Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, 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.
worked the weekend, so it was just a short run
I enjoy my regular hour long rides. Nothing fancy, but a time off from running and seeing different scenery.
Awesome giveaway!
This weekends ride(s) were at the beach with the family on big fat beach cruisers. Although we didn’t travel very far, we were able to enjoy the time spent together just cruising around Hilton Head. Getting back on it tomorrow with a “real” ride…on Zwift.
It was -25C outdoor, I rode 90k on zwift at home.
Home trainer one more time for an hour.
60+ degrees in early March in Minneapolis? I rode my bike outside. It was glorious.
90 minutes of SST on the trainer
I took my new Garmin 520 out for a spin in a new short weekend loop around the local country roads. Except… I didn’t really know how to use the Garmin Connect website in making my routes. Thus, I missed my turn for my 20 mile loop. Lo and behold, I am faced with a long straight road which leads to god knows what.
But I ain’t no canine of the XX variety.
I soldiered on, clutching my Y chromosome in my mind as I bombed straight towards whatever awaited.
It was a mountain. A very big mountain. Y chromosome be damned, I’m going home. But little did I know that I had been cruising downhill for the past 10 miles as I considered my brave future. Thus began my 25 mile trek home starting with a fairly large 10 mile uphill.
Will I do it again? yeep, probably.
Hour and a half on the trainer inside, 15 degrees outside still.
Busy weekend. Short trainer ride.
Long ride on Sunday
Took the bike outside on Saturday, for the first time this year. Its been trainer time up til now. Just an easy 90 minute cruise; that’s all I’m doing nowadays for early base.
Sunday had to stick around the house, another 90 minutes, but on the trainer in the garage.
Did an MTB race.
cycled 40k by self 20 with family 60 today
Century ride with a friend.
Zwift Beginner FTP Week 2 for the 20th week in a row, likes it’s Groundhog Day for my getting-back-in-shape training schedule.
…do I still get to enter if I didn’t cycle over the weekend? I had plans to, I swear! But then I got lazy and it got cold and there was boring old treadmill running.
Ftp test today, Fri was 1:00 endurance ride and Saturday was 1:15 endurance ride
Last spin class of the season at my local bike shop on Wednesday and then an hour low cadence work out on Friday.
Zwift is the best!
Lots of rain here so was on the trainer for a couple of hours..
Maybe the first off-road ride this year.
Despite the frigid temperatures team CS Velo (Philadelphia, PA) placed in every men’s race category in the FYBO Criterium!
Finishing up the winter FTP builder plan.
Rode in the Blueridge mountains with an old friend!
Hey! This weekend: 90 minute trainer road session Saturday with 42 minutes at FTP after working OT. Sunday got out in the below freezing weather for a few hours of mountain biking. Finished the weekend off with an extra hour indoors to train for a 13 hour duo mtb race.
Did a really pleasant ride through the hills east of San Diego on Saturday morning. Perfect weather.
Riding a couple loops on zwift until the weather can figure itself out in MN.
I will go to the mountain!!
The sun was out and a cool 33 degrees. No snow so ride! 14 miles on Saturday and 34 on Sunday. Starting my to get my legs back for my run/bike/paddle tri in June!
Recovery rides 1.5 hours Sat and 2 hours Sunday
A trainer ride before weekend work.
One day of cycling. One day of running. Most weekends are like that. Hoping for a 23 mile trail run and about 2 hours on the mountain bike or cross bike.
No cycling this past weekend. Was going to fire up the computrainer just to see if it still works! Maybe next weekend.
I rode 25 miles and walked 2 miles this weekend
3h indoor bike ride with trainerroad
On Tacx, climb of the Col du Grand St-Bernard.
Snows gone and getting back on the bike! 80 km ride
Getting the bike road ready is my goal!
I found a new love for Zwifting! So, it’s either cook, clean and do laundry, or Zwift. No brainer there! I can eat takeout in a messy house while wearing my riding clothes. Bam! Decision made!
Fat biking on beach in Puerto Vallarta (PV), Mexico on Friday. P.V. to Litibu Mita out n back on Road Bike Saturday. P.V. to La Puente out n back on Road Bike Sunday with 1,235 m of elevation gain.
more power!
Am I too late? On Tuesday in Australia I did a short ride in the early hours to avoid traffic….
no cycling weekend :-(
mtb to some great single trails.
Outdoor coffee ride Saturday. Indoor intervals Sunday!
I rode indoors this weekend because it was 10′ outside.
This would be amazing whoo. Just made it under the deadline hope i get it!
Would love to be installing a new powermeter
No cycling this past weekend (bummer) but ran a 5k! On the bike this weekend coming up for sure!!
I went for a nice easy ride in the mountains of central PA.
Looked at my bike on the trainer and decided after a week of bike commuting to do some running over the weekend.
Looks like another cold, wet weekend in the Northeast, so I’ll be on Strava both Saturday and Sunday. Team group ride Saturday and a little cat-and-mouse game on Sunday.
Not riding last weekend while I overhaul my bikes. Just did some yoga and a few miles of walking!
All indoor miles this weekend. Need this Stages to put on the MTB for more outdoor power options!
Past weekend:
1 Hour Intervals Friday
2.5Hour Single track heaven Saturday
2.5Hour Mix it up ride Sunday
Only was able to do some indoor stuff…
It was a chasing the kids weekend. Maybe next week…
Injured knee so no cycling for me last weekend
I road indoors on my trainer, 1.5 hours
It’s still too cold for cycling here, so I was running in the mountains :)
2 sufferfest videos as it was too cold outside. ‘To get to the other side’ on Saturday and ‘do as you’re told’ on Sunday.
Hill climb on Saturday, gravel grinder on Sunday. Legs beat on Monday :)
Mnt Ashland!!!!
No cycling for me – was busy running up Camelback Moutain in Phoenix. But I did jog behind my four year old daughter as she rode her bike to the playground!
Spin Class on Sunday morning followed by a treadmill run
I need this!!
RIding in the rain snow and hail for 50 miles to keep in shape.
I stand walk and run all day with camera and lens doing a Photography for conference, I found it pretty harsh on my forefoot and leg with me doing big leg workout at the gym before i come to the conference because i thought i won’t have time to workout for a while. Man, That’s harder on my leg than my usual weekend group ride!
Zwift + Strava: link to strava.com
using Stac Zero trainer: link to staczero.com
while the family was watching the latest episode of Yowamushi Pedal: link to en.wikipedia.org
I spent an hour on the ergo doing TT efforts as I’m racing this coming weekend; it’s still Tri-season in the southern hemisphere :)
200km+ Friday morning ride (with friends) here in Qatar, with a recovery session on Saturday. Sunday is a working day here.
Just did a short ride on Friday (about 45km) with my road bike. It was a quick one because of the weather
Attempted to go riding but too much snow – decided to ski instead
Cycled my first Ironman race (ie the bike leg). Need the PM for the next one!
Ride 40km as part of a Olympic distance triathlon. Fell down in km 38 :(
Hi!
Have been a fan of your reviews. I started cycling in 2012 when I was in a car accident and had my L5-S1 disc herniate and the doctors told me that to avoid surgery, I had to either swim, cycle or walk (in that order or best to good). I chose to cycle as it is something I have loved to do since I was a kid…
Long story short, lost touch with cycling since 2014 and came back to it again and discovered zwift and power training. Just started and on my way to do the beginners 6 weeks FTP training on zwift. I have the Garmin Fenix 3 with the Garmin heart rate monitor, speed and cadence sensors. I love the way Zwift calculates power and would like to increase my power. Though only 28 kms down, I am looking forward to my time on Zwift and am in to ride my centuries and many more. I am based out of Mumbai, India.
The Stages will be a welcome, much needed motivating addition to my rides outside of Zwift as these are rarely available in India and are darn expensive as well.
I ran 7 miles. Does that count?
50km Ride my cc-bike.
One week skiing in dolomiti superski :-)
Great Day to Ride Outside.
Just indoor static bike at the gym
Biking for groceries. 74km.
Planning to do a 75 kms ride this sunday