Turbo Trainers
Discussion
So now that summer is over and the rain is settling in, I'm becoming more and more depressed that I'm not out riding. As such, I'm thinking of investing in a turbo trainer, which will see me through the winter months as well! 
However I have no idea where to begin. There seems to be trainers that look similar to a car dyno, complete with rollers, and others that connect solely to the rear of the bike and have remote controls! Prices range from £50 upwards ...
Now I'm of the understanding that the £50 units might not be particularly great, so I'm happy to spend in the region of £200-400 for one. Ideally, I'd like to be able to use my Marin Attack Trail and for it to fit in the trainer with ease. Out of interest, can you simulate uphill sections with trainers? Also, I don't suppose there are any that can give an approximation of how many miles you've covered in a ride?
What makes/models would you recommend? Does anyone have a turbo trainer and how do you find it?
Cheers!
However I have no idea where to begin. There seems to be trainers that look similar to a car dyno, complete with rollers, and others that connect solely to the rear of the bike and have remote controls! Prices range from £50 upwards ...
Now I'm of the understanding that the £50 units might not be particularly great, so I'm happy to spend in the region of £200-400 for one. Ideally, I'd like to be able to use my Marin Attack Trail and for it to fit in the trainer with ease. Out of interest, can you simulate uphill sections with trainers? Also, I don't suppose there are any that can give an approximation of how many miles you've covered in a ride?
What makes/models would you recommend? Does anyone have a turbo trainer and how do you find it?
Cheers!
You can spend hundreds on the advanced ones, which have all sorts of fancy computer and video interfaces....but I own a fairly basic Tacx Satori. You can vary the resistance in 10 levels, and of course have your own gearing to create other resistances. The Satori feels very solidly constructed and is very stable. It will (as will most trainers) rock slightly if you're out of the saddle and thrashing the bars side to side like Thomas Voeckler going up an HC climb, but really they are well planted.
The resistance drum can be raised and lowered to accommodate road wheels or mountain bike wheels. I would advise using a specific turbo tyre - better grip/less squeal than a normal tyre, although a normal slick road tyre will also suffice (but will rapidly wear the tread down).
The resistance drum can be raised and lowered to accommodate road wheels or mountain bike wheels. I would advise using a specific turbo tyre - better grip/less squeal than a normal tyre, although a normal slick road tyre will also suffice (but will rapidly wear the tread down).
Kurt Kinetic Road Machine or Rock N Roll depending on how much you want to spend. Then add 1 HR strap, a cadence and speed sensor, Garmin USB stick and finally a Trainerroad subscription (http://www.trainerroad.com/) and you'll be sorted.
The Kurt is a good bit of kit, simple but effective. The Trainerroad subscription cures the problem of turbo training being boring.
You will improve but it will hurt, oh and add a towel and maybe a bucket to the shopping list as well.
The Kurt is a good bit of kit, simple but effective. The Trainerroad subscription cures the problem of turbo training being boring.
You will improve but it will hurt, oh and add a towel and maybe a bucket to the shopping list as well.
BPC7 said:
I have a Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll and get on really well with it. No resistance settings on it but the faster you pedal the harder it gets as its a patented fluid trainer. Very sturdy and well built piece of kit. I added the pro flywheel to stiffen things up a little but too.
I just had a look at the KK Rock and Roll and it looks great (the frredom of motion makes a lot of sense). Then I saw this video review. What do you think about the bounce?http://youtu.be/9YcVro9KQGQ
caul pope said:
BPC7 said:
I have a Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll and get on really well with it. No resistance settings on it but the faster you pedal the harder it gets as its a patented fluid trainer. Very sturdy and well built piece of kit. I added the pro flywheel to stiffen things up a little but too.
I just had a look at the KK Rock and Roll and it looks great (the frredom of motion makes a lot of sense). Then I saw this video review. What do you think about the bounce?http://youtu.be/9YcVro9KQGQ
I have a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and can't fault it at all, very sturdy, feels great, progressive road like resistance. Bonus for me is that it's very quiet too, being in a flat
As mentioned, get a Trainer road subscription, heart and speed/cadence sensors if you haven't already and you are set to go.
As mentioned, get a Trainer road subscription, heart and speed/cadence sensors if you haven't already and you are set to go.
I've used both the KK (fluid) and Tacx Satori (Magnetic with resistance)
KK is good but very chunky (in terms on leg stand) - if you choose the RocknRolla; I found the novelty of moving side to side wore off pretty quickly. It was quite difficult to stand up and do it as it takes quite a bit of practice.
The Tacx is very compact and solid; different to the KK. The resistance lever is great as you can set it high and replicate a very steep climb on high gears.
I Use the Tacx when I can't go out, so 3 min job to take off or put on back on the stand.
If money was no issue, I'd still buy the Satori (it does everything on the tin very easily)
KK is good but very chunky (in terms on leg stand) - if you choose the RocknRolla; I found the novelty of moving side to side wore off pretty quickly. It was quite difficult to stand up and do it as it takes quite a bit of practice.
The Tacx is very compact and solid; different to the KK. The resistance lever is great as you can set it high and replicate a very steep climb on high gears.
I Use the Tacx when I can't go out, so 3 min job to take off or put on back on the stand.
If money was no issue, I'd still buy the Satori (it does everything on the tin very easily)
caul pope said:
BPC7 said:
I have a Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll and get on really well with it. No resistance settings on it but the faster you pedal the harder it gets as its a patented fluid trainer. Very sturdy and well built piece of kit. I added the pro flywheel to stiffen things up a little but too.
I just had a look at the KK Rock and Roll and it looks great (the frredom of motion makes a lot of sense). Then I saw this video review. What do you think about the bounce?http://youtu.be/9YcVro9KQGQ
Over the years, I've had three.
First one was simple - fixed resistance - pedal and go. Good for 2x20 and not much else. Hated it. Sold it or gave it away. Can't recall which.
Second one was fancier. Tacx Fortius linked to a laptop with computer generated VR scenery to ride through. Better, but ended up hating it. Sold it.
Third one is fanciest. Tacx Genius, linked to laptop or TV. Runs DVDs of Alpine climbs. Runs .gpx files of routes anywhere in the world and displays the scenery via google earth. Adjusts resistance going uphill to match terrain on screen up to 20% and spins the flywheel for you doing downhill (you can't freewheel, but you can tick over at 5w). Provides power outputs (mostly accurately), HR, cadence, speed over the virtual ground & so on.
Third one is good. I've no desire (yet) to sell it. In fact, I've spent longer on it in one session, by a large margin, than I've ever spent on a turbo (a period of time most would consider mad, unhealthy or both).
My view is you get what you pay for, and to get the best out of one you need to be training for a goal (to have an incentive to use it) with a structured training program.
First one was simple - fixed resistance - pedal and go. Good for 2x20 and not much else. Hated it. Sold it or gave it away. Can't recall which.
Second one was fancier. Tacx Fortius linked to a laptop with computer generated VR scenery to ride through. Better, but ended up hating it. Sold it.
Third one is fanciest. Tacx Genius, linked to laptop or TV. Runs DVDs of Alpine climbs. Runs .gpx files of routes anywhere in the world and displays the scenery via google earth. Adjusts resistance going uphill to match terrain on screen up to 20% and spins the flywheel for you doing downhill (you can't freewheel, but you can tick over at 5w). Provides power outputs (mostly accurately), HR, cadence, speed over the virtual ground & so on.
Third one is good. I've no desire (yet) to sell it. In fact, I've spent longer on it in one session, by a large margin, than I've ever spent on a turbo (a period of time most would consider mad, unhealthy or both).
My view is you get what you pay for, and to get the best out of one you need to be training for a goal (to have an incentive to use it) with a structured training program.
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