I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? Use Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
And both Backcountry & Competitive Cyclist offer free 2-day shipping!In the UK/EU/Australia/New Zealand? Then hit up Wiggle at the link below!
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.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with GPLAMA, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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.
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!
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.
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!
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 2021 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.
Search results for: 'Drone'
DJI Mavic Air 2 vs Skydio 2: Cycling Test Shootout!
Today DJI announced their latest drone, the DJI Mavic Air 2. For those of you that follow the gear I tend to use, the original DJI Mavic Air is one of my main drone go-to’s, largely because of its small … Read More Here
Sports, Drones, and Follow-Me Aerial Action Imagery: A State of the Industry
There’s been a ton of interest as of late in using drones within sports. This interest comes from many different angles. First is the more traditional approach of simply using the unmanned aerial vehicle as a platform for videography and … Read More Here
DJI Spark In-Depth Review
The DJI Spark is small, but is it as capable as DJI says? I did into every possible question you have, with tons of detail. Read More Here
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom and Pro In-Depth Review
After three months of use, how does the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom and Pro really hold up? I dig into all the details – in particular from a sports tracking standpoint. Read More Here
Week in Review–April 6th, 2014
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
My Sea Otter 2016 Trip Recap: The Festival, Riding, and More!
It’s time to wrap up my Sea Otter 2016 related posts. I spent last week in the States, first in NYC for some meetings, then off to San Francisco, before finally ending in Monterey (California) for the Sea Otter Classic. … Read More Here
Week in Review–May 17th, 2015
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
GoPro Karma In-Depth Review
(Update: Feb 1st, 2017: GoPro has resumed shipping of the Karma drone following it’s earlier recall. There is no difference between the pre and post-recall drones from a hardware or software features standpoint, except changes to the battery clip to … Read More Here
Investor Call Tech Tidbits: GoPro Q2 2017
As I noted yesterday, when I’m sufficiently bored, I listen to investor calls for companies in the segment. The last call I’ll likely be joining anytime soon was GoPro’s earnings call. I was interested to see what they might have … Read More Here
DJI Mavic Pro In-Depth Review
While the widely held assumption this year was that the GoPro Karma drone would be the hottest drone to get one’s hands on, it’s quickly become clear over the last 75 days that wouldn’t quite pan out. A mere 7 … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: DJI Spark
Watches aren’t your thing? No worries, I’ve got you covered. Literally in this case – the DJI Spark can make sure you’ve got coverage from above. Almost all selfies look better from further away, and this will do exactly that … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Ok, so this is a slightly delayed list of stuff I did last weekend. I spent more of the time on Monday finalizing my trainer app post, hence this got slid a little bit. Don’t worry though, it’s still all … Read More Here
5 Random Things From a Week in Colorado
It’s been a great seven days here in Colorado, so rather than focus just on the weekend, I figured I’d cover the last week’s worth of goodness from the mile-high+ realm. 1) A few days in the mountains After leaving … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
After much traveling over the holiday period and into CES, it was finally back home for the weekend. Glad to be enjoying the city and not bouncing around. 1) A quick test ride This past week was mostly a ‘catch-up’ … Read More Here
Week in Review–September 24th, 2017
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
Week in Review–July 1st, 2017
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
An awesome ride in the Swiss Alps
It’s been a while since I’ve written about a random ride in an epic spot. But in years past in the deserts of Jordan, or the coast of South Africa, or the Pyrenees, I’ve been lucky to sneak in some … Read More Here
Peloton Offers $300 Discount For Bike/Bike+/Tread Units (Plus Other Thoughts)
Peloton’s just announced a $300 discount for their base Peloton Bike, Peloton Bike+, and Peloton Tread units. However, this one is actually kinda interesting in how they’re doing it – for two different reasons. The first, is the fact that … Read More Here
Behind the Scenes: Spending the day at YouTube
When I was still working in the tech industry, one of the things that was cool about my job was that I was ‘required’ to squeeze in 4 weeks of training per year. I say required in air quotes because … Read More Here
My Photography Gear: The Cameras and Equipment I Use Daily
Preemptive note! Don’t forget my massive 2016 Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals page here. I’ve been updating it every few hours all day today with new deals, and expect to continue to update it constantly throughout the next few days. One … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
This weekend was jam-packed with tidbits, many of which where left on the 5 Random Things cutting room floor. Still, here’s what made the cut! 1) A Massive GoPro Selfie Stick Friday afternoon I was on a mission – I … Read More Here
Wiral LITE Cable Cam for Action Sports: How it all works
Over the last month or so you’ve probably seen a few action clips of mine using a funky length of 50 meters of cable and a doohicky zip across it like something out of crazy ziplining video. That is Wiral, … Read More Here
In Just 7 Days….
Yes, the time is once again almost upon us: The Annual DC Rainmaker Giveaway Extravaganza. While most of my neighbors are out on vacation, I’m here to step up the game and wake up the neighborhood. Or at least, keep … Read More Here
Week in Review–January 31st, 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
Week in Review–June 22nd, 2014
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