Turbo extras... Kit me out

Scrumple
Scrumple Posts: 2,665
edited April 2010 in Road buying advice
Got a Tacx Flow coming - with front wheel support.

No experience of turbos at all. I'm guessing I need:

Fan
Turbo Tyre (any rated??)
towel / cover

Apart from the tunes/tv to help the time pass, anything else requred? I was thinking it may be easier to get a complete back wheel, as I presume that changing a tyre just isn't an option.
If that's the case, Do I get a cheapo £50 thing with a bog standard SRAM cassette (running Force).

Not after any help with the routines or entertainment, just KIT.

cheers

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    I just use the tyre that's on my wheel!

    However, turbos do kill normal tyres...

    I do that because I can't be bothered changing tyres all the time and I use a powertap.

    I'd get a cheap wheel with a trainer tyre if I were you...
  • willbevan
    willbevan Posts: 1,241
    +1 to what Nap said. cheap rear wheel and trainer tyre. (I dont like Nap as I use a PowerTap as well)

    Depending on where you are using your turbo a fan could be needed, if your in a cold garage outside then I would say you wont need one, if your inside in a warm house def a fan.

    Good towel I think is a requirement, and if you are using it on a nice bike, maybe abike thong thing to catch the swweat from you going on the bike

    the main thing though for turbos...

    motivation :) so DVDs, music or whatever floats your boat, unless your much better than I am :)
    Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
    MTB - Trek Fuel 80
    TT - Echelon

    http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Assos or Rapha gear is a must for looking good in the basement. :wink::wink:
    Seriously, a big fan keeps the sweat from getting out of hand.
    I have one of those towels that runs from the headset to the seatpost. Not a bad idea.
    Have everything you might need on a small table next to you(phone, etc.).
    Towel on the floor, under the bike.
    Can of air freshener.
    Headband.
    Heart monitor and or power meter.
    A willingness to tolerate boredom.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    dennisn wrote:
    Have everything you might need on a small table next to you(phone, etc.).

    I thought I was the only one who did this!
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    Headband!

    I think I may need a padlock for the door, then!

    Anyone recommend a wheel and tyre / cassette combo to suit me? Not sure the cassette range matters with the flow having power settings??
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Scrumple wrote:
    Headband!

    I think I may need a padlock for the door, then!

    Anyone recommend a wheel and tyre / cassette combo to suit me? Not sure the cassette range matters with the flow having power settings??

    Why not a headband???? :? :?

    Pretty much any OLD AND FAIRLY TRUE wheel will do. Nothing special required there.
    FWIW on tire choice, I don't seem to have any problems with tires on trainers. As opposed to lots of posters on this site, who claim that their tires wear out really quick. I've got a patched Conti Sprinter on an old wheel from a few years back(way back). It's been on there for a year and looks good. Go figure. I use old wheels because the sweat does tend to drip on things and why run the risk of ruining a good set. Use an old frame if you can.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    or a titanium one!
    Wish I had an old bike for the job, full time....
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Scrumple wrote:
    or a titanium one!
    Wish I had an old bike for the job, full time....

    I once used an old department store bike my wife had. Total piece of crap but with decent pedals and a good saddle it kept my legs moving for 3 or 4 winters. Then it died.
    Of course I never did much in the way of maintenance on it and the top tube rusted through, but what the h*ll. I just sweat like a pig on it and never cleaned it. The only reason I even took it off the trainer was for tires and tubes.
  • Crozza
    Crozza Posts: 991
    If you do stick with your normal tyre (or until the new one arrives) don't do what I did and come straight in from a race with the pressure at 110 psi and forget to let some air out - when I used it the next day for a little recovery session the tyre got warm and the pressure must have exceeded the recommended max, as after about 40 mins all I could feel was the tyre "thumping" and it had warped beyond repair.

    Only had about 200 miles on it too :cry:

    I am now also in the market for a cheap rear wheel and trainer tyre.
    dennisn wrote:
    Have everything you might need on a small table next to you(phone, etc.).


    I thought I was the only one who did this!

    me too! I have the baby monitor on mine
  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    I have the Continental Turbo tyre (bought off ebay) and it's very good - stays quite cool and is much quieter than using a normal tyre. I have it on an old wheel (that one that came with my bike before I upgraded the wheels).
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • domhnall_dearg
    domhnall_dearg Posts: 401
    +1 for the Conti Turbo tyre. It's also a good excuse for a wheel upgrade "I need the old one for on the turbo" :wink:
    Who you gonna believe? Me or your own eyes?
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Domhnall Dearg wrote:
    +1 for the Conti Turbo tyre. It's also a good excuse for a wheel upgrade "I need the old one for on the turbo" :wink:

    -1....... IMHO it's not worth it putting money into tires. Any old piece of rubber will do. We
    all have a few tires, in various stages of decay, hanging around. No one is sure why we all save them, but we do. Wouldn't use them on the road but, you can use them till they die
    on a trainer.
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    NapoleonD wrote:
    dennisn wrote:
    Have everything you might need on a small table next to you(phone, etc.).

    I thought I was the only one who did this!

    The small table is for the latop, so you can catch up on BBC iPlayer the programmes you missed in the week!
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    anyone recommend a rear wheel and cassette that will be cheap and do the trick (not my kysirium elite and Force cassette).
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Scrumple wrote:
    anyone recommend a rear wheel and cassette that will be cheap and do the trick (not my kysirium elite and Force cassette).

    Since I don't know what you have lying about, can beg borrow or steal, or maybe even buy, I'll sort of repeat myself and say "Pretty much any piece of crap wheel, tire and cassette will do".
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    anyone here got any going cheap - is that a better hint!
  • aukray
    aukray Posts: 47
    I, too, use an old tyre with smooth tread, and run it with far less pressure than on the road - I'd guess only about 75psi. After all, it doesn't have to support the weight of you and your bike, or run over potholes!

    Having had numerous deflations in the past, I'd recommend using a new, or certainly unpatched, inner tube. The heat and friction tend to cause any patches to lift.
  • blackhands
    blackhands Posts: 950
    Scrumple wrote:
    anyone recommend a rear wheel and cassette that will be cheap and do the trick (not my kysirium elite and Force cassette).

    Ypu can get a cheap back wheel from Decathlon for under £30 and a cheap cassette for about £15.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    links?
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    google products comes up with a few links, some websites don't go into much detail so might be worth phoning them for compatibility

    http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=700c+rear+wheel&scoring=p&show=dd&sa=N&lnk=next&start=10
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    Conti tyre: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=18805

    Tacx tyre: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31153
  • ThreeLionsBrian
    ThreeLionsBrian Posts: 134
    i run my old tyres @ 120 psi on my turbo, setup okay legs and body useless.

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