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.
Kenya Day 6: Ostrich Balls and BBQ Crocodile…the end.
Our last day of the trip, after two weeks and a lot of miles, we were ready to wander on home. But first we had the morning game drive. I wouldn’t call it out, but since we saw the very … Read More Here
Kenya Day 5: Simba the Lion King
We’re going to keep this one quick – just photos. The day is our last full day in Kenya before making our way back Saturday towards the US (with first stops in Nairobi, Dubai, and then eventually DC – and … Read More Here
Kenya Day 4: Cheetah vs. Buck
The day started out more or less like any of the previous days in Kenya. We’d get up before dawn (6AM) and shuffle our way to the Land Rover ready to begin the the day. Speaking of which, here’s what … Read More Here
Kenya Day 3: The grasslands
My goal is to make like a cheetah and get this post knocked out. It stands between me and dinner. We left Tsavo National Park relatively early in the day to head to the small airstrip to catch our the … Read More Here
Kenya Day 2: Lions, Leopards and lots of land
Our second day started early…rather early. It seems to be a trend that I need to break actually. But at least we caught the sunrise from our front porch, illuminating the 19,345 foot Mt. Kilimanjaro. The schedule for the day … Read More Here
Kenya Day 1: ‘Smile…you’re in Kenya!’
Despite being a redeye flight from Egypt that arrived at a potentially painful 4:10AM, it wasn’t too bad at all. We were virtually first off the plane and then made like rabbits to the customs area to be able to … Read More Here
Egypt Day 4: Planes, no trains, and some messy automobiles
Very little in life goes according to plan at 4:30AM. The fact of the matter is that nothing should be happening at 4:30AM, so when you try and apply complex international relations at that hour in the morning…things invariably go … Read More Here
Egypt Day 3: Blowing Bubbles
After driving a gazillion miles from Cairo, it was time to do what we came here to do – diving. Both my brother and I certified scuba divers, so it was mostly just a matter of picking out a reputable … Read More Here
Egypt Day 2: The long road ahead
(Waking up to sunrise in Giza) When most people start off on a long drive, they tend to bring useful accessories such as maps, directions and perhaps even a little GPS navigation system. We however…decided against all of those. We … Read More Here
Egypt Day 1: Perfecting telling people off
It all started like any other international arrival. Our plane from Dubai descended under a cover of darkness to land out at a remote stand at Cairo International Airport. However, the first sign of things perhaps not going as smoothly … Read More Here
Dubai Day 4: Sand Dunes, Soccer and Suits
This was effectively our last full day in Dubai, and quite full it was. Without question it was the busiest day, first starting where every day starts – the hotel breakfast buffet. I call this out only to note the … Read More Here
Dubai Day 3: Skiing in the desert- Prepared two ways
Those who read my blog semi-regularly will know that I’m a huge fan of skiing. I’ve been known to go a bit out of my way (say a few thousand miles) to get some skiing in. So it wouldn’t be … Read More Here
Dubai Day 2: Relaxing? Umm…maybe.
Today was supposed to be a relaxing day. And in theory – it started off that way. A nice breakfast from the buffet, and then I went out to the beach to hang out for a while and just enjoy … Read More Here
Dubai Day 1: Sighting off camels…while swimming
Over the course of the last few days I’ve hop scotched across the country a to Seattle, Whistler and then back to Seattle before swinging through DC for a bit. Shortly after that my brother and I left for a … Read More Here
1.4* North
I arrived into a cold and snow Seattle a bit later than planned Sunday afternoon. Apparently, SEATAC airport does not own any snowplows, as there was no discernable difference between the runway and the grass. Both were covered in snow. … Read More Here
Running like a skirt
Yesterday was the Celtic Solstice 5-Miler held in Baltimore. A small group of us went up the night before and had a big ol’ slumber party. Well, as exciting a slumber party can be when you’re a bunch of runners … Read More Here
Tidal Basin 3K Race Report (oh…I kinda won)
It’s been about a year. A year since Peter first started poking me about coming out and running the Tidal Basin 3K monthly race. But earlier this week I poked him back and asked him if he was going to … Read More Here
Garmin Edge 705 In Depth Review
I picked up the Garmin Edge 705 back a few months ago in early September after going out for a 15 mile bike ride and while getting horribly lost I/we ended up cycling 50 miles. Amazingly, she still stuck with … Read More Here
Jingle Bell 10K Race Report – Umm..that hurt.
This past Sunday represented the last race of the year. Well, the last race I’d ‘race’ anyway. I still got some goodness coming up this weekend, but that’s just for fun. You say all races are fun? Umm…no…not all. Sure…before, … Read More Here
Late for the race
It started first with somehow showing up late to the race shuttle bus. Because I missed it I had to hitch a ride on a golf cart that speed to catch up to my wave. I arrived just in time … Read More Here
Baking the shoes – review of Sof Sole Energy foot beds
A few weeks back I was given the opportunity to review and check out a pair of Sof Sole Adapt Energy foot beds, as well as some socks. These are designed to fit into your shoes to more appropriately support … Read More Here
Slooooow cookin’
Yes – a double post! I meant to post this early this morning, but between an early morning bike (it’s back to double-workout days) and having to run downtown for meetings, it didn’t happen. Anyway… Since the winter months are … Read More Here
To improve my running, I need to improve my cycling
I was chatting with the coach the other day and noted that one of my goals for 2009 is to really improve on my run off the bike. I can run quite well independent of a triathlon, but my runs … Read More Here
The Ben and Jerry’s effect
Back a few weeks ago I finished up a workout, ate dinner and then sat around to watch TV and do stuff on my laptop. At some point along the way I became bored and decided to eat half a … Read More Here
A White Christmas (Tree) and a run in the snow
But before we can get to the Christmas Tree, we have to get beyond a run in the cold and some weight lifting. Yesterday’s morning run was quite a bit of fun. Well, I thought it was fun anyway – … Read More Here
