HELP with Tacx Flow Trainer

Hi..

Just took delivery of my new Tacx Flow trainer. Nice equipment..but what a challange to put it together..if it wasn't for my 14 y/o daughter..I don't think I would have done it on my own..LOL..

Got on it this morning and was not to happy..guess its all to do with being on it for the first time:

(a) It felt very hard. I was on the smalled gear on the front and between 1-3 on the back. The gradient was set on the machine between -4 and 0 and power at 200 watts. Any reason it felt so hard. I averaged 8-9 km/hour

(b) I put an old yoga mat under the bike..but the back wheels has almost burnt a hole into the mat...anyone else have this problem with initial use of trainers... worried

(c) Really stupid question..never was good at physics..what is the significance of the Watts setting for the trainer..is higher harder or easier...

Appreciate any help....it felt so much harder then being on the road....

thanks gff

Edited by getfitfast 2010-01-22 2:57 PM