Heads up – Massive Sports Tech Holiday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals 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.
Did a nice MTB ride on the newest MTB trail in the NL.
After being injured I went on my first run outside in 3 weeks. Bye bye 16h a week crosstrainer/tacx, hello running shoes
A short run on saturday and a long ride on sunday (with a little sunburn) to prepare for the next objective :)
Running and biking at the Costa Brava, in Tossa de Mar. Weather could have been better on Saturday
Ran 15 km loop on Saturday around city reservoir. First long run of the year.
Ran a 10km PR on Sunday. Ran into the Durban Marathon, man those guys were kicking it!
Did an FTP test on my bike trainer on Saturday and had a much more exhausting garden work day on Sunday.
I haven’t done any athletic stuff this weekend but made a snowman in Portugal’s highest mountain, so that must count to something :)
Zwifting while watching the rain outside :D
15k trail run on icy trails.
Chasing my twins (who are only 2 years old) in order to take his medicines because they are ill … I made great sprints chasing them :-)
New gear, new fun! Thanks :-)
Hiking and river tracing (with far too much falling) ?
Entered my first road race and came 1st in category.
I lead our clubs new member ride for what should have been a 30 mile ride, got lost and did 50 miles!
Did my first run after the 1/4 Marathon of Rotterdam and unintentionally I was running a fartlek (my least favorite training) Felt great when I got home! Super run!
first hiking after the winter – still lot of snow up in the mountains
Run, run, run and run some more…
Run in halfmarathon
On Saturnday I went for a run and on my 3 km “as fast as you can” I tried to reach a girl in front of me… without succeeding! She was damn fast!
Intervals up the local mountain.
Finally some decent weather in the UK so squeezed in a couple of outdoor rides. For one of them I was even wearing short sleeves and had the dark lenses in my oakleys!
Did some mountain biking in the surroundings of Bergen, Netherlands.
A short 40k ride on saturday and a 100k group ride on sunday
Cheers
Paul
Had a great 35 mile Sunday ride on Okinawa, Japan with a few friends and a new rider. Love getting new riders onto two wheels and helping them along in their adventure.
First run for a while
Just visited Slap Slavica and made a walk of 30 Minutes. Then went to a marathon. A marathon full uf beer and burgers…
Long run and long bike.
Hum… I will ride a century next Sunday, first of the year.
I did a 15 km saturday morning walk, and 1 hour riding my bike trainer in the afternoon.
First spring outdoor bike ride :)
Did a 100-mile, 80+ people group ride to a nearby minor Alps pass, an event accompanying a more extreme one that tackles 3 days of cycling and a ski tour up a famed mountain.
Raced in Shanghai (with Merc F1) and at the same time combined a few hours cylcing, some running and some swimming around the race weekend. Boom!! Until you think of how our race went…
Just a quick 5 miles of intervals this weekend.
Hi Ray,
Going this weekend to do an ATV marathon, and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna hurt… lol
Cheers
Pedro Vicente
Brought my son on my bike to the park to feed the ducks :)
Went for a run on saturday and a swim followed by a nice long hike on sunday. Yay, spring weather!
25-30 km
Hi Ray,
I did hard Wattbike session and it hurt, that’s why Monday wasn’t so bad ;)
Trainer Rd Saturday 38 miles around Varese Sunday
A delightful run in glorious weather on Saturday with a coffee and cake stop. Sunday was a light bike to test the rear end after the battering it took at Paris-Roubaix last weekend!
Cycled both days :)
85 km ride through the Flemish Ardennes … cobbles & hills a go-go
Just a relaxing 10km after two weeks off because of flu.
Did a fun 1km XC relay with my club mates.
Weekend was about cleaning the road back, de-grease and re-grease…no run this weekend as next weekend I have a HM race.
Ski mountaineering for the first part and a solid trail run for the second. Yes, super super nice weather here in the alps:)
Oh man, whole week is one long story of working, training and parentship.
i.e.
Wake up at 4:30 bring wife to work, back to home. Try to do workout but my son have different idea for morning :D
Next bring my boy to school. Go to work for 10h, back for 2h workout on turbo. Sleep at 11pm.
Well my weekend involved picking up a Boardman CX Team to replace my heavy old hybrid for commuting and general cycling around the town I live in. My Giant Defy probably is not built for the parks and towpaths I ride on so this will do. Rides great, needs a tyre change and maybe a wheel change (Mavix XM319 rims) because they are really heavy. So that was my weekend, starting to dial in a new ride
So, living in Amsterdam now, try to read this:
Afgelopen zondag een zware tocht gehad op de MTB. Niet omdat hij zwaar was, maar omdat ik niet fit was.
Fast walked with my wife at Trail View State Park. It was our visit at this park ever.
It was kind of activity/recovery weekend. As my beloved was out for whole weekend i was adventuring with my six years old.
Lots of walking and than some running on the playground on saturday.
On sunday again lots of walking and running after his scooter, and then swimming pool. Maybe not a lot of swimming but sure a lots of stairs to go on that water slide over and over again…
Downside is that probably It was a little to much for him, so he didn’t go to kindergarten after the weekend. Not that he would be very upset with it…
Ran my 1st race of 2018 having fought off a 5 month period of the CBA’s. Slowest 10k in 5 years but good to be back.
Hey,
I ran a 10k race.
Afterwards streicht to the airport for a Business trip…
Some MTB Intervals
Went for a quick ride 40K on my bike after a period of injury.
Felt great :)
Mini sprint triathlon in the Kuala Lumpur Hotel gym, sweaty.
A short recovery run during the weekend. Then I had some booze with my friends to recover even more. Perfect weekend :)
Tapering for the Madrid Marathon on the 22nd. Just 10 km at a leisurely pace :)
I did a 2:30 bike ride – a detour caused me to be absolutely lost for 30 minutes of´it.
marathon ZVL on Saturday
First spring day, long run by the sea , 11k.
Went on a ride on my commuter bike because my roadie is in another city and I haven’t picket it up yet :'(
We did some mtb training
I run 7 km. I am back after injury
Did the usual Saturday morning shop ride plus additional loop at the end to ramp up miles getting ready for summer charity rides
10k run with my 2 year old in the stroller. Good exercise!
TBH doing anything with my 10month yr old can feel athletic.
It’s all about Crossfit for me on the weekend! ;)
First outdoor road ride of the year!
did 42k bike ride with 9% hill climb
Taking my own little peanut out for a cycle.
Did a 15km recovery run after having worked for 6 hours in my garden to get it ready for the summer.
Prepping for IM Cairns after having the worlds longest flu… by doing a cold, hilly time trial. Nearly everything was miserable about this adventure, but the exertion managed to clear my sinus’s so I’m happy!
Long ride on the trainer due to weather.
A 90 min recovery ride on my trainer after a long day trying to keep the pace with my three kids at the adventure bath.
Ride with bros with some climbs and fast intervals
Took advantage of a break in the weather to mow the lawn. Doesn’t sound so athletic, but given how wild it was looking, I think it counts!
Short run with my girlfriend on Sunday, to recover from my past week marathon.
Ran a short jaunt around town. Waiting for warmer weather.
Have a 10k run with an ultra-trailer friend… At my speed… Slowly :D:D
On Saturday some 3h endurance ride and on Sunday trainerroad junction.
Had a nice family weekend, followed by 20 miles on Monday. Now tapering ahead of my first marathon…
Epic ocean swim body bash and a 8km pool set
Ran a Spartan Sprint. Aroo!
For the first time in way too long, I got to run two nice sessions in the sun. Life’s good!
60km bike ride + tennis
Probably nothing, my frame is being fixed :(
Took apart my Turbo Muin after elite told
me it was toast and to buy a new one.
Went for my first decent bike ride on my new Canyon Ultimate. It was fantastic
Simple, 1 hour bike (mtb) plus 1 hour running. Duatlo is comming…
A 140km bike ride, a very hilly one!
Hi Ray,
My first post ever here, even tho i follow you since ever…
Need too much a GPS bike computer for my ride!
Usual Weekend here in italy for me…
Saturday Swimming in the morning and a bike run brick in the afternoon near the Lecco lake.
Sunday Tri rest day, that means Crossfit workout ;)
Ciao!!!
Halfmarathon in Zagreb, Croatia.
Tacx & Trainerroad despite the decent weather ….
Turbo time… 3hrs :(
sporty weekend: cycled 100km solo on saturday (first gran fondo of the ear) and continued sunday with a 68km ride followed by a 15km run with my gilfriend. So this was a mere of 10 hours of sports this weekend.
20K nature trailrun!
Last snowboarding session of the season and a long and funny mtb ride
Did 78 hilly miles on the bike!