Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple AirTag 4-Pack for just $69, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals 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 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.
took the stevens for the first ride of the year, 60 more or less slow kilometers
Rained the weekend. Did a virtual 30km Yosemite Ca ride on Tacx trainer.
The snow in Vancouver ruined my plans – again! Only managed a commute to work and back.
I actually did some Power Cycle on the Stages SC3 bike on Saturday followed by a mountain bike ride on Sunday.
All in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley!
Cold weekend!!! Brrrr
Started the DCTRI OLY training plan yesterday. Biked on the London course today for 45 easy minutes per plan.
Gravel grind in the National Forest.
This weekend involved walking around a mall with our two little ones on Saturday and Sunday morning going for a nice run-walk-ru… err… mostly just walking to finish up 12+ miles after a very long extended break from no exercise.
Winning this might give me the motivation to get back on the bike sooner before my first tri of the year in a couple weeks.
This weekend I looked at my bike a couple of times, resolved to go ride Monday. Which I did manage to do.
50k group cycle in Ireland. Pissed rain and got soaked. Happy days.
170km Newcrest Orange Challenge just completed and this weekend Back Yamme State Forest 40km MTB
Ran a half marathon. The bike has to wait
I got in a couple of runs, but I didn’t get out on the bike.
Still wintery in Canada so a couple of indoor zwift sessions!
Went cycling around Centennial Park in Sydney, in pouring rain.
Trainer road. So please let me win the power meter
I have a new baby so I just rode Zwift all weekend as I am training to ride my first 100 mile mountain bike race. Having a power meter would truly help me big time!
Thanks!
I completed a 1 hour endurance spin class on Saturday And a 3 hour spin class on Sunday . completed the classes on a stages bike. Best bikes !!!
I dreamed of cycling while cross country skiing this weekend.
I went skiing instead of cycling this weekend. But can’t wait to cycle in the spring!
47 mile ride on Capital Trail Richmond VA
3 hours in the pouring rain starting at 6:30am (still dark) with the temperature staying about 4 Celsius throughout. It would have been a nice loop around East Lothian in Scotland if I could have seen through the fog…
Did a leisure ride with cycling community to attend a meetup where speakers spoke about a bicycle sharing program for commuters and on the inspiration behind bringing BRMs to India, 6 years ago.
FRIDAY: Watt Bike session with my club. I didn’t throw up. SATURDAY: 10 mile time trial event. I didn’t finish last. SUNDAY: 30 mile MTB ride with a friend. He didn’t get left behind.
First outdoor ride of the year to a cycling cafe. Supposed easy ride, took a short cut, got ‘lost’ and eventually made it. Riding buddy bonked on the way home, but that’s the toughest ride of the year done… its get easier from now on.
A ride to the coast for fish and chips
On Saturday I did the Mussels in the Kettles “poker ride” with friends and family on Whidbey Island as part of the Mussel Festival. On Sunday I raced the Budu MTB race at Fort Ebey. It was supposed to be three laps, but fortunately they cut it short at 2—I took 1h 50min as it was.
No biking yet……waiting on my LBS to put her together. But I did a fine run on Sunday with a Club-Mate.
#BTC
Did my first ever Zwift race instead of a club spin in the cold and rain.
35 miles on Saturday and 4 hours of powder skiing on Sunday!
Rode to and from the garage to get the car repaired…-2 centigrade!
Trainer rides over the weekend
I took my cyclocross bike out on a nice 20 mile gravel ride. Great first outside ride of the year (the snow is almost gone).
Fattire ride Saturday hour an half or so then gravel road ride Sunday 2 plus hours!
This past weekend: 48 mi at the local bike shop group compu-ride. Sunday: 37 at home on the trainer.
My first 10mile TT – 2 Up with my 12 year old son. 27.57 in rain and heavy winds.
Soggy ride on the TT bike followed by an even soggier dog walk. Spring in the UK!
I am cycling with George Hincapie, Lance Armstrong and Christian Vande Velde in South Carolina at Hotel Domestique.
It was raining in Houston, Tx, so I did a 5 hour ride on my brand new Kickr snap which arrived from Clever training on Friday.
2 hours on the turbo. Weather was pretty awful.
New zealand National paragliding competition! No time for cycling that weekend. :-)
I raced in the Sunday Morning KISS race on Zwift and also got a good 110km on saturday morning on Zwift. It’s a tad too cold to go out at the moment
200 mile ride training plan week 5 of 12… 80 on Saturday, only 25 on Sunday.
My wife and I went for a relaxing ride with a couple of friends
Some easy spinning Sunday afternoon following a marathon race the day before.
I spent the entire weekend reading DC Rainmakers power meter reviews so I was best informed to consider which power meter to purchase in case I don’t win….today! Oh and I cleaned my bike ready to ride with my new power meter. :)
Nothing too exciting this past weekend here in the Bay Area of northern California. In between working, rain and hail I put in about 55 miles. Nothing too crazy but at least kept the legs loose.
Just stuck inside spinning this weekend. Too much cold rain in Portland for much else. I’m getting cabin fever though and want to get on the roads again soon!
Stuck in trainer mode.
None, but I thought about it!
Didn’t get to ride this weekend as we had a wind and snow mixed with rain storm come through Olympia. The local bike community of Thurston County start’s their mileage tracking in March. A cold start this year.
A small 50km on Zwift… I promise to do better next weekend ;)
I had a 135 km ride on saturday and a 90km ride + 10km run transition training on sunday. Tough weekend on my way to my first Ironman
I looked out of the window and ended up flogging myself on the turbo again. I have become old and, apparently, water soluble!
This weekend was raining so it was a virtual ride using Tacx…
Two hour trainer ride on Saturday! I got SO BORED that I plugged into Zwift for the last 30 minutes and did a workout.
Nothing special. 10 miles on the trainer with fake (virtual) power and TrainerRoad. Would really like a real power meter. :-)
65 miles up SaMo mountains with 5K climbing on Saturday.
Watched people bike on Sunday while drinking coffee, does that count?
132km around the beautiful island of Bintan. If only I had spent more time training it wouldn’t have been so painful.
Ran a 5k and rode 15 miles
On the trainer and treadmill until it warms up a bit (no cold weather clothing)
Big kickr ride on Saturday
If my 6 month old isn’t too fussy…. maybe I’ll get a ride in around Griffith Park, CA.
53 miles on Zwift
I rode the trainer on friday bc it was cold after work and I had a class saturday and sunday was long run day.
No cycling this weekend, but I ran 13.2 miles on Saturday and 5.2 miles on Sunday.
Rode in the snow this weekend desperately trying to get some training miles in for Spring series races (which have all been cancelled so far). Managed 60km before losing my nerve. I don’t have a trainer so outside is the only option for me.
Kickr interval training for an hour on rainy Saturday. 50 mile hit out with a few friends, coffee afterward, home by 9am on Sunday.
-Shelty
Sadly I didn’t get to ride this weekend as my bike is in the shop for repairs. So I did the next best thing and caught up reading the DCRainmaker site and shopped for new shoes.
I relaxed with the kids this weekend while my husband went for “quiet time” on his trainer.
biked 60kms to meet my wife for a breakfast date in town only to find out there were no open cafes and the closed cafes were not allowing bikes inside. Sad and angry about the state and culture of cycling in Mumbai, India, we gave no hoots and finally ended up eating street food. Was one of the best marriage dates till now :)
Was cold and snowy in the north of Canada, rode the trainer while catching up on some TV.
I suffered on my Kickr as part of my training program for 2 upcoming Ironman events.
Two hour TrainerRoad session on Saturday. Would be sweet to win this; my quarq cinquo just died.
I took a rest weekend! Went to a ramen cooking class with wine/cheese, instead of riding.
Nice long run for me, no bike!
Cycling up Monchique in Portugal – trying to kick start getting in shape for racing
“Raced” the local Shamrock Run – took a shortcut to the beer tent – drank more Guinness than I can remember to celebrate!
I trained indoors both Saturday and Sunday. Still too cold here in upstate NY to ride outside. My gym has spin bikes with Stages power meters. They are amazing and I’d love to have the same on my road bike.
I did a Saturday HIIT ride on Zwift and made the podium! It was fun.
Zwift in the ? and ?
Stay inside. It’s still raining.
Set up the Wahoo Kickr after moving. Haven’t been on it in too many months. 2 rides to show me how horribly out of bike shape I am.
quality trainer time
A few hours of North Shore mountain biking, without snow for a change.
I raced an epic grasshopper adventure ride. In the rain. Took a wrong turn. Got lost. Then cut off 15 miles of the course and won. Cause that’s how I roll.
quads are burning his morning from trainer sesh
Rode a race simulation on the trainer on Saturday and went outside for a 57 mile ride on Sunday!
Mixed a little road and mountain trying to beat the random hail storms that were hitting.
I rode a brisk 25 miles around the Ft Benning training area followed by a short transition run. So nice to be stationed back in the south…at least until the heat hits!!!
Left the bike at home and went skiing this weekend!
Nothing, in bed sick. Make me happier with a win.
No cycling this weekend, but we ran the Tim Kennard Ten Mile River Run in Salisbury MD to officially kick off the race season!
Unfortunately just a single ride on the trainer. Had actually planned to go out for around 5000′ of climbing. Ah well!
Only 30 minutes on the trainer – the rest of the time spent working and writing papers!
Hi,
My cycling plans usually include me taking in the scenery, and pushing myself a little more each time I ride. I started cycling in order to lose weight (I’ve lost a little over 220 lbs so far), and I find the best route to hold myself accountable is through data. So despite my enjoying a leisurely ride, the real fun is with taking the data I gathered, and making myself a better version of what I once was. Owning a power meter would be the best tool, since it’ll provide the best all around data in helping me become a better cyclist.
In other words… I really super duper really wanna win. *PICK ME PLEASE*
Went for a long run. Felt like crap, stopped by work to pick up my bike I had left there Friday when I ran home. Bike saved me again.
I’m not a climber, but I climb slot. This weekend, up mt. Baldy
Rode 25 miles on the trainer as it was 15 degrees here in New York
2 hour indoor spin on Sunday…it was -12 degrees in Ottawa.
I’m planning to ride for 180km long distance this Sat for ironman training.