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
Garmin Quietly Rolls Out Cross Country Skiing Power
For those that sifted through their junk mail folders over the past few weeks, you might have seen an e-mail from Garmin announcing cross-country skiing power, akin to cycling power, but more in line with how running power data is … Read More Here
Elite Tuo Smart Trainer In-Depth Review
Almost exactly one year to the day after announcing the Elite Tuo trainer, Elite finally started shipping the thing last month. To their credit, the reason they held back was that the accuracy of the unit wasn’t where they wanted … Read More Here
Week in Review: October 25th, 2020
The Week in Review is a collection of both all the goodness I’ve written during the past week around the internet, as well as a small pile of links I found interesting – generally endurance sports related. I’ve often wondered … Read More Here
Here’s the DCR $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Happy Saturday! Last weekend I held the $500 Gadget Giveaway, where some 4,807 of you entered the contest to win a gift certificate worth $500 for a gadget of your choice. So I figured this weekend it was time to … Read More Here
Wattbike ATOM 2020 Smart Bike In-Depth Review
It’s been three years since Wattbike released their first true indoor smart bike (with app-controllable resistance), the Wattbike ATOM. This year, they’ve released the upgraded 2nd gen model – the ATOM 2020. While they look nearly identical from the outside, … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct Esports Edition with Special Software: An Explainer of Sorts
Here’s everything you need to know about the new Garmin Instinct Esports edition, including a quick look at the STR3AMUP! software, and how it ties into Streaming aps like OBS and others. Read More Here
Garmin’s Virtual Developer Conference News Tidbits for Connect IQ 4.0 and Garmin Connect Platform
Last week was Garmin’s 3rd annual Garmin Connect IQ developer event, this time called the Garmin Virtual Developer Conference since it’s all online, versus the Connect IQ Summit that was in person and held at Garmin’s headquarters in Olathe, Kansas. … Read More Here
DC Rainmaker State of Sports Tech 2020 Keynote
This post is gonna be a quickie, because frankly, if you want to watch my full keynote, it’s gonna be a…umm…longie? For a decade now I’ve been giving a ‘State of Sports Tech’ annual keynote each fall, and this fall … Read More Here
Week in Review: October 18th, 2020
The Week in Review is a collection of both all the goodness I’ve written during the past week around the internet, as well as a small pile of links I found interesting – generally endurance sports related. I’ve often wondered … Read More Here
New US Partnership + $500 Gadget Giveaway: Backcountry.com & Competitive Cyclist!
I’m excited to announce a new partnership for US readers, with Backcountry.com & CompetitiveCyclist.com! This new partnership helps support the site here, while also getting you a discount on applicable items as well using the DCR Coupon Code. And, atop … Read More Here
Strava Turns Off Flyby Feature For All Users, Have to Opt Back In
Strava has somewhat quietly turned off, for all users, the Flyby feature, after a tweet went viral during the last few days, based on privacy concerns. Users can re-enable it, but only if they knew it was disabled in the … Read More Here
Garmin Index S2 Smart WiFi Connected Scale In-Depth Review
Garmin has just announced the new Index S2 smart WiFi scale, building slightly upon the previous first-generation Index WiFi scale released nearly 5 years ago. This new model switches to a color display that’ll show weight trending information, helping to … Read More Here
Amazon Prime Days Sports Tech Deals Round-Up!
Today is Amazon Prime Day. Well, actually, tomorrow is too. It’s a two-day festivus where we drown our 2020 sorrows away by purchasing gadgets we may or may not need. And this year there are some incredible deals already. … Read More Here
Week in Review–October 12th, 2020
The Week in Review is a collection of both all the goodness I’ve written during the past week around the internet, as well as a small pile of links I found interesting – generally endurance sports related. I’ve often wondered … Read More Here
Fitbit Versa 3 In-Depth Review
The Fitbit Versa 3 is the first Fitbit Versa series watch to include GPS built-in, along with a slate of new health metrics. But are these metrics accurate, or even useful at all? It’s time to dig in. Read More Here
Polar Vantage V2 In-Depth Review
Today Polar has announced the Vantage V2, a touch bit over two years since they announced the initial Polar Vantage V & M series watches. Since that time those units have gotten numerous firmware updates (and even a Titanium version). … Read More Here
Strava Rolls out StatMaps to Subscribers: Here’s how it works
Yes, you have to have the hashtag. Else, it’s just StatMaps, and as you’ll soon find out, that’ll get you a big nothing burger. For this Friday post we’ll keep things nice and quick. So, you can either press the … Read More Here
GoPro Display Mod Accessory In-Depth Review (Hero 8 & Hero 9 Compatible)
Exactly one year ago today GoPro announced the Display Mod, as part of the larger Hero 8 suite. At the time, a year before the Hero 9 would come out, it promised a way to see yourself from the front … Read More Here
Wahoo Rolls Out KICKR Bike ANT+ Power Broadcasting Firmware Update
This post is gonna be a quickie, mostly cause in the grand scheme of things it’s probably not going to be of relevance to that many people since there’s not that many people with KICKR Bike’s out there. But, for … Read More Here
Suunto Announces Final Steps for Movescount Transition, Not All Bad News
In many ways, the Suunto Movescount closure saga is kinda like of those class action lawsuits you signed up for hoping for a big payout, but that goes on for so long and through so many courts that by the … Read More Here
Indoor Cycling Trainer Desk: For when you just can’t justify the Wahoo KICKR Desk Price
Want the Wahoo KICKR Desk (which work with any brand trainer), but can’t exactly justify spending $250 on an indoor trainer desk? No problem, there’s an alternative – the RAD Cycling Desk, also branded as the Lifeline Cycling Trainer Desk, … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
It’s no longer summer. But hey, things are heating up in the watch realm instead – so I’ve got that for ya! Here’s what I was up to this past weekend as the leaves start to change, and the weather … Read More Here
Week in Review–Sept 26th, 2020
The Week in Review is a collection of both all the goodness I’ve written during the past week around the internet, as well as a small pile of links I found interesting – generally endurance sports related. I’ve often wondered … Read More Here
It’s Coming Back! Strava Begins Bluetooth Sensor Beta Test
A year ago Strava killed off sensor support, earning the ire of millions…perhaps even if they rarely used the feature. As users, our collective annoyance was more about principle than anything else. It also didn’t help that Strava’s reasoning at … Read More Here
How to Get Fitbit Non-GPS Activities to Strava
This post is going to be incredibly niche. And I’m OK with that. Heck, this post might just be more for me remembering this site than you. Sometimes I use this blog as a personal notepad. Like when I take … Read More Here