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.
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
And in just a matter of days it’s gone from freezing temps with once in a decade snowstorms and ice skating here in the Netherlands, to the warmest day ever recorded for yesterday (Feb 21st). And just like last weekend … Read More Here
Strava Photo Heatmap Added to VeloViewer: Here’s how it works
I suppose exactly what to call this is a bit fuzzy, but basically VeloViewer has mashed up your Strava photos with your heatmap, allowing you to see the two blended together in photographic glory. And if there’s anything that gets … Read More Here
Trying to find a trainer in stock? A nifty alerting tool for you (US/Europe)
TLDR: You can now get instant alerts when trainers are in stock, go here. You know what I’m surprisingly good at? Pressing the refresh button on the Internet. Seriously, if someone gave me a task to find something in stock, … Read More Here
Garmin Enduro GPS Watch In-Depth Review
Let’s just get this out of the way upfront: There’s precisely one reason – and ONLY one reason to buy the Garmin Enduro: You want really long battery life, and are OK with that at the expense of any other … Read More Here
NURVV Run In-Depth Review
There have been many running efficiency products over the years, usually designed to analyze aspects of your running technique, and then ideally provide real-time (during run) or post-run feedback on how to improve. The form of these products varies, but … Read More Here
Tech Tidbits: Garmin GPS Offsets Again and PowerTap Units Discontinued
As we round out Wednesday, there’s a few tidbits of news that are definitely worth mentioning – especially this first one as a heads up for Garmin users to ensure you don’t get any wonky GPS tracks over the next … Read More Here
Polar Verity Sense (Optical HR Sensor Band) In-Depth Review
Polar has launched an updated version of their standalone optical HR sensor, taking the existing Polar OH1 and adding new features and capabilities, and re-branding it as the Verity Sense. For those familiar with my reviews & testing, you’ll know … Read More Here
Moxy Launches Kickstarter for Training Portal Platform and Device
If you’ve been around the endurance sports tech scene long enough, you’ll know that Moxy has been around this connected sphere longer than most – even if you didn’t quite understand exactly what their product does, or how best to … Read More Here
A Quick Review: A $17 Weight Scale that Syncs to Zwift (1byone Smart Scale)
For those unfamiliar, the speed you go in Zwift is entirely based on your weight and power output – with some added trimmings, including height/virtual bike/wheels/etc… But really, it all hinges on your weight. As a good citizen of Zwift … Read More Here
Peloton Bike+ (Plus) In-Depth Review
In this deep-dive Peloton Bike+ review I dig into all the aspects from new features to accuracy, to ride feel and more – all after 5 months of usage and testing. Read More Here
How to Sideload Android Apps On Your Hammerhead Karoo 1/2/3
Without hesitation or question, my favorite feature of the Hammerhead Karoo series is the ability to record the screen – allowing me to show you exactly what I’m seeing. It enables me to get a crystal clear recording of things … Read More Here
Skydio 2 Drone 65KPH Wind & Waves Cycling Test
If you’re a regular subscriber of my YouTube Channel you know that one of my ‘specialties’ is high wind drone testing – basically pushing the drones to the limits of their capabilities in conditions that most people wouldn’t want to … Read More Here
Garmin Lily Fitness Smartwatch In-Depth Review
Garmin has launched a new fitness tracker that extends the brand’s offerings further into the stylish realm. On the surface, Lily might seem similar to the existing Vívomove series (including the Vívomove Style). However, there are numerous differences compared to … Read More Here
Wahoo Starts Shipping KICKR 2020 Direct Connect Cable: Hands-on Details
Last summer when Wahoo announced the KICKR V5/2020, one of the new features was a new port on the side of the trainer that would allow you to plug it into your home (or office) network, as a means to … Read More Here
Tacx Update: Tacx NEO 2 SE Explainer, and Tacx Smart Bike Tidbits
Today’s post is going to combine two totally unrelated Tacx things into a single post, because nothing says Friday better than new consolidation. First up, I’ve got a quick explainer on the mysterious Tacx NEO 2 SE trainer (because no, … Read More Here
Zwift Rolls Out Steering to Wahoo KICKR Smart Bike
Tonight’s Zwift update has enabled steering for the Wahoo KICKR Bike (which are actually in-stock these days). This long-awaited step finally makes it possible to use all features of Zwift in one of the most expensive smart bikes in the … Read More Here
Let’s Talk Security Tech About President Biden’s Peloton Bike
Over the last week there’s been a surprising amount of concerned speculation that President Biden would be unable to take his apparently beloved Peloton Bike to the White House, citing security concerns. The reason is that the Peloton Bikes contain … Read More Here
Suunto Movescount Begins Final Shutdown on Tuesday
There are few sports tech stories that have longer plot lines than a Netflix series – but the turndown of Suunto’s once flagship online platform is giving Game of Thrones a run for its money. But, to quote arguably factually … Read More Here
Wahoo Further Clarifies Canyon/Trek/Giant KICKR Incompatibilities with New Adapter
If there’s anything the internet is good at, it’s sleuthing through imagery to find inconsistent details. Last month when Wahoo and Canyon casually dropped a support update out saying that the Canyon Ultimate CF frames (specifically the rim brake variants) … Read More Here
COROS Rolls Out Update Adding Waypoint Navigation: Hands-on
COROS has begun rolling out a new firmware update today that adds in more exacting time splits for certain sports, as well as a new waypoints-like feature for outdoor route navigation. In addition, the running track mode now supports structured … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
It’s been a while since a ‘5 Random Things’ post. Not because I haven’t been doing things, but because they’re a bit less random. With everything pretty locked down, our weekend routine is pretty ‘repeatable’ – especially in the winter. … Read More Here
Stages adds ANT+ Bike Lights Support, Suunto 7 Firmware Update, and Zwift Large Event Update
We’ve got three notable updates going into the weekend that are worthy of a quick chat. Plus one more that might drop sometime over the weekend, maybe Monday. We’ll see. But for now, we’ve got some notable news in the … Read More Here
My Favorite $8 Zwift Apple TV Accessory
If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last few years, it’s that y’all really like hearing about my favorite inexpensive accessories. Be it the $8 Garmin charging pucks or the indoor cycling desk that’s half the price of Wahoo’s – … Read More Here
Google Completes Acquisition of Fitbit: Analysis of What It Means
More than a year after Google first announced their planned acquisition of Fitbit, it’s finally complete. Or at least, complete from the legal standpoint. The real work actually begins now, of figuring out how to integrate the two companies and … Read More Here
GoPro Labs 2021 New Features For Hero 9, Hero 8, Hero 7 and Max
For pretty much the second time in GoPro’s history, they just now added camera features to significantly older cameras – in this case, the Hero 7 in particular (the other time was the GoPro webcam mode). You may remember last … Read More Here