Turbo trainers. Why do you use them

bluedoggy

I'm curious why you chaps have them. Why and what are they used for and what's the benefit.

Crispyapp

Is this a trick question?

DeltaOneSeven

Can I go first...

To maintain some level of fitness when you can't go outside and ride

MountainMonster

Crispyapp wrote:

Is this a trick question?

I don't think it is even a question. He seems to be telling us with the lack of ? marks used.

bluedoggy

Sorry there was ment to be '?' at the end of the question. Are they computerised so to collect data etc?

bluedoggy

DeltaOneSeven wrote:

Can I go first...

To maintain some level of fitness when you can't go outside and ride

Oh I see? So it's like a treadmill for a bike?

alihisgreat

I blame wiggle.

bluedoggy

So it's more for athletes then and chaps who don't want to go out in bad weather to help maintain there fitness targets?
Are they noisy? ie, would it annoy the wife when in the living room while she's watching the telly?

simon_masterson

They are a means of cycling indoors, or otherwise without going anywhere (eg. warming up before a race). They are a very effective training aid for certain things, as you are stationary; any issues with your posture or stroke can be addressed. Rollers are also very effective for balance and spinning technique.

declan1

Bluedoggy wrote:

So it's more for athletes then and chaps who don't want to go out in bad weather to help maintain there fitness targets?
Are they noisy? ie, would it annoy the wife when in the living room while she's watching the telly?

I've got an Elite Elastogel fluid trainer and it's almost silent. My bike's drivetrain makes considerably more noise...

bluedoggy

Simon Masterson wrote:

They are a means of cycling indoors, or otherwise without going anywhere (eg. warming up before a race). They are a very effective training aid for certain things, as you are stationary; any issues with your posture or stroke can be addressed. Rollers are also very effective for balance and spinning technique.

This is the problem I have, posture. This could help a lot as I get a lot of back pain and being on a trainer might be the answer?

simon_masterson

Bluedoggy wrote:

Simon Masterson wrote:

They are a means of cycling indoors, or otherwise without going anywhere (eg. warming up before a race). They are a very effective training aid for certain things, as you are stationary; any issues with your posture or stroke can be addressed. Rollers are also very effective for balance and spinning technique.

This is the problem I have, posture. This could help a lot as I get a lot of back pain and being on a trainer might be the answer?

Rollers, yes. I've no idea if turbo trainers can have the same effect; I certainly can't think of a reason why. A turbo trainer is just a device that allows you to ride your bike somewhat like an exercise bike, whereas rollers require you to balance.

southdownswolf

I have young children so can't leave them at home alone while the wife is working, so a TT comes in useful on such evenings. More useful than an exercise bike as you are using a bike that fits you correctly.

bluedoggy

southdownswolf wrote:

I have young children so can't leave them at home alone while the wife is working, so a TT comes in useful on such evenings. More useful than an exercise bike as you are using a bike that fits you correctly.

Never thought of that. I look after my two young boys in the evening. I ride to work 4 days a week but on 2 of those days, her indoors picks me and the bike as I can't get home fast enough. This breaks into my riding regime so having a trainer at home in the evenings would be great!

What's a good 'budget' one? What's avoid brand?

dynamicbrick

Think Trainers are all pretty much of a muchness to be honest, noise levels excepted. My brother gave me his one - some cheapo item he'd got from somewhere (probably the cash & carry, knowing him) - it sounds like a washing machine on its last legs until you get up to speed, then it sounds like a supercharger on its last legs.

Still, it does the job I need it to, which is either a quick 20 minute high cadence spaz out as part of my workout (I have weights bench etc in the garage also), or when it's too late/cold/wet/windy/other vague reason when I can't be bothered to go out.

I've found that over time on Trainer your stamina will increase as you have to pedal constantly (well, you don't technically on a trainer, but you feel compelled to), but your strength will likely drop as the effort doesn't really change.

I notice it because we've got proper hills round here, and pre-winter I'll be powering up them with no problems, but come the spring and I'm a cog or two higher on the cassette. However, my ability to hold high cadence on the flat is much improved. This will gradually revert over time as my usual routes involve either grinding up hills, or hurtling down the other side.

One thing I do find the Trainer useful for is very high cadence training that you wouldn't do on the road (mainly because you'd fall off). Not necessarily useful for road riding, but an interesting insight into what the track sprinters get up to.

So really, a double edged sword - great for keeping the fitness up during the dark months, but requires a certain level of discipline to use; when you're out on the road you have to pedal home, on the trainer you just get off when you get bored.

Last note, I admire people who can use them indoors - I roast in my drafty old concrete section garage in the middle of winter, it must be murderous using one in the living room.

Quick edit to add - get a different rear tyre for the trainer... they absolutely mangle them

RonB

The road training forum is a good source of info. Loads of good stuff there. I use a Cycleops Fluid2, which is fairly quiet, has an even power curve and gets a lot of recommendations from the said forum. I agree with that last note about overheating though!

bluedoggy

Does anyone use these instead of a 'Winter' bike? As in when its wet or icy, just riding there 'Best' bike when conditions are normal?

ilm_zero7

Bluedoggy wrote:

Does anyone use these instead of a 'Winter' bike? As in when its wet or icy, just riding there 'Best' bike when conditions are normal?

yes - I wont go out when it is already raining, and certainly not when it is icy

ktuludays

i have an elite crono fluid: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-flu ... l-trainer/.

it is quite quiet compared to some of the magnetic ones, the resistance is set by your bike gears. I use some of the sufferfest videos to keep my interest whilst on it as indoor TT can be the most boring thing ever. What i like about the sufferfest vids is that they make you work on different levels rather than just plodding along for an hour on one set cadence.

they certainly live up to their name though cos i do indeed suffer.

ps: bare in mind that with a TT you'll need a riser of some kind for your front wheel whether that is a couple of books or a proper riser is your choice.

diy

I have this one http://www.tacx.com/en/products/trainers/satori I try to use it 2 times a week for 45 mins. It's important to try to follow a plan, rather than just cycle on level 6 for 45 mins. I set my laptop up just in front and watch a selection of workouts and cycle races on YouTube. I find it maintains my fitness and makes less noise than me panting. I have heard care is needed on carbon frames as you can damage the frame if you really push it.

Monty Dog

Just sitting on a trainer and pedalling-along is pretty well dead miles as it doesn't really replicate riding on the road unless you're doing recovery or rehab. To get the most of of them you need to be a bit more disciplined and that usually means short duration and high efforts using a structured session - you'll find plenty online - and typically last no more than an hour including warm-up and warm-down.

diy

While I agree that you need to follow a program, I can't see that riding with an elevated heart rate burning calories can be seen a dead miles. As long as you are sweating its better than nothing surely.

dynamicbrick

I think the trainer is best employed with an HRM by setting certain targets for the session.

Otherwise it does become a fairly dull way of exercising, even with iPlayer or a film on the tablet.

navrig

:evil: http://www.thesufferfest.com/ :twisted:

Frank the tank

In answer to the OP........because I'm a masochist.

Macdory

Navrig wrote:

:evil: http://www.thesufferfest.com/ :twisted:

This ... it's the only way I have found to get the motivation to start and to carry on to the end.

verylonglegs

Bought one, used it twice and put it in the garage never to be used again as I hated it. The most joyful part of cycling for me is being outside and I'm not interested otherwise.

B.M.R.

Got a Cycleops Fluid 2 and I've used it half a dozen times in the last two weeks. It's very handy now that the weather is turning, and as I've got a rear wheel mounted computer with HRM I've been able to properly nail down some HR training at the proper cadence.

Cycling outside is much more fun, but the value of being able to absolutely nail the training plan for the day without the environment (i.e route, other people, weather) interfering with that plan is something that cannot be discounted. I stick on a DVD or stream something from Sky Go and pedal away.

Outside is better, but turboing is a good compromise when the weather is rubbish.

bluedoggy

So could you have one of these and just use your 'Best' bike when the weather is good in winter?

alpsguy

I've recently started using 'Trainerroad' program on the Turbo and now can't wait for the next session! It uses virtual power to structure your workouts. Before using this program I thought I was working hard........now I know I was bareley working out at all! ANd you can link it to Sufferfest videos to give power targets for even more motivation :twisted:

+ 1 on serious overheating though....it was about 1 degree in my garage today and I still managed to form a puddle beneath the bike :oops:

t.m.h.n.e.t

Buy a fan?