Sports Tech Summer Deals Still Live! 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:
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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
Core training (gim) and probably long run (outdoor)
Nice 110 mile ride today followed by a lot of watching kids soccer over the next 3 days
My local pool is opening for the season, so it’s time to start tri training for late-summer races.
Just finished long MTB ride, Saturday will be chores but I should be on the MTB both Sunday and Monday.
Race Saturday, rest sunday, then bike test (hc) monday!
A long trail run
15k trail run on Saturday!
back to back long runs!
No training this weekend ! It’s race day time : X-trail Sutton, Qc
Swim, bike, maybe run.
Maybe another bike, maybe run.
Swim and rest
Swim and Bike on Saturday, run on Sunday and hopefully sleep on Monday.
trail runs!
I’m just working my way back after an injury….slowly but surely! So I’ll probably do a lot of grilling and a little running.
A couple of decent runs sandwiched around a couple of decent meals.
hill climbs on my xc bke
I will be starting the training for a very hot early August half marathon with a long run on Saturday with my running partner.
A long bike ride and watching a local fast 5k.
Lots of cycling and a little swimming now and then.
Run and bike on Saturday then swim on Sunday.
Doing a solo 60 mile ride Saturday morning, and a group ride Monday
Two 5ks to break in my new Osprey running backpack on trails near me. :) Thanks!
Just completed a 43 mile road ride, tomorrow will be rest, Sunday will be a mountain bike ride!
5km run and possibly a climb of the local mountain
Going to do a lot of walking this weekend. Too hot to run.
Travelling this weekend, so I got a 10k easy in today in Palm Springs, CA. Fartlek session tomorrow morning in Long Beach, then an easy 5k in London, UK on Sunday to try and beat the jetlag.
Plan is to enjoy the pools opening this weekend with the family. I might splash a little with our little ones, so I will count that as a swimming workout. I just hope the weather plays nice.
I ran 7.5 miles today (Friday).
Plan to ride 30-35 miles Saturday.
Rest day on Sunday and then
5 mile run on Monday.
My goal is to get in a long run for weekend and to test my new Garmin Forerunner 235
Riding my bike in a couple of the local canyons. Thanks Ray!
It’s trail running time! Plus a little bit of road bike and mountain bike! Hope the sun will be there…
Zwift. BBQ. Trail Running. More BBQ. Outside ride. And yet more sun and BBQ!
Long ride Saturday, recovery run Sunday along with a 1500 meter swim
Well the weekend got a bit stuffed up due to my other half coming down with a cold. So the race on the Saturday was off, but this does mean that I can swap my ride with my son to the afternoon leaving Sunday free. So the plan is a late start after watching the Giro and a trip up to Corin Dam (ACT, Australia) with a mate and hopefully discuss how Chaves kept the Pink Jersey :)
This is a off week on my Ironman training plan. Saturday calls for a 2 hour run followed by a 1 hour recovery bike ride. Sunday is swim testing day to determine training paces for the next 4 weeks. Monday is FTP testing on the bike followed by running hills followed by barbecuing and beer!
Not a long weekend here in Oz but a bbq is never far away, training or otherwise. working, short run, beer and barbie.
15k await me this weekend! 10k tomorrow and a recovery 5k on Sunday!
Minneapolis Marathon canceled so there goes my six month training plan… Ah well, the mountain bike trails need to be attacked I suppose!
Racing on Saturday. Recovery ride Sunday. BBQing Monday.
Zwift – inverted pyramids and a tempo run.
Last big brick workout before the taper starts on Sunday. 2 hour bike followed by 45′ run. Easy going for the next 7 days.
BBQ! Also keeping up with the BarryP running plan from slowtwitch,
11k run on Saturday followed by an early swim on sunday
Weather is finally nice hoping to get out and ride, run and swim in nature and love it.
Rehabbing my reconstructed ACL after blowing it out skiing a couple months ago
An easy run on Sunday
9k on Saturday, 10k on Sunday and rest on Monday
Two club rides on my bike
For me, i have scheduled morning long road bike, and afternoon bbq with friend on the weekend and a good beautiful morning beach with family.
Tomorrow(sat) I will be working. Then after I get off, I will be participating in a Goruck kill that 5k event here in Austin TX. Sunday I plan on going for a 30-40 mile bike ride and then a 5 mile run. Monday morning I will be going to a Camp Gladiator workout for an hour long sweat fest. Then I’ll be hanging out with friends in hammocks and then going for another run later in the evening. Tuesday, still my weekend, I plan to get another Camp Gladiator workout in during the morning, work in my yard, then go for another 30-40 mile bike ride and another 5 mile run. I am training for life and a healthier lifestyle. June starts a new challenge for myself. I am participating in The Great Cycle Challenge. Month long fundraiser for childhood cancer research and treatment. Check out my fundraising page for info: link to greatcyclechallenge.com
I hope everyone is planning to have a crazy active weekend.
Walking around 2 zoo’s and the Indianapolis 500. May try and fit it some short runs too.
Long bike rides and cold beer.
Hi there!
Thanks for all the reviews.
This weekend will be:
– workouts on Saturday morning (1km, 2km, 4km)
– long run on Sunday morning.
Best,
Tapering for race the following weekend. Shortish runs and bike
A wet bike ride followed by a wet run – Autumn has finally arrived in Sydney!
I have been inspired by the Giro d’Italia to work on my climbing. What an epic race the Giro is this year.
LSD- preparing to get back into training mode after Boston Marathon. Can’t wait for NYC 2016. Hoping to get in a few two a days with swimming.
Birthday Weekend filled with running and biking. Hoping the weather holds out and I won’t be washed away.
8 mile run Saturday. Day off Sunday. Sprint Tri Monday :)
VO2 max interval training Saturday plus rum and hot dogs with friends then a HR Zone 3 distance run on Sunday plus the rest of the rum.
Fishing on saturday, which is not training and 1 hour of interval on sunday.
Get a long bike ride in as I just got some new cycling shoes to try out
Looking forward to a weekend of hotdogs, hamburgers, beer and of course, ice cream. And I’ll probably sneak in a training ride, mowing the lawn and maybe a run on the beach…
Swim with kids, bike with friends, run with wife.
Fri 4mi run, Sat 25mi bike, Sun 2hr swim/bike brick, Mon Eat
It’s raining and I am sick, so the extent of my regieme is likely to be walking back and forth to the kitchen for more tea
I’m just running with my girls! On a break between events so just that some home workouts for me.
I am volunteering at a local 5K/10K and then hopefully fit my own 3-5 mile run in late in the weekend.
I’m gonna race in a sprint tri on sunday…and on saturday I’ll be volunteering in the olympic distance one
Easy ride Saturday followed by open water swim and run Sunday
Ride, eat, rest, repeat
Seeking out some serious climbs!
running through weekend before night shifts unfortunatelly.
I’ll be swimming at the Y tomorrow, then off for a bike ride. Monday I’m going for a hike.
Training? There’s no training this weekend – Sunday is the big race! And by big I clearly mean a 10K. The most training I’ll do is a quick little 20 minute run on Saturday to keep my legs loosey goosey.
Bought a craigslist Fluid2, signing up to Zwift, and a short roadtrip to visit family.
I hope to get in my first open water swim here in the North East… Wish me luck!
Im going to do a local 50k road race
I will be going to my YMCA Saturday morning to go to a Cardio Dance Class. Then later Saturday I will go on a 3 miles run. Sunday is the day I go to the gym with my Husband! Monday, family coming over, but I will be running before they get to my house!
Balancing lots of mountain biking with copious amounts of BBQ and cocktails
Rounding in the hospital in the morning then a long run saturday and brick on sunday!
Gonna hit the weights Saturday and Monday (Squats, Deadlifts, Rows, Shoulder Press, & Bench). Today and Sunday I’m heading out for a Zone 2 HR-3 miler.
Working keeping the lights on. Will do a fast interval training session each day before work.
Going to head out on my mountain bike as the trails here in Colorado are finally getting free of snow.
Running long. Every single day. Can’t wait.
Hopefully a beach run in Duress, Albania.
I have an organized ride on Monday and will probably go for a warm-up ride on Sunday to prepare.
Saturday – 2:15/:15 brick, Sunday – 1:30 run, Monday – :45ish open water swim and an 1:00 run Monday or Tuesday.
I’m recovering from a ten mile run today. Will bike tomorrow and rest Sunday
I’ll be riding all three days, hopefully. And also getting some weight training in as well.
Lots of undesirable house projects will try to steal my trail running time!
Saturday: 8500′ of climbing in 62 miles around Frederick, MD. Sunday: one mile OWS. Then sleep and ice cream.
I want to run 10-12 miles on Saturday, run and bike a few miles on Sunday, and get a few more miles in on the Monday holiday. Then on Tuesday, I’ll be so sore and tired I won’t want to get out of bed!
If the weather clears up in Seattle I’m going to try to put in some longer rides >50 miles. Otherwise I’m just going to do some cross-training in the gym.
laying on a beach in Mexico :)
I hope to have some time to ride on Saturday and Sunday, in between BBQ, family events and rain. However, since my parents sold their city house this past spring, everything that could not fit in the new apartment is sitting in the garage at the country home. I have a bike in there someplace. I tired looking for it once already. I didn’t find it. So tomorrow I will make an effort to rescue it. Then see what needs to be done to get it road ready. This is the spare bike I leave at the country home, so I don’t need to drag one with me on a bus, when I come up to visit the family.
Hike in Big Bend, run in Del Rio, and a drive back to the Borderland.
Saturday: row a 10k on the erg. Sunday: jog a 5k.
Swim/bike brick – 3hrs
Bike/run brick – 6hrs
8x hill repeats tomorrow, long ride with ~5000 feet of climbing on Sunday — trying to get ready for a trip to the French Alps!
Backpacking weekend