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.
Paris Super Sprint Triathlon 2016 Race Report
This past Sunday was the Paris Super Sprint Triathlon, which is an indoor tri held annually here and put on by Expatriés – one of the local triathlon clubs. Like all early season indoor triathlons, it’s a great way to … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Another busy weekend in the city, albeit supposedly the first day of spring – it was definitely still holding back a bit on the warm weather front. I think it’s fair to say that weather came last weekend instead. 1) Product … Read More Here
Week in Review–March 19th, 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
How I configure my watches (and bike computers)
It’s been a number of years since I last wrote about how I setup my different GPS devices when it comes to screens for training and racing. Given it’s one of the most popular questions around these parts, I figured … Read More Here
Garmin VIRB X & XE Action Cam In-Depth Review
Every once in a while in the DCR Review Realm I go ahead and pull out a slightly longer review cycle. This would be one of those times. In this case, I’ve used the Garmin VIRB X & XE action … Read More Here
Spring 2016 Power Meter Pricing Wars Update
It’s been almost a year since I did a big power meter pricing chart. Sure, I talk about pricing in my annual power meter buyer’s guide, but pricing continues to fluctuate a bit. So I figured I’d do a recap on … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
We’re back home in Paris! Our floors are all finished and first thing up was unboxing and installing some new gadgets that have just started shipping. Let’s dive right into it! 1) Got WatTeam PowerBeat all installed The first order … Read More Here
Garmin releases Connect IQ for Edge 520 & Edge 1000
It’s been about 5 months since Garmin announced Connect IQ would be coming to the latest Edge cycling units. This would extend the Connect IQ platform from being previous wearables only (i.e. wrist worn things), to other Garmin device types. … Read More Here
The Feiyu Tech GoPro Action Cam Wearable Gimbal In-Depth Review
I know, approximately 97% of you are looking at the title right now and going “Who the fudge is Feiyu Tech?” And then about 65% of you are saying “What the heck is a gimbal?” (and is it related to a gumball?). Fear … Read More Here
PowerPod In-Depth Review
Back this past fall the PowerPod power meter was introduced on Kickstarter and funded within a few days. It started shipping a few months later, within a week or two of their planned date (a rarity these days) in late … Read More Here
A Week in the Canary Islands (and a bit of Africa)
You’ll remember last week we left off leaving Rome (after Barcelona for Mobile World Congress), in our bid to burn a few weeks of time while our landlord pulls up and renovates the flooring in our apartment. So for the … Read More Here
Week in Review–March 6th, 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
Fitbit Blaze In-Depth Review
Almost exactly two months ago at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Fitbit announced their latest higher-end wearable, the Fitbit Blaze. The company positioned it as a smart fitness watch, aiming to offer something midway between the higher-end … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend in Rome
With MWC over this past week, it was off to a new place. Why not go home you ask? Because they’re tearing up the floors in our apartment and we have to be out of it for a number of … Read More Here
Week in Review–February 28th, 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
Garmin Fenix3 HR In-Depth Review
Last month at CES in Las Vegas, Garmin introduced their most advanced wearable device with an optical heart rate (HR) sensor in it – the Fenix3 HR. This device took Garmin’s Elevate optical HR sensor and added it to their … Read More Here
The Apple Watch: Sport and Fitness In-Depth Review
Heads up – February 2017! Looking for the Apple Watch Series 2 In-Depth Review? Swing on over to that page here! Ahh yes, the long awaited Apple Watch for Fitness In-Depth Review. I’ve now spent almost 10 months with the … Read More Here
The Love You Wanted: $600 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
This past weekend I held a huge giveaway for anyone that didn’t quite feel the love over Valentine’s Day the previous weekend. Be it gadget love, or some other form of lovelessness. Some 5,803 of you are apparently lacking a … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Ok, catching up after a busy weekend going into Mobile World Congress here in Barcelona. You’ll see a bit more on that as the week goes along. In the meantime, here’s what I was up to this past weekend. It … Read More Here
Garmin’s new Vivoactive HR & Vivofit 3: Hands-on & First Run
Update June 2016: My in-depth review of the Vivoactive HR is now available. Swing on over to that post for all the details! On Friday Garmin announced their new Vivoactive HR & Vivofit 3. As you’ll remember, my post was … Read More Here
Hands-on with Samsung’s new Gear 360° camera
Tonight was the annual Samsung event at MWC, where thousands of media folk descend on the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona, situated along the waterfront, to see the latest Samsung gadgetry announced. As is customary for my posts in the past from … Read More Here
Week in Review–February 20th, 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
Garmin announces Vivoactive HR & Vivofit 3
!!!Update! I’ve since posted a full hands-on and first run look at the Vivoactive HR! Swing on over to that post for all the hands-on details and videos!!!! Today Garmin announced two new products – the Vivoactive HR, and the … Read More Here
The Love You Wanted: $600 Gadget Giveaway
What’s that? Your Valentine’s Day was a bust? No worries, I’m here to try and cheer ya up. It’s your opportunity to win something you’ll really love (which, may be in addition to someone else you love). The winner will … Read More Here
Understanding continual (24/7) optical HR data and resting heart rate
(Updated April 9th, 2017) More and more devices over the last 1-2 years have begun to include the ability to record your heart rate (HR) data around the clock. No longer are you limited to just workout HR data, but … Read More Here
