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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
DUDE LOL. were all here waiting for the favero assioma pedal review, and instead we get an rv review lol. rv was awesome tho
I couldn’t release two in-depth reviews in one day, let alone two Italian ones. So Assioma is tomorrow instead. :)
awesome, just bought the power tap p1s pedals, waiting to see if i should keep these or swap for the assiomas thanks dude
Wow unloading has got to be a pain. Does the rental company find unexpected left behind goodies after you’re done?
I’m usually pretty good about not losing things in the RV. Though I also usually don’t know what I’ve lost…until much later on.
$20/night with hookups! That would be a steal anywhere in the US. I’ve paid a lot less for a tent site – but also more for just a tent in some popular areas (Yosemite is $26 in the booked sites in the valley)
I like Ben and all, but a semi-weekly podcast with you and Shane Miller would pretty sweet….
Amen to that!
Ben Who??
Oh right, that guy that used to do triathlon podcasts that somehow turned into podcasts about golf….
I do miss the DCR podcast. If you can’t get Ben off the links Ray maybe someone else out there would be willing to take over production credits…you guys had a good thing going there.
It was truly excellent when you sat in on the Traineroad podcast, start one up with those guys, you four are a match made in heaven for geeking out about bikes (I say as though the four of you actually have time to do more podcasting)!
Do one with Shane, he seems to love making youtube videos. I miss having a podcast about tech to listen to, I’d totally listen to one on tech (watches, GPS etc), one on trainers, and one on power meters!!
I notice you never seem to mention language in any of your posts. How well can you get around if you only know English?
No issues. Most German’s speak English really well, as do Austrian’s and Swiss (where I spent much of my time). Parisians can usually get by with some English, though it’s more difficult/impossible if you don’t speak French outside of the major cities. But highway rest stops and such aren’t an issue.
For example, the RV company I rented from in Paris didn’t speak English (no biggie for me), but they did provide documentation in English, and booking was in English.
He’s an international man of mystery.
In my experience most French people can speak English, they just choose not to when around people who can’t speak French (only air traffic control in the world not using English!). The Germans though seem to have a very progressive attitude and have decided that English is the language of the Internet so why not go with it. I’ve even been told in Germany to stop speaking German as it’s easier to use English (and I wasn’t that bad at German!!).
The biggest issue is the British – we’ll be moaning about US English for the next century because “we invented the language” and “they spell everything wrong” even though the planet has adopted the US spellings of everything :)
Yes the spelling in the US is stupid (there was no need to change!!!), the US vocabulary is also rather limited, which is a great shame.
When are you going to take The Girl & Peanut and make vacation out of the event…or is it the wrong time of year?
That was actually the plan this time, and the reason why I had a car seat, pack & play, and running stroller. But the weather ended up being horrible for the 3-4 days they were planning on coming down. So rather than have a very active little 14 month old stuck in a small RV for 3-4 days with little room to play, they stayed home. :(
Fred Armison with an English accent!!
Huu, i like your comment about the Sim Activation process here in Germany, especially ALDI TALK. Some of my colleagues at office did buy it too. Guess who was in charge helping them activate it. Right, the IT Guy (me!)…
I did also need some time, not so easy to do as i expected it… So don´t worry about it.
Great write up.
Been going to Eurobike for years and have always wanted to rent an RV and do a tour before the show to ride in Germany and Switzerland.
How hard was it to get a spot at the RV park at the Messe?
Super easy. I arrived Monday afternoon and had tons of spots to choose from. By mid-afternoon Tuesday there’s less prime spots, but certainly some. By Tuesday evening there’s spots to be had, but usually it’s slim pickings. There’s overflow lots too though – so I’m just referring to the nearby lots. The overflow lots are a ways away.
I will say this year was by far the most packed I’ve seen the RV lot.
Your RV is stashed with lots of goodness. Don’t you fear thieves?
Or better:
Plz let me know where your spot is, next time… ?
One reason I don’t post this until after Eurobike. ;)
What make and model RV is it please?
Thanks to your (now rather old) post about renting from Cruise America for the Rumpass in Bumpass we are renting for our homecoming football game from them! Cheaper than a hotel in Morgantown on gameday, and roll out the door for morning alumni band practice and tailgating!
Next time you’re in Lungern, give me a shout! Bike workshop, hot shower, fresh coffee and cold beer always available!!
Always amazed at how small a world it is sometime!
God I love the way that you roll. One of the most entertaining posts ever. Would love to use you as a travel consultant :)
I find these types of posts fascinating. Something you always wonder about but no one ever posts on.
Kind of like when I first started watching cycling and wondered “what if these guys have to use the restroom during the ride” types of question. How does the sausage get made types of questions.
great outside the box post Ray.
Thanks (Real) Bob!
Hey Ray – great post – perhaps I’ll bring my Motorhome to Eurobike next year.
But you said there would be a link to the turntable you use for product shots below the video – can’t find them!
Opps – just found them below the video on YouTube (not the blog) – but I’ve left this here so others might find them :-)
Glad to see someone else has a ‘portable man cave’!
Kim and I opt’d for a used Winnabego Mercedes Sprinter – We had the rear queen bed raised so we can place 3 bikes under the bed. It’s our way of traveling to the races and not needing a hotel room and being able to sleep and train enroute – unless the race isn’t in the US or Canada.
#Winning!
Hi Ray, from which place in Paris did you rent the RV? Couldn’t find the link. Cheers.
I went via Motorhome Republic (link to motorhomerepublic.com), which then contacts individual places.
In the case of Paris, it’s this place McRent Paris (51 Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 77400 Lagny-sur-Marne, France) – you can contact them directly or through various entities that use them – including McRent, though their rates seem to be the same when I chatted with them last summer.
Thanks Ray!