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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 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.
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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.
The boathouses are lit up all year round at night.
For future reference, you can continue straight up West River Drive (the left/West side of the river) and cross easily at Falls Bridge. From the art museum, it’s about an 8.5 mile loop.
Unwrapping a Honey Stinger waffle while riding is definitely an acquired skill. Easier if the fingers are available, but still possible in good MTB gloves. Much harder while bouncing around on MTB trails, but still *possible*. I can regularly eat them while road riding with no trouble, and sometimes do while moving on the MTB. But generally on the MTB I just stop quickly on shorter rides, and on longer rides I repackage them. I use the Revelate Designs Mountain Feed Bag. Just break up however many waffles you need into a big ziploc bag. Stuff that in the feedbag with the top open and wrapped over the top of the feed bag. Then use the feed bag’s drawstring to keep it closed when not in use (the drawstring is very cool in that you can operate it one handed, both to open and close).
I really haven’t found any gels that I *like*. I like waffles and I like chews, and both require some amount of fiddling to eat them, particularly on long rides in the woods if you don’t want to stop (or are racing).
–Donnie
Wish I knew you were in Philly, would have been nice to finally meet!
-Matt
We Philie types appreciate the good pubilicity (and as a Drexel dean, our boat house flag looks great in your photo); though no cupcakes as good as Bertie’s nearby..r
I agree with Edward’s comment… seeing as you continued outbound, if you are doing that run again in the future, I’d recommend continuing past the Strawberry Mansion bridge to the Falls bridge. It is just a short distance past where you ended up turning around to head back into the city and is a lot friendlier to runners/cyclists.
As for the speed limit sign on Martin Luther King Drive, I think that most of the serious cyclists do head out earlier in the morning. I’m a beginning cyclist and my one trip down to center city Philly so far for a training ride included the closed MLK drive on a Saturday morning. I was riding that stretch at about 16 – 18 mph and was being blown away by the experienced/serious folks.
I don’t remember seeing the sign, so maybe they put it up at a certain time of day (I was at that stretch at about 9:00 – 9:30AM if I remember correctly).
Sometimes, knowing I’ll be taking a Clif chocolate gel is enough to keep me going for another 45min until the next one. ;)
Good read, and congrats to the newlyweds!
hey ray!
do you know if and when garmin plans to bring the heat map feature to europe? would really like that feature…
They’ve talked about bringing it to top international cities, but I’m not sure what that timeline is.
Personally, I’d just like to see it available globally – just like Strava Heatmaps.
Honey Stinger Waffles are just overpriced (and slightly larger) versions of stroop wafles. You can pick up bags of the small ones at Trader Joe’s for much less than the HS versions. They are equally tasty, and identical nutrionally, as Jill Homer over at Jill Outside established a few years ago: link to arcticglass.blogspot.com. As important as saving money, the little ones are much easier to deal with on rides — just count out the right number before your ride (about 3 = one gel if memory serves), put them in a plastic bag, and you have easy access.
Honeystinger solution that I use: unwrap them at home before you go, break them into 1/2’s or 1/4’s and put them in a small ziplock baggie in the bentobox :)
Speaking of nutrition…I have been reading a lot about pre & post ride nutrition and recovery. Do you have a post about what you usually eat before and after or your normal routine? I hate to think I am wasting my workout by not recovering properly or taking in the proper nutrients at the best times.
Welcome to Newfoundland! Enjoy the unusually good weather. I’m here too, visiting my family and doing some running. Always fun to run the trail along the river through St. John’s if you are in town. Looking forward to the post from The Rock. (I’m a long time reader but very infrequent commenter).
I did more or less the same run a year ago while in Philly at a scientific conference. The bonus for me – HS rowing tournament. Very interesting to see the level of engagement – *lots* of folks there with tents, racks of boats, pretty much covering the riverbank for miles. I had no idea…
Rey, you should ask “The Girl” to make gel packs for you in cupcake flavours! I would be buying some
You went on so long I thought you were going to end up with 20 miles…
Hey, nice blog. Been reading it for a year now and it’s the best =) really a great thing. Just wondering, you train a lot and I don’t remember that you trained in a fitnes. Do you combine your triathlon training with fitness, or do you do it seperately?
have a nice day
Hi Aljaz-
I’m afraid I don’t understand on the ‘fitness’ piece? I swim/bike/run, and occasionally do core exercises, but that’s about it (aside from stuff like skiing or the like).
They also do a (pretty much) weekly time trial on that section of West River Drive; Art Miseum to East Falls Bridge and back. Free to do, just show up at about 6:15am.
And, if the TT didn’t prove it, that 10mph sign is really just a decoration.
Tried the GU chocolate gel last night during my Build Run. Great success.
Philly is my home town – glad to see you got out for a run. The loop you ran is almost what the old Philly distance run (1/2 marathon) was. When the weather is nicer, west river drive and Kelly drive (roads on each side of river) are packed with runners, cyclists, rollerbladers, etc. The Steelman tri was this past weekend – you could have done it while here…..of course the horrible tshirts aren’t much incentive.
Ahh yes, Steelman – that was my second triathlon ever (first Oly distance). Fun times…
No t shirts at Steelman this year, Steelman portable folding chairs with carrying case. Really nice swag!
And yes the 10mph sign is mostly just to let folks know to be careful and respect everyone on West River drive. If you get out early on Saturdays as one poster said you will see a number of the fast tri/ttguys in the area in the unofficial time trial or just doing laps. It’s a great stretch of pavement and great that it is closed to traffic April – Oct on weekends. There is also a legit 8 mile out back TT held on west river drive their each June.
You were in my neighborhood! Dam, I ran 20 on the same path today.
I would have got you some great street food from Tony Lukes.
Awesome pics
The 10mph is for cars, not cyclists. There is one entry point on West River Drive for cars – that is via Montgomery Ave. So while the road is closed to through traffic, cars can get access to park, etc. Also, the garage is with the BBQ is the Philadelphia handicap/special needs bike club (I’m not sure of the official name). They do that every weekend.
i had flashbacks of the horrors of rowing all through college when i saw the boat houses…made my hands start to ache, wanted to vomit, and I started blinking at odd intervals while twitching… Do. Not. Miss. At. All.