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.
-
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 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.
Zwifted both days. :/
First ever swim to bike brick!
Easy 80km ride…fell off 70km in and broke my collarbone, suppose it’s an occupational hazard of riding a bike!
VO2 Max intervals followed by a spot of gardening…
Continued training for my first 10k, goal is to someday be like my uncle who is running the Boston Marathon today!
A 100Km ride around Southern Alberta after being cleared to ride again by my physio on Thursday.
Recovering from Lyme disease on my indoor home trainer, that’s as athletic as it gets for now. But getting stronger again! ??
It was time to redo my FTP test and I was dreading it. Managed to put it off until Sunday evening. Came in -3W, but I’ll take it!
Hard Vo2max session on saturday then sweet spot session on sunday, both on Trainerroad !
A mid-April snow and ice storm prevented me from getting out on my bike, but just walking through the city on Saturday proved to require great athleticism. You had to be quick on your feet not to fall on your butt.
Spent it doing laps in an outdoor hotel pool…
I was packing up my pain cave cause i will move in two weeks…. much core training with those boxes. ;)
I did a 12 mile run, prepping for a half next weekend and 2 fulls in the upcoming 5 weeks.
I spent it unpacking and recovering from a week in DC where I obliterated my daily step and stair goals walking all over town.
I ran with my son on his first 5k, something I’ll always remember.
2x longer base building rides with over-geared efforts on some hills. That qualify as an entry?
lazy swim on sunday
40 mile early Saturday ride and plenty of chores
I had a rest weekend but ended up doing a bit of cardio doing house projects for my uncle. I guess that’s kinda athletic if you consider balancing on a ladder and washing machines.
horribly muddy trails here…fire road climbs to foggy views
Ran my 67th Parkrun Saturday, closing in on my target of ? by the end of 2018.
Most of my running this weekend was up and down the sidelines, coaching my son’s soccer games.
2:45 on that trainer. I am done w all the rain
I spent my weekend assembling IKEA-stuff. Kinda exhausting….
Cleaned up trees knocked down in a storm.
Did a 30 km ride after suffering manflu from hell…
Alpe du Zwift on Tacx
Did a great along-the-river-over-the-dikes ride …. how Dutch can I be! No hiding from the wind!
30 mile ride around the north half of Lake Washington thanks to the newly opened bike & pedestrian path across the 520 bridge! Cheers DCR!
Running thru the woods and cathing controls at full speed! So I was at orienteering race!
Did a 170km ride on Saturday and a 23k run on Sunday and a relative short swim. Getting ready for my Full Distance race in early June…
It rained all weekend here so I jumped on the old trainer. I would love to use the credit for a new smart trainer. Thanks!
I sailed the local regatta on Saturday and worked hard on renos on sunday. very tired on a monday… glad my work is office based.
went x-country skiing taking advantage of these extended winter temps! Snow sucked, but hell it’s April!
25Km slow run out on the trails on Saturday
I was supposed to do a 5K race, but had to do my own thing and got it done before personal training session.
Won a trail marathon in a new course record time ??
Third Saturday in a row doing the Louis Garneau Sportive on Zwift cause spring got lost this year and it’s still winter outside.
60 miles of hilly gravel
Long long training spin
Got in a nice little run on the treadmill.
Did a 10k run…..furthest I’ve run so far on my return to endurance sports
Took on the new Alpe d’Zwift!
Some stretching and weights. The bulk of my rides are usually during the week.
Tempo at the Track…..dizzy from 40 times round the track
Light 5K running
Did over 100km bike rides on both – Saturday and Sunday. That boosted my last weeks total km to over 400, which is more than I did last month :)
Finally got out to tackle the local long mountain climb for the first time in 4 years
Managed to sneak in a quick blast On the bike, keeping the legs turning over before the real training starts.
I’m remote in Warschau for a conference. Ran in the park during the weekend. I’m allergic to birch trees but given my normal medication, I can manage. The Polish birch trees seem to have more allergic power because I had to end my run short with red eyes, short of breath. A giveaway prize would definitely ease the pain. :-)
Watched the dutch classics on the trainer kicking out the new bike!
25k trail race.
5k run on Saturday, 60 minute ride in Zwift on Sunday.
I travelled for work this week and managed to get a run in in 3 different cities, Monday Aalborg, Tuesday Frankfurt, Thursday in Amsterdam and the the weekend back in Zug Switzerland
Last local ski trips on the lake and on trails.
This weekend I realized that 9-minute miles are my new easy miles.
The long winter continues. Need a pick me up / motivation.
Did an 100 km ride this weekend in the Netherlands.
Ran myself into the ground with the treadmill as ice storms buffeted the city!
First outdoor ride of the year! Finally the weather allowed us to get outside with sunshine and above freezing temps (and then got overzealous and heated up to 90*F). 72 miles, 3000ft elevation. Good thing I’ve been riding my Kickr Snap to help prepare for that!
Finally nice enough for 2 nice rides
Just a Bike ride on Sunday morning and watching AGR in the afternoon.
FTP test it was. :)
Ran a 10k practice hill race course then it proceeded to snow and sleet the rest of the weekend so I sat inside and researched moving to California all night.
Last Saturday I did a ride that Strava labeled as HISTORIC. This was due to staying in Z5 for 33 minutes. I simply was limited for time and had to make it back home to hang out with my two month old son. link to strava.com
Had a great ride out with a local group…Great route, great company, great cake!
Took my 10 year-old daughter on her first mountain bike ride! She had a blast, even though she made friends with a small cactus after a fall.
First two proper rides of the year, one MTB, one on the road bike. Excellent!
I’ve done the last long run before Vienna Marathon next Sunday. Good and fast 18 Km. Wish me luck.
I hiked 45km as part of training for the Isle of Wight Challenge. The weather was just perfect and the route was beautiful!
Does moving random things up and down stairs count as vaguely athletic-ish? :p
I went to Hood River, OR to MTB for my birthday!
first family bike ride of the year
90min run and 130k bike
Camping and Hiking in Natural Bridge State Park and in Daniel Boone National Forest. Having a great time.
2 h and 3 h tempo bike rides, party for recovery
Went out Mountain Biking
pushed 2 of my kids on swings, and ran no stop after my toddler.
Long bike/run brick indoors Saturday. Then sick all day Sunday/Monday ?
Friday happy hour swim. Saturday: 50 mile ride in the flattest part of Florida…still beating the heat but its coming. And Sunday a 60 minute indoor cycle class with a 4 mile brick run. I need gear to support this habit!
A 8 mile trail run to recover from the 29 mile road ride!
Watching the Boston Marathon, recovering from surgery. Feeling inspired.
Hi Ray, we took advantage of the perfect weather and got the mountain bikes out for the first time this season. Thanks for the giveaway!
Running in the woods with my son. Nice weather, it would be a shame to stay at home.
Weekend day 1: 100km ride from Banyoles to the ocean and back.
Weekend day 2: 22km run through magnificent nature.
On both days the sun was shining and birds singing. Ahh.
Not sure if yard work counts as a racing adventure, but I sure showed those leaves whose boss!
I actually went cycling with my family. 2 big bikes + a crooozer trailer for my kids. The weather was excelent so I could not resist!
I rode 67 miles through mostly lovely countryside in Kent (south east England) and covered quite a few tiles that had been tugging on my VeloViewer nerves.
I went for a 4.30 mike jog and I had my hip replaced 12/14
Avoided the 40mph winds inside on the couch!
Having done no exercise for 5 weeks due to 2 herniated discs in my back I managed to walk a mile. Felt harder than Ironman Wales last year!
Rode up Mt. Ventoux (virtually on Rouvy) on Saturday.
Ran 14.5 miles on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail on Sunday.
Went for a hike. It was fantastic!
This weekend was less athletic than most weekends due to my piriformis bugging me. I did get in 7 miles running on Sunday though.
House shutter lifts
Gutter drain pulls
Attic squats
Ladder drills
Nice interval workout
Began the weekend with Zwift’s 3 Sisters in the Tour of Watopia and finished out the weekend with 8 delicious trail miles around Mt Kessler in Arkansas.
18 miles indoors – 108 laps
No running or biking, and managed to evade the swim part as I went sailing this weekend.
“Cross-training” ie. hefting landscaping stones and raking my hands raw in the yard.
Inside on the Computrainer, because it won’t stop raining.