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
Zwift Officially Launches Running: What you need to get started!
Today officially marks the launch of Zwift running. Of course, such a date is merely a formality. Or rather, mostly an opportunity to gather a bunch of press, running companies, and celebrities in NYC to…err…run on treadmills. That’s because of … Read More Here
Garmin (Finally) Releases Vector 3 Bluetooth Smart Firmware
As of today, Garmin finally has their first sensor that actually broadcasts via Bluetooth Smart (in addition to ANT+). Vector 3 was of course announced last August at Eurobike, and then started shipping back in October (my in-depth review dropped … Read More Here
Hands-on: The AIRhub Pro Resistance Wheel
Last year about this time I tried out the original AIRhub while down at the Tour Down Under. That product is essentially a front wheel that provides resistance that you can control from your smartphone via Bluetooth Smart. It has … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
With our second weekend in the Fremantle/Perth area, we’re getting into the swing of things on how to properly take advantage of the area. Though, I’ll give you a hint: It involves staying near the beach. 1) Swim Lessons Time … Read More Here
Week in Review–February 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 Because It’s Friday $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last weekend I held the $500 gadget giveaway. I considered it somewhat of a celebration of Australia Day, where I currently am. A whopping 6,809 of you entered over the weekend – which once again one-ups the last record for … Read More Here
Quick Tip: Quickly creating routes on your phone for your Garmin & Wahoo devices
Longtime readers know that one of the biggest annoyances I have with Garmin’s entire mobile platform is that for a company whose sole existence was for location purposes, you actually can’t create a darn course/route in Garmin Connect Mobile. Nor … Read More Here
Early Look: AeroLab Tech’s Aerodynamic Sensors
For years, aerodynamic sensors and testing facilities for cycling have been appropriated to not just the pointy end of the pack, but the absolute tip of that pointy end. The cost for a mere hour of wind tunnel time is as … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
This past week we jumped on a 3.5 hour flight to leave Adelaide and the Tour Down Under behind, and fly over to Perth (also Australia). It’s here (well, technically Fremantle…actually, more technically North Coogee) that we’ll be hanging out … Read More Here
Week in Review–Jan 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
The Because It’s Friday $500 Gadget Giveaway!
Today is Friday – you made it to the end of the week. But more importantly, today is also Australia Day. I only know that because I’m in Australia, and the beaches are more crowded than the starting line of … Read More Here
Hands-on with VirtuGO: Is it a viable Zwift competitor?
Within the trainer app realm, much is made of the giants – Zwift and TrainerRoad. And rightfully so, they’ve grown their respective customer bases over years with boatloads of happy customers. At the other end of the spectrum is a … Read More Here
First Look: SOLOS Gen2 Wearable Sports Heads up Display
While both Google Glass and Recon Jet have ridden off into the sunset, there are still 2-3 companies working to capture your heads up display glass dollars. One of them, SOLOS, was back at CES again this year showing off … Read More Here
Suunto announces new Spartan variant, also firmware update for all Spartan owners
Over the last few days Suunto has announced another new device this year (beyond the Suunto 3 Fitness from CES), this time adding a further model to the Spartan series. This new model is in many ways exactly like the … Read More Here
Behind the Scenes: Riding in the FDJ Team Car
I’m going to start the post by saying that if there’s any video of mine you watch this year, I’d definitely go with this one. It’s largely unedited chunks of what it’s actually like in a pro tour team car, … Read More Here
A Look At Velon’s Live Race Tracking System
Since a change in leadership at the UCI in 2013, we’ve seen an increase in the number of data tracking platforms that are following the pro peloton. For example, last year at the Tour Down Under I highlighted one solution … Read More Here
Tour Down Under Tidbits: BMC Chilling Vests, Race Convoy Walkthrough, Media Swag Bag
Each day I’m here down in Adelaide at the Tour Down Under I’m roughly spending half my day at or getting to/from the race site, and then half my day writing posts and editing videos. Mixed in there is also … Read More Here
Photos from the Tour Down Under Bikes, Beers & Tech Night
On the eve of the start of Stage 1 at the Tour Down Under we held a grand event: One solely focused on bike tech and beer. And by grand…I mean in the back outside section of a pub under … Read More Here
Wahoo Fitness at CES: Update on the KICKR CLIMB Timelines
(Update: The Wahoo KICKR CLIMB has since been released, and you can find all the details from months of testing and use, here in the Wahoo KICKR CLIMB In-Depth Review) First Look Like many fitness tech companies at CES this … Read More Here
A Closer Look at The Specialized Power Meter Spotted at The Tour Down Under
At the 2018 Tour Down Under, there honestly isn’t a ton of new bike tech. At least, bike tech within the realm that I care about. Undoubtedly there are new frames, wheels, and probably the odd brake pad. But in … Read More Here
Tour Down Under 2018: Sports Tech Gear Of the Pro Men
The Tour Down Under represents the first race of the UCI WorldTour season, and as such, establishes what we’ll see in terms of equipment as the baseline for most tech on the teams this year. The men kicked off their … Read More Here
Hello Australia! I’m crashing your country through March!
Four redeye flights in a row later coming from CES in Las Vegas the wrong way around the world, and I’ve arrived in Australia! Actually, more accurately, we’ve arrived in Australia. Me, The Girl, and both Peanuts (Lucy is getting … Read More Here
Running On Peloton’s New Tread Connected Treadmill
This week at CES, Peloton raised the stakes and announced their long awaited treadmill – simply called Tread. For those not familiar, Peloton is the indoor cycling studio that’s transplanted into your living room via their swanky (and expensive) indoor … Read More Here
Spire: These activity tracking sensors attach to your underwear
With thousands of companies exhibiting at CES, you see all sorts of things across a wide array of viability levels. Some stuff you see you’ll know will be a hit. While others it’s just a matter of time before not … Read More Here
Hands-on: Scosche’s New Rhythm24 Optical HR Sensor Swiss-Army Knife
I initially thought of just titling this post “Scosche’s New Rhythm24 Optical HR Band”, but in reality, that doesn’t begin to capture what they’re doing with the new Rhythm24. Because almost everything they’ve added is about things beyond the optical … Read More Here