Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $699, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals here!
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
1
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.
2
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!
3
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.
4
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!
5
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.
Now thats the way to ride a bike!!!! I how tall were you when you had your paper route?
I totally agree. My coach has me go for a 30 min recovery ride after a long run and it helps so much! Looks like a fantastic fall over there.
I’m going to have to remember this! and since I’m a beginer and EVERY run feels like a ‘long run’ I may just make a habit of doing this after each one! :)
Those are the best rides. :) Easy spins are life (and leg) savers…
good way to look at it…..wheres my bike with the banana seat???? and the high handlebars??
Wow it looks really nice there still. It’s been SNOWING here. Bleh. I miss bike riding days.
I agree this is the way to ease down, I walked three miles back to my hotel after my 1st marathon and that saved my legs for sure!
Interesting…I’ll try that after my next 20 miler. ;)
Sounds like a real enjoyable bike ride :)
I love my small chain ring supper slow rides. I did them after all my big runs and it really mad a difference.
I really like that last picture – the leaves are beautiful!
Interesting – I never knew that it would be so refreshing to ride after a long run – will have to try it.
i’m so far behind on blog reading i’ll never catch up…but FINALLY you are biking my speed. ha. call me next time and we can ride together.
interesting concept, this.
Does it have to be immediately after the long run, or does later in the day still work? I did a long run this morning, but am already cooled down and eating and not inclined to jump on my bike (on trainer) just this second, but might be able to convince myself later in the day.
Interestingly, my chiropractor (an Xterra world age grouper) gave me a tip when I mentioned that my legs were “dead” for runs the day after I did bike cross training. She told me to do a short run (5 min) immediately upon getting off the bike, like a brick. It works! The first time was a weird experience where I could feel muscles and such in my legs sort of adjusting themselves. I started w/ half a mile and am up to a mile, which is probably where I’ll keep it for now as I’m a runner not a triathlete. (and one fortunate enough to have my treadmill and my hybrid bike on trainer side by side in the “office”)
Yup, later in the day is totally fine. I generally do that with races that I have to drive home from, will do it around dinner time.
Thanks for the quick reply! I really enjoy your blog and your reviews are terrifically helpful.
Have you ever swapped a run day for a bike ride? Do you do a recovery run the day after your long run? Or do you take the day off and resume your schedule on Tuesday?
No, in general I wouldn’t do a recovery run – as for the most part that’s not really doing a lot of recovering of the legs (many coaches just call that ‘junk miles’). Rather, I’d do a swim or a bike – so I can still push/build the aerobic side while working on other sports.
One more quick question. Why bike ride after your long run as opposed to walking? Is it because bike riding is faster or more efficient in speeding up the recovery process?
Riding removes the pounding on the legs. Walking certainly isn’t bad, but it’s not quite as ideal as riding. Lacking a bike, then go with a long easy walk.
Would a stationary bike give the same benefit?
Yup!
Thanks for the tip! I ran a marathon this past weekend and then put in 20 easy minutes on the hotel stationary bike after the race. It made a huge difference in how my legs felt compared to past marathons.
Awesome, and congrats on the marathon!
Hi
I did my first 10k yesterday with little training due to injury, I’m due to do a mod/hard bike ride today but my legs are very painful. Is it better to wait until tommorow ? I have another threshold ride on tues so don’t want to overdo it?
I wouldn’t do a hard ride today. Instead, I’d do an easy ride today for 30-45mins – like just pedaling around for fun, not pushing the pace.
Since my surgery I haven’t been able to work out, this gives me an idea of how to get back in shape for hiking and still be able to recover.