DC Rainmaker

Week in Review: This one is a bit unusual as I decided to go into slightly more detail on a few topics. Notably: Whoop FDA mess, Insta360 making drones, newer cycling radar fails, and messiness with secure BT heart rate connections...and more (it's fun!): www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/08/week...

Tour de France Femmes 2025: What Bike Computers & Sports Tech Are They Using?  The tech on the women’s side of the Tour de France continues to grow, almost universally matching the men’s side (especially on the WorldTeams list), which is awesome to see. I checked out two stage...

Tour de France Femmes 2025: A look at the bike GPS, power meters, trainers, and pleny more! A bunch of interesting things this year in the peloton. Dive in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/07/tour...

YouTube video by The Fit File Summer Cycling Roundup! New Bike Computers, Groupsets, Wheels, Trainers, and More

New FIT File Episode is out! Summer Cycling Roundup! New Bike Computers, Groupsets, Wheels, Trainers, and More. Here's all the goodness (or your favorite podcast app!): www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IgJ...

Indeed, it does. Wish Apple had been more honest on launch and in our briefings.

YouTube video by DC Rainmaker Apple WatchOS 26 & Workout Buddy: Real Life Test Thoughts!

Apple's WatchOS 26 Public Beta is out, and with it, Workout Buddy. I've been putting this to the test over the past month on all assortment of workouts, and have a good grasp of it (including where it's great...and bad). Here's everything you need to know: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij3b...

It's my 2025 'Gear I Use' list, with all the sports tech and non-sports tech gear that I actually use when I'm not testing something else. From swim to bike to run, and plenty more within the sports/fitness realm. Dive in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/07/2025...

Rouvy Acquires BKOOL Indoor Cycling Platform: Here's what you need to know: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/07/rouv...

WHOOP, Inc. - 709755 - 07/14/2025 Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE)/Premarket Approval Application (PMA)

The whole FDA/Whoop MG blood pressure kerfuffle is pretty interesting. At first glance, I was inclined to agree with Whoop's take (and even their accuracy based on my testing). But man, the FDA's letter is excruciatingly damning if you read it through. www.fda.gov/inspections-...

Thanks!!!

FORM's just announced their new FORM Swim Smart 2 Pro goggles, which adds in Corning Gorilla Glass for the lens, and then new software features atop that. Here's your full review with everything you need to know! www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/07/form...

Apple AirTag 4 Pack. Keep Track of and find Your Keys, Wallet, Luggage, Backpack, and More. Simple one-tap Set up with iPhone or iPad Amazon.com: Apple AirTag 4 Pack. Keep Track of and find Your Keys, Wallet, Luggage, Backpack, and More. Simple one-tap Set up with iPhone or iPad : Electronics

For fun, most ordered by DCR crowd thus far:

1) AirTag 4-Pack-$64 amzn.to/4liKxsf
2) AirPods Pro 2-$149 amzn.to/4lpz6PI
3) Garmin Edge 1040-$399 amzn.to/3GGoJHX
4) Edge 540 Solar-$299 amzn.to/3Imokej
5) Epix Pro-$699 amzn.to/4kt29QT

Above Amazon Aff links. Full list here: www.dcrainmaker.com/deals

A bunch of new deals added including ones for the Polar H9 & H10 HR sensors, the Suunto Race & Suunto Vertical GPS watches, Suunto Aqua headphones, Peloton gear, Apple headphones & AirTags, DJI Neo drone for $159, and a slate more devices. List up to 70+ units!

Some of the best cycling deals are:

1) Garmin Edge 540 Solar at $299: amzn.to/3TvDAb9

2) Garmin Edge 1040 at $399: amzn.to/3GB3WFF

3) Wahoo KICKR Bike V2 - $500 off: amzn.to/4lHyDrN

4) Wahoo KICKR MOVE - $190 off:

And tons more recently added! Note Amazon Affiliate links.

Here’s your massive sports tech deals on Amazon Prime Days! From the Fenix 8 for $100 off, to the Garmin Epix for just $459, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at $649, and GoPro Hero 13 for $329. Plus smart trainers, drones, action cams, and tons more! Full list: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/07/amaz...

YouTube video by DC Rainmaker Amazfit Helio Band Review: Cutting Through the Clickbait

I take a closer look at the Amazfit Helio band vs Whoop band, in terms of whether or not it's actually the "Whoop Killer" so many like to proclaim. The answer (upfront) is no, but equally, it's also filling a different need: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eWn...

Quick Look at FliteDeck’s Handelbar Cockpit: Is It Real? I dive into what I found at Eurobike when I started poking at one of the units on the stand: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/07/flit...

Magene announced a new smart trainer, new power meter, and more. But, they also outlined a product/market pullback from Western markets going forward. The real reasons are probably more interesting than the pullback itself. Full details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/07/mage...

Eurobike published attendance details. Down, though not as bad as I expected. This year 1,500 total exhibitors (vs 1,800 in 2024). Trade visitors 31,270 (2025) vs 35,080 (2024). Weekend open access festival 30,420 (vs 33,090 last year): eurobike.com/frankfurt/en...

COROS has confirmed a substantial set of security vulnerabilities, impacting not just the watch, but COROS online account as well. These were initially spotted by security researcher Moritz Abrell, and I've confirmed they impact all devices. Full details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/coro...

Sorry, to clarify, is the issue that you can’t pull data from Google into Garmin, or?

Just announced: S Rower! It turns your existing (even very old) smart trainer into a smart rower. The device then works with any training platform, even Zwift. I dig into how things work, the pricing, and much more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/s-ro...

Elite has announced the Elite Rivo smart trainer, priced to compete strongly in the budget realm, but with non-budget specs including WiFi, multi-channel BT, and more. Here's all the details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/elit...

Garmin just dropped a huge public beta firmware update for the Fenix 8, Enduro 3, and even the Fenix E (yes, for real, the Fenix E got love). It includes 28 new features, including a number totally new-to-Garmin functions. Here's all the details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/feni...

The Amazfit Helio Band In-Depth Review is up! This band is just $99, with no subscription cost, and is marketed as a Whoop-like competitor. But, is it actually? I dive into how it handles day to day, and where it actually competes in the market. Full post: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/amaz...

Just announced, the new Tacx Alpine gradient simulator. It's like a KICKR CLIMB, except, with bigger specs and more features. It goes up and down, slides forward/back, and steers in-game. Here's your full in-depth review, with everything you need to know! www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garm...

Countless numbers of you asked what happens if you just wear the new Garmin Index Sleep Monitor 24x7 (like a Whoop band), what does it actually track? Here it is, put to the test, with all the details! www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garm...

Suunto has released a firmware update (to the Suunto Race, Race S, and Vertical), which adds Track Running support (locks to track for pace/distance), plus 38 new data fields. Dive in for all the quick details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/suun...

Update! Garmin has (very unexpectedly) also expanded this out to support the original/older NEO 2 as well, not just the NEO 2T. Details down below: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garm...

Garmin & Zwift have announced virutal shifting support for the Tacx NEO 2T & NEO 3M series. I dive into how it all works, what's changed, and what you need to get setup. Full details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garm...

It's out, the new Garmin Index Sleep Monitor. I dig into who it's for, how it works, how it compares...and most importantly, is this the beginnings of a Whoop-like competitor? Everything you need to know: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garm...