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
A look at the new Power2Max NG power meters
Each year at Eurobike we see Power2Max make evolutionary changes to their power meter lineup. In doing so, they’ve continued to climb the market penetration ladder – despite not being a household name. One only needs to look at the … Read More Here
5 Random Things From A Weekend in Bruges
It’s been a busy few days in the DCR realm, as my parents came into town and we headed up to Bruges, Belgium for the weekend. It’s about a 3-hour drive from Paris. While Bruges is well known to the … Read More Here
Week in Review – Sept 11th, 2016
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
Thoughts On The New Apple Watch Series 2 with GPS & Waterproofing
Heads up – February 2017! Looking for the Apple Watch Series 2 In-Depth Review? Swing on over to that page here! It’s been almost exactly two years since Apple announced their first version of the Apple Watch. Today they announced details … Read More Here
Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 In-Depth Review
Last week, Garmin announced and released their newest action cam – the VIRB Ultra 30. To summarize this 50-million word in-depth review in the most succinct manner possible: Someone at Garmin finally got it. They created what might possibly best … Read More Here
A look at Kinetic’s new Smart Control Trainers
It’s been nearly a month since Kinetic quietly added their new lineup of smart resistance controlled trainers to their website, a fact not gone unnoticed by DCR readers. But it wasn’t until this past week at Eurobike that we’d actually … Read More Here
PowerPod rolls out ANT+/Bluetooth Smart version, improved road surface algorithms
While at Eurobike, the folks behind the PowerPod have made two notable announcements. Readers will remember the PowerPod was announced last Eurobike and started shipping a few months later. It’s become pretty darn popular since then, as a way to … Read More Here
First Look: Stages introduces Dash bike GPS, training platform suite
This past week at Eurobike, Stages expanded their product lineup beyond power meters and indoor bikes – now arriving on the bike computer and training site/platform scene. They introduced two new products: The Stages Dash (bike computer) and Stages Link … Read More Here
First Ride: Quarq’s New DZero Power Meter Series
(Update – May 18th, 2017 – See my full and new in-depth review published here!!!) Quarq is turning 10 years old this year, and at Eurobike they rolled out a complete refresh of their power meter lineup. This refresh covers … Read More Here
TomTom announces Spark 3 GPS Watch, Adventurer hiking watch, and Touch wearable Body Composition band
Timed to the start of the IFA conference in Berlin, TomTom rolled out three new fitness devices. Though, I suppose technically four devices if you count that Spark 3 also goes by the name Runner 3. And actually, it’s more … Read More Here
Wahoo Fitness ‘KICKR2’ Trainer In-Depth Review
How does Wahoo’s second-generation KICKR compare against the original, and against its rivals? Read More Here
Garmin’s New VIRB Ultra 30: Eurobike Edition Mini-Review
Update: My In-Depth Review is up! Check it out by clicking here. Today, Garmin released their newest action, the VIRB Ultra 30. This 4K action cam is capable of rivaling the GoPro Hero4 series, as well as the rumored specs … Read More Here
First Look: Zwift rolls out iOS version of platform
Zwift is somehow already two years old, how time flies! While they only started taking your money last winter, it seems like just yesterday we were seeing the first demos of the platform. Since inception they’ve added a structured workout … Read More Here
Hands-on: The new Tacx Flux Smart Trainer
This week at Eurobike, Tacx has announced their latest smart trainer, the Tacx Flux. This new trainer sits at the upper edge of the mid-range electronic trainer pricing range at $899USD/€799, but pulls in features historically only seen at higher … Read More Here
A Weekend in Chamonix and the Alps
This past weekend was a solid road trip adventure as I worked my way from Paris to Eurobike in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Except instead of just taking the highway there directly and being done with it, I decided to take a meandering detour … Read More Here
DCR Facebook Live Chat Series at Eurobike Tomorrow Details!
It’s been just about a month since the inaugural DCR Live event I did, where I live streamed a Q&A session via Facebook Live. Some 7,000 of you tuned in over the course of the event, and about 12,000 of … Read More Here
Hands-on: Fitbit’s new Flex 2 and Charge 2 Activity Trackers, plus Blaze & Alta updates
(Update! My Fitbit Charge 2 in-depth review is now available here! So swing over to that page for all the details!) Fitbit’s starting off the week ahead going into IFA (a big tech show in Berlin later this week) by … Read More Here
Everything you ever wanted to know: Garmin’s new $1,500 Fenix Chronos Watch Series
Well then, someone in Kansas is feeling ballsy today. Garmin has just announced three new Fenix units, starting from $900 and topping out at $1,500USD. Or, if you’re so fortunate to be living in the land of maple syrup, it’ll … Read More Here
Hands-on: Stryd announces new running power meter
Today running power meter company Stryd announced their next generation running power meter unit, changing up the form factor and increasing the data metrics gathered. This new model is now a small footpod that you attach to your running shoe. … Read More Here
Hands-on: The Marlin GPS Swimming Tracker
I mentioned yesterday in my Ibiza weekend post that I had used the Marlin GPS swim meter during one of my recent openwater swims. I figured I’d put together a short post to dive into a bit more detail on … Read More Here
Hands-on: The CycleOps Magnus Smart trainer
Let the new trainer games begin! Oh…crap…wait, they already began – earlier this summer with new CycleOps trainer, Elite trainers, and even Tacx trainer updates. But, with a brief summer intermission completed, we’re back into the swing of new trainer … Read More Here
A Long Weekend in Ibiza
Ahh yes, Ibiza – famed locale for foam parties, alcohol-fueled escapades, and stunning beaches and water. A place where unattached 20-something’s across the world flock. And thus obviously the perfect place to go with the little 6-week old nugget for … Read More Here
Garmin releases Strava Live Segments for Running, Muscle Oxygen on devices, Photo Watch Faces
Phew, all sorts of Garmin news over the last few days on numerous fronts, and this post seems the easiest way to bundle up three totally different things into one tidy little package. Let’s get on with the show! Strava … Read More Here
A DCR August Wahoo KICKR Giveaway Winner!
This past weekend I held a giveaway for a new Wahoo KICKR trainer! Consider it a bit of a reminder to get back outside and enjoy those summer miles (or kilometers) while you still can! A whopping 7,426 of you … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Here’s what we were up to on this beautiful and hot holiday weekend here in the nation’s capital. 1) Afternoon strolls around town After wrapping up a few work items Saturday morning at the Studio (for both The Girl and … Read More Here