Heads up – Massive Sports Tech Holiday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals 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.
Saturday morning will be spend on the cobbled roads and nasty climbs of the Tour of Flanders. If I’m out of bed early enough on Sunday I’ll go for a run, otherwise I’ll jump on Kickr in the evening to leave some sweat on Zwift.
Going for a long ride with my triathlon friend on Saturday and for a run on Sunday to get warmed up for the Easter egg hunt!
Final preparations for the Paris marathon, longish run and an hour or two on Zwift.
‘m leaving for the RVV … I hope …
Aiming to get in at least one MTB ride each day on the 4 day weekend we have here in Wellington, NZ.
Running with my 13yr old son at the same time as trying to figure out how to best position my fenix 3 hr on my wrist so that it stops telling me my heart rate is higher than that of Batman’s while fighting superman
Go for a (probably wet) long run on saturday and after that, eating a lot, and I mean a LOT of chocolate!!!
Going south France (Dordogne region) this weekend but will bring running clothes and plan for a few 10K’s to explore further.
As the weather is going to be “so-so” this weekend, all signs point towards mountainbike and trials bike training.
Both bikes will be a good tool for practicing bunny hops :)
5 mile run on Sat and 3 miles on Sun
A quick 5k park run tomorrow, a 10k on Sunday and then try out the new road bike on Monday, that’s just how I roll ;)
I’ll go for a swim on Saturday. Sunday morning I’ll be running at duathlon in a relay team with my cousin.
2x 1km swims, 40km bike, 10km run.
All fueled by eggs (of the chocolate variety of course!)
Nice long ride on Saturday and a short run on Sunday.
This evening little swim, tomorrow bike if weather not wet and Sunday little run.
Riding Gent-Wevelgem (not with the pros ;)) on saturday. Recover on zzzzunday!
Gardening (that counts as training right..) and maybe a 10k on Sunday
I’ll chop up a few logs for a lunchtime BBQ, squeeze in a short run and finish by cycling to the pub. Class is bank holiday schedule
Going for 2 long mountain bike rides
Long run on Saturday then catching up on a few more kms Sunday after a training interupted week
A monster weekend of summer bike fun and final long run before London Marathon
Trail running in the snow this weekend, 20kms or so. A bike ride on Sunday, 50 km, if the road are ice free.
Happy Easter everyone.
I will be drinking wine. It takes serious calories to decide which wine(s) to drink, and then even more to open the bottle(s). It will be tough, but I will prevail.
Climbing last night, caving with the kids today, then hopefully squeeze in a road ride this evening, swim and mountain bike ride to follow, plus a run if my knee behaves.
I am goung to eat well at my in-laws, do a 6x1000m interval training on the road (running) and a long sunday easy paced orienteering!
I go run 22k in my easter holiday part of my preparation for the Rotterdam marathon on 10th April.
30km MTB ride in the woods
Running as an easterbunny for young athletes hiding Chocolate eggs!
MY plan is to do some yoga today, and head out on a 10K run tomorrow. Probably another run on Monday as well!
I plan to ride my Specialized Roubaix on cycle rollers and do interval training with BSX Insight SmO2 monitor to determine lactate threshold
Just sit on the couch and eat chocolate Easter bunnies.
eating chocolate eggs, because it is totally valid nutrition.
An easy run on Saturday. Chocolate eggs on Sunday.
4 Hour ride with 20 mins at FTP then later 4 x 5 mins at FTP. Think it’s gonna hurt
A long run before eating a lot of choice-bunnies :)
I’m beginning a taper for the DC 50k, so just a 2 hour zone 2-3 run on Saturday and a rest day on Sunday.
Long-ish bike on Saturday early and a 6-10 mile run on the trails on Sunday. Bonus run in Monday.
Run, bike repeat
Definitely going to eat easter eggs :-) Besides that going for a run and maybe a bike ride.
Couple of recovery rides and chocolate
No training yet, hit a car which didn’t respect a stop sign on 15/02 and still have some months until full recovery. Stopped the liquid diet last Tuesday which was a major improvement.
60k ride on Saturday and and another 90k ride on Monday.
A 6 mile run up the hills on Saturday and then a casual 7 or 8 mile run around the neighborhood on Sunday dodging children looking for eggs and/or bunnies.
Saterday a 90k ride, and sunday a run, with no eggs (choco or otherwise)….
4 mile runs today and tomorrow
Long run (25-30k) for marathon preparation.
I’m starting a 3 months preparation for a 40km trail based on 3 to 4 runs a week
Following my Trainerroad Base-Plan (“Palisade” on Saturday)
and hopefully some long outdoor MTB ride on Sunday or Monday.
Happy Easter Holidays
Steffen
Hill run on Saturday and then LSR on Sunday. Easter eggs for recovery.
Well, the plan is to run Friday, Saturday, Sunday and a long, long one on Monday. There is a very real chance of at least one miss, though..?
As to nutrition: it will mostly involve the sugary, brown stuff..
Happy Easter, Ray. And thanks for all you do!
I will go on a 3hr ride this Sunday and a 6hr ride on Monday. Final preparation for the ‘Ronde van Vlaanderen’ sportive.
Running in the wild (trail)
commuting to work 30 miles each day
Playing basketball with my kid.
Finally going to train with my bicycle after three and a half weeks of inactivity.
Friday evening: FTP test on the WAHOO Kickr using ZWIFT.
Saturday will be the only day without rain, so I have to agree with my wife so I can go for a 100+ km group ride in the afternoon (means shopping very early ;-).
Sunday/Monday: discover new mountain roads on ZWIFT.
A power meter is on top of my wish list :-)
Here in France it’s Easter Monday (not Friday).
Gardening on Staurday, Snowshoes on Sunday/Monday ;-)
Plenty of food and rest, maybe a MTB ride just so I don’t feel too bad
Planning to do epic 20 mile long run
Long run on Saturday. Off on Sunday!
Interval work chasing my daughter around as she finds eggs
starting up again after injury..
Medium-long hilly ride (as far as Utrecht can be hilly) on saturday, strength training in the gym on sunday, ride with efforts on monday. Last weekend before the famous Ronde van Vlaanderen cyclo next saturday!
I’m going to do:
– a recovery ride on Friday (1hour of Tacx)
– 100km ‘Flandrien-style’ ride to the ‘Monts des Cats’ on Saturday (wind force 7)
I’m going to run and cycle a little bit, but without any special plans :)
Happy Easter!
Long rung Saturday, long ride Sunday. Long live the weekend warrior!
I’ll only do an easy run on Saturday. The reason for this is that I’m doing the marathon in Paris next week, so it’s tapering time for me.
Btw, I had some great Spam musubi on Hawaii recently, so I total wouldn’t mind getting sandwiched bewegen two pieces of Spam ;)
On Saturday I’m going to do a fast shop ride and on Sunday some distance. That could also change into some mountain biking if the mood strikes me.
Long run and a caramel egg for my post-run recovery meal!
Go for a mid/long run (+ – 30km) along the coast in Liguria , and may be a short run uphill.
My plan is to fuel my runs on this long weekend with the corpses of chocolate bunnies!
Doing a really very long run :-)
Go for a easy LSD run and then an after run swimming session. Both easy one.
Friday-swim and run
Saturday- bike
Sunday- bike and run
In between- steal Cadbury eggs and other candy from my kids baskets
Trail marathon @ US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.
hill ride on saturday, chocolate on sunday and even longer ride on monday
Will do some skydiving jump tomorrow and a 2h smooth run on sunday.
2 hour endurance ride on the computrainer on Saturday and some weight training on Sunday. Cadbury eggs will be added as needed.
10k run on Saturday,
2.5h golf on Sunday
A run this morning around Central Park before getting on a plane.
Extended long weekend for me – 50km reco ride with the wife on Thursday morning (Complete), Fast 50km club group ride on Friday (Complete), 90km intermediate/fast club group ride on Saturday morning, The wife has a 2hr 20min run on Sunday as part of her marathon training, so i’ll be doing 50-60km reco ride on Sunday afternoon, then Crit racing on Monday morning – 60min + one lap, then Crit racing Tuesday evening – 55min + 1 lap.
so I’ll be busy!
Had a Good Friday ride already. Same again tomorrow, Sat & Sun with some running & swimming sometime too
Going for a 50km ride, and maybe some stand up paddle :)
Ride about 150 miles in the rain ( I live in ireland! ) over the weekend, arrive home, collapse on the sofa and consume excessive amounts of chocolate!
Running in the woods tomorrow, and then 20k on trails on Monday.
Lots and lots of skiing in the Alps
Managed to miss a ride today already so I’ll probably ride later. Parkrun Saturday with a run to and from, and hopefully ride and run Sunday and Monday.
Doing a fatbike beach ride on friday and weather permitting a saturday road training. monday will probably be filled with brunching with the family
a tempo run and a long run. if we still have snow on the local hill i’ll spend an evening getting my last telemark session for this season.
Starting training for a Spirnt triathlon on 24th of april :)
Going for a long run in Saturday. Hoping the gingerbread man stays away!
Will be ending a hard week with some 4×4, one set today and one on Sunday. Then it’s time for an easy week.
No real training planned for this weekend, but I am planning to take care of my bicycles (both of them) and rest a little.
BTW, these giveaways are the best ever. Thanks Ray.
Plan: going for a 20k trailrun on saturday, relax on sunday to be prepared for another 30k trail on monday. On tuesday i propably will deal with the greatest muscle soreness one can think of :-)
On Saturday a quick 40k ride on my roadbile and on Sunday morning another 100k on my trainer.
A nice trail marathon with lots of vertical as a training run for a 100km in 7 weeks… And lots of recovery sleep!
Starting the tapering for my marathon training so some long intervals on saturday and a steady 16k on sunday.
Road Race on Saturday and 3.5 hours on Sunday with some VO2 work and Tempo thrown in.
My goal is to hide chocolate bunnies for my kids at Flash Gordon speed, and then to carry all of them as HIIT workout !
I am on vacation with my parents in the countryside, so I will go for a few rides in between chocolate binges.