[Closed] turbo trainer distractions

Some kind of structure for each session is an absolutel must. Trainerroad is very good for this but things like the Sufferfest (or Zwift plans) work too.

I always have something playing on the laptop in the background, something loud, shouty with plenty of action and no concetration required works for me!

Some kind of structure for each session is an absolutel must. Trainerroad is very good for this but things like the Sufferfest (or Zwift plans) work too.

+1
You can also find plenty of turbo workouts of varying quality on YouTube.

Otherwise, something like a 30/30 session - hard to get bored when you are constantly shifting gear and breathing out of your arse.

I really like the sufferfest videos. Nice sense of humour in there amongst a serious workout. They do a subscription app which has all the workouts on now so £8 a month instead of £8 a video - much more variety.

If you're going to do any training, try to work out your FTP so you know where your zones are.

If you have no access to a power meter, it might be possible to ride as hard as you can for 20 minutes and take a reading of your speed at 1 minute intervals. Take the average of this and use this as a FTP replacement.

Assuming your FTP is 30kmh then that is the 7.5 amount.
0. 0 0%
1. 11 35%
2. 14 45%
2.5 15 50%
3. 17 55%
3.5 18 60%
4. 20 65%
4.5 21 70%
5. 23 75%
5.5 24 80%
6. 26 85%
6.25 26 88%
6.5 27 90%
6.75 28 93%
7. 29 95%
7.25 29 98%
7.5 30 100%
7.75 31 104%
8. 32 108%
8.25 34 112%
8.5 35 116%
8.75 36 120%
9. 37 124%
9.5 40 132%
10. 42 140%

This will then give you zones to train in, without a power meter.
(will also give you a baseline to see improvements on. I really [s]don't[/s] look forward to my monthly FTP tests)

I've just made this up btw, so someone shoot me down if it's not going to work!

Other than that I use Zwift but it needs power (or a trainer they have a power curve for). Have just started racing on there and it's very hard.

There's some youtube workouts with fit sweaty chicks that are quite distracting...

I've just made this up btw, so someone shoot me down if it's not going to work!

It'll kind of work but not very well.
A) Your example is linear - most trainers have a resistance curve
B) Each model of turbo trainer has a different curve
C) Different trainers of the same type that [i]should[/i] be the same also have a different curve
D) And to cap it all off, the curve alters (sometimes dramatically) depending on the temperature.

Used Traineroad last night for the first time (FTP) in my garage.

Asmart trainer controlled by a spare android phone. And a spare old dumb TV made smart with a dongle. (Netflix/Iplayer/Youtube/Etc)

I used to record road races on British Eurosport and watch them while I was turbo-ing in the living room.

Not the best time of year for that now, but you could watch old races on YouTube?

thanks all. Some good suggestions there.

Not sure (yet) about the zwift racing or serious training. I'm mainly MTB, old (just turned 50), too fat, don't race anymore. Mainly just want some way of staying active and maintain (actually increase) bike fitness. My current fitness is way off race level, so not sure I'm a good fit for power zone stuff at the moment.

https://www.youtube.com/user/ucichannel

I usually have this playing in the background. Yesterday I watched the trials videos - kept me entertained for an hour. Usually though I watch the Cyclo-cross ones becuase they always make me feel I could be someplace worse than my garage 😀

Zwift racing is awesome! Don't need any kind of structure, just get on and race (or just ride if you like). You can even lie about your weight! (we won't tell 🙂 ) Definitely the simplest & most fun way to get fitter using a turbo IMO

Usually though I watch the Cyclo-cross ones becuase they always make me feel I could be someplace worse than my garage

*likes*

There's a big thread on TrainerRoad, make that very big! I use TrainerRoad - you can make any session as easy or as hard as you want plus many of the sessions while not "interesting" are varied enough that you don't notice the time passing/dragging as much as just twiddling away. You can choose to follow one of their plans or just pick and choose workouts as you see fit.

If you aren't using TR for a while you can suspend your subscription and restart it the next winter for example.

I've not used Zwift or Sufferfest so can't comment on how they compare.

It'll kind of work but not very well.
A) Your example is linear - most trainers have a resistance curve
B) Each model of turbo trainer has a different curve
C) Different trainers of the same type that should be the same also have a different curve
D) And to cap it all off, the curve alters (sometimes dramatically) depending on the temperature.

All good points...
Hence buying a controllable turbo (and feeling the pain like nothing else. I realise how much I was 'cheating' when on one that just output an estimated power to my ipad)
But that's a lot of expense for a couple of months use.

I watch normal hour-ish long documentaries (its how i watched all of planet earth II) and use a free app on my iphone to time intervals.

i'd love zwift setup.. but honestly, my simple HIIT routine really works well enough

i do about 5 sets of 5 reps arranged in a /\ fashion based on duration, with a bit of a warm up, and a cool down tacked on the end

Build a shed and fill it with pictures of happy manatees.

APF

Zwift has literally changed my life. Been on since early beta. It and rediscovering road riding as a result has meant a 16Kg weight loss over the last couple of years and at 50 I am am as fit as I have ever probably been.

Zwift has many facets, solo rides, workouts, group rides, Event challenges, FTP tests and racing. Never raced anything in my life before but after getting a top 5 in a Zwift cat C race I am hooked.

As for the MTB, well its a revelation not having my fitness hold me back anymore and can think more about technique and that's not just on the climbs, having a fitness reserve helps everywhere.

Currently running a Wahoo Kickr. A dedicated PC for Zwift, fed through my xbox one and onto a big ass TV. The xbox one lets me "snap" xbox one applications such as YouTube and Amazon prime, in a picture by picture style on the single TV easier than it is to have multiple windows on the PC itself. Mostly Zwift to youtube music videos but a bit of TV and occasional film. Sometimes just a podcast on the phone though.

The key is mixing things up, not just on what you are doing on Zwift but also what media you have playing alongside.

Zwift (like Trainer road) adds structure and metrics, things I can measure in Strava, which gives the whole trainer workout purpose, I can see its effects and its a massive motivator. I now have to ride 4 or 5 times a week, 52 weeks a year, either MTB, road or Zwift and get withdrawal symptoms if I dont.

For the last couple of years I have come out of winter fitter than when I went into it!

get some training dvds from ebay for ease, i like the spinervals ones. i personally find it much harder to use, even watching a film, if i dont go with a training dvd. plus i like that i can grab one and turn off knowing it tells me exactly what to do.

I tend to watch 'Once more with Feeling'. That will get me through the final 40 minutes of a TT session everytime.