Turbo Training for Beginners - a NapD guide

u268642

Cheers for that, was hoping it would to save 20 odd quid for another one.

Just had a thought actually, i could have the garmin going the same time as the i-magic just the info wont be in the same place but i guess i will be able to tell im still alive!

Cheers for your help.

If you know of a cheap place for straps let me know will you?

Blacktemplar

NapoleonD wrote:

My recommendation is the Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro...

Just about to have an ACJ op after a fall, and was going to get to a TT to give me something to train on (one armed) over the winter. Is the Cycleops Pro a good buy then? Winstanleys have it at £199.99 just now.

Do you need a block for the front wheel as well? I would imagine it would feel like you're cycling downhill otherwise

Anonymous

You can either buy an expensive block or plonk a piece of wood or yellow pages under the front wheel. For climbing intervals use both to raise the front wheel up!

Go for it, brilliant turbo!

paultheparaglider

Thanks for the information Nap D. I ordered one today (from Winstanleys). Perhaps Cycleops should put you on a commission.

Anonymous

Yes. Yes, they should.... :x

kingrollo

Its that time of year when I consider using the turbo - although I hate it with a passion.

I only have cheap one - without any resistance - I had just been doing 30 minutes sessions - not killing me - but just building up a sweat - after reading this thread I am wondering if such a session has any benefit ?

boondog

anyone know where I can try out an iMagic or fortius before I buy it ? or anyone have feedback on how good/bad they are ?

Dancing Bear

boondog wrote:

anyone know where I can try out an iMagic or fortius before I buy it ? or anyone have feedback on how good/bad they are ?

I have an I magic - but you must get the latest software and a fast PC with a dedicated graphics card to get the best out of it - then cough for the real time DVD's they are brilliant - if winter dictate turbo training, at least make it interesting!

paultheparaglider

Ordered my Cycleops from Winstanleys on 15Sep. Website says 2 to 7 days to dispatch. Received an email next day saying delivery on or before 5Oct. Received another email today saying delivery on or before 29Oct. This is closer to 7 weeks than 7 days.
They have now put the price up on the website from £199.99 to £269.99 and are advising it is the new 2011 model. Still advising 2 to 7 days to dispatch.

gmb

Hi all,

Just after some advice on Sufferfest etc. Are these suitable for rollers or would it be turbo specific?

I've had a brief look through this thread but given that it's quite a size now I haven't had time to do a thorough read through.

I'm just looking for a structured workout with intervals rather than reading through a load of info and trying to remember what to do when while cycling.

Also are the sufferfest vids download only or can they be bought on DVD?

Cheers

milese

Sufferfest is just a video of an interval workout, telling you how hard to work and when so you could do it on either.

I think they are for download only, have a look on their website.

I've done a couple sufferfest work outs now, and my perceived exersion seems higher than my heart rate. Does anyone else have this problem?

Also, will a turbo specific tyre offer better traction on the roller than the old road tyre I'm using? I get the odd squeek when really going for it or out of the saddle.

If so can anyone recommend either the continental ultra sport or the vikttoria zaffiro pro on wiggle?

MikeWW

kingrollo wrote:

Its that time of year when I consider using the turbo - although I hate it with a passion.

I only have cheap one - without any resistance - I had just been doing 30 minutes sessions - not killing me - but just building up a sweat - after reading this thread I am wondering if such a session has any benefit ?

Better than nothing but you could get more out of it by extending the session and doing some threshold work.

paultheparaglider

paultheparaglider wrote:

Ordered my Cycleops from Winstanleys on 15Sep. Website says 2 to 7 days to dispatch. Received an email next day saying delivery on or before 5Oct. Received another email today saying delivery on or before 29Oct. This is closer to 7 weeks than 7 days.
They have now put the price up on the website from £199.99 to £269.99 and are advising it is the new 2011 model. Still advising 2 to 7 days to dispatch.

Despite the email advisory date on my 2010 trainer, my unit actually came today which is great. Unfortunately, the skewer wasn't in the box, but Winstanleys have told me they will get one to me quickly. I'll report back on what I think of it once the skewer arrives.
Also, I was sent the 2011 model.

paultheparaglider

Skewer arrived by courier today. Excellent service from Winstanleys in sorting this fast.
I've never used a turbo before. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it is nice and stable, and rides progressively. I'd say definitely more effort than for the same gear and cadence on a flat road. I don't have any speed or power readers attached to the rear wheel. I think it will provide a good and fairly realistic workout, but I'd prefer to be outdoors if the weather is ok.
It was very easy to set up and fit to the bike.
Regarding noise, I thought it was reasonable, but certainly not silent. The bike currently has GP4000S tyres, but I think most of the noise is from the resistance unit and not the tyre itself. My wife said she thought it was fairly noisy, but not as noisy as the Concept 2 rower we have. I agree with that assessment.
Overall summary is that it is good trainer.

Anonymous

Paul, the GP4000s will get wrecked within a couple of hours' riding on the turbo!

1_reaper

When i used the turbo before rollers i used to use old and or cheap road tyres but you can get the tacx turbo specific ones

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tac ... acx%20tyre

paultheparaglider

Thanks Nap. I actually have an old Raleigh Competition road bike I was going to put more or less permanently on the trainer. I was planning to get a turbo tyre for it once I wear out an old pair of cheapo tyres I have hanging around. I like the GP4000s tyres, but think they would be an expensive waste of money on the turbo andwill save them for road use. I was just commenting really on the noise from them on the trainer as they are almost a slick pattern.
Paul

Sgt_Pepper

Not really about turbo's but almost

I've been offered a new set of Elite Parabolic Rollers at a very good price, what i was wondering is, do you need specialist tyres on rollers like you do for turbo trainers. Or will my usual road tyres hold up fine.

Anonymous

Sgt_Pepper wrote:

Not really about turbo's but almost

I've been offered a new set of Elite Parabolic Rollers at a very good price, what i was wondering is, do you need specialist tyres on rollers like you do for turbo trainers. Or will my usual road tyres hold up fine.

Road tyres will be fine.

plife

Currently looking at a turbo to carry on riding when it's raining. I cycle purely for fitness and would just like to keep cycling throughout the winter. Both myself and my wife will use it and concerned about wrecking our tyres. Is it advisable to have a separate tyre? If so I assume a separate wheel is a good idea to save swapping tyres over constantly. Any pointers on a tyre, wheel and cassette (all at a reasonable price!!)?

Anonymous

Changing wheels is easiest. Ebay is your best bet for a used bargain. Just use any old (slick) tyre. SHould be able to pick up a wheel and cassette for 20-30 quid.

kayakerchris

I am sure that changing wheels is the best plan, but I find that I need to get on the bike quickly if I am doing a turbo session, blast it out and then get off. If I have to swap wheels, etc then it becomes too much faff. I put up with worn tyres and just clip the bike into the stand and pedal.

kayakerchris

I am sure that changing wheels is the best plan, but I find that I need to get on the bike quickly if I am doing a turbo session, blast it out and then get off. If I have to swap wheels, etc then it becomes too much faff. I put up with worn tyres and just clip the bike into the stand and pedal.

Peddle Up!

Nominate for sticky status. :idea:

Anonymous

kayakerchris wrote:

I am sure that changing wheels is the best plan, but I find that I need to get on the bike quickly if I am doing a turbo session, blast it out and then get off. If I have to swap wheels, etc then it becomes too much faff. I put up with worn tyres and just clip the bike into the stand and pedal.

That's what I do tbh, but mainly because I use a powertap rear. If I'm going on a big ride then I'll change the tyre...

But it only takes 20 secs tops to change a wheel :?

Slimbods

plife wrote:

Currently looking at a turbo to carry on riding when it's raining. I cycle purely for fitness and would just like to keep cycling throughout the winter. Both myself and my wife will use it and concerned about wrecking our tyres. Is it advisable to have a separate tyre? If so I assume a separate wheel is a good idea to save swapping tyres over constantly. Any pointers on a tyre, wheel and cassette (all at a reasonable price!!)?

Personally think this depends on what tyres your using. If you've got 15 quid beaded on the rear, go ahead and bung em on the turbo and replace them when they're bald. If you're running 80 quid tubs it's worth the effort of changing them.

Mine have seen a lot of action this summer, so I'll finish them off on the turbo and get some nice newies in the spring.

federalski

I reckon I may join the Turbo Gang and get a Tacx Satori, couple of stoopid questions though...
I take it you just leave the bike in one gear throughout using the Turbo and only change the resistance, if so what gear ?
Also, is the speed realistic to what you'd do on the road ?
Also looking at the Sufferfest videos I take it you would just change the resistance, the Sartori has 10 resistance settings, to what the mark out of ten is and grind it out, no gear changes or anything ?

Anonymous

federalski wrote:

I reckon I may join the Turbo Gang and get a Tacx Satori, couple of stoopid questions though...
I take it you just leave the bike in one gear throughout using the Turbo and only change the resistance, if so what gear ?
Also, is the speed realistic to what you'd do on the road ?
Also looking at the Sufferfest videos I take it you would just change the resistance, the Sartori has 10 resistance settings, to what the mark out of ten is and grind it out, no gear changes or anything ?

I used to use a Satori (well, I still do, just use it to warm up with at races now) and tended to stick it in 4 and use the gears. It gets very choppy indeed at high resistance settings.

If you can stretch to it, get a Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro, a far better trainer. All the resistance changes are done on the gears and it is much more road like...

federalski

Looking at the Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro on Wiggle has it only one resistance setting then and you just work through the gears as on the road ?
The Tacx Flow is only another £40 dearer than the Cycleops as well, is that better.... ?
This is getting confusing now, some homework will need to be done here. :?

Anonymous

federalski wrote:

Looking at the Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro on Wiggle has it only one resistance setting then and you just work through the gears as on the road ?
The Tacx Flow is only another £40 dearer than the Cycleops as well, is that better.... ?
This is getting confusing now, some homework will need to be done here. :?

No homework needed, I did it all for you, buy the Cycleops! The Flow is a Mag trainer the same as the satori, using the same setup, it just measures power (badly by most accounts).

I do a hell of a lot of training on the turbo and the Cycleops is tremendous. Similar recommendations come about the Kurt Kinetic but that's much more expensive. Both the Cycleops and the Kurt have a lifetime guarantee.