Turbo Trainers

[T4tomo]

whats the diference (in terms of riding / training) experience between rollers and a turbo?

 

[Brightski]

I've got an old fan turbo, I use it all winter in the evenings or if the weather is bad, it was cheap, simple and I've had it forever..

 

[Brightski]

whats the diference (in terms of riding / training) experience between rollers and a turbo?

For me the rollers are more like riding than training although I have done some good roller sessions..

 

[Rob3rt]

Rollers (generally) are pretty useless if you actually want to train with intent, they just don't have enough resistance in order to put out high power values, on my rollers I can put it in 53:11 and spin at 120+ rpm yet only just be scraping the lower boundary of my tempo zone, my power would be about 280W at this point! There is no way I could do a 400+W effort on the rollers.

 

[Rob3rt]

I've got a trainer. It's called "the road".

If it floats your boat then go for it, but aside from protecting an injury etc but I can't see what it offers that a bike ride can't. Indeed, the money could be used towards N+1.

A very time efficient training platform. For the majority of people, you could complete a productive turbo session in a much shorter time than you could the equivalent on the road, once you factor in getting ready then riding to a suitable location, i.e. somewhere you can ride hard, safely at a constant effort and for long uninterrupted periods of time.

 

[sleaver]

Although I've had a turbo for less than one year, I use these video's to keep me occupied.

http://www.thesufferfest.com/

Although they also make my legs hate me.

 

[Bollo]

whats the diference (in terms of riding / training) experience between rollers and a turbo?

If you're just after power numbers, then don't bother with rollers. What rollers give you is the souplesse to make best use of the power you have. You can hammer away like a randy teenager on a turbo, but you'll just bounce off rollers without a decent technique. I've also heard claims for core strength and stuff, but I'd need more convincing about that. For me at least the extra focus to stay on the rollers makes the time pass a little quicker.
In terms of staving off the boredom, I wrote my own training programme (see sig line). It's still very much work in progress, but if you've got ANT+ sensors anda USB ANT+ receiver stick feel free to give it a go, although no promises that it's all working. Any probs, PM me.

 

[SWC]

I hate the idea of them but worse is the idea of waiting for spring

 

[bowtomephil]

I don't love them, but needs must, if I stop exercising I balloon.

I love my BKOOL , keeps it interesting and is blooming knackering.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I'm thinking, turbo trainers threads are like helmets threads. Some people hate them with passion and others love them.
I'm beginning to like my trainer more and more. I think you can make a very good work out session if that is what you want, even better than a proper ride. On a turbo training session you can go really hard for as long as your legs can take it, I'm not sure that is easy to achieve on a bike, there's always something that slow you down and allows you to get a breeder. I have been doing some comparisons and I think I can get a better workout on the trainer in one hour. If you enjoy the change of scenery while riding then stick to a bike ride. If you really want a good workout and there isn't a track or a place where you don't have traffic lights or you can cost along then give turbo trainer a try.

 

[Sniffer77]

Well I just did my first little session on my turbo . All I can say is its bloody hard going and the sweat flies off ya.

I only managed half hour but was really enjoyable. Weather outside is awful so is a bonus to keep my legs spinning

 

[333]

I was in your position earlier in the year and looked at Tacx etc in the end I settled on the BKOOL TT and I'm very happy with it, more than enough for what I wanted out of one and a good price for what you get imho.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Turbo trainers are the work of the devil!

 

[Yorksman]

They are the work of the devil. If you can ride one of them through winter, you are a better man than me. Throw rain, snow and ice at me - I'd rather be out there.

Why not have your cake and eat it. Ride the turbo trainer outside, get the exercise, enjoy the rain snow and ice but avoid the wind chill factor.

 

[Yorksman]

I managed to ride the 310 km route along the lofoten islands all for 13 euros!

Even travelling Ryanair is more expensive.