I was planning on attending a triathlon camp from a former Hawaii Champion. The total package I estimate would be about $900. After seeing the function of a computrainer in detail at my LBS, I’ve now decided that if I would be far better off investing in a computrainer. Please tell me I’m making the correct decision. Training my first IM in the fall.
If you use the computrainer, you made the right decision.
Definately the computrainer. You can learn way more about your cycling yourself with the CT than what anyone can tell you by just watching. No excuses on rainy or cold days and now you can ride at night or early in the morning. The camp will be there if you really want to go next year, but with the improvements you can make even using the CT once/week you may not want to go
I agree with you and damn.
Dude - seriously what do you want to do - ride outdoors with someone who will tell great stories and give you some very good training tips - or sit indoors and analyse your performance day after day. I just got off a 2-hour training ride and I would have love to be able to take a week off and go to Francois’ camp in March instead of doing this for the next three months.
All respect to Tom - but I think you’ll learn a lot from a week of intense coaching - and build a much better base from a week of solid training then you will by sitting on the CT. Plus - since you’re training for a fall IM a spring camp will help you set your base for the upcoming season. The best time for a CT is when you have to train all winter indoors for a spring race (IMO). If you said you were doing IMNZ then get the CT.
Dude, way off base!
Why pay for just a camp when $900 will get you a decent coach for an extended period where you can really gain something.
C-dude wrote: tell me I’m making the correct decision.
That’s sort of like telling a crazy person you love them, just to get them to leave the next morning, and you plan on moving out that afternoon so they can never find you again, but, here goes: You’re making the correct decision.
Now, what decision have you made? At least you’re asking for advice…you get lots of that around here!
I notice you didn’t ask for my advice.
I notice you still didn’t ask for my advice.
OK, you don’t want my advice.
That’s OK, because I don’t know whats best for you anyway ;-p Seriously, hope you get the most bang for your training buck.
I have a difficult time spending money on something and then having nothing tangible afterwards. But then again, I’m cheap.
jaretj
you live in canada, correct? cold and bad weather for a good part of the year???
camp would be fantastic, good training for a week and increase you knowledge for a life time, but…
computriner is a good work out for years particularly when you can get out side.
if you can’t train the knowledge from the camp is of limited use.
get the computrainer and then find an on line coach for far less and longer time period than the camp.
but the camp woudl be way fun,
so do both and skip a mortgage or car payment - eventually you cancatch up ;}
sell off your wife and kids and do both. it’s triathlon we’re talking about here!!
couldn’t you just use your trainer? at this point, I would go for excitement. then again, I don’t know shit.
kittycat
I agree.
One of the big things I love about the endurance sports that I love( running, cycling, xc skiing and to a much lesser degree, swimming) is that they get you OUTDOORS. To be frank, I loath doing anything indoors. Part of the attraction of doing these sports is the adventure of doing things outside, finding new routes and new places to train - NOT sitting on a trainer looking at a computer screen( I do that at work most days!!)
The best training that I ever did was sitting in behind top runners, cyclists and xc- skiers for mile after mile of training. You will learn more from this than sitting on your trainer.
Fleck
A CT is a great tool w/o a doubt…but, if you’re serious about racing an IM,and, not just finishing one…sign up for the camp.
Dude!! ex Kona Champ…DO IT!
These camps are geared to critique your 3 disciplines,and to point out where you can improve and how to tactically spread your workload depending on the course you’re doing.
And I think the camraderie and friends you’ll make along the way will be priceless.
In an analogy it would be like someone who had access to the best batting cage around.
Hits in the 95mph mode fairly consistently.
Then he gets a chance to hit against a major league pitcher.
Gets up to the plate,and out of 20 pitches…manages to girly hit 4, can’t figure out why.
How do you think he’d have done if he spent the time and money instead on sessions with a retired college level pitching coach?
He probably would have still hit only 4,BUT…with authority! and probably would have gotten a thumbs up from the pitcher.
Last year I managed to shave almost 15 minutes off my century ride PR.
I did it w/o any extra training miles,or EPO.
I decided to spend the money I was going to use on a CT and Power Tap package on 10 hours of performance bike fitting w/ a well known FIST certified,John Cobb trained fit guru.
This guy dialed me in for 1 full day.
Had me log in 50 plus miles in that position , come back a week later, for another re-fit…and more tweaking.
I felt like Michael Schumacher giving feedback to his crew chief before Monaco or something.
It took some time to get used to my new altered position,but, the watch doesn’t lie, and I actually did my 13.1 run faster off the bike .
Got rid of ITB pains and no longer suffer from NEW bike lust.
BEST money I ever spent!
I can’t believe no one has piped up and said straight up, “BOTH!”
One key is how comfy you are on a trainer. Can you handle a long time on one? Better find out if you are planning on using it for more than just an hour at a time (not that I think trainer sessions should be much longer than that).
A camp with a ex kona champ would be nice, but think about a slowtwitch camp, that would be something? A camp you can dream about and probably have nightmares about for years to come. Find a sunny place, bring your bikes, your PC, RC, clinchers, tubulars, beers and turn up the volume to 11! I’ll skulk around the BBQ and laugh at all your jokes.