JeepFleeb's mentor group - FULL (Page 4)

Agreed.  Need vs. Want    I love my tri bike.  Felt S32 stock.  Not the lightest but it fits great and I can move it decently fast.  Love my road bike.  2009 Tarmac Expert.  Climbs like Bernhard Kohl on Cera!!

I wanted to upgrade my bars and wheels to make the Felt lighter.  I might need to re-look the purchase choices.

Can you really tell the difference in training with a power meter against HR/perceived effort?  Like I said before, I've never ridden with one.

I dont have one, not shopping for one, probably because I have no idea what one is.  I got a garmin 305 for Christmas that I need to figure out how to use, that is the stage of tracking and analyzing for me at this point.

I don't have one either, would love one, but can't afford it unfortunately (teenagers cost a lot of money ).  If I could buy one thing right now it would be a true tri bike - since I only started off intending to ride bikes I bought a road bike and have added aero bars and changed my set up and fit so at least I have something that passes for a tri bike for now.

I am right there with you on this level with the exception that I expect to have my Garmin 305 in the mail on Monday and will then try to figure it out....

I WAY overused my last pair of shoes - I know better, but did a horrible job of logging for a few months.  Anyhow, I just bought a new pair and decided to try to use the BT function to log miles to them.  I apparently succesfully created the equipment, because I can choose them from a drop-down in my log . . . but I don't see it on my log page like I do on other people's?  Is there something more I need to do?  I want to make sure the miles are actually booked against them!

Thanks!
Renee

All I know of them - is I hear they are THE way to bike train.  And that they are expensive, so likely not an option for me right now, but I'd love to hear more.  Any idea what a entry level one would cost - that is worth spending the $ on?

I just got a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine trainer for Christmas and it comes with some sort of cheap power computer.  I haven't hooked the computer up yet.  Could I use this to my benefit over the winter?

As for HR - I use a Polar F6 HR monitor.  It seems to go wacky on me when I use the treadmills at the gym - so I never get an accurate HR when I'm running inside - which is most of the time at this time of year.  It works fine for my spin classes and swimming . . .  I've been dreaming of a Garmin 305 or 405 for a while.  Does anyone have any thoughts on which is better for tris?

Renee

I have a Tacx Fortius which has a power meter built in, I use it to train during the winter. But as of now I don't have one on my bike yet.

My next big purchase will be a true tri bike, as of no I onw only a road bike. After that I will think about the power meter. 

Only thing I don't like it that I either have to use a crank system, which can't go on two bikes. Or I can use the wheels system, but then if I switch wheels for a race I lose my power meter for the race. Or i can get rich and buy as many as I need

This is getting interesting

You should cover that in your review, it as always been a factor why I wasn't really interested into buying a power meter.

I know it's early in the season but, I need some advice on whether to do the Hotter 'n Hell 100 twenty days prior to my first iron distance tri...  My schedule has me doing a 5.5 hour ride 4 weeks prior to race day.

Please advise.

ok fleebs............haha..........can i call you that?

 so i'm reading all of this stuff about power meters, and have been doing some independent research on what i will need, not just for training purposes but for the race itself. Do you have a shortlist of stuff that would be beneficial for me to get right away? 

 It kind of gets overwhelming because there is so much out there. As far as what I need and what is just nice to have. I do have equipment worked into my budget so it's just a matter of knowing what to get when I guess.

I got my plan set up today and am looking at a couple of used road bikes tomorrow and from there it's trial by fire. 

I have the basics and just a couple goodies so far:  tri shorts, wet suit, road bike (specialized allez double), bike shoes, race belt, shoes (gait fit), garmin 305, fluid trainer

 I am going to be on a tighter budget this year and was thinking that my next purchase was going to be a set of aero bars to put on my road bike.  Good investment, or spend money on something else?  If bars are the way to go, any suggestions?  Would like to keep it around $100, but knowing me, would stretch it to get something good.  

If everything goes as I planned it my next purchase will be my tri bike.

Here's the one I am planning to get Equinox as of now I only own a road bike. It's an Opus, a Canadian bike, not sure they sell those in the US. Anyway here is my raodie

Aaron, what is your opinion on the Trek Equinox?

Thanks, I will wait and see what will be the announcement on Jan 23rd.

As far as the Equinox fit I haven't try it yet. My LBS is suposed to get one soon so I can get a feel on it and make sure it fits me well.

Thank you for your input.

Oh.... Thanks for the advice.... That was one of my thoughts too.... So no aerobars for me at the moment.... I actually have a cross bike right now and I will definitely use that for my first season and then go from there.

Aaron - why do you say this?  What makes it so difficult to get a roadbike into correct position?  And why do you say that it makes them slower runners?

I have had aerobars on my roadbike since mid triseason last year and my race times only improved.  I am sure some of it was because I improved as an athlete but non the less.   Before getting aerobars on my road bike I rode in the drops all the time and it was definitely not comfortable to do this for long periods of time - especially for your neck.

That being said, I am happy to say that I think I have found a way to pay for a new tri bike and will know in a week or so.