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.
Was a simple weekend, morning run then sightseeing in Stockholm + good food, and then hiking on Sunday
A trip to Sweden to attend a wedding, maybe even squeeze in a run if im lucky.
I’m up to the hardest athletic advanture of ’em all: revover by basically doing nothing.
Long rowing training of 36 kilometers in beautiful sunny weather on Sunday.
I’ll be in California, so I’m looking forward to a nice beach and trail run around the lagoons north of San Diego.
Orienteering in La Arboleda, Vizcaya, Spain! Then, with Quickroute & my Fenix 2 I will know where I went wrong… :-)
Recreational cycling with the family… Not much of a workout… but mostly fun.
I’m starting running every morning at least 5k. (Is not that much, but is a beginning)
Spent the weekend hiking and I tried zipline (not really a sport but fun nevertheless).
mix of cycling and swimming
Continue the openwater season 2017 of course! The local water temps just passed 12C :-D
I ran the first Stirling Scottish Marathon through beautiful scenery, with fantastic crowds and finishing below a castle. Fabulous stuff!
I will be making the most of the UK bank holiday this weekend by cycling in the countryside
Just the first MTB race of the season.
Recovery weekend so I was carrying building material instead of running.
Running near Bordeaux training for the “10 km l’Equipe” race.
Fitness (spinning, Bodypump and workout), maybe some biking (time…) and a 3 day father-son camp with many sports activities !
I will be running the 20km race in Brussels
I’m doing my first ride after knee surgery a couple of weeks ago! :D
Last long run before Comrades
3 hours out on the bike enjoying some hills
Went for a run through the local woods and canals near Leeds, England. Got the Triathlon ‘bug’ and striving for improvements after my first race.
I had my first triathlon race!
This week-end is time to relax and recover from the long nights with my sick son.
3 day bank holiday tour with friends. Sunny miles!
Granfondo WHY SPORT in Valdagno, Italy!
a bit of running and cycling
Running Ultrabalaton with my team.
As I’ve been away from my bike on vacation, mostly swimming and some running (and lots of beer based recovery drinks)
Would be great for my gym classes and running on Margaret island! :)
My atlhetic adventure were a typical training run and a Small 5K running race.
Just easy!! ;)
Bike Tour in the Alps
Just the next training sessions preping for the marathon in Valencia later this year
Next weekend, orienteering for me!
Bunch ride with some friends.
I was on a bike trip with my wife. We went to a village near our beautiful town Velenje.
I had a weekend in Wales, first kite surfing and still trying to nail my first back loop, then on sunday taking to the waves on a paddleboard with my 10 year old Border Terrier on board. He loves it more than me!! Good times :)
15 mile run at easy pace
I won a private beer mile race. I’m pretty happy with my 8:19, almost a minute faster than last years time.
I’d go hiking to the woods
This weekend I’ll rest, as the last one on Prima Evadare race due to crash I damaged my bike… Now it needs repairs…
Cycling to a campsite about 30m away to introduce my toddler to camping!
Continuing my training for the Maratona dles Dolomites!
30k run during our weekend breakaway
Relay race – bike part on 1/4 triathlon – average speed 34,5 km/h on road race.
I went on a 25 km hike around some local lakes. The weather was gorgeous and not too hot.
Doing a 70.3 race rehearsal ahead of the Grand Rapids Michigan Tri 70.3 in a few weeks…
Nice and easy run after yesterday last long run before Stockholm Marathon.
I’ll be just getting out for a few training rides this weekend. AF Cycling Classic comes to DC in a few weeks and I’m going for Gold!!
A nice long run trough the hills in Portugal
I played the last football tournament for this this season. Coming weeks I have got crossfit and MTB planned!
Weekend: Long rides in preparation for Raid Pyrenean.
My lovely LBS upgraded my riding position and everything component-wise (bar the seatpost) on my 2008 vintage Cervelo RS. Awesome difference!
Nice and easy 10k run :)
laps of richmond park
Continue my plan of running every day this year for at least 30 mins! Adventuring through bush trails both days.
Sad to say, I’ll be icing the bursitis in my heel in hopes of getting back out soon.
Going to try and get back out for a run after far too long – probably nothing fancy, just a gentle 5k.
On the 20th I participated on the first edition of the Schleck Gran Fondo.
Plan is to swim OWS 1 mile practice swim Saturday, then local sprint tri on Sunday. But a lot of this is contingent on what the vet says about my dog (she had an ultrasound) and what the my dermatologist finds in his exam of me. Fingers crossed for both my dog and me
A long group ride on the riverbanks near Hamburg and the 20 km run Strava achievement. A lot of Giro watching! Forza!
Watching my 10 year old daughter participate in a 2 days triathlon camp followed by a race on Sunday!
I hit the trails in London with my running buddy for the first time in 4 years. Good times!
Not much of a sports person myself but my husband is and I know he would love to get this watch.
Hope to get in a long run. Thanks DCR!
Will be heading out to a hike in the Georgia mtns.
Going from marathon to 5k: gotta do gym+intervals
I’ll run on saturday to celebrate my 23rd birthday :)
New PB in 10k running race.
A right reason for winning this giveaway :-P
I’ll run the Feldberg uphill this weekend.
I’m stuck working the entire weekend
Short recovering run and lots of rest!
Most of our tri club participated in the Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 this weekend. Was a beautiful course!
12 km trail run on Saturday
10k run with my wife in Zurich because we want to take part in the Authentic Marathon!
hiking and trail running awaits.
I ran 71 km this weekend. My legs are still a bit sore!
athletic adventure : discover new island ( sardaigne ) by run (when my family will just discover the pool and sea i think :) )
56 mile bike + 7mi run Sunday. 2mi pool swim Monday.
Horsey Hundered – Lexington Kentucky
On Saturday I intend to do a nice cycling training as I’ve missed too many already and the race is coming pretty soon in 3 weeks. On Sunday unfortunately I’ll be participating in a non-cycling event. I’ll be kayaking down Krka river during its annual “Let’s go down on Krka river” where there are about 450 participants each year all starting at the same time. It’s more of a fun event without a competition, but gives you enough training for upper body, some blisters on your hands and a lot of water all over your body especially when tumbling over on some waterfalls. All in all it’s going to be an adventurous weekend. Oh no… That’s going to be my next weekend which meas that this coming weekend will just be boring. Some cycling with hopefully more climbing than usual, lawn mowing, listening to my wife’s nagging, playing with kids, maybe some running and hopefully enjoying some nice weather.
Nada – still nursing an injured hip
MTB ride with a work colleague
Local (Aalborg, Denmark) 1/2 marathon with the wife
This week I did some cycling at the Bromont velodrome.
A fun experience!
I will be competing at moogerah dam in a waterski race event, will be wearing my suunto ambit 3 to track my – heart rate, speed and overall distance. Also with my 2xu compression pants to keep my legs from getting to pumped. Thank you for letting me share ??
Off for some mountainbiking in Morzine…
“This” weekend being last weekend, I stayed in the hospital. No training, unfortunately. But now recovering and looking forward to going back to cycling and running in this awesome weather!
Just bought my daughter a new MTB yesterday so we will go hit the trails for her first off road ride!
Long recovery weekend
I went for a roll around the surf coast trails in Victoria Australia on my mountain bike!
Will be pace making for my sister in the Edinburgh half marathon Sunday, kindof regretting agreeing to it as it’s a pretty flat course and I reckon I’m in good enough shape for a PB if I was running it for real…
This weekend I’ll be doing rafting around Cesky Krumlov, a beautiful historic town in Czech Republic.
Strong man yard competition…. digging holes, moving a ton of dirt, laying paver bricks, and hefting mulch bags. if I got anything left after that, I may go on a short tempo run.
Get out on some of the trails in Philly and soak in the good weather.
This past weekend, I enjoyed a nice recovery run while catching up with an old friend!
7 mile run including 4 miles tempo.
Killed my legs with a long trail run in the mountains on Sunday!
Long run while pushing my baby in the stroller
I’ll be doing a marathon training long run!
Mountainbiking with the kids
Ramping up my cycling miles
Heading back home for a run with my dad who was also my high school coach. Trying to teach him about technology in training and your blog of course.