Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple AirTag 4-Pack for just $69, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals 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.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
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.
-
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?
-
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 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.
No ride this weekend, but a 15k trail run, chasing some elevation gain.
I cycled to the Cambridge half marathon, ran it and then did the “slightly harder” cycle back home again :)
This weekend I crushed my FTP Test!! +11 watts
Rode on my new Tacx Flux because it was minus 20 degree Celsius here in Canada. It was fun tough :-) Thanks for this great giveaway :-)
Biked to the park with the kids.
Sunday preparation ride for the 170km Paris Roubaix sportive in April. 130km planned, 120km completed; The Highlight; the 3 of us shivering around a Costa Coffee machine on a Shell service station forecourt after approx. 90km. If there were phone reception a partner would have definitely been called to pick us up
;)
A ride on my new orbea ordu on the courSe of my upcoming tri race
Plans are to ride some gravel and drink beer with teammates!
No cycling this past weekend, I ran a half-marathon and then slept about 24 hours straight afterward :)
Last weekend I rode 198km with 3700m of elevation gain in total.
3.5 hr ride on the Wahoo using TrainerRoad
Rode around the Lansing Rivertrail (11 miles). Awesome weather in Lansing, MI (Feels like 19 deg with Windchill !) !!
2 loops in Central Park… it was really cold
I rode 30 miles on the albany marathon bike course at about 6mph for 5 hours +
Sadly working. I did take apart a wheel so I can rebuild the hub to a better rim does that count?
I rode for 2 hours on my rollers in my basement.
First Tri of the year in sunny La Quinta, California. Trying out new power numbers as a result of a field test the week prior!
Trained by chasing pre-schoolers at a birthday party. High TSS, but poor structure. Hopefully this week will be more structure.
Cold ride from Manhattan to New Jersey.
Well,
hopped on the bike on Saturday for a quick 25 mile spin, ran off the bike for another 5 miles… Fiddled around with bike position on Sunday, hopped on and found I fiddled to much with my cleats which made me look like donkey. Got off the bike and decided it was time for a movie and a nap. Toddler veto’d those plans and ended up having a tea party instead.
Power meter would’ve showed my weakness, lol.
Another (boring) ride on the trainer… next year a smart trainer and Zwift.
First crit of the season!
this weekend: rain outside and trainer indoors…
Dallas Senior Games cycling events
5k and 10k time trials, 20k and 40k road races.
No cycling this weekend :( – Instead, I had to keep telling my three year old we couldn’t go for a bike ride because it was snowing 10cm and way too cold!
I was in Colorado skiing, so I didn’t get any riding in this weekend. And with the weather, it looks like it may be trainer rides this week :-/
I am entering for the stages power meter giveaway. I biked on the Wahoo Kickr with Zwift indoors this weekend. Would love to try a Stages Power Meter!
Worked this weekend, so my weekend riding was confined to late night Zwift.
I biked to work and back and around the neighborhoods but the weather’s been very nice here in Miami and I would like to get out more before the sun cranks the heat up!
Crushing highways down here in Phoenix getting ready for this year’s Tri season.
lazy weekend just cooking :)
Just converted my bike over to Di2, so I braved the soggy springtime Texas weather to give it a few hours of shakedown.
I’m not saying that electronic shifting is the greatest thing since clipless pedals, but… it’s the greatest thing since clipless pedals. Or at least definitely the greatest thing since indexed shifting, or the move from downtube shifters to brifters. 10 years from now kids will be talking about “how did you ride with cable actuated shifters” like kids today are completely clueless as to what slotted cleats and toe straps are.
Ok, I may be exaggerating a little bit. Anyone who’s been forced into learning how to track stand at stoplights because they had slotted cleats and their straps too tight knows how great the invention of clipless pedals was… but damn electronics are nice.
Ran way too cool 50k on Saturday so I did a little zwift on Sunday
The cycling was great, first day I got flat after 5k … anyway the rest of training session was ok – just about 30k as the time shortened during repair.
The other day I rather left bike home and got for running while taking 5years old cyclist (my son) with me for 17k trail trip.
So far, great weekend. :)
Looked at the shameful amount of dust gathered on my bike. A trick new sports data device would be just the catalyst to get me back out there when spring has sprung.
Laps at Longchamps
Had to forgo my weekend cycling for a trip from UK to Toronto to say goodbye to a friends mother.
Now fighting jet lag to turn my legs over this evening.
I cheered for my training buddy who was running the Napa Valley Marathon via bike and got hailed on of all things!
65 miles on Saturday and 72 miles on Sunday. Making the most of decent weather.
90 minute sweet spot base ride indoor trainer! Roll on spring/ summer :) #trainer road
Rode virtually! Warm tropical pixels on the screen, rainy west coast weather out the window.
Got my first outdoor ride in this weekend. Up Deer Creek Canyon in the Colorado Rocky Mountain foothills. Great to be back at it.
Spinning on Saturday. Hiding from the rain on Sunday
10k treadmill run
Shoveled some snow off the driveway
I just started cycling last summer, so gradually increasing frequency and duration. Winter made probably its last appearance here in Athens, Ga., with mornings at or below freezing both days, but I kitted up and got out the door. Saturday was a quick spin and a Strava fail; yesterday was a much nicer loop out on country roads. Most interesting part was three miles on dirt that took me past some nasty dogs and then a pine forest so deep I couldn’t see any trace of humanity in any direction. Bliss.
110 miles with a few intervals. Solid weather.
exploring rainy california
It’s cold, snowy and icy where I live, so we put in a 90 min routine on the Trainer.
We have snow here in the south coast of British Columbia (not common here in March)! So I went skiing both days, lift-serviced on Saturday and alpine touring on Sunday.
In Key West for a bachelor party – managed to squeeze two laps around the island out of my legs before returning to the bar with the guys. Woo!
Just a short gravel loop around the house in Kansas. Gotta get ready to do the spring grinders!
Came home from my honeymoon in paris.
This weekend I mostly cycled my daughter around on a tagalong to various clubs. And a bit of turbo training for Ironman 70.3 Edinburgh.
Spent a good chunk of time on the Turbo Trainer, and of course hit up the Toronto Cycling Show.
I chose to drive some great cycling routes in LA. That still counts, right?
Sadly, all riding was curtailed this weekend as I had to go to my mother in law’s funeral. :-(
RIP Nanny
I rode on my wahoo kickr this weekend–90 min.
I took a windy 50 mile ride (out and back) along the coast of the Florida panhandle this weekend with a friend.
It’s Beer Week in Sacramento, so I did a lot of short tempo rides and stayed well hydrated.
Splitting time between NY and FL these days … but somehow ended in NY over the weekend (i.e., 16 degrees Sunday morning), so spin class was as good as it got! Outdoors for sure this week though!
I just saw this contest today ( Monday 3/6). I have been like a gerbil on my CycleOps 300 Pro trainer all winter. Saturday was really windy but was warm enough for a good ride (45 F). Got out for the 1st time in 2017 and put the hammer down. I did 41+ miles with 1500+ feet of elevation gain and averaged 18.0 MPH…including the 8:11 time to fix a flat :(. Being that we have had record snow this year, part of my weekend included some serious skiing on Friday 3/3 for nearly 5 hours doing 21+ runs on blues and blacks (greens only to get to the lifts). Love working out! Love going HARD CORE and would LOVE a power meter so I can compare my road riding power output to my workouts on my CycleOps 300 Pro and make adjustments to be “faster!”.
Thanks DC Rainmaker! You’re the BOMB!
20 cm of fresh powder in the morning. Called wife for an afternoon pass. She obliged. Am now doing laundry and washing the floors
I was suppose to re-arrange my tri bike but I did not open the travelling case… next weekend
A nice 120 kilometers on Zwift.
Snow still on the ground here.
It rained here all weekend so I rewatched DC Rainmaker videos on what device I shouldn’t be tempting myself to buy. Those videos are a Great way to rest the legs. Thanks again Ray!
Pedaled both days!!
Good old track mtb 60km ride.
68 miles of cold training at 28F/-2C
My trainer is broke and it was pouring… so I went to brunch.
Sightseeing tour with family around munich, wounderful weather!
Ill be riding my strider bike, it has better power transfer.
I rode on the trainer preparing for the my upcoming races in April.
Road for a couple hours on Zwift this past weekend. Can’t wait for spring to come to be able to ride outside
Group ride Saturday morning and kid’s soccer practice and game that afternoon.
Saturday was a one hour “Hills Day” followed by 60 km group ride on Sunday along the coast.
My plans are to keep training for Ride the Rockies 2017. Lots of zwift climbing and intervals until it warms up outside
Out on bike training for Outlaw Half Holkham
Saturday I ran 26k in prep for Boston Marathon, thinking about how I’m going to take on Ironman Canada on July 30th… Don’t have a bike trainer at home currently so hoping to ramp up riding as soon as Boston is done.
Sunday attempted to MTB on some local trails but the mud was horrendous, so opted to trail run instead.
Saturday easy spin and course recce. Sunday Hainault Hilly Sporting TT. First of the season; 29.2 miles of pain.
I had a weekend in Italy drinking wine and eating good food…a weekend off every now and again is good for the soul!
Saturday was a long ride on my mtb (4.5 hours over 45KM/~30 miles), then Sunday it was a 30 minute run.
I chased gremlins in the chainline of my month-old Supersix EVO HiMod Disc Integra Di2.
Ride, tweek, ride, tweek, almost as sapping as interval training.
I will be attending a group ride, about 120km with 2300 total elevation through beautiful villages in Cyprus :)
My KICKR got some abuse this weekend as the snow’s quite heavy outside here still.
Spin class on Friday and two 3 mile runs Saturday and Sunday ..
Hammered a 80K on the trainer in prep for 1/2 Ironman Florida in April!
20 mile’s to and from a nice round of disc golf, great unseasonable warm weather in kansas.
social ride to get the season started
I live in Sweden so it’s Trainerroad until the end of April :)
I had a good conversation about riding. ?
I did a nice long almost 2 hour trainer ride on Sunday. I would love to ride with power!! All the best to everyone, happy riding!!!
Did a solid long threshold interval on the rollers working on endurance for 140.6 base training… Sunday walked Miami Beach 13.1 and then kept walking another 13.1 miles for a Marathon.
Spent all week enjoying the spring-like weather and looking forward to a nice, easy 40 or so miles on Saturday. Woke up to high winds and 20°, so I went for a run instead. Maybe this weekend…
Getting a pro bike fit and then hitting the Chicago Lakefront path hard.
Ride to get coffee.
Finally rode a reopened trail.
I was going to ride on Zwift, but my wife had the flu. So it was daddy duty for me. Maybe I’ll get on the bike later this week.
My weekend ride started at 4AM Friday morning, when I woke up early to get in my 3 hour Saturday ride a day early, so that I could watch my son in a rock climbing competition on Saturday.
Sunday started out with snowboarding with friends in Durango, then the drive back home, and jumping on the trainer at 6pm to knock out my 3 hour Sunday training ride.
I sort of happily surprised myself that I got both of those rides in. It’s going to be a good race season.
Currently not cycling on OB’s orders, which was a shame because it was in the balmy 40’s here in the upper midwest. Instead, I ran a 5k in my slowest time in 10 years, but was proud of the effort at 25 weeks preggo.
Would love to win a trainer so I can cycle indoors without schlepping to the gym.