Which Turbo? (been Told To Get My Own!) | Training | Road | Forums - BikeRadar

Ands · **Posted** Tue Nov 3, 2009 11:23 pm

I've just got back on the bike this year (5 yrs/2 small children later) and OH thinks I need my own turbo (not sure why this is - either we're going to spend long evenings in the garage together or he's fed up of shifting my bike off his turbo Confused

).

I'm using a Tacx Flow and he wants to buy me another similar. At £300 I'm wondering if I need to spend that much. Since his turbo is probably about 5 years old, has technology changed at the lower end of the market and can I get something as good for less? Or should I stick with what I'm used to?

Any suggestions or experiences please!

Thanks
Suzanne

hopper1 · **Posted** Wed Nov 4, 2009 4:32 am

Not sure how technology has changed things, apart from fluid being the more popular resistance factor.
I have a CycleOps Fluid 2 and I'm more than happy with it.
I'd say as long as the turbo uses oil/fluid to create resistance it'll be ok. All the fancy gizmo's are unnecessary in my mind.

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Ands · **Posted** Wed Nov 4, 2009 11:50 am

Thank you Hopper. It looks good, and good price altho I just looked up a review for it and it got marked down for resistance. How do you find it? (Supposed to be training for the Alps next summer Shocked

)

Says it's quiet tho, which is important for me as I will probably have to train indoors a lot of the time (and not the garage), when the little ones are in bed.

I'm guessing that if I went for something under £300 I'm going to lose the computer like the Flow has?

Ands · **Posted** Wed Nov 4, 2009 12:00 pm

oh I just realised there is a 'buying advice' forum too Embarassed

(how long's that been there?!)

ut_och_cykla · **Posted** Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:22 pm

I have a flow 2 years old - suits me fine and I trained to be able to climb alps inkl. Alpe Dhuez etc on it no probs. key is right gears adn sustained power. I have mine in teh cellar - maybe in the living room in might drown teh telly a bit but I'm not sure thats its worse than a washing machine noise wise. Rather like eth computer thingy - gives me lots of number sto keep track of adn a sense of steady if rather slow improvement!!

hopper1 · **Posted** Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:40 pm

Ands · **Posted** Wed Nov 4, 2009 2:13 pm

Thanks guys. Took my pedals and shoes with me to the Alps this yeat and then bottled it when faced with the prospect of ascending Alpe d'Huez. Had a huge fear of failure and not being able to get past the first 2 hairpins. Next year, I want to go into it with some better, targeted training behind me.

I do like the computer on the flow - would find it hard to train without a cadence sensor.

andy162 · **Posted** Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:23 pm

I'll side with Hopper. Everything he said really. No separate resistance adjustment, you just pedal harder. Quiet, cheap, robust. Mine's 2 years old & has had some hammer. Still spot on.

Ands · **Posted** Thu Nov 5, 2009 1:45 pm

Thanks - quite fancy having something different otherwise it won't feel like a new toy if I get the same one as he's already got.

Hopper, I can spin 53/12 in the Alps no problem.......downhill of course Wink

You also mentioned a rear wheel sensor.....can you point me in the direction of those as I'm not sure what I'm looking for. The Power Tap looks like a serious piece of kit but would quadruple the cost of the turbo!

ut_och_cykla · **Posted** Thu Nov 5, 2009 6:06 pm

A normal rear wheel mounted bike comouter will give you all kinds of info - the old Cateye Astrale has cadence too! Just calibrate it properly!

symo · **Posted** Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:21 pm

I have a Kirt Kinetic Rock n Roll. Love it. Unlike the Cyclops system the Kurt fluid will not leak as it does not have a seal that will eventually wear out. Plus the rock and roll motion lets you get out of the seat without damaging the bike.

I have the Garmin 705 and I am in the process of buying a couple more cadence monitors for my turbo bike and the new planet x ti. Again great piece of equipment.

symo · **Posted** Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:22 pm

I have a Kirt Kinetic Rock n Roll. Love it. Unlike the Cyclops system the Kurt fluid will not leak as it does not have a seal that will eventually wear out. Plus the rock and roll motion lets you get out of the seat without damaging the bike.

I have the Garmin 705 and I am in the process of buying a couple more cadence monitors for my turbo bike and the new planet x ti. Again great piece of equipment.

hopper1 · **Posted** Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:45 pm

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