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? 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.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 DesFit, 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 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.
Tag Archives: Giveaway
Giveaway Extravaganza: Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Look at that, we’re onto Giveaway #3. Feelin’ tired yet? No?!? Good, then go out for a run. And for that activity you could use the new Spartan Sport Wrist HR, which includes a fancy optical heart rate sensor embedded … 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
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Fenix 5
And so it begins – the mother of all giveaways once again! Thus, it seems appropriate to begin with what is effectively the mother of all fitness smart watches: The Garmin Fenix 5. No other watch on the market has … Read More Here
The Day in May DCR $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last week was giveaway time! A rather respectable 7,467 of you entered the giveaway to pick up anything you wanted with a $500 credit to Clever Training for a gadget of your choice. Which appears to smash the previous single-giveaway … Read More Here
The Day in May DCR $500 Gadget Giveaway!
It’s a day in May. No, not May Day. That, according to Wikipedia is May 1st. Rather, it’s May 20th – which I reason is 20 times better than May 1st (albeit, less awesome than May 5th). Why’s it better? … Read More Here
March Power Meter Giveaway Winner!
Last week was giveaway time! You had all week to get in your giveaway entry, and because of my desire to spend some days riding never-endingly in the sun, I’m catching up this week – and that includes pulling the … Read More Here
March Power Meter Giveaway Time!
It’s March already. Which means that for many in the Northern Hemisphere you’re likely starting to increase the mileage and times of your workouts in preparation for the spring and summer ahead. As such, there’s likely no better time to … Read More Here
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last week was giveaway time! You had all week to get in your giveaway entry, before I got my act together here on January 1st (see, kicking off the new year right!). A mere 5,994 of you entered the giveaway … Read More Here
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway
I’m sure many of you received various sports gadgets over the last few weeks as part of the holidays. But for those unlucky elves who received only a half-eaten gel packet in their Christmas stocking from their not-so-significant others, I’ve … Read More Here
The Halloween GoPro Hero5 Giveaway Winner!
Last weekend it was giveaway time. And now it’s winner time! Who wouldn’t want to find out they won something on a Friday? A very solid 6,024 of you entered the giveaway for a new GoPro Hero5. With your options … Read More Here
A Halloween GoPro Hero5 Giveaway!
It’s that time of year again. Ahh yes, Halloween you’re thinking. But nope – that’s not what I’m talking about. Rather, it’s fall. And historically, fall has meant the arrival of new GoPro editions. So for this month’s giveaway (ok, … Read More Here
A DCR August Wahoo KICKR Giveaway Winner!
This past weekend I held a giveaway for a new Wahoo KICKR trainer! Consider it a bit of a reminder to get back outside and enjoy those summer miles (or kilometers) while you still can! A whopping 7,426 of you … Read More Here
A DCR August Wahoo KICKR Giveaway!
Now that everyone has recovered from the Giveaway Extravaganza, it’s time to get this DCR Giveaway Show back on the road again. And there’s no better time to do so than mid-way through the 2016 Summer Olympics. Think of this as … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza–The Last One: Garmin Forerunner 735XT
This…is…it: The final giveaway! You’ve made it this far, either because you gave up and had to take a few hours off, or because you are actually staring at the screen with bloodshot eyes right now. Either way, congrats on … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: GoPro Hero4 Silver
So perhaps you didn’t win that 360° action cam earlier today (some 20 hours ago!). Maybe it was because you were lazy and asleep, or perhaps because you were afraid of broadcasting your inevitable crash into a tree from every … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Withings Body Cardio Scale & Activité Pop
You can never weigh yourself too many times, or with too many devices. After all, that’s how I somehow got more than a dozen scales right now. However, none of those scales have Pulse Wave Velocity like the Withings Body … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Tacx NEO Smart trainer
It is but a Star Wars aircraft. The stabilizing wings fold up and down in place, making a solid clunk/click sound once locked securely in position. The design even exhausts out hot air out the back, just like a real … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Vivoactive HR & Index WiFi Scale
French fries. Or, freedom fries in some circles. The bane fitness and weight loss plans everywhere. However – I’ve got a plan for you that involves keeping your frites: Just run/walk more. What’s that? Don’t want to run? No worries, … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Polar M450 GPS Bike Computer
Polar bears, they’re pretty awesome. They swim around in ice cold water where really nobody else wants to. Heck, they even live on floating ice. And they fish and stuff with their bare hands. Which, is absolutely nothing like the Polar … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: PowerTap P1 Power Meter Pedals
Let there be more power to the people! This time though, double the power. Yup, I’m giving away the dual-sensing PowerTap P1 power meter pedals. You can now measure all the powers! Hopefully, those powers are strong. Wouldn’t want to … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Suunto Ambit3 Vertical
Damn girl, that be some bright bling on you wrist there! Like, construction worker orange, except….green. Neon green. Fear not, I’ll be giving you the option to also choose from more boring colors like blue, white and black. But let’s … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Wahoo ELEMNT GPS Bike Computer
Vowels are overrated. Especially ‘E’. KICKR, TICKR, ELEMNT, RFLKT…all missing an ‘E’ or two. Somewhere in the universe there’s a vast supply of extra E’s, like a Wheel of Fortune dumpster with vultures circling overhead. Homeless and looking for a … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: 4iiii Precision Power Meter (Gen2)
Power to the people! Or, in this case – power from the people. Canadian people that is. The people who bring you maple syrup and endless snowballs have also rummaged up a rather functional power meter. This sub-$400 unit … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: 360Fly 4K 360° Action cam
Do you always miss the shot – looking in the wrong direction when the shark jumps up and grabs that seal? Well, I’ve got the action cam for you: The 360Fly 4K 360° action cam. See, this cam sees everything. … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Fenix3 HR
And so it begins – the mother of all giveaways! Thus, it seems appropriate to begin with what is effectively the mother of all fitness smart watches: The Fenix3 HR. No other watch on the market has as many features. … Read More Here