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…
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 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.
A chilly 7 mile run with M’lady’s training group.
In subzero wind chill weather, honey and I will be mall walking and indoor swimming.
i will be dragging my fiancé out for a v day run after she finishes rowing training! Lucky girl!
Trainer Road century plan, marathon running plan.
The Pig, ultra duathlon in June,
I will be going to the gym in the morning to lift because I’m scared to go run at the Mardi Gras parade in the single digit temperatures.
I’ll run intervals tomorrow then a slow, 6mi bike ride
Nice one, Ray!
15 min run/swim/bike shakeout in preparation for a sprint triathlon the next day
With our lows being around 3° F and the high getting to a balmy 37° F we are planning on doing some indoor strength with a cycle class sprinkled in just to keep the heart pumping!
Power plate class followed by stair running
First shovel snow, then get on the bike trainer for an hour
5K family run with the hole family :)
Takapuna Sovereign Series Sprint Triathlon – done and dusted
3.5km swim and an undulating 10km run :-)
A 20 km (my longest ever) run as part of Training for the Half :)
Posh hotel followed by a parkrun in the morning….
Coaching kids how to row which involves a good vocal cord workout.
Then maybe I’ll ride my tandem with somebody.
4K run
My Valentine’s Day will start at 8:00am with a 1.27 mile warm-up jog around the block in preparation for Cupid’s Undie Run in the afternoon. Yes, lots of people running 1 mile in their underwear through downtown Nashville. My wife and I will be participating to raise money for her co-worker’s cause, the Childrens Tumor Foundation.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
A proper bike fit to sort out a few injuries and then test out the fit and then back to my wonderful girlfriend for a recovery dinner and perhaps break training for a glass of wine on the day that’s in it.
We’ll spend Valentine’s Day in the hospital waiting for our little boy to get born ;-) Looks like less training in the upcoming weeks…
17M run before the deep cold hits us.
1.5 hour swim, 2 hour spin class, 10k run.
A few miles (50~) of rolling hills intervals…but try not to get to tired before Valentine’s Day dinner.
Morning snow run, followed by an afternoon at the Salon du vélo (Bike show), and then a lovely fondue dinner with great company :)
An early morning run, back in time to make my pregnant wife breakfast in bed & then we’ll probably go for a nice stroll in the afternoon.
Given that I’m barely recovered from influenza, I hope it will be possible to do a short steady state session to test the lungs and heart..
Running 10 miles with our dog, and encouraging Julykatrae on her first 20K run (her comment just below).
Recovery trainer ride to shake off recent coughs and splutters
Walking around the Chicago Auto Show
easy 50 miles roll.
A FTP test first thing in the morning for me :)
Easy 10 km in the forest.
A leisurely walk home from dinner!
Being with my true love. My Cervelo. Gonna have a hot and sweaty time.
In the lack of snow and vasaloppet coming up. It will be a couple of laps trailrunning my 4km track. Then night working…
Kettle bell day!
Run for 1 hour as part of my 10km race program.
Will be discovering a new trail to run with my girl and dog. Good company makes the difference when training.
Swimm 2000mts and bike 100+ km
Just carrying the flowers home for 1km.
A Bkool date. 30-40km
My wife and I will do a early morning cycle to our favourite breakfast spot. After breakfast we will cycle back. Late afternoon we will go for a run in the park.
I plan to run 20 miles between Saturday and Sunday!
10K trail running in the woods close to home.
I plan to work on my sugar intake (eat candy).
Although the weather is -20C in T.O I will enjoy my 12 km outdoor run because there is no bad weather for a run in Canada, only bad running outfits, eh!? :)
Over unders on Trainer Road!
100 burpee valentines day challenge!
A 10 km run originally planned outdoors, but due to the -20C weather in Toronto moved to the treadmill. :)
The lady and I are going for a hike after breakfast and a morning swim.
Swim out to lighthouse, hill repeats on bike, and short run.
Got some intervals planned in the morning before a day-time date with the wife for lunch.
6.8 mile run at race pace
Couples’ trail run in the freezing cold.
Valentine’s Day is Long Ride Day – Just finished a 130km bike with a short 3km run.
My daughter and I will be doing 8×800 together.
Just fighting a really bad acute sinusitis this week. So no training these days…
Trainer Road workout per usual!
Probably just a quick jog — taking it easy!
Sick in bed the whole day. De-training, they call it…
51 miles ride with 2,570′ feet of climb
I’ll be taking my Weimaraner for a walk in the foothills.
Gunna go on a run with my valentine!
A long run early morning for me, then a casual walk with the wife and daughter.
02:30 pool run
Maybe a short run. Been a heavy week and these old bones are achy.
Instead of training me and my wife will go for couple of nice, relaxing divest tomorrow :)
Going on an early morning run so I can hang out with my wife and daughters the rest of the day.
My Feb 14 consists of managing my three small children and assorted disasters solo as my wife is interstate on a training course. Pouring rain outside so can’t even take them for a run! Tally so far: a wet bed, a smashed bowl, and a huge mound of washing. :)
Tourist running in Hahndorf, south australia, 10km, plenty of hills.
An 8-10 mile along the New Orleans Lakefront.
It’s suppose to warm up to 0°F at daybreak so will do several miles of classic Nordic skiing in the morning followed by a bit of skate skiing practice in the afternoon. No lack of snow this year.
Try and get a few outdoor run miles in before the next snowstorm hits Connecticut. I think the temp will be in the double digits tomorrow morning.
3km swim
MTB bike ride for two – followed by a picnic somewhere remote & scenic.
I plan some funny not so long fartlek with my husband.
8-10 miles in the cold and wind on the hilly roads around my house.
Easy run, then easy ski with the kids!
Hi Ray,
Way to go!
My wife will ask me “what’s this for, but she’ll get it anyway”…
Thanks
Pedro.
A 4mi run after a day’s short range marine vhf radio course.
A 60 minute gym bike session…followed by a loving lunch at our favourite cafe (including kids!)
Taking the family to the beach so I can get some open water training in!
We will not be braving the subzero cold. Instead, my wife and I will try and go on a Valentine’s trainer ride in the basement when our 10 month old takes a nap. Romantic? No. Practical? Yes.
30 minutes treadmill
we both are training for the big sur marathon
So it’s wine tasting and running this weekend!
PT for the IT…
As long as I can stand on the bike without my lower body going numb!
I am going for a run in Chicago, along the frozen lake and legs
A morning rum pouso a trip to the beach.
Early out of bed, then a TRX strength session followed by a 20km gentle LSD run.
15 minute pre race run on Saturday. 13.1 Austin Half on Sunday. Spending time in Austin with wife and daughter, priceless
90 minute swimming coaching session to try and sort out my dodgy technique……
Run 3 miles with push up pull up and sit up and weight lifting
It’s going to be 70 tomorrow, so a nice long walk along the north shore of Lake Pontchatrain.
Thanks!
Rope skipping to warm up, 20 km footbike, stretch & strength.
Hopefully my plans get ruined by a surprise breakfast in bed…
My Valentine’s Day training plans: Watch 50 Shades of Grey then… *fingers-crossed* re-enact 50 Shades of Grey ;-)
(Oh who am I kidding – 10 mile tempo run)
Swim and Bike today, then dinner with my lady.
3 hour z1/z2 bike ride on Saturday, ruthenium n blues half marathon in Houston on Sunday.
8 mile run to diner for pancakes.