Turbo for those who hate indoors

kingstonian

I know that stock is an issue, but if you find one I'd get a "dumb" turbo. This is the one I have, about £150 or so:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-mag-speed-alu-trainer/

I bought it a few years ago when I was recovering from injury and in all honesty was about to put it on eBay when coronavirus kicked off. It works really well for me - I already have a cadence meter and speedometer on the bike (both Wahoo), so with those plus a heart rate monitor it gives me all I need.

There was a bit of me that was tempted to whack down a slab of cash on a Wahoo Kickr a couple of weeks ago (when there was still some stock available), but I'm glad I didn't as I will literally never use it once things get back to normal.

First.Aspect

fenix said:

Ugo and First - have you guys had any brushes with the virus ?

I think once you lose someone to it you really get how serious this is.
We've still got a few weeks to the peak.

I'm not rallying against any restrictions.

Is this an attempt at social shaming?

No but neither am I, in response. But that isn't relevant to my assessment of human nature, economic reality and what policy decisions will follow as a consequence.

ugo.santalucia

This makes my point better, quote

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at University of Edinburgh, said: "The health implications of the lockdown that we anticipate - increased alcohol consumption, domestic violence, anxiety and depression, poor diet and decreased physical activity - will get worse if we confine more of us to our homes, without the hugely important respite that outdoor exercise provides."

"If the rationale is virus transmission outdoors, then far stronger evidence is needed to justify it."

Carl Heneghan, professor of evidence-based medicine at University of Oxford, pointed to limited evidence that people who exercise suffer the symptoms of diseases such as Covid for fewer days.

He also stressed that people with other health conditions do much worse with the virus, and if people stop exercising they are more likely to have other conditions.

"If the government is going to stop outdoor exercise then it is stopping responding to evidence," he said.

ibr17xvii

fenix said:

You're allowed to cycle to work or to the shops etc.

In France you need a form with you at all times. They aren't messing around. Big fines and imprisonment if you persist. Which is quite right. Stop the virus by staying in.

100% this.

I guess I'm in a pretty fortunate position in that I trained indoors anyway so already had a setup for 2+ years & easy for me to say but France & Italy have it boxed off the way it should be - no riding / exercising outside. The UK should do the same. People are taking the p**s.

As much as I want to ride my bike outside not doing so for 3+ weeks or whatever won't hurt & it will save lives.

ugo.santalucia

ibr17xvii said:

fenix said:

You're allowed to cycle to work or to the shops etc.

In France you need a form with you at all times. They aren't messing around. Big fines and imprisonment if you persist. Which is quite right. Stop the virus by staying in.

100% this.

I guess I'm in a pretty fortunate position in that I trained indoors anyway so already had a setup for 2+ years & easy for me to say but France & Italy have it boxed off the way it should be - no riding / exercising outside. The UK should do the same. People are taking the p**s.

As much as I want to ride my bike outside not doing so for 3+ weeks or whatever won't hurt & it will save lives.

Ah yes, France... they take it seriously there... you can't go out on your bike in the glorious countryside... meanwhile in Paris (skip the advert)

https://video.repubblica.it/dossier/coronavirus-wuhan-2020/coronavirus-passeggiate-e-spesa-a-parigi-strade-affollate-e-code-davanti-ai-negozi/357555/358115?ref=RHPPRB-BS-I0-C4-P3-S1.4-T1

Dorset_Boy

ibr17xvii said:

fenix said:

You're allowed to cycle to work or to the shops etc.

In France you need a form with you at all times. They aren't messing around. Big fines and imprisonment if you persist. Which is quite right. Stop the virus by staying in.

100% this.

I guess I'm in a pretty fortunate position in that I trained indoors anyway so already had a setup for 2+ years & easy for me to say but France & Italy have it boxed off the way it should be - no riding / exercising outside. The UK should do the same. People are taking the p**s.

As much as I want to ride my bike outside not doing so for 3+ weeks or whatever won't hurt & it will save lives.

Sorry, that's utter BS for anyone living outside a big urban environment.
I'm averaging a vehicle overtaking me roughly every 6-7 kms at present, that's hugely lower than normal. I'm not passing within 2 m of anyone. I am staying fit and healthy, both physically, and just as importantly, mentally, as are the family as a result of all getting some space and time to themselves..

aberdeen_lune

Most of the “holier than thou” folk are the ones that love to turbo all winter. What is the increased risk on an outdoor solo bike ride? Please articulate the risk factors?

thistle_

ugo.santalucia said:

I don't know, I haven't seen the UK Police even trying to organise any form of checks on the roads round here... I can't see them suddenly finding the resources for road blocks.

The roadblocks (well, checkpoints) are here where people are heading for days out, and driving across the country to pick up furniture they bought on Facebook etc.
They have been stopping cyclists as well

I'd also suggest a cheap, dumb trainer and speed/cadence sensor (or power meter if you have/can get hold of one) to start with.
There's workout videos on YouTube which just go on RPM and perceived effort. Apparently you can do Zwift with rollers or a dumb trainer and no sensors but I don't know how good it is.

me-109

Have you tried the Wiggle eBay shop ? They've certainly got some.

Just read the notes carefully as some not always complete. Sometimes returns that have been refreshed, which is all you need.

ibr17xvii

Dorset_Boy said:

ibr17xvii said:

fenix said:

You're allowed to cycle to work or to the shops etc.

In France you need a form with you at all times. They aren't messing around. Big fines and imprisonment if you persist. Which is quite right. Stop the virus by staying in.

100% this.

I guess I'm in a pretty fortunate position in that I trained indoors anyway so already had a setup for 2+ years & easy for me to say but France & Italy have it boxed off the way it should be - no riding / exercising outside. The UK should do the same. People are taking the p**s.

As much as I want to ride my bike outside not doing so for 3+ weeks or whatever won't hurt & it will save lives.

Sorry, that's utter BS for anyone living outside a big urban environment.
I'm averaging a vehicle overtaking me roughly every 6-7 kms at present, that's hugely lower than normal. I'm not passing within 2 m of anyone. I am staying fit and healthy, both physically, and just as importantly, mentally, as are the family as a result of all getting some space and time to themselves..

If it was "utter BS" then countries wouldn't be in total lockdown but so long as you're alright that's the main thing.

This is probably for another thread though.

fenix

aberdeen_lune said:

Most of the “holier than thou” folk are the ones that love to turbo all winter. What is the increased risk on an outdoor solo bike ride? Please articulate the risk factors?

If you've never crashed outside or been hit by a car you've not cycled enough. I'm not going to keep the NHS any busier than they absolutely have to.

aberdeen_lune

There are statistically more driving accidents than cycling accidents.

ugo.santalucia

fenix said:

aberdeen_lune said:

Most of the “holier than thou” folk are the ones that love to turbo all winter. What is the increased risk on an outdoor solo bike ride? Please articulate the risk factors?

If you've never crashed outside or been hit by a car you've not cycled enough. I'm not going to keep the NHS any busier than they absolutely have to.

I've been on a race bike since I was 16... so that's just over 30 years. While I have gone down a few times, mainly on ice or on winter slippery roads, touch wood, I have never visited an A&E department as a customer.
Anecdotally, I have been a paramedic on an ambulance for 3 years and I've never attended the scene of an accident involving a cyclist... not only that, but I used to visit the A&E department every day, as you might imagine, and on top of my head I can't recall ever seeing someone wearing lycra...

Maybe you are overplaying the all thing... yes, we all know someone who ended up in A&E, but we also know a lot of other people and the vast majority of them didn't... say you know 30 cyclists and 3 of them have visited A&E once in the past 5 years... each of them rides 100 times per year, so that's 15,000 bike rides and 3 A&E visits, or in percentage that's 0.02%... insignificant probabilities

On a cheery note, I have read somewhere that admissions in A&e are down 65% in the UK... anything to do with pubs and clubs being shut, me thinks?

fenix

aberdeen_lune said:

There are statistically more driving accidents than cycling accidents.

I don't doubt it. But we shouldn't be driving either. Apart from taking my wife to see her CV19 positive father dying in hospital - I've not touched the car since the lockdown.

Zero risk. Same with the bike. Zero risk.

Stay safe everyone.

ugo.santalucia

fenix said:

Zero risk. Same with the bike. Zero risk.

Stay safe everyone.

So nothing of what you do has any risk? You don't cook to avoid cutting yourself with a knife? You don't eat fish or chicken in the unlikely event a bone got stuck in your throat? You don't use any tool which might crush your finger or drill a hole in your hand? You don't do anything that might result in debris flying straight in your eye? You sleep downstairs, just in case you might fall while coming down?

"Joe is clever and he has all worked out... ready meals to avoid any risk involved in cooking and of course no sport, which might result in hospitalisation. Shame Joe twice a week goes to the supermarket where he has to mix up with other people and eventually he catches Covid-19... and because his immune system is not as good as it could be had he been doing sport outdoors and had he cooked meals from scratch, he will need to be ventilated...
Joe is really a smart guy, isn't he... he's got it all worked out...

There is a reason why they insist outdoor exercise is important and it's not so that people can carry out life as normal... it's because it boosts your immune system, much more so than pedalling on Zwift

Longshot

It amazes why the Government haven't hired some of the leading virologists we seem to have here on Bikeradar. They should stop listening to the current advisers who are obviously idiots.

daniel_b

If you are still after Vit D, I bought some of these in the last few days:
https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07HM81L42/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Suggests if you order them today, you'll have them by Sunday.

danx

Just on the original question I have an Elite Volano + Bought it a year ago from chain reaction over £100 cheaper than the current planet x price.

It's ok. Ant+ sensor works fine for zwift. Its got enough resistence for me and is more compact and quieter than anything else I found for the same price which is great in my flat.
It isn't the most stable feeling trainer and the small flywheel means it spins down pretty quickly but it does the job.
I'm happy for what it is but at the planet x price I'd put in a bit more for something on the next level.
The reviews from bikeradar and Roadcc are pretty much spot on

mrfpb

ugo.santalucia said:

fenix said:

aberdeen_lune said:

Most of the “holier than thou” folk are the ones that love to turbo all winter. What is the increased risk on an outdoor solo bike ride? Please articulate the risk factors?

If you've never crashed outside or been hit by a car you've not cycled enough. I'm not going to keep the NHS any busier than they absolutely have to.

I've been on a race bike since I was 16... so that's just over 30 years. While I have gone down a few times, mainly on ice or on winter slippery roads, touch wood, I have never visited an A&E department as a customer.
Anecdotally, I have been a paramedic on an ambulance for 3 years and I've never attended the scene of an accident involving a cyclist... not only that, but I used to visit the A&E department every day, as you might imagine, and on top of my head I can't recall ever seeing someone wearing lycra...

Maybe you are overplaying the all thing... yes, we all know someone who ended up in A&E, but we also know a lot of other people and the vast majority of them didn't... say you know 30 cyclists and 3 of them have visited A&E once in the past 5 years... each of them rides 100 times per year, so that's 15,000 bike rides and 3 A&E visits, or in percentage that's 0.02%... insignificant probabilities

On a cheery note, I have read somewhere that admissions in A&e are down 65% in the UK... anything to do with pubs and clubs being shut, me thinks?

I've had one visit to A&E as a cyclist in 15 years - hit by a car on my morning commute. So I think my risk of injury is very low, given the reduced traffic and not cycling at peak times.

Admissions and visits are down to A&E mainly because 111, 999 and paramedics are doing way more to avoid admission and visits.

You can deduct weekend rugby leagues from the A&E attendance as well.

ugo.santalucia

daniel_b said:

If you are still after Vit D, I bought some of these in the last few days:
https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07HM81L42/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Suggests if you order them today, you'll have them by Sunday.

Thanks, at the moment we are fine, in the sense that we are allowed outdoors and the sun is out... a small garden helps too, when the temperature is as high as today.
Obviously those living in flats rely on being able to go outdoors once a day, or they need supplements (which should be a lot more available BTW)

aberdeen_lune

A neighbour of mine has seen avoiding going out on the bike to “protect the nhs” Spotted him today out walking with a stick. What happened to you I asked? He owned up to badly spraining his ankle doing a Joe Wicks workout in front of the TV.

ugo.santalucia

DeVlaeminck

fenix said:

aberdeen_lune said:

Most of the “holier than thou” folk are the ones that love to turbo all winter. What is the increased risk on an outdoor solo bike ride? Please articulate the risk factors?

If you've never crashed outside or been hit by a car you've not cycled enough. I'm not going to keep the NHS any busier than they absolutely have to.

So we have to wait until the risk of cars hitting us is back to normal before riding again?

pblakeney

🤣

fenix

Whatever dude... A few weeks off the road won't kill me. It's the biggest pandemic in the UK for over a century - but god forbid you don't get the miles in.

slowmart

76 days later and Wuhan are easing restrictions.

During the 1918 pandemic the largest death rate was the second wave of infections during the October

pippi_langsamer-2

Have you tried your local (deep breath), Halfords stores?

Elite Zumo gets pretty good reviews- I think they make this particular model especially for Halfords in the UK?

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/11/elite-zumo-smart-trainer-in-depth-review.html

Halfords sites don't say they're out of stock, but if I put my postcode in, there's no option for delivery in my area.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/smart-turbo-trainers/elite-zumo-smart-interactive-turbo-trainer-244622.html

I've got a Kurt Kinetic Rock n Roll which I really like. Coupled with a separate speed and cadence sensor, it works great with TrainerRoad, and I've just recently crossed over to the Dark Side of Zwift. If we weren't in Lockdown, I'd probably be selling the KK to upgrade to a "Smarter", wheel-off unit however...

ugo.santalucia

pippi_langsamer-2 said:

Have you tried your local (deep breath), Halfords stores?

Elite Zumo gets pretty good reviews- I think they make this particular model especially for Halfords in the UK?

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/11/elite-zumo-smart-trainer-in-depth-review.html

Halfords sites don't say they're out of stock, but if I put my postcode in, there's no option for delivery in my area.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/smart-turbo-trainers/elite-zumo-smart-interactive-turbo-trainer-244622.html

I've got a Kurt Kinetic Rock n Roll which I really like. Coupled with a separate speed and cadence sensor, it works great with TrainerRoad, and I've just recently crossed over to the Dark Side of Zwift. If we weren't in Lockdown, I'd probably be selling the KK to upgrade to a "Smarter", wheel-off unit however...

My closest Halfords is quite some way away, certainly wouldn't fit in with the current guidelines. I also prefer to stay away from shops as much as possible, as that's exactly where you get it.
For all the nonsense about cycling too far, cycling for too long, cycling yourself to A&E and all that BS that goes on social media, the reality is that during a lockdown, you get the virus when mixing with other people, which, if you follow the guidelines, you only do when you go shopping.

If that wasn't the case, then you would see zero new cases in Spain and Italy, where you can ONLY go out to shop for food... and 4 weeks in, they still have thousands of confirmed new cases every day.

mrfpb

My wife is the most paranoid family member re: coronavirus, and even she ordered me to go out for a bike ride last week. My mood gets pretty bad when I've been copped up with nothing but a work laptop for company..

pblakeney

pippi_langsamer-2 said:

I've got a Kurt Kinetic Rock n Roll which I really like. Coupled with a separate speed and cadence sensor, it works great with TrainerRoad, and I've just recently crossed over to the Dark Side of Zwift. If we weren't in Lockdown, I'd probably be selling the KK to upgrade to a "Smarter", wheel-off unit however...

I made the move to a Neo 2T in January.
Prepare to have your ego burst. The KK gives you a 60W bonus.
(I've compared a real world route to the same in virtual on the Neo and they were very similar).