Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. 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!
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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.
21K run; intention was to do a 10K but had to rerun the whole route since I lost something on the way…
In my bedroom riding stage 5 of Tour of Watopia on KICKR Snap
I ran 4 miles yesterday. I plan a zwift ride for tonight.
Thursday’s stage 5 of the Tour of Watopia
A quick run around the park
Actually got outside for a 7km run yesterday. Lots of crossing back and forth on the road to keep as far away from dog walkers and runners as I could. Luckily the roads are very quiet at the moment.
The TrainerRoad workout Haku!
Daily 30 min 6000m WaterRower structured workout – 5k staedy 1k intervals
New trainer would be great! Riding and running solo to be #sociallydistant
I workout inside on my Kickr as the snow is not quite gone yet. Looking forward to some solo training outside though, until we are past the worst of this current crisis.
I’d love to get a crank-based PM. This would go a long way toward it!
I have a Dumb trainer that is keeping me busy but I will love to upgrade. I am using a Dropper post so even my kids are getting a workout!
A short road-bike ride in the forrest of Vienna
Tour of Watopia – Stage 5 group ride
Alternating daily between our old cross trainer and my old bike trainer. How on earth have I gotten. Fly tyre in my Bike trainer?
Run around the neighborhood in the dark when all the walkers, family groups and dog exercisers were done for the day. Looking for a new wheel off trainer so this would be a nice bonus.
I’ve been using the elliptical and also yesterday went for a solo road ride
A quiet run on the trails
Went on an amazing ride on the Historic Natchez Trace in Tennessee. I was completely immersed in the beauty of the surroundings and no one else around. Perfect for social distancing!
A lot of solo running. Much easier to distance when you run and the conditions aren’t great.
I skied in Utah’s backcountry!
I managed a Zwift ride. I’m surprisingly busy working from home. Even fitting that in was hard.
Running has been my go to while social distancing. Just trying to be careful not to ramp up way to fast and hurt myself as I am really missing the gym and pool.
I had my last Argus cycle tour prep ride on my taxc grand excel. Old school tech but still works fine. Enough sweat to make you reach for that sweat towel and ride under a full setting fan
Ride on Zwift.
A quiet mountain bike ride in the woods
I managed to take the bike in a slush run around the neighbourhood.
Thankfully I have a trainer for my indoor rides, but I’ve been running a lot too.
A 6 mi run with the puppy, she’s going to be a good run companion
Zwift Run, 5 min warmup, 35 min Z2, 12 min Z4 – fast finish.
Hard intervals on the trainer!
A 70 km solo bike ride in sunny weather, with a lot of wind
Running with my vizsla!
6 mile solo run on mostly empty streets near my home.
Zwift Tour Stage 5
Zwift Ride
MTB in the woods, completely alone!
Snowy solo fatbike ride on a quiet local trail
5k around the neighborhood, by myself.
Lifting weights 3 x/week and on the rowing machine daily!
what is riding outside? I only zwift!
I did 100km zwift ride with my team
Zwift Foundation workout, The first workout in a new Zwift Workout plan to keep me motivated and riding inside.
Run across the fields in Suffolk
Does Riding a cargobike count as a workout?
An hour ride on rollers placed on my balcony.
Zwift Uphill Battle. Managed to distance myself from the workout to as I couldn’t finish the last set of 30/30’s.
Stage 5 Tour of Watopia
A 8k with super heavy legs, after a 2 week break, I came back a bit strong late last week. This weekends runs pays the price. Zig-zaging between the few people I passed and met. Its strange how some people make zero effort to give space, so then its up to me to protect them from their own stupidity.
What day is it?
Got in a Runderwear Day 5 Workout as part of the 60 day Challenge.
Went on a bike ride on road, didn’t have to worry about social distancing with people but did have to worry about car distancing!
Rode 30ish miles on my road bike yesterday. One thing I love out road cycling (at least here is SLC) – it’s pretty easy to find quieter roads with lots of space.
A short run in the neighborhood, but snow is still melting so my feet were soaked from the very cold puddles. I’m sure Clever Training has something that would help with that issue.
Tempo work at the airport bike trail, watching private jets evacuate people to (I assume) their private islands.
Strength workout (legs) consisting primarily of lunges and squats in my living room.
Ive been trying to give my wife some much needed time alone too, so I’ve been taking my daughter for rides out in a bike trailer, or for walks around my neighborhood in a backpack carrier. I never realized that walking just a mile with her on my back would be such a good workout.
I went for a kiddyback tandem ride with my little boy, in my garage, managed to hook it up to an old Tacx i-magic & the software actually still worked! Unfortunately did ask, “can we shoot those guys so we can win?”, I think he thought it was MarioKart.
I managed a really nice run in the sun just yesterday. Really glad I am still allowed to. Stay safe everyone ?
HIIT workout in the garden (various bodyweight exercises) and a short Zwift session in the garden.
My last workout in the lockdown era was an hour long run around the neighbourhood in the middle of the night (i.e. 2 AM). Not being able to see a single soul outside in a very populated area created an unforgettable, eerie athmosphere to match these trying times. :)
Indoor easy endurance ride on Zwift. Lots of distance there
Just got back from a four mile run/walk with the wife – before our predicted 24+ hours of precipitation starts…
I managed a nice 1 hour bike ride (all alone) between teaching school to my children and preparing dinner.
Stay strong and keep distance?
Zwift Cervelo Gravel Ride
Some back to back long runs on 21/22 March after that I was to deflated to do any training with the lockdown in the coming weeks.
Just finished my first road trip of the season! Byebye Zwift…
3 hour indoor ride on Zwift.
It’s got to be a new turbo trainer in these social distant times.
Running alone up and down the hills surrounding me.
A virtual boot camp HIIT workout in the garden.
With my A race cancelled, I’m using the time to build up some strength with some Insanity workouts at home.
I ran a solo 8 mile run this morning with appropriate social distancing.
online yoga course in my kitchen !
No total lock-down in the Netherlands so social distancing sporting is not to difficult.
Last sports today: Swimming (OWS), Running and an (indoor)bike session.
Solo road cycling
Did an easy outdoor run. Was tempted to go gadget free, but took my Garmin and Stryd and listened to a podcast on my phone…
Full body band workout at home. Not as good as a gym, but what can you do?
Switched to the trainer road triathalon plan instead of the cycling focused one I was doing. Swapping in the swims for strength and doing extra strength in the evenings when I can.
50 miles, solo riding outdoors outdoors, as Spring tries to come to Minnesota
Long ride out on empty roads by myself.
I guess now is the time to get a proper indoor trainer :-)
Long run on gravel trail
10K outdoor run accompanied by my wife.
Outdoor run in the sun! Lovely roades.. and nobody in sight because to early for ‘normal people’!
Greetz,
B
Walked around the block
4.5 mile run around the neighborhood
A mat based workout inside my apartment
5 RDS of 9-15-21 pullups / pushups / squats
A quick run around the neighborhood.
Run around the block and playing with the kids..
Traineroad workout whilst earning double XP point on Zwift Tour of Watopia!
I have my Feedback Sports Omnium Overdrive and BMC Teammachine set up in my garage. I open the garage door so I can look out onto the street and see all of my neighbors as they are on walks around the neighborhood with their dogs and kids. I get a great work-out while being able to interact with everyone from more than 6 feet away!
Lots of social distance, but still close to the peloton on The Sufferfest instead of a outdoor ride out of Amsterdam
Walk in the forest next home
A ton of pull ups and push ups indoor. My muscles are still sore…
Walking kids around the local park
I did my first Century Ride of 2020 all alone. Since my Mallorca holiday this weekend got canceled, I started from home.
I went unicycling through the Swiss fields.
Great! Last work out was a run in the neighborhood. Crossing the streets when encountering pedestrians :)