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.
-
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.
going for short gentle ride on sunday
Traveling to California and Nevada and hopefully renting bike in both.
Get outdoors on the bike and do some climbing, my start to March Madness.
A good zwift hill session on Saturday!!!
I’m 37 weeks pregnant, but I’ll still probably manage to schlep the kids out into the woods this weekend. Or nap. But I’m looking into biking myself back into postpartum splendor.
More power! But still on the trainer…
Moving a friend’s bikes from one apartment to another!
And then staying inside because -20C is not riding weather.
Going skiing! (and a trainer workout if I have the legs for it)
Joining my first usac race. I was inspired by D.C. Rainmakers pod cast and trainer road. It will be a cold one in NJ but exciting!
Trainer time with TrainerRoad
No cycling plans this weekend as it is too cold. Getting out for a long run though!
Zwifting for FTP, Saturday and Sunday. So, a power meter will came in handy once outside.
Z2 Sunday morning ride!
My cycling plans consist solely of winning this powermeter.
Trainer ride today, long run tomorrow, and rucking on Sunday!
Trainerroad for an hour Saturday, yay. Supposed to rain.
No plans, it’s snowing. Might look in the direction of the trainer though.
Looks like it’s going to be a cold and wet 100km spin
I plan on doing a 20 mile ride on Sunday, it should be 60* here!
60km on saturday with a lot of climbing.
Hopefully sneak in a couple of simple outdoor rides for grins and giggles.
Long ride on Sunday. Likely on the trainer on Sunday since the rain will be back in NorCal.
Some MTB on saturday and a duathlon on sunday. The weather is going to be pretty bad though so I might replace saturday MTB by some lazy TV watching.
Have been under the weather, but would like to spin the legs on the indoor trainer.
90 mins of hilly intervals… lovely warm up for a running race on Sunday!
Riding a 2 hour easy recovery ride on Saturday
I’m riding in the foothills West of Denver. Highs in the 60’s both days.Skiing will have to wait til the next weekend.
Just an hour each day down in the basement on the trainer. Snow still flying and mid teens..
Just an early morning spin at 7am if I can drag myself out of bed.
Plans? Change the bike group while I hear the rain outside grrrr
Need to get on the trainer to ease some sore legs after a long run.
Hoping to get in a Sunday afternoon ride.
I will actually be living it up skiing and hot-tubbing this entire weekend (really). And then after that I’ll be glued to my bike for IM Boulder training….
Saturday morning training ride with the race team
2 rides on the indoor trainer
How I wish I could be cycling. Bike in the shop for a tune-up, temperature has dropped below freezing. Maybe next week.
Thanks Ray! (I choose to thank right now)
My plans: a Monday morning spin on the trainer (weather forecast 2 degrees and rain), the only free time slot I’ve got.
Riding a power-less trainer sesh. And climbing a big mountain.
If any cycling will be done here, it’s going to be indoors, since winter seems to be making a comeback here. Thanks for the giveaway!
First weekend “stage race” of the season.
Hopefully the weather is warm enough in Boulder to make it up to Ward or even Brainard Lake!
WIll be out and about looking for my pain cave before the rain comes! Wonder if the *Hammer* be out there too?
Might get in a couple hours on some frontage roads around Chicago
Saturday morning miles in beautiful Marin County before the rain returns.
Now that the weather has warmed a bit above freezing, my girl and I will be testing out her new bike Saturday morning.
In the best case: a 30 min cycling trip with my kids in the trailer to the grocery store?
Easy 60mins on the trainer as tapering for shamrock marathon. The real riding though is I’m going to start teaching my 4 year old to ride sans training wheels!
I’m winding down an easier week before ramping up the workload again next week, so 2 hours on tap for both Saturday and Sunday – training for a June trip to some classic Italian climbs!
60 miles Saturday if it does not rain
Spring break starts. So cycling everyday instead of just the short commute.
Trainer miles…it was 60 on Monday here in New England….now it’s 15 again….a couple more weeks before we are back out on the road I guess
I’m planning to ride my mtb in between forecasted storms. If too much wind, sailing might be an option.
Early morning Zwift sessions for me :(. Too busy this weekend to ride much.
Sunday group ride. Not sure if I will choose to use the cross bike or MTB yet. Depends on how much ice is on the road 60-70km, hilly.
Taking out the Urban Arrow for some two-child cargobike fun.
Forecast here is for -10C (15 F) weather, so it going to be indoors intervals for me. Time to move somewhere warm.
Riding MTB with some buddies on Saturday and riding MTB with my daughter on Sunday. Wildflowers are blooming here in the desert so should make for some scenic rides.
Will be out on my wheels of death (Disc braked cyclocross bike) hunting down CPA members to cut in half. Well their shoes.. maybe…
I plan to cycle to my parents’ house and grab some cookies and ice cream on the way (hopefully this plan will be even calorie wise….)
Given the weather at the moment my cycle will be limited to the turbo trainer
3 hours on zwift planned for tomorrow morning – hopefully you’ll put a new podcast out to keep me moving :)
Will try to go out on snowing days in Portugal!
Sadly nursing two sore shoulders after a bike crash the othe day. ? Maybe next weekend!
No big rides for me this weekend, just heading out for a short gravel ride with my kiddos.
Cycling with the indoor trainer on zwift for around 3 hours :^)
90 minutes w/ 3×15 near ftp
No riding for me this weekend. It’s major track and field season so training and meets keep a coach busy.
…Seattle weather will be crap again… so most likely it will be the gym I’m heading for some quality time with a trainer + Netflix combo :)
Mountain bike intervals in the mud and snow
Week end was yet again spent on the trainer. Not as much fun as long rides, but quality is sometimes necessary over quantity.
Hopefully a 30k ride and some random number generator luck :)
I am running a 5k on Saturday, followed by what should be a 40 mile ride near my house, in a hilly part of the world. Sunday, I’ll be volunteering at a local stage race which serves as a potential recruiting ground for USA Cycling Juniors I believe. Should be fun!
It’s all about the trainer for me this weekend – Zwift, here I come!
Trainer ride and then running.
Long 3-hour Sunday ride with lots of climbing!
I will be going with the bike to the trainstation (about 10km), that’s all.
Due to the threat of snow and (very cold) rain, most like will be spending some time on the Hammer with Zwift
Likely a post splash&dash spin around the Mall with my gf in tow.
Some indoor cycling in a hotel gym while on a business trip that starts on the Saturday…
Unfortunately no activities planned for me this weekend, just a road trip to the mountains.
I will be in my pain cave. NY is going to be cold
1 hour ride around work at lunch on Friday, then a 50 mile ride Saturday morning along the coast in San Diego.
I plan to ride the trainer
sadly a trainer this weekend. Still snow on the ground.
60 Mile Fatbike Race
A ride around the lake with my oldest son
Trainer then a hopefully an outdoor ride in the UK
Being in Norway, I’m going with Trainerroad. Beech, and Andrews :)
Maybe I’ll work on getting my PVC Bike rack built in the 3rd stall this weekend. Also might wash off the cruiser and take a ride around the neighborhood.
100k group ride sunday AM… PM skiing with the kids sans hot tub
3.5hr mountain bike ride on Saturday. 4hr trail run on Sunday.
A cool-down turbo session after a 20 mile marathon training run.
Hi Ray
I’ll be running rather than cycling due to a crappy weather forecast.
That’s life.
Nathan
30 km road bike trip
Well, since it’s still snowing and -20°C here, so I’m going to spend the week in the hockey rink instead of cycling.
Testing my new AbsoluteBlack oval rings tomorrow. :-) They’d match perfectly with that Stages ;-).
Long ride outside and some Zwift GCN workout.
I’m off for a weekend of “cross-training”–read skiing–with my wife for the weekend, and we’re going to squeeze in a quick little tempo run on Sunday!
Rode my wahoo Kickr in preparation for the Austin Rattler / Leadville 100 in April and August respectively. Ski trip was last week. Lol. No hot tub – it was 10 below – : /
The roads are still icy here in the GWN, so it’ll be another Zwift ride for me this weekend.