What new gadgets do you like?

Triathlon Forum
1

Apart from the standard bike power meter and smart watch have you all found any new gadgets insightful to your training and racing?

I guess you could say I have a hole burning in my pocket and looking to treat myself :wink:

2

How about an aero test, or tunnel visit (depending on where you are) ?

3

I do wonder about that a lot but also wonder how much action I take on it.

So we get bike fits to help us ride comfortably, so how would the aero test improve us there?
And gear wise we only really know what we test. I only have 1 helmet!

4

All my tech gizmosā€¦ It is comical how much charging I do before a ride.

  • Core Body Temperature Sensor
  • Rear-facing Radar
  • Headlight
  • Large-screen Bike Computer with Navigation
  • Optical HRM
  • Compact Tire Pump
  • Pedal Power Meter
  • Sram Etap
5

This is the gadget im leaning towards next. How has it helped you?

I saw ST did a thing on those swim sensors that looked kind of cool but not sure if its worth it

6

I do not use the Core for full training like they and the Norwegians do. However, I know that my threshold where the wheels fall off is about 102Ā° F. When I am doing a hot race, I will monitor my core temperature and if I am starting to feel fatigue, and if I am at or approaching 102Ā°, I will back off.

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7

Nothing in new categories for me. But these are gadgets that have been useful and/or are good bang for buck compare to flagship $$$ models:

  • Chinese running shoes, do your research but stuff like Feidian Elite 6 stands out
  • New rear radars that are excellent and cost like 50% of Garminā€™s radar
  • New bike computers at the $175-$200 range. Can do all the core features of a $700+ Garmin for less than half the price. Mapping works great on these too. Theyā€™re on Amazon, watch some youtube reviews, but theyā€™re all excellent.
  • Still rocking my COROS arm strap HRM. Honestly, this the BEST heart rate monitor, ever, to date. Period. It works as well after 2 years of daily use compared to the first day I put it on, and the strap is amazing, I havenā€™t ever had to change it (slightly tightened it once.)
8

im surprised to hear that. My gf used a coros watch for a while and the HR was always bad

9

I love the portable electronic bike pumps enough that I got two of them. I have the Cycplus AS2 Pro Max, which I usually leave at home or in my transition bag (itā€™s so nice to not have to use the shared pumps in transition to pump up my tires before a race), and the Cycplus AS2 Ultra Tiny which is small enough to put inside my saddle bag and Iā€™d rather use that than a CO2 canister.

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10

More shoes. Always shoes. If that doesnā€™t get you excited, then shorts.

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11

If their HRM and watch use the same sensor she should just strap her watch into her bicep. I love my Coros HRM, the only issue I had was some chafing on my inner arm after an Ironman.

12

Exact same setup here. Accurate tyre pressures and not having to hunt down a track pump is so helpful. And then the smaller one gets 3-4 inflations, weighs less than 3 CO2 canisters and easier to fly with.

My favourite gadget is the humble rear radar, and itā€™s now pretty much a non-negotiable for me on training rides. Granted, there isnā€™t too much traffic here in the Scottish Highlands, but the roads are narrow and passes can be sketchy.

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13

I bought a small hand pump for transition but its a huge PITA to fill from near flat after flights. I like the idea for transitions but I tend to beleive my ā€œSave me from the side of the roadā€ kit should be as low tech as possible.

How many tires can you fill on a charge? say 28mm at 70psi or 45s at 35psi

14

Iā€™m a month away from starting a 2-3 month Bikepacking trip here in Oz and I have become obsessed with lights and add on attachments to fix lights and cameras to.

Im currently re-painting my BOB trailer as I wait for rhe bar clamps that Ill be attaching my insane 2,800 lumen bar light to.:rofl:

15

BIG difference between an arm strap dedicated HRM and a watch HRM. The watch optical HRMs are so bad in every one Iā€™ve used that theyā€™re essentially useless. You canā€™t use a bad experience of a watch optical to conclude the arm HRM is bad - itā€™s a completely different experience, even if thereā€™s overlap with the sensors.

As well, yes, I forgot to add those electronic minipumps as a ā€˜must-haveā€™ nowadays, really for races. I absolutely use these when I fly my bike, even a small one will fill 2 tires from near-flat, and you should have a lot more air than that. And even if you run out of power, as long as itā€™s not the morning of the race, it takes like 30-60mins to recharge the unit completely so you can keep on filling air. I have some chinese no-name one that fits in a jersey pocket, similar size as the Cycplus middle sized ones. Def a must-have for race travel.

16

Raide 2L belt for long runs. Amazing piece of kit.