Poor mans turbo trainer mat

andyeb

Just picked up a Tacx Satori turbo trainer which I plan to use in the conservatory at home. I understand you can cut the noise down by using some kind of mat.

Does everyone pony up for one of the proper turbo mats (typical price £40-60) or are there other things you can use that get you most of the sound-deadening benefit without the cash outlay for a bit rubber?!

thanks,

Andrew

supermurph09

I use an old rug! Does the job perfectly! The mats do look nice though!

marcusjb

Camping mats.

sungod

exercise mat, cheapo rubber mat from amazon/ebay/wherever, or as above a camping mat

you certainly can use old rug/carpet, i'd only put it under the contact areas, otherwise with regular use it might get a bit manky from the sweat

poweredbyidris

Camping mat - £5 from Sports Direct

Is wipe clean too, which seems to be the major selling point of the £40-60 ones

navrig

Ikea do ideal rugs/mats which will offer reasonable grip to wood/laminate floor. Very cheap.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40114014/

supermurph09

sungod wrote:

exercise mat, cheapo rubber mat from amazon/ebay/wherever, or as above a camping mat

you certainly can use old rug/carpet, i'd only put it under the contact areas, otherwise with regular use it might get a bit manky from the sweat

I put the rug underneath the whole bike, I then use an old t-shirt draped on the bars (similar to what a bike thong does) to catch the sweat as it only seems to come from my head. Works for me, just ensure your chain doesn't have too much excess lube on it or the oil can go on the carpet 2 yards behind the rug. Mrs Supermurph was none too pleased.

lotus49

Don't the camping mats make the bike a bit wobbly?

marcusjb

lotus49 wrote:

Don't the camping mats make the bike a bit wobbly?

Not at all - they are only 10 or so mm thick (just like the dedicated turbo mats) - so they compress underneath the turbo. Solid as anything and won't slide about on wooden floors etc.

andyeb

Thanks for the tips guys - exactly what I was hoping for!