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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.
I’ve never considered winter to be much of an off-season. More like a transitional-season. Winter bike, studded tires and warmer clothing. Also, cross training certainly picks up. Gym workouts, nordic skiing, hockey on the outdoor rink and tobogganing with the family of course!
A little more snowshoeing in the mountains, but still a lot of running in and around town, when snow allows it…
Lots of movies on the trainer!
Move from outdoor cycling to spinning and add some volleyball as well.
Go from running and biking to Nordic Skiing! Pretty simple here in Vermont!
The Mountain bike gets pulled out of the garage
Winter is the better season here, more running!
Less cycling more running…….with a headtorch as required! thanks!
Back to the Concept II.
Luckily I live in California and the weather isn’t bad for long. I still spend as much time running outdoors more or hitting the trails and exploring.
I switch from cycling to cross country skiing and running. It’s a good time to switch things up and get some good cross training in. Plus it gets me outside.
I add a tuque, layers, and run outside
In these times, it’s difficult to concentrate on training. Too many bad things happen. Sport gives you a clear mind. #PrayForTheWorld
I live in a reasonably mild winter climate (Atlanta, GA USA ) and I actually love the cooler temps for training and better visibility in the mountains. Just unpack the layers and go!
Little adjust for winter in in the Northern Midwest. Add some clothes for running and mountain biking, bring the road bike inside on the trainer, and swimming in the pool.
No need to make any radical changes, as I live in San Francisco. The only changes I make are use of my Gabba jersey on cold & iffy weather days, or move the weekend ride indoors when its really raining out.
Bring the Bike indoors onto the turbo and start hitting the Gym more.
Three words… Treadmill, trainer and pool.
Rides in the rain, coupled with some spins indoor. Running stays about the same, but perhaps a few more treadmill interval sessions.
Treadmill workouts and swim at the gym. Also bike trainer at home..
Run still outside, Bike on the trainer, More weights (frequency not heaviousity)
Layers!!! Plus I take indoor cycling classes at the gym.
I’m not fortunate enough to live in Hawaii but I do live in a pretty tame climate – New Mexico, USA. There are only a handful of days throughout the year that I move to training indoors (running, cycling).
Turbo training indoors, bikram yoga and long, slow runs
Run as usual and zwift as hell
I change my winter training by riding inside for the better part of 5 months. It’s Wyoming so unless you have a fat bike, you’re pretty much sequestered until spring.
Well, since I never encounter winter before and Singapore doesn’t snow.
but my guess would be if i still focus on running and planning to avoid boring treadmill, I can just equip myself with running gears that cover my skin from wind and cold, best would those in sweat-wicking layers which would be able to keep my muscles warm at the same time. Or just stay indoor doing those Insanity workouts are meant to reduce total body fat but building core muscle at the same time.
Run outdoors all year round, clothing changes and I sometimes wear spikes.
More indoor training and cross-country skiing
Ride at the velodrome and less outside!
I hope that I can just keep on running outside, since my goals for the next twelve months are set! The only thing that might change is that I might buy a headlamp to be able to run and see after 16 o’clock! ;D
I throw on a windbreaker and gloves then head out for some personal best runs! Feels great once I get going!
The only change I make is to put on more clothes.
Although with the “winter” we’re having over here in Belgium.. might as well just call it early spring
Honestly.. 17°C.. how can one call this winter.. I want snow damned!
Much more gym climbing and skiing. Very little biking some spin class. Run about the same. I’ve been thinking about a Kickr but in Colorado the weather typically still allows plenty of outdoors time.
Hit the trainer in the pain cave and get to work on trainer road. I also play ice hockey which tends to be an awesome way to cross train for myself. I find getting away from the bike makes me extremely excited come spring when the temps get back in the 40s :). 20miles20smiles
always run elegant!!
Running twice a week and lots of trainer time during the week. Trails on the weekends.
I tend to change everything, focusing more on core and strengh training.
Do 20 burpeed and 21 pushups
I use the Tacx to cycle if the weather is bad and I swim more as well… running is always possible, but I guess i’m kind off lazy … and stay in :)
no winter for me.. hehehe
I use my bike trainer for indoors sessions as well as the pool and gym. In addition, cross country skiing.
As soon as we get enough snow, I will trading my bike for my splitboard and go explore the Adirondack mountains.
My winter training does take a pretty radical shift, given I live in Montana. I have a trainer and a treadmill, so workouts do move to the pain cave. But the majority of my fitness comes from snowmobiling as much as I can. Think of it as high-velocity biking, only the bike weighs around 500 lbs, and rather than flat tires, you get stuck every 30 minutes or so, and now you’re digging out said 500 lb. beast from a 6′ snowbank. Fun times!
Turbo time baby! Hat while running. I do not live in Hawaii ;-)
How can you tell if someone is a triathlete? Don’t worry they’ll tell you!! HAHAHA
How do you adapt your training schedule for winter? Do you change sports altogether, or do you happen to be one of those lucky ducks living in Hawaii?
DC as you know DC isn’t always cold, so just bundle up and deal with it or bulk up for the winter.
More clothes for outside running.
I mostly do the training on my indoor trainer, except for the days when the roads are clear.
Living near Vancouver, Canada I’m fortunate enough to be able to run outside year round. Increased time strength training in the gym. Also a mix of bike trainer, road riding on dry days & mountain biking.
Add layers for outdoor running and hit the gym for treadmill, bike and swim,
I do speed workouts on a treadmill or indoor track. I still run outside, just make sure to wear yaktrax if there’s ice. Also bike on the trainer more.
living in Rhodes, Greece winter is an unknown word
Cold weather makes you a stronger runner! Under armour infrared gear and I’m out there no matter how cold it gets!
More Mountain biking to avoid the windy winter days and more indoor swimming since the YMCA pool is less crowded.
Act like a proper Brit for 5 minutes – moan about the weather, layer up, then crack on with it ;)
I always run more with the longer colder nights & ride at the weekends. I don’t trust the car drivers about these parts.
Currently live in CA so nothing limiting my workouts. I am from the midwest and do not miss the lung burning runs of winter one bit :).
Winter is lovely for running so you can do more “feeling run” for fun
In Argentina we are in spring, so now I run outside… But in winter mostly at the gym
Put away the road bike, get out the TT, the base layers and yak trax- nothing will stop me running!
I put on gloves!!
I hit the turbo 4 times over the week and get a well wrapped up long spin on the weekends with the club. if its very icey i go running
Summer is pre-season. Bring the snow, I want to go skiing! :-)
Cross country, down hill or the kind where you bring a backpack with some snacks and stay out all day.
Btw, live above the arctic circle so the winter season is quite long…
Socal has great weather for winter training.
Love this watch.
Harden the f*ck up:)
I just switch my sports altogether and probably train more at winter than summer.
Now is South America we are moving to summer but the only change on daily routing is changing open water swimming with indoor pool, and some more layers of clothes :)
here in Brazil even in winter its hot.. so nothing to worry about.
More time on the dreadmill…
Break out the trainer, and pretend I’m going to use it.
Just add a few more layers, the cold and wet ain’t gonna slow my training down!
I ride on a bike trainer while weeping silently…
I don’t adapt!
I don’t live in Hawai (but i hope one day spent some holidays) but the weather is quite pleasent 95% time of the year.
Yes, Ray, we are almost neighbours, i live in Portugal and my wife is french, “né à Paris”
Helder
running 2x, MTB, cycling on my racer and ofcourse swimming indoor
Come to Brazil and go outside 365 days!!
All training is converted into indoor fun on a treadmill and a trainer! :)
I stay warmer that way! :)
Living in New England, training is adjusted according to the weather and conditions. When it is sunny and the temps are above 40 degrees, I swim and bike outside. If it snows, snowshoe, ski, swim in a pool and ride endless miles on the trainer. Always run outside, as it does not matter if it is sunny, raining, snowy, or dark. Just run.
Hi Ray – typically in the winter, its a shift from mileage to intensity, adding in strength training. In the mid atlantic area, it’s not always so bad, so getting out doors is always the goal….this year though ZWIFT will get me through
More time in the pool and on the trainer but try to keep running outside.
Due to the lack of water in California, I truly deserve to acquire such unit “gratis” …
More session on spinning course and warmer gear.
Getting some waterproof clothing in case El Niño hits this winter in CA, otherwise cycling as usual.
I use my indoor bike trainer.
And I will go swimming more often.
Absolutely I adapt my training schedule. I tend to do more exercise in pubs with open fires than during the summertime.
A lot of my training moves indoors to the bike trainer and treadmill. I also add in some winter sports like downhill skiing and hockey.
It’s Kickr time for sure.
I’m primarily a cyclist. In the winter Months I do early morning trainer rides before work 2-3 times a week (60-90 minutes), a longer ride on Saturday (outside if above freezing, trainer/rollers if too cold). And I work in 3 treadmill runs a week.
When it gets cold, wet, dark… I hide inside on the trainer. Zwift and trainerroad have become my new friends :-)
MTB until the snow gets too deep and then switch to XC-skiing…
The near universal darkness outside (after office hours) is more of an issue than the gold. Therefore running will be mostly weekends, biking will be in the garage on the trainer. Hawai’i sounds way more inspiring.
In Boston, the bike goes on the trainer and the 5am runs continue in darkness while I wait fort he morning sunlight to reappear
More treadmill, weight training and snowshoeing!
It’s just a matter of adding some extra layers here in Denmark – when we hit november and the next 5 months ;-)
I move to racing cyclocross in the winter. It’s a great way to stay in shape over the winter.
I would love to win. Onward wintertime training.
I change to the spinbike all winter. And I do much more weight lifting / core.
I like to ride bikes!
I run outside year round, but the trainer gets a lot of love in the winter.