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.
My goal is to go on a 30 mile ride on Friday and a 45 mile ride on Sunday. Whether or not that will actually happen is a good question, but that’s the goal.
Going for a long ride this weekend
Planning on a short easy run on Saturday followed by skiing on Sunday!
Long ride 70 miles then long run along the coast of SoCal
Go for a long swim and a light bunny hop jog.
Mentoring a group of runners training for a 13.1 race in April. We’re running 11 miles on Saturday. Sunday I’ll ride in Zwift!
Going on a long Easter weekend to France (Lille), so I will be more focussed on eating than training this weekend…
Plan on getting my new to me Trek 920 disc tuned up to start commuting on it. So just some light fitting and tweaking for me.
Friday Run – Track intervals; Saturday – 2 hour endurance/strength work spin on the bike (still winter in Alaska); Sunday 1 hour noodle ride on the trainer; Monday Physical Fitness test; Tuesday Bike Threshold test; Wednesday easy ride, Thursday rest day, Friday haven’t gotten that far yet.
Big weekend for me. 110km bike rude followed by a 10km brick run today. 25km run and 2km swim on sunday. And a 2km swim and 35km hill repeats on the bike Monday.
I’ll be spending more time watching Batman vs Superman and college basketball, but will squeeze in a run or two in there
I leave on holiday this weekend, with a long flight starting Saturday at 13:00.
This means I will try to squeeze a hotel swim and possibly a fitness session in there Saturday morning. And hopefully a warm swim on Sunday at my destination (Thailand). And rest as much as possible during the flight..
Loading the bikes now for two days of Forest exploring in a place called Hogsback with my girlfriend.
I have a track meet on Saturday, hopefully PRing in the 1600.
30-50kms of trail running spread out over the long weekend.
I’m going to have trx, intervals run and classic dances :D
Riding to a crit, then race, ride back and enjoy the rest of the weekend with kids.
Plan to spend 4-5 hours or more enjoing the new mountain route on the Watopia island ;-)
Some pleasant short rides followed by short walks. Also trying to limit how much I eat of my mother’s cooking … at once
I’ve got a half marathon race in 1 week, so I’m tapering. Will do some swimming and easy runs.
Not much training this weekend. Maybe a 1 hour mountain bike if the weather stays good!
Go out for a long bike ride with some friend and enjoy the sun i hope.
Trail run today, alpine skiing tomorrow and Cross Country on Sunday :) if all weekends were like this
Doing a challenge in prep for a trail race South of Ningbo in China in April. Climbing the equivalent of Everest until Thursday next week. Did the first 1350 meter this morning. Continuing this afternoon and through the weekend…treadmill or the stairs…only options to get climbing meters in Shanghai…
Leaving the indoor trainer to head out on the road with a friend ?
Planning on skiing 15miles (cross country), and then some threshold work on the trainer on Sunday.
Saturday: zwift ftp builder plan
Sunday: swimming pool at 9am
I also plan to read the wahoo elemnt review on dcr and decide whether to order it or the 520
Looking forward to a meditatively long run; 2 hours of just me and the mountains flowing under my soles. And, of course, running about the backyard hiding (and helping find) eggs for my three lovely children!
I am planning to run some easy trainings before HM next week.
Excercise today, running tomorrow, eating too much Sun, running to compensate eating Mon – good plan, right?
A long ride the bike with girlfriend training for the elfstedentocht
21km tempo run then 12km easy run. Then eating some chocolate!!!
On saturday a 3h ride with the TT, on sunday a 1h run and on monday a bike + swim training.
70 mile ride with 7K of climbing should be awesome….
A long beach run and then so rest
Training plans are to work on uphill running efficiency by doing hill repeats!
Going to some eastern indoors cycling events for the next few days, so lots of the 80’s music and sweat’s- what’s not to love ?
I’m still sore from yesterday’s leg day, so I will be doing an easy run tomorrow, intervals Saturday and eating chocolate bunnies on Sunday.
30 mile mtn bike ride Saturday followed by a 75 miler on the road Sunday.
my goal is to run 9.1 miles around White Rock lake! if not at least do a bike ride around the lake!
Swim Bike Friday. Bike Saturday. Celebrate that lent ends Sunday.
I’m going to spend the week-end on my home trainer… My broken shoulder does not allow me to properly ride, swim or run for until 3 weeks. And I’m going to eat tons of chocolate of course.
going for a long and hilly roadbike ride on saturday + medium length run. short bike ride on sunday!
Lift, run, ride repeat.
I’ll be on my bike for a 30 mile ride on Sat and some hiking on Sunday.
I’m doing the Gran Fondo Florida, National Championship Series in San Antonio, FL…. and eating lots of Easter candy.
A 15km run on Saturday and i’ll ride on Zwift Sunday.
I will go for a long swim and a zwift race on Saturday. Taking it easy, Oceanside 70.3 next week!
a roadbike ride today, perhaps cross country skiing on sunday
My goal is simply to try and balance the calories in from chocolate eggs and other shaped chocolate with enough training. Probably be easier to qualify for Kona ?
Not much training, just some snowshoeing or skiing to finish off the winter season.
I’m going hiking for the weekend… It will make a change.
Exploratory run around Belgrade.
Dragging the baby bump up mt tumomoc.
I’m planning for a few bike rides and some recovery runs.
I love to get a Fenix 3 HR or a WatTeam power meter.
I am going to train this weekend with ham, egss and some good sweets. :) And if things get too serious, I’ll go for a stroll in the woods. :)
45 mile split bike today, 8 mile run and baseline swim assessment tomorrow, cadence focussed turbo Sunday before lunch. Reading that back makes me sound like I know what I’m doing!
Actually on the weekend I am planning first this season bike ride:)
Im going for a easy 10k run
Saturday: 1.5k Openwater swim in Pacific Ocean to prepare for upcoming triathlon. Sunday: usual bike routine with 30 min climb.
Usual short run Friday, long run Sunday.
Start training seriously for a summer marathon.
A long run & a ride
1x run to the nearest mountain peak
1x recovery run
A couple of short runs and bike ride to try and build up some strength following a skiing accident
New tires on my MTB + Rain in Germany = Perfect time to test my new rubber!
Probably going for a long hike in the mountains.
I am planning a few running days with inbetween bike riding as a cross trainning activity
I will do a small bike ride and about 1.5 hours sprint kayak training
I have to work this weekend, so training will be limited to a short session on the the trainer and/or a quick run.
I am planning to be back to bike (Sat+Sun+Mon) after right hand injury. I am very happy to get through time with no biking (and a bit worry if ev.is ok)
42km run to prépare 100km of steewerck
I am participating in Heidelberg half marathon in one month, therefore I will be running some LSD over the next few days. I’d love to have a Fenix 3hr during the race :D
Did a 40km hills ride this morning. Hoping to rinse and repeat at some stage over the weekend.
Go to work by bike! the office is close and I can parking my bike in the office!
Till saturday it is cycling camp in Croatia. Saturday transfer back and then rest and relax.
Skiing on Saturday, driving home on Sunday and 10k run followed by pasta on Monday
30k trainingsrun in the woods
I plan to train more seriously for the first MTB races on my Tacx trainier – probably twice a day for 1,5 hours each
Going to get in some intervals along Lake Pontchartrain in NOLA, hopefully the weather cooperates!
I have made the season switch from running to cycling.
My plan for the weekend is to make my first log ride.
city run on friday – 15k
hike the woods in the back to test a new backpack – 20k hike at tempo
chase the easter bunny – 11k easy run (that bunny is loaded with chocolate!)
monday recovery day, 5k walk
Mountain bike on Saturday, chocolate on Sunday and road bike on Monday
Plan on playing basketball Saturday, a little bit of swimming Sunday, and a hike on Monday.
My goal is an easy 5K run on either day (whenever I get a break from the rain). My legs had been a bit stiff until yesterday from my first half marathon in Athens last Sunday (time 1:53).
30 mile bike ride on Friday morning, followed by a leisurely bike ride with the family in the afternoon. 30 mile bike ride on Sunday with my “Coast 2 Coast” mates
Rehearsal TT for the San Dimas Stage Race next weekend. Club ride on Sunday.
A short run on Saturday and a long run on Sunday. Trying to restart after 1 week being sick as a dog.
I have a 10K run on Sunday.
I plan ride bike with friends about 2×100 km.
A mixture of riding both inside (Zwift & TR) and outside
I ll be doing some 5bx sessions this weekend. The Vivofit HR will be a nice easter egg for me.
Hey Ray love your site! I’m going to play some tennis on Saturday and try to do a 90 min run on Sunday but I just started doing strength training which has really messed up my running schedule.
If the weather allow it, I’ll ride on saturday afternoon. I also plan on riding sunday morning, but it seems it will rain :(
21k easy long run with my boss. parkrun with my kids. Rest.
Cycling, a lot of it, 2 x 100+ km’s
Going to run and maybe ride. In June I going to my first triathlon.
Starting to get back in to training, easy run at parkrun
Going for a swim on Saturday and on the trainer on Sunday…
I’m on holidays so going to get some open water swims in. And I Just saw a big hill that looks like it will be fun to run up (may need to burn some of the chocolate eggs off)