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.
I have 2 days left in sunny Tucson Arizona before returning to Canada. I’m going to spend one day on mountain bike trails, and one day on the road through the Saguaro National Park.
Why not Mt. Lemon? :)
It is a rest weekend after running a 100K and marathon in back-to-back weekends and before a Ragnar and half marathon in the next two weeks. So I will enjoy some events here in town and then do a small brick on Sunday.
More indoor training. Yay?
I will be doing three hours static bike at Z2 which for me is approximately 130 Watts, since first of all its in my training program, but secondly southern Finland is full of slush which makes it impossible to cycle anywhere outdoors and still fell good about it afterwards.
Bike shopping to replace my bike that was stolen. Sad panda.
Plan is to bike 40 miles or 2hrs 20 minutes… I’ll complete whichever happens first… especially since it will be done indoors.
Two trainer rides, one intervals, one straight AE
20 degrees in NY this weekend so i’ll be riding the training on Saturday, and racing an indoor tri on Sunday.
A little training in Zwift
Weight training, because it is still cold and rainy.
I will be going for a 3 hour ride on Saturday and a long run on Sunday. In order to maintain balance I’ll be taking my toddler to the Bronx Zoo on Sunday too.
I have no cycling plans for the weekend because it’s supposed to be in the 40s and at those temps I’d rather run.
I’m gonna ride on my trainer Saturday and Sunday.
Will be Mountain biking with our little one on the back. He loves it! If my fully loves it too I have to see in a year or so. Next to that I will tacx for an hour, for sure the weather inside will be fine :).
70 km around Munich
Hoping to ride 70 mi on Sat and get a 34 mi recovery on Sun…but the weather looks iffy at best.
Indoor trainer
Almost 5 hours on the trainer this weekend… there will definitely be time in the hot tub to rest my sore ass!
1st ride on Sunday after few months off sick.
Steady 120km planned.
Zwifting on Saturday and Sunday. Still way too cold to get outside.
unfortunately with the weather atill on the colder side I’ll be hitting the trainer this weekend.
sunday i’m going on a 2 hour easy ride. This is part of my trainingplan for my big events this year: a 235 one day sportive and a two day (160k a day) ride to raise money for education in Africa (Big ride for Africa).
With 2 months without my road bike, now I have to do big miles. So I intend to ride 200km on Saturday a Sunday and to see Strade Bianchi too.
Saturday – 50km roundtrip. Sunday – short evening ride around 30km.
Coffee ride with friends on Saturday and hopefully a ride with the gf on Sunday!
Still slogging away in the basement!!
It’s barely above zero degrees during the weekend here hence a no-carb long run one nice morning.
It’s going to be a mild -11C here in Ontario. Not quite cycling season. However, I do have the Race Around the Bay at the end of March, which is a 30km run. I have two more long runs (one tomorrow, one a week tomorrow) in addition to my other weekly mileage before I taper for two weeks. Given the weather, I think even my Canadian blood won’t be enough to convince me to spend that much time outside in the cold. Thus, my Saturday training plans will likely be the hellish experience of hours on a treadmill.
As for cycling I may do a spin class on Sunday.
Thanks for doing another giveaway!
Working saturday :( I might commute in, though it’ll be toasty for my noon start time here in So Flo. And probably a longish sweet spot workout on TR
I will go ski mountaineering this weekend but my current powermeter is old enough it needs wires to communicate with the head unit!
A couple of hours in the world of zwift :)
I will be changing tires on my bike to be able to ride outside after winter inside. And than I will just ride.
New bike this weekend, so I’ll be out with a smile on my face!
Zwifting! Then shipping it to Florida for a race.
Going on a MTB-track
I go hiking with my wife. Cycling is what I do all week.
I’ll be doing two TrainerRoad sessions on my Neo as it’s the best way for myself to get a solid base for spring & summer.
1 x Winter training bike
1 x Steep Hill
10 x reps
1 x coffee and cake
A good Sufferfest session!
I’ll be hitting the trainer for a ride this afternoon, and hopefully getting outside for a ride on Sunday.
90 minute easy cycle planned this weekend. I’m in a running build phase right now so cycling is just limited to a bit of cross training each week. I am running a half marathon on Saturday morning too.
Thanks for the giveaway Ray!
Unfortunately, I think I will only get to look at my brand new bike…
I’m hoping to do a few loops around Central Park this weekend weather permitting. Otherwise, it will be an hour session indoor on my trainer. An as always commuting to and from work with the Citibikes
One more training ride before a rest week. Toes in the sand.
The weather outside of DC has been pretty superb for biking recently so of course I’ve been zwifting recently.
No specific bike plans this weekend, instead I start my taper for the RnR DC marathon next weekend.
First gravel grinder of the year
Two 1.5 Zwift trainer sessions this weekend with one brick run… Less than 30 days till the season race opener.
With highs forecast in the mid 60s (American Degrees) North of Denver it will be a 40 or 60 mile loop one or two days this weekend.
25-30 mile group ride on Sunday!
2.5 hour endurance ride on saturday
50 minute crit on sunday
Trainer session, because winter!
70.3 Duathlon type workout…. 56 mile ride followed by 13.1 mile run. Fun times are sure to be had.
Gonna ride till my man bits fall off or freeze maybe both…
just a little leg shaking on the roller after my long run on sunday
Watch our daughter whilst the husband spends the weekend riding on Zwift.
Had today some intense treatment at the dentist. Will see how I feel the next days, will probably do some MTB. Could do a MTB race on Sunday, but this is very unlikely right now. Weather looks not too great neither …
I am planning a ride around the New Forest in UK. My gf and I are attending a wedding in the area on Saturday night, but we will be up early on Sunday morning to take advantage of a visit to one of the UK’s best nature areas. :)
I will be spending some time on the indoor trainer this weekend, maybe try the new Zwift volcano climb. It’s supposed to be cold here!
No biking me for me afraid, but I’ll probably go on a hike with my family and if I’m lucky a swim at the gym. Thanks for the contest!
I will finally take the bike off of the rack, air the tires and get moving now that spring is beginning to spring!
I have an endurance workout scheduled in TrainerRoad, still trying to decide if I am going to do it in my basement or do it outdoors, depending on how much it warms up on Sunday.
More time on the trainer this weekend!
I just started a new Trainerroad training plan, so weather permitting, I will either do a 2+ hour outdoor ride or grind out 90 minutes on a trainer.
“Official” training for my first 1/2 Ironman begins Monday, so this weekend is wide open. Maybe a hike, maybe the mountain bike, maybe a run… but definitely a beer.
Just an easy 80 minute spin on Sunday, Saturday will be used for running.
Mountain biking demo time! Going to test out some Ibis bikes that a local bike shop is demoing at the trails.
I have 4 1/2 hours of TrainerRoad on the schedule. 2 on Saturday and 2.5 on Sunday. I’d love to get this as I have enjoyed training with virtual power this winter.
I will be biking with my MTB on Saturaday and sunday and will test my new gimbal.
This weekend I will participate in the Festival Sno event in my town doing a 30km of cross country skiing. All the funds amassed goes to fight againts kids obesity.
Still using zwift and vortex, waiting the spring weather.
I’m headed out to the Holey Roller, an unsupported 50 mile mixed terrain ride through Central Texas. I’ll be on my Specialized Sirrus that I converted to a road bike. Then I’ve got an indoor triathlon Sunday morning to get the season started.
Fat biking on some local trails with my neighbor!
Planning to cram in some last minute training at home before heading out to party on the slopes next week!
Over the weekend,I plan to do 2 indoor training on my old Tacx as we still have a few feet of snow.
Zwift followed up by a little more Zwift. It’s freezing again in Boston!
a quick blast around Richmond Park (London)
Not quite ready for cycling season here in Quebec, Canada!
I need to study for my very last exam for my masters degree, but I hope to get at last an hour of cycling in each day! Should be a piece of cake with 15 degree forecasted for the Munich region.
No riding for me this weekend because I am moving to a new flat and there is still much packing/unpacking to be done.
Was going out for a 20 mile getting ready for spring ride, but its going to be 15F here…so i will play it by ear…..
Saturday 40-45 miles with sprint intervals
Sunday 20 mile easy pace
Unfortunately I’m down with the flu. No sports. Shit. Gonna watch your YouTube vids instead ??
Trainer road tempo rides sat and Sunday. Recovering from a few weeks of sickness
Snow on the ground still :), Trainer Road here i come! Plus a ski day!
Sweeeet – I am looking at my first century of the year. Wish me luck and I hope to have a PM for my next century :)
Still a bit cold this weekend outside so trainer ride is on the schedule. Netflix is cued!
couple of trainerroad workouts, and if I’m lucky an easy cross country ski with friends
Nothing fancy, flat 70k ride to slowly get the legs into cycling mode.
Living in Montréal, Québec, it’s too cold to go outside (for me). So, trainer for me this WE.
I live pretty deep in the alps for most of the week so we still have plenty of snow – skiing it is for now, can’t complain about that!
I cleaned and polished my bike last saturday – this saturday I’ll reverse this stupid action with best german mud:-)
Coo…cookie dough is an option? Oh, and thanks (per your request)!
My plans will probably involve an interval session since most of my recent rides have been easy/casual.
Hope to get a 50-60 mile ride in on Saturday
Pain cave on saturday then a long run on Sunday!
Plan on taking the enduro bike (Yeti SB6c) out to the mountains in Frederick, MD
Saturday will be a bunch ride (~ 100km) and Sunday will be a brunch ride (or late-breakfast ride)… :)
No cycling this weekend, as it’s a bit on the chilly side in these parts, but I do plan on getting some miles in via my running shoes.
I’ve penned a 30(ish) mile ride for Sunday, assuming the weather plays ball :)
My cycling activity for the weekend will consist of skiing in Aspen …
Hopefully baby will stay asleep and I can get on the turbo