Trainer Season
It's getting to be that time of year. The indoor time of year I mean. Nasty weather and short daylight tends to drive people inside. Well, what kind of trainer are you using? Pez recently had this review of an Elite trainer which looks like a good buy. Yours truly uses a Performance TravelTrac fluid trainer which is a few years old. It has served me well. It actually has an LCD display which hooks on the bars and provides speed, mileage and wattage. However, the wattage is interpolated and it only updates around every 12 seconds or so which isn't very useful. I have also noticed that the viscosity of the fluid tends to change as the unit warms up and this results in different wattage outputs (from my Power Tap) the longer you run it.
But if I were to look for a new trainer, I think I would get the Kurt Kinetic from Analytic Cycling. There's also the Computrainer which pro Freddy Rodriguez seems to use extensively but this is a bit pricey for an exclusively indoor unit in my opinion. So what's your trainer of choice for the indoor season?
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Kurt Kinetic here...
I think a key aspect to selecting a trainer is its size when folded up. A person should find a dusty and rarely accessed storage area that is intended for trainer storage, measure it, then select a trainer accordingly.
Also if a trainer can be used for tasks other than training (such as a decorative sculpture, or as ballast on a sail boat) it should be given a higher rating.
Finally, a trainer should be inexpensive. Considering that you will avoid this thing as if it were a relative hitting you up for a loan, and at best you will begrudgingly use it only a few months out of a year, you should spend accordingly.
In all seriousness, I have succeeded in riding an actual bike on actual trails or roads exclusively this year by purchasing a $350 HID light (Borrow one from a friend and see for yourself, riding with a light is fun). I can not bring myself to ride a trainer anymore until the snow is so deep that riding is no fun at all (then and only then is riding a trainer an attractive option for me).
The Kurt Kinetic
(aff) with a heavy flywheel is by far the most realistic feeling trainer I have ever ridden, and it is built to last (weather its going to be used or not).
I owned a computrainer, but ultimately sold it and got the Kurt. The Kurt is great...if you must ride a trainer. I also have a cheap set of rollers...these are less mind numbing to ride as they seem to require 100% of your concentration to avoid crashing--Hard. They will improve your bike handling skills remarkably and that is a great thing to work on in the winter months!
Want to see some serious rollers riding? Check this dude out!
Final rating?
1. A helmet light is the best winter training aid I have ever purchased
2. Kurt Kinetic (you will wear out several bikes before you wear this thing out)
3. Sheet of ice in the driveway (outscores the rollers due to price, ease of staying upright, and stow-ability in the summer, but less reliable than the Kurt)
4. Rollers. They are fun and good for impressing people...If you can make them believe that you actually ride them.
It's all about time
Ballast on a sailboat, that's good! The helmet light and evening riding does sound like a good and fun alternative. However, I just don't have the time to do that. Packing all the gear, putting the bike on the vehicle and driving to the park, this all takes time. I need some very efficient ways to ride and during the winter, it's the trainer for me. I can set it up and it will be there waiting for me in the early morning. I just put on shorts and jersy and I'm ready to hop on it and start riding. And the power meter of course allows for lots of variation in workouts.
yes, of course
its all tongue and cheek (obviously).
Nothing beats a trainer for efficiency, but they can be boring. I am serious when I say I use several means(lights, Kurt trainer, and rollers). Gotta mix it up. Rollers will definately help you maintain confidence, and technique, but a trainer is a must for intervals (in my book).
And seriously, buy cheap rollers because you will probably not use them nearly as much. Mine are VERY cheap, and they hold up just fine if you take care of them. I have owned Kreitlers, but sold them because they seemed like a very nice but expensive tool that was getting used once a month.
Rollers are Good
Yes, I have some that I bought used for around $70. These are great for spinning and recovery. I think trackies use them a lot too.
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