Turbo trainers are great if you are using them to train, as opposed to using them if you're just looking to go for a ride. Conversely, they're noisy, make you sweat like the proverbial and take most of the things that you will enjoy about cycling and remove them. It will also destroy your rear tyre far quicker than using it on the road would.
In addition to the turbo itself, you will want to think about obtaining:
- A floor mat to put it on, both to dampen any noise and to catch any sweat. I use a cheapo £5 foam gym mat.
- Towels to wrap around the bars, stem and top tube to catch the falling sweat. And you WILL sweat. You can buy fancy "bike thong" things, but towels do the job just as well.
- At least one BFO (big, f*** off) fan. Preferably two. Even training in winter, in my garage, with both doors open I still need fans.
- Something to entertain you. I have a monitor mounted on the wall that I can use to play movies and the like from my laptop, or just play music. It needs to have the capability to be turned up loud over the noise of the trainer.
- Understanding neighbours/family. Depending on when/where you want to train, and the noise that they're prepared to put up with. I have my turbo set up in the garage, but I still can't do any high intensity work very early or late, as the noise is sufficient to disturb my daughter.
If you can check off those things, then you're most of the way there. The only other thing to bear in mind is that turbo training is inherently uncomfortable. It's hot and sweaty for a start, with no wind over you to cool you down. More than that though, is that it shows up every little niggle with your bike position. It's not like riding on the road where you're continuously making micro adjustments to your riding position. You're in essentially the same place all of the time. I can ride for 10 hours or so with only short breaks on the road. After an hour on the turbo, I'm ready to confess to just about anything put to me, your ar*e will hurt, your arms will hurt and you'll be a sweaty, pain-ridden mess.
Despite all that I've written above, I'm not anti-turbo. They're really useful for targetted training sessions. Things like intervals are far better done indoors than on the road where you can be interrupted. Add in a decent DVD like the Sufferfest videos and you'll have an hours workout that will have you begging, but will release endorphins like you wouldn't believe afterwards. If you've had a hard ride on the road, then an hours gentle spin the next day will leave your legs in great condition and feeling far fresher. The bottom line is to have a plan of what you're going to use it for though... They make for an expensive shed ornament otherwise!
(I know, I know some of you think those 3 words should not be in the same sentence!) 
, so not looking forward to the winter months at all
. Considering a turbo trainer and wondered what the general thoughts on these are and any recommendations?
