Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The Triathlon Wish List ...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Weekend!

We had a nice little weekend:  We did the 5K on Saturday morning.  On Sunday I did an Open Water Swim with Todd and Suzie from my Tri club and then Suzie and I did a little running to stretch the legs. They are good people and we had a lot of fun.  This was the first time this season that the OWS was done sans wetsuit.  Definitely slower but I was easily able to do the distance and was barely fatigued - this was very cool and really helps with my confidence swimming without the wetsuit.  Monday was a day spent doing bust-ass yard work and I was basically outside in the sun for 12 hours straight.  By the time I came inside that evening I was beat and passed out.   This morning I woke up at 4:30am and did the Tuesday Track workout.  I was the only one who showed this morning so that meant it was just me versus the humidity - the humidity won!

A couple of other cool things:  Annie and I joined the big-ass LifeTime Fitness on Lake Houston (click the link and goto Virtual Tour - ridiculous).  It has a Master's Swim program that runs Mon-Thurs with both a morning and evening class on all four days - I signed up for this -- yeah!!  The reason we choose the Globo-Gym was because the other gym with a Master's Program (5 minutes from my house) has been sold to a Private School and is closing at the end of June.  Oh well, the LifeTime has a great locker room with 3 swimming pools (2 lap only dedicated), about 200 treadmills, a healthy food cafeteria, and even a freaking rock climbing wall.  Seriously, you could fit a Super Wal-Mart inside this place.   I am going to start the Master's program in two weeks!

Okay, onto the actual point of this post.  As a Triathlete we have a ton of "toys" that are available to us and I have my eye on a few of them!  Being that I use this blog as pretty much a personal journal I figured that listing the top, "Wish List" items in order of preference will help me keep my eye on the prize.  Here are some of the items I daydream about:

1.  Quarq Power Meter with Compatible ANT + Computer (preferably Garmin 500):


2.  Zipp 404 Carbon Clincher Wheels:


3.  Quintana Roo CD0.1 Carbon TT:






That is about it for now.  The problem with all of the above items is that they are freaking expensive - especially the QR0.1.  Right now I rank the Quarq ahead of the Zipps because of the Zipp Front Tubular 440 that I found on Ebay and I am waiting for a rear wheel cover from Wheelbuilder.com to arrive any day now.  This leaves me with a race wheel solution, albeit temporary, but it should get me through the rest of this season.

What other TOYS do you guys have on your "Wish List"?

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

17 comments:

  1. Jeff, I use to have computrainer on my list...but I dropped it...too much and I prefer to watch a movie with my family while I am training!

    About the wheels, they told me that tubular wheels work well above 40km/h...and I am not that good that is why I am not into it...if you are not on that speed may be you will be penalized and becareful with lateral winds....

    Cheers from Hong Kong!

    "XTB" Xavi.

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  2. Skip the Quarq. If you are going to go with a crank based power meter, go with the gold standard, the SRM. And go with the Garmin 705 to match ;)

    Otherwise, go with a PowerTap wheel. The Quarq is still new and unproven in my opinion. Downside is that you are limited to wheels with PT, but I'd just rent a set for a big race anyways with a PT hub.

    That bike is pretty sweet!

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  3. I've got a quarq. (full disclosure I also have a powertap but have the quarq on my racing bike so that I can easily change wheels).

    I've got Zipps (404 front, 808 back).

    I've got a Computrainer.

    I don't have a qroo (I have an sworks instead).

    You will get the most out of a power meter as long as you have someone who understands training w/power. I've done tests comparing the PT to the CT to the quarq. quarq is easy to swap wheels and PT is easier to swap between bikes. quarq is half the price of the SRM.

    Guess why I can't go to the bike shop unchaperoned.

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  4. I'd love to have a set of good race wheels (Zipp, Hed3, Xentis, etc). Good luck getting all of those.

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  5. First of all, that new fitness center sounds awesome. I would like to go to the pool and always have open lanes!!!

    Ok, next... the goodies on your wish list sounds great, especially the new bike. Hey, I would also add a pair of zoot sockless shoes. They would be great for the transitions.

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  6. When I saw the post title and saw it was by you, I knew it was gonna be good. And I wasn't disappointed. You have good taste.

    What needs to happen is that they need to come out with a PS3 triathlon game. I'd prefer that over the super duper deluxe trainer.

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  7. I am all for a PS3 Triathlon game. Cant afford any of the others, however they all look super good. I especially like your bike.

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  8. There's a Lifetime Fitness down the street from my office. It's HUGE. Our owners wife goes there and insists that I go check it out. You should never-EVER have a boring workout again in your life AND you should never-EVER bump into some chick marking off space for her aerobics class!

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  9. I know.... I'm no fun, but save your money and take your beautiful wife Annie out to dinner at a nice restaurant every month. The distance you get out of that will keep the troops happy longer and you triing longer (and that's the key!!) (I hope she doesn't read this! :)

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  10. Well I have a Compu Trainer which was on my original wish list so here goes what else...Powertap, Race wheels, garmin 310, and if this is real wish list why not a cervelo P4 fully pimped out :)...oh yeah I would get a coach..they run like 200+ per month based on some initial research.

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  11. That is an expensive list there buddy! HAHA, I expect product reviews!

    The globogym huh? As long as Ben Stiller is there to pump you up, I am in! I hate crowds, and see 2 things: 1. probably don't have to wait for a lane, 2. Jillian Michaels wannabes there screaming at their clients!!! HAHA

    Great list, keep us posted!

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  12. Hi Jeff,
    Just look at your tri wish list:) I don't even know what any of that stuff is:) Yes I am tri-stupid! I can see myself doing the biking thing...but Jeff, I can honestly say that the swimming thing is not going to happen. I am so terrible...not joking:) Thanks for the pep talk I really do appreciate it. You totally had me sold on the biking thing when you said that it would make me a stronger runner:) What about that is not to love? Have a good one:)

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  13. My latest thing is to get a set of kettle balls, seems like there's always something to lust after!

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  14. Great post Jeff. I though my University gym was big, wow that new place of yours is crazy. My wish list includes one of those endless pools, so I can swim whenever and forever (a lake of my own would be better, but that might be asking a bit too much!)

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  15. Hey everyone. I have it. What we ALL should REALLY do is throw ourselves a "Triathlon Shower." You know, like those silly wedding, and baby showers, but this one would be waaaaaaay cooler because it would be stuff that we want, not essentials of modern civilized life like.... stainless steel bar sets, and pizza stones?

    Seriously, I am going to register at Nytro, TriSports.com, Triathletesports.com, etc. and just throw myself an Ironman triathlon shower.

    Jeff, I feel a post coming on, don't steal my thunder. Okay... sure, go ahead and steal it. I have written ad nauseum about the prohibitive cost of triathlon and the gear associated with it. I spoke at lengths... "It's not the bike, it's the engine... yaddy yaddy." And what do I do? Get a sponsor to supply me with a new kick-ass carbon fiber ride. I am such a hypocrite.

    Okay... phew. I feel better now.

    My name is Mark, and I am also addicted to triathlon gear.

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  16. I am very jealous of that club you joined. Masters, Mon-Th, morning and evening? Oh, what I would do for that.
    Thanks for visiting my blog. ;)

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  17. Holy cow, you forgot to add winning the lottery for all of that

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