As dad to a three month old rugrat, I’m simply not getting any riding done during the week.

So I reckon my only chance of preserving any fitness for weekend rides is a couple of mind-numbing turbo sessions per week late in the evenings.

Can anyone recommend a good (and super-quiet!) model?

Ta

why not just go out for an hour late in the evening instead or do what i did and invest in a trailer. Win/win you ride, get brownie points, baby time, and mrs is freed up

i started with a trailer, then a kiddie seat, then a trailer bike.
rode with both my kids from them being 3 or so month old.

I got one when we started the family, great for keeping some fitness up when you get a few.minutes spare but need to be on hand.

Child seats and trailers are great when they get a bit older but only useful when the little one is awake and not in the evenings.

I just picked up one on offer at Decathlon, your after quiet so I can’t recommend the model I have. Think fluid ones are quieter but best finding out from someone who has used one.

Congratulations by the way.

Rio

My wife and me use our turbo trainer a fair amount (3-4 hours a week), with a couple of young kids it is difficult for us both to get a decent amount of time out on the bike.

Originally we had a Tacx Swing, which self destructed after a year or two. We replaced that with a Cycleops Fluid 2 which is an excellent turbo trianer, and much much better than the Tacx.

Have a look at the Sufferfest films for some good turbo trainer motivation.

I’ve got the same turbo as Jason above. Not sure I would describe it as quiet.

Would rollers be quieter than a turbo?

If you can run to it the Tacx flow, cosmos or the virtual reality turbos are pretty good. Quite realistic resistance and quiet. They give an update of power output, heart rate and cadence which gives you something to look at and measure the improvement/reduction in performance.

Still needs a lot of motivation though IMO.

[list]2nd cyclops fluid2 and sufferfest (truly painful interval sessions)

I have a Minoura E-RDA-80 rim drive one, it’s magnetic resistance and doesn’t run on the tyre so it’s pretty quiet even on a mountain bike with knobblies on. I used to use it in the room directly below my 1 year old and it never woke him up. You need a wheel with a v-brake/canti compatible rim on it, though.

[househusband]i’ll get mrs antigee to answer this one on turbo trainer specifics[/househusband]
as to sunday morning with a trailer and summer evenings with a tag along that is dad stuff
edit rugrat number 1 lunchtime spin classes helped

i wanted magnetic (apparently best for mtb) with bar adjustable resistance. that would take a track bike (and mtb)

this left me with cyclops mag+
i’ve also heard v. good recomendations for tacx satori (won’t take a track bike though)

i find the cyclops is noisy at medium speeds but gets quieter as you rally crank it.

timing on the post.. I was just thinking the same as baby #2 is due in september, so I cant see how i’ll get out much until Xmas ish.
Turbo sounded like a good solution to keep some level of fitness.

Kurt Kinetic rock and roll trainer. The closest thing to riding a real bike. Get the heavy fly wheel.

i think a spin class is probably better vfm

Kurt Kinetic road machine, pricey but very solid and most realistic feeling I’ve ridden

surely if you can get 3-4 hours of turbo in then you could get 3-4 hours of real riding in..? whilst on the turbo you aren’t looking after little un in any proper way, so try to agree with the mrs that you both get your own time to do stuff you ‘need/want’ to do, it doesn’t take 2 of you to look after the baby? so one looks after it/them whilst the other goes out?

I fail to see why having children can possibly stop you doing normal things like riding until xmas!!?
like others have suggested up there why not just do evening/night riding when baby is asleep?

I went through the same as you last year with the birth of our son.

I ended up buying this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastogel-trainer/ on the recommendation of many people on here and the reviews on Wiggle. Last year when I bought it was only £140 which made it a real bargain compared to any other trainer. Still at £160 I think its very good value for money.

Compared to other friends turbos (which are older and just basic fans ones) it is as quiet as a mouse!

In fairness no turbo is going to be mega quiet, but I use this and dont need to turn the TV up above what I would have it at normally. There are no resistance levels but it doesnt need it.

The only negative I can think of for it is that it is difficult to sprint out of the saddle as the rear wheel isnt directly fixed in to the trainer so excessive forward movement on the bike whilst sprinting can move the rear wheel off the roller. Very slight negative though.

Get a Sufferfest video, probably Angels to start with. It really does make 1 hour pass reasonably quickly! Also use a fan! I never used to and could only last about 20 mins before heat exhaustion got me, now can last much much longer.

To all the people saying get out of the house…. its not always possible if your partner works shifts or isnt around, or you want to spend time with your son/daughter in the day time when they are awake.

I fail to see why having children can possibly stop you doing normal things like riding until xmas!!?

ahh, another helpless soul who’s not met my wife….

And to go through the logistics, we already have a 2 year old so.. evenings with the new baby will be 2 year old asleep at 7:30, then wife goes to bed at 8 to 8:30, then I have the baby until around 11 for that feed, then wife does the nightshift, then I go to work in morning.
So the evenings have gone for the first few months until that night feed drops off.

Then weekends, pretty unfair leaving the wife with a 2 yo and a newborn baby, unless I do the 50 min drive to in-laws or my parents and drop one off.

Will get easier in the New Year when baby starts sleeping through.

So a turbo makes sense, can pop in the garage for a couple of hours between 8 and 11..

surely if you can get 3-4 hours of turbo in then you could get 3-4 hours of real riding in..?

3-4 hours of turbo is a lot better for fitness, and a lot less faff, and I’m also guessing the typical first-time parent fear means the OP doesn’t want to head off too far from home every night…

The only negative I can think of for it is that it is difficult to sprint out of the saddle as the rear wheel isnt directly fixed in to the trainer so excessive forward movement on the bike whilst sprinting can move the rear wheel off the roller. Very slight negative though.

That is a problem – if you’ve got the cash and the space I’d get a spinning bike rather than a turbo: it’ll be lot quieter, you can get up out of the saddle when you need to sprint, and personally I’m wary about the strain the turbo mount puts on the bike frame – this last bit is probably just paranoia on my part, though!

I climbed upon my new turbo for the very first time last night and would you believe it having just warmed up the lad (10months) kicked off!! To be fair he’s teething and normally we do not have a peep out of him, I think he cried more last night than he had done for the last 2 months. So I was on hand to help out the Mrs when he was sick all over her. Sorted him and her out and jumped back on the turbo for another 40 mins.

So for the OP, good way to go IMHO. Ive got a basic cycleops mag about 110 quid from evans. Nice and stable, easy to use after having a set up practise with help from here last week (thanks guys) Noise? A bit subjective, the Mrs said “that’s a bit loud” but she said it to me though the a back window (i was out in the garden) without raising her voice. I’d say 25% to 50% of a hoover. So not sure I’ll be doing it in the house while she’s in but when she’s out at the gym and the kids are tucked up in bed, which is why it was bought, no worries.

jeez that sounds like hard going…i must of had it too easy!!

Should have said I use a road bike on mine…. I wouldnt use an mtb with nobblies on a turbo

ive got one of the tacx vr trainers – and a couple of the real life videos – the world cup mtb courses are really good.

I normally do 1.5 to 2 hours turbo on a sunday (normally 5.30 6amish) and my usual ride to work every day and the odd saturday with my son over the downs and thats got me fit enough for top 15 finishes in 2 hour xc races…

3-4 hours on a turbo? Why would you even consider doing something so daft?
An hour, max, is all you need. If you are just getting on and pedalling mundanely for hours on end you aren’t doing it right.

I completely relate to the original posters need though. Anyone who doesnt either doesnt have kids or has a wife who has no interest in anything else in life other than slaving herself out!

I’m lucky in that I commute every day and can get some intensity into that, and we share our nights to do gym and other stuff and I get to race on thursday nights and the pretty regular sunday XC race. She is very good to me!

ive got one of the tacx vr trainers – and a couple of the real life videos – the world cup mtb courses are really good.

Ive ordered one of those last night, can I ask where do you get the MTB Courses from ?

Should have said I use a road bike on mine…. I wouldnt use an mtb with nobblies on a turbo

Assuming you don’t go down the spinning bike route / have a road bike, it’s definitely worth investing in a new back wheel with a road tyre on it.

Why not get rollers instead?

theres a couple on ebay at the moment, cyclesurgery has them in stock – am I allowed to post links here??

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/tacx%20real%20life%20video%20world%20cup%20mtb/training/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/19449

the beauty of this system is that if you want intensity you race yourself – do one ride as test fastish and save it. You can now choose yourself as an opponent to race against next time. Very good for motivation and you can see when youre improving, but its a bit of a pain when you look at it and think flip me im fast up there and you cant keep up! aerobically its no different to racing every weekend, and the varied resistance is brilliant.

– I currently have about 8 me’s on one of my two hour races (you can join the courses to make longer ‘races’), I definately keep me on my toes!

I’m not a dad… but I do have a turbo.

I can second the recommendation for an Elite Elastogel fluid. I got mine for £140 from Wiggle. It is simple (no adjustment, power measurement or other fancy pants stuff) and quiet (relative to other turbos). It is very good.
Make sure you also get something to prop the front up or your position will be a bit odd!

“Make sure you also get something to prop the front up or your position will be a bit odd!”

Ah yes I use a couple of hardbacked books off the shelf…

I hate turbo riding so much that I’ve given up on sessions and gone inside, grabbed the lights and headed out into the cold dark rain to finish on roads. No matter how bad the weather it’s still better than turbo training.

Rollers are meant to be better tho. I think I am gonna sell my turbo and get rollers. Then again – why would I get rollers? I can go up and down the road for 45 mins, still more interesting than staying in the garage, isn’t it?

surely if you can get 3-4 hours of turbo in then you could get 3-4 hours of real riding in..?
3-4 hours of turbo is a lot better for fitness, and a lot less faff,

I’d disagree with that.

But I’d agree with the comments above that 4 hours turbo is pointless. You don’t need many long rides, and short intense sessions will a) fit much much better into your family life and b) do much more for your fitness.

I’m finding that a 20 minute intense session does far far more for speed, endurance and weight loss than 2 hours of road. Set aside 20 mins three times a week with a weekend ride and you’ll be flying.

Why not get rollers instead?

I nearly fricking killed myself last time someone suggested that, I reckon road riding with no lights in all black is safer 🙂

OP – ignore the naysayers. I’ve found it a struggle to squeeze rides in particularly when the children are very young, as the wife needs the support of you being there whether or not you’re actually doing anything. Turbo isn’t a bad answer if you’ve the space and the mindset (as above, an hour is overkill for a session, but there are lots of resources out there that will advise you better than I), else get lights and just make the most of every hour you get – you can ride an mtb on raod and still get a benefit, it’s just not as much fun. Bit of running makes a big difference and can be cracked out in 30-45 minutes even when you’re fit for it, an Alpkit £12 head torch is good enough through winter. Commute riding and lunchtime swims/runs are maybe a possibility if you’re a soft desk jockey like me too.

It doesn’t last forever!

Wow – cheers guys. Really helpful.

I’d much rather rattle out an hour on the road than be sat on a turbo, but I only get an hour or so a day with the kiddie during the week so I’m not going to miss that.

He’s usually tucked up by eight, but I can’t really head out into the traffic after that time year-round otherwise I’d be dead in a fortnight with the drivers round here. And an hour of off-road night riding requires at least two hours of prep/cleaning…

It’s not fair on the other half to be 20 miles away if and when something happens that requires my awesome dad/sick clearing/counselling skills!

Have just ordered a Cycleops Fluid thingy off Wiggle (just before their 15% off offer – grrrrr…).

Ta!

first thing is welcome to fatherhood – best place to be in life apart from sleep time when they screaming the house down – lol sure you found that out already mind.

now you got the turbo there is only one thing to say

SUFFERFEST – IWBMATTKYT – if you understand this I take my hat off to you fellow suffer’ers

I started off with a basic mag trainer which I borrowed to give turboing a go. I found that pretty boring at first until I started using sufferfest videos and they’ve very good. So much so that I managed to pick up a cheap Tacx VR trainer (an iMagic) in the sales for about £300 and use that now. I’ve not tried the MTB courses yet – I mostly use some Norwegian VR’s that I downloaded from the web, riding through the Lofoten Islands and up to the North Cape.

IWBMATTKYT is the way to go – get the Sufferfest videos, they make the whole thing a lot more painfully enjoyable.

And a road tyre!

I invested in a specific Turbo Trainer Tyre last year, and haven’t got round to using it yet 😳

As well as sufferfest and the iMagic RLV’s the other thing I’ve done is use my GoPro to record some of my own road rides then create videos from them, with music, and run those while on the TT.

Apparently you can great your own RLV’s combining video and GPS data but I’ve not tried that yet.