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…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
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.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
-
5 Easy Steps To The Site
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
This is also fascinating on the subject of doping link to bbc.co.uk
Wow, thanks for linking my post on your website! Again, it was a real pleasure to meet you there. Have a safe flight!
Cheers,
Greg
Great podcast yet again!
Couple of typos:
My initial thoughts on the M400 > M450?
Some opinions on he new GoPro products > on THE new GoPro
I’ve never understood Copenhagen’s reputation, although it was over 30 years ago that I was last there. Do cyclists still have to make left turns by riding to the corner and then waiting? Didn’t seem very cycling friendly to me then.
Yes, to make a left turn at lights they still have to cross to the opposite side and then wait for the lights to go green.
But I am guessing that if all the cycles (and there are a lot of them and, of those, a lot of them are utilitarian cycles with children strapped to the forks and crossbars) waited in the middle of the crossing looking for a gap in the oncoming traffic then it would be chaos. They would still be there when the lights went red. And likewise the cars behind would still be there. I am guessing that these rules have evolved to allow cars and the enormous numbers of cycles to live ‘side by side’.
But I am not Danish, just some tourist.
It all gave off a European “aristocrats and peasants” kind of vibe to this American, as did a lot of the facilities I saw in Germany about 5 years ago. There were a lot more cyclists than motorists back then in Copenhagen, but they were the ones who had to wait. If they were cycling friendly, they’d move the cycling lanes to the center of the road, put the car lanes on the side, and forbid cars from making left turns except in special circumstances with special, very short signals. (Obviously something would have to be done about the shorefront and cars.) Situations such as you describe can be met with protected left turns like they are here.
And thus forcing cyclists to cross the car lanes whenever they needed to frequent a store, brilliant idea that is!
While I do agree that Copenhagen can do more for cyclists, I’m pretty sure that’s not it.
Hey Minneapolis, woohoo!
…and it seems like it’s < 40 F with snow covered roads half of the year :)
Good podcast Ray. I had to listen to episode 6 today also because ive been busy. One thing I disagree is Garmin not going to Android. I just feel like they will have to. Connect IQ will not grow like they want it to, you would think the biggest amount of apps would come in the first couple months and its now been a couple months and its at a ghost town pretty much. With the Sony smartwatch 3 already with GPS and Runtastic and Runkeeper already having their apps on Android wear that use the GPS, its closer and closer to what Garmin, Suunto, Polar offer. The main problem right now is battery life. If Suunto and Garmin could get the same or better battery with the current watches while running a form of Android it would be a great competitor to Apple which will be defiantly a competitor to Garmin and Suunto in a couple years. If they dont see that already then they are already dead.
It isn’t a true DCR style review unless there is a rolling pin in there somewhere.
Or having a DCR reference to “a crap ton” of something or other.
Still, the author would make a great backfill for Ray when he is off on the upcoming summer sailing trip with friends…while being stalked by Ben in the zodiac raft. (Inside joke from the podcast if you haven’t tuned in)
I’m really curious how long it took the cyclist to toast the bread. Eventually anyone can hit 0.021 kWh. In the video, it shows him doing it in just over a minute. But that would be an average of about 1200 Watts for that minute, which seems a bit high. (Although I honestly have no idea how powerful an Olympic cyclist really is.)
Oh the spoof. The side by side with the stick was great. As well as the taped to the arm bit…solid work
Agree – loved the stick bit!
I had way too much time on my hands that day…. and had a blast writing it up. Cheers for reading.
Hahaha, it’s really good!!, even the comments are great:
– wanting more advice, waiting for another review, buying at clever training, wanting a photo of the Girl’s wrist, etc. ;-)))
And freckly arms, even!
Truly, you went the extra mile.
Hi DC:
Any chance of catching up with Stan Wawrinka while Roland Garros? Great champ!!!
Somehow me and tennis players don’t quite swim in the same circles. :-/
WOW! I thought doping only existed in the sport of cycling. At least according to world media. Now you’re telling me they use drugs in running and soccer? :P ;)
Wow. you’ve got your own parody! this means being seriously famous.
Btw, I haven’t watched the stick review so far: how does he manage to send back the stick to the original tree and get a new random one?
Every time this blog gives a new reason to be read. thanks a lot
Ray,
Kinda off topic but I figure this is where you might see this comment…Im looking at buying a power meter that I can swap between my road and tri bike, I think the best/easiest way to do this is go with pedal based (you clearly like the Garmin Vector since it is a staple piece of kit for you). My question is with the release of the powertap P1 expected in the next month or so and its advantages (no torque, easier calibration ect) Do you think its worth waiting, or go with the tried and true Garmin Vector?
I think it could be worth waiting, as of today you can now order it, and it will start shipping on June 22nd.
Thanks Ray!
Youre one of the few people who have gotten to actually use both so I figured you would have a better judgement on which way to go.
That parody is brilliant – had me in stitches!
It does now, but not in a split screen.
You can switch now from camera 1 to camera 2.
I’m working on a how to for multicam support.
regards,
Guido
Yeah, it’s the ‘at once’ (split screen) part that’s missing. Would love to see the how-to when ready. Though, also just want to see them match what Sony already has.
Hi, the video is online..
It is in dutch, but you will understand how it is working.
Guido
now with youtube link.
The spoof was excellent, but the comments are what puts it over the top!
Not sure if it was deployed late to me, but i just received 3.20 firmware for the 910xt. Garmin didn’t really help in the release notes about what has changed.
I thought this was an interesting bike related Kickstarter, Neat idea for a different way of lighting a bike in the dark.
link to kickstarter.com