Trainer advice after injury

GinjaNinja

Hi all,

I'm recovering from a broken pelvis + labral tear from a bike crash 1+ year ago.
Really missing cycling and all exercise. I have been given all clear to begin limited exercise and want to use a trainer.

I know nothing about trainers and thought i'd ask the experts here first, what are the pitfdalls, do's/donts. Brands good/run-away-from etc.

If anyone has advice then great.

Ryder

Basically, Turbo (front wheel fixed, rear turns a fluid/magnetic drum) or rollers (Bike stands unsupported on 3 metal/plastic rollers and your own 'forward' momentum keeps you up). Normally Im a big rollers fan, but considering your fall and injuries, maybe a turbo is best (most people prefer turbos anyway). Turbos provide a stable training platform and you can do any kind of hard or easy training on them without fear of falling off. Only problem (for both types) is boredom.

Turbos are of two main types...magnetic (less realistic) or fluid (more expensive both a more 'road like' feel). Brands wise, Tacx/cyclops are probably the best known - but lots of other good brands. If this is a short term measure and you arent training for racing/ dont normally need to train indoors, get the cheapest magnetic one you can buy (or secondhand). Prices range from 100e to over a 1000, but if this is a temporry need, a cheap magnetic one will do you fine

Slo_Rida

Ryder wrote: »

Basically, Turbo (front wheel fixed, rear turns a fluid/magnetic drum) or rollers (Bike stands unsupported on 3 metal/plastic rollers and your own 'forward' momentum keeps you up). Normally Im a big rollers fan, but considering your fall and injuries, maybe a turbo is best (most people prefer turbos anyway). Turbos provide a stable training platform and you can do any kind of hard or easy training on them without fear of falling off. Only problem (for both types) is boredom.

Turbos are of two main types...magnetic (less realistic) or fluid (more expensive both a more 'road like' feel). Brands wise, Tacx/cyclops are probably the best known - but lots of other good brands. If this is a short term measure and you arent training for racing/ dont normally need to train indoors, get the cheapest magnetic one you can buy (or secondhand). Prices range from 100e to over a 1000, but if this is a temporry need, a cheap magnetic one will do you fine

+1
That's pretty much it! I'd just add they are very very useful and if you can grow to enjoy using your turbo it will serve you very well. A tv/dvd in front of you and a fan are very handy to entertain and cool.

GinjaNinja

Ryder wrote: »

Basically, Turbo (front wheel fixed, rear turns a fluid/magnetic drum) or rollers (Bike stands unsupported on 3 metal/plastic rollers and your own 'forward' momentum keeps you up). Normally Im a big rollers fan, but considering your fall and injuries, maybe a turbo is best (most people prefer turbos anyway). Turbos provide a stable training platform and you can do any kind of hard or easy training on them without fear of falling off. Only problem (for both types) is boredom.

Turbos are of two main types...magnetic (less realistic) or fluid (more expensive both a more 'road like' feel). Brands wise, Tacx/cyclops are probably the best known - but lots of other good brands. If this is a short term measure and you arent training for racing/ dont normally need to train indoors, get the cheapest magnetic one you can buy (or secondhand). Prices range from 100e to over a 1000, but if this is a temporry need, a cheap magnetic one will do you fine

Great advice. Thank you kindly. Off to boards I go. Agree on turbo as a fall would mess up recovery.

For a turbo . Is a special tyre need. Dont want to smell up the gaff with burning rubber .

Off to adverts for cheap second hand one so.

Carpenter

I had a crash in December and am now back on the bike (weather permitting)
And feel great I too fractured my pelvis and had 2 screws fitted the training indoors helps but I found the only way is to get back up on the country roads and put on miles it will come back to you just keep @ it

Slo_Rida

GinjaNinja wrote: »

Great advice. Thank you kindly. Off to boards I go. Agree on turbo as a fall would mess up recovery.

For a turbo . Is a special tyre need. Dont want to smell up the gaff with burning rubber .

Off to adverts for cheap second hand one so.

Best off to get a wheel and tyre built up in your LBS. I got this done for €25 in my LBS. The wheel is off true and the tyre is wrecked but it has done me this winter no problem. You can buy special tt tyres but I think that's another unneccessary expense.

High Nellie

Slo_Rida wrote: »

Best off to get a wheel and tyre built up in your LBS. I got this done for €25 in my LBS. The wheel is off true and the tyre is wrecked but it has done me this winter no problem. You can buy special tt tyres but I think that's another unneccessary expense.

As you are not going on the road you could just put an old worn tyre on your normal wheel.
The turbo will be mor bearable if you have a programme with a bit of variability. For example, this would be an opportunity to do one-legged drills to improve style, some high cadence efforts, etc. plenty of info out there - depending on how you are of course

GinjaNinja

Yeah Thanks all for the information so far.

@ Carpenter - your lucky it took 12 months to find my fracture, no kidding. so I've to see a orthpedic surgeon now to figure out recovery/options.

I'll get a worn tyre for this i think. I'll let you all know how i get on.

GinjaNinja

Thanks again all

I opted for the elite fluid chrono. on sale on chainreactions.
i also got a training tyre, the difference in sound is amazing with the tyre. 70% noise reduction with trainer tyre that normal continental road slicks.

Anwho 50k in 3 sessions so fat and the feel is great. it's nive to be working the legs again,

hopefully build up strength to get back on road soon enough, have to wait on surgeons advice but at least i've got the setup to continue in a nice safe environment

Slo_Rida

GinjaNinja wrote: »

Thanks again all

I opted for the elite fluid chrono. on sale on chainreactions.
i also got a training tyre, the difference in sound is amazing with the tyre. 70% noise reduction with trainer tyre that normal continental road slicks.

Anwho 50k in 3 sessions so fat and the feel is great. it's nive to be working the legs again,

hopefully build up strength to get back on road soon enough, have to wait on surgeons advice but at least i've got the setup to continue in a nice safe environment

Best of luck with it. Above all else don't rush back into it! Keep us posted on your progress.
Slo