Turbo for those who hate indoors

mrb123

My local Halfords are taking things pretty seriously. I assume it's a policy they've adopted across the company.

You aren't allowed in the shop itself. When collecting an order you stand on a marked box outside the door and speak to the staff member who is behind a counter set up in the doorway, presumably over 2 metres away.

Once the staff member gets your order, he or she will stand back while you approach the counter to pay (via contactless in my case).

DeVlaeminck

ugo.santalucia said:

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.

Ironically by far the hardest place to stay 2 metres away from others I've encountered was the local hospital when I had to drop some stuff off at a ward for a relative.

Presumably the medical staff take the attitude they are going to get it anyway but Drs, nurses, etc in the corridors seemed completely oblivious to any need to keep a distance.

pblakeney

When you are working in close proximity out of necessity then it probably seems unnecessary to maintain appearances.

ugo.santalucia

... and then of course there are those 4 fuxxers working for the local council in the house on the other side of the road. I have already reported them, but they seem to carry on... no social distancing, as if the all thing didn't exist or was a big fuxxing joke. Right now I am so annoyed that I hope they die, and I mean it...

nickice

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.

Why will not riding your bike outside save lives?

ugo.santalucia

... we might have got away with it and we might be allowed to continue to cycle... looks like people are behaving, numbers in hospitals are stabilising and I can't see any need to tighten the regulations further... in fact they are beginning to talk about exit strategies... might have lived to avoid a turbo another day...

grahamcp

I have a Kinetic Rock n Roll as well. I had been looking to upgrade to a wheel off something but umm'd and ahh'd for too long and then everything sold out (fortunately I have some Assiomas for power).

I quite like the kinetic, but I do find it creaks quite a bit (have lubed the elastomers as per instructions etc), and it often ends up leaning slightly to one side no matter where I position the wheel on the roller. Sometimes I wish I'd got a road machine, but the rocking motion is a benefit to some extent.

I do have a strange fascination with the massive demand for turbo trainers currently, which must be from people who would not otherwise have bought one. I have visions of hundreds ending up not being used, especially once lockdown has been lifted. Will be interesting to see how it pans out.

ugo.santalucia

grahamcp said:

I do have a strange fascination with the massive demand for turbo trainers currently, which must be from people who would not otherwise have bought one. I have visions of hundreds ending up not being used, especially once lockdown has been lifted. Will be interesting to see how it pans out.

There might be some deals to be had in the autumn, when people realise they never used them...
... as well as not... I might look at a cheapo at some point, something I can take to a TT race to warm up without having it stolen...
I also don't want to get into bicycle gaming, really, although that's where the racing is, ATM

pippi_langsamer-2

pblakeney said:

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).

LOL, that much? To be honest, I'm not really bothered about the accuracy of the wattage, as long as I know I'm working as hard as I should be. Kind of cursing myself for selling my power meter last year though now.

I'm also getting a bit bored of Zwift already. Perhaps "bored", isn't the right word. I'm sick of allowing myself to get dragged into smash-fest races (and group rides!). That's not Zwift or anyone else fault though obvs, but for me TrainerRoad is far far better for structured training/ workouts.

pippi_langsamer-2

grahamcp said:

I have a Kinetic Rock n Roll as well. I had been looking to upgrade to a wheel off something but umm'd and ahh'd for too long and then everything sold out (fortunately I have some Assiomas for power).

I quite like the kinetic, but I do find it creaks quite a bit (have lubed the elastomers as per instructions etc), and it often ends up leaning slightly to one side no matter where I position the wheel on the roller. Sometimes I wish I'd got a road machine, but the rocking motion is a benefit to some extent.

I do have a strange fascination with the massive demand for turbo trainers currently, which must be from people who would not otherwise have bought one. I have visions of hundreds ending up not being used, especially once lockdown has been lifted. Will be interesting to see how it pans out.

I like the R&R- I like the rocking motion, even though it's fairly unrealistic for out -of-saddle efforts. I find it is good for putting the power down when seated, and also relieves some pressure off the backside as opposed to being stuck absolutely solid.

Mine squeaks a bit too, although I almost exclusively use it with closed-cup headphones anyway, so don't hear a thing.

I think as a company, KK have lost the plot a bit. I bought my trainer about 5 years ago, and they were super efficient in support when I had a few questions etc. Now, they don't respond to any communications, and their app software is useless. They released their first DD trainer in the R1, which hasn't got the best reviews, and I just think they're too busy playing catch-up in a world they were far too slow to get involved with (ie DD trainers)