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.
Planning a solid weekend on the turbotrainer whilst in quarantine!
My Sunday workout would be more or less on my home trainer watching an IPL match ;)
Indoor trainer+ipl+redbull= weekend sorted
The plan for the weekend is to have a good gardening work out using manual tools to give everything the final winter chop and then hopefully go out for a 35mile bike ride! ?♂️
Cycle on Saturday and then an early jog on Sunday while the kids are at football. Then feet up for the rest of the day.
Planning a longish ride of my new gravel bike! Really have been enjoying the fun of Gravel Cycling as it takes me to new places and makes riding exciting again. My really old bike computer doesn’t like all of the shacking though, and it has lost all Bluetooth connections.
My colleague got covid-19, so I will be working in a weekend too.
Local bike park ride and a hike if everything works out.
Ran my virtual Marine Corps Marathon this past Saturday. It’s all about getting the cool medal. Their 45th Anniversary and the 75th Anniversary of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima.
Rouvy race weekend! #8 in the Rouvy Drafting Series — Cow Creek, Oregon.
Then spending think with wife and kids. Chasing the kids is a workout onto itself!
Looooonnnnngggggg and steady Zwift ride – fat burning all the way !!!!
None… wife is away and 2 kids to look after, which means double workout next weekend ?
long runs
Trail ride on my gravel bike.
It’s a long ride for me! Hoping the nice fall weather in Toronto continues.
I am going to spend as many hours on the road as possible. It will be over very soon, we already had the first snowfall.
Saturday mountain biking and Sunday road biking. Both mornings followed by brunch with my bike friends!
I took a weekend off from training and went to the mountains with the family to get some fresh air and do some easy hiking. But it was back the the Sufferfest this morning.
Cycle up a long hill.
Run away from family in morning for long bike ride, steal kids after bike ride so wife can be alone for 4 hours. Repeat next day with a run, but substitute stealing kids for whole family time.
Oh boy!
Visiting the pumpkin patch.
My plans for this weekend are to do a long run on Sunday and either rest or do an easy run.
I want it :)
Tidying the zwift room
Start off on Saturday @ 6:30am with a moderate run of 7.5km @ 4:59 pace in my sockless Nike 7s.
Sunday 7am and first ‘long run’ of the winter marathon training plan – 12km @ 5:00 pace in my lovely bright pink Nike 7.5s – wearing socks this time.
Spend the afternoons rubbing down my Ribble frame for a winter respray using spray.bike.
Morning short run on Saturday. Another longer run on Sunday. Easy pace.
Did my first run and bikes in 6 weeks after being injured!
This time my plan is doing nothing.
My weekend will be a run Saturday morning (between 7-14kms) followed by brekkie, then gym a bit later, Sunday is a bit of sleep in with a hike then gym.. mixing it up a bit!
I love spring!
Went for a jog, and a short hike with my daughter.
I will be going for 2 bike rides
Recovery ride on Saturday and recovery stroll with the family on Sunday :)
Finally cooling off in Phoenix so will be getting back outside for at least one but hopefully two longer rides this weekend! And without having to wake up at the crack of dawn to do it! Cheers DCR!
1 jog, 1 Zwift ride for me
Riding up some big hills.
It’s my Birthday on Friday so hopefully a cycle to a nice spot to meet the kids and have a take away drink from our favourite cycling cafe. Except we live in England so I expect it will rain and be gale force winds and I’ll end up on zwift!
Planned is at least a run on saturday and a swim on sunday, probably a leg focused one because my fat ass needs to get smaller. And sometime in the near future I should really try and solve my bike fit issues :(
7k run at Rock Creek Park!
More trainerroad workouts with a run…..maybe. Hopefully some mtn biking
I plan to hike some trails this weekend.
Trail race in the mountains
adding a few extra explanatory words here to avoid spam filter.
Weekend workouts involves the age old internal debate of, is it to cold, windy, wet for running / biking (delete as applicable). I am to tired, achey or not feeling it (delete as applicable). Then once the debate is done and I mange to get out the door, I realise this exercise lark is quite good after all.
after seeing a local time trail event last weekend and not having raced for years post a big injury I was pondering what it might take to get race fit, a lot older and damaged, I decided to look forward not back. Looking forward Diet starting, stretching starting, endurance miles and run planned for the weekend and already have a new cutting edge design for a New TT frame fork on the sketch pad. Its not about coming back; its about going forward and stepping into the unknown. How good can I get, not how good I was. It’s kind of freeing.. so it begins..
Ski-focused training to get ready for the season.
Running with some friends some stages of the “Camino de Santiago,” the pilgrimage route(s) ending in Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia in the Northwest of Spain
Hppefully a bike ride through the parks unless it is too cold.
Riding gravel !
Cleaning the car – after weeks of dirt it is hard work…
If the weather ist still fine then, i’ll go for a bike tour in the mountains
Weekend 3 of 12 in sufferfest training plan, so a couple of hours an my Atom ?
Long run and cheeseburgers
Hoping tomorrows check gives me a negative for covid and then slowly pick up the pace on Zwift again and then sweat that cold/flu out!!
only one 80-mile ride :( hopefully more next week!
Been confined since 7th so next weekend will be my first that I can go out after getting my new Garmin. So I need to go for a long walk along the Thames snd get the GPS to work!
Surfing with friends
Running after my kids!
Gravel ride, yoga, running and chilling!
Planned to run, and I ran!
Indoor workout on the old lemond revolution followed by a nice outdoor ride now that restrictions are easing in Melbourne
I organised a weekend away with the girls from my Tri club. We did some cycling in the mountains. Lake swims in 13°C water and trail running. The views were amazing and it was a great time. Can’t wait to do another weekend like this next year.
Lil’ leaf peepin’ spin. ?
Will try to get the Kajak out on the water and get some exercising done.
A family hike in the Pyrenees to sleep out in the wild
Just a “rest day” playing with my grandson all weekend.
This weekend, I attempted to race one of the best MTB Races in the Midwest – the BT Epic. Went about as well as 2020 has been going :(
Catching up on my PT and hopefully some run/walk intervals !
Anaerobic sprints 8x400m day 1. High Aerobic 8 miles day 2 running. All while pushing a small human in a stroller!
Garmin 820 keeps bugging out. Time to get a new bike computer
Weekend was spend with a casual bike ride on a quiet toe path with my wife.
multiple easy Zwift rides
Hey! This weekend I´d planned with my friends a long trip to pratice MTB Enduro, here in México City. It was pretty wild!
Probably a ride covering eastern Sydney and the beaches. A nice 50km loop.
I just setup my Kickr Core, Apple TV and signed up for Zwift, so my weekend plans involve taking an FTP test and exploring Watopia
Weekend workout plans were (1) a short hike with the family; (2) completing our local 1mi, 5k & 10k virtual races; and (3) shakeout run Sunday. All successfully completed (other than one missed turn, making the 10k more like 10.2k)!
My classic loop around the town with my bike
13 mile race pace effort, trying out a few different shoes
Family weekend so cycling with my boys. Is it MTB, bmx or on the pump track? I don´t know
Chasing round after my 4 year old and some trampolining!
Long-ish bike ride on Saturday, and then a rare Sunday rest day, in preparation for a virtual HIM next weekend.
A run by the beach and a swim in the Mediterranean sea
Getting a little time on the MTB
10k run, and 1,5 hour sweetspot on tr.
In the best of the world I’ll be out for two long runs on Sat and Sun but it will most likely be one short run only.
Long run on the AT
Put the bike on the trainer for the winter and find a binge-worthy show to watch while riding!
40km time trial Saturday and shorter recovery ride Sunday.
Long cycle on Zwift
Long run around Kalamazoo for endurance training.
Full recovery after the NWR race in Cedar City!
Weekend consisted of a weekend on the lake in Adirondack Park with the family. A run on some trails, a hike with the family, and some kayaking on beautiful Fourth Lake!
Sunday afternoon back home had a peloton ride and the Work wk 2.
Run/Walk and then be disappointed by my favorite NFL team.
Happy to have time for a long run after painting my appartement…
Going to try our local pool, newly re-opened since closing in March!
Well we moved house and now totally exhausted
Probably a 60ish Mike ride and some stretching!
It’s my birthday, so going for a long ride with some buddies and eating a ton of cake! a prize pack would be a nice birthday gift… hint hint ;-)
Long hilly cycle round North County Dublin, going solo and enjoying the dry weather
Weekend always is the time for long bike rides with the local cycling club – including lots of coffee & cake!
A solo 44 mile trail ultra – running the route of the covid-cancelled 3 Towers Ultra.
Some interval runs on Saturday, doing 3×10 min zone 4 with 2 minutes recovery in between. On Sunday I have my long and easy 2:15 run in zone 2. Here’s to my first marathon coming up!
90 minutes endurance ride on Peloton!
Turning 40 this weekend so going to time trial run a 10k as part of my self selected 40yo series: 10k – 2 weeks – Half Marathon – 3 weeks – Marathon.
Wilderness distancing via hiking and camping is the plan.
For me it’s a 12km uphill time trial, just trying to work out whether it’s worth putting on the clip on aero bars.
clean and move home gym equipment before winter
If the weather allows, do the last two stages of our alp crossing by gravel bike we had to cancel because of avalanche risk on the last weekend.
Weekend Plans include studying for exams.
Then heading out for a long cycle in the scorching Johannesburg South Africa !
Weekend workout plans include one last long run before a virtual Half Marathon coming up! And a gravel ride in the country!
The weather looks good so it will be a long road bike ride is on the menu!
I was back in the swimming pool this weekend, after 6months swimming inactivity.
Let’s get back at it!
Spending some more time on my indoor trainer which I have postponed for too long…my bum will thank me…not.
Completing more zwift academy workouts. Trying to reach my weekly cycling goal.
I worked all weekend ?
Relax time with my wife….starting 2021 in November
Hiking in my ski resort
Weekend plans are a long run and long Netflix session. Maybe some yard work too.
It’s getting colder here, so I plan on getting back to zwifting.
Weekend workout plan is to tromp through muddy pumpkin patch fields, lifting pumpkins and pushing a wheelbarrow.
Some light jogging, and some rest!
Ran 10 plus biked 30 miles.
Well, at this point, I guess it’s what I did exercisewise this weekend. Saturday was all about the run doing a trail run and some track running. Sunday was a very cold outdoor Zumba class.
Take out my Cube Litening C68:x for an easy autumn ride
My weekend workout plans involved a long walk around the neighbourhood to get some fresh air, followed by a short ride on the trainer inside, my first attempt at a whole roasted chicken (successful!), and then a fun little pumpkin carving session because well…it is the season!
A remote Zwift ride with a friend on Saturday, followed by an early morning run Sunday, and then some calorie replacement therapy ;-)
Swimming for the first time in 5 months as recovery from last weekend’s 50 mile run from San Jose to San Francisco
My weekend workout was my longest run all year! 10.30 miles. I had Achilles issues starting last October and finally this past summer was able to start building up my mileage. I hope to continue and could use some new bike stuff to remind myself to recover.
Also watched movies: Icarus, Brittany runs a Marathon,
and a few missed episodes of Real Sports.
Friday good gym session and an easy ride (60 minutes) around my house. Saturday is tourism day! Go out for a ride and get to know my city (Caracas, Venezuela). Sunday is a long block day, ride Z3 for about 189 minutes and a 60 minutes run! And just in case there’s any energy left in the tank, there’s always a good family tennis match waiting in the afternoon
Grind out 2 long Trainer road sessions during funemployment and staying healthy with good home cooked foods
Spent my weekend cleaning and organizing. A strength workout, sort of.
The weather here is supposed to be cold and rainy this weekend, so I am looking forward to a nice Zwift workout.
Gravel bike ride and a cold freewater swim.
This weekend or last weekend? The former – I’m going to walking around the countryside with my family on a short break. The latter – I coached the kids at my bike club and took the dog for a run around the woods.
I’m riding of Xert lately
Gonna hit the trails with my TREK and openwater swim in my local lake.
Complete my 7 day x 7k running streak :-)
I will have one or two bike rides at my mothers place… Some sweet childhood memories will Pop up during that…
Regret that I didn’t ga for a spin outside last Sunday. Committed to do so this weekend if roads are dry, head out to the dunes here in the north of Holland. If not I’ll make a start with the indoor season on the Kickr.
VO2 Intervals on my Kickr Bike with combination zwift/trainerroad running :)
Weekend workout plans
Saturday mountain biking in pretoria
Sunday road ride with club in Johannesburg
Ironman VR, cycling via Rouvy and running around the neighbourhood.
Cheers!
Study for my exams and do a long ron to clear my head
Bought a new Zwift bike, a StagesBike SB20, so what else to do than a Zwift marathon. And when finished, drawling while looking at the bike with a beer in my hand.
Looking forward!
Spend the weekend on a wahoo trainer
Let’s see if I’m lucky enough..
Cycling on the trainer, light workout.
Weekend means road bike! This weekend I’ll try to get in 25-30 miles each on Saturday and Sunday, testing out my new Garmin speed and cadence sensors. Recovery by watching an NFL game Sunday afternoon.
Gonna hit the road on my Scott s20 biking the hills south of Plovdiv Bulgaria . It’s no Italian Dolomites but it’ll do when you’re on a work trip and don’t want to ride the trainer in Rhône room anymore
Take the family on a hike at local nature preserve
Back in the indoor bike!
I hope to eat some pizza to have slices to work off this weekend, whether at the rock gym or in the saddle!
I rode 3hrs on the trainer Saturday, was aiming for another 3 on sunday but got interrupted 1hr40 into it reminding me we had plans. Woof
Please random number, pick me!
I will run the virtual Amsterdam marathon in Rotterdam…..
On Saturday the weekly LongRun and Sunday the first Zwift Ride for the inside bike season ?
Do some bouldering and take my new (to me) Cannondale out on its first spin on our local bike trail. ❤️
Easy run on Friday and long run on Saturday, plus some gym work at home.
Mountain biking !
Maybe get a really cold bike ride in, maybe sit on the couch and drink coffee. We will see how the week goes.
50 mile ride up into the country! Thanks for the giveaway!
Most likely I will go for a long gravel ride
Hope to get out on the mtn bike.
My weekend was a trailrunning competition with 34km/1440m altitude and then having some 8 kids at home for the birthday celebration. That was something!
Nothing all that fancy.
Probably a 6 mile loop around the neighborhood as I await the next cold front.
I’m planning on riding further than 5km from home for the first time in 3 months as covid restrictions are lifted.
That woud be some Zwifting.
This weekend is about putting an end to offseason and starting to rebuild base endurance: long ride and easy run!
I’m not acclimated to winter temps yet so it will probably be time on the treadmill and extra stretching.
Doing a enjoyable bike ride after a long week
Go for a run or dust off and tune up my bike for a ride!
This Saturday I am going to look for a new project in my climbing gym. Just sent my short term project today so my confidence is finally boosted again. Sunday is for a mile time trial run where I hope to go from second on a segment to first!
Baking apple pies with my daughters, best recovery food and post sport activity ever.
Off to gather some of those Veloviewer explorer squares again!
A long run as my half marathon training plan suggests… And maybe Netflix after that :-)
Weekend workout plans: a chill and sunny autumn ride on Saturday, and friends and beer on Sunday!
Running some trails with at least one child in the BOB! And maybe more stretching to see if I can touch my toes again.
Up Alpe du Zwift (on Zwift, clearly)
One outdoor session on the road bike (2 hours) focusing on different attacks based on terrain. And then one virtual Zwift session (2 hours) focusing on low cadence strength work.
riding my bike all weekend!
Freshly fractured radius means no weekend workouts for me for a while :-( car vs bike = would not recommend. But!! Here in Melbourne our lockdown has been lifted a little and we are going to take our toddler to the beach for the first time since she could walk. Lose some, win some.
A 10k run on Saturday then a Zwift academy workout on Sunday
Hi will do a nice ride in girona and rest at the hotel while it’s still open on Saturday. On Sunday it will be a not so nice ride in the train to go home near Barcelona.
I usually try to mix basic strength training (2x core + 2x leg + 2x arms exercises) with cardio (6-12 mile runs and HIIT sessions). Overall, I tend to run ~25 miles per week and do 3 strength training sessions per week. And then I reward myself with generous amounts of wine on the weekend :)
Depending on the smoke level, I may take the peanut out in her new running stroller, or may stay in and have a go at the Alpe du Zwift.
I plan on doing a sweet arm endurance workout: carving pumpkins!
Race… I race this weekend… A small 37km trail race, so looking forward to it. Hope I remember how to push myself!
Short sunny run on saturday and looong ride on sunday :) some new garmin edge would be nice to have :)
I’ll be doing some strength work (Turkish get-up and double kb longcycle) and some easy rides on the rollers to go with that
A sunny bike ride and Netflix
Rode a virtual Tour de Cure supporting the American Diabetes Association
walking.. just walking..
can’t do better for the moment
Chanterelle hunting, yes that counts!
Run training Tuesday and Thursday, gym Monday and Wednesday with some cycling /zwift squeezed in somewhere…
Running a marathon with a friend as MCM was cancelled.
Maybe I will get a ride in
Zwift and Nextflix and maybe and outdoor short walk
Aloha, My weekend workouts consisted of a 5 mile beach walk and a 6.5 mile Pu’u cinder cone hike!
Trainer road then watch football.
I biked outside for a bit but it was too cold for me so I finished my bike workout inside and I cheered on my friends who were doing a fun run (10km or half marathon).
I’m planning to test my 10k for the upcoming marathon in the city where I am.
This weekend? Trainer ride that’s probably going to make me late to work lol