Turbo training advice needed

Dick Scruttock

I bought my first roadbike recently as it was a great offer in the sales. I am loathed to take it out through winter so i have bought myself a tacx sirius. Now i want to get the best out of it so was looking for some advice on how to do this.

I have just bought a bike computer that measures speed and cadence so now i have a reference point for myself as to where i am at.

I am mainly a mountain biker but am using the road bike to improve my fitness levels. A friend has advised me that aiming to improve my cadence would be a good start, what do other people advise?

Bronzie

What's "wrong" with your cadence?

My advice would be not to worry too much about cadence, but concentrate on improving your sustainable power.

Set up your speedo to record the rear wheel speed on the turbo and have a go at some "2x20s" (see here - use the rear wheel speed as a proxy for measuring power output* and experiment with the sessions so you can just about hold the same rear wheel speed right through both intervals.

* - for this to work, you need the bike set up the same way for each turbo session (same tyre pressure, roller pressure on the tyre etc) - ideally leave the bike set up on the turbo all winter

Lazarus

Slightly off topic to your thread but you say your loathe to take your bike out in the winter. which is a fair point , but just a word of warning sweat is very salty and can ruin a bike also.

If your going to turbo train through the winter on it ,i would seriously think of covering your new beauty with something.

I'll leave the training advice up to the more qualified

Alex_Simmons/RST

Lazarus wrote:

Slightly off topic to your thread but you say your loathe to take your bike out in the winter. which is a fair point , but just a word of warning sweat is very salty and can ruin a bike also.

If your going to turbo train through the winter on it ,i would seriously think of covering your new beauty with something.

Good advice.

I'd look into getting a BFF as well.

Bhima

You live in Macclesfield mate! Get out in to the hills!

In all sorts of horrendous weather I very reguarly "waste" 40 minutes just to get close to the climbs near Macc! :?

Your cadence will, erm... improve (controversial statement) in time. Just keep riding and get into your own rhythm. There's no right and wrong with cadence.

Pokerface

Rick Draper wrote:

I bought my first roadbike recently as it was a great offer in the sales. I am loathed to take it out through winter so i have bought myself a tacx sirius. Now i want to get the best out of it so was looking for some advice on how to do this.

I have just bought a bike computer that measures speed and cadence so now i have a reference point for myself as to where i am at.

I am mainly a mountain biker but am using the road bike to improve my fitness levels. A friend has advised me that aiming to improve my cadence would be a good start, what do other people advise?

I would also join up with the Macclesfield Wheelers (www.macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk). Ace bike club - and they cater to both MTB and road cyclists. (I am a member and work in Macc).

To improve cadence - spin your legs faster. It's much easier to do on a turbo, than on the road.

Dick Scruttock

Pokerface wrote:

I would also join up with the Macclesfield Wheelers (www.macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk). Ace bike club - and they cater to both MTB and road cyclists. (I am a member and work in Macc).

Dont worry two of my mates are in Macc wheelers (both do road and mtb) and are working on getting me to join up.