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
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.
okgo said:
I also hated the turbo, I had a Kurt Road Machine turbo for maybe 8 or 9 years, I only used it for warm ups at time trials, and if the weather was dogs
t, or I just had no other option, and I did almost all of the turbo stuff on a time trial bike, as training outside on that is difficult in London.
Anyway, I also had the beta zwift account, I found it dull and preferred television/music instead. I thought that was just going to be it for me and that I would hate the turbo forever and inevitably struggle to get any decent riding in now I don't commute.
Anyway, a mate of mine got me a half price kickr (the price they paid to wahoo bulk wholesale lol) and straight away it was much more enjoyable. Not only that, but the direct drive element, and the small amount of flex it has built in means I can actually do much closer to my road watts on this trainer vs the tyre based one.
I do the races on there too, but obviously they're only as good as the person you are racing's powermeter. And there are a lot of very average riders who are amazing on zwift and don't make the connection. Weird that they think they've gone from not being able to score points at as 3rd cat, so monstering A races with 5 w/kg averages, but there you are. Some people are like that.
Wonder how a fat lump knocking fifty will cope ?t, or I just had no other option, and I did almost all of the turbo stuff on a time trial bike, as training outside on that is difficult in London.Anyway, I also had the beta zwift account, I found it dull and preferred television/music instead. I thought that was just going to be it for me and that I would hate the turbo forever and inevitably struggle to get any decent riding in now I don't commute.
Anyway, a mate of mine got me a half price kickr (the price they paid to wahoo bulk wholesale lol) and straight away it was much more enjoyable. Not only that, but the direct drive element, and the small amount of flex it has built in means I can actually do much closer to my road watts on this trainer vs the tyre based one.
I do the races on there too, but obviously they're only as good as the person you are racing's powermeter. And there are a lot of very average riders who are amazing on zwift and don't make the connection. Weird that they think they've gone from not being able to score points at as 3rd cat, so monstering A races with 5 w/kg averages, but there you are. Some people are like that.
Do they allow children on small pink bicycles with glittery tassles on the ends of the bars to compete as I reckon I can probably beat most of them
Might get a Kickr then, suppose if I dont take to it can flog it for good money.
I have a monitor and PC in my garage so can prod angle that, just enough space in there, got my cabin in the garden but thats further away and my bike lives int he garage, for me things need to be easy to set up, which wheel off, slot in the trainer, boot the PC up and log in, any more than that will prob gather dust.
Tim O said:
J4CKO said:
Wonder how a fat lump knocking fifty will cope ?
Do they allow children on small pink bicycles with glittery tassles on the ends of the bars to compete as I reckon I can probably beat most of them
Might get a Kickr then, suppose if I dont take to it can flog it for good money.
I have a monitor and PC in my garage so can prod angle that, just enough space in there, got my cabin in the garden but thats further away and my bike lives int he garage, for me things need to be easy to set up, which wheel off, slot in the trainer, boot the PC up and log in, any more than that will prob gather dust.
Your PC will need to be able to receive either Bluetooth or ANT+ output from the Kickr. Easiest option is an ANT+ dongle from Suunto, or something similar. Loads of the on Amazon.Do they allow children on small pink bicycles with glittery tassles on the ends of the bars to compete as I reckon I can probably beat most of them
Might get a Kickr then, suppose if I dont take to it can flog it for good money.
I have a monitor and PC in my garage so can prod angle that, just enough space in there, got my cabin in the garden but thats further away and my bike lives int he garage, for me things need to be easy to set up, which wheel off, slot in the trainer, boot the PC up and log in, any more than that will prob gather dust.
https://www.suunto.com/en-gb/Products/PODs/Suunto-...
I'd recommend you get a HR monitor, too, and a big fan!
PC is a standard Dell small footprint desktop, with a 24 inch monitor, may need to do a bit of re-arrangement but think I can make it work.
Got loads of Bluetooth dongles and stuff like that.
MarcelM6 said:
J4CKO said:
Wonder how a fat lump knocking fifty will cope ?
Do they allow children on small pink bicycles with glittery tassles on the ends of the bars to compete as I reckon I can probably beat most of them
Might get a Kickr then, suppose if I dont take to it can flog it for good money.
I have a monitor and PC in my garage so can prod angle that, just enough space in there, got my cabin in the garden but thats further away and my bike lives int he garage, for me things need to be easy to set up, which wheel off, slot in the trainer, boot the PC up and log in, any more than that will prob gather dust.
I'm well over 50, and 'fat lump' is a relative term....the beauty of these apps is that they factor all these variables in so should be a level playing field, except for the well documented cheating in Zwift racing.Do they allow children on small pink bicycles with glittery tassles on the ends of the bars to compete as I reckon I can probably beat most of them
Might get a Kickr then, suppose if I dont take to it can flog it for good money.
I have a monitor and PC in my garage so can prod angle that, just enough space in there, got my cabin in the garden but thats further away and my bike lives int he garage, for me things need to be easy to set up, which wheel off, slot in the trainer, boot the PC up and log in, any more than that will prob gather dust.
I run both TR and Zwift on my phone - no need for PC to boot up,. Zwift is very power hungry though so you'll need a charge cable.
Happy with dark as per the night riding thread, but yesterday it was tipping down, fine all day then got to 2 o clock and that was that, not bothered about getting wet but from a safety point of view, going out when its like that at rush hour is not a great idea from a safety standpoint, fine if its a commute as no choice but just going out, not sure.
Have noticed some improvements over the summer, been climbing a hill locally on my route and gone from crawling up on the granny ring to out of the saddle, still blowing out of my arse but going faster, dropping two stone would be a big help and then see where I get to.
Kind of enjoy riding more than driving now though.
Ares said:
J4CKO said:
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'm a full Zwift 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 ?
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 5th October 19:28
Of the 25,000km I've ridden this year, at least half have been on Zwift. Great training sessions, group rides, or just spinning away.
I do 60-90mins every morning....Zwift certainly isn't a flash in a pan!!
I still prefer outdoors, but a lot of time, outdoors doesn't fit with life very well to get a good level of training in....especially with UK/NW weather!!
I couldn't imagine the turbo without Zwift.
If you are going to use it, make sure you have a smart trainer as minimum. I had a Wahoo KICKR for 4years, now upgraded to a KICKR Bike. Fantastic realism.
Peleton is a different proposition - it isn't like bike riding, it's like a spin class. It is a bloody great product, fantastic concept, but it isn't cycle training.
Three grand on an exercise bike, I am still getting my head round a grand for a thing you stick your bike in so it doesn't go anywhere !
At least you do get a lot of use out of it, most exercise bikes seem to be a way to hang clothes.
Ok, placed my order on the Wahoo website, says 2 or 3 weeks, must be loads of middle aged tubbers wanting to sweat away in their garages and pay a grand for the honour
Will sort out the bits as I go,
Will use my normal road bike for now, though know where there is an old Claud Butler going spare, that said, not got space in there for a permanent setup really and dont want it down the garden in my cabin as its a Treck (Trek ?) down there and I like my bike in the garage for quick access.
Cassette, I'm on a 10 speed, this comes with an 11, so guess I need to either upgrade my groupset to 11 speed or put a 10 speed casssette on it, the latter sounds cheaper.
Sort the sensors side out.
Got a small desk fan inverted under the shelves, amazingly in the best position, should do for now, got bigger ones I can "draft" in.
Computer with a 24 inch monitor in there already, again in the right spot on the face of it
Beer fridge next to it all....
Will sort out the bits as I go,
Will use my normal road bike for now, though know where there is an old Claud Butler going spare, that said, not got space in there for a permanent setup really and dont want it down the garden in my cabin as its a Treck (Trek ?) down there and I like my bike in the garage for quick access.
Cassette, I'm on a 10 speed, this comes with an 11, so guess I need to either upgrade my groupset to 11 speed or put a 10 speed casssette on it, the latter sounds cheaper.
Sort the sensors side out.
Got a small desk fan inverted under the shelves, amazingly in the best position, should do for now, got bigger ones I can "draft" in.
Computer with a 24 inch monitor in there already, again in the right spot on the face of it
Beer fridge next to it all....
Ares said:
Mastodon2 said:
Gareth79 said:
The old Atom is "only" £1600 at the moment which seems pretty good value compared to £1000-£1200 for a top-end smart trainer. The advantage is it doesn't wear your existing bike, the bars won't get sweaty, it won't need adjustment/maintenance, it won't collect dust/dirt or throw out crud from the chain.
Even if you take the bottom end figure of £1000, how much indoor riding would you have to do to run up a grand of repair and maintenance bills on a wheel-off turbo trainer set up? That is a lot of chains, chainrings, cassettes and lube.
As mentioned, you do sweat a tonne in indoor riding, I just put a towel over the bars. I'd probably still swap some fresh bar tape on if I was making a long term switch of which bike was on the trainer. So that's £20 for some new bar tape. Only £980 left in the kitty.
If the decent DD trainer is £1000, the rest of the wear comes from the bike you have on it. If it is an old snotter, then the fit isn't the same. If you have your decent bike on it, the wear becomes telling - I had £500 of service and maintenance needed to my 65.1 after it had sat on the turbo.
But if you only do a couple of thousand KMs a year, it becomes less relevance.
I have had new wheels and tyres (£150 brand new off eBay, £300 from a shop) bar tape, derailleur, drop out, top chain ring and chain this year (due another soon), spent £240 or so, you need to change your username to 2manybikes ;
Gets expensive with the more exotic machinery !
Do you not do any work yourself ? working on bikes is so easy with a stand, few tools and Youtube, I quite enjoy it as well, plus its quicker usually to just do it than take it, wait and pick it up. Fixed my bike the next day after the spoke went at 6pm, had collected and fitted the new wheels by 7pm, removing the cassette didnt even cause any flesh wounds.
Ares said:
J4CKO said:
Ares said:
Mastodon2 said:
Gareth79 said:
The old Atom is "only" £1600 at the moment which seems pretty good value compared to £1000-£1200 for a top-end smart trainer. The advantage is it doesn't wear your existing bike, the bars won't get sweaty, it won't need adjustment/maintenance, it won't collect dust/dirt or throw out crud from the chain.
Even if you take the bottom end figure of £1000, how much indoor riding would you have to do to run up a grand of repair and maintenance bills on a wheel-off turbo trainer set up? That is a lot of chains, chainrings, cassettes and lube.
As mentioned, you do sweat a tonne in indoor riding, I just put a towel over the bars. I'd probably still swap some fresh bar tape on if I was making a long term switch of which bike was on the trainer. So that's £20 for some new bar tape. Only £980 left in the kitty.
If the decent DD trainer is £1000, the rest of the wear comes from the bike you have on it. If it is an old snotter, then the fit isn't the same. If you have your decent bike on it, the wear becomes telling - I had £500 of service and maintenance needed to my 65.1 after it had sat on the turbo.
But if you only do a couple of thousand KMs a year, it becomes less relevance.
I have had new wheels and tyres (£150 brand new off eBay, £300 from a shop) bar tape, derailleur, drop out, top chain ring and chain this year (due another soon), spent £240 or so, you need to change your username to 2manybikes ;
Gets expensive with the more exotic machinery !
Do you not do any work yourself ? working on bikes is so easy with a stand, few tools and Youtube, I quite enjoy it as well, plus its quicker usually to just do it than take it, wait and pick it up. Fixed my bike the next day after the spoke went at 6pm, had collected and fitted the new wheels by 7pm, removing the cassette didnt even cause any flesh wounds.
I do simple work myself, but too easy with TSC a 2 min ride away where an ex-Pro Team mechanic can do the work so much better, and quicker.
I changed the gear cables on my MTB as they went sticky but my road bike is still on the originals, but might order some new brake cables to be on the safe side, dont fancy having one snap.
Need some steerer bearings as noticed a little bit of play.
I had a bad experience with Royles doing some shoddy work, suspect it was because it was a bit of a cheap bike, cant imagine their high end owning customers got crap work like that, bought the bits and sorted it myself.
Mastodon2 said:
Ares said:
All cables, chain, BB, bar tape, hoods, steerer bearing, plus a full strip down service.
I do simple work myself, but too easy with TSC a 2 min ride away where an ex-Pro Team mechanic can do the work so much better, and quicker.
I'm not sure how using your bike on an indoor trainer knackered your cables, hoods or steerer bearing, or why it needed a full strip down service, unless you've been particularly neglectful or careless. Also, it would have been easy to do that lot yourself.I do simple work myself, but too easy with TSC a 2 min ride away where an ex-Pro Team mechanic can do the work so much better, and quicker.
There's no reason you can't use nice bikes on a turbo trainer, just clean the sweat off them and don't let sweat drip onto the headset. At the same time you don't need to use SRAM red chain rings and cassettes either, top end lightweight components don't make a difference so there is money to be saved there.
Got the email to say its been shipped, so due in 2/3 days.
Got a ten speed cassette, well I stuck that on my bike and kept the old one for on the Kickr.
PC is there with a 24 inch monitor, got a fan already set up. Garage floor has those rubber tile mats down.
One thing am not sure on, ANT+ vs Bluetooth, will check the PC as to its capability BT wise, not sure if it has, but have a BT dongle, or do I need to order a specific ANT+ one, as per,
https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc/en-us/articles...
Got a ten speed cassette, well I stuck that on my bike and kept the old one for on the Kickr.
PC is there with a 24 inch monitor, got a fan already set up. Garage floor has those rubber tile mats down.
One thing am not sure on, ANT+ vs Bluetooth, will check the PC as to its capability BT wise, not sure if it has, but have a BT dongle, or do I need to order a specific ANT+ one, as per,
https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc/en-us/articles...
I just ordered this one,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D4J7KH6/ref...
Hopefully thats it spend wise now !
Went out for a ride last night, started as was going dark really quite enjoyable, definitely feel a bit safer when its properly dark and well lit.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D4J7KH6/ref...
Hopefully thats it spend wise now !
Went out for a ride last night, started as was going dark really quite enjoyable, definitely feel a bit safer when its properly dark and well lit.
)Well, all set up, dead easy and I went for a trundle round Watopia for 15 mins, by which time sweat was dripping into my eyes.
Maybe my Aldi car/diy pants, crocs and a fleece arent ideal cycling gear, but was just to confirm its all set up, the fan helps, the monitor could do with being a smidge higher but considering it wasnt set up with Kickr's and Zwift in mind it works really well. The Kickr Itself packs away really small which is perfect as my garage man cave is somewhat bijou. It seems very well made as well. Very easy to switch it back to a proper bicycle, tried it and it took less than a minute, albeit with the usual oily fingers.
Am fannying round with old planes tomorrow but will try and get half and hour in, not going to turn it into a crusade, little and often for now.
I gave it some proper stick and it went to 970 watts, felt a bit weird, so grabbed a can of beer and went to get some dinner, its a bit disconcerting when as a man, your brief maximum power output is half that of a Decent Vacuum cleaner
Maybe my Aldi car/diy pants, crocs and a fleece arent ideal cycling gear, but was just to confirm its all set up, the fan helps, the monitor could do with being a smidge higher but considering it wasnt set up with Kickr's and Zwift in mind it works really well. The Kickr Itself packs away really small which is perfect as my garage man cave is somewhat bijou. It seems very well made as well. Very easy to switch it back to a proper bicycle, tried it and it took less than a minute, albeit with the usual oily fingers.
Am fannying round with old planes tomorrow but will try and get half and hour in, not going to turn it into a crusade, little and often for now.
I gave it some proper stick and it went to 970 watts, felt a bit weird, so grabbed a can of beer and went to get some dinner, its a bit disconcerting when as a man, your brief maximum power output is half that of a Decent Vacuum cleaner
Just did an hour or so, it does the trick and is easier to fit in than a proper ride, was tipping down so made me feel like the purchase was justified.
Got the Heart Rate Monitor, but cant have it yet as my MIL is getting me it for my birthday, just need to indulge that aspect despite me ordering it and quite happy to just pay the money but hey ho, can live a couple of days without knowing what the lard caked organ in my chest is doing, think I already know.
Going to try and do an hour every day during lock down, or get out if the weather is good.
Hit 1012 watts and 50 mph.
Got the Heart Rate Monitor, but cant have it yet as my MIL is getting me it for my birthday, just need to indulge that aspect despite me ordering it and quite happy to just pay the money but hey ho, can live a couple of days without knowing what the lard caked organ in my chest is doing, think I already know.
Going to try and do an hour every day during lock down, or get out if the weather is good.
Hit 1012 watts and 50 mph.
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