Turbo Trainer

[superkartracer]

After a good one and not used one for some years so not up on current gear, can anyone offer advice, cheers

[robpearson]

I have a tacx which seems pretty good, but the trend is towards rollers these days, best off using them in a door way first few times incase you start to wobble... Don't forget that turbos wear tyres out pretty quickly so you might want to budget for a turbo specific tyre, and if you're not keen on changing tyres, a cheap wheel too

[b2hbm]

I've got a tacx as well, the "flow" model with magnetic resistance and reasonably quiet. It gives read-outs of speed, wattage, etc, but as to how accurate these are I'm not convinced. But they do allow you calibrate the set-up (tyre contact pressure mainly) and then you can use the readings to compare sessions which is more important if you're aiming to measure improvements.

As with all things it depends on budgets. They start from around £100-ish and go to over a grand for the ones that link to a video monitor display. Mine was around £270 when I bought it, they are around £300-ish now so a mid range one.

[IroningMan]

I have a Kurt Kinetic which seems indestructible and is very quiet - fluid resistance.

I fail to see the point of variable resistance levels, as that's what the bike's gears are for, but there's a lot to be said for a turbo that's quiet enough to allow you to hear the soundtrack on the DVD you're watching...

[Pupp]

I've had a couple of turbos and sold them PDQ through the sheer boredom/tedium of using. However, in the same period I have worn out a set of rollers and was given a splendid set of replacements last Christmas. Never get bored on those; not without wrecking the kitchen and scaring the cat anyway

Always amusing

[superkartracer]

Cheers Lads, i've been looking at one of these instead - http://wattbike.com/uk/

Anyone have experience with these

[IroningMan]

Afraid not, but one of the reasons for using a turbo - or rollers - instead of a static bike is that you improve your adaptation to the bike at the same time as improving your fitness.

If you can't put the same saddle on the static bike and accurately duplicate your position then there may be a price to pay in lost training benefit when you get back on the road.

[jodypress]

superkartracer said:

Cheers Lads, i've been looking at one of these instead - http://wattbike.com/uk/

Anyone have experience with these

Are they seriously almost £2k.... Unbelievable. I'd stick with either a TT or Rollers for under £200

[superkartracer]

IroningMan said:

Afraid not, but one of the reasons for using a turbo - or rollers - instead of a static bike is that you improve your adaptation to the bike at the same time as improving your fitness.

If you can't put the same saddle on the static bike and accurately duplicate your position then there may be a price to pay in lost training benefit when you get back on the road.

Thats what* i was thinking but it seems the position can by tweaked well and you can swap out the saddle, i'm going to look at various setups and compare costs, you can rent the WATT for £60 pm, not bad!

Really don't know what to look at regards rollers/turbo so thought the WATT would be an easy answer.

• no pun

[IroningMan]

I find the following works for me:

Buy robust, near-silent turbo trainer.
Fit bike with cadence meter and rear wheel actuated speedo.
Attach bike with turbo-specific tyre.
Adjust resistance on turbo to give xx second run down from 20mph wheel speed.
Learn to love Coach Troy.
Check pressure in rear tyre before every ride, and adjust resistance if required to maintain xx second run down.

I keep my summer (carbon triathlon) bike on it in the winter, and my winter bike on it in the summer.

[jodypress]

Sufferfest - I will beat my ass today to kick yours tomorrow

http://www.thesufferfest.com/

Great for TT in front of a TV

[superkartracer]

Ordered a WATTBIKE on *Hire to purchase* , 6 weeks for delivery so will post some info here, you can change Seat/Ped's/Bars and the tech side sounds great