What Turbo Trainer do you own?

[Asa Post]

Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer - 7500 miles done and it still looks and works like new.
I wanted a smooth, quiet unit without any fancy resistance-varying cable controls that I'd have to attach to the handlebars - they serve no useful purpose and get in the way (IMO). This is perfect. The resistance is high enough for me never to run out of gears. I have a cadence sensor, and a speed/distance sensor on the rear wheel so I can ride to a chosen level of effort, or (using a heart rate monitor and/or power meter) target specific training zones. It's impossible for me to do that when riding outside.

Bkool - 3000 miles and also going faultlessly.
I was tempted to get a computer-controlled turbo so I could simulate outdoor rides and do video rides from all over the world. This one was much the cheapest available. I imagine that it would help those riders with short attention spans who complain that turbos are boring . I can also do structured sessions on it (e.g. 2 x 20s) by using the velodrome option or creating a course to suit my needs. It gives power readings, based on its own software, that are not identical to my Powertap, but are close enough (and consistent enough) to be useful. It comes with a speed/distance sensor and a cadence sensor.

I use my road bike, and occasionally my hybrid. Both are used with the standard road tyres. I don't find tyre wear a problem, though the Bkool does have a ridged roller while the Elite's is smoother than a baby's bum.

 

[jowwy]

Elite realtour permantley set-up with my TT bike on it. Bought it cause its computerised, links to a pc, so as you ride the videos play too..........helps with the boredom, but needed through cold, icy winters

 

[kipster]

Bkool turbo used here, it's the firstturbo I've owned and had read about people getting bored so opted for a virtual reality own. I've not done as many miles on mine as @Asa Post but still put in nearly 60 hours this year. I mainly use videos and intervals in the velodrome. I use mine all year round and find it great for hill work. Apparently it simulates up to 20%.

 

[jazzkat]

I've got a kurt rock n roll. I bought it when crc had them on offer a good few years ago. It's a fantastic bit of kit, just like being on the road but it is huge and very heavy. When I broke my collar bone a couple of years ago I swapped turbos with a friend as I just couldn't move it one handed. I was glad to get mine back though.
I stick my geared road bike on it, a Trek 1.7. I've always used standard road tyres on it and do the sufferfest videos most times.
This year I'm not planning to use it too much, just when the snow is on the ground.

 

[LimeBurn]

I have a tacx satori pro from decathlon, it came with a mat, riser block and training dvd but I've never used the dvd instead I use the sufferfest videos which I would highly recommend. My focus izalco road bikevis set up on it normally but I sourced a spare rear wheel to save me from swapping the tyres as I found that I didn't like the rubber dust piling up near the flywheel from my expensive tyres so now just use a cheap one on the spare rim and keep the good one on my normal Road wheel.

I use mine throughout the year I find it much easier if I want to do intervals or a recovery ride as there are so many hills where I live that its hard not to exert yourself even if not trying too.

 

[333]

Tacx Genius with a Giant Defy 4 permanently fixed to it, bought specifically to train for long continental climbs.

A Tacx Blue Matic, bought mainly for swmbo to pop her hybrid on over winter, also for me to use in an evening in the conservatory when i didn't want to disturb the neighbours and didn't have afternoons free.

How has it worked out in terms of training for the long continental climbs if you don't mind me asking? Has it helped? (if you've tried it yet).

The Tacx was top of my list until I saw the BKOOL, bought it for intervals and big climbs like you. If the BKOOL breaks and its out of warranty I'll probably buy a Tacx next.

 

[albionbri]

Elite mag, cheap and cheerful, but does the job. Have my Boardman road bike set up on it and use Trainer Road for structured Workouts in the winter months. Prefer to get out as much as possible, but with T. R. along with a few dvds or footy on the telly, managed to make big improvement over the last year. Worked for me anyway, but not everyone's cup of tea. Sufferfest vids are good too.

 

[Rykard]

kurt kinetic road machine for me, with a cheap ladies mtb on it.

 

[BSRU]

CycleOps Jet Fluid Pro 2 with my steel tourer "permanently" installed.

 

[oldfatfool]

How has it worked out in terms of training for the long continental climbs if you don't mind me asking? Has it helped? (if you've tried it yet).

The Tacx was top of my list until I saw the BKOOL, bought it for intervals and big climbs like you. If the BKOOL breaks and its out of warranty I'll probably buy a Tacx next.

Brilliant in a word, really lets you know what to expect, bought the trainer xmas 2011, and have since visited France on a couple of occasions to climb the odd hill.

 

[Pikey]

I no longer own a TT - I now have a cheapo 'gym bike' which has a massive flywheel and a friction brake. It is permanently set up in the corner of my room so I can just hop on it any time. Sometimes I do a quick 15 minute spin while something is cooking.

I would like to buy something really good like a Wattbike but that is just a dream until I have a pot of spare cash to spend on such luxuries.

+1 for this, sold my el cheapo tt and got a spin bike on a deal.
Soooooooo much quieter, easy to use, and none of the worry that you are going to bork your frame when doing out of saddle efforts.

Luv it.

 

[User33236]

I got a Tacx one off of eBay. Looked rather shabby in the pics so got it cheap (around £45) but scrubbed up well and runs great. I use my old Claud Butler hybrid on it as the other bikes in the household serve different purposes in life.

 

[bowtomephil]

BKOOL , excellent device with good software

 

[hopless500]

This one

and it did have my TCR set up on it, but I've just sold it so about to shove a spare bike on it for the time being. And go hunting for n+1

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Tacx Flow, craving the i upgrade for it