Turbo trainer thread for commuters

biondino

Or, at least, for people who aren't necessarily going to benefit from the advice hardcore roadies give other hardcore roadies on the main road board.

I have a turbo trainer and I hate using it. I've been buying up winter biking gear like it's going out of fashion but even so, there are going to be quite a few times when I'm just not going to get out. So can we use this thread for tips to make the most of turbo sessions, in particular sub-hour (and even shorter) ones because, as we know, they are SO boring it's nigh on impossible to turbo for longer

Up to now, I've pretty much used the turbo for powering along at near capacity - in effect a time trial kinda thing, where I add a little bit of time each time I get on the trainer and try and go that little bit longer and further. Having said that, I've never done more than 32 minutes in a sitting cos it's SO exhausting and SO boring. Is there any benefit in this kind of training, or should I be doing, say, interval work?

linsen

I've never even used one and have no idea what I should get if I did get one. How much will it cost and do you need to put the bike on a mat or something? In the winter I just tend to muck about on the MTB but could see the benefits of some more focussed sessions!

jonginge

I've got a turbo but rarely use it due to the noise (I live in a flat and don't want to annoy my neighbours too much). My rollers are much quieter and are less tedious but you get less bang for buck in terms of resistance training.
2x20 thread from the training section:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12555444&start=15&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=2x20

lost_in_thought

I know this doesn't help, but the whole reason I cycle is because it's outside.

I don't mind doing a spinning class because of the group interaction thing, but a turbo trainer indoors on your own? So boring!

I've cycled all year, all weather, no excuses for nearly 4 years now, and would always prefer getting out and about on the bike to being indoors.

cjcp

biondino wrote:

Having said that, I've never done more than 32 minutes in a sitting cos it's SO exhausting and SO boring. Is there any benefit in this kind of training, or should I be doing, say, interval work?

Vary it altogether. If you do too much of anything, even interval work, on the turbo, it gets boring.

always_tyred

My turbo trainer now makes a useful work stand. I'm with L-i-T (not literally, obviously) in prefering to play outside when remotely possible. I did a few years of serious time in the gym and thereafter vowed to avoid it at all costs.

A couple of tips -
(1) watch the paint work. Sweat is corrosive (seriously - it strips laquer off eventually)
(2) use old skewers - a trainer will bite into them as the bike rocks.
(3) use old tyres - it wears them out surprisingly quickly

Honestly though, if you are going to torture yourself by doing cardio indoors, the winter is a good time to mix the cycling with other things, i.e. at a gym. To maintain musculature requires something like 50% (its not 50%, its either 40% or 60% but I have forgotten) of the activity levels as it took to build that musculature. So, it should be possible to pick your way through winter, maintaining fitness through a variety of means, without incurring too much of a shock to the system when the weather improves.

Mithras

Music......Loud, and enrgetic.

Set routines...Ie 3x 15 minute efforts with 5 mins recovery between each set, however vary them,doing the same routine is boring. Set targets. If you have goal to aim for at the end of each month it helps.

sc999cs

I use mine all the time due to family restrictions on when I can get out on my bike. I rarely have time prior to 9pm to myself. I help pass the time by cycling intervals, easy for five minutes, hard for five minutes etc.The count down to the end of the interval helps pass the time a bit better than a constant effort session.

Other things I use is a HRM to guage effort and to have some numeric feedback which I can record and look at for improving upon. A cadence sensor to ensure that my effort doesn't drop without me noticing. A really big floor fan to prevent over heating and a portable TV and cheap DVD player. I've recently watched all of the Austin Powers' films, Alien Quadrilogy, the Entire Bottom TV series and Live shows and am currently working my way through the Mighty Boosh (while they were still funny...)

Mike Healey

I've never found turboing boring, largely because when you're doing an interval programme, it's too bloody knackering. There is also the distraction factor that you are concentrating on the current interval and wondering too much when the pain is going to stop, to get bored.

For winter training, it's clearly the best method of doing very structured training sessions, with no weather, gradients, traffic problems to interfere with your efforts.

See if a local coach can give you some programmes

Anonymous

Get. A. Spinervals. DVD.





NOW!


Awesome workouts...

I do mine in front of the telly to a spinervals DVD and it is probably the best workout I do due to coach 'king of cheese' Troy.

"high cadence! high cadence!"

itboffin

I bought a cheap turbo on ebay mag resistance but it does seem to offer much resistance I end up spinning like mad until I start bouncing or the pedals knock, I realise the idea is to develop a smoother technique but it's difficult when there virtually no resistance.

Any "useful" tips?

always_tyred

itboffin wrote:

I bought a cheap turbo on ebay mag resistance but it does seem to offer much resistance I end up spinning like mad until I start bouncing or the pedals knock, I realise the idea is to develop a smoother technique but it's difficult when there virtually no resistance.

Any "useful" tips?

Was it new? The gap between the magnets might not be changing - the adjustment on these things is often pretty rudimentary. Mine stuck fast after an annoyingly short time (an Elite one - also fairly cheap).

Jen J

Always Tyred wrote:

itboffin wrote:

I bought a cheap turbo on ebay mag resistance but it does seem to offer much resistance I end up spinning like mad until I start bouncing or the pedals knock, I realise the idea is to develop a smoother technique but it's difficult when there virtually no resistance.

Any "useful" tips?

Was it new? The gap between the magnets might not be changing - the adjustment on these things is often pretty rudimentary. Mine stuck fast after an annoyingly short time (an Elite one - also fairly cheap).

I got a TT two weeks ago, and mine definitely has plenty of resistance. Only used it a few times though, as like others, I'd much rather be outside. But when I need to do certain mileage in training, and it's cold and wet and dark and windy and dangerous outside, I figured it's be the lesser of two evils.

I don't have a TV but have watched DVDs or iPlayer on the laptop. Just watch something fast-paced - documentaries make the time reeeeeeeeaaaally draaaaaag.

biondino

Mine has 6 different settings, but I also have 20 further settings - my gears! ITB, are you using your fixie?

sc999cs

biondino wrote:

Mine has 6 different settings, but I also have 20 further settings - my gears! ITB, are you using your fixie?

You beat me to it - just finished an 1 hour and 10 minute session on my trainer - try using higher gears as biondino said.

UnworthyPapaLazaru

lost_in_thought wrote:

I know this doesn't help, but the whole reason I cycle is because it's outside.

I don't mind doing a spinning class because of the group interaction thing, but a turbo trainer indoors on your own? So boring!

I've cycled all year, all weather, no excuses for nearly 4 years now, and would always prefer getting out and about on the bike to being indoors.

What are spinning classes?

sc999cs

UnworthyPapaLazaru wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I know this doesn't help, but the whole reason I cycle is because it's outside.

I don't mind doing a spinning class because of the group interaction thing, but a turbo trainer indoors on your own? So boring!

I've cycled all year, all weather, no excuses for nearly 4 years now, and would always prefer getting out and about on the bike to being indoors.

What are spinning classes?

I think it is where a bunch of people sit on exercise bikes and spin at a cadence of 120 - 130 rpm to loud music.

itboffin

It's an el cheapo Tranzx with no adjustable settings and as for using my gears it does help a little but not much which is why I think something is wrong.

always_tyred

itboffin wrote:

It's an el cheapo Tranzx with no adjustable settings and as for using my gears it does help a little but not much which is why I think something is wrong.

Well, unless you are missing something (are you absolutely SURE there is nothing to adjust on the big black disk by the back wheel?)

you have a nice sturdy bike stand.

sc999cs

itboffin wrote:

It's an el cheapo Tranzx with no adjustable settings and as for using my gears it does help a little but not much which is why I think something is wrong.

Just looked at the website where you got the image from - I think I've found the right model. It states

This model does NOT come with a cable operated control lever, magnetic resistance is at a fixed level, & instead you vary the load by using your gears to make the pedalling progessively harder.

It could be that you are just too strong for that particular type of trainer and you need to upgrade to one with variable resistance.

itboffin

You could be right more likely that this model is cr@p and a two year old girl would find it too easy, I've improved matters slightly by fixing a much heavier wheel with wider slick tyres and pushing the roller surface hard against the tyre, it's now much stiffer - no doubt that tyre won't last very long.

always_tyred

I've got two words for that turbo trainer:

Sh!te.

don_don

I've never managed more than 30 mins on mine either. I bought it years ago on impulse and its been used only a handful of times. If the weather is absolutely foul or I'm busy, I'll cycle to our work gym (only 15 mins) and do a half hour there.

I would really like to have a go on one of these though:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reviews/insideride/

Cost a fortune tho'