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.
Just hangin’ out!
A run, a swim and some board gaming
I’ll be racing a criterium in newton.
Going for a long ride.
Sat
6:00am 5k in the pool in 73:20.
10:45am Coach my sons soccer team.
Afternoon nap.
4pm Stretch and core work.
Sun
4:30am 40km road ride in 80 mins.
7:00am 2k recover in the pool.
8:30 Auskick with my son’s local club.
Nap.
Afternoon spent running around with kids . . . beach, soccer, cycling or maybe just playing with lego.
STRETCH
Planning on doing some running along jungle trails in the next few weeks!
First outdoor ride(s) of the season.
Training for another Tri. Brick day this week. Long ride up Right hand Fork and a 10k.
Running as far as I can with a messed upknee
Swim, bike, run and then relax!
Did Reach The Beach (charity ride for American Lung Association). Rode to start for a total of 148km in 5hrs. Good day, sun, low wind, good tempo and all the toys worked (Edge 520, Forerunner 735xt, and Powertap).
Jémez 50 Miler Mountain Run!
We were camping. My exercise was walking to the cooler to get a beer. Oh and I went kayaking.
A long bike ride and a swim in prep for a 70.3
Freeride mountain biking on Vancouver’s North Shore.
From 7th Secret to Leppard, Crinkum and Kirkford down to the Griffens.
Awesome.
This weekend got eaten by some technical work stuff having a failure cascade, so I only got a short run in. Next weekend, weather permitting, hopefully both some cycling and more running in addition to a bunch of yard work.
Doing a first run after weeks of injury and grief related idle time
bike riding with my wife !! Hopefully Smokies!
I went on a two hour easy run
Driving up to Bonn for a short break, options limited to some runs.
Not this weekend, but next weekend we’re heading to Sydney to do the Bundeena to Otford costal walk. 26km of hiking along one of Australia’s most beautiful coastlines.
Here’s hoping we spot some whales!
Rode 110km per day for 3 days this weekend in Rocky Mountains, Alberta,Canada this weekend.
Went for a run with my triplet teens, my advantage is rapidly diminishing…
did a ride of 112km on my road bike! aweseome.
Attempting to fit in a couple of runs in NYC around 3 kids, including a 4 week old!
Athletic adventures? Simple plain 10k workout after i completed my vegetable garden…summer is coming
Riding the road bike in the morning, mtn bike in the afternoon
Road cycling!!
Just slowly trying to get back in shape with some easy running (pending my bruised ribs healing).
More PT for a torn meniscus, and spending time with the kiddo (picnic at the zoo?)
running da trail…
cross run!
Building mileage running!
Trailrun
an easy weekend long run after last weekend’s race
Training runs for upcoming marathon and some pedal time on the old ProFlex 856 mtb!
Testing my legs in a club race!
I’m riding to the coast with my 5 year old son on the tandem! 40 miles and 3500′ of climb!
After returning from a trip to Norway this Saturday and attempting to race a 10-miler on Sunday, next weekend will probably bring a long run on Saturday and a bike ride on Sunday morning.
Riding Cypress Mountain and Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver with friends :)
Ill be camping this weekend and even though rest and recuperation is as important as any workout I might run a short 10k or two.
Rest weekend: elliptical for 1hr each day
Two long aerobic rides and a short 4K run for some recovery :)
Slowly getting back into running after a bit of down time. Plus riding the electric skateboard around, but I wouldn’t really call that athletic. :p
3 decent bike rides, nice weather is finally here!
Chasing 5 year old on his bike the with three year old on balance bike on old rail trails. Next is the lacrosse championships
Road bike ride on the American River Trail
Finally back into running following some minor injuries!
Went for a memorial club cycle for a friend that passed away 1 year ago whilst doing what he loved, cycling. A local cycle shop has been kind enough to create a european style mountain marker, and we’ve marked a local hill with the monument and his name… It’s also a strava segment too ;) Fitting tribute to a dedicated cyclist, who helped bring many into the world of cycling. Kudos.
Tri-Training mode: swim, bike, run & repeat
120Km bike ride
This weekend is my 20k trail race in Metsovo, expecting loads of rain and mud! Great playground
I’ve got a long week-end ahead of me. Some trail running is going to happen!
Riding at Longchamps and Vallée de Chevreuse.
I think I’ll do an easy 8km run
Racing a half marathon in Ventura this weekend!
Just flew home from Cape Breton, NS to Calgary, AB. Took a day off, then had a great swim and today a run to the pool;swim; and run home. Awesome weekend. A duathalon in 2 weeks so just starting to taper.
Only 15km btt and 500m swim this weekend in Girona, Catalunya, this weekend. Are u all @ sea otter!!!!!
Doing a couple of runs – maintaining fitness while I work out what race to do next – and a bike ride with the family!
Run, bike ride, love.
Saturday morning river loop around the river!
Half marathon training! And hopefully some cross training at the gym and yoga studio as well.
I get to take it easy with some easy runs and some family bike rides as I am running a marathon next week.
Going to the Tonto Natural Bridge along with a short run paired with a long bike ride the day before!
Actually, no sports this Weekend. I will have been running, cycling and swimming Monday thru Wednesday. Thus gives me the right to relax on this long weekend. (Thursday is holiday, Friday – day off) and spend it Camping somewhere.
Went on a 35 mile road bike ride with my 11 year old son. He’s getting quicker!
Finishing my first week of training and spending a lot of time in the water.
Enjoyed another beautiful weekend in California hiking in Tahoe.
Hopefully a bike ride and a hike with the family.
Just coming off the Pole, Peddle, Paddle race this past weekend up next is some cycling around Walla Walla this weekend. A new gps unit sure would help :-)
Doing a 5k charity run for kids and trying to get consistent again with my bike training.
Triathlon sprint distance
Sunday: my first ever half marathon (Manchester)
Some swimming, mountainbiking and running. weather predictions are excellent :-)
Was just a short ride with my TT-Bars remounted.
Running and biking with friends.
Easy run, after leg injury
Will be out running, getting those miles in, in preparation for my half marathon in October.
Recovering from an illness.
Should go for some reco/easy 1h ride on saturday to prepare for the mtb race I’ll have on Sunday: last race of the local mtb League and I’ll have the chance to rank myself as the 2nd of the champioship of this Spring!
Swimming with my daughters
Just some recovery at the late evening on the Trainer. On the Weekend i’m always to busy for bigger things, because i’m a chef in a restaurant.
I’m up to a long walk with my wife and our infant girl in the parks around.
Hopefully the Bay Run in Sydney on Sunday as cycling on Saturday will be replaced by a wine lunch….
Training for another ultramarathon. My last ultra was more than a year ago.
I going jogging at the Eno State Park in the Dirty Durham!!
Will start swimming and biking over the weekend. Just taking a break after a hundred mile trail run 3 days ago
I was dreaming of a powermeter once again, so now I’m dreaming to win here :)
will do some stretching and strength exercises
Just the average running. A few kms as usual.
run, run and run. It might as well be row, row row my boat.
Walking with dogs and baby – later on going to gym.
Triathlon competition sprint race!
I want one for my anniversary!
Training on weekends? Not really, just chasing my daughters, which is much more fun!
Love running in de woods this weekend with the warmth.
Run & Row! With my new FR935…which Garmin already sent me as a replacement for my defective FR935XT ! Great customer support! (the FR935 now has rowing profiles!)
I have my first triathlon of the season this weekend!
cycling, cycling, cycling
I managed to squeeze in a MTB ride after getting back from a family vacation.