Trainer use as a cheapskate
larkim
Posts: 2,485
I know I won't use a trainer hugely as running is my main fitness activity, but in 2018 I want to be a bit of a better cyclist to mix things up a bit, so I spent £99 on an Elite Crono Fluid Elsatogel trainer when they were on sale in the back end of last year.
I already have a running watch (Vivoactive) which is paired with a HRM, cadence sensor and speed sensor (all ANT+) and so far have had three rides on my Triban 3 on the trainer. My only previous experience was with a tired old mag trainer which I found unsatisfyingly unrealistic with having to faff around with clunky resistance levels - the new trainer feels much more natural with the resistance responding reasonably appropriately to gear changes.
First couple of sessions were just plain riding for 30-40 mins watching the TV, which was fine. Last session was following a YouTube clip (first one I found, no real science to it!) of a 45 minute session, 10WU, 10x15s sprint (2:45e easy), 5CD which fitted the sort of thing I was curious about trying out.
I like the sound of Zwift / TrainerRoad etc, but can't really justify spending more on the annual sub than I spent on the trainer, or 1/3 of the cost of my bike on this sort of facility - especially as I reckon if I do max 10 sessions a month in the winter on it that would be an optimistic assessment. I suppose I could justify a couple of months of use, but I'd have to be buying an ANT+ USB stick too etc.
So what suggestions, beyond tracking down various youtube sessions etc, could be made for enhancing my turbo use if I'm being a skinflint and don't want to spend any more money?
I already have a running watch (Vivoactive) which is paired with a HRM, cadence sensor and speed sensor (all ANT+) and so far have had three rides on my Triban 3 on the trainer. My only previous experience was with a tired old mag trainer which I found unsatisfyingly unrealistic with having to faff around with clunky resistance levels - the new trainer feels much more natural with the resistance responding reasonably appropriately to gear changes.
First couple of sessions were just plain riding for 30-40 mins watching the TV, which was fine. Last session was following a YouTube clip (first one I found, no real science to it!) of a 45 minute session, 10WU, 10x15s sprint (2:45e easy), 5CD which fitted the sort of thing I was curious about trying out.
I like the sound of Zwift / TrainerRoad etc, but can't really justify spending more on the annual sub than I spent on the trainer, or 1/3 of the cost of my bike on this sort of facility - especially as I reckon if I do max 10 sessions a month in the winter on it that would be an optimistic assessment. I suppose I could justify a couple of months of use, but I'd have to be buying an ANT+ USB stick too etc.
So what suggestions, beyond tracking down various youtube sessions etc, could be made for enhancing my turbo use if I'm being a skinflint and don't want to spend any more money?
2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
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Comments
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If you want structured workouts, then the GCN videos are very good and free (youtube)
Unfortunately every online service has a monthly/annual subscription charge.0 -
You could just try a few different free trials.
If you ask nicely in the Trainerroad thread I'm sure someone will be kind enough to offer you a 30 day trial.
Rouvy does a 2 week free trial. I'm sure most of the other apps offer similar.
If you try a few different ones that should get you through until Spring. Then you can decide next winter if there's any that you think are worth paying for.0 -
Cheers both! I suppose I'm spoilt by Strava which, for running at least, is more than fine as a free service. Obviously I don't have a proper "smart" setup anyway, so I'm mentally questionning the usefulness of Zwift etc.
So I presume the classic freebie setup is just what's been described - a few gadgets on the bike to record properly, supplemented by free structured approaches via youtube etc. Or just watch the TV for a controlled lengthy spin.2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
Trainerroad is a monthly fee? So you pay for what you use ?0
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British cycling have a lot of decent training plans and workouts on their website:
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/training-plans
They will require a bit more planning and calculation of HR zones etc. but I used them last winter (also my first winter on the turbo) with good results.0 -
Thanks all - plenty to go at there, and nothing blindlingly obvious that I'm missing out on!2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
An ANT+ USB stick is only around £25 but opens up a lot of possibilities. If you don't want to pay for TrainerRoad, Sufferfest, Zwift etc. then it may be worth playing around with Golden Cheetah which has capabilities to use virtual power (pseudo power calculated from speed) to follow predefined workouts in a manner similar to TrainerRoad or PeriPedal. Even without a smart trainer, there is a lot of fun to be had using virtual power. Back in the days before Zwift etc. I used to program heart rate or virtual power based workouts into my Garmin using Garmin Connect. In fact, I still use these type of workouts for interval training when I am out on the road away from the turbo.0
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Am tempted by an ANT+ stick (I'm a geek at heart, but a penny pinching one!), though access to the laptop in our house can be patchy due to having four boys aged 9-18 too! I suppose I could ressurect an old netbook, though that fares best with Linux so there'd no doubt be some oddities I'd have to play around with to get the stick working properly. Not beyond the wit of man though...2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anself-Stick-G ... B075LH3QVN Under £10 ANT+ dongle
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-M ... b_title_ce £6 extension cable
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01 ... ge_o00_s00 £24 dual ANT+/Bluetooth HRM
Been using the above since Xmas, works great.================
2020 Voodoo Marasa
2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
2016 Voodoo Wazoo0
