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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
Training for Paris Marathon this winter. So… running, running and running.
Running, weights and my brand new kickr. I try to get outside on my bike when i can but the snow usually has other ideas.
hi Ray
I live in Greece, and more specifically in Athens, where we rarely* get inhibiting weather. It is mid-November and only on Sunday I did a 200 audax in glorious weather (~12-24 degrees Cº, no rain). The only adaptations necessary are in clothing and equipment (lights!), and in schedule (kids school season).
What can I say, if you ignore the fact that we are in the midst of an economic crisis (bearable while on the bike), and that PowerTap insists on wildly overpricing the P1 by 400+ € for non-US residents (unbearable :)), it is a sweet, sweet place to ride all year round
cheers, and congratulations on going DCR only career-wise :)
More swimming, running with hat and gloves, turbo and lots of tea and biscuits
Stay indoors a lot more! Less cycling more running more turbo (sigh)
My winter focus is on trail running.
One more layer for running and indoor pool
I shift over from cycling to Winter “peak bagging” in NewHamshire during the Winter.
Winter changes:
– less road biking, road biking only if the weather permits otherwise MTB
– sometimes indoor biking (not enough though)
– a lot more running
Currently:
– forced recovery as I injured my calves during a race on Saturday (muscle strain)
Mornings and evenings are too dark for running so I shift my sessions to lunch break and do some crosstraining like yoga and weight liftting at the gym.
In winter, more clothes and sometimes additionnal light when running because night comes earlier, but no other changes.
good opportunity to test my headlamp
Basically no changes to the outdoor run mileage even though temperatures could reach -15F degrees. And a little bit more gym strength work for this season.
Sunny 34deg in Victoria
More emphasis on endurance through long runs
Slower long rides where I can. Lots more running.
I do more running and more strength training; less swimming.
Instead of riding my bike outdoors on the weekend all my rides will be indoors on the Kicker. But I will still keep running outdoors because it never gets to horrible around here.
I’ll just dig out my cross-country skis and hit the snow path :)
I have just dusted-off my Tacx indoor trainer and will be doing a couple of southern france trainings and just imagine that I am riding in the sun! Besides that I run out more often and increase swimming in the pool – I just love winters – ;-)
Living in Central Europe, the weather often gets tough during winter months. Bulking up is really the only option, even though you sometimes end up looking like the Michelin guy.
occasionally switch up long ride/runs for indoor turbo. But other than that, just put an extra layer on :)
love running
Getting started again want pool swimming, gym sessions and spinning
How do you adapt your training schedule for winter? Do you change sports altogether, or do you happen to be one of those lucky ducks living in Hawaii?
I ride year around but I add other sports such as soccer or running. That watch would make a good addition to record those other activities =)
I was expecting to run a bit more on the threadmill and hit the gym, but we are on November and I can go to the trail at 6 am in a t-shirt. Not so bad!
From Central Europe, I am doing some spinning instead of cycling. Running and swim remains as usual.
just more layers!
(if really bad Turbo Trainer and Treadmill)
what doesn’t kill you and all
Having recently moved from sunny South Africa to Europe I will start supplementing my cycling and running this winter with some swimming sessions and hitting the IDT. Maybe I will finally start getting my home gym together.
I hit the turbo in the shed…
there is no bad weather just bad gear so some new gear like that watch would help my winter training while hiking instead of riding so much!!
instead of riding bike, i tend to eat more cookies! ;-)
Living in Queensland, AU we hardly get what you’d consider winner. And on this side of the world we are on our way into summer. Anyway in winner I’ll sometimes set the alarm a little latter, and I’ve been known to wear arm warmers on the bike a couple of times a year
No worries for me. Plenty of Indoor Swimming pools in Berlin that I have access to. Best part is, some of them have Saunas.
I usually like to train early in the morning…but in winter I train on midday.
Winter in North Queensland – perhaps swap the SPF50+ sunscreen for SPF30+, and expect to be sweating after 10minutes, not by the time you leave the house!
An extra layer (thighs and long sleeves), hat and gloves, and good to go. Winter can be chilly in Hungary, so might wanna stock some “warmth of home” underneath the gear before heading out.
The summer bike (carbon Giant TCR) goes in the shed, and I switch to the winter bike (10 year old ALU Giant SCR) Mud Guards, 30mm tyres, 2 sets of lights front and back and layer up!
My rides get shorter, but more frequent, and I increase the amount of running I do.
I don’t change training for the weather. you simply dress for the weather.
Winter training, for me, includes hot trainer sessions and freezing cold kinda-indoor-pool swims. Running stays outdoors, I just bundle up! On the days that it is cold enough for the ground to be solid and dry enough there is no ice, I’ll take the mountain bike out and slide around.
Turbo Turbo Turbo # TACXNEO
Boat training on week days will be replaced by indoor rowing on the Concept 2, due to a lack of day light outside of office hours. I will keep rowing in the weekends as long as the river doesn’t ice up. When it does, it is time for ice skating!
Running will continue as usual.
Due to weather and work schedule, I will be using my Sole F80 Treadmill mostly, with some weights/kettlebells and exercise bike thrown in for cross training at least 2 days a week. Still want to run outside on weekends, weather depending of course ;)
I shift focus to running while maintaining a steady drumbeat of swim and bike training. Add some strength training in for good measure and you have the recipe for a fun winter!
Buy a headlight for the dark winter months… That’s it! Ow, and grow a beard for the freezing temperatures… ;) No need for warmer clothes: I just run faster. And long distance mountainbiking in 10-20cm snow is fantastic fun!
I move from a cycling bias to a running bias and dress warmly. Oh, and the cavers lamp too. That comes in handy with the long nights.
Switch to more trail running rather than road. Bike unlikely to come off the trainer till March.
Live in Canada – dress warm, pick the days and do a lot of snowshoeing.
In Canary Islands-Spain we don’t have a hard winter, minimus of 14º some days, so we can train without problems
substituting outdoor cycling with running + trainerroad on tacx turbo trainer
Winter hits me especially in my hands, so gloves from october to march. Even neoprene gloves for run in hardest days.
There is no such thing as bad weather just bad choice of clothing..
(Is what I shall be telling myself while I wuss out and go on the turbo and wish I had more willpower!)
I don’t have any plans to change my schedule during winter even though it will probably rain most days here in Denmark, it will still consist of the following:
30 km bicycle a day (I live 15 km from work)
Body weight training three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Running 4 times a week (the remaining days)
Have a good one!
I’m on the trainer since October and will be until somewhere in March. I’m running more in winter, but I’ve been eying a treadmill for when the weather takes a turn for the worst..
I make sure hands and head are well insulated.
Warmer clothing, shorter cycles but more running.
I try to go out during the day before it gets dark, but not doing so well at the moment!
I do a lot of threadmill and trainer work.
My training doesn’t change much. instead of road cycling I go mountain biking. In running, I just add more clothes. :)
winter = crossfit time. perfect variation from normal training and very handy for core etc
I’ll scale back on running and replace it, when snow comes, with cross country skiing. And focus on cardio/strength training meanwhile.
Living in Brisbane, Australia, I don’t have to change my training too much. Pools remain at 25-26C and cycling sometimes requires arm warmers and gloves, but otherwise it stays pretty much the same.
I will be focusing on indoors riding on my brand new TACX Vortex Smart!
More running, swimming, waterpolo and indoor cycling in the winter.
I live in good old Australia, and our liws are usually 1 degree Celsius so pretty bearable in winter, with skins. Running and cycling will survive rain. On super stormy or rainy days i become an indoor trainer.
I switch entirely to swimming in the winter.
Summer endurance training on the bike has just one goal: Be fit enough for ski touring. But also I do more strength training in winter to prepare for climbing in summer.
My training winter is no different than my summer training. The only difference is that my clothes are different, but I continue to run and bike no matter what. I’m from Romania, Bucharest.
Winter in Sydney isn’t so bad just add jacket and lights!
I live in California – everything stays the same
I still go running if rainning
Winter is time for skiing (mostly alpine, but some x-c too), snowshoeing, and to continue with circuit training plus spin classes.
The only change I do is to put more layers on and go out riding same trails, same routes and run same loop around the lake + snowboarding for a week. No indoor training.
Spend more time swimming and going to spin class at the gym. More running, less road cycling.
Running as always (except below -10 C and/or when iced roads) and clothing according to the circumstances. So minor adjustments, maybe lgiht sources cos most runs will be in the dark
I do indoor cycling in winter. TurboTrainer.
rowing machine, bike trainer, wait for spring.
Luckily, I live in Australia and all that winter means is that I can train in the evening instead of having to waking up ridiculously early to beat the heat :)
Layer up!!
Wear warmer clothes, use an indoor trainer.
If there is no snow, I can still run. +5 or -15 C no problem, just don’t stay outside when stretching.
If it is raining, the kid doesn’t like the buggy runs, but the little man is asleep in 10 minutes anyway :D
So conclusion, no, no change except that I am more prone to do the cycling inside otherwise I have the risk of crashing and hurting myself.
I park my road bike and focus just on running
Colder temperature here in Sao Paulo is 15ºC. When is raining and cold, tights is the way.
I do not like the cold so it’s all treadmill and trainer for me.
I just tend to train indoors more, but on the weekends I totally shift gears, getting more into the winter sports. Wrap up warm and all that!
I don’t change my training. I just put on more layers.
When I am start running I just look where to put my feet.
Here in hot Perth WA, the winter is the time for PB’s. So an increase in weekly mileage is my Winter training adaption.
Winter? What’s that?! I’m in the southern hemisphere and have to rise early to avoid the scorching heat after 9am here!
I layer up or run on the track at the gym! ??
Windbreakers and tights, sometimes jacket also. Never really gets that cold in Denmark
First and foremost I prepare myself mentally for a lot of rain ;-)
The winter will see a focus on the swim (as an adult onset swimmer, it’s a ongoing process) and a lot of short running to up the frequency.
That and a shitload of runs through the forest, mountainbiking and time on the tacx as an excuse to watch some movies ;-0
I get fat in winter and start the whole fitness thing again in summer.
I adapt to winter by studs in tires and studs in shoes. Perfect grip!
just go hard
Running … :)
Go snowboarding, weight training & indoor swimming will get me by.
I live in Sydney, Australia so winters are not as severe as in the USA. It still gets cold (for me!) so a few extra layers are all that are required plus a little more commitment to get out there on those more challenging days. Thanks Ray for your website; it’s a huge valuable resource for all the sports people across the world.
For me winter is the perfect period for running. So, I will increase the month total km to around 350 – 400 km with around 80% aerobic training.
At Winter i do more indoor activities as spinning…but I live in Mediterranen and our Winter is a Spring for others.
Different clothes and just go for it