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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
Pool and some indoor rowing…I have to make peace with running too, so I guess I’ll hit the treadmill ;-)
Wearing warmer clothes.
Living in a tropical climate, I don’t have any problems with winter. But when I do travel to colder places, I would hit the gym on treadmill and will spend a little more time on core workouts. If I do run on the road (which I do) when the weather permits, I would put on my thermal compression wear with extra layers of jacket, headbands and gloves. Sometimes, I would stick heat packs on my compression wear but it might cause abrasion.
Now that it is dark during the pre- and post-work hours (not to mention cold!) I’ve relocated to a treadmill for my weekday runs. I used to dread treadmills, but I’ve come to appreciate doing reliable hill/speed workouts! On the weekends I still try to make it to one of the many parks in New York for a long run.
Well I kinda tend to get fat, but do switch to the Wahoo Kickr for the winter months here in the Great White North…
My winter training will be similar to this past summer…1 hour in the pool and 1 hour on the trainer, and fit in something more if I can.
If there’s a storm system, the slopes are just 3.5 hours away for snowsports. Otherwise I use a trainer. Riding in the rain is fun, but I’m too lazy to clean my bike.
Still keep running outside just add layers and bring a flashlight. Love winter training!
I generally don’t change for the winter, but I’m starting to think I should change it up so I can help with keeping injuries away.
Kickr and Trainnerroad a perfect marriage for the dark cold months ahead.
Seattle is nice and rainy, so I consider my outdoor runs to count as time in the pool as well. And since Zwift island has great weather, I do my biking there.
Living in the mitten state, we have winter. Training changes for me to include XC skiing, structured training on the bike (trainer road and zwift on the kickr), running outside as weather permits and a solid rotation of workouts at the gym as well to work out things that have crept up during the year.
I live in Hyderabad, India! What really is winter? ?
I just need to start my runs wee bit later to not run in Complete dark and actually wear a tee, rather than run bare chested!
Weather the cold most of the time for runs and hit the trainer for the bike.
I simply put more layers and enjoy the cold weather trade the bike for the x-country skiing.
I’m from Lima, Peru and I really like your reviews. They are so full of valuable information. It’s really great that you are giving away this nice watch. Hope it’s mine.
As in the winter, here it’s not so freezing. It gets around 15C minimum and never rains. It just drizzles a little bit in August. So it’s not really hard to train in our winter. I just put on a couple of more layers and that’s it. :)
I just bundle up and endure the cold.
I put on my best winter running gear and do my best not to freeze outside. :)
As long as it is 10 degrees Fahrenheit, all runs continue to be outdoors. All cycling is indoors during winter months and swims are at the pool.
I run much more in winter because I am not keen on the heat during Summer. But that is at the weekend, I actually run everyday to and from work in London, unless I am preparing to race or recovering from a race. My wife has just got into running – and this winter is already different – because she is running with me ! A beautiful thing. She’s also entered two ultramarathons even though she only runs 4 miles at the moment. She will definitely want a Fenix 3! Great website, blogs and reviews!
No need for adaptation. The winter its not a problem.
I take it easy and switch to curling.
I just picked up a shiny new Tacx Neo at my local bike shop. The winters are long here in Canada and I expect this to get tons of use.
Unfortunately now I’m poor and need a Fenix3 for skiing. :-)
-Dan
I put more emphasis on total body strength conditioning focusing on kick boxing
I’m one of the fortunate, unfortunate ducks that live in Singapore, where its summer all year round. Miss running in more temperate climates. No cutting back on training, but usually scale back towards the end of the year to give the body a break during the holiday season.
I am in the snow belt of Ohio. I wear enough layers to be the Michelin man and add resistance to my running. By resistance I really mean the huge snow drifts.
Sf bay area. Just a vest is more than enough to get me through the winter.
During the winter I bike on the trainer/rollers
I like to play squash more during the colder months, and try to fit runs in on days where the weather isn’t too miserable during winter.
Layer up! Run in hot or cold.
Florida’s winters are mild so not much of an altered workout schedule. Life is good.
I’m focusing on Sufferfest Videos with TrainerRoad and my CycleOps 400 Pro for cycling, YogiAnonymous Online Videos for yoga, and some table tennis and indoor swimming sprinkled in.
Not much changes in my training. Running is more enjoyable. Winter commuting by bike is out of the question in my neck of the woods.
How do you adapt your training schedule for winter?
I add lights to my bike and add more cloths.
Do you change sports altogether, or do you happen to be one of those lucky ducks living in Hawaii?
I keep the sports the same but have recently taken up walking/jogging to fill in the training gaps through the week, but cycling of some form is my primary sport.
I wear gloves!
I move inside on the trainer and focus on base and intervals. I also incorporate core and flexibility exercises. And sometimes you just need to suck it up and ride in the cold…CX helps with this.
Hi I either just brave the weather or hit the treadmill.
Upstate SC doesn’t get terribly bad, but if it’s a combo of chilly AND wet, I’ll take it inside for my session. Otherwise not much changes, just add extra layers
Try to ride as much as possible. Fatty coming this winter.
I make very small adaptations for winter training. The winters are relatively tolerable in Las Vegas, NV anyway as long as you dress properly (i.e., layers!) For running or cycling, I tend to wake up a bit later when the sun rises and offers a bit of rays for warmth. For open water swimming, I don’t really have a choice (early or later) since there’s only one choice here and it’s all the way in Boulder City, NV (Lake Mead). So far it has kept me motivated; starting later means I can sleep in! :)
Having grown up in Canada, I have learned to tough it out
through the toughest conditions. Even with temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius
and with the wind chill of -40 degrees Celsius. I have learned there is no day to cold
to run in. Outdoor running is in my blood and switching sports is not an option – I will gladly
take cold ears over running on a treadmill too:)
I increase my sufferfest quota by 2 workouts per week, and try to get on the treadmill when I can.
I pretty much enjoy winter time! No issues here in central Florida.
I join a race series that forces me to get out there every weekend to run no matter how cold it is.
I reduce my training in the winter as I don’t own a treadmill or have a gym membership and some days I quite simply do not want to go for a run in the cold, ice, and snow.
I live in Rio de Janeiro, so here is summer now! But even in winter the temperatures are pretty warm for for what Europeans are used to. We have just two seasons per year hot and hell.
Living in southern California, I never make seasonal changes!
I lift heavy in the winter months. Deadlifts, squats, and more then throw in some HIIT. At least twice a week I’ll do some form of long duration cardio to keep my stamina up.
Winter training consists of treadmills, wahoo trainer, and of course Fatbiking through groomed trails. There’s no better training then winter Fatbiking!
Winter is a lot about Cowchi
Basement trainer sessions
I live in Canada, and most of winter is -30 to -40 Celsius or below, and it’s just too cold for me to be outside! So, I move my workouts to the gym, and try to go for a walk outside during the warmest part of the day to get some sunlight in.
Well… It seems I have to adapt my training schedule not only for winter but to the weak battery of my beloved Garmin FR410 as well. It discharges in approx. 40 minutes so I have to figure out how to squeeze my 1h trainings to fit “hardware limitations”. We expect snow any time here in Sweden so no time to loose.
Lucky for me, i stay in Singapore but it is rainy season during the year end which makes it tough to swim, cycle or run outdoors. Thus I will do strength training and mount my road bike on indoor trainer.
Fortunately I live in Florida, so I MAY have to wear some long sleeves during some training, but other that that it is same ole’ year round. :-)
I run outside once a week in the winter and train in a boxing gym the rest of the week.
Plantar fasciitis is preventing me from switching to running, so I plan to make heavy use of Zwift for the bad cycling days during winters.
I wear more clothes and an occasional balaclava!
Time to work on technique in the lap pool, strength training at the gym, and binge watching while spinning away on the rollers in my basement. MTB before the snow gets too deep and run before the packed snow on the roads turns to ice.
Probably need to get on that planning for next year’s season, too.
I train twice each week at our local indoor velodrome and do varying intervals and some motorpace work. Although I live in SoCal, my job keeps me from training when there is some “winter” daylight and I am scared of getting run over while training at night on the busy roads.
Starting yoga + Zwifting in the living room
Living in southern California, my definition of “winter weather” different than most other’s. Most of my running training is in the winter as I’m focusing on the LA Marathon and long sleeves are usually enough, with tights on occasion, a windbreaker sometimes, and maybe a hat. That’s about it. If it’s raining and cold, I’ll put out the Goretex. As for cycling, I do dress warmer and if it’s raining I’ll probably hop on my trainer instead. Swimming moves to the concrete box.
Winter is warm here in Australia so it does not change anything for me
Since my training is early morning and late evening, I move largely indoors in the winter (treadmill and bike trainer). Still enjoy some outdoor runs on the weekend.
More time on the trainer. But I just keep running outside in the snow.
Live in northwest Ontario – time spent on trainer and treadmill
Indoors 90% of the year. Trainer, treadmill, weights early morning or after the kids are in bed …. No worries about getting hit by a car, no flies and mosquitos, and totally structured
Simple; suck it up, take a teaspoon of cement and head out in the dark, rain and wind at 5am
I’m from Vietnam so winter is not much different from other seasons here. Lucky me, I don’t have to change my sport training habit.
Montreal, Canada here so it’s mostly indoor bike training with some outdoor run when possible.
Here in the PNW, skiing provides a great break for me from the regular SBR stuff. My indoor bike trainer starts getting a lot of use during winter months as well.
More trainer work and running. Less outside rides.
I try to exercise later in the day if possible. I still SBR but since the weather is better for hiking, I get some of those in too.
I train harder in Winter to prepare for the amazing Australian summer.
Just a change of venue to an indoor track
I will make my wife wear it.
Training through Chicago winters builds mental toughness for spring racing. Running outside in all weather requires ‘adjustment’….in gait, pace, running partners, and of course attire. When spring does finally role around all that work pays a handsome dividend and have always set my PR’s in earlier events before all the fair weather pounding wears out the parts. Bring it….
Living in the south I don’t change too much but have been riding my bike on an indoor trainer more then running outsid
Already pretty cold here in Québec (Canada), I’m gonna run outside as much as I can but I’ll do mostly indoor bike trainer session !
I move indoors to the Offutt AFB Field House and use their .4 mile indoor track, pool, many treadmills and bikes.
Well, I live in Australia so your winter is my summer ;)
Love my summer though I need to fit more training in the morning so I don’t cook in the afternoon.
The more sports the better. Variety is the spice of life!
In summer, I run a lot after work. I don’t like to run in the dark so, in winter, I change this to mornings and/or lunchtimes. If can’t do that may goto the gym and run on the treadmill.
I just bundle up. Once is starts snowing, I switch to snowshoe running.
I pretend that going snowboarding is training!
Unless the weather is very extreme, I just put on more layers and tough it out.
Training shifts to the gym. Treadmill running ugh!
Zwifting in Buffalo NY…. And lots of pool time.
Warm pants on and off I go!
Run.. and run.
With 6 kidos in tow and a near year round training climate (OR) I tend to make “winter” more of a family focus though and make mid-range 16k to 20k runs a family time when the kids and family can bike along with me :)
So basically it is continued running but unstructured.. and very flexible :)
I moved from Utah and now live in Duluth Minnesota. The mountain biking and trail running options in Duluth rival anything in Utah during the summer. Winters in Duluth are a bit more, well, extreme than what I was used to in Utah… -40 daytime temps are not out of the ordinary, and that’s before you factor in wind chill. I’ve used the time to get into strength training and speed work on the treadmill; I’ve found I start the season healed up from my nagging injuries and much stronger and faster. Endurance? Well… Yeah… About that… Thinking of mixing in some x-country skiing to try and maintain/build.
I adapt to winter workouts by dressing warmer or using the treadmill or Zero Runner if the temp/windchill drops to 20°F or below. Other than that, I’m outside. I live in Buffalo, NY.
I live in Brazil, so winter is not a problem for outdoor training
I come from the land down under, its never cold here
Living in Florida, blessed to not be driven by weather. But I definitely move toward a running emphasis because of events–Space Coast and Walt Disney World Marathons!
I guess I’m a lucky duck. Winter isn’t too bad in Perth Australia. A bit of rain, temps around 10 deg Celcius at 6am. I like to run with a group and that gets me out of bed in winter.
In the winter, I ride my road bicycle less days (usually down to two instead of the usual 5 days of riding) but I do 5 am spin class three to four days a week, work on my core and flexibility in group classes at least two days a week, ride my mountain bike more, and cut back on my food intake.
I live in Vancouver BC so the winter is mild compared to other places. The one thing I suffer the most is not being able to go out for a ride. It’s dark/wet/chilly and I’m not that tough I guess… I had borrowed a trainer and I’m debating if I should get one for this winter. Swimming stays the same for the pool side but no open water until May. Running… that one I get wet and suck it up… No chance I’m running on a treadmill.
Just dress warmer!
I take the workouts to the pain cave, catch up on netflix or read. And dream about mid April in Madison, WI.
Living in Palm Springs, California, where it is often 115 degrees F in the summer, training is much more enjoyable in the summer! It’s much easier to get out for runs and bikes when it’s 65 outside rather than triple digits. The only problem is that it gets dark so much earlier! Good thing I prefer morning workouts.
That leather strap looks great!!!