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.
After a couple of 100+ mile gravel race weekends, I’ll be back to the road to change it up.
Starting my training for IMCDA in 2021. Time to run!
Maybe a ride on zwift, or if there is time outside… Gotta collect them ks
Great to see another giveaway! See if I can get an upgrade to my watch
plan is for some strength training and a run … or maybe just a lot netflix. we’ll see :P
Hopefully dusting off the peloton to drop the quarantine 15. Here’s to winning something!
Climbed today, surf tomorrow and mountain bike Sunday with some daily yoga stretching for good measure.
Getting a ride in on my new bike – and looking at reviews for a new cycling jacket. Got my eyes on a Gore ShakeDry.
Comer, dormir una siesta y bicicleta por la tarde
Trail walk on the pyrenees with some friends :)
Bootcamp class on Zoom
Long bike ride tomorrow morning!
I would really like to upgrade my bike! ☺️ ?
Plan on trying out a sufferfest ride Saturday and zwift on Sunday.
Also plan on eating a bunch of kids birthday cake to balance out my effort.
Getting my indoor Wahoo Kickr and Zwift setup again as the weather turns cold outside.
26+ skate like every week – weather permitting ?
Hi Ray….no plans this weekend. I guess you can call that recovery. It’s been great reading your site since nearly the day you started. Keep charging!
3 hour Sunday ride
Keep working on Bathroom redo…and of course riding the trails near my house.
Have a great weekend!
Alex
For this weekend the menu offers a bike tour on the bavarian countryside.
I have Army Reserve drill this weekend, so my only workouts will probably be a couple of quick sessions in the weight room.
Glad to hear about the new partnership with CC and Backcountry. I buy from both of those places already.
Swim workout and setting up my winter indoor cycling setup sorted.
A little hiking through the woods
Installing the new bottom bracket I just ordered from competitive cyclist ;)
Bike with hill repeats and a run the next day.
Swimming in a cold lake!
Time to hit the hills for a Sunday hike
Enjoying this fine Dallas weather and riding around White Rock Lake!
Ahort run as part of recovery from Achilles surgery – hopefully also go for a short ride
Plan to ride 50 or so miles and kayak another 10.
run once, run again, and maybe throw in a ride
Plan on a 40-50 mile ride Sunday with my usual crew.
Mountain bike on Saturday and probably on the Trainer Sunday if the rain comes as predicted
Getting up and going for a long run now that the temps are cooler
I will do a nice hike with the fam
Well it’s snowing up here in Canada so this weekend will probably be the treadmill or the bike trainer somewhere sunny in Watopia.
Relaxing in Hawaii Quarantine
UTMB for the Planet challenge
A 6 and a 12 mile run.
Could be one of the last outdoor rides of the year. Calling for snow tonight. If that happens I’ll start back up in Zwift.
Hoping to log 6 miles on the treadmill and get some light yoga and weights in!
100 miles of Midwest gravel. Then a nap.
Ride up Stelvio via Rouvy !!
Exploring new trails on MTB, then yeast based recovery fluids
Long cold ride Saturday, watching De Ronde on Sunday!
Two runs and one weight lifting session
Riding bikes on the trails with my wife!
Pizza beer run repeat
This weekend I plan to run 8 miles. The run will be the longest since being put on bed rest for the month of August. Then…ice cream eating will commence.
12km UT1&2 rowing, 1.5hr bike – starting a taper.
Trying to recover from back surgery and get my fitness back
Riding the red dirt at Cuyuna in Crosby Minnesota
run two times by 7 rm
Baby coming, need some new gear for working out!
My husband and I plan to road trip from Scotland to hit the XC (with a little downhill!) trails at Cannock Chase, England this weekend. Might sneak in a 5k run if the legs are feeling it and most definitely recover Sunday evening (whilst my hubby scrutinises his segment times!) with a G&T and roast dinner. ♥️??
Probably getting back on Zwift, since the weekend looks cool and wet here.
DIY Hilly Hundred
short ride on Sat., long ride on Sun.
Zwift Saturday 1hr
Z1/2 with brief 10 minutes in Z3 on Sunday
Dry stone walling if its not raining on either or both days
Red wine drinking Saturday evening
40 miles on the bike and some other fun is the plan?
It looks like a cold, windy, wet, snowy run. Fun times!
Maintenance of my mountainbike!
I will be on my bike, either enjoying some rays outside, or hunkered down in the pain cave on Zwift. Either way, any day on the bike is a good day!
Long bike and run brick with a surf
The weather has finally turned, so time for some longer Zwift rides. Maybe some disc golf as well.
Zwift with a pace partner.
Hoping for good weather in Scotland so I can get out for a ride, but it looks like it’s going to be wet and windy so will probably need to spend a couple hours on the trainer instead!
I’m driving from Indiana to New York so lots of stretching will be in order!
Trainer time because of some much needed rain.
Swimming in the morning followed by an afternoon ramp test.
Probably a bit of bike maintenance on Saturday so that I can do a 50 miles ride on Sunday
A long run on Sunday and a strength workout and a bike ride with my husband and the baby on Saturday.
Hi
Weekend is here!
tomorrow a core workout and Sunday a indoor bike HIIT workout
Gerard
Enjoying the fall weather and getting outside!
Saturday: Ride hills around Malibu
Sunday: See Saturday
Gym on Saturday. Ride Sunday.
TrainerRoad self flagellation after two weeks of not much riding! The first two weeks of the school year (I teach) always blow my routine to smitherines.
Looking forward to some cool-weather runs this weekend. Thanks Ray!
Traineroad workout tonight, kettlebell work tomorrow night.
Two long rides at tempo pace plus a few walks.
a “long” slow run
2 bike rides of about 80 kms, strength work an a couple of walks.
I’ll be doing my FTP on my Peloton this weekend and some light strength work, as well.
Not sure I’d call it a workout. I’m hoping to get in a decent ride if it’s not stupid cold and windy.
It’ll be a nice fall ride through the flat country side seeing which fields have been harvested and which are late to the party lol
Replacing the motor controller on my treadmill and starting Zwift Academy Run.
My weekend plans include trying not to be depressed by the start of winter with 10cm of snow in the forecast. I plan on setting up my bike trainer and alternate between running, cycling and wishing it was spring.
Long ride on Saturday with a long run and recovery swim on Sunday.
Long run on Saturday, then leaf peeping on Sunday!
Working an aid station and drinking beer ?♀️
Snow is now falling – time to bring in the bike for indoor riding
Easy 3hr spin in (hopefully) carless roads
Bike, sleep, and eat waffles
Starting out Saturday with a quick 4 miles, then following a 15 month old around a pumpkin patch!
Sunday is a fire pit and football “recovery” day
Hiking in the Ocala National Forest
After a couple weeks off because of a tweaked glue I will be happy with a couple easy runs this weekend.
Minigolf, bowling or go karting for my sons 13th birthday.
A nice cool weather run
Working on the house, zwift, and Sunday morning gym
Netflix for recovery in between each as well
Leaf peeping mountain biking
Saturday is my last day of the Original Insanity series! Its been an incredible series, honestly a great homebased bodyweight workout for these times. For sunday, probably a 10k run somewhere along the coast, and maybe a quick 1k swim as well.
Hiking in the Shenandoah National Park.
Practicing Zwift racing skills
Keep working on adding some base fitness with a couple trainer rides.
Bole commuting from and to my parents’ to delivery some goodies!
I’ll be running and paddle boarding.
My workout plans include lots of gravel/Mt biking.
Definitely some socially distanced riding on Zwift! Some running as well.
Zwifting route badge hunting while watching college football hopefully… Then family pictures ?
It’s some Giro and Flanders watching for me.
Trainer Road has two indoor rides lined up for me. Nate, Jonathan and the team are hard task masters!
Planning to get in a recovery hike with the family followed by an hour or two on the indoor bike the next day. Thanks for the giveaway!
Some easy run and strength exercises
Alas, probably just a few trainer rides
Recovering and zwifting after two longer rides last week.
Bristol South Hill Climb – 10 minutes of agony and then cake.
Long run, swim and a cruisy endurance bike
It’s a glorious Zwift workout double-header: Devedset followed by Red Unicorn. Build me up!
Short recovery ride, chill then maybe a longer (7-8 mile) run on Sunday.
Last big weekend before Ironman Florida! 3.5 mile river swim, 20 miles running and a century ride :O. Ohhh and some football watching :P.
Brick on Saturday and threshold intervals on Sunday. Thanks for doing the giveaway!
I S old my place today and will spent the last nice day tomorrow cleaning the steed before moving. A new piece of tech for the new pain cave sure will come in handy.
I’ll be riding on zwift because I am scared of magpies….
I will run 10k and a short bike trip 50k
Does yard work and watching football count as a workout
My weekend workout plans are just some easy runs on the Outer Banks of NC with some friends.
Run around neighborhood.
Sun brick – 80k bike/5k run
Saturday may try out a couple new-ish indoor cycling platforms. Sunday looking to knock out ZA Run workout #1!
Definitely plan on doing some fall hiking this weekend!
Bikepacking with my new Moots Routt RSL!!
Ray, good luck with the new partnerships.
For my weekend I have a couple of easy, just for pleasure runs fitted in around the family duties.
Riding the Bay Trail!
Walking, carrying a peanut. They can be quite heavy.
I have a couple of test rides planned for my “new-to-me” i9 ultralight 235 wheelset, and some rides of a friend’s over-formed Specialized Evo…
Zwift Academy cycling WO#3 and Run#2 amongst rest
Time to winterize the travel trailer and put it into storage.
Zwift academy training #3 is the plan for tomorrow morning and rest on Sunday.
Saturday has become a regular two-up time trial with my boyfriend…which of us will win the final sprint tomorrow?! :D Sunday is an exploring day to find a new off-road commute route to work :)
Cycle with my non smart trainer. C’mon Ray show me the money!! ?
I plan to strength my mind and body with outdoor activities- swim,bike, run!!!
Both days only 30 min of exercise due to injury – onwards and upwards
Plan on early morning ride then heading to watch my daughter run XC meet on Saturday. Long easy run on Sunday before taking 2 weeks to recover and regroup.
Tomorrow it’s goning to be recovery with beer, but sunday ~16k easy run and some bouldering in the evening!
Solo ride this weekend.
Swimming and recovery day
Workout Half-marathon trail race and a 2k pool swim Saturday and a 5k easy recovery run Sunday
Orangetheory
Long Run and a bike ride with the fellas ?
My weekend workout plans? Really good question…
Run on Saturday morning, maybe a ride in the afternoon, and another run on Sunday.
I am also planning to stretch and do some core strength…really this time! ???
Probably just a walk pushing the Burley d’lite X with the baby in it.
Eat gels for 500 buck?. That sounds like a plan!
Anyway – it is raining here and I think I am going to take my kids to the river to see the huge amount of water falling from the dam.
Couple easy runs outside this weekend, and playing a little football with the kids.
Going for a 8 mile and a 17 mile run!
Officiating soccer will be my weekend workout
I’ll be doing some strength work…
… digging holes in my back yard :-(
I’ve been recovering from overdoing it but the past week has been great!
I’m hoping to start my weekend out with a bit of skydiving to get my head right ?. Then bike/run brick and a 40min run Sunday.
Of course I’ll spend a little time reading dcrainmaker post along the way ?.
I have a 2-hr bike ride at zone2 on my calendar this Saturday!
Netflix while riding, or listening to a podcast. Great work DC Rainmaker
Coming back from injury so a short trainer session on Saturday and and short run on Sunday.
Weekend workout: I will finally ride my bike on Rouvy after a week of sunrise to sunset virtual seminars kept me imprisoned to my chair for the entire day. I’m thinking beautiful Italian landscapes with like no calories or wattage records in mind just smoooooth sailin’
I’m going for a 1 hour 10 run in the morning, then a long hike in the woods and an icy swim in the afternoon to refresh my 71 year old body.
Eat chips on the couch and think about working out
I’ll be doing a rainy/cool indoor ride on Rouvy Saturday.
Sunday looks good for getting back outdoors for a ride.
Shop for new rear hub using this code!
Long run on Saturday
Well, thanks for another giveaway. I got my bike ride into day. May do another one on the weekend
thanks
85 mile bike ride “cabin fondo” with 11 others on Saturday and then a long run Sunday to round out a 50 mile run week!
Netflix and Chill
Run, run and some more run
Back to back runs. 20km flat Saturday and 20km with damn steep stairs Sunday up the kapiti escarpment which has great views
I’ll be clocking some miles on my indoor trainer and watching some netflix. Best of both worlds.
A fall ride through the red and oranage Canadian forests before it gets too cold!
Training at home because running outside isn’t much fun in a pandemic unfortunately ?
ride saturday 30 miles, run sunday. drink beer
Planning on an indoor trainer ride.
2 x easy runs
Trainer time in the pain cave!
Bike-a-Thon fundraiser for the kids ski racing club and hopefully some time in a hot tub somewhere…
I take every Saturday off although I plan to hike. Sunday I’ll try to do road to sky on zwift.
I have been having a hard time getting motivated to train with all the racing being canceled. I may go for a run this weekend but I make no guarantees.
Up North in Canada EH we still have sunny weather on the plus side of the Thermo so a bike ride it is
I’ll probably take my dogs out for 10+ mile run after work tomorrow and I’ll run the Duke City Marathon on Sunday, even though it’s not being run this year.
Watching the rain fall and wishing I had an indoor trainer
Light ride followed by soccer & softball with the kiddos
Workout includes a long 1:30 bike session – can’t wait to log for my team for the USAT Tri Across America…
A long ride in the morning to earn a couple of fresh baked cookies.
I’m planning on doing some spinning, which is really all I can do right now as I have developed severe back problems, and running and martial arts are out of the picture for now.
This weekend will be gravel riding, rock climbing with my daughter (the clear winner) and watching the Tour of Flanders.
I have not had much time for exercising the last few weeks so I look forward to this weekend. I am doing some MTB on Saturday and running on Sunday.
After a forced week off, finally getting a ride in!
Giving a go at my first Triathlon on Sunday! It’s a super sprint, but I’m stoked/nervous for the endeavor. It’ll be nice to have a tri-time established. Love all your reviews DCR! You’ve really helped me in my decision making process when it come to fitness devices!
Cheers from Okinawa, Japan!
Hooray for new partnerships!
Planning a 40-mile ride with the wife.
Plan on biking inside, safe from the snow!
I’m going to relax this weekend after finally getting back into my bike commuting groove, thanks to cooler weather. Looking forward to those frozen days of winter! Really.
I am sincerely hoping this will be the last weekend of trying to get my long ride in without going more than 5km from home.
I’m the wife, doing a 40-mile ride with the husband :)
ParkRun returns here in Tasmania, Australia so I’ll take the dog out for a trot and a hungover long run Sunday following a friends’ 40th celebrations on Saturday arvo/evening.
Getting outside and burning all of those COVID calories!
Definitely a long ride weekend.
Strength workout Saturday morning at the gym,
Road cycling Sunday morning via country side :)
Ps
Always nice reading your reviews!
Keep posting :)