Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, and countless other Garmin products. 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.
Putting my new NEW Kickr and TrainerRoad to good use in the garage.
After taking the whole week off from running and cycling, I think I was over training, I can’t wait to get back on the bike this weekend. Everyone get out there and enjoy the weekend!
Do a 100k loop ride on my recumbent
strava’s gran fondo on saturday and picking apples and pears on sunday with the family..
Saturday run 15k
Sunday ride 100k
Sunday night recover…
My last big run before my marathon next week
Cycle the snow-less snowmobile trails.
Auckland Marathon this weekend! Get to cross the harbour bridge with a couple of thousand other folks. :-)
Swim and a ride outside, warm weather in late October :)
Houston Half Marathon
swimmIng, biking and coaching soccer.
First bike ride since arrival of second child.
I’m going to be hitting some local trails in Wellington, NZ and try to squeeze in my first Powerade Challenge run of the year.
spinning session for friday, 1h swimming training saturday and some zwift for the fun effect sunday
Gym, sleep, eat, run seem to be on the agenda
Now that the weather has become so much cooler, will hopefully be able to get some nice longer runs in this weekend.
As many miles on the kickr as my legs will allow
Cycling! In the cold!!
Kid’s weight supported workout: Shopping with a kind on your leg, laundry with a kid on one arm, , walking with a kid on your shoulders…
5hr of team training rides this weekend. 20mph winds should make it interesting :)
Plans for the weekend: Hill repeats on the bike if it stays reasonably dry…if it gets soggy, I’ll use Zwift.
30 minute easy (like, really easy) run.
Going to start a trainer road plan for the winter this coming Sunday. Along with one of the last fall rides this Saturday
A nice long ride in nelspruit south africa
Today was time for the gym. Saturday either cycling or treadmill depending on the weather. Sunday relaxing and eating some goodies :)
Slow half marathon on Saturday; even slower sprint tri on Sunday.
Doing the Boo Run 5K.
Indoor on the trainer both saturday and sunday because I got to stay at home because I’m “on standby” for work this week.
Austin 70.3! #don’tmesswithtexas #keepaustinweird #lasthalfoftheyear #hashtagcomment
Parkrun saturday, lonf run sunday, roast beef and puddings to follow
Would be great to get an extra angle for our runs
Surf and maybe go for a ride
Some Frisbee golf and a short run at the lakeside.
Speed skating, both my own training on Sunday morning and giving skate lessons to a group of kids on Saturday evening. Oh, and coaching my sons field hockey team.
Archery on Saturday and swimming both mornings – little variety this weekend!
I will swing a 6kg Hammer and tear down the wall between living and dining room. Afterwards i will do a stair run to the container while carrying buckets full of debris. At the container, i will do the bucket push up and tilt to get the debris into the container. I think, i will have to do a lot of repetitions in approx 4h to clear the rooms of 4-5 cubicle metres of stone.
Chicago Cyclocross Cup race #6 on Sunday. 45min Cat 3 race followed by 60min Cat 1/2/3 race. Will then watch the carnage of the Cat 4/5 race where everyone will be dressed up for Halloween.
#camptonCX
Hopefully atleast one run during the weekend, otherwise weight lifting just to stay in shape.
A 5k run in Valencia with my wife on our long weekend.
Tonight: TGIF Beer ride on Zwift
Tomorrow: A ride on Zwift (Cervelo mission)
Sunday: A 180km attempt outside
Some light running. Some hiking to enjoy the fall colours.
Morning run followed by more running with kids followed by evening run with dog. So basically running :)
Basic endurance and a lot of rest.. as always
Testing a new wetsuit today then racing first Olympic tri for the season on Sunday
Gravel ride Saturday, cyclocross course setup afterwards and then racing on Sunday!
Still acclimatising to a European autumn after living in Asia for 10 years! Hopefully going for my first long run since I’ve been back on Sunday!
I will go for a run with my son. It will be great.
Stormy weather forecast, so probably a couple trainer rides.
Hell Week at Orangetheory Fitness, plus a long run, plus golf (if that counts).
A mountain bike followed by local beers and then a pool swim the next day
Hopefully I’ll get in a couple runs and a mountain bike ride.
One middle run with my sister.
Hopefully try to do at least one workout in TrainerRoad…doesn’t look like it’s gonna be a good weekend to be outside!
A 4 day hike South of Munich around the Chiemgau Alps
Friday: Rest like I’m dead
Saturday: Race Openers
Sunday: Cyclocross Race till i”m dead
Going for some runs while finishing The Strava altitude challenge
Long ride saturday… long ride sunday… fun.
Back in the pool! :)
run hard and bike long
Changing to spiked tires on my bike and going for a epic ride on frozen mountain trails in Tromsø, Norway!
I plan on resting up, this after having a nice roller speed skating and bike racing seasons! I’ll gather tons of candy (under the guise of Halloween), consuming them to replenish and refresh my body, so that I have enough energy to train well and hard for a great 2017 season!!
Going to the Lebanese food festival Saturday to eat and see my kids dance. Sunday 6 to 8 mile run to burn off all the calories from the day before. Then Monday start my training for the Trans Am bike race next June.
Long MTB rode on saterday
Lot of commute with my bike!
Team ride through the the hills on Saturday and hopefully a trail run Sunday
10 mile run
20 mile bike
Cycle on the trainer with football on the tv!
A nice dry ride to help brother in law find his mojo.
Sat: 2h cross country skiing
Strength
Sun: Long run
Getting in at least one more long bike ride before it gets too cold and dark.
Easy run and working on swim form…getting my trainer set up in the basement for winter workouts
Gonna have fun with a nice long run!
On Saturday a half hour fartlek, one minute on one minute off. Sunday is a long run of one hour and thirty minutes.
parkrun Saturday and a burst of off road on my cyclocross bike on Sunday.
This weekend involves more shoulder rehab: weighted rows, overhead lifts, ball work, lots of stretching and all because of wet leaves dumping me sideways on a rainy fall day out on the bike… be careful out there.
This weekend the training schedule is…. REST. Unfortunately
Group running and strength workout early Saturday with a bunch of men in our church, led by one of the men I encourage (kinda coach as a good friend) in his health journey. Proud of him for rejecting apathy in this life. Will go for a semi-long run before we all meet.
Today was a team class .. weekend will just be some pumpkin carving.
Start planning for a pain cave, go to the gym and a do headlamp run!
Saturday i will do a zwift training ride and on sunday a 100k bike ride!
I race in half marathon in Luzern, Switzerland on Sunday :-)))
A hilly 60 mile ride with friends early Saturday morning. A long steady run on Sunday
Plan for the weekend is to go on my first club bike ride :D
Parkrun and a long bike ride….
Riding the route of the Arlberg Giro and/or hiking up the Hohen Riffler (3231m). In Austria its really warm at the moment.
Well there is my mother in law’s birthday too…
IRONMAN Florida…here I come!!
Nothing…
Parkrun is on the cards tomorrow
I’ll run a half-marathon on the beautiful Margaret Island in Budapest.
Greetings from Hungary!
I’m crewing the hubs on this 10th 100miler this year & pacing a friend running her first 100 miler at Javelina 100 this weekend!
Some mountain biking with my brother in Dallas
Get slowly back to running after longer pause
playing soccer and watching NFL :p
A bit of cycling
I think I’m a bit poorly…
Watching the London 6 day and betting some base miles in.
I want to make awesome “hey guys watch this” videos!
Restart training after 4 weeks off after a long season.
Planning on a 15k hike through the woods in Northern Alberta. Then a 2k swim on Sunday.
~300km – in Lithuania we have one spare day of holidays – so 3 days x 100km.