Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, and plenty more! Go check out the full list here!
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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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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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/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!
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.
that is so cool that survivor is located on the same place you were! and…is survivor still on tv??? who knew?!?!
some day soon i’ll be talking bike training sessions, too. you just see if i don’t.
and i’m glad the knee cleared up! nice work!
Wow – I’m a big time Survivor fan (you probably guessed). Very cool that you were there afterwards. I’m always curious as to the impact that show has on the local environment, after the contestants and production crew and all the associated hangers-on trample all over the place for a couple of months. They pick some beautiful locations; I hope they leave them just as beautiful when they’re gone.
I’m in awe of your trainer prowess. I always seem to go dreadfully slow on the trainer as compared to the road. 10 miles would seriously take me 45 minutes at least.
Do you have a computrainer or a power meter? What do you recommend?
I can’t believe you went out and did sub 7s on some regular day. Remember how I said we were similar? Ahh, no. We’re not. You kick my ass! Just so you know that I know!
Hi Ironmatron:
I have a Computrainer that I got last fall. A power meter would be a cheaper option (generally anyway) and more versatile. The downside of only a power meter is in the winter I can train like I’m outside on hills that feel amazingly like real hills. The downside of the Computrainer is that I can’t take it outside in the summer and ride 100 miles on it – so I’m without power data. i would say that this late in the winter, I’d look to get a Power Meter instead of the Computrainer, and perhaps look at the Computrainer next winter.
At some point I’ll become unlazy and actually writeup a review of the Computrainer. I’ve got a number of similiar reviews queued up to write (CompuTrainer, Erg Training Videos, Real Videos Ironman Training videos, etc..) when I become unlazy.
Nice run. Nice biking, I guess. That’s interesting stuff you write about Palau. I’ve never watched Survivor so I dunno about that.
You wild man!!! It really is amazing how they make things look different for TV. It is awesome that you were there and able to have such a great adventure.
Thanks Rainmaker!
Okay: Now the question is power meter or tri-bike?
I have a road bike right now.
What do you think?
Tri-Bike vs Power Meter:
That’s a tough one honestly. Well, the power meter would be cheaper likely. I guess it would depend on what the condition of your existing bike is. If the existing one is really rough, then I’d go tri bike. If your current bike is a fine road bike – then I might go power meter and focus on that.