ve solidified NZ as one of my bucketlist countries to visit. The sand dunes look like an awesome training ground. Can’t wait for your 920XT review. There’s a 5-8 week processing wait for it now. Looks like I won’t have it in my hands until January 2015. Hope they get that wait time lowered somehow.
Hey man, great post.
Moving to NZ at the end of next year, my mum lives in Cambridge near the new Avanti Drome, so I’m looking forward to some serious cycling and building up some roadie contacts over there in the years ahead.
What did you feel the roads were like over there for cycling, being from the uk I struggle dealing with too many idiots in cars, poor quality roads, wet, slippery surfaces etc. I toured NZ for two months Dec / Jan just gone but by camper van, not always the best way to judge what its gonna be like, far quieter than uk tho!
The road vary. For in the city it was great, but the loop ride had the funky pavement that was non-stop vibration. But, driver was I haven’t had any issues (and certainly better than UK drivers vs bikes from my experience).
“New Zealand”?! Never heared! Do you mean “New Zooland”?!
wow, like I really love reading about what a perfect life you have not doing anything but traveling and making money promoting overly priced gizmos that are totally unnecessary. btw, how much CO2 are you emitting from all that jet fuel you use?
Umm, you know that I have a full time job right (that has nothing to do with cycling)? I travel for my job, I just do what they tell me.
I am impressed with how much you do get done with the site while also having a full time job.
Thanks for all the reviews of “overly priced gizmos” that you do create. Definitely appreciated.
Sounds Great fun – I’m off for a month in December