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.
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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 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.
But where does Des fit? (See what I did there?)
Haha…well played!
Someone had to guard the stroopwafels and wine. Of course, if you’ve been following Instagram stories, you’d know how that ended…
“In just a few days 2020 is finally over”. Is it a joke or a mistake? It could be either :D
Ahh, I suspect you missed the wording before it:
“If you want to watch the full video of last years’ shenanigans…” ;)
No worries, 2020 basically feels like it’s on repeat anyway.
Oh Please make a blog post with lots of pictures of “Top 10 list of ‘DCR’s Poor Cargo Bike Life Choices’”
Unless I have missed it somewhere over the years.
Don’t be tempting me!
I was really hoping that was a clickable link when I read that…. (hint hint).
Came here to agree with this!
I’ll join the vote – please make that post!
Another vote for this much needed post!
you are one of the very few whom I buy the cargo bike and bicycle mobility! but what I wonder with the pictures is whether you are not afraid that a single own error or the error of a car driver could threaten the lives of all three children who would sit without question in a reasonable car far more protected? merry christmas.
Clearly you’ve never been to Amsterdam… It’s probably less safe there in a car than on a bike. City navigation in a car there is stressful at best, dangerous at worst. The streets are designed with bikes in mind.
Our roughly 9-10KM route only included 100m of pedaling on a roadway (and still within a bike lane). Otherwise, the entire route was grade-separated from vehicles – and in fact, the majority of it, there wasn’t a roadway anywhere near it at all (as in, not for a hundred+ meters).
While nothing is perfect in life, the reality is that cycling in the Netherlands, or Amsterdam in particular is an entirely different level of safety built into the infrastructure (street design, etc…).
Yes, in Amsterdam the pecking order is bikes, pedestrians, cars.
That order varies in other countries.
In the US it is cars, cars, cars unless you live in “special” places.
I agree that cars are not the issue in well designed cities .. but .. you can always fall, or the kids .. i would still give them helmets.
If you don’t mind me asking, I’m just curious what’s the price of an average Christmas tree in the Netherlands?
Smaller/cheaper one about 15 Euro, decent 2 meter tree about 25-35 Euro.
Sadly, I wish the prices were that cheap in Amsterdam! Roughly double that for most tree vendors within the city.
It’s crazy that you have been living the expat life for 10 years
I love reading the Christmas tree by bike Storys since your Paris times…
Have a nice Christmas / Holidays!
Greetings from Germany
ahhh… Amsterdam… what a great place! Especially in this time of year… I love it so so much.
And the Dutch are very nice and cool people. I fully understand why you live there for the last years. Probably the best place to live in Europe…
Here in Germany you would be heavily fined for „transporting“ your kids this way… the funny and pathetic „cops on bikes“ here would chase you down instantly and tell you… well, be glad that you are there and nit here… and let me tell you that I have enjoyed your reports and tests again very much in 2021 as I already did for so much years already. All the best to you and your family… looking forward to a happy 2022! 😉👍
Love it
Goed idee!
Something to motivate you for the 2022 edition:
My wife brought the Christmas tree on her (non-electric) roller. She said it was surprisingly easy and was pitying the poor couples trying to carry it in pairs. She was even considering to ride the roller too, but our 4 year-old daughter who was with her had nothing to ride on…