Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. Full list & thoughts 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 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.
My trainer gets a lot more use and the cross bike comes gets to play in the snow.
I live in Northern California, so I could just suck it up and continue as normal if I wanted to.
However, I’m a soft Cali boy and tend to just stick to running and swimming during our “winter” month(s).
To answer you question I just suck it up buttercup =)
Still run plenty outdoors, but for those days I cant, it’s the dreadmill.
I layer up and keep to the road, at least until Jan/Feb. We typically are in the single digits and or negative digits (Fº) for these months and they don’t sell enough layers for me to run in that. So this year I have a gym membership and I will continue on the treadmill.
I’m lucky enough to live in Australia. It never gets that cold and summer is just about to start:)
Usually just bundle up. A bit more time on the dreadmill though too.
Just switching to indoor cycling and continue running outside
WInters in HK aren’t so bad, just run faster and harder!
Mixing running with some x-country skiing. That’s my secter ;) (feel free to use it)
Being a transplant to New England from Florida, I don’t really like being out in the cold/snow. Still, gotta log some training miles somehow. I’m mastered the art of layering, but have also taken to running on a treadmill and spinning on the trainer. Additionally, I get in a pretty good workout shoveling snow.
Aiming to snow shoe this winter, and hopefully a little skiing, but we’ll see.
winter is like a fiery lover, show respect but don’t back down. Hit the tarmac on two wheels for longer, and harder, mainly to sto pgetting cold, but with a cautious eye for the corner in advance. There’s no such thing as bad weather etc.
With winter comes the dreaded treadmill. I’ll try to make it outside on milder days, but I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to braving the elements. Maybe one day I can call Hawaii home…sounds like next month’s giveaway (home in Hawaii)!
I add 1 or 2 layers and I change my routes. French riviera offers lot of sunny roads!
A little like Dory says.
Just keep running, just keep running.
I don’t change my plans, just change my clothes for winter ones (long sleeves and rain/thermal jacket).
Add more layers and get on with it! You have to adjust your goal times, but it can be a good mental exercise to get out there. In the end, both the temperature and change of conditions can be refreshing.
For the winter I like to add a visit to the sauna after swimming in the pool. And after a long run there is always a hot bath.
I’ll be hitting the treadmill on snowy/icy days, but honestly I love to run in the cold, so it won’t affect my weekend running too much. My cross training has been pretty poor lately, so I’m going to try to focus on strength, core and flexibility this Winter.
I simply pile on the layers of clothing for cold weather and hope for the best. Perfect the fine art of snot rockets is an added bonus.
Sweatfests get moved indoors more often.
Living in Florida, no adaptation is necessary. In fact, training season is just getting started!
Embrace the cold on runs, otherwise hit the gym and stationary trainer for swims and rides.
Not Hawaii, but I live in FL. My training schedule remains unchanged throughout the seasons.
Months and months of treadmill runs.
I just put on a jacket, hat, and gloves and get after it! Snow be damned!!!
more layers, run in the rain
Gear! Living in Chicago, the winters are rough. The biking shifts to trainer, and to run outside I invest in a good running jacket, gaiter, and the best gloves. I also focus on building mileage vs speedwork. Speedwork gets a little tricky on ice and snow covered streets.
Yes please
Texas winters mean putting on bike fenders, not jackets.
More treadmill and trainer workouts
Wear more layers!
Winter ist supposed to be my Run only plus MTB time!
It’s simple….I just TTFU and get on with it!! (Obviously it would be easier and more productive with a Fenix3!!)
I don’t have to change my workout routine much in the winter because I typically prefer to exercise indoors all seasons!
Canadian true winter solder who continue running all year long! Add a couple a layers and VOILA!!
Western NY, so forget riding outside for most of our winter. Going to hit the trainer, try some new stuff at the gym, and do a bit of XC skiing this year.
Bike bike bike, stretching and run
Hopefully purchasing a turbo trainer so there are no excuses! Also working on mobility and strength.
My training has fallen off the wagon. My adaption will primarily to get back to it. I layer up in the cold weather, and this year I rejoined a adult basketball league – which at my age might be pretty dumb. I’m also trying to do some BeachBody DVD’s.
Pretty simple, get off the bike, and put on my trainers.
The bike goes on the trainer for me. And I bundle up and run in the snow.
Love the winter, time to get the hat, gloves and base layer out!!
I live in Miami, so I just log lots of extra running miles and ride longer. Zwift’s beta was a welcomed addition to summer riding.
Chasing a toddler and indoor bike, as well as hitting the gym at lunch.. at least thats the plan!
I do my riding on the lava fields of Sufferlandria.
I usually stop riding outside once it started to snow (SE MI). Mainly riding indoor and running outside throughout the winter.
Short speed session and strengh working during winter. And mostly: enjoying skiing !
Less biking unfortunately, more dark and poor roads here in the english countryside made worse by bad weather, leaves, snow, ice etc etc. That means more running, but I have a great group to go out with so that side is easier…
I just wear warmer clothes. I love training in winter. It beats the heat and high humidity of summers in the south!
Running doesn’t seem to be a problem in the winter but for riding I have to ease into it now while it’s still a bit warm (40’s). Tony
Hitting the Gym trying to forget about all those miles and stay out of the cold.
Just add layers and keep running outside.
I move my cycling indoors and do more running – all be it short runs.
I simply wake up earlier and go to the gym when there is barely anyone!
I definitely spend more time on the trainer, but I also go outside in the snow a lot to get rad on the CX bike.
I focus more on strength instead of endurance. so more crossfit less running.
Less bike, more running / swimming. Hopefully with a new F3!
Ah, the Dutch Winters. Once the reason to brace yourself, now it only asks for raincoats even more often.
Indoor trainers, more swimming amd trailruns. Because reasons.
Ride Zwift more and run faster to stay warm.
Hawaii? Tre the middle of Sweden. Although I run frequently during the winter, I spend more time than I want in the gym, hitting the treadmill, rowing machine and lifting weights.
Head lamp, add a layer or two and wool socks. Safe and simple.
Winter outdoor runs mean a lot of layers, the reflective vest, headlamp, and red flashing light. I’ll also switch to 800m interval training on the treadmill and add an extra day of swimming laps in the local indoor pool.
I live in Louisiana so our winters are not too bad. I just layer up and get after it.
DC… it’s time!!!
Wahoo KICKR and Zwift replace bike. Running in woolly hats replace running. Swimming at average pace stays where it is. Benefits of being British!
Once the cold and snow arrives in Minnesota ,I cross train between biking on the trainer, skiing, and Shawn T videos.
I do more indoor activities, mainly calisthenics.
Get on the trainer in the basement. :-(
Living in Sweden I’m used to snow and the cold, meaning that I’m running and biking as usual. However the swim is pool-based instead of open water ;)
Move the road bike indoors and use TrainerRoad and look forward too snow for more reasons to take out my fatbike. Snowshoeing is also added in, still try to get out as much as I can.
In the past I’ve given up on running when the weather turned wet and cold. Started running again this year and I’ve signed up for a half on Mother’s Day, so I’m sticking to it! Lightweight rain jacket has made it much more comfortable.
Winter is the best because it’s not 100 degrees outside! I layer up.
I’m in Paris, I keep running outside, I switch the lake swims for more indoor pool training, The bike is now mostly parked in my TacX Vector and I train with TrainerRoad, with the odd group ride when it is nice and sunny.
Typically I do a lot more of my training indoors, and I put more of a focus on strength training than I do during the other parts of the year.
Buffalo definately requires some training accomodations. This year, Zwift will be in the lineup and when the snow isn’t up to my knees I can still run outside.
I’ve moved from my regular evening cycling workout to running during lunch to take advantage of daylight and a slightly higher temperature.
I usually keep the training as similar as possible. I usually run 3 times a week.
I am hopeful that Zwift and TrainerRoad will help me get though this winter.
I change quite everything: in winter indoor trainer, backcountry skiing and some running
I do more treadmill runs. :(
Damn Swedish autocorrect, tre = try.
Lots of Gore Tex
My girlfriend adjusts my winter training buy giving me more chores when it’s too bad to ride. Currently on the list is a dishwasher repair, painting the bathroom and the removal of some wood from the garden. I’m managing to increase my tolerance to bad weather and riding more in an effort to avoid these jobs but with talk of snow looming I may have to finally fix that dishwasher… After starting it 18 months ago.
work on my strength and focussing on weaknesses
Here in brazil winter is not a real problem. Not much changes in training.
Won’t ride the bike in the rain so I switch to spin class and run (still outside) more often
As a mountain biker I like to mix things up over the winter with some gym time, trail running, gravel road riding and Nordic skiing.
I just started running this year, so I’ll be learning as I go. Right now the plan is layers. The office does have treadmills if I really need them, and there’s also the option of a spin cycle as well.
I’m not really sure yet. I’m only just getting into running, for the last four or five weeks. So far, here in the southern UK November had been very mild, so still short sleeves and shorts. Apparently we’re due a very cold winter this year, so I suspect my devotion will be tested. The wife’s getting me some proper running attire for Christmas; I’m kinda hoping it’s thermal…!
Thanks for your useful site.
I run outside all year long. As long as it is above 20 I seem to do ok.
Parkour training takes a break though haven’t found a place nearby to train indoors
Wearing more clothing and more hours inside the gym.
Ray,
Onboard a submarine, the weather is always the same. The treadmill (or dreadmill) is right next to the main engines, which means it is always hot, loud, and terrible.
Here in Texas it’s the best time for running!!
I will be putting the skins on the skis and heading into the backcountry.
I live in Spain and we don’t have cold winters, temperature rarely goes below 0°C. In fact, winter is my favourite season to train outside. Most of the time I just wear my summer clothes, t-shirt and running shorts.
Into the gym for me.
I joined a gym for days I can’t be outside.
thanks to the winter weather (atlanta), it means more outdoor running!
More runing, less bike
Winter = training retirement