Which turbo? (been told to get my own!)

Ands

I've just got back on the bike this year (5 yrs/2 small children later) and OH thinks I need my own turbo (not sure why this is - either we're going to spend long evenings in the garage together or he's fed up of shifting my bike off his turbo :? ).

I'm using a Tacx Flow and he wants to buy me another similar. At £300 I'm wondering if I need to spend that much. Since his turbo is probably about 5 years old, has technology changed at the lower end of the market and can I get something as good for less? Or should I stick with what I'm used to?

Any suggestions or experiences please!

Thanks
Suzanne

hopper1

Not sure how technology has changed things, apart from fluid being the more popular resistance factor.
I have a CycleOps Fluid 2 and I'm more than happy with it.
I'd say as long as the turbo uses oil/fluid to create resistance it'll be ok. All the fancy gizmo's are unnecessary in my mind.

Ands

Thank you Hopper. It looks good, and good price altho I just looked up a review for it and it got marked down for resistance. How do you find it? (Supposed to be training for the Alps next summer :shock: )

Says it's quiet tho, which is important for me as I will probably have to train indoors a lot of the time (and not the garage), when the little ones are in bed.

I'm guessing that if I went for something under £300 I'm going to lose the computer like the Flow has?

Ands

oh I just realised there is a 'buying advice' forum too :oops: :oops: (how long's that been there?!)

ut_och_cykla

I have a flow 2 years old - suits me fine and I trained to be able to climb alps inkl. Alpe Dhuez etc on it no probs. key is right gears adn sustained power. I have mine in teh cellar - maybe in the living room in might drown teh telly a bit but I'm not sure thats its worse than a washing machine noise wise. Rather like eth computer thingy - gives me lots of number sto keep track of adn a sense of steady if rather slow improvement!!

hopper1

Ands wrote:

Thank you Hopper. It looks good, and good price altho I just looked up a review for it and it got marked down for resistance. How do you find it? (Supposed to be training for the Alps next summer :shock: )

Says it's quiet tho, which is important for me as I will probably have to train indoors a lot of the time (and not the garage), when the little ones are in bed.

I'm guessing that if I went for something under £300 I'm going to lose the computer like the Flow has?

There's enough resistance to practically stop me dead, I use my gears to alter it.
It is a very quiet unit, extremely simple to set up, too.
I use mine with a PowerTap rear hub, so that provides all my info.
But any sensor on your rear wheel would give you the basics.
If you can spin along on that turbo in 53/12, you'll breeze the alps...

Ands

Thanks guys. Took my pedals and shoes with me to the Alps this yeat and then bottled it when faced with the prospect of ascending Alpe d'Huez. Had a huge fear of failure and not being able to get past the first 2 hairpins. Next year, I want to go into it with some better, targeted training behind me.

I do like the computer on the flow - would find it hard to train without a cadence sensor.

andy162

I'll side with Hopper. Everything he said really. No separate resistance adjustment, you just pedal harder. Quiet, cheap, robust. Mine's 2 years old & has had some hammer. Still spot on.

Ands

Thanks - quite fancy having something different otherwise it won't feel like a new toy if I get the same one as he's already got.

Hopper, I can spin 53/12 in the Alps no problem.......downhill of course
You also mentioned a rear wheel sensor.....can you point me in the direction of those as I'm not sure what I'm looking for. The Power Tap looks like a serious piece of kit but would quadruple the cost of the turbo!

ut_och_cykla

A normal rear wheel mounted bike comouter will give you all kinds of info - the old Cateye Astrale has cadence too! Just calibrate it properly!

symo

I have a Kirt Kinetic Rock n Roll. Love it. Unlike the Cyclops system the Kurt fluid will not leak as it does not have a seal that will eventually wear out. Plus the rock and roll motion lets you get out of the seat without damaging the bike.

I have the Garmin 705 and I am in the process of buying a couple more cadence monitors for my turbo bike and the new planet x ti. Again great piece of equipment.

symo

I have a Kirt Kinetic Rock n Roll. Love it. Unlike the Cyclops system the Kurt fluid will not leak as it does not have a seal that will eventually wear out. Plus the rock and roll motion lets you get out of the seat without damaging the bike.

I have the Garmin 705 and I am in the process of buying a couple more cadence monitors for my turbo bike and the new planet x ti. Again great piece of equipment.

hopper1

Ands wrote:

Thanks - quite fancy having something different otherwise it won't feel like a new toy if I get the same one as he's already got.

Hopper, I can spin 53/12 in the Alps no problem.......downhill of course
You also mentioned a rear wheel sensor.....can you point me in the direction of those as I'm not sure what I'm looking for. The Power Tap looks like a serious piece of kit but would quadruple the cost of the turbo!

I was using a Casteye Strada Double Wireless. Speed sensor and cadence in one unit on rear chainstay, no wires, excellent peice of kit.
Only removed it because of PowerTap.
Might know of a second hand one for sale (297 miles)...