New US Partnership + $500 Gadget Giveaway: Backcountry.com & Competitive Cyclist!

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I’m excited to announce a new partnership for US readers, with Backcountry.com & CompetitiveCyclist.com! This new partnership helps support the site here, while also getting you a discount on applicable items as well using the DCR Coupon Code. And, atop that, they’re sponsoring giveaways like this very one right here. Win-win!

Both Backcountry.com & CompetitiveCyclist.com are owned by the same entity, and thus you’ll largely see most of the sports tech items I tend to review on both platforms. Eagle-eyed readers have noticed a slow transition of links over to Backcountry.com & CompetitiveCyclist.com over the last few weeks – and I’ve already seen a number of you taking advantage of that. Using the links here on the site (always on the sidebar), or in the review posts directly, helps support what I do here. It’s much appreciated!

Atop that, I’ve been working with the folks at both companies to increase inventory and stocking in the sports tech product areas you care about most, something you’ll probably start to see the benefits of over the next little while (and in some cases, already).

For those readers that have been around the site a long time, you’ll know previously my main partner in the US was Clever Training, for some 8 years in fact! And they’ve been a great partner over that timeframe not just for the site, but for thousands of you as well. Links to Clever Training will continue to support the site through the end of October, but not beyond that. Your existing Clever Training VIP memberships will remain valid beyond that, as do any points you’ve accrued.

Now to get this party kicked off, I’m doing a $500 gadget giveaway. It’s been a while! The winner gets a $500 gift certificate to Backcountry or Competitive Cyclist for the gear of their choice. It could be a watch, a bike computer, or heck, even just a whole lot of gels. Or a hoodie. Whatever floats your boat. Now, while the Backcountry/Competitive Cyclist site is mostly blocked in Europe and some other places, fear not – you’re still good! You can continue using Wiggle or Amazon to support this site (they are always on the sidebar). And, if you are a non-American winner, you’ll still get up to a $500 gadget of your choice that’s from their inventory. See, I have you covered!

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Use Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first-time users saving 15% on applicable products. And both Backcountry & Competitive Cyclist offer free 2-day shipping!

How to enter the giveaway:

Simply leave a short description below in the comments with what your weekend workout plans are. Even if that ‘workout’ includes spending time with Netflix. Recovery is important!

Note that simply putting the word ‘Run’ in the box is likely to get caught up in my SPAM filters.  And nobody wants to be sandwiched between two pieces of SPAM.  So, adding a few extra explanatory words helps! Got all that?

Good luck!

The giveaway entry period will run through Monday, October 19th, 2020 until 11:59PM US Eastern Time. Winner will be selected randomly. One entry per person.  The selected product will then be ordered immediately and shipped immediately, assuming it’s in stock. If the winner is outside the US, I’ll work with you directly to get you all sorted out. Note that your information above stays entirely within the dcrainmaker.com site and is not given to any entities, except the winner of course, as to be able to place their order.

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4,807 Comments

  1. Jeff

    After a couple of 100+ mile gravel race weekends, I’ll be back to the road to change it up.

  2. Dorothee

    Starting my training for IMCDA in 2021. Time to run!

  3. Urs H.

    Maybe a ride on zwift, or if there is time outside… Gotta collect them ks

  4. Serge

    Great to see another giveaway! See if I can get an upgrade to my watch

  5. Seth Liber

    plan is for some strength training and a run … or maybe just a lot netflix. we’ll see :P

  6. Scott P

    Hopefully dusting off the peloton to drop the quarantine 15. Here’s to winning something!

  7. Katy

    Climbed today, surf tomorrow and mountain bike Sunday with some daily yoga stretching for good measure.

  8. JoeM

    Getting a ride in on my new bike – and looking at reviews for a new cycling jacket. Got my eyes on a Gore ShakeDry.

  9. Diego Mauricio Garcia

    Comer, dormir una siesta y bicicleta por la tarde

  10. Miquel

    Trail walk on the pyrenees with some friends :)

  11. Eugenia Leong

    Bootcamp class on Zoom

  12. Henrik Forsell

    Long bike ride tomorrow morning!
    I would really like to upgrade my bike! ☺️ ?

  13. Pat

    Plan on trying out a sufferfest ride Saturday and zwift on Sunday.

    Also plan on eating a bunch of kids birthday cake to balance out my effort.

  14. Greg M

    Getting my indoor Wahoo Kickr and Zwift setup again as the weather turns cold outside.

  15. thehoff

    26+ skate like every week – weather permitting ?

  16. Brian

    Hi Ray….no plans this weekend. I guess you can call that recovery. It’s been great reading your site since nearly the day you started. Keep charging!

  17. Henrique Shoiti Fugita

    3 hour Sunday ride

  18. alex slogar

    Keep working on Bathroom redo…and of course riding the trails near my house.

    Have a great weekend!
    Alex

  19. MONTI8

    For this weekend the menu offers a bike tour on the bavarian countryside.

  20. Lara

    I have Army Reserve drill this weekend, so my only workouts will probably be a couple of quick sessions in the weight room.

    Glad to hear about the new partnership with CC and Backcountry. I buy from both of those places already.

  21. Tim L.

    Swim workout and setting up my winter indoor cycling setup sorted.

  22. Erich nielsen

    A little hiking through the woods

  23. Ben

    Installing the new bottom bracket I just ordered from competitive cyclist ;)

  24. Jason K

    Bike with hill repeats and a run the next day.

  25. Konstantin Petoukhov

    Swimming in a cold lake!

  26. NeilB

    Time to hit the hills for a Sunday hike

  27. Sean

    Enjoying this fine Dallas weather and riding around White Rock Lake!

  28. COE

    Ahort run as part of recovery from Achilles surgery – hopefully also go for a short ride

  29. john bloch

    Plan to ride 50 or so miles and kayak another 10.

  30. Jared

    run once, run again, and maybe throw in a ride

  31. Kade J Babin

    Plan on a 40-50 mile ride Sunday with my usual crew.

  32. Alan Pavkovic

    Mountain bike on Saturday and probably on the Trainer Sunday if the rain comes as predicted

  33. Marc V

    Getting up and going for a long run now that the temps are cooler

  34. Jose

    I will do a nice hike with the fam

  35. Rachel

    Well it’s snowing up here in Canada so this weekend will probably be the treadmill or the bike trainer somewhere sunny in Watopia.

  36. Michael McMillen

    Relaxing in Hawaii Quarantine

  37. Josh A

    UTMB for the Planet challenge

  38. Joshua Rasmussen

    A 6 and a 12 mile run.

  39. Chris Little

    Could be one of the last outdoor rides of the year. Calling for snow tonight. If that happens I’ll start back up in Zwift.

  40. JESSE GRAY

    Hoping to log 6 miles on the treadmill and get some light yoga and weights in!

  41. Benjamin Sterrett

    100 miles of Midwest gravel. Then a nap.

  42. Larry Tomie

    Ride up Stelvio via Rouvy !!

  43. Gary Hill

    Exploring new trails on MTB, then yeast based recovery fluids

  44. Tom

    Long cold ride Saturday, watching De Ronde on Sunday!

  45. Shelly Latsha

    Two runs and one weight lifting session

  46. Arend

    Riding bikes on the trails with my wife!

  47. Shaun Mills

    Pizza beer run repeat

  48. Melissa

    This weekend I plan to run 8 miles. The run will be the longest since being put on bed rest for the month of August. Then…ice cream eating will commence.

  49. Alastair

    12km UT1&2 rowing, 1.5hr bike – starting a taper.

  50. JEE

    Trying to recover from back surgery and get my fitness back

  51. Randy Bell

    Riding the red dirt at Cuyuna in Crosby Minnesota

  52. Anton

    run two times by 7 rm

  53. Anthony B

    Baby coming, need some new gear for working out!

  54. Sarah Wardlaw

    My husband and I plan to road trip from Scotland to hit the XC (with a little downhill!) trails at Cannock Chase, England this weekend. Might sneak in a 5k run if the legs are feeling it and most definitely recover Sunday evening (whilst my hubby scrutinises his segment times!) with a G&T and roast dinner. ♥️??

  55. Joe Blough

    Probably getting back on Zwift, since the weekend looks cool and wet here.

  56. Matthew Greer

    DIY Hilly Hundred

  57. Chris D.

    short ride on Sat., long ride on Sun.

  58. Alistair Jordan

    Zwift Saturday 1hr
    Z1/2 with brief 10 minutes in Z3 on Sunday
    Dry stone walling if its not raining on either or both days
    Red wine drinking Saturday evening

  59. 40 miles on the bike and some other fun is the plan?

  60. Ryan

    It looks like a cold, windy, wet, snowy run. Fun times!

  61. Lukas

    Maintenance of my mountainbike!

  62. Tom Lockhart

    I will be on my bike, either enjoying some rays outside, or hunkered down in the pain cave on Zwift. Either way, any day on the bike is a good day!

  63. Like Williams

    Long bike and run brick with a surf

  64. Ned Bowen

    The weather has finally turned, so time for some longer Zwift rides. Maybe some disc golf as well.

  65. jared

    Zwift with a pace partner.

  66. Michael Jeans

    Hoping for good weather in Scotland so I can get out for a ride, but it looks like it’s going to be wet and windy so will probably need to spend a couple hours on the trainer instead!

  67. Jack Eggleston

    I’m driving from Indiana to New York so lots of stretching will be in order!

  68. Garrison

    Trainer time because of some much needed rain.

  69. Ryan

    Swimming in the morning followed by an afternoon ramp test.

  70. Probably a bit of bike maintenance on Saturday so that I can do a 50 miles ride on Sunday

  71. Liz French

    A long run on Sunday and a strength workout and a bike ride with my husband and the baby on Saturday.

  72. Gerard

    Hi
    Weekend is here!
    tomorrow a core workout and Sunday a indoor bike HIIT workout

    Gerard

  73. Pat

    Enjoying the fall weather and getting outside!

  74. Aaron Mead

    Saturday: Ride hills around Malibu
    Sunday: See Saturday

  75. Daniel Kianka

    Gym on Saturday. Ride Sunday.

  76. Matt Clarke

    TrainerRoad self flagellation after two weeks of not much riding! The first two weeks of the school year (I teach) always blow my routine to smitherines.

  77. Geoff

    Looking forward to some cool-weather runs this weekend. Thanks Ray!

  78. Carter Terry

    Traineroad workout tonight, kettlebell work tomorrow night.

  79. Todd Zenner

    Two long rides at tempo pace plus a few walks.

  80. Mike P

    a “long” slow run

  81. Darryl Nelson

    2 bike rides of about 80 kms, strength work an a couple of walks.

  82. Deborah Swedlow

    I’ll be doing my FTP on my Peloton this weekend and some light strength work, as well.

  83. Ted

    Not sure I’d call it a workout. I’m hoping to get in a decent ride if it’s not stupid cold and windy.

  84. Nate

    It’ll be a nice fall ride through the flat country side seeing which fields have been harvested and which are late to the party lol

  85. Daniel

    Replacing the motor controller on my treadmill and starting Zwift Academy Run.

  86. James webb

    My weekend plans include trying not to be depressed by the start of winter with 10cm of snow in the forecast. I plan on setting up my bike trainer and alternate between running, cycling and wishing it was spring.

  87. Brandon S Mullen

    Long ride on Saturday with a long run and recovery swim on Sunday.

  88. Nika

    Long run on Saturday, then leaf peeping on Sunday!

  89. Kay Estes

    Working an aid station and drinking beer ?‍♀️

  90. Ken

    Snow is now falling – time to bring in the bike for indoor riding

  91. Jose O'Daly

    Easy 3hr spin in (hopefully) carless roads

  92. Bobby Wachs

    Bike, sleep, and eat waffles

  93. Curtis W

    Starting out Saturday with a quick 4 miles, then following a 15 month old around a pumpkin patch!

    Sunday is a fire pit and football “recovery” day

  94. Robert

    Hiking in the Ocala National Forest

  95. Nathan

    After a couple weeks off because of a tweaked glue I will be happy with a couple easy runs this weekend.

  96. Dave D

    Minigolf, bowling or go karting for my sons 13th birthday.

  97. Scott

    A nice cool weather run

  98. Jonathan Mooney

    Working on the house, zwift, and Sunday morning gym

    Netflix for recovery in between each as well

  99. Lee

    Leaf peeping mountain biking

  100. Martin

    Saturday is my last day of the Original Insanity series! Its been an incredible series, honestly a great homebased bodyweight workout for these times. For sunday, probably a 10k run somewhere along the coast, and maybe a quick 1k swim as well.

  101. Chad Parvin

    Hiking in the Shenandoah National Park.

  102. fusfeld

    Practicing Zwift racing skills

  103. Perry Taylor

    Keep working on adding some base fitness with a couple trainer rides.

  104. Bole commuting from and to my parents’ to delivery some goodies!

  105. Chris Tracy

    I’ll be running and paddle boarding.

  106. Jeff Owens

    My workout plans include lots of gravel/Mt biking.

  107. Sean Fisher

    Definitely some socially distanced riding on Zwift! Some running as well.

  108. Neil Glessner

    Zwifting route badge hunting while watching college football hopefully… Then family pictures ?

  109. Luke

    It’s some Giro and Flanders watching for me.

  110. Graham Whitaker

    Trainer Road has two indoor rides lined up for me. Nate, Jonathan and the team are hard task masters!

  111. Trenton Taylor

    Planning to get in a recovery hike with the family followed by an hour or two on the indoor bike the next day. Thanks for the giveaway!

  112. Heiki

    Some easy run and strength exercises

  113. Matt

    Alas, probably just a few trainer rides

  114. Christian Elfving

    Recovering and zwifting after two longer rides last week.

  115. Pauli Markkanen

    Bristol South Hill Climb – 10 minutes of agony and then cake.

  116. Jeff bradley

    Long run, swim and a cruisy endurance bike

  117. Mike Brown

    It’s a glorious Zwift workout double-header: Devedset followed by Red Unicorn. Build me up!

  118. Stephen Gendreau

    Short recovery ride, chill then maybe a longer (7-8 mile) run on Sunday.

  119. Stan Fivecoat

    Last big weekend before Ironman Florida! 3.5 mile river swim, 20 miles running and a century ride :O. Ohhh and some football watching :P.

  120. David

    Brick on Saturday and threshold intervals on Sunday. Thanks for doing the giveaway!

  121. Dave jeggo

    I S old my place today and will spent the last nice day tomorrow cleaning the steed before moving. A new piece of tech for the new pain cave sure will come in handy.

  122. Terry Steer

    I’ll be riding on zwift because I am scared of magpies….

  123. Thor

    I will run 10k and a short bike trip 50k

  124. Jake

    Does yard work and watching football count as a workout

  125. Tyler Pake

    My weekend workout plans are just some easy runs on the Outer Banks of NC with some friends.

  126. Jan Lin

    Run around neighborhood.

  127. EJBTRI

    Sun brick – 80k bike/5k run

  128. Ryan

    Saturday may try out a couple new-ish indoor cycling platforms. Sunday looking to knock out ZA Run workout #1!

  129. Chris Kirk

    Definitely plan on doing some fall hiking this weekend!

  130. Bryan Vivero

    Bikepacking with my new Moots Routt RSL!!

  131. Paul

    Ray, good luck with the new partnerships.

    For my weekend I have a couple of easy, just for pleasure runs fitted in around the family duties.

  132. Nancy

    Riding the Bay Trail!

  133. Iona

    Walking, carrying a peanut. They can be quite heavy.

  134. Matt Wakeman

    I have a couple of test rides planned for my “new-to-me” i9 ultralight 235 wheelset, and some rides of a friend’s over-formed Specialized Evo…

  135. Simon Purdy

    Zwift Academy cycling WO#3 and Run#2 amongst rest

  136. Tony Goncalves

    Time to winterize the travel trailer and put it into storage.

  137. Stephane

    Zwift academy training #3 is the plan for tomorrow morning and rest on Sunday.

  138. Jess R

    Saturday has become a regular two-up time trial with my boyfriend…which of us will win the final sprint tomorrow?! :D Sunday is an exploring day to find a new off-road commute route to work :)

  139. Kirk

    Cycle with my non smart trainer. C’mon Ray show me the money!! ?

  140. P Bourbeau

    I plan to strength my mind and body with outdoor activities- swim,bike, run!!!

  141. Anouk

    Both days only 30 min of exercise due to injury – onwards and upwards

  142. Patrick Chin

    Plan on early morning ride then heading to watch my daughter run XC meet on Saturday. Long easy run on Sunday before taking 2 weeks to recover and regroup.

  143. Erik

    Tomorrow it’s goning to be recovery with beer, but sunday ~16k easy run and some bouldering in the evening!

  144. Richard Bassett

    Solo ride this weekend.

  145. Neil

    Swimming and recovery day

  146. John Schneider

    Workout Half-marathon trail race and a 2k pool swim Saturday and a 5k easy recovery run Sunday

  147. John Boline

    Orangetheory

  148. Joao Nogueira

    Long Run and a bike ride with the fellas ?

  149. Jan

    My weekend workout plans? Really good question…
    Run on Saturday morning, maybe a ride in the afternoon, and another run on Sunday.
    I am also planning to stretch and do some core strength…really this time! ???

  150. Probably just a walk pushing the Burley d’lite X with the baby in it.

  151. Martin

    Eat gels for 500 buck?. That sounds like a plan!

    Anyway – it is raining here and I think I am going to take my kids to the river to see the huge amount of water falling from the dam.

  152. Matt

    Couple easy runs outside this weekend, and playing a little football with the kids.

  153. Douglas Hall

    Going for a 8 mile and a 17 mile run!

  154. Bob

    Officiating soccer will be my weekend workout

  155. Sam

    I’ll be doing some strength work…

    … digging holes in my back yard :-(

  156. Tilghman Smith

    I’ve been recovering from overdoing it but the past week has been great!

    I’m hoping to start my weekend out with a bit of skydiving to get my head right ?. Then bike/run brick and a 40min run Sunday.

    Of course I’ll spend a little time reading dcrainmaker post along the way ?.

  157. Ray Franco

    I have a 2-hr bike ride at zone2 on my calendar this Saturday!

  158. Dan Giberson

    Netflix while riding, or listening to a podcast. Great work DC Rainmaker

  159. David Stephen

    Coming back from injury so a short trainer session on Saturday and and short run on Sunday.

  160. Tomoya Kanno

    Weekend workout: I will finally ride my bike on Rouvy after a week of sunrise to sunset virtual seminars kept me imprisoned to my chair for the entire day. I’m thinking beautiful Italian landscapes with like no calories or wattage records in mind just smoooooth sailin’

  161. Frank Mills

    I’m going for a 1 hour 10 run in the morning, then a long hike in the woods and an icy swim in the afternoon to refresh my 71 year old body.

  162. Nate L

    Eat chips on the couch and think about working out

  163. Scott Douglass

    I’ll be doing a rainy/cool indoor ride on Rouvy Saturday.
    Sunday looks good for getting back outdoors for a ride.

  164. Tito

    Shop for new rear hub using this code!

  165. Dennis Ternet

    Long run on Saturday

  166. David Nicolau

    Well, thanks for another giveaway. I got my bike ride into day. May do another one on the weekend

    thanks

  167. Jonathan Glick

    85 mile bike ride “cabin fondo” with 11 others on Saturday and then a long run Sunday to round out a 50 mile run week!

  168. Basil

    Netflix and Chill

  169. Minja

    Run, run and some more run

  170. David Green

    Back to back runs. 20km flat Saturday and 20km with damn steep stairs Sunday up the kapiti escarpment which has great views

  171. Wilfred Yan

    I’ll be clocking some miles on my indoor trainer and watching some netflix. Best of both worlds.

  172. Stevo Fitzy

    A fall ride through the red and oranage Canadian forests before it gets too cold!

  173. Sam Brown

    Training at home because running outside isn’t much fun in a pandemic unfortunately ?

  174. Michael Chesnut

    ride saturday 30 miles, run sunday. drink beer

  175. Gavin Seymour

    Planning on an indoor trainer ride.

  176. Henrik

    2 x easy runs

  177. Jamie Berg

    Trainer time in the pain cave!

  178. Kelly Lentz

    Bike-a-Thon fundraiser for the kids ski racing club and hopefully some time in a hot tub somewhere…

  179. Devin Edwards

    I take every Saturday off although I plan to hike. Sunday I’ll try to do road to sky on zwift.

  180. Steve Morey

    I have been having a hard time getting motivated to train with all the racing being canceled. I may go for a run this weekend but I make no guarantees.

  181. MTR

    Up North in Canada EH we still have sunny weather on the plus side of the Thermo so a bike ride it is

  182. Kris

    I’ll probably take my dogs out for 10+ mile run after work tomorrow and I’ll run the Duke City Marathon on Sunday, even though it’s not being run this year.

  183. Raph Cohen

    Watching the rain fall and wishing I had an indoor trainer

  184. Brian Hill

    Light ride followed by soccer & softball with the kiddos

  185. Walter Cahall

    Workout includes a long 1:30 bike session – can’t wait to log for my team for the USAT Tri Across America…

  186. Eric B

    A long ride in the morning to earn a couple of fresh baked cookies.

  187. Dan Zimmermann

    I’m planning on doing some spinning, which is really all I can do right now as I have developed severe back problems, and running and martial arts are out of the picture for now.

  188. Mike T

    This weekend will be gravel riding, rock climbing with my daughter (the clear winner) and watching the Tour of Flanders.

  189. Iliyan

    I have not had much time for exercising the last few weeks so I look forward to this weekend. I am doing some MTB on Saturday and running on Sunday.

  190. Scott Patton

    After a forced week off, finally getting a ride in!

  191. Phil

    Giving a go at my first Triathlon on Sunday! It’s a super sprint, but I’m stoked/nervous for the endeavor. It’ll be nice to have a tri-time established. Love all your reviews DCR! You’ve really helped me in my decision making process when it come to fitness devices!

    Cheers from Okinawa, Japan!

  192. Ben

    Hooray for new partnerships!
    Planning a 40-mile ride with the wife.

  193. Adam

    Plan on biking inside, safe from the snow!

  194. Etienne

    I’m going to relax this weekend after finally getting back into my bike commuting groove, thanks to cooler weather. Looking forward to those frozen days of winter! Really.

  195. Andrew M

    I am sincerely hoping this will be the last weekend of trying to get my long ride in without going more than 5km from home.

  196. Christy

    I’m the wife, doing a 40-mile ride with the husband :)

  197. Matthew Leary

    ParkRun returns here in Tasmania, Australia so I’ll take the dog out for a trot and a hungover long run Sunday following a friends’ 40th celebrations on Saturday arvo/evening.

  198. Walter

    Getting outside and burning all of those COVID calories!

  199. Jay

    Definitely a long ride weekend.

  200. TomislavBl

    Strength workout Saturday morning at the gym,
    Road cycling Sunday morning via country side :)

    Ps
    Always nice reading your reviews!
    Keep posting :)