Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, and countless other Garmin products. 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.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
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.
-
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?
-
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.
Halloween 5K tomorrow!!
A short run after having the flu for just a week
1x gym session it is.
After taking a break, I’m getting back to it by hiking an easy trail.
Gonna do a nice easy 60 min run Sunday. Saturday will be a hike @ Maryland heights.
long run bike swim
Weekend Workouts – run run run
Going for a trail run in my area with some good friends and the weather is going to be splendid!
~30 miles on Saturday and then my last long run on Sunday before the NYC Marathon!
Killing it on another long run getting ready for the Dallas race in early December!
I’m trying to hit 5k miles on the bike this year for the first time ever! but I’ve got to get a long ride in this weekend.
Ramping back up for marathon training with a nice, easy 60 minute run!
Training for 3rd IM in a year, at 70. I am nuts.
A nice Sunday run
16K easy
Some spinning and some mountainbiking
Working on the MTB to try to get a rid of a painfully stubborn bottom bracket creak, hopefully a run on Sunday.
I will be running/stationary biking in a hotel, then watching a swim meet
Would love to win once :P
A trip to Edinburgh so a lot of walking
Checking out my new Lezyne bike computer, so maybe couple meters of cycling.
A nice long run up Santiago Peak in the Santa Annas.
Travelling up to Skye then a bit of hiking
Put on some new tyres on my cyclocross, and give them a try.
A long walk
8k birthday run and 80 k cycle on Saturday
Snow hitting the ground here so I will be spending my weekend Zwifting away in the basement
Hike in the Poconos to see the fall foliage. Marathon legs need a break!
Wiping the dust of my indoor trainer and getting started with trainerroad.
Illuminator 15 mile night time trail race in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Long run & swim on Sunday. Unfortunately, i have to work on Saturday…
Saweeet pick this gadget girl! ?? 5k race tomorrow and a swim and bike ride Sunday. Thank you!! ?
Darn, can’t go to bootcamp tomorrow, since we have friends coming over to visit our newborn daughter. Ow, and I am making pumpkin cheesecake! Care for a piece? ??
Swimming and running
Pounding the pedals in a gravel metric century on Saturday. Assembling the bike trainer in Sunday.
Fatbike ride Sat. Maybe road ride out to a new CX venue.
Going to get more running miles clocked in!
Volunteering at the Dutch Trailrun Championships.
Full quality recovery on saturday(I just ate ice cream :D) following by cycling on sunday.
A little bike race here with in NZ called K2.
192km with just a few hills. Fun apparently.!.!
I’m celebrating a friend’s birthday this weekend, and I want that Strava Grand Fondo badge. So, I’ll be riding from Pacifica to Sunnyvale with some rather significant detours to stack up more than 115km.
Hometrainer 2h to start the winter.
:-)
Just some resting and bike cleaning
30 km of trail running…. starting… now !
This weekend is a 16 mile long run for me on Saturday and cheering my wife at the Houston half marathon on Sunday.
Camping with the family (hubby and 3 boys) for the very first time this weekend. Wish us luck! Workout will just be a short trail run as I’m doing NYC next week and not getting injured is the priority.
A long run Saturday and a bike Sunday, weather dependant!
Going for a 10 km run and also biking.
Cyclocross!
11 mile run!
Thank you!
Brick Saturday, long run Sunday
I’m tapering before the Antelope Island Fall Classic 50K in Utah next weekend, so a 14 mile trail run on Saturday and a 4 mile easy run on Sunday. Can’t wait to head south to warmer climes for one last run in shorts and a t-shirt!
Whilst my wife is running and my girls are horse riding, I’ll be cycling. And during that beautiful ride, through the autumn colours of the Alsace vineyards and forests, I’ll be trying to work out what “Hit up the site to enter” and “What’s on the docket this weekend” actually mean. :)
Great site. Your reviews have been so helpful.
Running my 15th marathon of the year!
Mostly mountain biking over the winter
Fall biking and some fat biking.
3600m swim on saturday and watt test on sunday
I am a weather weenie, and it is supposed to rain this weekend, so I will be riding on Strava this weekend.
OMG, there will be 10K+ comments, probably.
This weekend I’m tapering for Oilman, so 25 mile ride on Saturday and 10 mile run on Sunday.
Swim and run brick session with some friends, to replace the charity indoor triathlon that has been canceled.
Planning a longer run (5 -7 miles) during the warmer weather on Saturday followed by supporting the girlfriend through her 10 miler on Sunday.
Go out road biking!
Long run until my knees give out – then bike the time I was not able to run!
A very long #gozwift ride as a basetraining on the Saturday and maybe some weighttraining on Sunday. Or… the other way around;).
Cycling rain or shine.
Throwing hay and cutting down trees. Oh and sneaking in a trail run if there is time….
An easy 2 mile run on Saturday – training for a 10k
20 running miles on Sunday with a swim and / or trainer NFL Sunday ride
This weekend will bring more sprint drills into the wind, practising emergency braking techniques to avoid suicide squirrels, perfecting my snot rocket launches, and trying to get better at chewing while cycling.
Hiking
Recovering from an ultra last weekend + prepping for trail-running Ireland next week so just = A few nice easy spins and lots of stretching :)
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro!!! So cool :)
Pleaaase!
Easy 10 mile run. :)
At least three hours of running… half of it on the soccer pitch!
Some TLC on the mtb under the African sun!
Hockey game is on deck this weekend… Walking to the game counts, right?
Racing the olympic distance at the TrickOrTri in LA, CA.
This weekend’s training consists of a nice simple, easy, enjoyable run… no time, distance, or intensity goals… just going for a run. I love the few weeks between the fall IM race and start of my spring marathon training!!
L.A. Cancer Challenge 5k/10k at UCLA
I’m running a half marathon in Charleston, SC.
Running and swimming in Newport Beach, CA!!! Finally a little bit of down time.
Long swimming and biking sessions !
Swim, bike, surf and not in that order
Back to basics after shin splints with a gentle 5k round a grassy field!
42.2 kms of the 2016 Auckland Marathon
Planning to run/climb the West Ridge of Quandary Peak here in Colorado.
Ride my bike on Sat for an, as of yet, undetermined time. Run a bit on Sunday
A little biking before it gets too cold outside
Two rounds of Mountainbiking
Running Frost on the Pumpkin 10k race in South River NJ
absolutely nothing…. I’m in the off season.
2h bikeride on my trainer watching sports on tv
Running and Pullups challeng
Bike ride to test out my new TriRig Beta system :)
Cycling is the best
More this weekend then the rest
Of the week that went away
When the work said to the bike Nei!
I can’t wait to get outside,
Pedal fast and sore the hide,
Clear the head and think of nothing
That should be on film or something.
And what better way to do it
With a GoPro (H)5… si move it… :)
Wrapped up tri season with Ironman* North Carolina last weekend. Breaking out the mountain bike this weekend. Finally.
Trail running on Saturday, bike ride and Masters swim on Sunday.
Hoping to get in a bike ride in soggy Seattle. I’m close to my yearly mileage goal, and I want to get it done before the “serious” rains come.