Turbo Trainer Advice Needed!

[ivegotabike]

If you want to just jump on and pedal for 20 - 30 minutes, a dumb trainer will do the job for you.

If you can get some sort of entertainment in place - music / podcast / youtube / TV - it can make the time pass a bit more quickly.

But, really, 20 - 30 minutes just thinking about nothing except whether to pedal a bit harder, or a bit easier, for the next couple of minutes will pass soon enough anyway.

If you get a taste for it (I did), you can put a foot into the rabbit hole entrance and see where it takes you!

 

[Dorset Boy]

The animation I suppose, doesn't appeal at all. I didn't get into social side but I don't care about that really although maybe if I had I'd find it better.
When you say chat, do you actually talk or writing messages? I know a few mates use Discourse I think it is to talk to other riders.

Chat - Text that appears on the screen. Riding the same weekly rides you soon get to know people and can get to enjoy some of the banter.
Discord is great for team time trials and team based races such as ZRL.

I get that the animation (and gaming aspect) may not be for everyone. Equally I don't want to ride amongst the tumbleweed on some of the other platforms.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've never tried Zwift. You're not selling it to me

I think I'll stick to Garmin workouts.

 

[fossyant]

When recovering with a broken spine, Zwift was at least less boring, but I did have a second screen with episodes of box sets on in my garage. Didn't use it for years until I broke my pelvis, so by them My Whoosh was out. I managed a few rides on it to prove my bum wouldn't collapse, so then got back out on the gravel bike. I used it a bit last winter when it was Icy as I could do without another break - it aches enough as it is. It will be plugged back in for this winter when it's too icy to commute safely.