Turbo trainer to maintain fitness

[taximan]

Hi folks, I am looking for some advice. I have recently become a full time carer and as a result I am unable to ride as often as I would like to. I am alarmed at how quickly my fitness levels have fallen away and I need to find some way to address this. Before my wife fell ill I was riding on average between 250 & 300 miles per week. Now if I get out at all it is a couple of rides per week, of about 10 to 15 miles each, starting usually at about 04:00. What I would like to ask is how much time would I need to put in on a turbo to maintain my fitness level. I am 79 years of age and so far I consider myself to be reasonably fit. Any advice please?

 

[OldShep]

Bite the bullet, get set up with a smart trainer and go for virtual rides using FulGaz or Rouvy.
I could never go beyond 10 minutes with a turbo and the noise would wake the dead.
I’ve used Fulgazfor two years now initially to come back from illness but have carried on using it. There’s even a couple of local rides on Fulgaz for you.

 

[Drago]

Sorry to hear of your situation, but all power to you for wanting to keep moving forward.

I'd start a few weeks casually riding the device to get used to it, then aim for 3 or maybe 4 half our sessions weekly, say Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday once youre fully adapted. You can adjust resistance or chase "distance" for a given difficulty as required.

Whatever, steict consistency will be key.

Although you currently do decent distance only you know what the pace and intensity is and how that reflected upon your fitness.

Best of luck.

 

[taximan]

Bite the bullet, get set up with a smart trainer and go for virtual rides using FulGaz or Rouvy.
I could never go beyond 10 minutes with a turbo and the noise would wake the dead.
I’ve used Fulgazfor two years now initially to come back from illness but have carried on using it. There’s even a couple of local rides on Fulgaz for you.

I would love to but it would be way beyond my budget

 

[berty bassett]

There are cheap smart trainers on the market or second hand ones out there and there are also free platforms that you can use , not the same as outside but can certainly keep your fitness levels high depending how you use it

 

[Jameshow]

I would think your training regime is very much level two riding for much of those miles.

If you up the tempo to 3 (hard to breath) and 4 (full gas) at intervals, then it will be a much better use of your time.

 

[gom]

Any amount of turbo-ing will be better than nothing, so very much go for something.
A few years ago I was no longer cycling to work so bought an exercise bike for just under £300. It is not smart (i.e. no connectivity), but it can be programmed to vary the level over a period of time. I can stick 30 mins (occaisionally 45) at a time, but have to be watching something on tablet/laptop. I imagine - but don't know - that using Zwift or similar would make it less tedious.
If you can get 30 mins in early - which perhaps you can't - it really does set you up for the day.

 

[Sharky]

starting usually at about 04:00.

That seems an odd time to be going out and going into the winter, with dark mornings, cold, and likelyhood of black ice, could be risky and with a spill could easily needing a carer yourself.

At 74 now myself, I was keen enough a few years ago to go out for a ride on January 1st, but alas, black ice struck and I sufferred a fractured pelvis, which kept me sofa bound for about three months. So now I am a "fair weather" rider.

I too am a carer for 4 days per week and the risk of not being available to do my bit, would put an emense strain on other family members.

Since retirement, my mileage has dropped considerably, but I found that one hour rides at a brisk pace kept me fit.
Also use a turbo occasionally, but never more than 30 mins, at a varying tempo's.
I also am able to play competitive table tennis once per week and my heart is usually pounding after each game, so this helps as well and we try and get to our local national trust places, for a decent walk with our daughter, the one we care for as well.

Good luck

 

[taximan]

That seems an odd time to be going out and going into the winter, with dark mornings, cold, and likelyhood of black ice, could be risky and with a spill could easily needing a carer yourself.

At 74 now myself, I was keen enough a few years ago to go out for a ride on January 1st, but alas, black ice struck and I sufferred a fractured pelvis, which kept me sofa bound for about three months. So now I am a "fair weather" rider.

I too am a carer for 4 days per week and the risk of not being available to do my bit, would put an emense strain on other family members.

Since retirement, my mileage has dropped considerably, but I found that one hour rides at a brisk pace kept me fit.
Also use a turbo occasionally, but never more than 30 mins, at a varying tempo's.
I also am able to play competitive table tennis once per week and my heart is usually pounding after each game, so this helps as well and we try and get to our local national trust places, for a decent walk with our daughter, the one we care for as well.

Good luck

I know most people think 04:00 is an odd time to go for a ride but it means that I can get on hour or so on the bike and be home in plenty of time to help my good lady. To me it is no hardship rising early because I have done so for most of my working life.
As for black ice, I am fully aware of the risk and I have no intension of taking chances.
Full marks for playing table tennis. I have never tried it myself but I imagine that it would give you an excellent work-out. I played walking football for a while after I retired but started to get regular groin strains so I decided to stick with cycling instead.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

If you get a turbo permanently setup at home; then there is no need for long sessions. You can jump on for 5-15 minute sessions whenever you get a moment. Over a day it will soon add up. Which then adds up over a week.

 

[Rusty Nails]

A basic turbo setup is ideal for short HIIT sessions, which can really help maintain overall fitness if you don't want the monotony of long indoor training sessions or don't have the time.

 

[Alex321]

I would love to but it would be way beyond my budget

If you are going to use it regularly, you really do need a smart trainer with some sort of app. Otherwise you will just find it so boring you will be unwilling to use it.

As others have said, you can get 2nd hand ones for a reasonable price, and something like Mywhoosh is not bad, and is free.