Leegoocrap's Mentor Group - Closed (Page 4)

Let's see.  Short bio...my name is Wendy, I'm 52, and have never participated in a triathlon. I'm not sure, but does this make me the most senior and least experienced???
I have 3 grown children, am single, and just joined a new Lifetime Fittness built next door to me. My workout buddy just learned that she's pregnant (and feeling not so hot) so I've been cast to the winds, so to speak.  I was looking for something to motivate me or some possibilities for other workout buddies on the lifetime fittness site and stumbled a series of tris sponsored by Lifetime in 2011.  Particularly, one in Austin on May 30.  My sister has been doing tris for several years and she lives in Austin, and so a thought began to form......sometimes it's scary when that happens.  

Mostly I have been a treadmill run/walker for the last several years, but I'm pretty sure I can manage it outside as well.

I do own a bike, but it is 35 years old, (and currently in custody of my children who don't really want to give it back) so will need some advice on where to start on the thought of getting something that was made in this century. 

I used to swim a lot, and probably have decent skills, but no recent endurance.  Got back in the pool this am for the first time in years...I think I swam about 800 M, but does anyone have a tip about how to keep track of laps??? 

I appreciate you all taking on a newbie.....just think of how proud you will be if you get me through my first tri! 

It's easy to catch the Tri Bug

I'd start with just going to a couple of the local bike shops in your area and browsing / talking to the guys/gals there. Explain that you aren't 100% sure what you are looking for, and you aren't buying today, just looking for idea's / input. For that matter, it's important to decide just what exactly you ARE looking for... bikes are like automobiles... some people need a Ferrari, some people need an F350, but most people just want something reliable. Do you think you only want to be doing triathlons on the bike? Going to get into group riding? Those questions (and others... like how flexible you are, how serious about racing you are, how fat your wallet...err purse... is, etc) are all very important to have a clear answer to before you go to spend the money.

I use a Timex Ironman watch w/ the lap feature I bought from wal-mart. It was about $10 and I've had it for about 4 years with no problem or sign of it dying (which is more than I can say for my Citizen watches...)

I appreciate you all taking on a newbie.....just think of how proud you will be if you get me through my first tri! 

I have a real nice Polar HR monitor.  My wife bought if for me about 5+ years ago.  I also use it for my bike computer with speed and cadence sensor.  I wish I had GPS, but I can't justify it because my current watch works great.  (Same problem:  I have a 5+ YO IPod Nano and Nike +)  I use this stuff every day, and do try to take good care of my toys, but I wish they would die so I could get new cool stuff.   I would probably recommend the Garmin or Timex if I was going to buy today.  Hope the timex continues to get better because my exerience with Garmin products leaves a lot to be desired. 

I bought my wife a Garmin 205 a couple of years ago.  It worked well for 2 years and then holds only about a 2 hour charge.  The Garmin software never worked very well.  My wife loved it as she had limited expectations, but as a software developer, athlete and professional in GIS mapping technology, I am not very impressed.  Just my $.02.

Still, they (Garmin) are the best game in town.