OT : Recommend me a Turbo Trainer
Barkalarr - 2/9/13 at 10:20 PM
Just thinking about riding my bike doesnt seem to be having any effect on my fitness so I think it's about time I actually do some exercise. i
dont really have much will power so the easier it is for me to exercise the better. we've got a treadmill but I can't stand it!! I just
like the bike. Already had an exercise bike and that was uncomfortable. So turbo trainer i think is this weeks way to go.
I've just had a look on the Bay and there's loads to choose from - so which one do I look out for?
I want something which is quiet because I want to watch TV at the same time, and because this is going to be another 5 minute wonder I only want to
spend about £100.
They appear to 2 types - magnetic and air?? I'm guessing the magnetic one will be quieter?
My bike is a claud butler levante I think it's a 26" wheel but could be completely wrong. I've got clip in shoes too - so clearly
I'm a serious athlete.
Recommendations much appreciated.
coyoteboy - 2/9/13 at 10:30 PM
Quieter. Yes. but not quiet - I couldn't use mine in the house as the tyre noise travels.
But if you can't be arsed using a bike outside don't expect to be bothered to use the TT - it's soul destroyingly dull, even if it is
useful.
Wheels244 - 2/9/13 at 10:31 PM
Tacx Flow - but don't think you'll get one for £100 unless you're very lucky on eBay.
steve m - 2/9/13 at 10:35 PM
"But if you can't be arsed using a bike outside don't expect to be bothered to use the TT - it's soul destroyingly dull, even if
it is useful. "
and upstairs. mine sounds like a hammer drill, so I don't use it, and its not allowed downstairs as its too ugly (or was that me ?)
Bare - 3/9/13 at 02:02 AM
Fitness requires that one actually DOES something. No ifs and or buts.
Join a gym get a trainer (pricey but they will make a difference) Or just deteriorate and Die.
Simple choices actually :-)
cliftyhanger - 3/9/13 at 05:56 AM
As above, join a gym, go to spin classes (or whatever)
If you can't be motivated to do that, you have less than zero chance of training at home.
But only join on a short term contract....(daughter pays £20pm which includes all classes, so good value)
andylancaster3000 - 3/9/13 at 06:15 AM
Planet X currently have this on offer:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TRSTBMT/stealth_black_mag_turbo_trainer
£89.99 and apparently one of the quietest you can get.
[Edited on 3/9/13 by andylancaster3000]
adithorp - 3/9/13 at 06:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
Quieter. Yes. but not quiet - I couldn't use mine in the house as the tyre noise travels.
But if you can't be arsed using a bike outside don't expect to be bothered to use the TT - it's soul destroyingly dull, even if it is
useful.
Having coached riders as far as World Champs level and done more than my fair share of hours on a turbo I have to agree with that.
A fan turbo is LOUD. A mag' turbo is quieter but not enough to listen to TV. If you like riding the bike just do that but harder. Make 20 mins of
one ride at an intensity that you'd only be able to speak a couple of words at a time and in another do 3-5 flat out sprints (500m). Alternate
the two 3x per week. How long (time wise) are the rides you're doing now?
You'd have to do at least the same on a turbo and the concentration levels required are immense to achieve the same results.
jps - 3/9/13 at 07:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
But if you can't be arsed using a bike outside don't expect to be bothered to use the TT
Sorry - have to agree with the above. That said, TT can be less than mind numbingly dull if you stick a DVD on and headphones. I've chugged out
over 3 hours in one go on a turbo before now and it wasn't too bad. That said, I was riding quite a lot at the time anyway...
Only have experience of mag-type: still noisy though. I've had a Tacx Sirrus Flow for about 7 or 8 years now - I'd certainly recommend it.
clanger - 3/9/13 at 08:12 AM
DON'T DO IT 
As stated if you don't like tread mills, you will hate a TT. I bike quite a lot and do stupid things like Ironman. I was forced into using a TT
last year due to a crash on the road bike and I hated every minute.................no make that every second on the thing. Awful mind numbingly boring
pain machines.
If you can't get any fitness from riding your bike, then change your approach to riding it. Stay away from the canal tow paths, and flat high
streets. head for the hills, go out of your way to find some and hammer up them. You'll build stamina, endurance, and fitness. Get out in all
weathers and make sure your heart rate is pumping along with the pedals, you'll soon see some gains. Spend the £100 on some decent clothing and
lights for the winter, you'll get more benefits than spending the 100squid on the torture trainer
Barkalarr - 3/9/13 at 09:41 AM
quote:
Originally posted by clanger
DON'T DO IT
AArrgghh.... don't know what to do now....
Thought this was going to be an easier decision than this....
I like riding out in the country, but since getting diagnosed with MS at the beginning of last year I'm a bit wobbly on my trusty steed. SWMBO
doesn't like the idea of me going out on my own incase I end up in a ditch somewhere, so I have to organise a wing-man (which is harder than you
might think). This is why I liked the idea of the TT. I can just jump on the bike whenever I want rather than waiting for a wing-man.
I think I'm going to buy the one from Planet X (above) because it's £89 delivered....
If it's really bad, keep your eye on ebay... you might just see this one on there next week... lol
MakeEverything - 3/9/13 at 09:58 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Barkalarr
i dont really have much will power so the easier it is for me to exercise the better.
Resolve this FIRST. You wont get anywhere otherwise, and any investment (whether a machine or gym membership) will be a waste of money, as it
will fade out after a few months.
Set yourself a target that you want to achieve, and learn about the different "Zones" that your heart rate needs to be in for various types
of exercise objectives (Weight loss etc).
cadebytiger - 3/9/13 at 11:16 AM
I have to agree with all here - I have a decent turbo trainer and have used it about 3 times. I overheat because you are not moving and your in a warm
house and get bored.
I wonder if you can find a bike club round your way? If you can find the right one you will cycle miles without even thinking about it.
Where abouts are you?
dhutch - 3/9/13 at 11:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboyBut if you can't be arsed using a bike outside don't expect to be bothered to use the TT -
it's soul destroyingly dull, even if it is useful.
I have to admit, especially given how idea for it the weather is at the moment, while I have never used a TT and bike XC/DH rather than road, get out
on it and ride it in the read world!
I dont know what you do for work, where there is to ride near you, weekend commitments, whatever, but just set aside a time every week (or,
realistically, most weeks) when your going to do an hour, and start doing that.
Daniel
adithorp - 3/9/13 at 12:34 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
...You wont get anywhere otherwise...
You never do on a turbo trainer. loads of effort and sweat but never moves an inch... 
jps - 3/9/13 at 01:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cadebytiger
I overheat because you are not moving and your in a warm house and get bored.
I always turbo outside - on the patio - in bibshorts and no jersey . Always end up with a massive pool of sweat on the floor/all over the bike. Even
if the temperature is in the minus degrees celsius. Genuinely.
Can't understand how people can use them indoors! I think i'd dessicate myself.
adithorp - 3/9/13 at 01:24 PM
Factor in the cost of a large electric fan. I wouldn't use one without.
TimEllershaw - 3/9/13 at 01:29 PM
Just to add the other side of the argument....
I quite like my turbo and use it a couple of time per week. Fits with my home life because I can spend an hour on it in the evening when the kids are
in bed, when it is too dark to ride out on the road. ( I ride Time Trials with a local club, so train a few hours per week )
I have a Tacx Flow. Good build quality. Not that quiet, so it banished out in the garage. A turbo-specific tyre helped a bit (but may be just a bit of
marketing guff)
I've also tried various gym bikes, training rollers and a very expensive Watt Bike but prefer the turbo.
As for the boredom, yes, just sitting on it and trudging though a couple of hours at a constant pace is soul destroying. In my case, I have scheduled
sets of intervals to ride (a couple of minutes fast and a couple of minutes slow), and I enjoy looking at the numbers ( heart rate, power, cadence)
and seeing how my bodies responses chance over time.
Get a big desk fan to keep you cool.
I've never used any of the training DVDs but they do seem popular. ( try Sufferfest and 3LC )
Stick some earphones in a listen to music : cancels out some of the tyre noise and the right song choice will get you going.
Good Luck !
cadebytiger - 3/9/13 at 03:15 PM
the fan sounds like a good idea but i still like to get somewhere when i put that much effort in!
coyoteboy - 3/9/13 at 07:06 PM
quote:
Set yourself a target that you want to achieve, and learn about the different "Zones" that your heart rate needs to be in for various types
of exercise objectives (Weight loss etc).
Ha I blast through the weight loss BPM at about 6mph on the flat, but I can spend 2 hours sat at 175bpm no problem on the road bike. I'd be bored
to tears if I stuck to that principle!
Simon - 3/9/13 at 07:36 PM
Get a set of rollers, not quite so boring cos you can fall off
. And use a mountain bike on it and do an hour at a time. Also get a heart rate
monitor.
ATB
Simon
jps - 3/9/13 at 07:38 PM
quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
quote:
Set yourself a target that you want to achieve, and learn about the different "Zones" that your heart rate needs to be in for various types
of exercise objectives (Weight loss etc).
Ha I blast through the weight loss BPM at about 6mph on the flat, but I can spend 2 hours sat at 175bpm no problem on the road bike. I'd be bored
to tears if I stuck to that principle!
Probably means your zones aren't calculated correctly then...
luke2152 - 3/9/13 at 08:57 PM
Don't listen to everyone else. Use the shiny new trainer as motivation to excercise for a while. When that motivation wanes its time for new
shoes...then fancy saddle...light wheels etc. Whatever keeps you going.
But honestly trainers are the most boring thing in the world. Only way I can use one is if I smash out a short really hard interval session (anyone
else end up about 4m closer to the tv by the time they finish?!)
coyoteboy - 4/9/13 at 06:04 PM
quote:
Probably means your zones aren't calculated correctly then...
Maybe. I'm 32 with a MHR of 188 (highest I've seen when murdering myself). As I start to tire in the second hour I can't get it above
165ish for the remaining hour.
quote:
Don't listen to everyone else. Use the shiny new trainer as motivation to excercise for a while. When that motivation wanes its time for
new shoes...then fancy saddle...light wheels etc. Whatever keeps you going.
I used to use this tack. I now have 6 home built bikes in the garage and concluded I prefer building them to riding them. I'm watching this
thread in case someone comes up with an idea to spark my enthusiasm!
quote:
Only way I can use one is if I smash out a short really hard interval session (anyone else end up about 4m closer to the tv by the time they
finish?!)
I can't get enough resistance on my tacx mag to do anything but spin really fast, I'd really like to be able to stand up and put the boot
in.
[Edited on 4/9/13 by coyoteboy]
Mr Whippy - 4/9/13 at 07:55 PM
I suggest you buy a bike rack for the car so you can take the bike somewhere more enjoyable to ride. There are many great cycle tracks round the
country which are a delight to explore and that will give you more motivation to use it plus it's a lot healthier and safer too. You can take
snacks in a rucksack and spend hours sight seeing for free in the piece and quiet.
My bike rack fits on to the tow bar and stows in the boot if need be, it's easy and quick to fit and carries up to 3 bikes, got it from halfords.
My wife was uninterested in push bikes till we got it, she likes it so much she bought a purple mountain bike of her own with butterfly's on it
[Edited on 4/9/13 by Mr Whippy]
Dave Bailey - 4/9/13 at 08:20 PM
So far off £100 but I bought a tack fortius VR trainer and it has been absolutely fantastic... I started of at 100kg and I am now down to about
90kg... You need to run it off a PC and I managed to pick up a cheap projector... Worth the investment? Best toy I have bought for years....
Dave B