Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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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.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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.
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!
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.
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!
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 2023 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.
Hi Ray,
Plan for a wednesday 10k easy run, thursday 10k pace run and a LSD 20k on Saturday. Prepare for my 10k run in 5th May.
Cheers,
Benjamin from Malaysia@KL
The wife has a family member getting married in Omaha this weekend. I’ve got a 20 miler on tap for Saturday, so I’ll be shuffling through the corn fields of NE somewhere…
Try to get in 3-4 mile run as I recover from a knee injury.
No specific training plan for the weekend but I am planning on getting back to running again in time for the December marathons.
Will be trying to replicate an SVT while wearing a Holter Monitor. Probably an easy Saturday run and a long run on Sunday.
“Raced” a half-marathon last weekend, so I will take it easy this weekend. Probably road ride & a shorter run.
A couple of nice runs lined up for the weekend, including a LT test on Sunday.
Get to mix in celebrating the wife’s Birthday on Saturday, which includes a massage for me as well!
Lilac Century Ride on Sunday
Love the reviews. Been trying to get a GPS watch used for a while now. Scored a Timex Global Trainer and has the confidence to purchase it based on your reviews. Keep up the good work!
half marathon in Cheshire, CT
Long pool swim on friday
Bike/Run Brick and long run
Hi Ray,
I’m recovering from ITBS, so 5 miles, every two days is my diet (till my physician says otherwise).
BR,
Nimrod
I will be doing a 80 mile bike ride on Saturday and recovering on Sunday! Thanks Ray!
Doing the Kapas Marang swim, which is a 6.5K open water swim where they drop us off on an island in north-eastern malaysia and we have to swim back to mainland. Fun!!
Beer Mile at the Spring Picnic for my Tri Club…Training started in college.
Also tapering for Rev3 Knoxville half…and studying your car crash post.
Planning to run the Thunder Over the Blueridge this weekend. Just a heads up, this is April… not May. “With less than a week left in May, spring is flying by!”
I’ve got a 2hr zone 2 run with 3 min surges on Saturday!
No racing for me this weekend, but I hope to get in my first proper long run for a while. 20+ miles on the trails should do it!
12+ miler in good old Tosa town
Friday: Swim & run
Saturday: bike and maybe run
Sunday: slack line and relax :)
Plan on 5k Race Followed by 100 miles in the mountains riding Saturday then a hilly long brick Sunday. Should be good for 200 miles.
I am flying to Phoenix to hike the grand canyon this weekend. I guess that counts as some training right?
8 mile run Friday
Kayak Saturday
Hills from Hell Bike Ride Sunday
Looking forward to the weekend (DUH, I guess we all are…!)
Running, coaching, and running some more!
Friday—easy 6 mile run. Saturday easy 1:00 bike. Sunday—80m bike/8m run.
Saturday: Swim / Bike 45min / 2hrs
Sunday: Trail Run: 2hrs
I am doing the University City Duathlon over in Charlotte, my first Duathlon ever!
Probably very little in the way of training. I’m an accountant in Canada. Our income tax returns are due April 30 so I’m sure I’ll be at the office all weekend cleaning up returns for all of the last minute people!
I’ll be doing a nice 40 mile bike ride on Saturday then a sweet 14 miler run on Sunday. The weather will be beautiful in San Francisco!
Awesome! Thanks for the giveaways as always. My weekend training plan is a 12 mile run on Saturday and 45 mile bike ride on Sunday!
Awesome! Thanks for the giveaways as always. My weekend training plan is a 12 mile run on Saturday and 45 mile bike ride on Sunday!
on tap for the rest of this week is a couple more swims, a new more trinaer rides and a long run on Saturday.
Running the Thunder Over the Blueridge this weekend. Just a heads-up, it’s still April… not May. “With less than a week left in May, spring is flying by!” Must be all that traveling you’ve been doing.
Get in Gear 10k in MN!
I’m scheduled to run a 10 miler with a new running buddy – starting at the Columbia Marina in DC.
Friday-gym
Sat-run
Sun-study
Thanks.
Saturday:20k following River Guaiba
Sunday: Rest
After a 70.3 last weekend, this is a recovery weekend: I will cut the grass, then fall asleep in front of the TV while watching a backlog of cycling coverage.
Getting a 20km long run in, and hoping to spend some time in the pool, to improve my stroke and kick efficiency! Cheers!
This week is quite exciting for me with my training volume peaking.
Friday: rest
Saturday: 12 miles – 1000ft
Sunday: 25 miles – 2500ft
That should make it a 65 miles week…enough to be ready for my first 50km in 3 weeks!
On a recovery week, so easy swim and run, with some chasing-the-kids-round-the-garden for cross training.
Kemah Olympic Triathlon in Kemah Texas. with a 1.5 hour run afterward to prep for IMTX.
One week from now I’ll be one of the 3:30 pacers in the Limerick marathon here in Ireland, so my training this weekend will be a medium run on Saturday (12 miles) and a reasonably long run on Sunday (17 miles) at about 8-minute pace, using it as a test for the marathon.
For a pace a GPS watch is absolutely vital. It would come in very, very handy. ;-)
I’m planning a 10K trail run on Saturday and a nice relaxing kayak on Sunday.
I could use one to help train for my first distance race!
50 Mile ride Sat in Reston for Pauls Ride for life and a 10 mile run on Sunday
Friday – 1,400 yard swim followed by a 1-1/2 hour ride on the trainer
Saturday – day off (camping so maybe a hike)
Sunday – 1 hour run
I plan on going for a short run and doing lots of biking.
Lots of icing and foam rolling my IT band :(.
My training plans are sticking with some fast paced runs and a strength training class.
I’ve got the first of 3 20-milers this weekend – getting ready fro Grandma’s marathon!
I plan to stay at home for another weekend nursing my two broken feet back to health. You did read that correctly, I broke a bone in each foot, separately 8 days apart….
swim, run. not necessarily in that order..
I’ll be riding my first 100 miler ever. Eeks! I just hope the weather holds up.
Have a great weekend and thanks for the giveaway!
Very excited to take a short vacation in NC this weekend
Friday: Long Trail Run
Saturday: Recovery run on the beach
Sunday: Speed work in the sand
Saturday – 50+ miles on the road Bike
Sunday – 20is trail miles on the trail *weather permitting*
Hong Kong Dragons Triathlon Club 48 km individual time trial on Saturday morning in Tung Chung. 2 km Hong Kong Amateur Swim Association Open Water Championship Race in Tai Mei Tuk Sunday morning. Thank you for offering this give away. I very much appreciate the efforts that you put into maintaining your web site.
The watch looks great! This weekend I’m going for my first long run since injuring my achilles last month. I’ll consider a racing again when I get back to at least 45mpw.
Camping in Oklahoma this weekend – for Saturday planning an interval session on the bike on (hopefully) quiet and clear Oklahoma country roads. Then on Sunday a 30-35 minute open water swim in the lake at the campsite.
Thanks Ray!
hello! training for 1/2IM, itis cold and wet here in Costa Rica, but still nice!
I am registed for a 75Km MTB race in Arraiolos.
Thanks,
AC
study for my antitrust final without eating too many starbursts and maybe sneak in a run.
Long bike/ short run brick on Saturday, although I may run a 5k instead of the run portion of the day. Sunday I’m doing my long swim and a medium bike ride.
Still following your great blog. Still hoping to win one of theese.
Thanks for the give away.
Saturday 90 min trail run, Sunday 2 hr road bike
got a 30k slow run planned in the coast dunes near the hague.
I’ll be doing 20 Miles Cycling and 4 mile jog getting ready for my first Tri Sprint.
Bummer of a weekend. Just recovering from some surgery and will not be able to ride until next week. Thanks for the giveaways.
80 km bike ride!
I’m probably gonna lay in bed all weekend, both kids are sick at the moment so I’m next?
Finals are around the corner, so I’ll be venting my stress on the roads around the National Mall. A hard six miler should do the trick.
-Will
laneofhighhopesxc@gmail.com
40 mile ride on Saturday (moderate)
EZ 6 miles on Sunday.
It’s a taper weekend before Wildflower, which I’m not doing, but all my training partners are. So I’m tapering for a race I’m not doing… hmmm…
Josh in Trabuco Canyon
This weekend is just trying to get through a long work weekend. Back to training next weekend!
A recovery run, a medium swim, and a long bike ride followed by watching the Athens Twilight Criterium.
Thanks Ray.
Just a small time 50+ 5k runner here. Having fun but slow. :)
Weekend will consist of some interval training for next weeks race. And training I need!
First weekend without racing for 2 months so I’ll just enjoying riding again. Big mtb ride Saturday, big road ride Sunday.
Recovering from an oly tri last weekend so easy run on Saturday, but 60+ ride on Sunday. Still waiting for friends to help decide the route.
I don’t know. Training schedule didn’t come out yet. Probably a long bike ride followed by a short run. Hopefully not swimming where they recently saw a tiger shark.
Running the OKC Memorial Marathon!
I plan to bike 10 miles Friday afternoon, run 10 miles on Saturday, and take a walk on Sunday.
Three hour ride in Central Park with some tempo efforts, with quick brick off the bike. 5K swim and EZ 8 mile run on Sunday. Woohoo for Weekend volume!
I have a 30k zone two run this saturday then a 2 hr zone 2 sunday, b2b getting the ultra training in
My plans for Saturday morning:
link to connect.garmin.com
Sadly, I will be on call the whole weekend, so no training or racing for me.
I am planning a 10m run on saturday
Friday – Going to music events in Toronto
Satuday – 5-10 km bike ride depending on the weather
Sunday – Strength training session at the gym
British Mountain Bike Orientearing Champs on Saturday. 3 Hour MTBO Score event on Sunday.
ifor@iforpowell.com
Looking forward to racing my first sprint tri of the season in Athens OH! Forecast is cold, though, so not excited about that.
Hi, this week my training will be focused on the last long run before the Copenhagen Training.
Ciao
Ale – Italy
Planning an easy 10K run this Saturday. All the best to you!
hi ray 2 runs this weekend 6 miler on saturday and my long run 14 on sunday ! find your strong !! thanks montecristo65@live.com
Will I finally be lucky this time round?
Lennart
Berglund.berglund@hotmail.com
18 km in slow tempo saturday plus 8 km “fartlek” sunday.
Half Marathon this weekend in Louisville,KY for Kentucky Derby festivities. Should be great fun.
I plan to be hiking in the Enchantment Lakes area of the Cascade Mountains of Washington State this weekend
10 miles on Saturday followed by 14 miles on Sunday. Gotta get those miles in!
Racing the Kemah Triathlon on Sunday. “A” Race!!
Hi Ray,
Long run (90min) for Saturday. Have a 5k on May 4.
Steve
I just finished my 2nd collegiate cycling season and am planning on just going on a somewhat relaxed 50+ mile ride with some of my teammates to just enjoy the awesome weather that MT is having right now.