Turbo Newbie Question

Edwin

Happy Christmas all, I've finally got a turbo and a powermeter so I can start doing intervals in the new year, and get some data to look at. The turbo is a secondhand old Elite Volare. The problem I've got is that as soon as I increase the power, the flywheel picks up, and there's no resistance there to push against. The power reading actually starts going back down unless I pedal faster, but obviously I get to a point where I can't pedal any quicker, and have to let it spin back down again, even with the resistance setting on max, and the bike in top gear.

Does anyone else have this problem? Do I just need to weigh out for a better turbo? My biggest weakness as a rider is pushing a big gear on the flat, so I want to replicate that, and so far it's been impossible to do any meaningful power tests. The powermeter is a Powertap Comp, and it's on my best bike so I don't want to take it out on the road in the current weather.
Thanks for any suggestions!

Ed

Hagrid

I'm not familiar with the model but it sounds to me like you have an older turbo with a magnetic resistance unit. Their resistance tends to fall off (or, at least, not progress) as you get faster. Either that, or it is broken!

Unfortunately, unless someone has a good work around, I think you're going to have to shell out for another unit. Given your needs, I would go for a fluid unit rather than a mag because the resistance gets exponentially tougher the faster you go. I would recommend a cycleops fluid 2 because that has a particularly steep resistance curve: at 17mph, if memory serves, you have to put out a little over 200W but by 28mph it's climbed to 1000W and is around 1500W by the time you get up to 32mph. That should be plenty!

nmcgann

Hagrid wrote:

I'm not familiar with the model but it sounds to me like you have an older turbo with a magnetic resistance unit. Their resistance tends to fall off (or, at least, not progress) as you get faster. Either that, or it is broken!

Unfortunately, unless someone has a good work around, I think you're going to have to shell out for another unit. Given your needs, I would go for a fluid unit rather than a mag because the resistance gets exponentially tougher the faster you go. I would recommend a cycleops fluid 2 because that has a particularly steep resistance curve: at 17mph, if memory serves, you have to put out a little over 200W but by 28mph it's climbed to 1000W and is around 1500W by the time you get up to 32mph. That should be plenty!

There's nothing wrong with mag resistance units as such, I have both a Tacx Flow and Sirius and they both increase resistance considerably as wheel speed goes up. I never need more than +1/+2 slope on the Flow or "3" on the Sirius to get into the power ranges I mostly train at (I only use the big ring on the turbo).

The OP's turbo sounds broken to me.

amaferanga

Is your tyre maybe slipping? If not then it sounds to me like the turbo is knackered.

Edwin

The tyre did slip at first, I found I had to let some pressure out and get the roller tighter against it. The first time I used it, I smelt burning, and when I looked at it I'd worn a groove in the roller, and sprayed black tyre dust all over my front room! I put it down to not knowing what I'm doing, having never used one before, but it sounds like there could be a problem with it. It's an old unit, and doesn't look very good. I know someone who's selling a Minoura for 25 quid, so I might try that as well, as I don't want to have to spend another 200 quid on a fluid one just after Christmas.
Cheers for replies everyone.

amaferanga

Always seems to be bargains around - I picked up an as new Elite elastogel trainer (RRP £329) for £70 a couple of months back (its not worth the RRP though IMO).