Interesting article this morning in the Oregonian about a local company that's developed a super high-tech trainer. 60 grand is the price. Apparently they haven't sold any yet but everybody who tries it claims its fantastic. Here's a link to the product site:

http://www.insideride.com/index.html

I know Nike is working with these people and considering purchasing a couple. I wonder what kind of market there would be for this? Pro-team? Corporate elites? It weighs 900 pounds, so transporting it would be a problem.

Thoughts?

55/Rad

i see it being used as a tweaking tool for pro-teams. i envision them leasing time with it, having their riders do time on it, and adjusting bikes\setups\technique based on the results. i didn't read everything but i imagine it would also include a feature where they could program in routes for upcoming races and maximize results on that before race day.

"The Super Trainer is a breakthrough product intended for elite training centers, sports science labs, fitness clubs, bicycle shops and the cycling enthusiast who demands the most effective training method possible."

I highly doubt that ANY bike shop will have this in their store (for sale or as a display item).

I looks like something that only sports medicine colleges would be able to get their hands on.

I'm guessing places like the Olympic training center in Colorado.
The pro teams would require a permanent place to house it
(as you say transporting is a problem) and they are always
on the road. Elite Gyms, maybe.

Marty

The video on their site from the local NBC news affiliate indicates a price of $35k while the article in the paper stated it's $60K. Sounds to me like they have to get their act together as far as pricing and communications.

55/Rad

If I win the Illinois lottery, then maybe in the basement of my house :D

I don't know that is pretty serious if you ask me. I mean if it is $35k then put me down for 2 of them but if it is $60k then I guess my wife and I are going to have to take turns. :D

huh.. I have a treadmill in my garage nobody uses............... me thinks Im putting my bike on it tonight..

remember to call 911 after the accident.

I'm sure all the treadmill companies out there will find a way to modify that thing so they can mass produce it to the general public for close to the same price you can get a treadmill for running. It doesn't really look like it's going to be that hard to replicate.

Koffee

that was about my thought, "Just looks like a modified treadmill"

I would guess all of the "special" features are inthe software, otherwise is is a big (longer and a tad wider) treadmill with side rails for support if you fall. I wonder if the speed is conrtoled by the rider like rollers or if a motor drives the belt like a normal treadmill in which case you could just sit there and coast. :D

It is very cool though. I like the way it can change elevation etc. I could see it hitting 10K in a few years maybe less without all the monitoring. At that price you might sell some to home users.

I have seen this before .. this is not a trainer as we understand it .. this is a simulator .. big difference .. 60K difference .. Do you know how many trips to Spain we could do during winter time for the same price ?? probably 10 including add. expenses ..

yeah, 60k or 35k (whatever the price is) is not much for a top level pro, and if it gets cheaper in several years than it's even easier. if you've signed a lucrative contract and depend on your performance for your living, this is not much. and i'm sure it could be financed as well.

And the designer of the Super Trainer suggests in an interview with VeloNews that it's $40,000... :D :D :D :

I have my trainer sitting on my treadmill. It's a club quality (StarTrak) treadmill but there's no way you could easily modify it for a bike. It's a very wide model already but you'd need much more bed length which would screw up the incline feature and the speed would have to increase beyond 12MPH (maybe not). I initially had the stem locked straight onto the front bar of the treadmill (no handlebars) but that is soo different from a real ride that I hated it.

Only thing that worries me, is unless you're really good at using it, I would hate to fall down on that thing with the belt going 20-25mph.

Hmmm... choices choices....BMW M3 convertable, or a bike trainer... can't quite make up my mind here.....

after looking at those pix, i feel like i've been sleep riding. they have a clone of my cannondale mt bike in the background, the rider on the roadie has my shoes on, and it's in portland. i'll have to put some tripwire in front of my hallway before i go to sleep or something.

also, this thing looks hot.

How about 10 new, top of the line bikes .. or a trainer .. heck we could probably buy the entire ''beautifull bike page'' ..

I'd love to put one of those in my house. Then I could tweak my riding positions and gear ratios to extract maximum horsepower. Besides I already have an Elite level gym in my house already.

Speed is controlled by the rider, not the treadmill. Only goes up to 25 mph.

55/Rad

That's OK. My running treadmill only goes to 8mph.....but I can always incline to 15%.

I'm sure this $60,000 baby has a % incline adjustment as well (err, I mean resistance adjustment)

But with 53-11 @ 110 rpm you will be way behond the maximum speed of the machine. May I suggest you ask them to modify it for your o mighty power and put a 50 HP motor.. but then I would also suggest you get a dedicated electrical sub-station for your house, unless you just get a special power generator only to absorb your peak demand .... just try to help