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.
Bad storms here this weekend, so it was just indoor Zwift time. Not really an adventure but definitely vaguely athleticish.
Did a super chill ride in London on Zwift.
Panic training for Wildflower.
Just A nice easy long run on Sat, and a trainer ride on Sunday.
Still on the bike trainer here in Chicago :-(
Did parkrun in Cutteslowe park, Oxford in surprisingly good weather, then a cross country 10km run on Sunday evening. Enjoyed my first open water swim of the season — in balmy 11°C waters.
Too hot outside so zwifting inside
Did a reverse-brick. An 8 mile run followed by an easy 40 mile bike.
I would love a new Garmin Edge!!
I went mountain bike riding in Florida, a state known for it’s lack of mountains. I also rode on Zwift, which has more mountains than Florida.
Started a 60km ultra, but sprained my ankles after 10km and had to DNF :(
Running in a freak storm against better judgement!
Took my 2mo baby in his stroller to the park was as athletic as it could get for me!
Doing the Tour of Watopia on Zwift, trying to get mentally ready for doing that Pretzel stage …
Saturday, garden works training + bike and CX skies maintenance
Sunday, 2hrs low intensity road bike + 30min recovery swim
Continued my horrible streak of not riding outside all year, but continued to ride indoors as both days left me thankful that I had the virtual Alpe de Zwift to keep me company and fit.
Masters swim meet. PR in 500 free.
Lifetime indoor Triathlon.
I went for 2 runs in one weekend. Bearing in mind my grand total number of runs this year is 3, excluding these 2, that’s pretty impressive!
Took a check ride on my road bike after installing new chain, shifters and cables.
Well, it snowed a lot, so some unexpected spring snow biking with the kids.
With an ice storm in Toronto, and my wife out for a girls weekend, I was on full time daddy duty. So, I did a session on Zwift
It was a birthday weekend, but still training for summer Sprint Triathlon series. Excited for these first triathlons and getting into the sport. Still too cold for swimming, so working on the running/cycling portions.
Went for a 10 mile run on Friday, though didn’t even make it three miles before the stomach bug hit. Long, “eventful”, walk of shame back to the car.
Training for Gotland Grand National that I will take part in October this year. It’s the worlds largest enduro race and considering I started riding just this year it will be “interesting”.
Moved a cord of wood from one pile to another pile inside my wood shed then stacked said pile. Old school workout provided by nature.
Took my dog trail running.
Stage 4 of Tour of Watopia!!
6km swim on Friday
6 hour bike on Saturday
3 hour run on Sunday
Road bike season debut, 120 km in lovely weather.
Gotta try, or not gonna win
Slept ? all weekend ?
I raced my 10 year old daughter around a baseball diamond and tripped at second base and shredded my leg . . . is that a “athletic adventure”?
Run in the forest with my youngest child. We got to see such scenic areas as “Burnt out bus” and “post apocalypse holiday camp”. Awesome, I think.
I took full advantage of the first weekend of sunshine and got out for a long bike ride with some tri club friends
Easy run along my local golf course.
Nice 7 hour training run in the Ardennes.
Did several dives at Gili Air
My first “run” since a herniated disc on Sunday. It was only a mile, it was slow, and it was ugly. But I went running in Iceland.
Crushed it on Zwift both days.
Im visititing denver,CO for business and during my tim ein town went for a Run around to get to know more of the city.
I went for the first sunny ride of the season!
I did a training run on Saturday for an upcoming race.
Okay, I am definitely not going to just post “run”! :-)
Training for a triathlon while supporting two daughters with theirs crazy swim and soccer’s schedules and games.
Only 100k on the bike, but first ride of the year with legs out and no gloves on, which was absolute bliss. I was rolling around in the summer feeling good, thinking; this is why we endure so much training and misery in winter.
Well i live in wisconsin where we got 24 inches of snow last weekend so i found myself in the pain cave pumping out miles on zwift. thank god for zwift.
I ran, for 1.5km, slowly, and interspersed with walking breaks. But I ran. First time in four months. It was great.
Just watching Boston was an endeavor.
First 6 miles run after a very long break and need 3 days to recover from soreness, sigh…..
Finally got my first 100km cycle of the year after this very long winter! Snow in March in Ireland is way out of wack! Roll on the summer!
Shoveled 4 times and pulled a 4 yr old around the house on a sled since we got ~18″ of snow….in April.
I have been working. But I’m commuting by bike and cause of the great weather I took a longer way to work on sunday.
Climbed the Epic KoM on Zwift! Bottom third of those climbing it, but always fun to give it a go!
I took my family hiking in Zions National Park, UT, USA.
Does a long walk with my wife count? Is an ice cream shop a feed zone?
planned an xc ski outing but snow turned to freezing rain – ended up doing a treadmill run
Rece for the second time in Malta, for the first XTerra race of the year !
Sort of long run (10mi) though driving rain in Atlanta this past Sunday. Soaked through and through
I did a training based duoathlon while the midwest received its blizzard. Thank goodness for zwift!
Indoor brick workouts in prep for first race weekend of the season Sunday
5 k walk/run at the beach.
Saturday I rode approximately 40 minutes before having a flat tire. Repaired flat and rode for 3 hours total near HIM wattage. Sunday I did a 10 mile long run with rain the last half mile.
‘Recovery’ 11.5 miler way faster than it needed to be at a 7 min mile pace
Long ride to prepare for upcoming 70.3 IM
Have been sick for 4 months, so I am hoping to enjoy the nice Dutch weather finally!
Saturday a Sprint Duathlon (2,2k Run – 13k Ride – 2,2k Run), Sunday 90min Bike RIde.
core session on Friday, restful Saturday and run on Sunday
Brick workout on saturday (70km bike + 5km running) and 12km running on sunday.
Alp De Zwift while watching an ice storm from my window :(
did an upper body this weekend…hanging a ton of pictures in my house.
Little pause from road racing. I will spend some hours in front of my brother and friends that need to prepare endurance events
I rode hard, in zwift, on my TT bike, for 4 hours. Now that hurts!
Finally hit some local, snow-free trails for some a long run & lots of climbing & was reminded what a treat they are. (Western NY area)
Even saw a porcupine! But now the snow is back…
Running in the … snow. Not right!
Our local club (Mid Island Velo Association) had their annual spring ride. I ended up riding the 100k route on the cross bike, the weather was fantastic which is great as it’s been raining for what seems like 4 months.
Chasing my son around the local park
Weekend of 48 hour training …
or rest . .call as you will ;-) ….
Descending Miracle Intervals on the Indoor Bike at the gym on Saturday, weights session on Sunday
100k ride to Bosberg and Congoberg
Taught group of beginners to sail over the weekend and resting due to calf muscle injury from running in the week
1 mile swim in freezing but beautiful lake
Actually ran both days!
i run a half ironman distance race in cocncordia argentina
Did some nice bike ? rides. Had a nice view at the sea ? and I did a walk on the beach for recovery.
Biked from Denver out to Golden for espresso and a cookie. Got the first leg sunburn of the season, and rode up lookout mountain setting my best 20 min power of 2018 so far.
Got in a glorious last weekend of spring skiing.
1h swim drills
A nice trainer ride using TR.
Took monday and Tuesday off work, so I’ve been logging 356Kms from Saturday until this sunny glorious morning… with some swimming and running sprinkled in as well. A good block before Mallorca 70.3 coming next month!
Did a long run and had a rest day this weekend for my Garmin hr zone based 1/2 marathon training plan.
I went to a H2O Bloxx Swimcamp at TauernSpa Kaprun! 4 swim-sessions over the course of the weekend and very helpful insight to a better freestyle technique! Awesome but also exhausting! :-)
Since it’s been cold and rainy, I rode 2 hours on my trainer inside, and I ran a nice easy pace 4 miler outside the next day.
Had my first outside ride of the year on Friday, did the run leg in a mountain pentathlon Saturday, then off to cheer on friends at the Boston Marathon on Monday!
Short trainer ride followed by intervals with the snow shovel!
Run pushing a double stroller for 18 mile.
I ran around a park with my 2 year old, it was more of an adventure for the 2 year old, but still good :-)
A good recovery cycle
Some short and relaxed runs.. just enjoying the sun
Finishing out the season on my SnoGo snowbike!