Turbo maiden voyage

[Phoenix Lincs]

I was lucky enough to get a turbo trainer for my birthday and have just had my first ride on it after lovely hubby set it up in the garage for me.

I have a few questions.

1. Is it normal to sweat like a pig after a relatively short period of time? At about 15 mins it was running off my face onto the floor

2. I noticed my front wheel had a slight 'wobble' from right to left as I pedalled. I'm thinking this is due to my lack of core stability, but, in the time it takes me to gain some strength here, my tyre is getting some wear and tear on the concrete floor. Should I investigate getting a block for the front wheel (turbo didn't come with one)?

3. Would a cycle computer attach to the back wheel to calculate virtual distance at all? Do they normally fix to the front wheel on a mobile bike?

I do feel a sense of achievement for being able to exercise tonight, and I'm hoping it will keep me at it while waiting for the mornings to be light enough for me to get out before work.

Thanks in anticipation of your help

Sweaty but happy Lesley

 

[Dan B]

I was lucky enough to get a turbo trainer for my birthday and have just had my first ride on it after lovely hubby set it up in the garage for me.

I have a few questions.

1. Is it normal to sweat like a pig after a relatively short period of time? At about 15 mins it was running off my face onto the floor

2. I noticed my front wheel had a slight 'wobble' from right to left as I pedalled. I'm thinking this is due to my lack of core stability, but, in the time it takes me to gain some strength here, my tyre is getting some wear and tear on the concrete floor. Should I investigate getting a block for the front wheel (turbo didn't come with one)?

3. Would a cycle computer attach to the back wheel to calculate virtual distance at all? Do they normally fix to the front wheel on a mobile bike?

I do feel a sense of achievement for being able to exercise tonight, and I'm hoping it will keep me at it while waiting for the mornings to be light enough for me to get out before work.

Thanks in anticipation of your help

Sweaty but happy Lesley

1) yes, if you're doing it right. Get a fan, it will help offset the lack of airflow that comes from being indoors and not moving
2) a telephone directory serves the same purpose as a riser block at considerably less expense. It need not even be the current year's phone book
3) yes, if the cable is long enough (or use a wireless one). Though the distances it displays are not comparable - for all sorts of reasons - with outdoor distances, you can certainly compare one day's turbo session against another this way

 

[jazzkat]

Get the biggest fan you can find! I bought mine in the end of summer sales at B and Q. When I'm working hard I wish I had two fans going.
I use a wired cat-eye computer on my rear wheel, it does cadence too. I have found that through using the turbo and concentrating on cadence my on road cadence is more consistent and faster.
I love my turbo, I know others hate them.

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Thanks jazzkat. I have a fan in the attic so may dig that out. Re cat-eye computer, will have to google or ebay

 

[Skipper]

The first time I used my turbo, I dressed like it was winter outside (in fact it was winter). But soon regretted it. In no time at all, the floor was puddled in sweat. Lesson learnt, and now I wear much less.
Re: levelling the bike. I put an old house brick under the front tyre. The groove in the top of the brick is the perfect shape and size to support the wheel, and it's exactly the right height! No tyre wear yet, no wobble, and no cost!

 

[biggs682]

did you enjoy the views on your ride !

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

stick with a wired computer - the distance between the sensor & computer for wireless ones has a maximum of 70cm when at full battery and it means whilst in theory you can put them on the rear wheel and it work, you will need to mount the computer somewhere where you can not actually see it.
I got the cateye strada cadence wired computer which works fine on the rear wheel...

also you will sweat like a pig, so summer kit and a fan is an enormous help - as is keeping a towel over your handlebars - after all you don't need to worry about it getting caught in the front wheel on a trainer...

 

[Arsen Gere]

I got the cateye strada cadence wired computer which works fine on the rear wheel...

+1 for the cateye strada cadence. Just wish the display was a bit bigger.

 

[Rob3rt]

did you enjoy the views on your ride !

The blood vessels in your eyeballs popping are like watching stars go supernova! You don't get that on the road!

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

stick with a wired computer - the distance between the sensor & computer for wireless ones has a maximum of 70cm when at full battery and it means whilst in theory you can put them on the rear wheel and it work, you will need to mount the computer somewhere where you can not actually see it.
I got the cateye strada cadence wired computer which works fine on the rear wheel...

also you will sweat like a pig, so summer kit and a fan is an enormous help - as is keeping a towel over your handlebars - after all you don't need to worry about it getting caught in the front wheel on a trainer...

Wireless puters work fine if they're designed to be used on the rear wheel. No reason to shy away from them. Yet as said, speed really means little on a turbo.

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Thanks everybody. Great advice. Will definitely give the brick a go and check out computers.

View wasn't great, but I did keep the garage door slightly open so I could have seen folks go past if it wasn't dark

Love this forum

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Although it did eat my smileys - need to check out how to add them through the forum rather than off my keyboard. More homework!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Although it did eat my smileys - need to check out how to add them through the forum rather than off my keyboard. More homework!

just go for the icon above (when in typing a reply) that has the big smilie face in it with a drop down menu to the right...

 

[LarryDuff]

Got one on Tuesday but it's still in the box as I have to clear the garage out before I can use it.

 

[Licramite]

get an mp3 player and goood music.
set the fan up behind you, everyone loves a tailwind.
I wear a sweat band (no I don't wear a helmet on my turbo trainer - I will take the risk-even though I have crashed it once)
and I sweat - like a lot of pigs.
I'm ussually stripped down to shorts only in about 5minutes. -
enjoy it , it's supposed to be fun!?