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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!
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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.
No change, running on the usual tracks with headlamps.
Run in the snow… Which shall hopefully fall this winter!
I try to keep running but I put on more layers. I try to do some weights in the gym as well
Living in North of France, no need to adjust a lot. Basically cold all the year!
I stop most of the bike session and replace them with short outside runs. Besides that, I’m going to try bikram yoga once a week until march to work on flexibility and core strength. First time I’m doing this, I’m curious for the results.
I’ve ordered a MTB and before it arrives i’m using alot more clothing on the race bike xD.
Winter for me involves lots of very muddy trail runs and mountain bike rides!
No change to training, just don the tracksters, long sleeve top and rain jacket then gird my loins and head out the door.
Winters in The Nederlands aren’t that great :-( more rain than snow. But either way… I’m training for a 10mile run in februari. Rain or snow… My rainjacket, gloves and tights will help me get through it. ( and the additional Fenix3 to replace my old Garmin 210) ?
Instread of running in snowy nature during winter, I usually hit the treadmill in gym or I go hiking in snow with a bottle of good mulled wine. :)
Put a hat on and a pair of waterproof shoes…all good to go.
I just add another layer of clothes and keep on running :D
We live in Amsterdam but decided to miss a big chunk of winter this year by spending the whole of December back home in sunny South Africa! So training will be mountain biking, beach runs and kayaking in the ocean!
No change for me … snow or shine, I still hit the pavements to go running! The only thing that changes is what I wear.
One of those would be nice on my rist.
During winter, here in the cold Spain, I tend to do lots and lots of indoor training sessions from mondays to fridays (thanks for the posts about that) and during weekends I usually try to go out and get whatever the weather throws at me.
Warmer clothing, winter bike and copious application of Rules #5 & #9!
Outside warmer clothing no need to change anything. I actually find it easier to go for a run .
Doing much same as in summer but the arena is now my garage, Hawaii is a long long long way off so a Fenix3 should put some sunshine into the winter training up here in cold and dark Sweden…
How do you adapt your training schedule for winter?
I try to run as long as temperatures stay over -10ºC (sometimes difficult in Sweden).
Do you change sports altogether, or do you happen to be one of those lucky ducks living in Hawaii?
I switch to a Yoga Studio and do a lot of Bouldering instead. Cardio suffers a bit.
The plan (which never works as planned) is: run more, bike less (but inside on the trainer).
New rollers, power meter and trainingroad. Keep running. Keep swimming (ignore stupid seasonal change of temperature – its hard to fall off a wave)
If weather permits: Run outdoors as much as possible, but I restrict myself to courses that are well-lit and usually do not use a headlight
Living in Norway, winter is AWESOME! I start doing cross country skiing up in the mountains – which is great fun and probably one of the best exercises for using your whole body and improving condition.
And if I’m home and running around on the roads at sea level it can be quite slippery when there’s ice, so then I have to put studded grips on my running shoes, or when I’m really fed up with slipping on the ice I run back and forth through the undersea tunnel that joins my island to the mainland! It’s 2.3km long and goes 100 metres below sea level!! :-)
Shift focus from cycling to ice skating during the week, while keeping some endurance ride in the weekends!
I generally do far less cycling because I get a few hours of daylight (ok fine, I’m probably being dramatic) and I’m not overly fond of cycling in the dark. I far prefer running in the freezing cold though, apart from the minor problem about struggling to breathe when it’s too cold. So less cycling, more running for me.
Move to a tropical country! I’m in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Although Ray has been here twice or more i think he has always got the same weather: Eternal spring! :)
All i really need is a great training partner! This will get me through any winter training!
Not much changes here in RSA, except that I don’t have to get up as early to avoid the heat.
No changes, I continue to do my running mostly in the forests near Paris. I just use thicker clothing, and switch to trail shoes with a Gore-Tex layer!
Here in Sweden running in the lovely snow will be combined with XC-Skiing and road biking are switched to MTB and a trainer.
Circuit training indoor, road bike (if possible), swimming and mountain biking
Run training continues throughout the UK winter!
In winter, I ride my bike when it isn’t raining. Can’t climb all the way up the mountain here in Hobart, Tasmania, most of the time, but there’s still plenty of riding to be done.
I will go cross country skiing and some ski tours. I love Winter ;-)
I don’t really change my training much – in fact I’ll be doing more mileage due to marathon training. British weather isn’t great in the winter, but skin is waterproof!
The bike is on the trainer, running will be constant for sure. Maybe not in snow, because its more dangerous for my knee. And probably go back to learn brazilian jiu-jitsu for the winter months.
Sadly no change in climes.. layers on to allow me run.. cycle during the limited daylight hours and trade my wetsuit for the pool and a pair of jammers.
More layers & More speed running…
Switching from outdoor bike to more indoor training and adding layers when running should get me through winter!
I’m looking to buy a Tack Smart Neo to train indoors, combined with regular gym visits (although that is quite easy, given that I work for a gym chain :) )
I live in Sweden so I stop biking outside and start doing more spinning during winter. But I continue to run outside because I actually love running in cold weather and as long as you dress properly and are careful if it’s very slippery, it’s usually fine :)
Long-sleeved shirt, and amped up use of the treadmill at the gym.
Looking at a long winter is indoor training
In principle I keep training ouside, but if there is e.g. snow on the track I run the intervals slower.
Anyhow I try to keep doing my long runs, especially when there is some fresh snow :)
The winter around here is not a real excuse …
Combining Indoor football and indoor swimming is always fun, then there is the daily commute on the cx bike.
If the weather gets really cold go snowboarding, no better training than at high altitude right?
Thanks Ray
During the winter I train longer at lower intensty. I do mostly trainer/mountainbike training during winter. If we get snow I will do alot of cross country skiing.
No changes, just warmer clothes (well, perhaps the bike trainer will be used a bit more…).
Winter is time to go hiking in the local mountains.
I’ll skip the riverside and go for street runs. And for biking, road biking becomes mountainbiking and indoor roller trainings.
More clothes according the weather and HTFU :) It’s all a question of layers.
It’s currently everything indoor. I just hate that my bike gets dirty … So rowing, spinning and even some running. But am waiting to get home (studying abroad) and go for XC-skiing.
Headlamp added
… and some long runs/rides replaced with some alpine skiing (if there’s fresh powder)
It’s not that cold in Hong Kong. The winter time is just perfect for running. You will find all kind of running races from Sep to April.
It’s no fun to run under 36C in summer time. Never mind, jump in the pool and have fun
Ready for the cross countrey season here in Norway soon! The first snow landed yesterday here i Oslo. Cant wait to get some snow under my skis! This autumn has been a good pre season, lots of km’s with running and rollerskiing.
Always go hard and make good preperations and the results will come!
Winters tend to be cold here, so I drop cycling and switch to more swimming and more strength training, while running outside mostly in the 2nd heart rate zone (I rarely run below -15°C though).
No change here, I’ll run, rain or shine…or snow or freeze ;-)
With Trailrunning, there is no “winter”! But I sometimes switch to skitouring and -for the most awful weather- to TRX.
I’ve stocked up on winter cycling gear so will continue to train outside unless its icy, when the Turbo will get used!
I’m gonna try some X-country skiing this winter. It’s about time after 16 years in Sweden…
We get lots of cold & rain in Ireland so the bike sessions will mostly be in the shed on the turbo.
There will be extra swimming/strength work done in the gym.
The runs will still go ahead outside after a 500mg dose of HTFU!
Get out the trainer and the DVDs
Hitting the gym and treadmill training.
leTRIt snow!
No cancellation, the winter will run on the field by snow and wind
In Norway, we just dress in wool and continue like normal. Oh, and if/when the snow comes, cross-country skies of course :)
i keep running outside, and try to run to the pool 2-3x a week. my bike is on the trainer.
Adding layers for outdoor running, upping the share of swimming / turbo trainer.
Lots more trail running and an olympic barbell and plates for the shed; although I’ll need to be careful with my shoulder presses as I have around 1m of space between bikes suspended from the ceiling to achieve them…
More outdoor running–a little less biking—and more indoor spinning!
“If it ain’t raining, it ain’t training”
Carry on regardless, use the wind as resistance training and the ice as bike handling training.
I keep on running :) something special in running on fresh snow! However I try to make more time for strength training during winter. And I definitely take it easier. Winter for me is for maintaining fitness not adding to it.
As it can get pretty nasty here in Berlin:
– Treadmill/Gym
– Inside trainer rides
– Local swimming pool
As I live in the UK, I am pretty much used to nothing but rain for most training, so not much change on that front, but my training does change focus to more steady state base training. So nice long slow rides (Plenty of cafe stops, long easy runs (Plenty of cafe stops) and hitting up technique and core work in the pool and gym.
I put on the training tights and keep running during winter, combined with gym workouts.
Lots of time on the trainer!
Start wearing gloves when biking and long sleeves when running otherwise same same
Less mountain biking more running. And here there swimming.
I live in Ireland so temperatures tend to be pretty moderate year-round which can be a bit rubbish in summer but not too bad at all in winter! If we get some bad frost then I’m lucky enough to live near a large public parkland where I can run on grass for miles uninterrupted by hedges etc.
Winter will mean slower miles with less intensity but possibly more adventures as I tend to go and explore a little more if I’m not doing some kind of scheduled workout so yay for that!
I keep calm and wear long sleeves ! :-)
I just keep running….
Winter in Holland can be all over the place. In general it’s going to be very wet and very dark.
Just pretend every run is a trailrun and you don’t mind getting all dirty and wet!
With regards to the dark, are there any smart running lights? Looking like a running Christmas tree still get’s me in occasional trouble on the roads!
BR,
Michel
Lots of trainer and treadmill time.
Training as usual during winter time. Taking it easy for the next couple of weeks until I start ramping up my mileage for a 25K race eary February!
More gym workouts, especially when its raining. But as long as its not raining, training outdoors isnt that bad.
Instead cycling i do cross country
Living in Germany but still running outdoor most of the time, biking only on dry weekend days and swimming just as frequent as other times.
More weights and circuit training less running.
I’ve swapped to running now that it’s dark and no one can see me to laugh. I’m hoping to shed weight for when I’m on the bike; I’ve lost 15 pounds already but ruddy hell my feet hurt!
I just take my spike shoes out and run
This winter will be with Zwift on the hometrainer.
Training in the South Georgia. It’s stays warm enough just add some long sleeves and your good to go. Also I do a bit of indoor cycling on the trainer in the earlier mornings.
Treadmill time!
Winter training? Well I live in North Queensland, Australia. There isn’t really winter. Training can be pretty much the same year round!
I moved from NYC to Madrid last September, so I guess that adapting my training to the winter season would be really easy this year.
In any case, the only difference between winter and summer in my training schedule is the amount of clothes I wear.
There is an old Polish movie quote: “I like those songs I’ve already heard” so no big changes for me. Even though winter is coming it does not mean much in Paris, apart of the lighting conditions. I will continue doing my tour de Bois de Boulogne.
I don’t change anything. Only warmer clothes.
I’d not really change anything training wise, though if the weather gets too bad will be using Zwift in the warm confines of the garage. Running remains as is, outdoors all the time unless icy underfoot when it’s onto the treadmill. Swimming, well that’s always indoors so it can do whatever it wants outside on those days :-)
please http://www.random.org pick me … Ahh an also doing Trainerroad, sometimes with Sufferfest Videos and if the weather is not to bad … running outdoors.
Advantages of being in southern California, perfect weather all year round ?