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!
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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.
Easy cycling :)
Run, eat, drink, repeat
Repeats on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park (I’m at 426 for the year and can’t bear to let the chance to hit 500 for the first time slip away — hope the snow doesn’t show up until January, I’ll need every day).
Saturday – Weights then elliptical (can’t run at the minute!)
Sunday – Bike
swimming and yoga classes.
What’s on the docket this weekend from an athletic/training standpoint? 90 minute trainer ride using Trainer Road (Gelena) on Saturday. 1 hour run on Sunday.
Morning run Saturday and Sunday with my running friends who I’ve missed the last couple of weeks while traveling.
Intervals, intervals…intervals
Mountainbike with a lot of climbing tomorrow and then some social mountain biking in the trails for Sunday
The most important aspect of training is on this weekend: Recovery!
Rest! I do my trainer riding during the week ;-)
No training. Recovering after clavicule dislocation :(
The weekend has a ride actually outside rather than on trainer road.
I am planning to walk to the grocery store.
Working 12 hour shifts this weekend, so just my cycle commute and a wee run at lunch time.
Just some easy taper miles!
Now that it is snowing we have MTB rides on both days this weekend as well as a functional training session on Saturday & Hockey Game Sunday. It IS Canada after all!
Weekend shift in the hospital; so I’ll probably walk a marathon or 2…
Today I did a Milon circle; tomorrow MTB ride
Two long rides if the weather permit it.
Quick runs in NYC !
Swim race!
An easy 10k running on Sunday morning.
some running in Paris as I’m here for ATP1000 starting on monday
This weekend I’m going to get back to running after a week off due to starting a new semester teaching and another week off after that due to illness (due to starting a new semester teaching).
Going for a short recovery run and then next day going out for a long bike ride while the weather is still nice.
Strength Training and a 1500m Swim.
I get to take my newly built-up frameset for a test ride!
Keeping up with the kids!
Hopefully two long and slow runs in the forest.
Indian Summer Ultra tomorrow. 125 km with… err… 2 m vertical gain.
This weekend will be all about the iconic HappyWichRide.
100km MTB of pure misery on one of southern Swedens toughest trails, Roslagsleden.
Mud, slippery roots and painfull terrain is all I will see during the 6-7h of cycling.
But I’m happy because it means time on the bike. ?
I’ll be running and SUPing!
5K and a nice little ride.
This weekend? I will run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but not on Monday as I’ve got to go to work. But I’ll run on Tuesday!
Garden work :(
Avoiding scurvy whilst improving pace before a pirate-y 8K race on Sunday.
Playing some basketball for the first time in 6 years!
50 mile bike ride and short run afterwards.
Training docket this weekend is Saturday 10k on foot and Sunday is either 2 sets 5×1 minute VO2 Intervals on the nowhere bike or 4x1000m repeats running
a couple of TRX sessions and two rides through the hills and horse country of Kentucky. (which’d be great to video. Just sayin’)
Hopefully I’m not too tired to enjoy a long run around a picturesque lake while I’m away for work.
Just got back from a 6 month deployment to the Middle East so this weekend is going to be my first ride since March. Really looking forward to it.
Swim and a long ride
A couple long endurance rides
Cactus to Clouds hike
Morning run saturday, grandmas 90th birthday Sundby.
Getting a run in before my daughter’s high school district xc race
Running
Gonna take my kids mountain biking after school tonight, then ride fast myself tomorrow.
Brewery tour by bicycle!
On tap this weekend: Recovering from a flu that I have picked up during travel… :(
I hope for a easy 15k run in the near woods, maybe 5 more on the road. Or maybe just hot chocolate.
Racing Noosa triathlon :)
Watch the rain/ snow while I test out my new trainer.
Friday – W Prime (W’), Saturday – prerace openers, Sunday – Chicago Cyclocross Cup @ Campton.
Saturday: training a speedy 10k
and an easy cycling trip on the Sunday
At least a century in Saturday, the trail running on Sunday. Should be a nice weekend too! Just chilly enough to be motivating.
This weekend I’ll compete (struggle ;-) in the 22,22 km of the Devil’s Trail in Berg en Dal, the Netherlands. Have a nice weekend, David
This weekend is time for me to strength train, recover and stretch from the past few days of intense work. All this while getting ready to build my garage gym. Cannot wait to start some more fun and intensive training when I get my deliveries with the equipment. Thanks for the giveaway DC been following you for a long time now and I always highly recommend to anyone buying anything fitness related for electronics to use your reviews and comparison calculator. Always love learning something from your reviews and seeing some recommendations for equipment.
Run and then running
A little race called the Marine Corps Marathon…
70 miles half with the local club Saturday. Change out the groupo on a bike. Slacker coffee ride on Sunday. Go through Thursday’s group ride video to see how cobbled together GoPro mount worked. See if 4iiiis has got an updated firmware for gen 1.
I’ll do my first marathon, Frankfurt/Germany. I hope it will be a lot of fun and not just pain ;)
For this weekend, I’m going for a 10k trail run again, in the rain!
Some indoor training!
I’m thinking about taking a “rest” weekend and only run 21k on Sunday.
Plan is to finish building my new MTB and take it for a good shake down ride!
An easy run on saturday, mtb ride on sunday
In Sweden I’ll try to make use of the daylight and extending my distance to maybe 14-15 K without stopping. It will be a slow nice pace in what I hope to be a nice autumn sun.
More kms and hills in preparation for the Great Vic bike ride at the end of November
Mountain biking tomorrow
My last race of the season was last weekend, so my training regimen has consisted largely of candy corn and beer. But I’m looking forward to getting off the couch and out for a run, since it’s supposed to be nice tomorrow.
Easy mtb session on Saturday, and a fartlek session on Sunday probably 10×2′ w/1′ (running)
I’m going for a trail run in the forest.
Last training ride in the Montseny mountains before moving from Barcelona to Austin TX where we will live for about 5 month
A little trail running in the local forest is in the cards for me this weekend.
Just got a Felt VR2 for winter rides, need to swap cassettes!
Easy 10k run on Saturday, easy 10k run on Sunday, as I’m coming back to training after two weeks recovery from surgery. :)
A little run and hopefully a ride of the weather is nice.
I will ride saturday and sunday about 270ish km.
Long run and interval training in the gym
Not much Doc’
Long run with my dog.
10K race on sunday!
Running and cycling!
An easy 12-15k flat run today followed by 1.5 hours trail in the hills tomorrow. 3 weeks until race day.
I’ll be riding the trainer in the pain cave while the heavy rain dumps 2″ of water on us! BUT to keep my legs moving I’ll be listening to some DRC Podcasts (maybe 2) to keep me entertained!
Noosa Triathlon
5 family members and I are doing a relay bike ride across Texas over 5 days for Thansgiving (could sure use the GoPro for the trip!) so I’m trying to get as much time in the saddle as possible for the trip!
A Zombie Run 5k!
5km run
3 hour ride Saturday, beers Saturday night, rough run Sunday.
Cycling with a group of friends Sunday morning!
Roadie ride Saturday. Tearing up carpet Sunday.
Injured knee strength training…. and eating, lots of eating, that should help my knee…
80 mile ride on Satruday and whatever the weather allows on Sunday.
Marine Corps Marathon!
Try to get up enough energy to start running again.
Hopefully hit up the local Saturday Morning Ride, which is the largest in New England, then stuff around the house in preparation for winter. Sunday might involve a new event put on by a local cycling club, a 66 mile Gran Fondo that ends in a city park with some local food trucks and events for the family.