@John - We are having a discussion about it because it's one more gizmo and we didn't know we needed it and are happy with our lives as they are. :-)
I haven't ever bothered, but maybe I'll give it a try this year. Like a lot of people, I insist on visual distraction (= TV show I'm kind of watching but don't REALLY care about...) I don't need just the number up there (since I have that on my bike computer anyway)...but I can see the graphic thing being a motivator not to cheat or fail.
I wasn't trying to offend. Simply stating that the 'cost' to trying it for a month is practally $0 for most people here. Also, that other people here REALLY like it, so what's the harm in giving it a try. It wasn't ideal for David... But I didn't hear him saying he really regretted trying it for a month.
FWIW, for 'most' of my workouts I keep TrainerRoad on my computer screen and keep something like ESPN on my 42" TV just above and behind it for background noise/stimulus. For Sufferfest videos, I put the TR/video on both screens. And for most FTP tests I'll have TR on both screens and have either Pandora or the radio on to keep me distracted.
I took the plunge yesterday and signed up - also went to the link for approval for the Team EN wko's to be added. It said it takes 1 day for approvL, which it's been, but still don't see wko's in the custom settings go TR. I don't mind being patient on this, but what's a realistic time frame for this to be added from everyone's experience?
Ray - thanks for the generous offer but I've done w/o it till now and can wait. Besides, your account would be confused when the the power numbers get reduced drastically by my very modest FTP vs your numbers!
I can always change them back!!! You will realy like it when you get to use it. Do you like your Powerbeam? You have me ready to pull the trigger. Which one though
@Ray - I have the cycleops power beam pro. I've had it 2 years now. Bought it pre-EN where my intention was really for the simulation software....which I rarely use now. I like the fact that it adjusts the tension to the wheel for prescribed power. For example - i just finished today's bike wko. I pre programmed in a 2 hour wko which included a 25' WU, 2 x 20' @ my FTP and 50' @ .85. Also was able to program recoveries, etc and the trainer adjusts the tension as the I ride. The trick is keeping up! I imagine it'll work great with TR, but will let you know when I have it up and running hopefully by next week.
The Powerbeam Pro works like a charm with TR! It is the equivalent of entering your workout in the Joule and having the Joule control the workout, although you get to skip the whole "load the workout in the Joule" part. Right now, I'm using a Powerbeam Pro that my neighbor lent me, although he has a Kickr on order for me and I should get that some time next week hopefully.
@ Bob - if I get the Wahoo Fitness Key (or some such) then Cyclops Virtual Training will work on my IPAD. TR can't do that. However, I think not having to shift is a DISADVANTAGE. You should shift and vary gears while holding power in your zone or you will not be developing the ability to generate that power level across a range of cadences. That ability is key element in Spinerval DVDs where you tend to work all the gears.
Patrick already covered it but just to reiterate that electronic resistance trainers adjust to whatever prescribed wattage regardless of cadence (when in ERG mode which is what most TR interval based workouts use). So whether I pedal at 60 or 80 or 100 rpm the wattage will remain the same as the KICKR automatically adjusts the resistance to that cadence.
It really is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Well - I had a chance to log my first bike wko using TR since I started this thread last week. Download was simple. They approved me for the EN group within 24 hours. I had a bit of trouble locating the EN wko's but finally figured out how to refresh the wko's and that populated all of them. So today I did an OS wko and my verdict is that it certainly makes things a whole lot easier and takes the guess work out of things. Keep in mind, I've been using a power beam pro where I've been manually entering in my wko's ahead of time and then I can follow the data on the joule....similar but not as "pretty" as the data on TR.
I'll definitely keep the subscription (given the cost) and will try it on my basic trainer the next time around to compare the two. I have a quarq on my bike, so the only difference will be the resistance changes that the power beam pro affords. And, as stated in others posts, TR works like a charm with a trainer that changes resistance for you!
@BradBased on comments from you and Paul I am bought a powerbeam pro and will pick it up today. I have been a Lemond Loyalist but I like and miss the ERG mode!
@ Bob - my powerbeam can do that without TR. I use it when I want to do mindless work, but I can overrun the power if I am doing an easy workout. Suppose I want to watch a movie and just spin in Z2. I set it to say 150 watts and go. It will hold it there, but if I am in too easy of a gear, I can start going over 150 and the powerbeam can't adjust any further...it will flash "Slow Down" ... so I just shift to a harder gear or ease back up. But I have most of the Spinervals DVDs and I think using that function defeats the training effect of varying cadence and power that is a hallmark of a lot of Troy Jacobsen's sets.
@ Brad - I've had my PowerBeam Pro for about 2.5 years now. Actually, my original crapped out at about 1 year and Cyclops not only replaced it at no charge, they gave me the upgraded erg version that is out there now. They were working on the new version at the time and sent me a loaner for two months to make sure I got the new one. So I ended up with the new Powerbeam, including HR stratp and Joule GPS plus got to keep my original HR strap and Joule 3.0 which I prefer. I have two PowerTap wheels as well. The guts in the first one croaked and again they replaced it for free...no charge. Their customer service has been outstanding.
@ Paul - based on this thread, and others who have commented on their PowerBeams, I investigated the product. It appears to me that Trainer Road is basically the same thing as the "Virtual Training" subscription app which Cyclops offers. So for someone like you, if you wanted that step up in convenience over simply creating workouts in PowerAgent and uploading them to the Joule, you could use TR for $10/month, and have the OS workouts already pre-programmed, or use VirtualTraining for $12-15/month. Dealers' choice, both TR and VT are simply convenience tools.
Also, I think others' may have commented on this already ... I hear you about the benefit of using different cadence and shifting during trainer rides. At least with the CT (I assume Kickr and PowerBeam are the same), when I decrease my cadence in "ERG" mode (which is what Trainer Road is using to control my CT), the effort required for each pedal stroke goes up. "Watts" stays the same, as time is included in that function. So I can mimic going up a hill simply by slowing down my cadence. If I want, I can shift while doing that, just for fun, but the resistance doesn't change.
If you're already hooked on Troy and Spinnevals, yeah, why switch. But if you need more variety, Trainer Road and/or Virtual Training are out there for you.
I wonder if CompuTrainer understands they need to drop their prices by $3-500 if they want to stay in business? They certainly amortized their development costs long ago.
@ Paul - based on this thread, and others who have commented on their PowerBeams, I investigated the product. It appears to me that Trainer Road is basically the same thing as the "Virtual Training" subscription app which Cyclops offers. So for someone like you, if you wanted that step up in convenience over simply creating workouts in PowerAgent and uploading them to the Joule, you could use TR for $10/month, and have the OS workouts already pre-programmed, or use VirtualTraining for $12-15/month. Dealers' choice, both TR and VT are simply convenience tools.
Also, I think others' may have commented on this already ... I hear you about the benefit of using different cadence and shifting during trainer rides. At least with the CT (I assume Kickr and PowerBeam are the same), when I decrease my cadence in "ERG" mode (which is what Trainer Road is using to control my CT), the effort required for each pedal stroke goes up. "Watts" stays the same, as time is included in that function. So I can mimic going up a hill simply by slowing down my cadence. If I want, I can shift while doing that, just for fun, but the resistance doesn't change.
If you're already hooked on Troy and Spinnevals, yeah, why switch. But if you need more variety, Trainer Road and/or Virtual Training are out there for you.
I wonder if CompuTrainer understands they need to drop their prices by $3-500 if they want to stay in business? They certainly amortized their development costs long ago.
Al - you are right about Computrainer...they will go out of business soon if they don't get competitive on both price and quality. I chose the Powerbeam over CT based on a review that gave Cyclops the nod on price, ease of use, and reliablity. Sometime when I have time, I need to watch the Virtual Training DVD that comes with my Powerbeam (still sitting in the case unopened) and buy a Wahoo Fitness Key for my Ipad. The only thing I'm interested in is downloading some rides ... with video ala a CT ... that control the Powerbeam. I.e., going uphill should be harder not constant power, going downhill on the video should get easier to the point where you spin out. Otherwise, I am just fine watching movies and choking on Troy Jacobson's workouts.
@ Bob - my powerbeam can do that without TR. I use it when I want to do mindless work, but I can overrun the power if I am doing an easy workout. Suppose I want to watch a movie and just spin in Z2. I set it to say 150 watts and go. It will hold it there, but if I am in too easy of a gear, I can start going over 150 and the powerbeam can't adjust any further...it will flash "Slow Down" ... so I just shift to a harder gear or ease back up. But I have most of the Spinervals DVDs and I think using that function defeats the training effect of varying cadence and power that is a hallmark of a lot of Troy Jacobsen's sets.
The KICKR doesn't do what you mentioned. You can't "out watt" the ERG mode on the KICKR. It will constantly readjust itself to make that cadence do the prescribed watts.
Just did my first "real" wko using TR. Just left it on the computer which I figured out how to place so I could use the TV too. It's pretty cool. Certainly worth playing around with for the next few weeks just to see if I like it or get bored with it. :-)
Comments
I haven't ever bothered, but maybe I'll give it a try this year. Like a lot of people, I insist on visual distraction (= TV show I'm kind of watching but don't REALLY care about...) I don't need just the number up there (since I have that on my bike computer anyway)...but I can see the graphic thing being a motivator not to cheat or fail.
FWIW, for 'most' of my workouts I keep TrainerRoad on my computer screen and keep something like ESPN on my 42" TV just above and behind it for background noise/stimulus. For Sufferfest videos, I put the TR/video on both screens. And for most FTP tests I'll have TR on both screens and have either Pandora or the radio on to keep me distracted.
Patrick already covered it but just to reiterate that electronic resistance trainers adjust to whatever prescribed wattage regardless of cadence (when in ERG mode which is what most TR interval based workouts use). So whether I pedal at 60 or 80 or 100 rpm the wattage will remain the same as the KICKR automatically adjusts the resistance to that cadence.
It really is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I'll definitely keep the subscription (given the cost) and will try it on my basic trainer the next time around to compare the two. I have a quarq on my bike, so the only difference will be the resistance changes that the power beam pro affords. And, as stated in others posts, TR works like a charm with a trainer that changes resistance for you!
Thanks for all the responses on this.
@ Brad - I've had my PowerBeam Pro for about 2.5 years now. Actually, my original crapped out at about 1 year and Cyclops not only replaced it at no charge, they gave me the upgraded erg version that is out there now. They were working on the new version at the time and sent me a loaner for two months to make sure I got the new one. So I ended up with the new Powerbeam, including HR stratp and Joule GPS plus got to keep my original HR strap and Joule 3.0 which I prefer. I have two PowerTap wheels as well. The guts in the first one croaked and again they replaced it for free...no charge. Their customer service has been outstanding.
@ Paul - based on this thread, and others who have commented on their PowerBeams, I investigated the product. It appears to me that Trainer Road is basically the same thing as the "Virtual Training" subscription app which Cyclops offers. So for someone like you, if you wanted that step up in convenience over simply creating workouts in PowerAgent and uploading them to the Joule, you could use TR for $10/month, and have the OS workouts already pre-programmed, or use VirtualTraining for $12-15/month. Dealers' choice, both TR and VT are simply convenience tools.
Also, I think others' may have commented on this already ... I hear you about the benefit of using different cadence and shifting during trainer rides. At least with the CT (I assume Kickr and PowerBeam are the same), when I decrease my cadence in "ERG" mode (which is what Trainer Road is using to control my CT), the effort required for each pedal stroke goes up. "Watts" stays the same, as time is included in that function. So I can mimic going up a hill simply by slowing down my cadence. If I want, I can shift while doing that, just for fun, but the resistance doesn't change.
If you're already hooked on Troy and Spinnevals, yeah, why switch. But if you need more variety, Trainer Road and/or Virtual Training are out there for you.
I wonder if CompuTrainer understands they need to drop their prices by $3-500 if they want to stay in business? They certainly amortized their development costs long ago.
@ Paul - based on this thread, and others who have commented on their PowerBeams, I investigated the product. It appears to me that Trainer Road is basically the same thing as the "Virtual Training" subscription app which Cyclops offers. So for someone like you, if you wanted that step up in convenience over simply creating workouts in PowerAgent and uploading them to the Joule, you could use TR for $10/month, and have the OS workouts already pre-programmed, or use VirtualTraining for $12-15/month. Dealers' choice, both TR and VT are simply convenience tools.
Also, I think others' may have commented on this already ... I hear you about the benefit of using different cadence and shifting during trainer rides. At least with the CT (I assume Kickr and PowerBeam are the same), when I decrease my cadence in "ERG" mode (which is what Trainer Road is using to control my CT), the effort required for each pedal stroke goes up. "Watts" stays the same, as time is included in that function. So I can mimic going up a hill simply by slowing down my cadence. If I want, I can shift while doing that, just for fun, but the resistance doesn't change.
If you're already hooked on Troy and Spinnevals, yeah, why switch. But if you need more variety, Trainer Road and/or Virtual Training are out there for you.
I wonder if CompuTrainer understands they need to drop their prices by $3-500 if they want to stay in business? They certainly amortized their development costs long ago.
The KICKR doesn't do what you mentioned. You can't "out watt" the ERG mode on the KICKR. It will constantly readjust itself to make that cadence do the prescribed watts.