I’m DC RAINMAKER…
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.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
Author Archives: Ray Maker
Tacx NEO Bike Plus In-Depth Review
Garmin has just launched their newest smart bike, the Tacx NEO Bike Plus. This new model is a modest update to the previous edition, but does significantly overhaul the handlebar shifters, making them virtually identical to real road bike shifters. … Read More Here
Apple’s Satellite Emergency SOS Feature: A Review & Deep-Dive Explainer
Starting today, users in certain countries will be able to use their iPhone 14 units to trigger an emergency SOS, even in areas without cellular coverage. It does this using a network of 24 low-earth orbit satellites that the iPhone … Read More Here
Peloton Bike In-Depth Long Term Review: Three Years Later
It’s been nearly three years since I bought the original/base Peloton Bike, and lucky for you it’s still the same model being sold now. Sure, there’s the newer and more expensive Peloton Bike+ (for which I have a review on … Read More Here
Zwift Adds New Roads, Brings Back Other Features, Apple TV 4K 2022 Update Timelines
Consider this post a Zwift potpourri of updates. Depending on your time zone on this planet, last night Zwift rolled out a new update that adds a bunch of new pavement (and dirt..and sand) to the platform, while also bringing … Read More Here
Polar Ignite 3 In-Depth Review: AMOLED Display & Multiband GPS!
Polar has just announced their newest watch – the Ignite 3. And despite being a watch typically focused on the mid-range price bucket, they’ve gone ahead and put their most advanced technology to date into it. It features a stunningly … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct Crossover Series In-Depth Review: It’s Got Hands!
The Garmin Instinct 2 apparently shacked up with a prettier colleague from the Vivomove series division, resulting in this new hand-laden Garmin Instinct edition, aptly called the Instinct Crossover. As with most Instinct things, whether or not it’s pretty is … Read More Here
Suunto 9 Peak Pro In-Depth Review
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is both a modest update and a major update, depending on how you look at it. Internally, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is substantially different – with almost everything revamped: Processor, GPS chipset, heart rate … Read More Here
DJI Mavic 3 Classic Active Track Sports Review: Highspeed Versus a Tree
Just a quick note that I’ve published a fun long-form, basically unedited, cycling test ride video with the newly announced DJI Mavic 3 Classic and its autonomous follow-me Active Track mode, up on YouTube. After the first 2-3 minutes of … Read More Here
COROS APEX 2 and APEX 2 Pro In-Depth Review
Today COROS has announced the long-teased COROS APEX 2 series watches, including both a base model and a Pro model. While I had considered doing entirely separate reviews for both of these, the reality is they’re virtually identical watches same … Read More Here
Apple Watch Ultra vs New York City: GPS Accuracy Test!
In the event you aren’t subscribed over on YouTube, I’ve posted a full comparison of the Apple Watch Ultra vs Garmin Epix in New York City, on an epic route through the city, including up and down some of the … Read More Here
COROS Pod 2 In-Depth Review: A Missed Opportunity
COROS has announced a new ‘Pod’, now becoming the second edition of such Pod units. This pod is a blend between a glorified footpod for smoother and more instant running pace, as well as a running efficiency metrics pod that … Read More Here
Wahoo Adds Voice Chat to RGT Racing & Training, Further SYSTM Expansions
Wahoo has announced its major changes for the Wahoo SYSTM & RGT apps (Wahoo acquired RGT this past spring), including new routes in both platforms, as well as being the first major platform to add integrated voice chat between riders … Read More Here
GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini Delayed
GoPro has announced they are slightly delaying their previously announced GoPro Hero 11 Mini camera, which was set to start shipping today (Oct 25th). This change is fairly last-minute, as things were still on-tap to start shipping just a couple … Read More Here
Apple Releases New Secondary Lower-Power Apple Watch Ultra Workout Mode
When the Apple Watch Ultra was announced last month, it included an initial lower-power mode across the entire watch that mostly just reduced some background features while preserving workout fidelity. Meaning, heart rate and GPS sampling rates remained the same … Read More Here
Suunto 9 Peak Pro First Look: A Turning Point?
Suunto has announced their new Suunto 9 Peak Pro multisport watch, which takes the existing Suunto 9 Peak, and makes it a bit more ‘Pro’ through a variety of hardware and software updates. One could argue it’s actually the biggest … Read More Here
Saris Cycling Group Acquired by C+A Global
Saris has announced they’ve been acquired by C+A Global, a company you’ve probably never heard of. As you may remember from earlier this past summer, Saris found itself in court, and selected to sell itself as part of a fast-track … Read More Here
Google Pixel Watch In-Depth Review: A Promising Start
After many years of rumors, hints, acquisitions, and probably a few false starts – the Pixel watch is finally here. The end resultant is largely what you’d expect in a first-generation watch from a major company: Something that appeals as … Read More Here
Amazon Early Access Sports Tech Deals Round-Up
As you may have heard, Amazon is running a so-called “Early Access Sale” with Black Friday-like sale prices on October 11th and 12th. I’ve rounded up the best sports technology-related sales, or just sales on things that I like/use a … Read More Here
Garmin MARQ Athlete (2nd Gen) In-Depth Review
It’s landed, the watch the 1% have been waiting for: The $1,900 Garmin MARQ Athlete, 2nd Gen edition. This watch builds upon the previous Garmin MARQ and CHRONOS lineups of fancier Fenix variants, but now switches over to the Garmin … Read More Here
Google’s Pixel Watch Hands-On: Here’s What You Need to Know
Today Google finally launched its long-awaited Pixel Watch. No wearable device has been rumored to “happen soon” as many years as the Pixel Watch. But this past spring Google confirmed it’d be coming this fall, and here we are. The … Read More Here
Fitbit Inspire 3 In-Depth Review
While the higher-end Fitbit Sense and Versa line get all the attention, the reality is the new Fitbit Inspire 3 is likely outperforming its $99 price point. The Inspire 3 is a substantial upgrade over years past, especially in the … Read More Here
Huge Garmin Fenix 7/Epix Beta Update Includes Wrist Based Running Power
Late last night Garmin released a substantial public beta program firmware update (which is technically an Alpha release within that program) to Fenix 7 & Epix units (and their subvariants including the Enduro 2), which adds 15 new features. These … Read More Here
Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM V2 (2022) Bike Computer In-Depth Review
Today Wahoo has announced their latest bike computer, the new Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM. Unofficially it’s the ROAM V2 or ROAM 2022 or ROAM 2nd Edition or whatever you want to call it – but no matter the name, it’s Wahoo’s … Read More Here
Zwift Hub Smart Trainer In-Depth Review: The Best Bang For Your Buck?
Today Zwift starts selling their first smart trainer, the Zwift Hub. Announced about a month ago, this ‘new’ smart trainer is essentially a repackaged JetBlack VOLT V2 trainer, but at a substantially lower price point than virtually every other direct … Read More Here
Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator: Hands-On Details
Garmin’s just announced a new model in their inReach satellite communicator lineup – the inReach Messenger ($299). And with it, also a new app called Messenger, which will soon work with a number of recent inReach devices. This new app … Read More Here