Heads up – Massive Sports Tech Holiday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals 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.
This weekend I’ll be pacing a near-complete stranger ~20 miles during his frist attempt at a 100 mile race.
I’ll probably mown the lawn and do some push-ups :)
New weight area completed, time to break it in.
I’m planning on rock climbing and then a long run!
Running and baking apple pies
Continuing my all-month goal of either a 5+ mile run or a 20+ mile bike ride every day
I’m planning on going for an indoor bike ride and a 10k run over the course of the weekend.
Running on the beach! Socially distant, tough on the calves, and sandy!
I’ll do a virtual marathon this weekend!
A swim in the lake!
Hopefully getting out for a ride. Zwift tonight.
Short, fast spin on Saturday with grocery shopping in the afternoon ☹️. Long steady spin Sunday morning followed by watching Flanders in the afternoon ?.
Saturday I’ve got standing starts and Sunday will be a 3 hr ride with friends.
Saturday a 3 hour endurance ride with C bot pacer on zwift. Sunday the Belgian Zwift Riders endurance ride also on zwift. Ride On ?♀️
Indoor ride – while watching Netflix1
Ride my bike 100 miles on the weekend. I didn’t do that on the 3-4 weeks before and I’m becoming crazy.
Trail run, Vasa trainer workout, and a Zwift race!
Easy running all weekend. And work… work is a workout.
Long bike ride follwed by bbq with the family and belgian beer!
Indoor ride, long run, and some recovery time.
A long distance run on Saturday and and easy ride on Sunday. Plus some couch time to recover. :)
Saturday a 3 hour endurance ride with C bot pacer on zwift. Sunday the Belgian Zwift Riders endurance ride also on zwift. Ride On ?♀️
Apple cider donut group ride in 40 degree weather.
7k run Saturday. Long zwift ride Sunday
mountain hiking with my son
Planning a long run tomorrow, then a rest day on Sunday.
I’m on my final “workout” before the full taper week before my A race. Today is “Monitor” from TrainerRoad. A bit of sweet spot to keep the fire burning.
I’d love to win to get a Garmin 130+ based on your recent reviews and my MTB focus.
It’s my birthday Sunday, so hopefully morning bike ride and a $500 gift card win would be sweet!
I’ll just ride few kilometers an then eat pizza. A lot of pizza.
Walk
Take the new bike out for a spin, then a couple of runs
Trainer ride tomorrow morning!
My plan for Saturday is a slow, regenerating 7(ish) km run, and for sunday a more relaxed hiking, other than these, the plan is to clean up my flat…..
Running from the lowest point in my city to the highest point – 15 mile loop with about 2400’ elevation gain. Hope I make it !
A long, mind clearing fell run. Basically a strava rampage.
Drive to work, work, drive home, sleep, repeat
Workout involves kids little athletics and hopefully a late OC1 downwinder ??
Neither of these companies are friendly for people living outside of North America. As a test, I choose a $200 jacket at Competitive Cyclist and specified shipping to Japan. Shipping was $75.
Easy run Friday, long ride Saturday, tempo run Sunday!
My week-end plan is to quarantine, as I have been doing for the past few days unfortunately.
But with the giveway, I will be able to find the right gear for my next time !
My weekend workouts involve participating in the virtual Army Ten Miler on dawn Saturday and then a nice long road bike ride on my favorite roads on Sunday. Then to begin again with a 10 plus mile run on Monday morning before work.
It’s a rainy weekend, so I’ll be doing a long ride on FulGaz and the Neo 2T
80k ultra marathon, rush to do sons sports scoring. Next day rush to do end of season presentations and afternoon legs up bbq?
Gravel riding
I’ll be Zwifting up the alps
Ride and run or run and ride. One of those combos
Just a long run saturday. Probably on treadmill since its getting cold out.
This weekend it will be trail runs in the Portofino park.
Thanks for your job and for these giveaways!
Core workout. Meaning trying not to get blown over in the Wisconsin wind
Saturday should be really dry, so i will go out for a spin on the bike
Going to take advantage of the perfect weather in Atlanta this weekend and go for long run! Might ride my homemade “Feloton” as well!
Riding on Zwift with friends!
Trail run 28km on Saturday
Start Sunday with a swim then
ROUVY indoor bike on my Tacx Neo2 Trainer for 3 hr bike ride
I will be doing some light road and gravel riding as I recover from injury. Off days (and I’ve had a whole lot of those…) will be spent volunteering at a lemur center.
Either going on a 2-day fishing tournament (exhausting, more than a marathon!) or debating skiping it due to my current exhaustion level and hanging around home with wife and some Crossfit and running mixed in.
Heading to two the Sierra Nevada mountains for the weekend. I will make sure I check in Monday for all the prizes I have won!!!
2 x Zwift workouts plus recovery
Some trail running Sunday and hanging out with the familiy until then ?
Hoping to get a bike ride in before it gets too cold! Alternatively a long run will do the job just fine.
Workout this weekend, clean the bike, 10km run on Saturday. Bike spin on Sunday, short and fast.
Ironman VR is my plan for the weekend! Have not missed one yet. Screw Covid!
I plan to go for a 42 mile group bike ride this weekend, followed by an easy ride with the kids.
Hi Ray – I’ve been exclusively cycling on my trainer for a couple of months and I’ve decided to mix it up. This weekend I’ll be going for a run on Saturday and cycling on Sunday (hopefully outside)!
Try to get in a mountain bike ride on Sunday Morning
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Recovery run and watch Halfmarathon on Gdynia later
I’m planing a recovery run and a easy swim for Sunday.
Working out my keyboarding & excel skills as we close another quarter! Hoping to hop on the bike after that! Cheers!
Weekend exercise will be fighting a Land Rover Discovery 3 front brake system.
Finally get to race a 5k road race with my son this weekend. I am really looking forward to it. The race is capped at 50 people, and we all go in a time trial fashion. With 3 blocks for people, the winner of each block gets to come later in the afternoon and race for cash.
Of course the race is sold out, and is located in Kamloops BC Canada.
This weekend will be my first indoor ride since last Spring – on the Tacx Neo.
Hopefully a walk outside if it stops raining. And its indoor upper body workout day. We are in semi-lockdown stay within 5km of home here.
Long hike in the first accumulating snow of the season.
Swinging a kettlebell in the backyard.
Planning on doing a 100km ride around Vienna, Austria.
Preparing for a bikepacking trip with a long ride + panniers.
Bike on Saturday. Run on Sunday. Yoga both days.
Ride on Zwift on Saturday and ride outdoors on Sunday.
Playing catch-up on my running and indoor bike workouts that I blew off during my 2 day Amazon Prime “holiday”.
Babysitting on Saturday, long ride on Sunday!
Open water swim in La Jolla and ride to the Point Loma tide pools.
This is the last leaf weekend in Upstate New York. I plan to take a long, slow run tomorrow morning to admire the leaves, stopping whenever possible to shoot a foliage pic.
Long run Saturday, big day out on the bike Sunday. Sorted
Going for a Zwift trainer ride and a 6 mile run. Not on the same day. Could really use a Garmin Edge 1030 Plus ?
Saturday’s FTP test day followed by an easy day on Sunday.
My weekend workouts are usually outdoor rides with the group. But if we are on lockdown it’ll be solo rides if applicable.
I’ll be Zwifting.
Short recovery run on Saturday and long run on Sunday. But the main thing will be watching the tour of Flanders on Sunday.
We will go to the local elementary school and run laps while our kids play on the playground.
Starting my Weekend with a trainer road workout then probably going to have a nap in the afternoon. Then go on a 10Km walk with my family and take Sunday as a recovery day in preparation for the next weeks workouts.
Dropping the kiddos off at a babysitter and getting some quality time in with the wife. Goign to enjoy some fall colors here in MI!
After a really good year of training, 82 ctl in training peaks, for a race that never happened. I decided to make those races and rest after. I’ve just finished my rest week with chips ans wine and this weekend it’s the beginning of my need season.
Thank you for your amazing work!
Long run tomorrow, short ride on Sunday.
Teaching spinning class at Olympic Gym Amsterdam
weekend workout plan is to cycle to mechanic shop to get my bike repaired and
netflix and chill (star trek), it’s off season so i may do this in style!
Indoor cycling planned: partial lockdown unfortunately dictates what we can and cannot do…but we remain strong!!
Probably running in the rain here in DC.
Going surfing while the weather is nice!
2h of zwifting
Going for a ride (actually already been riding in the rain) or two and recovery is over a Netflix series.
Hayden half marathon on Saturday and recovery bike ride the next day
Running some trails in preparation for a 50 miler next weekend I’m hoping won’t get canceled.
Work and a trainer spin since weather is rainy
I have a 70km ride in the New forest planned
Off-season recovery ride
I have a 2 hour zwift ride on Saturday, a 1 hr run outside on Sunday and a strength training workout on Sunday as well.
Saturday recovery run and then a bike ride on Sunday
Zwift race!
Rehab work here
Going for a mountain bike ride on a remote location
13 mile run Saturday
50 mile ride Sunday
MTB riding in Big River
Off for a long ride amongst the beautiful fall leaves here in New England
Just a recovery trail run for me
Packing… And if I have time a longish ride making the most of the nice Californian weather.
A 10K row, a 10K run and with luck a couple of peloton classes thrown into the mix.
Zwift race on bike, Zwift ride with Coco cadence. Still in lock downward here in Melbourne Australia.
Here’s to finally winning a giveaway!
I’m not a hardcore athlete like most of your followers, but enjoy your work. Our workout plans this weekend will consist of walking the dog at a nearby park or lake. Nothing crazy, but still lapping everyone on the couch right?
First snow here in bc so will be a winter trail run and mountain bike ride….first tracks on the single track!
A trip to the mother in laws on Saturday means I might get a quick walk in with the dog at best but hopefully a ride in the Cotswolds is in store on Sunday
Ride long Saturday with hard efforts, medium ride on Sunday at tempo.
Short trail run in the mountains on Saturday, and perhaps a longer one on Sunday.
A short run then working on putting together furniture.
Bike ride planned for tomorrow with my son; Sunday is his birthday and so we’ll both have time out the bike and reward my wife for saturday ride with a movie afternoon ;)
Another workout on my WaterRower, a couple hikes, and a few episodes of The Haunting of Bly Manor.
Long run on Saturday, take it easy on Sunday
Planning on doing some Zwift training because winter is basically already here in Canada!
Indoor bike as we’ve been in lockdown since august.
Mountain bike rides near Durango.
Currently injured. Will rest this weekend.
Saturday will be on the bike trainer and possible swim at the pool. Sunday hope to get outside on the bike if the weather is nice.
Weather doesn’t look great, probably hit the trainer for a long ride or two.
Chasing my 3 year old with his new pedal bike
Ride in the forest Saturday and swim in the reservoir Sunday
Road ride Saturday
Afternoon trail run Sunday (Anything to avoid the Eagles game…)
Looks like a long zwift for me with the weather being pretty miserable ?
Packing up a house… We’re moving.
Hope to sneak a run in there somewhere.
I’m in an Apple Watch fitness contest so I’ll ride Zwift for 2 hours on Saturday and do a Nike Training Club 45 minute workout on Sunday. I’ll also need to walk the dogs 3-4 miles each day.
My weekend workout plans are two 90 minute sessions of TrainerRoad SSB in Watopia.
Ride on Saturday, and hopefully again on Sunday!
Zwifting with some friends while the snow falls upon our rooftops. “Easy ride” they said
Indoor cycling with zwift and the stages sb20 bike.
If smoke covers the Boulder CO area then I’ll setup my Zwift/Tacx smoke-free basement training center, otherwise it will be a 5 mile jog on one of the 100s of trails here!
Biking with my husband on the Western Maryland Rail trail in Hancock, MD to Little Orleans, MD and back.
Century ride in the local hills above Oakland, CA.
Running a marathon as part of Team World Vision.
My workout plans for the weekend are hitting the mountain bike trails with the kids. Winter is coming afterall.
Commuting by bike this weekend
Recover from the TTT on Zwift last Thursday with a bootcamp running workout on Sunday.
Currently in Breckenridge, CO and I think this weekend will be hiking Quandry Peak
Long trail run planned for Sunday, netflixs tonight…..finishing up Wentworth!
Sneak in a ride around repainting my house, resurfacing a deck, and feedling my family.
Pray our 5km restriction is lifted here in Melbourne.
Recovering from knee replacement surgery. Back on my feet though, so I’m going to go out and spend some quality time with my new Drone, and then ‘recover’ by laying on the couch. :)
Run with the pram saturday, selfish long run sunday!
Crappy weather plus cold means base miles watching The Borgias.
Weekend plans are early morning ride on the trainer followed by towing my twins in the trailer while following my six year old as he rips up the trails here in NZ..Netflix to follow!
3 hour bike ride in 6 degrees ?
Hopefully I’ll be able to get some runs in this weekend.
Zwifting, a run and an easy recovery ride outside.
11 mile run training for a virtual half marathon
I think the weather may have plans for my workouts this weekend! So will depend on the depth of snow weather it’s a MTB ride, Run, or indoors onto the trainer :)
I plan on getting out for a longer road or gravel ride Saturday and maybe a little MTB action on Sunday (responsibilities permitting).
My weekend plans include a Lower Body Strength class on Saturday and a long restorative yoga class on Sunday (yay for the Peloton app!)
Sitting on the trainer watching the cars race around Bathurst – should get a metric century in at least…
Zwift run academy workout 2
Long run along the beach
Riding to the local market Saturday morning for a blueberry danish
Going campervan-ing for the first time..with two kids under 5…could be interesting:)
Zwifting Saturday morning as the weather report says rain. going to try for another route badge.
4 mile run around Brooklyn on Saturday, 6 mile run to Manhattan and back.
Cross practice and CX with the kids!
Hike from home through local state park with kids
Gravel ride this weekend.
I plan to squeeze in a run in northern Michigan after taking care of my mother post-total knee replacement surgery.
A long walk outside while the weather on the North Coast is still nice!
Planned light road route but if it’s still wet I’ll have to dust off my mtb :) Plus forest hike with kids.
Full 70.3 followed by celebration night and a recovery day!
Easy run on Saturday and Fartlek in the heathers on Sunday.
Long run Sunday in Seattle rain. Cold toes await!
Recovery 10k and a couple of hours biking in watopia
Saturday: Roller skiing and hoping for a white winter this year in the southern parts of Sweden.
Sunday: Another Zwift Academy workout session.
My plans are to get a good mountain bike ride in the beautiful fall foliage!
I’m following a training plan for my first 10k, so I will be running 3.5 miles on Saturday and spending 45 minutes on strength exercises on Sunday!
DC always making it best for the consumers. Great job you do out there.
Had an awesome week of riding and have decided to dedicate this weekend to my family, that may include outdoor activities…or Netflix 50-50…
I’ll do a few easy runs this weekend to recover from apparent overtraining.
Re-sending it after last nights crash on my MTB.
Running Saturday with a friend I haven’t seen 1:30 who pushes my pace! Sunday doing a virtual RGB 5k Rise to Vote 5k with the ladies, Women’s March after run on Saturday abc a trainer ride in there somewhere….
Socially distant 5k with our running club and some Zwift Academy work on Sunday.
2 Zwift ride, maybe one ZA, i’ll see tomorrow + 8 x 1´ and 9 x 1´ run getting back after foot injury
Riding a little road and hopefully a little gravel too!
Zwift and sleep and eat.
Long easy run on Saturday, and if things dry out enough , mountain biking on Sunday.
Road bike ride in the mountains, go for a run, work on my fence, and go to the driving range. Recovery = working on a grad school paper. :( But that’s after my playtime in the mountains!
Well sleep is a weapon – according to Robert Ludlum! Weekend workout plans are to do a couple of outdoor endurance rides while the weather still permits up here in Canada.
Long slow ride
Gonna try to hike if it’s not windy
This weekend, I’ll be doing my first 5k with my son at 4 weeks postpartum!