Turbo Trainers

[MrsJBaptiste]

DH is hopefully building a home gym this spring and so I'm looking at equipment to get ahead of the game!

Has anyone got a turbo trainer that you can use with your own bike? I have a mountain bike but will I need to buy a road bike for use with the trainer? If so, maybe an exercise bike will be a better bet...

Yep, I’ve got a set of rollers and a smart trainer. The rollers are Saris aluminium ones with a bar to manually adjust resistance. They work with all my bikes (including MTB - a 29’er).

My turbo is a tacx neo. It’s a top of the range smart trainer. So it gives a ‘road like’ feel as you ride (the bike sways). It will automatically simulate gradient by adjusting resistance (if you a riding using programmes like Zwift, sufferfest etc). It automatically simulates road surface (you have to try it to believe it). It’ll accommodate a road bike or mountain bike.

So, nope you won’t need to buy a road bike. You may need to buy an adapter for a turbo depending on the type of axle your MTB has. Roller wise it’s not an issue. If you are on 26 wheels you can adjust the length of the rollers.

A decent exercise bike (like a watt bike atom) which will ‘rock’ like the tacx neo would be significantly more expensive. There are other brands of smart trainer that offer similar to the Neo like the Wahoo Kickr. If you’ve already got a bike, I’d definitely go for a decent smart trainer largely because it’s a cheaper option.

That's great, thanks for the detailed reply!

Off to haveca browse now but will definitely take all that on board 👍

I've got a wahoo kickr core which Inguess is a medium range smart trainer and have really loved it. A friend has the tacx neo mentioned by the pp and also highly recommended

Lurking on this thread as I am finding my spin bike a bit boring. Thanks for the information, @noodlmcdoodl & @Poppytime; I have learned more from your posts than I have in discussions with road warrior and specialist sales types !

My kickr core doesn't simulate road surface (I think the more expensive kickr does though). I think I got mine for just under £700 and the kickr is closed to a grand iirc.

I'm eyeing a wattbike atom now though! Not sure DH would forgive me, we don't exactly have the space (or spare cash)!!

Have to say the trainer has been a lifesaver in lockdown

@happytentoes I am a road warrior 🙈🙈🙈🙈 just get so fedup every winter with not being able to ride due to ice (I only get chance to go out early morning when the roads are at their most slippy 🙄).

It’s been a brilliant investment for me as I’ve been on it about 10 hours a week. I’d have been lucky to manage 2 hours a week without it. Sadly it’s turning me into a fair weather cyclist!!

I’ve been using Zwift which is ace (it’s an app - I have it running on my iPad set up on a tripod in front of the bike, the smart trainer and my Heart Rate Monitor transmit everything to Zwift). I’ve not tried racing yet (trying to build my base fitness for now), but have done some of the structured workouts and group rides, although I mainly just free ride (sticking to my own plan). I love the ‘badge hunting’ (the more you ride, the more badges and points you earn to accès different levels. You can use the points to upgrade the bike and kit your avatar has. This all sounds really geeky, but it’s added to the addictiveness and enjoyment. I also enjoy the social side of it - you can hook up and ‘ride’ with friends who use it, or just chat with others on it. I would really really really recommend Zwift. I wish I’d started using it years ago!! I’ve happily knocked out 3 hour rides on it, that’s how much I enjoy it 🙈🙈 I couldn’t have spent that long on a dumb trainer or my rollers as I can’t deal with the fixed position. It just seems to cause chaffing and saddle sores (which I don’t get on the road). Because the bike moves on my smart trainer I don’t get this problem.

@poppytime I’d LOVE a wattbike atom!! The road surface simulator is a bit gimmicky. I don’t use it as i have my trainer setup upstairs and the vibration from the road surface simulator can be heard through the house.

I have a hybrid. I bought a direct drive trainer (remove back wheel, attaches to drive train) and use zwift to ride. My colleague uses rollers and an old bike she bought on eBay. We race most mornings before work. We also both use a music stand to prop up tablet when riding.

@noodlmcdoodl 😂😂 No offence meant! I have used Sufferfest in the gym and looked at Zwift but my spin bike does not have the technology to measure my output so was looking to up my game and improve my training.
I spent so much on equipment during lockdown 1 but I know it has paid for itself after almost a year of no gym fees. Not sure DH shares my enthusiasm...

@Happytentoes none taken, it’s a compliment 🤣 Luckily my DP is also a fitness enthusiast, our house is bursting at the seams with kit, bikes, equipment. I wasn’t bothered about exercise when we got together, I think he ‘turned’ me on purpose so I don’t care that our house resembles I bike jumble sale/ gym.