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.
Zwift’ing thru Watopia for her and a squad of virtual friends and solitary sweating onTrainerRoad for me, but together in the basement for hours of togetherness.
I had a 45 min solo run and then an indoor strength workout.
Did strength and core exercises plus a short treadmill run in the basement.
Recovering from traumatic ACL, articular cartilage, and meniscus tear requiring two surgeries I have been doing most of my training on a cheap dumb trainer at home this past year and while conditions are still icy on the roads here. So much of the same for me really 30 – 60 minute sessions at a time 4-5 times a week.
40 minute beach run with faulty headphones. Back to the rower now.
Made my husband join me in the back yard for some strength work in the sun, then followed it up with the yard work routine. Lol
I did Yoga with Adriene you tube in my lounge room. With my Golden Retriever ‘helping’
A final 9km loop with wife and the little munchkin in her stroller before the lockdown in South Africa.
Ran and played disc golf with my 4 y year old. 18 holes, 30 minutes.
HIIT at Home on amazon with Scott Baker. He’s a fun dork. But I’m also about to go do a chill 5k and expect just a few easily avoidable dog walkers.
Early morning run
5 mile lunch run before the temps climbed too high
On my Tacx Flow Smart (I would definitely want to use the reward money to get myself a better trainer!)
Zwift ride… How original :)
I didn’t know what I would want if I won but your comment about a stand up paddle board won me over. That’s what I would get. I’m down the street from Lake Erie and could easily use it every day.
Kettlebell in the backyard.
In home yoga with the cats, don’t laugh… Okay.. Laugh a little..
Weights in the basement.
I went for a 16 mile bike ride last weekend.
Hour bike ride solo. Although I did see a lot more cyclists out than normal for this time of year.
Zwift ride on my trainer, managed to do some decent intervals. :)
Took the family out for an hour run while our kids rode next to us. Good thing our kids love to be outside and exercising as much as we do!
Solo 5am run through the city – no one even close to 6 ft from me
Ran by myself at night.
I’ve been running a lot now that I’m healthy. Last workout was 10 x 2 min on 1 min off.
Solo Bike ride through the country side
Walking around the block
Running solo every day, per the usual.
I’m an emergency physician in Maryland. Run at 4 in am or Zwift at 10pm …no more run groups for me. Luckily we aren’t in the same situation as nyc or working out would just be a pipe dream
Zwift – Stage 4 – Tour of Watopia together with a friend (online, in another state)
Lunch run with 3 year old in the stroller.
Running laps – 5x2km at a nice tempo pace.
My latest was a race on Zwift
“Date night” 30-mile gravel/CX bike ride around a local lake with my girlfriend.
One hour done at steady tempo on a turbo.
A nice easy 65 min run where I almost got hit by a car. Hoping the shelter in place keeps the people who only look left while turning right at home!
An hour long sweetspot workout on trainer road in the basement.
Ran a 5km before they locked us down for 21 days
Running in woods near my house… only saw a few other humans in the span of an hour
Last night I completed a tour of Watopia race and continued after for a longer ride… I’m accumulating kilometers while being locked down here in Düsseldorf.
Before starting my confinment telework day, I went on my super old (last milenium) bike trainner.
My last workout was a 2 hour walk outside, by myself. I was bad and didn’t bother to track it with anything, just enjoyed being outside in early spring
Chasing my daughters around the house; then doing it several times again!
I just did my core stability workout and included strech cord program
Ran outside in the fresh air on the now close to empty streets.
I did a 1h ride with my new orbea orca bike. now its recovering in the basement.
I did my first race, it was on Zwift. I didn’t win, but I didn’t come in last and I was only six seconds off the fastest sprint.
Running in the forest with the baby and the Dog.
Rode the cross bike for 2 hours on the I&M canal trail.
Had a nice run outside from my house and a TRX inside.
6 km around the local area keeping within the 2 km limit imposed by the government #staysafe
A solo run at the beach
90km Zwift ride on Watopia
Resistance Band PT for rotator cuff tear
Running on Rock Creek trail in the rain early in the morning. Easy way to make sure nobody else is around you.
I did a buggy run with my daughter round the local cemetery and park. It’s quite easy to dodge people as there are so few out and about.
Zwift helps a lot to survive isolation, I would line to have a larger choice of short workouts, though.
Managed 6km Doing circles, zig zag and stairs for 15 rounds in open area at home.
Managed 3/5 intervals of Kaweah in TrainerRoad. Still getting fitness back from being sick :(
FTP reset/check
5 mile solo hike yesterday. Thanks.
A bike ride with my kid… wasn’t much of a workout.
80km bike ride in Finnish countryside far away from other people.
45 minutes on the trainer while watching Pretty in Pink
A stride workout on vacant city streets
Nice outdoor run, all by myself in the sunshine.
Ran around my garden
Alone in the garage on a trainer.
I caved and bought a KICKR (coming off a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine) and got my butt absolutely kicked riding in ERG mode for the first time in Sufferfest. I experienced the sweet agony of a death spiral, and I’m determined to keep on learning indoors to up my ability to hit the outside world with more power than ever once this all wraps up.
Running in woods. Good time to know the less trafficked sections.
Sweet spot workout on TrainerRoad. Always good fun!
A short early morning run before everyone else was up, just a mile and half to stay within the new guidelines
Some indoor cycling on my dad’s static cycle.
I’d use the giveaway to buy a proper indoor trainer :)
Rode the trainer!
32 mile gravel ride in North Georgia
The weather is warm in Georgia, although the pollen count is crazy-high. My employer says I work from home now, which makes it pretty easy to grab my bike and enjoy the rollers around Berkeley Lake during lunch. I almost have the roads to myself!
Sufferfest video on the trainer
13 min run
2 hour Zwift session in the basement while daughter was on the elliptical. Time to get her a bike trainer of her own!
Zwift in my basement watching Netflix. Not really different then every other day!
Treadmill run/walk with my 20 20 challenge. 20 + pushups and 20 + squats.
4 mile run on the treadmill followed by weights, all downstairs in my basement of course.
I did ISLIGIATT on the Sufferfest. Felt pretty good about it, too.
training in front of Youtube… how sad!
Three mile walk followed by free weights in my basement. Then some time with my daughter playing Ring Fit on her Nintendo Switch ?.
Trainer ride on Swift
Went for a short but sweet 5k run in the park this morning. I am trying to get out early every morning so that not too many people are out and about.
3 hours cycling in the countryside of Finland. No folks there.
Last time was the day I received my new bike… It was also that day they enact the containment in France…
Joined in online on a burn boot camp workout in my garage!
Pilates on the living room floor.
120km gravel adventure to get some vitamin D, solo of course.
Trying not to suffer too much while riding sufferfest…
I’ve gone for a walk. By myself. Unless you count my dog.
Completed stage 5 of Tour of Watopia yesterday. Was drafting off a fellow named C. Virus for a good bit until he dropped me.
23 mile bike ride by myself around on my citiy’s bike trails and bike lanes (big deal in Wichita, KS)! Ray, have you ever tried Spam musubi (fried spam, sandwiched between rice and wrapped in nori)? It’s glorious!!
Push ups, etc. I don’t have gadgets for proper indoor training :(
Hi Ray. Running. That’s all I’m doing these days. Thanks for the giveaway.
My first run sice my injury… First and last for quite some time… Stay at home peeps
30 minute class on the peloton.