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Turbo trainer or get out and get wet

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  • September 6, 2011 at 10:07 pm #14191
    Daza

    Hi, 1st post and very green to cycling but what winter training would stand by you better, spinning on a turbo trainer or hard graft out in the wind and rain?

    currently doing 100 miles per week and pushing as hard as i can “well i think i am” . 16 weeks so far and have lost 2st 6lb with another 1 stone to go which will leave me at a lean 12 1/2 stone, well that`s the plan!(5ft 10″)

    do i need to get more miles under my belt with the intention of doing some 10mile TT`s and a few road races next year.

    big thanks to any-1 for there advice.

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total)
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  • September 23, 2011 at 6:53 am #653831
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    the_mikey

    Turbo is good for winter
    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.

    September 17, 2011 at 12:05 am #653829
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    _SiD_

    Having tried both I’d go for
    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.

    September 16, 2011 at 5:56 pm #653827
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    Squiggle

    Cooks wrote:Anyone got any

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

    Yup I do!

    Rollers rule! You can wreck yourself just as effectively on rollers as with a turbo but will improve your pedalling and balance at the same time.

    You can also make great fun out of recovery sessions by challenging yourself to ride for longer periods no handed in smaller and smaller gears.

    If it’s freezing sky-piss outside then I’d have much more motivation to get on the rollers than get on a turbo.

    September 10, 2011 at 9:48 pm #653825
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    Daza

    ok went out on friday with
    ok went out on friday with who i considered the best of the last bunch of guys and fought a head wind for 34 mile over quite a few climbs and averaged 17.8mph which i was happy with. he added that he had trouble keeping up with me on the hills for 3/4 of the ride but i did start hurting 3 hills from home but still managed the last 6 mile at 25mph again into a headwind. my hill training has been paying off but endurance is still rather lacking. will be out in the morning again with up to 50 riders so will be interesting. legs are still very sore unfortunatly so hope they start off slow lol

    big thanks for all the input gentlemen

    September 9, 2011 at 11:50 am #653823
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    oldgit

    I’ve been using my Turbos for
    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.

    September 9, 2011 at 11:02 am #653821
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    SideBurn

    I have to say that I hate
    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!

    September 9, 2011 at 9:50 am #653819
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    ilovemytinbred

    Everyone is different so you
    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)

    September 9, 2011 at 8:27 am #653817
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    Cooks

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

    September 8, 2011 at 6:50 pm #653815
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    oldgit

    TBH I’ve never used a special
    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.

    September 8, 2011 at 6:40 pm #653813
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    oldgit

    Both, anything,
    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.

    September 8, 2011 at 4:04 pm #653811
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    Gkam84

    NO, dont just plonk it in
    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

    September 8, 2011 at 4:01 pm #653809
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    davethomas

    I’d get one with a readout,
    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!

    September 8, 2011 at 8:30 am #653807
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    Cooks

    I picked up a HRM for 20 quid
    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.

    September 7, 2011 at 10:16 pm #653805
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    Daza

    Have a computer on the bike
    Have a computer on the bike that measures cadence etc which is great and takes the boring factor out of a 50mile cycle and is a great training aid. no heart monitor though so another investment needed.
    Wont ever be a pro but i will give it 100% and see how good or bad i am with whatever training aids work.

    thanks for all the great advice

    September 7, 2011 at 10:08 pm #653803
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    Daza

    Hi, I will be joining a club
    Hi, I will be joining a club in the next few weeks hopefully. only went out on 1 run with 8 other guys on a 38mile very hilly route and did ok, well i wasnt dropped like a few other guys were 😀 But yes riding in a group was great.
    will be going again this week with the same guys after not being with them for the last month so interesting to see have i improved any.

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