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 2023 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.
Sea Otter Power Meter Roundup: 4iiii Precision, Easton/Race Face CINCH, FSA PowerBox, Team Zwatt, Quarq DZero, Xpedo Thrust-E
If there was a theme for power meters at Sea Otter this week it would be re-branding. Or rather, OEM’ing. Half of the power meter announcements were essentially just well-known bike companies offering power meters that are basically ‘powered by’ … Read More Here
Garmin Announces Smart Home Control, Connect IQ Updates
As many of you know, today kicks off Garmin’s first Connect IQ Summit, held in Olathe, Kansas. The summit is aimed at developers wanting to build apps on Garmin’s wearable and related devices. A sphere that, as of this morning, … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
As those astute DCR Twitter or Instagram followers may know, I’m now in California for a few weeks. A lot of weeks actually. And actually not just in California. Later today I’ll take a quick trip up/over to Kansas to … Read More Here
First Look: Polar’s new M460 GPS Bike Computer
Today is shaping up to be a rather busy day for announcements! Polar joined the Wednesday new products club with its new M460 bike GPS. This bike computer builds on the M450 unit they announced almost two years ago. Both … Read More Here
Garmin Vivosmart 3 Activity Tracker In-Depth Review
Today Garmin introduced an updated version of its Vivosmart lineup, the Vivosmart 3. This essentially takes the Vivosmart HR that we saw last year (aka Vivosmart Gen2) and shrinks it down. Then they layered in a bunch of new heart … Read More Here
The Xplova X5 Bike Computer Review: What I Love and Hate
When the Acer Xplova X5 was announced last year, it got a lot of attention for its headline-grabbing features: An integrated action camera, cellular connectivity, full color touchscreen with maps, and integrated nacho cheese dispenser. Well, maybe not the dispenser. … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
It was a hot one this weekend! The temperatures were more like June and July than the beginning of April. Yikes! Nonetheless, here’s what I was up to! 1) Visitors to the cave With the Paris Marathon and Paris-Roubaix both … Read More Here
Hands-on: Polar’s M430 GPS watch with optical HR
Update: My full Polar M430 in-depth review is now available here! Go over to check out how it fared after months of usage! Today Polar announced their latest wearable, the M430. This unit follows in the footsteps of the popular … Read More Here
Running dynamics finally gets its own standard
Yesterday, three and a half years after the running efficiency metrics ‘Running Dynamics’ were first announced by Garmin, they received their own legit standard. In doing so, 3rd party companies can now add running dynamics metrics to their sensors and/or … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
Definitely another beautiful and sunny weekend in and outside the city. Here’s what I was up to 1) Fixing shifting and swapping power meters I’m constantly swapping power meters and gear on my bike. Which, can lead to things being … Read More Here
Week in Review–April 2nd, 2017
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
Xert Training Platform In-Depth Review
It’s been about a year since Xert plopped onto the training platform scene, and in that time it’s grown both considerably in functionality, as well as users. So what is Xert? Well, it’s part training platform, part training app ecosystem, … Read More Here
TrainingPeaks New Structured Workout Integration with Garmin Wearables
Tied into yesterday’s Garmin FR935 release was TrainingPeaks announcing rollout of their new dedicated Connect IQ apps. This new integration allows you to sync structured workouts that you or your coach creates on the TrainingPeaks platform. The workout for the … Read More Here
Garmin’s Running Dynamics Pod (RD Pod): Everything you ever wanted to know
Today Garmin announced a new accessory alongside the Forerunner 935, the Running Dynamics Pod. This tiny pod, about the size of a piece of small candy, essentially provides the existing Running Dynamics data (i.e. Vertical Oscillation/Ground Contact Time) that normally … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 935 In-Depth Review
*** Update: The next generation Forerunner 945 has since been released. For the latest information on this watch series click the link for the Forerunner 945 In-Depth Review*** Today Garmin announced their latest triathlon/multisport…and running-specific focused watch, the Forerunner 935. … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
With The Girl and the Peanut (and Lucy) out of town this weekend, here’s what I was up to 1) The DCR Facebook Live Session! I kicked off the weekend with a 5PM (my time) DCR Q&A live stream. This … Read More Here
Week in Review–March 27th, 2017
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
My 2,500th post! Here’s 25 blasts from the past!
Friday, at around 5AM my time when I was putting the finishing touches on the Fenix 5 In-Depth Review, I logged into the WordPress control panel and noticed something interesting: I was at 2,499 published posts. That review would make … Read More Here
Garmin Fenix 5/5S/5X In-Depth Review
*** UPDATE: The Fenix series has had two generation updates since this post. Check out the in-depth reviews for both the Fenix 5 Plus, and the Fenix 6! *** It’s been nearly three months since Garmin first announced the Fenix … Read More Here
DCR Facebook Live Q&A Tomorrow–Friday March 24th!
Somehow, someway, it’s been 9 months since the last Facebook Live Q&A I did from the DCR Cave. Seriously, how did the time fly? Sure, we did a few at Eurobike last year, but even those were 7 months ago! … Read More Here
Best Action Cam 2017: GoPro Hero5 Black vs Garmin VIRB Ultra 30
In virtually every post or video I make where I use an action cam, I’m asked which camera I’m using and why. And even more commonly since this past fall I’m asked whether to go with the GoPro Hero5 Black … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
After a week of skiing, here’s what I was up to this past weekend! 1) The Never Ending Train Ride Friday night we made our way back from the French/Italian Alps, ending our ski trip and kicking off a weekend … Read More Here
Week in Review–March 19th, 2017
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
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT In-Depth Review
Just about one year after Wahoo started shipping the Wahoo ELEMNT, they’re back at it again with a new and smaller variant – the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT. Now like their competitors, this unit isn’t designed as a successor, but rather … Read More Here
5 Random Things I Did This Weekend
It was a suitably busy weekend around these parts, with members of the family headed all which ways. Sorta like throwing a handful of balls at a wall, seeing which ways they bounce. 1) Catching up from days in Mallorca … Read More Here