Turbo - how loud?

[Sbk28]

I really want to be able to train at home, but... I live in a top floor flat and am worried about the noise. I would mostly be training in evenings after work.

How unreasonable would I be to buy a turbo?

Depends on the turbo, I think. We have a wahoo kickr now which is pretty quiet, but have had really noisy turbos in the past.

Yeah, noise levels vary!! Can you finish training by 8pm?

Yeah, I was thinking 8 was a good cutoff. I just don't want to invest and then find I can't use it at all!

I’ve got a Tacx Neo T. It’s supposed to be one of the quietest on the market. If that’s the case, I hate to think what the noisiest are like!! It sounds like a plane taking off for my next door neighbours and worse from downstairs, despite it being used on a mat. That’s without using the road surface function on it. Consequently it only gets used during office hours. The drivetrain on my bike is silky smooth, so it isn’t that causing the din.

Hmm... Not sounding promising!

Yeah my husband has one. You can hear it two floors below or above. But he doesn’t do it every day. 3 times a week During acceptable times etc.

Maybe you could knock on the neighbours door and have a word about it. Sound them out and agree days and times.

It’s a shame you don’t get to do what you want to do.

Given its light until later... couldn’t you just dash out for a ride, or cycle commute or get up early to fit a ride in? Literally have everything ready, bike waiting with drinks on, kit laid out, shoes out. When I’ve been particularly focussed on training (I road race) and have a specific session only really practical to do indoors, but the weather is too nice... I take my rollers or turbo outside. Is that an option? I completely get that isn’t the same as having it setup indoors waiting for you. My tacx neo whilst being a smart trainer doesn’t need to be plugged in as it generates it’s own power to run all the functions. I wouldn’t want to lug it up and down stairs often - it weighs 24KG. But my rollers are fine. Likewise my old dumb turbo. I’ve been known to take my rollers and bike to work to do a specific session outside in the carpark on my dinner.

Turbo in the garden is an option. But I live in London so any ride after work is just sitting in traffic jams and dodging cars so not really any good for training. Mornings maybe... Though I struggle to get up even in tine for work most days

Do all turbos run without mains power or does it depend on the type? I suppose if i mostky used it outside and then just occasionally in the living room, I wouldn't annoy anyone too much

I have a Saris H3; it's very quiet...and it could be even quieter if I put it on a mat. It's a direct drive which I think helps with the reduction in sound.