IM on a shoestring.

Not having the body to do an IM in a shoestring (yet), I was wondering how possible it would be to do on one.

 I had a nosey around here a while back with interest in breaking into tri, but being a tight arsed student, didn't have the means...

However, I came into a modest inheritance recently, and I'm determined not to fritter it away on paying off the overdraft. This means I may be able to afford to come and play. image

I want to enter something to give me the kick up the 'arris. The sooner I can enter the better. I'm guessing you guys are experts in that field... any ideas?

Also to get started - I need a bike.(!!) I still fall strongly within the budget range of the market, so any good-value low-end suggestions would be nice. I have a mountain bike for the time being, and was also looking at how I could stick it on a turbot if needs be...

Sorry to ramble - as you can tell I don't have much clue other than knowing I want to do it! Thanks

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Comments

  • Look back a few pages and you may find that this has been answered


    I certainly remember a thread that had a similar question and there are a fair few who have put down a few costings recently


    I think the Regensberg thread contained some as well so it may be worth looking through there

  • the entry cost alone to an IM distance race will vary from £200-450 (the higher price ones will be the IM branded ones with all the razzmatazz expected; lower cost will have less razz but still the same distance)

    a budget end bike that will stand the rigours of training and racing will be min £500 (2nd hand or sales) to £1000

    then you also need bike shoes; clipless pedals; wetsuit; tri kit etc

    then the hidden costs start - food and energy fuel (you become a food monster when training); travel costs to events incl accomodation; replacement costs for stuff that breaks or doesn't work well enough and many more

    so unless your inheritance is in a solid three figures you can kiss low cost IM goodbye
  • FB - It's in four. But only just. I know that doesn't leave much change, but I'm willing to supplement it with my own wallet too...

    M...eldy - I'll have a look back at the Regensberg thread now. As I said, I've nosed about in here before but with not having any chance of making it a reality, wasn't digging too extensively.

    Thanks for the replies image

  • SlowEngineer wrote (see)

    Also to get started - I need a bike.(!!) I...., and was also looking at how I could stick it on a turbot if needs be...

    I know very little about cycling, but I'm fairly sure that putting your bike on a fish won't do you any good image
  • Wilkie - I confess... I added the extra 't' just for the halibut.
  • The single IM when the others are doing the triple in June is cheap as chips. Well, quite a lot of chips...

    mmmmmmm......chips.....

    Outlaw is also good value.

  • Slow I did a IM on a shoestring this year. If you can find the pirate mentors thread I worked out and put a rouge brake down off what it cost me on there (I can’t find it off hand). Would guess that you have more cash to play with than what I did. I’d go for it, the most expensive thing you will need is the bike and you might be able to get a good one second hand.
  • I'm signed up for my first IM next year and by all accounts, the training/prep and the race are an experience, but what are you going to do after the IM is over? It's a lot of money to pay out if you aren't going to/ can't afford to continue. Your choice of course image

    Another thread. http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=&UTN=154710&last=1&V=6&SP=

  • Cake - thanks for that, I'll have a browse for it. Looked into the Regensburg thread for cost breakdowns but I got scared by the nearly 100 pages. That said, it does look a jolly adventure. image

    DTB - There's chips?? image I'm thinking Outlaw might be my option - unofficial and closer to home, saves on travel costs...

  • Little Ninja - As I said, I'm still a student. Due to graduate next summer, so *hopefully* I might get a proper job and become a (reasonably) upstanding member of society! Recent events have just kickstarted what I probably would have done next year... image

    While I think about the Outlaw... when do entries open for that? image

  • SlowEngineer wrote (see)
    Wilkie - I confess... I added the extra 't' just for the halibut.

    Oh my Cod.......  image

  • It might be worth looking at some of the tri starter packages (bike+wettie+trisuit) to see if that could save you any money.  As we're getting to season end there should be some bargain ex-hire wetties available which should save a few squids. 

    I would have thought you should be able to put a MTB on a turbo without problems (from recollection mine has two different spacers for 700cc (road) and 28" (MTB) wheels.

    If you were looking for a shorter event to sign up for, for next year you'll need to wait as they are (generally) not yet open for booking.  Ditto for the UK Iron distance events.  The continental ones tend to open the day after the running of the event and most of the popular ones have already sold out for 2011- but if budget is a constraint then presumably swanning off to Europe isn't a goer.  Whereabouts are you based? 

    Edit: X-post x several

  • Bike - cheap bike £100 - stick some tri bars on it and if it fits you it's faster than a £3k carbon bike without.   

    You don't need clipless pedals - you can get some clips and straps which is what cyclists did for a hundred years before clipless were invented.  Don't believe that the soles will compress and use energy - I don't know how hard some people are pressing on the pedals but it certainly isn't hard enough to compress the sole of the average pair of trainers.

    I think Asda do helmets for a tenner.   I never bother with energy food when training - how much do a few bananas and a homemade sandwich cost ?   

    In other words as far as cycling goes you can spend lots but you don't have to.    If you are anywhere near Derby I would be quite happy to find you a bike that fits for that amount - in fact if you are my height you could have the bike I started on for nothing.   If not look of FreeCycle.   

  • entries for Outlaw will open when it's open. they have a date but not the go aheads yet from relevant authorities so until all these slot into place they won't open. just because a race went well on the 1st time of asking doesn't guarantee continuance but I suspect it will as it had many ringing endorsements
  • The one I'm doing in june .it is a £100 to enter............It will probably a low key event.....image

    I did my first IM on a low budget. £550 for bike and shoes...........£125 for a wetsuit..........and £20 for google, earplugs and a noseclip..............didn't buy much else fancy things to be honest..............minimal pirate kit and I was ready.........

    lots of marmite sandwiches , squash, welshcakes, malt loaf and jelly beans for the long bike rides........mainly smart price form asdasimage

  • image 

    Found the thread mate, a lot of very good info on it and as well as lots off talking carp. I’d read through and sign up. The rest of us can help you.

    thread
  • Yes that was my question, whether you were able to sustain the investment after the year, if indeed you wanted to. Keep an eye on Aldi and Lidl sales to pick up cheap kit too. The former has bike kit on sale tomorrow, the latter running.
  • NJ.....all my stuff has lasted me through 2 seasons.........and then just for the odd outing the following year.......I have only upgraded my bike now as i had the opportunity...........

    Once the initial outlay is spent.......then it doesn't cost much to keep going apart from the race entries............only raced once this season as i  was having a cutback year..........but the stuff is still there wairting for me to sstart training again for next years Ironman.

  • FerrousFerret - What turbo was that, do you know? And I'm based in Stoke (home) and Leeds (uni). Will also start googling ex-hire wetties.

    popsider - I'm 5' 10"... is that in the right range? Would be happy to head over to Derby when I'm at home?! Thanks for your help! image

    seren nos - what's that one then? image

    I'll be scouring fleabay for bikes in the hope of picking up a well loved one. I'm somewhat aware of how green I am to everything though, and don't wanna mess up!

    Thanks again for replies everyone. Lots to take in... I think I need to start making lists and spreadsheets! image

  • UK based non branded IM near were you live to keep entry and fuel costs down

    cadge some camping gear of someone if you aint got none

    entry level Specialised Allez or Giant defy £500 ish shop around for end of season deals is more than capable of handling the training and race fit is everything with the bike

    get yer kit from ALDI or Lidl when they have running//Bike/Tri specials it aint bells and whistles but it works

     Nutrition cheappacks of jelly babies or even blocks of jelly, malt loaf , bananas are fine for training just switch before the race to the race provided nutrition to check its Ok for you

    Wetsuit again end of season or ex hire or hire one

    cheap bash hat

    good place for deals on trainers is the new balance factory shop 01931 716333

    It can be done cheaply (ish) its also nice overtaking 4k+ bikes on something that cost less than their front wheelimage

  • imagestoke, Leeds? your within silliness range for a few off the northern pirates if you want someone to knock on your door and take you out for a spin. Can someone turn on the brainwashing machine please?
  • Cake - Thanks for the link, will have a read!

     Little Ninja - spotted that sale. Will have to head down... I've heard Netto are good value too, depending what they have in!

     image Disclaimer - the frequency of smiley faces may be liable to increase with the proximity of any given event...

  • There's a brainwashing machine?! image

    Might come in handy, depending how powerful it is... there's some filth up here!!

  • Thre one I'm doing is the one in hampshire linked to the multiday ones.............some from here are atempting the deca.which is 10 IM in 10 days............I wil be doing the single which is on the last day of their 10...............some people are also doing the double and triple IM which are on the last 2 and three days of the wek..............should be a few people down there...but it is a lot of smaller loops....rather than some of the other IM which has a few larger loops.......

    I'm going as its very cheap......camping uis very cheap there...........and it should be a good party with no flights to worry about........image

  • SlowEngineer wrote (see)

    there's some filth up here!!

    You've not met Lee and scmuckee yet. image
  • Sounds very tempting seren. For the reasons you listed, and as I might not be the most incapacitated person there come the end of the day!
  • SlowEngineer wrote (see)

    FerrousFerret - What turbo was that, do you know? And I'm based in Stoke (home) and Leeds (uni).


    Let me know when you are home, I work in Stoke, live in Macclesfield

    Mrs SA is doing the outlaw next year, so I dont think she will mind the company for any bikes rides etc.

    i might be able to help you out with kit etc as I'm doing nothing next year

  • Cake wrote (see)
    SlowEngineer wrote (see)

    there's some filth up here!!

    You've not met Lee and scmuckee yet. image


    OI! image  ....okay, fair enough image

    Hello SE, welcome to the dark side image  As folk have said, you could probably do it fairly cheaply if you're careful, and once you've got the basics, there isn't much major kit left to buy, unless you want to upgrade, but no reason you should need to if put a bit of thought into what you'll need.  Though it si a bit rich saying that because i'm slightly crap with money, and tend to buy things I want, and worry about paying it off later.  DON'T DO THAT, if you can help it!  Be sensible, unlike me image

    See, nothing filthy at all Cake image  Though in saying that, I could really go some Cake right now.  I'm hungry I mean , but i'm sure you knew that's what I meant imageimage

  • The Silent Assassin wrote (see)
    SlowEngineer wrote (see)

    FerrousFerret - What turbo was that, do you know? And I'm based in Stoke (home) and Leeds (uni).


    Let me know when you are home, I work in Stoke, live in Macclesfield

    Mrs SA is doing the outlaw next year, so I dont think she will mind the company for any bikes rides etc.

    i might be able to help you out with kit etc as I'm doing nothing next year

    Speaking of which should be at new mills weekend after next if you guys want to play? Should be free in the afternoon.
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