What stats would you want for Turbo Training

Isn't it rather meaningless to compare performance on a turbo trainer without knowing the resistance that everyone is riding at? The only meaningful way of doing this would be to compare power output data using a calibrated power meter wouldn't it or maybe by comparing how quickly the wheel stops turning from various speeds?

total distance turbod, total turboing time, average turbo distance, average turbo time

I can't see why any of those are of any use at all. Turbos shouldn't be used for distance work, they should be used for short, sharp hard interval sessions or recovery sessions.

Also I wouldn't bother trying to compare any data with anyone elses, as it tells you pretty much f**k all about your ability as a cyclist, even power.

Using the turbo it really isn't that hard to determine if you were fitter than say last month, and then go race which will show how good you are.

Turbos shouldn't be used for distance work
As a coach, I'd disagree

Remind me to never use you as a coach! But seriously unless the conditions outside are absolutly awful then just get out there. I can see no benefits from doing mind (ball?) numbing distance turbo work where your HR is likely to go through the roof due to cooling issues and and there is no wind resistance, gradients etc. Worse it breeds a quality of rider who can't even romove their hands to drink without wobbling all over the place.

On the turbo: Intervals good, distance bad.

your HR is likely to go through the roof due to cooling issues
use a fan

A bloody big one may just work.

and and there is no wind resistance, gradients etc
use the resistance on your turbo.

If wind resistance, gradient, quality of road surface were constant then fine, but they aren't. One way to combat some of these is to change position and yet you don't get that understanding from just clicking up the resistance on the turbo.

Worse it breeds a quality of rider who can't even romove their hands to drink without wobbling all over the place
it does? I'd love to see some evidence for this.

Never met a triathlete

Personally I'd like to see some evidence that doing distance work on a turbo has any benefits, then you may convince me. Until then I'll go outside and ride thanks and come bakc mentally and physically better than anyone slogging away for hours on end on the turbo.

eh wrote:

Turbos shouldn't be used for distance work
As a coach, I'd disagree

Remind me to never use you as a coach! But seriously unless the conditions outside are absolutly awful then just get out there. I can see no benefits from doing mind (ball?) numbing distance turbo work where your HR is likely to go through the roof due to cooling issues and and there is no wind resistance, gradients etc. Worse it breeds a quality of rider who can't even romove their hands to drink without wobbling all over the place.

On the turbo: Intervals good, distance bad.

Doing the work: good
Not doing the work: bad

Clearly people are not going to gain skills from a turbo ride but cycling is a pretty low skill sport (compared to many, like say golf, cricket, football) so the primary purpose for training is to elicit the physiological adapatations required to go faster, further.

Training on a turbo is an excellent substitute to outdoor riding and in many cases a far more efficient method, especially when time is limited, conditions don't permit riding outdoors or for other reasons, such as injury, rehab etc. As you point out, it helps to have a good set up, especially effective cooling*.

There is nothing to say one shouldn't do longer efforts on a turbo. What matters most is that one does the work, not so much where one does the work. It is quite easy to vary the intensity and mimic the physiological demands. Of course there are subtle differences, particularly neuromuscular, which depends a bit on the type of trainer you use.

I just had an email from a former client (we are good friends now days) who is a former elite road/track rider. They just did a 5-hour ride on their trainer :shock: But for them, riding outdoors in 6 feet of snow just isn't an option and they really love doing work indoors.

Personally I couldn't go that long. I did 90-min last night and I could probably manage 2 hours if I had to. But yes, intervals are perfect for indoor work. and day before I did my 2x20-min TT efforts.

* and on this, here is a discussion about the differences in indoor vs outdoor power:
http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/2009/01/ ... ining.html

NIce site, I think I wll be back for more