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.
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’m guessing the guy being chased by the bear had a Gingerbread moment.
I suspect they both did. :)
Though, at least the guy with the camera got an incredible viral video out of it and a few thousand bucks in revenue*.
(Actually, current figures/estimates show $13.6K as of this afternoon).
That’s why whenever I see a bear I turn my MTB downhill
You can reach 35mph that easily? link to speedofanimals.com
With continual bug fixes and improvements it seems to me that the standard firmware updates are always in Beta so future updates should be called Gamma.
Some products have gone out of production and support without ever reaching a final stable update.
Instead of introducing new features they should first stabilize the current ones.
My HRM History:
Polar XTrainer Plus
Polar S710
Garmin Forerunner 610
Garmin Fenix 5
Yeah, most of it are performance improvements.
But coming from well over a decade with a software company – I prefer a company/product that frequently releases firmware updates for products rather than not at all (or infrequently).
Thanks Ray! Lots of cool stuff – very happy FR 935 update – I noticed the different icon on the power controls menu.
By the way, do you know yet if the quick release for the 935 blocks the OHR sensor? Also the thickness it adds – and just in general when do you think you’ll be able to add that to the 935 review?
Thanks a bunch :)
I haven’t seen the quick release in person yet. But the bundles just started shipping last week, so I suspect we’ll see real-life photos soon.
That said, here’s the PR provided imagery. That makes it appear that there are actually two variants within the kit, one that blocks it – and one that doesn’t.
Looks to me like one bike mount and one wrist mount. The watch is released with the grey lever on the left and swapped, leaving the strap on your wrist when the watch is in the bike mount. Not sure I’d trust the grey lever not to get pushed accidentally but I’m getting to trust the QR straps despite the probable rust issues with seawater so probably just a case of getting used to it.
I think I’ll be receiving the 935 tri pack tomorrow. I’ll try to remember to come back with some pictures.
Here you go. Ask and you shall receive!
I have a longer post and more pictures here: link to correrunamaraton.com
And if you are not proficient in english, you can use some Google Translate magic: link to translate.google.es
The 935 Quick Release goes back to the design of the FR305. Similar concept but much improved, and in my opinion, it’s held in place more securely than with a quarter mount Quick Release system.
You could use it all day… but it would look a little bit funky.
Another one
And the last one. Again, there are plenty more on the link if you are interested.
Thanks, that helps a ton. I’m a bit confused by what all the rubber pieces are for? But otherwise looks pretty good. I am slightly surprised that the hole neither goes all the way to the lip of the optical sensor nor is open enough to allow the charging cable to fit through it – seems like it might add mild discomfort. I know for a lot of people even huge sensor bumps cause no discomfort at all, but as somebody who never used to wear a watch at all, I do get discomfort at the crease of the sensor bump and the charging port area after wearing the watch for a while. Hopefully the quick release doesn’t bother me or get super gunked up with sweat – I’m a super sweaty dude.
Also the way it works makes me feel even stronger that you could make due with a Fenix 5 by using two pairs of QuickFit bands flipped inside-out so the releases are accessible.
It also makes me even more confused (like Ray) as to why they wouldn’t make one for the 5’s – yeah they’re different sizes so that means extra molds, but given the simplicity of it and how popular the Fenix 5’s are, that’s still kinda weird to me.
The rubber bands are just used to fit the mount to the handlebar, it has nothing to do with the quick release itself.
I don’t think you can fit the Fenix 5 inside the mount, though…
I’m not saying to fit the Fenix 5 in the mount, but rather that you could create a makeshift quick release system using 2 pairs of quickfit bands turned inside out – one on your wrist and one mounted on the bike. Anybody who got a Sapphire Fenix 5, 5s, or any 5x should have 2 quickfit bands. It definitely wouldn’t be as good though.
The link to the Garmin Update says it is for the Garmin 935, and then the ominous warning:
“WARNING: If this software is uploaded to a device other than that for which it is designed, you will not be able to operate that device.
If attempts to upload software fail, you may need to return the device to Garmin® for service.”
So will this work for the 235? How about the 225 (the one I have :-) )?
I think it means you’re totally good to install on the FR305.
Always enjoy your week in review. Hope you don’t get to the end of the Internet for quite awhile.
That crevasse video was pretty scary stuff…good job the battery held out.
Any idea on timing towards the TomTom indepth review? Or has it fallen too far down the list?
Taipei has garbage trucks that play songs (like an ice cream truck). When you hear it, you run out with your trash bags and throw them in.
Really good podcast/article about it:
link to 99percentinvisible.org
I would be wary of the subscription running service (Racepass) as it seems their model doesn’t really show any positive cashflow, and race directors aren’t aware of the service so there isn’t a harmonious relationship there (yet).
Marathon Investigator did the usual good work on this: link to marathoninvestigation.com
Saw that same article the other day. Yeah it appears to be a bit sketchy to me.
YOU DON’T HAVE A 4K TV?????
With your plethora of gadgets and 4K cameras I am AMAZED that you don’t have a 4K tv!!!
It’s funny…but oddly true.
It’s hard because we don’t consume any 4K content. In fact, about the only 4K content I view is the stuff I create or that I find on YouTube.
We use Apple TV for everything at the house, and that’s not 4K capable. So, no point there.
And in the DCR Cave I don’t actually have a great setup in terms of trainers and TV’s. I have a TV, but I rarely use it when on the trainer. Most times I just use an iPad on Zwift/TrainerRoad and my laptop on YouTube. The walls down there aren’t in an awesome way to support a really big TV without losing a lot of floor space (which is at a premium).
Yeah, I can attest to #6. Especially during those longer runs when I just don’t feel like getting out of bed on a Saturday morning.
Wonder what it costs to get rescued from a crevasse? Great footage and edit. Lucky guy!
Fyi, Wahoo released for the Kickr new firmware 1.5.68 which increases response and power accuracy link to support.wahoofitness.com