Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $699, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
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.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Le sport c’est comme DC R, intéressant et sans fin :-)
Happy valentines day!
Tell Ray to take you on a picnic up on table mountain so you can see the sun set from there. Gorgeous!
Love means getting off the trainer before things go numb.
Do they even celebrate Valentine’s Day in South Africa?
Hello there!
Get your cupid on! Nothing better than starting ‘the’ morning in a little red speedo and an apron for preparing a stack of heart shaped flapjacks doused in fresh fruit and CANADIAN! maple syrup for the whole family. Little notes of love and appreciation sprinkled throughout the house to be discovered throughout the day
Love the blog!
Run to up to a lookout point and watch the sunset together! Bringing food and beverage = Optional. (Thanks again for all the reviews, your hard work helps me feel confident in all the gear I use)
Two words: Hot Tub
Love it the use of bribing the public to ensure ray makes a romantic gesture…
Enjoy the sun guys
love the reviews
Newsletter love
you know what you gotta do ray
Peer pressuring Ray: seems like the best thing to do is to take away his phone and laptop so he gives you his undivided attention for an evening. I think his time is his most valuable commodity and if you have that then you are set up for a romantic evening. Wine, cheese, sunset!
Why Ray does need our help? He must have found a gadget for that!
Happy Valentines Day To All
Card with a nice note in it from him and handprints or markings from the kiddos, and a date night or gift card for a massage
Surprise trip to some place warm.
Do something really sweet, low-tech for Valentine’s Day. Just the two of you–farm out the kiddos. Love both parts of the newsletter, top and bottom, thanks!
Keep up the great work on the newsletters. I love reading them. Here’s hoping Ray treats you well every day of the year not just the 14th of February!
How’s the chocolate selection in South Africa?
Thanks for the funny weekly newsletter.
Ray, I hope you bought tons of chocolate for The Girl and The Peanuts.
I’d recommend Ray spring for a day trip to a spa (for two)! Definitely a favourite in our household.
Happy V Day!!
How about Ray give you a call sometime when he’s jetting about just to say hi and that he’s thinking of you…?
Roses are red and violets are blue…
Get the %^&*-ing pizza oven chores done already, Ray!
Put the tech away n be romantic for a day^^
Valentine’s Day, aka “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” Day.
Quality time spent with you significant other is more valuable than romantic gifts. Find a way to ditch the kids and find a special run in S.A. (or hike, etc…)
Woohoo!
Suggest Champagne
You could go see the mass wedding on Robben Island. Or just stay in and enjoy the wine lest after your get away.
Enjoy!
DIAMONDS!!
Enjoy the day wit a bottle of wine and some cupcakes ?
Go groading together
Roses are red. Violets are blue. Why have just one bike when you can have two?
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Absolutely Ray should be taking the Girl out out for a nice romantic evening.
Tandem Ride! Bicycle made for two. No one gets lost.
Two words: pizza oven. All the peer pressure and motivation that should be needed.
Hi, You can’t go wrong with Red Roses and dinner at at fancy restaurant. Happy Valentines!
Hey, why not skiing somewhere in Alps in a spa hotel…
You two, wait…four, no, it’s five I think! have a happy Valentine’s day
Getting up at stupid o’clock and not even seeing my wife on Valentine’s Day till very late tonight means I’d rather just spend some quality time together, I hope you guys manage to get quiet time together.
Please peak me. He can do your to do list for a day ;)
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee
Have a nice day!
Happy Valentines Day! A trail run together through Jonkershoek, Newlands Forest or Constantia Green Belt
what about a no tracker, no smartwatch, no phone, no whatever weekend – also no kids for this weekend, if you have someone to take care of them
Thank you for the newsletter, it’s one I actually read every week!
Loving the day and your blog
Let’s give it a try… Happy Valentine’s day
Hi!
I think Ray should give five number of “coupons” to The Girl.
These coupons would give her for example a day off to do what ever she feels like, go to a spa or just simply be attended to by Ray.
Happy Valentines day!!
:-*
Happy valentine’s day!
Ray better pony up and do something special for you Bobby!!
A lovely run together through Vondelpark…
I second oven for Ray. and on V-day, no tech for Ray, strictly the Girls and Peanuts
Give love!
Would love this!!
I needs a new watch!
A special night in an Igloo during our week of holidays
would be great to win and give it away to my best friend who really “needs” it
my boy will be happy with the prize :-)
Love the idea of this competition.
Beach time on Valentine’s day? Coming from the northern hemisphere it’s not usually a possibility!
Swimming with White sharks in south africa
Washing machine!
Keep up the awesome job!
family time and a workout ;-)
If I had an idea I’d do it for my wife. Hoping to work less and be home for dinner.
Thank you for all your work!
Thanks for the contest, and love the newsletter.
Hey, thanks for the great reviews and I love reading about the Peanuts growing and seeing the family stuff. Glad “The Girl” got more involved, the newsletter is very helpful to keep me up to date.
Gift for today to be thoughtful the rest of the year :)
Chocolate is great after the training in Valentine’s day
Best gift for Valentine? Aorta. It comes from the heart…
Happy Heart Day!
You cray, SPAM musubi is great, haha. Or add it in some breakfast burritos. Yum yum. :)
BEST. SITE. EVER. (and Ray, you’re a lucky man to have a wife so supportive of your “techiness”…my wife can’t stand it!)
The newsletter is one of my favorite emails to get and peruse! Congrats on your top 5 8k finish!!
Pizza oven or maybe chocolate ? ?
My wife and I buy 2 packages of Milano cookies. We eat then after the kids go to sleep and then watch a movie. We’ve been doing this for at least 5 years, and it works.
Cook her a nice dinner!
So my most romantic moment so far was getting some candy hearts at the supermarket and gave them to my girl.. So yeah, I should come up with something better this evening :)
Love the newsletter!
Happy Valentine’s day.
Newsletter giveaway, awesome!
Great Valentine’s!
Go with the traditional flowers and chocolates
Sunrise sea kayak for 2 from Sea Point with some champagne en route!
Warm and fluffy pajama. What could be better for winter?
Thanks for the newsletter! Hope you guys have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, no matter what Ray decides to do.
Yes! Now I can work off the girlscout cookies I got for Valentine’s Day
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Pizza party
Fresh baked pizza in the backyard pizza oven…wait a minute
Bike ride to the quiet countryside. Picnic in nature.
Hi, love the newletter!!
Roses and chocolate… never go wrong.
I am all out of good Valentines’ ideas…
Hello. I think it would be great if Ray would get the Girl some flowers and take her out to dinner. Then on Friday, he can take the peanuts for the entire day so the Girl can have some alone time to sleep or do what ever else she would like to do with some peanut free time.
Sounds like spa or massage treatment is needed for those weary legs!
There sure must be a great wine tour nearby.
Happy Valentine’s Day and thanks for the newsletter
Love your newsletters and always check the reviews before I buy anything!
Ray, take it from a 68 yr. old 35 year marriage veteran. Just because you’ve whisked your wife (and Peanuts) off to an exotic locale, don’t think your done for Valentines day.
What to do? -I have no idea.
In the heretofore mentioned 35 years, my experience says, -“It’s never enough!!” Besides, based upon my observation of all your great internet communications, you’re more creative than I am. JUST DO SOMETHING, MY MAN, or you may regret it.
Here, I’ll tell you what, just take the $20 that I’m paying to support DCR and get her some roses. However, you should be able to come up with something better. Money should be not object in a situation like this.
Happy Valentines,
Charles (Tom) Wimsatt, Sr.
Long time reader, irregular commenter….
Get your apron on my man… cook up a storm… braai?
Hi. Love the newsletter humor, thanks ;)
As for valentine, I’ll be reading the comments for ideas :)
Happy ♥️ day!
Nothing is as special as a dozen red roses and a box of chocolates go get her tiger?
Don’t fall for the hype! Be good to each other every day and life will be great!
Happy Valentine’s Day all!
Thanks for putting this together!
There is nothing more romantic than Semper Fidelis!
Bake a cake, eat it together, and then “work out” to burn off the calories!
Awesome idea!
I d suggest you bake bbmaker some cupcakes… have a fab v’day anyway you two (+1) :-)
ol’ fashion “hello” ;)
Hello, have a great valentines day!
Happy Valentines day!!!!!!!!
hi from the cold north,
tx for the greetings and truely returning it back to you and your family
ciao
Ray should make a custom Valentine-themed watch face for you
Happy Valentine’s day!!
Just being together on Vday is gift enough.
Almost missed it. The contest and Valentine’s Day.
Happy valentine’s day! :)
Happy valentine’s day! :)
Would love that prize!
Any and all meals served in bed, and anything the girl wishes and not just today only … after all happy wife happy life!
Oh no! It’s almost over!