Looking for an exercise bike for the garage for a bit of CV work. I figure I’d be better off with one rather than a rower (as I like to ride bikes). I don’t know a lot about them, but one with a number of programs would be great. Can they automatically increase and decrease the resistance according to a program?
I’d like a magnetic one, with adjustable geo (as far as possible) to mimic a MTB. Any experience/recommendations around the £500 mark?
I’d love a wattbike but the budget won’t stretch quite that far…..
Looking at a Kettler racer 3 thingy at present.
I’m not into road riding, so I’m not really interested in a road bike and turbo.

You can rent wattbikes to see if you actually use the thing? Have a look on their website.

I’d like a magnetic one, with adjustable geo (as far as possible) to mimic a MTB

buy a cheap MTB and put it on a turbo

or just use the MTB you have and put it on a turbo?

What if I can use it and love the thing? It’s either find an additional £1750 or keep paying £80/month!!! I’m not (and never will be) at a level where I could justify that kind of spend, I do appreciate the info though!

or just use the MTB you have and put it on a turbo?

Thought about it, but I don’t think that I want to put the wear on it, nor can I be bothered to keep changing the tyres.

I reassemble my old carrera every year with whatever I can find in the garage and bolt it to the turbo for a few months, I think this year it’s getting the remains of my 7 speed drivetrain bits, a bent rear road wheel, and some XTR cranks and carbon forks worth more than the rest of the bike combined. It does take up a bit of space, though, and it’s not as good for hanging clothes on as an exercise bike.

Yes NW, it’s a single garage and with the gym equipment, two bikes, toolboxes and workbench; space will be at a premium.

I don’t know a lot about exercise bikes, but if they’re anything like rowing machines, then cheaper ones (ie not the equivalent of a concept2 = wattbike ?) are normally rubbish and a false economy.

Not the answer you’re looking for but I would buy a second hand turbo (I picked one up for £30 off here), an equally cheap rear wheel and a cheap slick tyre. Lob on the old cassette you have in the spares box (if you don’t have one shout, I have 3 and I’m sure STW has many more) and off you go.

Fits like your MTB, zero hassle, done.

You know what would be good? Turbo-forks. Replace your standard forks and wheel with a full-length beam with feet on, make the whole deal more compact

So with a turbo, does the resistance change with just using the gears normally? Is there any point in going for a spangly one?
Using my nice bike and putting wear on the drive etc doesn’t sit right but a turbo won’t take much space…..

Thought about it, but I don’t think that I want to put the wear on it, nor can I be bothered to keep changing the tyres.

Spare wheel and tyre and a good second hand turbo can be yours for around £150-£175. Add on a few months of TrainerRoad and you’ve got yourself something far superior to any £500 exercise bike for less than half the outlay. The other benefit is when it’s not in use all you need to store is a spare wheel and the turbo which os much smaller than a exercise bike. I much prefer to use my bike and turbo to the wattbikes in the gym.

So what are good features to look for in a turbo trainer?
ANT+? Fluid or mag? Is cycleops stuff any good?

Using my nice bike and putting wear on the drive etc doesn’t sit righ

It’s do the drivechain very little harm at all unless you plan on doing silly amount of hours on it. Only thing you need to worry about is that you bike has a QR rear wheel as most (all?) turbo’s won’t work with a through axle.

Re. what to look for, honest answer is cheap to try it first. It is no exaggeration to say turbo sessions can be mind numbingly dull, so but a cheap one, try it, if you like it sell it for the same and invest in a good one.

. Only thing you need to worry about is that you bike has a QR rear wheel as most (all?) turbo’s won’t work with a through axle.

Oh bollocks.

Make sure you’ve got enough potential resistance to work against – if you’re using a MTB you may need a bit more (as the big ring will be smaller than a road bike). My turbo bike sits permanently in 44×11 – I’d be struggling if I had 36 or less at the front.

Another vote for a cheap back wheel, slick tyre and a turbo. Failing that, I’d probably get a spinning bike – they’re pretty cheap, very robust, and take up less space than a normal bike. It’s not quite the same workout as you’d get on a turbo, but as I’m not a pro I don’t think the difference is something to worry about.

Make sure you’ve got enough potential resistance to work against – if you’re using a MTB you may need a bit more (as the big ring will be smaller than a road bike). My turbo bike sits permanently in 44×11 – I’d be struggling if I had 36 or less at the front.

Do turbos not have resistance adjustment?
A friend has a spinner; it’s a bit crap. screwing the bolt down to increase resistance feels dreadful.

Oooooo. Anyone know anything about Elite turbo trainers (Volano etc)?
No rear wheel required. Looks like you install a cassette and off you go!
Will do 142×12 too.

Spare bike + turbo will be much better than an exercise bike. You have to spend mega money to get a decent exercise bike, they are extremely expensive.

Do turbos not have resistance adjustment?

Some do, would need to do a bit of googling to find out which though.

The through axle point is a good one though, that could be a deal breaker as far as using your own bike.

Even better is a £300 road bike and some £100 rollers. Much more enjoyable than the turbo and better to ride more because you have to actually ride the thing.

Yes, but many do have maximum resistance. If you look around you’ll see it varies from model to model. I’m no big-thighed monster, and mine is ‘mid-range’ in terms of resistance, but I’m glad I’ve got the big ring.

I have a tacx turbo – really love the real life video side of things – you can watch yourself ride some excellent courses –

Bolt through rear axle solution

https://kurtkinetic.com/products/kinetic-traxle/

plus one spare bike and turbo – mines set up in the lounge in front TV. One thing you need for turbo trg is DVDs or films etc 😉

I spent £300 on a bike and was given turbo for free, th ebike can always go back on the road at some point, useful xmas gift etc ;-D

Its money well spent if it gets you fit. I found the key for me was using exercise DvDs or watching youtube exercises or films on TV

I have just bought a wahoo kickr to get fit with – when you hook it up to something like Zwift or trainer road it is much easier to motivate yourself.

But that’s over your budget.

A while ago I bought a second hand spin-bike, a Reebok one that was freakin’ heavy, BUT it was boring to use and eventually I stopped using it.

It also only works the legs.

If you are after actual CV work and overall fitness, rather than just bike fitness, then look to see if you can get a decently robust Schwinn Airdyne – where the pedals and the arms link to a socking great fan where the front wheel is.

They had one at a gym I used to go to near work and I really liked it – you can vary whether you are putting most effort through your arms or legs – and the fan keep the air moving as well as you exercise.

For 500GBP I’d be getting a Kinetic Road machine (250 on Wiggle), spare rear wheel with bolt through adapter and a trainer road subscription.

Anyone know anything about Elite turbo trainers (Volano etc)?

I think someone on the trainer road thread has one… dirtyrider. Might be worth asking a specific question on there.

I really want one of these;
http://www.elite-real.com/en/products/real-turbo-muin-b

Spendy though. There’s going to be some googling tonight!!!

I’ve got a turbo muin (not the real), however I’ve not done enough on it to recommend it, i do like the direct drive aspect though, i get all my cadence/power data through the stages power meter, if you want cadence you have to buy the Elite version, another 40 quid ish

314 quid here, and though axle compatible although i don’t know which

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/elite-turbo-muin-thru-axle-459862?currency=3&delivery_country=190&gclid=Cj0KEQjw5MGxBRDiuZm2icXX2-sBEiQA619bq8bGI6FDSrjzIzA0Vig7Msr4-u5EL9ANk-oESk6CHBcaAu6_8P8HAQ

I used this all last winter. Nukeproof Mega with 142×12 rear hub and that kinetic traxle i posted above. Works perfectly

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/elite-supercrono-power-mag-elastogel-trainer/rp-prod57923

Molgrips has it right, rollers are great. I wouldn’t go back to a turbo now. They also fold away, ours are currently under the sofa in the living room.

Whatever you choose I’d make sure it can fit your saddle and I use clips on mine. The big wide saddles on fitness bikes are useless if you intend this to be real exercise.

What about a cross trainer? It takes up a bit of space but it’s a good workout. And here’s the best thing (for mtb anyway) – using it backwards seems to work the same muscles you use when pumping the trail.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastogel-trainer/
+
Spare bike and slick tire.

Resistance is by using your gears.

If you want to hook up stats (cadence and speed) to PC then Ant+ and Garmin type Speed and Cadence sensors will be required too. This is what you’ll need to use TrainerRoad if you so wished.

Personally, I wouldn’t bother with faff of putting a bike on the turbo that you’d want to take off again to ride outside. Not a difficult job, just a faff.

it’s a single garage and with the gym equipment, two bikes, toolboxes and workbench; space will be at a premium.

GTFO* HTH

*outside

GTFO* HTH

*outside
Thanks!
Not into road riding, particularly on a MTB and definitely not in the dark.
Just don’t enjoy it mate.

Not into road riding, particularly on a MTB and definitely not in the dark.
Just don’t enjoy it mate.

same here…

with a decent trainer you can do a shorter/more intense workout as you can up the resistance on the trainer and you don’t have junctions and cars to worry about, or the fear of ‘bonking’ away from home because you have been pushing it too hard.

Just got news of a bit of good fortune 😀 so I can get a bit more spendy.
Wahoo Kickr with a (low spec) garage dwelling defy?