ComputTrainer Q & A
I have the luxury of getting to borrow my friend's CompuTrainer while she is on a ski trip for the next two weeks!!! Luckier still when my husband came home and saw it all set up with the computer, etc. he started asking all the important things like - can we both use one if we get one? How much is it? and the most important question of all - can we afford it???
To which I replied - OF COURSE! (Natch 
) I'll work out those pesky little $$$ details later 
.
Anyway - to those of you that use CT regularly I am wondering how you use them along with the EN workouts. Do you write a a specific workout for each workout so it adjusts for you at the appropriate times, use the erg mode and just adjust on the fly as written or ......??? Also, if you use another PM when you ride outside do you use both of them when you use your CT? I have a PT and won't be changing wheels for obvious reasons, but using both at once seems like it might be a bit of overkill !? Obviously, I have a lot to learn about this, but any information or link to old info (I searched 3.0, but if you type in CT about a gazillion things pop up and I don't know exactly how to narrow it down) would be great. Suggestions, comments, advice, etc. - all welcome! Not sure if this is the best direction for us to go or not, but it is something we would probably both use and I think would make trainer time a lot more enjoyable. Just don't want to pull the trigger without plenty of info.
Thanks!
Comments
Hi Robin,
I use a CT and really like it. Last OS I didn't have my PT yet so I used the CT's power settings. I got a PT in the Spring and have been using it since, even on the trainer, for consistency. I watch my PT when I'm riding and I load those files into WKO+. If I calibrate my CT well, the readings between the two are pretty close. It is possible to see a 20+ watt difference though. It's important to pick one power source to use and to be consistent in order to chart your progress.
When I do a test I use a flat course that I built. I almost never ride any courses anymore since I started training with power.
For intervals I use the coaching software. I build the interval files and load them. It's very easy to do and it eliminates cheating. Very tough workouts! A guy from the Chicago Tri Club built this app for creating the erg files. 63.134.234.143/tri/erg.asp. The coaching software applies the power to the fly wheel and you just need top pedal away! Good times!
There's a whole lot of info on the 3.0 forums if you search around.
Hope this helps.
Matt
I personally use the CT as my primary power meter all OS. I test on it and use ERG mode with the link Matt provided for all workouts. Sometimes I use my other PT jsut to compare, but usually I only use the CT.
When the season comes around I complete switch and use the power meter. I do my test with my power meter on my bike and if I am doing a workout instead I watch the power meter and basically use the CT as a normal trainer.
I had the CT before getting the Power Meter. In hindsight, I probably would have just purchased a power meter first and never got a computrainer, but since I already have it I like to use it for the OS.
Same here.
Hi Robin,
I would have said everything exactly as Matt and Matt have. I too had my CT before my PM. Just this season I started using both to compare for fun--but like mancona, the CT is my primary indoors. In my case, the CT and PT are pretty close, then somedays or some reps the readings are off.
I use some custom courses that I have from my other coach for testing and workouts. I never ride an Ironman course or anything like that, although I do like the CT Time Trial course for workouts. My DH is really skilled on the computer so we also ride courses downloaded from some program that recreate the roads we ride on in training--but I digress. Personally, I only use erg every now and then. I prefer to ride "terrain" and practice keeping my watts steady, and hitting targets by dialing in my effort. I find that it translates to the roads when I'm liberated in the spring.
Certainly I would choose a PM over a CT, but if you can have both I highly recommend it.
I have been on a CT for several years now. I really like it and do about 80-85% of all my training on it. There are some courses that are just plain fun to ride. For the EN sets I usually write the program which is super easy. You can also make 3d rides without any difficulty if you like to look at some animated scenery, or if you like to look at spin charts while riding, or if you like to race yourself, someone else, or the dreaded "Silverman" which you can program at certain watts for a course. You can also use the GPS data from a real ride to create a program. If you have two CTs, you and a "competitor" can race each other even using different watts.
I also have a Quarq that I use for my rides. I download both sets of data into WKO...Quarq is Dave1 and CT is Dave2. That way I can always compare indoors to indoors, and if there is ever a problem with either unit I can compare the WKO data... I write the programs with the CT watts, but if I do a ride at .90 IF, it should be the same IF on the Quarq even though it calculates based on a different FTP, although I do not get the CT and Quarq watts to match.
I bought mine on ebay and regularly see them listed. I have thought about getting a second one for my vacation house. If I can help further, please let me know. Dave
Excellent! Thanks so much for all of the input. This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for and you all have saved me A LOT of valuable time!
@Dave - I am glad you brought up the ability to make a course based on GPS. My husband specifically asked if that was something we would be able to do. I really like the idea of being able to write a workout to my specifications, but do it with some nice scenery. Yesterday when I was playing with it it was really nice to ride through some cactuses and see mountains while it was 18 degrees and blowing like crazy outside
. If we decide to pull the trigger I may be back in touch on your kind offer as the manuals don't always help as much as I would like them to.
@Matt and Matt - I see your point about it maybe not be a worthwhile investment if your not going to build courses and use it mostly in erg mode, but it seems to me that it might be helpful making me "stay" w/ the watts I want to be at. If I am able to pre-program where I want to be and for how long it seems like I might be more likely to "hang" a little longer. Kinda like running on a dreadmill, but I realize that I have to generate the power here. I just have tough time sometimes making myself push based on watching all those numbers jump around on the LYC and have a tendency to bail a little early while on the drainer
. I think I would be more motivated to chase "the Silverman" 
. I hope both you guys stay healthy and sound and continue to heal up! and thanks for the link.
@Linda - what you said about practicing on terrrain and keeping watts steady etc. really appeals to me too. That is something I really need to work on. I think it would also be good when I can't get out due to weather or daylight constrictions and keep me move motivated.
@Scott - I am w/ you on the dummy it down stuff. Not that the CT won't have a big learning curve, but if I can get it to where I can watch some nice scenery and just have to stay w/ that other doode for my ride I think I will gain a lot more than just staring at the LYC waiting for my 1 hr to expire.
Thanks again all!
I too bought my CT long before I owned a PM and would have bought the PM first. Concerning both you and your DH using the CT, unless you ride the same bike you'll have to change bikes to the stand. There is a magnet that attaches to the crank arm and a sensor that velcros to the chainstay for measuring cadence that has to be switched from one bike to another. Also, with every bike switch (and actually every ride--unless you're using your PT for measuring power) you should calibrate the CT as it will affect your power numbers.
It was kind of a PIA to switch the bikes for us so now the DH's bike is on the CT and my bike is on a Kurt Kinetic trainer. The EN rides are so short and full of intervals that my eyes are locked on my PM. The CT trainer is definitely nicer to ride than my trainer, but I'm too lazy to switch out the bikes. Ha!