Steve DeGarmo
Extreme CompuTrainer User

"My name is Steve DeGarmo and I am writing to tell a short tale about what I believe to be the best piece of training equipment ever, the CompuTrainer! I started cycling in 1997 and after a few months I decided to give racing a try.  I was 29 years old at the time and felt I did not have a whole lot of time to bring my level of fitness up to where I wanted it to be.  That year I started as a Cat 5 and won only 3 races and moved to a Cat 4.

 

That winter I decided to seek out a training program that would bring me where I wanted to go with cycling.  I researched and found out I should be training on a CompuTrainer. I ordered a CompuTrainer Pro NES edition and picked it up locally since I live in Snohomish, Washington. I started in on my training and wow was I surprised!!! I simply could not believe this awesome machine and how realistic it was to train on.

 

The first thing I keyed in on was the SpinScan. I just kept working on my smooth pedal stroke until I could just keep it right at 50/50.  What a difference it felt in my power.

 

Once I figured out what the CompuTrainer was all about I never hit the road again!  I mean that literally .... I trained on this machine 100 percent of the time logging in about 20 hours a week. I just kept two fans on me and watched tons of movies. I noticed that training on the CompuTrainer was far better than training on the road. You never let up, no coasting, no down hill resting.  Just steady watts!! It is so easy to monitor your progression, it is all right in front of you with no guess work.  If you want to climb 10,000 feet one day you don't have to leave your house and when you are done you are still at your house.  You don't need fancy tires, fancy gear to keep warm, just a new tire every now and then.

 

That is all great, but the best part is how strong it makes you... that following race season I moved up to a Cat 2.  The following winter I trained again on the CompuTrainer only!!! Never hit the road for 6 months.... logging about 20-30 hours a week... before the nest race season I went out on the road a week before my first race just to make sure I would not tip over... I won the first 2 races and followed it up with 2 second places!! I upgraded to a Cat 1 in a year and a half! The only time I road outside was to race.... I won the state championship as a Cat 3 and got a second place as a Cat 1 .... I am absolutely convinced that the CompuTrainer is responsible!!

 

I continued to race for about 7 years and did quite a few big races and had a lot of success.  I stayed off the bike for about 3 years thinking I was done with the sport, but in February in this year of 2006 I got the itch to get on the bike.  So I dusted off the old CompuTrainer that I have about 120,000 miles on and started riding on it.  I absolutely cannot believe how quickly my body is snapping into form.  It is just a magical thing the way this piece of equipment helps an athlete.  I believe that I could be in race form in 2 months after 3 years off.

 

I am not kidding. It is very hard to describe to somebody how good this CompuTrainer is. You really have to train on one!! It would be the best money any cyclist could spend!  Nothing will enhance your performance like this machine!  Forget the fancy wheels and light weight this and that.  This CompuTrainer will make you faster, period! I believe and know for myself that because of the constant watts output that you could train half as much as you would on the road and still be stronger!  I now will be using my CompuTrainer to train for some more races and maybe some ultra cycling events.  Again, it will be done all on the trainer.  I have not purchased anything in my life that I have been more impressed with as this CompuTrainer, no joke. It is the greatest purchase I have ever made, period.  Thanks you guys at RacerMate ...... ride on. "

Steve DeGarmo
Snohomish, Washington