The Indoor Riding/ Zwift/ TrainerRoad etc. Thread
- Thread starter randomshenans
- Start date
£180 Tacx Flow from Cycle Republic with code TACX40
https://www.cyclerepublic.com/acces...utm_campaign=December-Rewards-Tacx-Flow-Smart
https://www.cyclerepublic.com/acces...utm_campaign=December-Rewards-Tacx-Flow-Smart
Didn't ride last night and away all of tomorrow so I'll not be participating in the WBR 'Zwiftathon'. Boo, would've been good to get some mileage back on track, have some fun & win some prizes! 
Will probably be on sunday to try and get my mileage up for the week instead.
Will probably be on sunday to try and get my mileage up for the week instead.
No because I expect they wouldn't want it to constitute medical advice nor be held responsible for any injury as a result of overreaching or training too intensely prematurely.
I'd pick a low volume plan, avoid any workouts low cadence/high torque and play it by ear. A base phase would be recommended anyway if you've been off/inconsistent for a while.
EVR race last night. Didn't feel as fresh as I could have, but an ok result - came in placed in bottom half of group b:
https://www.strava.com/activities/1298178622
Powe figures from crank pwm rather than the trainer.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1298178622
Powe figures from crank pwm rather than the trainer.
Yeah thats what I did for my previous recovery.
I think its missing a market a bit as I'd love a plan put together by a coach in conjunction with a medical person. Totally understand the not wanting to give medical advice though.
Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 9,171
- Location
- Southampton, hopefully not too hot, or too cold
Thanks for posting, I'm still trying to decide if plunging into the world of turbo trainers with a ~£630 Elite Direto is a wise move, or simply making use of this offer you posted.
I'm happy I didn't overspend on my turbo because frankly when the winter is over it will be going back in the box and won't see light of day till next winter.
If however you think you might make use of your turbo throughout the year then I would say it's worth spending a bit more.
Just my viewpoint, different people will have different approaches.
If however you think you might make use of your turbo throughout the year then I would say it's worth spending a bit more.
Just my viewpoint, different people will have different approaches.
It would be an extra 10% off if you use BC discount in store
Only thing I'd point out is the 800w max on it. That's the key thing that puts me off buying it.
Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 9,171
- Location
- Southampton, hopefully not too hot, or too cold
It would be an extra 10% off if you use BC discount in store
Only thing I'd point out is the 800w max on it. That's the key thing that puts me off buying it.
I've just a very quick look at my best time cat4 hill climbs and only once did I briefly exceed 800W according to Strava "virtual" Watts, so it might do the job, if Strava "virtual" Watts is ballpark ok or reads high.
My main focus is hill climbing and improving my time/power W/Kg up them.
I might be being thick, but I cannot see a way to add the 2240 (or anything else for that matter) to my basket, use the promo code and then choose "click and collect" to pay £162 in-store using my BC card.
It looks like it wants me to pay online by either card or paypal and then simply collect order with identification.
Am I being thick?
Strava "virtual" watts has estimated I've done 1600w before so I'm not sure how reliable it can be
Ah. I have never actually ordered from Cycle Republic's site but assumed it would be like Halfords. Might be worth seeing if you can just get the discount in store.
Ah. I have never actually ordered from Cycle Republic's site but assumed it would be like Halfords. Might be worth seeing if you can just get the discount in store.
Briefly exceeding 800w once in a blue moon isn't going to be the most optimal way to get faster nor improve your power profile, so isn't really justification to dismiss a trainer either in my opinion 
(You can crack higher power outputs on lower rated trainers but the brakes ability to hold you in ERG mode at it's maximal power resistance will be limited to around 30-40s or so from memory. I had a Vortex before my KickR)
(You can crack higher power outputs on lower rated trainers but the brakes ability to hold you in ERG mode at it's maximal power resistance will be limited to around 30-40s or so from memory. I had a Vortex before my KickR)
Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 9,171
- Location
- Southampton, hopefully not too hot, or too cold
I've never ordered anything myself from Cycle Republic before now, a store opened up in Cumberland Place earlier this year I think.
I feel a "how long is a piece of string?" type question coming on...
Did some hill reps earlier on my favourite local hill, quite a few PBs, maybe the on/off mostly head cold I've had since late September is going (in fairness I've not ridden my road bike much during this period, but it's had a few outings on the hill, mainly been on the fatbike {mostly in 29er mode, currently in half-fat half-thin mode}).
https://www.strava.com/activities/1300725791/analysis
Am I wasting my time buying a Tacx 2240, even at the bargain-tastic price of £180, given I want build on the fitness I started back in January this year?
I feel a "how long is a piece of string?" type question coming on...
Did some hill reps earlier on my favourite local hill, quite a few PBs, maybe the on/off mostly head cold I've had since late September is going (in fairness I've not ridden my road bike much during this period, but it's had a few outings on the hill, mainly been on the fatbike {mostly in 29er mode, currently in half-fat half-thin mode}).
https://www.strava.com/activities/1300725791/analysis
Am I wasting my time buying a Tacx 2240, even at the bargain-tastic price of £180, given I want build on the fitness I started back in January this year?
I'm not too sure what the question is?
Surely any turbo is good for building fitness back and one with smart capabilities even better for the motivation element.
The turbo will allow you to conduct the training sessions even when the weather isn't looking so great or perhaps you have a little bit less time.
I have some family near you. If I ever visit with my bike I might have to try that KOM segment
Surely any turbo is good for building fitness back and one with smart capabilities even better for the motivation element.
The turbo will allow you to conduct the training sessions even when the weather isn't looking so great or perhaps you have a little bit less time.
I have some family near you. If I ever visit with my bike I might have to try that KOM segment
Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 9,171
- Location
- Southampton, hopefully not too hot, or too cold
While the price of the 2240 is attractive with that discount code you posted, I might be needlessly worrying about its 6% gradient emulation and 800W power limit, given the "virtual Watts" breakdown shown in today's ride (very typical in route/length, but better figures for how I rode today) using the free Stravistix plugin for Google Chrome and how Dell Road has a peak gradient of ~20%.
But then part of me thinks wait for a bargain price on the Elite Direto, I hesitated on Black Friday and missed the chance to get one through Halfords for ~£625 including BC discount, because I worried about spending that much money on a turbo when I have no idea if an app like Zwift will make sessions far less boring than when I had a basic Elite mag Volare(?) back in 2006 and consequently it got little use until practically giving it away.
I created several segments which combine a climb up Woodmill/Dell/Copsewood with Bitterne 13.5% over the course of this year, my aim is break the sub 6min barrier for each of them. I made them public because I think they are decent basic training for anyone doing hill reps around here, I'm sure many would smash my times to pieces, I mainly focus on self-improvement.
But then part of me thinks wait for a bargain price on the Elite Direto, I hesitated on Black Friday and missed the chance to get one through Halfords for ~£625 including BC discount, because I worried about spending that much money on a turbo when I have no idea if an app like Zwift will make sessions far less boring than when I had a basic Elite mag Volare(?) back in 2006 and consequently it got little use until practically giving it away.
I created several segments which combine a climb up Woodmill/Dell/Copsewood with Bitterne 13.5% over the course of this year, my aim is break the sub 6min barrier for each of them. I made them public because I think they are decent basic training for anyone doing hill reps around here, I'm sure many would smash my times to pieces, I mainly focus on self-improvement.
Until you're certain that you can sustain indoor training I wouldn't sink more than a couple of hundred quid into a turbo tbh.
I would say, yes you are needlessly worrying about power/gradient limitation. Especially given the length of the climbs you mention. The fastest way up them will nearly always be with averaging @/slightly over FTP with surges for steeper sections.
A lesser turbo will be more than adequate for you.
I would say, yes you are needlessly worrying about power/gradient limitation. Especially given the length of the climbs you mention. The fastest way up them will nearly always be with averaging @/slightly over FTP with surges for steeper sections.
A lesser turbo will be more than adequate for you.
Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 9,171
- Location
- Southampton, hopefully not too hot, or too cold
Rides like today are convenience local training tools, I prefer to tackle a series of cat3/4 hills in the South Downs, but I cannot wait to revisit the Mendips with the road bike instead of my fatbike and climb the likes of Old Bristol Road; Ebbor Gorge; Draycott Steep; Cheddar Gorge.
With no power meter, I have no idea what my FTP is, so these ~7-15min climbs are currently done on feel and the odd check of my heartrate.
With no power meter, I have no idea what my FTP is, so these ~7-15min climbs are currently done on feel and the odd check of my heartrate.
Beasted myself yesterday to get my mileage back on track for the week and to make up for missing racing earlier in the week.
Missed a couple of training rides so reluctantly threw myself into a WBR Hilly race. Glad I did as I rode well and had more luck & power than the other times I've done a B hilly. I usually find myself dropped hard on mountain routes and was kinda expecting the same. Thankfully not! Small group of 5 of us at the end only 1 of which beat me in the sprint, spent most of the race with a strong German cat C guy, holding his wheel and bridging gaps with him, we must've blown 3 or more groups apart. My tactic was basically hanging on for the longer climb by getting a jump before and then having to sit at 4.5w/kg continuing to power over the crest when the others eased otherwise I'd get dropped. I did some long/strong 5-6w/kg pulls on the esses to force others to chase me and it worked well, with riders getting dropped on the rolling terrain and too tired to drop me badly on the climb. Result: 6th in B.
After around 5 mins cooldown I decided I was feeling ok and still needed a good 20+ miles. So I jumped straight back into a WBR flat race! Talk about punishment! Totally messed up the start chatting so put some strong efforts in again to bridge various groups, the final couple of times taking 1 or 2 riders with me. In quite a large 10-15 rider group I rode very conservatively for the rest of the race, quite good practice for me to sit in and hold wheels rather than my usual attack/surge/chase style or racing. I had to put some efforts in the last 2 laps to close some gaps as things started to split up, but overall very happy with my result of 16th.
~46 miles on Zwift
Steve & Chris: Seriously don't worry too much about it. I'm only occasionally maxing out my Vortex with it's ~750W over 1 min limit and 950W 10s limit. Not enough for me to regret buying it, equally a £300 trainer and almost the cheapest 'smart' trainer (excluding Flow). The only other at this level I would choose is the SNAP for it's larger flywheel and larger wattage limitation, but only if I could get the price below £400 (unlikely).
When I can totally justify £500+ on a trainer I'd only then then be choosing one with higher wattage limitations. I'd also only then go the direct route rather than on-wheel. Direto, Flux or probably more likely reconditioned KICKR 2017 (for thru-axle).
Missed a couple of training rides so reluctantly threw myself into a WBR Hilly race. Glad I did as I rode well and had more luck & power than the other times I've done a B hilly. I usually find myself dropped hard on mountain routes and was kinda expecting the same. Thankfully not! Small group of 5 of us at the end only 1 of which beat me in the sprint, spent most of the race with a strong German cat C guy, holding his wheel and bridging gaps with him, we must've blown 3 or more groups apart. My tactic was basically hanging on for the longer climb by getting a jump before and then having to sit at 4.5w/kg continuing to power over the crest when the others eased otherwise I'd get dropped. I did some long/strong 5-6w/kg pulls on the esses to force others to chase me and it worked well, with riders getting dropped on the rolling terrain and too tired to drop me badly on the climb. Result: 6th in B.
After around 5 mins cooldown I decided I was feeling ok and still needed a good 20+ miles. So I jumped straight back into a WBR flat race! Talk about punishment! Totally messed up the start chatting so put some strong efforts in again to bridge various groups, the final couple of times taking 1 or 2 riders with me. In quite a large 10-15 rider group I rode very conservatively for the rest of the race, quite good practice for me to sit in and hold wheels rather than my usual attack/surge/chase style or racing. I had to put some efforts in the last 2 laps to close some gaps as things started to split up, but overall very happy with my result of 16th.
~46 miles on Zwift
Steve & Chris: Seriously don't worry too much about it. I'm only occasionally maxing out my Vortex with it's ~750W over 1 min limit and 950W 10s limit. Not enough for me to regret buying it, equally a £300 trainer and almost the cheapest 'smart' trainer (excluding Flow). The only other at this level I would choose is the SNAP for it's larger flywheel and larger wattage limitation, but only if I could get the price below £400 (unlikely).
When I can totally justify £500+ on a trainer I'd only then then be choosing one with higher wattage limitations. I'd also only then go the direct route rather than on-wheel. Direto, Flux or probably more likely reconditioned KICKR 2017 (for thru-axle).
This. I came from a 'dumb' £150 trainer, arguably one of the best (KK Road Machine) and after a few rides on my Vortex I half regretted it. The Vortex is noisier and has less road feel. Once I started using the FE-C side of things (Zwift mainly) I could see the huge benefit of smart over dumb/semi-smart of my previous (KKRM with inRide). I'd take a controllable FE-C rubbish feeling smart trainer, over an amazing feeling dumb trainer any day. You just get so much more from it! Why worry about 'feel' when you're using it as a tool sat in your garage. A smart trainer is more immersive by keeping you far more interested with far more focussed training than a dumb trainer.
I'd disagree with this to some extent but by how much is largely impacted by just how often/many miles you're riding it.
Being stuck with a poor inertia for double digit hours a week would make me loathe indoor training regardless of how immersive it's smart features made it. Part of successfully training indoors is actually wanting to and having a trainer that feels like pedaling mud and running on sand doesn't help that cause.
Smart trainers have their merit of course, for holding you at precise wattages and accommodating cadence to a single revolution difference.
People made progress long before Smart trainers arrived
but not having to faff with gearing or any manual resistance levers is refreshing