Turbo Trainer Advice Needed!

[KuroSan]

As winter is approaching and the amount of riding I can do becomes more limited (My knees and hip really don't like cold and damp), I'm thinking about how I'm going to keep my daily ride going so I don't lose the fitness I've regained over the summer when I started to ride again.
I used to have rollers many years ago, but I really don't have the room for those where I live now, so I've been looking at turbo trainers, moreso the type you just clamp your bike to with the wheel still attached.
I'm not particularly bothered about using any apps or fancy doodahs, I'm more than happy to just watch a few vids while I'm on it and there's a few different models I've found that look like they might do the job for a variety of prices. But then I had a quick look on Marketplace and saw dozens of them being sold 2nd hand for £20 or even free, there's a quite expensive Garmin one I've spotted that's going for £10 and i'm kinda tempted to grab it, but what I don't know about these machines is what could be wrong with them that I should be looking out for and are there any brands to avoid completely?

I've also seen trainer tyres mentioned here and there, I know nothing about those either, is that something that's required or does it depend on the type of trainer?

Any advice appreciated!

 

[Sharky]

I think they are cheap, because people buy them and then get bored and don't use them or they have upgraded to one of the very expensive smart trainers.

For £20, you can't lose, well you could lose £20, but worth a gamble.

I've had a simple one for a long time. Doesn't get used a great deal, but comes into its own in bad weather days. Also used, when recovering from injuries.

I don't use a dedicated trainer tyre, never had a problem.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I used to have a Tacx (owned by Garmin) wheel-on trainer. Space wise it was OK, it could be put out of the way and took about 5 or so mins of faff to put the bike on. But it was a right lump so you got a bit of a workout lugging it around.

It worked fine with an ordinary tyre, but it did wear a flat track on the rear tyre. I'm not sure I'd want to go out on the road on that. I don't suppose it was unsafe, it hadn't worn through to the casing, but it looked a bit dodgy. It also generated black rubber dust (maybe I hadn't set it up properly) so I'd need to vacuum afterwards. I did eventually put a trainer specific tyre on and those problems ended. I suppose it depends how much you use it.

You need to put a special QR into your rear wheel that has fat lugs sticking out that mate with the trainer. That's no big deal.

I've got a direct drive trainer in a dedicated location (new shed) now.

You may say that you don't want fancy software, and perhaps that's entirely true, but I found that having different workouts to follow makes it much more interesting/passes the time. You don't necessarily need a big laptop setup. I use my Garmin GPS to run workouts. I expect other brands of GPS can probably control a trainer too.

 

[fossyant]

I have a Smart Tacx, one of the cheaper ones, and it does work well. If I use it, I hook up to MyWhoosh as it's free and I can't justify the Zwift sub fees, given I use it so little. It will be set up again come winter, as my hip doesn't like 'ice'. Can't be breaking it again.

Do go try a simple trainer first and see how you go on. Never used a trainer tyre either.

 

[Gunk]

In lockdown we used a Tacx Flow and I did fit a trainer tyre to the bike. There are loads for sale used for around £50.

 

[biggs682]

They bore the living daylights out of me

 

[Gunk]

They bore the living daylights out of me

Me too, set ours up in Covid for my two kids to use and it did get plenty of use. However like you it bored me to death.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Over the last ~9 years I've had an original Direto, followed by a Saris H3 and bought a Jetblack Victory last November when the H3 dissapointly broke after ~3.5 years.

I love them on mild-moderately rolling routes, but riding on "pancake" roads like Tempus Fugit on Zwift for more than ~30mins bores me to tears if in freeride mode (as opposed to a workout that wants me to put in periods of harder effort).

Having said that, I've enjoyed having what was always my usual summer break until long covid this year, going out on the ebike instead. Nearly three months break now.

But there's been the odd day where I wish I'd kept my road bike on the turbo, for when an outdoor ride has got to plan, to easily jump on the turbo to at least do something on the excellent freebie app called MyWhoosh.

 

[biggs682]

Me too, set ours up in Covid for my two kids to use and it did get plenty of use. However like you it bored me to death.

I much prefer just putting an extra layer on and going for a ride or if the weather is against me then a walk

 

[Pblakeney]

If you are going to use a wheel-on trainer then just use and old worn wheel and tyre. You don't need brakes. 😉
Served me well until I went for a smart trainer.

 

[johnnyb47]

I've tried a good few times to using a turbo trainer but I just couldn't get on the the boredom of them.
I just found my self constantly clock watching.
Watching the tv or listening to music didn't help in the slightest.If you do get one I would recommend a decent sized pedestal fan to keep cool.You will be suppised to how quickly you'll overheat without one

 

[Pblakeney]

I've tried a good few times to using a turbo trainer but I just couldn't get on the the boredom of them.
I just found my self constantly clock watching.
Watching the tv or listening to music didn't help in the slightest.If you do get one I would recommend a decent sized pedestal fan to keep cool.You will be suppised to how quickly you'll overheat without one

Heat training is the latest "thing", don't you know.

 

[<Tommy>]

As winter is approaching and the amount of riding I can do becomes more limited (My knees and hip really don't like cold and damp), I'm thinking about how I'm going to keep my daily ride going so I don't lose the fitness I've regained over the summer when I started to ride again.
I used to have rollers many years ago, but I really don't have the room for those where I live now, so I've been looking at turbo trainers, moreso the type you just clamp your bike to with the wheel still attached.
I'm not particularly bothered about using any apps or fancy doodahs, I'm more than happy to just watch a few vids while I'm on it and there's a few different models I've found that look like they might do the job for a variety of prices. But then I had a quick look on Marketplace and saw dozens of them being sold 2nd hand for £20 or even free, there's a quite expensive Garmin one I've spotted that's going for £10 and i'm kinda tempted to grab it, but what I don't know about these machines is what could be wrong with them that I should be looking out for and are there any brands to avoid completely?

I've also seen trainer tyres mentioned here and there, I know nothing about those either, is that something that's required or does it depend on the type of trainer?

Any advice appreciated!

If you liked rollers in the past then maybe try them again? They’re not much longer than the length of a bike. And generally a lot lighter than a turbo trainer.

Lots of useful posts from people saying how much they dislike turbos… slow day I guess eh…

For what it’s worth if you get a trainer I’d suggest you get a smart one. If you get bored of riding whilst watching videos they offer a much more immersive experience with automatic resistance changes.

The benefit of getting a turbo wheel / tyre is the same as on rollers but more exaggerated. Where as on the rollers it can kind of ‘square’ the tyre. On the turbo it can also shed the rubber a lot sooner than on the road. So it’s less about performance and more about protecting your road tyres really.

 

[KuroSan]

Thanks folks, I'll try and grab that £10 Tacx this week then, failing that it seems I'm a bit spoilt for choice out of all the others for sale!
I'll see how I go with my current wheel/tyre, if it doesn't work out I'll grab a cheap wheel and stick a trainer tyre on it.

If you liked rollers in the past then maybe try them again? They’re not much longer than the length of a bike. And generally a lot lighter than a turbo trainer.

Lots of useful posts from people saying how much they dislike turbos… slow day I guess eh…

For what it’s worth if you get a trainer I’d suggest you get a smart one. If you get bored of riding whilst watching videos they offer a much more immersive experience with automatic resistance changes.

The benefit of getting a turbo wheel / tyre is the same as on rollers but more exaggerated. Where as on the rollers it can kind of ‘square’ the tyre. On the turbo it can also shed the rubber a lot sooner than on the road. So it’s less about performance and more about protecting your road tyres really.

Unfortunately although I just about have the space to use rollers, I don't have anywhere to store them without being in the way, but I can get a turbo trainer under the table in the corner of my room. I'll keep an eye out for a smart one if it's not too overpriced, but boredom was never something i had any issues with when I used rollers in the past and i doubt i'll be slogging away for hours on one now, I just want to ensure i don't lose out the small gains i've already made so far this summer by not being able to ride as much in winter.

I much prefer just putting an extra layer on and going for a ride or if the weather is against me then a walk

Post traumatic arthritis of my hip means that walking is actually considerably more painful than a casual cycle, even then the cold and damp makes both my hip and knees suffer and no amount of extra clothing will prevent that.

I used to have a Tacx (owned by Garmin) wheel-on trainer. Space wise it was OK, it could be put out of the way and took about 5 or so mins of faff to put the bike on. But it was a right lump so you got a bit of a workout lugging it around.

It worked fine with an ordinary tyre, but it did wear a flat track on the rear tyre. I'm not sure I'd want to go out on the road on that. I don't suppose it was unsafe, it hadn't worn through to the casing, but it looked a bit dodgy. It also generated black rubber dust (maybe I hadn't set it up properly) so I'd need to vacuum afterwards. I did eventually put a trainer specific tyre on and those problems ended. I suppose it depends how much you use it.

You need to put a special QR into your rear wheel that has fat lugs sticking out that mate with the trainer. That's no big deal.

I've got a direct drive trainer in a dedicated location (new shed) now.

You may say that you don't want fancy software, and perhaps that's entirely true, but I found that having different workouts to follow makes it much more interesting/passes the time. You don't necessarily need a big laptop setup. I use my Garmin GPS to run workouts. I expect other brands of GPS can probably control a trainer too.

That sounds like the same one I've seen selling for £10, I don't mind if it's heavy, that's probably for the best to make sure I don't topple off it lol!
That's interesting to know about the tyre, I did wonder if that sort of wear might happen, I guess it depends on the type of tyre and setup but if it comes to it i can always pick up a cheap wheel & tyre to save messing up my decent one.
Also had no idea about the QR, that's the sort of thing I was hoping to find out about as I've not seen that mentioned anywhere else. Handy to know!

 

[Big John]

I've still got my old turbo after years of use. Still got my rollers too. Now I'm retired I rarely use either of them but in winter I have been known to use both just to break up the monotony when it's too icy/cold to go out. There are endless decent turbo sessions to be found on Youtube with upbeat techno music to keep the legs pumping. It's much easier to watch a vid sat on a turbo than a set of rollers lol. The reason rollers aren't as boring is because you have to stay focussed otherwise you'll break your neck. In my garage it's a hard concrete floor and it's a long way down to fall off rollers. Most I've ever suffered on either was 90 minutes. And don't forget the fan, as someone mentioned above. That or leave a window open to let the snow in.