Turbo Trainer "Too Noisy" please help
Discussion
I have had a turbo trainer and Zwift since January, the result of being furloughed and the winter weather not being ideal to cycle. I know the thing isn't the quietest trainer in the world, but I do have plenty of foam mats down to somewhat dampen the noise.
Today we receive a text from the landlord saying one of the neighbours complained as it's too noisy and going on too late. While I agree it's not the quietest thing, 8pm isn't exactly 'too late'. Also angry that they haven't came and spoken directly to me or the Mrs first and felt the need to go down this route, but that's another story.
The Mrs talked me out of being an awkward f
ker about it, and I'm trying to see how I can make the turbo quieter. The foam mats are 2ft by 2ft and about an inch thick, I'd rather not spend a fortune on a branded trainer mat but guessing this will be the most effective way?
Last bit of relevant info, the "pain cave" is my back bedroom, 7ft x7ft. Nowhere else I can really put the turbo in the house.
Today we receive a text from the landlord saying one of the neighbours complained as it's too noisy and going on too late. While I agree it's not the quietest thing, 8pm isn't exactly 'too late'. Also angry that they haven't came and spoken directly to me or the Mrs first and felt the need to go down this route, but that's another story.
The Mrs talked me out of being an awkward f
ker about it, and I'm trying to see how I can make the turbo quieter. The foam mats are 2ft by 2ft and about an inch thick, I'd rather not spend a fortune on a branded trainer mat but guessing this will be the most effective way?Last bit of relevant info, the "pain cave" is my back bedroom, 7ft x7ft. Nowhere else I can really put the turbo in the house.
Maybe those triangular soundproofing mats lining the shared wall, like those ones they have in recording studios. Or the sound the neighbour is getting might be lower level, transmitted through the flooring to the wall from the vibrations of the trainer. Putting the trainer on some softer foam matting may also help, but if the neighbour could tell the landlord what the noise was, I guess it must be pretty clear for them.
Also, if you haven't already, maybe in general try build some kind of basic relationship with them - if you're more friendly with people they're more likely to complain directly to you than to go over your head, should such a conflict arise.
If they're avoiding talking to you directly but instead going straight to the landlord, it means they don't know you well enough to know how you'll react when they say you're being annoying. Or maybe they do
Also, if you haven't already, maybe in general try build some kind of basic relationship with them - if you're more friendly with people they're more likely to complain directly to you than to go over your head, should such a conflict arise.
If they're avoiding talking to you directly but instead going straight to the landlord, it means they don't know you well enough to know how you'll react when they say you're being annoying. Or maybe they do
Playing devil's advocate... 8pm isn't late for you but if your neighbour has young kids it is. If that's when you're starting it will be a lot later...
Keep the peace, get some lights and get out on the bike instead. If you're furloughed surely the daylight hours are yours to enjoy? If neighbours do the same thing at the same time every night then many things get annoying.
Keep the peace, get some lights and get out on the bike instead. If you're furloughed surely the daylight hours are yours to enjoy? If neighbours do the same thing at the same time every night then many things get annoying.
Edited by tvrfan007 on Thursday 1st April 19:44
A little more context; they have no children and work similar hours to me and Mrs DanB, hence speaking to them a fair bit initially as we would usually be leaving our getting home at similar times. Wouldn't say we are friends but at the same time no issues with them until today. Have even spoken about my Zwift training before and said to let me know if it is a bit loud, so no real reason for them to go over our head like this.
It's a tyre on trainer, LifeLine TT-01. Wiggle's finest sub £100 special.
Now the weather is better I will be riding out a lot more, and once the gym opens it has a Wattbike so I'll be connecting to that for some Zwift fun, but would like to have the ability to use Zwift at home without being whined at. Foam tiles seem to be no good, and their issue is it vibrates through the floor. I know the thing sounds like an angle grinder if I'm doing a sprint finish (500W for 10 seconds). So do I need those recording studio grade sound deadening tiles, or is there some other way I can do it? I still don't think that the "branded" trainer mats from the likes of Wahoo etc are anything more than a marketing ploy and would probably be no better than my foam tiles.
It's a tyre on trainer, LifeLine TT-01. Wiggle's finest sub £100 special.
Now the weather is better I will be riding out a lot more, and once the gym opens it has a Wattbike so I'll be connecting to that for some Zwift fun, but would like to have the ability to use Zwift at home without being whined at. Foam tiles seem to be no good, and their issue is it vibrates through the floor. I know the thing sounds like an angle grinder if I'm doing a sprint finish (500W for 10 seconds). So do I need those recording studio grade sound deadening tiles, or is there some other way I can do it? I still don't think that the "branded" trainer mats from the likes of Wahoo etc are anything more than a marketing ploy and would probably be no better than my foam tiles.
Edited by DanB7290 on Thursday 1st April 20:53
Sounds like you need to isolate vibration/noise from the turbo trainer getting to the floor.
Maybe mount some isolation mounts under it or under a piece of ply.
https://www.vibration-mounts.co.uk/ShowCategory.ph...
Maybe mount some isolation mounts under it or under a piece of ply.
https://www.vibration-mounts.co.uk/ShowCategory.ph...
paralla said:
Sounds like you need to isolate vibration/noise from the turbo trainer getting to the floor.
Maybe mount some isolation mounts under it or under a piece of ply.
https://www.vibration-mounts.co.uk/ShowCategory.ph...
This looks promising, the trainer doesn't have anywhere to put those in though, the bits that touch the floor are 2 metal bars with a bit of rubber wrapped around each end. It's a very basic trainer nothing too fancy. However, perhaps something which would be solved with a drill and some engineering skill (neither of which I possess, although my dad is a retired engineer so would probably take him 12 seconds Maybe mount some isolation mounts under it or under a piece of ply.
https://www.vibration-mounts.co.uk/ShowCategory.ph...
)Vibrations can carry through buildings very well, but are very dependant on the location as to whether you get resonance or not. I assume you have the bike in the middle of the room, might be worth trying it next to the wall to see if it makes a difference to the resonance... if course this would mean talking to the neighbour to see how different it sounds in different positions.
DanB7290 said:
A little more context; they have no children and work similar hours to me and Mrs DanB, hence speaking to them a fair bit initially as we would usually be leaving our getting home at similar times. Wouldn't say we are friends but at the same time no issues with them until today. Have even spoken about my Zwift training before and said to let me know if it is a bit loud, so no real reason for them to go over our head like this.
I take back my advice about building a rapport with them then, sounds like you've done that already and they've still gone over your head, which is a real pain.Edited by DanB7290 on Thursday 1st April 20:53
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