Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, and countless other Garmin products. 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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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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 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.
Add a few layers and keep riding outdoors as much as possible, and then hit the Kickr/TrainerRoad/Sufferfest combo for the ultimate in high intensity super-efficient indoor workouts.
Less cycling, more running
I am one of the “lucky ducks” who get to train in winter. Dubai’s weather is dessert hot thus winter is running season. I’m training for my 4th marathon and I wanted to buy a GPS watch and stumbled on DC Rainmakers site. ive been hooked ever since. its my birthday today :) I hope I get lucky twice with the female female fenix watch that I NEED so bad. thanks DC Rainmaker!
I gots me a treadmill. Last year I also purchased some nice wind pants because I dislike tights.
no real change – more layers – i hate the cold but better in the mountains
I don’t change it up much. Only take the running inside to the ‘mill if ice becomes to much to overcome.
The only change in my training plan, that I do much less ride on my roadbike. :)
Thank you, for this fantastic blog, I wish you a very joyful life, after the big change you made.
I use more layers ;-)
Basically spend almost all the time on the turbo and out of the rain!
I’ve taken my cycling indoors on the deadly boring turbo trainer. Running will remain outside all winter unless we have snow that turns to slippery ice, in which case it’s the treadmill. Nothing more fun than running on fresh snow on a crisp sunny morning with icicles in your beard.
Extra layers are enough in Atlanta as it doesn’t get very cold
Once I heal up from my mountain bike injury’s (hopefully by January) I’ll be hitting the workouts hard preparing for my Spartan Trifecta that my bike crash kept me from getting this year.
Though I may be considered one of those ‘lucky ducks’ living in one of the nicer climes (i.e. – San Diego), I have also resided in harsher winter places like VT and RI, as well as more moderate but still four season places like Japan and Belgium.
That said, I have never really adapted my training significantly for winter because I believe that training in extremes is good for mental toughness, same as it is for training on hotter summer days.
I do end up running more during winter, but that is because I generally prefer not to bike in the rain, as wet roads significantly increase chances ‘unforced errors’ ending in crashes…running in the rain isn’t that bad :-).
I actually add an additional day of running. Body handles the cold pretty well and seems to recover better after longer distances during the winter. Indoor training remains the same, which means mixing it up weekly.
I swap running outside for the rowing machine.
More running on road less trail. Cycling moves to the turbo, hate winter punctures outside.
I love to ride my bike and run year round. I also love using the pool for excercise during the winter. I usually do my exercising at night so its alot colder then in the winter. LAYERS! Many layers!
Winter in Ireland means wet weather gear or the Turbo and a dose of MTFU.
I spend a lot more time training inside – which means running and cycling in the gym, though I still run outside when I can, just dressed a lot more warmly. At home I’ll do some kettlebell work for additional cardio. And some wishing for spring to get here quickly.
Training during lunch-time
I stay inside and wait for the sun to come back
Wow. I really would like to replace my combination of Ambit2+Loop2 with this! That could look good even with the suit… it’s not that fancy. I want it!
I joined a club, so I have a stick each time to het off the couch!
I actually look forward to the indoor trainer over the winter and a relationship with some TrainerRoad plans. But still try to fit one mad outdoor session in on my bike just so that people think I’m a little bit crazy! Love running outdoors in the winter but like to mix it up with some trail running and the swimming becomes pool based, except for the obligatory skinny dip on Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Al.
More time in the indoor pool!
Hell of upgrade from Forerunner 620.
My method is to hope really hard that the weather will remain good enough. So far it worked for where I live. I also have a super great headlamp which makes me feel safe in the dark.
After this very warm November here in Germany, I might not change my training at all. :-) Seriously, just long pants will suffice.
I like to incorporate a lot more weight training in the winter. I’ll still run and bike outside as long as it’s not icy.
I live in Texas. Winter is the best time to train.
Enjoying the beautiful Arizona winter with a full, balanced training regime, many races, and a build-up to Boston on April. Happy Thanksgiving !
Winter training lately consists of post-surgery rehab, but in the past, I don’t stop running just because we have a little snow! Buffalonians are hardy creatures. :) Cycling does, however, move indoors to the trainer. A lot more lifting gets incorporated, too!
Live in Calgary so lots of trainer time, bundle up and get outdoors to run and get fresh air but don’t worry about any epic long runs. Spend some days downhill skiing for a change in pace!
Hawaiian weather? Boring & predictable. Europe allows us to look forward to spring!
So what does one do when the days get shorter, temperature colder and everything is covered in water in one of its more solid phases (aka ice, snow & water)?
No huge change needed although time spent falls dramatically. The simple answer would be layer upon layer, upon layer of shiny expensive clothing. But alas. 99% of success is dependent on one thing only. After having convinced your body to walk out the door (covered in the aforementioned clothing) the rest is easy and surprisingly pleasant regardless of temperature.
Don’t have winter in Singapore but we did get a few months of haze. Had to bring my cycling and running indoors on the trainer and treadmill. Guess thats our version of winter. Happens every year.
I usually run outside unless there is ice. Bike on the trainer in the pain cave. Swim at the Y. Simple as that.
I don’t live in FL, but I live in Austin TX – where it’s said we have 2 seasons – summer and less summer. Saying that, I don’t have to change things up too much – I add layers here and there and IF it’s that one week where we get some ice or perhaps even snow, I choose crossfit or kickboxing!
Running level stays the same. Bike: only training on the Tacx. Swimming sometimes.
Waterpolo: september – april :)
cx rides instead of usual wednesday rides.
Swimming, Biking and Running decrease in frequency and duration. I like to have a change of pace and activity, doing the same thing over and over again gets boring. I switch to strength training in the off season.
I’ll be doing more running commutes, because it’s more comfortable during the winter: all my stuff now fits in jacket pockets and I don’t need a backpack like in summer.
I take out gloves, hat, some termic shirt and keep on running. :)
Luckily in Houston it’s just varying degrees of humidity!! Winter usually means rocking a light jacket and cheeky running tights for about 6 weeks!!
Weather cools down here in Bahrain, so a great opportunity to get out of the gym and onto the road.
In the winter I continue to run when I feel like it, and bust out my fat bike to mix it up. I also nordic ski. So I do my best to enjoy the snow while it’s here.
I don’t change anything but my clothes! As soon as spring hits, it’s marathon time again!
After a 3 weeks recovering (resting) period start to build up core muscles in gym, and start with low pulse long runs.
Morgen gym cycling and running and winter sports (snowboarding & xc skiing)
I simply switch from cycling outside to cycling on the KICKR, away from the cold and the snow.
Swimming and in weekend cyclocross.
Mile and miles (and miles and miles…) on the trainer. Looking forward to trying out Zwift though.
Get outside as much as possible and head inside when the temp is below 30 degrees for the bike and 10 degrees for running. More pool time too.
during the last 2 winters i’ve increased running volume to about 250km / month but this year i’ll do some serious bike trainings using zwift ;-)
I adjust through layering clothes for running (I’ll do anything to stay off the dreadmill) and by riding my indoor trainer via Zwift
My husband and I just joined the Y so I will be cycling there. I’m excited because I want to add swimming to my workout
From the hills to the beach here in South Spain the season temperature change is not that big, but this time of the year it is more exciting and more N-joyable because of the nice temperatures, would be nice to have a good company like the Fenix3 that can help me out to decide to close warmer or not :)
Training? Skiing!
Indoor Bike trainer miles, maybe some pool time
When winter hits I get back on the snowboard and during the week I put on the running tights and jacket and hit the trails, sometimes do nightly trail runs (with flashlights).
In winter I return to the pit and in the darkness toil in a stationary fashion while dreaming of a day when brightness will return, the suffering ends and the products of my toiling are revealed to the world.
I spend more time on the dreadmill, but still try to get outside once a week.
This winter, I plan to build on my bike with a Wahoo Snap and trainerroad, Swim and try to build on my run as well. Thanks DC Rainmaker for your great reviews! You rock!
My winter training in SE Texas switches to maintenance mode for swimming, running, and cycling.
I leave in Portugal, I just need a raincoat!
I don’t change that much except for warmer running clothes and occasionally screws popped into my running shoes if it is all ice. Just tough it out in the cold!
Living in Singapore, so I have never in my life known what snow and the cold is like.. But it has been raining a lot lately and so I picked up yoga.. Hahaha!
I change sports! Racquetball all winter!
I live in a warm climate. This is the best time of year. :-)
do some extra running kms
I running instead of cycling , plus Spinning and Trainer on my balcony, this winter will not be borring
George
I just move my biking indoors when the weather gets too cold. Fortunately I swim indoors mostly year around. I also tend to run outside regardless of the cooler temps and inclimate weather.
I do longer sessions with less intensity during winter. Closer to the season start I do more speed workout.
I’m love winter and running all year :)
I move it all to the trainer in the winter for biking, treadmill in the winter. It’s FTP building time! With temps dipping to single digits F regularly in Chicago, running outside just becomes way too much!
Change sports, work the ignored muscles and get strong for next summer.
This is the time of year I become more active! I’m a freak and love the slap in the face of a frosty morning. All summer, I use the treadmill to avoid the heat and look forward to the chill!
More Running, less cycling in the darker days.. And there is no bad weather, only bad clothing ;)
Luckily, living in Orlando doesn’t require a significant change to the training!
Northern Ontario winter means suck it up and put on more layers. Worst part is frozen water bottles. Treadmill only if the roads have ice.
indoors :(
put on more layers biking / running, change one bike for inside on the turbo, pool swim instead of open water (irish sea / rivers bit on the cold side after Sept) …….. mountain bike if its too icy for the road ………….. and then just keep plugging away !
This year, the plan is to spend more time on the trainer while using 5k races to maintain my run fitness!
In Minnesota, life simply moves on without missing a beat. I pay attention to layers and play in the snow — fat bike, xc ski, downhill ski. Oh, and ride the trainer and run on the treadmill when it is really nasty.
Too much snow here to do things outside. I’m switching to the trainer and rollers and I start swimming.
Simply add “waterproofness” and layers and stay on the bike (or at least try to stay ON it). Would so love that watch!
The bike goes on the trainer and yak-tracks on the feet. And I grow a beard to help with those cold northeast winter long runs.
I just setup the trainer and run on a treadmill at the pool immediately following my swims.
Stay in the pain cave, wahoo trainer, indoor swims and treadmills galore.
Want to run more trails!
I keep to run and bike till we get hit by snow. That’s the time to switch to the trainer or – if there is enough time and enough snow – to cross country skiing.
I don’t train, I just drink beer.
A lot more gym time on the treadmill and trainer time in the garage. Also less early morning workouts with more lunch time workouts.
I am lucky enough to live in San Diego, but since I am not a true morning person I tend to do more treadmill runs during the week after work due to lack of daylight.
Lucky for me, live in Colombia, South America, when its rains I just go Inside and ride indoor.
I ride an indoor track at wintertime (and the rest of the year)
Less high-speed running without a frequency change. The bike must wait to melt the snow.
HI. With the winter and snow (forecasted for this weekend in Slovenia) comes the time for the gym and spinning. I also go up our mountain and ski down between the trees.I need this watch, I don`t want to get lost again. And if I encounter the bear (really common in our woods) it would be great to know my pulse :) Help me please :)
Have a great november!
indoors too
Actually looking forward to winter this year, just treat myself to a cyclocross bike for weekend just to get out and do some outdoor rides.
And then main bike attached to a Vortex Smart to ride Zwift mid week :)
Yorkshire offers some amazing rides no matter the weather
Snowshoeing and beer drinking!!!