Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $699, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals 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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
No complaints on the bullets or the wide variety of topics you cover. It’s good blog spice. However, if you ever do feel like posting about how to use CO2 – that would be awesome. I’ve been carrying one of those (heavy) little suckers around in my bike bag for like a year and a half. I have no idea now (if I ever did) of what to do with it should I have a flat (and my hand pump had mysteriously fallen off my bike.) Safe travels and happy racing this weekend!
Random is good; besides if you make a list of random things it eliminates the randomness!
No, serioulsy it does…am I being random?
you def spend more time deciding what to post than i do :)
don’t forget-girls are nothing but trouble!! :)
most importantly, kick some butt this weekend.
Go to sleep!
As for the question on C02 – practice. I was attempting and well, I can change a flat but am not so handy with the cartridge.
As for toilets…I am more of a natural cleaning product kind of gal. Well I don’t actually clean my own toilets but I do leave stuff for my cleaning lady. I HIGHLY recommend Method products from Target. You can ge a Eucalyptus cleaner for your shower and toilet – not only will it smell nice and be shiny but your not dumping chemicals back into the water system.
Though I do use, now and then, Lysol bowl cleaner. I know, it goes against what I just said but you need something stronger now and then.
See you this weekend!
The blue thing can be fun. It makes for an interesting determination of whether or not you are dehydrated, because after you go, the toilet will look green instead of yellow. Always good for a change of pace from the norm.
And if your bike doesn’t fit in the case, at least you know you can always have your friend fly your out there, right?
I have totally been in the blue-toilet situation. It stained the toilet in my rental apartment… the landlord = NOT happy.
On a totally unrelated note, I’m gonna be in DC this weekend. Any recommendations of sites I must see or restaurants I must eat at?
No problem with randomness! I think as triathletes we need some of it in our lives since we’re so used to a set schedule!
Good luck this weekend at Rhode Island 70.3 :)
hope the darn bike fits…that would suck big time…
any chance the blue man group will perform in your toilet??
i have the c02 thingy but have not had to use it…. been very lucky in training and racing as far as flats go….maybe if i went faster???????? yeah….thats it…
Blue water was all the rage back in the mid-80s, around the same time as cushioned toilet seats.
Just post it all, dude. You’re good at making things interesting.
The fact that 9 people still leave comments to your randomness shows that even in randomness, what you have to say is still interesting. ;)
Do girls really care about blue toilets? I know I don’t. I just care that they’re clean. If blue=clean, fine by me.
My thoughts on relationships and doing triathlon is this: if the sig. other is not a triathlete, it complicates things. A lot. In other words, one would hope that person does at least one of the three (i.e. Matt cycles so we get to bike ride a lot together). But even then, training time = taking a lot of time away from sig. other. I really can’t fathom doing an IM because of the time it would take away from Matt. I just wouldn’t want to do that to him (or me…). Half-IM is alright, but I know he still puts up with a HELL OF A LOT.
So…anyway, I guess I’m just responding to your point about how your desire for a relationship fluxuates with hours spent training. I know when I was single it was a lot easier to spend time training, etc. Oh and if you’re both triathletes – when you’re both stressed pre-race, I’ve heard that sucks, too. There’s pros and cons to everything. :)
GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND! Go have fun AND KICK SOME BUTT!!!!
I like random posts. I think girls care about seat down more than blue water. Your commentators are great. I had forgotten about cushioned seats. I guess blue plus yellow does equal green. And why would someone want a s.o. that does everything you do so you’re joined every free moment. When is the down time then? B/c after the chemical reaction wears off after about 12 to 18 months… Good luck in RI!
I love all of your posts–even when they are on things I don’t understand like cooking. I love the cooking PICTURES. Sometimes I just look at them and drool and imagine employing a personal chef.
ha ha.
Have fun at RI! I can’t wait to hear the report! Welcome to New England!
Also, I too would like to read that CO2 post.
At least you have randomness (or food) to fall back on!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane…blue water. WOW, haven’t thought about that since, well, the 80’s or maybe 70’s.
It’s nice that you share other stuff in your life! I enjoy the blue toilet diversion – btw, that’s so 80’s!