Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) 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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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/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.
Running in Florida!
Family bike ride towing kids – watch those power meter numbers soar with the load!
hiking around and swimming in andaman sea
Intervals! Tough
Rest, rebuild bike.
Rest, bipartita patella does not let me train!
It will be just a 8k run to keep the legs moving. ;-)
Running, Running, Running
I want to ride my bicycle ….. lots, and would love to capture the experience on my very own GoPro!
A steady 10km run with the kids on their bikes then a 30/40km cycle myself… And of course lots of scary fun and parties!!
Let´s go out and ride the new bike offroad until the rain stops ;-)
Some casual cycling this week before a sportive this Sunday.
Some rest to ease a paining calf.
I raced the Noosa triathlon – biggest triathlon in the world – over 4600 participants!
Bike ride with the kids, some night running and a bit if swimming “in family”.
some hometown running (5k-10k). and the hero5 session would be a great pre-christmas gift ;-)
Long run, part of the Marathon training
Busy weekend with a shopping marathon on saturday and then to recover and relax an hour run and 2-3 hours on the bike on sunday ;)
Going for a short jog with my daughter
cycle, running and maybe trailrunning
Mountainbiking and/or Run
Running to stay prepared for my annual PT test!
Cross country – bring on the mud!!
Long run Minsk. Yeah.
6k Jog on Saturday, and some Spikeball on Sunday
Anything to get the legs moving after a short break in Bruges!
Drop it like it’s hot from the top of the mountain with my trusted hardtail, as usual…
50km Training run – Last big one before the Hong Kong Trailwalker in 2.5 weeks time. Should be pretty painful.
Finally go for a run after moving from US back to Europe and slacking for last two months…
Start of marathon training, long run time.
Long slow run in the hills and forests of Aachen, hopefully not get lost..
Keep on running
Just the usual 6 KM runs
Smashing miles on the bike before I head back to freezing Mongolia.
Crazy FFM-Marathon
In my pain cave cycling around Watopia/London on Zwift
Convert a few routes (without video :( ) into BKool activities, and try them out on the Neo, whilst catching up on the the DCR podcasts.
Easy run, 6 km of swimming. Not looking forward to it.
Easy running…
Go drinking with my brother then run up a mountain. It’s only a small mountain!
I have enrolled with TrainingPeaks because I do like their training plans. But there doesn’t seem to be any integration from TP to Zwift (there is the reversal of that), so I have picked a starter plan: Get Lean Now! By Hunter Allen and convert it to a Zwift custom workout file(s) through editing it in notepad using the *.zwo format. I have tried custom workouts before, but this will be my first time trying an actual TP plan in zwift. I’m not sure how it’d pan out or if there is a quicker way?
Happy to post a screenshot of the final result.
18 mile bike ride with half straight into the wind.
Winter miles (“Summer Smiles”)
Saturday run in the morning then trying to follow Island house as best I can. Sunday morning long ride and again tried to follow Island house.
Run and Rest :-)
Jump on Zwift and try to work off the half-term bloat!
Not too late?? I swam and biked this weekend. Yep.
Gimme – because this weekend I am fatbiking and prepping for winter.
5k race on Saturday, followed by a 9 mile trail run.
Starting back from the break. Easy running and some biking, possibly outside if the weather stays nice! If not: turbo and NHL games it is :-).
On Saturday a road ride, on sunday a mountain bike ride! As simple and joyfull as that!
A bit of cyclocross in the woods
Cycling around rural Cheshire + beach weights!
Run, run, run, thought about getting some sleep
A lot off exerciseee.. Gymtraining in the gym, running and cycling in the street
:)
Run for training and kayaking for fun.
A nice MTB ride with my 9 year old son.
Ran the OMM. Time to start ultra marathon training with back to back long runs.
Shakedown 10k run through the fall colours.
Last of the (Indian) Summer Rides :(
Running outside in the cold (Maine) and perhaps a bike ride on the trainer.
Sitting in my CPM machine nursing my fractured patellar to recovery.
Just an easy 5 mile run with the running stroller.
Easy run to recover from injury
A relaxing weekend with recovery cycling.
Sunday Morning Ride…dodging Suicide Squirrels
Run,cycle,swim,eat,sleep,run,cycle,swim,eat,sleep,…..
Mostly decorating/costume making/cashing toddlers while squeezing in a HIIT session on the Kickr.
My first CX race and probably some more core training.
This weekend I hung out in Greenville, SC where a few pro racers have retired, and some others train. Rode on Saturday and Sunday over 100 miles combined with some pretty great climbs and awesome fall colors all around us!
Trail run on Saturday and a bike ride Sunday.
Half Marathon on Saturday 29/10/2016
I will be going for a Park Run, followed by a social 10m run, on the Sunday I will be going for a social MTB ride in the forest with my ‘old’ GoPro, having an additional camera to my mix would be awesome, specially with IS built into the software.
Cycling in the studio
I’m in my first week of tapering for a marathon so I get to reduce my mileage to “only” 13 miles. ;)
My weekend plans involved a nice relaxing swim with the kids at the local wave pool.
Just resting this weekend.
Morpeth 2 Newcastle Half Marathon completed! with a massive PB of 1:47:32!
A nice hike with 17km and 1350m D+.
Thanks for the blog.
Go!! I would like to get it.
A 21km trailrun with a colleguea besides me on a horse ;-)
Trying out Zwift for the first time with my new Tacx Vortex!
Long bike ride
Quick run + baby duties. I’m pretty sure the 2nd part will be more intense!
I was going to test out a new mountain bike. Then I picked up a half-inch iron splinter. Now I’m going to learn the state of the art in tire/tube repairs.
give it to meeeeeee :)
A 10km run, 40km cycle and maybe a swim if the weather’s good :)
Easy walking with a lovely group by a riverside until we reach the sea.
Did a 5K on sunday, 19:17, 6th OA and 1st in AG (40-49)
I ran the Marine Corps Marathon for the 5th consecutive year!
5 km run around the neighborhood and 50 km mtb ride.
Hiking
offseason Z1/Z2 slow ride.. 100K+
Mainly recovering from my torn calf muscle ???
Running around lake
Bike, GoPro film, sleep and repeat!
Inline hockey
Run 20 miles Sat, if I can find the desire. Mojo gone on runs over 13 miles right now.
Just a 40 minute easy run in relatively flat terrain. It was breezy though :-)
Got a great 70 mile road ride in!
steady 5k run, easing back into training