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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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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!
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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?
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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.
Great post! I read it just after a strong painful workout and now I am starving for a great recovery cake :). And I have only the image, better not imagine the great smell.
Must be really difficult to stay lean in front of such a lot of tasty cakes…
I love that travel/suitcase cake, very detailed. Well done
+1
I had a good breakfast at home, opened your blog at work – life is all about priorities, n’est-ce pas? – just to become very hungry again… I really should go to Paris this summer.
Also on the experimenting front: you should give it a try on how long you can keep your Philadelphia unrefridgerated untill Ray’s stomach turns against him. All in the name of science and the cup cakery of course.
oh, the Italian flag on the cake! GREAT!
hat and whip on that cake are referring to indiana jones?
When I’ll come to Paris, I’ll be a your customer for sure! I love sweets!
p.s.: which are differences between your two blog?
link to bertiesbakery.com and link to bertiescupcakery.com
I could think the first one is pre-Paris blog (with no more post) while the second one is not a blog but a “shop”: is it true?
Hi Amedeo-
Berties Bakery is The Girl’s site/personal blog primarily prior to moving to Paris. Because in Paris ‘Bakery’ has a very specific meaning that we didn’t want to get confused with, we went with CupCakery.
Thanks!
Mmmmm…hungry just reading this… the cupcakes look delicious! Congrats on the success!
Great, now I feel like making cupcakes.
That’s awesome the store is doing so well. I’ve been telling all my friends and colleagues to go for me until I get a chance to get back to paris.
If I ever get to go to Paris, I’m so here. In fact, I should add this into my “Why I should go to Paris” -list!
I am a total DCR lurker/triathlete/gadget geek from Miami for years now but no more. I must leave a comment I have always been so amazed at what you have done over there in Paris. I tell my wife all the time that on our next trip to Paris we are stopping by the shop. She loves the story of the Parisian move, it is her dream since we were engaged and even honeymooned in Loire valley. Keep up the great job and I look forward to a tasting one (or a bakers dozen) one of these days. Congrats the story is so inspiring.
Loved the update, Bertie! Makes me want to take a trip to Paris to try out your cupcakes =) Keep up the fantastic work, and good luck with the ‘Philadelphia’ frosting permit – carrot cake cupcakes are my favorite!
After reading this I have one question:
When will your cupcakes be available in Paris, TX?
Feel hungry in midnight!
Looks delicious!
Today at 12:45h I was at the door:
Sign says: Open daily 11-18:30 (or sold out).
SOLD OUT AT 12:45h ???
Sorry Sven! Really apologize. We ended up being closed today at the last minute, but will be back open tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!
The cupcakes are delicious! I am glad that the Strawberry Lemonade is going to stay on the menu it was my favorite. When I got my 12 cupcakes a few weeks ago they had a long (rough) trip back to the Arc before we ate them. Some of the flavors got a little mixed up, but they were still so good.
I am just impressed “the Girl” can pull off a track stand with a beautiful plant on the back rack. I bet she held that position for a minute or two.
Glad the CupCakery has found a home in Paris. This beautiful city, and a salted caramel cupcake, will be enjoyed in November.
I haven’t had a chance to eat one of your cupcakes – I’ve suggested Ray offer some as give aways – but usually when I get a cupcake at a shop, the icing is good but the cake part is terrible. Or at least compared to the “Black bottom cupcakes” my mom used to make. Devils food, but with a cream cheese/chocolate chip glob of goodness in the middle of the cake part. Mmmmmmm…. And best when they’re straight out of the freezer. I never much cared what the icing was. Now that you can do cream cheese…….
Your cakes are beautifully decorated! And the cupcakes all look very yummy! So happy for you that your business is doing well in Paris!!
Passed by the cupcakery in end of april this year during a congress in Paris.
Sought my way on google street maps and had no problem at all in finding it… unbelievably close to the Notre Dame.
Never was a real cupcake lover, but as a reader of ray’s blog I really wanted to see what all the cupcake-talk was about… After trying some of your cupcakes, my feelings for cupcakes definitely have changed! They are unbelievable !!!!!!
Brought some colleagues and all of them were completely surprised with the taste of your bakings! Not like any cupcake in Belgium we know!
Ooh la la how I wish I could pop in for a strawberry lemonade cupcake! If I ever get to Paris, you can bet your shop will be first on my list!
We will be in Paris in September .the CupCakery is on our list of must dos. See you then.
Congrats!! Hope to visit one day
That Oreo cupcake makes me want to make a 24 hour flight.
Great Stuffs,
It’s 10.19 am, I am starving in office. probably the best time to look at all these nice cupcakes design.
looking at all these pictures, it’s surely looks delicious,
i am so hungry that i want to know more . it’a a little hard to imagine the texture, the softness, and the taste of those precious eatable jewerly. probably it’s even better that every reader imagine the taste in their own eyes . however i would really like to see what is inside, and discover the beauty of the cake if you dig into it with a spoon, a bite, or just a knife.
cupcakes most of time looks beautiful and delicious from the outside, but how about the inside, is there also more suprises to come ?
again, great stuffs. you guys are really intense !
Kudos !
Matthieu
Great post. I’d missed hearing about the cupcakery.
I’ve been meaning to pay Paris a visit. I’ll be sure to drop by and say hello. Maybe even in the next month
Loved the post, the pics, those cupakes and those brilliant cakes! Well done! Congratulations and best of luck with the business!
Oreo Cookie cupcake!
Damn them for stopping Concorde service to de Gaulle!
Wonderful news for all the cupcake lovers! ;)
I do understand, though, how ‘Oreo’ and ‘gourmet’ (cupcakes) in the same description must raise a few eyebrows in France (the ingredients of the popular cookie do leave a lot to be desired for that association :))
Your newest cake creations are just beautiful, thanks for sharing!
For both of you, it is awesome you have followed your dreams and understand hard work is behind everything. A great example for other people to follow!
Have you tried Cake Pops with the Parisian crowd yet?
Really great!
So there’s now another reason (despite the obvious…) to come to Paris! Here in Germany Cupcakes are not really popular… we habe just arrived the Muffin and Donuts level… so I must confess that I never had a cupcake in my life… so sad. Nutella Banana, wow must be like heaven…
But maybe I can arrange it to come to Paris on my way back from southern France coming August… and my son will absolutely die for the Oreo cakes…
Hope to see you soon! All the best for yo and your shop,
Andreas from Hamburg
I love to be able to live vicariously between the two of you. I love Ray’s travels and his expertise on electronics. I am an avid baker and sit in awe at your work in the bakery. You both inspire me to get up an meet my exercise goals. I tell everyone about this blog. I love it. You guys are fantastic. Keep up the great posts!!
Hey Ray, Bertie,
Stopped by on Saturday to check out the setup…awesome shop! It’s within a block and a half of every known human, ever. :) Me and the kids chatted with the New Jersey and Texas girls for a bit, they’re awesome. And the Strawberry Lemonade / Sea Salt Caramel were absolutely phenomenal.
Might get back in before we head out on Friday, but if not, thanks for the amazing cupcakes, and as always Ray, the awesome insight. Hope you enjoyed riding around a Spanish island. :)
Rick Kreuser, with kids, Detroit. :)
After my visa renewal appointment Friday morning at the Préfecture, I know I will need to drop by for another cupcake.
Hello i am a bike racer from Baltimore ,Md and my wife and i and another friend will be in Paris July 13 with the Trek Bike vip tour. On my one of my e-mails Jon from va told me about you guys. I am a 14 time national champion and would be so nice to meet you guys. Can you get back to me. Thanks,Bobby
Hello to both of you :)
Cool post, you’re doing insanely great cupcakes!!
I’m commenting about the squash request: I’m a French reader living in Paris and I try to play at least once a week. I’m pretty sure I can’t compete (I started playing 2 years ago after a few years of tennis) but if you don’t mind I’ll be happy to play with you!
I usually go to Aquaboulevard, but maybe you know other places.
BR.
Jeu de paume in the 16th is a great place to play squash. http://www.jdpsquash.com
the cupecakes were great, the riding in Paris was cool if a bit scary. Love the Bois de Vincennes park, the castle is so middle ages..kudos to dc and bertie!!!
I’ll be in Paris this summer, definitely stopping by for a cupcake!! xo