Okay, I’d like to clear up some urban myths about turbo training – been actively (no sssoooo active atm ) turbo-ing for 5+ years now (not continuously, before you’all start).
I’ve never ridden on rollers so this is going to be a one sided event.
1. You DO NOT NEED a dedicated tyre, even when I was IM training I simply bunged on an old wheel fitted with a vit rubino – absolutely fine. I’m doing the same right now with an old winter hack. Yep, it’s fine to just jump straight onto the road with the same tyre….see 2. for tyre wear.
2. Tyre and turbo roller wear; Pump your tyre up to the exact same pressure each time, DO NOT crank up the roller pressure or you’ll (eventually) fudge the roller and bearings + begin to snap spokes – watch the latter for those out of the seat sprints! You really don’t need heaps of roller pressure against the tyre.
3. They are piss-easy to transport.
4. Don’t waste your time thinking ‘I’ll just get a cheapy for winter, I’ll not use it much’…kind of crud (as I did ). Get yourself a Tacx Flow, some folk diss them but if you utilise their multiple functions they really are a fab training tool……you’ve got to ‘get into it’, but watch out, it’s highly addictive!
5. Boring session; I beg to differ. Yesterday evening I was ramping up watts whilst monitoring cadence …I could monitor HR if I wished (power is the key to using indoor trainers). The beauty of the Flow is you can instantly flick through variables on the bar unit, observe the power graph whilst doing so (feel the pain) or chose to train with static load & cadence…have I mentioned running time and distance….there’s more.
6. One can upgrade (when I’m working that is) the ‘Flow’ to an ‘i-magic’ (google it) and race other users online in real time in virtual reality…boring you say?
7. DO NOT buy a gel type, I trashed mine very quickly…go for the magnetic versions. More expensive but I’ve had ZERO trouble from mine since 2005…it’s showing no sign of wear and I purchased it second hand…quality 🙂
8. You can capture the training data…tracking progress (i magic only, but I bet a PC geek could interface the screen output)
9. More advanced versions, made by other manufacturers are available but you get my point(s). There’s heaps of choice now.
10. Due to my current life-style, I’d be seriously gutted without my turbo….it’s been a life-saver.
11. Rollers….erm, I believe they go around?