Turbo trainers and Strava

whojanicanackerov

So I would guess with power tap it would use watts per kilo to gauge actual speed going up the climbs.
I use trainer road at the moment but riding up some of the virtual mountains looks quite rewarding and I can see how I compare to the big hitters.
Which do you prefer TR or the vitual world?

napoleond

Yep, exactly.
I prefer Virtual Training by a country mile!
You can also have TR style workouts too if you want, including sufferfest linked vids.

bahzob

NapoleonD wrote:

I don't compare myself with others as it depresses me - I'm below average.
It's difficult to check the segments in virtual training.
Plus, it provides some amusement for my friends who follow me on Strava.
They are marked as being done on the turbo.

Sorry but the ride up Ventoux that you linked looks to all the world as if you really did ride up Ventoux.

Here is an example that is marked as being done on a stationary trainer>No GPS.
http://www.strava.com/activities/228355534

I appreciate that you, like me, enjoy using VT for winter training and as you say this ride won't worry the leaderboard so I'll get off your case.

I have though flagged up the issue to Cycelops and Strava (using my rides not yours). If they don't see it as an issue then I guess that's their prerogative and I won't fret unduly.

napoleond

Indeed. There's no way to mark a real ride as being done in a fast group ride with 20 other people, or on a Tt bike, or with a roaring tailwind. Or done on a 29 year old mtb with a 3yo on a seat on the back (as some of my rides are).

Strava is what it is. It's not the be all and end all, if people want to take it seriously I suggest they race instead.

Tjgoodhew

I track speed and distance on a turbo purely to measure my effort against other turbo sessions as i dont own a power meter

If i do a sufferfest video and see i have covered a further distance than i did last time i have obviously worked harder or improved. I have tried to set up so resistance feels similar to the road but i dont think you can ever compare the two.

I log all on strava for the same reason as NAP - i want to see my progress and how much I am improving

venster

NapD - did you have any issues when you first started using CVT? I've been using it on PC/Macbook (Windows on Bootcamp) and after about 50 mins the google earth part causes the program to crash. I've emailed their tech support but they are useless and don't get back to you.

This program certainly takes the boredom out of the turbo, when it works, and if anyone is looking to add a bit interest to turbo work I'd look at this program.

napoleond

I'm using it on an old laptop running windows 7, solid state drive, display plugged into a 32" Tv in the garage.
I either use the video or Google streetview as a couple of times the Google Earth has gone loco. I prefer Streetview if I don't have a video anyhoo.

mugensi

I was looking for something similar and ended up buying a Bluetooth speed/cadence sensor for the bike. Then I downloaded every single turbo/indoor training app there is available for the iPhone in the hope that one of them would register speed/distance from a bluetooth sensor and after downloading approx 15 apps I found one that will monitor speed, average speed, cadence, average cadence, distance and time, its called 'Bike Newco'. Unfortunately it doesnt record sessions for future reference but I dont really need it to. I basically cycle on level 2 resistance and try and keep my average speed above 34kmph and cover 30kms in as short as time as possible. The distance gives me an end point to reach, the faster i pedal the quicker i can reach it. It may not be the best method of use but it works for me and I enjoy it whch i think is more important. The bluetooth sensor cost me £20 from eBay and the app was free.