Turbo Trainer Advice

Rollers are great. Still use mine with the fixie skidder.

But nothing can cause calculated, controlled, suffering like a turbo.

I've seen people fall off turbos before. It's funny.

These Magna whatsits look just like JetFluids with a different (mag) resistance unit.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/resistance-trainer/product/review-cycleops-supermagneto-pro-12-33968

But nothing can cause calculated, controlled, suffering like a turbo.

I suspect that I could.

I suspect that I could.

Not sure if that's a boast post or something I should be worried about?

Rollers are great. Still use mine with the fixie skidder.

But nothing can cause calculated, controlled, suffering like a turbo.

I use hills for that :p with swains only a 3 mile ride away it's fine will only be usingy rollers to spin spin spin.

I've seen people fall off turbos before. It's funny.

These Magna whatsits look just like JetFluids with a different (mag) resistance unit.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/resistance-trainer/product/review-cycleops-supermagneto-pro-12-33968

Its the Pro frame.

The resistance unit has magnets that hat move outwards as you increase speed. The further out they are, they more they produce resistance. The outward motion of the magnets is resisted by springs. These springs are adjusted by setting your level (spinning, road, interval, mountain).

I use hills for that :p with swains only a 3 mile ride away it's fine will only be usingy rollers to spin spin spin.

No shortage of hills here.

For me its more of a case of when I cant get out of the house.

Ha yeah I've seen those hill, not sure I could face them on mah sweet fixeh!

Its the Pro frame.
The resistance unit has magnets that hat move outwards as you increase speed. The further out they are, they more they produce resistance. The outward motion of the magnets is resisted by springs. These springs are adjusted by setting your level (spinning, road, interval, mountain).

That's what I'm saying. It looks exactly the same as my JetFluid (Pro) with a different resistance unit on it.

Which trainer is best for me?

• Wind: The wind provides progressive resistance with a fan blade design. It is simple, inexpensive, with good road-feel, but noise levels increase quickly with your wheel speed.
  
• Magnetic: Uses magnetic resistance with three resistance levels. It is a perfect trainer for novice riders who simply want to log some miles over the winter.
  
• Magnetic Plus: Same unit as above, but with a handlebar-mounted remote control, which enables a wider selection of resistance levels at your fingertips.
  
• Magneto: The only magnetic trainer on the market with progressive resistance. Extraordinary road-feel, an elegant design, and a very quiet ride. Includes Cam Lever for easy adjustment of resistance unit. Resistance range is more than adequate for most enthusiast riders, but Sprinters, Clydesdales, and Mountain-Goats, please read on...
  
• Fluid 2: The Fluid trainer offers the widest range of progressive resistance. Spin along with virtually no resistance or hammer out a 2000-watt sprint. You will never outgrow this trainer. Includes Cam Lever for easy adjustment of resistance unit.
  

Indra,

I have one you can borrow till July 15th which is a few days before I move back up north

Im going on holiday tomorrow and am busy pretty much all the way up until that date

pm me if you want it, you'll need to collect tonight though

Oh my god thanks Callum!

Ha yeah I've seen those hill, not sure I could face them on mah sweet fixeh!

For the record. I've done the big one on my sweet fixeh twice.

[/boast post]

Oh hell now I must.

I'm selling one cheap here...

Those numbers don't seem right. Have you selected your turbo trainer's profile in the pull down menu? The software needs to know your kit so it can use the correct power curve so it can generate virtual power data.

I have been experimenting with this. Trying a different setting this evening gives me an FTP of 98.

I am neither an expert in sports performance nor a world class athlete but even to my untrained eye that seems a bit low. It looks as though I am going to have to go through the test with different settings, one by one, until some sane numbers begin to appear, or I become Chris Hoy.

^ That does sound a bit low :-/

Have you checked that the magnets aren't leaking...

OTOH my LTHR is 161, whatever the fuck that means. That was adjusted upwards from the default so I suppose it must be a good sign.

LTHR

I'm not dyslexic, but initially read that as LordOfTheRings..

No wonder I don't go outside very often - I wouldn't survive for long.

161 rings to rule them all. Christ, imagine how many hours Peter Jackson could get out of that.

If your FTP is 98W*, it's a bit more 'Meet The Feebles' than 'Lord Of The Rings'.

*having ridden with you, I'm confident it's not

The minimum effort needed to get up my hill is ~250 watts, how did your "98 watt" effort compare to that in terms of perceived exertion?

OTOH my LTHR is 161, whatever the fuck that means. That was adjusted upwards from the default so I suppose it must be a good sign.

Your LTHR is basically the heart rate version of your FTP. The maximum HR you can maintain over an hour.

Mine is 163. Which isnt bad for a guy of my vintage.

My FTP is 266. Which, given my weight, isnt amazing for a keen cyclist. But I'm pretty happy about it.

As for your FTP. it sounds wrong. See this calculation, based on a you giving it the beans for the full distance.

FTP = 98.
Weight + bike = 13 Stone.
Distance travelled over 1 hour on a flat course with no wind < 15 miles.
Average speed = 14.8 mph.

Thats pretty darn slow.

The minimum effort needed to get up my hill is ~250 watts, how did your "98 watt" effort compare to that in terms of perceived exertion?

hmmmm 250% FTP. I can maintain this for around 5 seconds before total body melt down. How short is this hill?

200 metres.

That 250 is going very slowly, it literally is the bare minimum effort needed.

To go up the hill "confidently" requires ~400 watts.

Well if you've pushed 250% FTP for more than a second or 2. You'd fecking know about it.

According to my PowerCal (so massive pinch of salt). I was doing around that out of each corner of our Trollstigen descent, chasing that nutter TW2. Thats me pulling the drops, to add to my 80kg, into the pedals.

That is too much effort for a slow 200 meter climb.