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.
First outdoor cycling workout in Norway for the season.
I did absolutely nothing except watch both my kids play ball hockey, thus a “recovery” weekend for me! :D
In St. Poelten, riding the Ironman track.
Well, I did do a recovery weekend but only because I’ll be running a 100km next Sunday.
Went for a walk over the Dorset Heathlands with friends and finished in the Pub :-)
Did a great 250km overnight gravel and road tour, got lost, but found good pizza and a great hotel.
This weekend was my second Alpe du Zwift climb! Tons of fun.. errrf!
Thanks DCR
2 HR Zwift training ride.
I’m still recovering from a marathon last weekend, so just a couple of easy runs this weekend.
First long ride with the new bike
Finally warm enough in NYC to do a 40 miler ride outside on Saturday!
I felt like quite the athlete when I managed to get down my driveway to the mailbox AND back up to the house without falling, after 2 days of freezing rain. Now off to get a chisel, I need to open my car doors!
My athletic adventure was an indoor trainer ride followed by youth baseball in 40 degree weather. I’m not sure what burned more calories, an hour on the trainer, or two and a half hours shivering.
I did a cool and windy 100K ride on Sunday.
Did a hike near Denver.
I had a great solo hammer ride this weekend. My usual riding partner was away on vacation, so it was just me – and I tackled some of my favorite hills while also being under the clock to get home in time to make an appointment. This all culminated in quite a few PRs!
I did 25+ miles with my daughter (in the jogger) this weekend and with no aches! Finally my body can take it! Never too early to introduce health and fitness to a child!
Volunteered as race director for my club’s indoor “race ready” triathlon (our part of Canada is still snowy!). 4k swim, 4hr bike, 3 mi run.
It was a recovery weekend! Plus I’m battling injury so doing nothing is training in that sense. Thanks for the giveaway Ray.
I went on a nice walk in a state park- not that notable except that it was one of the first days this year that actually felt like spring!
Hid out in my basement on the trainer while our roads turned to slush and ice.
Not much this past weekend, unless you count bowling, but looking forward to spring and some trail running/hiking coming up.
Finally started the cycling season after LONG winter :)
Went on a great, though slightly drizzly, ride around the Seattle area, as always stopping at a bakery along the way!
1200m easy swim, and REST!
Saturday was long run day, and Sunday was rest and recover (carrot cake helps you recover, riiigghttttt???)
Even though I had to visit my in-laws during the weekend, I got up super early (before my wife) to rock my Elite Direto. After we got back home I did an FTP test and saw an increase of 3%!
I did a lovely 8 mile run in the countryside with the dog yesterday; first time in just shoes, shorts and t-shirt this year. Has spring finally arrived in UK or was this just a tease before more rain and coldness?
10 miles running on both Saturday and Sunday.
I did a 100km ride in Andalucia this weekend, 1600++ of climbing :) great views and weather so all good.
Spend the weekend doing Z5 intervals on Zwift… it never does get easier ;)
First ride outside in New York this year. 50 miles to Target Rock
100km bike ride with my 16 year old son. Enjoyed every single km (okay, maybe not the last hilly 15km).
Running on the treadmill.
We got 1/4″ of ice and 12″ of snow this weekend in Minnesota. I was stuck indoors!
Easy run on Saturday and on another easy run on Sunday. 25k in total
Freezing rain and snow this weekend in Rochester, MN. I was stuck indoors crawling around with my daughter.
A windy 20 mile ride to the ocean and back
It rained all weekend so I cleaned the overflowing gutters.
Speed work and a nice brick workout
Since my wife went to run the Boston Marathon, I stayed at home with my 2 daughters. So getting my run on Sunday before they woke up was quite an adventure.
Got out and ran more than 5 miles (a first for 2018) in the rain/snow which was actually really calming.
Recovery it was (and some running)!
convinced a friend of mine to participate in ironman hoorn next year. I’ll be volunteering if possible :-)
Spent the weekend tiling for a shower remodel – no real cardio, but a good back work out!
Coaching lacrosse game on a beautiful and warm Saturday, wishing I was out on my planned 50k ride. Definitely a “recovery” weekend.
First ride in the Santa Barbara / Montecito area since the devastating floods. Beautiful but sad!
An easy 10 through Bath with my 81 year-old father in law. Scenic & relaxing.
Having a flu and thus not running counts as athleticish?
Recovery weekend – so I spent some time cleaning and rebuilding my bike an calibrated my trainer.
Pre rode a mountain bike race course for upcoming race
A killer spin class here in wet and snowy Toronto!
Static contraction all weekend… Held the newborn for many multiple hour stretches.
My weekend:
30km run pace 5:01min/km + 30km Bike ride (pace: not worth it)
Getting ready for next week Aquathlon, so tomorrow I do a little swimming :)
71 mile bike ride in perfect conditions.
This weekend i’ve done 2 bike rides while recovering from the Rotterdam Marathon! Now building up to the Triathlon season!
Spent the weekend on the trainer due to the snow.
Ran some trails in Santiago, Chile. Up to the summit of Vizcacha Mountain to be precise. Pretty sore quads now from bombing the downhills!
Dominated double peak a couple times. Thanks!
Rode a 400k brevet with the San Francisco Randonneurs
Went for a long 23K run, bonked after 4K hardly made it to the front door. Rest of the weekend in bed with a cold.
Climbing around the lokal mountains
I did a 70 minute ride followed by a 20 minute run at Prince William Forest Park. It was HOT and sunny and I had perfect company. It was a great training day.
I did a 8km tempo run!!
Ran a 5k on the treadmill at the gym and made up for a missed workout from the previous week.
Snowy, muddy, icy, etc. fatbiking and trail running adventures.
I went to cheer my 9 year son who’s doing his first Triathlon.
Cycling trhough the “Serra de Tramuntana” in Majorca.
Ran 14 cold miles in the wind and snow Sunday.
Orienteering championship sprint in Moscow.
Hiking in snow (still) with family
This weekend was more shorter runs for next weekends WDW Dark Side 10K + Half Marathon.
Ran a 10K trail run Sunday
Riding with friends in the forest just outside of Vienna to justify the cake (Kardinalsschnitte) afterwards :D
Half marathon in the Cotswolds
Rode GDB Lancaster Rally in 50 deg F weather with Winds 20 -30 mph!
Did my first outdoor bike ride since last november. The last month or so was lots of zwift indoors
120 kms 1100d+ con sol radiante
Learning to run backward at a uk parkrun to resolve ITB before London marathon next weekend – was surprising easy apart from the turns and downhills!
Between hours of sitting in planes this weekend, I did happen to take in a lacrosse game. Watching other people play a sport is vaguely athletic, right?
PR’d a half marathon despite bitter cold and harsh wind. A good day!
Did the longest ride this year, which is 58 km… Also went to the zoo :)
Ran 10K and did some downhill skiing.
Got to go for a long overdue ride. Just recently moved and looking for new routes. I will say the new area is quite a bit more hilly then where I was before. Even found a category 4 climb.
Did a 10K race this Sunday. Should have been an easy one, but the heat turned it into a tough one!
Did my long run on Friday on the treadmill and Saturday was a short recovery type run with friends followed by breakfast and treats.
Biked 60+ miles along the ocean at the Tour de Coast on Sunday.
The weather was anything but pleasant so changed my long run into 2 days of Zwift.
To be honest my best achievement from the athletic point of view was a huge plate with cake. Unfortunately there was no time for exercises during the weekend but the quantity of cake was a good reason to start the new week today with a relaxed run at the lake.
Long run in preparation for 25k
I set up a giant tent in my yard.
showed up a week early (didn’t check the event date) to a group ride, then rode 40 miles solo
Five hour hike in Fairmount Park in summer like weather in April.
Easy weekend with a nice long wet walk with my dog.
Unsupported cycled london to Paris in 4 days with a stop Dieppe.
14 Miles of hot hilly running averaging 7:59/mile :)
leisurely ride around diamond head
Did two runs back to back over the weekend for the first time in 6 months coming off an achilles injury.
Cherry blossoms walk. A lot of walk!
I would say yard work is definite a workout. Lifting and moving mulch while chasing a one year old.