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.
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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.
Had a great 90+ km bike ride. Didn’t have more time for training, so that’s it.
Just finished the grafman half iron distance tri! Not sure a watch would make me faster but would look great on my arm!!!
Olympic Triathlon yesterday @ Sines, Portugal
This weekend i went swimming at the beach! Great cardio with my gf.
Long weekend here in Canada. Will be running about 24 miles + 40 miles on the bike.
Long bike Saturday followed by 20k run .. Sunday stretch & recover
Swimming this weekend
Today I ran for the first time after an injury that has taken too long! It was a short run but nothing hurt and I felt great, so I’d say it’s a win :) Yay!
11km on Saturday, 9km on Sunday, next week will be harder ;)
A friend of mine ran the hungarian Ultrabalaton competition in solo and he asked me to assist him. So I cycled 159 km very slowly and I tried my best to keep him alive…
I’m beginning my 10km training plan, after tight injury. Just finnished 5k run and tommorow is bike day :)
My wife and I went climbing (I treated her with a class on how to belay) for our 1st anniversary!
I ran a local 5k with my daughter. Raised about $50k for her elementary school, and she even took 2nd place in her age group.
Riding the Tour of Amgen course
Long run Sat and then 5 mile pace run Sunday gearing up for Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN.
This weekend I am just relaxing. We have a big field trip Wednesday.
80 mile bike. 10 mile run. Volunteering at Ironman Chattanooga 70.3
Went for a 6 mile run.
I’m up to circuit training, yoga to stretch out tight muscles, snd spectating the kiddo’s soccer games!
I ran the Cleveland Marathon Challebge this weekend. It was an 8k on Saturday with a 1/2 Marathon on Sunday. Now I’m tired.
I hope to get in a good swim and a bike!
Enjoyed my daughter’s wedding yesterday. Got home late last night and slept in today. Will go on a nice long run this afternoon once we get everything unpacked. I’d use the credit to upgrade my Fenix 2!
I planned to chase PRs on few segments on the weekend and exexuted nicely! Three in the pocket!
A bit of mountain bike and road biking 4 hours in total great stuff
Trail riding, and final track accreditation
Awesome trail half marathon. Nothing better than that
5k run, 10k run and getting the bike ready after a winter on the trainer.
I’ll be cycling all weekend long ^_^
8 mile run on Sunday. Actually. Just finished it. Beautiful weather and my best time for the route, so I’m pretty happy.
An nice 35mi bike ride, last weekend of training before Mountains of Misery next weekend :)
Trying to squeeze runs and swims (not even attempting a bike) around my daughter’s first communion!
Ran the Cleveland Half Marathon in 1:42:01! That is a PR by 5 minutes!
I was supposed to do the Chattanooga 70.3 today, but due to a long illness during training I decided to skip it. Being so early in the season and having a lot more races to come, I did not want to risk injury.
My Plan A failed… but instead of moping around and being disappointed, I made a Plan B and CRUSHED it!
Great OWS with my local Tri Group.
Nice and long 120k bike ride
Went for a Nice slow heartbeat 1 1/2 hour bike ride as a new start back into The sport I love Triathlon
Riding and Sherpa-ing for my lady.
After having done an OCR on the weekend (AND schredding my Forerunner 735xt in the process….) I will restart my long distance running training over the weekend.
After long sickness finally up and running again under the sun, training for June Triathlon and made on Sunday hiking trip with family. The little 2 year one liked to run down the hill with papi.
Good hard group ride!
A 2 hour kayak tour in the OBX.
Recovering from my sprained ankle which I did 5ks into a 100k race last weekend.
This weekend as I get off a 12 hour flight from Korea, I’ll run the first leg of a relay half marathon
only managed to do a shirt strength session ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #twindadproblems
Zwifting on Saturday,and hopefully going for a real ride outdoors on Sunday.
Running round in the NOLa humidity and then back to Philly for some biking!
I spent time running as well as riding my racer, both using my f3HR.
After hitting a PB at Duesseldorf Marathon end of April I slowed down a little bit – volumewise – and I’m concentrating on speed for some fast summer Halfs
#beatyesterday
Easy trail run, 21.1
Would love to win this and just saw this after a 30 min ride
Dogs competition im Cracow – Poland ;)
Did a 100k ride to see a triathlon of my team in the state and regional leagues. Was quite fun, albeit a bit cold during the morning. Today just a quick run including screwing up the data on my old Forerunner 310XT.
I ran the Sehgahunda 26.3 mile trail race through Letchworth State park in upstate NY.
Trail running at ymittos mountain and running ursa trail marathon in metsovo this weekend! Greece! <3
I just ran 2 legs of this Japanese race called Ekiden Marathon Relay in Honolulu!
Going century ride on a through the trails!
Road bike 50 km
Beautiful hike with family today with great weather :)
5k time trial, bike ride, and an easy 9 mile run
Intervals to get ready to start this season triathlon races!
Doing a 10km race in Manchester
Trail run and recovery run
I ran 10k in the sunshine and biked around town!
Just back from week cycle touring around Scotland so easy trail run in the Surrey Hills.
Running!
A 5km run next to my 4 year old son on his bike.
Camping with my wife. We’re also going to get in a ride or two.
I went for a 30 mile ride yesterday, and some golf today.
Ran a 5 miler for two !! Baby is due in November, would love a new watch for post baby training !
Run an organized 10K race in my own city. Followed by the weekend after that: a well known 20K race in Brussels, Belgium!
A little swim and a little bike!!!
110km on a road bicycle, 800m elevation gain.
M2V relay race
Even though I’m on vacation, still getting in my strength training and cardio workouts. Between Kickboxing videos and a treadmill, I’m burning calories and keeping my eating clean!
Hiking the Sonoran desert and an easy 3 miler run around the neighborhood highlight this weekend.
Hiking and playing outdoors with our kids, and a Saturday trail run on the 80 acre property a friend just bought. Grateful.
74km Super Marathon Rennsteiglauf
Ran 5 mile race yesterday and then a short bike ride. Today was an 8 mile run. Would be thrilled to win!
Light training in the gym, my leg doesn,t let me run still
After a lazy Saturday, I join my colleagues for a long team ride around Amsterdam!
90 mile ride yesterday, 2.2 mile swim and 12 mile run today – prep for Ironman Santa Rosa at the end of July!!
Taking the load off of my close to stress fracture foot (from running) and instead going out for good ride up my favorite hill s!
On holiday this week so lots and lots of walking. Long ride planned for next weekend though!
Celebrating half marathon finishers!
Run 8 miles
Cycling and recovering and working
A nice run in the woods.
FTP test time. Necessary evil.
Not training for anything at the moment so running for fun and peace of mind, steady 5m and a steady 10m on Sunday!
Taking a much needed rest this weekend!
Hiking with my 5 year old nephew.
Olympic triathlon in August!!
A park Run 5k and a Zwift Kiss online race (came in 7th in a bunch sprint) …. split by a night of a few too many beers!
I ran 16 miles with my favorite running peeps Saturday and am enjoying a day of recovery today.
Gym on Saturday, 45 km MTB ride with the gf on Sunday. ✌
Mountain running in the fresh snow above Boulder and bike riding with my kids.
Long intervals and easy distance ride with my new bicycle
Well, I plan doing my last set of intervals 5×4′ @ 110% ftp and free ride in the sun :D
Brick workout Saturday, 1650m in the pool followed by 54 mile bike. Lazy Sunday mowing lawn and maybe an afternoon run. ?
Chattanooga 70.3
I’ll be cycling as much as I can.
I’ve got get a good long run in.