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.
Long run
This weekend I just finish my first triathlon. I do exercise regularly so I know how my body behave, but it was very interesting to see my body such exhausted as never seen before. My fennix 3 is my best fella since it came to market. When was 1km to finish I told myself to speed up, but display showed the same numbers as before. One, two more tries, but Fenix showed me the cruelty of reality. I felt that im pushing it hard and flying like Bolt, but pace 4:50min/km was still there, not moving up or down. Mind was in different dimension for a while after finish. I couldnt talk, I couldnt move, I was just enjoyoing to be “not moving” a brathing calmly.
Thanks DC, you have your part my first triathlon as well.
did both road and mtb this weekend. :)
Just doing a chill ride with some friends!
I ran with a friend who hasn’t run in a long time. While the pace was slower than my usual, the company was great and the time flew by. Glad to have him back at it!
our adventure this weekend was to take 4 kids and a dog to a local campground, in the rain, while pregnant…i didn’t get a wink of sleep!
Bike stage race!!!
Hiking in GA
13 km trail run with my White shepherds and some short biking in the woods.
You can’t win if you don’t try, so let’s try again.
Enjoyed the beautiful (albeit HOT) San Diego weather and got in a run, bike, and swim–although waaaaaaaay shorter than an actual triathlon!!
On holiday in the Outer Hebrides. Alternating runs and rides with constant head wind
Joined a Duathlon Race and finished 2nd im my category (30-34yrs)!!
did Morgan Hill tri, and some beer repeats
Murph Workout: 1 mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats, followed by another 1 mile run.
Possibly 20-50 mile road bike ride, pending on weather.
My weekend adventures involve running, wine tasting and chasing around my 1.5-year-old daughter. Maybe not in that order.
10k run and an hour’s off-road biking followed by a 5 hour flight to the Middle East ?
Cycle, cycle, CYCLE!!!
Lots of cycling….
9mile run and London’s finest sunday roast dinner (in the basement of an ex Soho Brothel)
Long run in the rain!!
Does shopping for athletic adventures count?
This weekend I just hit the gym…thanks DC!
running ridge of Mala Fatra
Riding up to Laguna and spending the weekend with friends. Thanks!
5.5 hour ride on sat. 2 hour run on sunday
The coming weekend starts early for me, thursday I’m going to the Eifel in germay for 4 days of cycling. The weather is nice, the traffic is low and a beautifull scenery.
Open water swim and a run
I’m going to try and fit in a couple runs between coaching my kid’s soccer team, then get on the ice and play some father son ice hockey.
Finally getting back on my bike after a month of not riding at all ☺️
Going on a kayak/hiking trip :) much needed relaxation and quick escape from a hectic life!
14mi long run followed by a 3.5mi/900ft climb trail run near Pullman,WA. My ancient tech FR210 is falling apart from all the sweat (sorry about the visual)…
Long tri training in NY for the weekend!
I had my biggest training weekend yet. 45 miles swim, bike, run. Training for my first olympic distance triathlon next month!
I’m running in my 24th Bolder Boulder 10k.
I think I’ll go for a bike ride in the mountain near Torino… nothing special! :-)
An early morning run then a dip in the pool.
Did a trial run of last 20k for upcoming 50k race
I will be racing an Olympic Distance draft legal triathlon in Calaponte Italy.
Calaponte Tri week, puglia, Italy.
Running a long 32k in Nicosia – Cyprus
Saturday was an easy 6 mile run to a bakery with friends followed up by a swim at the pool. Sunday was an easy 20 mile mountain bike ride on some local fireroads.
Took the running clinic participants out on a run
I am building a fence! It’s athletic because I jackhammered out 4 2′ deep 12″ diameter concrete posts!
I’ve got an FTP test lined up and a long ride before Monday rolls in.
Having been inspired by my old training buddies who recently completed Ironman, I’m determined to get back to some pre-babies level of fitness and (hopefully) return to Ironman training. I’ve set up the trainer so hope to do some Zwifting and will jump in the pool before the toddler has his swimming lesson. No running yet as it’s pretty soon post-birth of my baby but if I can manage it I might throw in a walk with the Chariot and the kids. Would love a new multi sports watch as mine is pretty dated now!
Well, the weekend is over, but it was the Soapstone Trail Race for me on Sunday, and track meet for the kid on Saturday.
Continuing my recovery runs from my most recent marathon three weeks ago!
I will ride unknown paths in my home forest with the MTB! Just to enjoy nature!
I’ll be going for a bike ride, exploring some new roads around where I live, to fill in some more explorer tiles on my veloviewer!
I had bronchitis all last week so I was out of training until Saturday when I decided I was good enough to go our and rise some 40 miles…. bad idea….
Building for a big day of climbing on the bike in the near future.
Bike ride, Mazurialake district in Poland
A round of golf, a 10k road race and SUP with the wife before a Memorial Day partying!
Bike trip to the seaside with my hockey team mates.
Trail runs! May 21 race 5k at the NY NJ Trail Conference headquarters. They make the maps, and maintain many of the trails.
Then a leisurely trail run on Memorial Day weekend.
This weekend I am going to run a trail, twice. because Ragnar…
Pre-work run, nice and easy
Camping weekend – slept under a poncho.
Summer for good here in Greece so I’m just planning a 20k long fun-run with the rat-pack :-)
Try to do longest bike ride 60km!
Friday evening i had a nice swim, saturday was lazy and sunday I had a nice trip with my new bike – great weekend.
Getting some National Bike Challenge miles in and getting started into running more…next up will be swimming.
Track training on Vibram five fingers: not because I am going barefoot running and all but because three weeks after stepping on a strategically placed sharp lego block, I still can’t run in normal shoes…
Running through Point Lookout State Park in Maryland or Rock Creek Parkway in DC
5:30saturday ride along the Durban coast line, awesome sun up this time of year, no wind, beaut 25 degrees
SWIM>BIKE>RUN>BEER
This weekend – hoping to get in the longest long trail run and first bike ride since a nasty crash and broken bone.
Today 30km ride.
Sadly not much I think. Rebuilding our bathroom! Hope to sneak in a run though!
On holiday right now but will be getting a run in tomorrow.
Recovery weekend at a friend’s wedding!
Swim, Bike, Run. What else?
open water swim race on saturday and a long bike ride on sunday
Ran ran and ran. New marathon training cycle started. Whole new crowd of folks to coach.
An easy 8 km. run on Sunday.
Being on a training camp
On saturday easy bike and 7km below and above the threshold. On sunday swimming pool and easy running.
Eat a lot of food in Houston, TX.
Swimbikerun
Have been out running several meters along Alcudia beach in Mallorca.
Hoping to get in a bikerida soon.
Most likely a 3-4h bike ride with friends.
running a 5k. Thanks!
MTB at a trail centre this weekend, followed by an actual mountain after that!
Did a short bike ride on one day, and a short run on the other.
My athletic achievement for the weekend was to slog it out in the rain for an hour. Take your moments away from childcare at any time! :)
Recovery ride/run after my 1/8 triathlon of Maastricht!
Hard triple brick workout on Saturday and long run on Sunday… legs are fired!
This weekend I am running the trails in Bastrop, Tx in a much anticipated trip home. The goal is to knock out 8 miles and then hang with the family next to the BBQ pit.
I’m gonna do my first sub2 21k challenge!
50 K bike ride
Getting lost somewhere in the midlands in my bike.
Start running again after a long break do to a hectic past couple of months.
I’ll probably go for a sail.
Easy recovery run Saturday, hanging on to the boys to the best of my current ability for 12 miles Sunday morning.
Taking my nephews and niece camping!
Bike ride to the beach, an amazing sandwich, and losing a phone…but found it in the end! Beautiful weather here in Seattle!
Long run in Reggio Emilia, Italy!
Did a half ironman
Park Run with the 2 kids in the buggy and then a family cycle ride and a picnic in the sun.
Hill climb race this weekend.
Training for IMCDA 70.3!