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.
A triathlon that in only 30km in the bike leg has 750 m elevation gain.
5k to benefit a local nonprofit….Run for Heaven’s Sake
The Golden Triangle: 320km of cycling through the beautiful Canadian Rockies!
Two mornings of Road bike work
Easy run, easy bike. A decent brick today and a swim with my kids.
14 mile run through the rain, and painting cabinets
Just lots of Spring cycling.
Bike ride on Saturday followed by a 1/2 marathon on Sunday
Saturday involved 30km on the Kickr riding around Watopia while yesterday it was a 60km ride outdoors!
A weekend in the mountains. Mountain biking and hiking.
Today 8 mile run, 7 mile hike with dog, 13.5 mile bike ride
Short run and pool swim on Saturday and a 25 mile ride Sunday morning
Definitely planning to get on my new giant ride bike this coming up, and more than likely get a couple of runs in as well. I’m preparing for a sprint triathlon.
Saturday I did my first Time Trial at the Texas State Time Trial Championship.
One solo and one group ride on bike
I’ll be exploring Singapore by foot (given I normally reside in aus). If all goes to plan I’ll join one of the local park runs for a light hitout on Saturday.
Does building a fieldstone patio count as an athletic activity? My body says yes.
Traded my typical indoor rock climbing and Cycling for weed pulling, garage fixin’ grass cutting sort of triathlon kind of day. The best part? Having a co-op wife buddy helping!
25mile rip on the road bike in the AM, stained the fence, SUP 20miles down the N.Sask in the afternoon. Awesome work Ray, missing the podcast as of late :(.
I’m gonna run my best HM in a race known as The Performance Series :)
Wallum lake trail 10k
Family fun day Saturday, Capitol Hill Classic 10k on Sunday. Stroller racing!
Running the Capital City Marathon in Olympia Washington with some friends.
Wanted to ride my felt but it rained so I ran on the treadmill
Reach the Beach Oregon, a 100+ Mile Ride from Portland, OR to Pacific City on the Oregon Coast, benefiting the American Lung Association. Prefect weather this weekend.
I worked yesterday and got 8 miles done on the treadmill, at the firehouse. This morning, when I got home from work, I did yard work for a couple hours. That counts as an adventure because of the 2 snowstorms in the last 10 days in/around Denver. It was like a jungle.
Reviewing, studying, and writing up my 10 week triathlon training program, then transferring it to my Google calendar! I also Zwifted in a Ladies Race yesterday ;)
Zwift rides as I recover from a sprain
run a couple of hours and bike three or four.
Rode 75 miles this weekend over 2 days.
Walked for a pub crawl!!!
Some uphills on Friday and 14k easy run on Sunday :)
May the force be with you!
Went for a scenic hill run at the Thousand Steps in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria. 945ft elevation means I’m recovering now!
Im doing a triathlon this weekend 1.5km swim 60km bike and a 12 km run
Some running and some swimming!
108 mile sportive across the Yorkshire dales. Lots of hills!
An early ride in the basement and tons of yard work!!
Heading to Oak Mountain w/ my kid to pre-ride the Bump N Grind MTB Race he’s doing the following weekend.
Well it is a long weekend for me so Friday night I did a quick spin on mountain bike then a 160km ride on sat morning and a few laps on mountain bike with the girlfriend later in the evening. Sunday a nature walk and Monday a 25 mile XC ride in morning and a 65km road ride at night with my club.
Did a uphill TT on Saturday, 21miles with 2,500ft of climbing. Today did a 2,600yd swim with a 8mile ROTB, both days with perfect weather :)
Eating!
I Ran the Buffalo jump 1/2 Marathon in Montana today. Man I would love to win this. My Fenix 2 is getting old. Thanks for the chance.
Mom is gone, so a casual bike ride with my two boys in tow and an evening row session.
Any training last weekend. It was my wife birthday and mine also. I enjoyed all the weekend with my family.
Both days a 100 km bike ride. Good weather has finally arrived to Belgium!
I did a 1/2 marathon in Massachusetts. Got 2nd and knocked 4 minutes of my 1st 1/2 last year
Lifting weights and swimming!
Coach’s triathlon training camp in Solvang. Tough bike, ocean swim, high-intensity bike-run transitions.
Gym on Friday after work and jog Sunday morning before it got too hot.
I was up the Pinnacles mountain in Mulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Spent a whole week there.
Dragon boat training session on Saturday followed by a day of racing at Mui Wo, Hong Kong.
I sat on the trainer as the rain poured down and then headed out to watch all the athletes running around at the Ultra Trail Australia 100km race.
Marathon taper time! So some light runs and rest!
I have run in several cities over the weekend.
80 miles, mostly zone 2. The heat really kept me from doing too much.
Looking forward to recovering from some nasty cuts I got recently so I can hopefully spend some time in the pool as well.
Playing basketball like we were in our teens
Trying to avoid the rain, hail, and lightning on the annual Real Ale Ride in the Texas Hill Country!
Just run from Playa del Carmen – Tulum – Mx.
I went for a 35km run with 6 friends along the river to complete our peak running week for our first marathon.
Running at the Ecotrail of Oslo 80km on Saturday!
Very good experience, w/ some very technical/tricky patches, nice scenery, and lovely crew and supporters!
Would love the garmin! I was at chatt 70.0 (short swim) run killed me
150km ride on Saturday followed by a long run on Sunday.
On an adventure to get my pedals to pair with my watch! 5 rides and 3 sets of batteries later, I’m thinking my situation is dire… hello tech support! It was around 80 miles total. Average watts: 6! Ummmmmm.
I went on a 7 mile Capitol and monuments run in DC, 200/400/800 intervals, and a 60 minute LSD run.
Ran the Chicago Spring Half Marathon this weekend and actually PRed my half marathon time shaving 8 minutes off my time last year
Gravel riding, paddle boarding and running.
Just a few short bikes and a hike.
Rode w the bike medics for a local fundraiser race and then finished up long ride in the warm rain!
Went for a ride on Saturday down to the Indiana state fairgrounds. Then on Sunday I picked up a pristine 1983 Trek 620 and spent so much time on it that I couldn’t squeeze a run in. Good problem to have. Guess trail running will have to wait until after work on Monday!
Post surgery recovery ride with the kids.
3h bike + 1h run on sat
2h run on sunday
training for IM WI
Long run when the rain stops
I ran Bay to Breakers in San Francisco.
This weekend my adventure was to stay quiet to recover from my last crazy adventures
Yardwork and an endurance ride.
Gym Friday. Brick Saturday, with the ride on the local 70.3 course. Group long run Sunday.
Ran 10 in the beautiful Florida heat and humidity yesterday and cycled 60 today with a short run afterward!
A 5k on Friday night and the Chicago Spring half marathon today.
Last long run before a race coming up.
Raced a trail 5K in the heat and humidity with completely useless gps data from my 920xt.
22nd was Trackday in japan, then next weekend will split between Cyclocross wood festival and the first legal fixed gear crit in Japan!
Beginning my training for my first marathon. I ran 15 miles and it felt amazing!
I’m doing a preview ride of Rev3 Quassy with a short run afterwards. Maybe throw in a recovery swim since the weather has been so nice here in CT!
Cycling and hiking around with my husband!
Many miles of biking in the sun
Working for my marathon next weekend, then tri season
I ran easy 4 miles on Saturday followed by 8 miles on Sunday.
Pool opens for some quick laps this weekend.
I am hoping to het out on the bike and test a new set of wheels. Then off to the races with my 5 year old little boy and 3 year old little girl, they love to ride bikes.
Going for a road ride since the weather is so nice now!
Big weekend of training for me. 4:30 bike ride yesterday, 2 hour run and 2000 yard swim today. I’m ready for a nap! I enjoy your site – thanks for all of the great reviews and posts!
Does cleaning up the house and mowing the lawn count? :)
Will try to get on Zwift at least once.
Long ride under the sun and a long run tomorrow to prepare my future half marathon :)
First time mountain biking with some mates. We all stacked it (me into a massive mud puddle) but had a blast! Acting like a bunch of kids!
Hopefully getting out for a ride and lots of walks with the dogs
Mountain biking ?? and yard work……..
No training this wknd as taking a small break
Finally getting to take a long ride outside!
Cycling, hiking, and golf!
Mainly hiking and a longer bike ride.