Heads up – Massive Sports Tech Holiday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech 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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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?
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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 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.













6500 yards in the pool on Friday, a hour of dry land and 6200 yards on Saturday, Sunday the Y was closed so I ran 5k
Nothing this weekend, too much partys. But I realy need the 600$ dollar at CleverTraining for my next workouts
10 mile run, with the middle 6 at HM goal pace. Thanks for doing the giveaways, Ray.
Short run and a gym session
Eat all my kids peeps and jellybeans. Go for a light jog. Relax with the family.
Spending quality time with the family, eating lots of chocolate, and running it off in the beautiful weather we are having in Ontario!
50 Mile fitness ride on Saturday, followed by a nice relaxed 50 mile ride with the wife on Sunday.
First outddor bike run of the year. Just 30Km but still better than indoor biking!
A bit of jogging in Washington DC
3 hour endurance ride on the KICKR Saturday. 12 mile run Sunday. Went off without a hitch! Ate like a horse today…
I’d be happy to get in any kind of run. I’ve fallen off the running wagon (how long can I use the “newborn baby” excuse?), but hope to get going again soon.
got a great 5.5 mile run in with my girl before the festivities began.
Decided to start running again after a long recovery on a hip injury. I have been enjoying the bike in place of the running shoes.
Go for a couple of short bike rides. Right now, time in the saddle is more important than anything.
Short run Friday. 7 miles with my wife and our dog on Saturday. Chasing kids after an egg hunt on Easter.
Bike the Virginia Creeper Trail on Saturday, and hike the Gentry Creek Trail Sunday – both with the family. The outdoors is our church!
Sat: 2 hour spin, 1/2 hour brick run. Easy pool stretch-out swim. Sun: 12 mile trail run, up out, down back, followed by easy spa and sparkling wine evening.
Windy 12 mile ride on Saturday. Last night my son called and said he was bringing his bike tomorrow. So we took a 12 mile ride before Easter dinner today.
A run around D.C.’s Tidal Basin and then up to the Japanese-American Memorial to see cherry blossoms!
Altitude training this Easter, involving strapping wooden planks to my feet and sliding down a snowy mountain
Rode the hills of chappell hill tx then rode terry hershey
Couple of easy runs.
Ran 18miles on Friday before starting vacation!
Brief 1 hour ride today with 3-12 minute sweet spot intervals to ease my way back into training after spending the week on vacation with the family.
running 10 miles
Brief 3-12 minute sweet spot intervals today on the road bike to ease my way back into training after spending the past few days on vacation with the family.
Taking croissants and danish baking class in the local artisanal bakery and then hanging out with the family!
As much riding as I can fit in, fueled by hot X Buns
Knee pain = short and easy rides
Some lifting and stairs…moving houses. Staring at the new bike with no time to ride! Going to be a fun week!
I suffered a massive bonk during a 50k ski race and had to drop out after 41km. Training is currently making sure I am still functional.
Run 10k, followed by a ton of housework.
Cycling
Heading off for a few trail runs in the South Island of NZ
Scooting with my daughter.
I biked 40 miles on Saturday. Today, I swam 2500 yds and ran 4 miles. Ready for recovery week!
I ran 10 miles and biked on my trainer for 30 minutes :)
5k run and 30 mile ride….followed by HAM
Two 10 mile paddles, one hard, one easy
going on a long run tomorrow, preparing for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in a week! Need to have some quality time with the foam roller too
Short run on saturday and resting day on Sunday, while my friends are in town.
Warming to 50F this week in Minneapolis – I will be out on the bike.
2 hour bike with easy family run at the park.
On Saturday I did 25 mile ride on my “new” SS bike, it was awesome. Was thinking for a run on Sunday, but changed my mind and went for 2 hrs hiking with Pit bull and Savannah.
A 10 miler in the Cayman Islands
My plans were to run 18 on Saturday and a short, shake-out run on Sunday. Saturday was a rough 18 miles, and so Sunday became a short, shake-out WALK.
My goal is to train enough to burn all that chocolate I’ll steal from the kids. Tough to say how much biking I’ll really need to do this early(!)…
Sunday Brick training, doing 3hr bike and a 2 mile run after. Post training recovery at the local tapas restaurant Happy Easter!!
Heading out for a 30 miler on Saturday followed by a couple hours on the mountain bike on Sunday.
All family time all weekend. This will likely involve large quantities of caffeine as I aim to keep up with the pace of the three little ones.
70 min run at an east pace, 30 min run the following day. Any diet goes out the window with our annual crawfish boil. Happy Easter!
Hill training with my husband as we push our three kids ?
5 mile run Saturday 8 Sunday.
Just a couple of rides planned, hills on Saturday and an easy city ride on Sunday. Happy easter!
A nice 9 mi trail run on Easter Sunday!
Short run Saturday, medium ride Sunday, then crushing beers!
Long run at an easy pace through midwest USA farmland.
I will do yoga :)
recovering from surgery so pizza makes me happy!
I’ll probably go to the gym.
Ran the Crescent City Classic 10k on Saturday followed by a lazy Easter Sunday!
I’ll run a fun run.
My plans were to be as active as possible outside to enjoy the beautiful spring weather…which I was! then I ate delicious Reese eggs and my heart was content.
I used my polar a360 (purchased last week) thanks for your reviews and the viewer comments. I sold my Apple Watch and bought the polar. So far I’m happier!
Long ride and long run with a mix of chocolate
Going for a hike in the Santa Cruz mountains this weekend
Hiking near Ithaca with the family! Was a great weekend!
Ill go balling
Easy short run Saturday and then stuffing myself on Sunday!! Back to regular training on Monday to work off the chocolate.
Burning off eggs by biking and walking.
I trained my waistline by eating far too much turkey. I’ll make up for it this week with some interval training and a long run.
I’ll prob play basketball too:) and may go on a run tonight.
Trying the new indoor power watt bike just bought.
Getting back on the running wagon before it gets too hot down here in the south.
My goals were rather modest as I’m trying to lose pounds and get back into shape. Two 5K fast walks over the weekend. That’s it. But loving my FR 235 which I bought after reading your review.
Saturday Morning: TT Race
Saturday Evening: 2 hour recovery ride
Sunday: 4 hour ride
Finally getting back into the training swing this weekend after a couple weeks of injury: two 1 hour rides and few miles of running to get back at it.
Getting on the bike for the first time in a while.
Ran friday 5 miles on treadmill. Weights on Saturday, and ran anothe 5 sunday easter morning. Happy easter Ray
5km run, and 10km swim
This weekend – Swim-run brick Friday, big group ride Saturday, easy Bike/Ride brick on Sunday and a swim/spa session on the Monday!
I got a run in, but the real training was done hunting for eggs!
Go for a run with the family…then eat Easter candy :)
Ride, ride, and ride some more!
Excaping the snow and riding some mountain bikes.
Lagree Method everyday plus some hiking to keep the new hip primed
A couple of long runs around the block.
Swim and head to gym for strength training.
Getting ready for DC’s Cherry Blossom ten miler next weekend. Will be doing slow/recovery runs this week after long runs last 2 weekends.
Planning +30km running, +6km swimming mas a bike run ir + 3h on weekend.
Good luck with all your training plans!!!
Went for a 120km bike ride in 40 degrees heat
Take easy and hike around the local park. Watch lots of TV!
135km gravel grind on Friday, getting the legs ready for the mileage/effort of the Gorge Gravel Grinder.
70km hilly group ride on Saturday, because I’m a sucker for punishment.
Rest Sunday/Monday.
On vacation, hiking in the Grand Canyon.
Long run with 5k at tempo pace to chase the bunny away.
Not a thing. Easter weekend, all family time!
Hiking Starved Rock state park with the family.
A little road biking to get ready for Tri season and a little mtn biking to prep for my first xterra
A walk to the park with my nephews.
Vacationing in Vegas — its not scenic but there’s decent running mileage to be had along Dean Martin Dr and Sammy Davis Dr, which parallel I-15 on either side.
Watching and exercising along to a couple workouts on YouTube