Best Turbo / Rollers
Discussion
I am not a huge fan of turbos, find them boring even with sufferfest etc. However, with the great British weather and having young kids they are a necessity. My birthday coming up soon and the wife wants to buy me something for my sporting endeavours. A £5K carbon bike is no apparently, women eh?
At the mo I have a a 2nd hand Tacx Cycle Force One. Its ok but it has seen better days.
What is good out there? Are rollers a better way to go? Look a lot harder to ride and I guess you have to pay a lot more attention to what you are doing?
At the mo I have a a 2nd hand Tacx Cycle Force One. Its ok but it has seen better days.
What is good out there? Are rollers a better way to go? Look a lot harder to ride and I guess you have to pay a lot more attention to what you are doing?
Rollers are good and I do prefer riding on them in general, but for doing sufferfest or intervals I would use a turbo.
While you can use rollers, I think its best to be able to concentrate on the efforts and training, rather than staying on the rollers.
FWIW, I have a Tacx Booster and Cyclops rollers. Both are fine. Kreitler rollers are seen as the best and quite affordable.
While you can use rollers, I think its best to be able to concentrate on the efforts and training, rather than staying on the rollers.
FWIW, I have a Tacx Booster and Cyclops rollers. Both are fine. Kreitler rollers are seen as the best and quite affordable.
For much the same reason as you, I do probably 90% of my cycling on an indoor trainer - when it's freezing cold and dark in the winter I can still train and in the summer I've got the choice of how to train.
Up until last year I'd been using a Tacx Fortius multiplayer running TTS3. I'd been using this setup for 3 years and the only downside was I was creating my own workouts and training plans which took a bit of time at the beginning of the year, but other than that it was perfect.
Someone mentioned I should take a look at Trainerroad and since doing that, I've signed up with them. I've had to change my turbo (the Fortius isn't ANT+/bluetooth smart compatible) - I plumped for a Tacx Vortex Smart as I managed to get it for 250 quid (and it's about a 75 - 100 quid for the "upgrade smart" kit which gives you TTS4/head unit/ANT+ antenna which you need to get it talking to your PC/Trainerroad).
If money wasn't an issue I'd have gone for a Wahoo Kickr, but it's significantly more expensive!
Anyway, the setup I've got now is even better than what I had before - WELL worth the money to me . . . bunch of links for you/your wife to look at below:-
www.trainerroad.com
http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/kickr.html
http://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/vortex-sm...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-vortex-smart-trainer
Up until last year I'd been using a Tacx Fortius multiplayer running TTS3. I'd been using this setup for 3 years and the only downside was I was creating my own workouts and training plans which took a bit of time at the beginning of the year, but other than that it was perfect.
Someone mentioned I should take a look at Trainerroad and since doing that, I've signed up with them. I've had to change my turbo (the Fortius isn't ANT+/bluetooth smart compatible) - I plumped for a Tacx Vortex Smart as I managed to get it for 250 quid (and it's about a 75 - 100 quid for the "upgrade smart" kit which gives you TTS4/head unit/ANT+ antenna which you need to get it talking to your PC/Trainerroad).
If money wasn't an issue I'd have gone for a Wahoo Kickr, but it's significantly more expensive!
Anyway, the setup I've got now is even better than what I had before - WELL worth the money to me . . . bunch of links for you/your wife to look at below:-
www.trainerroad.com
http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/kickr.html
http://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/vortex-sm...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-vortex-smart-trainer
nammynake said:
Have you tried Zwift? Far more engaging than Sufferfest. You can use any turbo as long as you have a speed/cadence sensor attached, although it's a better experience with a smart trainer. The Vortex smart gets great reviews.
Can you explain how this works? I use trainerroad with a wahoo kickr and love Sufferfest! E65Ross said:
Can you explain how this works? I use trainerroad with a wahoo kickr and love Sufferfest!
Have a look here: http://zwift.com/what-is-it/nammynake said:
E65Ross said:
Can you explain how this works? I use trainerroad with a wahoo kickr and love Sufferfest!
Have a look here: http://zwift.com/what-is-it/E65Ross said:
How does that work if you're riding when none of your mates are, or your with someone who's much faster, or want to do a totally different session to other people?
This is the main reason I haven't (and won't) use Zwift - I know before even visiting the site that every session will turn into a threshold ride!!!I think the idea is great for encouraging people to get on their turbo's and have a ride (who ordinarily may not because they find them boring), but it's not for me - I don't find turbo's boring and the structured nature of Trainerroad's training plans and workouts take the guesswork and time from trying to do it all yourself . . . they really have got it nailed.
Always plenty of other riders on the course, so you can ride with others or if you're after a harder workout try to chase people down if that's your thing. There are regular group rides and races too. It's strangely addictive and is really starting to take off. It's going to massive by this time next year.
I've not raced that much personally, but here's the last one I did. I find it easier (if that's the right word) to put a hard effort in compared with Trainerroad/Sufferfest. Having someone to chase/drop really does make you stick in.
https://www.strava.com/activities/571837597
I've not raced that much personally, but here's the last one I did. I find it easier (if that's the right word) to put a hard effort in compared with Trainerroad/Sufferfest. Having someone to chase/drop really does make you stick in.
https://www.strava.com/activities/571837597
Edited by nammynake on Saturday 21st May 20:59
Edited by nammynake on Saturday 21st May 21:00
dangerousB said:
This is the main reason I haven't (and won't) use Zwift - I know before even visiting the site that every session will turn into a threshold ride!!!
I think the idea is great for encouraging people to get on their turbo's and have a ride (who ordinarily may not because they find them boring), but it's not for me - I don't find turbo's boring and the structured nature of Trainerroad's training plans and workouts take the guesswork and time from trying to do it all yourself . . . they really have got it nailed.
Agree with that. I love the structured nature of trainerroad, and I so love the workout creator.... I have made snippets from various workouts and often add them on to other sessions to increase my TSS. I think the idea is great for encouraging people to get on their turbo's and have a ride (who ordinarily may not because they find them boring), but it's not for me - I don't find turbo's boring and the structured nature of Trainerroad's training plans and workouts take the guesswork and time from trying to do it all yourself . . . they really have got it nailed.
I'm properly enjoying Sufferfest videos, I did half is Easy the other day (as well as another ride but that was more tempo) and that was incredibly difficult for me. I skipped the 13th of the 22 (not 20, thr cruel b
ds) but then carried on and did the rest.... It utterly destroyed me. I question the TSS for this workout, because ultimately you're averaging your FTP (15s 150%/15s 50%) yet it has a massive variability and is MUCH harder than riding just at FTP.... Yet those 10min sections only have an IF of around 1....which doesn't make sense. Maybe the fact the intervals are so short means that the TSS values are skewed. Today I did local hero which was really good but very tough..... I used training peaks and found that over 70mins had an IF of 0.98
I did use cyclops virtual training a while ago alongside trainerroad but in the end I ditched it in favour of sticking with just trainerroad.
E65Ross said:
I'm properly enjoying Sufferfest videos, I did half is Easy the other day (as well as another ride but that was more tempo) and that was incredibly difficult for me. I skipped the 13th of the 22 (not 20, thr cruel bds) but then carried on and did the rest.... It utterly destroyed me.
This is why I'm already holding TR in such high regard - the workouts are exemplary. When devising/riding my own workouts, I think I'm guilty (like a lot of us) of making the easy sections more difficult than it should be and the harder stuff a little easier than it should be and this was brought home to me yesterday doing a ride called "Goat".ds) but then carried on and did the rest.... It utterly destroyed me.It's basically a 90min aerobic ride with 3 x (3 x 2min/3min RBI) intervals thrown in. The aerobic element was 50/60% of FTP - very easy spinning (almost too easy you'd be forgiven for thinking), but the intervals. Oh. My. God!!!! There isn't an appropriate word for the pain they made me endure!! The 9th was just off the scale - 2mins @ 140% FTP, after the fatigue of the others - absolutely excruciating.
To make someone go through that you'd have to be a clinical psychopath!I have to hold my hand up and say I wouldn't have made those intervals that tough had it been down to me and that's why I think it's so good - someone better qualified than me, who doesn't care that I'm just human has worked it all out for me - I just have to turn up, sit on my bike and do what I'm told! For what? 100 bucks for the year I think it was. Bargain.
E65Ross said:
22 x 15s 150%/15s 50%
E65Ross said:
I used training peaks and found that over 70mins had an IF of 0.98
Ow!Another vote for a Tacx Vortex Smart.
I do a mixture of TrainerRoad and Zwift. 30 minute TR sessions are great in the week after the kids have gone to bed for a quick fix. If the weather is bad at the weekend or I have no time for a proper outside ride, Zwift is good for a longer ride particulary with the new mountain stage.
I tend to just ride at my own pace in Zwift as there are always people faster or slower, sometimes I may try and hang onto somebody same as on the road but nothing major.
I do a mixture of TrainerRoad and Zwift. 30 minute TR sessions are great in the week after the kids have gone to bed for a quick fix. If the weather is bad at the weekend or I have no time for a proper outside ride, Zwift is good for a longer ride particulary with the new mountain stage.
I tend to just ride at my own pace in Zwift as there are always people faster or slower, sometimes I may try and hang onto somebody same as on the road but nothing major.
dangerousB said:
E65Ross said:
I'm properly enjoying Sufferfest videos, I did half is Easy the other day (as well as another ride but that was more tempo) and that was incredibly difficult for me. I skipped the 13th of the 22 (not 20, thr cruel bds) but then carried on and did the rest.... It utterly destroyed me.
This is why I'm already holding TR in such high regard - the workouts are exemplary. When devising/riding my own workouts, I think I'm guilty (like a lot of us) of making the easy sections more difficult than it should be and the harder stuff a little easier than it should be and this was brought home to me yesterday doing a ride called "Goat".ds) but then carried on and did the rest.... It utterly destroyed me.It's basically a 90min aerobic ride with 3 x (3 x 2min/3min RBI) intervals thrown in. The aerobic element was 50/60% of FTP - very easy spinning (almost too easy you'd be forgiven for thinking), but the intervals. Oh. My. God!!!! There isn't an appropriate word for the pain they made me endure!! The 9th was just off the scale - 2mins @ 140% FTP, after the fatigue of the others - absolutely excruciating.
To make someone go through that you'd have to be a clinical psychopath!I have to hold my hand up and say I wouldn't have made those intervals that tough had it been down to me and that's why I think it's so good - someone better qualified than me, who doesn't care that I'm just human has worked it all out for me - I just have to turn up, sit on my bike and do what I'm told! For what? 100 bucks for the year I think it was. Bargain.
E65Ross said:
22 x 15s 150%/15s 50%
E65Ross said:
I used training peaks and found that over 70mins had an IF of 0.98
Ow!I can't fault the Wahoo Kickr I'm using either, my only "criticism" is that it did over-estimate my power by quite a significant margin. I now run a Power 2 Max power meter and when I did another 20 minute test my average watts from the power meter was 231, yet the kickr was reporting an average of 250!! I've since done another test 2 months later and that went from 231 to 241
I was lucky, I knew someone who worked at wiggle so I got my kickr for around £700 exactly, which is still not exactly cheap, but it's an expensive purchase I do not in the slightest regret buying.
Zwift also has a workout mode. The catalogue of training sessions is nowhere near as large as TrainerRoad, but it does have a workout creator, enabling you to re-create your favourite TR sessions within Zwift.
The races are a big draw for many people. There is no shortage of races and they typically split into groups according to ability, meaning you're guaranteed a good workout.
Lots of people in our club have swapped from TR to Zwift and I think long-term TR will eventually die off.
The races are a big draw for many people. There is no shortage of races and they typically split into groups according to ability, meaning you're guaranteed a good workout.
Lots of people in our club have swapped from TR to Zwift and I think long-term TR will eventually die off.
I have a Vortex Smart too. They are brilliant and bring a whole new dimension to turbo use.
I mostly use Trainer Road, but have Zwift and Bkool accounts too. Other than TR, Bkool is my preferred one and it lets you ride as you would on the road. The videos are great for adding interest too.
I mostly use Trainer Road, but have Zwift and Bkool accounts too. Other than TR, Bkool is my preferred one and it lets you ride as you would on the road. The videos are great for adding interest too.
cost more than my bike.I use an Elite Crono Mag TT combined with TrainerRoad, and an Ant+ dongle for my laptop with Garmin Cadence and Speed sensors - works well for me.
I also need a big ass fan as I sweat like a good 'un when in full flow
As I have the roadie off the TT just now, it won't get used until next winter when the hybrid comes back out again for outdoor use and the roadie can be stuck on the TT.
I also need a big ass fan as I sweat like a good 'un when in full flow
As I have the roadie off the TT just now, it won't get used until next winter when the hybrid comes back out again for outdoor use and the roadie can be stuck on the TT.
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