Inexpensive Bike Trainer?
07-29-19, 06:29 PM
#26
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Buy used. Lots of riders who move to Zwift are selling their old "dumb" trainers and getting a smart trainer. Look on Craigslist, there's tons of them.
07-31-19, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by daudino
Definitely suggest buying used. I got a cycleops magneto from craigslist for $30, I've had it for 5 years now and still works great.
07-31-19, 01:02 PM
#29
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Rollers are a challenge and not boring.
Otherwise get one with adjustable resistance or a quiet fluid one.
The cheapest smart trainers are the Elite Qubo B+ Smart (note there are a few similar named units) and tacx vortex. THese can be found for $225. Spending $200 extra is worth it.
FWIW - I can do about 23 seconds on a dumb trainer, 50min on rollers, and 1.5 hours on a smart trainer before attempting to take my own life.
Otherwise get one with adjustable resistance or a quiet fluid one.
The cheapest smart trainers are the Elite Qubo B+ Smart (note there are a few similar named units) and tacx vortex. THese can be found for $225. Spending $200 extra is worth it.
FWIW - I can do about 23 seconds on a dumb trainer, 50min on rollers, and 1.5 hours on a smart trainer before attempting to take my own life.
07-31-19, 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by jfranci3
Rollers are a challenge and not boring.
Otherwise get one with adjustable resistance or a quiet fluid one.
The cheapest smart trainers are the Elite Qubo B+ Smart (note there are a few similar named units) and tacx vortex. THese can be found for $225. Spending $200 extra is worth it.
FWIW - I can do about 23 seconds on a dumb trainer, 50min on rollers, and 1.5 hours on a smart trainer before attempting to take my own life.
Otherwise get one with adjustable resistance or a quiet fluid one.
The cheapest smart trainers are the Elite Qubo B+ Smart (note there are a few similar named units) and tacx vortex. THese can be found for $225. Spending $200 extra is worth it.
FWIW - I can do about 23 seconds on a dumb trainer, 50min on rollers, and 1.5 hours on a smart trainer before attempting to take my own life.
07-31-19, 03:47 PM
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Zwift makes my smart trainer (Wahoo Kickr Core) actually enjoyable. That and it's just too damn hot here in Georgia in the afternoon in the summer so a trainer is a better alternative.
07-31-19, 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by guachi
Zwift makes my smart trainer (Wahoo Kickr Core) actually enjoyable. That and it's just too damn hot here in Georgia in the afternoon in the summer so a trainer is a better alternative.
PS: I'm in South Florida, so I know what 'hot' means.
08-01-19, 06:40 AM
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Zwift is a virtual bike riding app. You can log in and ride ("race") with other people while on your trainer. It offers virtual routes and everyone has an avatar on the screen. If you have a smart trainer, like a Wahoo Kickr, resistance will adapt to road conditions in the app. For example, if the route goes up hill. It's essentially like a massive multiplayer online video game but instead of using a controller, you are pedaling a bike.
I believe there are ways to use Zwift without a smart trainer, but I don't know. Though I spend about 6-10 hours a week on the trainer or rollers, I have never actually bothered to use Zwift. I prefer using my trainer time to catch up on all the great TV shows out there.
And if solid interval training is your goal, I think a trainer is better than rollers, unless you buy fancy rollers, like E-Motions.
I believe there are ways to use Zwift without a smart trainer, but I don't know. Though I spend about 6-10 hours a week on the trainer or rollers, I have never actually bothered to use Zwift. I prefer using my trainer time to catch up on all the great TV shows out there.
And if solid interval training is your goal, I think a trainer is better than rollers, unless you buy fancy rollers, like E-Motions.
08-01-19, 10:53 AM
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You can use Zwift with a dumb trainer if you have a power meter or something like the Kinetic pod that maps a power curve and sends that to the app.
08-01-19, 10:57 AM
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Thanks guys, but at my age, I'm just trying to build strength in my legs so I can ride daily. Fortunately, I have a big park nearby, so I can avoid all the road hazards in Hialeah Fl.
08-02-19, 06:47 AM
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Originally Posted by jfranci3
Rollers are a challenge and not boring.
Otherwise get one with adjustable resistance or a quiet fluid one.
The cheapest smart trainers are the Elite Qubo B+ Smart (note there are a few similar named units) and tacx vortex. THese can be found for $225. Spending $200 extra is worth it.
FWIW - I can do about 23 seconds on a dumb trainer, 50min on rollers, and 1.5 hours on a smart trainer before attempting to take my own life.
Otherwise get one with adjustable resistance or a quiet fluid one.
The cheapest smart trainers are the Elite Qubo B+ Smart (note there are a few similar named units) and tacx vortex. THese can be found for $225. Spending $200 extra is worth it.
FWIW - I can do about 23 seconds on a dumb trainer, 50min on rollers, and 1.5 hours on a smart trainer before attempting to take my own life.
