Turbo Trainer Advice

Trying to decide which bike to use on the new turbo when it arrives.

Currently using a ti frame but with 10 speed group set. However the chainrings and rest of the drivetrain are pretty worn out.

Alternatives could be my old commuto x bike - ti frame with mechanical hydro 11 speed group set moderately used

Or carbon hydro di2 synapse again moderately used drivetrain

To be honest the cost of replacing chainrings chain and cassette on the 10 speed bike looks expensive.

Would of course put in brake spacer into either hydro bike if using on turbo to stop myself pushing pistons out on rear caliper.

https://zwiftinsider.com/zwift-e-control­ler/

Not as fancy as spinnnout, but it looks straightforward and cheap.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/YUMQUA-Controll­er-Classic-Windows-Raspberry-Multi-Color­-2-Packs/dp/B01NAEO5W6/ref=sr_1_4?dchild­=1&keywords=usb+nintendo+controllers&qid­=1612125796&sr=8-4
I guess these should work.

Cool, and can you also incorporate a remote for Vacmaster fan speed please.

If you've got the space having a bike ready to go is something to prevent you not doing stuff.
New chain, 105 cassette, single ring.
?

I don’t seem bother riding bikes on the road anymore. And have the space to leave a bike on the turbo full time. So just trying to work out the best/cheapest option to set up asap when I get home on Tuesday as the new turbo should have arrived by then. 7900 chainrings are stupidly expensive and there don’t seem to be many cheaper alternatives.

Are you suggesting just putting the 34t chainring on the 10spd bike? That might be a cheap option. Am assuming the erg mode on the kickr core will be much better than the Tacx where I had to use gears to help get appropriate resistance.

Hello turbo gurus. Quick novice question; I want a non-smart turbo that is robust and as quiet as can be. Something seemingly like the out of stock Elite Novo Force. Or to put it another way, the best turbo under £200. I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Elite/Novo-Force-Turbo-Trainer/NNR7#reviews

Why not get a smart turbo?

Hi James, Well, I guess I don't have a great deal of patience with the tech set-up and am more looking at just doing workouts without having to download or upload data if that makes sense. Just stick the bike on there and go for half and hour or so.

The tech set up is negligible

My Tacx vortex smart connects well via Bluetooth to my tablet or phone and using TrainerRoad gives me properly structured workouts and training plans which even factors in lighter recovery sessions amongst harder ones.

By working around ftp the whole process is much better than just trying to guess what I was doing with a non smart turbo.

Got it. Actually, I see the benefit if it is that easy via Bluetooth - something like the Wahoo KICKR Snap, though more than I'd kinda hope to spend less, might be a thing. I'll have a look at the Tacx one (or recent - that one appears no longer available). Is it quiet?

It’s not quiet but no wheel on turbo is quiet.

Right, thanks James for the help. I'll look into it some more and see if anyone else has any further suggestions

I'd get a non-smart fluid trainer at that money. Assume you have a power meter? If so, you could probably get Zwift/TR to work ok.

But in all honesty, a good smart trainer is a game changer for training.

Could try rollers with resistance. Probably the winners for low volume and simplicity.

Well I mean, you could?
Or buy a single raptor chainring fromnsuperstar for £40.

Sometimes you can pick something up on gumtree / fb marketplace for a decent price if you know what you're after - I would echo the comments about going for a smart option, it does hold your attention better & there's always the option of dipping your toe into Zwift/RGT etc (some of these have a free trial option). I had a Tacx Vortex at first - really easy to set up & can run workouts off your phone if you're not bothered about setting up a laptop etc. I really don't think I would have spent as much time on the turbo if not for following programs on apps

@dancing james

A 5 bolt narrow wide chainring would fit your da7900, and maybe a second hand cassette for the turbo?

Replacement Duraace rings are silly money.

Shifting quality and chain wear are less important if you’re in ERG mode and not changing gear much.

I've got 10 speed cassettes I'd hand over for free, but I'm not sure of their "soundness". for want of a better phrase.
(i.e. they may well be shagged)

I think I have some shimano 5 bolt 9/10 chainrings I could send for postage, it won't match the cranks, but they'll work.

I am hoping new turbo will have an erg mode where shifting becomes a thing of the past. With the tacx I couldn’t get low power in the big ring but I couldn’t get high resistance in the little ring.

However if problems persist I may take you up on the offer of the chain rings and put a cheap ten speed cassette and new chain on.

Cheers

will you ever use it non-ERG i.e zwift and other stuff

if so stick with double and there are non-shimano double chainrings you can buy

also what about the 'other' bike (9 speed?)

where did you get the wahoo mounting plate ? I'm tempted to try make up one of the hardwired game controllers but would like to mount it to the front of my bike

edit: the electronic bay to the rescue

edit 2: no keyboard shortcut on zwift to toggle ERG mode on and off so juice probably not worth the squeeze... could I program it so that I can press up to show the menu, have an L/R to highlight the options within the menu, and have an enter button to choose those options (i.e. erg on/off)? that might work maybe. not sure if you can L/R/enter on that little menu though - normally navigate it with mouse

9 speed is my wife’s hybrid, not one I use. We had set it up for the turbo but after 5 months i think she had used it 3 times.

Am not sure about zwift, I enjoy isolation too much, so not convinced I’d rather be sweating with virtual company than my current TrainerRoad and Netflix lifestyle.

Clubmates have recently started using RGT with their magic roads, and put in the local club route and elevation profile.
Haven't had a go on it yet, but other than generic scenery, they seem to have enjoyed simulating the club run, and chainganging on the flatter bits and grovelling up the steeper bits.

If the plan is using erg just use the worn out drivetrain until it disintegrates, it wears a lot slower than in the road.