Turbo Trainer Advice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDBUFZ4rzPY

Does it do it when coasting?

Warranty replacement.

The noise stops when coasting – video

The grinding is definitely louder on the downstroke rather than a constant sound like yours. I'm going to try another cassette and see if that makes a difference.

Really hoping I don't have to go down the warranty replacement route as they seem to be out of stock everywhere...

Is it a new chain or cassette?

Both bought in June, and were fine last time I was using.

I've probably done an extra 500–700km on the chain but outside and on a different cassette (also new from June). Do you think that could be causing any issues?

Potentially but it'd have to be a pretty rough 500k to make a difference, unless your chain cleaning hygiene is poor. I've just put a new chain on my singlespeed and it sounds horrible under load, I'm assuming because of the big difference from new to old chainring and cog wear amounts. But that's a lot more than 500k difference.

I checked the chain wear and it’s got loads of life left! I swapped over the cassette from my wheel and it’s still making the grinding noise in the higher gears. Also noticed a slight noise/vibration when coasting on each revolution of the flywheel which is a bit concerning.

Will have to wait and see what Wahoo say... Fingers crossed for a quick fix, I want to get riding!

They've gone straight for a warranty replacement, hopefully have a new one within a week.

Yeah, they were pretty good about mine. I think I had a new unit in a couple of days.

Can anyone recommend a cheap turbo that will take a 120mm track axle? Had a search & seen a Cyclops one mentioned but wondering if anyone has something they can recommend - weather north of the border is turning decidedly icy & I want another option for when it's too grim to venture outside - I have another bike I could use but I'd rather have the option to use the singlespeed as I've been quite enjoying just plodding along on it recently (until a hill appears), don't see me bothering with zwift etc - just something to keep the legs spinning.

Cheers!

If you get turbo axle nuts you should be able to use most cheap turbos.

I've used these on a Cyclops Fluid Pro for example and I'm pretty sure they fit the Computrainer too.

Smashing, cheers!

What's a good cheapish option for a turbo that could be upgraded for rouvy/zwift etc if I changed my mind about the smart option, anything to look for or definitely avoid? It's always possible I'll spend more time on it than I expected given there's probably gonna be half an inch of ice outside until March...

Ta!

I only have experience with Computrainer (old but solid, cheap now) and KICKR (~£1k) so I'm not the one to ask regarding cheap smart trainers. Some people just use speed sensor thingies instead of power but there's not much point in my mind doing that unless you want to just pretend you're World Tour pro level in Zwift races.

Tacx Vortex is entry level smart trainer. Does the job but has limitations if you are pushing big watts, want to do steep climbs, want really quick response for HIIT intervals, etc. It's fine for the longer intervals I mostly do at modest power.

Cost about £300 new. But none available so second hand ones are going for a bit more than that.

Ah yeah, I remember speaking to someone with an old, but good turbo who used speed/cadence sensors to link it to the virtual world, that just introduces another level of confusion!

@frank9755 cheers, that model had cropped up during a look around earlier - I don't need anything too high end or cutting edge accuracy, just something with enough feedback to keep me interested & give me a rough idea of output.

According to me, buying a singlespeed with mudguards was supposed to negate the need for a turbo, don't think I even put 100 miles on that then everything froze... oh well...

Edit Put a wtd ad on a local cycling group page & someone's offered a Tacx Vortex with a riser & new tyre for £200 - sound any good?

Good price

Just make sure its the Vortex Smart and not the dumb Vortex.

Tacx or their UK distributor dumped the Vortex Smart on clearance at Wiggle EBay etc in May 2019 for £180-200 but its definitely worth more than that.

As stated it doesn’t really react quickly enough for really spiky sub 60 sec efforts but after 10 secs you’ll be at 500 watts if you really want to be.

Good point for checking it is the Smart version. Dumb trainers are not worth much nowadays.

A bit more on the limitations of the Vortex Smart.

This might not mean much until you get up to speed with the jargon, but it doesn't work well on powermatch in Trainerroad. And it is known for measuring a bit high. Also it has quite tight tolerances for which gear you are in. Too low a gear and you can't get the power on enough. Too high and it is too easy and doesn't respond well to starts of intervals. Best to always use the same gear for erg (smart) mode.

To illustrate, I did a 20 min FTP test this morning. I used the trainer to measure power. I also measure power from my PM on my head unit. FTP score was 12W higher on the trainer than on the PM. That is ok, as I know that I need to adjust my power targets for outside rides. However, if I didn't know to adjust, I'd not be doing the right workouts outside.

All trainers have their limitations (and the cheaper ones more than the top ones), and you need to know what they are to use them to best advantage. But if you do, they are good.

@dubtap @frank9755

Cheers, yeah I checked & it's the smart version with connectivity built in -had read a couple of reviews stating it reads a bit high, shouldn't be a problem for me as i'm not using it as a dedicated training tool - while the numbers are useful for reference i'm just using it to keep myself moving!

Will see how I get on - might give the free version of RGT a bash to get started & see how I take to kitchen based cycling, only other experience with indoor training is the ICG bikes they have at the gym - the huge video wall made it a bit more interesting but after an hour or so I was looking at the clock.

Need to track down some Tacx track nuts too - might just fling the singlespeed on there & leave it

What are the reasons for going for standard Wahoo Kickr vs the Core?

I think I'm on the look out for my first turbo. Noise is a concern as we have a baby on the way, with the bedroom above where I'll be using it in my kitchen (floor is getting sounds insulated but still...) So direct drive is probably the way to go right?

Also my mrs might want to use it, her bike is 9 speed though, mine 11. Is the only option with a direct drive to convert her bike to 11 speed?

You can probably get it to run ok on 9 speed using ERG mode if she doesn't shift at all, but clearly indexing will be all wrong.

In my experience turbo noise is suitable white noise, the things that potentially woke the baby up was the sharp noises, like clunky gear changes, clipping in, and any excess noise from rattling.

Also my mrs might want to use it, her bike is 9 speed though, mine 11. Is the only option with a direct drive to convert her bike to 11 speed?

My bike is 11 speed, running on a 10 speed cassette using only ERG. I think you need to work down, so you'd have to fit a 9 speed cassette to the trainer (may limit your choice of trainer?!). Don't think you can run a 9 speed chain on an 11 speed cassette as the chain is wider on the outside.

Don't really have noise issues with an Elite Suito, can't hear it from other rooms with the door shut. Can also take a 9 speed cassette.

Don't think you can run a 9 speed chain on an 11 speed cassette as the chain is wider on the outside.

Good point, so I'd be running in ERG mode, and not shifting, she could do what she wants if we set it up with a 9speed cassette. This would a cheaper way to find out she won't use it than converting her bike to 11speed! Good news, this is the kind of insider info I came here for.

Just to check, you're suggesting my 11sp chain should work on a 9sp cassette (albeit stuck in one gear)

Just to check, you're suggesting my 11sp chain should work on a 9sp cassette (albeit stuck in one gear)

I can't guarantee and you'll need to do a bit of Google research but I think so. This website suggests that inner width is the same.. https://bike.bikegremlin.com/1220/1-bicycle-chains-compatibility/

Multi speed chains from 9 to 12 speeds have inner width of 11/128″
(2.18 mm).

Tweeks cycles have the lifeline trainer desks at £100, these have been particularly hard to find over the last few months.

https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/lifeline-trainer-table-hot649459/