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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.
I keep the KICKR warmed up and wear lots of warm clothes. Cold is not the problem for me: it’s the smaller number of daylight hours. :(
Texas winter isn’t much of a winter so it’s good for cycling. Use my KICKR when it’s raining. Thanks for your great site.
I solved this with a PETZL on my forehead :-) :-) ….
Put on a heavier shirt and cramp ons, good to go! Love running in the winter
Nor Cal weather lets me ride my bike out doors pretty consistently.
Minneapolis winters are rough, try to continue to run outside and mix in some nordic.
i hop on my trainer with some trainerroad going on, spend mucho time on the treadmill, and try to swim once in a while, but usually fail until about March when i panic.
Thank you for your insightful product reviews. They have been very helpful to a novice runner like me.
Bundle up and push through the cold.
Different bike, warm windproof cycling wear. Swimming and strength training.
In winter I stop running and start swimming in the pool instead.
Thanks for your great posts! I really enjoy tour gadgets reviews.
Swap the short sleeved jersey for a long sleeved one. Add some lights. Good to go.
I spend a lot more time indoors at the gym or on my bike trainer but aside from having to watch out for ice I still love running outdoors in the winter, even in crazy cold midwest weather. I also like to mix in XC skiing on weekends.
no change of sports. I just bundle up.
Running instead of cycling, and the occasional Zwifting.
Winter means spinning sessions and running outside. Running in -20 C is extremely refreshing :)
Thanks for a great blog, Ray!
I change over to a cyclocross bike to get miles in during bad weather. Running doesn’t change other than my wardrobe.
bought a month ago a vortex smart trainer and became a zwift user which is super motivating tot Come through the winter period.
Mostly move indoors due to weather and lack of daylight. Cross-train some. Do a little more weight training. Do other similar indoor activities like Spin Class for example.
Whoa! 6k messages already. Fingers crossed, with winter gloves.
I can keep running throughout the London winter…and as it gets colder I add more layers. The wet weather does make hill training a muddy affair.
Warm up on the KICKR, invest in a decent head torch and get out there!
I still try to keep to my bicycling. Though the cold and earlier sunsets puts a damper on my mood.
Training in the winter usually consists of moving my running from the roads to the treadmill. I stick to my running, though I might do a bit less and cycle on the stationary or spin class a bit more often to get over the boredom of the treadmill.
Compression gear comes out Ray, great blog and all the best from irl
Well, usually im just switching to winter sports like skiing and cross=country skiing. However for next year i decided finally start with triathlons, so this winter im continue to swimm in the pool and taking my “running” to whole new level :)
Where is will there’s way!
I’m living in Greece, so winter is mild, great for running.
I keep my winter training schedule about the same, I just wear more clothes!
Not lucky enough to live @ Hawaii
So i bought me à new trainer under the Cold months.
And also swim inside its hard to break the ice before swimming.
But still running outside.
I also adding more heavy liftning @gym.
I run on the treadmill
I like turtles!
Keep up the good work
I use my treadmill and the indoor running option on the handy dandy Fenix 3 I just won …. possibly?
I usually just keep riding, but Tucson weather is usually fairly forgiving during the daytime. Since commuting in the morning is too cold (I’m from here, and I may be cold blooded), I tend to do a lot more floor exercise in the mornings to make up.
Not the lucky one, it’s more unlucky (at least when we talk about the weather conditions) since living in Quebec is not quite as living in Hawaii ;)
Well, I would rather say that I would have to adapt my training habits for summer since the winter is soooooooo long; but for sure ski, indoor soccer and perhaps indoor biking as of this winter.
Luckily I’m in South Africa; so even when heading into winter, out climate is pretty temperate, so no real change in training – just shorter days and less outside time.
put my gloves on swap the short sleeved shirt for a long one. Add some lights. thats it
“Trying” to implement cross-country skiing.
I’ll change to my cross-bike to do some basic-units and will keep on zwifting (on my good but simple indoor-trainer). Hope to get at least once a week on my roadbike by this ^^
Hit the weights and my Kickr trainer.
Still running, with warmer clothes, and when the snow falls, I just change to FAT bike :)
Add layers, switch to adidas Climaheat shoes, and keep on running. The bike stays clamped in the trainer till the sun comes back!
I live in Greece so winter is a short time of period. Although, colder days gives the opportunity for some weight lifting and outside running is transfered to treadmill.
I keep outside but tend to do more running unless it’s not icy and certainly a bit less open water swimming ;)
Unfortunately the winter weather pushes me inside to the treadmill but I still try and get outside for at least one outdoor run per week.
I live in El Salvador! so the sun always shines for us! If you ever come here mi casa es tu casa!
Lot’s of indoor Pool time here in Chicago.
It’s not always sunshine and sand. You can’t choose the weather, but you can choose your winter. Bundle up, relish seeing your breadth, and give winter the cold shoulder.
Still going to run and ride my bike! Love the winter! If we get too much of the white stuff or ice then I’ll suck it up and use the treadmill and trainer.
Switch to lots of treadmill and bid my schedule to include some warm southern destinations.
Train indoors. Duh!
i wear a lot of layers unless it’s icy and i have to use a treadmill
don’t adapt. I live in California
I live in San Francisco
A little more swimming, a little less biking, bet generally power through, weather be damned.
I bundle up for the runs and spend more time in the pool and on the trainer. I say NO to the treadmill.
i just bundle up. Tights etc. I enjoy winter running.
The majority of activity moves indoors. I try to run in the snow as much as possible and add some cross country skiing to the mix.
Spending big chunks of the winter in the velodrome.
I add more swimming to my schedule and take spinning classes to break the monotony.
I feel like a bear in the winter…maybe I am just lazy, but my training schedule is not great. I ride on the bike trainer, sometimes run, ice skate or just walk. If we have enought snow I love cross country skiing, great for upper body!
I find different routes – some that are lit or stick the headtorch on. Have bought a pair of trail shoes for sploshing through the puddles! I prefer winter training as I am one of those people that break into a sweat putting my shoes on when it’s a hot day!
This winter is becoming more wet than anything. Have to move as much as I can inside, moving outside whenever I can.
As I don’t have a trainer I simply wear warmer equipment, the polar kind on the inside – both running and cycling. Other than that it’s pretty much the same!
I live in California, so the weather is not that bad in winter. But with the rain, I would probably do less outdoor cycling, but more swimming and indoor training.
Wrap up warmer but keep on running by popping on a head torch and not wimping out!
Moved to Austin from NYC a year ago. What passes for cold here is still warmer than NYC so I figure I have no excuse and a running I will go. It’s the fewer daylight hours that make it annoying…
oooo.. shiny!
I love winter, so I don’t mind running when it is a bit cold or even raining. For cycling I just wear my Assos jacket and I’m done… Swimming, well, I use my swimming suite in the pool… Haha
Winter is not a big deal here anyway…
Turbo trainer, netflix and a fan. I hate it!!
Just finished IMFL, used my fenix 2 for two ironman races and loving it! I live in Florida and still pretty warm here ;) I will continue to ride in the morning and 2 indoor power and tempo trainings a week.
The run training doesn’t change at all. I’ll run in any weather and any cold (even below 20 minutes). The change is in the bike training, lots of stationary training on the balcony. Boring but necessary! ?
This winter: More core!
Luckily I live in North Carolina where I can cycle pretty much year round save for a few weeks in February when the weather is at its worst. For those cold dreary days a simple gym workout keeps me going.
I simply put on warmer clothes! If it’s icy, I might trade out running for skiing. If it’s *really* icy, then I might run on the treadmill at the gym (ick) or do yoga instead.
Unfortunately…I just have to head indoors.
Winter equates to more time spent in the weight room and pool!
on the trainer
I put on my GT sailing sweatshirt and gloves. Pull out the indoor trainer. Haha. I always seem to be in better shape during winter then during summer.
Head more often to 24 Hr Fitness.
I live in Santiago, Chile where I work as a soccer missionary, reaching out to youth and within the prison system. The global organization I work with does soccer camps in the US close to where I grew up. So I adjust by workouts by working at the camps and continually running in spring/summer/fall weather. It’s perfect! Love the site!
Living in New England I run at lunch which is usually the warmest part of the day but I love running in 20 degree weather. When training for Boston 2014 my average temperature while running was 26 degrees.
I put spiked tires on my fatbike, and ready to roll on snow in the northern lights of Tromsø, Norway!
Put on a pair of leggings… but usually they’re not necessary
A bit more indoor and strength work
Just add leggings and a longsleeved top and run as usual, taking care to avoid icy patches and wet fallen leaves (and, if possible driving hail!).
Walking/hiking – more layers
Cycling – more procrastination… ;)
I get out of the office earlier, so that the sun is still up when I run. The solution is hence simply to work less…
Will hit the gym and do some strenght training.
Bundle up ’cause it’s gonna be a cold one. :-(
This is going to be my first winter season since I start running. For now I’m still kinda wearing the same clothes, but I’m looking into buying some more suitable additions. But I also have a gym membership if it is too cold/snowy/nasty outside…even though running outside is more fun…
Joga, crossfit, pool – don’t even know where to start
I try desperately hard to back of tempo/race training and lower my HR to gain more endurance on the swim, bike and run. Also have grand plans every year to strength train more to increase power going into the next season… One of these years it will happen??
No changing sports. I continue to run adding Yak trax, running tights, and lots of Gold Bond Friction Defense (cheaper and better than Body Glide).
Winter in Saskatchewan get COLD!! Brrrr. I run until it’s -25C, that’s the temp that I run of running layers… I find the ice more of a hinderance, and that’s when I break out the XC skis- there’s loads of great trails up here! Happy running and thanks for a great website!
In Iowa, the snow forces me off the roads for cycling, so I switch to my trainer once/twice a week, then add hockey on the weekends, strength training, and still run outdoors frequently.
winter = trainer rides and the countdown and excitment of wheels rolling on pavement in the spring!
Yes I have to change up my game in the winter to more indoor type of training unfortunately.
I keep on running and swimming. Some biking or cx every now and then.
In the winter I put some more layers and still run outside. It’s really not a problem even in the sometimes harsh cold of Canadian winters!
I would prefer to ride outside but as winter gets colder, the trainer becomes warmer. Zwift has been really great so far and I plan on using it to make it out of the dark days still sane
I use the gym instead of outdoors