Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. Full list & thoughts 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.While I don't partner with many companies, there's a few that I love, and support the site. Full details!
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 2024 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.
Ray, which store did you/the Girl get the poster at, or is it more widely available that you’ve noticed? I’ll be in France, including Paris in about a month, and would live to get a copy. Thanks!
The store is Le Coq Sportif, which is the official apparel company of the Tour. We picked them up a few months ago, just hanging out in the store for free. There’s one in/near Les Halles in Paris that we got ours.
For my recent trip to Roth, Germany, United charged me a $200 oversize fee (each way) for my hard-sided bike case. What’s your experience been with your soft-sided case?
Generally I luck out without paying – and having a soft-sided case is a big part of that. Check out my post on it, and the tips I have for avoiding such fees: link to dcrainmaker.com
If only I could have one of those power meters I’d be testing down to the single Joule in all 4 quadrants… :-)
Going to apply for the next giveaway… perhaps my number will show up in those tens of thousands who will apply with me BWAHHAAHHAHAAHAH.
Hey Ray, nice report again. Had fun reading it. And by the way, Happy Birthday, even if a bit late…
Greetz from Germany!
Great read. I recall my own time running through the streets of Paris about 15 years ago… Great times, although the reason behind my running are definitely not related to keeping in shape! (nothing criminal, just a long story about two young people about to be left behind in a foreign country because they were going to miss a bus ride).
Happy birthday Ray,
Was that the supposed silver vector on you cranks?
Nope, just my usual pedals.
I will be in Paris in Sept. Any recommendations in the city where I can run 6-8 miles?
Yup, here’s my favorite runs: link to dcrainmaker.com
You rock Ray! Thanks for the great suggestions on some running trails. I’ll be sure to stop off at the cupcake store too.
I’ve been using the Quark Riken PM for about four months and I really like it. It’s my first real PM, excluding simulators like Kinetic’s InRide. It’s been consistent and free of serious trouble, though the transmitter range could be extended a foot or two to avoid data dropouts when the Garmin is mounted farther away, like on the left forward aerobar. I find I have to mount it on the stem to avoid dropouts.
Rey, on your ride with the girl i still noticed you have about 1000s GPS/bike computer/gadgets on your bike. I wonder if she ever get annoyed at you when she have to wait for all your devices to turn on and acquire GPS. I know that everytime I go out for a ride with my girl if my Garmin takes more than 2 minutes to connect she will just say “come on lets just ride”
Generally speaking we don’t ride together. We run often together, but not as much ride.
Hello. I’ve read most of your posts. But I cannot find anything about swapping the stages power meter crank arms for the arms that originally come with the cranksets. Do you find any disadvantage/change with the rival arms on the ‘wrong’ crank sets? Thank you for your time.
I don’t see any problems. There’s likely a tiny weight change there, but I changed with Stages and there’s zero impact or issues on PM measurement on that side. Since being in that configuration since early January, I haven’t seen any other issues.
*cough cough* you’re so funny Ray!
But you forgot to mention that I love the kicker for many many reasons, one of the top being that I don’t have to keep pumping up that pesky back tire!
Plus, since I have had to give up 3/4 of my closet space to house 4 “other” bike trainers of yours, think of me keeping the Kicker as a sort of rent payment! Fair is fair! :)
How the hell do you keep your bike so clean?
Everything is not as it appears…