IM on a shoestring.

UK based non branded IM near were you live to keep entry and fuel costs down

cadge some camping gear of someone if you aint got none

entry level Specialised Allez or Giant defy £500 ish shop around for end of season deals is more than capable of handling the training and race fit is everything with the bike

get yer kit from ALDI or Lidl when they have running//Bike/Tri specials it aint bells and whistles but it works

 Nutrition cheappacks of jelly babies or even blocks of jelly, malt loaf , bananas are fine for training just switch before the race to the race provided nutrition to check its Ok for you

Wetsuit again end of season or ex hire or hire one

cheap bash hat

good place for deals on trainers is the new balance factory shop 01931 716333

It can be done cheaply (ish) its also nice overtaking 4k+ bikes on something that cost less than their front wheel

Cake - Thanks for the link, will have a read!

 Little Ninja - spotted that sale. Will have to head down... I've heard Netto are good value too, depending what they have in!

  Disclaimer - the frequency of smiley faces may be liable to increase with the proximity of any given event...

There's a brainwashing machine?!

Might come in handy, depending how powerful it is... there's some filth up here!!

Thre one I'm doing is the one in hampshire linked to the multiday ones.............some from here are atempting the deca.which is 10 IM in 10 days............I wil be doing the single which is on the last day of their 10...............some people are also doing the double and triple IM which are on the last 2 and three days of the wek..............should be a few people down there...but it is a lot of smaller loops....rather than some of the other IM which has a few larger loops.......

I'm going as its very cheap......camping uis very cheap there...........and it should be a good party with no flights to worry about........

SlowEngineer wrote (see)

there's some filth up here!!

SlowEngineer wrote (see)

FerrousFerret - What turbo was that, do you know? And I'm based in Stoke (home) and Leeds (uni).

Let me know when you are home, I work in Stoke, live in Macclesfield

Mrs SA is doing the outlaw next year, so I dont think she will mind the company for any bikes rides etc.

i might be able to help you out with kit etc as I'm doing nothing next year

Cake wrote (see)

SlowEngineer wrote (see)

there's some filth up here!!

You've not met Lee and scmuckee yet.

OI!   ....okay, fair enough

Hello SE, welcome to the dark side   As folk have said, you could probably do it fairly cheaply if you're careful, and once you've got the basics, there isn't much major kit left to buy, unless you want to upgrade, but no reason you should need to if put a bit of thought into what you'll need.  Though it si a bit rich saying that because i'm slightly crap with money, and tend to buy things I want, and worry about paying it off later.  DON'T DO THAT, if you can help it!  Be sensible, unlike me

See, nothing filthy at all Cake   Though in saying that, I could really go some Cake right now.  I'm hungry I mean , but i'm sure you knew that's what I meant

The Silent Assassin wrote (see)

SlowEngineer wrote (see)

FerrousFerret - What turbo was that, do you know? And I'm based in Stoke (home) and Leeds (uni).

Let me know when you are home, I work in Stoke, live in Macclesfield

Mrs SA is doing the outlaw next year, so I dont think she will mind the company for any bikes rides etc.

i might be able to help you out with kit etc as I'm doing nothing next year

Re Fleabay bikes - good plan if you are sure of your sizing....otherwise a potential wasteof money.

Bike Radar also a good place to look for second hand, and most people there would be happy for you to go and check the bike out if you're local.

Cake wrote (see)

SlowEngineer wrote (see)

there's some filth up here!!

You've not met Lee and scmuckee yet.

Oi, I ain't that sorta girl 

And even if I was, I am dahn 'ere, not 'up here'

SA - thanks for the heads up, I'll let you know... I am back this weekend but sadly tied up with sister's birthday festivities. Which might involve some beer training.

Lee - I can certainly sympathise with the buy now pay later attitude, that's part of the reason why I'm a broke student, and not just a student! I am going to plan my purchases carefully in order to make the most of this money though, make it work extra hard.

popsider - Thanks for the offer anyway! I'll have a look what there is on the 'bay with that size, and take myself down to the bike shop to see what they say too. I'm expecting it to be mostly "give us all your money"...

Schmunkee - Are you a dirty southerner then?

Regarding turbo trainers again... I've read about getting turbo tyres for ones steed, but is something like that possible for MTBs? Or have I missed something? 

MTB turbo tyre http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/tacx-training-tyre-mtb-26x125-id41734.html

Although I might be tempted just to stick a cheap slick on the back (I use a regular road tyre on the bike I have on the turbo).

Thanks FF

Wiggle have a sale on trainers.... Hmmm...

Sorry, to clarify... "turbo trainers".

And to give a little bit of background I'm not coming into the idea of doing the IM totally green, having done Paris marathon in April and running Abingdon next month. I have a stationary bike, which I can spend a couple of hours at a time on, but I'm very aware that I need a bit more resistance than it offers and also that it isn't the right geometry for me.

I've also let myself in for the OMM next month... so there might not be a me left to do the IM actually...