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.
“Big workout” weekend back to back cross races Saturday and Sunday!
Tour de Olmsted – a bike circuit of Cherokee, Iroquois and Shawnee parks in Louisville, Kentucky.
Might cut the recovery short with some hot RGT action in virtual Belgium.
If its not raining, I’ll do a 50 miler on my Pinarello. If raining….Zwift Academy
Going to go on a 4hr ride and enjoy the autumn weather and scenery.
Gonna continue to train for my first 5k turkey trout. Or in fact first “race” ever, even though it is a virtual one
With a herniated disk my workout will just be a walk. But at least I’ve been given the go ahead to walk for exercise! Hopefully it helps my sanity too!
Probably 10k run and 4k hike. Sunday reserved for kid’s soccer game.
I will do a trainerroad workout and an easy 6 mile run. Have not been to DCR site lately because everything I use is based on his reviews, and it just keeps working!
Plans for the weekend. Hitting the CrossFit Hero WODs Small and Emily. Hope to get a walk in with my wife and dog (as long as it doesn’t snow).
5km “Not a parkrun” and some zwifting
I’d like think it would be Netflix and chill but more likely a brick workout on Saturday and recovery run Sunday.
Hi, big fan for the las 10+ years! I’m planning to run on Saturday around the golden gate park in SFO, then go riding my bike on the peninsula!
Chasing the kids around the pumpkin patch.
Long run to burn of the 3 hour lectures and crazy studying I’ll be doing.
A whole lot of swimming and cycling.
Spinning on Zwift and get a run in.
5000 yard swim at the pool
Running with my high schooler, who’s restarting her pre-season XC build-up as the HS season here in Virginia now starts in February due to some covid-19 related rearranging, with some intervals on Saturday and an easy run Sunday.
Fingers crossed–thanks for the site and the contest!
Hiking hill repeats in Sat and bike ride on Sunday
Continue with the WHOOP 5k training plan.
With lots of snow coming this weekend will be at home waiting to head to the mountains
Read a few reviews on DCR.
Run a few km.
Bike a little.
And most of importantly, play with the kids.
Set up my home office with a tv and moved my Tacx NEO 2 into it. The weathers not looking great so I’ll be running a few test rides this weekend.
REST
I plan on a doing kb and bodyweight workouts this weekend.
I’m going to be setting up my new Tacx Flow and Zwift to get ready for the indoor season.
Gotta ride across town to pick up the arm warmers & maska I ordered from the local cycling club. But I’d rather be picking up some SRM X-Power pedals (still waiting on the in-depth review, Ray)!
Taking a friend out on his first gravel ride for his birthday. His first ride since becoming a father.
First ride(s) on my new kickr!
If whether it’s ok I’ll ride my bike for sure ;)
Hiking in National Parks (weekend getaway)!
50 mile bike ride if the weather cooperates.
Workout weekend plans – finally getting back on the bike after a bout of illness…. Zwift or outside if weather isn’t a complete washout.
planning a nice long gravel ride tomorrow.
Looking forward to a hike along the Lake Geneva Shore Path this weekend.
Already knocked off a 65km ride around the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, will do a run tomorrow in the rain
This has already been a productive week (either run or ride every day). I will do just one more short run (6.3 Km) tomorrow or Sunday, depending on the weather.
I’ll be spending time on Zwift and doing a bit of core work.
3+ hours gravel ride Saturday, 2+ hours road ride Sunday, 1 hr strength workout Sunday
I am planning some sort of tempo run tomorrow
Recovery and hanging with friends, maybe riding.
Checking out fall colors on a ~10 mi at a local state park. Trying to stay reasonably warm and dry here in MN.
I’m planning on doing a 50+ mile ride on Saturday and getting a solid rest day in on Sunday.
Some good spin on the smart trainer is necessary to kick off the weekend.
Zwift to recover from a broken hip
Ride the dump loop on Saturday and take the dogs on a trail run Sunday.
3 hr long ride on Saturday followed by 15 min run. 1 hr run on Sunday. And lots of yard work
Thanks for the giveaway, Ray! The workout plan this weekend is pure recovery (and maybe a small walk or two)!
A aimple duathlon workout followed by base run one
Another weekend on the trainer at home…
Still recovering from a cold – so easy for me. Might sneak in a virtual 5k “race”.
parkrun Saturday (already done), election-watching Saturday evening (NZ), and xterra trail run Sunday.
I will be racing on Saturday in Zwift and riding with friends on Sunday.
Weekend plans include lots of gravel miles!
My workout weekend started off with a spur of the moment transition from riding outside all summer to a quick mounting of my Specialized Roubaix in my Wahoo Kickr and getting 20 miles in Zwift. We shall see what tomorrow brings…
I’ve just begun my tapering towards a half in a few weeks, so it’ll be a 13 miler on saturday and then an easy 5-6 miles on sunday.
Upper body Saturday, then 11 mile run on Sunday with six miles of hill repeats built in. Gotta get ready for the (virtual) Phoenix Summit Challenge!
Workout includes patching and painting wall in the family room before I get back on Zwift for the year. Good luck to all!
Cross is in the air, so lets jump some barriers this weekend!
Short spin on the new bike (just finished a build) and then a long run (well, only 13) on sunday
Rowing in the rain for me this weekend.
Heading out on the gravel bike for a couple hours,
Cheers
Recovering from injury for me this weekend. Trying to get ready for cyclocross.
I’ll be swimming and possibly going for a gravel ride. Lots of pheasant hunters out and about, plus combines, tractors, and semis makes sharing the road interesting.
Forest hike to get away from crowds and be outdoors.
Supporting my wife on her virtual NYC marathon run!
2 hour zone 1 ride in the cold.
I’m doing a 3 hour tss goal ride on Saturday and then a 1.5 hour ride Sunday at zone 2 heart rate.
I’m going to run virtual TCS NYC Marathon
I live in Melbourne Australia, which has been in lockdown for as long as I can remember. We recently had the pools open up for the lucky few that get in quick enough for a booking. With my 2hrs of outdoor time and 5km travel radius, I plan to do a 12km running circuit and a 2km swim (if I make the lottery booking). Looking forward to expanding my routine when possible!
Go for a long walk
Recovering from injury!!!
I’ve got kid duty tomorrow so hopefully a decent road ride on Sunday.
Looking forward to dusting off my bike and seeing if it’s possible to ride without a power meter. My friends say no, but I need to check.
Maybe a mountain bike ride and a 2 mile run/walk, depending on weather. Trying to get back to it after having a baby.
My weekend workout will consist of chasing my four kids around the house. Monster is a popular game.
This weekend’s lockdown workouts entail lots of kettlebell and heavy clubs :)
Can’t say i’m looking forward to 200 clean and press per arm, especially since that comes before the 100 swings per arm :)
Just done a 3km swim in the beautiful, calm, but cold Waitemata Harbour of Auckland, NZ with 20 other members of the Waitakere Tri Club.
Tomorrow it’s a half marathon for the final race of the RunAuckland series. Half of them bacake virtual races, so it’s great the last one is IRL.
Looks like good weather this weekend so riding outside is the plan.
Long run Saturday, long trainer ride Sunday
Perhaps the last decent weekend of fall where I live. Won’t be long until every ride is inside so I plan to get out both days.
Swim and cycle on Saturday; rinse and repeat (as someone would say) on Sunday!
Bike ride with my son!
Bike on the indoor trainer (Canadian Winter starts early) and a few runs training for an ultra next weekend in the Rockies.
Antelope TrainerRoad workout, either on rollers or outdoors
I’m planning to start the Zwift Run Academy!
long ride weekend.
This weekend is going to be cold and wet so it is the treadmill and trainer for me. I am going to go ahead and try Sufferfest and see if I like it better than Swift
Riding with my wife as she does a virtual cancer run.
Going to hit my annual cycling target this weekend, while taking my wife out on her very first hardpack ride. Win-win!
First run in a long time!
Ride on Zwift both Saturday and Sunday to catch up on a long workweek without enough riding.
I will be riding on Zwift to add to my total virtual kms for the Multiple Sclerosis charity event (MS Gong Ride cancelled in Australia). Have to complete 1286km in the month of October.
Rest day on Saturday with family in town, then a recon ride on Sunday in preparation for the Zwift Racing League!
Testing the new Garmin Varia radar, and Edge 1030 that I got for a steal on Amazon Prime days thanks to the links on your page. Cheers Ray.
Gravel riding, exploring new roads
I’ll be heading out for a big(ish) ride on Sunday, 100kms and a big hill right in the middle!
Get out on the bike. Had a slow week and have to make up on the weekend.
Weekend workout plans:
Saturday – a short, hard, solo ride
Sunday – a longer group ride
Running, weights, and wine. Cheers!
Easy trainer ride on Zwift. Weekend weather isn’t looking too great…
A ride up into the local hills to enjoy the fall colours and take in the view of the city from a lookout point
My local ‘Regional Park’ reopened after wild fire closures so I’m excited to get out on my Mountain Bike this weekend and take in some scenery and find some new trails ??♀️
Going out for a Mountain Bike ride.
Saturday will be a sixty mile ride on the hardtail punctuated by stops to pull off layers as the morning blossoms into mid-day. Sunday will be an early morning five mile run and a later afternoon 20 mile recreational ride on the fat bike.
Long run on Saturday, biking or indoor training on Sunday. Depends on the weather
Tempo run Saturday
3hr + road bike ride
Staining a deck and splitting wood followed by a hike with my dog.
Hope to get a short run and long bike ride in. Need to make that hope a reality.
saturday morning mtb ride before an xc race on sunday
Long run saturday
Then movies +wine
Long run on Saturday, easy ride on Sunday.
saturday hilly ride cut short due to cold rain, hoping for better conditions for sunday’s ride
Going to ride a little outside or Zwifting after watching some football in person. Go Clemson!
Getting in whatever run I can between house renovations and the kids!
Longish run on Sunday
Working on family time with the kids whilst supporting wife on her running journey. Go Mummy!!
Mountain biking plus hopefully winning this contest!
Short run and some cross training
I need a new Garmin Edge to tell me how unfit I am after I finish a ride!
A bike ride around the neighborhood with my young daughter who just recently learned how to ride a bike.
I plan to take a walk with my wife.
Going to be a rest weekend for me….
Some biking and hiking in New England.
i have been bike racing since 1980. i am getting older and now i really look foreward to long rides with no power meter, just riding because i love to ride bikes. fall is my favorite time of the year to ride, the smell of wood burning in fireplaces and crisp air make me smile. looking foreward to the weekend.
Likely get out for a 10 jog, before joining the kids for some trampoline fun.
Long ride on a new saddle this weekend. Yikes.
Watching the Giro d’Italia and then maybe a quick spin.
Get a couple long easy runs in during the beautiful fall weather.
Working in the Emergency Operations Center during day shift and a long run (20 miles +) at night.
Last weekend rides in DC before moving on to greener pasfho
After watching the past two UCI XCO mountain bike races, I’ll brush up my skills and spend the weekend riding in the mud!
Workout plan this weekend is getting 3 cats and 2 dogs out of the house for showings. That’s a workout in and of itself!
I will be doing hill climbs on my bike and transition to moderate runs to increase my endurance.
Ride my mtn bike on some rad singletrack
Jogging through an airport
Gonna ride some gravel trails, all easy, with a buddy.
Spending my weekend recovering from a cycle injury and wiping my bike down with a diaper.
Beautiful here in NC – will be outside for some quality run miles and recovery bike. Thanks for all your do, DC Rainmaker. -J
Hike or track workout. Maybe both.
Alpe du zwift workout
Go for a couple of training rides and then a short run with my daughter
I am doing a 30 mile ride with my friends on Saturday and then Long Run on Sunday
Gym for lifting and elliptical on Saturday, long hike on Sunday.
Doing hiking and tent camping with my son and the Cub Scout Pack we belong to.
Running with an old friend who just moved by me.
I have a Zwift Academy workout (number 3, i think) on the agenda this weekend! I’m oping to try out the new segment group rides as well.
Final shakedown ride to test out the new Garmin UT800(I just got from Backcountry.com!) before next weekends 340 mile single stage gravel race!
Beginning a 200mi Section Hike on the Appalachian Trail
Looking forward to a long easy ride
Primary workout involves shuffling the munchkid to soccer and a flight lesson. Will do some yoga work too to work out some of the kinks of late.
Two runs, four dog walks, and some time at the bike shop!
Getting some road bike time and a maybe a short hike with my wife
45 minute run and some yoga. Gotta take it easy on the weekends!
This weekend I will do a 10 mile ride on my StagesBike.
It’s yard “workout” weekend! Prepping for winter.
my workout plans are working all weekend.
Plan on 30 mile zone 2 ride with lots of layers…cold morning!
I’ll be going for a long ride and enjoying the fall weather!
Did my 30k run for MyXtri today and will do a sweet spot session on the Neo tomorrow
Long run & longish bike, weather dependent. Thanks!
Trainer rides and runs outside
Hiking to the deer stand
Sat: Long Trail Run
Sun: Long Road Ride
Nor Cal Autumns FTW!
Hiking in Bryce Canyon, UT
A long ride first thing, giving me a chance to test out (and try and work out) my new 1030 – arrived today!
Resting due to heart issues that hopefully will be resolved soon.
Long Z2 ride after son’s cross country meet.
Spin on the peloton and workout my my new Inspire functional trainer
About 8-10 mi on trails in the first frosty morning in Ohio. A bike in the afternoon to look at leaves in the foothills of the Appalachians. A Sunday morning swim and some yoga & stretching during the Netflix sessions.
Just a rainy run
Embrace the cooler temps and take the MTB to some new trails.
Run with my new lasik eyes
Run on Saturday and long ride Sunday
Doing the Belgian Waffle ride in Cedar City, UT
TrainerRoad sweet spot work!
Weekend workout plans include TrainerRoad’s Broken Finger +1 and Juneau -1, and watching three kiddo soccer games
Install a new sliding door and then hopefully get in a back road run.
Doing a long hike on weekend
Swimming with end without little one, cycling.
Heading to basement for time on smart trainer / Zwift
Running with the little one!
Some kind of leg day tomorrow and some echo bike splits (possibly a horrible 30s/2:30r max effort blitz). Bust ligaments on the outside of my foot are killing my running for now until Chicago weather does for the year.
Bike ride tomorrow and hopefully get back on a run training program. Would be a lot easier to get workouts in with some new gear!
Ride 115km with 2400m of elevation on Saturday and easy run with wife on Sunday
Last warm weekend of the year? Going to try & climb some mountains
Winter is just around the corner so it’s time to bring out the smart trainer!
As a beginner, I just rely on TrainerRoad to provide me with the training program to help me build endurance. Planning to join a triathlon one day, so I’m pretty much into their sprint triathlon training plans.
Wake up. Wash my face. Do my stretching. Prepare 2 pcs of toast with strawberry jam and a cup of coffee. Prepare a powerbar electrolyte drink and hop on my bike. Will probably spend a good hour for this training.
Then proceed to my chores, nowhere to go because of covid. Have lunch… spend some time with my baby daughter. Surf the internet a bit. Then spend a good 30-45 minutes for some dumbell / kettlebell workout and enjoy a yummy protein shake afterwards!
I’m planning to watch Altered Carbon, recovery is cool!
Just arrived in Taiwan for business. I’m forced to be in quarantine hotel room for 2 weeks. Can’t leave the room and nobody can go in. So, my plan is a lot of exercise every day, even the weekend ;-)
I will do a doctor allowed 26 minute run on Sunday, won’t ride in my broken (for the second time) tacx bike smart bro, will probably bike around a bit, and may swim if it gets above 60 or gets sunny.
Just picked up a winter-ready pannier from Competitive Cyclist! Planning to get in a training ride this weekend!
some lovely fall gravel cycling!
Last weekend of good weather, so ya boy is gonna go nutsssss on the bike!
going to run 15km on Saturday evening
A run and cross training session, I think.
May just take a nap in the couch.
MBA work and a trail run.
I’ll be peddling a bicycle through the Nantahala National Forest this weekend.
Just trying to log as many miles as I can on my road bike – knowing it’s going to be a sadly low number as I’m still clawing my way back from a broken leg and ankle from a motorcycle accident.
Saturday morning, as soon as it’s light out, is my weekly long run. Then Sunday morning is recovery – stretching and yoga. Weather’s changing here so it’s going to be my first cold (sub Freezing) run of the season.