Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is 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!
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.
Sat – Bike test
Sun – 50 minute run and a 1500 swim
Mon – bike, run, beer
Run in the forest and party on Saturday evening. Dancing can count!
Running a 10K with my nephew, his first ever race, who is graduating from high school and one that I rarely see since we live 500 miles apart.
Try to hang on to the road bike race team ride Saturday.
Saturday: camping
Sunday: 40min easy run + 1h soccer match
It’s Memorial Day weekend so I’ll be at the same place I am every year on that holiday: Running the BolderBoulder! This year marks the 19th time I’ve done it.
Unfortunately, I am battling a stress fracture in my left foot, so it is only swimming for me. A $600 gift card to Clever Training would certainly ease the pain!
Some heavy VO2max intervals to start the weekend then finally a break from training, first time not riding 2 straight days in 3 months.
Quick Zwift sessions between parenting :)
Racing the duathlon at the NOLA Endurance Festival this weekend!
I got a 1 hr trail ride in today…I will most likely get a short run in over the weekend, but I will be having friends over to my family’s vacation home on candlewood lake (in Connecticut)…so I wouldn’t hold my breath on that run…Instead I will likely be doing a combination of wakesurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, drinking beer, hanging out with friends…and get back on track Monday evening/Tuesday Morning.
Hiking for me – as much as I love to run or ride my bike I have to do less damaging activities due to recent injuries :(
Training for upcoming Cross Country season
I’ll be doing open water swims on saturday and monday. running on saturday
I will be visiting Chicago for my birthday/Memorial Day, so my weekend activity will mostly be limited to walking between museums, restaurants and boat rides on Lake Michigan. So, with that lack of training in mind I did my weekend brick before work this morning. I’ll be back Monday night and may do an easy 40 minute run to get back into things for the rest of the week.
I’ll be fat biking in west Michigan, then grilling and stair repeats.
Two easy runs
Running as much of Silver Falls State Park as I can.
Tomorrow I have as long bike with some track work planned after and Sunday I have some bike intervals with an easy, longer run after
Continuing cycling re-hab from the hip fracture; 5 months post-op. Cycling works well now, running not at all.
Preferably getting a long ride outside, but probably just a short turbo session :)
No training plans, as I’ll be running in the Ottawa Race Weekend Half Marathon on Sunday, where the forecasted high temperature is 33 Celsius (91 Fahrenheit). It doesn’t look like the conditions warrant taking a stab at a PB. What a waste of a training cycle. Maybe in the fall.
160 km race on sunday!
Saturday 6km and 6 x 1000 @4:10
Sunday 16km @ 5:15
BBQ on Saturday sleep in on Monday. Maybe activity tracker?
Let’s see, I’ve got a 25mi ride Saturday, then trail running in the hills Sunday, and an open water swim Monday followed by a team BBQ! I’ll also try to squeeze in some kayaking to change things up!
relax time
Planning a 50 mile plus ride on Saturday and a 5-6 mile run Sunday.
Hopefully an easy 14mi.
Definitely some beer & BBQ.
Greetings!
On Saturday a 90km cycling, after that 10km running.
On Sunday 15km run
I plan to do a couple short speed days on the mtb!
I’m testing a new saddle(SQlab model) on my mtn bike so going for a 5+ hour long ride this weekend so see how it works for longer rides.
Biking both Saturday and Sunday day and thenight a long run on Monday.
Easy ride on Saturday and a CrossFit workout on Monday
Have an injury right now, so training plans are to rest/recover!
Club race!! A sprint triathlon and in the afternoon a long bike rife.
Trying to beat my 5K PB coupled with a bit of cycling. Oh, and drinking and BBQ’ing :)
Nice long hilly ride
Gonna do a little cycling this weekend…
Long ride remembering the fallen
I’m thinking of a bike Saturday followed by a long run Sunday. Monday will be dedicated to smoking meat and copious amounts of beer.
I plan on hammering a speed workout at the track Saturday morning then doing some camping with my family Saturday night. Monday will probably be more laid back with a salmon cookout and some scrumptious salads! Be safe everyone :)
Racing the cap Tex tri in Austin Texas!
FTP testing may be
HIIT + Kettlebell workouts
THanks!
The first priority for this weekend is remembering those who have sacrificed to preserve my freedoms here in the beautiful USA! Other than that, I’m planning on seeing how many miles I can put on my bike this weekend, along with a long run on Saturday of course…
Semper Fi
back home in california this weekend. gonna do a long bike ride up some local mountains saturday, then mountain biking on sunday
First on friday was a 2hours ride on the road bike with FTP intervals, followed by a 2hour recovery ride on trails. Saturay will be a 4 hour zone 1 ride. Sunday probably a track session with 400meters or so.
Hitting half of one of club’s usual 70k group routes, while towing a 1-1/2 and 3 year old in a trailer on my road bike.
After racing last weekend, it has been a nice recovery week. This weekend, however, I start back with an easy swim, 1 hour bike, and 45 minute run. Not all on the same day of course.
Headout to Vaals on Sunday, to partcipate in the Vaalserberg trail run.
Heyo! Another sweet sweet giveaway! Gettin ready for the next tri so Swim Bike and Run it is this weekend!
Probably trudge along for a couple of 5k efforts and do some HIIT beforehand….
Long bike, long run, little swim….
FTP test this weekend, along with a 60 miler on Sat and a couple of tempo runs through Monday, pick me!!
We’ll be doing a long trail run one day of the weekend. Weather permitting, that is.
Sat: easy 5k recovery run followed by BBQ. Sun: 12k ‘long’ run (coming back from a hamstring injury ;)
We’re camping for the weekend and bringing our bikes and running shoes. Pretty hopeful for a good run and a good long bike ride!
The weather is supposed to be a bit suspect, but hoping to get a long ride in on Sunday before a round of golf and BBQ on Monday.
My training plans for this weekend are race, race and race.
A long swim at the gym and then raising 16oz “weights” with the family.
Short run on Saturday and long bike ride on Sunday if the weather holds.
A 10 mile run, 75 mile bike ride and pool swim drills. I wish I win this giveaway, that $600 will fit the budget perfectly for a Fenix 3 HR!
I’m doing tracking training in the forest with my dog on Saturday and then bootcamp on the beach on Sunday morning (and probably catching up on a bit of work in the evenings).
‘Short’ long run today part of my recovery week.
Let’s see…this weekend I’ll be going to a little run on Saturday, cooking out Sunday and taking advantage of the Monday holiday with a rambling bike ride involving an ice cream factory.
Saturday off.
Sunday 2 mile swim.
Monday Tempo run.
Trying to get on track with marathon-training after some busy weeks riding the bike to work. So running easy 10km on saturday and hopefully 20km on sunday.
I’ll be going for a long ride to train for a century!
I’m going to be walking lots once the survival boot comes off.
This weekend will be cross training, some stand up paddleboarding and cycling followed up with a lot of bbq!
Ottawa 5k on Saturday and Marathon on Sunday !!!
Lots of walking around (going on vacation to an amusement park with my kids) and yard work if I can find the time
Long bike with my Tri bike, can’t wait for it!
Saturday long mtb ride. Sunday road climbing ride.
Long ride and open water swim. And a bunch of Thai food.
Given the weather may be suspect over the weekend, will try and get a couple of long bike rides in over the long weekend. Maybe a long run as well if the weather cooperates.
Getting my base runs up for training starting July.
3 miles Saturday
4 miles Sunday
X training Monday
Saturday – Medium length, easy trail run then park picnic
Sunday – Road ride then BBQ
Monday – Maybe race a 10k??
Running 8 on Saturday and 17 on Sunday and eat on Monday.
Running on Saturday. Cycling on Sunday or Monday depending on family commitments.
Thanks for the great site.
It’s the easy week. So just a short ride Friday and Saturday and some kayaking :)
friday night swim, saturday morning bike, saturday afternoon drink fest, sunday indianapolis 500 (100th running), sunday night spin, monday long bike ride
The fischer fissure ride out of Wimberley TX.
link to austincycling.org
Long Ride on Saturday and then open water swim on Sunday.
Cycling
I’ll run every morning, but most importantly will be the smoked brisket.
Zone 2 long runs. fun fun fun
Going camping and archery then running monday
Riding the highest paved road in Canada!
Well my training plan is on hold until Monday. Have a day drinking at the cricket tomorrow, stag do on Sunday but hopefully back out Monday. Tried to make up for it with a strong effort on zwift earlier though.
Would probably be looking for power meter or other tech if I was selected.
Weekend plans (mostly with two small children) Tomorrow will be a long walk looking for treasure and pirates (a Shanty Festival in Gloucester UK) followed by some indoor rowing. Sunday will be running around the park chasing balls/frisbees and Monday will be some beach fun followed by a long run down the local canal. ?
Easy 8km Friday evening and then enjoying the long weekend.
Only recovery runs for the weekend. I like those though.
White water rafting Saturday, ultimate frisbee Sunday, and slip-n-slide kickball Monday
Riding with my 5 year old who just got her first bike! And yes, her bike weighs more than mine.
A long run with my son riding his bicycle.
In Kansas we’re riding the Cottonwood 200, a 200-mile tour (the next weekend is the 500-mile Bike Across Kansas)!
Bike all day
Saturday my first 90k bike ride and swimming on sunday.