Turbo trainers and sickly folk « Singletrack Forum

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Turbo trainers and sickly folk

25 posts & 17 voices | Started 6 months ago by cinnamon_girl | Latest reply from MTB Rob

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cinnamon_girl - Member

I've recently been pondering/mulling over this subject so would be very interested to hear your thoughts.

Currently can't ride as I'm waiting for a shoulder op but once that's done, it will take around 8 weeks to get full mobility.

I don't have a turbo trainer, borrowed one yonks ago and the noise did my head in. Don't know much about these things but the sky seems to be the limit these days involving laptops etc.

Really can't justify buying one but did wonder if they can be hired from anywhere. Is this something that an lbs could set up? After all, not everyone has the room for more clutter especially if it won't get used very often.

Also worth bearing in mind that driving may be out of the question, particularly where rehabilitation is concerned.

Over to you ... and thanks.

Posted 6 months ago #
Margin Walker - Member

I borrowed one 2 years ago from a club mate in a simlar situation - my experience is that there are a lot of TT's in garages/sheds collecting dust and people are more than happy to lend them out.

Posted 6 months ago #
cinnamon_girl - Member

Thanks for the reply.

Just curious as to whether people don't use them cos they're noisy, a faff to set up or what?

Is it something that you need to chuck a fair amount of money at to get something you'll want to use?

Questions questions!

Posted 6 months ago #
nmdbase - Member

Mostly because they are so damn boring.

Posted 6 months ago #
Margin Walker - Member

I bought a Minoura one and its quiet. Sets up in 2 mins.

I think most people dont use them because they are grim. I train with someone how thinks nothing of 2 hours on turbo when weather is really bad.

I use mine in garage for 40/50 min specific sessions (with HR monitor) or when its snowing (albeit MTB in snow seems like a better alternative)

They are good when there is no other alternative.

Posted 6 months ago #
beckykirk43 - Member

I have one sitting in the garage at home (I'm at uni and not home home at the moment), it got used a bit on rubbish weather days over the summer when I was racing and "needed" to do a recovery ride or whatever.

I've used it once since I crashed at the start of July. I expect it'll sit unused until at least the christmas holidays when I might be getting close to be allowed to ride properly again, and then it might be useful to build back a bit of fitness before I ride outside!

I didn't chuck a lot of money into it - bought 2nd hand from here; unless you know its going to get used a lot I don't see the point in spending loads (although some of the virtual reality things look very good!). Pretty quick to set up, and not overly loud.

Where are you based CG - if anywhere near me you're welcome to borrow mine for a few weeks

Posted 6 months ago #
kcr - Member

Very effective for doing focussed, specific training (i.e. intervals) in sessions up to an hour our so. For most people, not so good for general, unstructured training, because of the boredom factor.

Posted 6 months ago #
cinnamon_girl - Member

Thanks again for the replies.

becky - how are you? What's the latest news with your hand? Actually you're the ideal person to ask about turbo trainers! Can I ask why you've not been using it, apart from its location but presumably you could have taken it to Uni?

Thanks very much for the offer but I'm in the Southern part of the country and I think you're up north?

So, to summarise, turbo training is boring! But it needn't be. Was talking to a roadie mate and he does structured sessions of up to 2 hours using one that's set up with a laptop/dvd's. However he bought it from a mate who was upgrading to one with even more bells and whistles.

This is why I come back to the question of why are these not available for hire? I'm possibly facing 6 months off the bike, due to NHS waiting list, and need to stay motivated!

Posted 6 months ago #
Surrounded By Zulus - Member

What's up with your shoulder that you can't ride a bike somewhere smooth?

Posted 6 months ago #
CaptJon - Member

They are incredibly dull unless you're watching a Sufferfest video.

Posted 6 months ago #
beckykirk43 - Member

I'm not bad thanks - my consultant has decided I can probably get away without needing more surgery (yay!), just lots of physio instead - so I'm just feeling rather sore

Haven't been using it because its a bit boring, and I figured it'd probably be just as easy to start building back fitness, say a month before I can start riding again, rather than chugging away and getting bored/frustrated in the mean time.

I'm split between Nottingham/Northampton.

Posted 6 months ago #
cinnamon_girl - Member

Shoulder separation needing metalwork plus old injury of broken collarbone requiring something doing. Currently managing short walks on gravel surfaces as less chance of falling over.

Posted 6 months ago #
Surrounded By Zulus - Member

Can you not just stick some tape over the top of it to hold it in place and go out on your bike? Either that or head to a gym where they have recumbent bikes and do some endless fitness tests on them.

Posted 6 months ago #
imnotverygood - Member

I suspect the reason you can't hire them is because otherwise they would never sell any.

Posted 6 months ago #
cinnamon_girl - Member

becky - you must be so relieved of no more surgery! Hang in there.

SBZ - nope as I'm in constant pain! As regards a gym, I would rather walk on a treadmill than use an umcomfortable gym bike. Am very much listening to my body these days.

imnotverygood - well that could work both ways. One could be so impressed and actually want to buy one!

Posted 6 months ago #
fenred - Member

CG you don't need to spend lots of money, mine was a little over £120 (and totally silent), download a sufferfest DVD for around a fiver and you're good to go, one hour and you've had a very intense workout! Win!

Posted 6 months ago #
aracer - Member

Was talking to a roadie mate and he does structured sessions of up to 2 hours using one that's set up with a laptop/dvd's.

The justification for the expensive ones is that they are a lot less boring - I used to struggle with a 45 minute session on a normal one, but can manage 1.5 hours plus on my fancy computerised trainer (did up to 3 hour steady state sessions when training during the winter for a race in NZ). It really depends how your motivation is though.

Posted 6 months ago #
crazybaboon - Member

I've just started on the turbo after breaking my shoulder 5 weeks ago.
I've been using the recumbent bike and then the bikes in the gym as my movement has got better.
Very painfull on the turbo as mobility is very poor and need to constatly change hand position.
Did 90 minutes this morning, but really wanted to stop after 45!
I've got a tacx flow with the computer upgrade, so I was riding up a big hill in Majorca today.
If I was using a normal turbo I would have given up, but I wanted to finish!

Posted 6 months ago #
Karinofnine - Member

I think it would be a good idea. Mine is very basic and boring, but you can get ones where you program a ride into it, it alters the resistance according to whether you are climbing or descending, and I think some show a video too. As said above, you can get training films. If you have a heart rate monitor you can use that. All these things engage your attention and the time goes more quickly.

On the other hand, you could get a cheap one and watch any film on tv really, if it was just for basic fitness.

They are a bit noisy, and you get REALLT hot. Sweat is corrosive so completely cover your bike in a towel or something and set up a fan to blow on you to keep you cool.

Get well soon xx

Posted 6 months ago #
flap_jack - Member

Cheapest TT on CRC is £55.

TTs are for training, they're not a replacement for cycling.

I'd be worried about doing hard training soon after surgery, increased blood flow / pressure may damage the repair process.

If you're worried about leg strength you could do a program of bodyweight leg exercises - toe touches, single leg squats, lunges etc - that would need no kit and be very beneficial.

Posted 6 months ago #
Radioman - Member

I bought a Schwinn gym spinning bike . They are much sturdier and far more robust than turbos,and slightly less boring as you can move about on them plus very quiet. Second hand ones can be had for not too much cash. As they are quieter its "fun" to work out to music!!

Posted 6 months ago #
Andy - Member

C_G I have a Minoura in the garage you can borrow. Just need to work out how to get it from Berks to the West Country.

Posted 6 months ago #
djaustin - Member

Fancy borrowing one of these? (I seem to recall you are pretty petite)

Heavy and uncomfortable, but great fun. I'm too big for ours

Posted 6 months ago #
cinnamon_girl - Member

Ooooh more replies, thanks!

Some interesting comments and much to mull over. I guess, if I'm completely honest, my motivation is wearing thin due to existing health problems rather than the shoulder.

It may be that the idea of making it interesting and challenging would do the trick. But I really can't justify spending mega bucks, don't have a laptop either.

Thanks for the kind offers though, shall be doing some serious contemplating. But if you see my bikes on the Classifieds, be afraid!

Posted 6 months ago #
MTB Rob - Member

Tacx do some nice tubro trainers.
I would get a Magnetic one and invest in a slick tyre if you useing your MTB.
It is boreing but setting up in front of the TV or having music on helps. worth setting bike and trainer up on a strip of old carpet/or old sheet to protect floor from sweat/chain oil etc.

Posted 6 months ago #