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.
Got some riding in on Zwift since winter is still in full force
Ran a 10K each on Saturday and Sunday. Now tapering (aka lazying and eating like a glutton) for London.
I did my first run in 3 weeks after suffering a stress fracture in my foot. Unfortunately it’s not all better. :(
Mountain biking in the Galisteo Basin Preserve in Santa Fe New Mexico. Spring is here. Fun ride with friends
searched for a strava segment near my place, went for the KOM, got it, came back home :)
14 mile progression run…left me feeling reasonable about hitting my target time
Rode the HSBC UK Cycling Series Race 1 CHORLEY Grand Prix Course followed by a run on Saturday. Then followed the actual race on Sunday.
Just a short walk this weekend. Trying to get motivated to get back on the bike and some gadgetry might just do it!
Recovering from slipped discs in my neck so a half an hour walk at the beach was actually rather athletic (for me)
Went camping, with hiking and ocean swimming planned. Planned, but not actually done due to a storm that was much worse than predicted.
I ran a 10K Saturday morning; faded in an attempt to run even splits. Need more guts!
1st group ride of the year!
I heroically threw the ball for my dog and pushed my toddler on a swing!
Won some cross country ski races and took some koms
5k PR!
Took a long walk and saw an upside-down Texas flag.
Ran a 22,5 km long run on Saturday :)
Pinched nerve…..recovery
This weekend I only did a short bike ride with my daughter: average speed of 11km/h, :-))
Well… um….. Mmmmmm….. Nope. Didn’t do anything
Seattle Seahawks 12k Run!
Desastrous not-so-long run. Went out to hard in somewhat warmish and humidish conditions. Bonked real bad after 13 miles.
Split and racked 4 face cords of lumber for outdoor fires this summer! Nice little cardio workout once you get into a rhythm! Fun little 2 mile run afterwards to get the legs involved as well.
A recovery ride on the weekend. Gentle 60kms and some coffee. Only a few weeks to go until Busselton half Ironman.
Spring is here, outdoor yardwork time again!
Run along the coast line at dawn. Best sight seeing!!
Hike around my new property, discovering all the goodness of a 40 acre patch of land.
Running in the snow here in Wisconsin. Where is spring??
Well, I was working over the weekend (nightshift) but on Monday I did a 1.5km open water swim and saw a sting ray dancing with a crab ? which was awesome and hilarious. The crab was up on the surface (which they never do) and this ray was just chasing him around in circles from underneath.
BRICK on Saturday. 30 mile ride, 2 miles off bike.
Sundays ride was brutal, 63 miles, 2400′ of elevation and a 15 mph headwind for the majority of the ride had me whipped. but in the end it was a great training day with friends.
oh and thanks for the the give a way I really want a power meter……
rob
Solo ride to the beach on one of the few sunny days we’ve had!
Spent the weekend walking around at Busch Gardens – that counts, right? :D
Ran 12km in preparation for half marathon race next month
Last weekend was 5 Dams Challenge in Perth, WA.
205km with over 2500m climbing. Would have been better if I had done any significant training. Brutal day in the saddle!
Injury blues, so just relaxing and recovering.
Did a 60k ride followed by a 7k run with the tri club!!! Need a 935 to track some stuff
Had a nice 34 mile road ride with head winds both directions. :-)
Too cold to ride on the sub freezing weather so instead was a caddie for my son’s golf tourney (because that makes sense nowhere) :)
10 mile training run with my friend who’s running marathon in a few weeks. ?
Took 2nd place in a trail 50k. Not bad for an old guy!
Spent the weekend chasing two stir crazy kids that are learning to ride their bikes.
Proud to report that their were no major injuries.
Hey Ray – Recovery Sunday after a 60 mile indoor ride Saturday. Ran 1 mile and my HR pinged over max. Turned around and walked home. What will I get with $500? Recovery Boots, HR Monitor, or maybe some bionic lungs. In any case, it will be well spent.
I got Monday off for Patriots Day, so instead of doing something good, I sat around and watched the marathon on TV
Went for a run on a bush train in Sydney. Somehow managed to run 7km in the middle of a city with 4 million people and see only 1 person on foot.
A leisurely jaunt around the local wildlife in the amazing 5″ of snow in April.
Long pavement pounding run in feeezing April temps!
I raced a 10km road race and trained for an upcoming mtb race and swim run swim race.
I need a new trainer because I can’t go out for rides anymore because I need to look after my daughter and I am getting fat.
ski ski ski
Got back onto sufferfest after falling ill for a couple weeks. Time to get the power back up.
Long run to get back in shape for the marathon next month!!
A long run for my marathon preparation. Race coming up en of May.
I took a group of my students to the indoor rock gym.
Unfortunately only had time for a short zwift ride and some weight lifting
Fat Tire Bike ride on frozen Michigan roads with 20 mph wind and sleet!
Moving lots of heavy boxes up the stairs!
Many kilometers of walking in 40 degree C weather.
13 miles in Boston Marathon like conditions in Chicago. Kudos to all the finishers on Monday.
Got in a few training rides on pig farm, 3 bears, Pinehurst, grizzly peak
Did a double with 20 on Friday and 13 on Saturday. Training for 50k.
Falling Runners and Police Cars Ride
16 mile run on beautiful country roads as girlfriend and friends raced a 50k.
I made it out for a run, despite the snow and ice! Can’t wait for the warmer weather to get here.
Tried out the new Zwift D’Huez, cool stuff!
I spent the weekend in Sydney, Australia. Where although I didn’t run or ride, I walked the city flat!
Is going to the pool with my 7 years old child athletic?
Last BRICK workout before first A race of the year! 2h10 indoor bike ride with 1h10 of Race Pace -> 14km run transition with 4’45/km pace!
Did a 14 km walk on Saturday and a 40 km Mountain bike ride on Sunday in preparation for the 160 km long Brisbane Valley Rail trail ride this weekend
It was a recovery weekend for me, so I could be fresh for Alpe du Zwift on Monday.
I chased three girls all under 7 around a children’s museum. That counts right?
Plus work. Sacking feed. 50 lb sack for 4 hours.
90 minutes on the trainer is not cutting it for Dirty Kanza training. I need a power meter for my gravel bike to make up for the extremely late arrival of spring.
Deftly avoided water attacks during Songkran.
I did mobility work on lower limbs and lots of walking post shoulder surgery
Long ride in Chevreuse
I did a short run with sone friends, and some short sprints! I hope I win this giveaway.
I ran the Boston Marathon in the wind and rain.
A slow 2,5 k run, trying to recover from shin splints that kept me form running since January.
Still snowing up here in Edmonton, AB, treadmill workout it is.
Did a 30 mile ride over the Queensboro, in Central Park, and along the Hudson River
I walked to the beach, a few times. Ran back to grab a surfboard for the kids and extra beer not for the kids.
(Was on recovery from a 4 hour trail run earlier in the week.)
30km of cross country skiing a mix of skate and classic
Still recovering from knee surgery (ACL and meniscus), but got to take my brace off this weekend! i am very much looking forward to returning to swimming in the next week.
Was sick this weekend so didn’t run or ride, just Netflix and video games.
The ride, rush a 35 mile ride to try to beat the rain… and we did.
Ride along the west coast highway
Hub overhaul, putting some 32c gravelking tires on and headed for unknown forest paths.
Nothing crazy, couple walks around the North with my wife and puppy. I did go for a bike this morning though…
Ran three miles, coached a 8U softball game and did some active stretching!
I cleaned out my fridge, you may not think of this as being an athletic activity but it was.
Yes please!!
Did a charity ride in pretty aweful weather. Went from site to site for pastries. Ride in honor of a young chef who was killed in a biking accident. Be safe pls
Went on a 40 mi hilly ride. Something the legs weren’t quite ready for yet! :/
It was definitely not a rest week end. On Saturday I did an almost 15 hour hike that needed a Garmin and a cellphone with Endomondo to complete. Went from 1800 m.a.s.I to 3700 m.a.s.I.
My legs still hurt
9 mile tempo run and a round of golf.
Had a 4 hrs sufferfest session followed by ROTB of 30 min. Backed it up next day with 2 hrs run.
A long hike with the dogs
Long run in the rain.
Manage to run 8km with my father after a complete month of rest.
Pacing the zumbro 100 in a blizzard. One of the top 20 biggest snowfall ever in Minnesota.