Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products. Plus a few Suunto & Apple 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.
Going on a long ride + some running afterwards :)
So… I paln to run a Koh Samui Midnight Run with my son
Not much on the weekend but a long run on monday
Struck by a flu, so I’m just going to try some light running on Sunday if I get better.
Swim 1 mile bike 20 on sat and sunday
I was traveling this week so I plan on hitting it hard this weekend. Pretzel on Zwift for Saturday. Sweet spot on Sunday.
sat: 1500 vertical meter and 15km skitour
sun: 10k run and easter lunch ;)
mon: 1200 vertical meter and 60km mtb ride
Three hour bike and 20 mile run. Training for IMLP is heating up.
I have to work this weekend, but I have hopes of getting in a quick run, too!
will be going for a 25 miles bike ride on Saturday morning and running 10k on Sunday morning. no Easter eggs or chocolates are in plans ?
Still recovering from a nasty injury but trying to complete my first 10k run in weeks. Sigh!
rain running in germany . and lots of eating ;-)
Last phase of metric century training! I have a 55 mile bike ride scheduled.
As “they” promise a shitty weather, cyclo-cross will be on duty!
The plan says a 50 mile bike Saturday (with considerable hills) followed by a 10 mile run Sunday. We’ll see how it goes.
Working half of the weekend then squeezing in a couple longish runs when I can.
Bike/run brick on Saturday, with grilled oysters afterward. Run/swim Sunday.
Just the usual – TR sessions.
Made it through midterms, so mountain biking tonight and road ride to the coast tomorrow.
Still recovering from lurgy, a shoulder injury and general lack of oomph, so I’ve decided to take this as an opportunity for some R&R… Therefore no actual training planned but I’m sure I’ll go for a run in the hills, plenty of walks on the beach and probably a windsurf session too.
I’m also intending to start a proper plan of stretching, foam rolling and general core and mobility work… All in an attempt to keep me feeling young(ish).
Al.
Going to do a 4 hour ride with a mix of FTP intervals and tempo riding. Hoping for good weather!
Swim on Saturday and Sunday morning, bike+run on Saturday and 10k hard run on Sunday
A short bike and trying to not eat too much candy.
Oh and hanging drywall.. that counts right?
10k slow hilly run on Sunday before Easter breakfast
Zwift Island mountain climb, here I come.
Long gravel ride if it doesn’t rain, otherwise a fendered putter about on paved roads.
125-150 miles or so on Saturday and 50-75 on Sunday
20 mile long run and 8 mile pace run to be fit around (or justify) the inevitable overeating …
Kayak on recently thawed lakes
Supported charity ride on Saturday and a 75 minute base run on Sunday
With 4 kids (and a 5th on the way) I plan to strategically squeeze in my triathlon training between family needs. It might look like this: Swim – Make breakfast – go to church – easter egg hunt – bike ride during naptime – make snacks/take pictures – run during early evening – dinner – wrestlemania with kids before bedtime.
Sat: Long aerobic ride
Sun: pre-ride of an upcoming MTB race course
Rode 100km today, resting a couple days and back at it next week.
I plan on training for my very first 5k. May not sound like much to most people here but I could not run half a mile a month ago without almoast dying :)
Skiing / snowboarding! These are actually my training off-days, though I doubt my body realizes it’s resting with all that activity.
Gave myself a rest week this week, so getting back into the routine with a med-long run and bike and a swim.
run 17K every day ( friday, saturday and sunday)
I’ve got family visiting, so long workouts to avoid them maybe? ;-)
My training plans for the weekend consist of recovering at altitude by going snowboarding and to take care of my nutrition by eating continental breakfasts and in diners.
Looking to PR in the Phillies 5k on Saturday. Using this as a training event for the Cape Cod Ragnar relay, I’ll run 3 miles before the race. Run the race. Then run another 5k later that day to simulate multiple runs in several hours. Winning this giveaway I’d either get a smart trainer OR power meter, more likely the power meter. Thanks Ray and Clever Training for the giveaway, win or lose this is awesome!
50 mile road race on Saturday, 50 recovery miles on Sunday
A 2.5 hour ride on Sat. and a 4 mile easy run on Sunday. You have a great site.
TrainerRoad on Saturday; Easter run on Sunday; Interspersed with totally valid nutrition.
12 mile run and a 2 hour bike ride.
Three days of cycling with my cycling club!
Zwift on Saturday and a long run on Sunday!
Unfortunately still recovering from an earlier accident. So no cycling just yet.
Zwift on the rollers.
Coffee ride with my buddy through Northern San Diego County.
cycling both days. hill repeats on saturday. ‘cross bike and singletrack on sunday. and woodworking both afternoons.
Still cold here so Plan to do online spinning classes indoors (StudioSweat) riding my recumbent attached to sportcrafter rollers.
Dennis
I’m going to ride my bike on Saturday. And then I’m going to ride my bike on Sunday.
Going to do a track workout without a track and a mountain bike ride on pavement.
Long Run Sunday + the run I missed today
Let’s see, got in a trail run this morning before work, long run tomorrow and hopefully a rambling ride through SE Ohio on Sunday.
Friday swim followed by a short run, long run Saturday, off on Sunday and hard run on Monday. I might have a bike somewhere in there.
Hoping to do a 20 mi/6 mi ride/run brick.
40k bike training and 5k run on Saturday. Sunday swim training and maybe some walking. Monday strength training.
Fri: indoor sprint tri (not an organized event, just a solo training day)
Sat: weather/family permitting try to put the bike on the road for the first time of the season
Sun: 28 lb dead lifts (hoisting my toddler up during the Easter egg hunt) and 12oz curls (searching for eggs at the bottoms of adult beverages)
First GF of the season in Faenza Italy! Desperate need of a power meter… ;)
Well, since I found out I have both the flu and strep, I’ll probably go ride 20 or 30 miles on Sat then eat my kids candy on Sunday.
Hopefully get up early and spin tomorrow (still a bit chilly outside). Maybe go for a run Sunday afternoon.
Speed work today, followed by a long run(for me) tomorrow.
Trying to keep the fire going on my marathon training. long slow distancw and an easy run!
The plan calls for running 18m on Saturday & 8m on Sunday, but whether to hit the trails or stick to the roads is still up for debate.
The time after will likely be filled with plenty of yard work.
Some trainer time today with a spin class on Sunday. Still not too warm here.
Fri: 10 mile run, Sat: 15 mile MTB ride, Sun: 8 mile walk, Mon: Gardening. Happy Easter.
Weather isn’t looking too good so Zwift it is.
Short run tonight. Try Bkool ipad app tomorrow with apple tv and see if I like the experience, hopefully 20 + miles on the trainer. Sunday – church, eat, and maybe scout turkeys for Spring turkey season.
Saturday training ride will be standing and seated zone 4 intervals followed by 1 hour zone 2. Sunday will be zone 4/zone 3 over/under intervals followed by 1 hour zone 3 weather permitting.
Hopping on the indoor trainer after work today for some over-under intervals and then waking up early tomorrow to go on a 70 mile group ride.
Long weekend means extra training hours. Thursday 3:30h bike. Friday 2:30h bike and 1:30h off bike run. Sat is swim and run, Sun is a long 5h bike. Monday 2:00h bike and a bit of running easy. Go big or go bust!
Long weights session with wife today in the gym, openwater swim training tomorrow and a hike in the HK trails Sunday with wife and kids. Perfect. Love long weekends to get more training hours in.
Hoping to get up skiing on my birthday.
Tweaked my neck a few days back so I’m going to stick to a short run and quite a bit of stretching!
Last weekend, set the NM state record for USAPL powerlifting @ 93kg Masters. 510kg total. THIS weekend a little conditioning and lots of recovery!
Everyone elses plans sound awesome… Im just getting back in shape after a year away from sports. I’ll do 3kms every other day spending time with Mother Nature.
I’m going for 80 Km ride with 2000m total ascent
Somehow on Sunday I’m going to fit in a 30-mile bike ride between early brunch with friends and Easter dinner with other friends – life is so difficult!
I have an interval workout Friday night, then Sunday I’ll put in 1 last longer run before my first race (half marathon) of the year next weekend. $600 would make a nice deposit toward a smart bike trainer to improve that leg this season!
Just recovering from a recently torn labrum, so I’ll be taking it easy with a 3km swim on Saturday, and then an easy 10km run on Sunday.
Put on 30-40 miles this weekend.
Mountain bike ride in the beautiful Okanagan valley :).
I plan to do a short run on Saturday then a long’ish ride on Sunday. If the weather cooperates maybe I’ll get in an open water swim too.
I’m going to chase around my 4 year old son and 7 year old nephew as they terrorize their grandmother (and the rest of the family) while on a sugar high.
Sadly, this will probably be for both days this weekend.
Lots of runs scheduled….Sat/Sun/Monday. Hopefully all the ice melts today so I don’t need my skates. Spring in Canada!
It’s a powder weekend in Colorado so I’ll be skiing both days!
Rode 103km this morning, resting tomorrow, and probably a 2 hour ride Sunday evening.
Hike on Saturday and either a run or family bike ride Sunday depending on weather
This weekend will probably be a hike Saturday and a long bike ride Sunday.
I’ll be hitting the gym this weekend. Strength training with some cardio mixed in. Thanks Ray.
Hoping to get out on a long (~60mi?) ride after having been too busy to take advantage of an entire week of beautiful weather.
I will ride the cyclo version of the E3 Harelbeke. From my home to the start in Harelbeke, the complete 139km version and back, this willl be a 200km+ ride. The ideal preparation for the full Tour of Flanders next week.
I have two tempo runs and some weights waiting….will also be exercising my willpower to keep the chocolate consumption to a minimum! :)
16k run, 100k cycle, too much chocolate and a 4k swim!
A short ride around the city while avoiding the rain is all I have for the weekend.
I plan to run the dog until we are both exhausted, then run the toddlers until they are exhausted. Then eat all the chocolate while they sleep
Short relay race today ( 3.5km ) followed by a race simulation for upcoming standard distance duathlon on Sunday. Plus a little strength and conditioning here and there!
8 mile run on Saturday.
Hopefully i get the time to stay out all day Saturday for a 160 – 180mi ride.