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
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.
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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.
Travel
Other Posts
SEA to Ski
(Somewhere over the eastern US at sunset on the way to SEA) Last week was rather busy. I was out in Seattle all week speaking a number of times at a large conference. In addition, I was also balancing all … Read More Here
Gambling at the track
First, it was off to San Fran on an early Tuesday morning flight. After landing, I ping-ponged back east again over the Sierra Nevada mountains. We descended past the bright red rocks of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area. And … Read More Here
A day in the life of Rainmaker
Given some recent questions in the comments what my day looks like, I figured I’d take a few quick minutes to outline what today looked like. Now today isn’t exactly typical, but it is representative of the randomness that is … Read More Here
Track Rabbits
Just a quick post to prove that this not-so-early-bird can indeed be up before the sun shines. 5:22AM – I start on my first lap at the track at the middle school just across the street from my hotel. A … Read More Here
Things are bigger in Texas
I flew down to the Great (albeit oversized) state of Texas late afternoon on Monday for a weeks worth of work related stuffs. If my memory serves me correct, the last time I was down this way was last year … Read More Here
Rain rain go away, don’t come back another day
Once again I went camping and watch a friend compete in a tri (her first Olympic Distance event just a few weeks after her first sprint). While the weekend was a blast – it would have been sooooo much nicer … Read More Here
The wheels on the track go round and round
After flying somewhere on the order of a 300-400 times in/out of SEATAC (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport), I’ve gotten really really good at figuring out which side of the aircraft to sit on on for the best views (outside the plane, … Read More Here
Me vs the Hurricane
Let’s be clear…I won vs the Hurricane. Well, actually…we won. Because I’m tired and already behind a day on getting this written up and posted, we’re going to go with pure picture mode. Booyeah! (Our little Spot Tracker GPS trail) … Read More Here
Back to the track…and Seattle.
The last few days in Seattle have been great. I’ve been out here for work, but I’m able to get a ton of non-work things in as well.After arriving Monday afternoon I swung downtown to pickup my relevant conference speaker … Read More Here
A track race
Some days just go by in a blur…and this was one of those. But – I love these kinds of days. If every day could be like this I’d be thrilled – seriously. 6:15AM The alarm clock starts buzzing, but … Read More Here
Whistler Weekend Wrapup
I’m generally not content with staying in any one place very long. So after five days back in DC following Wildflower, it was time to jet back to the west coast for some international skiing action. Oh, and the fact … Read More Here
Cal-e-forn-ya
I have arrived. Well, I’ve arrived in California anyway. I’m not sure I would arrive to otherwise really. Although I swing through the state with an odd regularly (at least once a month it seems somehow), I tend to forgot … Read More Here
How to properly recover after a Half-Ironman
So after Saturday’s Half-Ironman race I decided that there was only one way to recover: Step 1: Depart (limping) finish area 90 minutes after completing race Step 2: Race to the airport 80 miles away (via car, not biking/running or … Read More Here
Let the games begin!
I arrived relatively late (ok, technically really early – 1:15AM) last night into the Oceanside area – about 30 minutes north of San Diego. This where tomorrow 2,000 less than smart people will set off onto a 70.3 mile journey … Read More Here
Busy Busy Bumble Bee
Today was nothing short of long. Not quite exhausting though – just tiring. So much stuff packed into so little time. Up at 5:35AM to catch a 6:55AM flight from Reagan National Airport to Atlanta. The cool part about DCA … Read More Here
The Trifecta
Yesterday was a busy-bee day here in Seattle. I had three sports planned, plus a full day of work sandwiched in between.It started off with a hour long bike ride out to Alki point and back (from downtown along the … Read More Here
Seattle Running
One of the things I enjoy about getting back to Seattle is the running. Mostly because it’s always cool – but without the dryness of the DC area. Although sometimes that does indeed mean sucky rain (ok..most times), but sometimes … Read More Here
Weekend Wrap-up
First off – Friday night I finally got my act together and registered for next year’s Nation’s Triathlon (an Olympic distance event). Given my enjoyment at this past year’s event, I added it to my schedule for next (err…this) year. … Read More Here
Boondoggle
Yesterday I went up skiing at Crystal Mountain. The snow was amazing, the foot or more (in places) of dry fluffy powder was awesome! It had snowed 6″ the night before, and 18″ in the previous 24 hours. You really … Read More Here
My warmed nuts
Yes folks – it’s not every day that someone willingly warms my nuts. But earlier today (or was that yesterday…I’ve lost track, I guess it depends on how you count the dateline and all) – I had my nuts warmed. … Read More Here
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
It’s easiest to post about things in chunks of twenty four. As in my past 24 hours, my current 24 hours and my next 24 hours. Let’s start with the present first. Current 24 hours: Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I … Read More Here
Getting the short pool
Sometimes you’ve just gotta make due with what you’ve got. Some people are blessed with size…and others with the ability to use what they have (I’m talking pools here folks, don’t be gettin’ all distracted on me). Tonight was a … Read More Here