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 the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo 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!
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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.
This week is taper week as I have a “big” Duathlon at the weekend. Will do some gentle runs and Wattbike rides along with turbo training with my Tri club. So still busy!
Couple of hours on bike and same again for running, but real excitement if buying some new kit for my new bike!
easy bike ride + two runs: interval and a long run
Visiting Austin, enjoying a 1 hour run on the river trails.
Snowshoeing in Alto Adige.
15 mile run with my dad who is visiting. Followed by a 90 minute hill session on Sunday. Get to show him some of my local trails!
Beasting myself on Trainerroad. Unfortunately for myself, I Rubber Gloved myself on Saturday and improved my FTP by 42 watts, which means todays interval sessions will hurt. Suspect I’ll need a day off on Monday….
A loooong run on saturday, then candy all day long.
no training this weekend, just some rest after a full week of running
45 mins of turbo trainer power based intervals on Friday morning;
15km light leg loosener ride on Sunday; and
113km London Phoenix sportive on Easter Monday (subject to the current storm subsiding!)
Normal training has been swapped for a bunch of easy runs due to a cold :( . 5 miles up and down a hill Saturday. 12 miles around and about Sunday. Something in between those Monday.
Running 14 miler on Easter and then eating all the children’s candy.
32 miles of Zone 2/3 on my Trek Domane 5.2
Finalize training for the next race weekend, long ride with some burst
Somewhere among Easter Brunch, Easter Dinner, Easter Supper, and the S’mores I’m planning if the weather holds, I’ll probably try to drag myself through a 5k run. Actually I should get going pretty soon here. But man did I eat too much today already.
Set seven hours in the car today on the way home from the lodge, lots of traffic. Sunday’s final goal is a run before bedtime :-)
Running 20+ km as the training for Stockholm Marathon this summer
I will train for my first 80 km 5600 D+ …
Just a short run on Saturday and an indoor trainer ride on Sunday. Thanks, Ray!
My goal the week-end is to test my next cooking robot ! For the running it will be for next week-end …
I’m doing 120k road bike coast to coast
two mountainbike rides. One on Saturday on on Sunday
This week-end is off, i will just train chocolate hunting :o)
Planning a short run and a swim workout before I leave for a training trip to Las Playitas on Fuerteventura.
Recovering from a cold virus. So.. Catching up on the DCR website while in bed.
A couple of rainy 6 mile runs to burn off candy!
A short 8 km run in a beautiful and sunny day
Following part of the first stage of the “Vuelta a Catalunia” from Calella!
I haven’t had any chocolate almost for one week! So I am really looking forward to tomorrow – bunch of chocolate is waiting! :D I am sure I will deserve it because I give everything to run right now. :)
20 mi bike and 1 mi run with the kiddos. My 7 year old is trying to crack the 2:00 400!
I plan on getting the bike out of the shed giving it a good tune up and heading out for a long ride on the road, now that the snow is all melted!
Two days of relax…
Run, bike, eat junk. Vicious cycle that repeats
Eat (chocolate) sleep,… Repeat!
Oh and cross train on the driveway ice removal trainer…
Planning a 10k with a hangover and a few hills
A 70.3 prep brick to test out nutrition.
Continue my training for my half marathon (last weekend was 10 miles…the most I have ever run in my life!). This weekend is 6 miles. Gorgeous Cleveland weather too!
Easy10 K trial running after a long break
Swimming on saturday and long run on sunday
Welp ,my easter work-out was a half marathon in zone 2…in slushy, windy and wet conditions. Can’t wait till spring is here.
I ran 1.5 hours yesterday and I’m planning to polish off this bag of starburst jelly beans as recovery fuel.
7 mile trail run with my peeps
I’ll be cruising around on Zwift and trying to get a few long runs in depending on the rain.
Nothing before wenesday and then a long run.
Hope to be starting my outdoor biking for the season. (Live near the arctic circle in Norway) Failing that will just bring even more crosscountry skiing :). A 2,5 hour + trip on Sunday after a 1 hour interval session on Saturday, whatever sport it is.
Lots of Trainer Road time to start getting back in shape. Getting a late start this season!
With Spring not really here yet in Ottawa, spinning un the basement is on the program.
Went on a bike ride on Saturday and mowing the lawn on Sunday.
On Saturday I will do flanders sportive, sunday recovery ride from bruges to oudenaarde to watch the pros..
Some light biking around Town :-)
A run with the dog to pick up the car from the pub….
Core workout and a short run
Finally getting back on the trainer after breaking my collarbone (I am partially Titanium now!) on a commute at the start of the month. Feels good to be spinning my legs again!!
Mowed the lawn one handed (way too much work!) as well.
going on a training camp with my buddies from college!
Plan is for 3 runs and plenty of chocolate over the long weekend :).
13 mile run
Three days of mountain biking in the Dallas Texas sunshine..
I’m trying to go back to the pool. Also doing some cycling and enjoy the spring. Cheers and happy easter!
Hill training on Wednesday, 18km long slow distance on Sunday with a few short recovery runs leading up to my first half marathon in a month.
a short easy run saturday and resting sunday with a lot of chocolat eggs
Tried to go for a run today, but too many eggs! Have 2 hours with no children tomorrow morning, so off with the lady for a jaunt up Arthur’s Seat.
A 5k Parkrun on Saturday followed by a trip to the seaside with the dog for some long walks and swimming (dog not me).
The plan was to go on a run yesterday (approx 10K) and another run tomorrow (another 10K). Got a cold instead.. :-(
computrainer ride of immt 70.3 with choc eggs as treats for every 10 k
Enjoy the spring weather with a lot of cycling kilometres and in between a lot of cakes and chocolate
My weekend program: Three days of running. The days are longer now and the weather is finally also getting better.
The weekend plans was finishing off the last trips cross-country, before storing the skies away for the season. Next thing up is now the bike and running shoes, first bikeride for the season is finished but I will need to improve the climbing skills on the bike and to increase the speed when running.
Happy easter holidays
A measly 5 miles of running (injury recovery) and about 10k yards swimming.
Did a 30 mile ride on Saturday, then spent Sunday recovering.
Hopefully going for an early Easter Monday run, but high winds forecast so might just be a boring turbo session instead.
start my marathon training, for the 2016 correcaminos marathon in july, which will be my 2nd marathon
Swimming, biking and running with my 12 year old daughter. The best training partner you could ask for.
Drink lots of beer and run 10 miles on Saturday, about 4 on Sunday! What could be better?
Plan on running off all the chocolate :)
5k time trial Saturday
hilly 23k at a gentle pace Sunday
Monday will be a rest day (or yoga if i can find the motivation)
Taking a break from triathlon, doing the crossfit open 16.5.
Will do some exercises, tearing down wall paper, due to wifes wishes to redecorate
I put on a new tubeless tire om my road bike, and replaced the chain and cassette. After a hit-or-miss winter, time to start logging more miles on the commute into DC.
making sure I ride enough to burn off the Easter chocolate excess
A 2mi run to break into spring.
Been out with the flu so little training effort for me this weekend. Felt like a wet rag after a 50k clubride last saturday. I think I better stick to finding easter eggs…
1 hour lifting session at the gym and half hour walk by the river.
Going for a 25 mile hike in Shenandoah National Park.
a 12k run on Sunday
Slowtwitch road show at Bonzai to check out the gear, then Easter ham and a bottle of scotch on Sunday.
My plan is to ride 2 times per day. No other target, just ride my recumbent.
Going for a long run, rest and chasing eggs.
A double brick workout. 70 minutes run followed by two hours bike ride followed by 30 minutes run.
Friday 78 minutes on the KICKR, one legged, cadence 118 to 136, etc. to warm up, then 2 times up and down a cadence mountain with a new PR on the Power Gong to conclude
Saturday drive up 1400 feet from my home till the snow stops the car. Park, coast down on my wife’s city bike 5.6km and then start Garmin for a bit more than an hour of hill climbing peaking at Z5a with cadence > 200, then a drive down to a flat stretch for some accelerations
Sunday “Keep the main thing the main thing” a Swissman tailored KICKR Z2 session including 55 minutes flat on the aero bars, then front wheel elevated and Redshift seatpost back 6 segments @ 50-60 rpm up to simulate St Gottard, then 3 segments simulating the hammer home @ Z4a and some gentle accelerations before a French/Italian lunch feast including eggplant lasagne, 2 pestos:rosemary/thymian/garlic and sorrel/anchovies/peppermint, lamb roast with carmelized vanilla bean flavored endives, followed with 3 desserts: dark choclate baverese, fruit salad and baklava. Accompanied by General Charles de Gaulle’s favorite champagne, Drappier and 4 different red wines from France, Italy and Spain.
Monday 3000 meters in the pool after a day downhill ski coaching local kids; rich variety of drills including one arm, straight arm, zipper drill, 12-3, wrapping up with some antipaddle/open hand sprints. QUESTION: Is Bobbie still working with Coach A?
Running a local 10k dressed as a chocolate bunny!
Few beers and short runs ?
My goal is to recover from this stomach bug and try to do an hour on the trainer. Cadbury eggs will fuel me.
A two hour ride on the trainer. Hopefully the legs haven’t lost too much strength from my recent break :D
Last long run before the Cheery Blossom 10 miler.
Marathon weekend liturgically speaking. As an Episcopal Priest this past week and this weekend were one long haul, and my running milage suffered. Looking for a nice long run on the trails on Easter Monday to get back in stride. Here in San Antonio breakfast tacos have been the bigger culprit than Easter chocolate. Happy Easter!
Racing!
Went for a mountain bike ride Saturday, and ate chocolate easter eggs today.
I’ll be putting in a couple of training runs in total around 30 miles training for the Brighton Marathon in the UK! Thanks Ray.
Enjoying sunrise while running on my local beach trails.
“long” hilly run on Saturday. “long” mixed surface ride on Sunday. Both “long” adjectives require the it’s spring and I just stopped nordic skiing qualification.