Turbo trainers

J1mmys

Well with this horrible weather taking over I've been looking at turbo trainers. From what I've read tacx seem to.be the ones to go for. But I don't understand all this I magic stuff and I've seen DVDs for stages sold. How does this iwork? In reality don't want to spend over 150 for one, I've seen a few good cond ones go on eBay for 125 like a tacx satori. Will this be good enough, how does the resistance work on them can it be controled to simulate hills etc.
Thanks

Charlyfarly

I'm in a similar position as you at the mo, with a similar budget and its between the Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer and the Satori. With an extra 10% off, the cost reduces to £138.59 at Wiggle for the Satori, with used Ebay prices at similar money, I think I may go for the new one.

Frank the tank

For the budget you're talking you'll get a basic turbo with a resistance adjuster (if we're talking new that is).

I've had one for four years now and they're a useful training aid especially in foul weather. I made use of mine when recovering from a hip operation recently.

It's best to have a set up with the bike permanantly in position but if not they can be set up in seconds anyway. Best off being in a dedicated space i.e. garage/large shed. Have a fan or very good air cirulation, acces to music of your choice, a cycle computer, (preferably) a HRM and finally the constitution of a horse.

THERE IS A REASON YOU CAN PICK THEM UP READILY SECOND HAND

Mine is one with just a resistance modulator on it (pretty basic then) I cant even remember the make of it but I've had no problems at all with it. If you want a computerised one which no doubt enhances the "turbo experience" you'll have to pay £300+ at least I would think, and you still may find it too boring/mind numbing. My advice stick to a low cost one and see if you can get along with it, there are lots of cyclists that can't.

diy

I have a tacx, can't remember which one, but it is a magnet based thing. I have it set up in our dining room (I know - god knows how I pulled that off). Its a two second job to swap the QR skewers over and it has a resistance setting.

I have heard that you have to be careful with carbon frames on turbos and not start using it for spinning class type work outs. I bung on the ipod. and watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1RJQi3jNh4&feature=plcp
which gives you a nice 50 minutes work out.

I also have a garmin edge 800, with cadence and HR, so I have a trainer mode set on the computer to give me HR, cadence speed, zones etc.

I think these are really good for giving you those 2 rides mid-week which you'd miss during the winter. Definitely got value out of mine, but you do have to get your music and "tv" right to suite your work out.

If anyone has any good Turbo work-out youtubes - post them up please.

BowtomePhil

Purchased a Satori last week.

Used it twice so far, one hour Sunday, man do you sweat.

45 mins last night, bought a back wheel comp with cadence for £19-99 by specialized, excellent computer, one of the best I have ever seen, you can have 3 displays on it, I had MPH which you can't change, distance and time. You can also change the 2 botton displays to anything you want, you can change them individually or just use presets. I think I put the cadence magnet on the wrong way as that didn't work.

Did some tests, was doing 18-20mph in about 4/5th gear, couldn't see which , then went up a gear and sped up. Then tried with resistance settings, put it on 5 and went from 18-20(back to orginal gears) down to 14mph. It was like going up a hill.

I am happy with the Satori, not knocking others, just saying the Satori is good for the price.