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!
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.
Being stuck at home, I was able to enjoy a nice fun training with my two boys in our improvised home gym (treadmill, elliptical and a small bench). We actually had lots of fun working out together!
alright… another giveaway at exactly the right time… way to go Dcrainmaker
Just did a pack ride on zwift.
Went for a jog this afternoon!
I rode my cyclops 300 pro trainer in front of tv. I need an upgrade!
Did a YouTube yoga session
90 min of over underage on trainer road, the worst jerry, THE WORST!
Did a Road to Ruins route on Zwift. No one nearby except for the cats.
Headed into the woods on my MTB for an hour to take my mind off things.
1 hour trainer ride followed by 30 minute run at half marathon pace.
Tour of Watopia stage 4 long ride, it was a grind!
Tried out a fixie for almost two miles, always wanted to try one out…
Zoom CrossFit work this morning!
Joined a Zwift groupride organised by a local Conti-Team and the National Champ of my country also happened to stop by (who has been riding for a world tour team for a few years now) since he knows some of the guys, racing started and they obviously left me and lots of other guys in the dust. Was super fun nevertheless, 10/10 would do again!
I went for a nice 10 km run in the forest.
I`m infected with the popular virus now, so my activity is: bed –>toilet –> bed :)
Managed a 20k cycle in my lunch break while social distancing in centennial park. Gets hard to socially distance before and after work there!
Took a 30 mile ride today with 1 co-worker, we did a good job of not drafting and keeping our distance
I did a 14 minutes HIIT workout session at home since our government doesn’t allow any form of exercise outdoors. I miss running and cycling. Sigh…
30’/6k run around my desert neighborhood.
Road a trainer in my garage this afternoon. Easy 28 miles
I did a zoom workout with the gym!
Stage 4 Tour of watopia. But I miss running!! :(
indoors with just the kinetic and rouvy
10k@4’57@71% today around the block !
Ride on Zwift, 60 min full gas :)
I went for a run this morning.
A short ride (b/c I have the last vestiges of a head cold) to Tilden Park. My turn around point was El Toyonal, where I get watch happy horses frolic for a bit in the spring sunshine. And I avoided my normal stop point (one the sixty million places named Inspiration Point) b/c of the too many people taking advantage of the one opening in our shelter in place rules–exercise!
Tour of Watopia! Zwift has been a life saver since beta. It has allowed me to make up a lost ride from poor scheduling on my part, to my stage 4 ride a couple of days ago. ??
Easy:
Went out cycling earlier today with my pup, Spyder, for 75 minutes. Didn’t come within 10 feet of a human!
A TrainerRoad workout in the shed. It was 30C outside and I had the fans running hard. If only there was a way to do group workouts using TrainerRoad. ?
Outdoor ride 14k on my roadbike.
Sprints in the backyard.
Neighbors think I’m nuts.
Gentle walk around the local woods – early in the morning to avoid everyone else
Punishing the erg in my living room – the noise ensures social distancing any day.
My last workout was my usual 20 mile (one way) route to and from work on Friday. Unfortunately, my route takes me through a public park, and the lack of social distancing taking place in the park leaves me to commute by car now. I work in a research institute, and we are considered essential.
Socially distant on Zwift!
I twisted my ankle something fierce on a trail run last Saturday, and had to hobble 2.5 miles back to the car.
Some running ABC with kids in the garden. With my own kids that is :)
Nursing a slight back injury so my last workout was a hour walk to, around and back from my local park.
Tried a 32km on Rouvy until my phone died! 90 mins deep into the sufferfest on my dumb trainer! Such a fantastic giveaway
25 mi easy solo ride
25km Zwift Ride with friends
More tha ftn likely I won’t be original here, Zwift ride with Fabian Cancellara ?
A one hour run in fresh air and severe zig-zagging between the roadsides while passing the slow movers :P
1 hour yoga at my home!
A run on the beach!
i’ve just come back from a nice, quiet night run
I went on a 50km ride without my normal group. At least it was a nice ride and the roads were quiet.
Dirt roads bike ride. Don’t think I saw a car.
Another Tour of Watopia attendee.
40 mile solo bike ride(outside)
I could really use a power meter now that they’re finally becoming affordable
Half a TrainerRoad workout before a work phone call interrupted
TrainerRoad Workout – Fish -2 (4 x 15 min Threshold Intervals)
Zwifting…Tour of Watopia Leg 5
Just walking in circles in my backyard
Last saturday I went cycling. A strong and cold wind was blowing from the north. But the sun was shining and it was doable to keep 1,5 meters distance from other people. Felt good to be outside, in the fresh air.
Hey club running session (solo) 2 x 6 min 90 sec rec then 16 x 30 sec on 30 sec off – reach for the bucket at the end!
Love to win this
I did a simple group ride with 4 of us together, people with whom I occasionally ride IRL.
Zwift ride with my son…I am in DC and he is in FL, but we rode together!
Did a group run during which we distanced ourselves by about 100 meters – fastest to slowest!
No specifics this time, just like to win to go for DD trainer… Fingers crossed and no matter the outcome… Ride on ?
8km run at 6am on a route less travelled
Been swifting a lot the last couple of months and doing only a few solo rides outside… But as the time comes i want a new garmin watch or power meter, so i can track my performance even better.
I went for a stroller jog with my two kiddos in the double Bob. Hard work pushing 60+ lb of toddler and preschooler!
Longtime TrainerRoad user recently decided to give Zwift another go. Enjoying it so far!
Every other day running up to 25km outside with only cows and horses around and the day in between indoor or outdoor cycling with the same companions outdoor, indoor my e-reader and music. Just keep motivation high and focus on the the next goal (competition) will see if it will take place, if not change focus on the next one. Never give up in difficult circumstances.
PT exercises for ITBS
No specifics this time, just like to win to go for DD trainer… Fingers crossed and no matter the outcome… Ride on ?
Ho that’s a double, please remove… or the other one if this turns out to be the winner ;)
Cycling in the back yard, interrupted three times by:
a) the neighbour asking how far I’d gone to which I said I’d stayed right there
b) my wife asking how long I was going to be
c) my son telling me his little sister had done a poo in her nappy
Each was during a sprint interval
Run with the kids in the “truck stroller”
My last workout was a bike ride after work. I miss going out on my bike, but hey, I guess the trainer season is here to stay.
A quick ride on my trainer while taking a break from working (from home).
Went out exploring our new neighborhood for the running routes.
I carried hay to the hay ring for the horses. Does that count?
Fast intervals on a treadmill!
Last workout was 10,000 meters on my indoor rower. The GPS track is not very interesting. But would love an upgrade to my elderly Suunto Ambit to motivate me toward more outdoor adventures. Thanks for the chance.
Interval ladder in Canary Wharf (RGT Cycling)
Nice hour long run- no lockdown in northern Virginia and not many people on the roads (trails are a different story)
A nice scenic ride on some lonely roads out near North Bend.
1hour on my dumb turbo trainer whith some z4 efforts.
Rouvy ride in the back den.
Went Zwifting today
Zwift – Tour of Watopia Stage 5 Short group ride.
A little bit of zwift, so far.. going to try tacx or similar tomorrow.. doing the rounds before I decide which one to stick with :)
100 laps of my backyard with 400 right angle turns and 100 u-turns. Doing an everesting was easier mentally ?
trainerroad – dade + 1, 1hr 15 minutes
I work on a farm no time for riding bikes, every day is a workout here. I run the farm on my own permanently socially distanced!!!
I got a 30 mile ride in 3 hours before the lockdown
I’m been doing workouts most days indoors using either TrainerRoad or Zwift with the Kick’r and Climb. I’ve been waiting to get outside for months now, and it just isn’t happening.
Did a run around the neighborhood with my daughter (6 feet away).
Just a Step session…. my reign for a trainer! :)
Let’s do this! Time to get in some distancing by putting some distance down on the pavement!
Ran back and forth to the cookie jar while on a video conference. Does that count?
Just some walks right now..but I can see what I would buy with that giveaway !
Hard 5k run outside
Zwift. Bike and treadmill. Whole family is involved.
Last workout… Wahoo kickr, zwift, volacano circuit. (I like the joke about zwift races being cancelled because someone’s avatar was found to be positive for COVID-19)
Yesterday, in my basement, on my trainer. Cat’s don’t count for social distancing, right?