Road Cycling

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I've been thinking about getting a cheap trainer since it's so cold outside. Having tested a Tacx and an Elite in shops, they're not quite a loud as I'd thought they would be. I'm probably going to have a go at Zwift too, but I think I should be fine with the garmin speed/cadence sensors on the bike and an Ant+ dongle.

I was looking at this one from Halfords: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/trainers/elite-magnetic-force-elastogel-trainer-pack

Looks good to me for the price, but any thoughts?
 
hooneeawr said:
I've been thinking about getting a cheap trainer since it's so cold outside. Having tested a Tacx and an Elite in shops, they're not quite a loud as I'd thought they would be. I'm probably going to have a go at Zwift too, but I think I should be fine with the garmin speed/cadence sensors on the bike and an Ant+ dongle.

I was looking at this one from Halfords: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/trainers/elite-magnetic-force-elastogel-trainer-pack

Looks good to me for the price, but any thoughts?
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Bear in mind, that noise in an outside space is much quieter than indoors. But generally whack in a pair of headphones and you're alright.
 
Training mat for £25!

hooneeawr said:
I was looking at this one from Halfords: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/trainers/elite-magnetic-force-elastogel-trainer-pack
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Good deal for the price, the accessories themselves are worth ~£40 or more!

Which Elite and Tacx did you try in the shop? I bet they were high end new model fluid trainers... That particular turbo (it's an Elite Volare in the pictures) is a 2014 fluid/gel/mag trainer, not a pure fluid/gel much as the 'elastogel' name would lead you to believe. Read the user reviews, it's not known as a particularly quiet trainer (reading user reviews). Yet other 'official' reviews do mention that it's quiet... Some quite contradictory info about it!

Review here mentions problems with the resistance and seemingly flimsy build quality ('You probably wouldn’t want to be doing out-of-the-saddle sprints on it'), yet reads that the quality is actually good for the price.

Google is your friend! ;)

SoliD said:
Bear in mind, that noise in an outside space is much quieter than indoors. But generally whack in a pair of headphones and you're alright.
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Agreed, where you're training and the floor below it make a huge difference to the noise.
 
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Ice galore today. I was called upon as a first aider at work to clean up and bandage a guy who'd gone for a run at lunch, slipped on some ice and banged his head. It was just like casualty, I tell you. Last I heard he was at a&e waiting to get it seen to.
 
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I do like the graphic design of the rotor cranks. Going to get going on my new install this weekend at some point I think. Was bloody cold out tonight, was counting down the miles to get back to the office to warm up in the shower!
 
A balmy -6 here at the moment. Forecast suggests it might hit -10 overnight. Roads are quite dry though and no snow. I'll see what things look like in the morning.

I did manage to get out for 40 painful, unfit miles today. Roads were ok tbh and had been gritted. Was freezing cold but beautiful sunny day. Would have been pleasant had i not been hyperventilating.
 
randomshenans said:
When I came off in Dec, it was just over the bars and hurt my thumb worse, or so I thought, but my elbow still hurts as does my big toe. I think I've really damaged my elbow, it clicks every time I put pressure on it.
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Its surprising how fairly small knocks can cause on going issues. When I slid off on some fruit squashed on the road from an overhanging tree the only thing I noticed was a sore hand. After having a shower I spotted the purple and blue shoulder which now, 18 months later, snaps and cracks like mad. I keep meaning to go to the doctors but I sort of forgot to re register after moving from Southampton... 12 years ago :o
 
Roady said:
Good deal for the price, the accessories themselves are worth ~£40 or more!

Which Elite and Tacx did you try in the shop? I bet they were high end new model fluid trainers... T.
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The Tacx was their blue motion model. The elite was actually the cheaper model from halfords. (Around £70)

It's hard to compare reviews in the elites, they have a huge number of models, a lot seem to be unique to different suppliers (though I bet they are 90% identical).

The noise concern is more for my neighbours downstairs. But with a carpet and mat it might be alright.
 
dod said:
That's what I was looking at. Which colour did you go for? I really fancied the grey/cyan, just a bit different.
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IMG_20150328_174155_zpstvbmlihz.jpg


I think Jimbeam also has one iirc. But he's swapped the wheels for something better.
 
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hooneeawr said:
The noise concern is more for my neighbours downstairs. But with a carpet and mat it might be alright.
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Without knowing how your property is constructed this is only an educated guess but I'd say unless your definition of "alright" is your downstairs neighbours listening to a dull vibration above their heads then you are out of luck.

I've got a basic CycleOps Mag trainer but in my garage that is separate from the house with its solid concrete floor, a rubber mat and the door shut... my wife can still hear it in certain rooms in the house!
 
physichull said:
IMG_20150328_174155_zpstvbmlihz.jpg


I think Jimbeam also has one iirc. But he's swapped the wheels for something better.
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Yep I've got one , I feel it a little bouncy on the back end I'm being ultra critical.

physichull said:
Roads are frozen solid today. Turbo it is. Shame as other than that it looks to be a really nice day!
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I managed 30 miles I gave up after that. Snow on the road , black ice , a closed bridge and an idiot in grey van who actually said it was fine for him to be in a cycle lane:eek:

Safe to say it wasn't the day for it!

https://www.strava.com/activities/471324008
 
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