First use of turbo trainer
- Thread starter PJ79LIZARD
- Start date
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Well, 4th week in and on the trainer daily. Sticking on 4 miles this week but time has come down to a smidgen over 12 minutes. Aiming for consistent sub 11:30s and then I'll add another 0.1 miles each day until 5 miles and then try to improve times again. Eventual goal is for 10 miles in 30 minutes.
Weight coming down a little too, along with semi- fasting 2 days each week (I'll not mention the Christmas hiccup). Now down from a peak of 107.1 kg to 102.3 kg (6'4") over 3 months. Knees certainly don't feel any worse ( though still ache a bit on the bike) - if anything perhaps a little better.
Pulse rate on the bike levels out in the 130s with an occasional 140+ for the odd few seconds sprint.
Still struggle with calibrating the trainer, although I've left it alone the last week. Leaving a patch of tiny rubber particles behind the rear wheel but if I reduce the tension it gets too easy. The handlebar friction adjuster is pretty hopeless - 10 settings seem to equate to 2 ! And perhaps my rear wheel is out of true as at low speeds things get jerky ( pedals almost fall on the downstroke). Perhaps I never noticed small circumference irregularities on the road.
Weight coming down a little too, along with semi- fasting 2 days each week (I'll not mention the Christmas hiccup). Now down from a peak of 107.1 kg to 102.3 kg (6'4") over 3 months. Knees certainly don't feel any worse ( though still ache a bit on the bike) - if anything perhaps a little better.
Pulse rate on the bike levels out in the 130s with an occasional 140+ for the odd few seconds sprint.
Still struggle with calibrating the trainer, although I've left it alone the last week. Leaving a patch of tiny rubber particles behind the rear wheel but if I reduce the tension it gets too easy. The handlebar friction adjuster is pretty hopeless - 10 settings seem to equate to 2 ! And perhaps my rear wheel is out of true as at low speeds things get jerky ( pedals almost fall on the downstroke). Perhaps I never noticed small circumference irregularities on the road.
OK something's obviously not right. Used the trainer twice today, same setting as yesterday but over a minute faster than before - and it felt easy.
But it's clearly not set right as there is a patch of rubber dust behind the rear wheel, the tyre has lost the centre tread and is sticky to he touch.
Tension too high or even too low ?
If I tug at the rear wheel quickly I can get the contact with the roller to slip a couple of inches before it 'grabs'. Is the problem that the friction is too low and it's slippage that is causing the excessive wear ?
But it's clearly not set right as there is a patch of rubber dust behind the rear wheel, the tyre has lost the centre tread and is sticky to he touch.
Tension too high or even too low ?
If I tug at the rear wheel quickly I can get the contact with the roller to slip a couple of inches before it 'grabs'. Is the problem that the friction is too low and it's slippage that is causing the excessive wear ?
No, but surely that shouldn't mean other tyres won't work to an extent. Other replies have suggested trainer tyres are better, sure, but not necessary at my beginner level.
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Better is questionable as is it's requirement.
black'n'yellow
Guest
tyre slip suggests the tension is too low, but I've never had any issues with tyres destroying themselves like that on a roller. What pressure do you have in the tyre? I tend to use around 90psi in mine.
Have you done a 'roll down' test (as a way of calibrating before each session)?
chrishodges
Active Member
- Location
- St Albans
Hi Everyone, sorry if this question has already been asked, i recently bought a turbo trainer, and would like to use it when the weather is bad and when i don't have time to get out on the road, does anyone know where i could get some good training plans?
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Do you have any understanding of training or of your own goals?
I ask because if you do, it should not be hard to pull a few from your own head
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
Liffy,
I don't have experience with your turbo but most need the flywheel to be brought up to the wheel upon initial set up. A quick google for yours says that there should be a black knob underneath the blue lever. You turn this anti-clockwise to raise the flywheel. This should stop the slip you are experiencing and reduce tyre wear - assuming the tyre you are using is, at the very least, slick or a turbo trainer tyre. Any tread will get chewed up fast.
Adjust the black knob until a good connection is established and then tweak from there. Once happy with this then you can use the resistance on the handlebars.
Once you get this sorted then you will get a better idea as to how the sessions feel. Try easing into it and don't over do the stress on your knees. You previously mentioned noticeable pain in your knee/s. Try keeping the cadence a bit higher and the resistance a bit lower, or a lower gear. Pushing to big a gear, too early on or without warm up, can lead to injury.
Best of luck with it.
Ah, Grasshoppers ! Roll down time - the light begins to dawn.
Pumped the tyre up a bit and increased the friction so no wheel slippage.
Did another measly 4 miles and added over a minute to previous time (now 12:52 at just under 19mph).
Roll down time was about 10-12 secs I think.
Certainly felt tougher although the handlebar adjustment at least works better.
Still get a horrible buzzy vibration right through the entire bike frame as the speed rises though.
I'll tweak a bit more and see if the tyre is still shredding rubber (almost destroyed my brand new rear so far).
Thanks for all the help . . . Really great forum.
Pumped the tyre up a bit and increased the friction so no wheel slippage.
Did another measly 4 miles and added over a minute to previous time (now 12:52 at just under 19mph).
Roll down time was about 10-12 secs I think.
Certainly felt tougher although the handlebar adjustment at least works better.
Still get a horrible buzzy vibration right through the entire bike frame as the speed rises though.
I'll tweak a bit more and see if the tyre is still shredding rubber (almost destroyed my brand new rear so far).
Thanks for all the help . . . Really great forum.
