I’m DC RAINMAKER…
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:
With TPC (The Pro's Closet), you'll save $40 on purchases over $200 with coupon code DCRAIN40 for tech and non-tech purchases!
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.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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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.
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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!
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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.
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My Photography Gear: The Cameras and Equipment 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! It’s a nice break from the day to day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
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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.
Yearly Archives: 2018
The 5th Annual DCR Open House (Amsterdam Edition): December 1st, 2018
It’s that time of year again! Time for you to start planning your trek to the 5th annual DCR Cave Open House! Yup, it’s gonna be the fifth open house already – how time flies! Here were the first, second, … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
An in between weekend – that’s what this was. I’ve been home the last week after my Interbike and such trips the week before. But come the end of the weekend it was back on a plane and across the … Read More Here
Week in Review–Sept 29th, 2018
The Week in Review is a collection of both all the goodness I’ve written during the past week around the internet, as well as a small pile of links I found interesting – generally endurance sports related. I’ve often wondered … Read More Here
DC Rainmaker Cycling Kits (Finally) Now Available!
Woot – finally, they’re here! Well, mostly here. You can order them, which makes them virtually here: The DC Rainmaker Cycling Kits! (Update: Initial ordering period has closed, but we ordered a small pile of extras which you can pickup … Read More Here
TrainerRoad rolls out new forward looking calendar, planned workouts. Set to raise prices.
Today TrainerRoad announced and released their next set of features to their platform, which edge it closer and closer to a full-fledged training log platform than just a trainer control platform. This transition of course isn’t new. It began in … Read More Here
Minoura Kagura DT Smart Trainer In-Depth Review
It’s been almost precisely one year since I last posted about the Minoura Kagura DT (aka the LST9200). Almost all of which I had an unopened box of a Kagura DT sitting patiently in a corner. First in Paris, and … Read More Here
Interbike 2018 Tech Tidbits: Stages, Elite, Velosense, K-Edge, Minoura
As expected, most of the cycling electronic-related gizmos and gadgets were announced back at Eurobike in July. Still, there were some holdouts. Both announcements that didn’t quite make the July dates and slipped till now, as well as some companies … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
After having spent a little over a week stateside for Interbike and a few other meetings, it was time to head back to Amsterdam for another week at home. Here’s what I was up to over the past weekend while … Read More Here
First Look: The $749 Tacx Flux S Smart Trainer (Direct Drive)
(** Update: There has since been a Tacx Flux S In-Depth Review. Follow the link for the most up to date information**) Last week at Interbike, Tacx announced the Flux S, making it the second Flux trainer announced in almost … Read More Here
GoPro Hero 7 Black In-Depth Review
It’s that time of year again. Like clockwork it’s the annual drop from GoPro of new action cameras. This year they’ve launched three new cameras – the Hero 7 Black, Silver, and White. These three new cameras will replace all … Read More Here
Wahoo Fitness adds Pioneer’s advanced pedaling metrics to ELEMNT/BOLT
Today Wahoo and Pioneer announced a bit of a partnership that will bring Pioneer’s advanced power meter pedaling metrics onto the Wahoo ELEMNT and BOLT head unit lineup. These metrics have long been only available on Pioneer’s head units, and … Read More Here
Pioneer announces new color-mapping GPS bike computer, plus new power meters
In some ways, Pioneer can be easy to forget about in the power meter scene, though I’m honestly not sure why. They’ve consistently delivered a new round of products every year at Interbike – almost as consistent as Apple can … Read More Here
First Look: Kinetic R1 Direct Drive Trainer
Update – December 2019: You can find my full Kinetic R1 In-Depth Review here! Which is packed with plenty of real-world details after months of usage. And just like that, Kinetic has joined the direct drive trainer flotilla. But unlike … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend (Tahoe Edition)
From mountain biking around Tahoe to to hiking the mountains, it’s all outdoors all the time! Read More Here
The New Polar Vantage Series: Everything you ever wanted to know
The new Polar Vantage V and Vantage M include a slew of new features, from new training load metrics to recovery metrics. Plus the Vantage V gets running power too. Read More Here
Wahoo KICKR CORE Trainer In-Depth Review
Can the KICKR CORE save you $300 over the regular KICKR? I dig in for all the pros and cons, from accuracy to road feel, apps and more. Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza 2018 Winners!
Another year goes past – and another huge Giveaway Extravaganza is now complete! This year was pretty crazy once again, with boatloads upon boatloads of people stopping by the site to enter the dozen giveaways. As with every year – … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
It was a relatively quiet weekend here in Amsterdam – a bit of a calm before the storm of tons of travel, industry events, and plenty of other product related stuff. Here’s what we were up to! 1) Lunch inside … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Forerunner 935 Multisport GPS Watch
All good things must come to an end, and this folks, it’s the end of the road. At least assuming you’re still on the road and haven’t fallen asleep and found you and your bike crashed into the side of … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: GoPro Hero 6 Black
There’s one product you’ll find with me on every single ride, run, or swim: my GoPro. Specifically, the GoPro Hero 6. Sometimes even two of them, if I’m gettin’ really wild! Now, unlike the GoPro Fusion 360° camera I gave … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Quarq DZero Power Meter
It’s time for another meter. With only a handful of giveaways left in this seemingly never-ending parade of free stuff, we need more power. I suppose I’m probably mostly talking about caffeine and not cycling power…but what’s the difference anyway? … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Fitbit Ionic GPS + Fitbit WiFI Scale
Given the way the day is going and how many of you are tied to your chairs, it’s probably not exactly a good idea to talk about weight scales. But in this second twofer of the day you’ll get exactly … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: DJI Spark Drone
While I have a somewhat absurd collection of drones (and growing), it’s actually one of the least expensive and smallest ones that I prefer the most – the tiny spark. It weighs less than a water bottle and I’ve taken … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: The Anything Unannounced Soon Giveaway!
Back by popular demand this year: What if I could give you the future? Or more specifically, the unannounced future? Yup, I’m going to do just that. Over the next 3 weeks there’s going to be a crapton of new … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Wahoo KICKR CORE + KICKR CLIMB
Boom, mic drop. Or, perhaps more accurately…fork drop. Which, will happen once you connect these two up. You’ll be going up and down like a merry-go-round horse as the KICKR CLIMB replicates the mountains and hills around your virtual world. … Read More Here
