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.
A Queen Mary 2 Runaround
The past few days we’ve been floating along on a rather large boat. Technically more of an ocean liner, but still, it did float. The Queen Mary 2. Yes, a long lost but still rather close relative of the Titanic. … Read More Here
Week in Review–August 25th, 2013
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
Heads up on late summer & fall events and conferences I’ll be attending
It’s about time to head into the busy late summer and fall period. At least, a busy period in the sports technology world. Typically the sports technology world introduces devices at one of two major timeframes – fall and spring. … Read More Here
Tip of the day: How to display your name and phone number on your Garmin Edge
A few days ago a reader tweeted me an interesting little tip that I hadn’t seen before. It allows you to specify a startup message that’s displayed to the person turning on your Garmin Edge unit (hopefully you). And in … Read More Here
Initial thoughts on Garmin VIRB sports camera with ANT+ connectivity
My Full In-Depth Review of the VIRB and VIRB Elite has been published! Check it out here! On Tuesday Garmin announced their entry into the sports action camera market – a market currently dominated by GoPro, with a slew of … Read More Here
First Look: Wahoo Fitness RFLKT+ with ANT+ to Bluetooth Smart Bridge, Barometric Altimeter
Last night Wahoo Fitness unveiled the next edition of their bike computer – the RFLKT+ (pronounced Reflect Plus). The RFLKT+ builds upon the previous RFLKT unit that was announced about a year ago by adding in native ANT+ bridging functionality … Read More Here
Cycling to the most easterly point in North America
After driving out to Cape Spear last Monday I decided that it would make for a perfect long ride this weekend. Except, I wasn’t quite content with just a ‘simple’ out and back. No, I’d add in a bunch more … Read More Here
Week in Review–August 19th, 2013
Given I’m ‘on vacation’ this week (and last, and this next), that means I may from time to time lose track of weekends vs weekdays. That’s what vacation is for, right? Thus, here’s the Week in Review – “Monday Edition”. … Read More Here
A week of swim, bike, run (and eating) in Newfoundland
We arrived up here late last Sunday night, ready for a bit more than a week on ‘The Rock’ – Newfoundland, Canada. For those not quite clear where that is, think Greenland, and then go a little bit southwest – … Read More Here
A Philadelphia Runaround
You know what’s nice about this run in Philadelphia? I didn’t have to run a marathon. It seems the trend that every time I’m in Philly I’m either running the Philly Marathon/Half-Marathon, or doing the Philly Triathlon. This time, I … Read More Here
Week in Review–August 12th, 2013
Given I’m ‘on vacation’ this week (and last, and the week after), that means I may from time to time lose track of weekends vs weekdays. That’s what vacation is for, right? Thus, here’s the Week in Review – “Monday … Read More Here
A look at a week of rides (and a run) in Boulder, Washington DC
It’s been a busy week thus far (and seemingly only getting busier, despite being Sunday). So I figured I’d catch folks up on where I am, and in doing so I have a post that isn’t about power meters (since … Read More Here
First hands-on look & rides with the Garmin Vector power meter
Over the past two days, a small number of publications have gotten a hands-on look at the Garmin Vector system – which starts shipping today (Wednesday, August 7th). In doing so we’ve collectively been able to ride with it, ask … Read More Here
FINIS Neptune Swimming MP3 Player In-Depth Review
When FINIS announced the new Neptune swimming MP3 player two months ago I was skeptical. I was pretty happy with the previous generation – the SwiMP3. It was smaller, and and thus for most swimmers, that’s a critical selling point. … Read More Here
A weekend riding past the beach and swapping power meters
Looking at this past weekend, I’m not really sure where it went to. In fact, the same can really be said for July as well. As The Girl pointed out last night: “What July?”. Neither of us have any idea … Read More Here
Week in Review–August 3rd, 2013
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
Bryton Cardio 60 GPS Multisport Watch In-Depth Review
The Bryton Cardio 60 is an interesting relatively unknown nugget on the triathlon watch scene. It’s interesting because it’s one of the few (if only?) multisport GPS watches that’s not actually offered in North America. But outside of that scope, there’s … Read More Here
A week of swim, bike, run in Seattle
I sit here climbing away from from Seattle, with Mt. Rainier off to my left. It’s been a rather sunny week here this time, I think my 3rd trip to Settle in the last 3 months. Apparently it’s been sunny … Read More Here
Week in Review–July 27th, 2013
The important part here is The Week in Review’s are back! 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 … Read More Here
Basis B1 Watch In-Depth Review
The Basis B1 watch represents the first fitness tracker on the market to do 24×7 continuous heart rate monitoring (all without a heart rate strap), in addition to all of the usual metrics like a step-counter and sleep. Adding to … Read More Here
Clever Training & DCR Exclusive Deal on Garmin Edge 800: $279
August 1st, 2013 – please note: This deal is now expired. Thanks for supporting the site! Just a quick heads up that Clever Training worked out a deal to offer exclusively to DC Rainmaker readers to pickup the Garmin Edge … Read More Here
First look at new Magellan Echo smartphone enabled running watch
This morning Magellan announced their newest entrant to the fitness market – the Magellan Echo. Unlike many running watches, this unit takes a bit of a different approach to things. Instead of containing a GPS chip within the unit, it … Read More Here
Watching the Tour de France finish in Paris
While we moved to Paris last year just before the Tour began, I unfortunately had to go on a work trip the day the Tour finished in Paris – thus missing the famous finale. Given this year was the 100th … Read More Here
A day spectating on Alpe d’Huez at the Tour de France
After spending the week wandering around France we got back late last night following an exciting day on the climb to Alpe d’Huez at the Tour de France yesterday. While I’ll circle back over the next day or so with … Read More Here
A road trip to Alpe d’Huez and the Tour de France
The Girl, myself, and a few friends are working our way across France down to Alpe d’Huez and the surrounding area for later this week. As such, things will be fairly quiet for the first part of this week while … Read More Here
