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.
Doing some spinning on the bike trainer.
Long ride on Sat with a short run after and then a long run on Sunday
The weather hasn’t broken yet for spring, so my training continues to be indoors :-(
Play with my daughter and hopefully go for a ride.
It rained this past weekend so my Xterra training on the bike didn’t happen. I did an easy 6 mile run and swam today.
Commuting to work by bike on Friday, swimming on Saturday morning, run 7k with my wife and another bike ride on Sunday.
Easy to post a goal after it’s done….chased the Easter bunny for 10k Friday and again for 5k Monday…..never found it, just the evidence left behind and quickly eaten :)
Went for a four mile run followed by an hour and a half of high intensity gym time. Legs are destroyed.
Back in the saddle ride
I’d recently started swimming more, so I’ll be swimming laps at the local Y and running I the evenings. I’ll try to get at least one bike ride in this week as well. Hoping to knock off my first triathlon this summer.
Run a little and rise a little. Hopefully that offsets some of the eat a lot..
My training will involve unloading a truckload of mulch to get my yard ready for Spring.. Good times. I also hope to get in a run with my beautiful wife and awesome 20 month old lil boy. =]
Trail run with tons of elevation gain on Saturday with an easy bike ride on Sunday.
Working on building back my bike and run fitness.
I plan a friday at gym, a saturday swimming and a sunday with chocolate eggs nutrition :)
Going to the gym with my dad.
Assembling a Trek Madone 4.5 that’s arriving Wednesday and taking it out for shakedown ride
My plan is a short run and a long swim! And shall avoid too much chocolate!
Weekend with my family, no workout unfortunately…
Pre-Easter festivity bike trainer ride and brick run.
Two hours out on the bike, an hour run, 3/4 mi. swim and a spin class. And a few beers for recovery. :)
Running repeats 10×40 meters 4x and 2.5 hr functional movement based training regimen.
2 hours on the trainer, hour run outside if possible, 2000 yd swim, strength class
Went on a nice hike in a county park. Even spotted a desert hare on the way out — how fitting!
Peeps and some zwifting. Good times.
Did some hiking while on vacaction in Argentina.
Plan to spend time with the family and get in enough activity that will hopefully counter-balance the calories in the chocolate.
Going for a short ride with the family
My goal for the end of the Easter week was cycling 40 km on Friday and Sunday. I managed to ride half of what was planned.
Spend some time with the kids on their swimming form, then swim myself, followed by a short treadmill session. Thanks!
Run 2 out of 3 days with my 14 year old in training for his junior high track team. (may sneak in a long run for myself on the third day)
Just did mine – 11km run. Windy as all hell.
If the doc says my broken wrist us healed then out on the mountain bike.
My training this weekend consisted of a ladder repeat session on the track on Friday, a 12km easy run on Sunday, and a killer mat pilates class on Monday (more core baby!)
Still resting/recovering after Shamrock Weekend. So instead I will chase my 8 year old in bunny related festivities.
16k run
Recovery weekend after upping my milage recently.
A 20mile hike in the redwoods.
Tagging along with my wife on her marathon training (around 24 miles in 2 days!)
Back to Masters swimming after a Spring Break break.
Strength, long swim, long bike (on the trainer), still working on getting my running form back.
Weekend is for transition towards the snow. Next week is skiing!
25km Trail Race this weakend to start out the trail running season!!
Ski all weekend long, that should be a sweet workout session.
I’m planning to improve the pace of my long runs.
Went away for the Easter long weekend, so very little training. Apart from chocolate eating that is…
Started out with an easy run to test Matt Fitzgerald’s 80/20 Running theory.
Last loooong run before Boston, have to as a split run because of injury issues.
Riding long enough to get a proper sunburn
Brought my bike out for 1st ride on Sunday for a easy ride around town
Well I’m afraid no running in the near term as I recover from osteitis pubis, but Friday swimming and a lot of weekend PT exercises to get prepared for training for the New York marathon.
Well on Friday, a 30-20-10 style fartlek, chased by a 21k+ long run on Saturday. I will try my best to avoid stepping on any leftover Easter eggs since they would be kind of ripe by then.
After a hard week, I took Saturday off and then went for an endurance ride on Sunday. Now I have enough reserve to start the training cycle over again.
Hot yoga one day, long run the next day, eating a chocolate bunny as recovery nutrition.
Weekend over already… but there was a lot of beach running.
I’ll be running my local half marathon this Saturday, and likely following up with more run miles on Sunday.
Strength training, core work, and PT!
Kickstarting the road season after a long winter skiing
Marathon training. Way behind, so lot to catch up on.
Hiding all the easter eggs from my 2 year old.
I have my first sprint tri of the year on Sunday.
My training plan? Cherry Blossom 10 Mile run! First race since getting hit by a car last summer on my bike!
Golf and a seven mile run
I’m starting my summer running training plan and also getting ready to do some spring gravel cycling events.
Actually it will be a recovery weekend, with low intensity cardio (cycling)
Great Easter- too much food to work off! Still snowing and cold so indoor riding it is.
recovering from eating lots of chocolate
12 mile run followed by two days rest.
Start training again before my 45th birthday, follow my plan for half marathon in 16 weeks.
Going for a long mountain bike ride
Hey, probably too late, My training was taking extra rides on the public holidays. Less traffic. But Rain complicated things a bit.
Thanks
Need to get back.. Winning would be nice…
Evening beach run in Khao Lak, Thailand.
Got new wheels, so if the weather allows, a couple of rides.
Back to work, so a couple of runs and a cycle at the weekend.
3x3500m freestyle swim
2x 10k low speed running
Core Strength exercises in between
A quick 10k tempo run on Monday.
The “ronde van Vlaanderen” Cyclo saturday (227km) and recovery ride sunday
My training has been put on hold while I decorate the nursery and assemble a cot in preparation for our first child….if I work hard enough I may be able to go for a run
I will ride a bike for fun!
Too late?
lots of dog walking and bbq
My goal is to win my home race in 2016
Just running, preparation for the Prague Marathon.
Another 40 miles of running as prep for London Marathon
Go up and down some hill and, if weather permits, ride around aimlessly for several hours.
Hard one. For next three days:31k long run,next day 20×1′ HM pace, and last one will be 14k treshold.