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 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: Training
Scaling the differences
Why do you do this to me Mr. Scale? Why is it that at 8:20:01 AM you report X, and then I step off and back on at 8:20:10 AM and it reports Y? Nothing has happened between those two … Read More Here
How to practice falling off your bike
In this week’s rendition of TGIF video’s I give you the dude who cycles on one leg. Well, one leg at a time anyway. And we’re not just talking about doing it locked in place on a trainer. Nope, that’s … Read More Here
Fuji Newest 3.0 Road Bike Review
(And now… I present a return to Tri/Running stuff…) I do a lot of traveling. In particular, I travel quite a bit to Seattle (where I’m originally from) for both work and leisure. The problem with travel is that it … Read More Here
The Tour de Guam
We arrived into Guam last night late enough that it was dark out. I was looking forward to getting out and exploring things in the daylight, and in particular looking forward to going for an open water swim. Daylight struck … Read More Here
Getting the short pool
Sometimes you’ve just gotta make due with what you’ve got. Some people are blessed with size…and others with the ability to use what they have (I’m talking pools here folks, don’t be gettin’ all distracted on me). Tonight was a … Read More Here
Tour de DC – Dusk Edition
I left the house around 2:30 or so this afternoon for a ride with no particular purpose. I started off by meandering through Old Town and down to the waterfront where I caught the GW trail north toward DC. I … Read More Here
Training against the log
I’m super-anal about keeping track of my workouts. I log every swim, bike & run. Along with it log stuff like time, splits and distances and occasionally HR. Meanwhile Sport Tracks will fill in stuff like temperature, humidity, course, elevations, … Read More Here
Texas Tuesday
Things are just bigger in Texas. It’s as simple as that. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. Since flying in Sunday night for a week’s worth of work stuffs, I’ve been experiencing all that the four mile radius around my … Read More Here
Reminder: Garmin GPS Rebate through end of November
If you’re looking for an excuse to spend some money and pick up another tri-gadget – here it is! I heart my Garmin Forerunner GPS. I use it for swimming, biking and running. And starting this winter I’ll use it … Read More Here
T minus 24 hours until Philly
We’re in the home stretch now. Down to just a few hours before the last meaningful race of my season (actually, that might be a lie, we’ll see). This is the one I signed up for a month ago after … Read More Here
Photographic Proof – iWon
Per Jeanne’s request, I present you with photograph ‘proof’ of the iWon race. Well, proof as far as someone taking a few photos of me. I also have a pre-race group shot, but I don’t feel comfy publishing other people’s … Read More Here
How far would you go?
A few weeks ago when I resumed my interval training I was reminded that I hate running in circles around the track. It’s about as enjoyable as running out of TP at a gas station restroom in the middle of … Read More Here
A written invitation
Funny, I got this postcard in the mail the other day from my employer (which btw is not Premera). I’m not quite sure they knew the irony of it when they sent it. “Stressed? Tired? Burned out? Try exercise.” Hmm…I’m … Read More Here
Brickervals
I’m tired. I started off the day with a 22 mile ride down to a river/park south of DC to watch some friends in a rowing (crew?) competition. It’s a bit of an interesting sport in theory. Very similar I … Read More Here
Sorry Mr. Pigeon
You know how when you were a kid you’d chase the birds around in the park – but of course you’d never catch them. I always assumed it was an impossibility to catch a bird – kinda like a cat … Read More Here
Nearly Arrested!
The good news here is that I can outrun a police officer. For about three miles anyway’s. The bad news is that when you want to find one – they’re nearly impossible to find. Last night was costume night at … Read More Here
Ouch! The pain train has arrived!
Ok, it’s not fair. I haven’t even begun my 16 day hard push prior to the Philly Half – and I’m already sore. Well actually, still sore. Still feeling Sunday’s 26.2 miles of fun. Although it’s not bad at all … Read More Here
Pushing through a 95MPH Headwind
I’m sitting here at 36,000 feet and cruising across over endless farmland with a solid 100+MPH headwind, working our way towards Seattle for a quick 48 hour set of meetings. I’ve traded a very wet (and warm) Washington DC, for … Read More Here
Half-Mary here I come
In my random driving around today I decided on which half I’m going to do. After looking at my options (all two of them: Philly and Outer Banks), I’m going with Philly’s Half. It will be a shorter drive, and … Read More Here
Cycling in the middle of nowhere
I had to make a quick trip down to North Carolina, to a town just about 20 miles south of the Virginia border for some meetings yesterday. Given I had my usual bike workout planned for Tuesday I figured it … Read More Here
Spinning around in circles
It seems as though whenever I end my swim and leave the rec center there is a spinning class going on. One of these days I’ve got to actually try it out. The crowd at this particular place appears a … Read More Here
“You’ve lost too much weight, we can’t help you”
This whole triathlon sport is costing me quite a bit of cashola. $1,300 for the bike (yes, cheap, I know), $500 for Ironman registration fee, and countless other hundreds of dollars for various other ancillary costs (ok, it’s actually probably … Read More Here
Concrete: 1, Me: 0
It happens about once a year it seems. Usually about this time of year in fact. The leaves change color, the temperature starts to decline(ok, not here but somewhere else apparently), and I face plant it into the ground during … Read More Here
Two Thirds of an Oly Tri Tuesday
I had to drop a coworker at the airport (Dulles), so I took the opportunity to do tonight’s ride out on the W&OD trail. By starting out near Dulles it is much quieter and far fewer intersections. I had only … Read More Here
Long Day
Today was officially the longest day ever (well, for non-work stuff anyway’s)… Started with a 6AM wake up, and now it’s 3:30AM. To recap: 6:00AM – Wake up and consume a banana 6:25AM – Out the door to meet running … Read More Here