Heads up!!! Here’s your massive Cyber Monday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $619, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) 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.
I think that’s the first time I’ve seen somebody wearing that long sleeve Rev3 shirt. A fashion statement it is not :-)
I wear mine (LS Rev3 Quassy shirt) all the time! It has been great for this weird non-winter winter weather this year.
Ray – the cheese process looked intriguing. I may have to try it at some point.
Sorry…that’s the Knoxville shirt. :)
You’ve got to try to find a farm that will sell you un-pasturized milk. Technically, I don’t know if a farm can, but it makes for much better cheese! I know you can buy it in Canada, but the pesky FDA and USDA gets in the way with those darn public health regulations ;)
I’m curious if the Powerbeam Pro is ANT+ or not. I picked up a nice CycleOps 400 Pro spin bike and while it has ANT+ plastered all over it and a Joule on top, none of the sensors or powermeter appear to ACTUALLY be ANT+ because my Garmin will not pick them up. Can’t find anyone in any of the usual places who has made that work, either. And the PowerAgent software is less than enthusiastic about exporting workouts to something standard that I can import into Garmin Connect or Strava. It would be *great* if you could yell at CycleOps about that. Standard ANT+ devices, please! I know controlling the resistance would still require the Joule, and that’s fine…
Just thought you should know the best local milk in the D.C. area is available at Giant Grocery stores. I work for a local farmer-owned cooperative that supplies all of Giant’s regular label milk. The ultra-high pasteurized and flavored milks aren’t in that category, but the regular gallons and half gallons come from farms all within a 150 mile radius, give or take from the DC area. It’s processed in Landover, Md. and distributed to the stores. Turn around time from farm to plant to store is potentially under 48 hours. Homestead Creamery milk is also good milk, but it has to travel further to get to this area. And to clarify, it is illegal for farmers to sell raw milk to customers in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. You can buy it in Pennsylvania from licensed producers. However, as someone who was raised on raw milk but knows the risks and no longer lives on the farm in the same environment as the cows, I caution you to stay away from raw milk. The risk for a foodborne illness is too great in my opinion.
mmm…. cheese. if you can find a water buffalo to milk, that’s supposed to make the best fresh mozzarella. Would make for a great blog post too!
Be careful! It’s illegal to make your own cheese in some states.
Water buffalo in the US? There are Bison farms in MD. As to raw milk: link to realmilk.com
RainMaker, any updated thoughts on the PowerBeam Pro and their upcoming software for next fall, i.e. will it support a VR experience? I’m seriously looking at the Bushido but am a little spooked by all the negativity in their (Tacx) user forums. Thanks. Mark
I think it’s good stuff – and lots of potential. I’ll try and include some sneak peaks of it in my Monday post…just for you! (Mon Feb 6th).
Enjoy!
Thanks RainMaker! Looking forward to it.