Turbo training

[Jason.T]

I used to use a free website that bleeped when the interval was over. I stopped using it when I bought my first sufferfest video much more fun and much harder to lose concentration on the interval IMHO. I have tried watching videos and tv/youtube/dvds etc but I get bored and start clock watching after 15mins.

How do the sufferfest's work, does it tell you how steep a climb is or do you just guess it yourself from what you can see

 

[jazzkat]

How do the sufferfest's work, does it tell you how steep a climb is or do you just guess it yourself from what you can see

It uses an effort scale of 1-10 with one being easy and 10 being vomiting your lungs out! All turbo trainers are different so some you would click up a resistance while others you would change up a gear. It also gives cadence suggestions so for instance it might say a cadence of 70 and an effort of 8/10 - that might equal a stiff climb.

 

[Irishrich]

Just ordered my first turbo trainer tonight, a Riva Stealth. Had been toying with the idea for weeks but after being washed out on a cold Saturday ride on my own I realised that it's not always the best option to go outside on a bike even though you want to. The turbo should give me more flexibility to get on a bike for training as I work fairly long hours so only one weekend morning is usually free to get out on my bike with my club. Have looked into sufferfest and will probably give it a go although I do have my pc hooked up to the tv as a multimedia system so can put on youtube videos or other training videos from t'internet. Can't wait to try it later this week!

 

[biggs682]

@Irishrich must admit i have refused to turbo for years but i like many others need to improve my fitness and i point blank to join a gym so went turbo option . 2 weeks in and still doing 20 - 30 min spells at least 3 times a week along with what ever else exercise i manage , will try to step it up soon to 30 - 40 min sessions and go from there .

i hope you enjoy it

 

[Irishrich]

I'm actually looking forward to trying it in a strange sort of way as it's so convenient to use compared to getting my gym gear together, driving 6 miles to the gym then pass the time for an hour on various machines before heading home. From what I've read the trick is to put on a good training vid like suffferfest to keep you focused and motivated otherwise it can be very boring. Will look into the vids before it arrives so that im fully prepared.

Also read that people say you should use a turbo tyre but at £30 + I think I'll put on one of my spare tyres that never get used since upgrading to ultremos.

 

[LimeBurn]

I've had my turbo since the beginning of the year, a tacx, and I hated it at first and like most people who buy a turbo on a whim it got put into the shed to gather dust and cobwebs. Then as luck would have it my son moved out to go to Uni and his bedroom became spare so the turbo got set up in there permanently and I purchased a couple of the sufferfest videos - call me a masochist but I love it now (in an awful awful way that is), its made a noticeable difference to my fitness & weight loss and now I dont think I would be without it. I find its not just for bad weather but also like today its been fantastic weather for cycling here but with time constraints I've been unable to make the most it, but while the family was watching tv this evening I thought I would jump on and have a quick session of Sufferfests Angels - I now feel like I've been out for a hard ride and have that smug feeling that I've had my exercise for the day.

 

[Phil485]

I'm enjoying my Turbo too, but that may still be a new toy novelty thing.
Is anyone using workouts on their garmin with their turbo? Any idea of where to get some good workouts from? I'm happy with music or videos at the moment, just need some structure to my training.

 

[Keegs]

i've just bought an Elite Elastogel Turbo Trainer and was really looking forward to giving it a go at the weekend, however i set it up following the instructions and it is leaning very slightly to the left. when i get on it and pedal this lean gets more exagerated and feels like it will damage the frame so i had to get off. Tried resetting a few times and checked the floor is level etc..... any ideas that migt help me would be greatly appreciated. Ta

 

[berty bassett]

just been given permission to move turbo into spare bedroom out of shed yeh !

 

[Irishrich]

I've only been on the turbo for a few minutes to test it out but I can tell that it's going to give me a great workout. The noise does get loud once you get up to speed on higher tensions but I'm in our converted garage room at the end of the house so it's not bothering anyone, yet.

Had a question, hopefully someone can help: I want to put my good bike (summer bike) on the turbo and use my winter bike for the next few months. My good bike has nice wheels and tyres and I heard that the turbo can ruin the rear wheel after prolonged use so should I buy a basic rear wheel and fit an old tyre just for turbo training? My winter bike is all set up for going out on the road so I can't take any parts or wheels off it.

 

[screenman]

When I first started using a turbo I bought an old banger of a racer for £25 and stuck that on it, as long as your position is the same as your other bikes I see no difference. Watch out for rust on your turbo bike, they do not like all that salty sweat.

 

[Hip Priest]

My turbo is in a lock-up garage with no electricity, so I can't watch sufferfest or anything like that.

It's just me, the bike and the pain

 

[screenman]

My turbo is in a lock-up garage with no electricity, so I can't watch sufferfest or anything like that.

It's just me, the bike and the pain

Think of the benefits. You could download them to a laptop and watch that, but on your own in the dark and cold surely that is a self imposed sufferfest.

 

[just jim]

I've only been on the turbo for a few minutes to test it out but I can tell that it's going to give me a great workout. The noise does get loud once you get up to speed on higher tensions but I'm in our converted garage room at the end of the house so it's not bothering anyone, yet.

Had a question, hopefully someone can help: I want to put my good bike (summer bike) on the turbo and use my winter bike for the next few months. My good bike has nice wheels and tyres and I heard that the turbo can ruin the rear wheel after prolonged use so should I buy a basic rear wheel and fit an old tyre just for turbo training? My winter bike is all set up for going out on the road so I can't take any parts or wheels off it.

Hmm, well a turbo trainer can flatten out your nice tyre, and leaves sooty tyre deposits (that used to be your nice tyre) on the floor. After flattening off a couple of tyres I got a Continental trainer tyre, and a surplus wheel. It was a mare to get on, but worth it. It's a lot quieter and hard-wearing.

 

[biggs682]

still enjoying using mine at present i have a hardtail mtb strapped to it at mo might be swapping that for a racer soon so will see how much extra work out that gives me