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 ran 5k AS a recovery run.
Discovered a perfect nature loop for running just a block away from my normal running loop (perfect since I’m not too thrilled about my current running loop).
Run
Gooseberry Mesa!
Took it easy and biked my daughter downtown for the French Quarter Festival. Then biked the 5 miles back home.
Running with hayfever
I rode on the HT on saturday then went out for a sunny run on sunday.
I spent the weekend playing hockey…with that Canadian funky money
Upright stationery bike session for 25 mins, first exercise since car crash, will take it up from there.
Getting in my last runs before the Gettysburg North-South marathon next week.
Road the bike to tennis match, and road home in case that wasn’t obvious
Went mountain biking with my son.
Challenge Rome Italy 70.3 ;)
Rode a little of the central California coast with some new friends.
I did active recovery.
Created a new 23 mile loop. It has a really fun hill. And they say Kansas is flat!
Hill repeats on the bike on Saturday (preparing for Wildflower in three weeks!) and a series of short, intense brick workouts on Sunday; first multisport race of the season is next Sunday, and I’m just getting over injury, so it’s a fine line I’m walking between “getting into race shape” and “avoiding a relapse.”
I developed a love for the bike trainer thanks to a back injury that means no road riding for me for a little bit – pretty happy with my silver lining though!
Did 11 slow miles, my last long run before my 2nd half marathon, I’m pretty sure I won’t beat my last time.
Cross-country skiing!
Belgian Wafer Ride
Cyceled with the Kids 30 km.
Finally had my first rides outside on the bike, just over an hour on Saturday and two on Sunday! It’s been 167 + days of daily minimum temperatures below 0C here
700 mile round trip in the car to visit Grandma! WOO!
Due to the heavy rains in the PNW, I had to cut my Sunday morning 5K run short because the lake we do the last mile around was flooded.
Cycled my longest ride ever (238km) from Torino to San Remo.
Did my first long ride of this season
I started my road racing season this last weekend. I’ve been itching to get out there but had to delay the start of the season because of injury. Up and rolling now!
Rode from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, NM in 30+ mph winds with gusts in the 60 mph. Stopped at the Santa Fe brewery for some of the best IPA beer in the world. Took the Rail Runner back. All in all an awesome riding weekend.
Road cycling adventure with over 3500 feet of climbing (in just 35 miles) in the beautiful Malibu, California mountains. Preparing for a Gran Fondo.
short run, still recovering
Had a great bike fit at Fitmi! In Ann Arbor! Jessica is the best
I drove three hours through an ice storm. Not exactly athletic but it certainly got my heart rate up.
2k swim, 1.5 hrs on trainor, followed by 5k indoor run – spring is taking its time arriving this year.
Open water swimming in Tahiti!
Only a 6km run for me this weekend – still getting back into the swing of things after illness and my own international move derailed regular athletic endeavors!
Walking my 2 month old son to sleep, that counts as exercise now right?
MTB at Fountainhead Park
Gaelic Football training for a tournament coming up this weekend.
I’m supporting my wife have a baby – so not my athletic adventure – but hers… Reckon it will harder than any ironman =)
I took it easy this time. A lot of walking but nothing too sporty except for fixing the bike probably. Will try to compensate during the week.
Did three hours on the trainer before hitting the wall.
//Kristian
Ran the Boston Marathon for the first time!
Two weeks ago I raced a half and had my worst performance ever. So last weekend I did my vengeance run. Even though the effort was only medium hard and the ground was partly slippery, I managed the 21,1km 9 minutes faster than during the race.
I was supposed to have a bike race but it got cancelled because of snow. I ended up doing a race on Zwift instead.
A 90 minute Rogaine. I’d like to say I ran it but that would be stretching the truth – although there was that nice downhill bit towards the end . . .
Went swimming for the first time in months!
Changed and tested 165 mm crank arms on a ride. Ended with saddle sores.
Took the dog for a walk
The usual weekend ride, includes breakfast
Chasing a toddler. That counts, right?
A very nice controlled easy long run with a few added hills to spice things up
Did a sightseeing trip by running around the city from one end to another.
Did my first run after nearly one month with the flu. #backonfeet
Easy 5 mile run after a tough Zwift ride! Training for Arizona 70.3!
I had a test halfmarathon in preparation to my next marathon. I did not have the time to participate in an official event but never the less was motivated enough to set a new personal best :-).
Ran 18k through the Theodosian walls of Constantinople, around the blue mosque, and to our favorite breakfast spot by the spice bazaar in Istanbul.
2 days of mountainbiking and then a stomach infection after drinking water from an infested spring on the trail….
I raced my first TT in Allamuchy, NJ.
Running in the rain again. Because no space for a treadmill.
Stage 5 on Zwift, followed by a two hour run on Sunday. Both days I had a concert to play in! Needless to say, but yesterday was rather a lazy day
6hrs of base miles
Two hours of squash on Saturday followed by a very stiff run on Sunday.
I won he squash though
Easy 3 hour bike ride.
Ran a little over 10km, getting ready for Sunday’s marathon (in Namur, not London or Antwerp).
Getting ready for half marathon in 2 months and trying to also go to the gym 3 times a week… “brick” workouts with squats and then running 10k are HARD!
We got snowed on… Hopped on the erg for a 3x2000m session.
I went downhill skiing in the still cold and snowy Canadian Rockies.
Had a wonderful race this weekend, 5k, came in third and managed to set the personal best which was standing for a year!
Linz Marathon but unfortunately did not finish
Recovering from nasty sinus infection so my dog took me on a few brisk speed walks
Saturday: 76 km bike event with my wife.
Sunday: 25 km run
Je refait du fractionné court (6×400) : ça décrasse !!
Soccer!
This past weekend I rode the Tierra Bell 100 km route in preparation for the Primavera Century on 4/22. Here’s the Strava link link to strava.com
It was the perfect day for a ride. The morning started cool and the afternoon warmed up. The last leg of the route was at a slight incline, it was the hardest climb of the day!
Chased and wrestled the kids. Walked a lot and also used bike share.
20 km run with good friend
I did a very early 2hour run in prep for Comrades Marathon
First ride outside after a long winter of Zwift and Tacx. It feels weird…
Lots of xc skiing and downhill skiing in Finnish Lappland!
Friends from Baltimore were in The Netherlands and went to a football/soccer match. The next morning I had to run off some of the junkfood so I did a 9k run. Oh… and ofcourse some Netflix
Weekend as business as usual, gardening, some short distance biking and running of course. It was sunny, but windy…
Burning the calories of my father’s birthday party
Raced in the Front Range Cycling Classic Road race @ the Air Force Academy in Men’s CAT3-4 this weekend.
Just a 4hr mtb ride. But a great one!
Assembled our Peanuts Thule jogger and dodged rain storms on walks. It was too wet and windy to tempt me onto the bike. I did rebuild my gravel bike as a 1x too… Maybe that counts.
We love to go to Runner club to participate with group of friends
Taking it easy to let me ankle recover for a bit longer.
I had a nice ride through the Dutch and Belgian countryside. For the first time this year in summer kit.
Wandered around Paris eating, telling myself I was still recovering from the marathon the weekend before.
Hi there,
The weather wasn’t very nice this weekend in Chicagoland so I just racked up some miles and vertical feet virtually on Zwift.
Thanks a bunch for what you do,
Jimbo
Did a 40k time trial on Sunday
I rode in my first century in over three decades
Tested my new trail running shoes in the Buda Hills with a 20k run.
First run outdoors after winter!
Exceptionally great morning ride on SUP with friends !
Swapped to 165 mm crank arms and tested them out on a ride. Ended with saddle sores.
Does it count that I had a weekend of running… errands? Oh and gardening can be pretty intense… I am planning to go for a nice run next weekend to kick off marathon training!
Had a two day core workout due to moving and changing summer tires to multiple cars.
A group ride on Saturday, followed by a solo ride on Sunday.