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.
squeezed in a 40km recovery ride before the busy weekend started
61km ride enjoying the weather on Sunday
11 mile run on Saturday. Rest on Sunday.
I ran, walked and hiked in a new place
:) first time 240km at Amstel Gold Race in the beautiful region of Limburg (a must see in the Netherlands :). Now recovering, ready for a new adventure: Eleven City Tour. DC Rainmaker, 21st May a Must Ride in the Netherlands.
Two nice trainer sessions, first VO2max torture and then 2h endurance with Netflix….
Helped with organization of Bavarian Orienteering competitions: main athletic activity was to take off control points after the competition.
parkrun tourism in London
Went for an unpleasant 1.5h run in cold blistering wind at -5C
Pimped my bike with a new etap groupset and rode a testride!
Going to Longchamp on Sunday evening… Nobody’s there, so nice tour in the forests towards Versailles !
Preparing for my 36 km trailrun in 2 weeks time.
Did a 200km ride on sunday in preparation of Liège-Bastogne-Liège next weekend. It was very sunny and very windy, still home in time to watch the last 60km of the Amstel Gold Race. All in all a very nice sunday :D
The weather forecast on Sunday was great. So I decided spring was here and went for a long ride in the (UK) Peak District. It threw it down. Not a bad ride though, but it was freezing on the big descents. (+ a short, 8k, easy run on Sat)
First run in a looong time…
Took the kid out for a ride on my bullitt cargo bike.
I shoveled snow! Crazy Wisconsin spring.
Ran 17.5 miles in preparation for a marathon
Longest ride time yet of the year, managed to hit my 3rd highest (of all time) 5 minute power mid way through, and not blow up. Spring is finally here!
Finnaly got a run in after two weeks of replacing my kitchen…
Sunday, April 15, was the skill based Texas criterium state championships in Dallas at the annual Matrix Challenge event. I raced the 8AM Cat 5 and had a hard time staying warm with a 37 degree Fahrenheit average temperature for the race. I should have stayed in bed.
Got my first 3 hour ride + 30 minute brick done Saturday before the stupid cold weather rolled back in on everyone.
It was 10k run and windy 55k bike weekend.
Finished sweet spot base low volume 2 on TrainerRoad! Also did an extra couple easy sessions.
For the first time I drove more than 100km with the racing bike.
2 inches of snow and almost two days of freezing rain meant that my athletic endeavour over the weekend was trying to maintain my balance as I slid down the icy driveway!
nothing overly taxing as i was working, but did manage a 4.8 mile run on sunday morning
Venturing out into the rain to get an easy long run in.
Cycling on the dike!
It was a very short run
After 3 months recovering from a broken collarbone, I was happy to be back running in the miserable midwest weather!
Cycling in the pouring rain on Sunday morning
Trailrunning season opening race ?
Rode 55 miles Saturday in a group ride on last morning visiting my brother in Tempe, AZ. We hopped on the IMAZ bike course and tucked into formation as the others rode their TT bikes in aero position, while I crouched on brother’s 54cm S-Works Tarmac. Fun times riding together to complete a week of vacation in the desert.
Danced for hours at a wedding on Saturday and then went for a hike out to a few waterfalls with the family on Sunday morning.
Some hiking in Monfragüe (Spain) and mentally preparing to start training hard again.
Apart from a bit of running I redid my brakes and got my hardtop installed. Not a brick workout per se but in Texas heat it sure felt like one!
Easy 3.5 k running in Nice following congress.
I spent Saturday morning on a virtual run in Austria. Now I need to book a flight and run the actual course. I new gadget would help me navigate.
Well, I am recovering from injury, so just started a few k”m in a slow pace.
I did a “recovery” 10 mile run in the cold with sleet and rain.
Nearest I came to athleticism was doing some physio exercises on my recently-ruptured Achilles tendon…
A 20k run and some streching …
Did a 60 mile OUTSIDE bike ride – was gorgeous on Saturday.
I did a nice 12 km recovery run, after I did the Rotterdam marathon the Sunday before
Doubled up on a hilly master circuit race.
Rode 80 miles this weekend.
An hour on Zwift, that’s all there was time for this weekend.
Big weekend of training. Long brick on Saturday and a long run on Sunday
Not very atlethiccaly, but at the moment quite an adventure: went to visit friends 15km apart from us, while being sick-ish. For me it was cold in 20 degrees Celsius! Today I was able to run again. Did a 7Km run.
Lazy weekend for getting harder back half marathon training on May.
This weekend? On the trainer (when the heck is spring going to get here???) watching my DVR’d Paris-Roubaix.
Spent the weekend doing some bike rides.
Climb over the Sour Land Mt. First long climb of the year…
I’m in a walking boot with a hairline fracture on my foot. So no adventures for me ☹️
Played in first soccer practice with daughter.
This was a recovery weekend; thus, activity was limited to pickup basketball games with family and friends.
We went down to Skagway, Alaska and did a little hiking.
Easy spin on Saturday, raced on Sunday
This weekend I enjoyed a group ride at a local bike shop and a run at the local state park.
Ran the Singletrack Maniac 50K trail race on the weekend. Good times!
1485 Tri club audax at Market Bosworth. The weather was kind to us.
Vivicitta Budapest Half Marathon, amazing city, amazing event!
Watched the Commonwealth Games Marathon and went on the first sunny hilly 22km run in a long time on Sunday
First ride of the year without leg warmers!
Lotta biking. Not enough napping.
It was indeed a recovery weekend. But lots of work around the house gave me a good workout anyways :)
Did my second last long run on a sunny Sunday morning before the Stirling half marathon later in the month.
actually not exactly the adventure, but I ran the 1/2 marathon on Saturday…
I recovered from 4 days in Vegas by slogging around for 3 miles at the local park. It was painful…
Did a 100k bike ride in An awesome Belgian weather.
1 hour tempo run (Saturday), 2000 yards swimming and 1:30 TTS:92 cycling trainning (Sunday).
Im running a 10k Saturday and Half on Sunday! Darkside here I come!
I rode with my 10 month old in a trailer for the first time. I hope for many more.
While not technically athletic, I did go to my team LBS and pick up my new Trek Emonda. Took it for a spin down the street and it’s a dream machine!
Tour of Watopia
Two hour’s on the Turbo and several episodes of the Americans!
An easy 8k to burn those birthday cake calories.
I had this seasons first gran fondo ride. 120 km on dry roads trough snow covered fields.
2x taper rides before starting a new Specialty Phase in Trainer Road.
Endurance ride on my Direto since the weather was uncooperative.
I did 1 hour of stationary bike on Saturday and a 18km run on Sunday.
40 mi ride with bronchitis- I’ll count that as 2 workouts!!
Although it appears to be temporary, it was finally warm here so got some miles in with 2 long endurance rides.
I braved the elements up here in Vancouver, Canada: link to strava.com – 70+Km’s in the rain and mist on the road bike. It was a beauty of a ride.
Swin bike run beer!
Break-in run for new shoes… in the rain. They’ve gotta get muddy sometime anyway…
Went out for my regular ride with my club who seem to think it’s more of a race each week.
back on the trainer after 8 days of Maui goodness.
Brick workout Saturday and 10 mile run Sunday,
My 910XT’s barometric altimeter is crapping on me again and this time no amount of cleaning seems to help. $500 would give nice replacement options!
Relaxed 7k hike to some great views!
Training for the Wisconsin Gran Fondo series, but indoor 4 hour rides are hard to stay motivated through…
Cycling and running in the sunshine and snow! New England…
usta tennis match, some spin biking
Japanese taiko drumming, and my first nontrivial ride after ganking my hammy last week.
Hi,
Quite athletic weekend,did a half marathon race in Budapest,Hungary ??
Skiing was on the menu last weekend.
Just a normal brick workout – 20-ish miles on the bike followed by a 5k trail run. Hard to beat awesome springtime weather!
Some hills on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday.