Completed first Sprint--need answers

Thanks for the quick responses, guys/gals!  I do want to get a fluid trainer this winter, and your answers thus far pretty much make me feel as though it will be a wise investment.  I have been thinking about getting a new bike this winter simply because the bike shops will have some smokin deals over the winter.  At the same time, I don't know if getting a bike and not being able to test ride it on the road would be wise.  Thoughts?  I am considering a Cervelo Soloist.

I was kinda surprised at my T1 time.  It didn't seem that slow to me, but obviously it was--especially compared to the field.  Socks and bike shoes with laces (why did I go this route) were my downfall.  I also was surprised at my run.  I expected to do the run in 23:30.  Maybe I should have stopped cheesing for the camera and just run!

Nonetheless, it was a great experience.  Well worth it.  I look forward to the day I can offer advice to the next new guy. 

I hope to be a regular here on BT.  I will log my training and other info soon.

Cheers!

Before you invest in a road (or tri) bike, do you really have places to ride it?  I haven't been to Alaska, but driving through Montana this summer on our way to Coeur D'Alene I realized that while this was beautiful country, if I were training, I'd have two choices for my rides most of the time:  I could ride East on the main road, or I could ride West on the main road.   There weren't "side roads" with less traffic that went anywhere. It'd get pretty boring for me to ride back and forth on the same roads every ride and I'd be back on the mountain bike and the trails pretty quickly. 

Couple important points based on your race results:

1) Congrats on your first tri! Those are great results, especially for a tri.

2) Your bike split is almost definitely a result of your mtn bike versus your fitness. I can almost guarantee that if you jumped on a crappy road bike, you'd jump 10-15 spots up. I'm a FOP cyclist, but I'd have no chance at all at being FOP if I were on a mtn bike - I'd struggle to be even back of MOP.

3) Getting a road bike is mandatory if you wish to improve your standings on the bike significantly.

If you were just out to finish, the mtn bike is totally fine, but sounds like you want to compete.

I'd recommend getting a top-of-the-line trainer, and not skimping on it. The trainer will likely NEVER break, and when you're on it all winter, you'll be glad you have a good, quiet, and stable one. I'd go Kurt Kinetic or CycleOps Fluid 2. $3-400 is not a lot to spend on a piece of equipment that you can use intensely for years. You can often get the Cycleops for $275ish, and it's excellent.

 

Your post made me realise that winter is coming faster than I want

Congrats on your first Triathlon

We live in Iceland and have the same winter problems as you. My first trainer ride will probably be today.

You already got a lot of good advises.

We use the trainer pretty much all winter and on every session I use the TV with it to not get bored. We also have a tons of Spinervals DVDs and they are a lot of fun and you get a good workout in with them.

I take spinning classes from time to time mostly to bike with someone else than myself. I also love spinning as it gets a good sweat out of you.

And then as soon as the last snow clears (which this year was in May here) you get out on the road and pedal as much as you can outside until you will go back on the trainer in September....