Discussion
Anyone bother with these? After last weeks summer rain I thought this would be good to have about for when its raining and throughout the winter.
Something like this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/CycleOps_Mag_Tra...
Slap it in the garage, put the radio on for an hour, good workout? or not worth it?
Something like this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/CycleOps_Mag_Tra...
Slap it in the garage, put the radio on for an hour, good workout? or not worth it?
I had a cheap 'n' cheerful Elite air fan jobbie for a couple of years and it wasn't much fun to use - it was also hideously noisy. Last winter I upgraded to a Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer - which is fantastic.
Good quality trainer + laptop + Coach Troy Spinervals DVD = good session.
Learn to love Coach Troy.
Good quality trainer + laptop + Coach Troy Spinervals DVD = good session.
Learn to love Coach Troy.
Not really - best to invest in a slick and, if you're lazy like me, a cheap wheel to run it on - you don't need the brakes to work, so it doesn't matter if you have a rim-brake wheel on a disc-brake bike etc.
You do need a bike computer with both cadence and speedo - and getting speed sensors to work on the rear wheels of MTBs can be a pain because of the huge clearances between stays and spokes, but it's do-able: my wife's Focus hardtail is on my turbo at the moment.
You do need a bike computer with both cadence and speedo - and getting speed sensors to work on the rear wheels of MTBs can be a pain because of the huge clearances between stays and spokes, but it's do-able: my wife's Focus hardtail is on my turbo at the moment.
yep, turbo trainers are one of those love/hate things.
You hate 'em because it gets very boring, even with some inspiring sounds on your MP3 player. You love 'em because you can train when it's raining/hailing/snowing and keep your fitness over winter so you have a good start in the spring. They're also good for hard intervals, it's much safer to go flat out in your garage on one of those than it is on the road; you can concentrate on the effort without bothering about traffic.
The cheap air-fan ones are noisy so I'd avoid a really cheap one. I've had 2 magnetic ones and they're much better because they're quieter and you can vary the resistances. Oil ones also get good write-ups, my mate has one and uses it regularly without upsetting his neighbours (terraced house)
You hate 'em because it gets very boring, even with some inspiring sounds on your MP3 player. You love 'em because you can train when it's raining/hailing/snowing and keep your fitness over winter so you have a good start in the spring. They're also good for hard intervals, it's much safer to go flat out in your garage on one of those than it is on the road; you can concentrate on the effort without bothering about traffic.
The cheap air-fan ones are noisy so I'd avoid a really cheap one. I've had 2 magnetic ones and they're much better because they're quieter and you can vary the resistances. Oil ones also get good write-ups, my mate has one and uses it regularly without upsetting his neighbours (terraced house)
When I started to use a turbo I was told to make sure I did something every 2 minutes.... be it change gear, change hand position, change cadence anything just do something otherwise it gets too boring!!
That said if you can't get out onto the road it is a great way to build fitness...
That said if you can't get out onto the road it is a great way to build fitness...
There are some great turbo programmes here;
http://www.thesprocket.co.uk/blog/training-downloa...
I print and laminate them and put them on the floor in front of the bike!
http://www.thesprocket.co.uk/blog/training-downloa...
I print and laminate them and put them on the floor in front of the bike!
A mate of mine swears by them. I don't think rain would stop me riding though....
I was thinking of one of these to use whilst I'm recovering, but I learned my local lesuire centre had just had a load of MTB Simulators delivered, I've not seem them yet but I'm looking forward to rocking up in my torn/worn riding kit and a big brace on my arm and scaring the gym types.
I was thinking of one of these to use whilst I'm recovering, but I learned my local lesuire centre had just had a load of MTB Simulators delivered, I've not seem them yet but I'm looking forward to rocking up in my torn/worn riding kit and a big brace on my arm and scaring the gym types.
SO BORING... oh and they hurt your arse after about 45 minutes. The oil based ones are the best in terms of noise and smoothness but nothing beats getting out on the road.
A mate of mine has this baby which links to your TV and swears by it. You can ride all the alpine climbs and he doesn't get bored by it so maybe it's me.
http://www.tacx.com/producten.php?language=EN&...
A mate of mine has this baby which links to your TV and swears by it. You can ride all the alpine climbs and he doesn't get bored by it so maybe it's me.
http://www.tacx.com/producten.php?language=EN&...
Parsnip said:
Got a tacx flow which is cracking for during the winter - pretty boring, but it has to be done i guess.
Brilliant for intervals sessions, brilliant for keeping the power up when the weather is crap.
Cycling when the weather is crap doesn't make you hard, it makes you ill.
That depends how hard you are. If you're hard you won't get ill! Brilliant for intervals sessions, brilliant for keeping the power up when the weather is crap.
Cycling when the weather is crap doesn't make you hard, it makes you ill.
illmonkey said:
Anyone bother with these? After last weeks summer rain I thought this would be good to have about for when its raining and throughout the winter.
Something like this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/CycleOps_Mag_Tra...
Slap it in the garage, put the radio on for an hour, good workout? or not worth it?
Something like this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/CycleOps_Mag_Tra...
Slap it in the garage, put the radio on for an hour, good workout? or not worth it?
Nick_F said:
I had a cheap 'n' cheerful Elite air fan jobbie for a couple of years and it wasn't much fun to use - it was also hideously noisy. Last winter I upgraded to a Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer - which is fantastic.
Good quality trainer + laptop + Coach Troy Spinervals DVD = good session.
Learn to love Coach Troy.
I went straight in for a Kurt Kinetic with a continental turbo trainer specific MTB tyre and it is really quiet and smooth. Unfortunately about a month later my mate bought a decent front light and I followed suit. Night rides replaced the TT before I even began to get into it.Good quality trainer + laptop + Coach Troy Spinervals DVD = good session.
Learn to love Coach Troy.
I bought it new and have barely used it as, realistically, it is not my thing. You may find that it is not your thing either so maybe look second hand so you don't lose as much as I no doubt will.
Mine is not actively for sale as I MAY use it again in the future and I cannot be arsed to run the risk and hassle of Ebay but feel free to PM me if you think you may want it. I am happy to do a simple sale and arrange a courier (it is in the original box).
I bought a tacx fortius and its 'kin brilliant.
When i first bought it i rode it till my c0ck went numb (20mins at 160 watts)
Now I still ride till my c0ck goes numb, but that's now after an hour and half at 240 watts and im still only halfway up Mont Ventoux!!!
Expensive but bloody good - mate just got an ebay one at £280, bastid!
When i first bought it i rode it till my c0ck went numb (20mins at 160 watts)
Now I still ride till my c0ck goes numb, but that's now after an hour and half at 240 watts and im still only halfway up Mont Ventoux!!!
Expensive but bloody good - mate just got an ebay one at £280, bastid!
So, looking into this as its now dark when I get home!
I'd get this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Any cheaper ones worth looking at? £300 to see if i'd bother doing it seems alot.
And I need a special tyre for the back? I've got my old bike I'll be using with this, so I don't need a spare wheel. Anything else? Just the trainer and the tyre?
Any links for the tyre required?
I'd also like a computer to measure speed/time etc. Is it best to just use my normal computer and try to get it working on the back wheel?
I'd get this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Any cheaper ones worth looking at? £300 to see if i'd bother doing it seems alot.
And I need a special tyre for the back? I've got my old bike I'll be using with this, so I don't need a spare wheel. Anything else? Just the trainer and the tyre?
Any links for the tyre required?
I'd also like a computer to measure speed/time etc. Is it best to just use my normal computer and try to get it working on the back wheel?
Edited by illmonkey on Tuesday 27th October 11:46
You don't need a turbo tyre - but it will wreck a normal tyre, so if you don't use the wheel for anything else, you are golden.
Comp on the back wheel will work - wireless might not be strong enough to reach your bars though - so you might need to move the head unit.
A rubber yoga mat is a good purchase too - deadens the sound a bit and stops you getting the floor manky with sweat. Get a decent fan, as you will sweat your tits off.
Comp on the back wheel will work - wireless might not be strong enough to reach your bars though - so you might need to move the head unit.
A rubber yoga mat is a good purchase too - deadens the sound a bit and stops you getting the floor manky with sweat. Get a decent fan, as you will sweat your tits off.
Parsnip said:
You don't need a turbo tyre - but it will wreck a normal tyre, so if you don't use the wheel for anything else, you are golden.
Comp on the back wheel will work - wireless might not be strong enough to reach your bars though - so you might need to move the head unit.
A rubber yoga mat is a good purchase too - deadens the sound a bit and stops you getting the floor manky with sweat. Get a decent fan, as you will sweat your tits off.
The tyre is wrecked already. So maybe I'll run it for a month and see how it goes. Comp on the back wheel will work - wireless might not be strong enough to reach your bars though - so you might need to move the head unit.
A rubber yoga mat is a good purchase too - deadens the sound a bit and stops you getting the floor manky with sweat. Get a decent fan, as you will sweat your tits off.
Its going in the garage (not attached to any house), so I'm not worried about noise etc. But It seems a good idea to give it a bit more grip??
Again, in the garage, so i'll open the door for air. At least the rain wont come in.
Looking into it a bit more, I think a fluid is best, as it has good resistance. So in light of this, I've found this product.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cycleops/fluid...
A good price for a brand spanking new one. Looks like I can chuck my old bike on it with its current tyres too. Mixed reviews online, seem to be a few breaking soon after purchase, but other than that people think they are good.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cycleops/fluid...
A good price for a brand spanking new one. Looks like I can chuck my old bike on it with its current tyres too. Mixed reviews online, seem to be a few breaking soon after purchase, but other than that people think they are good.
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