Deals Still On This Weekend! A huge number of the Amazon deals are still going! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $459, and the Fenix 8 for $150 off. The Apple Watch Series 10 for $279, the GoPro Hero 13 Black for $329, smart trainers, drones, action cams, 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:
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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.
RUN-RUN. Thank you
I’ll probably do more morning work than in the Summer! And possibly get the bike out for some trail riding.
Great watch! I’m a newbie still trying and hunting down for a good watch that suits me. Hopefully I’ll get one soon.
Treadmill and more running…
In the basement, sweating it out on a treadmill or trainer to any remotely amusing Netflix.
less road biking and a lot more mountain biking, plus running in the snow’s my favorite
run. if it’s too cold: swim.
I just keep training the same by adding more layers. :)
Winter in Iowa means most everything moves indoors…more time at the pool and treadmill at the gym and the garage turns into the pedal bike pain cave with TrainerRoad and Netflix. There’s still the occasional outdoor run or ride on the CX bike depending on the wind and snow. Fat bikes are currently tempting me to add to the winter routine.
I live in Michigan, so there is plenty of adapting! If it is just snowy or chilly, I still get out on the road. There is something extremely calming about running in the snow! However if the temperatures are too cold (usually below zero) or the roads are icy, I hit the treadmill.
As long as the roads are not ice covered, layer up and go for a run. Icy conditions = dreadmill.
In New England: I don’t cycle much in the winter outside of commuting. Running outside is generally feasible, if not pleasant. I’ll shuffle hard days, easy days and zero-days around to avoid working out in the worst weather.
I tend to get on the trainer more and more so I don’t have to deal with the weather …but I can’t handle a treadmill for a long run so I’ll suck it up for that. Unless there’s ice…then I just watch Netflix instead. :)
I live in Perth Western Australia
So summer here (40c a couple of days ago)
In winter it just means just a later start to wait for the sun to come up, not usually too cold. Usually bit more running, cycling just two times a week as its hard to get a good long ride in before work
Chicago here – November means the ritual of swapping quick release skewers so I can hook up to my trainer is now a regular part of my routine.
A visit to my father-in-law in Palm Springs is in the back of my mind…
Since I am into cyclocross for many, many years, I totally look forward for the “bad” weather – if it ever happens to come! Still yes, I adapt: more on my cyclocross bike, less on my road bike somewhat.
I use the treadmill/elliptical a lot more-I am a huge cold weather hater!
In a few weeks I will travel to Australia. Yeah! They have summer when I’ll be there……
Add another layer or two, a second pair of socks if need be and plunge into the Wisconsin cold.
I mainly just layer well, and use my awesome Salomon Snowcross shoes – I never usually run in Salomon but these puppies are awesome – mine have over 500km on them. Then also some snowshoeing. Living in downtown Montreal is a blessing as we have a groomed (mini)mountain right here to play on all the time!
less road bike but more watt bike, and same running just wearing more layers and thicker socks
I don’t adapt to winter, I just buy better clothes :-) But I run my 5-7 km 3-4 times, all year.
Living in Brussels and not Hawaii, I will have to adapt my training schedule indeed.
I do try to get the most out of the winter weather conditions though, which means that if weather allows I will still go (kite- & wind- surfing), mountain biking or running. If the weather is too bad/cold, the number of visits to the gym will go up and outdoor activities down.
And of course there is the mandatory winter sports week(s)…
I am that lucky duck sitting (I mean running) in a city with weather warmer than Hawaii!
Lots of time on the vortex smart (thanks for the recommendation) and the rest spent at the Y
bundling up until there’s ice on the ground, then zwift/trainerroad.
I continue running outside no matter the weather (nothing like sliding around on fresh snow) and find some new shows on Netflix to entertain me during the numerous trainer rides
Lot’s of swim, indoor running and biking sadly!! I’m new to the sport (sport in general) so i’ll be able to build greatly even if it’s not race-like!
I don’t change the schedule or workout type, but I also don’t exactly live in Hawaii either… Since I don’t really like going to the gym, in my case, training during winter in northern Germany means getting ready to dress waterproof from neck to toes. Not really ideal, but hey, at least I get privacy: few are crazy enough to get out and jog/cycle under these conditions with night crawling in at 4 PM (sunset today: 4:28 PM)!
Running outside during autumn and winter
Training as usual: anything that gets done is a huge plus. :)
A little less running and a little more yoga.
Quality indoor work, turbo and treadmill!
Agreed just layers, start wearing a wetsuit for OWS (instead if budgie smugglers). The more extreme the weather the better the run or swim. Now off to read the article about the Garmin Tri and Swim HR belts. Christmas is coming :-)
In a few weeks Joyce and I I will travel to Australia. Yeah! They have summer when we’ll be there……
Switch all swimming to indoor pool and add some strength work
Running tends to be a couple of times per week on the treadmill.
Bike sessions tend to be longer since whether is not hot unless of course it rains. Then struggle on the indoor trainer
In Canada, so a real winter :-), but I don’t really adapt my training, I have always done most of my riding indoors, and running I will focus on building up the frequency and distance but not worrying to much about pace while the snow is on the ground.
During the winter I work on strength training by wearing all of my bulky, heavy winter clothes and braving the cold during long morning runs.
I run outside, with cleats attached to my sneakers here in Boston!
Wear warmer clothes to run outside (down to 20 deg F in Wisconsin, USA), hit the trainer or roller for a bike workout, more yoga, more swimming, more weights and more ballroom dancing with my wife.
winter is coming …. Time to clean my trainer …
Put away the bike, put on the running shoes. (And tights, if and when it turns cold around here.)
Shift indoors, more swims, trainer rides, and dreadmill runs. I tend to focus more on core strength and developing the flexibility I seem to genetically lack…
Thanks Ray!
same old same old. Run jog walk. Although mate, its summer here down under. Cheers!
Hit the kickr during the winter and treadmill on really cold days.
I run outside in Canada, just dress warmly. But I do generally cut or eliminate tempo runs (hard on ice and snow) and focus on base building until the snow clears….
In Singapore, there are only two seasons.
Hot and hotter.
Winter Training – all running this year preparing for Boston in the spring. A bit more treadmill, but still mix in cold and snowy outdoor runs to build mental toughness.
I live in Poland, so winter isn’t really bad ;) My training adjustment mostly requires more clothes. When it is really cold (colder than -10 Celsius degrees) I do easy run instead of any other planned training.
There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!
Add more layers when running outside and I am planning on upgrading to a Wahoo Kickr for indoor bike training. Oh yea, and hitting the “dreadmill”…
more exercise in the afternoon
Oops forgot to answer!! I go to the gym and strength train 3 x week and also run indoor and outdoor (with yak trax for ice) 4-5 x a week and swim in the lap pool 2 x week. Please pick me!!!!
This year I think I’ll change completely my training.
First one, I will stop cycling: no racing bike and either mountain bike.
I want to change habitual movements and improve overal fitness.
I will attend a crossfit course, I would swim at least 2 or 3 times a week and maybe I would like to try something new, probably climbing.
At the end of winter, I hope to restart my normal training with better motivation and overall fitness, for a long and amusement triathlon year.
Thanks for all your tips and advice Ray.
I wish you a good training winter.
Regards
Thanks
It depends on the weather really.. and how warm the winter is in any given year. If there’s no snow, I keep up the usual schedule. Otherwise I switch to indoors or spend some more time at the gym.
Adapting my training is pretty easy. I run more and bike less, although it’s not uncommon to go barefoot on Christmas day around here, so the biking less is often a matter of my training for some ultramarathon than it is because of the weather.
Last winter was my first in a cold climate. My parents bought me a nice spin bike for my med school graduation and I used that with a subscription to the Peloton iPad app. Now I’ve gotten more serious about running again and I intend to run as far into the winter as possible…but I’m nervous! Once the snow starts falling I will be very careful. Years ago I broke my arm when I slipped on ice. So I will see what winter brings. No treadmill access, unfortunately :(
I want to add a note of sympathy regarding this past Friday. I was in midtown Manhattan on 9/11 and it took a very long time before the sound of sirens didn’t put me on high alert. So I know how that feels. Everything will get back to normal more quickly than you’d believe, though.
Fortunately our winters are moderate, we actually look forward to the cooler weather and occasional run in the rain.
So just a long top, sometimes long tights, and rarely a light jacket are all our adaption!
I go swimming on Wednesdays. That’s it for winter.
I switch to cross training and riding the trainer in the winter months.
Change to more winter related stuff like heavy lifting ;) and hiking.
Peace and love all over the world
No need to change. I live in Thailand. Only 2 seasons, hot and very hot.
warmer clothes or indoor
No real winter in Brazil! Although we have to adapt for ultra hot and humid summer, when we normally start training even earlier
I live in Canada so unfortunately in the winter I switch to exclusively trainer rides and indoor pool swims. I still try to go out and run, and it can be fun on the snow, but ice is an evil that always lays beneath and can be deadly.
Unfortunately cold + ice + darkness = more time on the treadmill. Also don’t go out for a run without my homemade screw-shoes (last years’ running shoes with 1/8″ machine head screws drilled into the soles for traction).
Increase swim and bike (trainer) volume. Add layers and not much running speedwork/intervals in snow/ice/slush.
Suck it up and make it happen. If I can run tough during a brutal winter day, then race day will be easy!
Thanks,
-shawn
For running, just wearing warmer clothes and sometimes a rain jacket. For cycling, more home trainer… and no change for swimming (except that there is no more outdoor swimming of course!).
TrainerRoad/Zwift/PowerBeam Pro for the bike + plenty of layers on the run + no difference on the swim. I can run outside until ~10 deg F, but I do cut out the speedwork for more distance training.
I’m Irish and living in Spain…..winter is never a problem for me as I come from the land of terrible weather. My problem here is in summer, just too hot!
more trainer rides and more snow sports
The colder it gets the more i train indoors.
usually first snowfall does me in, but will still run in the snow.
will run out in the snow usually until i bust my ars on some ice.
I hibernate, mostly, but sometimes I’ll leave the office and run during daylight. And one week I’ll cross country ski every single day (but that’s a holiday, so it doesn’t count).
Lunch runs, trainer ride, oil swims, and gym time. And layers, layers, layers. And headlamps. And skiing and snowboarding. And snowshoeing. Maybe I’ll try xc skiing this year.
picked up bouldering for those days when going outside is not an option.
had to use a dreadmill last winter and i will not do it again
I train as little as possible, building up good fat stores to burn off in the spring.
I’ll freeze my tail off to 15F on the road and 5F in the woods. After that I just say screw it. I have a trainer but it hangs out in the attic with the dust bunnies and cob webs, I hate that thing.
Indoor cycling!! Can you hear my enthusiasm?
Zwift instead of riding outside – I like seeing others online to know I’m not the only loser up at 6am cycling in the dark in a room on their own. Swimming and running is as per usual – you can run whatever the weather!
Come winter, less outdoor cycling – on the rollers either in shed or in sun room depending on how cold it really is outside. More running, try to still go outdoors. No multisport events and more trail run events.
I’m in Georgia..in the America….of the United States. And I believe I won’t have to change much other than putting on gloves when I run this winter. And furthermore….yes. Thank you.
I run more when it is cold! I just put on my hat, long sleeved shirt and tights and go!!!
There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing!
With running training I wrap up and keep running. Cycling on ice can be a struggle, so I hit the wattbike in the gym instead with a few good sufferfest movies.
Keep up the good work Ray!
Winter training = being trapped in basements. Indoor cycling on a trainer, and if the weather cooperates, cross country skiiing.
I end up moving more sessions indoors and increase the running and strength training.
I live in the north of Portugal and I don’t mind the colder weather or the rain, so no real need to adjust the training schedule.
Bike training moves indoors and only hit the treadmill on the worst weather days.
Thanks for the giveaway Ray.
For the winter, I’ll be riding indoors at a facility in the city that offers CompuTrainer sessions.
Winter equals more running, biking on the trainer in the basement, and hopefully a week trip to the pool to hit the ground running next tri season. Thanks as always for your awesome site and giveaways (even know I haven’t won) ROCK!
Indoor swimming, less riding outside and the same amount of running outside.
Winter isn’t really bad in my country. So, i’ll stick with my training plan. ;)
KMs on the trainer in the basement (Waiting for Skuga to be compatible with the Vortex. Will be cool!) and thinking about squeezing some swimming across the kids and wife own training schedule…!!!
a bit less Training, riding on the trainer and hopefully lots of XC skiing :O)
Switching biking to swimming for the winter~
Keep running (extra layers) and switch bike to turbo trainer
I look forward to the challenge of a sub-freezing adventure. Merino Wool is the secret to survival
I will do more indoor swimming, so the Fenix3 will be a good gear to support/track my swimming.
I live in South of France, no big reason to adjust to winter :-)
I want the silver bezel with brown leather so bad… But would also love to have give my wife the Rose Gold watch! #winningproblems