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.
-
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?
-
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 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.
Tag Archives: Giveaway
A Triathlon Weekend Giveaway: Garmin FR910XT
For many triathletes, this weekend holds almost as much spectacle as the Olympic Triathlon races held just two short months ago in London. The Kona based Ironman World Championships is watched by not only by those in the sport, but … Read More Here
The Giveaway Extravaganza Winners!
A huge thanks to all that participated in Friday’s Giveaway Extravaganza, it was certainly pretty crazy around these parts! At some points the entries were coming in at one per second, that’s just nuts! Overall, you clocked in nearly 50,000 … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Timex Global Trainer
The Timex Global Trainer will easily track you across any sport (or medieval battlefield). Which is exactly what Mythbusters did last summer. They combined the unit with knights in shinning armor last summer to measure distance and speed/pace. How much … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Polar RCX5 with G5 GPS
Are you of the Polar persuasion? Then this watch is definitely your cup of tea (or cup of Gatorade). It’s their top of the line triathlon watch, complete with the the G5 GPS pod. And, unlike virtually every other watch … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Wahoo BlueHR, Quad Lock Bike Case, iPhone Running Case/Band
Think of this as the ultimate iPhone running kit. You’ve got the fancy Bluetooth low-energy heart rate strap, then the sweet iPhone Quad Lock case (with all the stuff shown above), and then I’m throwing in a iPhone running case/band. … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin FR910XT
Here’s your chance to grab a brand new Garmin FR910XT. As you probably know, the FR910XT can be used across a number of sports. You could swim effortlessly in a giant vat of beer, compete in tandem mountain bike racing, … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Timex Run Trainer
Sure, any device can track a run for a few hours. But can your device track a run that’s over a 100 hours long? Well, the Timex Run Trainer took the cake on the longest running recording battery of any … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza Twofer: Polar RCX3’s
Yup, for this giveaway I’m giving away two separate units out to two winners. One white edition, one black edition. Twofer!!! The Polar RCX3 is Polar’s latest slimmed down triathlon and running watch that doesn’t attract much unneeded attention with … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Motorola Motoactv
The Motoactv with its super-crisp display changed the endurance watch game last fall. Like mixing music and running? Or perhaps even golf and music (yup, it does golf, and cycling, and yoga and…). In fact, upon further reflection, about the … Read More Here
Giveaway Extravaganza: Garmin Edge 500
Here’s your chance to grab a brand new Garmin Edge 500. Being just the weight of a single egg, it won’t require you to cut back on cookies or cupcakes to keep your cycling weight weenie status when you add … Read More Here
Tomorrow: The DC Rainmaker All-Day Giveaway Extravaganza
(Some of you may have seen me post this photo on Facebook back a few weeks ago…hence, the origins of this post) It’s been building up for a while now, and now it’s time. Perhaps, way overtime. Either way – … Read More Here
Timex Marathon Trainer GPS Giveaway Results
Last week I kicked off a giveaway for a new Timex Marathon GPS unit, which is one of the new sub-$100 GPS units on the market these days. I think this watch and others fulfill a good market segment that … Read More Here
Timex Marathon GPS Giveaway!
With less than a week left in May, spring is flying by! I’ve been trying to plan out weekends for the next two months, coveting a way to spend each weekend day, usually in the great outdoors. And often based … Read More Here
Garmin FR910XT Giveaway Results!
Holy cowbells there’s a lot of you that wanted (or still want) a Garmin FR910XT! Over 3,000 entries! 3,085 to be exact. The totals were: 2,664 directly on the post 392 on Facebook 29 tied to Active Duty folks who … Read More Here
Spring has sprung Garmin FR910XT Giveaway
If there were any more sign that it’s springtime around these parts, I’m not sure what it would be. Starting yesterday we’ve got an out-of-nowhere string of 6 days of 70*F+ weather, including some days just a degree or two … Read More Here
Brim Brothers & Edge 500 Giveaway Results
Thanks all for the great entries in the Friday giveaway! If you need a bit of motivation for cycling ideas for training, then go check out all the entries (almost 1,000 of them). I’m hoping that by merely reading about … Read More Here
A Friday Giveaway
Sometimes I end up with smaller things that don’t quite make it into my larger giveaways. Sometimes those are items that I’ve bought, and sometimes they are ‘unique’ items that others have offered up. This time, I’m going to combine … Read More Here
End of summer Garmin FR610 Giveaway Results!
Thanks all for the great entries in the FR610 giveaway! If you haven’t had a chance to go check out all the entries (yes, all 1,300+ of them) – definitely go spend some time reading them. It’s so cool to … Read More Here
Almost end of summer Garmin Forerunner 610 Giveaway!
Today’s the last day of August, which in my mind means it’s regrettably the end of summer. I know that technically summer doesn’t end until later in September – but since everyone considers September as ‘Fall’, that means that today … Read More Here
Wahoo Fitness Bike and Run Package Giveaway Results
Thanks all for entering the Wahoo Fitness ANT+ Bike Case and Run Package giveaways. More importantly, thanks for sharing your hilarious wedding stories – just shy of 500 of them! All of them hilarious! Going into the crazy hectic of … Read More Here
Wahoo Fitness ANT+ Bike Case and Run Kit Giveaway
In most of my giveaways, I giveaway a single item to a single person. A watch, a scale, a something. This time though, I’m going to shake things up a bit, and give a bunch of piles of stuff to … Read More Here
Polar RCX5 Giveaway Results
Thanks all for the great entries in the Polar RCX5 Giveaway!! If you haven’t had a chance to go check out all the entries (yes, all 1,400+ of them) – definitely go spend some time reading them (or just thinking … Read More Here
Polar RCX5 Run Package Giveaway
There are many things in the world where one usually sits firmly in either one camp or another. For example, a few of life’s great dividers:Boxers or briefs Hot dogs or hamburgers Bow tie or straight tie Coke or Pepsi … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 610 May Giveaway Results!
Thanks all for the great entries in the FR610 giveaway! If you haven’t had a chance to go check out all the entries (yes, all 1,600+ of them) – definitely go spend some time reading them. Given the Memorial Day … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 610 May Giveaway
In celebration of summer BBQ season nearly being upon us, it’s time for a giveaway (or BBQ sauce)! Given how hard to get the new Garmin Forerunner 610 GPS-enabled touch screen watch is, I figure it’s only appropriate that I … Read More Here