Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. 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.
9 mile trail run. The sun has arrived in Seattle!
Bike and run. Swim workouts are on hold til the shoulder heals.
Biking and canoeing with daughter at camp
Girls on the Run 5K with my 4th grade daughter :)
Swimming Biking and yard work.
Training for IM Mont-Tremblant this weekend
Watched a good friend compete in a half tri w/ equipment he purchased through D.C. Rainmaker & Clever Training.
Going for a long run and hopefully a bike ride, trying to get back in shape.
I’m doing a lot of walking this weekend!
Cycling, cycling, and more cycling
Trainer ride on Saturday with a little run after, longer bike Sunday morning now that the weather is nice, a trip to the hot spring, and a run this evening.
Hiking in the UP!
The weather is rainy and cold so I’ll be Zwifting tonight! I’m still getting started so it’ll just be 10 miles, but I’m really enjoying it!
Snowed here in Dunedin, New Zealand, so a lot of time spent in the pool getting that swim fitness up
Running and Football.
Dozer Day on Saturday…yes, chasing two kids around a construction truck expo is athletic.
Team ride on Sunday. Finally able to get out with the guys, even if only 50 miles.
Gym, ran up a hill, ran down the hill, MTB up hill, MTB down hill, sleep, eat some pies. Standard weekend really.
I did the “hell of the northern suburbs” of Melbourne :P Saturday en bicycle (101km) and followed up with a 14 km longer run Sunday.
A swim in the sea
Cycling 42 miles on Saturday and 32 miles on Sunday. A pace with my friends
I’ve got a sprint tri in two weeks to ease into the season
Wish I can bike from Montréal to Québec this weekend… unfortunately this is unlikely to happen! Cancellation prize is a 100km bike ride with my speed skating daughter.
I rode my bike 50 miles on Saturday and Sunday. I am ready to get off my Assault air bike and get outside. Can’t wait until June 10th.
Treadmill miles for me this weekend…
1500 yard swim which is a lot nowadays for this 8 month pregnant lady.
19 miler, which included a 10k race. :-)
Open water swim, then 1 hr run
Put in 15K while setting up/announcing/breaking down at one of our local sprints. Then went home and ran another 8k.
Training for my next adventure! Marathon!!! :)
I’ll likely be on Zwift. Because I now like Zwift more than team life riding.
I made 100+ trips in my wheelbarrow to deal with a pile of mulch. Does that count?
I had half marathon race yesterday. Didn’t do really well. Crampings in the last few kms.
Race the local Team Time Trial with my best friend who is one month younger than me. 65-69 age group. We’re going to show the kids how it is done
Sat I ran 10 miles with a brutal headwind on the way home
Masters bike races Saturday and endurance ride Sunday.
Getting out and riding my new bike!
A nice 200k ride with friends. Beautiful weather for it.
Play soccer!!
Run
Late snowfall in Colorado meant more quality indoor trainer time this weekend.
Went out for a long run yesterday even if it was raining hard! Got a PR on my 10km!
Biking around a car racetrack for a couple of hours as part of a relay.
A Maryland bike ride along the Potomac it is!
Gravel riding!
Rest & eat!
Just got a new lightweight bike, so hoping to head to as many hills as I can!
Swimming laps
Training for a oly in June, brick Saturday and two hour bike today.
Chasing after my 3 children 6 and under
Saturday football in Bangkok at 2PM. Insanity. Blistering heat. And barely a breeze to provide some respite. But the coldie afterward never tastes better!
I’ll be out riding
I will continue my medium long run as I start my training for a fall marathon. A new watch would be most helpful!
Hiking this weekend! Love your site. Everyone reads it!!
Hiking with the kids!
Hiking in the Australian outback on my honeymoon.
Just a couple of recovery runs from last week half marathon race.
30 mile relay run at Texas Motor Speedway!
Lots of fast fun with my team.
I am doing nothing but trying to recover from a torn achilles in three places, but would love to have a cool gadget to look forward to using when I recover.
I did a Balke treadmill and weightlifting workout and high-speed walk with my wife…
Hand wax my truck in Florida hear, that’s plenty of excercise right there
Training hard for Ironman Chattanooga 2017! Got in solid bike and run – swim session on Monday!
No exciting athletic adventures for me, but I did have loads of fun volunteering at a race.
Biking and running. Mostly enjoying the nice weather.
Rehabbing my ACL on the bike
150km bike ride + 18km run on sunday
Coaching high school baseball. Trying to lock up the number one seed for the Maine state playoffs.
Easy run, long run, easy recovery ride yahooo
A big 180k ride on Saturday, rest on Sunday. Hopefully my legs will feel like another ride on Monday :)
Playing with my dog since I’m recovering from a concussion.
Little bikeing to frends place to have a coffy. I should run more, but have to work
Riding a never ending series of roller in 90 degree heat
Fri -Fierce Fiesta 5k with margaritas and tacos post-race
Sat -Girls on the Run Chicago 5k with a young run buddy
Sun – Chicago Spring Half
Bay to Breakers!! Could have done with a few less naked old men on the course tho lol
Long run Sunday (21k), and long run Monday (holday here, 20-25 km. Plus maybe a bike ride! I’d get the 735 or 935 from Garmin….
Ran my first 100km Ultra Trail… Long, and painful.. and yet awesome.
3km swim + 15km run!
Some CrossFit WOD and a nice easy pace run through scenic trails of Texas.
link to horseyhundred.com
I will be riding the Horsey hundred on Saturday with pre rides Thursday and Friday.
worked saturday. Had an athletic nap today..sitting on the couch watching tv and then cut up a large tree branch for the mrs. I also started the pool filter and took a door off in the kitchen for the summer. On top of all that activity I drilled a hole in a concrete flower pot for drainage and stared lovingly at my caad 10 and my supersix and then called it a day. Well after this post anyway :-)
Ran intervals yesterday. Ran a longer run today. HIIT class tomorrow. I’m training for my first half marathon in November and can’t wait!
Walking and running.
Saturday was riding the indoor trainer, and Sunday was riding outdoors. Evening were spend watching the Giro.
Easy run and soccer.
I cycled 100km on Saturday. On Sunday I’ve just done weights and recovery. I also watched my friend’s 5 year old play his last soccer game of the season which I suppose counts as an athletic adventure. At that age it is like herding cats so it gets pretty entertaining as teams from the next field over inevitably drift onto their field when their ball rolls over, lol.
Nice jog/walk along side Lone Peak in Utah with the Mrs’. Now it’s time to get into some fermented grapes from New Zealand. Cheers all!
Mountain biking hiline trail in Sedona Arizona.
Orienteering in a newly created regional park
Not so awful training run/walk yesterday, recovering with a pancake brunch & sushi dinner today. Next weekend…last training run before Bolder Boulder!
Saturday 7.3 mile run followed by 16 mile recovery ride. Sunday Metric Century Bike ride.
I road 20 miles on my kicker with zwift then ran a mile off bike on Saturday. Sunday ran 6 miles.
Trail running in the San Francisco Bay Area
Just resting and recovering from a cold. :-(
Ride cause it is finally warm in Vancouver!
Swim, bike and run…as long as the weather cooperates! Thanks for the chance!
Train for my firts triathlon in october
Running around our understaffed shop like a madman, trying to get everyone else on bicycles I wish I had the time to ride :)
Preparing for a half marathon on May 27 and registering for my first full marathon in 15 years.
Hiking the appalachian trail with my new Fenix 5
Sprint tri, followed by mountain biking with my kid…then she did a tri on Sunday and I did 2 hrs on Zwift. Great weekend!
Headed up to Mt. Pisgah in Western NC for some training.
Running in a local track series!