Turbo trainer or get out and get wet

Turbo is good for winter weekday evenings or really bad weather, but when time and weather allow, during the winter I just fit heavier wheels, use cheaper hard wearing heavy wire bead tyres and ride laps of a 10km circuit rather than go on 60km runs.

Having tried both I'd go for rollers every time. It just feels more like riding a bike. You have to concentrate and focus and therefore it seems more rewarding. The turbo just feels like going to work.

I've been using my Turbos for over a month now to bring me into the cross season.

If you had a crosser (might get one for the price you were going to pay for turbos) you could go for it the hard but fun way i.e
Get riding now. Then start racing cross. It's highly inclusive no mater how good you are. Race that between late September and Christmas and I'll guarantee you'll be fitter.
Have a break. Then start the winter build up. Winter training with club mates is something I actually relish. Anyway train so you arrive fit at the time you need to be. Don't go mad with nothing to enter for months ahead or you'll do yourself a mischeif.
Getting fit should be done steadilly, you wont get injured and you'll devolop a nice base on which to work on.

I have to say that I hate turbo training. For me the way to get through the winter other than joining a club (club runs) and doing some cyclocross (as already mentioned) is to do some all round fitness training. Cycling is very intense on certain muscle groups; I believe that working on your all round fitness is important. I recomend you add weight/circuit training, swimming to your training when the weather is poor. Possibly some short running sessions for variety. Join a club is the best idea though!

Everyone is different so you may like the turbo or you may hate it. Without specific goals for workouts (hard interval sessions etc.) its hard to keep motivated though.

Personally I would say that considering you are a novice and the time of year its best to just get on the bike. Training as such does not need to start for a while and certainly not the high intensity stuff that most people use a turbo for. I would get a 2nd hand CX bike a 1000 lumen (cheap)light and ride around bridleways and woods for a few months.

However if you dont like the rain/dont have the time then get a turbo.

I feel the turbo is almost the polar opposite of the outdoor riding experience. I rarely regret an outdoor ride even in the rain and wind. I almost always feel a sorrow when getting on the turbo. It is a hatefull time that I try to pretend is not really happening. ( I will be using a turbo in 5-6months but only because I have tt goals that must be reached)

Anyone got any opinions on the benefits of rollers over turbos?

TBH I've never used a special tyre or a turbo with a cadence meter. My HRM has a stopwatch and it's easy to calculate your cadence just by looking and counting.

I'd save your money and have a go on a Watt bike, there's not much point of spending all that money just to sit on a turbo only to find your not even pedaling properly.

Something simple like the 'time crunched' is ideal. However you have to be honest with yourself and work very hard to improve. Think of it this way, if you haven't the will power to suffer for an hour on the turbos how will you ever find it to race?

Okay I am a bit old fashioned, but just get a jacket on and get out and ride.

All the best with it.

Both, anything, everything.
Turbos aren't just for winter, they're great for specific training where quality counts anytime of the year.

Typically over winter it's early starts and big miles, the sun ain't gonna shine so you might as well drag yourself out.
Twice weekly interval sessions on the turbos.
Once a week for a night ride with the local MTB club.
Interspersed with CX races and reliability trials.

NO, dont just plonk it in front of the TV, unless your watching cycling or some of the turbo training dvd's you can get online (free)

If you end up in front of Corrie or something else you like watching, you'll lose your focus and might as well not be on the trainer

I'd get one with a readout, really helps if you get bored - which you will. I'd plonk the turbo in front of the TV and put some decent music on.

Night mountain biking with your mates though is hard to beat!

I picked up a HRM for 20 quid at Tesco. I tend to use mine more for running, but have occasionally used it on the bike and it does the job admirably.

Its not a gimmick, but in my view, unless your a pro or very very serious then why do you need to know your power wattage? so you know how many light bulbs you could be powering?

Cadence you can get from a cycle computer and the same with heart rate, which in the long run is a lot better way to have it, because you can use those out on the road aswell

The other thing IF i had that kind of money lying about, would be to get the full Tacx set up

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tacx/fortius-multiplayer-ec008680

That you can ride against people on the internet

don't need £300

Something like this £139.99

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tacx/sirius-soft-gel-t1435-turbo-tra...

Then something like this for the front wheel

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/elite/travel-block-ec007764

Then depending on your floor a training mat and a sweat thong

Well with you having no other bike, you'd be better picking up a 2nd hand rear wheel to put a trainer tyre on, just make sure its got the same gearing you normally use, else your going to be switching your tyres everytime you want to go back outside or tearing them to sherds on the turbo

So with you having that budget, get a rear wheel (doesn't need to be anything fancy, just a straight and true one) and cassette from ebay and then spend the rest on a trainer and tyre

yep, as above. turbo and get out in the wind/rain etc, and if it snows get out on the MTB if you have one.

most of all enjoy it, dont just force yourself outside into bad weather/conditions if you really dont want to.

You'll get better quality out if a turbo in really bad weather like today was. Thing is, you need structure and a plan or as mentioned, sufferfest training videos.

They are a fun way to do reps which is to say, short periods of intense efforts separated by rest and flanked either side with warm up/down sessions.

Otherwise known as suicides or just plain suffering.

Nothing replaces mileage but not at the cost of quality. I can't wait for full on winter, love my weekend 2 hours in the rain and mid week sufferfest sessions.

Cycling Weekly had a short article featuring various riders recommendations on rep plans and what they each give you, power, climbing, aerobic etc.

Depends on how much time you have, especially when the clocks change.

A hard 1hr turbo session can equate to a 2hr road ride, depending on how hard you push that. A turbo can give you quality training if you do it right. Just don't sit on it for 3hrs spinning. Instead do reps for an hour to build power, strength etc. Try sufferfest videos to give you something to watch and training instructions.

Even 1 turbo a week with the rest on the road can benefit.

Hard graft all the time, i have a trainer, but only because the snow around here gets really heavy and roads dont get cleared or gritted properly