Turbo Trainer and touring Advice...

[StylishRiot]

Good Afternoon,

Apologies for the double thread, but first post and new to the world of actually owning a decent bike!

I own a specialized Tricross which I enjoy riding although it is a bit bumpy on the trails! I am longing to get out on it, but living by the coast it is incredibly cold, windy and wet at the moment. This coupled with a newborn baby mean it is gathering dust.

Anyway, my best mate and I are planning to cycle from London to Edinburgh at the end of August... I am falling behind on my planned training schedule so I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on turbo trainers were?

Are they worth the money?
Do they adequately prepare you for doing 70+ miles a day?
Can you recommend a decent entry level one?

Alos, would the Tricross be suitable for touring for 5 days or so? It has eyelets for pannier racks, but it does have fairly aggressive geometry as it is a cyclo-racer type bike after all.

Cheers

J

 

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

Are they worth the money?

They're worth more than we pay for them if used right.

Do they adequately prepare you for doing 70+ miles a day?

Generally turbo rides are based on intensity and working on certain aspects of training. If you have the staying power to put in long endurance sessions than fair play. You may want to invest in a fan also.

Can you recommend a decent entry level one?

What's your budget?

Alos, would the Tricross be suitable for touring for 5 days or so? It has eyelets for pannier racks, but it does have fairly aggressive geometry as it is a cyclo-racer type bike after all.

Cheers

J

Yep. The Tricross is more of a do-it-all bike than most crossers out there. Inclusion of eyelets is a good indication of it's capability and expected use.

 

[StylishRiot]

Fairly skint, so no more that £170 odd

 

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

You can buy cheap and buy twice
Or head for something like this

Leaves you plenty of cash left if you want a spare(trainer) tyre to use and enough for a fan.

Depending where you turbo you may also want a mat to put beneath it to cut out a bit of noise.

 

[ste.pearson]

hi there i got one of these just after xmas http://www.evanscycles.com/products/minoura/b60-remote-trainer-ec024622 had have to say i am very pleased with it feels really well made

 

[Cycleops]

Should wait for some better weather and do some training on the road, save the money on the turbo trainer. Can't think of anything more mind numbing than on one of those for hours on end.

 

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

No turbo thread is complete without someone turning up to moan about how boring they find them.

Unfortunately there is no prize, only knowledge in that you were the first.

 

[HLaB]

Touring on a Turbo Trainer; you'll no get very far!

Sorry

Turbo Trainers dont recreate real riding but they are useful IMO for keeping you ticking over when you haven't got time for a real ride; fortunately I do as they are a bit mind numbing! Certainly dont rely on one on its own, if thats what you are suggesting on its own it wont prepare you for 70miles a day .
IIRC I paid less than £170 for my Taxc Speedmatic and I dont think I can really fault it although I cant compare it to another. I also got a free turbo tyre. Ive got a turbo bike set up with it in my parent's garage which was useful when I lived at home and saved worrying about damage to my good bike/tyres (Unfortunately I'm now 368miles south).
I think a tricross would be the ideal bike to tour on, it can take guards/rack and has lower gearing and is less aggressive than a full on road bike and the drop bars offer multiple positions = better comfort.

 

[doog]

A Tricross will do your journey as long as you keep weight sensible. This is mine, pannier/ tent weight on this tour was 20kg in total. Previously the stock wheels had let me down with broken spokes so replaced the rear with 36 spoke Mavic Open pro which coped fine but if I was to continue touring on this would need a new wheel set.

Go for the Turbo trainer, brilliant piece of kit if you have the mentality. I have a Tacx Turbo trainer, a lap top. music and some cycling vids (look at 'sufferfest') to save the boredom.

 

[StylishRiot]

Thanks for your help. The pic above is reassuring!

Got to say, after doing some more research I am leaning more towards rollers...

 

[Gravity Aided]

Do you want to build strength and endurance, or supplesse ? Rollers work well for technique, but offer little in the way of resistance. You can fall off rollers. More often than not. Both are good, but for differing reasons.

 

[StylishRiot]

To be honest I am not sure. I just want to be able to hop on when I can't get out due to the baby. I don't want to have to keep changing tyre's rear wheels etc and thought a roller may be more realistic. I like the idea of having to concentrate the whole time so that I don't fall over!

 

[Gravity Aided]

May be nice to have both.

 

[FreeFlow Bikes]

I love my turbo trainer and use it 4 days a week, getting up a 6am to blast my session. I complement the turbo with the 3LC Climbing and 3LC Road Race DVD. These basically guide you through a turbo training session and stops the boredom factor by introducing interval training.

 

[Cycleops]

No turbo thread is complete without someone turning up to moan about how boring they find them.

Unfortunately there is no prize, only knowledge in that you were the first.

I assume that this directed at me. I don't think I was moaning, simply putting forward my view. I accept these machines have their uses. This is a forum where people offer advice and opinions. You have to accept that not everybodys ideas coincide with yours. If you think using a turbo trainer is in some way fulfilling or life enhancing I would be interested to hear your argument. Now that really would be worth a prize.