General Discussion Triathlon Talk » I love TrainerRoad! Rss Feed  
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2012-02-17 5:40 PM

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Subject: I love TrainerRoad!

If for no other reason than I'm a gear junkie and it makes trainer time go by much quicker Laughing

Can't speak to results because I just started this week. Fairly simple to use and looks like a lot of options on rides.



2012-02-17 10:04 PM
in reply to: #4053843

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Pro
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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

I went from a "I think I'll try this" to a TrainerRoad advocate- recommending it to everyone- after my 1st ride.  Turns your regular trainer into a $1500 Computrainer for $10.  

The FTP test works, and automatically adjusts the workouts around your FTP.  I've been very impressed with the quality of workouts that I've done.  each has been well structured.

2012-02-17 11:18 PM
in reply to: #4053843

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Master
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Houston
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

And throw in the sufferfest and um.... wow.

Before TR and SF I would get on the trainer and spin.

With TR and SF I get on the trainer and sweat, and curse, and grind, and in the rest periods I spin and wish I had more time before the next interval.

2012-02-17 11:39 PM
in reply to: #4054122

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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
NewClydesdale - 2012-02-17 11:18 PM

And throw in the sufferfest and um.... wow.

Before TR and SF I would get on the trainer and spin.

With TR and SF I get on the trainer and sweat, and curse, and grind, and in the rest periods I spin and wish I had more time before the next interval.

 

this

2012-02-18 9:24 AM
in reply to: #4053843

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Oakville
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

Ditto.  I used to dread the trainer, but did 1 1/2 hour workout last night - 'Antelope' - great ride!

$10 a month is a steal!!

 

2012-02-18 10:06 AM
in reply to: #4054354

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Somewhere in the Swamps of Philly
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
Scott71 - 2012-02-18 10:24 AM

Ditto.  I used to dread the trainer, but did 1 1/2 hour workout last night - 'Antelope' - great ride!

$10 a month is a steal!!

 

Even better for the beta tester who got in at $7.  I can only see the product getting better over time and Nate's customer service skills are equally excellent.



2012-02-18 10:09 AM
in reply to: #4053843

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Master
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Burlington, Vermont
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
I've been down with a stomach virus since last Sunday and have been couch bound just staring at my trainer waiting to get back into a solid TR workout. The waiting ends today and I'm just trying to decide which workout. I'll be going long with a movie.

It's an amazing product ... especially for those of us who live in the lands of long winters. 
2012-02-18 11:46 AM
in reply to: #4053843

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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

I love it too, but it hates me!

After using it pretty consistantly since November (first FTP test- 223), I just recently started the 'build a bigger engine' plan and the opening 8min test reset my FTP to 249.  Now I also... "sweat, and curse, and grind" with each workout and it leaves me beaten.

ps, the sufferfest integration is awesome!

2012-02-18 12:09 PM
in reply to: #4053843

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Coopersburg, PA
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
Please explain how this program works. How does the bike connect to the computer?
2012-02-18 12:09 PM
in reply to: #4053843

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Champion
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Rochester Hills, Michigan
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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

I'm interested in trying it out...

However...I wanted a simple answer the the question 'how does it work, and what equipment / technology do I need to get started?'.  The 30 minutes I invested on the TrainerRoad website left me more confused than clear, which shouldn't surprise anyone since I'm not all that bright. So I haven't done it. 

Anyone care to take 5 minutes to lay out the 3rd-grade-level version of how it works, and what you need to do / buy to get started? The simpler the better so I don't overhead either brain cell. 

My starting point: Cycleops Fluid 2, Garmin AND Polar HRM's, enough laptops and computers, superfast broadband connection. NO CT, powermeter, cadence, or ANT-compliant head unit.  

2012-02-18 12:24 PM
in reply to: #4054472

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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

ANT+

 

VirtualPower based Workouts

 

Power Based Workouts

 

Heart Rate Based Workouts

 

That's it!  We use the Garmin ANT+ Stick to read data from your sensors.  You don't need a head unit or any other equipment.



2012-02-18 12:29 PM
in reply to: #4054472

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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
rkreuser - 2012-02-18 1:09 PM

I'm interested in trying it out...

However...I wanted a simple answer the the question 'how does it work, and what equipment / technology do I need to get started?'.  The 30 minutes I invested on the TrainerRoad website left me more confused than clear, which shouldn't surprise anyone since I'm not all that bright. So I haven't done it. 

Anyone care to take 5 minutes to lay out the 3rd-grade-level version of how it works, and what you need to do / buy to get started? The simpler the better so I don't overhead either brain cell. 

My starting point: Cycleops Fluid 2, Garmin AND Polar HRM's, enough laptops and computers, superfast broadband connection. NO CT, powermeter, cadence, or ANT-compliant head unit.  

 

All you need is Garmin Ant+ Stick and Garmin GSC Cadence/Speed Sensor. They each run about $30-$35 on Amazon.  A total cost of $70 for the two items plus a $10/mos membership (which you can cancel at anytime and is pay as you go).

2012-02-18 12:40 PM
in reply to: #4054472

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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
rkreuser - 2012-02-18 11:09 AM

I'm interested in trying it out...

However...I wanted a simple answer the the question 'how does it work, and what equipment / technology do I need to get started?'.  The 30 minutes I invested on the TrainerRoad website left me more confused than clear, which shouldn't surprise anyone since I'm not all that bright. So I haven't done it. 

Anyone care to take 5 minutes to lay out the 3rd-grade-level version of how it works, and what you need to do / buy to get started? The simpler the better so I don't overhead either brain cell. 

My starting point: Cycleops Fluid 2, Garmin AND Polar HRM's, enough laptops and computers, superfast broadband connection. NO CT, powermeter, cadence, or ANT-compliant head unit.  

First... you don't need anything. For someone with nothing, they will need a ANT+ HR strap and a ANT+ usb stick. HR will show up after you link it to TR and you will always have that. Do the 8 min and 20 min test using HR. Find your HRLT and go from there. A HR strap is a little bit, but most of us already have them. If you don't you do not need a head unit for TR, you just need the strap. But HR has it disadvantages and using HR to do short intervals is not very precise.

What everyone talks about is virtual power. All trainers have a power curve... it takes so many watts to turn them so fast. Trainer road has the power curve from the maker, or they test all the others to come up with a power curve. If your trainer is not on their list you can ask that they test it and add it and they will get to it. Power is a much much better measure to use for the output you are doing.

The only thing you need after that is a ANT+ speed sensor, and a ANT+ USB stick (you only need one ANT+ usb stick for everything). You do not need any other ANT+ gear. From Amazon, it cost me a total of $64 for those two items. You do not need any head unit. Although if that is how you usually record stuff keep using it. Now TR will convert your speed into power using the power curve for your trainer and display it in the program.

From there you load the ANT+ software, you search and link your gear, you tell TR to use power instead of HR... and now watts appear on the screen and you train with power. You take your tests and a you will be given a power FT you can accept.

Regardless of using HR or power, all TR workouts are then calibrated to your level and everything from that point is scaled to you. Your fitness gets better, you adjust your number up. All the percentages and zones you need to be at are calculated out for every workout. Power is just a much better measure to use for your workouts.

TR can obviously use power meters too. If you have one link it up and you are set. Most of us do not have power meters though. So for a $300 trainer, and a $100 or so for a HR strap, speed sensor and ANT+ stick, we can train with power year round.... oh ya and the $10 a month to TR... but that is so so much worth it.

2012-02-18 12:41 PM
in reply to: #4054471

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Master
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Houston
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

Live2ski - 2012-02-18 12:09 PM Please explain how this program works. How does the bike connect to the computer?

As simply as possible:

If you have a cadence sensor that is ant+ (The garmin sensor for most).    And you have the USB ANT+ Stick, then what TR does is it cacluates the virtual power from your speed and cadnence based on the resistance curve of the trainer.

In otherwords, it gives you power numbers without having a computrainer or powertap.  But it can work with both of those.

It then runs workouts that challenge you and let you know if you are meeting the targeted power or not with easy to follow graphs. 

It also will incorporate the sufferfest videos and has workouts that are prearranged to challenge you to meet certain FTP targets as the sufferfest workout moves.

 

To get it setup:

  1. Create a account.
  2. Download and install the software.
  3. Select your trainer.
  4. Plug in the ANT stick to your usb port and place your computer near the bike.
  5. Go to the devices tab and scan for your heart rate monitor and cadence/speed sensor.
  6. pedal a bit so it detects your sensor.
  7. Select a workout (There is a training one).
  8. Start pedaling and the workout starts.
2012-02-18 12:46 PM
in reply to: #4054472

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Wallingford, PA
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
rkreuser - 2012-02-18 1:09 PM

I'm interested in trying it out...

However...I wanted a simple answer the the question 'how does it work, and what equipment / technology do I need to get started?'.  The 30 minutes I invested on the TrainerRoad website left me more confused than clear, which shouldn't surprise anyone since I'm not all that bright. So I haven't done it. 

Anyone care to take 5 minutes to lay out the 3rd-grade-level version of how it works, and what you need to do / buy to get started? The simpler the better so I don't overhead either brain cell. 

My starting point: Cycleops Fluid 2, Garmin AND Polar HRM's, enough laptops and computers, superfast broadband connection. NO CT, powermeter, cadence, or ANT-compliant head unit.  



I think it's already been answered, but I'll add my own explanation as well....

The first think you'll need is an ANT+ USB stick. This allows your computer to pick up ANT+ wireless signals from your ANT+ devices such as heart rate monitor strap, speed or cadence sensors, power meter, etc. In essence, this turns your computer into the "head unit".

If you want to use the VIRTUAL POWER option, you will need an ANT+ speed sensor so Trainer Road can use your trainer's power curve to translate speed to power.

If you don't want to use virtual power, you can still train based on heart rate targets with just the ANT+ USB stick and ANT+ heart rate monitor strap.

Hope that helps!
2012-02-18 1:01 PM
in reply to: #4053843

Master
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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!

I like how TrainerRoad has made most of the 'controversy' over the value of trainer speed moot. 

 

I've been expounding on what a useful metric trainer speed is for comparing workout to workout (not for going from indoor to outdoor but its actually not so bad there either) and despite talking about how useful those power curves are, it seems there are always a contingent that are intent on throwing trainer speed out the window in terms of utility.

 

In fact, it's perhaps the MOST useful number you have, as it's essentially your power. Nice to see that dying dog controversy put to rest.



2012-02-18 1:14 PM
in reply to: #4053843

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Veteran
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Coopersburg, PA
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
Thanks for the explanations everyone. Don't think it's quite goin to work for me since my bike/trainer is not set up at my house or anywhere near a viable computer.
2012-02-18 1:24 PM
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2012-02-18 1:28 PM
in reply to: #4054522

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2012-02-18 1:40 PM
in reply to: #4054576

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Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
Fred D - 2012-02-18 2:28 PM
NewClydesdale - 2012-02-18 1:41 PM

Live2ski - 2012-02-18 12:09 PM Please explain how this program works. How does the bike connect to the computer?

As simply as possible:

If you have a cadence sensor that is ant+ (The garmin sensor for most).    And you have the USB ANT+ Stick, then what TR does is it cacluates the virtual power from your speed and cadnence based on the resistance curve of the trainer.

In otherwords, it gives you power numbers without having a computrainer or powertap.  But it can work with both of those.

It then runs workouts that challenge you and let you know if you are meeting the targeted power or not with easy to follow graphs. 

It also will incorporate the sufferfest videos and has workouts that are prearranged to challenge you to meet certain FTP targets as the sufferfest workout moves.

 

To get it setup:

  1. Create a account.
  2. Download and install the software.
  3. Select your trainer.
  4. Plug in the ANT stick to your usb port and place your computer near the bike.
  5. Go to the devices tab and scan for your heart rate monitor and cadence/speed sensor.
  6. pedal a bit so it detects your sensor.
  7. Select a workout (There is a training one).
  8. Start pedaling and the workout starts.

How do you adjust the difficulty to correspond to te video, Ie; do you just pedal faster or increase the tension?

There is a moving cue that tells you what power you are supposed to be outputting. It's is synchronized to the video. Depending on the type of interval, you change power either by adjusting cadence or by adjusting tension. Since I have a fluid trainer, I change gears instead of adjusting tension.

2012-02-18 2:12 PM
in reply to: #4053843

Master
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Montgomery, Tx
Subject: RE: I love TrainerRoad!
I have done 28 rides for a total of 32 hours including 5 total 3+ hr rides(sometimes I add 2 rides together) on trainerroad since the begging of January. I enjoy my workouts and I look forward to them. my wife relaxes much more and I can train at 4am so my time away from the wife and kids is minimal.


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