Do I really need a turbo????

davidmiller

I have ane exercise bike. My position on it is clearly different from my bike position but all I have to do is sit on it and go. No getting the bike out of the garage and messing about.

So, a decent turbo would cost me ... what ... £150 quid. Do I need to splash the cash. I could buy some nice winter tyres and clothes with that money.

(I don't get to ride much and hoping to do the Etape next year!!)

Thanks,

David

qwerty1982

Upto you really... If i had teh room and cash to buy one would prob buy one as using the exercise bike in the gym is just not the same. Feels uncomfortable!
With turbo you can stick a film on the box and your away!

Mark Alexander

+1 I got one early on and it can be good in the winter. It's a good bike stand too!. It's up to you though.

Bobbinogs

It's a good bike stand too

I must admit that I hadn't thought about this use of a turbo until someone pointed it out a few months ago. Great bit of advice as the turbo is really good when tinkering or getting the setup just right (mucking around with saddle height, etc.). It's also good for training

Radioactiveman

Bought a spin bike last month, reconditioned ex gym one from eBay for £200

Its excellent and I find it much more enjoyable than my previous turbo,also means the wife can use it wikth dual spd/flat pedals. Means I dont have to mess about swapping skewers round as well.

Crapaud

No you don't need a turbo. MTFU and cycle through the winter - you'll appreciate the summer more. If you've got spare cash lying about get a second-hand hack.

Winters in this country are rarely that bad. Last year was an exception.

davidmiller

Crapaud wrote:

No you don't need a turbo. MTFU and cycle through the winter - you'll appreciate the summer more. If you've got spare cash lying about get a second-hand hack.

Winters in this country are rarely that bad. Last year was an exception.

lol, I guess that's the real answer.

Frank the tank

They're a handy thing to have and can enable you to do very specific training, but, has has been said it's up to you and whether you think YOU will get any value from it. FWIW if you do purchase one a HRM is a very handy accessory to have as you can put another variation into the session.

Will.C

Crapaud wrote:

No you don't need a turbo. MTFU and cycle through the winter - you'll appreciate the summer more. If you've got spare cash lying about get a second-hand hack.

Winters in this country are rarely that bad. Last year was an exception.

MTFU and go riding down country lanes in pitch black?

Get a clue.

I think most people use trainers because of the short days not bad weather

I say get a turbo, lots of different types of training sesh's you can do it, excellent for maintaing fitness through the winter (or improving).

Crapaud

Will.C wrote:

Crapaud wrote:

No you don't need a turbo. MTFU and cycle through the winter - you'll appreciate the summer more. If you've got spare cash lying about get a second-hand hack.

Winters in this country are rarely that bad. Last year was an exception.

MTFU and go riding down country lanes in pitch black?

Get a clue.

I think most people use trainers because of the short days not bad weather

I say get a turbo, lots of different types of training sesh's you can do it, excellent for maintaing fitness through the winter (or improving).

Who mentioned pitch black country lanes? As it happens, I used to do my commute down pitch black country lanes Not a problem.

Get the right gear!

kayakerchris

do spin bikes at the gym generally have toe clips, flats or spd pedals? Never done a spin class but wondered for winter training?

kayakerchris

do spin bikes at the gym generally have toe clips, flats or spd pedals? Never done a spin class but wondered for winter training?

hells

my turbo trainer is probably the best thing I have bought for cycling other than the bikes! My job means I work long and unsocial hours, my shifts nearly always over run by a minimum of an hour (rotational shifts) I do on average 55 hours a week with coursework and studying for exams on top of that and also a second job which is classed as casual labour. If you are time strapped then in my opinion a turbo trainer maximises the training time you have avaliable, also I don't like to do intervals on the road due to traffic but the turbo is a good place for them. I have yet to find it boring I use a mixture of training dvds including spinervals, sufferfest and chris carmichael ones.

Chris James

Crapaud wrote:

Who mentioned pitch black country lanes? As it happens, I used to do my commute down pitch black country lanes Not a problem.

Get the right gear!

No matter how good my lights are I dislike riding on pitch black cuntry lanes. You only need one car to come the other way (often with full beam on) and your night sight is totally destroyed.

Where I live there is a nasty combination of steep hills, potholes and ice to contend with in mid winter. Not nice if you can't see where you are going either.

Last winter I wouldn't have got on the bike for about two months if I didn't have a turbo.

Crapaud

The question is 'do I really need a turbo?'. The answer is no! If you want a turbo, for what ever reason, go for it. Turbo trainers have their uses, but you don't need one.

acebobby

I think the original question was,,

"I have ane exercise bike. My position on it is clearly different from my bike position but all I have to do is sit on it and go."

I am in a similar situation, so think why not use the exercise bike?
I am a bit of a gadget freak so will probably sell the exercise bike and buy a turbo anyway, and since I live alone it will be set up in my living room over the winter lol!

But anyway what are the advantages of a turbo over an exercise bike and does your bike not suffer wear and tear using like this?

schweiz

kayakerchris wrote:

do spin bikes at the gym generally have toe clips, flats or spd pedals? Never done a spin class but wondered for winter training?

The spinning bikes I used have double sided pedals one side has SPD and the othe SPD-SL/LOOK. The gym has some toe clips that fit into the SPD-SL/LOOK side too.

However, give your local gym a call and ask or go and have a look around.

Mark Alexander

Crapaud wrote:

No you don't need a turbo. MTFU and cycle through the winter - you'll appreciate the summer more. If you've got spare cash lying about get a second-hand hack.

Winters in this country are rarely that bad. Last year was an exception.

Turbos have their place. No, you don't NEED one though.

Oh, I herd on the news that long term weather men say possibly -20 this year. But hey, considering it was supposed to rain today with those warm blue skies?

Mark Alexander

Crapaud wrote:

No you don't need a turbo. MTFU and cycle through the winter - you'll appreciate the summer more. If you've got spare cash lying about get a second-hand hack.

Winters in this country are rarely that bad. Last year was an exception.

Turbos have their place. No, you don't NEED one though.

Oh, I herd on the news that long term weather men say possibly -20 this year. But hey, considering it was supposed to rain today with those warm blue skies?

acebobby

Minus 20, woohoo, bring it on lol! This leads to another question possibly deserving its own thread but

Which turbo should i buy?


Bobby

Wickers

I had one for just one winter a few years back, and found it ridiculously dull, it is not like going out on the road with the wind in your face. Even with a DVD and headphones on I just couldn'd get into it. Same reason I've never been one for the gym and running machines, I'd much rather run in the rain and wind than go on one of those infernal machines. Each to their own though, there's a bloke at work who has been cycling since Christ was a carpenter, and he swears by his turbo. Mine went on eBay the following spring.

Having said all of that, I didn'g get many miles in this winter gone because of that, so I guess it's better than not going out at all.

Actually, it wasn't imho, but as I say, some love them, it'd be boring if we all thought the same.

Smokin Joe

I'd rather lay naked next to a wasp's nest with a pound of honey stuffed up my ar$e than spend ten minutes on one of those things.

Anonymous

I have to do most of my training on the turbo, if I'm not at work my Mrs is. If I go out for a ride, it usually results in the sort of hilarity found on that social services docudrama Home Alone...

stagger

me too, but I still get on the turbo cos the weekly honey bill gets a bit expensive and my wasps aren't so keen in the winter

Scrumple

I think they work best with a big bore exhaust and a spoiler.

Cruise turbo, the birds love you.

(mine's a Nova in yellow)

MikeWW

Used to find the turbo really dull but as sessions have become more structured find it works really well. Find it best keeping them to an hour

davidmiller

NapoleonD wrote:

I have to do most of my training on the turbo, if I'm not at work my Mrs is. If I go out for a ride, it usually results in the sort of hilarity found on that social services docudrama Home Alone...

That's pretty much where I'm at. Life is busy with jobs, kids and new girlfriend. My time to for a decent ride seems to be down to once a month hence I've been going for a run a couple of lunchtimes a week and using the exercise bike. Bloody winter is closing in too.

Having read all your comments and thought it through a little more I've decided I'm going to stick with the exercise bike for now. Next year I might have to move into a smaller house and there probably won't be any room for it but a turbo (or rollers) that can be set up and then stashed will be an option.

Thanks for all your advice.

david

Rouge Penguin

Can you change the saddle? They usually come with armchairs for seats

I bought a turbo, it has its uses as i dont have free time until after 8pm mon-fri. Stick a dvd on, or a 2x20 to keep some level of fitness up and a ride at the weekend. Seems to work ok.

I guess it will save your tyre, chain etc by sticking with what youve got.

acebobby

DavidMiller wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

I have to do most of my training on the turbo, if I'm not at work my Mrs is. If I go out for a ride, it usually results in the sort of hilarity found on that social services docudrama Home Alone...

new girlfriend. My time to for a decent ride seems to be down to once a month


david

Not the best of new girlfriends then!
Sorry, so sorry, I really tried to resist but my immature mind made me do it!

davidmiller

acebobby wrote:

DavidMiller wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

I have to do most of my training on the turbo, if I'm not at work my Mrs is. If I go out for a ride, it usually results in the sort of hilarity found on that social services docudrama Home Alone...

new girlfriend. My time to for a decent ride seems to be down to once a month


david

Not the best of new girlfriends then!
Sorry, so sorry, I really tried to resist but my immature mind made me do it!

lol yes, now I see how my words were set up for hilarity!!!!

Gav888

Turbo's are good as you can get a good amount of training in a short period of time, but its BORING as hell and I struggle to do more than an hour. But if you hate riding on cold, wet, windy days (thats most days in this country) then get a turbo as at least you are still getting some training in