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.
Recovery week from 1/2 ironman GC and slow trail run on Saturday with my son.
I went hiking on a group date.
Crit racing at the local track!
Going couch surfing
two quick rides on both days, that’s all I have time for, but that’s OK with the baby on board…
All about enjoying the bike this coming weekend, with some tempo autumn miles.
Does taking care of my 2-year old son count as an athletic adventure?
18km trailrun in Czech republic, near my grandpa’s house
Training for a Century Ride!!
Going for a tempo run. Training for an IM later this year
I ran a slow steady lsd for 21.1km
Biking it through the weekend.
Had a busy weekend – bike trainer ride on Saturday morning then off to watch horse races at the Radnor Hunt. This morning was swim speed drills and then a ride in our Jeep for a Jeep Meet Up. A little training and a little fun all in the same weekend…can’t ask for more than that
I did a trainer ride. Considering we had thunderstorms and tornado warnings, I thought it best.
I’m trying to kick a two week long cold, so naturally I did a hill run, distance swim, and trainer ride ;)
Driving to San Antonio Texas so that my wife can spend two 8 hour days certifying in Les Mills Group Fitness. Swimming with the 4 kids at the hotel pool in the meantime.
Nice (but very cold) ride with my pal Mark.
I did a thirteen mile run on Saturday and a 21 mile bike ride today.
I got a zwift ride in 1.5hrs
Cheaha Challenge bike ride to the tallest mountain in alabama
12k run, indoor swimming and outdoor swimming, preparing for next week quarter triathlon
Long run Saturday, short and easy Sunday
Bay to Breakers
Swam La Jolla Cove, ran 8 coastal miles in Encinitas (to Solana Beach round trip), and an Orangetheory Fitness class. Last activity included great coffee and pastries. ?
21 k running in Madrid followed by a small hike!
Acctobranche and trainer time after kids birthday party!
I plan to.do some beautiful runs along the south China Sea
The week started off with a bang when I rode the “Assault on Mt. Mitchell,” on Monday, 104 miles with 10,000+ feet of climbing… so this weekend’s plans include a recovery ride and run, with some quality rest!
Run run/Long ride, repeat every week.
Half-Marathon dress rehearsal before next weeks race :)
Nursing a low back injury, so walking a lot, and getting my bike ready for some rides
rode a 106 miles /10,200′ training ride
Got me a half marathon in some stormy weather! Then an indoor trainer ride :-)
Ran a 5K one day and a leisurely bike ride the next. Also stupid yard work.
I raced Weiden Sprint Triathlon in Saturday. Still a lot of work to do for me ;p A Powermeter would help a lot ;D
Cheers Mario
Recovery weekend. As much Running and cycling as I can with the kids!
Coaching our age group swim team at a swim meet
I ran Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2017, hot and humid weather make it more challenging.
Doing a Oly tri in St Louis this Sunday.
Just logging miles on my bike
2x 40k rides Saturday and Sunday with a shorter trail-a-bike ride with the family tomorrow!
10k run near Milan, Italy
(And a lot of restaurants!)
Some outside yoga before and after my ride today!
I’ll be biking and running as well as watching the local bike race – the criterium is tomorrow! Fun times!!
I went for an easy run around the Plains of Abraham battlefield in Quebec City
Harpoon 5-miler
3hr MTB in super flow trails of Oka. Quebec
A few things: went on a looooong walk yesterday, and am going to the gym with a friend today (likely, a few miles running on the treadmill + some weight training). Too bad, this contest has caught me during a particularly boring weekend :P
Did an 85km cycle for the first time in a long time with a bit of climbing chucked in to feel the burn… And I’m still feeling the burn 2 days later.
First road bike ride of the year.
Playing soccer ⚽️ and mountain bike ride ?
9 mile trail run followed by 37 hours of work in the ICU
Short running training and very short bike training just to burn all candies which are eaten lately.
Race preparations. Some easy jogging friday. 1000m intervals on saturday, Puh! Rest sunday.
Running the kl marathon
Got out for a nice hike with some friends on Saturday. Using Sunday as a injury recovery day due to a calf tweak last week.
A bit late but this weekend I had a lot of plans but ended up doing just social and Netflix. Need new tech to motivate me!
Preparing for a half marathon after moving to a new country
I’m a one week runner and change and run Porto Half Marathon in less 1:30 and lose 10kg
I rode 50 miles in Stokes County, NC on Saturday. I did the 36 North Sprint Triathlon on Sunday at Tanglewood Park in Winston Salem, NC…an awesome sprint triathlon course.
I’ve been running with my daughter in the buggy. Nothing mad mileage wise, just getting out when I can. It’s been a tough week with a bereavement in the family, so I’ve felt lucky to get out and clear my head by running.
Iron man Chattanooga 70.3
Awesome bike segment.
Just go out for a run – temperature is going down to 67 tonight so it should be nice.
I just spent a month doing Army training at the National Trajning Center at Fort Irwin, CA so I’m going to do 2 easy 5 mile runs and 2 gym workouts to start the process of getting my body back in shape. I’m not looking forward to the soreness but I’ve gotta get back to training.
rest day!!!!
Hot Yoga and a bike ride – Cheaha Challenge in Jacksonville, AL. 62 miles, 3900 feet of elevation.
5k race yesterday and 45 mile bike race/ride today!
Spent the day Saturday at a local Greek Festival in my area. A lot of walking, dancing, and food consumption occured.
Hour run, hour bike and short run off the bike. All in between baseball and hockey.
Cycling 44 mi up PAC Coast Hwy.
Zwifting and walking
Went for a nice long run in the heat and humidity of the southeast.
Avenue of the Vines 1/2 Marathon done and in the books. It was a hot one today.
It was my birthday this weekend, so I rode the Kancamagus Highway hill climb race – Crank the Kanc – on a single speed, of course (because, that’s the ideal bike for a hill climb…..). After that, I ate, a lot.
Catching up on missed swimming sessions due to studying commitments! ;)
15k training run Saturday morning, 90 minutes on Zwift Sunday morning , as then loading out Cirque du Soleil of Ohio State’s basketball arena Sunday night.
Boys bike trip to Ayutthaya!
I just ran a marathon run this weekend, not ran well but enjoy the race!
two days on the bike, no races this weekend in prep for nats
2 mile run on Sat as the final run of my taper – marathon Sunday. Then rest.
Sprint Triathlon this weekend, race #2 for the year
Went out for a 20k run this morning; the GPS-signal was quite a bit off, so I had some 6 minute miles on the way :)
Spinning on the trainer
Just going through little Charlotte TN 50 miles a bike and 5 miles a run.
This weekend I was chasing my kids around on a bouncy castle all day on Saturday for their birthday, then needed to ‘rest’… does this count?
Race in a 10km race on Saturday.
Was then down with a flu On Sunday and have to stay in the whole day. Disappointing.
Last couple of training runs before my first marathon next weekend!!
Rode the Lakes Region NH saturday, long run Sunday
A small set of strength training and trying to hobble on my feet after a looong layoff
03 hours running on the treadmill, because it rained a lot today
The plan is a 12 hour overnight drive from England to France, and then find a route for a 10km+ run around the idyllic countryside! Maybe go for a play in a kayak too.
Did some trail running this weekend.. Gonna wash the bike and get it on the road this upcoming weekend. My son’s been bugging me to tow him around in the trailer so off the trainer and onto the road it goes!
5 miler with my running buddy on Friday night, Parkrun 5k Saturday morning then a steady 10 miler this morning as training for my half marathon in two weeks. And the rain held off for all my runs, hooray!
Saturday was a short but hilly jog incorporating 2 ascents of Mt Gravatt
Sunday was a day watching offspring #2 play in a netball carnival
32K run Saturday / 2hr ride Sunday
Just a long run on Friday by the river and a little walk and yoga Saturday and Sunday.
My friend, Michel, and I are training for an ultramarathon; it’ll be my first. Today, we ran 54.4 km and it was AWESOME! 6 weeks of training to go. Thanks DC for the chanve to win!
Extensive yard work!
Fifteen mile run. Nice to get out, haven’t been able to do anything else this week.
My wife was busy all weekend so I pushed my girls in the double stroller for about 15 miles split over the two days.