Turbo v Rollers v Exercise Bike

jmdsk

It's coming into that time of year again to hang the bike up, and I was thinking about getting a set of rollers or turbo. I had a watt controlled exercise bike but had to sell due to space. What would peoples opinions be and why.
Turbo trainer changing wheel/tyres,and noise v rollers boring but improve cadence and balance, or join a gym and use exercise bike.

Red Belly

Query re changing tyres: do you change tyres for the duration of the Winter while the bike is predominantly on the turbo and use the same tyres on the road during the Winter?

Inquitus

Red Belly wrote: »

Query re changing tyres: do you change tyres for the duration of the Winter while the bike is predominantly on the turbo and use the same tyres on the road during the Winter?

Tyres don't hold up well to Turbo use, so there are Turbo specific tyres to use, so unless you have a spare rear wheel for the Turbo you have to change tyre to go back out on the road....

fat bloke

Inquitus wrote: »

Tyres don't hold up well to Turbo use, so there are Turbo specific tyres to use, so unless you have a spare rear wheel for the Turbo you have to change tyre to go back out on the road....

I must say, I've the same gp4000s on my powertap turbo time now for about 9 months and it hasn't complained yet. It's looking a bit shiny alright but other than that it's got plenty virtual mileage to look forward to

lennymc

mudguards ?

stecleary

There's a time for hanging the bike up?

Inquitus

fat bloke wrote: »

I must say, I've the same gp4000s on my powertap turbo time now for about 9 months and it hasn't complained yet. It's looking a bit shiny alright but other than that it's got plenty virtual mileage to look forward to

Most of those 9 months have surely been spent outside enjoying the good weather? 30 yoyos on an invincible Turbo tyre is defo better value than wearing out a GP4000? but aye they all do the job, one's just gonna wear out quicker and cost more!

fat bloke

Inquitus wrote: »

Most of those 9 months have surely been spent outside enjoying the good weather?

Nope. Turbo bike stays on the turbo and summer doesn't mind kids any better than winter does. So Daddy stays on the turbo too.
I was surprised myself at how well it held up. Had a different powertap wheel for a year and a half before that. In constant use between myself and the wife both on the road and on the turbo and it only ever had one tire on it, a gatorskin that was on it from new when purchased.

Just from my own experience with that I wouldn't be bothered going out of my way to get a turbo specific tire. Any aul' tire lying around the shed/house will do the same job.

Chips Lovell

Same here. I just used old road tyres on my turbo wheel.

Inquitus

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

Same here. I just used old road tyres on my turbo wheel.

Aye if you don't have a turbo wheel though, you have to change your good tyre off and put your old road tyre on, or else wear out your good tyre quicker than you'd like.

ROK ON

I had a turbo tyre and it blew up.
I now use old tyres on an old slightly out of true wheel.

jmdsk

So turbo seems to be consensus. Anybody using rollers

nak

jmdsk wrote: »

So turbo seems to be consensus. Anybody using rollers

Have both, prefer turbo for harder efforts. Rollers are handy as can jump on after work. Ride outdoors all year, only do indoor training in evenings when it gets dark.

jmdsk

lennymc wrote: »

mudguards ?

It's not the weather would love to be out and about. It's the roads and dark, where i live. boy/girl racers think it's the Nürburgring. I tried lights last year not great. I think they thought I was a target to aim for

triggermortis

I have rollers as I wanted to improve my balance and handling. I ride all year as I commute by bike and unless there is ice, I'll try and get out if I can

ROK ON

I had rollers and got rid of them - I spent too long worrying about my balance so simply ended up soft pedalling on them. Yes, good for balance but I prefer the turbo for structured intervals - I couldn't manage those on the rollers. Also my turbo (cheap) has ten resistance levels. Didn't have that on the rollers (but you can get those also).

Red Belly

My cheap turbo has 5 resistance levels but to be honest I can't notice any difference between them. I leave it on the highest setting and use my gears to control resistance.

boege

Have both and think turbo is way more user friendly.

Anyone any issues with turbo using wheels that are not perfectly circular, or am I adjusting the turbo too tight?

Beasty

jmdsk wrote: »

So turbo seems to be consensus. Anybody using rollers

Just getting in to them. Hopefully will improve bike handling and should get some high cadence low power practice. Will also use them on occasions as a 10 minute warm up for the Wattbike (10 mins is as much as I can handle due to wrist pain following a break - I'm finding I hold the bars very tightly on the rollers causing a lot of discomfort - hopefully that will ease over time)

laraghrider

Just to say as well as it was kinda glossed over. If you do go and get a specific tyre for use with a turbo trainer do not under any circumstances use that out on the road. If there is the slightest of dampness it's like cycling on ice.

harringtonp

Question I asked before but never really got an answer to (maybe this time) is what watts/kg to you get on rollers in the 53/11 gear at 90RPM ?

And do people use rollers for efforts around FTP or do they feel too nervy and are just used for lower end training and warming up at races.

DS2013

I have rollers but I am thinking of switching to a turbo. I like using the rollers but find the level of concentration needed for a longer session is too much. I have seen turbo's that you are supposed to be able to use with a normal tyre so you don't need to go to the trouble of having a special tyre.

petethedrummer

I have a pedalo in a small paddling pool in the back garden. I drop porridge flakes into the water to increase resistance.