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.
Giveaway Extravaganza: Polar RCX5 with G5 GPS
Are you of the Polar persuasion? Then this watch is definitely your cup of tea (or cup of Gatorade). It’s their top of the line triathlon watch, complete with the the G5 GPS pod. And, unlike virtually every other watch … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Wahoo BlueHR, Quad Lock Bike Case, iPhone Running Case/Band
Think of this as the ultimate iPhone running kit. You’ve got the fancy Bluetooth low-energy heart rate strap, then the sweet iPhone Quad Lock case (with all the stuff shown above), and then I’m throwing in a iPhone running case/band. … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin FR910XT
Here’s your chance to grab a brand new Garmin FR910XT. As you probably know, the FR910XT can be used across a number of sports. You could swim effortlessly in a giant vat of beer, compete in tandem mountain bike racing, … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Timex Run Trainer
Sure, any device can track a run for a few hours. But can your device track a run that’s over a 100 hours long? Well, the Timex Run Trainer took the cake on the longest running recording battery of any … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza Twofer: Polar RCX3’s
Yup, for this giveaway I’m giving away two separate units out to two winners. One white edition, one black edition. Twofer!!! The Polar RCX3 is Polar’s latest slimmed down triathlon and running watch that doesn’t attract much unneeded attention with … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Motorola Motoactv
The Motoactv with its super-crisp display changed the endurance watch game last fall. Like mixing music and running? Or perhaps even golf and music (yup, it does golf, and cycling, and yoga and…). In fact, upon further reflection, about the … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Edge 500
Here’s your chance to grab a brand new Garmin Edge 500. Being just the weight of a single egg, it won’t require you to cut back on cookies or cupcakes to keep your cycling weight weenie status when you add … Read More Here
The Escape from Alcatraz GoPro Bike Course video in less than 4 minutes
As I noted in my Escape from Alcatraz Race Report on Monday, I had the GoPro camera clipped on my aerobars for the bike portion of the event. Unfortunately, between the plane flight back and limited battery, I couldn’t quite … Read More Here
Tomorrow: The DC Rainmaker All-Day Giveaway Extravaganza
(Some of you may have seen me post this photo on Facebook back a few weeks ago…hence, the origins of this post) It’s been building up for a while now, and now it’s time. Perhaps, way overtime. Either way – … Read More Here
Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0 GPS In-Depth Review
The Timex Cycle Trainer is the first GPS-based cycling-specific product that Timex has released. It builds on the Timex Global Trainer as a base, but focuses purely on cycling. Read More Here
Garmin FR910XT update adds TSS/IF/NP, gazillion other items/fixes
A few hours ago Garmin released an update that enables the TrainingPeaks metrics of TSS/IF/NP, as well as adds a whole crapton of other items and fixes. And yes, crapton is a technical term. This brings the unit inline with … Read More Here
2012 Escape from Alcatraz Race Report
There are just a handful of triathlon events out there that seem to make nearly every triathlete’s bucket list. This past winter when I heard of the opportunity to qualify for the Escape from Alcatraz event via a local yet … Read More Here
Week in Review–June 10th, 2012
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
Off to Alcatraz…or rather, off to Escape from Alcatraz!
I’m just about ready to head out to San Francisco, I’ve got my bike all packed up in its case and have the rest of my gear (mostly) packed. As you may remember, here’s my long-form packing list for triathlons, … Read More Here
Snippets of workouts from the past week (and how I killed a $1,700 camera)
This past week has been a work whirlwind for me, hence why the posting has been a bit light lately. Thankfully, the worst of it is over, and now I’m almost back to full speed around these parts. But that … Read More Here
Wahoo Fitness Blue SC Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Sensor In-Depth Review
There’s a new sensor in town, and for a change, this one isn’t ANT+. Instead, it’s a new Bluetooth Smart (aka Bluetooth Low Energy) sensor, one designed to track your speed and cadence information while on a bike. Following the … Read More Here
Week in Review–June 4th, 2012
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
In-Depth Review of the Quad Lock iPhone Bike Mount Case
There are numerous iPhone and cell phone bike mounting kits out there on the market today. They range in price from under $10 to nearly $1,000 (yup, really). Their capabilities, functionality an easy of use have just as extreme of … Read More Here
A long ride from Paris
This weekend I was back in Paris, following up on a trip from a few weeks ago with a pile more meetings on Thursday/Friday. Given the opportunity to tie it into the weekend, I figured I’d forgo traditional American BBQ … Read More Here
Week in Review – May 26th, 2012
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
A Paris night run from Notre Dame
(Quick Heads Up: REI has the Garmin FR610 down to $299 (with the heart rate strap, usually $399) on some sort of temporary sale. Thanks to all that sent this in. And, that particular REI link helps out the site … Read More Here
Garmin releases Edge 500 update, adds TSS/NP/IF & more
It’s been nearly 10 months since the announcement that TSS/NP/IF metrics would come to the Edge 500, and as of 11AM central time – it’s finally available. For those that want to get right to the action, you can swing … Read More Here
A quick pile of odds and ends
I’ve only got a few minutes for a quick post, as I’m trying to wrap up packing for a work trip again on Wednesday night. I’m headed back over to Paris for Thursday/Friday, and then staying around for what is … Read More Here
Behind the Scenes at Recon Instruments
I’m never one to turn down the opportunity to chat with folks in the sports technology industry about what all of you want in consumer products. So last Thursday night I made a beeline for the airport, first catching a … Read More Here
A busy weekend running, riding and testing–including the Magellan Switch and Switch UP
From Friday evening until Sunday evening, virtually every hour of my weekend was accounted for down to the minute. It isn’t until now that I’ve had a chance to really sit down and do anything. It started with a redeye … Read More Here
