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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
It’s exam time, but will try slip in a mountain bike ride on Christchurch’s Port Hills sometime this weekend. Thanks.
Couple bike rides. After rebuilding the bike.
nice easy runs. just easing back into running
coaching 1st grade soccer, kids hike, getting fatter. Dream weekend.
Short, fast run for Sat. Recovery day Sun. after a busy training week.
Get the blue tire on the wheel and do some indoor trainer. It’s cold outside here.
First-ever visit to Boise, ID to run in the inaugural Onward Shay! half marathon.
couple of rides at about 60% FTP for 3 hours or so, flat road.
then maybe a good enduro session with “the fat one”
I’ve got an easy 4 mile run on Saturday.
And 11 mikes on Sunday, 10 at MP.
As much single track as I can fit in!
6k run on Sunday as today is lazy day.
Getting over a cold so I can train. And watching the Cubbies.
3km swim drills.
10 Mile Monster Dash!!!
Riding with friends. The weather is going to be great.
I ran the dog this morning, really hoping to ride in the hills tomorrow morning!
I will be doing an easy run and a mild workout, mid taper for a 50k on Nov. 5th
Run a 6mins pace 15km, swim 3km and sleep like a pig!!! zzzzZZZZZ!!!
Sleeping! So important for athletic training goals and keeping fit.
Recovering from last weekend’s 50K race…maybe a light run or bike
At least a 10 mile run Saturday and time on the bike for Sunday.
Enjoying an easy fall Minnesota run after my sons first birthday party.
Several hours on the trainer
Maybe just a short run!
Probably just a 2-4 mile run this weekend.
A short-ish run and hopefully some rock climbing with the kids. Should be fun.
Zwift Ride
Sleep and recover from a cold.
A (hopefully) relatively fast 10 mile run. If the weather is poor, Zwift…
Some trail running for me and a 1 k race for my kids!
Have a race with my family.
My 6 yr old runs the 1km
My 8 yr old runs the 3km
My wife runs the 10km with my 1yr old
I am running the 5km and volunteering for all kids activities.
After, i can hopefully get my winter training gear setup ( trainerroad/kickr).
Running all weekend long searching for the Great Pumpkin. Thank you Charles M. Schultz!
5 weeks out of IM WA and working through a hip injury. Saturday is a longer run to test the hip out, followed by 2 spin classes. Sunday is (hopefully) 180km on the bike, but the weather is iffy and I’m not sure I can actually swing my leg over the frame ;)
Race day tomorrow. 40K road race followed by 40K TTT.
Running along the local river tomorrow!
Shredding dirt on my Santa Cruz 5010
Concept II rowing.
Doing a twenty miler tomorrow then an easy five or so on Sunday.
After IMNC last weekend, nothing but recovery riding and running for coffee and donuts.
30 minute run and a 45 minute bike.
Going for a two hour mountain bike ride before my daughters soccer game.
Run!
Last “longish” run before next weekend’s NYC marathon!
Ease I to a 20-30 mile ride. I run 4.5 miles playing soccer and starting my training regiment.
#noosatri
My first OD – Noosa, Australia! Bring it!
Shop Ride
running in the mornings and cycling in the afternoons
2 hrs brick, getting ready for 70.3
Om still recoveting from surgery, a 10K walk will be more than I moved since July 2nd.
Noosa Tri down under!
Taper time! IMFL Coming up next week.
I have a yoga session today. No running.
Cycling for 40 to 50 miles from Cadence in Manayunk, Philadelphia at 9 am tomorrow and the day after!
Completing my 200 miles this weekend!
Trail runs with a weighted vest.
another run another bike another rum
This weekend is a halloween bar crawl with a little cycling and swimming on the side:)
Run to Grandma’s house we go.
Saturday forecast is 25k including 5x5min quick
Sunday is calling for 30k straight up…. followed by some priming and painting
Week 4 of 12 of strength training with a little swim, bike, run for good measure! The training before official Ironman training commences in January!!!
This weekend I will learn to follow a route in my Suunto while also recording the activity. If it kills me.
Doubling up in this Sunday’s local CX race!
Annual After Dark Halloween Mountain Bike Ride and time in the trainer.
Recovery :-)
A long MTB ride before the snow flies!
I just moved to Boston, so I’m going to try a new local club ride.
A swim with the kidlets. Much rain expected in Vancouver Canada this weekend so not very nice outside.
Quality time on the old computrainer.
How about a bit of recovery. It is getting a bit cold outside for a ride.
Track intervals
Saskatchewan Cyclocross Provincial race!
This weekend is for cycling! Tempered a bit my daughter and her family visiting us.
Does walking around Disney World count as training?
Long run weekend; training for January half marathon.
A cyclocross race
I plan on working my way through a box of donuts. Maybe a trip to the park with the kids after that.
Mt Faber Fabulous
12 mile trail run!
2-3 miles on Sunday. KitKat repeats Monday.
3 kids birthday parties. I’ll try to sneak in a ride…and lots of beer.
Long run Saturday morning and bike in the afternoon
40km night ride on my MTB and a 50km road ride on my roadie, and a couple of open water swims
CCFA Team Challenge training for RnR New Orleans with the wife on Saturday, hike with the wife and cousins on Sunday.
Resting my pulled quad :(
Final true long run in my half marathon training. Then the tapering begins.
getting the last ride of the year in.
After a few weeks off the bike, Sunday will be the first long slow ride to form the base for 2017. 70-80 miles that will take as long as it takes…
Long run on Saturday (14 miles), TR on Sunday
DCR Group run!
Run 4 miles Saturday. Run 12 miles Sunday.
A fast bunch ride on Saturday and them gym on Sunday.
hiking in the forest
Doing a nice easy ride on Saturday, and a long run on Sunday morning.
Go for a hard ride then undue all that hard effort with a huge plate of french toast!
Getting back to running after 4 week hiatus.
Running in a half marathon Sunday as a tune up for NYC Marathon next weekend.
Outdoor work Saturday and headed home Sunday morning; hopefully get a longer run in Sunday evening before dark.
Good old Sunday morning ride. Heading for the hills.
First bike ride since a terrible crash a few weeks back that snapped my bike into two.