My wonderful wife, not knowing what to get me for Christmas, ordered a Garmin 305. I’ve got a couple of Tri buddies that have them, so thats where she got the idea. Seems like it would be cool to have but I’ve had a plain heart monitor for years and haven’t used it much at all. I think the only thing I would enjoy would be going for a run and not having to go a predetermined route, or a route that I’ve driven/rode to measure distance. Although, I usually can guess pretty close my distance by the time and intensity of the run. I’ve been thinking of getting a disc, but didn’t mention it on the wish list. Thought it would be too much cash. Just got to thinking I could take the cash for the Garmin and start a Renn Disc fund. Wouldn’t take long to have enough money for it. On that thought. How much benefit do I get using a Disc rear and Hed3 front vs Hed3’s front and back. Assuming winds are relatively calm. Race days I average 19-20mph.
Should have clarified: I already own the Hed3 front and back. Just thinking of adding to the arsenal>
Dude, the ST Dweeb force is on your side. Get a disc and you will go to 28.34156 mph average over 40k TT. Even us marginal tri guys (and girls) know how much we can truly benifit from disc wheels. It
s all in the #'s.
Go with the Garmin 305. BTW, you never stated which 305, Forerunner or Edge.
a: your wife bought it for you, and seems like the nice thing to do
b: it will be fun to learn about the garmin, and mix things up on your rides and runs. get out and run new routes etc
c: you have a 3 spoke which is a super fast wheel
Go with the Garmin. And then buy the book “Running Formula” by Jack Daniels and get your running training paces figured out. Then use your forerunner for those training paces and your running will get faster. A disc is not going to buy you much over your Hed 3s. You should also start using your HRM to train at some higher intensities. Plus the Garmin is a lot of fun when you combine it with the tools from Google Earth and Motionbased.com.
Dam, I was afraid I would start to get talked out of the disc. I guess the Garmin would help improve whats most important to go fast- my legs and lungs. I guess I can always start a new fund for the disc. There’s, always birthdays!! My B-day is the day before Memphis in May, in 2007. I think that would be good timing!
Best thing about running with my Garmin is that I cant bullshit myself any more. I get an accurate account of my pace and distance. Sometimes it is hard to look at but there it is… Also, nothing like getting that feedback real time while running down the road. It is the closest thing to a power meter for running. I hate running without it now.
keep the Garmin … which you’ll like if you start using it … AND get a ZIPP disc in addition. These after all are things that are essential to life … not just needs. Just do it!
Dave
Keep the Garmin and skip the disc as you will presumably use it more. You will also save the headache of having to explain/tell your wife that you want something else besides the present she got you. I would hate to see how that conversation goes :).
I am going the anti disc route after owning 2 Zipp discs. I just don’t see the value- even in a Renn disc. Seems to me that you already have the fastest wheel set out there for 99.5 percent of us. I am sure a disc is faster for some dill-weed in the tour, but I am not so convinced it is the best wheel for a triathlete any more. Maybe I am just sour :). Keep what you have. The disc can’t be worth more than a handful of seconds over a short event any ways. Maybe a minute in an IM.
I have a Renn disc, and while I like it when I use it (a handful of times a year), I certainly wouldn’t have bought it if I had a Hed 3. In fact, in retrospect, I’d have rather bought a deep dish rear wheel that doesn’t need the stupid crack pipe to inflate. I can’t imagine the time savings between the two are that significant unless you’re going to battle for the podium. As to the Garmin, I agree with others…your wife bought it, so tell her you love it.
yeah keep the Garmin…mroe use, good training tool. I noticed I pass a lot of guys late in the bike with disk wheels anyway, Makes me really wonder why these guys bother then they are riding 17 mph by that point…
The Garmin is a toy and who doesn’t love a toy. There are seriously an infinate number of things you can do with a GPS and the data it stores. As some suggested, take a look at some of the hellacool sites out there – Google map, Motionbased, etc… I’m going to reveal what a geek I am here; my absolute favorite part of training is to use my mapping software to explore new bike routes. I’ll find some new road to explore and calculate the elevation gains and distance. This keeps training exciting and new. I also simulate race rides – finding a route close to home with a similar distance and grade profile. I can’t even tell you how valuable this type of training is.
Go with the disc wheel. Garmins are not worth the frustration. I, my GF and 3 friends of ours have Garmin 305’s. The consensus is; they suck. Even on a good day (when it works) the Garmin’s reliability to do what is is supposed to do throughout the length of your ride is questionable if not disappointing. On the other hand, disc wheels don’t need satellite connections or batteries to do what they are supposed to do. The disc wheel is the way to go…and a disc looks way cooler on your bike than a Garmin.
Disc wheels suck as well. They require a crack pipe to inflate and can only be used for races. You certainly don’t want to be the guy bumping down the road on a disc for a training ride :). I would think the Garmin would be a better choice, but what do I know? All I have is a Polar 720i, and I sold my disc this last year to buy a Ergomo :).