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.
Did a nice cold Chuck type 1h road ride in 2 degC weather…looking forward to some warmth
Rode the Gran Fondo RBC in Montgomery TX. 20 mph gust winds and temperatures in the 40 F (Crazy weather for Houston, TX area)
I rode my bike trainer.
Mountain Bike ride.. Thanks Ray
I raced in an sprint distance triathlon.
Beautiful Saturday! Went for a relaxing run and an amazing hike!
Three weekends until PortMac 70.3, so it was a hilly 90km ride, 17km run, easy 45km ride.
Thanks again!
Alex
Dragged myself to the pool, so I could use the sauna!
Hello, biking this weekend with a Big Sun !
Since I’m on call, rode around the bloke several times
I ran a 55 mile race in Prescott AZ on limited training and it hurt.
Hiked in Costa Rica!
39-degree, 25mph winds, half marathon PR Saturday; 28-degree, 30-40mph winds, 5th place triathlon Sunday.
Very vaguely athletic is a whole weekend of spring cleaning…I’m sure there were double digit calories burned! Best I could do nursing a broken ankle!
I did a spontaneous 50 mile ride with the weather around 60 degrees. Two days later, it was snowing. Again. In mid April. In the Midwest, USA.
Spring needs to get here already.
Got sick, so my athletic endeavor was getting up to make food.
It was icy here so I wasn’t able to ride, but I put new tires on my bike.
Need to run, so I can keep up with my two little girls (and they can be fast, especially when they misbehave *g*)
Did some stretching and a bike interval training.
Ran Saturday and Sunday, getting back in the swing of thingd
Saturday did a 4km swim. Sunday was supposed to be a long run. But a colleague could report for work at the ER, so I had to cover, did my running around the ER seeing patients.
Ran an easy half marathon, The Run at the Mill, as a training run before the IM Chattanooga 70.3. Even though I took it easy for 10 miles and only pushed the last 5K, I ran the same time as I RACED on the same course last year! Losing 30 lbs certainly didn’t hurt!
I managed a “three quarter Olympic” triathlon – the last hitout before a proper 70.3 in 3 weeks time.
Still snowing here can you believe. I did intervals on Zwift Saturday. And rode tempo on Zwift on Sunday.
Easy HM long run for the first post-hibernation outdoor run of the year.
Saturday rest, and Sunday a recovery ride after 700 kilometers of biking last week.
Two hours of basketball and then a recovery run
A different kind of triathlon. Research-Bike-Run
Tough one. Saturday with swim,bike and run and Sunday long headwind(as always) ride. Feeling great.
Do they sell physio equipment? Been laid up for months.
A speed interval of 3 x 1 mile on Tuesday, easy runs on Monday, rest day on Wednesday and tempo run on Thursday. Looking forward to the long run over the weekend.
easy day for me saturday sitting in and calling it “base miles” followed by my signature dawn ride on sunday aka “back before my family knows i’m gone”
Longest bike ride in a while, 130 km and lots of food!!!
I did a 5 mike hike with my son in a pack making it a 50ish lb ruck :)
Easy 5K
Finger exercises with the remote.
Yesterday I had a nice long mountain bike ride on some trails I haven’t ridden in a long time. Also got to help a who had a flat and his spare tube had failed him.
Did parkrun at Noosa in Queensland whilst on holiday. I wasn’t really prepared for the ‘undulations’ (hills) and the humidity. Sweatiest run ever.
I did my last weekend run of my pre london marathon taper. All systems go for this Sunday.
Ran a wet and muddy 20 miler around some local trails–first 50k coming up in a month!
On Saturday, I ran the Martian Marathon in Dearborn, MI. 15mph headwinds on the back half of the course were really brutal.
Ran six miles this weekend to enjoy the nice spring weather, which then promptly disappeared the next day.
I ran 10 miles Sunday and got lucky it didn’t rain till after I was done
spent the whole weekend cycling and kayaking :) !
Ran 9.5 miles on Saturday. Did absolutely nothing on Sunday.
7 mile run in Hawaii before boarding the plane to come home and back to work… Hawaii was better than work. :-)
Rutgers Unite Half Marathon!
Finally had enough time to get back into the pool and start training.
Recovery hike with the kiddos!
It was all base miles and spent the rest of the weekend warming up because Mother Nature will not leave New England alone and allow spring to start. Not pleased!!!
Recovered. Just trying to get healthy after some bronchitis.
I like me some SPAM so I don’t mind the sandwich.
This weekend adventure included 7 miles on a treadmill per me training app for the a half and some laps in the pool.
Nothing to exciting about that.
Run and bike a lot!
I enjoyed a “run” in the fabulous April ice storm! Good times…
Oh boy! Another chance for some swag!
I volunteered all weekend at the Zumbro 100 mile run, which ended up being in the middle of an April blizzard in Minnesota. It was one long and cold weekend, but an amazing experience.
I ran the Boston marathon in awful cold windy rain! And loved it!
Long swim to get back into it
Ran 30 mins following my daughter’s first ride (no side wheels) on bicycle. Very nice autumn weather.
Running through the dunes.
Played an intense round of chase my kids through the house :)
I had food poisoning so I haven’t been able to ride since last Wednesday. Been a rough few days! Hoping to get out tonight.
Friday was 6am swim session in the 50m pool, Put the tri bars on my bike this weekend ahead of race season. 40km to test with a brick run off it on Saturday and Sunday was a strength session to keep the body strong. Was wet and windy on the bike but really enjoyed getting out there.
Ran with my daughter to train for a half marathon. Her first time going over 10 miles. Keep it going, kiddo!!!
45 mile ride Saturday afternoon, 8 beers Saturday night, 12 mile run sudsy, WOOT!
Did a white and redneck triathlon this weekend- skied in the morning, afternoon run, then when quading.
Recovery weekend. Surf/shred the gnar
Awful weather at the weekend, so had a recovery weekend with a 20km coffee spin with the other half.
Footgolf with the family and a 14 mile run. Great weekend.
I’m looking to embark upon my longest bike ride yet, with a DIY audax adventure of 300km. Hopefully this will coincide with some long overdue spring sunshine!
Bought an MTB, first in 18 years, and rode it in the snow! …and shoveled said snow.
Saturday was a 5K race done as the “fast finish for a medium-long run; Sunday was a quick trainer spin while watching much faster women at Amstel Gold.
Run the slowest trek ever!!!!
Friday I finally got my first outdoor ride of the season in before hunkering down for winters return to Boston.
Hiking in the southern part of the Netherlands
My long run got postponed due to tornado warnings but got it in today in prep for America’s toughest road marathon the Blue Ridge Marathon.
An epic riptide on Zwift for me followed by a stack of essays to grade
Ran 8 miles Saturday and ‘recovered’ with a 21 mile run Sunday
recovery weekend with the famely
racing a half ironman :S
Did a 2 hour basketball dribble training. Then layed on grass resting.
Had a great run Sat in the rain
Enjoyed the ice storm. Didn’t do much.
Running strong on Boston Marathon day.
End of build phase before some winter fondos!
Did a 75 mile bike ride!
I went for a 15k trail run and was awesome! Sunny day and barely any hikers! All trails for myself :)
a bit of road a bit of trail
For me… it was yard work, finding a seat post for the bike I’m building, and watching Atlanta United on TV. That counts as athleticish, right?!
Some long walks and some trainer rides
Short bike ride along the schuylkill river
An enjoyable weekend running and cycling through the mountains.
I did lots of ab adventure work in the form of uncontrollable coughing :)
I did 30 minutes on my Trainer both saturday and Sunday during a miserable spring blizzard!
The cold wet and windy Boston Marathon!
Was sick so ended up taking it really, really slow. Trainer ride since was light headed and mostly slept.
Recovering from concussion, so I stretched. That’s about all I can do.
Did the Zwift’s Tour of Watopia Stage 5. Have a blast with all the hills… (3 Sisters).
Thx DC
Stephane
A quick run around neighbour.
A bit of trail running and cycling!
Ran with the dog!