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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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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.
Final long run before my first marathon at the age of 48.
I ran a 5k on Saturday after taking several weeks off with an injured foot. It was feeling great for a week prior to the run, so I thought I’d be in good shape! Instead, I reinjured my foot and am now back to recovery day one! But I ran it pretty well considering the time I took off and came in 14th overall out of about 200 – my best finish ever!
Had a strong leg workout this weekend. So strong that I am still sore today!
We’re moving, I met my steps and stairs goals early in the day!
Rode on the trainer because spring is taking it’s sweet a$$ time to get here.
Zwifting around this weekend!
Trying to get up the Alpe on Zwift, but too many signal dropouts
Alpe du Zwift on Saturday. Tried a non-Tron bike this time – seemed about the same as using it.
Did 3.3 miles at my fastest pace training this year, then cheered my track team to a second place finish at a small meet.
Just trying to get enough kilometers for my first ever marathon on June 10th.
I don’t need something.
It was definitely a “recovery weekend” for me. But today starts a new week!
spring came finally so did a 100km ride around my home town
Did a nice easy 5 mile run. Trying to be less fat.
on Saturday i bought my girlfriend a bike that when we had seen it a few weeks prior where she said she really liked it and couldn’t stop thinking about it (we’ve all been there). it’s a 28lb, single speed, coaster braked, townie bike that wouldn’t look out of place cruising around 100 years ago. on sunday we went out for a short ride that turned into just under 12 miles. that’s still a short ride for most of us, but for someone with back problems on a heavy, brand new bike on a somewhat hilly section of trail…it was quite impressive.
Zwifted to the AGR.
I had busy weekend, first having a grill party with friends and next day I had some mtb fun in forest.
Riding my bike :-)
went out vor a 70k ride and an easy jogg 10k roughly
Did the midnight marathon bike ride before the Boston Marathon today, then warmed up in my house while all those poor runners drowned in the freezing rain this morning. Brrrrr!!
30 km rails-to-trails ride, in 5°C temperature, with a wicked headwind on the way out. Fingers and toes were pretty chilled but it was so great to get out for a ride.
Ran two hours on treadmill watching Amstel Gold Race on Eurosport player.
I was too stubburn to look at the weather- went out for my 2+ hour ride. Weather ended up overcast, strong wind 20+ mph gusts, and hovered at 40 degrees, wearing only jersey and bibs. I’m still cold.
First ride out of London since the autumn
I worked in my garage building some stuff out of wood. So a recovery weekend ;-)
A short hike with a weighted pack in preparation for a summer trek. Always nice to be in the woods.
Weather is still complete crap. Spent 1 hour on the roles followed by a strength session and yoga.
My daughter and I did a 50 mile ride at the Bob Rohdale Cycling Park in Trexlertown, PA.
Did a recovery workout and took the family for a hike that my daughter (5) finally made it up and down without being carried (1mile straight up)
First outdoor bikeride this year. 63k in great weather.
Virtual ride around Ironman Lanzerote 70.3 course
Yesterday I couldn’t sleep, so at 6 am I rode from my place to Folly Beach. I ended up finding a group of surfers doing their thing as the storms rolled in, and got a very relaxing start to the day. I think in total it was a 23 mile ride.
Mountain biking in the hill country
Nice duathlon brick on Sunday:
– 1st run – 6x1km
– bike – 20+15+10 increasing watts
– 2nd run – 10′ + 10′ + 10′ increasing tempo run
:D
First proper trail run after slowly recovering from tendon issues.
I went out biking this weekend!
A couple of rides between Opava & Bruntal in the Moravian part of Czech republic to kick off the European spring. The “mountains” aren’t unbelievably breathtaking, ie they’re no alps, but easy enough to rack up 2000m of climbing in 100km to get you going for the year. Managed to get back in too late to watch Amstel on Sunday. Well… it was worth it.
Enjoyed running the trails in the Delaware Water Gap on the one beautiful Spring day before winter returned.
Rutgers Half Marathon in Windy, stormy weather at 40 degrees, when Saturday it was 82+
On the Kickr watching the F1 race
Saturday was about 3 miles on the treadmill and some core work afterward. Sunday was couch work and lots of refueling.
Ran extra on Friday so I could finally enjoy the outdoors and leisure time with wife and friends on Saturday!
Long run.
Did a sprint duathlon, first of the new year
3 mile run/jog with my son on Saturday – was good to get out with him again
Went to the pool, changed, showered, entered the pool area aaaaaand had to turn right around because so incredibly full. Went on the trainer instead
70km cycle, 28km run, 2km swim this weekend
The spring cold from heck had me rocking and rolling all weekend missed two long swims, so sad
12m bc ski tour w/ 5k vert to a 2k 43°20′ wide coulior…
solid day.
Saturday long Group ride cut short due to rain and cold !
Last weekend of training before heading to Disney World for a 10K and half marathon. I’m on pace to PR and plan to enjoy the Florida sun and a week without work! The long run I did on one of the most beautiful days of spring in Denver this year has me pumped!
73km Bike Ride
Ran 13 miles around town :) and then went to a wedding and got my “recovery nutrition”in (witch is code for… I ate everything in sight!)
10k trail run, 90k on road bike, and 20k cruiser cruise with Thule trailer and the twins.
My athletic adventure? Trying to play sand volleyball for the first time in years. In a local league. With strangers as my teammates. And you know what? It didn’t suck!
Stacked away the firewood. Do any fitness devices have a mode for this, big hole in the market I suspect.
Two training days: 12 mile run on Saturday and a BRICK on Sunday: endurance ride followed by a 3 mile run off the bike.
160km in this year:) DUT waiting fir me and i need some motivation gadgets:)
250 kilometres in beautiful Czech mountains enoying perfect spring weather!
The closest I’ve got to athletic was getting 3 hours of sleep each night due to a newborn. This should count
A run on the lakefront enjoying the ‘excellent’ late spring weather. Glad I have not put away the winter gear yet. And some solid gym work.
Beautiful long run in Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
Went on a shakeout run for the Boston Marathon and enjoyed the joys of Boston during marathon weekend!
Raced my bike! Unfortunately didn’t hit the podium, but good fun was had!
Weekend trifecta – cardio class Friday, Bike Saturday, short run Sunday. Sore today!
Rutgers Half Marathon – best time in several years.
A very athletic weekend: Window shopping with my 9-year-old in the city on a wonderful sunny Saturday:)
Couple hours on the Kickr
Let’s be lucky!
Got out for a couple of runs this weekend, one was a segment hunt
Regular weekend ride to Altona Beach and home again.
I cycled with a friend on Saturday and then some more on Sunday with my cycling club! Oh, and I did some stretching (that is sports to me !)
Leisurely walk around Clarens.
100k club ride, first time in short sleeves this year!
Small run/bike brick workout.
Had a great weekend with our 5-man team running the inaugural Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay. link to villetovillerelay.com
Rock Climbing at the locat crag……5K run with gear to the first pitch.
2 Rides , around 120 km and Core-Training
I was sweating to TrainerRoad on my trainer in my basement because it is still snowing in Calgary!!
Ran 8 miles
Long ride Saturday, long run Sunday
Second spring road race Saturday and then some wind aided KOMs with my club Sunday
Played a little tennis…
42 mile bike ride around the local lake!
Snow gone, went for the first ride outside this year. Nice to be out of the cave.
Had a great mountain bike ride and spectated the BWR.
Since we got 5 inches of snow, and the kids were sick of being cooped up indoors all weekend, we went outside and created a race track in the snow. I don’t think they were as wore out as as me, but we had a blast.
Placed 1st as a mother – daughter team in an all women’s race. Thanks to my fast child!
3 hours on the bike…outside…FINALLY!
6 x 1 miles at 10 seconds under marathon pace. My last speed session before my first marathon at the end of the month. Taper Town is right around the corner and I’m getting excited!!
I wouldn’t necessarily call it athletic, but spring cleaning and home repair can burn some calories.
after being quite sick for more than a week went out biking for an hour and a half and found out spring had started while I was confined to my bed
Hi !
First Bike Ride about 10k with my seven year old daughter on her new 24″ Bike… I love her!
Good weather and a lot of fun.
3 hours in the bike trainer until the good weather arrives
Decent 5k on the trails on Saturday. Spotted and heard a tiny woodpecker up in the trees.
Did a 5k run on saturday and then heavy gardening ?
Five mile run in the wind and sleet. Spring in Vermont.
Saturday mountain bike, Sunday morning hike, then watching other people race.
This weekend I did a Fitness Blender Youtube workout with my wife that left me feeling rather sore. Hmm, double entendre not intended. Did not go to martial arts class or climbing due to ice storm making roads impassable, did not ride on rollers due to spending my Sunday evening dealing with power outages and generators instead.