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.
Could you publish the RSS URL for us not in the iTunes universe?
Was about to ask the same. Would be great to have a regular RSS feed.
Same question :)
Even for us in the Apple universe,
we can listen with another player if Apple hasn’t approved the link yet.
Totally agree – I liked the show but accidentally closed my browser a few times cutting the stream. Listening to it in my standard podcast app (using a standard feed) would be so much easier…
Yup, I’ll get the RSS feed here this morning (TRS created the Soundcloud account, so it might be a couple hours still).
Thanks!
Yup, another rss feed request. Added in case it fell off your plate. :^)
Just tossing in another vote for an RSS feed.
Very interesting pod cast. Thanks.
It would be very useful if you could put up the running order so that the people who don’t have a lot of time, if there is a piece on the topic of particular interest, we can go directly to it.
Any chance this could be put through transcript software for those who prefer to read?
Having tried doing both automated and human transcriptions before, when it comes to subjects that have a lot of tech, the translations tend to come out really bad. Ends up usually not being worth it.
Nice podcast, will sub as soon as my Overcast software lets me. :)
How does one get one of the cool oval DC stickers?
Hmm, valid question. I’ve gotta order more of them (these were kinda tattered, but you can’t tell in the photo). I know you get one also when you order the DCR/Clever Training Swim Buoy: link to clevertraining.com
Oh wait, I remember now, you can actually order them through the Sticker Mule Marketplace. It’s where I originally bought them all. I don’t actually set the price there (it’s zero’d out on my end so I make nothing), it’s just whatever fee that they charge for one-off creation, etc… link to stickermule.com
Yes! I needed another sticker for my disc…who else would I want to rep!! You’re the man, Ray.
Thanks Garett! Saw you ordered one – the first!
Hi Ray,
love your site and the tech info it gives, but I was not so fond of this podcast in that it had actually very few real tech/gadget related questions and too much, well for lack of a better word, blabla questions presented by Ben.
In my opinion people come to your site (mostly) for the kickass in-depth geekout info that can not be found anywhere else. This podcast had too little of that for my taste.
I know it’s a process, so I will still be listening with great interest to the next few ones.
Great work setting it all up !
Thanks, we’ll definitely keep that in mind for future episodes!
For some areas (such as the support question) – I tried to provide a bit more detail on the how/why behind the way things work.
Of course, the questions are 100% based on what folks ask via the voicemails. So, the more technical the questions…the more technical the answers. :)
I have to agree with Fisao. Great that you want to inject a little humor but it seemed pretty short on interesting technical info and insights. The analysis of the Apple watch and how it relates to fitness was good as was the CT vs Kickr discussion. After that you kind of lost me.
That said, your blog is an incredible resource. One of the few that doesn’t sound like a marketing arm for the products being reviewed.
Just listened to the pilot episode and liked it. I agreee to fisao above in that I would prefer it to be a little more tech and gadget related, but I’m sure that will come around. Will definitely tune in for the next show – just keep ’em coming…
Just had a listen and enjoyed the podcast. Just to counter a couple of the other folks – I prefer my technology mixed with a bit of irreverence and shenanigans and think the balance was just right given the questions.
I agree with Chris – you’ve got the balance just right; bit of humour and not-taking-ourselves-too-seriously-are-we—really? With some great tech discussion. How about a bit more relationship counselling, there’s clearly some that really need it. Here’s some other suggestions just for fun during my lunch break:-
-Weekly gadget round-up top 5;
-top five bikes of all time
-food supplement of the week
-How far ahead is Gwen Jorgenson going to be this time competition?
-When is Alistair Brownlee actually going to do a triathlon competition?
-Will budgie smugglers ever make a retro comeback to tri competition?
I have more. Lots. Just ask.
Dan
Thanks for the 30-minute time limit (hopefully you’ll be able to keep it close and split up anything going longer). I’ve been listening to podcasts for four or five years now and many of my favorite ~1hr podcasts are starting to push past the 90 minute threshold lately. At some point, it’s a little much. I often find myself looking for podcasts I like with shorter episodes when I’m getting towards the end of the day. Also, when doing a shorter run, it’s nice to be able to finish an episode without having to pick up at a later date.
Also, I keep looking at your image with the Blue Yeti mic – not that it matters for the photo, but that mic isn’t made to “aim” towards the speaker. It should be straight up while you speak into the side of it. They even have an image on their page showing this. link to cd.bluemic.com.s3.amazonaws.com
Looking forward to this podcast – I was needing some fresh ones.
Thanks.
Yeah, just a photo thing. It looked a little awkward just pointing straight up, hence the tilt. :)
I prefer podcasts without a time limit. It feels to much like a radio limitation.
Sometimes you will have a really interesting topic or guest and I like to continue the show until the topic is exhausted. I can always pause and continue listening another time.
Me too – and Ray has tons of time to spare so no reason why he can’t extend it. How does he fill his time anyways? :)
There isn’t a hard/fast 30 minute rule for us. If we’re chatting about something and it’s at 32 minutes, then that’s totally cool.
I just don’t want it to be a 90-minute long podcast. That honestly is just far too long for my attention span.
Could this be on pocketcast
I really enjoyed the podcast! I have an iPhone and was so excited to listen to it that I just made it stream from safari… just like others RSS feed could be nice. And also want to acknowledge you for beeping out the curse words. I had 3 kids in the car with me… :-) Keep up the great work!
Ray, nice that you’re doing this. However protip, normalize the questions to the same volume level as the actual podcast.
Decent limiting will similarly solve the issue
RE: Wahoo versus Computrainer. I’m curious about the variation time to adjust power in ergo mode for the Wahoo. I know the Computrainer is maybe 2 seconds tops, but a previous iteration of standalone trainer took upwards of 10 seconds to adjust power curve. While not important for steady efforts, those who are doing sprint sets that’s just an unacceptable variation.
I’m using them for 20-sec intervals without issue with the default app. I’ve seen some folks say they have more problems with specific apps adding a bit of a curve there. For the 20s intervals it’s roughly 100w/550w.
Nice fun podcast. I feel like the last question had more potential for a more substantial answer in regards to products depending on future updates. Two good cases worth discussing is Suuntos use of their apps solution in the ambit watches and mobile apps(still not on android) and maybe also Garmins venture into IQ connect apps(I know you have covered the potential of IQ). In regards to Suunto, did it really add value to the watches, could we have expected more? On Garmins side It seems that some IQ developers are complaining about the platform currently being to restrictive… we also haven’t seen any ‘substantial apps beyond ‘star watch’ why is that? and where are the pro-developers in regards to IQ apps is it a money thing?. Sorry for the rant, just find it interesting with many products being so ‘dependent’ on the software platforms;)
Any updated timeline yet for appearance on itunes?
Thanks once again for all the great work you do.
The submission was ‘accepted’ by iTunes yesterday (which is the first step), now it’s likely a couple more days till actual approval.
Hi All-
Here’s the RSS feed: link to dcrainmaker.libsyn.com
The iTunes approval is coming shortly (well, I hope it is anyway).
Cheers!
-Ray
Thanks Ray!!!!
Both episodes now available on iTunes :)
Very enjoyable. I don’t really listen podcasts as I find my mind wandering off but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the humor as well as the opinions. The Wahoo watch sounds interesting. I’ll be listening to episode 2 soon.
Hey you keep asking for names for the Podcast, and I keep thinking of one, but it ain’t good.
Riding in the Rain and Shine (Ray’n and Shane)
Yeah not great, I know.