Turbo Trainers

El Director

Hi guys,

I am looking for my first turbo trainer. I have a garmin forerunner 305 and i have ordered a cadence sensor, i want certain feedback like heart beat and cadence which my garmin will take of but i also want feedback on distance and speed. My question is because i will be using it indoors will the forerunner take care of distance and speed once i get the cadence sensor?

If not what trainer would be best? This trainer Tacx T1680 Flow has Heart rate, power, speed and pedalling frequency measured but there is no mention of disatnce!

Thanks in advance for anyone that can shed some light on the situation!

tunney

El Director wrote: »

Hi guys,

I am looking for my first turbo trainer. I have a garmin forerunner 305 and i have ordered a cadence sensor, i want certain feedback like heart beat and cadence which my garmin will take of but i also want feedback on distance and speed. My question is because i will be using it indoors will the forerunner take care of distance and speed once i get the cadence sensor?

If not what trainer would be best? This trainer Tacx T1680 Flow has Heart rate, power, speed and pedalling frequency measured but there is no mention of disatnce!

Thanks in advance for anyone that can shed some light on the situation!

Speed and distance on a trainer is irrelevant. Its just HR (or power) and cadence that matter.

The flow is a good turbo.

Again distance does not matter. 30km at resistance 0 or 15km at resistance 5;

The flow will do distance though AFAIK

El Director

Thanks Tunney,

The only reason i was looking for speed and distance is because i want to do the bike graded exercise in Joe Friel's book on the trainer (which in itself may be wrong!). I cannot think of anywhere suitable to this graded exercise outdoors. I suppose i could just get the flow and use the cadence and distance to do it. Any suggestion?

tunney

El Director wrote: »

Thanks Tunney,

The only reason i was looking for speed and distance is because i want to do the bike graded exercise in Joe Friel's book on the trainer (which in itself may be wrong!). I cannot think of anywhere suitable to this graded exercise outdoors. I suppose i could just get the flow and use the cadence and distance to do it. Any suggestion?

The Flow has power. You can ditch most of the speed and distance based stuff and do proper testing protocols.

billyhead

Hi,

I would be interested to know also what turbo trainer people would recommend and if you can buy it cheaply online.
Rgds
Billyhead

billyhead

Bump

tunney

billyhead wrote: »

Bump

*points to search*

Bambaata

I've got the Tacx flow and am very happy with it. I've had it out twice this week. I don't actually use the HR and cadence on it as i set up my Garmin 310XT on the bike instead but i am really enjoying watching TV/movies while training :P I got mine at chainreactioncycles.com for €290 at the time but as Tunney is pointing to there are tonnes of threads on here about turbos that you can find other peoples opinions on this one and others.

stevie_b

generally i'd much rather be out on the road, but with weather like this the turbo is a 'more pleasant' option. i have the tacx flow too and have no complaints.

i've nearly finished watching season 1 of 'the wire' and am saving the rest of the episodes for the turbo........ housemates think i'm crackers.

El Director

proper testing protocols it is then, and with that i'm going to order the flow. Boom!

Thanks again.

billyhead

Anyone k now where they sell the tacx flow for good value online or otherwise?

catweazle

I didnt get it but bike24 seemed to be the cheapest Flow I could find, I went with the Satori in the end and got a cats eye computer for the bike, worked out a bit cheaper. If you dont have a computer already on the bike Billy this might be a better option as at least you will get feedback on the roads as well

El Director

here's the bit of research i did:

chainreaction.com - €333
wheelworx - €339
wiggle.co.uk - €354

right of 5/11/09

Bambaata

Wheelworx would win there. Good lads out there too