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: GiveawayResults
The Socially Distant Sports Tech Giveaway Results/Winner!
Earlier this week I held the “Socially Distant Sports Tech Giveaway”, which enabled some 4,083 of you to annotate how you’ve managed to get a workout in over last weekend, despite potentially being stuck indoors running a marathon around your … Read More Here
The Because It’s Friday $500 Sports Gadget Giveaway Results/Winner!
Last week I held the “Because it’s Friday $500 Gadget Giveaway”. It was an opportunity for 6,044 of you to express your love of Friday, or sports tech gadgetry in general. Or, just a chance to win some good ol’ … Read More Here
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway Results!
Last week I held the “You Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway”. It was an opportunity 5,289 of you with perhaps good intentioned, but uncalibrated loves ones, that didn’t get you the gadget you wanted over the holidays, … Read More Here
The April $500 DCR Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last week I held the $500 gadget giveaway. I considered it somewhat of a celebration of the upcoming Sea Otter Classic bike show and festival, where I was checking out all the latest bike tech. A whopping 5,743 of you … Read More Here
The Because It’s Friday $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last weekend I held the $500 gadget giveaway. I considered it somewhat of a celebration of Australia Day, where I currently am. A whopping 6,809 of you entered over the weekend – which once again one-ups the last record for … Read More Here
The 2017 Giveaway Extravaganza Winners!
Wow – yet another massive Giveaway Extravaganza in the books! Yesterday was pretty crazy once again, with what can only described as an absolute crapton of people stopping by the site to enter the dozen giveaways. You’ve once again stated … Read More Here
The Day in May DCR $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last week was giveaway time! A rather respectable 7,467 of you entered the giveaway to pick up anything you wanted with a $500 credit to Clever Training for a gadget of your choice. Which appears to smash the previous single-giveaway … Read More Here
March Power Meter Giveaway Winner!
Last week was giveaway time! You had all week to get in your giveaway entry, and because of my desire to spend some days riding never-endingly in the sun, I’m catching up this week – and that includes pulling the … Read More Here
The Didn’t Get What You Wanted $500 Gadget Giveaway Winner!
Last week was giveaway time! You had all week to get in your giveaway entry, before I got my act together here on January 1st (see, kicking off the new year right!). A mere 5,994 of you entered the giveaway … Read More Here
The Halloween GoPro Hero5 Giveaway Winner!
Last weekend it was giveaway time. And now it’s winner time! Who wouldn’t want to find out they won something on a Friday? A very solid 6,024 of you entered the giveaway for a new GoPro Hero5. With your options … Read More Here
A DCR August Wahoo KICKR Giveaway Winner!
This past weekend I held a giveaway for a new Wahoo KICKR trainer! Consider it a bit of a reminder to get back outside and enjoy those summer miles (or kilometers) while you still can! A whopping 7,426 of you … 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
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 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
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
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
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
The DCR’s on Vacation Fenix3 Giveaway Winner!
Holy cow, there were almost 7,000 entries on the giveaway – the largest to date around these parts! To be precise, some 6,911 comments in total, after removal of duplicates and the like. Apparently people really want the new Fenix3. … Read More Here
Valentine’s Day Double-Gadget Giveaway Winners!
With Valentine’s Day landing this past weekend, I figured it was the perfect time to give something away. Except, instead of just one something, I went for a double: Two somethings! The winner could choose two gadgets from Clever Training, … Read More Here
The ‘Guess How Many Steps I Walked at CES 2015’ Giveaway Winner!
Over the weekend I held a rather unique giveaway where I asked folks to guess how many steps I walked at CES from Sunday till Monday. Closest person was the winner, simple as that! The most accurate answer then got … Read More Here
The ‘Anything On My Recommendations’ List Giveaway Results!
Over the weekend I held the ‘Anything on my Recommendations List’ giveaway, which basically meant that as long as I liked the product and it was listed on my Winter 2014-2015 Recommendations Guide – then you could win it. This … Read More Here
Kona FR920XT or Fenix2 Giveaway Results!
Hopefully everyone had a great weekend, and everyone that raced (or trained) was successful in that venture – especially those enduring the lava fields at Kona! Since Friday when the giveaway opened, a mind-boggling metric crapton of you entered the … Read More Here
The May Day Giveaway Results!
Hopefully everyone had a great weekend, and everyone that raced (or trained) was successful in that venture Since Friday when the giveaway opened, a ton of you swung by and threw your hat in the ring. All in a total … Read More Here
St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway Results!
Hopefully everyone had a great weekend, and great (or green) St. Patrick’s day yesterday! Since Friday when the giveaway opened, you’ve all been quite busy getting your giveaway on. All in, a record breaking 4,656 of you entered in the … Read More Here
‘Because it’s Cold’ Giveaway Results! Were you the winner?
This past weekend was the ‘Because it’s Cold’ Giveaway, where I tried to light a tiny bit of warmth in your heart…especially if you’ve been training in the cold lately. All in, some 2,387 of you entered in the contest … Read More Here