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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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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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.
Cool trip – makes me jalouse.
What a wonderful house and garden!
Still around? We have a combined sprint/Oly race here next weekend. :)
Unfortunately I head out tomorrow. Bummer!
THat might be the best, most stomach rumbling DCRM post ever.
Next time you’re coming, send us a tweet, there’s a cycling group and loads of triathletes that ride and run on the weekends.
Where did you stay outside the city? Nice spot, doesn’t look familiar.
Hi Patrick, my family lives just out in Portugal Cove- St. Phillips. If you guys can promise the same weather next summer as this one I might try to talk Ray into 3+ weeks here next year :)
The Wife’s family’s compound (I would say house, but their are way too many structures for that) looks amazing, and the food just as great! Have you thought about spending the Canadian summer there? (only a few weeks, right?)
Please take heed of this Canadian stat when eating the moose meat: link to twitter.com
Picking chanterelles is very nice. In Holland it is forbidden to pick any mushroom from the forest, but at my wife’s it is a national sport (Latvia). We pick and clean them followed by chopping light frying. Then we freeze them and use them all year round in Holland. They go for insane prices in the shops.
Spending a week with family far away is always very nice thing, especially in harvesting season :).
My parents almost visited New foundland a few months ago, they had their off-road camper shipped to Halifax but due to delays they missed the opportunity to take it to New foundland. I guess they missed a pretty beautiful piece of Canada.
Confirming that mushroom picking is a national sport here, in Latvia :)
Are we seeing an upgraded helmet and sunglasses? Fancy!
John,
YES! I told Ray it was time for an upgrade :)
I bought the same sunglasses last month and a matte Giro helmet is on my wishlist, so chapeau for your guidance.
Looks like he went with Oakley Flak Jackets, with the XLJ lens, if I’m seeing correctly. The glossiness of the black ear stems/socks makes it hard to discern any specific identifiable detail.
Love the cookie truck! We passed he Decadent cookie truck on the highway yesterday and my wife was commenting how much she loves them. They are pretty darn good.
After seeing the vector’s post, I would have gone with new shoes myself lol
So glad you guys had great weather and a good time
Nothing a run or 12 through the washing machine can’t fix…
Having just come back from Maine, which is quite a bit south of NF, I can agree with The Girl, that water is more than a little cold in the northern latitudes! It would need to be in the 90s for me to do more than dip my feet in our lake, which is spring fed and around 60 degrees.
Love the regional Lays potato chip flavors. I recently tried Chicken and Waffles flavor, and although I love chicken, and I love waffles (and I love chicken and waffles together), it just did not work on a potato chip!
Glad you and the Girl had good weather while visiting St. John’s and area. I agree with Patrick, please send us a Tweet the next time your coming to the Rock. I’ve been following your posts for years now, (loving them) and it would be great to meet and perhaps have a run with you.
How long are you out there till Ray? I’m back out there again on Thursday
Unfortunately I leave in a few hours. :(
What’s with the power variation from the Stages meter?
It’s left-leg only, so it’s likely that as I fatigue I slowly drift towards right-leg dominate.
Hey I have that same Sportscenter shirt! Do people say “da na nun, da na nuh” to you too? I don’t know maybe the music/show is different in Europe…
I can without question state that I’ve never had anyone do that to me. In any scenario, on any continent. Ever. ;)
Is this a frequent occurrence?
The benchmark (2nd picture), in Canada, really has the USGS markings? Must be…don’t see any French in that. Wonder why the Canadian gov’t allowed (or used) American-labeled benchmarks…
THE GIRL: Well, we did promise good weather for the race this Sunday, so I predict fine weather all next summer.
The ride out through PC/SP is my usual route, (Indian Meal Line, up the cove road, and back home) :) Fantastic 30k ride which I’m trying to crack an hour in. :)
Wow – it is absolutely beautiful up there! The water looked very clear in the lake where you went for a “swim” – is that an optical illusion, or is it really not typical lake water? Any chance you could get more details/photos of her dad’s root cellar? I’m looking to build one myself.
British Columbia and Newfoundland are the two provinces left for me to visit.
Guess I know which one is next!
Your “girl” is really lucky to grow up in such a beautiful place. So much natural beauty and great photos. THough, I don’t know how you managed that “selfie” whilst swimming.
The ride would have been mighty improved with a video from an action cam. Maybe a Garmin VIRB!
Will you be reviewing this product?
Thanks
Yup, I’m working with Garmin to get a unit and get a review put together. I’m liking the ANT+ potential.
Great post, run pacing is so consistent, any tips? Natural pacing ability, paying attention to current pace or some combination?
For this particular run I was using HR as my pacing tool. I had a HR zone, but for the most part I was within +/- 2 beats. Given the pancake nature of the route, it was pretty easy to keep consistent pacing by just keeping my HR consistent.
I also kept lap-pace as well up, and sorta kept that in mind. For example, up a tiny 5-10ft rise here or there in a few sections on the loop I’d slightly increase effort going up and monitor it coming back down.
You are making me homesick! While I was racing IMMT, my family was celebrating the 50th wedding anniversary of my uncle and aunt in Heart’s Content.
Rey,
What camera did you use for the photos on Thursday at the garden? Photos are so PRO!
Thanks! The Garden ones were all the Canon 7D DSLR (with just a stock 18-55mm lens). Enjoy!