Just got off my new turbo...

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Well it's second hand but new to me.
Not had a turbo since the last century and the only ones available are what are now called dumb trainers. Clip some instructions to your bars and off you go.

This is a Tacx, and I've just ridden 15 miles round London. Could have been anywhere because I couldn't see a damned thing for sweat running in my eyes:cry::cry:

I'd forgotten just how much sweat these things generate. And this route is an easy one. Will I ever get to the hard routes? Do I want to?

Does it get easier or will I just get used to it?

P.S. How do you stand up on the pedals? There must be a technique:unsure::unsure::unsure:
 

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
A big fan is needed, or ride outdoors.

My 15yo can stand up and sprint easy on a turbo, I find it harder. I'm guessing it's age, not that I weigh 20kg more. Or that's my reason :tongue:
 

steverob

Guru
Location
Buckinghamshire
Things that have made the difference for me in making my Zwift life more enjoyable:
1) Getting a big fan
2) Buying some headbands - doesn't matter what you look like, the sweat issue is much reduced once you're wearing one
3) Getting another fan - not kidding, multiple fans, especially having one behind you, are exponentially better than just one!
 
I have to turn the resistance up on the turbo to have the resistance to stand, at lower resistances I find it impossible. My turbo is a Elite Axion and have never got near the top resistance level, at 11 stone my weight is not enough to turn it.
For cooling I have 2 Evaporative coolers, ( Diet Symphony 22 ltr) they blow air across a porous material which trickles water down it .
 
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Darius_Jedburgh

Veteran
I tried standing but couldn't get used to the bike being fixed under me. Suppose I throw it around a bit on the road.
Sounds like a fan is next on the list.
 

si_c

Guru
Location
Wirral
I had horrendous problems when I got my first turbo, like you a fair amount of sweat and that was with a fan.

I got an 18" fan which pushes about 5000cfm which helped although I'm thinking about adding a second one so that both sides get good cooling :laugh:
 
Location
Essex
+1 for the second (or third) fan behind you :okay:
 
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Darius_Jedburgh

Veteran
Well I've just ridden round Central London. 15 miles. Average speed was 23mph. I guess Lunnun traffic would stop that in real life, and I've never ridden that fast since I gave up Time Trials. That speed is 30% above what I can do if I'm hammering it, so I'm going to take that sort of data with a big pinch of salt.
 

CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
Solo TT bike with accurate Power meter turbo is quite close to real speed. Riding in a group is a little bit exaggerated in speed
 

Ming the Merciless

There is no mercy
Photo Winner
Location
Inside my skull
Well I've just ridden round Central London. 15 miles. Average speed was 23mph. I guess Lunnun traffic would stop that in real life, and I've never ridden that fast since I gave up Time Trials. That speed is 30% above what I can do if I'm hammering it, so I'm going to take that sort of data with a big pinch of salt.

Don‘t forget central London is flat so 23 mph should be fairly easy when there’s no traffic or stopping fir junctions required.
 
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Darius_Jedburgh

Veteran
Weather was against going out today so I rode a course in Central France. Moderately hilly but I still averaged 20.1 mph.
I can't ride that speed on the flat roads round here. But I did like the traffic free roads:okay:
 
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