Turbo Trainers suck! It's official...
Discussion
...at least officially the opinion of one Cycling weekly contributor 
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/si...
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/si...
Well he does make a fair point! Why on earth anyone chooses to ride a turbo trainer is a complete mystery to me!
I lasted 36 minutes on mine before deciding I'd rather go mountain biking in a blizzard, chucking it in a corner for a few months, then getting shot of the infernal thing on eBay. I suspect in the intervening year, it has probably been sold on a further 30+ times, as other people take a week to realise life is too short and put it back on eBay themselves!
I lasted 36 minutes on mine before deciding I'd rather go mountain biking in a blizzard, chucking it in a corner for a few months, then getting shot of the infernal thing on eBay. I suspect in the intervening year, it has probably been sold on a further 30+ times, as other people take a week to realise life is too short and put it back on eBay themselves!
Kermit power said:
Well he does make a fair point! Why on earth anyone chooses to ride a turbo trainer is a complete mystery to me!
I lasted 36 minutes on mine before deciding I'd rather go mountain biking in a blizzard, chucking it in a corner for a few months, then getting shot of the infernal thing on eBay. I suspect in the intervening year, it has probably been sold on a further 30+ times, as other people take a week to realise life is too short and put it back on eBay themselves!
Totally agree. Can't stand the things and would rather get muddy and cold for an hour.I lasted 36 minutes on mine before deciding I'd rather go mountain biking in a blizzard, chucking it in a corner for a few months, then getting shot of the infernal thing on eBay. I suspect in the intervening year, it has probably been sold on a further 30+ times, as other people take a week to realise life is too short and put it back on eBay themselves!
Cycling for me is a joy. The exercise is a by-product. If I didn't enjoy it I'd just get fat.
Gren said:
Totally agree. Can't stand the things and would rather get muddy and cold for an hour.
Cycling for me is a joy. The exercise is a by-product. If I didn't enjoy it I'd just get fat.
Cycling for me is a joy. The exercise is a by-product. If I didn't enjoy it I'd just get fat.
To say nothing of the fact that there are fewer people cluttering up the trails when it's cold and muddy!
Presumably neither of the above are interested in getting stronger & quicker - or at least not interested enough to put in the effort.
Well aware the article is tongue in cheek, and that it isn't fun, and isn't for everyone.. but if you want to get faster the turbo is a necessary evil. Dicking around on a mountainbike, and even riding out in the summer simply doesn't allow the kind of focussed training that can be done on a turbo.
Well aware the article is tongue in cheek, and that it isn't fun, and isn't for everyone.. but if you want to get faster the turbo is a necessary evil. Dicking around on a mountainbike, and even riding out in the summer simply doesn't allow the kind of focussed training that can be done on a turbo.
upsidedownmark said:
Presumably neither of the above are interested in getting stronger & quicker - or at least not interested enough to put in the effort.
Well aware the article is tongue in cheek, and that it isn't fun, and isn't for everyone.. but if you want to get faster the turbo is a necessary evil. Dicking around on a mountainbike, and even riding out in the summer simply doesn't allow the kind of focussed training that can be done on a turbo.
I agree that its best for training and you can nail down specifc plans without being affected by the weatherWell aware the article is tongue in cheek, and that it isn't fun, and isn't for everyone.. but if you want to get faster the turbo is a necessary evil. Dicking around on a mountainbike, and even riding out in the summer simply doesn't allow the kind of focussed training that can be done on a turbo.
But for me it'd get bored bloody s
tless and lack focus, plus my misses would come in every 30 seconds "can you just do this for me...." No chance of her doing that when Im 30 miles away from home!upsidedownmark said:
Presumably neither of the above are interested in getting stronger & quicker - or at least not interested enough to put in the effort.
Well aware the article is tongue in cheek, and that it isn't fun, and isn't for everyone.. but if you want to get faster the turbo is a necessary evil. Dicking around on a mountainbike, and even riding out in the summer simply doesn't allow the kind of focussed training that can be done on a turbo.
I've no doubt that a turbo probably can make gains over riding on the road, but unless I can miraculously start earning £200k+ a year as a Pro (at the tender age of 45!), then nothing is worth the dullness!Well aware the article is tongue in cheek, and that it isn't fun, and isn't for everyone.. but if you want to get faster the turbo is a necessary evil. Dicking around on a mountainbike, and even riding out in the summer simply doesn't allow the kind of focussed training that can be done on a turbo.
It's also not worth the time. I can ride to work and back in roughly the same time as it takes to go on the train, so I can get back, spend a bit of time with the kids, have dinner with my wife, watch a bit of telly or whatever. In what world could I possibly want to go and spend any time sat in the garage pedaling on the spot instead?
upsidedownmark said:
Presumably neither of the above are interested in getting stronger & quicker - or at least not interested enough to put in the effort.
I am (or at least maintaining what I have) but not enough to lose an hour of my life. I keep up the same hours in summer as in winter and if it means swapping to the mtb for the long Sunday ride then so be it. In 5 years of cycling I've only ever called off a ride 4-5 times due to weather.My wife on the other hand did a 200mile ride last year. 5 months after buying her first road bike. She needed to train and the turbo was the best route for her. They have their uses. They just don't match my needs.
One week Cycling Weekly are doing a piece on the best turbo trainers, best workouts then saying they should be avoided. Should make up their mind!
I might one of a few but I enjoy using my trainer, if the weather is bad I'm not going to go out and feel miserable not enjoying it. Using Zwift lately and their workouts I get a more structured workout than I would get out on the road. Plus with Zwift I find the time flys by. I can happily sit for 1.5hrs maybe 2 on the turbo but maybe I'm just weird!
I might one of a few but I enjoy using my trainer, if the weather is bad I'm not going to go out and feel miserable not enjoying it. Using Zwift lately and their workouts I get a more structured workout than I would get out on the road. Plus with Zwift I find the time flys by. I can happily sit for 1.5hrs maybe 2 on the turbo but maybe I'm just weird!
madzo14 said:
One week Cycling Weekly are doing a piece on the best turbo trainers, best workouts then saying they should be avoided. Should make up their mind!
I might one of a few but I enjoy using my trainer, if the weather is bad I'm not going to go out and feel miserable not enjoying it. Using Zwift lately and their workouts I get a more structured workout than I would get out on the road. Plus with Zwift I find the time flys by. I can happily sit for 1.5hrs maybe 2 on the turbo but maybe I'm just weird!
Not necessarily weird, just using the wrong sort of bike! Riding on tarmac in the rain is no fun at all. Riding a mountain bike in the rain is just a question of having the right kit. I might one of a few but I enjoy using my trainer, if the weather is bad I'm not going to go out and feel miserable not enjoying it. Using Zwift lately and their workouts I get a more structured workout than I would get out on the road. Plus with Zwift I find the time flys by. I can happily sit for 1.5hrs maybe 2 on the turbo but maybe I'm just weird!
Gren said:
I am (or at least maintaining what I have) but not enough to lose an hour of my life. I keep up the same hours in summer as in winter and if it means swapping to the mtb for the long Sunday ride then so be it. In 5 years of cycling I've only ever called off a ride 4-5 times due to weather.
My wife on the other hand did a 200mile ride last year. 5 months after buying her first road bike. She needed to train and the turbo was the best route for her. They have their uses. They just don't match my needs.
The turbo isn't for your long sunday ride.. but your long sunday ride is just base training. If you *really* want to get faster, you need to do hard intervals as well, and you really can't do very specific workouts like threshold intervals with x minute recoveries on the road, or even on the MTB, whatever the weather.My wife on the other hand did a 200mile ride last year. 5 months after buying her first road bike. She needed to train and the turbo was the best route for her. They have their uses. They just don't match my needs.
If you look at a workout like that as 'loosing an hour of your life', fair enough, that's your value judgement - but your focus isn't on doing what you need to get faster. Not that it ought to be - do what makes you happy, but that circles round to my point that the turbo is a tool, and a very effective one if you're willing to use it for purpose.
upsidedownmark said:
Gren said:
I am (or at least maintaining what I have) but not enough to lose an hour of my life. I keep up the same hours in summer as in winter and if it means swapping to the mtb for the long Sunday ride then so be it. In 5 years of cycling I've only ever called off a ride 4-5 times due to weather.
My wife on the other hand did a 200mile ride last year. 5 months after buying her first road bike. She needed to train and the turbo was the best route for her. They have their uses. They just don't match my needs.
The turbo isn't for your long sunday ride.. but your long sunday ride is just base training. If you *really* want to get faster, you need to do hard intervals as well, and you really can't do very specific workouts like threshold intervals with x minute recoveries on the road, or even on the MTB, whatever the weather.My wife on the other hand did a 200mile ride last year. 5 months after buying her first road bike. She needed to train and the turbo was the best route for her. They have their uses. They just don't match my needs.
If you look at a workout like that as 'loosing an hour of your life', fair enough, that's your value judgement - but your focus isn't on doing what you need to get faster. Not that it ought to be - do what makes you happy, but that circles round to my point that the turbo is a tool, and a very effective one if you're willing to use it for purpose.
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