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.
Walking around amalfi coast on my honeymoon. Lovely in the sun.
Hiring a new coach, and getting a long bike ride in!
Running and more easy running after my half last weekend. Planning on getting back on speed work next week!
Trailrunning in Norwegian woods.
First run after two knee surgeries and 1.5 year of rehabilitation & frustation. Old Forerunner 210 now urgently needs to be replaced!
I am a school counsleor and mom of 3 under 6! I run as often as I can for my sanity ?.
Biked 132. Ran 25 km
Training for my upcoming century ride ….
40km TT yesterday, tomorrow group ride with the boys 50+km
15k running on Saturday to prepare for Brussels 20k
Plan to run 10 miles today.
A clue driven treasure hunt style run
1st sprint triathlon of the year
Recovery Run and Ride Sat/Sun after Santa Rosa 70.3 last weekend and then 4 days of wine. Is there a recovery exercise for my liver?
20k run on Saturday, and an 8k tempo today. Speed and distance. Hoping to PR my half marathon next month.
running in PVG today
running, mountainbike and swimming: for a good season in 2018…
Saturday 2hours bike, sunday recovery swim 1km OW.
I did MTB ride on the both weekend days together approx. 80km ;-)
Today I went with Busturia’s cycling school to the race at Loiu so I couldn’t go to the Transbizkaia, so this Saturday I’ll try to take my bike and do that same route or, at least, part of it.
Easy run yesterday (Saturday) and long run today perfect way to end the weekend
Did 140 km with a word champion cyclist
Trying to break the hour for a 25m TT
Cycling for fitness and health with the goals of riding Haleakala and Mauna Loa
Followed the wife down to Chattanooga for the 70.3. I borrowed a bike on Saturday from the good folks at QR and road 125 miles. Today while the wife was biking did a 14.5 mile run. All in all a pretty solid weekend for both, her with an 8th OA finish and me with some outdoor riding time.
Went for a 3 mile run with my dog to celebrate the halfway point in my pregnancy! :-)
An easy 2 1/2 hour bike ride
trainer ride then a little ultimate frisbee on sunday
Rode 47 miles with my husband on Saturday which took us through the annual Field of Honor. A huge field of American flags with rows along the bike path. Each flag had a yellow ribbon on it dedicated to a US veteran. Sunday morning was a 45 minute swim in the bay. No sharks or sting rays. Time for fresh made strawberry lemonade.
10k run, and active recovery with hill repeats on the bike.
work out today in China
Win a watch is cool
Was meant to be running the Stirling marathon today but 8 weeks rehabbing a hip injury meant that instead I enjoyed a leisurely walk with my finacee and friends instead. Glad to be over my injury though and Loch Ness marathon trainjbg starts tomorrow :)
Started with 2 hours of aerial acrobatics in a helicopter on Friday, 8Km run in the sun on Saturday, TRX Core Sunday AM, Lifting heavy things Sunday PM, finishing the weekend off with some left over Boston Pizza! Lol
After running a pr in early march at a half marathon I got burned out. This weekend started to run again as therapy (and getting back in shape)
Would be very nice to this in company of a good sports watch!
Swim on Saturday and run on Sunday !
Hard solo ride on saturday
Turbo with vo2 efforts on sunday
push the tiny human in the jogging stroller and maybe pull her behind the bike
early 3hr. AM ride followed by a hike with the kiddos and pup. Should be good!
Running, biking and golf
Run until I can’t go on!!
Run on the beach
Long run, training for the Canada150 Ultra
road ride Saturday, followed by wine tasting
mtb ride Sunday, followed by yard work and hammock time.
Ride with my twins to the pre-school.
Get back in the shoes, and feel the heart beat.
Tough mudder
I went cycling, geo caching and enjoyed a nice spring weekend.
Riding my bike. A lot!
Indoor cycling today since weather is thunderstorms and uncomfortably high dew point.
Did not run this weekend. Rested as that was what my body needed. I did 3@ minutes of yoga as cross training. Thanks DCR!
A slow, tandem ride with my family
I will ride at least 50km this weekend.
Exploring Italy and WEMBO 24h MTB track in Finale Ligure. Championship race in two weeks.
Went on my longest bike ride yet!
Getting some running in for the final training push toward my first 100 miler in June.
running PRs for 10k/15k on saturday.
riding 100k on sunday (with 5k shakeoutlegs run)
Long run for my half marathon training.
Family bike rides and swimming
Ended up doing some basic riding and an orienteering race in great weather, which was nice
Running, more running and getting my bike ready for lots of riding!
56 mi bike on the Patriot half iron course in Freetown, MA with my new biking buddy.
Sunday, runday. 7+ mile run today. Great day in northern Virginia for a run!
This weekend my wife and I enjoyed a steady 40 miles for a tearoom lunch on our bikes that have just been returned from LA
150km Cycling!
Taking fattie to local trails
Spin class first thing, then a game of football in the park with my daughter yesterday. Run planned for tomorrow.
Gentle run on Saturday, followed by a 55 mile bike on Sunday.
Cadair Idris Fell Race Saturday and a spot of easy rock climbing today
Did 40k mtb
Easing back into training after Santa Rosa 70.3 last weekend
Long run Sunday, otherwise enjoying a holiday weekend at the cottage!
Nice long trail run.
Bonking super hard during a brick, obviously.
I’ve run my first Deejay TRIathlon
Moscow Half-Marathon :)
Another longer ride if the rain stops in time!
Took yesterday off to garden and do hour work, but I’m headed to the pool followed by yoga now!
Nimby Fifty marathon mountain bike race in Pemberton, BC.
Surely gonna do some cycling!
Starting to up those bike miles!
Watched Giro this weekend and had to bleed my brakes to be able to ride. But had a good ride after that.
Bike, beer and run
50 mile bike ride in a howling wind. Prep for an upcoming century ride in 2 weeks.
After 3 Weeks with Century rides and the Family holiday cancelled due to little one & chicken pox… This weekends ride is one to just kick back, spin the legs, feel the sun, eat the cake, drink the coffee and remember that riding a bike makes me feel like a kid again!
Getting dirty with some off-road riding!
Winning the women’s Cat 3 state championship here in Texas for 30-39AG! Epic race yesterday!
I’ll be doing a 15km trail run.
Doing the traditional #sunday5k run with Argus friends.
Ironman lanzarote
Finally seeing my daughter after a tough divorce. No training planned at all!
I’m a week or so into a Marathon training plan so I have a 2hr long run on Sunday.
UK Hydrofoil Kitesurf Nationals, feeling broken now!
Zwift!
Short run, long run, a swim and some strength training. Set up the bike and trainer. Having a small procedure that’s taking me away from running and swimming for 3-4 weeks but will be able to get on the trainer after 2 weeks!
Rode from Paris to Evreux as part of Classics Challenge #2
Completed the Gothenburg half marathon on plan. A bit of a struggle at the end but happy with the result.
Chattanooga 70.3
I am putting the finishing touches to make sure my new, old 1988 Dave Scott Centurion Expert sled is ready for becoming my daily commuter. Oh yeah, loving the test rides for the “bonus” workout :)
-jg
Swimming with the family and then logging some miles in towards my next 50M race.
After completing my last long before my race this weekend I’m off to the beautiful Noosa on the Sunshine Coast for the Run Noosa 10km race.
It’s not just a running event, there is open water swimming and cycling through the hinterland too.
A schnitzel run on Saturday (12 km run in Germany and eating schnitzel after it) and on Sunday a 13 km geocaching hike.