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.
Run my first half marathon just under the target time i set for the event.
Trying a bit longer run on a slow steady heartrate of 145..
First long distance on bike now spring has sprung
During weekends I usually pack my photo-backpack (approx. 20-25 pounds) and go for long, mountain hikes. :)
Soft training one week after the Marathon de Paris !
The Grand Union Canal Race is approaching with speedy steps, so a weekend with a lot of lovely miles is what’s on the program.
Went for a nice cycle with friends to a nearby lagoon.
A short run followed by a ride on Saturday, followed by a day off on Sunday.
Still to wet here for any athletic adventures.
Watched the snow falling as I logged miles on the turbo trainer.
Last long-ish run before my trail marathon next weekend
I had a fun-filled weekend! Started Saturday with a hot 10k race, then went for a ride with the Paralyzed Veterans of America which was organizing a handcycle event. Tried a super sweet mountain bike at a Liv demo tour on Sunday, then ran 1 hour on the treadmill :)
Challenging the rain on the slopes of Susa valley. Over 5k d+ in the two days! :-)
Climbed up some rocks.
Zwifting away up Alpe du Zwift to get another pair of gloves! At least I do already have the Lightweight wheels and aero helmet
I was enduring a blizzard in Minneapolis, so Zwift it was!
Completed my first 20K trail ride following my knee replacement surgery. Felt great.
Prenatal yoga for our health(:
I’ll try back to back 10K on saturday and friday
My first Tomin-No-Mori (Peoples Forest) cycling ride.
link to strava.com
link to strava.com
Strava sorta of messed up my ride… About 2,000 meters of climbing and equally fast wonderful descent!
I did a nice 90 km ride in beautiful weather
I am trying to recover from a big injury so everything is an athletic adventure for me nowadays.
Another 300+ meters for Alpe du Zwift
Run on saturday, bike ride on sunday… in pouring rain!
I rode my bike for a sunny trip around Montpellier. The first time in spring clothes this year!
some tempo runs
Did a long endurance run but mixed it up with an interval bike ride on Saturday. Rode out the lactate on Sunday with my uncle on a 3h stroll.
First outside ride with a real climb (damn long winter). 8k ascent with a nasty 400m long stretch a the very end hitting up to 23%. So much fun…
This weekend i sat on my butt recovering from an achillies strain that ive picked up 2 weeks from my first marathon. The joy!
I did a short recovery run enjoying the flowers and the trees with their beautiful new leafs.
Big group mtb on Paint Mountain in Tennessee with friends. The gnar is real. #notpisgah
Hikes and about 4 hours trailrunning. Pyrenees exploring caves and new trails.
Way too much snow in the Midwest over the weekend but was able to get a swim in Saturday morning before the roads got too bad.
I will try to ride Liege Bastogne Liege for my birthday (273Km) but i have only 1000km this year so It’s been very tough but beautiful ;)
Good luck everybody ;)
Francis
A 40 minute uphill run at an easy pace.
Just a gentle 15km early morning run and a round of golf in beautiful Cape Town.
Danced at my niece’s wedding
Half Marathon!
Took the 2 little ones for a hike before the temps went from 80 to 30.
I did my first outdoor ride for the season, a little over 30 miles
Saturday was the final long hit out before Nationals, and in true training style it was “chuck everything into race/session” and hurt like heck.
Sunday was the obligatory “too shattered to walk” result.
Cycling 70 km on a saturday sunny afternoon.
Tough race in Seciu last Sunday!
Did a parkrun on Saturday, followed by a longish 27k run on Sunday in the sun which destroyed me totally.
Not very endurance related but squash with the father .. my body hurts !
Ran 10 km to a near by lake, noticed that I left my keys at home and remembered that my girlfriend went to her parents, so I had to run another 5 km to get my girlfriends keys.
Went for a very spontaneous 135km bike ride through the hills of Berkshire (UK). Some pretty mental climbing there
A hike with my youngest son and a swim on sunday morning.
Did a short 8 k run along the Brisbane river
I spent way to much time on Zwift instead of outside!
I ran 17 km on saturday and did a 90 minute TrainerRoad workout (Colosseum) on sunday.
I did an indoor bike session.
Tried to go up all public stairways in my hometown… and gave up after roughly 2000 steps spread over a 10 km run… still had at least another 2000 steps to go :(
I watched the Commonwealth Games on TV. Saw lots of people doing athletic things.
2 hard sessions on trainerroad, 1h30m each. Lovely day outside; could see it through the window……………
Broke out the retro mountain bike (1992 S-Works M2) to take my 11yr old on an off road adventure.
She loved it.
I got a puncture, covered in crap fixing it, and only got 5 miles of “exercise” in total.
Zwift. Lots of Zwift. Now where the heck is spring?
Some running on saturday and cycling on sunday.
Long ride with new bike :))))
Ran 13km at easy pace in preparation for the London Marathon this next weekend. There we go!
Cycled from Caen along the Normandy coast to see the D-Day landing beaches.
Intervals on Saturday and bike for an hour on Sunday.
Did a steady 10k run on Saturday. On Sunday I set off for a long ride with my husband, but the weather turned and I slipped home after just 60k and left him to battle the elements.
80 km road cycling in the Flemish hills of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen in the spring sun
6 hour adventure race
Had a nice ride, hitting the Surrey Hills
Went on a 70k bike ride on Sunday. The first one in shorts this year. When will spring actually arrive in Europe?
I did a 5K run with my son
A wonderful yoga session, and a short run
Next sunday just a simple 10K run between two race… The next is the beautiful “run around the walls of Ferrara, Italy”… simply clever!!!
Did a 5k Wine Festival Run, very hilly.
Some recreational crosssountry skiing, best time of year for that!
Got in some speed work to improve overall time for distance running. :)
A few km swim plus a nice sunny run !
I did a nice Run threw the Forrest, Up and down in a bit rainy conditions
Last weekend I went swimming in the sea
thank you
First bike ride after a couple of weeks of, really nice to be wearing bibshorts again and don’t have to wear winter kit anymore
Did a trainer ride while watching soccer
took the stairs because i lost my keys
Bad weather turned a long ride into a weights session….ugghh…I hate weights!
Not really any training, sort of recovery while painting and redecorating the attic, so my version of “the peanut” can enjoy his new room there.
Short trainer ride Saturday and a run on Sunday.
My wife says “no more stuff!” :D
Up the Horseshoe Pass in North Wales!
it was leg day , now i’m walking sideway
Participated in MTB race and was 3rd!
swiming and biking this weekend. Hope to continue that way.
This Saturday was flying back after a week in the US for a conference and Sunday was easy (2k) swim and gym to get a bit back in shape for the week of training to come.
Home alone, I went for a whole mountain biking day of 75km and 2400m.
Performed a great Tempo bike run with lot of ascension!
I’d love to run a new Vector 3 for these training rides
On the weekend I had a visit from a friend and we did a long enduro MTB tour together
Some hard effort on trainer and easy running.
Did a short recovery run while attending (as a spectator the french national rowing c’ship).
My husband do a lot of exercise – running ,swimming and biking. I hope it will help him.
Made a quick 20 min test to figure out my actual form!
Riding between various coffee shops in London
Nothing very exciting, except a short 1500m swim in local pool.
Did a short ride with children to keep them in form (or me !!)
It was nice and sunny, so I swam 1500m and made an easy run 8K long.
Was stuck in an arena all weekend with kids and hockey! It was okay, because a late snowstorm kept all rides indoors locally!