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.
Tag Archives: Random
The Tattoo
There has been much discussion amongst the populous regarding whether or not I’ll be getting a tattoo with a little M-Dot logo or other pictorial to signify my finishing an Ironman.To round up some of the comments:Jeanne took the more … Read More Here
A ‘relaxing’ loooong weekend
Well…that was the plan anyway. Sometimes things doesn’t exactly go according to plan.Post-Ironman is an interesting time. Once the initial muscle pain subsided I still had the general fatigue in my body. Just always tired, but not always sleepy. For … Read More Here
Enjoying the Taper
I continue to have more time that I know what to do with. So, I’ve been filling up the rest of the days will all sorts of fun things to keep me busy. Friday: After knocking out a mini-IT2 trainer … Read More Here
Space in Time
This week has really brought on full taper mode. That in and of itself has resulted in me having a ton of spare time. However – add to that the fact that I’m now working from home I’ve been able … Read More Here
Thursday Randomness
Hmm…here’s a list of random things and thoughts from the last few days.I’m actually starting to almost enjoy my longer swim sessions. Well, now that I think about it, there are no short swim sessions. The ‘shortest’ session I have … Read More Here
Shark Week
Ever since I was a kid I can remember watching Discovery Channel’s Shark Week – which typically occurs during the last week of July (this year July 27- Aug. 2…aka NOW!). Way back when (probably 10-15 years now), the content … Read More Here
Kayaking, Long Swims and Rifles
I’ve been a wee bit busy over the last few days – especially since Thursday afternoon. I’m SOOO far behind in e-mail, catching up with reading folks blogs, and really just about everything. So here’s the rundown. I tried to … Read More Here
Le Tour de Drugs
I started off and really enjoyed the Tour de France for the first few days. They had it rebroadcast from 8:30PM to 11:30PM – so at a time I could actually watch it. But I got pretty busy the last … Read More Here
Random Musings
I couldn’t decide what to post. So I posted nothing. Not to say I don’t have plenty to post – because I have many saved/drafted posts (dozens). It came down to posting a ‘How to make fresh pasta’ photographed post … Read More Here
Touristica
After the century ride on Friday, it was time to clean up the pad and prepare for my parents to arrive painfully early Saturday morning. I spent the weekend (and today – Monday) running around doing all sorts of interesting … Read More Here
Stickin’ it to the man! Part II
Back a month ago Jade Lady commented that I seem to have ‘rules’ for everything. That’s not entirely true. I only have rules for everything that should have rules. As Calyx pointed out – logical things: Like Sticker Accumulation, Cowbell … Read More Here
A relaxing weekend
This weekend I decided to lie low a bit. The last few weekends (ok..more than a few) have been so jam packed that I barely had time to breath. With the next few weekends returning to the same (race, family … Read More Here
A Trifecta of Fail
The last three days leading up to Friday the 13th have not been particularly successful in the DCRAINMAKER world. Let’s do an instant replay – shall we? All aboard the failboat for this three-day tour:Tuesday (Day 1 of the Trifecta):Things … Read More Here
Ironman…or Rocketman?
Given that Ironman Canada has a few rather lengthy and steep hills, I’ve decided that some of my previously highlighted bikes won’t quite do the job. Instead… I plan to invest in a bike that does a much better job … Read More Here
A track race
Some days just go by in a blur…and this was one of those. But – I love these kinds of days. If every day could be like this I’d be thrilled – seriously. 6:15AM The alarm clock starts buzzing, but … Read More Here
Shenandoah Squirrel Showdown
Alternate titles: “My new girl is bi”*, “Sorry Mr. Squirrel”, “Rainmaker: 1, Squirrel: 0”….So my Sunday ride started more or less like any other. I got up at the asscrack of dawn (literally, before dawn) and jetted out to Skyline … Read More Here
The new girl
After a number of months spent living alone, it was time to welcome the ‘new girl’ to the house. While some guys (and gals) go off and bring home any hot random girl they can find, I prefer to be … Read More Here
Battle of the Brownie: Chocolate Fudge Brownie vs Brownie Batter
After a long winters nap, I bring back the Ben and Jerry’s review series. Last we left off, Chocolate Brownie Fudge had edged out the same flavor but of the “Lighten Up” variety. Now, it’s time to move out of … Read More Here
Blue Angels, Blue Suits*, Blue Ridge Mountains
This weekend was both busy and relaxing at the same time. Just depended on which day you were looking at. As we left off on Friday, I had finished up the Bike to Work with the bagel, and then biked … Read More Here
Bike to work with a bagel day
Yesterday was the last day of National Bike to Work Week, and many cities were making it the official “Bike to Work Day” – including the Washington DC metro area.As noted earlier in the week I had planned to partake … Read More Here
Stickin’ it to the man
Over the last two weeks of travel I’ve accumulated a respectable number of stickers to put on my bike case. Cause really – a plain bike case is about as lame as swimming laps in the kiddie pool. I do … Read More Here
Bike to work day
As a reminder for all you folks out there – May 16th (Friday) is National Bike to Work day (here’s the details for those here in the DC area). A quick Google search of your city name and “bike to … Read More Here
Whistler Weekend Wrapup
I’m generally not content with staying in any one place very long. So after five days back in DC following Wildflower, it was time to jet back to the west coast for some international skiing action. Oh, and the fact … Read More Here
Whisky Foxtrot
Where I work, there are a number of sayings that originate based on phrases from the NATO phonetic alphabet. This phonetic alphabet is used by organizations worldwide to aide making it clear which alphabet letter is being said, particularly over … Read More Here
Robots at an Ironman Transition Area?
If the Japanese have their way – quite possibly. In this week’s TGIF video I present to you some solid evidence of impending transition area world robotic dominance. This system can handle over 9,400 bikes, so a paltry 2,000 at … Read More Here