Heads up! There’s some pretty substantial sales that just started. For watches, the Garmin Epix is down to $499, and the Fenix 7 to $449, with the Pro editions also $200 off! Meanwhile the top-end Edge 1040 cycling GPS is down to $499, and both the Edge 540 & Edge 840 are also on sale. As is Varia radar for $149. Some incredible deals, and ll the deals are 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:
With TPC (The Pro's Closet), you'll save $40 on purchases over $200 with coupon code DCRAIN40 for tech and non-tech purchases!
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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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 and Equipment 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! 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 2023 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.
This past weekend, I went for a nice bike ride along the local rail trail and stopped off for a beer at the end.
A little running and a lot of watching lacrosse!
Did a nice gravel ride during a randomly hot spring day.
Ran my first half marathon! After having been a little lazy in the last weeks coming up to it, I was accepting a 02:15 time, but kept on going 5:38min/k, so sub two hours was in sight. Until I started struggling at k 19… I clocked in at 02:00:38 :)
Hello,
Just a bit of Freeletics – that’s it!
Easy 12 miles on Saturday and Sunday rest.
Moved around three bedrooms and reassembled a crib to make ready for child number 2 coming soon.
Did my first mountain bike 2 day stage race. What a blast!
Recovery weekend. Weather was awful!
2 Z3 Interval Rides, Saturday and Sunday.
2700 yd swim Sat and 2:15 bike Sun. Bike was indoors because apparently spring is not coming to Chicago this year. I’m guessing because of the crappy weather….
Hopped on my road bike for the first time in months and enjoyed one of my favorite neighborhood loops.
First time this year out with the kids (4,6) on their bikes and me in my running shoes for about 7km :-) Never ever again! They challenged me in sub-7-year-old-ones-superspeed-cycling intervals and ignored my gasping and begging for moderate speed. Most of them in sub 3:45 min/km pace, which is FAR away from what I can manage over that distance….
Did some time on the Peloton bike. Great investment.
Rode Sat on my single and Sunday on the tandem with my wife.
Recovery from last week Paris marathon.
A little walk on Sunday
Ran 6 miles on both weekend days!
Went for a long MTB weekend to Italy
Short ~10k run, which after a few days of dietary exceptions felt more like a ~20k run. Seriously need to get back on track with training…
Hi Ray – I’ll be cycling my way to work in my normal Sunday commute – Working day in UAE ! Cheers Nick
Enjoyed the brief spell of early summer in NJ by shedding the winter gear on a slow but beautiful 30 mile bike ride.
An easy 11 around Town Lake in Austin, TX.
I finally installed the pull up bar in my office.
A lovely 80km ride with just one layer and did we see the Spring here in the UK ?
Stuck inside on the indoor bike trainer and treadmill due to the weekend long snow storm in April.
I did a short run and strength training
Back to back long runs! On treadmills. Because it was cold out. Help me.
There was a big rain/snow/ice weather event in Toronto (Canada), so that forced my long run indoors. Ever wondered what running 2+hours on an indoor track would be like? Now I know – it sucks. ;)
Ran and swam Saturday then an easy spin sunday
Finished off a 2-week high intensity, high volume block with a 14km run workout on Saturday, 2300m Swim Sunday, and a 50km FTP Build workout ride on the trainer Sunday night. Rest day today!
swim bike sleep
Saturday hiking (12k), super nice weather, Sunday bike ride, a bit windy to my taste, around 45k
I unexpectedly knocked 5 minutes off my 10k pb (non-race!) – w00t w00t
Had to abort my Saturday long run right before 14km.
100km club ride, with new top speed hit for my road bike. Also less athletic, great cake stop.
I went on a short run with my 3yr old daughter.
45 minutes HIIT workout on my indoor trainer.
Went for a four mile run, then recovered once I came down with a sinus infection. Not a good weekend.
This past weekend was a recovery weekend as I ran the Umstead 100-miler the previous weekend and I have the Dam Good Run 40K next weekend.
Just my std. 50 miles local all-star group ride.
Hung out and watched the Belgian Waffle Ride. Also demoed the new Canyon Grail.
Saturday was a 12m trail run around Ennerdale Water in the beautiful Lake District, UK. Sunday a 6miler on tired legs with my girlfriend…
Easy loop around the local mtb trail, not too much rain the night before so not a mud fest.
Easy run
Ran a 14 km tour at 11 km/h.
I was thinking of my next week training programm, and thinking process was very difficult by itself!
I went swimming for the first time in months!
Getting through the ice storm in the basement on Zwift
The wife and I went on a 20 mile ride to welcome in the warm weather of spring!
I rode in the wind. It was not fun. Then it started raining.
I ran a 5K with my young son. While overall we weren’t winning any awards, I am enjoying my child being a little older and able to run most, if not all, of a race.
Sunday morning walk with the children and grandparents.
I need a new Garmin bike computer.
20km on zwift
A couple long runs in Boston before the weather took a turn for the worse.
I did a 83 mile ride previewing the first half of Haute Route San Francisco Day 2 route.
Not much different from any other weekend:
Sat: Ride then Swim
Sun: Swim (no riding in the rain for me; at least not intentionally).
Threw my kid around the pool in Palm Springs! My back is aching…
Moved roughly 12″ of snow off of the driveway, just to get ready for 6-10″ more on Wednesday.
Did a nice 5miler race in sunny Florida.
Reviewed my TrainerRoad plan.
Focused on recovery with much couch time and some yoga.
I ran the course of a 10K I will be racing in three weeks.
Went for a bike ride. Still trying to lose that winter weight.
I did a fairly easy 6 mile run.
Took the rescue swimmer pre test for my agency.
On Saturday, planned a 10+ mile run, but only made it 8 miles due to some traveling fatigue and the warm 90 degree Fahrenheit weather. Sunday was traveling home.
I ran for the first time since November after an injury.
It wasn’t far, it wasn’t fast, but it was a run!
Google rolled out a map update it seems, and renamed cities in Germany. So, given sunshine and warm weather, this Sunday I cycled the 140km needed to check if Braunschweig really has been renamed to Brunswick. Nope, signs say otherwise.
Spent some time on the trainer watching Amstel Gold.
Went for a gentle stroll in the countryside.
2700 yard swim + 8.5 mile Boulder County Heil Valley Ranch hike. Good Sunday.
Got a new mountain bike this weekend. Adventure has just begun!!
Recovery weekend…but a hawk caught a baby rabbit 10 feet in front of me. I think that was pretty athletic of the hawk.
I live in the Middle East, so it’s getting too hot here to train outdoors. I sat and watched Netflix on my new BKool Pro 2 trainer – loving it so far.
A short trail run in the backyard of Lausanne
Training run for the Peachtree Road Race.
Resting and recovering from a long attorney week. Did some long bus comutting run on saturday! Always on the hustle
With lots of rain and cold temperatures, I took it easy this weekend.
Mixed training: a spinning hour and swimming hour on sunday – both inside because of bad weather
Got addicted to Strava and ran a 6 mile route to try and hit as many segments as I could this weekend.
I did a 2h moderate training jog in preparation for Madeira Island Ultra Trail marathon end of April
Just a couple of 40km rides this past weekend.
Saturday was my first time riding one of my all-time favorite road routes this year. 82 degrees and sunny!
Took on Stage 5 of the Tour de Watopia. First time doing the Three Sisters route. That was a lot of digital climbing.
I did a 2 hour indoor triathlon at Lifetime Fitness
I play fútbol.
Over the weekend it snowed 13″+ here so my ride was a trainer ride.
trying to finish the Etixx Classics Tour in Belgium: 200 km – 2190 altitude
Ran a nice eleven.
Went mountain biking with the family at Moors Valley Country Park
1st time golf
15 mile run before 8.30am on Saturday. Quite long for me and had to fit around family.
Paint Creek 45
Gentle spin Saturday followed by an athletic effort 5km. Perhaps not the wisest prep for spending Sunday at a sportive, but who wants a sensible life…
Weight training on Saturday and swimming with my son on Sunday morning!
i went for a lovely near the beach run in tel aviv, 18 km
Spent it doing taxes…. and then recovering from doing taxes… My head hurts!
A little grand Fondo training ride in the rain.
Wanted to run the hm of Bonn, Germany. Instead I did the houseround since forever and it emptied my head perfectly in Springtime feeling.