Rollers and momentum

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Originally Posted by Catrin

For me, the attraction of a GPS is my tendency to just head out somewhere and see where I wind up - I am getting closer to doing this on the bike :) I also like the idea of being able to download gps points from a brevet route to aid in navigation

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This is really the only reason that I even own a GPS. (Actually, it's DH's and fortunately so...I'd have chucked it into a ditch by now if it were solely mine.) When I'm out on my own in an unfamiliar area, I like having the map at hand while moving and knowing exactly where I am. Otherwise, I don't use it.

I'm a respectable climber, by virtue of being petite, in decent shape, and because I've trained to climb rather than for sprinting or for long stretches of high power. I'm not worth a d@mn when the road is flat or the wind is blowing.

This is a big ol' case of Your Mileage/Method May Vary. If you want the data, then by all means get the equipment to capture it. But don't feel like you're not a "real cyclist" if you don't have all the bells and whistles.

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Originally Posted by DarcyInOregon

One thing for certain is that when you do start using the clipless pedals, you will be upset with yourself that you didn't use the pedals from the get-go.

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This is a broad generalization that really is not true for a lot of people. And I don't think it's a fair statement, especially to a relatively new cyclist. I may be new, but I've done enough cycling to tell you that not everyone loves clipless. Catrin is smart to wait until she has more experience on the bike to try going clipless again.

I go back and forth on the clipless.... right now I'm riding free and I LOVE IT. I don't struggle on hills, I maintain a steady, brisk cadence, and I'm not sore after a ride. I ride about 20 miles at a time and my goal is speed and heart rate above 80% of my MHR (I'm not a distance rider). When I ride free, my pace is faster and my workout is better.

I just don't agree at all with the statement above, and I respect Catrin for knowing what is working for her right now.

Re: clipless pedals.
I got them a little over a month ago. I see the the advantages of using clipless. There are definitely times that I benefit from being attached to the bike. There are plenty of other times, though, that I could take it or leave it. Hills are one of them. I'm not going to be a "good" climber because I'm the wrong build, and I live in an area with exactly one hill.
Clipless can help, but it's not essential. It's not for everyone.
Going clipless from the start would have scared me off the bike, and I think many could say the same. I think we can all agree that riding, regardless of whether/how your feet are attached to the pedals, is better than not riding.

Gadgets: I like toys. I don't want to put toys on my bike. If I buy a GPS, the sole reason would be because half the time I couldn't find my way out of a wet paper bag. I have a bike computer, mostly for distance. It doesn't have a cadence function. While I like looking at numbers, I look at them for fun--I like to see how far and how fast I went, and note that I feel better after having done that than I did a month ago. I don't want to obsess over them. It takes all the fun out of it. I don't think it makes me less of a cyclist.

Catrin, not naming your bike Magellan was probably a good idea! ;)