I'm considering getting a turbo trainer to get me through the winter months without putting on any more weight! I've been recommended the cyclops one, and had a look on a few sites. There seems a big price difference in price between the fluid one and the magnetic one. Does anyone know if its worth the extra investment?
I did search on the threads on here and the author hated hers and ditched it back onto ebay sharpish! Fluffy - are you still using yours?
I have used the Cyclops Fluid one quite a lot, and find it really good compared to other turbos I have used.
In fact, if I was going to buy one I'd go for the fluid, because I find that having resistance that you can change just makes things more complicated, and I don't really need it. Its really simple to set up, which means I am more inclined to use it, because there is no twiddling of loads of levers, or cables getting caught up.
Hi Jenny - interested to know if your road biking has had much effect on your mountain biking? I was considering turning (!), for the winter, but think I've gone off the idea now. Just do gym instead. Not as good I know, but warmer and cleaner!!
Thanks for the info Vicky. I think I am going to go for the fluid one.
Hi J - I don't know if road biking helps with winter fitness...... its so long since I've been out! I'm a bit of a wuss on the road bike in nasty weather. Hence the turbo trainer. I cancelled my gym membership last April, after getting fed up with paying for it all summer and not using it. I have missed it a bit though, in this rainy awfulness, but worked out that even if I get a superdooper turbo, its only the equivalent of a few months of gym fees. And all I did at the gym last year was treadmill stuff for interval training for my marathon. I'm not running this year, so thought I'd try interval training on the turbo.
I did get out quite a bit on the road bike autumn time, and I do think it improved my fitness. Its also a different kind of biking and more fun than I'd thought (lots of cafe stops involved!), so I'd mtb one weekend day, then roadie the other, thereby improving fitness just by biking more.
crikey Jenny you got many pseudonyms?? Think I prob ought to do more spinning at the gym. Def need pilates again. Have lost that fat I gained back, but need some abs toning ..... will contact you.....
I didn't want my full name up really, I don't know why the site did that.. then changed it to JMH, I thought..... but it seems not to have got it right this time either!
Wierldy I had a message to ring someone with exactly the same name as you yesterday. I thought you might want to come back, but it turned out to be someone else!
Ads - thanks but i think I've decided to treat myself to a new one...
Ooh someone called mrs doolittles eh? That is wierd! I do want to come back but am wondering if I can commit...work bla bla.....will contact you and see what times/classes etc........6 o' clock would def be a no goer...twirly.
I got the Cyclops fluid one and I've actually used it quite a bit. In fact I'm sitting here debating whether to run or turbo tonight. Its too wet, cold and windy to road ride. I get bored if I just sit and twiddle on it, but if I do interval type training, doing sections out of the saddle, or work on pedal technique, with the tv on to distract me, its fine. And its lovely and warm, with no wind, no wet mucky bike and kit afterwards, and I think I've just made my decision...
Though this is a bit sad to admit I've found the best distracting tv progamme is Countdown! Doing the word and the numbers games takes your mind off the clockwatching. I even managed all the of the numbers games correctly in one episode once! Maybe pedalling stimulates the brain, I'm usually crap at numbers!
Countdown eh , i may try that one , so far all i do is watch this morning , do some revision , or watch sex and the city , tried music channels on tv but i have such a fussy taste in music i was flicking channels every few minutes !
Wonder what turbo trainer habits other people have
Blimey its late , think id better hit the sack , although i am not at all tired , would get on the turbo to tire me out but the bike is in the shed at the end of the garden , and i think i would wake everybody up using the thing!! - Note to self when i move out never have an upstairs flat , or anyone living below me!!
That's a good idea, never thought to have sessions in and out of the saddle. Not used the turbo trainer this week, been using a friend's rowing machine instead. I find it much harder work than the turbo trainer, but great to get fitness levels up.
My trainer came with a DVD of cyclists going through the mountains, not played it yet though, I think it would put me off, especially if they were male cyclists (hello!!)
Hope the nicer weather comes soon so I can get out on the bike again, it's been freezing today!!
I cancelled my gym membership last April, after getting fed up with paying for it all summer and not using it. I have missed it a bit though, in this rainy awfulness, but worked out that even if I get a superdooper turbo, its only the equivalent of a few months of gym fees. And all I did at the gym last year was treadmill stuff for interval training for my marathon. I'm not running this year, so thought I'd try interval training on the turbo. 
I do want to come back but am wondering if I can commit...work bla bla.....will contact you and see what times/classes etc........6 o' clock would def be a no goer...twirly.
