Heads up! The Garmin Enduro 3 is down to $829, some $70 off. That’s the lowest price to date on this new device. The Enduro 3 is notable though because it’s basically a Fenix 8 Solar minus the dive/voice features (and the Fenix 8 Solar/MIP starts at $1,099). Everything else is there, and it gets all Fenix 8 software features (and, insane battery life). Meanwhile, the Fenix 7 down to $429!
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 2024 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 ride on the bike! Finally!
Ran my 10k loop
Since we got a rediculous amount of snow this weekend I spent some quality time with Zwift in my basement.
Hilly trail run, finishing up with sprinting up, over and down a railway bridge to save myself a half hour wait to get home. Good muddy fun.
Biked 50 miles on Saturday and ran 5 miles on Sunday
Managed put in a swim and MTB-ride. Great sunday.
I ate a ton of sweets and sat on the couch this weekend. You know, typical DCR reader stuff
We went camping this weekend. And got out on our MTB for the first time for about an hour or so, riding up and down the boat ramp at the entrance to the marina. Oh my legs, that’s a workout! Also, took the pups on a few hikes.
Sunday: easy 70 minutes of trail running.
Big weekend! 105mi bike, 3000yd swim and 15mi run. Ironman Boulder a few weeks away!!
Triathlon camp at Mallorca
I went for a run while visiting family over the weekend.
doing a perimeter bike run around guam to train for a medio fondo in Korea!
Army PT test. 2 minutes of push-ups, 2 minutes of sit-ups and a 2 mile run. Trying to do as many reps as possible in those 2 minutes and running the 2 miles as fast as you can.
85 Mile tapering ride for Majorca 312 – as if that’s gonna help!
Saturday MTB ride after a storm thrashed the local trails – wohoo like riding a new place.
Sunday recovery run around an (old) volcanic crater after two nights on the beers. Tough.
Half marathon run, to complete strava april challenge.
I ran a 14 miler during some April snow and wind. It wasn’t actually nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
Short run to enjoy the warm weather and then rest to enjoy the rest of the weekend
Off on Sat after week of non stop cycling and 45 miles ride on Sunday with local club
Went for a swim and a run
Planned a long (2hr) MTB ride on Sat. until the new shingles vaccine wiped me out (take note you 50+ DCR subscribers). Recovered enough on Sunday to spend 90 mins on the trainer during a thunderstorm.
Stuck on the indoor trainer, as it is still snowing here.
Easy miles on Zwift.
5 mile run into downtown Houston.
We had a lot oft sun and I Bad a ride on saturday and sunday
Went on a nice hike with my wife. And she’s pregnant, so bonus points for her!
Boston Marathon spectator! Congrats to all of the finishers for enduring the course and the conditions.
I rode 44 miles down to Skaneateles NY in the freezing cold. By the end my feet were numb and i was dying to get down but I set a few PRs so I was prettty stoked.
2 rides to get some climbing meters in the legs.
This weekend was great. I spent the weekend at Lake Mead in my trailer with my wife and two dogs. We got in a few really great hikes totally about 10 total miles and spend a bit of time on the mountain bike, which seems like it ended up being entirely uphill. In addition, it always seems like a bit of an athletic adventure to set up and breakdown the trailer as we go out for our outdoor weekends!
Very busy weekend full of adventures! Since it was the first sunny and warm day in ages i did parkrun (PB for this year) and then ran to the Lido for 1h swim with the triclub. Lovely to swim under a perfectly blue sky :) On the sunday i did a 50km hilly ride with the club and a 1h evening recovery run in the evening with a rainbow sky!
Peak District ridge trail run
My athletic endeavor this weekend was lifting a coffee cup to my mouth. Snow and freezing rain kept me indoors.
Annual camping trip to Hot Springs, NC. Morning runs through town on Friday and Saturday, and a hike to Lovers Leap and back on Sat. afternoon(bonus:it’s a section of the AT!)
Did my first ever trail run above 33km.
I still can hardly move
Ouch My Fitness Hurts, Ok, I had a hard day on the bike trainer after swimming. I’m just out of shape and I’m working on bring it all back together. Don’t worry too much, I’ll get there.
It was a great XC ride on Saturday until I crashed havily and broke my rib.
Last long run pre the London Marathon. The taper starts today!
Went for a 10k around dunes in Haarlem NL, but chose wrong loop and ended up doing 15.1km without water on a loose sandy trail. Not good haha.. but great fun
Short distance (26km) of MTB in the vicinity of Modlin Frotress in Poland.
Did a quite difficult trekking, 15 kms in total.
Just finished the Boston Marathon. About time for some non-running tech.
First long outdoor ride of the year, with snow in the ditches (roads were good though)
Still enjoying cross country skiing here in the Alps!
This week’s challenge was getting out of bed and driving to the doctor for a painkiller shot as my back has clearly started a revolution aganist me. I even walked a little today. Nailed it! :))))
Indoor soccer x2 kids. Then a run and gym. Then a long walk with the ?
The usual – a long run, a distance swim and a long bike ride.
After first longish run in a while on Friday, the weekend was full of lawn work for recovery.
5k run
Officially started training for my first triathlon!
Ran 5K in an ice storm brrrrrrr
Long swim + long run. Then long sleep
Does a 3h z2-bike and a 2h build run count? ;)
Got rained out on Saturday so spent some time on Zwift. But on Sunday the Texas weather was awesome and spent the day at the RBC Gran Fondo for 90 miles of hilly and windy riding.
Unfortunately I did a recovery walk. Sciatic pain?
5 mile one-way run over to the bro/sis in laws for dinner
Does finishing up chores and taking the dogs for a couple of hikes count? Meh… I’m counting it anyhow!
Did the first 100km of the 2018 season!
9 mile recovery run, thanks!
My adventure consisted of attending a college basketball referee camp.
I could really use a power meter for my bike. Pretty please!
Spent the weekend doing some bike rides.
Saturday: Tour of Watopia Stage 5 + 1x Alpe Du Zwift
Sunday: Swim + 80k Bike ride with Friends
Saturday consistented of teaching a cycle class and a HIIT class. Since it was the fist 80+ degree day in NJ this year, a leisurely hike followed with a little relaxing outside.
Recovery weekend for me seeing the sites around Germany on a business trip
Did a HRZ2 ride along the water. Started with dodging flies as well as eating them sometimes. On the last part there was a cat sitting right next to the road and decided to jump across to catch a small bird when I passed. Emergency break saved us both. ?
10k trail run while working on my tan and a 20 mile ride on my new P3.
Masters swimming on Saturday morning (lots of medleys) followed by a two hour bike ride out the Otago Peninsula.
Had a nice run with my girlfriend on Saturday and Sunday was rest day :)
Simply getting some bike time after a miserable rainy Winter in the Basque Country…
Had a hard time completing the 5. stage on Tour of Watopia :-)
Well, I’ve broken my knee during a ski accident so no athleticism for me. It has been 2 months already in the cast and a 4 months recovery plan.
I cant wait to lift again
So, this suppose to be light weekend, then my bro cycled from college (like 120K) and we hit a route of the first big local bike racewith couple of lads. What should be easy recon ride soon transformed into fricking elimination race.
That was great Saturday. Sunday was all about recovery ;)
I ran 12 miles of hills as a taper for this month’s San Luis Obispo marathon!
Training for my half marathon in June
Hi Ray,
I did a Sunday ride with our club down to the local airfield. Glad it wasn’t raining for a change.
Too tried to run, bike in repair after crash I just took the dogs for a 1h walk. ?
Broke my 5k PR at parkrun. Cycled there and back.
After skipping Sat due to hellish 30mph winds, I did 60 miles in less hellish 15mph winds.
I did 17km slow run through the forest on nice sunny day:)
An easy weekend with some swimming in the still freezing cold sea.
On Saturday biking to an orienteering championship, running orientiering, and riding bike again away. On Sunday the second day of orienteering, and then some more biking :) Good thing the weather was nice!
I went to Moab, UT and biked MY BRAINS OUT!!! It was awesome.
I ran the Valenciennes 10k
I had my first longer ride of the season, and a nice swim! Ready for the Tri season!
This weekend was only about recovery. Light hiking only…
i did a quick interval session prior to work.
Do a long run with goal half marathon pace around the village.
I did some yard work (picking up a bunch of sticks and branches that had fallen since the fall and raking leaves).
Having flu, so just trying to rest and get that away.
On the pool lifeguard course all weekend! Managed to get some normal swimming in too. No running as I hurt my foot last week, in the pool would you believe it :(
I will try to ride my first 50km on unique ride this month. It’s been tough. :o(
Spring (if it ever comes to Michigan) is a great time to gear up for the year1
Ran 15 miles with my girlfriend in prep for the London marathon this weekend
Took a 9 mile run on the only nice day of spring so far!
Well I rode my bike in the attic (on the Kickr Snap I bought from Clever Training) for several hours. Then went to a birthday bowling party for 5 year old twins. That was sort of athleticish.
Went for a very blustery/cloudy/cool day run!
Ran 10 miles on a cold April morning against 25 MPH gusting winds. It sucked.
Zwift and some more Zwift on top of working night shifts
I did a 10 km early morning run which was somewhat regular, but the thing that made it really great was running it in Australia with my sister who I hadn’t seen in over a year.
Had to Snow blow my driveway twice and then ran 2 miles
Raced on saturday where the team got second and third.
On sunday I did a recon of the course for the upcoming uphill nationals -> I am still too heavy!