Sports Tech Summer Deals Still Live! A huge number of the Amazon deals are still going! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $459, and the Fenix 8 for $150 off. The Apple Watch Series 10 for $279, the GoPro Hero 13 Black for $329, smart trainers, drones, action cams, 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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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!
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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?
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- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
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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 2024 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.
Zwifting on Saturday and Sunday! :)
I just have a 10K Run indoors due to the weather. Cycling will start in the spring once the snow melts for me.
Lots of indoor spin and weights at the gym. Hopefully next weekend will be bright and sunny.
Just a few indoor miles, very cold in the Northeast
Cycled in the snow- who could have expected that it´s still that cold in the alps
Maybe a short ride today
Riding on Zwift, on my mountain bike with my kickr so I can get some power numbers. My road bike just got trashed by a lady in a parking lot of all places, fun stuff! Thankfully I’m okay.
Because I’m really ill I could not train ?
Well, but I did train my tactical understanding, watching Javier Gomez rock Abu Dhabi triathlon!
Boys long week end skiing the slopes of Big Mountain – Whitefish, Montana :)
Hiked to the highest point in South Dakota Saturday to celebrated 38 years of marriage. Rode my fat bike Sunday in the snow, slush, and dirt.
None – it is 10 degrees here!
Was suppose to ride one long and one recovery but where hit with fever, so just did some fever-training instead (yeah that do not count, i know)
I’m riding 50 miles, training for my first half IronMan. There will be hills, flats and lot’s a water.
It’s too rainy here – I didn’t cycle, but I did start changing out the drivetrain on my wife’s mountain bike for her.
Did an short 20min warmup followed by an 1×1 interval for 1 hour on the trainer.
Trainer rides as the temps may not get above 20!!!
Ran a local half marathon, first cycling race in 36 days, hope that counts a training!
45 mile gravel ride yesterday. Raining today so trying to motivate myself to get on Zwift.
50 mile ride
Workouts this weekend: about 25 km backcountry skiing. (And some easy snowsledding:D)
Still a bit early to bring out the roadbike here at the arctic circle.
Forecast for the weekend is: 21 degrees and Hilly without wattage :(
Stuck traveling, but should have more time next weekend!
Course recon saturday. Hit the podium sunday.
So wanted to get outside this weekend to get some k’s on the new steed. Unfortunately i’m recovering from 2 weeks of having the flu. still not quite good, could only cope with 30min on the old bike on the trainer. Fortunately it was windy like hell and with a lot of rain. so a bit lucky.
Warming up for a 4-days MTB immersion next weekend. I don’t have a powermeter on the offroad bike and Stages have the exact product I would need
My cycling plans for the weekend involved riding laps around a park to make sure my thumb wasn’t broken. But if I won, I could ride laps around the park with extra powweeerrrrrrrrr.
Good day today. Cross country morning race, then a steady swim in the afternoon before a wet dusk 40 mile ride. Flat but roads all to myself.
Commuting is the only biking going on up in cold, cold Canada (Snowing right now). Heading out for an XC ski shortly though!
Workout on xert app
Today (Sunday) I kicked off the new Season. Therefore I cycled exactly the same route as I ended last years Season on. I now regret every delecious christmas cookie I ate. But between hills it was’nt that bad :-)
Couple hours on the trainer looking forward to the warm up this week
Did a local loop, in rain, didn’t bother.
Another weekend of trainer rides in the basement.
A one hour middle intensity bike ride on coutry roads.
Rode 1hr 45 min on computrainer doing FTP workout on Saturday. Running 90 minutes Sunday. Then drinking a couple of beer!
Around the block with the kids :).
60 mile ride
An easy 66k E1 high cadence ride as prep for a 25k running race
Trainer on Sunday
Rest due to an injury thanks!
Just squeezed in quick 2 hour ride in Beach Dr in Wash, DC including a couple times up the Mormon Temple Hill. I’m slow.
Took part in 25km cross-country ski competitions
First races of the season on Saturday and endurance on Sunday!
Nasty cold spell, so more time spinning on the trainer..
Friday: 3h MTB
Saturday: 4h Endurance ROAD
Sunday: 3,5h Endurance- high candence ROAD
Trying out a new group ride around Nashville TN
Climb Mt. Diablo
Long ride if the weather holds…which isn’t looking likely!
amateur MTB 16km race
5k race yesterday and shortride this morning.
I am in preparation for the Boston marathon so no cycling for now. Next step is an (half) Ironman and any power meter (and bicycle) will be appreciated ?
I did 61km ride, first time cycling in a group. I enjoyed the experience very much so I will join this cycling club from now on.
Some Zwift-ing… (at least that was the plan… :-))
120k ride on studded tires down to our favorite veggie lunch spot!
Ho avuto una splendida giornata in bici in compagnia dei miei amici
A lot of tempo work!
Have a good ride whith my friends
Two hours on the trainer with Netflix! Base miles this pre-season!
30 miles to test ride a 10tt course, in the rain on my cross bike with mudguards. I wasn’t very quick…
Nice ride on Sunday morning, 75km in the mountains to start getting in shape for the bike season.
90 min of trainerroad on sweetspot base program. Crossfit and long trailrun also.
Saturday on the trainer with one of the new Sufferfest videos, then Sunday outside in the cold Canadian wind for 75 kms with 20 other like-minded enthusiasts.
Easy ride on Santurday and Sunday relax.
I did some mountain biking in Sedona, AZ.
110k bike ? and 15k run ?preparing for IRONMAN South America Championship
I just finished 1h 45min long ride on my indoor trainer.
Still super cold outside, so 3x 2h indoors, working on endurance.
An early morning climb up Lake Mountain, Victoria, Australia. The sunrise was to die for and whilst I’m not a speed demon downhill by any measure the descent was brilliant!
3 hrs of riding the Zwift Pretzel course
Rest weekend, off for a funeral in another city so unfortunately no biking at all for me. Next weekend though!
Long ride cruising the beach shores, lovely day for a ride!
just chilled all weekend! :)
Monday morning already here in Australia, so – Saturday started as a solo 55km ride, but happened across another chap doing a similar route and we had a great chat while he pulled me up a hilly bit faster than I would normally go. Social riding is better riding. Sunday I went out just at dawn to take some pictures and to try to improve on a favourite climb. Photo part went well. Measuring ride went less well when the Garmin glitched and I ended up with a corrupt .fit file – no data !!!
Biked an hour on the trainer yesterday and another 50 min today. The 60 min run outside was better than the rides!
Hi,
I will do some training on Zwift this weekend.
I did a 1 hour spinning session I found on Global Cycling Network on Friday.
Yesterday 118km outdoor on the racer with the club.
Today 46km Zwift endurance/recovery ride.
Almost ready for #Dutch Masters of MTB 200km
Trainer time during the kids nap time. Its raining here and mommy is at work!
20km ride after 800m swim
Two solo rides at zero degrees with podcasts as company
Looking to do a short ride on the trainer.
Brick on Saturday (short run), 15-20mi MTB on Sunday if the weather cooperates!
Great Sunday morning ride with friends up and down Bobbin Head. Not a flat km to be seen!
I am on my boat in the Bahamas. My bike is attached to a Neo and is on the fly bridge (great view). Rode Trainer Roads Goddard and Monitor.
cycled through a few episodes of paw patrol. newborn + toddler will do that to you!
It rained, so the turbo and TrainerRoad for me.
Stealthy ride on the trainer, which will last as long as, the kiddo naps!
I have been out riding the local canyons since we finally got a break in the weather!!
Pokemon hunting with my 4 and 6 years olds on my old 1970s Colnago Fixie
None this weekend. Recovering from chest infection and hospital stay!
Need power meter to see how bad I’ve become when I start training again.
Getting the bikes ready for warmer weather. Still too cold here.
climbed like a goat all day long :)
Great 4 hour bike workout i the mountains of Gran Canaria, Spain.
46 miles on the Withlacoochee State Trail in Florida Hamdcycling
Cycling indoors with current weather forecast but if it’s dry i plan on an easy 60km ride
Basement, KICKR, Trainer Road …..
Did a charity 100k and then 50k ride back home
Will be thinking of the MTB marathon to come up in two month time! I went for the pool and swam. :-)
I rode 20 miles today in -2c weather as a recovery ride from a 20 mile training run yesterday. Why does the weather always feel warmer running and the miles go by faster cycling?
110 Kilometres mainly flat with a few hills. Longest I’ve ever cycled, and I was pretty tired afterwards.
it was mtb training and running for my weekend … nice weather and spring like temps