Rollers and momentum

[Crankin]

I agree! Catrin, it is interesting to read of your adventures. It makes me wish I had written something down when i started, though I still remember many of the interesting things that happened on some of my rides.
Darcy, I am just not intense about the stuff you describe. If I was, I would hate riding. I don't ever look at it as training. It's just what I do. After ten years, I have to keep it fun. I've been exercising and been involved with fitness for over 30 years; after a good case of exercise obsession, weighing 92 pounds, and injuries galore, I know what will happen. Like Oakleaf, I am a pretty good climber (compared to the rest of my riding!), because I am light weight, I am good at shifting, and the piddly bit of running I do has really improved my fitness.
My DH has 2 GPS's (both are "old" now). The only reason he used them was so we didn't get lost and for like maybe a couple of weeks after he had 2 cardiac stents put in, making a feeble attempt to follow doctor's orders (yea, they told him not to ride hard, but after 8 days he was climbing the hills in Harvard, MA). A few people in my riding group have them, primarily for the same reason. They probably are looking at their stats, but I never hear them discuss it.

[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 - though I will never divorce myself from paper maps. My LHT's name is "The Wanderer" for good reason I wanted a more personal name than that, but short of naming him Magellan (hmmm) couldn't think of another name.

As far as the health stats - that is a good thing as well - I cannot generally tell when my HR gets up there until it is WAY too high. I like my Polar HRM just fine though - it will do until I can afford/justify the Garmin. The HRM helps to keep me honest - and I like that it tracks calories

[Becky]

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

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.