Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. Full list & thoughts here!
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
1
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.
2
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!
3
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.
4
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!
5
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.
Valentine’s Day is for giving …. $500USD sounds like the perfect gift!
You guys are awesome, especially the Girl! Ray (do as I say, and not as I do) get her something nice for her for Valentines. You know like a new pair of lulu running shorts… in red for the holiday of course. :-)
Love the newsletter, the behind the scenes of Ray Maker LLC, and seeing who really wears the bike shorts in the family.
Thanks for the Giveaway chance. No grand ideas for Valentine’s day. Just spend some good ole quality time together!
A spa day always works Ray!
I love the work you and Ray do!
Happy Valentine’s Day. Give your wife a day off from writing the newsletter.
Hello. No original idea for Ray, I’m afraid, though flowers or cooking a meal always pleases my wife.
Hi! Thanks for sharing all of the great information!
Clearly Ray should get you a Pizza oven for valentines (it’s the only way he might get one)!
Take ‘the girl’ to Test Kitchen in Cape Town for Valentine’s Day. You’ll both love it.
A romantic dinner with champagne on a Caribbean beach by candlelight. A beautiful woman deserves no less.
Happy Valentine’s day all. The giveaway will help make hearts stronger ?!
Hello, I would love to be included in the giveaway. Thanks.
Happy valentines day y’all!
Hello!
Share a nice bottle of Champagne with The Girl!
Hi. Great job on the newsletter!
I feel Ray should whisk you away to Reunion to practice your French. the peanuts could be put in care of your parents, as Ray has flown them to Capetown to escape their neighbors to the south! there you could drink wine, just as in South Africa, eat stinky cheese(yum!), lounge on beaches, frolic in the surf, and more importantly bask in French ambiance.
Start a treasure map with 1st hint on bathroom mirror. Leave 3-4 more notes with clues to end point little box with a sparkly something hidden in Peanuts jog stroller. Good luck!!
Cheese, wine and chocolate are always a winner!
Cook for her Ray!
personally i would like my significant other to whisk me away to a warmer place than this rainy Amsterdam, but i guess you are all set there!?
Early morning run with each other (and with kids). Gotta get the workout out of the way. Little R&R until dinner & then dinner somewhere with an ocean view.
Thank you ‘The Girl’!
A friend of mine bought his wife a red vacuum cleaner for Valentine’s Day one year. Don’t do that.
Hello!
Newsletter fan here
Forget flowers and chocolates, I would be thrilled if I came home to a clean house and my husband cooking dinner. Hint, hint, Ray.
Hi hi
Hello
Hihi
Do a Valentines Arcade night. Wonder what a SA arcade is like.
Nice run together.
So there was this pizza oven… what more motivation can a man have, to be romantic on Valentine’s Day? The way to a man’s stomach goes through the girls’s heart (or so I guess). ^_^
It’s only four weeks till my wedding, so this would be the ultimate romantic gift….. ;)
Try some South African wine with the pizza
Ray, surprise the girl with a nice night out. Get a babysitter for the peanuts and go have some fun!
I’m the wrong person to give advice to Ray, Thursday evening will be another climb up Alpe Du Zwift for me.
Do what you normally do on Valentine’s day.
buy her a pizza oven Ray…
The pizza oven!
You are one of the most respected folks in the internetsphere. Can’t wait to hear your impressions of a working IQ2 !
A pizza oven? I kid, I kid! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thank you!
Sweeeeet
Ray, take The Girl on a date and leave every single electronic device behind. Even your phone. The Girl can carry an emergency phone for the Peanuts.
You won’t be able to evaluate the success of the date based on traditional metrics, so you’ll have to try and assess on the basis of fuzzy factors such as communication (that is, talking), eye contact, and smiles. You might feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s like going for a ride without a power meter, a HR strap or even an activity tracker — horrors — until all of a sudden you find you have forgotten about tracking your performance and are actually enjoying the ride.
Dates work the same way.
Get ray that pizza oven :)
The very first thing Ray needs to do is find a babysitter. Then go do something that you both like doing, like Scandinavian death metal! Stuff like thst.
Hi, thanks for the newsletters, I think they are great. Keep up the good work and Ray should definitely take you out for dinner somewhere nice.
How about a Garmin Heart Rate strap? Nothing says Valentine’s Day like heart monitoring!
Hey-hey Happy Valentine’s Day!
Hey Ray,
Tell her how awesome she is and get her a big bunch of flowers. Can’t go wrong with that. Anything else will be a bonus ?
Miss the cakes
Love your work and I am sure that Ray will find a nice sunset in SA to bring out the Romance on Valentine’s.
M
Do something romantic for your wife, Ray.
Hope you go for a nice romantic date with lots of exercise! An impromptu triathlon would be a great idea!
Love the newsletter. Thanks, for putting it together.
Valentine’s instructions for Ray:
1. Let her sleep in while you wrangle the children and make her breakfast
2. Let her play with her children while you clean up after breakfast
3. Fun family activity
4. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for lunch
5. Get babysitter to look after kids
6. Pack romantic picnic dinner and take her for a sunset picnic near the shore.
Sorry to spoil the fun, but I’ve never really been into Valentine’s Day. I would, however, love to enter the contest.
I’m in
Look forward to the newsletter every week. Hope you and Ray get a chance to do something fun.
Hey there. Have a wonderful time in South Africa and thanks for sharing it with us!
I found the secret give away! Good luck everyone
Come on Ray – no training , just take the girl out to dinner!
Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a new powermeter
taking my wife out to eat. hope ray is extra good to you
Ooh, I think The Girl definitely needs to receive a special pasta dinner prepared by Ray. Or, if that’s not possible while away from home, at least some sort of special meal.
Rent a tandem if you don’t already own one, and take her for a nice leisurely ride down some memorable areas that’s meaningful to the both of you, like visit the places you went to on your first date, and either eat at the same first date restaurant or, end up at the same restaurant you proposed to her for a romantic candle light dinner, then head back home and be prepared for a romantic night. Buy a few small flowers she can wear in her hair as the two of you ride along.
Love reading the In-Depth Thoughts from The Girl portion of the newsletter!
I don’t know yet if I’d rather win the CleverTraining credit or a pizza from the legendary DCRainmaker’s pizza oven.
Valentine’s Day is already in two days, I think that’s a little bit late for Ray to change the already great plans he certainly has, so I will not add any ideas.
Maybe he could cook a nice dinner?
Thanks for the giveaway, and for the newsletters which I always make the time to read and chuckle along to.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
A Clever Training credit sure would make it a memorable Valentino Day!
Often nothing finer than a lovely meal in a beautiful little hide-away restaurant, where you enjoy each others company and not even talk about missing the little ones for at _least_ a couple of minutes… hope you guys have a good one !
Ray should make you your favorite meal!
always look forward to the weekly newsletter
Hey Ray, hope you both have a fenix 5 plus? X for you and S for the Mrs with matching Valentine’s straps ?
Ou yeah!! Love is in the air!
I’ve got no great romantic ideas, but the giveaway would be super awesome!
Give The Girl a red bike! Like a Trek. Or flowers, she might like that too. But think about the bike idea.
Well done on the run. Nothing fancy happening here on valentines day in sunny Clifton Spring.
Clever Training has been great, made it right when “delivered” items never showed. Great service and followup
Does CT sell Apple watches?
To win this would be really lovely!
Money please!
Certainly wouldn’t turn down $500.
I would Luke a gift
Maybe finally you’ll get your pizza oven!
Just a nice simple dinner – with or without the kids, if Ray cooks it and you take the time to sit down togethor that’s good enough (can you tell I’ve been married over 20 years :) ).
The newsletter is great!
Love the newsletter! Totally look forward to it every week
A moonlit cycle through the woods a perfect romantic valentine
Just do it! :D
Thanks for all you do!
Hello…
Ray, you should get the girl a sports massage with all of the hobbling around she is doing. Or a nice recovery pack with anti-inflammatory medication, Epsom salts (some nice smelling ones too), some nice athletic wear (for her next run) and some recovery drink too (for that South African heat).
hello!!!
I like the pizza oven idea! ?
Cherish each other and every moment together – Happy valentines
Take the Kids and her Mom and spend a great and funny day with sun, sand and pirates.
Who doesn’t like super secret giveaways?
I’d like to get my wife a new Vivoactive, and she can get me something Tacx-y.
Yay Cheese!
Something more romantic than a road trip to a closed off road? Guess how we learned in Italy what “Strada chiusa” means… :-)
How about making a heart shaped pizza in the oven?
Come on Ray! For crying out loud, it’s Valentine’s Day! Get mushy!
Diamonds are a girls best friend.
Don’t forget the flowers! It doesn’t matter if she says she doesn’t want them, get them anyway. Oh, and the card, don’t forget that either!
Hello!
Maybe serve heart shaped crumpets
Skip dinner and go for Cocktails and dessert instead!
Happy Valentines day :)
Count me in for a new power meter – thanks!
I could definitely use this, thanks!
3 words… Safari candle-lit dinner
Strava heart for your valentine
Hi, just commenting to enter the competition.
Happy Valentines =)
Happy Valentines day to you two!
Love is so sweet but changes over time
Even after you promise to make him mine
He once showered you with so many surprises you could not wait
Now it’s a gadget a kiss and some takeout so the kids are asleep by eight
I was going to suggest that Ray should get you a nice bottle of wine, but it looks like you already picked up some (from your newsletter). Hopefully Ray gets you something nice.
Hello!
Nice Surprise
Given my own lack of Valentines ideas, I’m not sure I have any to spare for Ray, sorry
Hmmmmmm, a rosewater diffuser on your bathroom vanity to give you the gift of stopping to smell the roses every crazy morning even when toddler craziness doesn’t exactly allow. :)
How about a picnic on the beach
A new Garmin Tacx watch
Sundowners with a bottle of Champers on the beautiful Strand beach in Cape Town while gazing towards the misty outline of Cape Point.
I’ve always found taking care of the kids to be the best Valentines Day gift !
Hey Ray,
Hope you do something sweet and romantic for your better half for Valentine’s Day!
Just a hello. Spending time together as a family is the gift that will be remembered. Happy Valentines Day.
a lot of love :-)
Hi Guys! I think Ray could do a couple of things that would make The Girl feel loved, one would be take the kids away for the day, the weekend, and book The Girl a spa/massage/mani-pedi (insert other desirable treats here). The other would be, find a way for you both to get away sans kids for a night, and treat yourselves to a nice night out, maybe a hotel stay with breakfast in bed?
Happy Valentines Day!
Bernard
My wife would LOVE for me to get a wheel-off trainer to replace my noisy Magnus (love it, but it’s loud).
I think a shark dive would be a really romantic gift for Valentine’s Day. Something you could enjoy together… seriously, I was in Cape Town for the Cape Epic last year and squeezed in a swim with these fish before returning home, a wonderful experience.
Prepare a comfort food menu! (with wine)
Hee ray (and the girl), super Nice to do An other giveaway! But I think I cant’ help you with the Cupido-arrows…. I’m still single and aint the most romantic person :-(, but I am sure Someone Will in the thousends or more comments below, good luck and love to hear the outcome of the Valentine-tips!
Congratulations on your excellent finish!
Breakfast in bed for sure… with pancakes… blueberry pancakes! ?
Wow valentines day! Makes me reminisce on times long past. Sweet memories
For Valentine’s Day, I think you should replace ALL her watch bands with pink ones!
Don’t do it Ray – it’s a trap!
Greetings from Adelaide
But what about pineapple on pizza?
Why doesn’t she do something for you?!
Seems like a good Valentine’s Day exchange might be completion of the “honey-do” list (by Ray) and the purchase of a pizza oven (by you)…
Another trip to Australia perhaps? Thanks for running this!
My suggestion: Make everyday Valentine’s Day.
G’day Mrs Rainmaker, I think Ray should take you on a picnic taking a hamper full of delicious treats.
Feeling the love you are showing to FTC!
The hat cracks a run through South Africa, and the shirt has been everywhere!
If I had someone for Valentine’s day, I would prepare a nice breakfast for her in the morning, and prepare a nice dinner for the evening. Not that I’m a great cooker, but I’ll try my best to show her how much I care about her. And chocolate… because chocolate…
If you want to really impress The Girl, skip the artificiality of the Valentine’s season and try this: Share a compliment, thank her for something specific, or mention something she did/does that you appreciate … every single day. It requires minimal situational awareness and about 10 seconds of spoken word on your part. The payoff FAR outweighs your investment!
Happy Valentines Day!
Instead of a nice dinner which is quite obvious I believe you should have a nice breakfast / brunch with lots of champagne ?
Valentine’s day is a great day to celebrate with your partner with a training session together. Get someone to watch the kids and go out for a run or bike ride!
I am in the good mood for winning :-)
Hello! Happy Valentine’s Day!
As she suggested, “Hello!”
Thanks.
Happy Valentine’s Day to both you and Ray!
My love language is service, so him doing something to help you out or take some burden off would be considered romantic in my book :-).
Super secret giveaway :)
I feel Valentines is a made up holiday, but still its nice to have a day to say “i Love You”
PS these secret giveaways are great!
I love secrets.
I know a special someone I could use this for!!
Come on Ray – Pony up for Valentine’s Day!
Ray: Make the girl heart-shaped pizzas (pizza oven hint and extra dinner-making effort at the same time)
Hello
Ray the biggest thing is “Don’t Forget”! Jewelry has always worked well for me in the past. We go through stages where we just want/need something practical, but for this holiday a little pampering goes a long way! Happy Valentines Day!
Great job with the newsletter! Keep it up!!!
Definitely do not buy your valentine heart-shaped anything… puke!
You can start the day doing all the tasks she does like cooking breakfast, house cleaning and kids care. The take her for a nice lunch and a spa day. End the day with a surprise dinner and a good movie (not drama or action). A good night kiss and go to sleep. Only sleep, just in case those seconds thoughts come to mind. She won’t appreciate anything else.
What a ‘love’ly idea!
Happy Valentines Day
Happy Valentine’s day !
For Valentines, I’m taking my wife out for a road or mtn bike ride.
Love your work
No Valentine but at least I still have my bike to ride.
Thanks for the chance to participate. I enjoy the newsletter and like reading the reviews. I hope I win!
How about a nice romantic stroll or cycle ?
Hello! Happy Valentines!!!
My wife loves it when I say, “I’ll take the kids out for a couple hours…you relax”
Well, I could certainly use a $500 credit. Thanks,
Treat her like the prize she is!
Valentines day is when you remember that you love your significant other more than anything else in the world (except maybe the BMC)
As long as it’s sparkly.
Wow what a what prize, well my suggestion for a ripper Valentines pressy is to cave in on the ongoing Pizza oven argument, a simple yes in a card with a picture of the notorious Oven should do the trick…anonymous of course…mentioned to Ray in a message, that perhaps use a rentable Library room as your office, have a great holiday haha well done on your almost wein in your 8k race
Spam is great!
If you guys would be in the Netherlands, I’d say maybe renting a little sailboat (like a ‘valkje’) and bringing a picnic basket? But I guess you’re still in SA. So horse riding on the beach, followed by a lovely dinner?
Happy Valentines Day!
Hello!
Happy wife, happy life
Hey Ray! Love your work!
You can never go wrong with chocolate
Thanks for the generous giveaway! Hope Ray surprises you on Valentine’s Day!
Yes please
Just remember Ray, there are times to be romantic, and times to be a data head (and sadly these times rarely intersect!)
Well, If I could be in Paris for valentine’s day, then dinner at La Coupole would be the obvious choice!
Good luck in getting your romantic date [Ray – get a grip, and take the girl out!]
Thanks
Go pick up some Mesembryanthemums
Hello down there. No idea for Valentines, but he has taken you away from the dreary European winter which I’d love to get on Thursday!
A nice bottle of wine is a Valentines Day classic!
Happy valentine’s day!!