"As a cycling coach I’m always on the lookout for new training tools which can help my clients go faster, so when Bud Cribar approached me with a device he was developing called the GPS Trainer and asked me if I would like to try it I said OK. My initial test took place at the Cherry Creek time trial May 10th, 2006; on a course I have raced approximately 50 times over the last 9 seasons.

The GPS Trainer is a small hand held device about the size of a small PDA or IPOD. Bud asked me the time I would like to produce on the course, and he then plugged in the time and slipped it into my skinsuit rear pocket. A cord attached 2 earpieces that loosely hooked around my ears. Bud then just told me there was nothing I needed to do but just go race.

As I approached the start, a voice activated, telling me that I was 200m then 100m from the start. I then began racing the course at my scheduled start time. I could hear external stimuli normally during the ride, and about every 10-15 seconds, a voice would tell me how many seconds ahead or down I was. It also alerted me to any turns. It was incredibly motivating. My focus was unlike anything I have ever experienced before.

Over the years I’ve won the Cherry Creek time trial many times in the 35+ field, as well as won state TT championships, and I usually place in the top 10 at the national masters TT. Well this night at 42 years old, I rode 13 seconds faster than I have ever ridden the 10.5 mile course. It was a cold and windy evening, not very conducive to fast times at all. I also had the fastest time out of every category on this night including the pro 1-2 field.

Of course with this initial success, I had to try it again the following week. Incredibly, I shaved ANOTHER 11 seconds off of my best time that I had just set the previous week proving to myself that this was no fluke.

I’ve trained both myself and clients utilizing power meters, heart rate monitors, and other tools and devices to help improve performance. I was simply blown away by the results of this initial testing of the GPS Trainer. I think the potential as training and racing tool is huge, and I look forward to utilizing it both for myself and my clients."

W. Burt Henry, CSCS, USA Cycling Elite Level Coach
www.burthenrycoaching.com