The Girl’s Newsletter Valentines Giveaway Page

Hi All!

Thanks for finding the Valentines Giveaway page! As I said in the Newsletter, this is a giveaway just for you, Newsletter Readers! Ray won’t be sharing this on Twitter or any other various forms of social media.

I’m sure you’re impatiently awaiting “WHAT IS THE PRIZE??”

The winner will get a $500USD credit to CleverTraining.com, our most excellent partner in this giveaway crime.  By supporting the site through Clever Training you also can save 10% on basically anything they sell (or get points instead).  If you win, you can use that credit for anything. Seriously. Well anything on their site.

How to enter:

Simply leave a comment below. Preferably an idea to peer pressure Ray into doing something romantic for his one and only this Valentine’s season. Otherwise, do be sure to leave some sort of comment more than just a word, as that sometimes leads to your comment getting stuck in SPAM. And no matter how much the Hawaiians try to sell it to you, there ain’t nothin’ good about SPAM.

That’s it. Go forth and good luck!

The giveaway entry period will run through Thursday, February 14th, 2019 until 11:59PM US Eastern Time.  Winner will be selected randomly.  One entry per person. 

2,333 Comments

  1. Chris Olson

    Don’t get flowers they are dead already

  2. mark l

    Make watts! Not War!

  3. Bruno Girodias

    Happy Valentines to you two!! Enjoy the day!

  4. Dean

    Just keep doing what you are doing Ray, it seems to be working 😉

  5. JP

    Ray should show he loves The Girl so much he’d be willing to go untracked/device free for the entire day. Hopefully distraction free ha can plan an awesome valentines. You are of course welcome (encouraged) to document the related trauma for all of us readers.

  6. Max

    would be sweet!

  7. John G

    Valentines idea….after he makes dinner have a nice evening without talk of gps watches, trainers, action cameras, drones or heart rate monitors! Cheers!

  8. Su-Chong Lim

    Here’s to the Maker Household — years of solid tech information and wisdom which still continues unchecked, and increasingly in recent years more light on the family and human side, not to mention the Canadian connection, to give us, really, a package we all can love, an appropriate sentiment for Valentine’s Day!

  9. Eric B

    Thanks for the reminder about this Thursday!

  10. Vivian A. Workman

    Surprise her early with a cute stuffed animal and chocolates. Then on Valentine’s Day, stay in and cook an amazing meal.

  11. Ran Shenhar

    thanks for doing the giveaway!

  12. Mike Gade

    Find her love language and show her how much you care

  13. Kelly

    I signed myself up for a half marathon, and my husband for a 100 mile ride on our wedding anniversary a few years ago. That’s romance, right?

  14. Trevor Fells

    Get your Valentine a wine soaked weekend touring wineries in Stellenbosch!

  15. Mel Moss

    All three of you Rainmaker’s just savior the day.

  16. Jillian Yaworski

    Hopefully at least dinner and wine for Valentine’s Day 🙂

  17. Kevin

    Dinner and a movie!

  18. Marie Hughes

    I’m getting a color printer for VD. I hope you get something just as nice. 😀

  19. S Brown

    I love the newsletter and look forward to it arriving in my in box each week. I hope Ray treats you like a Queen on Valentine’s Day!!

  20. Monica Gyulai

    Hi Ray. That “girl” of yours is pretty special. You know, just sayin’……

  21. Alistair Stewart-Jacks

    Thanks for this! 🙂

  22. Justin Newcomer

    Hand crafted cards are always better than anything store bought

  23. Will Moore

    I’m pretty sure my significant other won’t consider me buying a new bike toy on valentines day a good gift for her … But I’m willing to try it anyway.

  24. Andy

    Love the newsletter! More often than not, I am more interested in what ‘the girl’ has to say, and then adventures abroad. Love hearing that everyone struggles with the work-family-couples-kids balance.
    Sounds like you and Ray just had a wonderful V Day escape a week early.

  25. Colleen

    Take the Girl out to dinner Ray!

  26. Jason Gardner

    One of these days I’ll win a DC giveaway!

  27. Paul Voorend

    Breakfast in bed!

  28. Ken M

    Ray, I bet she’d LOVE a pizza oven. 😉

  29. rclar

    Hold out for the pizza oven!

  30. Daniel Kevin Perron

    Hi! Maybe trying to draw an heart with Strava or any tracking app for running ? 😛

  31. Wil

    The list of possibilities is endless, but Valentine’s Day has to start with him serving you breakfast-in-bed! Thanks and have a happy day!

  32. Shannon

    Hope your Valentine’s day is filled with some delicious eats 😉

  33. Troy

    The two of you always have such amazing experiences together. We often see the activities related to travels or products. Perhaps a simple and elegant candle lit dinner, away from the buzz of normal life. Target conversation, talk about the day you met and the immediate weeks post that. Happy valentines.

  34. Adam

    Thanks for the newsletters!

  35. Reeli

    I think chocolates and a kids-free hour to go for a run would make The Girl happy!

  36. Tasha

    Hello hello! Is the open to Canadians?

  37. Brian

    Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

  38. James A. Peyton

    Romantic weekend at the ice hotel in Iceland

  39. david eppler

    Seriously dude, do something nice for the woman who makes your life wonderful!

  40. David

    Valentines in wine country. Stellenbosch (sic).

  41. Kurtis Broda

    Go for a nice dinner!

  42. Mark

    I think Ray should give you everything on “the” list. Mo pizza, mo love!!!

  43. Dylan

    Ray should definitely provide you with breakfast in bed!

  44. Lynnette Johnson

    Hey Ray-a great gift for Bobby would be for you to take the Peanuts for a while. (Which he actually seems pretty good about anyway)

  45. Peter

    As the proud father of two young Acorns I know that the most romantic Valentines present I could provide would be an extra long sleep in for my partner.

  46. Francois

    Do not serve SPAM. Do not serve SPAM!

  47. Mitch Saunders

    Ray, knock out what remains on your honey do list or surprise her by doing something you know she wants done but hasn’t told you yet. May be hard considering you are away from home…..
    And of course flowers/chocolates etc!

  48. JoelP

    Cooking a nice dinner always seems like a good thing for Valentine’s

  49. Kwek JH

    Always enjoyed reading the newsletter especially the thoughts from the Girl! Enjoy your times in Capetown!

  50. Tabitha Jurgensmeyer

    Long time follower and fan of your product reviews! Long time runner, newbie cyclist, and a novice tech at best. Nothing gets bought or considered without a read on your page. Very much enjoy The Girl as well. Look forward to the newsletter and all things in the Maker household. 🙂 Thanks!

  51. Brian Ho

    Hey Ray, be nice to The Girl!

  52. Marten Jenkins

    Love your newsletter. Get your lovely wife a racing tandem for valentines day

  53. Stephanie

    I really enjoy reading your newsletter. Sure, I like Ray’s gadgets but at the end of the day I also appreciate the point of view of someone more like me, who struggles to fit exercise into a full life. Sorry I don’t have any romantical ideas for you!

  54. Zvi Bernhardt

    I can think of nothing more romantic than sharing watches.

  55. Danilo Chaves

    I can use the code to gift to myself? Jajajaja

  56. Mark Liew

    Sincerely Rita February, somewhere nice and warm preferably to a city you haven’t been before!

  57. David Chaves

    I just read the pizza oven idea I think that I can vouch for that for him… Err for you LOL

  58. Uri Peliowski

    Looking forward to winning

  59. Scott Griffith

    Hi! Maybe for Valentine’s, Ray should get his sweetie a new bike? What doesn’t say “Love” like a new bike? 🙂

  60. Mark Kline

    Mainly to let you know I love reading your newsletter, especially the personal stuff.

  61. Kyle

    A family trip to the tonys chocoloney tasting shop would be a fun valentines adventure. Kiddos will probably enjoy it the most though!

  62. Luz Fernandez

    I will used for give a super special gift to my boyfriend and support him with his training 🙂

  63. Jennifer Davis

    Hi! Loved your ‘race’ report 🙂 Glad I’m not the only one who turns up to just do an ‘easy run’ but can’t help racing when the gun goes off!

  64. Brian C

    Love the newsletter. Keep it flowing.

  65. Bret Walsh

    Wishing you and all a very Happy Valentines Day!…..Ray- skip the chocolates this year and prepare a romantic meal with your own talents.

  66. Shamir Dasgupta

    I would rather have a cupcake, but will settle for the Clever Training credit…

  67. Abryl

    South African dudes, come forth and offer peer-pressure ideas. 😉

  68. Jerome Learman

    Love the newsletter. Do you ever think about going back and revisiting something after you have already tried it?

  69. The Girl deserves flowers, wine, and day at the spa without the Peanuts!

  70. Chip

    Happy Valentine’s Day

  71. wilbert

    hi! DCR

  72. Thomas Haley

    Arts and crafts make for the best Valentine’s Day!

  73. Valerie Lee

    Hi! Just posting a comment….. 🙂

  74. Ken

    Hello, enjoy the warm weather

  75. Yeo kok Siong

    do nothing related to sports on V day 🙂

  76. Joshua Henderson

    Happy Valentines Day!

  77. Frank Brennan

    I have been reading your blog for 6-7 years and enjoy your exploits. Although, I do get lost in some of the gear talk sometimes, I have gotten valuable info. Seeing as Bobbie was a college soccer player, I am sure she would appreciate tickets to some of the Women’s World Cup Soccer games this summer in France. Perhaps Canada/Netherlands in Riems. I am sure she would appreciate some other games too.

  78. Sean M

    I see a pizza oven in Rays future for Valentines Day!!

  79. Lorin

    Hi Ray,

    As you are in South Africa, juts get a good bottle of wine in a meaty place looking towards the amazing sunset.

  80. Don

    Romantic?? Imagine the number of gadgets that could be tested on a bicycle built for two.

  81. Raf D

    Happy Valentine’s day!

  82. David Hansen

    Tickets to this summer’s women’s World Cup in France! See you there.

  83. Katie B

    Ray should run / ride a route that in the shape of: B+R4Eva (or TG+DCR4Eva or some other variant of your names/terms of endearment 🙂 )

  84. SwimNBike

    Happy Valentines in SA.

    I wonder what Ray has in store for Bobbie.

    Poor Lucy BTW

  85. JonD

    Get the girl a pizza (in a pizza oven) 😉

  86. John Doty

    Ray should buy the Girl some chocolate espresso gu’s and a nice real cappuccino for Valentine’s day.

  87. Jeremy Feinstein

    I heard long walks on the beach are nice 🙂

  88. Chris

    Cook a romantic dinner

  89. Byron Smith

    Good luck with Valentine’s Day!

  90. Ted Johnson

    A nice dinner prepared by someone else is always nice.

  91. Paul Cutting

    I love DCRainmaker and his budding bromance with GP Lama, share some of that love with the girl, Ray!

  92. Morten Bulow

    Hope he takes you on a canal tour where he can not test any electronic gadget and focus on the newsletters author.

  93. JD

    Nice to hear in this week’s newsletter that South Africa knows what a Flat White is! This Aussie expat is still waiting for small-town Florida to work it out (no, Starbucks doesn’t count)

  94. Eric M.

    Picnic, a classic and especially good if you go with a selection of fine cheeses.

  95. Andrew

    I thought he was building you a pizza oven?

  96. Darren Hinks

    Pick me

  97. Christy James

    Tip #1 do not give any electronic sporting equipment as a gift
    Tip #2 no helpful practical gifts, insert stroller coffee cup, roomba, etc
    Tip #3 do consider a spa treatment getaway

  98. Orville Elliston

    trying for the gift card

  99. Ryan Gallagher

    Hi, I hope you enjoy your Valentine’s day. Love the newsletter.

  100. Ken

    Go for a picnic via a bicycle built for 2!

  101. Nathan

    Hi Ray. I love your reviews. You really can’t go wrong with flowers. I like potted plants because they last so long

  102. Sebastian St John

    Come on Ray – spoil your girl!

  103. Ryan

    Ray couldn’t be any more romantic than to knock out a few items on his pizza oven “to do list.”

  104. Theresa

    My husband never surprises me at valentine‘s day. But I think your wife would be happy to have an evening with you alone. So organise a baby sitter and take here out for a romantic dinner.

  105. Nathan Bregel

    Open a good bottle of red wine. Gather the family and celebrate their beauty. Too often the singular focus of work mutes how wonderful the family is.

  106. John Rangel

    Two words: Pan Dora

  107. Anna

    Thank you for your great work! HappyValentine!

  108. Ben Hatch

    Perhaps for the ultimate Rainmaker Valentine’s Day, Ray could whisk The Girl away on a romantic tandem bike ride on a bicycle trainer built for two! Or flowers and chocolates. Yeah maybe flowers and chocolates.

  109. Martin Wray

    Ray, May I suggest a romantic sunset hot-air balloon ride with the ‘girl’ as a Valentine treat experience?

  110. David Colahan

    Roses are red violets are blue, etc etc

  111. Peter

    Ray, how about a spa day for the girl

  112. Darren Eaton

    Hello Ray,
    The way to the heart of a woman in the great Dutch region must include stroopwafel’s! If you can find a bunch of flowers that have not yet bloomed, they can also double as edible blooms! Your welcome!! Success with your Valentine Gift search!

  113. Ken

    Happy V-Day!

  114. Michael

    Happy Valentine’s Day!

  115. Brett Moad

    I hope I win so my wife will get a gift on the same level that Mrs. Rainmaker is sure to get.

  116. cian leveridge

    hello

  117. Fman

    Happy Valentines!

  118. Andrew Shute

    Ray – nothing beats a massage as a gift. Though be careful, very careful. My wife has now taken up with last Valentines masseuse

  119. Merlin Jantz

    Keep on being an awesome couple and living a dream and sharing some goodness with the rest of us fellow human beings, I love Rays candid reviews and can only imagine how conversations must go at the Maker house and I love your guys humor, keep it up! Thanks Again!

  120. Larry Westervelt

    Finish up your list so you can get that pizza oven.

  121. Jason Page

    Take her on a mtb ride with a picnic backpack to a damn area 🙂
    Keep it simple

  122. Robert Carslake

    I hope you both have a brilliant valentine’s Day

  123. Nathan Byren

    Ooooohhhh, secret style, I like it! Ray you could plan a little spa day at the Babylonstoren farm. It’s an amazing, edible garden farm, wine tasting, spa, two restaurants and beautiful accommodation. Out towards Stellenbosch, tours of the garden are free and very informative.

  124. Oleg

    Hi, we do normally celebrate March 8th, not February 14th. But why not to be romantic one extra day?

  125. Ian Bradford

    Love your newsletter and sense of humor! Go Girl!

  126. Michael Uhein

    Wish you and Ray a nice Valentins day!

  127. Wayne Schaap

    Is a Pizza Oven romantic?

  128. Joel Johnson

    I’m not an expert on romance… Maybe a relaxing Valentine’s 10K?

  129. Kirk Pritchard

    No valentines tips sorry, tapering for a 30km run this weekend.

  130. Maarten

    What a great idea! Would love to win tot finally buy a tri-watch.

  131. Tom Hopper

    Ooh yes please

  132. Craig

    I think Ray should take you out for Dinner and more Wine drinking

  133. Luke

    You can try and go to a comedy show, if those haven’t been booked yet. Open mics around the city? Concert from a band you used to listen to as a teen? Get kaiseki for dinner (but those might also be booked already)? Go chocolate tasting? Rent a moto and go to the backcountry?

    Idk just thoughts from a guy who’s single. Have fun!

  134. Jorick

    Valentine’s day is a commercial construct that should not be stimulated 😉

  135. Bernie

    Sorry, no expert about romance here. But I would like to try my luck with the giveaway. Thanks!

  136. Eric

    Do an ocean-side (or at least hill-side ocean-viewing) dinner at sunset! Bonus points if Ray cooks it, and sets it up in a quiet location (bringing a table+chairs Diner en Blanc-style).

  137. leon

    a valentine poem instead of suggestions as I haven’t got my wife anything either (I have taken her skiing though)

    Roses are red
    violets are blue
    some poems rhyme
    but this one doesn’t

  138. Paul Holmgren

    For you I wish that Ray arange a trip to Sharks board outside Durban(something like umchlanga rocks) and having a nice trip and learn something new about sharks.

    //Paul

  139. Sarah Buerger

    Seeing as you are in Cape Town, there’s lots to do for Valentine’s day! One of my favourites is going to have lunch under the Camphor trees at the Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West. There are also kiddies picnic baskets for the peanuts :).
    Amazing grounds for you to explore and the peanuts to run around.
    A picnic in Kirstenbosch – followed by a hike (if you have brought carriers with you).

  140. Oscar Tjörnstrand

    Something romantic.. long run without kids?

  141. John

    Did Adam and Eve ever have a date… nope, they had an apple!

    (I suggest more than an apple for Valentine’s!!)

  142. Daoud Amojee

    Hope you guys are enjoying sunny Cape Town!

  143. Paul I

    Happy tandemtines day!!

  144. Michal Matuga

    Ray should just take som free evening to spend only with you!

  145. Will

    Love the channel especially the not obliged to be nice attitude, it shows that you’re honest in what you say and the review is a genuine consumer point of view. Keep it up

    P.S. The girl section makes for a great read too, very interesting to get an insight into the Maker household

  146. Charlie R. Japadermawan

    How about a romantics dinner cruise on Amsterdams famous waterway just before sunset, Happy Valentine

  147. LC Bainbridge

    love reading the blog and newsletter.

  148. Matt Baraclough

    Happy Valentine’s Day guys – is Great White cage diving the right message to send on the 14 th Ray? ?

  149. Mare

    Hello, I am in.

  150. Johan

    May I suggest a moonlit ocean swim? Of course with a romantic red light in the DCR safety buoy

  151. Harald Bootz

    how about getting a babysitter and then quality time for you two?
    maybe a spa visit, massage, and then romantic dinner for two?

  152. Taylor Sproul

    I visited Amsterdam last February and it was great, but definitely cold. South Africa seems like a much better choice for this time of year!

  153. William De'Ath

    Spa recovery weekend for Mrs. DCR.. No kids…

  154. Bernard

    Something like a romantic 10k or sprint triathlon?
    😉

  155. Patrick Wilke

    Me wanty CleverTraining voucher!

  156. Lee Weikert

    Ray, drop the girl off at an all day spa and take care of the peanuts by yourself for the day.

  157. pc

    Just be yourself and that’s it!

  158. Andrea P

    Hi there, The Girl is doing an awesome job with the newsletter. I think she totally deserves some Valentine’s love.

    have a nice time in South Africa!

  159. Pedja Knezevic

    Hello Ray and The Girl! Thanks for all the supercool reviews. You are #1 goto place for sportstech news and reviews.

  160. Chris

    No need for gifts, try breakfast in bed and a lie-in

  161. Thomas Richter

    Wouldn’t it be great if Ray baked a heart shaped pizza in his own pizza oven for valentine’s? 😉

  162. Robert

    Hot air balloon ride

  163. Keio

    Ray go for it!!

  164. Sebastian L

    WTF, now even secret giveaways 🙂
    So the accounting shown in the “5 random things” has paid off then?

  165. Marcus H

    Love the newsletter. Ray, skip the flowers and chocolates and take the kids out for an afternoon so your better half can enjoy some alone time.

  166. Mat0x4e

    Hi secret Giveaway !
    Have a nice Valentine’s day !

  167. Erik

    Baguette in Jersey pocket and Champaign in the bottle holder

  168. sammi

    love this prize

  169. Ondřej

    Ray, I recommend the Romantik Marathon in Fuessen, Germany!

  170. Stéphane Marchand

    I’m short of any romantic idea; why not some kindy duo-style triathlon? Enjoy! And thanks for this sweet intention.

  171. Roel

    Tried to come up with a clever idea, but the pizza oven one on top is just impossible to beat as far as romantic gestures go…

  172. JimC

    One year I made my wife a “I love you more than my bike” card, not sure it was entirely true but she appreciated the thought 🙂

    So do that. This year I’ve made cheese cake and fudge.

  173. Thor R

    Hello, hugs ? all round.

  174. keith

    Yup, pizza oven

  175. Emmanuel Millan Contreras

    When the Girl makes such a generous offer for the followers you must give her a special Valentine’s evening.

  176. Koen Rombouts

    Valentine’s Day options in S-A should be easy! A sampling of some of the finest wines of South Africa and a romantic dinner on one of the estates, should do the trick!

  177. Balazs

    Ggood ol’ fashion “hello”.

  178. Kirsten begg

    I like SPAM in the right moment. Perhaps a SPAM pendant for your lady, Ray?

  179. Marco

    Great newsletter!

  180. Justin

    Spoil The Girl rotten

  181. Jozef Hetesi

    That would be great

  182. Jonathan Hughes

    Love the newsletter! Home made pizza would be cool…

  183. Tobi

    Dears!
    For sure it must be a romantic evening, just you 2, with a bottle of rwd wine and … Fondue.
    Do some sport before and enjoy the evening, so do I 😉
    Tobi

  184. K.H.

    Love the inspiration over here 🙂

  185. Sergio Domingo

    Hi!! Have a great Valetine’s!

  186. Eike

    Awesome idea, I’m in 🙂

  187. Ciaran O'Connor

    Keep up the great reviews Ray & Mrs

  188. Michael Swann

    Ray should turn off all gadgets and technology for the evening. No screens for you either ?

  189. Mikko

    Maybe a run together?

  190. Felix

    How about flowers?

  191. Hans

    Happy Valentine’s day!

  192. Tommy

    How about a third peanut? 😉

  193. Nico G.

    Feliz día de San Valentín desde Madrid!

  194. Piotr

    1:1 without kids would be nice

  195. Evangelos Koutroumpinas

    Hey Ray, take her skiing somewhere in Alps in a spa retreat! Girl you can thank me later!!!

  196. Iwik

    jointed training, just you and me

  197. Tobi Grab

    hello