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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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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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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 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.
Not cold feets – you had quite short socks in one picture :-)
Thank you for another nice post. I always enjoy reading about the places you have visited. I hope you will have the opportunity to visit Helsinki again, but during the summer time: it is a totally different city then.
How wonderful that you are in Helsinki, welcome! Enjoy your stay!
Check out the 50m lanes and the saunas at the Mäkelänrinne pool:
link to urheiluhallit.fi
Maybe you’ll run into Alex Stubb, @alexstubb, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, a fellow triathlete.
link to alexstubb.com
Also, try a shot of Salmiakki Koskenkorva, a local favourite, from the hotel bar :)
Nice sunny day in Helsinki for a run! Next time try swimming in the icy sea as well. Great Virb pics.
Hi again, Ray! Would you like to join us (Helsinki Triahtlon) for a swim practice today at 18.00-19.15 in Pirkkola? The pool is about 5-6 km from the city centre. If you are interested, please send me an email and I’ll fill you in on the details. /Pia.ahti (a) gmail.com
You almost made me miss Helsinki. Almost. Until I reminded myself of the 72F/22C sunny and calm rides and runs of the last couple of days here in the Bay Area… Great photo of you on the ice!
I have a pair of YakTrax, too. But I found, that serious running with them feels a bit clumsy and after a longer run my Achilles tendon felt irritatet.
Last year I googled around abit and found this:
link to skyrunner.com
I liked the idea and prepared a piar of older running shoes with simple hexagonal-head screws from the hardware store.
This works very well for me. Its also possible to run on asphalt with it.
Macro, I had not seen this “screw shoe” idea before. Count me in. Thanks. Richard
Hiding all the electronics except for the BLE footpod?
Nah, just me trying to be bundled up.
hehe funny. Been to Sweden once and it was the otherway arround. It never got really dark. I had close all the curtains to be able to sleep. I’d never have thought that this would influence my “sleepyness”.
thx for the post.
So… who’s prettier, Swedish or Finnish women?
Neither…Canadian women from Newfoundland. :)
If you managed to get to Helsinki, you should sometimes take a while and go through the Baltics below – small & beautiful and there might be plenty of your fans as well ;)
Being in Nordic countries and all, you can easily replace the Yaktrax with Icebug shoes. Probably more comfortable overall…
link to icebug.se
I wish those were easy to find in North America :(
I now no longer have any reason to complain about the cold here in the North East (US). Do you think you could potentially a post on “keeping warm”? One of the larger issues I have with training through the winter is keeping extremities, like my feet, warm while on the bike even though I have thicker socks and booties.
Here in Bend, Oregon, it seems common to just screw your shoes. Screw in 6 to 8 3/8″ #6 screws with hex heads into the soles of your shoes (4 around the edges of the forefoot and a couple at the back of the heel. Works great on the ice and snow. Just a bit annoying running on dry pavement. And they can just be removed with no real damage when it warms up.
Thinking the bike is parked upside down to keep the tires a tad warmer?? So as they don’t flatten??
Or maybe to stop them freezing to the road? A little heat in the tyres after riding could be enough to melt the ice, then have it re-freeze once they stop – just speculating! Can any of the Finns give an answer? Or did someone just cycle home from the pub the night before…. ?!
You make me want to go out and run now! This would be an ideal day for me to get out and go. -10C, sunny, crisp (I’m in Ottawa, the Nation’s capital, we run in winter, since our big race weekend is in May). Ahhh. I prefer winter running as a whole. No overheating, lots of adventures, running on the canal during Winterlude. It rocks!
If you want to get some Yaktraxs that are more suitable for running, try the Run version they put out. I much prefer them and the carbide studs are replaceable. Although I don’t like doing long runs in them because they tend to make my lower legs crampy, including my achilles, with the bulk they add. Some people jut get screw in studs, but I have not had the guts to wreck a pair of runners for winter running like that.They’re expensive and I can only afford to replace my shoes twice a year.
Also, if you don’t have winter run tights that are toasty enough, just layer a loose fitting short or even jogging pant/wind pant overtop. The air between the layers will keep your thighs and glutes warm, and prevent the nasty cold rash but will not weigh you down considerably. Ow. I hate that cold rash.
Enjoy Finland and I hope your luggage and you are reunited soon!
Hi
Go get your self a pair of Icebug running shoes from nearest sportstore. Get a pair of “merinovilla” socks as well. Best shoes if running on snow or ice. Enjoy your stay in Finland!
You are truly a hero!
I usually run on the side of the lake in front of my home. When the lake gets to the state where you can walk on it and drill holes for fishing, I usually consider it a good excuse to take a break from running. Last year it was a 2 months break. This year we are still above 0C, but I’m mentally prepared for the break already :)
here I sit in Tucson, AZ. 74 degrees and sunny. Thanks for the images. ;)
That ship in the 8th picture is indeed a icebreaker, cool one to!
link to arctia.fi
In reference to the large amount of strollers, take a read of this article by the BBC. Nordic parents often put their kids out in the cold for naps as its supposed to be healthier for them.
link to bbc.co.uk
Nice to see that we have been running at the same places ! I live in Stockholm but work at that Cruise ship (Siljaline).. And thanks fore a good and intressting site!
I once saw a documentary about Finland where they determined that the Finns smiled less than any other European nation. After seeing all that cold and ice I know why!
Check out these tights. Mail order available. These will keep you legs warm for sure. link to mec.ca
Yup. Thankfully, when I landed Friday night Air France had finally found our luggage from 10 days prior and I was able to pick it up. Got them all washed up and have my good running tights again.
They’re Sugoi mid-zero’s, which have worked really well thus far in both DC and Paris.
Hope you enjoyed your stay Ray! :)
I think you hit the home run (pun intended) with with your route, seaside around the harbours is definitely the place to go on a day like that. And fortunately the weather also favoured you!