Turbo Trainer ...

Caroline_ie

My bedroom has now been turned into the black sea ... I set up my turbo trainer that I haven't used in a couple of years in my room last night .... exept from the housemate thinking I was sanding the floors ... It was a good thing I took it out of the closet ( the turbo ... not the housemate ).

I did just 40 minutes ... that felt about 5 hours and my HRM said I only consumed .... 260 calories???

That's such a rip off!!!! Especially when you throw yourself at the fridge when you're finished thinking you deserve the rest of that apple pie to recover from all your efforts ...

I try and increase the intensity and the HR next time w/ better and longer intervals... and see if I can last longer too ...

Just wanted to share and start a new thread ---- > your turn now!

cmcsoft

It's not all bad!! Exercise can help you lots of ways, it's not just the number of calories you burn whilst you workout, it's the increased rate in your metabolism. For two hours after you eat your metabolism is hitting top notch so thats often the best time to eat. Regular exercise speeds up your metabolism generally so keep it up!

Lumen

Turbo trainers are for agoraphobic masochists.

zzzzzzzz

Caroline_ie wrote: »

My bedroom has now been turned into the black sea ... I set up my turbo trainer that I haven't used in a couple of years in my room last night .... exept from the housemate thinking I was sanding the floors ... It was a good thing I took it out of the closet ( the turbo ... not the housemate ).

I did just 40 minutes ... that felt about 5 hours and my HRM said I only consumed .... 260 calories???

That's such a rip off!!!! Especially when you throw yourself at the fridge when you're finished thinking you deserve the rest of that apple pie to recover from all your efforts ...

I try and increase the intensity and the HR next time w/ better and longer intervals... and see if I can last longer too ...

Just wanted to share and start a new thread ---- > your turn now!

I can't stand turbo trainers. Absolutely hate the things - would much rather be outside (even doing laps round an estate or something).

Have you ever tried rollers? Was thinking the whole balancing buzz might make it a bit more interesting.

<Cue video of guy falling off rollers...>

Diarmuid

The turbo is a killer alright. Incredibly boring, I just pour sweat on the floor, I feel like I am killing myself but when I look at the figures afterwards it's never as much work as a spin on the road. Necessary evil though.

Caroline_ie

cmcsoft wrote: »

It's not all bad!! Exercise can help you lots of ways, it's not just the number of calories you burn whilst you workout, it's the increased rate in your metabolism. For two hours after you eat your metabolism is hitting top notch so thats often the best time to eat. Regular exercise speeds up your metabolism generally so keep it up!

... yes thanks I also cycled over 5000 KM this spring/summer on my road bike and been to the pyrenees and the alpes... I am aware of exercice and its benefits ...

Caroline_ie

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

would much rather be outside (even doing laps round an estate or something).

Yes I do that too ... I actually prefer doing that too.

cmcsoft

Caroline_ie wrote: »

... yes thanks I also cycled over 5000 KM this spring/summer on my road bike and been to the pyrenees and the alpes... I am aware of exercice and its benefits ...

I'll just shut up now.......:)

tunney

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

I can't stand turbo trainers. Absolutely hate the things - would much rather be outside (even doing laps round an estate or something).

I regularly do turbo sets - at least once a week.
I also ride outside during the week - three hour spins before work into Wicklow. (God bless the MaxxDaddy)
Even in the middle of summer on a nice warm day - I'll still use my turbo session.

"Riding around estates" is useless for fitness IMHO, what can you achieve? No distance and no intensity. its just junk miles.

Point I am getting at is the turbo is a valuable training aid and it is not boring - the sets you have devised may be boring but used properly turbos aren't

Chips Lovell

It's the rivers of sweat I hate.

Caroline_ie

el tonto wrote: »

It's the rivers of sweat I hate.

I cycled at the gym before and I have sweated as much as on the turbo ... and I had the window open. I was told a fan makes a big diference.

ba

the rivers that run into your mouth? i hate that.

zzzzzzzz

tunney wrote: »

I regularly do turbo sets - at least once a week.
I also ride outside during the week - three hour spins before work into Wicklow. (God bless the MaxxDaddy)
Even in the middle of summer on a nice warm day - I'll still use my turbo session.

"Riding around estates" is useless for fitness IMHO, what can you achieve? No distance and no intensity. its just junk miles.

Point I am getting at is the turbo is a valuable training aid and it is not boring - the sets you have devised may be boring but used properly turbos aren't

Well - there could be distance and there could be intensity - the point I was getting at was that I would rather ride round in circles than sit inside on the turbo.

For me, sitting inside on a turbo is mind-numbingly boring regardless of what sets I do. I would have only thought of turbos as a backup when the elements are against you but obviously that's not the case. I'm sure that as you say, used well it can be a valuable training aid, but personally - I think the only time I could bring myself to use one is when it's icy on the roads but fair play to you if you can use it year-round.

I'm not trying to slate anyone who uses a turbo trainer here - I'm just stating my experience/opinion of them.

I'd be interested to know what you need to do on a turbo trainer that you can't do on the road (genuine question - again, not an attack on turbo trainers). Would what you're doing on the turbo be possible on rollers?

pgibbo

tunney wrote: »

Point I am getting at is the turbo is a valuable training aid and it is not boring - the sets you have devised may be boring but used properly turbos aren't

I just purchased a turbo from wiggle and am a cycling/triathlon novice. Any pointers to some good turbo sets tunney? Thanks in advance.

MCOS

pgibbo wrote: »

I just purchased a turbo from wiggle and am a cycling/triathlon novice. Any pointers to some good turbo sets tunney? Thanks in advance.

+1 Thinking of getting one myself and any advice appreciated. Also, Tunney 3 hours before work... in the dark?

Caroline_ie

pgibbo wrote: »

I just purchased a turbo from wiggle and am a cycling/triathlon novice. Any pointers to some good turbo sets tunney? Thanks in advance.

I refer you to that thread

pgibbo

MCOS wrote: »

+1 Thinking of getting one myself and any advice appreciated. Also, Tunney 3 hours before work... in the dark?

Borrow one if you can beforehand MCOS and try it out. I saw this stated on multiple threads here. I borrowed one and found it great, hence the purchase. They are quite expensive so no point buying one to find out you hate the thing. :eek:

I also found Wiggle to be the cheapest for them - plus they have dropped their VAT too.

Bambaata

I just had my new turbo delivered to me this morning. I got the Tacx Flow. Looking forward to getting a spin on it although im not sure if that will be today as i had a department Xmas party last night and i feel slightly dizzy amongst other things!!

Bambaata

pgibbo wrote: »

Borrow one if you can beforehand MCOS and try it out. I saw this stated on multiple threads here. I borrowed one and found it great, hence the purchase. They are quite expensive so no point buying one to find out you hate the thing. :eek:

I also found Wiggle to be the cheapest for them - plus they have dropped their VAT too.

The VAT rate for delivery to Ireland is the Irish VAT rate so you wont save anything on them reducing their VAT. When you go to purchase and select Ireland as delivery destination on wiggle it'll alter the price. Chainreaction ended up cheapests for the one i got.

DirkVoodoo

How do people find these in terms of discipline? I was tempted to get one but a mate of mine (the 500 and something best mountain biker in the world apparently) said he gets bored after about 90 mins on a turbo.

Is it more for short interval stuff rather than extended spins?

Or is it just plug in the ipod and quit complaining already?

tunney

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

How do people find these in terms of discipline? I was tempted to get one but a mate of mine (the 500 and something best mountain biker in the world apparently) said he gets bored after about 90 mins on a turbo.

Is it more for short interval stuff rather than extended spins?

Or is it just plug in the ipod and quit complaining already?

I use mine for strength/speed sets up to 1:30.

Also use mine for extended sets (three to fours hours steady) when it is unsafe to ride outdoors. (Wind or ice)

Raam

tunney wrote: »

I use mine for strength/speed sets up to 1:30.

Also use mine for extended sets (three to fours hours steady) when it is unsafe to ride outdoors. (Wind or ice)

Are the ones that hook up to the PC reccommended over a non-PC one?

niceonetom

i got my first turbo trainer at the beginning of this week. at least i think it's a turbo trainer - i half suspect chainreation sent me some sort of leg powered time machine instead...

the passage of time seems to have an inverse relationship to my heart rate. at about 180 or 182 bpm time ceases to pass entirely. i'm pretty sure that if i can push myself hard enough i may actually be able to travel backwards in time. it's very hard work though. and the sweat. my god, the sweat.

MCOS

If the sweat is anything like a spinning class I'll have to turbo train in the bath

Redjeep!

niceonetom wrote: »

i got my first turbo trainer at the beginning of this week. at least i think it's a turbo trainer - i half suspect chainreation sent me some sort of leg powered time machine instead...

the passage of time seems to have an inverse relationship to my heart rate. at about 180 or 182 bpm time ceases to pass entirely. i'm pretty sure that if i can push myself hard enough i may actually be able to travel backwards in time. it's very hard work though. and the sweat. my god, the sweat.

LOL.:)

I've noticed this effect too, but never thought of being able to go backwards in time. I guess if I try hard enough I could get stuck back in the 80's...:eek:

I've found that the only thing that keeps me sane on the turbo is a portable DVD player in front of it. I'm currently working my way through The Sopranos boxset and have been catching up on loads of other DVD's I've been meaning to watch.

Lumen

Redjeep! wrote: »

I've found that the only thing that keeps me sane on the turbo is a portable DVD player in front of it. I'm currently working my way through The Sopranos boxset and have been catching up on loads of other DVD's I've been meaning to watch.

I've found that any attempt to use a turbo or exercise bike in front of a TV results in my body coming to a complete rest and a can of beer appearing in one hand.

Music works though.

kenmc

Lumen wrote: »

I've found that any attempt to use a turbo or exercise bike in front of a TV results in my body coming to a complete rest and a can of beer appearing in one hand.

What a brilliant invention! I want one of those!

Chips Lovell

My father in law puts his in front of the living room TV, sticks an opera on and puts the volume up to max. He seems to enjoy it, can't say the same for everyone else.

kenmc

el tonto wrote: »

My father in law puts his in front of the living room TV, sticks an opera on and puts the volume up to max. He seems to enjoy it, can't say the same for everyone else.

I think for that case you need some sort of a device which wires the turbo to the tv, such that he will only get to watch the opera when he's at 95% max HRM. He won't watch for long

TinyExplosions

Bambaata wrote: »

I just had my new turbo delivered to me this morning. I got the Tacx Flow. Looking forward to getting a spin on it although im not sure if that will be today as i had a department Xmas party last night and i feel slightly dizzy amongst other things!!

How's it working out for you -I'm getting one of them of Santa!

Bambaata

I'll let you know by 7 or 8. At work right now and it just arrived to em here today so its still all boxed up. Might hook he laptop up to a table infront of it so i can report while on it ;-)

The hangover has somewhat subsided so i should be ok for it

oobydooby

How does a turbo session compare to a spinning session in the gym? Apart from being on an actual real bike that is.

Raam

oobydooby wrote: »

How does a turbo session compare to a spinning session in the gym? Apart from being on an actual real bike that is.

Your bike will have a freewheel for starters, presumably.

Caroline_ie

Raam wrote: »

Your bike will have a freewheel for starters, presumably.

I did try to see if the fixie would go on the turbo, but the back wheel hub is too narrow.

TinyExplosions

Bambaata wrote: »

I'll let you know by 7 or 8. At work right now and it just arrived to em here today so its still all boxed up. Might hook he laptop up to a table infront of it so i can report while on it ;-)

The hangover has somewhat subsided so i should be ok for it

Cool cool -if you can get it together in time -it's supposed to be horrible hard to put together! you should also get this and stick the flow into the laptop!

Highway_To_Hell

This months 220 Triathlon magazine has a reviews of around 10 mid priced turbo trainers. I don't have the mag with me so I can't remember which one they rated the highest. One issue that came up was the noise level, how have the people who use them found the noise level.

From a sweat point of view I know there is a towel type thing that will clip onto the bars and the seat post to catch the sweat drops.

I was thinking of gettting one myself but there are other items higher on the proiority list.

Raam

Highway_To_Hell wrote: »

From a sweat point of view I know there is a towel type thing that will clip onto the bars and the seat post to catch the sweat drops.

You know you have too much money when you get one of them.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

You know you have too much money when you get one of them.

oops.... um.... LOOK!, A Diversion.... scurries away

penexpers

Raam wrote: »

You know you have too much money when you get one of them.

Aha! so that's what these are for.

Bambaata

yeah i wont be getting one of those for a while. next on the shopping list is a HRM, then carbon aerobars when i get comfortable on the new TT bike (when i get it). After that i may thing about this expensive towel but im sure there'll be some competition when the time comes. A friend got a sweet deal on the mat. I think he picked it up for 20 quid or so when cycleways had their sale!! Wish i'd seen that when i was there cos i knew I was getting one soon enough

smithslist

TinyExplosions wrote: »

How's it working out for you -I'm getting one of them of Santa!

I've got one bout 3 wks now, put it together no problem, think it was my past experience with putting together the tacx Sirrius last year that help :-)

Haven't got on it yet thou, should do really, since that's the reason i bought it

Funkyzeit

I have a Tacx and last week managed to do the Heart of Evergreen course (whislt watching 2 movies). 5 hrs 20 mins - by far the longest I spent on it....

My socks were literally squelching by the end of it :eek:

sy

Funkyzeit wrote: »

My socks were literally squelching by the end of it :eek:

Well I suppose it will help if you are training for a triathlon. Cycling and swimming at the same time!:D

ba

Bambaata wrote: »

I'll let you know by 7 or 8. At work right now and it just arrived to em here today so its still all boxed up. Might hook he laptop up to a table infront of it so i can report while on it ;-)

The hangover has somewhat subsided so i should be ok for it

is it possible to benefit from training, hours of turbo sessions, long spins with a club, if you got out to get drunk at the end of it all?

Bambaata

you know what i actually don't think it's very beneficial. i could be wrong but i believe scientific studies suggest alcohol isn't good to use to replace liquids lost. imagine!!

kenmc

Bambaata wrote: »

you know what i actually don't think it's very beneficial. i could be wrong but i believe scientific studies suggest alcohol isn't good to use to replace liquids lost. imagine!!

That's bo11ox. Beer is made almost entirely from water and carbs. The alcohol is a teency percentage, rarely more than 8 or 9%. Sure if you go and drink *pure* alcohol it's not a good way to rehydrate, but beer is fine. And I should know, I drink enough of it

ba

a guy i cycle with, a hematologist, claims alcohol changes the composition of your blood. your red blood cells cannot bind properly with oxygen to transport around the system for several days after consumption. i'm no doctor but it goes something like that.

so i guess you cannot train nearly as hard as you need to increase your level of fitness. particularly when alcohol reduces your body's ability to produce glucose, so you have less energy and less endurance capacity. what i'm pointing out is that BAMBAATA is spending extra hours on a turbo, or out on the roads, and may not be benefiting from it. we'll all agree turbos are very boring, so i like to think if we use one, we'll gain from one.

Bambaata

ba i fully understand alcohol and exercise and competition are a no no. You are talking as though i'm an alcoholic. I havent had a night out wioth work in about 9 months. I rarely drink and wouldnt ever think i could go on the piss often while tryiogn to get to a level i feel i can reach!

smithslist

ba wrote: »

so i guess you cannot train nearly as hard as you need to increase your level of fitness. particularly when alcohol reduces your body's ability to produce glucose, so you have less energy and less endurance capacity. what i'm pointing out is that BAMBAATA is spending extra hours on a turbo, or out on the roads, and may not be benefiting from it. we'll all agree turbos are very boring, so i like to think if we use one, we'll gain from one.

not very specific to cycling really, but article in today's indo bout alcohol and sports performance......quite interesting viws and suggestions

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/just-the-one-will-do-for-trap-troops-1556218.html

ba

good for you Bambaata. i should clarify i was referring to that instance only where you hopped on the turbo after recovering from a hangover, and if it sounded like i was passing you off as an alcoholic, apologies. i was proposing what repeated drink+cycling routine would or would not lead to - optimism performance etc. it could apply to anybody.

agreed, the article isn't specific to cycling, but we can all take lessons from it.

Bambaata

coola boola. sorry i took it the wrong way. i just couldnt hold off giving the new toy its maiden voyage. Will be doing some damage on it tonight too. I really like it cos i can easily now spend an hour on it and head straight out for a run which i need to do more of for tri's.