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.
Recovery run on Saturday. Gravel ride on Sunday.
Museum weekend :)
Yesterday i ran 10 km near the sea near the sea!!! Today I did a nice 500 D+ in the morning!!! After that i play with my daughter all day!!! Fantastic weekend.
Cross running with some delicious Burpees. Aroo!
Got a 5K in!!
Run and bike. Boom!
Prepping for a sprint tri at the end of the month, so a nice bike and run!
nopte
Walking and running
Saturday: running and swimming. Sunday: swimming :-)
Spring Century in MA/USA. 103 miles of goodness on a perfect day!
I just came from a 250km multi stage race in the Namib desert (Sahara Race Namibia) and I’m preparing for the next challenge – a 250km multi stage self sufficient race in the Gobi desert (Gobi March, China) – 3 weeks from now. So, this week-end is all about running with a fully load backpack :)
running a trail marathon on Saturday
Im on a boat!
Went for a family bike ride at the Storming of Thunder Ridge in Lynchburg, Va on Sunday and spent my Saturday volunteering at an aid station for an Xterra event. Next big run coming on Memorial Day. ??
Ran the Cleveland Half Marathon this morning!
Run 42, bike 36, and hike 18 kilometers
I did a 20 mile ride through my old stomping grounds around Vegas. I found out I’m Not as young as I once was but still had a blast.
This senior likes to run with his daughter and to cycle with his wife.
Did a 300k with my bike, 33k of running and a lovely 5k of Swimming!
Bike on Saturday and Run on Sunday
Twin bike/runs Saturday and Sunday with my twin sister.
easy run for me this weekend
Recovering from last weekend’s half marathon in Gothenburg.
With racing last four weekends, I’m planning to take it easy on the trainer, and if I’m up too it, a short ride on my mountainbike.
Doing a nice 90k ride in the -finally- sunny weather in Belgium
Forest halfmarathon followed by really hard resistant training.
Graduation, wedding, threshold ride and long run
I did a long run on a pouring rain!!!
Gearing up for marathon training season! Spent my weekend running with friends and biking with my husband.
Dusted off running shoes today for first earnest run since Boston. Run fitness takes regular work, apparently.
Just some easy Strava KOM hunting.
10mi hike with no gels… Can be Tough… But wihout my 3year old Teddy bear… Imposible (it ended at the trail parking lot)
Mountains to Mainstreet half di
I ran in our County Masters Track and Field Championships today and finished 2nd in the 1500 metres. It was my first track Race in 30 year’s.
Friday night fat bike ride along the Rum river. Saturday IMWI Spin Training on my KURT Rock and Roll, (Rained out) and Sunday a nice 8 mile run in the rain.
More rain than we wanted this weekend!
Long runs this weekend with my wife. Training for the Las Vegas Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon.
Just got back from swimming laps and some water-running with a friend.
Ftp test on Saturdays,easy run on Sunday
I played frisbee for 7hours today…planning on going for a run/cycle tomorrow! Thanks for the opportunity Ray!
100 km road bike training-10 km running and next week my first 1/4 ironman event
did a 30k trailrunning competition
Some running, definitely strength training and might as well do some swimming!
It’s finally sunny and I want to ride out to one of the islands and just ride and start on my tan lines.
This weekend was a down weekend, this upcoming weekend looking to sherpa for my wife at Pinelands, and then looking to do my first race on sunday with RaceGuards.
Injured so instead of a 75 miles ride, I spent the afternoon hiking around the gold country of California.
This weekend I mostly did nothing because of a cold. Got a parkrun in though so that was good.
forest run – 10 km
A nice sunny 10 mile run.
Indoor training looking at Giro 100
Training on Saturday, XC run race on Sunday
easy 15km training run :)
40 miles on the bike this morning after a night shift. Glourious sunshine, got Burnt!
My only adventure for the weekend is to come back by bike from a family hiking! :-)
10km Sunday race ?
This weekend, I’m planning 2-3hrs of bodyweight gymnastics and some cycling.
riding my bike up as many hills I could find :)
Completed the tour of Pembrokeshire. 85 miles and 8000ft climbing followed the next day by a 10 mile coastal path run
Trying to stay active while traveling with the family. A few early morning runs to log some miles and evening walks with the spouse, all between a day of chasing kids.
Hill repeat session on Sat and a long run on Sun
Spent yesterday teaching my 4yr old how to swim. Going to enjoy a little active recovery today before a new training cycle starts on Monday!
I’ve got a Long run Saturday and long ride Monday… nap on Sunday :)
Spreading 12 yds of mulch and some 12 oz curls.
Did a 10km-run in Kiel (Nothern Germany), in a few hours I’ll start a Midnight-Run
once again maybe escape from the hel ( part of the poland with very nice view on sea site) from hell to main land is marathon distance:)
Enjoying the nice weather here in the UK on my bike!!
Did two rides with friends. Total of 200k :)
Next weekend have a sportive. Wish me luck.
Luke
28k run around Miami
Running stairs and volunteering that the Special Olympics track and field events! Would love a FR935!!
Long ride Saturday. Tempo run Sunday.
Concept2 rowing workout at home.
Rainy day in Germany. Movie and popcorn Sunday ;(
Rest days, kinda. Yesterday was full on cleaning day, today house full of relatives.
Studying, 10 mile run, studying, Intervall Track workout, some more studying and finally a 100km bike ride.
Just a 10 mile hike in the mountains – great day for it ?
Yesterday, it was a quick 1H spin in the beautiful Budapest (Hungary), with 3 short intervalls, but got a KOM on Strava. ;) And today, a long waited Slovakian cycling marathon. 115km, with 1500m of elevation. Sadly, my old friend (Garmin 500) died after 5km, so it was purely on feel, but finished in the top 20!
This weekend was another weekend of triathlon training.. a long bike on Saturday (4 hours) with a 2 x 15km surges to race pace, followed by a 1.5hr run on Sunday at aerobic endurance pace! This week coming is bike focus week.. so 4 bike sessions (2 indoor and 2 outdoor) are on the schedule.. it’s going to be a big week! Less than 30 days left till Ironman 70.3 Durban, South Africa ?? And 328 days to my 2nd Ironman African Champions in Port Elizabeth
Fartlek in the rain
Swimming, cycling. and maybe a run.
Walked Miles in Stockholm and downing 20 scoops of ice cream before my 10K this coming week.
Racing season is over, so taking it easy and Base building up in a mountain somewhere
Saturday: Parkrun in the morning, then 1h40m on the turbo trainer in the afternoon
Sunday: Sunset recovery run.
Love the stuff DCR!
“Hiking” to the playground and back with my 19 month old son…
i did my first Rennsteiglauf Supermarathon and my fenix 2 did not save the whole track :-(
Long run then probably a short walk with the pups.
SWIM – BIKE – RUN…..sleep
Dropped my son off at his baseball tournament. Had an hour to kill. Noticed a 5k at the park. Fundraiser to support food bank. They let me pay after. Why not?
It’s Bay to Breakers in San Francisco!
Finished the week on saturday with a 10 mile run, then the only other athletic venture is drinking beer :)
Trained on the route of the tour of flanders !
Golfing and a little bit of running sprinkled in!
Hitting the road bike
30 km trial running, 1500 open water swimming and 130km cycling
3 mile run then 2 mile walk with the wife. Trying to get back into shape.
Cycling, I went cycling. Then after lunch, some more cycling.
Heading up to Grand Marias MN along the shores of Lake Superior to ride Le Grand du Nord. 50 miles of wild gravel.
Just finished a weekend sprint tri. Killed the swim/run. Got two flats… TWO… out on the bike course. Unlucky, but still enjoyed it of course.
Tried to break a 30 min 5k. Failed by 33 seconds, but still a PR. Now looking for another 5k!
Going on a long training ride to prep for my first tri of the season 3 weeks from today… and a lot of carb loading
Relaxing watching the Giro!!