Stationary / Turbo Trainers - Advice please

[MTY4000]

Hi,

I'm looking to compliment my fitness training with some extra hill training... the only problem is that where i live there are no hills (without a lengthy journey on public transport & waiting around on cold platforms in my cycling kit)

I'd like to get an indoor trainer for my road bike but I am concerned about the noise. Please may I ask some advice that hopefully will also be of use to other users of the forum:

My criteria:

Must be as quiet as possible (this is key)
Must be able to simulate tough hill climbs

My goals:

General aerobic fitness & conditioning (this is to compliment my winter gym based work - a mix of aerobic & circuit training)
Improve my on bike climbing (I'm a keen mountain biker in the summer months, and want to build up my climb fitness over the winter)

Advice please:

Can indoor training be quiet, if so how? [this is key for me]
What kit do you recommend
Any other general training advice [using a stationary trainer - 40 min workouts, intervals etc?]

Thanks,
Ian

[dubbs]

I've been looking around for the same. I'm getting out there and mountainbiking now as it's great weather out there for it. Road biking will now wait until Feb/Mar earliest.

Trainers... TacX are the best to go for. Gel rollers are worth getting and most will have motors that will simulate hills and have remote control to put on your handlbars.

If you want to pay lots then you can get a full VR one that will use a DVD of a route and simulate hills in real time.

[MTY4000]

Thanks Dubbs,

I'll look into TacX. VR? Sounds fun, I'll check it out.

Anybody, know about the noise? I'll be getting a stationary trainer specific tyre to help keep things quiet. I'm bit concerned about the potential noise... and it is difficult to verify in a shop.

Ian

[Roman]

Fluid & Magnetic tend to be the quietest.

I got bored with mine and go to spin classes instead now - much more sociable and 'scenic'!

[dubbs]

They are noisy. You can get an acoustic mat which really helps keep the noise down.

You'll also need a frame bikini (not something Borat would wear!!!) It'll protect your fr4ame against the mountainside of sweat that'll drip off you!

Spinning is definitely more scenic ;-P

[MTY4000]

I do a bit of spin myself.. 'scenic' is the right word + good exercise that feels, to me at least, quite similar to peddling a road bike

The turbo trainer will be complimentary to my gym work.. 40mins or so that I can fit in without the extra time of getting to the gym. Work commitments mean my free time is at a premium at the moment.

Thanks,
Ian