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.
Running and weightlifting
Do an easy run
Eat cake
Try not to get covid
Trainerroad on the turbo and a long base run!
Recovering.
Unfortunately, injured myself in the ankle. Will probably spend the next month recovering. That’s hard.
Quite a lot of swimming during the week, Amazon prime and netflix recovery needed!!
sadly no workouts at all :( – got strong skin irritation, need to recover :(
Movies with family. Pirates of the Caribbean marathon.
Thanks
Bill
I’m going to continue getting friends with my new trainer and Zwift ;)
Recovery weekend
Zwift academy
Hi, edge 830 would be fine !
Putting up bookshelves whilst trying not to aggravate an ankle ligament injury :-(
Cycling only :)
Bike ride
Transition 2
And cheeky run to finish it.
Trainerroad workouts on the bike
Had a solo 100km ride ‘SKC’-style (steven kruijswijk coëfficient, 2.6!). link to tools.bicycling.nl.
First ride with my Favero Assioma uno after reading your in-depth reviews. Very happy with it!
Next ride will be 2 minutes intervals monday or tuesday.
I hope I’ll be able to take a short walk. Still not feeling well after a week of a nasty cold.
Did a chilly and demanding MTB ride yesterday (mac heart rate efforts). Today (Sunday) its legs up on the couch, watching road cycling on TV (and maybe some bike maintenance inbetween).
End of season break for me at the moment, while away with work. May get a short run in if I’m lucky.
Extra easy long run tomorrow. Recovering from a back injury
Cruises through my own half marathon run on Saturday. Hoping some real racing be back next fall.
Congrats on the new partnerships!
This weekend: 3*10 sweet-spot and threshold ride! Yikes
A quick ride on Saturday with a couple of sprints to pep up the ride, and a mountain bike ride on sunday. not looking for any particular zone, just ride and enjoy automne
Bandit riding courses of rides that were cancelled.
Covid sick… Looking forward to get out!
Saturday easy ride, Sunday Checking out a new (to me) 15 mile trail run.
An all-day drive after a week of riding and hiking in the mountains!
Last day of 5k lockdown restrictions in Melbourne Australia.
No sport sessions scheduled for this weekend (had to give a band concert instead). Today I’m heading into the woods for an evening stroll, trying to get the kids tamed. ^_^
Nothing fancy or exciting here! The weekend workout will be an easy 9 mile run followed by some stretching and leg exercises.
Just going for a short run in the forrest
Golf
2hr Zwift endurance ride then a short run, all while switching between the Vlaanderen and the Giro.
Riding gravel and watching de Ronde van Vlaanderen!
Sweet spot trainer workout followed by brick run on Saturday, then long run on Sunday.
Plans were to go out for solo ride at least on of the two days. Not sure it will happen. It got cold and I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed by work, enough that the thought of spending 3 – 4 hours out on a bike adds more stress. So, it will probably just be a workout in TR.
5k easy run on Sunday and some rehab, easing back from achilles injury
There was a run and walk plus two games of rugby league to watch and one game of union and we mustn’t forget Bathurst. A very full weekend.
Did a 21 miles MTB loop today.
I did a rather slow 10k today. Preparing 5k PB try next week!!
Changing the gear set on my bike
A not too chilly sea swim & maybe a roller session :)
Going Mountain biking on a new trail in Patapsco State Park in Maryland today. Thanks Ray for all you do for the biking/triathlon community.
8 mile surfski race, Sunday morning Rhode Island, US.
Go for a run with my daughter in our running stroller.
Feelin lucky
Longish road ride on Friday, trail run on Saturday to enjoy the colors changing! Cheers!
Hopefully the rain holds off for one more bike ride before it gets too cold to ride outside
easy run sunday, and then watch the Tour of Flanders
Golfing!
Walking (lots), running (a tiny little bit) and monkeying around with trying to get my Chinese spin bike connected to Zwfit (more than I want to)
Spending time watching my daughter race XC.
I have a 50 mile ultramarathon planned for two weeks from now. Going to do a relaxed 25 miler.
Congrats on the new partnership!
EZ spin on Sunday morning followed by watching De Ronde and the Giro.
Cross Loop through the North Copenhagen forests :):)
Last MTB race of the season
Riding through Chevreuille!
Enjoying a ride along the ocean with finally a bit cooler temperatures
Congrats on the new partnership. Long Run in Philly!
2 outdoor cycling. about 80 km of good time….
My workout plans, it would appear (having, err, done it), are to decide at 1230 to sign up for a race, rush to sign up in my car, drive back, getting delayed in rubbish traffic, swap car for bike so wife can use car, cycle back for the start time at 1400. Arrive 4 minutes after the start of the race…. quickly swap shoes, take helmet off, remove phone from bike and attach to arm (thanks Quad Lock!), etc. Start race and cross start/finish line at about 5 minutes behind field!
Funny thing was getting appluaded as the (much faster) lead runners came to map me a few minutes later, and some shouts with people thinking I was in front… not realising my unusual start situation :)
* map = lap
I’m planning on finishing setting up my pain cave for my kickr that should arrive this week. I’m a little further North than most so my outdoor riding season has been over for a week or so now.
we have orienteering competitions for as long as the bearable weather holds out, so two 10k-ish run
Evening walk with the family.
Did a 40k Time Trial today – first race in 2020 ?
a couple short runs and catching up on household task list!
Pushing a buggy is as active as I’ll get this weekend.
10 mile trail run
It was a 60 min tempo run, but it was 38 degrees in Chicago so I did a 2 mile speed test!
Watching Tour of Flanders on TV!
Small recovery ride and coffee stop ☕️
Running. Every weekend. Always.
Going for a nice single-track with my lefty.
Midway through replacing shifter cables, so will be getting in some strength training and some time on the old indoor recumbent (along with finishing the cable replacement).
Run and work on my Sprinter Van Conversion.
Bike help my mother on some projects around her house.
raking leaves, banking riding hours
Trying out our new Stages bike.
Kinda cool today in N. Virginia so maybe a shorter ride followed by some good weight training. Today’s a good day to take a break from Zwift! ?
Going to be a rest weekend.
Fall trail run. Gravel ride with my “bubble” friend. Mow, rake and pack. New house on the horizon!!
Watching the ronde of Vlaanderen, to see how it must be done….
Running the last long training run before a half marathon race next week
Runs, rides and red meat for this weekend. Then rinse and repeat. Cheers!
Lazy recovery Sunday for me.
Just a relaxing Sunday today. Back at it Monday.
A 65 km bikeride to the edge of Holland
Recovery with a zone 1-2 spin just to loosen up the legs before doing some yoga.
5 hour hike enjoying New England fall foliage
Probably try to hop back on my trainer and continue my physio treatment!
10 mile training run and then a hike with my puppy.
Some runs and core workout
Just got back from an hourish gravel recovery ride. The rest of the day, however, will be spent on Netflix.
Weekend taken up with easy run and hard work pressure washing house
I plan on restarting zwift and working out again even though it probably won’t be much :)
Tempo ride on TT bike and long run on forest / mountain trails.
Getting back on the bike again. then a short run.
Nice cyclocross taide!
Sneaking out for an autumn afternoon road ride…
Pretty excited to ride in some fall leaf colors finally hitting the mid Atlantic. Excited about this new partnership as the backcountry shipping and service is top notch.
TrainerRoad workout while watching the Tour of Flanders
I’ll be watching my son race cross country.
Weekend training plans: 4-hour MTB ride on Saturday and a 3-hour gravel ride on Sunday.
#winteriscoming
My gym just reopened and I’m going in for a much needed change from my at home workout routine
Won’t support a company that supports Backcountry. Shame on you.
Recovery run and ride.
Rest after a long ride !
Luckily got a nice long run in with the club before stricter lockdown restrictions are imposed.
15km trail run, 90km road cycling hill climbing.
As always, sunday morning started with a spinning class and a body pump class. Good way to start your day!
Cycle round the river
Getting cold and wet running in the Wisconsin rain this weekend.
Weekend workout plans: wrangle my two little girls!
Indoor ‘triathlon’ Row, Bike, Run..
Long Run and then Long Ride.
Cup of tea and a slice of treacle tart.. ☕?
A 1 hour run on Saturday and hike on Sunday.
Monday: Easy recovery
Tuesday: SST med
Wednesday: ??? Surprise
Thursday: Zwift TTT
Friday rest
WE: long ride
I races on Saturday. Yes a legit race. It was so amazing to race once more ?
2 hours debugging a new (to me) Wahoo Kickr setup. Also, losing a fair amount of water weight in the process.
Walking the dogs and grinding on my Echelon indoors, trying to stay away from people and COVID
Short cycle to test the knee, following an injury in the virtual London Marathon
I’d prefer to go outside but turbo it is :(
Just recover after season so maybe a small run.
Hard week. Recovery weekend. Sunday at the winery
Zwift trainer rides and core work
Go for a long day hike in the mountains at altitude.
2-3 hours on the TT bike
Lifting boxes, couches, beds, TVs, etc… as we are moving.
Zwift fun in the warm and comfortable environment of the house when it is raining outside
This is a rest weekend to make sure I didn’t truly hurt myself this last week. Hopefully easing back into it at the start of the week.
Went for a nice family walk on Saturday and Sunday will be a rest day.
Saturday run with Rae (my buddy running dog), then rest day Sunday
30 mile gravel road race in tandem with wife. Super brilliant fall colors here in Michigan!
I am on-call so if I get a ride in it will be really close to home
I do love a giveaway :)
Plan this weekend is a virtual mountain race, actual event got called off last week due to the increased restrictions.
Quick run followed by a quick rowing session.
Short runs on the plan, as I’m just coming back from a running break. And having tea, and some coffee…
meditation meditation meditation…
Virtual Detroit Marathon on Saturday, recovery run on Sunday.
Running with my son at a local state park. Maybe also sneak in an MTB ride at the local trails.
Praep, ride, flow..whoops an unplanned skid, ride some more…go home…some praep…
A relaxing 50 mile ride on the C&O canal
It’s snowing! Hoping to go for a trail run!
A pair of long runs for me, which I can hopefully time with breaks in the rain. :)
A recovery weekend ! With some easy running & biking….
start to run again and my usual bike ride
Lazy weekend. Let’s call it recovery. :)
A long solo ride if I’m lucky enough with the weather, otherwise the same but with my feet in place of my bike :)
Sneaking in a mtb ride, once/if the rain subsides.
Mellow indoor zwift ride before a socially distanced BBQ with a small group of friends
I am going to ride the trainer yuck
Big ride Saturday with both Tarmac and gravel. Watch Flanders Sunday. Perfect.
Ride with my son.
Some torturous Zwifting on the tacx ?
Saturday, I have had a first run after a week with a sprained ankle – the inherent risk of trail running – and today, Sunday, I went on 27 km hike with my wife on a new path close to Copenhagen (the Amarmino – just opened in October).
Weekend workout consisted of a hike and vigorous tree trimming!
Nice easy long run through the hills, and getting my bike trainer up and running.
A walk in the Eifel with the kids and friends visiting from Berlin.
Two rides done this weekend, one indoor and one outdoor
Run in the Peak District on Saturday and rest on Sunday – may go for indoor spin on the bike!
Probably a walk on the treadmill. Weather is not very nice at the moment.
Long rides to prepare for upcoming events…
Run with my dog along the South Downs Way
Mountain biking and yard work
Saturday 4 hours bike train (120km) and Sunday relax with friends at me daughters birthday.
A lazy sunday with the tour of Flanders
My weekend will be spent bringing into the basement 5 cords of firewood for the winter!
Going for a run on the treadmill
With any luck I’ll get a good 2 hour mt bike ride in.
Doing the Garmin 5k Intermediate Coach program and loving the prescribed workouts. This weekend it’s a 50 minute long run sandwiched beween 5 minute warmup and cool downs.
A special corona swim training with.other under 18 members of my club
Putting up snow fences, changing tires over to winter tires, and sneaking in a TrainerRoad workout.
Nothing at all… 100% recovery !
Recovery weekend!
2 hours endurance training with Xert
Enjoy the sun working in the garden and after that I go for a cycling ride!
Some long miles on the trail.
No Seahawk game = 2 hr Pain Patio ride! Wish me luck!
Going for a run later!
group road ride Sat, mtb today
I have everything that I need at the moment except time to train. New season starting, so hopefully I will make a good plan that I can follow. I am following you since beginning, when you were pretty much anonymous geek who review staff in a very long honest, detailed post. Keep up the good work.
I wil ride a ZA Segment Groupride and after that I will do a little recovery run around the Alster in Hamburg.
Zwift + TrainerRoad
Training for a virtual everesting effort. Just did 3 laps on alpe du zwift yesterday!
As a 59 year old PE teacher working in the North of England, my fitness always has and always will be important to me. I have had 2 total hip replacements in 2013 and 2016, so run a lot less than I used to do. However I still manage a couple of weights sessions during the week and a couple of weekend bike rides. On Saturday I went for a quick spin and today I did 30 miles up to Kettlewell and back. I still use a Polar S625X HRM and strap and for what I need it has served me very well.
Bike Saturday, run Sunday
Hopefully help defer the costs of an Edge 1030 plus as I am loving the daily suggested workouts on my 945 but not the overall experience
Long runs followed by long rests
First run on the treadmill for the Zwift Run Academy. 90 minute TR indoor bike ride. 60 minute trail run. Son’s baseball game and 1/2 mile Healthy Kids Running Series race.
Well, the weekend was two runs of 8.05 Km (probably some weird mile distance…)
took part in a 50km gravel race – that was so much fun :)
I expect to do an hour of riding on zwift at some point today.
Workout: being spoilt by my girlfiriend following surgery last week!
I wasn’t planning on participating in this giveaway, because it’s almost impossible to win. But why not enter just before the end and see if I achieved my weekend goals.
Saturday planning to do a group interval workout, but could run because of two big blisters.
Sunday I was luckily able to run again and did a 15k long run.
I am going hiking on the Veluwe, on a small holiday near home!
2 hour driving my cozy sofa in 2nd heart rate zone :)
Indor cycling on covid isolation
Intervals on my new Peloton Tread. My new favorite piece of training equipment, fully recommend!
I had some good single track time on the MTB yesterday… And then it snowed. Still hoping to get in a chill (pun intended) recovery ride.
Out on the bike then a rest
My weekend workout included loading wood into the smoker for some BBQ and a Sunday Sufferfest sesh (to sweat off said BBQ)