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.
Was hoping to ride but weather is pretty miserable and I’m not as tough as these riders who raced today: link to facebook.com. But if it clears up, maybe tomorrow, who knows.
Hi,
If weather allows in the evening, I’ll try a go and back home bike ride to make some paddelboard and short run in the beach. Hope rain and wind be nice and don’t show up.
Good Day!…
Going for an easy bike ride.
I am planning a long slow run on Sunday. However I am better with planning than ru.. never mind.
Recovery includes a quick trip to Cappadocia to hike around with some friends!!! Kolay gelsin!!!
Love what you do, even without these cool giveaways!?
Will be scouting an enhanced route for the bike leg of Heidelbergman to accomodate for a rolling swim start next summer
Long run for Saturday and recovery day for Sunday. Keep logging those running miles!
Gravel road ride and a 5k run and a trainer ride on Sunday
Setting up and riding on my new Wahoo KICKR
Sprint Tri, recovery ride, watching EPL
Looking forward to a pool sw this morning and a short bike ride this afternoon. I hope to get a little time on the bike tomorrow too.
Hi, I’ve just returned from my 45km 1150 D+ MTB ride, to the top of Mt Lanaro. 4 h in the Rocky karst woods, I think I’m good for the weekend. :)
Just got off a recovery day. Looking to do a brick workout today then interval work tomorrow.
2x 15k run
2 workouts in The Sufferfest: Angels & To Get To The Other Side. Then a rest day!
4 hour tempo gravel ride today, maybe short mountain bike ride tomorrow. And family pictures tomorrow…got to give in on that every now and then!
Workout for the weekend: 100km on Zwift as Training for wtrl racing.
Just about to leave for a +/- relaxed 100k bike ride…
Cooler weather means on the trainer for me.
Going for a long run at sunrise to enjoy the autumn colors.
Time to enjoy some fall weather with a 4-mile tempo run on Saturday and a 8-mile easy run on Sunday.
Just a ride around the local hills
I will be spending time with the kid and my wife in the park and do a run together.
Thrashing My G bike on Wirral, and trying not to leave the county.
Long run on Sunday.
100-minute run and plenty of coffee
Will do some wood chopping, so no need for a visit to the gym today.
If weather allows, I’ll do a bike ride outside.
2x 1 hour runs to keep fit
I’ll be doing a long slow run one day and then a 30 mile rail trail ride the other.
Mountain biking an IMBA epic!
Bike & run brick workout and then a long run to wrap it up. Love the preseason.
Doing a Brewery Running Series 5ishK with my husband, brother, and friends. Running with my brother again Sunday.
heyo✌️
today i did a bike-check ride (20 min) followed by a 2k run to get the legs smooth for tomorrow’s race. i’ll just chill really hard this afternoon.
so tomorrow (sunday) are the national duathlon championships, 10k run – 40k bike – 5k run.
I’ll probably die…whatever?♂️
greets from Luxembourg :)
Bike & run brick workout and then a long run to wrap it up. Love the preseason.
Saturday leg strength workout in the gym and zwift steady ride after;
Sunday is strength training for upper body and zwift race in the evening;
… do not have enough time for fitness throughout workdays(((
Got me some Zwift rides coming this weekend, maybe a run as well during my sons lacrosse practice!
A virtual 10K imbedded in a 8 mile long run.
Friend is running a DIY marathon tomorrow and asked me to pace him for the last 10k, so should be a fun sunday for me.
TrainerRoad workout while watching the Giro!
A recovery run on Saturday and Longer run on Sunday. Down week this week. Also working out the ice cream eating.
Endurance box packing as I prep for a move
Friday 100k endurance ride. Recovery on Saturday and go for a z2 ride of 60k Sunday morning.
5km run complete in SB for me, and now chilling with games, then Netflix and snooze ?
This weekend is wine touring in the New York Finger Lakes so it’ll be early Zwift rides both days. It’s Cayuga Lake today and Seneca Lake tomorrow.
Saturday legs at the gym, sunday short easy run.
A one hour on zwift with a short race. Recovery then
My Saturday work-out will be Sufferfest for 1.5 hours (Z1/Z2), followed by driving the kids around and hard manual labour in the garden ?.My Sunday workout will consist of a 4 hour century ride with a friend. Usual group rides are avoided due to COVID.
Then it’s time to sleep?
Hopefully a long run, but largely chilling and sports for a family birthday
Ocean swim and run this weekend.
A Century (KM) and Zwift Academy Workouts
Gotta love a giveaway. I have a 4 hour smashfest on the bike on Saturday and slightly easier 5 hour ride on the gravel bike planned for Sunday.
I usually do longer rides on Zwift. Lost 10kilos during lockdown! ???
Recovery is usually a nice relaxing bath followed by yummy food.
Saturday morning long run (13.1 miles)
Final Kayak paddle of the season
Sunday morning Ride (~40miles)
Riding Dirty splasheRR, charity gravel ride of 82K for breast cancer .
Going for a run, a bike ride and a shopping trip!
Joshu house for the homeless virtual run link to joshuashousehospice.org
A nice chilly bike ride followed by yard work.
Going for a solo century because my original weekend plans were messed up with fellow riders having to self isolate.
Planning a 7-9 mile run on Saturday in the cool fall Carolina weather.
I have a 3 hour ride today and a short open water swim tomorrow followed by an 11 mile run. Who doesn’t love the opportunity for new gear/gadget?
Rest today, run on Sunday 15 km.
After 2 weeks of homeschooling with my son being sent from school to self isolate due to C19, training has been on the back burner, but some energetic pumpkin picking and carving with the family is in order this weekend.
This weekend has the weather showing its good side, so I’ll be getting in as many outdoor miles (kms, really) as I can while that lasts. And then watcihng Giro rerun afterwards. That counts as well, right?
I’m celebrating my daughters 6th birthday and teaching her to roller-skate
Weekend plans are to travel home Saturday and ride some gravel Sunday!
Already did my cycle-run-cycle and will do another easy run this evening.
3 ish hour mountain bike ride Saturday morning and an easy run on Sunday unless it is raining then an easy spin indoors with Rouvy
I will be running after my almost 2-year-old daughter, and I must finally heal my cold, that’s the plan.
My weekend plan is to run. At least i hope after struggling with a year long injury from stepping in a groundhog hole while running last September.
Painting the house and trying to squeeze in a ride on Zwift.
Rest. And then they more.
I’ll do some zwift easy training and core exercises.
Mountain bike ride.
I plan to log some miles in my neglected running shoes
Peloton and long run
simple structured workout on zwift, whilst awaiting new flywheel / bearing for SB20
Setting up new Tuo toaster, first foray into indoor training since I found the bike is doing wonders for my back!
Coffee, pain a chocolat, kids, then…Cycling, everyone happy!
Just work (without out) and relaxation.
Steen
indoor cycling on my tacx neo 2
Netflix and chill on saturday after a crazy night out on Friday and praying hard the weather holes for Sunday so that we can proceed with a short sharp small group ride that has been postponed for the past two weekends due to rain.
Pacing back and forth while I wait for my Wahoo Kickr to be shipped so I can crush some Zwift! Fully-loaded and ready to get that Tron Bike. First stop is Zwift Academy 2020 for the hellacious workouts and Canyon 2021 in-game bike at the end to boot! First time commenter, new to the site, see your name sprouting in all things Tri/Cycling — use your site for solid reporting and analysis. Superior effort and great quality on your part, thank you! A DC transplant myself — VT native. Seeing cyclists wiz by my Glen Echo condo sparked my current cycling escapade that hopefully turns to a complete passion. Love the site and look forward to following!
Studying all weekend. Working out the brain
40 miles training ride around St Andrew in Scotland no doubt into a cold north wind
Run!
3 day bikepacking trip with friends.
Riding a 100k self run sportif
Trying to get my head around this ridiculously persistent head cold!!!
Training up for IM 70.3 Florida!
Setting up the basement for a long winter of Zwifting.
Going to get in a nice endurance ride exploring some new road and trail
Family is moving to a new place, so smartwatch is mainly counting steps while heavy lifting ?
outdoor ride while I’m still able to
Biking the blue ridge parkway, fueled by bourbon and French toast.
First snow ride of the season!
going for a long run on sunday. slow pace for this one. short run on saturday. same slow pace.
5 miles today (Saturday) and whatever I can get in tomorrow before heading off to vacation with the family tomorrow!
Coming back from multiple spinal fractures and first group ride in 6 months with efforts on Saturday, followed by a long slow run on Sunday. Total TSS in 2 days will be what I’ve achieved in whole months post accident. Onwards and upwards!!
Weekend workout will be strength through LMOD and endurance on the gravel bike. And mowing the lawn a final time before winter arrives… ??♂️
Making plans for the 2021 season and preparing the new carbon bike design project.
Backpacking trip in the beautiful North Georgia mountains!
I’ve got a bicycle ride planned with my secret COVID team.
Spending time with my family and when I can get away, a run or cycling workout on Zwift.
Two hours on Zwift today and an early bird road ride tomorrow before I play taxi service taking kids to their sporting activities
A light tour around Watopia, capped off with a set of leg lifts onto my couch!
Tempo ride on the turbo trainer in front of umbrella Academy S2!
Rack all those gorgeous leaves that have fallen.
Weekend plans: Completed a long run, rest with the family and a nice walk, and casual bike ride tomorrow. Beers will follow as I recently found a new beer section in the local grocery store. Cheers
I’ve got 2 days of intense training all worked out for this weekend! Saturday: feet up, starting off easy with Giro d’Italia but the big one comes Sunday, lots of stretching needed as I’m going to have to flick between the Giro and Ronde Van Vlaanderen. Going to have to pace myself and stay hydrated with frequent trips to the kettle for mugs of tea
This weekend, I’ll just do a short run and maybe a walk on Sunday.
Gonna be doing some epic riding in SoCal while keeping a safe distance to avoid catching COVID-19.
Hanging out with the kids after a tough week.
But of running, bit of soccer, bit of cycling, bit of praying that my achilles holds up under all of that!
A short run on Saturday and an easy hour bike on Sunday
Long run this morning then pool party later!
Going on the likely last long outside ride of the year.
MTB ride on my BFeMax cotic bike!
Zwifting the weekend away
It’s cold and raining so the trainer is calling my name.
Good Saturday morning. I am off on an 80 mile road ride to the west of DC today in prep for the Loudon 1725 Gravel ride next week. Only event not canceled this year! I could really use better Gravel kit?
Walking the dog (yes I count that), jumping on my Peloton, and Pilates.
A walk in a local nature reserve to see the autumn colours and a supermarket trip which, in my mind, counts as a workout.
Off for a hilly gravel ride Saturday and some single track Sunday
Virtual half marathon on Sunday
A cold run this morning… 39 degrees F…. Burr, need to move farther south!!!
With academy road Zwift
Marathon around Sydney harbour.
Works best run
Running in the arboretum!
Riding outdoor for the first time since pandemic
Two hours on Zwift.
Functional workout today and a 15-20K run tomorrow. And remove the fallen leaves on the grass !
Long run and riding the Peloton.
Apple TV and a game of tennes
Shift in focus this weekend, helping my Dad replace his garage doors.
Ride with friends now that the rain is over! Not time to Zwift yet!
Light run and then some couch time
Hi
Thanks for doing this
I’ll have two runs this weekend
Just back from a trail run
30 mile ride outdoors today with a TrainerRoad workout scheduled for tomorrow.
Climb a Zwift mountain.
I’m going to do late evening off-road/mtb rides. I haven’t ridden in dark much before so it feels a bit new even if the tracks are the same.
Performing some needed bike maintenance from my 5000 mile outdoor season in prep for trainer season. Includes installing a quarq dzero and ditching the stages dual :)
Hoping to go Mountain biking with my awesome wife
Quick run today
Indoor cycling tomorrow after RVV
Just a short run of about 5k and then watching “Flanders”!
This weekend workout is sitting on a couch.
Trail run with braco @bridgetaprilmoon ?
Getting back on the saddle after two weeks off. Will see if I have lost any form (if I have any to begin with of course).
Birthday bike ride
Recovering from a back injury but hoping to get out for a 2-mile jog.
One or two short rides on rollers in the house this weekend
Trainer ride today, pumpkin patch visit, and a run tomorrow!
Hoping to get in two long rides after a few days off.
40km MTB ride and a 1 hour slow run
Riding Black Oak Mtn Loop in the chilly morning to beat 20 Mph headwinds. Just shy of 40 miles to be home before college football kickoffs!!!
I’ll be going on a mountain bike ride today and a short recovery run on Sunday!
Nice walk around the local lake
7 mile trail run.
I’m going shopping to the mall. Cardio time!!!!
Trying again after a 100 mile sportive was a cold and rain mess 2 weeks again
I might get in a run, but mostly hanging out with the family for fall break.
My weekend workout is most likely either some plumbing or electric work around the house.
A morning on the trainer today & a shorter run tomorrow.
This weekend will include Zwifting and some easy bricks. Backcuntry and Competitive Cyclist have been me go to sites for years. Great selections.
Hauling boxes as we’re moving.
This weekend’s training is going on a bike ride with some future triathletes. This should be exciting.
20 mile run getting ready for a marathon (if it happens!) plus recovery 20 mile bike spin on Sunday.
A 2 hours cycling tour around Bern
Time to get the hiking boots out this weekend!
Planning on some strengthening exercises this Saturday and a bike ride on Sunday!! Thanks
I’ll be doing a 13k forest trail run with friends… with a lot of chatting during the run!
Planing on short runs on Saturday and Sunday.
This weekend I’ll just be doing a medium length sweet spot ride and getting some woodworking projects done for the house.
Going for a stroller run.
Solid choice of sponsors for the US-based folks, very sad they don’t cover Europe. My weekend workout plans are 1h Zwift sessions both Sat & Sun.
A little Zwifting and perhaps an outdoor ride weather permitting
Planing to take my 1991 Scott mtb out with me. Hoping less that 10 OTB:).
TrainerRoad sweet spot, 2hr each day
Training for next week’s Gran Fondo, TRX/P90X and bike ride Saturday; Bike ride Sunday
Saturday – Peloton ride during my son’s nap time
Sunday – Run + strength work before everyone gets up so I can relax the rest of the day
Zwift rides baby!
waiting for the rain to stop so I can do my planned ride outside, otherwise, zwift it is
It’s off to the moumtains to see family and fall colors. Not bringing the bike, so hopefully I can get a run in.
this weekend: Yoga, and a virtual sprint triathlon with some trail running thrown in!
Trying to make up mileage after all the rain the last few weeks.
Just completed a pool swim, another trip to the pool, long slow run and time out on the bike still so go.
Long run. Long ride. Walk the dog. Bike ride with the kids.
Going back to the indoor trainer for a long ride for the first time since June!
Peloton bike on Saturday, Peloton Tread boot camp on Sunday
Chilling and maybe a short, fast run on Sunday!
I’m doing World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Virtual Mass Race.
A short run session and then recovery while watching the Giro
Saturday will be a 10K run near the house (due to lockdown here in Israel) and Sunday will be a Concept2 workout.
We plan to take two long rides around western Maryland this weekend and get some Hill training in.
do some group rides
Long easy ride with my son.
2 hours of base miles @ endurance on Saturday & 75 minutes of tempo on Sunday
Getting my Zwift set back up.