Turbo trainers?

ABEasy

Hi all, I'm new to cycling & with the shorter evenings I'm looking at the options to get a few hours on the bike during the week. So as I know nothing about turbo trainers I'm hoping some of the wiser heads on here can help. Are they worth getting, any accessories you need with them, any features that are essential.

I've done a little window shopping on CRC (I'm looking at the lower price bracket) is there any difference between these 2?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=68510

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15262

And is there any other trainers you'd recommend or where is the best to buy?

Thanks

stas

I'm eyeing the Tacx Satori as it was recommended here on boards:
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,5,69;product=4735

Aln_S

stas wrote: »

I'm eyeing the Tacx Satori as it was recommended here on boards:
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,5,69;product=4735

Got one of these for my birthday last week Have to say it's very good. No shortage of resistance and runs fairly quietly and smoothly.

That said, I haven't owned one before so only going by what people usually find wrong with turbotrainers.

barrmur

Anyone got a VR trainer? Looking at a Tacx fortis or i-magic. Just wondering if they are worth the outlay, approx €800. They look like the bomb as regards turbo trainers but any info on ease of set up, noise levels and usefulness in relation to relieving the boredom of normal TT's.

macnab

I have "Spinerval" videos that I watch on the laptop while training on the turbo, the time flies in. Sometimes I just watch an episode of "Dexter" or something like that to ward off the boredom.

barrmur

Videos look good but I think the VR trainer is a better step. More of an engaging ride I would think. The VR trainer has be added benefit of being a bit easier to track progress as you can just chase down an old time (i.e. a VR generated you from a previous ride) where as I dont think this would be as easy with the videos.

Anyone any idea of a shop in Dublin sells these so I might at least be able to see one in action???

b.harte

+1 for the Spinerval DVDs
I spent long boring unproductive hours on my trainer over the last few winters, mind numbingly dull.
Now, thanks to the interval training, I'm getting a better workout in a shorter time and getting off the trainer physically wrecked instead of just warm.
I have some of the Scenery / helmet cam DVDs as well which are okay to look at but a bit boring.
I like my gadgets but not sure if I'd like a VR trainer, I'd never go for a proper spin if I had one...

DD Mikasa

Aln_S wrote: »

Got one of these for my birthday last week Have to say it's very good. No shortage of resistance and runs fairly quietly and smoothly.

That said, I haven't owned one before so only going by what people usually find wrong with turbotrainers.

I got one of these earlier in the year. It's very good. Have 2 young lads under 3 so dont have time to go on many long spins, or wasnt able to get out much in the evenings during the summer.

The resistance is great and the noise isnt a problem. The two issues I would mention are that the construction manual is wrong (cant remember details) but if u find it isnt coming together exactly as per the manual dont worry.

The other issue is that it eats tyres (providing ur pushing yourself by upping the resistance). if u use ur road tyre it'll eat it up in no time, and u dont really want to be on the road with a back tyre with half its rubber gone off it- might be dangerous around corners etc.

What I did was I got a cheap wheel and cassette and an indoor trainer tyre. Tis very easy to switch wheels depending on whether ur heading out or going on the turbo.

I shouild add that I got a Vittoria indoor tyre and that got chewed up quickly as well. I have just got a new Tacs indoor tyre but as I have only used that once so far I cant really review that yet.

bertiecont

have a cycleops trainer and started using it again this last week as the evenings draw in and weather gets worse!

just doing some aerobic sessions at the moment so just ipod & headphones which is a bit boring (can only last an hour) but come November I'll start back on the Sufferfest videos - they a great workout if you can get to the end - http://www.thesufferfest.com/video-sufferfests/

ABEasy

stas wrote: »

I'm eyeing the Tacx Satori as it was recommended here on boards:
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,5,69;product=4735

Cheers, just ordered from this crowd, seems like good value!


Mikassa, thanks for the info on the tyres, will you let us know how the new one is wearing?

Rallymad

stas wrote: »

I'm eyeing the Tacx Satori as it was recommended here on boards:
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,5,69;product=4735

Just ordered it so ill be spinning away in the garage have a couple of tyres i took off for various reasons ill burn them up first before buying a training tyre.

shazkea

I just picked up a Tacx Satori as well and had a look at some of the training plans of the Tacx site.

I'm new to cyling to embarrassed to say I don't understand the gear naming convention

Could someone explain the Gear column to me e.g. Bgx15 or Smx21 etc. I do understand the Bg versus Sm but not the numbers...

cython

shazkea wrote: »

I just picked up a Tacx Satori as well and had a look at some of the training plans of the Tacx site.

I'm new to cyling to embarrassed to say I don't understand the gear naming convention

Could someone explain the Gear column to me e.g. Bgx15 or Smx21 etc. I do understand the Bg versus Sm but not the numbers...

At a guess the numbers represent the number of teeth (size) of the gear that you should be using on the rear cassette?

jinkypolly

shazkea wrote: »

I just picked up a Tacx Satori as well and had a look at some of the training plans of the Tacx site.

I'm new to cyling to embarrassed to say I don't understand the gear naming convention

Could someone explain the Gear column to me e.g. Bgx15 or Smx21 etc. I do understand the Bg versus Sm but not the numbers...

Cython has it right, it's in reference to the number of teeth on the rear cassette although the cogs on your own bike may not match you can use the numbers as a guide. So if you're doing a training routine take 21 as 1 ring below your largest, 15 as the ring in the middle and 11 or 12 as your smallest ring. If you have 3 rings on the front ignore the smallest and use the middle one as Sm.

mel.b

Hope it is ok to jump in on this thread. I'm also going to get a turbo trainer and am looking at the same Tacx Satori.

I currently have a ladies hybrid - viking versilles. The specs on the wheel/tyres are:

Wheels: Viking 700c alloy double wall rims with alloy hubs
Tyres: 700cx38 all black trekking

I assume that it will fit the trainer ok? Also, should I be getting one of the specific trainer tyres as well. There are two listed on the bike24.com website...
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;product=3812;page=1;menu=1000,5,69;mid=18;pgc=0 for road bikes

and

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;product=4719;page=1;menu=1000,5,69;mid=18;pgc=0 for mountain bikes.

Can someone tell me if one of these (?the mountain bike one) will fit my bike? Or are there other sizes available from other websites?

Thanks heaps,
Mel.b

topcat77

I've got the Trax Satori and find it great (noticed the top pro's use it for warm up before time trial during the tour). +1 for the spinervals. I also use my Forerunner 405. I switch off the GPS and use the heart rate monitor, Cadence sensor and speed sensor (on the rear). With all the info collected during the spinervals work out i follow my progress and get the most i possibly can from each session.