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End of season splurge, turbo or gps?
Horters43
Posts: 17
in General Chat
After my first season in Tri I have circa £130 to spend on something to help my training over the winter and I'd like your opinion between a turbo-trainer and a gps watch.
I have done two sprint tri's and one olympic (which was a disaster after I completed an extra bike lap ). Improved in pace and stamina markedly through the season. My aspirations will peak at the Olympic distance for now.
My open 40km bike time is 1hr12m and my open 5km is 24m10s so I would say my bike is the stronger of the two disciplines. I think I would benefit from some instance pace feedback on the run. And, before you mention it, I am joining a swim group over the winter.
Haven't picked a turbo at the moment (but there are loads on wiggle at that price) and I have settled on a Garmin 210 from Handtec (thanks to a forum search for that little gem of a website).
Other factor to consider is the most painful aspect of the turbo will be the nagging to put it back in the shed the moment it has been finished with!
What say you? £130 is pretty much my max so no suggesting a 910xt anyone
I have done two sprint tri's and one olympic (which was a disaster after I completed an extra bike lap ). Improved in pace and stamina markedly through the season. My aspirations will peak at the Olympic distance for now.
My open 40km bike time is 1hr12m and my open 5km is 24m10s so I would say my bike is the stronger of the two disciplines. I think I would benefit from some instance pace feedback on the run. And, before you mention it, I am joining a swim group over the winter.
Haven't picked a turbo at the moment (but there are loads on wiggle at that price) and I have settled on a Garmin 210 from Handtec (thanks to a forum search for that little gem of a website).
Other factor to consider is the most painful aspect of the turbo will be the nagging to put it back in the shed the moment it has been finished with!
What say you? £130 is pretty much my max so no suggesting a 910xt anyone
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Comments
A turbo and some sufferfest videos are also great. I am about to get back on my turbo and it help loads with my running last year. I think you will get gains from both. you can use the garmin on the trubo so I would sya get both
Turbos have their place, and can produce results, but not handling skills.
Get the best GPS, one with a virtual opponent on it, so you can see instantly if you are on pace, etc.
£500 give or take
http://www.elitetrainersandrollers.com/elite-arion-digital-rollers.html
First season, so after getting ; bike, wetsuit, pedals, shoes, wetsuit, tri-suit, cycling shorts, helmet...you get the picture, my budget is STRICTLY £130(ish).
I think my bike handling skills are ok, it's just my counting skills that aren't.
Think I'm settled on a 210 unless anyone suggests a GPS from left-field?
I know of only a handful of triathletes who have excellent bike handling skills. Unless you have come from a biking background I bet, like most of us, you handling skills are shocking when it comes down to jumping your bike over cattle grids at 40mph, launching youirself over dropped bottles in transition etc
And on reflection - I dont know ANYONE who has brought a tri related product and stayed within a budget. Its not possible......
A Garmin 210 with HR would be a good piece of kit for training and racing but ideally you would benefit with a cadence feature for the bike which the 210 doesnt support.
IMO a turbo trainer would benefit you more over the winter but to get maximum benefit from it ideally you would need a HRM and also a cadence sensor so again would require more spending unless you could pick up a cheap second hand turbo like the Tacx Flow which as all the mentioned features.
Unfortunately which ever option you choose, eventually you WILL want to spend more money on kit, its all part of being a triathlete.
Good Luck with your choice and happy winter training.
I've turned the thermostat down and broken off the dial, bought the mrs a jumper and am getting a 310.
Congratulations on another budget broken all!
Essentials, carbon bike, carbon wheels, carbon tri bike shoes, aero helmet, GPS, bling shades, snot hot run shoes, Über fast wetsuit.
Luxuries, non tri clothes, heat, light, yadda yadda