Another which trainer/ app question for the roadies

[Wonderman]

Apologies, but as wobbly just getting back into MTBing after a couple years of the bike gathering dust and I'm venturing out to do a couple offroad events. Now with little technical skill and the fitness level of a Augustus Gloop I'm not overly bothered and will wheez my way round...

HOWEVER some late night Facebook wanderings and managed to enter myself into a 100 mile event after not expecting to get through the ballot...*bugger* so better pull my finger out as road riding not my thing for about 20 years and training back then was doing some loops locally and a ride to work. I've borrowed a CX bike with road tyres but need the PH pedallers help with:

Which turbo trainer and which app is best to get to complete 100 miles in just 5 months? I'd like to go as cheap as possible on both as it's supposed to be for charidy mate !

Thanks in advance.

[wobert]

I use a basic turbo with TrainerRoad.

Works fine for what I use it for and I’ve upped my FTP from 164W at the beginning to 230W.

You can sign up for a structured training plan which over 6-8 weeks will progressively improve you fitness.

I’ve fitted my first road bike to it, so I can jump on with 10 mins notice

[numtumfutunch]

I tried TR for a couple of weeks and found it really dull

On the other hand I really like Zwift
Admittedly I rarely if ever free ride it which seems to be where most of the snobbishness comes from

I have done a couple of programs since last spring and my fitness is massively improved
Back in the day I was quite a weapon and so I know what it feels like to be quick on the bike

When in between programs there are enough workouts to keep me sane
And the Alpe du Zwift is a bloody good approximation of the real thing

Im lucky enough to have a smart trainer however my mate uses a Tacx with Bluetooth he bought SH for just under £100 to good effect

All the internet platforms offer free trials so go for it and see which you get on with

Cheers

[R1gtr]

Just a quick heads up that Sport Pursuit are doing half price Cycle ops turbo trainers today, just received the email.

[wobert]

numtumfutunch said:

I tried TR for a couple of weeks and found it really dull

On the other hand I really like Zwift
Admittedly I rarely if ever free ride it which seems to be where most of the snobbishness comes from

I have done a couple of programs since last spring and my fitness is massively improved
Back in the day I was quite a weapon and so I know what it feels like to be quick on the bike

When in between programs there are enough workouts to keep me sane
And the Alpe du Zwift is a bloody good approximation of the real thing

Im lucky enough to have a smart trainer however my mate uses a Tacx with Bluetooth he bought SH for just under £100 to good effect

All the internet platforms offer free trials so go for it and see which you get on with

Cheers

I’ve tried both TR and Zwift.

I prefer the structured training of TR.

I have only a “dumb” trainer, Zwift doesn’t work as well as it could with a “smart” trainer.

[Wonderman]

R1gtr said:

Just a quick heads up that Sport Pursuit are doing half price Cycle ops turbo trainers today, just received the email.

Cheers for the heads up, after look at reviews for Tacx (seem a bit flacky), Elite (not bad) I went for the Cycle ops magnetic pro training kit, as by the time messed around with getting the trainer plus mat etc it wasn't bad value, seems simple to use and folds down to a sensible size to keep me out of the doghouse for taking up the entire study!

[lufbramatt]

pro tip: get a big fan. Or 2.

There's no real magic formula to doing 100 miles, just build up the time on the bike gradually to build up base fitness. make sure you eat and drink enough. and don't go out too hard in the excitement.

Worth doing some core strength exercises so that your back or shoulders doesn't become the weak link, as you'll be on the bike for 6, maybe 7 hours.

[Wonderman]

lufbramatt said:

pro tip: get a big fan. Or 2.

There's no real magic formula to doing 100 miles, just build up the time on the bike gradually to build up base fitness. make sure you eat and drink enough. and don't go out too hard in the excitement.

Worth doing some core strength exercises so that your back or shoulders doesn't become the weak link, as you'll be on the bike for 6, maybe 7 hours.

Cheers for the tip. Sounds familiar when not applied to bike riding too .

I have huge fan from the summer which summons up a hurricane, which hopefully will be enough. I've been hitting the kettlebells for a while so core is getting there. I'm ahem on the powerfully built side having done very little riding or proper cardio for endurance, there are cut offs in the event I'd like to avoid to get to the finish (Prudential RideLondon).

[Hudson1984]

I've been using Zwift for a while and it's certainly engaging, good community and good features. Plus you can just jump on your bike and go.

I'm also training for a 100 miler and wanted a bit more structure to my training - but didn't really feel I was getting that from Zwift, I felt tired but didn't feel better if that makes sense.

I've been using Sufferfest for a couple of weeks now and prefer it. Better training plans and I think i'm working harder and longer than I ever did on Zwift - it feels more of a training tool for me, plus it has a 100 mile training plan build into it which is nice - and includes outdoor rides within that plan, something Zwift does not, which is damned annoying when you're doing a Zwift plan...it doesn't allow time to actually go out and ride.

Also with sufferfest I found the fitness test is much more elaborate and detailed and actually gives a plan of how to fix weaknesses rather than with Zwift it's just a number to base rides on - Sufferfest tells you which rides.

I just load Apple TV on the telly, Sufferfest on the laptop and get cracking.

my two cents anywat - much prefer Sufferfest for actual progress and Zwift for engagement and interest.

[Chicken Chaser]

I find Zwift is great for training. You can pick a structured session if you like, or you can join an event and use better fitter riders to aim for to make it difficult. I dont find myself riding around aimlessly much, if I do then i'll try and clip onto a quicker rider and ride with them until I can't or i'll use the relief to create some interval stuff. I find that the terrains generally lead to some kind of structure anyway with a smart trainer as you're getting harder efforts with recovery areas and then some threshold sprint stuff in the mix. It worked great for me a couple of winters ago, 4 months of solid trainer work between Nov and Feb. Didnt get started til late this year but should get some good sessions in before the weather improves.

[Wonderman]

Hudson1984 said:

I've been using Zwift for a while and it's certainly engaging, good community and good features. Plus you can just jump on your bike and go.

I'm also training for a 100 miler and wanted a bit more structure to my training - but didn't really feel I was getting that from Zwift, I felt tired but didn't feel better if that makes sense.

I've been using Sufferfest for a couple of weeks now and prefer it. Better training plans and I think i'm working harder and longer than I ever did on Zwift - it feels more of a training tool for me, plus it has a 100 mile training plan build into it which is nice - and includes outdoor rides within that plan, something Zwift does not, which is damned annoying when you're doing a Zwift plan...it doesn't allow time to actually go out and ride.

Also with sufferfest I found the fitness test is much more elaborate and detailed and actually gives a plan of how to fix weaknesses rather than with Zwift it's just a number to base rides on - Sufferfest tells you which rides.

I just load Apple TV on the telly, Sufferfest on the laptop and get cracking.

my two cents anywat - much prefer Sufferfest for actual progress and Zwift for engagement and interest.

Does sufferfest work okay we dumb trainer + speed/cadence/heart sensor, was going to try RGT, downloaded etc but only works with dedicated power meters/ smart trainers and don't want to waste more time if it's another deadend.

Thanks

[Wonderman]

Wonderman said:

Does sufferfest work okay we dumb trainer + speed/cadence/heart sensor, was going to try RGT, downloaded etc but only works with dedicated power meters/ smart trainers and don't want to waste more time if it's another deadend.

Thanks

So downloaded Suffer, it picks up my heart monitor (non Garmin) no problem but doesn't find cadence or speed sensor nor Edge 810. Any ideas as Garmin connect is fine and find the 810 straight away, should be simple but can I get it to work, can I
Thanks

[Wonderman]

Wonderman said:

Wonderman said:

Does sufferfest work okay we dumb trainer + speed/cadence/heart sensor, was going to try RGT, downloaded etc but only works with dedicated power meters/ smart trainers and don't want to waste more time if it's another deadend.

Thanks

So downloaded Suffer, it picks up my heart monitor (non Garmin) no problem but doesn't find cadence or speed sensor nor Edge 810. Any ideas as Garmin connect is fine and find the 810 straight away, should be simple but can I get it to work, can I
Thanks

So APP doesn't work with 810 (although their guidance suggests it does as fake power info), and my V1 sensors are ANT+ so don't communicate with the phone/app *sigh* the dongle to convert ANT+ to BLE costs more than V2 sensors... so V2 sensors ordered and can stick V1s on for out and about/ MTB