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.
TrainerRoad – Carillon to be precise
My most recent activity was taking my son out in the running stroller. A smooth 10k along the coast when things were still quiet outside.
20 mile gravel ride. Didn’t see one other person out and was passed by two cars.
15 mile cycle commute home from work.
Track workout on own 1200@10k pacex2/800@5kx3/400@5k+x4
Managed to get in an hour solo run at 5 in the morning in South Atlantic US, thanks!
The last one I did was 5km run on a treadmill at home
Brick workout- Big Foot Hills on Zwift followed by a brick run on an empty trail near me.
I played RingFit on the Switch in my living room :D
Tour of Watopia Stage 5 Group Ride!
Trainer Ride in garage, using Zwift
Sufferfest Joyride workout in the evening, after a run out into the Nevada desert.
Went for an easy run around the neighborhood, by myself
Running, just running
A short brick off the bike … was going super fast until I looked at my watch, which apparently didn’t agree
a short session on rollers :) did use big gears though ;)
150km ride, 3k vert solo. Saw a handful of cars. Big adventure!
Does stacking wood so that it dries out count as a workout? If so, last week!
Joe Wicks a.m. Bike ride p.m.
62k outdoor solo bike ride at 430am to avoid the mass Saturday riders that head out about 6am.
Did a ride outside with a 5min all out effort to get back a KOM I lost the day before. Sadly while I set a new PB I got the exact same time as the KOM thief….and set an all time PB for my 5min power. All about the right motivation :D
Went for a short outdoor run. Trying to start back up with proper training.
3 mile interval run avoiding dogs and walkers
Indoors on Zwift!
Turbo session on Zwift – Tour of Watopia then some strength exercises… as dull as it sounds!
basement treadmill with a side of basement weights
Rode London in Zwift today 21 miles
A 6km jog following a creek. Mostly trail. Did not meet a single person.
30 min of general gym push ups squats etc
I did a spinning workout following a couple classes from GCN in youtube.
I’ve been getting out to run, just have to cross the road every time I see someone else coming!
Managed to squeeze in an 8 km run in the park in the last hour before it became forbidden. Hope they lift the ban in a week.
Nothing better than my Turbomuin!
Trainer on the back patio — totally distanced
Running 6k through the Vondelpark, challenging but I think I managed!
Hill “sprints”
First one was a sprint, the remainder were more of a shuffle, but hill shuffle doesn’t sound as good on Strava.
A ride alone on the schwäbische Alb.
Just a half hour on the trainer – just too boring
A early morning run yesterday at 6AM, no longer to be seen on the streets
I finished a 90 min endurance ride on my trainer this morning. In these challenging times, I definitely appreciate being able to exercise without leaving my house!
group ride in zwift.. that I don’t know how but it transformed into a race :-/
The Zwift Pretzel for breakfast this morning
I rode my bike to the grocery store. Ot was cold and windy but I needed to get out of the house!
Managing to get in good core and strength workouts with just some floor space and a stair.
A first ride with RGT @ 4 FPS probably due to an older graphic card…
Did a 5k run with the girlfriends trying to get away from home schooling … told the husband I was doing a 20k and went and sat in the park for an hour for some uninterrupted relaxation!
Trainer Road, mt Hale. That workout was way harder than expected; that Tacx Neo 2T happily punished me.
Work has been crazy due to the pandemic but I still managed to get in an hour session on zwift this afternoon
Final swim on eve of local pool closure.
Ny last workout was one hour z3 om my Tacx Neo2 yesterday.
Lots of Zwift. Lots. I think I’ve gone from first-time user to level ten in under two weeks. My legs are unhappy with me.
Indoor xert workout on my fluid2.
A nice run alone through my neighborhood’s canal system :)
Today first bike ride in cold Montreal, Canada!!
I went running, and if I saw someone, I’d give them a wide berth
Got in an 8km/5 mile pram/buggy run with my baby this afternoon. The park was busy-ish (for what’s supposed to be “stay at home” season, but managed to avoid most people.
Matthes +1 on Trainerroad
last workout while Social distancing was yesterday. It was a day of first, First outdoor ride of the year, first ride on my new Trek Checkpoint AL 4 and my first time getting chased and bite by a local farmers dog. 15 miles 40 minutes mixed gravel and paved roads.
Running through the empty streets of Berkeley, California!
Nice solo ride unfortunately ruined by seeing lots of idiots still riding in groups.
link to strava.app.link
Had a blast on Zwift ?
Discovering Zwift Running. And doing 7 minute workouts. Oh well.
I’m doing a run with my brother tomorrow. 2x5km, running in opposite ways, so we can see each other 2 times.
First time on RGT, rode Mont Ventoux. To be honest, I chickened out 4km from the goal, my legs were too weak for the gearing I had… or improper pacing. Or reluctancy to get out the saddle. Or laziness. :)
Got in a 10k run outdoors late at night, only saw 2 other people and kept no less than 12 feet away from them as I passed. Social distance is critical!
Running to the pharmacy and back
Zwift watopia
Ran an fast 8 k in the afternoon
A 9 mile round round in circles! In the sun, bonus.
NTT pro ride on Zwift
A nice and quiet road bike ride in the hills. Flat terrain tends to be crowded.
A long bike ride
Just a long bike ride through the farmlands.
It was nice out today so I dusted off the rollers, set them up in my backyard, and went for a short ride to nowhere – all by myself.
It was a lovely day out, so I managed to go for a walk outside.
I’ve been sick (not coronavirus) since the start of the quarantine, so nothing so far.
Got to ride outside today. A couple of cars where closer than 6 feet, but the driver was safe.
59m57s, 13.5k run in Paris, France (1.5k laps). Due to lockdown and strict rules i have to limit myself on 1h and max 1km away from home.
I went to a friend’s pool and swam mini laps and did some tethered drills. We stayed apart the whole time.
Run through the bush by myself. Not a sole in sight.
Only easy runs for me…
Running in El Retiro!
An easy run from Bethesda to DC and back this afternoon–close to your old stomping grounds!
Lonely 65 mile bike ride.
10k trail run
Last workout was a core/stability routine in my living room…
20 miles on Zwift! It’s me and my bike.
I’m subscribed to Zwift and have been doing the dirt destroyer training program. I’m on the last workout today and will do an FTP test tomorrow to see how much I’ve improved. Continuing to keep riding inside, everyone keep it up.
A pulled groin has made it easier to socially distance but not easier to work out! Have been just trying to focus on conditioning indoors (yoga mostly) but this weekend I’ll try to put a mile or two on the leg to see how it feels.
Push-ups! trying to get do a program to get me to 100 pushups :)
A progression run, as my Garmin likes to call it. Mostly on the left side of the road except other runners came towards me on the wrong (;-)) side of the road!
Virtual race on Strava
Lake laps with the dog.
Run through the neighborhood while my kids rode bikes alongside.
A long, isolated Z2 ride on some rolling hills.
Sufferfest – told off by angels.
Definitely suffered somewhat.
A solo 25km after work ride just a bit east of Amsterdam.
Rode live DJ ride with Cody on Peloton. The guy is Brittany’s #1 fan.
Got out for an out and back run on the trails. Cool weather kept the trails plenty clear for social distancing.
This morning: leg day in the pain cave (while simultaneously running Basement Bootcamp for the rugrats). Very productive and a lot of fun (except for the deadlifts).