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.
Going hiking with the family.
Post marathon recovery weekend. 5k with the dog and the fall colors and a session on the Peloton.
Saturday will be a bit of strength training in the garage instead of a gym (thanks Mr. COVID), and Sunday will be a mellow paced but longer bike ride to the coast with the family.
Pain cave time!
18 glorious miles through New Jersey. Roads and trails
MTB riding with my teenage son. No other way to spend the weekend.
30 mile road bike ride with a friend
This (rainy) weekend is all about rebuilding domestic credit – Gardening and Housework – at the end of two weeks holiday, where I set my bicycle up as tubeless fit the first time, then found as much gravel and mountain trails as possible.
just go out and run
Running in the rain today and cycling in the cold tomorrow. Typical October activities :)
Going to do some climbing
A long bike ride and recover watching my kids swim meet.
Recovering from last weeks marathon! So some light running, biking ;-)
Quick recovery run for 5 miles!
Ride on Saturday, run on Sunday
Family time this weekend but it’s back to business during the week! Zwift and some runs on treadmill.
More COVID inspired garage workouts.
A nice 90 minute trainerroad ride on my Kickr!
Rides on Saturday and Sunday.
work, run, sleep, hike, repeat
Bike, run, Netflix
I’ll be chasing two kids around a hotel.
Hiking! Fall is particularly beautiful here this year and we’ve taken it for granted. Hopefully explore areas close to home we wouldn’t have considered before
long intervals & hiking
Hey Ray! This weekend is a hilly ride up the Yorkshire Dales with a nice stop for a large breakfast (not my turn to pay lol).
Maybe a ruse out on Sunday too and then a walk with my mom for her birthday.
Have a good one!
I am planning to get two 25-30mile solo rides In this weekend.
Planet Fitness is opening near my house and I am thinking of joining and going in really, really early to avoid the crowd as the time is changing 11-1
6+ of fresh air, hiking
Relay run event consisting of 3 segments totaling 17 miles of running, with Sunday having a 35 mile recovery ride and 2000 meter swim
Up in the air between a chill outdoor ride in the cool morning Temps or a long trainerroad endurance/threshold session with some Netflix…
Running a 10k with my two daughters. They’re already complaining about having to wake up at 8am on a Saturday to do it with me.
A nice ride on sunny fall day and a long walk on Sunday. Oh, and some drinks with friends while watching college football.
Stroller run at bois de boulogne with the 3year old
1hr on the Bike :)
Tennis, gym, and a couple long runs!
I will mostly be doing my physio dictatated rehab for rotator cuff and Achilles’ tendon so I can get back to training ASAP
Zwift & watching football
Good luck with your new partner! Trying to do some virtual rides using Fulgaz
100k taking in the autumn leaves.
Brick session most probably: 2hr ride followed by 1hr trail run
I will recover from my last MTB fall: rest, eat, have my pills, hot water massage and expect the delivery guy arriving with my new helmet!
Gravel grinding Saturday and mountain biking Sunday through the hills of Almost Heaven West Virginia….and a home with the pup
Long run Saturday followed by a trainer road workout on Sunday.
try out rouvy and see how it works for 2h ;-)
On Saturday I will photograph a 5 Mile race for the local running club – we offer free photos for our members (and even the “other” participants). I’ll coach a soccer game. If I can, I’ll squeeze in a short run. Then… that Netflix thing you mentioned. On Sunday, I’ll run early, coach another soccer game, and get to the gym in the evening. All the time in between these things (and during – my son at the race shoot, my girls at soccer) I’ll spend with the kids. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Run on saturday and cleanup sunday.
Running the virtual edition of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon tomorrow.
Most likely an indoor ride on Zwift due to the changing weather and a day of strength training.
Family hike and bike ride + TRX
running a half marathon
On saturday i have long run. Sunday its Zwift time!
I’ll go for a couple runs, hopefully!
Smokes been bad around here, so workouts have been sporadic for the last couple of months. So this weekend is a 7 mile run Saturday and 1.5 hour ride Sunday.
Mental recovery through a longer run.
Gravel ride Saturday,endurance ride sunday?
7K run on Sunday
Rest week for running, so a 60min long run Saturday morning. However will be paddle boarding with the wifey in the afternoon, and surfing with homies Sunday morning.
will be out on the bike, first time a few weeks due to work commitments :(
Zwift or Mtb
MTB
Race weekend! 21K Trail with complex anti-COVID structure including multiple wave starts over a 4 hour period. :-)
I’m moving house… So just a couple of quick 10kms before sunrise.
Did Power test today, so just recovery rides until Monday!
I will be trying to complete my third metric fondo on my Atom
Few miles on the bike and then back to work!!
Attempting a run after a small setback. For sure a bike
two quick rides
I will do 16 1/4 mile repeats for a second weekend in a row.
Nice 85km bicycle ride with mates. Followed by a rest day of doing as little as possible
Instead of the usual long ride this weekend I’m going to go play MTB on the trails with a buddy I haven’t seen for ages. Sometimes you gotta just have fun!
After a mishap with a bike and a truck left me with a broken right wrist, this weekend’s workout will be a brisk walk around the harbour in Sydney.
Binging on Last Kids On Earth after tough week of cycling
Long bike ride ending at a apple orchard for some family time.
Exploring new single track!
I’m in the detraining, so I’m resting
Zwift Academy WO#4!
Metric century in the Pioneer Valley
Hi for Saturday I have a 1hr10 run with intervals plus mobility drills later on. Have some diy at home to do which Might hamper my recover for Sunday’s long run. This will be followed by an easy 2hrs bike ride on my road bike. Training will take most of the morning which would then give me the rest of the day with wife and kids. Will hopefully convince them to go for a hike.
Indoor bike on the rainy weekend.
Hoping to get in 10+ Miles on the local AR trails, but mostly hanging with newly turned 3 yr old boy.
Going for ride using some of the gear tech you’ve reviewed on Saturday. Trail run & pool swim on Sunday!
Going for a long run around the estuary!
My workout will be doing recovery laps in the jacuzzi.
I’m planning to make a couple of laps up old la honda road!
Last days of training before a 5k PR attempt and a 1hr time trial up a mountain
Recovering from injury but hopefully back soon.
This weekend will be day two and three of the third year of my outdoor, 3 mile minimum, run streak (strava verified)
I am just recovering from a viral infection so this weekend will be lot of resting and maybe some TV watching!
Goin’ Fishing! (for real)
Seven hours on the bike, if the California air quality isn’t too bad this weekend.
i think its new bike weekend – hopefully pick it up sat and ride sun
Zone 2 trainer ride while watching the NLCS
Just getting out for a long ride after some missed training the last week.
Good stuff! Planning an off-road ride on my local trails.
The rain has come to the PNW! A longer indoor cycle planned for tomorrow on the Tacx Neo 2T.
The plan is to run 5 miles on Saturday and 7 miles on Sunday.
Last outside bike ride ride before Zwift season!
Two sessions of orienteering
Orienteering 25k on foot
Going for long and easy Gravel ride in the nature
Century ride in the Perth hills followed by a long nap.
Hoping to do some threshold interval rides and an off the bike brick run, and another run. Also looking forward to some weight lifting.
Doing Zwift Academy, both run and road.. good weekend out there.
Saturday- 5km fire crew training hike carrying 20kg pack
Sunday – 80km group ride (smashfest) in the hills
Hoping to get some alone time on the bike this weekend and go out for a few hours here in the Bay Area. It’s hot and I don’t want to be zwifting in the garage right now.
I’m gonna do some serious gardening
I will try to do 19km long run (for the first time) on Saturday…then recovery bike on Sunday.
A short gravel ride and a lot of Netflix.
Easy morning run, then mowing the lawn
Gravel ride and then golf m
1.5 hours of virtual riding in the office!
Going now to hike in the italian Alps ;)
The plan is to put some solid hours on the saddle, to a time trial during training followed by a 10k, enjoy the half marathon worlds and the Giro+Vuelta!
Oh my… just got a Polar OH1+ during that other 2 day sale from that other very small retailer this past week. If I waited to win this giveaway, could have picked up one for every day of the week.
I am going to ride the MTB trail near my house and sunday i am going on (probably the last) sup tour on the Loosdrechtse plassen.
My weekend workout consists of one long bike ride and kayaking outing with friends.
The full monty: Biking, running, swimming, strength training before starting to taper for marathon.
Heading out for some gravel bike fun on Saturday and Sunday is swimming with my masters club!
Eating birthday cake!
At first a hour of Zwift and than recovery time.
A brick session on Saturday and a hill run on Sunday.
3hr ride with 4×20 tempo, 12 mile run, 3700 yrd swim!
gravel grinding on my 20y+ hardtail oldtimer
Some time on Zwift.
3.5km “hike” in 1.5hrs with a toddler. Totally worth it!
Planning to go on a hike with my buddy to enjoy the fall colors.
Open water swim (in the ocean) and some running.
60 miler on the MTB
If time allows I will do 3hr easy zone 2 ride followed by the ice bath on a same day but in the evening
Run and maybe a trainer ride
Some light indoor bike ride (on the trainer)
Will be doing some indoor climbing and mountain biking.
During the weekend I should participate on halfmarathon in my city but on friday Poland is yellow zone and all people should use mask?. I train for this event 1 year to change my PB from 1:29 to something 1:25. Why? becouse if I can hit 1:25 In halfmarathon I can hit 2.59 in marathon. New gear could help me brake magic number 3?
Amping up for my first full winter run program means getting used to the cold… and gleaning as much data as I can (your reviews are a godsend for that). I’m hitting 3 dawn runs/week to catch the colder temperatures, along with a 2 day split of upper/lower strength training. The remaining two days… i guess i’ll be hiking until the snow covers the trail completely!
Back on the Atom after a week racing a car in Italy. Will be a Sufferfest workout.
Short and slow MTB ride in the forests around Oslo. Been down with a cold (not Covid) for the last week.
I plan on doing a saturday morning Peloton ride with Matt Wilpers and a Sunday evening peloton strength class to round out the weekeend.
The weather here has cooled down and feels great. We will be taking the bikes up to Pine Mountain and enjoying some of the trails. We will relax those muscles while enjoying some college football when we get home.
Treadmill usage due to bad weather
Not to be Debbie Downer or anything, especially since I’m a huge fan of Backcountry and order from them a lot, but they haven’t been offering free 2 day shipping for most of the year.
Stweet spot for 90 minuets and long endurance
Hike with family then running to the home.
15km easy jog around my neighborhood.
My plan is to run and do some core exercises in the early morning. No races are being organised here… But one has to train to have a healthy mind right?
Going to find all the hills today..!! ???
Hoping to get a ride in tomorrow, and a run on Sunday. Though some recovery would be welcome too!
Mostly playground exercises, playing tag and hide-and-seek with the kids.
Looking at an open water swim in the gulf
Going on a mountain bike ride
Planned 2h bike with some long climb over the Lake, pretty cold today, so let’s wait the sun comes out.
Tomorrow easy run on half marathon distance
Cycle like mad to get me back into form after a lazy week of vacation.
Monday: strength training and mobility
Tuesday: little cycling ride (road or mtb depending on weather)
Wednesday: strength training
Thursday: balance training and little cycling ride again as in tuesday
Friday: rest and grocery shopping :p
Saturday: long mtb ride
Sunday: long road ride
Zwift on Saturday and soccer with the kids on Sunday.
Easy run around the city
I start with a time trial of 20km. Then 40km relax ride.
Tomorrow 1 hour swimming and 10k running and then watching the pros in ronde van Vlaanderen
Sufferfest’s Full Frontal
I will go mountainbiking both saturday and sunday.
70 km gravel ride.
Trying to stay >2m away from anyone …takes about as much effort as a ninja warrior course!
zwift academy workout
This weekend is a trail race here. Maybe last for this year. So i will try to enjoy as much as i can in the forest, away from the city!!
Today I’m out for a night-time mtb ride, cruising through the trees with badgers, bats and bunnies – luckily being in the UK nothing bigger! Tomorrow is a 9 mile hike with my wife and dogs exploring somewhere new
Indoor/outdoor cleanup and a 4h ride, then a rest week will follow according to my plan, so more cleanup :)
Gym today. Gold Coast run tomorrow
Road cycling on Saturday and an 8 or 10 km run on Sunday.
Probably gonna get a ride in on Saturday and a run in on Sunday. Or maybe a run Saturday and a bike ride Sunday. Or maybe both, who knows
My ride will take me right past the Backcountry warehouse here in Salt Lake City. Where I always go to pickup my gear so I can get it same day.
Going up in my backyard hills. 8 miles of ridges, pine trees, loose rock and vultures :)
I will do a treasure hunt walk with my kids
Mainly recovery – yoga, stretching and maybe a core workout…
Cycling and running
Long gravel riding
On the sofa today after a long week of work, then a Pre-Flanders blast around the local hills in the rain on my steel machine on Sunday morning while wearing my new Belgium team jumper! (And pretending I am WVA).
Will finish my 10.000 km this year Outside on an easy Ride
Get some miles in with a long indoor Zwift ride, 3 hrs or so.
I’ll go for a jog while my son is on the field for his football training. Fresh autumn weather is a gift, too precious, to not to enjoy. ?
I try ever year to win something cool ?. Today I’m going for a 16 mile run. The rest of the weekend will be spent CHILLING with my family. I predict a few naps and lots of Netflix ?
Currently recovering from PF, so I will have two short runs on the treadmill, and/or a bike ride.
Back to weight training now that my gym is open.
Hit the trails with my crossbike. :)
Bike today and a trail run tomorrow to explore the routes of my first duathlon that will take place on the 25th.
I’m doing a 2 hour ride on sunday. Part of my “get back on the bike” plan that i started 4 weeks ago.
Keep building a kayak, mixed up with some swimming practice ?
Trail running with my dog ;)
Renovating the House…
Hopefully an easy recovery spin on the bike, having running a trail marathon this week.
after 9 days off recovery some z1-z2 max 2h bike activity
Ride on Saturday run and swim on Sunday
Runs will be done, kilometers will be made
Some riding and probably Zwifting
Saturday trail run, sunday mtb fun.
Training our dog, and a nice weekend run for myself.
I’ll be doing a 2 mile swim this morning with a 6 mile walk tomorrow to loosen the legs for the week ahead.
I will be riding at La Costa del Sol, in south Spain. Still 25 degrees here…?
Zwift CLS Drum and Base ride
Zwift ODZentury ride
Three times 20min SSpot today on the trainer. On the road or gravel tomorrow.
Trainer ride sat and MTB ride on Sunday. Giddy-up!
Go for a walk into forest
Hi DCR,
I’m planning to do long 2,5 hour mtb ride around the nearby lake on saturday and long 2 hour run in the forest on sunday.
-J
Ride on Saturday