Travel Trac Real Axiom V3 Trainer verse Computrainer

I am not ready to make the purchase, but did look into it when a friend was - and given the cost of the real axiom courses, and that they are mostly european, I think it won't take long to end up spending just as much.

 from computrainer:

Unlimited Pre-Loaded Courses - Custom and Downloadable

Create Your Own Courses

"Course Builder" - A friendly user interface makes creating 3D courses easy when course altitudes and distances are available.

"Topo USA Map & Ride" - As an option, Delorme Publishing and Racermate has developed as a special joint venture. Now you can create ANY bike course in the U.S.A. with "Map & Ride" Topo USA Course Creation Software and Bike Course Creation Software.

Record and Analyze detailed performance, create custom "watts versus time" protocols, examine graphed data in detail or in its entirety 

I have decided to wait until I can get a computrainer (unless I get my gym to get them  

 yeah that means they're free.  there are literally hundreds of different things to ride, really far more than you will ever do.  if you ever get to ride a computrainer you'll get a chance to see these programs. 

the program you see for $99 is something new they have just started selling.  they went out and videotaped entire courses so that people that like to ride 3d courses can have better video to look at.  i'll pass on that though even though its probably far better than the graphics in the normal 3d courses.

IMO, the greatest benefit of a CT is using it in the ergo mode.  you can write you own porgrams and have it do what you want, for example, i may want to have a program that warms me up for 10 minutes at 150 watts, then jumps to 275 for a minute or two, then back to 175 for 5 minutes, its limitless.  you can custom tailor the wattages as you get stronger.  ergo mode is good because no matter what gear you are in its gonna make you spin against whatever watts its set on.

another alternative are the Ergvideos.  these take real video shot from a helmet cam and then slave the CT to whatevers going on on the screen.  if the guys in the group get up out of the saddle to sprint, you feel a corresponding increase in effort as the watts climb.  i used to watch tv while i was on the trainer, now i can't get my eyes of the monitor because i'm interested in what the riders are gonna do.

I have the V3 - my second year - over 800 miles on it - I like the fact that you can ride what you want...short, long, hills..spin...etc and you get the feedback. I have a lot of the climbs on DVD - l'Alpe  D'huez, Courcheval, Bondone, Venoux etc...they are great. I also have the WC courses for Madrid and Verona..they are shorter and less hilly.

Overall - the tension provided is enough but I understand that after 7%, even if it says 10% on the incline you are maxed at the 7% - they are working on a fix.

You can race yourself...best time or there are a couple of courses with a champion ( Damiano Cunego I believe is the rider) so the motivation is there!

It definitely relieves the boredom of trainer rides and the variety to make riding a trainer actually something I want to do.

Feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to provide input to your decision. 

Wingsfan - where did you see the Garmin to Realaxiom info?

Thanks