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.
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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!
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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.
Last workout, well one hour and twenty minutes of aerobic work in the kickr :)
Went for an early-morning run today. Getting out before most others wake up makes it easier to keep my distance.
My first 5Km run in a month after a recent injury. Joy.
Zwift meetup
I ran a 5k time trial (solo of course) but I won! Personal Best time! Not giving up on fitness during the isolation; just getting creative on staying fit.
Assioma DUO!!!!!!!!
We are doing a CrossFit workout on our normal “Box” schedules including one last night with 5 attendees plus coach, via Zoom meetings, and wife and I are also mixing in running and bike trainer workouts on our (very old, mid-2000s) trainers! (We are still not discouraged from going outdoors here for exercising so long as “social distancing” is maintained).
DBR Base Endurance Ride (E) on Zwift and 2 days away from getting the 14 Day Unemployed Badge
12km on the treadmill in the garage :) trying to get F6x Virtual Run to work with Zwift & Stryd.. (so far impossible)
5 Mile run. The nice thing is that there were very few cars on the street. This made it much easier to keep my distance given most sidewalks are not close to 7ft wide
TrainerRoad bike ride! Only way to stay sane…
5k PR around the neighborhood at night
Sufferfest’s “Elements of Style”
My last workout was a short ride during worktime. Still had to “shoo” someone out of my wheel and ask him twice to keep distance. ?
Ran by myself
Watching Netflix while pedalling away on the trainer.
Indoors Xert riding.
I went on a 30 min run with my 11 yr old.
Last workout I did was Pettit on TrainerRoad last night. I get made fun of by friends for preferring to ride my bike indoors rather than outside, but it’s much easier for me. We’re still allowed to go outside in Los Angeles to work out, but being able to get on the bike after doing a work session at home is great for social distancing.
I live in a very small town and have been able to run/hike without running into hardly anyone. Been doing 5-10 mile runs almost every day.
My last workout was an easy 3 mile jog. I’m recovering from a hamstring injury and hoping to get to marathon training in the next several weeks.
Stay active and stay safe!
Riding in the basement while watching Netflix.
Just some weight training at home…
Although I live in Italy, so we can’t leave our houses unless it is for buying food… I’m lucky enough to live in the countryside… So I can jog around my house… 70m loop ?
Looking Glass on TrainerRoad. I’d be lost without TrainerRoad at the moment.
I got in a run on trails/gravel without getting near anyone.
Cycling with a group. I’m the slowest of the bunch, so I was well behind them all!
Outdoor run at 5 a.m. followed by an online HIIT class in the garage.
Today a ride outside. I loved it.
An early Sunday run while temp were below freezing, so only saw 5 people over 6 miles
Zone 2 ride with a couple of hills thrown in. The snow has finally melted and the weather is perfect for cycling.
Yesterday I got on my cheapo trainer and did a short ride. It had been a while since I rode so I kept it short but I felt so much better after.
I did a Sufferfest workout, “The best thing in the world.” Which is apparently suffering. I love (to hate) that app. I just wish I had a better trainer to use it on. Thanks for your amazing work, keep it up!
Still in winter mode. A trainer would help.
he he, wasn’t running for toilet paper into the supermarket – but tried to to a short walk alone…
…enough for the moment
A slow ride to the grocery store
Quiet road run, nice and simple.
I did a 4 mile run yesterday.
no tango with pangolins. dancing home alone :)
Just a short recovery spin. Tomorrow will be nice ride!
Hi Ray,
I just rode 100k the I & M Canal Trail. I rode nice and slow so I didn’t pass anyone and the folks that passed me went by so quickly that none of their covids had a chance to jump off and get me.
Stay safe,
James
I did my last workout last night, at 11pm, because it was the only time when the home was quiet
Smashed out max effort intervals on the Tacx Neo 2
My last workout was 4 great hours out on the road bike. Unfortunately that was 8 days ago as I caught a cold and have been stuck at home since.
Had a social distanced day at the park consisting of running and body weight workouts
I’ve become adept at crossing the road to avoid other people during my runs! This morning’s 15k was delightful in the sunshine!
A 18 k ride to the office and back again in the afternoon. Hardly any cars on the road…
Did a Sufferfest.
i’m running in my backyard.
Core strength session in my living room…working on my weaknesses!
Cool giveaway! I did yoga last night ?♀️
80km from the Cotswolds to the Chilterns, taking my socially distant cycling over the 200km mark so far. Legs are definitely not used to this…
Lonely bike ride outdoors
I suppose recovery counts as a workout, so my last one was a slow solo meandering ride outside in the empty park around the local damn. Previously, the one that felt like more of a workout was The Sufferfest on the trainer.
Completed stage 5 of tour of Watopia!
GP Lama hosting Stage 5 of Tour of Watopia 2020 with Rides of Japan Tobias.
Zwift has been extremely helpful keeping active, though now I’ll be checking out your Cycling Trainer App Guide to ponder diversifying more.
My landlord kindly bought our small condo building a treadmill and old-school exercycle. Yesterday, I spent an hour spinning while watching The Expanse, and 15 minutes thoroughly wiping the bike down with alcohol before and after.
tempo run
Rode 50km yesterday on my homemade freemotion rollers. I added some magnets for resistance and mounted my phone on the handlebars to watch youtube.
Zwift Tour of Watopia
I ran a route yesterday that took me down a brand new road that’s not yet open.
Road running in Slough – lots of people out so it didn’t feel that socially distanced. but it makes for finding more creative and less well used spaces.
Yesterday evening after a long day of video conferences I did a Zwift workout on my terrace.
Family 4 miler with Bob running stroller. Just the 3 of us, made wide arcs near other outdoor seekers
Took my fat bike out on the snow last Wednesday.
Between the virus and continued snow, I’ve left my bike on the trainer. So speed intervals on Trainer Road and Zwift FTW.
7-mile hill repeat run. Didn’t see a soul.
I social-distanced and rode for 90 minutes on my trainer – Tour of Watopia Stage 5 (plus 30 min Watopia while I waited) while simultaneously doing a TrainerRoad workout.
My wife and I biked the local parks on the roads while everyone else was on the trails.
Solo road ride to get some fresh air.
15 miles inside on my Catrike 700 on Sportcrafter rollers.
An easy jog in the countryside this morning just before getting started in the home office.
running in the country side, at max 1km from my home… this makes for several loops without seeing a single soul
Battled the wind solo on a long, slow road ride
Just a quick run around the block, I wish I had a trainer!
Ooooh. Trail run early in the morning.
Hill climbing in the dark. Though I did get within 6′ of a baby deer so not sure if that disqualifies me or not.
from Portugal:
Zwifting even when the time in the app is inferior to the time of the workout (2x this week)
Can’t manually download the files from zwift site
Push another road pedal partner to start pedal indoors during this times
Best regards and stay safe stay indoors!!!
Rode Beech on TrainerRoad and London Loop in Zwift simultaneously.
Running through the park zigzagging to maintain 6 feet from everyone.
Was able to do a normal ride around my area as we are allowed to exercise outdoors here for now.
Run in the park….how do you pass someone while maintaining physical distancing?
7 mile run in the neighborhood! Springtime in Texas!
5 mile run this morning. The trail I usually follow from my house doesn’t get a ton of foot traffic and even less the earlier I go, as people seem to be sleeping in more.
on zwift tour of watophia satge 5
Just did a short ride on the roads near my home and didn’t meet a single soul ?
Did a quick bike ride with the kids last night, although that’s not really a workout. I guess that would be Zwift running on the treadmill.
I went for a run with the babe in the jogging stroller! Had to run in the middle of the road to properly distance myself from all the people out and about walking. Yay for quiet suburb streets!
A simple 2 mile run with my wife…. socially distant!
I’ve been able to run consistently through Central Park without encountering many people in the early morning. Most recently, I’ve set my PR for this year on the Jackie O reservoir loop (1.6 mile loop at a 5’50” mile pace) and am recovering from an old soccer injury, so really excited to be running again and regaining old fitness.
While I try to acquire a treadmill or smart bike trainer, I compensated the fact of not being at all allowed to go out here in Italy by repairing an old spinning fixed bike which I use to keep active. It would be great to get a trainer from your give away!
1 hour on the trainer outside on the balcony..
Just finished a 6 mile run outside along the Cleveland Lake front. Today was sunny and 40s F, which made it a nice run.
On Sunday did 12 miles on a walking trail. Had to slow down lots to ensure proper distancing when passing.
A turbo ride of course!
During social distancing period I am doing Yoga and pranayam(meditation) to remain fit.
I ran on the roads. because the public parks are extremely crowded
Short solo bike ride of about an hour to keep my sanity :)
Zwift 43km Sweet Spot workout =0)
Tempo run