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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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.
Since I am in the north east and the weather is volatile if it’s good I’ll be outside, 1.5 hours of VO2 on Saturday and 3 hours endurance on Sunday. If I’m the weather is bad I’ll be indoors on Trainerroad same duration and effort.
jump to the pool as soon as get free of family obligations
2hr Longrun and hopefully a swim session
Run around the neighborhood with my 20 month old.
I’m gonna run 8km on Saturday and swim 5km on Sunday. In between, my youngest daughter turns 8 and so I’m sure I’ll be chasing a lot of 8 years olds around a party venue somewhere as well.
Life is good.
A simple 10k training run.
Take my kids out for a ride on the Hincapie Gran Fondo Piccolo route since they weren’t able to make the ride last weekend! I’ll be pulling my little guy in a WeeHoo trailer.
get the trainer setup and rolling in my office – i feel like its going to be a long winter this year – and the trainer will be good with the little guys running around vs out for a few hour ride :)
Playing in a hardball doubles squash round robin and getting in a short run.
Running in the rain here in Manchester!
I’m running a marathon! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Weather is looking promising for the fall weekend in Iowa City so training options abound I just need to get my 51 year old body loose and out the door. Friday will be dedicated to getting a good sweet potato curry soup on the stove to carry us through the weekend. Then Saturday let the fun begin, that is after providing snacks for the 13 year old’s soccer team. A 7 to 10 mile trail run while the leaves are falling is sounding pretty nice right now then dedicate Sunday to getting on the wheels, with my girlfriend and hitting the rolling hills as the harvest is coming in. This is a wonderful time to ride in the midwest and is hit or miss on the weather. Perhaps getting to an orchard with live music on Sundays or just a loop to one of our favorite small towns. Either way 45 to 70 miles will be nice. However, should the weather take a turn I can always get on the new smart trainer purchased via DCR reviews but I am still waiting on the newest app review to make indoor training slightly less humdrum.
I plan to ride for the first time in three weeks after a quick battle with pnunonia
Going for a run today in Miami, then tomorrow in Nassua and in Key West on Sunday…
12 hour mountain bike race.
Final Stage of the Halloween Hammerfest on Zwift and curling!
First ride with my new Argon 18 E-117 Tri bike! :-)
Running and relaxing!
Bike cleaning for me, with a mountain bike ride for good measure.
run run run :)
I will be running 15k along the Thames on Saturday and 30k on Sunday in Windsor Great Park, my favourite running spot.
Long run today, rest tomorrow!
Rollerski as much as possible, waiting for a proper snow track for real workouts
short mtb ride tomorrow and a hike on Sunday
Long Run + Long Ride!
it’ll be great weather this weekend here so I’ll try to get a ten-mile run in.
Coming back from injury so might test the foot out with a gentle jog off road.
I’ll be recovering from a nasty cold :(
Run, Beer, Trainer, MTB, Beer, Run!
Long run & rest day
Mountain Man Biathlon (2m trail run / 10m mountain bike / 2m trail run)!
cycle to DC from home and back home. Each way 19.3 miles. Rain or shine!!
Actually as it is off season, training is off the table.
Might be time to do some preparations for trainer setup.
Running !
Two long tandem rides.
GoPrunning ;)
Saturday a tough turbo, Sunday a leisurely trot around the streets on London and grabbing an extra day off on Monday to dial-in a bike fit!
Chasing after my toddler for 2 days whilst Mum goes to Justin Bieber concert. Think I got the better deal.
I am going to relax all day Saturday and then enjoy a nice little run around DC for the 41st MCM.
Another 50 miles on the bike in perfect (hopefully) weather.
Gonna set up my trainer indoors, install Zwift, and get me some jerseys!
Two cross races
No specific training this weekend. Maybe a short run, some Halloween celebration, and also planning my races for next year.
Some awesome meanderings in the woods.
Chilling in the swimming pool, chasing my godson ’round the house and walking to the beach. Recovery is key, they say.
Its hills time in Monterrey, Mexico we’ve got great mountains so its time to take a 100+ km on saturday with an after ride run and a mid-day swim.. Sunday will be about 70-90k with 3 categorized climbs :)
KICKR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Run Saturday a.m.,
Cycle Sunday a.m.
Going to pre game a brewery tour with a 10 miler.
One more long run and then looking forward to beginning my taper for the Philly marathon.
Fully recover from last weekend’s triathlon
Last 20 miler before my fall marathon.
I call it the lugnut – a monthly test run on a course I know well. About 9 mile trail run with 1200′ elevation gain.
Running and biking enough so that I can eat more candy.
With this nice autumn weather: going on a longish (15k) run.
City loop in San Francisco on my bike
Easy riding for sunday !
Nothing crazy- walk on the beach, a hike in the woods.
40 km cycle ride on Saturday!
I’ll be traveling to the Canary islands have a weeklong cycling bonanza.
10k run on Saturday and a 7k run on Sunday
Hopefully a good bike ride. Last month was raining all the time. And as usual, weights.
Run today, and Saturday. and Sunday if I don’t get enough in today and tomorrow.
I’m planning to ride my cross bike in the woods this weekend!
I have a “Ogre and Princess” 5k tomorrow and will probably go for a light swim Sunday. Nothing too crazy. Already completed my main races for the year. I’m in off-season & “drink beer” mode!
18 mile tempo run in advance of a possible marathon 2 weeks from Saturday.
group rides
A slow easy session on zwift
I still have few more kilometres to ride on my bike this year before I can finally rest :)
Hopefully my Achilles injury will not prevent me from getting out for my 10 mile run on Saturday. Happy Hallowe’en!
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: Hilly Bike Ride :)
And today….TrainerRoad in the pain cave!
A ride on Sunday if the weather cooperates.
I will do a quick run on the treadmill Saturday morning and then Sunday evening I will play a game of floorball
Swim. Cycle. Run. Rest. Repeat.
50 mile group ride on Saturday (hope i don’t get dropped again) and a cruise around the lake Sunday
This weekend will be a medium length run of about 6-7 miles. Unless it rains…then it’ll probably be an hour or so on a bike trainer.
Swim. Cycle. Run. Rest.
One big mountain bike ride…maybe 2 if the weather is on my side.
Hoping to get at least a longish ride in but with other family obligations even that might not happen.
I have just started training for the new season, so this weekend I will make two short training sessions: around 2h bike on saturday and 50m run on sunday
Saturday: Bike Ride with friends. Sunday: Rucking several locations – looking for locations for future group rucks.
Run on Saturday, bike on Sunday, eat candy on Monday
Homecoming weekend – going to try to get a run in to burn off the calories I am going to consume.
Swim, cycle, rest on Sunday
workout -> eat -> sleep -> workout -> eat -> sleep -> Monday :(
After doing my final race of the year last weekend I am on a recovery week before kicking in on offseason training. I plan to do either an easy hour on the bike or 3-4 miles running on Sunday afternoon. It’ll probably be the bike, because that’s just so much more fun than running.
Fly to Portugal and find out what Porto has to offer!
A little run and some cycling are in the menu for the weekend.
Watching/scouting local high school boys soccer sectional finals on Saturday, Zwifting on Sunday.
Crossfit workout & MTB session.
And beer, it is offseason after all.
Just downloaded a new software for bikeworkouts – sufferfest. Plan to test it over the weekend. I wonder if DCR is planning a review of this app.
5k on sunday !
Last sportive of the season. Club competition to be won.
on Sunday 32k last long rub before the Athens Authentic Marathon in a couple of weeks
I am going to clean out the cross country ski trails on saturday, andgo for a long rollerski on sunday.
Zwift for some intervals
It’d be like any other weekend: a recovery run on Sat and some cross training on Sun.
Go for a easy 5k run.
Saturday 06:15 run in Yarqon Park, 10k or 15k TBD.
5k Night run.