I have sold my old hobby (flutes / piccolos) and made a bit of money. OH says I should spend it on my new hobby ... What shall I do with it?
I already have a Giant Avail with a carbon frame and TT bars. I'm too new to road bikes to feel safe with deep rim wheels or those tub thingies.
What should I do with my little windfall?
Comments
You don't need a cf TT bike. The material isn't that important.
Position and fit is the key.
I'm doing Outlaw in July, Cougie, and hoping that'll be the first of many IMs
Yes, TD, I did think about just getting some more premium bonds
I seem to be spending money in lots of little tranches.
-Pirate kit 100
-trainers 60 a time
-bike parts £30 a month
-petrol for hobby £60 a month
-tyres
-lights
-let's try another saddle (great game that is!)
-race entries
-swimming training
-physio
-hotel bills
Whenever I ran the London Marathon, I reckon that it cost me £500 for the weekend, by the time I'd put the family up in the Premier Inn for 2 nights, fed them and bought rail tickets. Nottingham is cheaper, but the principle's the same.
Open a Cash ISA and use it as a saving account for your hobby.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSPFOR/planet_x_stealth_pro_carbon_sram_force_time_trial_bike
?
You CAN get a very decent TT bike for £1500! Do this! (Then start saving for a Retul fit)
It never ends...
You could ask them to swap them for the carbon clinchers...
Garmin Forerunner 910XT (having pool swim data has helped me to enjoy pool swim training), also get your fit checked and any adjustments made to your bike position, then what Blisters says.. this sport can be demanding on the wallet
Why not spend it on a trip somewhere - maybe to an event. If Ironman is your thing then one of them - or else a cycling trip to the Alps or Pyrenees - there are loads of sportives in France and Italy that would be an experience.
If you want a TT bike though no point in getting on without some decent wheels - agree with Cougie - an aluminium TT bike would be fine and stick some deep rim carbon tubular wheels on it for racing - it's a lot of money for relatively occasional use though - depends how into it you are I suppose.
Swim lessons - tried that but no one near enough, it seems ... (Gap in the market for any torpedoes out there looking to re-locate up north)
Carbon clinchers - is that some kind of sex toy??!
When you say up north?
find a bookie that will give odds on me breaking 2 hours for the swim at Challenge Copenhagen and then stick all your money on me not doing it
Me too. They're like Mondeos.
OK few more suggestions.
What about an ex-demo wattbike, from the manufacturers with 1 year warranty - £1600. A decent turbo with power measurement is about £300 and then you'd want an old bike to stick on it so you don't ruin the best bike - so really it's only costing you an extra grand, a bargain !
Or, if you are the kind of person who enjoys structuring their training and making it scientific, a powermeter, in fact you could combine a set of deep section wheels with a powertap, get something robust like Cosmic Carbones which you can use for training as well as racing without too much worry, or just some lighter nicer shallow rim wheels with the powertap hub. Don't worry about deep rims - they are only a problem on really gusty days.
Hull - yes I know, 'real' up north people don't call that north at all, but we're Yorkshire, and that's good enough for me
Now, now, Bokster - positive thinking!!!
Strangely that comment makes me want one even more now. I drive a Mondeo (is that not cool to admit to?)
Funnily enough, I tried a Wattbike at the Bike and Tri show at the weekend - I really liked what it was showing me about efficient pedalling - I had no idea what this meant before.
Sorry - seem to have a 7755matt stutter there
Here's the decision -
Today - new cycle shoes (last year's were too small), neoprene overshoes, gloves and merino socks (after numb feet on today's long ride), turbo riser block, turbo tyre, warm cycle tights
Next - new wheels and tyres, LBS recommendation. I have no idea about this sort of thing, but trust their judgement as I've been shopping there for years.
Save the rest - no TT bike at least until I have done Outlaw in case I never want to ride a bike again
sounds like good spending so far and a good decision brit
Brit, remember that even your favourite LBS will have ties to specific suppliers. If you are seeking wheels, then they will only promote the ones they deal in. There are hundreds out there, but popularity is a very good indicator. From what I've been oggling, this has reduced to a shortlist of 3 (road wheels).
Mavic ksyrium elite
Planet x
Campagnolo Khamsin
You may even decide that you could sell the hubby (my mis-reading) and get some carbon deep rims for race day.
Need the OH, though - no wife = no tea, and that is the whole point of training in the first place!!!
(Wouldn't I get blown over with deep rims in the wind?)
Last years outlaw bike was a bit windy but fine for deep rims.
If you get 50mm or so - it won't often be windy enough to stop you using them.
Brit, I was sent this link from a fellow Pirate. I am in a similar boat of looking for wheel upgrades and not knowing my arse from my elbow
http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-aero-wheelsets-and-disc-wheels-31023/
I'm also considering these though
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/wheels-factory-built-wheels-factory-road-tri-profile-altair-semi-carbon-52-clincher-wheels-pair/profwhfr240
if you are after general wheels the planet-xs look pretty good.
Aluminium braking surface - so you can use them properly unlike those crappy carbon ones. I remember steveHo trying to brake ahead of a big corner in the rain in Regensburg on the course familiarisation ride.....with some borrowed carbon tubulars. He needed to wash his cycle kit afterwards
50 depth - nice all round size - has some effect but not too bad in x-winds.
500 the pair - a bargain compared to heds, (1000 the pair) or zipps (2000) or sram s40s, (900 pair)
personally I dont like the prfile ones.... no idea why - just bike tartness I think
Currently £4001 I got the 60mms last year. Very happy with them.