COMPUTRAINER: DEAL OR NO DEAL?
I have a chance to buy a little used computrainer with coaching software for $1k. If I already have a powermeter and could use trainerroad is this worth the money? I'd like to get into more indoor training over the winter. I though I'd put it out there. Survey says?
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I personally would go for it for the ergometer mode.
With just a power meter you have to pay attention to your output and vary.
With ergo mode just dial in the power and pedal and rock out.
Ultimately, as a CompuTrainer owner and a tech guy, I would say yes to a computerized ergo trainer for winter training (makes a big difference IHMO) but no to the CompuTrainer. If you don't have to have it right this second, I would instead recommend waiting for the Wahoo KICKR, which will be a far, far more modern ergo-trainer that will still retail new for the same price as you are talking about for your used CT: http://www.wahoofitness.com/KICKRPowerTrainer/?returnFull=1
But, don't take my word for it, check out DCR's oped on the current state of all things trainer at:
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/10/my-2012-trainer-recommendations-early.html
Or, here's the excerpt on CompuTrainers:
@Penny, Robin Thanks for the input. I have favored the ergo mode on the training I've done so far on a computrainer. Intuitively it seems more likely to bear results given the tendency to lose motivation in the dark cave.
@Trevor Great input. Thanks for the update on the Wahoo which I was NOT at all familiar with. Since I am a Mac guy anyway, and Computrainer is a stretch to run on it (I don't do Windows) and the price is the same, it seems a better option to wait for this. I hope it isn't buggy is all.
I'm not necessarily voting in favor of a computrainer, but ... I do use one, bought in 2007, with my PowerTap. I would note that using a CT with TrainerRoad online is a BIG improvement over using their erg mode with pre-programmed sets, like I used to do. TR will "take over" your CT, and run it the same way the ERG program will, but with much better on screen graphics and controls.
At $1,000, vs an as yet untested by real users option (Wahoo), it might be worth it. The trainer itself is very sturdy and will last your lifetime. Try to bargain down to $800.
This was always my favorite rollers video.
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The rollers were fun, but once I got my CT I just didn't find myself using them anymore and ended up selling them to someone who would make better use of them. Rollers and an ergo trainer are just two very different experiences. I completely agree that the rollers have the added benefit of developing your balance and bike handling, but to me that was always at the expense of maxing out my power or ability to suffer. Quite simply, you can only go to so dark of a place before you lose focus and ride off the side of the rollers, meanwhile I can absolutely crush myself on the erg trainer and then collapse across the handlebars.
In an ideal world, I'd have both, but as a triathlete I personally think a more conventional fixed trainer is simply more conducive to the type of interval training that we do over the OS.
I agree with Trevor's take on the rollers vs ergo trainer. For you roadies (in the past, for me) I think rollers are phenomenal training tools and put static trainers to shame. For me in my tender age (I'm in Al's boat) I don't want to risk the injury (why I ride indoors sometimes). I use the trainer to crush a workout without distraction. For me, the bike has become a long pre-amble :-) to a run. I seldom ride in groups or just for fun, so that aspect of cycle training is lost on me. Someday I hope to find the time and location to enjoy cycling for it's own sake again. Maybe when we run out of fossil fuels and teens with smart phones.
Seemed like a nice idea when I rode out Saturday in to 60 degrees.....
I have the insideride e-motion rollers. I don't think being clumsy is a good excuse. If you can ride outside, you can rides on rollers. And yes, I have fallen off of them a handful of times, but it feels about like when you forget to unclip your foot from your pedal at a stoplight and fall over at 0 mph. Don't even try to tell me that you never did this... It doesn't hurt, is just a bit embarrassing and in my basement, nobody is even there to see me.
And I have done 3 hours on them and yes I got bored, but it was doable. And I have no problems going to a very dark place on them. Keeps me constantly focussed. And I have done 800 watts on them, albeit for a very short period of time. And here's a link to my last FTP test in July which certainly put me into a VERY, VERY dark place. http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/67567
Warming up is indeed another area where you'll see a lot of rollers. When I still lived in the Midwest I used to do a few regular time trial series and had a brief stint as a pretty subpar USAC time trialist. If they didn't allow you to do on-road warmups, the parking lot would be full of guys on their rollers (or trainers) warming up before the start, although I suppose that point is true for crits as well. Come to think of it, I even remember guys warming up on trainers or rollers back in the day before sprints, I don't know if people still do that or not since I haven't raced a sprint since 2009 (so I'm a long course snob, big deal).
Final bit of fun was there was also a regular series of roller races held over the winter by some of the various cycling teams and clubs. If you want a laugh, they are a funny thing to watch on youtube-- bunch of guys crammed in a room side by side, pedaling furiously to go nowhere.
I know we've gone a bit off topic, but since there was a good bit of interest in rollers I figured I'd share my thoughts. They are definitely a lot of fun, and now I'm getting a little nostalgic for my bygone roller days. If you do get them, keep in mind that there is an inverse relationship between the diameter of the roller drum and the resistance offered by the rollers. So big drums (like 4.0) are much easier to ride and have a better more "road-like" feel than smaller drum rollers. However, if you get larger drum rollers you may have to add some sort of resistance unit in order to drop the proverbial wattage hammer. Fortunately, brands like Kreitler are more than happy to sell you a wide range of accessories you can tack on to pimp out your rollers to your liking.
Edit:
@John, now I remember from other threads that you have the E-Motions. Having ridden one at a friend’s house, they really are fantastic but can be quite a different experience than riding static rollers from other brands. It took me a ton of practice before I could ride on my static rollers in my aerobars, and even then it was pretty timidly. Hopping on to an E-Motion on the other hand was the closest thing to road feel that I have found indoors. The LeMond revolution has a great flywheel, but you can't compare to movement of the E-Motions.
However, that does bring up one last point I'd like to make about cheaper static (i.e. everything else other than the E-Motion) rollers, these are primarily designed for your road bike. You *can* ride a TT bike on them, but I don't particularly recommend it.
Bargain with the seller down to $800 as Al suggested, but I'll go off the rails a bit and say don't follow through with the purchase. Instead, once the seller bites on $800, pass the sellers information to me, and I'll seal the deal and purchase it instead.