Tacx BlueMatic Trainers Price Cut !!!

Typical.
I spend my coin on a turbo trainer, then a six weeks later there is a price cut (!)
Both the BlueMatic and the BlueMatic Smart have been reduced in price in the UK.

This has to be the best trainer for under 100 quid!
(Mine was the best trainer for 130 quid, which is what I paid!)

Long Term Review: Tacx Blue Matic Trainer

Disclosures: nothing to disclose. No freebies, no hidden payment, no fancy marketing tricks.
Price paid: 129 Pounds Sterling (about 170 US Dollars, about 155 euros)
Model: Tacx Blue Matic Smart T2650
I bought the trainer (with my own money) on 19th September 2016, using "click and collect" from my local Halfords, at the "regular" retail price.

What's in the box?
I got the so-called "Smart" variant.
All that means is that the Tacx T2015 Speed and Cadence sensor comes bundled in the box.

Aero and Power

You will no doubt hear some folks saying that FTP is everything.
Get your FTP (Functional Threshold Power) up.
Then after that worry about weight and the bike and position and the rest.

On the other hand, Specialized use the slogan "Aero is Everything".

So we have
a) FTP is everything
b) Aero is everything

So today, I will be looking at what each of these two statements implies for an amateur cyclist with a limited budget (hey, if you're rich, just pay for a professional coach, and he'll do the thinking for you!).

The Ant+ Directory

What works with what?
That's what the Ant+ Directory is for!

Ant+
It is a popular system for sports/fitness devices to connect with each other.

It is, however, not the only system.
And each system is incompatible with the others.
You probably know of another system - Bluetooth, as used on tablets and phones.

Long Term Review: O-Synce Footpod

Disclosures: nothing to disclose. No freebies, no hidden payment, no fancy marketing tricks.
Price paid: 10 Pounds Sterling (about 13 US Dollars, about 12 euros) + 3 pounds 50 shipping
Model: O-Synce "maxrun" Footpod (Ant+)
Bought online from Planet X, on sale as a clearance item, about 6 months ago (I think!)
Normal retail price on footpods is 30 to 60 pounds (40 to 80 dollars,  35 to 70 euros), so, although I bought the footpod as a "regular" customer, I haven't seen this sort of offer anywhere since.

Footpod on my running shoes.
If you are not used to them, beware that these are size 11 (US size 12) Men's running shoes
so the footpod would look a bit bigger if you have small feet!

Introduction

hi.
A new blog from me.
It was pointed out (by Kermit Green, as it happens) that my cycling blog was getting rather a lot of "training"/"fitness" stuff in it.
That, of course, included more than just cycling.
(The heart is the heart, and sustained zone 2 work increases the stroke volume whether you are cycling/running/swimming, or doing any other aerobic sport.
At the same time, I don't have much of an interest in swimming, so this is NOT going to be a "Triathlon" blog.
So expect stuff about cycling and running here.
Other stuff will be here too, if it is relevant, but this blog will have a bit more of a sports/fitness theme, so my other blog (Second Gear) will become more of a "general" cycling blog.