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Hey,
So I popped a set of Continental 23c slick tyres on my Charge Plug the other day and I've bunged it on the turbo because at the moment my shoulder is wrecked and I want to keep bike fit while I can't lift weights or ride the trails.
It's a really cheapo turbo that I was given, and Jesus Titty Christ is it bloody noisy, a constant loud whirring/humming noise that scares my cats and means I need to turn the telly up to 32..
I don't think I could set this up upstairs as a result as I suspect it'd reverberate around the house.
So, ladies and gents, I'm probably in the market for something a bit quieter, or a solution to making it less noisy, (dunno if dedicated turbo tyres make less noise?)
I don't really want/need a smart trainer, I just want to keep my heart rate up for a few hours each week, and I can do that with my watch and some aggression.
Any suggestions are welcomed, by budget is as low as I can make it, don't mind buying a used trainer either.
Earplugs?
Proper turbo tyres do make a difference, but the only way to get properly quiet, is a direct drive/ wheel off type trainer.
+1 to direct drive. Find a second hand/hardly used one on ebay.
Earplugs for the cats and neighbours you mean :D.
I didn't really want to buy a direct drive one, as they all seem to be "smart connected" and to be honest I don't want to invest in something that I really, honestly, don't want to be using, I want to be out on the damn bike, actually riding it.
However, I may need to bite the bullet a bit and use one to try and get a bit fitter.
What type of resistance does your donated turbo have, Fan, magnetic or fluid? Fan only is the loudest and will never be quiet.
A proper turbo trainer tyre is quieter.
On hard floors putting a foam exercise mat under the turbo stops the floor acting liking a loudspeaker.
it's a cheap nasty one, I guess it'll be fan.
Thanks for the tips folks.
If it is the cheap Elite one from Halfords, then it is magnetic, and I can confirm it is as noisy as hell. You can make them a bit less noisy by levering off the plastic cover from the flywheel as this spins freely and makes a hell of a racket. However, make sure your cats are out of the room if you do this mod or they may end up like their Manx cousins 🙂
See if there are any shops near you that would allow you to try a 2-way interactive direct drive turbo, both in freeride and ERG mode in Zwift. I took a gamble on my Direto without a test, but I had more saddle time on it during the first month than the total saddle time on a basic 2006 trainer I had for ~10 years... So much more engaging!
And I believe the general concensus is, they are much quieter.
Basic exercise mat under my Direto since just before Xmas has made a very positive improvement to noise/vibration over a carpetted, wooden floor when I'm doing power zone 3+ workouts/races/TTs (~216W+) using the 50T ring. I still normally turbo before 1900, but now far less concerned about how much noise is reaching our downstairs neighbours (not that they have moaned since over two years ago when I used a different room).
Proper turbo tyres do make a difference, but the only way to get properly quiet, is a direct drive/ wheel off type trainer.
Pretty sure my old Elite Fluid trainer is just as quiet (if not quieter) as my current Kickr Core. Never used a turbo tyre either, just a fairly crap 25c
I think it's a TransX one and about a million years old to be honest.
I know it's red...
I've got one of these Cheap for a direct drive. BC discount (if you have it) takes 10% off.
It's a bit sloshy to start off but that settles down as you get going. I can use it in the spare bedroom with no complaints from the family. It takes up a bit of space and doesn't pack up easily so best to leave it set up somewhere.
Ive tried rollers this year. Far more interesting and feels more natural. Definitely quieter.
Took me a while yo get used to it but now I wouldn't use a tt.
Noise cancelling on-ear headphones. I'm using some JBL BT600NC that are reduced to 40 quid at JBL's own site at the mo.
I'm mid terrace, my neighbours each side have very young kids. I can't really ask them to give their kids noise cancelling headphones 😉
Ive tried rollers this year. Far more interesting and feels more natural. Definitely quieter.
Took me a while yo get used to it but now I wouldn’t use a tt.
I don't really have the room to set up rollers with enough room for when it inevitably goes badly.
I've also got to consider, that I've got a rather messed up shoulder, and as such it'd be a terrible idea to try to get to grips with rollers, because when it does go wrong, I doubt the landing will help my shoulder out much.
If you don't fancy splashing out on a direct drive trainer then a fluid trainer with a dedicated turbo tyre would be best.
My Tacx Vortex is pretty quiet too. I use it in the garage (which is integral to the house) and the wife says she can only here me if I swear
If you don’t fancy splashing out on a direct drive trainer then a fluid trainer with a dedicated turbo tyre would be best.
My Tacx Vortex is pretty quiet too. I use it in the garage (which is integral to the house) and the wife says she can only here me if I swear
I think I'll end up with a fluid one.
Going to see if I can try a few, there's a good independent shop a few villages away in Market Deeping and Rutland Water (the reservoir) is on my doorstep, so I guess Rutland Cycling might see me this weekend too.