which turbo trainer??

[jonny jeez]

Johny Jeez, I'm thinking of buying the flow multiplayer, I'm just worried about the amount of resistance it gives. Can you get a proper leg burning workout on it

Would you recommend one?

Dave

My flow gives me plenty of resistance. Keep in mind that it comes in two ranges though, so to get max resistance you have to adjust both settings (power and resistance) .

At first I was dissapointed (for like 3 minutes) until I realised this (always read the manual) and can now run stand up sessions if I wish.

I take on board the views that turbos are not for standing but I see standing as a riding skill and one that requires defined muscle training, so I like to do so occasionally. The flow is excellent for this as you never get that "slipping" feeling as you stand because the mag automatically increases the resistance to maintain the power output.

its fab

that said, i hear the VR software is a mare and very pricey, so I haven't upgraded...I just watch a film.

*edit* I'm no expert on turbos, this is my first but i tried a fair few in shops and settled on the tacx...that and the fact that i saw wiggins training on one for the warm ups in the tour)

 

[jonny jeez]

Ive heard it can get very uncomfortable, without someway of cooling yourself down.

I sit opposite a laptop stand (which i built myself) and a desk fan. The fan cools me and provides some sense of travel (wind in my hair).

Also keep a towel over my bars and frame to stop any (all) the sweat from marking the bike.

turbo training is right boring though, so I find a film is a good distraction

 

[Rob3rt]

I have a Cyclops Fluid 2, I like it. I also have a wind machine (big fan) to cool myself!

I sit opposite a laptop stand (which i built myself) and a desk fan. The fan cools me and provides some sense of travel (wind in my hair).

Also keep a towel over my bars and frame to stop any (all) the sweat from marking the bike.

turbo training is right boring though, so I find a film is a good distraction

Depends what you are doing. When I do short intervals, 1 min on, 1 min off etc the time flies!

 

[jonny jeez]

I have a Cyclops Fluid 2, I like it. I also have a wind machine (big fan) to cool myself!



Depends what you are doing. When I do short intervals, 1 min on, 1 min off etc the time flies!

Yep, true.

I tend to sit it out for an hour or two...which get's proper dull, right up until the last few minutes.

I picked it up so that i can keep riding each day through the winter as part of a dedicated training programme, so i need to get the long hours in I'm afriad

 

[G2EWS]

My flow gives me plenty of resistance. Keep in mind that it comes in two ranges though, so to get max resistance you have to adjust both settings (power and resistance) .

At first I was dissapointed (for like 3 minutes) until I realised this (always read the manual) and can now run stand up sessions if I wish.

I take on board the views that turbos are not for standing but I see standing as a riding skill and one that requires defined muscle training, so I like to do so occasionally. The flow is excellent for this as you never get that "slipping" feeling as you stand because the mag automatically increases the resistance to maintain the power output.

its fab

that said, i hear the VR software is a mare and very pricey, so I haven't upgraded...I just watch a film.

*edit* I'm no expert on turbos, this is my first but i tried a fair few in shops and settled on the tacx...that and the fact that i saw wiggins training on one for the warm ups in the tour)

Hi Jonny,

Trying to find the one you have but there seems to be a lot of variants. Which one have you got?

Regards

Chris

 

[DaveL]

Thanks for that Jonny, the VR one is actually cheaper than the stand alone one, which don't figure, but there you go.

Cheers

Dave

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi Jonny,

Trying to find the one you have but there seems to be a lot of variants. Which one have you got?

Regards

Chris

Its a minefield, even the sellers dont list them correctly.Go by the colours if its easier.

I have last seasons T2220 (I think, I'll check tonight when I get home) its the orange one that you will mostly pick up on ebay for £150-£200.

THIS DOES NOT COME WITH pc ADAPTOR AND REQUIRES A NEW HEAD UNIT TO PLUG INTO THE pc (HENCE WHY i DONT) PLUS THE vr DISCS...ALL IN THATS LIKE ANOTHER £200.

OPTIONALLY YOU CAN PICK UP THE BLUE t2200 WHICH i BELIEVE DOES HAVE A rj45 SOCKET THAT PLUGS INTO THE PC, YOU'LL STILL NEED THE PC vr PACKAGE WHICH IS STILL £100...

DAMN i JUST NOTICED I HAVE CAPPS ON.

So (that's better) if you want to go the VR route then the T2200 is probably your best intro. (its about £450 new and around £300 on ebay and is the bluse one ...well its white with blue decals)

I dont know the name of the solid blue armed version that Wiggings and the GB team used, but its of no importance to me as i Am certain I couldnt afford that one anyway.

on top of all that is the fortius range (£650 odd quid) which comes with T2200 and a steerer unit. I 've heard bad review on the VR capability of the steerer unit and it seems akin to playing call of duty with the controller set to hyper sensitivity.

Hope that helps.

 

[jonny jeez]

Thanks for that Jonny, the VR one is actually cheaper than the stand alone one, which don't figure, but there you go.

Cheers

Dave

It should be £100 - £150 more. check its the right one and not just the head unit for the T2200

here is the VR capable one (without the vr software package)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-flow-ergo-trainer/

I think the non vr is only available second hand and is about £150 on Ebay...see above, wiggle seem to no longer list it.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-flow-ergo-trainer/

Unfortunatley I cant speak with total authority on the rest of the range (its so confusing) I an only really tell you about mine. Its possible the T2200 only links to a PC but is not full VR

 

[DaveL]

Yeah it's the right one, with steerer frame, version 3 software and a 1 year multiplayer licence for less than 300 quid, we are in Europe now :-)

Dave

 

[guinevere]

what are the thoughts on this as a starting point?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-satori-high-power-cycle-trainer/
any good?

 

[rusky]

The Bikeradar review isn't very good http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/categ...e-trainer/product/review-tacx-satori-11-42727

Yet Wiggle, CRC & Evans reviews are positive :/

 

[oldfatfool]

I have the fortius multiplayer fantastic bit of kit, no problems whatsoever with the software, you just need a powerful pc to handle the video. The videos themselves are excellent quality and the gradients very lifelike. The unit will simulate a gradient over 15% BUT in order for the motor to simulate ANY gradient accurately you need to be doing in excess of 10kph or the ride does become 'choppy' as the motor is unable to simulate the required resistance. I tend to use power mode to bring the max gradient in any film bellow 10% so I can achieve a smooth ride throughout. The steering frame should just be considered a rest for the forks as it is pretty useless. You do need a big fan.