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.
Friday technique training on Mtb. Saturday intervals on Mtb and Sunday long trip on Mtb to get some miles in the legs. Just love my new bike ;)
Finally started to get active again and did some core stability exercises in preparation of my first run in 6 months after having my first daughter.
Mountain time! Easy run on Monday, weights on Tuesday, then nordic skiing on Thursday, and alpine skiing Friday – Sunday. Great week! Glad you asked. :)
Day 14 – 50 minutes on turbo…
on monday 10k slow
on tuesday 9 k fartlek
today 11 k tempo
planned for friday 10 k and 20 k for saturday,
all activities are running
10 Mile run on Saturday and a 1 hour trainer ride on Sunday while watching Breaking Bad.
Monday = Swam Intervals (2500y)
Tuesday = 50min of some threshold interval running
Wed Morning = Biked 60min with some big gear little gear drills and some one leg pedaling drills mixed in
Wed Even = 400’s and 50’s (2600y)
Thursday = 5mile run
Friday = Swam speed workout (2000y)
Saturday = Bike 80min with Big gear little gear work, and then a 10min brick run
24 Hours in the Old Pueblo! Great race with a ton of cycling culture and good food.
Have been very slack with training in the cold and wet. Better weather on the way hopefully, so I need to increase soon.
A warm-up run down to the park, then a 5km parkrun in the cold, wind & wet :( Finished 28th, so happy with that.
I did a 10k under the noonday sun on monday followed by some chinups.
2 hrs on the Kickr Snap and 135 TSS :)
Turbo Training courtesy of The Sufferfest
Well me and my Wonderful Valentine went on a very nice Hike on Saturday Evening and spent the night Camping for the 14th! A light day but a very fun and relaxing weekend!
Love the site!
I’m in the great white north, so a ski and a fat bike ride were my means of training. Not easy with a set of bruised ribs.
Last week we had the coldest NYC day in something like 30 years – So I went to the gym and did some kettlebell work :)
Put miles on the legs for the upcoming race season by running in 7 degree weather up in Minnesota.
I was ill, so nothing got done. Very sad times. Went for a lovely walk in the winter sun however!
a half marathon in golden gate park! followed by Vietnamese good afterward :)
2 days of 5000yd swims with kick and sprint intervals at the end. Love that warm water!
2.5hr ride outside where the wind and I agreed to disagree.
Winter here so weather not the best for outside activities… Did yoga in the morning and kettlebell/bodyweight workouts in the afternoon (got to love the living room gym).
A 10 Mile run with 2 miles at tempo pace in the middle.
Long run on Saturday and a recovery run on Sunday.
I did ~26 miles on the bike on Saturday, plus a bike climbing/descending clinic and ~2.5 miles running on Sunday. Monday’s long weekend bonus was my first open water wetsuit swim ever.
Saturday was an hour long conditioning class followed by an hour Spin class
Sunday was just an easy 25 minute run, followed by a lunch prepared by myself & the woman for 14 people.
45 min tempo after 15 mins do 4 x 60 sec Vo2 max. 5 min recovery at tempo between. Fun Fun Fun!
I planned to run and ride, but I rolled my ankle walking across the USC campus to go watch the US Olympic marathon trials. After the race I spent the rest of the weekend sitting around with my ankle braced and iced.
Two runs in Paris!
There for a weekend getaway with the wife. Weather didn’t cooperate on Saturday unfortunately…
I had a long trail with friends planned, but was forced to pass. Ended up doing an easy jog instead. Not overly happy.
ran the Austin Marathon. I PR’d … no big deal … :)
nice and long ski
Lots of running cause I’m training for a marathon :)
Saturday: 6x5min at 5k pace
Sunday: 1.30 Long easy run.
1 hr trainer ride
Was pretty busy this weekend with work but managed to get a short run in after watching the LA marathon.
Sat: 6x4min zone 5 intervals
Sun: 2hr zone 3 spin on the fixie
Mon: 2hr cyclocross ride with the wife.
saturday morning 45 min non carbs upper end aerobic
saturday afternoon 75 min anaerobic sprints and aerobics in between
sunday same as above .-))
I didn’t do any fitness trading last weekend. By design I was off helping to produce s bluegrass music festival for 2,000 of my closest friends. http://Www.bbu.org
Gerry
Sat- 4 hour bike ride in the mtns.
Sunday – LA Marathon – 26.2 miles.
Bike intervals on Saturday and a 2 hour recovery on Sunday. Sure could use a $599 water bottle for those longer intervals though.
2 runs 3 and 5 miles
Strength training session with my son
Bodyweight training with a focus on the legs, to prepare for skiing!
Got a couple of runs in after a couple of months away. Totaled a little over 10K, which is good for me this time of the year.
A cold , wet but lovely 11 km training run!!
Sat- Easy 2 hour bike ride
Sun- ran the LA Marathon
I had a cross country league race on the Saturday, then went out on a club ride on Sunday morning and slid down the road on the ice.
Training? Last weekend was 3 days worth of racing! One of the best race weekends of the year!
a very wet running on saturday, 10K heavy rain
Just getting back into tri training.
Saturday was a 1 hr run and Sunday a brick 1.5 hrs on the trainer and 20 min run
I did two workout at home on my trainer, just another 5 hours from Trainer Road Base training plan.
Saturday 7k with my girlfriend and my new shoes :-) and Sunday 25k according to my my marathon plan
Finally a ride outdoors now the temp is up and the snow is leaving!!!!
Unfortunately too busy working to do any training, maybe a new tech device will shift my priorities.
Saturday was 10k trying to stay in Zone 2. Sunday was supposed to be 10 miles in zone 2, but I’m bad at heart rate management and spent half the run in zone 3. This weekend begins the long runs to ramp up to my next long race.
Ran 13.1 with my best time for a training run. Some shin problems, but otherwise felt good.
First squash-training on sunday after a long break because of radius-fracture of my right wrist – felt quite good and hand/arm didn´t fall of afterwards ;).
Early morning hiit workout followed by afternoon elbow tendinitis rehab exercises and bodyweight movement progressions.
on my training log from last weekend was a long run outside in chilly Minnesota and a fun/easy swim for cross-training!
This weekend I ran as part of a run club with the hope of getting longer distance and faster time. Monday I did a light 4 mile run.
This is great timing as my 910XT gave out and I need to replace. Thank you for the continued reviews.
I ran three times, Saturday, being a very cold 9 degrees out for a 5k. Got a bike ride on the trainer and a few stretching, toning videos done, for 6 out of seven days
2 trainer workouts – 5 x 10min at FTP and then a sunday 3 hour trainer ride (barf!)…looking forward to 30degree warmer temps this weekend!
The plan was for a long run and a bike. 50 MPH wind gusts put that on hold.
A 90 minute sweet spot trainer session on Saturday and a bitterly cold 14 miles Sunday.
LSD, Nordic skiing on Saturday and running on Sunday. Good times!
big fat zeros. i got sick…
looking forward to winning! thanks, ray.
Intervals on the KICKR saturday morning.
My first weekend working out in 10 weeks. Recovering from surgery and then a surgical infection and re-surgery!! And it was a 3 day weekend for me. So, probably overdid it but: 2 treadmill runs, 3 pool swims, 2 yoga classes and one strength workout! Good to be back!
Saturday, I did a 850meter swim-training and on Sunday I went for a short 30km mountainbike training.
I did weights focusing on lower body (squats, deadlifts, leg press, etc.) and then a HIIT session on a stationary bike.
Ran 6x800m with a sub 3:12 pace and a 60 min recovery run at the end of the week. Get pretty good for a recovery week
I did a 2 hour ride on Saturday, along with a swim – run brick on Sunday.
End of week 5 sweet spot base 1 “palisade” (ouch) on Saturday and an easy long run on Sunday. I could really use that powertap g3 hub.. hmmm….. :))
Current workout consists of moving heavy boxes and furniture as we move to a new home.
Last weekend was all about cycling for me.
On Saturday, I led 10 other riders on a relatively easy group ride. We rode ~80 miles and climbed a little over 2,100 feet.
On Sunday, i completed a Sweet-Spot workout ride on Zwift.
Was a kinda quiet weekend; very cold outside, so I chickened out on my runs. From a cycling perspective, Saturday was a rest day, while Sunday was back into 90 min intervals session on the trainer.
Getting out the door for a run to begin slow recovery from off-season and injury! Only semi-successful. Ran one day. Coach potato the next.
Last weekend was a fun-filled 2x20min FTP trainer session on sat and a rest/recovery day on Sun!
3 hours on a mountain bike Saturday and kayaking among Louisiana’s cypress trees on Sunday!
Ran a half-marathon on Saturday in preparation for the Paris Marathon in April. Set a PR on a near perfect morning of running, flat course, nearly no wind, 55F and overcast/light fog.
2 hr bike zone 2
1 hr 10 min run zone 2
1 hr swim
Not a workout per se- Ran the LA Marathon
Interval training on Wahoo trainer for 40min. Expended 640kcal, Peak heart rate 168. Max power 291W. For some reason Garmin connect is listing the date for Monday. It habitually jumps a day. Garmin Epix listed the exercise TE at 5.0. Not shabby for an old guy.
Mostly tapering for a big race on Sunday that I got my butt kicked at. People in California are strong. Or I’m weak. Or both.
I had an indoor brick workout on my schedule with 1M swim, 1h bike, 6M run.
Albeit indoors, it was fun.
Non-traditional, but very active weekend as we spent it getting the house ready to put on the market
Saturday – Tri workout – 2100m swim @7:00am, 90 minute spin @ 8:30, 3 mile CCRC race as a brick run, includes an 18 percent hill, out and back, first half uphill, second half downhill.
Sunday – Long run 10.5 miles with 4 friends
Monday – 30 minute spin on Zwift before heading to mentor the HS FIRST robotics team
Running with 4.5L water bottle in a back pack. This is part of an upcoming team run event!
Mountain bike on Saturday, with a Cub Scout hike in the afternoon. Longish road ride on Monday.
A tempo run of 10k on Saterday
7 minutes workout
Sunday morning ride 80km
Hid getting back into it after a marathon a few weeks ago, so just a 30 min run.
Because of injuries the only exercise for the moment is walking. But still enjoying the outdoors (and my new Garmin ForeRunner 235)!
I did 2k swimming in 45mins which was my personal best and sunday i went running, how long doesn’t matter cause it was my first run after i dunno maybe 3 years. My legs are still complaining. Thanks for the great reviews man!
Work work work. And the daily cycle to and from it. Not to forget the after work run around to blow the cobwebs away!
Just some running and restorative yoga. Simple weekend..!
50K group ride on Zwift and 6k easy run wih the fiancé.
90 minute ride (which never happened…); crappy training season so far
A recovery weekend that was spent chasing my children around the house/park/pool.
I went on a training ride with Hans Schneider to get my bike fit properly with clip on aero bars for my duel purpose road bike. We went on some new roads that I never knew existed and had a blast.
Running and tennis with the family.
Cross training – a weekend of snowboarding with my wife!