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!
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.
Did last hard sessions to prepare next weekend triathlon
Luxembourg 70.3 Ironman prep
Apart from a nice little 8k, a bit of dog training… If you don’t know how that’s athletic you never owned a malinois
Working all weekend, but I am pretending I am just tapering for a long ride next week!
Two bike-run bricks and playing with my kids outside. :)
Early morning 13 mile run.
After being on Paternity Leave for 4 weeks and stuck on an indoor trainer, Ive finally got permission to do an outdoor ride this weekend.
Ran my 10,000th mile!
Did a nice little walk with the wife and kid enjoying the nice weather.
I just completed marathon number five last month so I am taking a little rest. My adventures include a simple three mile run. Sounds crazy after months and months and months of long runs, but three miles felt good, almost hard in a way because I took time off. And when I am not running myself, I am watching my two favorite baseball players, my six and seven year old sons.
A long run to cap off the week!
Just entered for my first half iron man. So did a pool swim and a 10km fun run. Also spent most of the weekend watching your YouTube channel!
I’m still recovering after a bike crash, so only did 30 minutes on Zwift;)
Just climbed 5k in 3days in the Dolomites!
5K on Sat followed by 2500 yard swim.
I got in a short training run with my wife. She is training for her 1st 1/2 marathon. I am running to train for the Dopey Challenge in January and possibly my first ultra in April!! Tried to get a trail run in but severe thunderstorms and tornado watches cancelled those plans. Thanks for the great reviews.
Swimming at the ohio state pool with the girlfriend!
Rode 38 miles on the road bike
Went on a hike round Gladhouse Reservoir and the surrounding hills in the Scottish Borders. Beautiful weather to end a very wet weekend.
The weekend is nearly over but I got a swim, bike and run in. And I still have some PT exercises and stretching left to do tonight.
Solid back to back long runs this weekend. 24 miles and 10 miles respectively.
6 mile run on SAturday and 40 mile bike ride on Sunday
Raced Columbia Triathlon today. First race in almost 2 years after being out injured. Just bought some P1’s through Clever Training. Would love to update my watch game from my old 910xt. Although, a Tacx Flux on sale might be too hard to pass up.
1500m swim and a 30Km bike ride. Peace and quiet..
Lifted Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and went out for little over a 5mi run today.
Did 44 miles on the fatbike as the on-course bike support for myTEAM TRIUMPH WI at the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon. Loved every minute of it!
Just finished my first long distance racebike trip to my parents (135km) and had to pass a couple of towns in between: got lost the way when passing through some small towns – realised I need the Garmin FR935 instead of Google Maps on my phone (!) – so hoping sincerely to win this item!
Sporty Salutes from Amsterdam!
crit race in gravesend, UK on Sat… recovering Sunday
20 mile trail race in my backyard!
My plan for the weekend is (actually was–done and dusted at this point) to run a small 10k here in Poland. I haven’t run 10k since getting sick about a year ago, and my highest kilometerage was a 7k training run. I’m training, but really out of shape still (and overweight). This hilly 10k has a 1.5 hour cutoff so I have my work cut out for me. (I made it!) My wife made it pushing a stroller–she’s so amazing!
It was a slow z2 run, trying to get back into a routine but life seems to get in the way….
30 mile ride and 18 holes!
Canoe marathon and some runnin
Training for IM Boulder, 4.5 hour ride, 3 hour run today
I’ll be easy this week-end because i have a tendinitis to my right adductor.
I finish recovering myself from my first 70.3 in Aix en Provence last week-end by walking and cycling with family. Will be back on track tomorow, on the road again!!!
Rode an 18 mile route of some of the local hills. More of a social ride but my buddy is new to cycling and I didn’t want to kill him on his 3rd trip out!
Rode around the area for 42.5 miles on sat. 8 of my trip friends swam 1700 + yards at the pond and then ran 6 + miles afterwards on Sunday.
Rollerskiing and strength training! Relax in the evening with good friends and a good meal!
Just doing some traveling, but hopefully I’ll squeeze in a run tonight.
-Guillermo
Rugby union at loosehead
Awesome day today cheering my @wearedynamo teammates at #imchatt70.3
At the Green Bay Marathon
Did a 30 mile bike ride.
I’m doing a brick workout (bike/run) in preparation for my first triathlon in July.
A hilly 14.7 kilometer run this Sunday :-)
Train my sleddogs :)
Explored new route based on Strava, and found it full of construction works on the bike lanes
Squeezed in a 6 mile run between my daughter’s softball tournament games Sat.
Nothing!
OK – traveling back from the Canaries on Saturday, and a canceled 5k swim race today. (Blue-green algae :-( )
Just a couple of 30 minute runs.
I ran the 2017 Brooklyn Half Marathon.
going to hike up to trolltunga here in Norway! need to to something else than running the same route over and over :)
Road 80 miles on the bike with college buddy!
Went on my first enduro ride.
Coming out of a recovery week having raced last weekend in going to be starting a new build phase with a plan towards the next two national series races. Hopefully a couple of nice open water swims involved in that.
Fun pop-up group ride with Bike Like a Girl, then cheering for a friend doing his first-ever tri!
Bike ride in the hills and kite flying with the kids.
Triathlon – olympic distance in Gütersloh, Germany
It’s raining today so I got a zwift ride in.
10 wet road miles and some trail miles.
I am still on recovery for my first 50 mile last weekend it was a great race except it rained the whole entire time!!!
I will go for the first ride with my new Trek Crockett!
I’m still rehabbing an injury but walked 14.4 miles on Saturday & got in some cross training on Sunday
I hammered out my longest group ride (72 mi) at over 21 mph average and went for a nice long run and then recovery swim. And ate far more calories than I burned.
176km Cyclotour du Léman in Lausanne
Nice easy long bike ride to destress from the week.
I plan to run a few miles with my kids. That and host 8-10 pre teen boys at the house for a birthday sleepover.
Coaching at the Kentucky HS state championships.
77 & 4 Brick Saturday with long run and recovery bike today
Long run in a provincial park yesterday.
Long ride in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains today.
Ahhhhhhhh!
Some hill reps on the bike followed by a long old walk along the Thames!
Double brick Session. Bike, run, bike run. First tri in 18 months coming up…
Riding bikes. Then more riding bikes. Eating pizza. Riding bikes.
Going running with the kids in preparation for their school cross country.
Long Run with My Friend on the Beautiful Trail Near my home. :)
Lots of strength training and base building in prep for IMFL later this uear.
Yesterday (Saturday) I got up super early and rode for 3 hours 45 minutes on the trainer, then did a ton of yard work. Today, brought my fiance to our local rail trail for her to ride her brand spanking new bike for the first time ever…shes been petrified of biking since she was 6 so it’s a big deal. And then I ran 11 miles and swam 2600 meters. Great weekend!
Hitting the weights and doing a little meal prep for the week, hitting the mountains next weekend for a good run
I’m half way through my training plan for my 1st Ironman. Mont Tremblant. Got stuck working through the weekend and still managed to squeeze in a 40 mile bike before dark. Love Clever Training.
Half marathon race!
I ran a half marathon here in Gothenburg with 60,000 of my closest friends.
Saturday was a 8mi run followed by a 20mi backpacking adventure on the Long Trail. Sunday night is going to be a recovery spin on the trainer.
Running the poconos run for the red marathon
Running the crystal cove trail today!!!
Trail running goodness.
SLD run
Recovery run to get ready for a 5K this week.
First run of the season and first long bike ride in a long time because I had broken my left wrist and my right thumb. Finally pain-free!
I am training for ironman lake placid. This weekend I rode 70 miles on Saturday and then swam 3000m today followed by a 9 mile run. Been dealing with some plantar issues so being a little cautious on my running
Last weekend’s half marathon took more out of me than normal. Slowly getting ready for next trail race.
Road bike training.
Testing a newly acquired Wahoo RFLKT+ on my bike wearing a new kit.
I went climbing Saturday with my road bike. And then finished Sunday with some SST training on the trainer.
I kicked off the racing season in MN with the Gear West Duathlon!
Saturday went for a long ride. Sunday I ran a progressive half out amongst the cornfields. Legs are rung out like sponges. Feels so good ?
Prepped for next weekend’s half marathon, nearly died in the gym following my gf’s new TRX routine and spent most of today hiking the York Moors!
longrun 17k – maybe a lil more :-)
Biked 178 miles (over 3 days) in the Blue Ridge mountains around Boone NC
Exercise started with coffee and pastries, then moved on to Sunday roast but finished strong with two laps of the park.