Turbo trainers/Zwift/Peleton
Discussion
Anyone a convert ?
I have always thought Turbo Trainers look a bit pointless, may as well just go out for a ride which I appreciate gets more difficult this time of the year onwards, like tonight was going to go out but it was lashing down, so do I get one and set it up in my man shed ? Its not like I am "in training" for anything, just need to occasionally get some exercise and am avoiding the gym even more than usual.
Zwift looks good but might be a flash in the pan with me, is it much better than just a bike on a TT ?
Peleton, the adverts are just vomit inducing and its expensive, but get past that, its probably pretty good.
Anyone gone from sceptical to the Turbo trainer being their favourite thing ?
I have always thought Turbo Trainers look a bit pointless, may as well just go out for a ride which I appreciate gets more difficult this time of the year onwards, like tonight was going to go out but it was lashing down, so do I get one and set it up in my man shed ? Its not like I am "in training" for anything, just need to occasionally get some exercise and am avoiding the gym even more than usual.
Zwift looks good but might be a flash in the pan with me, is it much better than just a bike on a TT ?
Peleton, the adverts are just vomit inducing and its expensive, but get past that, its probably pretty good.
Anyone gone from sceptical to the Turbo trainer being their favourite thing ?
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 5th October 19:28
I was skeptical 2 years this month using a WattBike Atom, main app is Fulgaz and I use Zwift for some group rides.
I didn't think it would have the impact it's had on my health and well being, certainly fitter than ever, and feel great when I do ride my mountain bike.
Finding an App you get on with is the key to maintaining an interest, without the apps, I'd not be able to do the miles and times in the saddle I do, when I used to use the static exercise bike i was done after 20 mins out of pure boredom, now I can do 2 - 3 hrs without to much drama on the Wattbike.
I didn't think it would have the impact it's had on my health and well being, certainly fitter than ever, and feel great when I do ride my mountain bike.
Finding an App you get on with is the key to maintaining an interest, without the apps, I'd not be able to do the miles and times in the saddle I do, when I used to use the static exercise bike i was done after 20 mins out of pure boredom, now I can do 2 - 3 hrs without to much drama on the Wattbike.
Made a big difference for me in terms of keeping up my fitness in winter and it’s been core to educating me on fitness plans (to the extent that I now want to get a power meter for the bike so I have a better idea of what’s going on when I’m on the road)
I’ve used Zwift from Day 1 which is nearly 3 years ago. Am thinking about trying another app just to mix things up a bit. But the races are good as was the recent addition of Mont Ventoux
I’ve used Zwift from Day 1 which is nearly 3 years ago. Am thinking about trying another app just to mix things up a bit. But the races are good as was the recent addition of Mont Ventoux
Had turbo trainers in the past in attempts to 'train' and like most, found it mind numbingly dull.
However last year I gave it another go with a 2nd hand £130 Tacx smart trainer and a Zwift trial on the ipad. It's brilliant.
Used once a week through summer but about 3x a week in winter last year following the (great) training plans which led to my fittest and fastest spring/summer this year.
Now really enjoying the odd meetup and social racing too.
Highly reccomend smart turbo and Zwift - it's totally changed the game of turbo trainers.
However last year I gave it another go with a 2nd hand £130 Tacx smart trainer and a Zwift trial on the ipad. It's brilliant.
Used once a week through summer but about 3x a week in winter last year following the (great) training plans which led to my fittest and fastest spring/summer this year.
Now really enjoying the odd meetup and social racing too.
Highly reccomend smart turbo and Zwift - it's totally changed the game of turbo trainers.
I have a smart trainer with an old bike using Zwift.
Exploring is fun but it really changes up a gear with the group rides and racing. With less commuting I am doing some of the training plans (TT tune up currently) which i could not do outside.
Best thing is it translates to real world performance.
Exploring is fun but it really changes up a gear with the group rides and racing. With less commuting I am doing some of the training plans (TT tune up currently) which i could not do outside.
Best thing is it translates to real world performance.
snotrag said:
My setup is the second hand turbo (£130 on Facebook), an old road bike with a £10 trainer tyre, and Zwift on the ipad.
Zwift completely changes things, in my opinion.
Turbo training without zwift, I'd rather spoon my eyes out.
This man has it right , Zwift transforms the indoor experience, if your even the slightest bit competitive you’ll love it , group rides are also fun . I started with a cheap set up very similar to above , works perfect ok power may not be 100% accurate but it gets you started, I’m just looking to upgrade to a smart trainer . Zwift completely changes things, in my opinion.
Turbo training without zwift, I'd rather spoon my eyes out.
I use a Wahoo Kickr and Zwift. I'm a total convert, having started initially as a way to build some fitness, I now do 4 or 5 hours a week. Whether you just ride around on a course of your choice and do a sort of fartlek training, do group rides, races or do a training plan, it will improve your fitness.
The ease of use is fantastic, it removes barriers to fitness. s
t weather? Zwift session. Dark outside? Zwift session. 3 hour training webinar? Zwift session with the laptop on the bars.
Obviously, it's not as fun as riding outdoors, but its way better than turbo training while staring at a wall or watching TV or YouTube, which makes me zone out and not push hard. With the sort of video game-esque approach of Zwift, just seeing my avatar on the screen pedaling away as the scenery passes gives me the relative sense of an output from my efforts. Plus, if you're on a free ride, it is fun to try and catch or keep up with other riders. There are some places, like where a lap of a route ends or where there are KOM or sprint sectors and everyone is going hell for leather, it can be very satisfying to informally race through those bits.
I do think Zwift is better than the road for really intense training, as you can see your power readout all the time, you can push really hard and not have to worry about traffic, potholes, junctions etc, you can just focus 100% on the effort. Plus, it tells you when you're not hitting power or your cadence is dropping and it really helps, for me at least, to not slack off when it's really getting tough.
Definitely get a trainer that supports ERG mode as this is what really makes the training sessions work properly.
Overall, I think it's worth the investment. If you think you can train as hard as you are physically capable of doing on the road and you don't mind going out in the wet, snowy or icy conditions or after dark then maybe you won't get so much out of it.
The ease of use is fantastic, it removes barriers to fitness. s
t weather? Zwift session. Dark outside? Zwift session. 3 hour training webinar? Zwift session with the laptop on the bars.Obviously, it's not as fun as riding outdoors, but its way better than turbo training while staring at a wall or watching TV or YouTube, which makes me zone out and not push hard. With the sort of video game-esque approach of Zwift, just seeing my avatar on the screen pedaling away as the scenery passes gives me the relative sense of an output from my efforts. Plus, if you're on a free ride, it is fun to try and catch or keep up with other riders. There are some places, like where a lap of a route ends or where there are KOM or sprint sectors and everyone is going hell for leather, it can be very satisfying to informally race through those bits.
I do think Zwift is better than the road for really intense training, as you can see your power readout all the time, you can push really hard and not have to worry about traffic, potholes, junctions etc, you can just focus 100% on the effort. Plus, it tells you when you're not hitting power or your cadence is dropping and it really helps, for me at least, to not slack off when it's really getting tough.
Definitely get a trainer that supports ERG mode as this is what really makes the training sessions work properly.
Overall, I think it's worth the investment. If you think you can train as hard as you are physically capable of doing on the road and you don't mind going out in the wet, snowy or icy conditions or after dark then maybe you won't get so much out of it.
Pretty much all of the above.
That the smart trainer cost more than my bike... another story
I'm a returning biker (starting just before covid, which caused me no end of trouble sorting my 20 year old kit...)
I used to turbo train with the radio on, or at best a VHS tape playing... YouTube training vids stepped it up a bit, in terms of interest and structure, but Zwift is a whole other level. I think there's something truly addictive about it... I could have ridden outside more this summer, but...
I do also know that it's made a hell of a difference to me riding around Wales which is pretty much all hills and not the easiest place to restart cycling after a 16/17 year break... and I used to be Oxfordshire based - almost no hills at all
I'm going to keep riding through the winter now; I intend to use one or two of their longer training programs and should hit next summer with plenty of confidence to get out riding further/longer/harder than I've dared this year.
Oh, and get a big fan. Or two.
That the smart trainer cost more than my bike... another story
I'm a returning biker (starting just before covid, which caused me no end of trouble sorting my 20 year old kit...)
I used to turbo train with the radio on, or at best a VHS tape playing... YouTube training vids stepped it up a bit, in terms of interest and structure, but Zwift is a whole other level. I think there's something truly addictive about it... I could have ridden outside more this summer, but...
I do also know that it's made a hell of a difference to me riding around Wales which is pretty much all hills and not the easiest place to restart cycling after a 16/17 year break... and I used to be Oxfordshire based - almost no hills at all
I'm going to keep riding through the winter now; I intend to use one or two of their longer training programs and should hit next summer with plenty of confidence to get out riding further/longer/harder than I've dared this year.
Oh, and get a big fan. Or two.
Gareth79 said:
Avoid Peloton unless you are happy to be locked into their ecosystem. Also their standard bike has NO automatic resistance control (incredibly you need to turn a knob!), you need the "Bike+" which is £2,300...
It also doesn't have a power meter - it calculates it from effort.If you must have a smart bike, get one and you can use Peloton on it, but also use other apps. A far better option in my opinion (and is why my mother now has a brand new Stages smart bike
) I'm approaching 9000km and 280hrs on Zwift (Tacx Neo that I refuse to update the firmware on in case it bricks) having started my Zwift journey last Jan. Most of those miles are miles I wouldn't have otherwise done outside - there have been noticeable performance benefits (I'm also working with a coach, so have structured sessions to work on during the week).
Racing is starting to become quite key to keeping focussed, though. I've done several 6hr plus rides and also finished VRAW (using the FulGaz app) this year - 1000 miles in under 100 hours elapsed time. That damn near killed me and I must admit, put me off using the trainer for a couple of weeks!
As a training tool, I wouldn't be without it. I'm not sure if I'd bother if I was only riding for pleasure, though.
I must be in the minority, I regularly use my turbo trainer, but don't need any simulation apps.
I do my training by numbers - to a planned output speed, power or heart rate. I use Wahoo fitness to track and record progress, and it works fine for me. I do tend to do mental arithmetic as I go to make sure I'm on track during my 1 hour work outs.
Oh, and as the setup is in the garage with an old bike permanently on the trainer, all I have to do is check the tyre pressure, engage the roller, turn up the music and start pedalling.
I haven't felt the need for Zwift or similar.
I do my training by numbers - to a planned output speed, power or heart rate. I use Wahoo fitness to track and record progress, and it works fine for me. I do tend to do mental arithmetic as I go to make sure I'm on track during my 1 hour work outs.
Oh, and as the setup is in the garage with an old bike permanently on the trainer, all I have to do is check the tyre pressure, engage the roller, turn up the music and start pedalling.
I haven't felt the need for Zwift or similar.
I bought a dumb trainer in about 2013, primarily to help when I had a big injury. It was an ornament after that, until last week. I dug it out to see if it still worked. It does still work, so I’ll probably be using it a bit over the winter. I’m fine with just having a movie or some music, I don’t need any simulation stuff.
Interesting stuff, I asked my mate about his, he has the Kickr one and a spare bike with an Android tablet.
Being a right lazy git, the joy of cyclign for me is that when I ride twenty or thirty miles away from home, my only option to get home is either a very expensive taxi ride, or get pedaling, and as being a tight arse wins over lazy arse I manage to ride back, if I am in the garage I can just crack open a beer and watch telly
Will do some research and really appreciate all the replies !
Can buy the Kickr, but not sure will get the value.
Being a right lazy git, the joy of cyclign for me is that when I ride twenty or thirty miles away from home, my only option to get home is either a very expensive taxi ride, or get pedaling, and as being a tight arse wins over lazy arse I manage to ride back, if I am in the garage I can just crack open a beer and watch telly
Will do some research and really appreciate all the replies !
Can buy the Kickr, but not sure will get the value.
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