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:
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/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!
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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 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.
Author Archives: Ray Maker
Tour Down Under 2017: A look at the Satalyst Racer Tracking System
Of the 19 men’s teams at the Tour Down Under this year, one stands apart from the rest. No, not because they’ve got superstars on the team. Nor because they’re riding the most expensive bikes in the field. In fact – … Read More Here
Tour Down Under 2017: Sports Tech Gear Of the Pro Men
After the women’s debut on Saturday, it was time for the men to make their entrance on Sunday at the People’s Choice criterium. This would be the first men’s race of the Tour Down Under, though it’s technically a separate … Read More Here
Tour Down Under 2017: Sports Tech Gear Of the Pro Women
There are many great aspects of the Santos Tour Down Under, from the fan-inclusive activities, to the stage structure. Non-locals may not realize for example that the teams all actually stay in one city (Adelaide) throughout the entire race, and … Read More Here
First Look: Suunto’s new Movesense advanced sensor platform
This past week at CES, Suunto introduced not one but two different products. Of course, it’s the Spartan Wrist HR watch that got most of the attention, complete with distracting green lights. But it was the almost not even mentioned … Read More Here
First Look: TomTom’s Newly Overhauled Sports App
As with most things in the tech realm – announcements from companies at CES usually fall into one of two camps: software or hardware. This year we saw many software focused announcements in the fitness/sports technology space. I suspect in … Read More Here
Hello Australia: I have arrived. Here’s what’s on tap!
Well then, that was most definitely one of the more roundabout ways to get to Australia – but I have arrived! Well, we finally arrived. Upon leaving CES in Las Vegas, I picked up The Girl and The Little One … Read More Here
Early Look: Zwift in VR!
Back at Eurobike this past summer there was a lonely tent outside next to the bike trial area. Under that tent was a single Wahoo KICKR, a flat-screen TV, a laptop, and a bicycle. Oh, and an Oculus Rift VR … Read More Here
Hands-on: Misfit’s Vapor GPS Watch
Here at CES, Misfit has significantly upped their activity tracker game by diving into the GPS watch realm. The company, known for their lightweight and fashionable wearables, announced a new $200 GPS sport watch set to release later this year. … Read More Here
Hands-on: Suunto’s Spartan Sport Wrist HR watch
This week at CES, Suunto has officially unveiled their first optical heart rate capable watch – the Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR. You may remember back this past summer, when news first came out about Suunto’s plans for an optical … Read More Here
Polar shows off GoPro camera control, new H10 heart rate strap
While Polar started off the week with an announcement about their new wearable shirt that has integrated heart rate sensors in it, they began today announcing details on GoPro camera control and a new H10 heart rate strap. I got … Read More Here
GoPro says Karma Drone isn’t dead yet
Today GoPro announced that their Karma drone, which was recalled last year will be getting the band back together again, and re-launching sometime this year. You’ll remember that GoPro shipped 2,500 Karma drones before issuing a recall about two weeks … Read More Here
Hands-on: Garmin’s New Fenix 5 Multisport GPS Series–with mapping!
!!!Heads up – Check out the newest Fenix 6! My full Fenix 6 In-Depth Review is now available! Click on to read it all!!! Right on cue, Garmin has released their next edition of the Fenix series – the Fenix … Read More Here
Welcome to CES 2017!
And so it begins again! According to my badge, it’s at least my 5th year at CES. Perhaps it’s been more, I’m honestly not sure. I’ll trust what they say though. CES – The Consumer Electronics Show – Is the … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
The last and first weekend of the year! Just two different years that is. Here’s what I was up to as I kicked off 2017 and said goodbye to 2016! 1) There was much packing and prep This weekend was … Read More Here
Week in Review–January 1st, 2017
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
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last week was giveaway time! You had all week to get in your giveaway entry, before I got my act together here on January 1st (see, kicking off the new year right!). A mere 5,994 of you entered the giveaway … Read More Here
CycleOps Hammer Trainer In-Depth Review
Update: The CycleOps Hammer has since been replaced by the Saris H3, though frankly, the only meaningful difference is noise. Here’s the link to my full H3 in-depth review. It’s Hammer Time. The Hammer is CycleOps’ answer to the highly … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Ahh yes, Christmas weekend! We ended up packing in quite the pile of stuff over the last few days, far more than normal. Albeit, mostly non-fitness related stuff. Instead, it was more about enjoying the holiday period. Here’s what went … Read More Here
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway
I’m sure many of you received various sports gadgets over the last few weeks as part of the holidays. But for those unlucky elves who received only a half-eaten gel packet in their Christmas stocking from their not-so-significant others, I’ve … Read More Here
Week in Review–December 24th, 2016
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
The Podium Trainer Desk In-Depth Review
As trainer season is in full swing now, so are the various trainer-focused items showing up on my doorstep. And not just trainers of course, but separate trainer accessories. Today’s product hails from Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). I figure if anyone … Read More Here
A Better Way To Pace Races: Race Screen Connect IQ App
One of the primary benefits of apps on any platform is to extend the functionality of a device to do something that the manufacturer didn’t otherwise include. That’s true of phones, computers, and now even watches. Be it Connect IQ … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Just a few weekends left in the year before things get crazy in January! Here’s what we were up to over the last couple days. 1) It’s Hammer Time First up on the weekend was a multi-part test, this one … Read More Here
Week in Review–December 18th, 2016
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
ProShift Automated Bike Shifting System Review
It’s been about two years since I first wrote about an automated bicycle shifting system, then called BioShift. The device would control all shifting on your bike for you, based on understanding your optimal gearing and the demands you placed … Read More Here
The Santa Corrida de Noël 10K Race Report (2016)
It’s that time of year again! Yup, time to run with a few thousand other Santa’s as part of the 10K race, Corrida de Noël d’Issy les Moulineaux! We’ve been doing this race every year we’ve lived in Paris. Albeit, … Read More Here
The 3rd Annual DCR Open House–Recap and Photos!
Third time’s the charm! And so it was – the 3rd annual DCR Open house this past weekend. This year I had folks from not only all across Europe, but also even the US join in! Plus, we had more … Read More Here
Cycling home with the Christmas Tree: 2016 Edition
Since moving to Paris, it’s become a little bit of an annual Christmas tradition of ours to pickup our tree at the flower markets and then subsequently bike home with it. This would mark the 5th year of doing so, … Read More Here
DJI Mavic Pro In-Depth Review
While the widely held assumption this year was that the GoPro Karma drone would be the hottest drone to get one’s hands on, it’s quickly become clear over the last 75 days that wouldn’t quite pan out. A mere 7 … Read More Here
Tacx Flux Trainer In-Depth Review
It’s been just over three months since Tacx announced what was shaping up to be the hottest trainer of the 2016-2017 winter season. You’ll remember that the main appeal of the Tacx Flux was that not only was it a … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
A busy (and chilly) weekend at home as we slide into December. Here’s what I was up to! 1) Unboxing Stryd I actually had a bunch of things I was getting unboxed on Friday. These three were on the list. … Read More Here
Week in Review–Dec 4th, 2016
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
First Look: The Cycliq Duo Mount for Heavier Gear
A few weeks back Cycliq announced a new product on Kickstarter. You’ll remember Cycliq is the company behind the Fly6 and Fly12 combination bike safety camera/lights products. They combine front (Fly12) or back (Fly6) lights with a camera that’s always … Read More Here
Don’t forget the Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals Page!
Happy Friday! For those of you in the US, I hope you had a good Thanksgiving yesterday and are still enjoying either turkey leftovers, or family leftovers. For everyone else – welcome to almost being the weekend! Of course this … Read More Here
My Photography Gear: The Cameras and Equipment I Use Daily
Update – in case you find this old/stinky page, my updated page with all the gear recommendation is here! One of the most common questions I see in blog posts that’s not specifically which GPS watch to get, is what … Read More Here