Heads up! There’s some pretty substantial sales that just started. For watches, the Garmin Epix is down to $499, and the Fenix 7 to $449, with the Pro editions also $200 off! Meanwhile the top-end Edge 1040 cycling GPS is down to $499, and both the Edge 540 & Edge 840 are also on sale. As is Varia radar for $149. Some incredible deals, and ll the deals are 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:
With TPC (The Pro's Closet), you'll save $40 on purchases over $200 with coupon code DCRAIN40 for tech and non-tech purchases!
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 and Equipment 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! 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.
Back to base run (8K) after having the flu for a week. Feels good to be back!
For Valentine’s I plan on the usual: A good 1:30 on my Wahoo Fitness KICKR in the basement. Then a fancy dinner with my wife.
This year? Working and a nap :)
The wife and I did an indoor ride on the trainers
12 mile run and an hour swim
Gym workout as prescribed by PT for MCL injury rehabilitation. Then playing with the kids out in the snow, very cold.
Going to watch the NC State crits.
14 mile ride with Girlfriend. First time road riding for her on her new bike! Then a criterium race as part of a spring series. Finally a night hike with champagne!
25k run along the Vistula river!
Gym in the morning and 2 hours cycling in the afternoon.
I am working on my 1st 5k. I am on week 6 of couch25k, so I will be running and praying as this week has more time running involved. Thank you.
this valentine we just stay at home because of the neptune storm effect. But we spent almost the whole day chasing around our toddler, i guess that is also a very good and fun exercise lol.
I plan on cycling 20 miles over this weekend
Quick 5k around home in the afternoon
I went out for a 37km long run , got smashed by rain, hail and 3h of headwind. I stopped counting the stream crossings after the 5th one, lol.
500ml water and 2gels with 2 ginger chews :D
Here is the proof :D
link to strava.com
Wow! That’s brutal
Wakeup, fitness session with my wife. then get out of bed for sparring session once she realised I hadn’t written the card yet. Throughout the day there were plenty of bicep curls with chocolate flavoured ‘weights’, then beer and chocolate flavoured ‘weights’ whilst we watched The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, London :)
Weekend get away in Cambria California, woke up to wonder the beach with my valentine. While the girl did her 1 hour run, I headed up Highway 1 for a 50 mile ride, spectacular weather and views.
12k run alongside my wife and kids on the bike in the sun. First nice day in weeks outside :)
15k easy running… it was fantastic!!!
10K run – just to see where I am!
Rest day on Valentine’s Day, another marathon snow shoveling session on Sunday.
Planned on continuing the endurance nation out season, the the flu bug came a knocking :-(
16 km easy morning run
18 mile run!
3000 yd swim
A 5k Valentine’s Day run with the wife! Then a 3.5 mile run home from the race site!!
I was running 5 kilometres in a time of 24:35
I went shopping in Deventer for a whole day, what a workout! Thereby, some fitness in the gym.
Did not do a whole lot of activity but made up for my valentines dinner by running this morning :-)
A 3 hour hike in the mountains.
10 km running!
Went to the pool for some lap swimming.
My Valentines Day workout: 4x 1k intervals at 4:04 min/k.
Easy morning ride, then home to make breakfast in bed for the bride, late morning “workout” with the bride ;)
Topped off with an afternoon run with the dog.
No training for the girlfriend and I, since we spent all of yesterday cutting up some downed trees and transporting them home to my parents. We did however go for a leisurely walk along the beach, it was very beautiful.
Park run
Hour long trainer ride with my lovely bride…followed by a coffee and Netflix…it’s -7F outside…
Great weather yesterday in Colorado. We had a slow 3 mile loop run on the Cherry Creek trail follow by a picnic lunch from the car. Very nice day.
Nice bike ride with the lady!
Run with the kids!
CX: 50 lunges, 45 min on the stationary, followed by 2 hours of roped gym climbing
15km bike ride
Late, but Valentines Day was a 16.5 mile “long run”. I am not currently training for a race, other than the Bolder Boulder.
Practise double poling technique on cross country skies in the Jura. Seems so easy on tv but…
~80km bike (hill repeats). Avg. temp was -1C :)
Easy 12k with a good friend,
25 miles on the bike saturday and a trainer ride on sunday since it won’t get above freezing here.
Swim with the kids in the morning…then a 100km bike ride after that (Paris Roubaix Sportive Training…so once some dodgy road surfaces serve a purpose!)
1 hour on the trainer. Blizzard coming.
New PB’s for both of us at Parkrun (5k) followed by cooldown run over the Humber Bridge and back
8 mile run in sunny arizona
Lots of cycling including multiple 30 mile rides along with long runs. Loved it!!!
With 35 mile headwinds just a very slow two miles out followed by a much quicker 2 miles back.
50 min high cad interv. turbo trainer workout.
Just an easy 17k run in wonderful weather conditions
I went to Tankerberg with my road bike. Set a PR!
Just an hour-and-a-half recovery ride on the KICKR. Crazy cold weekend in Chicago! Won’t be riding outside for months… :(
4 x 10 Minute Hills – absolutely evil
Easy 1hr run on the snowy streets of Boston with some short 10k bursts. Bring on the blizzard!
One lazy special Valentine’s extra nap and stay in bed whole day training for me ;-)
12 mile run
Because of a lunginfection no training for me. It gives me time to rethink and reschedulde my trainingsplan for this year. So when I’m back again, I’m fully prepared.
Nice valentine!
Marcel
O.K…so far, so lazy…but I did walk the dog…and I do have to go and watch an outdoor hockey game at -18C today…brrrr…that’s should burn some calories:)
1hr swim due to injury
12k hilly and muddy trail run followed by an even hillier and muddier 16k today
Hour of running!
Some uphill running for me =)
Best girlfriend had to work, so I could go for a run in the sunny winter weather.
a chilly 10 miler was on the books but the GI bug hit our house and I was confined to rest.
A hot and humid 20km along the Melbourne forsehore.
I cleaned the garage…and the lady is happy!
Getting home in time for valentines day after a skitrip
Mountain bike ride was Friday, trail run Saturday (with my wife of course – it is Valentine’s Day!) and a rest day Sunday.
I did 14km of ice skating on valentines day with my boyfriend!
Wife and 12 year old son raced a local 5k taking second and first in their age groups. I’m recovering so I did my physical therapy homework and ran an easy 5. We normally do the race as a family but I’m trying to be smart this time and actually recover before racing.
46km bike ride into the hills for me.
45 minutes on the trainer, then dinner with my sweetie! Weights and a run on Sunday.
3 hours on the kickr, 45min easy run
10k along Sandbridge Beach, then dinner with my wife, and daughter.
Just a regular 10 k Running we Don’t have valentine day in Brazil :-(
Quick shoulder workout at the gym and 3 miles on the treadmill.
Easy walk up the hill with my wife and the dogs :)
Spent inside waiting out 7º/-16º windchill…
Ran three miles and completely blew it cooking and eating a prime rib roast (turned out great!) and a skillet cookie (also great!)
biked a nice leisurely 40 km, because, hey, at least it’s my name-day
Running On the treadmill because it’s below 20 outside!
Fitness with my brother :D
Using the elliptical and rowing machine as I rehab an injury.
Had a Nice run in my town
Short running session – couldn’t be out too long to be up with the Valentine spirit…
NCD91
Two hour cross country skiing in skating technique in the morning, wonderful sunny waether and snow was perfect.
Hiking and swimming in Hawaii.
Went for my first 10k run. Not too bad.
My wife was going brought coffee and cookies to her work then went for a 6 mile run on the snow covered trails.
10 km off road “social run.” “She” did 15 mile road cycle.
5 miles on the treadmill followed by 10 minutes of thinking about potentially shoveling :)
A short trainer ride for me, followed by couples goat wrestling and pen cleaning…
On V-day just drove home from a skiing holiday but we made up for the training deficit with a nice trail running session on the hills around the town.
Dealing with PF pain syndrome so just an easy 3-4 miles on the treadmill followed by a date with a foam roller.
I ran a 50 minutes at 70% HR Zone for weight loss… I had stopped last year and now trying to get back in shape and need to loose weight… Slowly but surely…
I would make for a nice Birthday gift as it is around the corner (the 18th)
Thanks for your great posts.
90 Minute trainer ride and 2500M of laps in the pool.