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.
I’ll try to run my first <30m 5k !
Hopefully go for a run at some point, but my main activity this weekend will be walking too and from the car at the Indy 500.
Training for a race
Riding in the wet. Riding in the dry. Then riding in the wet again.
A couple of hot humid early morning runs in the Houston area of around 1 hour
I’ll be taking part in the first ever Casterbridge Half Marathon, at Dorchester, in the UK.
IM training – long rides and long runs
I rode the Memorial Frans Schouben 200km
Riding the apple orchards of Wenatchee, WA!
Long riding through the beautiful San Diego South Bay.
hallow rain, just recovering from a bad start of the year :(, but hi got back on my feet starting my long 40” birthday gift the half iron man “israman” yap wish me luck on that (all my friends syas i lost it – but it’s a dream off my so why not).
so it’s time to get a new watch don’t know wich one to pick yet, but a need a new one couse my suunto quest is to old no mater how u look at him , he was agreat watch for 6 year.
thank u for all the intel u give us keep it going with touse deeeeeep review’s
Still in a post A-race recovery state. My workout plans consist of yard work and beer.
Perhaps the first OW swim this season…
Biking the perimeter of Manhattan Island. Fun!
I guess the weekend is over, but for my brithday, I went for a couple of short recovery runs and biked to work!
I’m running the Manchester half marathon this weekend!
Played soccer with my kids after a long run focussing on heart rate and cadence.
Boys weekend with riding on Friday and Saturday.
Somehow I missed this on Friday but my weekend went like this: Friday 5-mile trail-run; Saturday gym workout and rain-drenching; and Sunday 44-mile group ride sans rain-drenching. Great weekend!
Did 2x15k slowish run in a really warm weather. :)
Hi Ray,
I had a 5 mile fartlek run on Saturday. Then went to Reno for the State swim meet as a spectator. Sunday nursed my sore calf from Saturdays run.
Thanks for the contest.
A mountain bike race on sunday, expecting to better my ninth place the previous date.
No running cus of the knee, but lots of cycling!!
I had a great 13.5 mile trail run on Saturday followed by a 4hr bike trainer ride. Gotta love productive weekends!
Went on a 29 miles and 2,600 feet elevation gain ride yesterday before getting ready to attend a wedding!
This weekend was all about the kids.
Memorial Day weekend will consist of a long run, some golf, a nice ride, and of course a cookout to wrap things up.
Time to log some yards in the pool or hopefully ocean!
I am in the process of moving so I am trying to squeeze runs in whenever I can.
running boston run to remember half marathon
A nice enjoyable run through my neighborhood. Getting my base for training for the New York Marathon in November.
I was busy with the classical tri stuff, by means running, swimming and cycling… and also windmill fighting like Don Quijote de la Mancha. That’s because of the strong wind.
On Saturday a well known local tri-race event where I won the 50+ AG. On Sunday 1km open water race for recovery.
Hiked several miles with my daughter and then ran 10K to enjoy the beautiful exercise weather. The next day did a short 25 mile bike ride to see Niagara Falls and beat the rain.
Mtn biking in South Dakota if the trails are dry. If not road cycling.
resting for a week of riding, while watching a lot of youtube content about cycling….
A bike ride, that turned into a swim due to pouring rain…it was a blast!
This past weekend?? START early by volunteering at an Aid Station -hit the trails followed up by a sweet 10 mile run in the hills getting dirty…switch gears to Sunday with an early wake up to kick some balls around in a fun game of soccer and then head out for some more trail miles on two wheels!! Finish out with drinks in the hot tub with friends!
Sleeping, eating and relaxing. Training starts next week :)
I got out for my long ride, the sun finally came out!! Then I mowed the lawn, does that count as a brick workout???
Stroller run w/ the nine month old
Tour of isle of wight!
HI, Saturday was an easy MTB ride with my dog and Sunday was the Club ride! great weather and fun.
21k long run on Saturday and 40k bike with 5k run on Sunday
Pick up basketball games and run 5K around Highland Park (hopefully break my PR)
Riding through beautiful North Carolina.
Run 10k around my neighborhood.
Swimming and biking.
17k run Saturday and Sunday
bike 100km, run 10km, swim 1km!
providing rolling support to a double century
Running the Equinox Marathon trail in Fairbanks, Alaska!
Swansea sprint tri on Sunday, followed by the Cotswold 113 the weekend after – love it!
Cycling up the emigration canyon, Utah – climbing up around 500 meters.
Long swim, longer run, longest ride :-)
It was finally time for a bit of a taper. Some easy hiking fit the bill.
First sunny roadbike training ride of the season, feels good !
Cycling cycling and cycling.
Bike around lake of Zug and swimming in lake of Hallwil
Longest run of the year Saturday, mowed lawn, and fell asleep early only to have to pick up family at airport at 1am due to flight delays.
25 k on the bike with 13 run afterwards in final preparations for Alcatraz.
I Will ride the beutiful hils of Skanderborg, Denmark on my mountainbike.
Running a 6.5 mile 4000ft climb Mountain Race in Alaska called Kalgin’s Knoya Ridge Run. The race celebrates the life of my friend Kalgin who died during the race 8 years ago.
Lots of walking, some quick cycling and one longer run
Zwift on Saturday and 40m outdoor ride on Sunday.
Swim, Bike, and STRENGTHENING :(
After a busy ultramarathon season, it’s back to the track to work on leg speed and efficiency
Taking my bike to the trails.
Road cycling on Saturday and tearing up forest trails on Sunday!
Run & Cycle in the sun!
Biken in Austria
Well…… Most likely riding/running indoors as I watch the little one play. Get it done anyway you can, right?
Long ride around the valley
RESTING…after finishing my first marathon!
Just a couple of runs, it’s getting cold in the south of New Zealand
Injured yesterday so rest today :((
Teaching my kid how to ride the balance bike
Just walking…
Exploring some gravel roads on a new to me toy.
Waterford Marathon training : 16K on Saturday and 32K on Sunday!
Long run 17 km with 3 km uphill. Difficult downhill and fast last kilometer. Training after the last race begins again!
I completed the half marathon in Gothenburg. Great run with great people. This weekend some soft short run, to recover.
Greek Fest 5k and one-mile races, then roasted lamb, bad wine, and bouzouki-dancing.
Hopefully a nice and peaceful ride out into the Cairngorm national park.
Running around Beijing!
Half distance triathlon in Croatia :)
Running and picking strawberries!
I run 8Km, followed by 1.5Km swim. Then I strolled by the seaside.
Attempted to race a tri but split a tyre 10 minutes into the bike. DNF!
A swimming session and a long zone 2 biking trip along canola fields.
Running and swimming !
Biking around the neighborhood and swimming in the ocean
Long-ass bike rides and hopefully, at least one LSD run
2 x runs in sunny Scotland! 1 x long and 1 x intervals – wahoooo!
Running the Peach Jam Half in Atlanta! I may do some trail running too
3-4 hour ride on Saturday and a recovery ride on Sunday
Saturday group ride, 103 km
Taking my boy climbing, and sneaking in a run while he is there!
Swim. Bike. Run. As every other day :)
Having a run on the treadmill :) Keep up the great work DC!
I went running before the baby woke up