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.
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!
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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.
After a bit of a slow start to the year, I’m getting back into marathon training mode and taking advantage of the nice weather with longer runs.
50.000 steps walking with the family in Disneyland Paris
Trying to squeeze a maximum of km on my bike between the children’s activities.
Spending time in southern Wales running and hiking around the coast and Brecon Beacons!
A 33km MTB ride with my wife, her furthest yet, on Saturday, and a 5k run on Sunday
Long cycle in mallorcan mountains including the climb out of sa calobra
5k with the boys and bike after
Trails rain and shine.
Cycling with friends this weekend, in between rain storms.
Working on mastering slackline walking in our front yard with my sons.
Avoiding the rain indoors on the treadmill.
Spectating at Ironman Lanzarote. Should had participated but got a herniated disc 9 weeks ago.
Cycled to the pool, had a good workout and cycled back home. A New GPS watch would be awesome. :-)
Last weekend of major training before IM Boulder! 5:45 on the trainer because: snow and 6 miles off the bike, then a 16 mile run the next day.
Finally knocking the rust off after 8 months of not racing (gotta live the midwest). Hit up a great small local race at Pokagon State Park and had the fitness to take home the overall W! Now enjoying some wine and relaxing.
Recovering from a week in Vegas by hitting the gym and then out for some bike rides.
Hiking as rehab a foot injury!
10 mile easy run today!
Cycling up spelga dam, easy
Getting back into training after a few weeks off after my last big event.
Probably about a 50km ride and breaky.
Tri brick, and then some more brick!
A run in Fife, Scotland with Falkland Trail Runners – a fantastic bunch!
walked and walked around disney world
Not much training this weekend. Resting from my last race, ha.
Spent the weekend working on triathlon training with a long bike and run. Also training for Navy Dive School.
Going for a bike ride with my son after a half marathon in the AM.
Light weight lifting, walking, Tai Chi.
Long run Sunday- working my way upwards in mileage and hoping for at/near my recent long run max of 4.5mi!
Looking forward to getting some time in the sun.
Sbr Intervals intervals intervals
run including the course preview for the Zooma half marathon I will be pacing for in 2 weeks
Recouping Achilles tendonopathy unfortunately.
Track training and club road race.
Easy 5k today and 30 mike bike ride yesterday. Great weekend!
I’ve got a 12 week old son and have decided to run a half marathon to raise money for the hospital he was born in. I’m a cyclist and am terrible at running so I was out training for that.
I was planning to get a half decent cycle in as well but someone decided to be difficult so I wasn’t able to get out.
Thanks for running the comp, I’m a big fan of the site!
13.1 mile run and 2.5 hour bike.
Getting ready for a river trip. Might take the dogs for a run.
Have an injury, so will be using the rower and kettlebell this weekend.
Just getting as many easy miles as possible after a race last week!
155km cycle on Saturday. Family hike Sun
Going to do the local GOTR 5k with my wife and daughters
First time back out on the bike since pulling my achilles back in March. Quick 30km and teaching the 5yo to ride without stabilizers!
12 mile run! Marathon training
Getting ready for an awesome Half Marathon next weekend in the Douro wine area, in the north of Portugal!
Done the standard charted Kuala Lumpur half marathon on Sunday
We rowed 36 km this morning in beautiful weather in preparation for our 100 km race in 3 weeks.
Long run!
I have a couple training runs planned for an upcoming half marathon.
Had a nice 52 mile ride and a 10 mile run
Mountain2Valey Relay 224km
Linz triathlon, season start
Run up the beautiful Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
recovering from 50k by just going back to building some new base~
This weekend my plans are to bike a few miles, run a few miles, and throw the ball with my dog Roxie. Currently, my Apple Watch will record it all!
Training for the International Marathon of Rio de Janeiro!
An easy 20m around the area of Poole Dorset on a sunny Sunday morning
Awaiting delivery of Fenix 5S Monday, took one last run with 620 and faceplanted 1km in, spraining thumb and wrist, abrasions on knees and shoulder. Washed, bandaged, and splinted, took a brisk walk instead (may have a bit of a concussion!)
Riding capital bike share bikes around DC
Raced a MTB race today and took first place in the Clydesdale group.
Well, my weekend will include my preparation training for a 5K race in June. Some speed training on the track(12X400m) at race pace (under 4:30/km),one interval training 15X1′ at race pace and 30” slow, one 5km training session above 4:40/km and the sacred 10 km long run on Saturday. Two days of gym sessions (30′ each) and, finally, a 30′ bike cross-training. That will be great! It is autumm in Southern Brazil.
Local Biatle with my kids. :-)
Does daddy day care count? Found time to get in a little 13 mile run.
A 6km run
running a 5k race after a slow Winter with minimal training, gotta get back into the groove!
This weekend was a great race; Marine Corps Historic Half!
A long bike ride today to Chatanika Lodge here in Fairbanks, AK!
Just a couple of bike rides… On 20ish and another 50 ish on Sunday.
Long run in the cold rain
6 mi and 16 mi. Getting ready to get ready for Route 66 Marathon.
Recovering from a back injury, but still did a little Zwifting this weekend.
Solo cycle before a club spin, total around 120k and then a day of shopping for and building IKEA garden furniture.
I will do recovery runs and a family hike
Playing some tennis with the family, and taking a short bike ride
Hopefully a run with Stryd powermeter on the weekend!
A bunch of trail running to prepare for a trail race coming up.
Quick run in between kids’ soccer and baseball games.
A hike to mission peak and swimming 10 laps in the pool
Nothing epic. A 50 miler is all.
This week-end, I was on Triathlon des Suisses, a french triathlon in Versailles. I know you know.
Just an extra short format (XS) but with mountainbike instead of regular road cycling.
Easy 15 mi on Saturday and Magic Kingdom on Sunday (more calories burned than on Saturday).
I knocked out an FTP test and am gonna get in a 5k today. Thanks for the giveaway.
Did a sweet 50k ride on the MTB with 1400m of elevation. I really need to get over this injury and get back to running!!!
Hitting up the treadmill, and some weights
Trecked around Travelers Rest for an afternoon
I hiked 4k to the top of a local peak on Saturdaty and went on a trail run today. A perfect weekend in my book.
I will run Brooklyn half marathon!
Recovering from a honeymoon filled with beach runs, hikes, and tacos.
Chasing a 15 month old :-)
I am just doing an easy bike ride why trying to recover from a running injury.
This is actually a rest weekend for me. I did a double swim practice on Friday and I’ll take my break and pick up with a ride on Monday.
Shaking out the legs post Kinetic Half getting ready for my last hard week of IM Boulder prep. 25mi ride with a 6mi run on sat and a 9 mi run sunday.
Parkrun on Saturday, long run Sunday.
I’ll be doing a Netflix run!
I’m gonna run the Westminster mile, not exactly a distance run(I have recently just run London marathon!) but it’s iconic
Double Down to the Beach from Burlington, NC May 20. 212 miles in one day completed. Now what?
It was a weekend full of horseriding.. 55miles today.
I’ll be going on a run with my two kids, 6 and 8. They’ll be riding their bikes alongside their old man.
No run this weekend, pub crawl rather
I ran a half marathon this weekend and had a personal best! Would love to upgrade my current watch situation.
I just wanted to ride my bike again, enjoy the sun, and do some fitness workouts!