Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, and countless other Garmin products. 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.
in the garage alone with thousands of virtual athletes …
I ran Intervalls outside 10×400 With 200 rest. Distance was probably a bit off but better than nothing right :D
A Tacx trainer ride!
I live in the country side so I guess it’s easier for me to keep my distances… Nonetheless, everytime I saw someone in front of me, I switched on the other side of the road.
Just rode up the alpe de zwift yesterday for like the 5th time while social distancing on my Elite Suito. ??♂️
A new smart trainer, with accurate power data
60 minutes L4 indoor training session :)
Even group rides on Zwift feel a bit weird now but whatever, it keeps me sane.
For raining days…
A bike trainer will be a perfect match for quarantine…
I would love to upgrade my Tacx Flux to Neo!
Midday nursery (not so small toddler twins) break 37km local area escape-ride to keep my sanity in that difficult times. Don’t get me wrong I love and enjoy being with my kids even thankful to be able spending more time with them. But as you know very good… You need also some time off ;)
Greetings
No indoor trainer at the moment, so a quick 6k run around the block and a lot of rope skipping!
Got half way up Mount Ventoux in RGT and realised my knees was totally gone and could hardly walk for half an hour
Last night 23:00 biking home from work. All by my self.
Solo ride in the hills behind the house-social distancing is not a problem for me :)
Some turbo session and lonely run.
I am working from home now and have to look after 2 young active boys. Working out when they are asleep is my sanity.
Bikking in doors 45min with 3 x interval of 5min.
My God Corona sucks. I could really need a little cheer-up now! Been biking in the local woods. No one there except for me, so perfectly socially distant :)
Trail run through the forest. Luckily not a very popular spot so it’s easy to keep your distance.
40 minutes rowing manchine indoor, followed by 20 min of kettlebell outside in the sunny garden!
I just had a dance off with my daughter in our lounge – take that isolation!
Wooot! Thanks Ray for illuminating next weeks :)
Last workout this morning: running (as biking outside isn’t really allowed here). After a fresh warmup as the sun is rising behind the hills; around a field of ~1km perimiter divided in three parts: 200m flat, 500m downhill, 300m uphill (well, it’s a 30m+ change). So one part at full speed, two parts tempo, repeat during 30 minutes. Cool down and that’s up for 1hour limit. Crossed 1 woman w/ dog, see another one. Can’t wait to make some workouts with a home-trainer.
I went on a run on a country road
My wife and I did a 15 min core workout in the back yard while our 8 months old son watched and laughed at us.
3 hours home trainer
Ass of steel :-)
A socially distant aquathon consisting of some dry swimming using rubber bands on my front porch followed by a 15k run across the nearby meadows.
A 50′ bike trainer interval at the end of the day just to breathe!
Last workout I did was easy bike ride- for the first time outside this year. Now I’m waiting for my son to be born. Fingers crossed ;)
Went to a 55km trail ride on my bike all alone at 5:30am to avoid the chance of meeting other riders.
Never done so many Pilates workout before :).
Just reboot my HT sessions, stay safe.
I broke a few ribs about six weeks ago, so I’m just getting back on my wheels this weekend for a quick 60k ride.
A short ride around my local park.
4m run last night, crossing the road to avoid people!
Just finished a 2.5 mile run, only my second in the last month due to an ankle injury.
The last workout i’ve done, while properly social distancing, was 100km but it was prior the lockdown
I did a slalom run keeping my distance from everyone else.
Sadly I’ve been in solitary due to a suspected case of COVID-19, do no workouts for me. Can’t wait to get out and get back to it :)
Discovered some small new roads because I wanted to stay close to home. 70km’s of sunshine.
One hour of short endurance blocks 5x ( 6′ @ Zone 3 + 2′ @ Zone 4 + 1′ @ Zone 1 )
Solo Ronde Hoep loop last weekend!
Indoor workout in the garage with 2 kids cheering me on!
id manage to get some run intervals in place on a very quiet road.
I live close to the forest, so social distancing is fairly easy while trail running.
I did a trainer ride with RGT Cycling. It is nice that they offer premium access for everybody during the lock down but they are experiencing some tech issues with all the people tunning in.. I guess it is a nice way to test things for them too.
Luckily cycling allows you to distance yourself and it’s not forbidden yet, so I did a 50k loop. Helps to wind down after working from home for the whole day
VO2max workout on my trusty old KK green machine
16.3 mile very chilly commute. Nice and steady to minimise any potential risk.
10km on a rowing machine…
45 km on Zwift on my 2nd gen. Kickr alone in the basement. I made sure to get dropped out of the bunch.
Running intervals on the cycle path
I did a 6km run yesterday (26/03) through Leuven city, which is quite desolated these days. So no problems for social distance :-)
Short hills next to the locked down track.
Had a run yesterday evening.
Solo, long, easy 20k run…
I went on a 15k run and a 40k bike ride. In Friesland you can manage social distance easy (luckily!). So ousted sports is no problem but only solo!
A 5K row on my indoor waterrower. Dude, I miss the outside now more than ever!
Commuted this morning by running 7.6K forest path. Nice!
Road to work last Wednesday
A couple of hours drifting around Watopia on Zwift. It was OK actually. Even better, I managed to get my teenage daughter onto it after me and she really enjoyed herself … with Netflix on as well :)
The last one would be on Sunday just gone. Managed a quick 5k at 10pm whilst avoiding everyone. pretty much like a normal run for me:-)
Much harder to do anything now. Wife is in high risk category, and so keeping away is more important than ever!
15k run in the park early in the morning. During daytime there are some people in the park but no one bothers to wake up to enjoy the sunrise :) So social distancing by time
Hit session at home that’s all
Bike ride, alone into the “wilderness” of Franconia. Very few cars, not cyclists for 80% of the route. Still be friendly to the cyclists you meet.
Doing a solo test ride on my just delivered Customline Ridley Noah Fast Disc to explore how the Sram Force Etap AXS and the Quarq powermeter are working :-)
I did a 4×5 min interval workout at Zwift
Our first-time ever double zwift session with my wife and I, riding round Watopia with 25 of my close friends on a meetup enjoying a Wednesday night ‘virtual pub-ride’ (I did ride responsibly and saved the beer for post ride ;-)
Running on a trail before the country lockdown
Basically riding solo outdoor to get fresh air.
21k cycle on my Yahoo Kickr trainer on Zwift
5k jog around Cardiff in the UK. Socially distant with my FR920 so it would definitely be time for a watch upgrade
Training@homegym: core stability, kettlebell work and plyometrics.
quite tough 45min tempo run, going wide around anyone that passed by
21k cycle on my Yahoo Kickr on Zwift
Yesterday evening coaching session in orienteering, with a bunch of kids 13-18 years running in the forest and finding their way with a map. Social, but still with some social distancing.
Easy bike commutes so far :)
1 hour assault bike. 800 cal.
Hello, montee de l’alpe d’huez (YouTube) sur mon vieux home trainer, belles images pour s’évader plus loin que mon jardin !
Bises (1m) à tous
Just today I have climbed stairs during 30 minutes with a 10Kg weighted vest, 1Kg on each ankle and 0.75Kg on each wrist. Three floors up, three floors down.
Elliptical, 1h33m04s, 1004 Calories. Stayed mainly in Z2 (easy) and Z3 (aerobic).
Just finished Alpe du Zwift under 60min!
My local 10k was cancelled so I’ve resorted to some easy runs at the moment, dialling down the training. Can’t wait to get stuck in again — maybe with a new Fenix watch?
12m lunchtime ride
A brisk walk three days ago felt short after being asked by police to leave the empty parking space I was making laps…
Took part in the “Tour of Europa” by FulGaz Stage 1 – with a warm up and a cool down 77 minutes
Solo run through the fields near home – lumpy, bump and deserted
A 6 km. easy, easy run, hallway up, hallway down.
Early morning solo effort riding up a local hill – not a soul about; well, the sheep farmer 2 miles away!
The last socially distant workout I did was a 6.5k extended block loop run, up my road, through a park, back up the cycleway and down my road again. I encountered two other people on the run, ran on the road to keep a 3m distance from one and crossed the road to give another a wide berth.
Hi,
Zwift – FTP Builder Training Plan (Week 1 / Session 4)
Vincent
52 min circuit training in the living room, BAU
Kettlebell workout in the garden
TrainerRoad is my friend. Just completed a set of over/under intervals
My second ever Zwift ride, including a 20 min ftp test.
Inside gym workout with my 2 boys!
Five easy miles running one of my usual routes.
Doing a 1,5h walk with my girlfriend whilst avoiding runners by at least 1,5m :)
35min circuit training in the house
a run with one other person in an awkward but safe distance of 1.5 meters away at all times