Birthday Cash, But What to Spend on?

[bpsmith]

Got some money as gifts from family who knew I was looking at getting a Turbo Trainer. Was all set to get the Tacx Satori Smart, when it arrives next week, or the Tacx Vortex Smart, which is now in stock in many places.

Have also just seen a thread on the Bkool trainers too and they look pretty kool too, although I know nothing about them.

Anyway, I don't know whether its worth spending on a decent trainer that keeps my interest more, or to grab a cheap trainer and then spend the rest of other bits. I know that some will say that a trainer is pointless and just to get out there, but my problem is that I work longish daytime hours most days and its dark before I get home. Add the weather into the mix and family commitments too and it's proving difficult to guarantee a ride out already.

I am opening to feedback from turbo trainer users and also to other cool things to spend on instead maybe...

 

[stumpy66]

I'd look at the second hand market, many folk have bought them then sell them as quickly. I have used a turbo every winter for prob about 15 years and its great to keep the fitness up, don't get me wrong it can be mind and arse numbing at times? You might find it's not for you, so buying second hand you'll not have lost much.

Last winter I bought a cree t6 front light and a lunar r2 rear light and started doing night runs instead of as many turbo sessions, I now have a solar storm x2 and the t6 is helmet mounted, great for the unlit roads I tend to use.

So you could buy a second hand turbo and spend the rest on lights and get some night runs in before the winter sets in, just my two pence worth

 

[bpsmith]

Good advice, thanks. My problem is, I am a gadget freak and there aren't turbo's out there with Smart options like the new Tacx have. I am worried that I will get bored too quickly if I don't have something solid to train against. Do you recommend having a Turbo specific tyre too?

The lights sound like a good idea though!

 

[ColinJ]

Do you recommend having a Turbo specific tyre too?

Why not buy a cheap and nasty back wheel to put a cheap and nasty tyre on? Swap that onto the bike for turbo duties, and swap back to your good wheel and tyre if you decide to go out for a ride.

 

[bpsmith]

I have 2 bikes now, so can put one on the Turbo and keep the other for outdoors. I upgraded one set of wheels, tyres and cassette, so have the original Giant wheels and tyres that I could use and easily swap over if I wanted to use the second bike too. The question is, do I use the Bianchi on the turbo and use the Giant for poorer weather outside, or vice versa and only venture out when dry weather?

 

[stumpy66]

I previously just used old tyres or whatever cheap ones I could get a hold of, I have and old bike I pulled out a river set up permanently on my turbo. If you check out turbo training.co.uk they have plenty of workouts there to keep you motivated.

I have a clock in front with a second hand, old computer speakers set up for some tunes and I also use the sufferfest workouts free on strava premium through my ipad to keep me motivated.

one thing that works for me is doing a session as soon as I get home, if I sit down I prob wouldn't go back out, I also limit my sessions to 45 mins as after that I struggle to keep motivated

 

[Cycleops]

I should buy a meal for you and your girl/wife. Much more fun that sitting on a rather boring pedaling and going nowhere.

 

[bpsmith]

I should buy a meal for you and your girl/wife. Much more fun that sitting on a rather boring pedaling and going nowhere.

Actually, we did that last night!

 

[Specialeyes]

I'd buy a big telly / monitor to hang on the wall in front of the turbo to give you something to take your mind off it, a non-BKool turbo and, as others have sagely suggested, some lights to enable night rides after the kids have gone to bed

 

[huwsparky]

I'd buy a big telly / monitor to hang on the wall in front of the turbo to give you something to take your mind off it, a non-BKool turbo and, as others have sagely suggested, some lights to enable night rides after the kids have gone to bed

I've just ordered myself some lights to try and not use the trainer! We'll see how it goes. Looking forward to doing some night riding more than I am using the turbo but it will come in handy for the rainy weeks ahead!

 

[screenman]

To use a turbo you need a purpose. I use one and do not get bored.

 

[huwsparky]

To use a turbo you need a purpose. I use one and do not get bored.

Agree 100%. My purpose is to enjoy as much as possible thus wanting to be out there cycling. I'm never gonna be a pro rider neither do I really care if I could average 1 mph more by 'training' better.

 

[bpsmith]

I think that is where we differ then. I want a turbo for two reasons. Firstly, I want to make sure that I keep the legs turning through the darker months. Secondly, I most definitely would like to be the fastest I can come the lighter months. That would be my purpose. I want to train my legs ready for Velothon Wales, in June.

 

[huwsparky]

I think that is where we differ then. I want a turbo for two reasons. Firstly, I want to make sure that I keep the legs turning through the darker months. Secondly, I most definitely would like to be the fastest I can come the lighter months. That would be my purpose. I want to train my legs ready for Velothon Wales, in June.

Fair enough... I have a trainer, still, I'd rather be on the road if at all possible.

 

[bpsmith]

Fair enough... I have a trainer, still, I'd rather be on the road if at all possible.

I can't argue with that, and so would I, but my original post tried to explain that work and family commitments are getting in between me and the open road with the darker evenings.