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.
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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.
Tag Archives: Giveaway
In Just 7 Days…
It’s that time of the year again. No, not the start of the Tour de France (though, almost that too). No, not the summer solstice (ok, that was last week). Rather, it’s that time of the year for something far … Read More Here
The May $600 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last weekend I held the $600 gadget giveaway. I considered it somewhat of a going away party for spring, as we segue into the summer months. A whopping 6,499 of you entered over the weekend – which one-ups the last … Read More Here
A May $600 Gadget Giveaway!
This is the last giveaway. I mean, the last giveaway until the annual Giveaway Extravaganza next month of course! I’ll let you read all about what that madness was like last year, but for now, we’ve got to get down … Read More Here
The DCR Easter Bunny $600 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
This past weekend I held the Easter Bunny Giveaway, aimed at giving you a side of gadget to go along with your chocolate Easter eggs. Some 6,193 of you entered over the weekend – which I believe is a new … Read More Here
The DCR Easter Bunny $600 Gadget Giveaway
First off, no, I’m not giving away the Easter Bunny. That’d involve going to a nearby shopping mall and somehow kidnapping the poor guy as he gets photos taken with small children. And I’m pretty sure that’d be awkward for … Read More Here
The Love You Wanted: $600 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
This past weekend I held a huge giveaway for anyone that didn’t quite feel the love over Valentine’s Day the previous weekend. Be it gadget love, or some other form of lovelessness. Some 5,803 of you are apparently lacking a … Read More Here
The Love You Wanted: $600 Gadget Giveaway
What’s that? Your Valentine’s Day was a bust? No worries, I’m here to try and cheer ya up. It’s your opportunity to win something you’ll really love (which, may be in addition to someone else you love). The winner will … Read More Here
Giveaway Winner: The You Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway
This past week was the giveaway for all those left disappointed by their Christmas tree offerings. No, not the pine needles, but rather the lack of proper sport gadgetry! Some 5,928 of you entered in expressing some form of displeasure … Read More Here
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway
I’m sure many of you received various sports gadgets over the last few weeks as part of the holidays. But for those unlucky elves who received a half-eaten gel packet in their Christmas stocking from their not-so-significant others, I’ve got … Read More Here
November Giveaway Winner Selected!
Late last week I held a November giveaway for the Garmin Fenix3, specifically, the Fancy Fenix3. Or basically, one of the new swanky models of the Fenix3, as seen above. A mind-boggling 7,470 folks entered the giveaway – making it … Read More Here
A November Garmin (Fancy) Fenix3 Giveaway
It’s somehow already halfway through November, and we’ve lacked a giveaway this month. Heck, did we even have a giveaway last month? That seems like eons ago. My bad. No worries though, I’m here to save the day. Or at … Read More Here
Because it’s October: Garmin Edge 520 Giveaway Winner Selected!
Well then…it appears some of you really want an Edge 520. More specifically, some 6,109 of you. That being the total number of valid entries into the giveaway last weekend. I had asked what you were up to for the … Read More Here
Because it’s October: Garmin Edge 520 Giveaway
It’s somehow October already, and it’s been months since the Giveaway Extravaganza, and far too many months since a standalone extravaganza. I really need to have more of these. Partly because I love giving away stuff. And partly because if … Read More Here
The 2015 Annual Giveaway Extravaganza Winners!
Phew! That was a blur! You thought you were tired? Just imagine what my web servers feel like after yesterday. They’ll basically be doing the post-marathon day walk. With the 2015 edition of the Annual DCR Giveaway Extravaganza now yesterday’s … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Wahoo KICKR Trainer
Phew! What a wild ride this has been! Huge giveaways every 2 hours; it seems like it was just yesterday when we got started. Wait, it was just yesterday. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun. I’m … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Suunto Ambit3 Peak Multisport Watch
For those of you waiting for the perfect giveaway deal, this may very well be it. The Suunto Ambit 3 Peak has something for everyone; well actually this one only has everything for just the one person whose entry is drawn … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Polar M400 GPS Running Watch
Captain’s Log: Stardate 93194.09. The Enterprise has bypassed its scheduled archaeological survey of Camus II in response to a distress call from the Federation freighter Arcos, which has assumed an emergency orbit around Turkana IV, birthplace of… Oh, um sorry, wrong post … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Quarq RIKEN AL Power Meter
Here’s the deal: As long as you don’t go around pronouncing it Quack (like a duck), you soon might be blessed with the power of power. Yes, our second power meter of the day. Because that’s how I roll. Assuming … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Edge 520
It’s probably at this juncture in the day that you might be showing signs of fatigue. Perhaps keeping up with all this free stuff is tough. Hard work even. But guess what? You need to man (or woman) up and … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Tacx Vortex Smart Trainer + Satori Smart for a friend
There are few training tasks worse than riding alone on a trainer in a dark basement or within sketchy closet. It’s just you, your bike, and the wall ahead of you with 4 paint marks that you still haven’t fixed two … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: PowerTap P1 Power Meter Pedals
Well then, that escalated quickly. From $250 GPS watch to $1,200 power meter…all in the span of one minute. Boom! You saw my review on these puppies yesterday, and it’s definitely all good. Now you can not only ride around … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Vivoactive
You know how they say size matters? Well in this case – smaller is better. And there’s no GPS running watch on the market today as thin as the Garmin Vivoactive. It’s basically like a piece of paper ate a … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Polar M450 GPS bike computer
Think small and mighty. Like mighty mouse on EPO (or synthetic testosterone as the cool kids are doing this week). But legal instead. So, like Nutella and bananas. That’s what the M450 is like: Incredibly powerful yet super small. It’s … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Withings WS50 WiFi Scale + Withings Activité
Too many BBQ’s this summer? Too many Slushies? First off – no, that’s impossible. Trust me, from the land that lacks both good slow cooked BBQ and Slushies I reject that claim outright. You can never have too much BBQ … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin FR920XT Tri Bundle (with HRM-SWIM & HRM-TRI Straps!)
What, you thought we’d limit this to things that are currently shipping? Nah, I’m about the future here! Even if the future is only a week or two away. The FR920XT is probably without question the most beloved triathlon watch … Read More Here