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
Huge Fall Sale: 20% off All Trainers & Most Power Meters, $150 off Fenix 5 (including Fenix 5 Plus)
Like clockwork, it’s that time of year again! The now annual 20% off sale. Now technically, it’s semi-annual since it happens now and in the spring. But I don’t think anyone’s complaining about the chance to buy a brand new … Read More Here
November Q&A Livestream Tomorrow (from the new DCR Cave!)
It’s time. Because, well, it’s been a long time since the last time. And more importantly, because it buys me some time back tomorrow writing a post, since I’m spending the majority of this week finally moving into the new … Read More Here
Week in Review–Nov 4th, 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
The Smart Trainer Annual Recommendations Guide–2018 Edition
It’s that time of year again: Indoor trainer season. Though in reality, that’s actually not terribly true these days. With indoor training apps and the entire experience becoming more and more immersive, more and more people are using them all … Read More Here
Hands-on: Tacx NEO 2 Smart Trainer
Update: Skip over and see my full in-depth review of the Tacx NEO 2 (or now, the NEO 2T review), where I’ve got tons of testing data and final conclusions. Squeaking in just under the wire for the 2018 … Read More Here
Tech Tidbits: Spotify on Garmin FR645 Music, New COROS Helmets, No Apple Watch ECG Yet
Got two and a half quick tech tidbits for you today, as I keep my head down focused on a flotilla of trainer posts for the next 48 hours. All trainers…all the time. Until then, some non-trainer news that will … Read More Here
Tacx Flux S Trainer In-Depth Review
It’s been a bit over a month since Tacx first announced the Flux S, which despite looking similar at a distance to the also newly announced Flux 2, is indeed different. Aside from price (the Flux S is $749USD and … Read More Here
Week in Review–October 27th, 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
Friday Tech Tidbits: Banning power meters at Tour de France, Polar Vantage now shipping, new COROS APEX GPS watch
Here’s your (occasional) round-up of Friday randomness within the sports tech world. These are items that I felt I wanted to provide a bit more commentary/detail on than just a quick one-liner note in my usual Week in Review post, … Read More Here
Apple Watch Series 4: Sports & Fitness In-Depth Review
Everything you ever wanted to know about using the Apple Watch Series 4 for sport and fitness. From GPS accuracy tests to pushing the limits of the new optical HR sensor…and plenty more. Read More Here
Hands-on: Zwift’s New York City Course is Now Available
After bits of teasing since earlier this summer, the Zwift New York City course is finally here. And, it’s nothing like what you expected. Well, unless you expected flying cars, levitating translucent roadways, and buses dangling from glowing blue railway … Read More Here
Hands-on: Skydio’s R1 Sports Drone Gets Apple Watch Control
I don’t usually cover the slew of app announcements for the Apple Watch – but this one is definitely different, and, if you’re looking to get cool action video of yourself – then this is also unique. As of today, … Read More Here
5 Random Things From A Week in Cancun
After a busy week up in Banff at the ANT+ Symposium I traded a foot of snow for steaming hot…weather…with The Girl. We’d long been looking forward to this trip, as it’d be the first week away from the kiddos … Read More Here
Week in Review–October 14th, 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
Kona Bike Count 2018 Power Meter Analysis
Once again, it’s time for the big dance that is Kona. Or more technically – the Ironman World Championships. It’s when the fastest long-course triathletes in the world gather on a small island to collectively consume more electrolyte-filled drinks and … Read More Here
Tech Tidbits: Polar Vantage Updates, Strava sorta removes ads, PowerTap P2 pedals
There’s been a handful of non-headliner tech tidbits this week in the world of sports tech that are worthwhile mentioning and chatting about. Of course, given this is Friday, the post length is required to be short. Apparently people have … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct GPS Watch In-Depth Review
When it comes to looks, you’re either going to love or hate the new Garmin Instinct watch. There’s not likely to be much middle ground. If you like the looks of Casio watches, you’ll probably be pretty excited about this … Read More Here
The 2018 Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
It’s that time of year again – the “Swim/Bike/Run Gear I use List!”. Well, ok, it was that time of year like 3 years ago. Thankfully as part of The Girl’s new duties, she prodded me enough to get my … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Past Week in Banff
The above has been my playground…err..work spot, for the last week. Of course as you saw this weekend in my ANT+ Symposium post I’ve been up in Banff, Canada (within the province of Alberta) for the annual sports technology conference. … Read More Here
My 2018 State of Sports Technology Keynote Video
It’s that time of year again – my annual state of sports technology presentation at the ANT Wireless Symposium. This year marks the 8th year that I’ve given such a presentation at the event, which includes the vast majority of … Read More Here
Spotify Now Available on Garmin: Everything you need to know
For the last two months I’ve been happily listening to music while I’m running. And finally, now you can too. It wasn’t that I couldn’t listen to music before that point. Certainly I had plenty of devices that supported music … Read More Here
The 5th Annual DCR Open House (Amsterdam Edition): December 1st, 2018
It’s that time of year again! Time for you to start planning your trek to the 5th annual DCR Cave Open House! Yup, it’s gonna be the fifth open house already – how time flies! Here were the first, second, … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
An in between weekend – that’s what this was. I’ve been home the last week after my Interbike and such trips the week before. But come the end of the weekend it was back on a plane and across the … Read More Here
Week in Review–Sept 29th, 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
DC Rainmaker Cycling Kits (Finally) Now Available!
Woot – finally, they’re here! Well, mostly here. You can order them, which makes them virtually here: The DC Rainmaker Cycling Kits! (Update: Initial ordering period has closed, but we ordered a small pile of extras which you can pickup … Read More Here