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
Elite Direto X Smart Trainer In-Depth Review
While Eurobike doesn’t officially start for another 15 hours, Elite is joining Saris in getting a jumpstart on things, this time on Eurobike Eve. Elite has just announced three new products – the Elite Direto X (this post), the Elite … Read More Here
Hands-on: Sigma’s iD.TRI & iD.FREE Multisport GPS Watches
I’ve always been a bit impressed by Sigma. Here’s a company that is mostly unknown outside of Europe (or even Germany), yet they tend to put out high-quality products that compete technically with those from the bigger-name American and European … Read More Here
Saris H3 Smart Trainer In-Depth Review
CycleOps…err…now Saris is getting a bit ahead of the Eurobike show announcement flood by starting early. Today they’ve announced three new products. First, is this post – the Saris H3 (Hammer 3) trainer. This trainer gets a bit quieter while … Read More Here
Garmin Fenix 6 Series In-Depth Review
Garmin’s latest Fenix series watch now includes solar power, but how well does it work? And what’s PacePro all about? Here’s everything you wanted to know. Read More Here
Fitbit Versa 2 with Amazon Alexa: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
This new device includes Amazon Alexa, new sleep metrics, plus Spotify support. Not to mention hosting Fitbit’s new premium platform. Read More Here
Hands-on: Wahoo Adds Radar Support for ELEMNT/BOLT/ROAM, confirms TrainerRoad Connectivity
Today Wahoo has rolled out support for ANT+ radar units to their entire lineup of GPS bike computers, including the original Wahoo ELEMNT, the BOLT, and the new ROAM. For the 7 people still rockin’ the old school RFLKT, you’re … Read More Here
A Few Epic Days in the French Alps
I’m currently at 34,999ft cruising over the Atlantic, nearing the coast of Newfoundland. But prior to that I was home in Amsterdam for the weekend – however, much of last week I spent in Chamonix, doing a bunch of meandering … Read More Here
Amazon Music Launches on Garmin Watches: Everything you need to know
Here’s everything you need to know to get your Garmin watch working with Amazon Music – step by step instructions and all! Read More Here
InsideRide E-Motion SmartPower Rollers with Floating Fork: In-Depth Review
In the indoor training world there are roller people, and there are trainer people. It’s sorta like politics or religion. Fighting with one camp over the benefits is mostly futile. The only people who benefit from such discussions are the … Read More Here
No, Zwift Racing Wasn’t Hacked. Yet. Sorta. Let Me Explain.
Cheating at Zwift is nothing new, but more and more this year the focus is on how to hack Zwift racing with tools and technology. For the first time we saw a presentation at Def Con about exactly that. Read More Here
How to: Install Free Maps on your Garmin Edge
Got a Garmin Edge and want to install maps on it while you travel? Here’s the quick and easy steps to get free maps ready and installed. Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
While the wind was blowing strong this past weekend here in the Netherlands, that didn’t keep us from putting our best bike foot forward. Here’s this weekend’s super bike-themed roundup of what we were up to. 1) More beer bottle … Read More Here
Week in Review–August 11th, 2019
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
Polar Ignite GPS In-Depth Review
Back in June Polar announced their Ignite GPS watch. This new watch undercut the higher end Vantage M on price, but yet at the same time also added a slew of features that the Vantage series doesn’t yet have (most of them are coming in November to the Vantage M/V). While the Vantage series was aimed at more hardcore athletes, the Ignite watch aimed to straddle the soft squishy middle.
How to: Installing Free Maps on your Garmin Fenix 5/6, Forerunner 945, or MARQ Series watch
Got a Garmin wearable and want maps when you travel? Here’s the step by step for getting free maps on your watch quickly and easily. Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
With a bunch of mid-summer travel to all sorts of places complete, it’s back to a few weeks at home in Amsterdam before…well, a bit more travel for Eurobike and some excitement. Until then, here’s what I was up to! … Read More Here
Week in Review–August 4th, 2019
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
Garmin MARQ Athlete In-Depth Review
It’s Garmin’s most expensive GPS watch, and the most expensive sport-specific GPS watch on the market. But how well does it actually work? I dig deep. really deep. Read More Here
Jaybird Vista Earbuds Hands-On: An AirPods/PowerBeats Pro Competitor for Sports?
Here’s your real-life testing on how it actually works with sports GPS watches like the Garmin Forerunner watches and Apple Watches. Everything the athlete needs to know. Read More Here
DCR Summer 2019 Open House & Ride Recap Photos
A hop, skip, and two weekends ago was the first ever summer DCR Open house. Technically the 6th open house if counting all the previous Paris and Amsterdam events, but this one was quite different in that it was held … Read More Here
The 2019 Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
It’s nice and quiet during the summer lull between product release cycles (which usually start again around the first week of September), so it’s as good a time as any to do my annual ‘gear I use list’. The last … Read More Here
Cycling Dynamics for Assioma Power Meter Pedals Released, New Pedal Bodies Too
After nearly two years of waiting, there’s finally another Cycling Dynamics option on the table. Here’s how it all works with the Assioma Pedals. Read More Here
Women’s WorldTour Pro Teams: The Trainers, Power Meters, and Other Tidbits
Here’s the sports tech used by the 2019 Women’s WorldTour Teams. From trainers to power meters, and plenty of other tidbits. Read More Here
Tour de France 2019: The Trainers & Power Meters
Which smart trainers and power meters are the Tour de France riders using? Here’s all the details you wanted to know. Read More Here
Amazon Prime Day – July 15/16th: Sports Tech Deal Tracker
Ok folks,you know the drill – today’s the best day of the year short of Black Friday for deals, sports tech and beyond. What started just a few short years ago as an Amazon-only thing has oddly enough spread beyond … Read More Here