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
First Look at The SufferFest’s Revamped App and New Features
One of the coolest things about the indoor trainer industry is how many apps there really are. Sure, you know the big-name ones that seem to dominate the news cycle. But there’s tons of really tiny apps that you (or … Read More Here
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway
I’m sure many of you received various sports gadgets over the last few weeks as part of the holidays. But for those unlucky elves who received only a half-eaten gel packet in their Christmas stocking from their not-so-significant others, I’ve … Read More Here
Just Got A New Sports Gadget? 34 Tips To Get You Started
So, you just got a new gadget under the tree (or, perhaps for some other Festivus in the last while). Congrats! Now, you’ve gotta figure out how to channel your inner sports geekdom to get the most out of that … Read More Here
Getting the Christmas Tree Home via Bike: 2018 Edition
Transporting home our Christmas tree has become an annual tradition of ours since moving to Europe. And this year we continued it after our move from Paris to Amsterdam. Except, you know…a bigger bike equals a bigger tree. But let’s … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did in Finland (in the Arctic Circle)
Last weekend we headed up to northern Finland for four days with another family. Both our sets of kids are all only a few days apart in age. But since we were busy defrosting from that trip last week, I … Read More Here
Week in Review–Dec 22nd, 2018
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
Tacx NEO 2 Smart Trainer In-Depth Review
(** Update: the Tacx NEO 2 has since been superseded by the Tacx NEO 2T. Check out that link for the most up to date information on this Smart Trainer line up!**) While the Tacx NEO 2 was the last product … Read More Here
Amsterdam Runners: DCR Santa Claus Fun Run – Dec 22nd
Just a super-duper quick public service announcement for those that don’t follow on Twitter, or for some reason don’t read the weekly newsletter (written by The Girl). But this Saturday morning we’ll be hosting a simple Amsterdam Santa Claus themed … Read More Here
Polar Vantage V Multisport GPS In-Depth Review
It’s been four months since Polar announced their new Vantage series of multisport watches. This series is currently comprised of two watches, the Vantage V and Vantage M. The V is the higher end multisport watch, meant to be a … Read More Here
How to: Troubleshooting Power Meter and Trainer Accuracy Issues
No matter the product, eventually, for every product review I post, sooner or later someone has a power related accuracy issue with their unit. In today’s post, I’ll be focusing on power meter and trainer accuracy issues. But perhaps down … Read More Here
SRM EXAKT Power Meter Pedals In-Depth Review
This past May we saw a new power meter pedal entrant announced onto the market, the SRM EXAKT pedals. Of course, SRM is well known for their power meter wares, which until now have been confined to cranksets and indoor … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Phew – a whirlwind of a weekend – here’s what we were up to as our visitors wrapped up their stays and the holidays got into full swing! 1) DCR Live Stream With Lama and DesFit Friday evening we kicked … Read More Here
Friday Roundup: Interbike cancelled for 2019, and Zwift encroaches on Strava with new update
And just like that – it’s Friday! If you’re reading this prior to 11AM US Eastern Time/5PM Central European time – then don’t miss out on my YouTube Livestream today (Friday) with GPLama and DesFit – here to answer all … Read More Here
Rouvy Rolls Out Augmented Reality Indoor Training Feature
First off, no, ‘augmented reality’ does not mean ‘virtual reality’. Two totally different things that share very little in common, except the word reality. Like ‘alternate reality’ – which is what happens when you don’t train all winter and think … Read More Here
DCR Open House Amsterdam 2018 Recap: Photos and videos!
This past Saturday was the 5th annual DCR Open House, and most notably – the first time I’ve shown off the new DCR Amsterdam Cave. A spot that the construction crews finished moving out most of their tools around 1AM … Read More Here
Strava’s 2018 Fascinating Year In Review Stats
Well folks, it’s November 29th, so it’s time to have a detailed look at all of our socially exciting athletic data from the entirety of calendar year 2018 to see what patterns we might be able to discern. No better … Read More Here
Hands-on: Specialized ANGi Helmet Crash Sensor
Today Specialized continued their slow invasion into sports tech gadgetry with the introduction of the Specialized ANGi standalone pod and fully pod-equipped helmet lineup. These connected helmet pods alert your friends and family when you crash, but also give those … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Here’s what we’ve been up to the last few days. While normally for US folk this past weekend would have been part of the larger Thanksgiving weekend (usually spanning up to four days, inclusive of Thanksgiving), living overseas means that … Read More Here
Holiday 2018 Sports Tech Deals!
It’s that time of year again when there are tons of sales on all sorts of sports technology items. Everything this year is pointing to earlier sales than normal, as manufacturers and retailers alike try to lock in your dollars … Read More Here
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom and Pro In-Depth Review
After three months of use, how does the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom and Pro really hold up? I dig into all the details – in particular from a sports tracking standpoint. Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
While it may seem a bit quieter on the site in recent weeks – that’s mostly because I’ve been slammed trying to get things all set up in the new space, as well as compiling the huge buyer’s guides (Power … Read More Here
Week in Review–November 17th, 2018
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
Sports Technology Buyers Guide & Recommendations: Winter 2018-2019
(Before we start note that obviously Black Friday is around the corner and as such we tend to see good deals on gadgets. As well as the big sales, some of which end this Saturday night. I’ve tried to note … Read More Here
The Power Meter Buyers Guide–2018 Edition
Once again, it’s time for the annual power meter buyer’s guide! It’s where I round-up every cycling power meter on the market, and talk through what’s happened in the last year. I give my opinions of every single power meter … Read More Here
WatTeam Halts Production of Power Meters, Focuses on Acquisition
Today WatTeam has decided to cease production of power meters while they focus on looking for a strategic partner to carry their low-cost power meter concept forward. Said differently, they’re looking for a bigger brand to buy out the technology … Read More Here