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I’m DC RAINMAKER…
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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 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.
I just add more layers. Except when there is too much snow/ice, then I head for the treadmill and bike trainer.
Pour cet hiver ce sera Gros renforcement musculaire et préparation à un semi marathon ;-)
Man up and swap to leggings.
parkrun 5km races don’t stop for winter, so that’s Saturdays sorted. More running in the week around the city, and some cycling too. When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
Living in the south of Europe, I just have to adapt my clothes but never change my type of training.
More gym and less biking
Change from wearing a Singlet to wearing a shirt sleeve shirt. Not much else tochange in galveston Texas.
I have to move to gym running. very unfortunatly.
swim indoors, ride to work, run at lunch
Running, always only running… snow, wind, rain always running ;-)
I love running in winter :) It doesn’t get too cold here in London so I just wear something warmer like a merino wool base layer, merino buff, hat, merino gloves, longer shorts and merino gloves. Bit of a merino fan :)
This winter i will mainly do warm ups
Sadly enough have to move inside, to the fytness.
In the winter I find a few motivated friends who will organise to meet and thus help each other to get out the door on the cold and dark mornings.
Sadly not in Hawaii…yet!
Just getting some indoor quality time when outside gets dangerously crappy.
Winter training = put on warmer clothes to run in
Changing from biking to Yoga and Climbing, as long as there is too much snow or if it’s really too cold to go out :-)
Our spare room becomes a Trainer Road training studio for the darker months – 2-3 sessions per week + a weekend ride. Helps make sure I do a proper workout whilst watching my way through the latest must-watch boxset!
Shorter interval rides, more running and join the gym for 6 months for some rowing too.
I will run with my dog during the winter months
Living in Singapore winter just means a bit less humidity and being able to do an extra 500m before becoming a complete state!
Put on some more layers and get out the front door. It’s only weather!
It’s warming up down under ….. no changes to the training schedule are required!
No major change since I do crossfit! And I try not to bust my butt on the ice outside when walking or biking, which can be a workout all in itself…
Hate the cold !
I’ll switch from running to swimming…
Crosstraining will wait
hiit and stuff indoors as usual…
stupid winter…
Well it doesn’t really change other than the choice of bike and clothing (and now open water swimming).
Winter boots, windproof and water proof kit, hats, gloves… carry on as normal. We don;’t have much snow in my part of the UK. Winter bike is a must, mudguards (fenders) are compulsory on club rides and help keep you drier.
I also do a bit more mountain bikikng for strength training… and fun in the mud.
More sunscreen and an earlier start (in your winter) – Australia being what it is!
I am lucky enough to be migrating South to New Zealand for a second summer this winter, so I dont need to change my training plans at all!
I buy a worm clothes, so winter is not a problem. Just love running and orienteering outside in autumn and winter :) It’s fancy to run intervals in snow, it’s like strength training paired with running.
I turned our study into an indoor gym – treadmill and tacx means never getting wet ?
No need to change, I’m in Brazil!
It will be some more hitting the gym instead of hitting the road :-(
Not in Hawai but in Gandia, Spain, no need to change my planning, good weather so still running and swimming!
I live in Rio. Winter here is like 22ºC… It’s the best time to train!
The Beast
Cross-country skiing (hopefully there will be some snow), strength training in gym and indoor cycling
I pick up the running as I try to get out during a couple of lunchtimes at work.
More TRX as well and the turbo comes out. In short less outdoor cycling
I’ve been adding the T25 workout at the beginning of my off-season (November) and scaling my running back 60%
I do a lot of cross-croutry skiing on winter. Lot of good spots here in France and in Europe (Lapland FTW).
I keep running outside until the temperature is about freezing, but I’ve brought the bike inside and out it on the trainer. I also go to the gym more.
I’ll move indoors on the turbo trainer but other than that I’ll still brave the elements.
More gym and less bike.
I keep running and my bike suffers since I don’t have indoor trainer set-up. I also just bought snow shoes for some cross-training this winter
Add a second layer of clothes.
-Shorts and t-shirt for summer
-Long sleeves and long tights for autumn/spring
-Second layer for winter
I switch to doing lots of treadmill running. Also, all rides I do are indoor on the trainer.
I love winter running! I’m usually up and out earlier after DST ends. And there is no bad weather, only bad clothes :)
It will be cross-country skiing and lot of zwifting…;;)
Change from bike to running
Add layers and hit the treadmill when it gets really cold and nasty in Ohio!
I run more. Winter running is the best! (If you live in the South).
I move on to my first sport: xc skiing
Glad you guys are safe.
My OWSs become solely pool swims and all my outdoor bike rides become Sufferfest and other trainer rides. I do try to get out for some runs. Ottawa, Canada can get pretty chilly in the winter, so swim and biking outdoor can be tough (though some still go for winter rides).
Scott
Bike trainer and treadmill
Sunday i switched to spiked tiers on the bike. When the snow comes I will use the Icebug running shoes. And there will be more treadmill workouts during the winter.
With only 2 seasons to worry about in the tropics (wet season and dry season!) no point doing anything different, just keep on running! :)
My sport of choice is running. Living in a city means that streets get cleared from snow allowing me to keep running all winter long. I must admit that cold and especially wet (in autumn and spring) are downers for me so I skip a training here and there,
Character building? Call it what you like, carry on as normal and MTFU princess…
Living in Quebec, Canada I do more workouts inside and still go out for a run occasionally with a “tuque”.
I open the winter cycling clothes drawer instead of the summer cycling clothes drawer.
I switch to the gym but this year, will try to keep long runs outside on the weekend!
Change the open road for a turbo trainer
I just curl up into a ball until the leaves come back.
It depends on the weather – foggy and very wet means treadmill or turbo. clear and drying is still outdoors with more or more appropriate layering
I wear more clothes and run more than ride, but generally still get outside as much as I can.
back on the turbo and treadmill
Swimming pool and running with headlamp
Kept it steady aerobic outside as this helps me stay healthy and more time on the bike trainer.
I make the most of it as I do any other time of the year. Only when the roads get icy (No sidewalks here, just 55 MPH two lane) do I head in to the treadmill for a workout
I just keep running here in Indiana. I might break out the spikes and add layers to the top but no pants, running shorts year round for me.
Rule V
Depending on my mood I either hit the treadmill or bundle up a little and head outside. Winter doesn’t usually get too crazy in the washington, dc area. No days off for me. I’m on a 2 year, 4 month daily run streak.
Living in Poland, winter training build confidence, when you start to fight with nature. I have to add layers, Warmer gear. Switch from biking to running, more mountain hiking, more indoor core and strength exercises. When it starts to be warm again i feel more power, after cold, hard winter trainings :)
Usually we don’t have snow here in israel, and my training is similar year-round – although I run a bit less (I don’t like running in the rain) and I seitch to winter gear during my 16-mile daily commute.
I just keep running outside with hat and gloves, and as extra I go speed skating on a track and if winter arrivés on the frozen lakes in the Netherlands
The best time to build up form for spring marathon. The cooling system is provided for free, and you don’t need to carry water!
For the winter i totally mix it up. Instead of cycling cycling cycling, it looks like this:
I pop the road bike onto the trainer to get my intervals done (2 times a week), I pump it up 2-3@week at the gym and try to to som cross-country and/or alpine skiing in the weekends. I also try to go for a casual run every other week (spiked shoes in the snow) and I also pop some spiked tyres onto my commuting bike.
Lots more time will be spent with the KICKR and TrainerRoad, running stays outdoors though, can’t bring myself to hit the treadmill.
The only change I make is that I don’t run when its under -20ºC.
A simply change of tires, from F1 to tractor style!
Warm clothes and cycling after work with headlights or go to the swimming pool..
Crosscountry Skiing instead if cycling but running will continue.
Less cycling, more pool swimming and running.
This winter will be focused on improving my running and swimming, and having fun doing other sports (rowing). Also some time on my new Turbo Muin to not completely neglect cycling.
Thankfully I only run so my plan is more layers, or hit the TM more
Somewhat warmer clothing, otherwise no big changes for the winter.
six months of hibernation for me!
Shorten the outdoor rides and spend all those lovely hours on the BKOOL in the garage. Hoping to get it hooked up to TrainerRoad so I can be a bit more structured.
I CALL DIBS !!!
I pile on the warmer clothing and run and bike all year long in Boston.
I just keep running outdoors as long there is no ice on the road. For the few days with icy roads, I’ll switch to a treadmill.
Enjoying mtb rides through the Belgian forests, with hot soup stops :)
I certainly don’t live in Sunny Hawaii but this is my first winter as a triathlete so it’s all new…. at the moment i’ve moved indoors a bit more. Bought a Bkool turbo trainer and use the gym treadmill more. Swimming is coached so leave the changes there to him, but at the moment it seems to be leg drills, followed by leg drills, followed by leg drills….
As a resident of an arctic country I tend to run more inside and bike on the trainer if temperature goes below -20 C
Winter means less cycling / running, more skiing(cx + downhill) and swimming organized training wise (throw few runs there in the mix when weather permits). One great cardio during winter though is shoveling / pushing the snow off the yard/driveway!
Move the bike/run to the basement. Swim with master’s team.
(I’m in South-Eastern Australia) Most of my ‘training’ is geared towards getting desk jockey me strong and fit enough for winter/XC ski season. So more hiking/cycling in summer, more skiing/snowshoeing in winter.
on the dreadmill
Pretty mild in winter here (Sydney). Just an extra layer or two, and a little more indoor riding when it rains.
Just picked up a vortex smart and having fun with trainer road.
LED flashing blaze orange Saucony vest for running, winter bike kit, but indoor pool schedule stays the same.