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.
GoPro Hero5 Black In-Depth Review
It’s been two years since the last major GoPro Hero launch. No, I don’t count the Session last year. I’m talking about a multi-camera launch like GoPro has typically done each fall for the majority of its history. Back in … Read More Here
Kinomap Adds New Features: Strava/VeloViewer video integration, Revenue Sharing, ASO Virtual Race, and browser-only version
Coming off the heels of Interbike, cycling trainer app Kinomap is rolling out a host of features, including a number that are pretty new and unique to the trainer app space. For those unfamiliar with Kinomap, it’s historically been an … Read More Here
The Power Meters Buyer’s Guide–2016 Edition
Once again, it’s time for the annual power meter buyer’s guide. While the last month hasn’t seen a ton of new power meters, if you take the entire year in review, you’ll see it’s been quite busy with not only … Read More Here
Quarq Qollector In-Depth Review
Today Quarq introduced their first consumer product that isn’t a power meter, the Qollector. Long-time sports tech followers may remember when Quarq first tossed around the idea of something named Qollector years ago. That device was aimed at simply sucking … Read More Here
A Fall 2016 Update from WatTeam and their $499 PowerBeat
Before we move onto my next upcoming post (The Annual DCR Power Meter Recommendations Guide), I wanted to briefly touch on where WatTeam and their PowerBeat power meter stands. To recap things a bit, they jumped onto the scene a … Read More Here
TrainerRoad rolls out Android support
It’s been a long time coming, but as of this very moment – TrainerRoad now has Android support. Yup, you can wander on over and download the app and be off to the races with your favorite Android phone. While … Read More Here
The Trainer Updates of Interbike 2016: STAC, Kinetic, Tacx, CycleOps, Elite, CompuTrainer
As expected, Interbike was pretty quiet as far as new trainers go. Only one company introduced a new trainer: BKool, with all remaining companies having already introduced new trainers at Eurobike a few weeks ago, or over the course of … Read More Here
Bkool Announces New Smart Go Trainer
While at Interbike, Spanish trainer company Bkool announced their latest trainer – the Bkool Smart Go. This lower-priced option helps to complement their existing option, the Bkool Smart Pro. These two trainers sit at $479 and $699USD respectively. In many … Read More Here
Cateye introduces new power meter…well…sort of.
While at Interbike this week I found a new entrant in the power meter market: Cateye. Well, kinda. As in, kinda sorta maybe. As you walked by the booth you’d have first noticed the ‘Trust The Cat’ slogan prominently displayed. … Read More Here
Pioneer announces new power meter options, head unit upgrades, bike sensor modeling
Pioneer has been both a relative newcomer to the power meter party, but also the stable and steady entrant in terms of new products. Each fall they’ve announced new offerings, and each spring we tend to see further updates and … Read More Here
Wahoo announces KICKR Studio platform for local bike shops/studios
Today at Interbike, Wahoo is taking the next logical step in the indoor training realm: Offering a cycling studio package. This offering, aimed initially at the North American market, is targeted at bike shops and indoor trainer studios that want … Read More Here
Hands-on with the Lezyne Super GPS Bike Computer
Over the last few years Lezyne has transitioned itself from a company that just made bike lights, into a GPS bike computer company. Albeit, one that probably doesn’t get enough attention. I’ve touched on them from time to time, but … Read More Here
Everything you need to know: GoPro’s New Hero5 Cameras & Karma Drone
Update: Go see my full GoPro Hero5 Black In-Depth Review here! Today GoPro announced three new action cameras, a drone, and a rather interesting flotilla of accessories. These include a handheld gimbal, external microphone/remote combos, and even a nifty $19 … Read More Here
5 Random Things From a Weekend in Newfoundland
I’m on my way to Interbike! But first, a bit of a stopover for a long weekend in Newfoundland, which happens to be The Girl’s hometown in the greater St. John’s area. Of course I have been here many times … Read More Here
Week in Review–September 18th, 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
Eurobike 2016 Power Meter Roundup
Okey doke. Before we dive into Interbike next week, I figured I’d round up some loose ends with Eurobike’s minor power meter updates and announcements. Or rather, by popular demand as it were – you decided on Twitter last night … Read More Here
Elite Drivo Trainer In-Depth Review
Earlier this summer Elite launched four new trainers/rollers, and in doing so greatly simplified their trainer lineup. Previous to that they had enough trainers to allow each member of the Brady Bunch both a primary and backup trainer. Never mind … Read More Here
BSX Announces Kickstarter for New LVL Band Wearable Hydration Sensor
Update – August 12th, 2017: BSX has delayed LVL till at least Summer 2018, though they’ve also received significant funding from additional investors, including Samsung. As I noted when I first posted this a year ago, my concern wasn’t the … Read More Here
The New FINIS Swimsense Live: Everything you ever wanted to know
I’m not entirely sure how to start this post. In the now 9 years this month of writing this blog, I’ve never quite been as confounded by a product as this. Sure, I’ve tested numerous bad products. Products where they … Read More Here
Hands-on: Garmin’s new Forerunner 35 with optical HR
A day or 13 ago, Garmin announced their new Forerunner 35 (FR35) GPS. But with Eurobike in full swing, I put it on the back burner a bit until the dust settled. Now that things have cleared out a bit, … Read More Here
A Look at Luck’s Cycling Shoe Power Meter
It’s been a few years since Luck first showed off prototypes of their cycling shoe with a built in power meter. In previous years it was rarely prominently displayed. It was sorta available to see on special request. The Spanish … Read More Here
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