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.
Miles and miles on the bike!
This weekend was recon on Mt Hamilton for a bike race there next week.
Dragon boat training!!
Watched an Ironman 70.3 in St. Pölten in Austria. Got motivated and made a little biketour and adding a 10km run
training a friend who is running his first 10k, fun !
Participate in the Swedish championship in duathlon!
Long run Saturday!
Planning on camping and some bike riding. Also plan on doing some walking. I need to get back to my routine.
70mile loop 2000m of climb all b4 lunch
Develop a cold and rest up
Mountain bike ride and an easy jog.
Rode some on the Silver Comet!
Well its mountain bike climbing challange this week..
So climbing that is all about…
Run 5 Miles and swim 1 km on same day this weekend.
Group ride on Saturday, rest day on a rainy Sunday. I could use an FE-C compatible trainer yanno…
A half ironman over 2 days. Swim/Bike on Saturday and run on Sunday.
3 hour tail run for map reading practice on Saturday and a 20 mile blast in the bike on Sunday.
67 miles sportive in the sun!
First 1k run after months of physiotherapi.
Long run around the national mall in D.C
I will be swimming and biking if the rain stops. Hangout Music Fest is going on in town this weekend. So there is plenty of good people watching to be done.
maybe last skitour for this season…
Easy 12K run along the Fraser River
Short distance Triathlon in South-West Germany with 31 teammates
A wonderful Sunday morning long run!
Club ride and weekly run
Getting back to running after a 5th metatarsal fracture.
A quick tool around town; nothing too crazy.
Waiting for MN to warm up for fun
Getting my run regime back on track.
My weekends keep getting overfilled with yard work and honey do list DIY projects but I did get out for an easy ride on the bike. Back to the training plan during the week!
Cycling in Yangmingshan National Park
Thanks Ray for all of the reviews. I will be bike riding around town before it heats up too much here in Miami.
This weekend, no running (thanks a lot, persistent foot injury!), but plenty of playing outside with the kids!
Long trail run on Saturday. Sunday, I will act pacer for my girlfriend and one of our dogs when they train canicross.
Marathon training finally back on track with a 32km run after illness and injury
Olympic Tri where I did my first Tri at 8 year’s ago
Doing my first URL rude on the road to enjoy some spring greatness and ice cream mud ride!
Good luck to everyone!
Sufferfest training!
First ride out after getting knocked off by a car three weeks ago and fracturing the radial head in my right elbow. Just on the hybrid though, still can’t operate the drop bar shifters on the road bike yet.
I’ll do some weght training and maybe light running.
Grafman Middle Distance Triathlon
A swim and a walk along the beach
Went for a ride. Going for a swim-run now. I want a power meter!!!
I did a 30 mile ride with some friends and then relaxed in the beautiful sunshine and late spring weather here in New England.
608km bike… Sun, snow, rain,wind, warm,cold :-)
Leading a coffee shop ride.
Some short, steep heat adaptation runs on the trails–as I didn’t get up early enough for the under 80F weather.
Taking my running tribe for an early Sunday morning run in the hills on our backyard. We’re stronger training together and it makes it so much more fun.
Cycling our local “hills” to get in some climbing for next weekends Spin the Lakes tour in Huntsville, On. Such an amazing ride!
Running Saturday, walking Sunday, riding Monday…Happy Victoria Day!
I ran my first sprint triathlon of the season. Had great swim leg, good bike ride, but think I could have done a little better on the run.
Did a short ride to help the wife prep for a triathlon in July. Awesome day for a ride in new england.
After 18 months of no running at all (plenty of cycling though) I went for a 5k run on the beach just now. Guess tomorrow is gonna hurt like hell…. Do clevertraining.com sell anything to stop the burn?
I will cycle 100 miles this weekend
Heading to the pool to work on speed and getting better at flip turns
Running happy hour, soccer, gym session, and more running!!
No big adventures just an 11 mile long run.
Marine Historic Half today, an awesome day for a race.
Watching HS track and then a run for me.
Started running again recently, too much too soon, so my atheltic adventures this weekend are foam rolling, applying ice to sore joints and muscles, contemplating life and fighting the urge to go for another run. My body is telling me no, but my mind, my mind is telling me.. well.. I’m trying to be rational so, it’s also telling me no actually.
New baby born just yesterday. So imagine…
I will ride a long gravel ride on my dear cx bike.
Kitesurfing when there finally is wind otherwise I Will paint our house.
Running with my brother in law, chasing Strava segments.
Did a 10 miler lon jog
I’m still recovering from a ligament rupture. Only a nice and easy 10k jog in the sun.
Swimming in the pool for the first time of the season and a brisk bike ride
Mostly TR rides on the trainer
10 Mile run this morning!
I ran a 5k, after about 11,500 yards of swimming in two days. And I ate. And napped.
Sunday is long run day. 15 Miles. I think its about time to upgrade my 920xt.
I’m training for a 70.3 in hopes of showing up on race day somewhat fit enough to compete. Thank you!
Still recovering from a 24hr trail relay race. Nothing but yard work and tennis with my 10yr old son this weekend.
After some illness only a single MTB ride of around 90 km.
Mountain biking. bike cleaning. Mountain biking again
Run a 10 EM and biked a 90K so not that much, but I certainly can use the credits to by some tech to improve my training.
Lapping session at Olympic velodrome in london
Hilly 45 miler on the bike Saturday and rode sweeper behind the local Girls on the Run 5K Sunday morning.
Continue building up up running schedule after lethargic winter layoff.
I will bike and run…maybe a jog with my dog as well
Just bought a jogging (err…) RUNNING stroller to push my new little guy.
Doing a 133 mile bike ride with over 13300ft of climbing ?
the plan is a nice leasurely run in one of the local parks. Just to get my mind cleared.
Last long brick before my 70.3 in 2 weeks
Teaching Spinning® Instructors.
My activity saw me biting my nails as I took my 7yr old nephew to his first skate park!
Now I know how my parents felt when they first took me :-)
Bay to Breakers in San Francisco
Running on one day, and cycling the other.
This weekend I was inspired to continue on training with a short bike ride to a hill near my local hiking spot. After the ride, I will run up and do some hill repeats to prepare me for my next short trail race in August. The objectuve is to build some muscle endurance uphill. At the moment I am also trying out the new Stryd sensor, so most of my run will be to register more data into my Powercenter. I am always inspired by your reviews Mr. rainmaker and it has helped me a lot in getting the right gear! I hope I get chosen for the give away since I’m trying to replace my old FR925xt with the new FR935. Thank you for all your efforts!
Last long training ride before a 200km climbs sportive in June, and maybe a
5km run for the craic too!
Running and bikeride training for my next big trip to Kroatië
I’m between marathon training programs so the next few weeks is a lot of recovery and easy runs. Took in a nice 6 mile run this morning!
Cross training (furniture building ?)
Did my first >100km race: UTSM2017 , in Portalegre – Portugal
I guess i will feel good and proud, as soon as i regain control of my body……….. ;-)
Going to try the stand up paddle board for the first time. Cross training?
parkrun and then longer run Sunday as I continue to try and get speed and stamina back following injury
I will go for long distance run..
Busy family weekend, so just a turbo trainer session me me
I will keep checking the Garmin 30K leaderboard and walking as many steps as possible to FINALLY get 1st place!
I did my first group bike ride with my LBS. Looking forward to many more!