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More trainer ?'s
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 2012-10-01 12:29 PM |
 99 |  Subject: More trainer ?'sSo I keep looking at trainers, not so much because of winter since I live in FL (what winter?) but because I want to live and not be run over by some idiot redneck or texting teenager. I wanted something that was interactive so I could ride races, ride previous races, training programs, etc. and not get bored. So I started at looking around and pretty much there is a tacx thing, elite axiom, and computrainer. I am still considering maybe just getting a trainer and some videos. I also want to be able to see power and speed/cadence. This brings me to my question,
So my question is why the HELL does a power meter cost MORE than the trainer itself?? And why wouldn't this be built into the trainer? I mean the trainer is what 300. speed sensor 60 bucks. hr monitor is not much either. 900 bucks for a power hub? 1800 for a crank with a sensor? wtf?
Beyond that, does anyone know if the Elite Axiom has a built in power meter or is it just estimating power? |
| 2012-10-01 12:39 PM in reply to: #4435182 |
 San Diego, CA | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s The circuitry that goes into that power meter is pretty significant and intricate. I'm not 100% sure on how they work, but I'm guessing some sort of strain gages mounted to the axel, then to some sort of transmitter powered by batteries or maybe the rotation of the wheel, then the other end of the transmitter to recieve the data, process the data into that nifty little number of Watts that you are looking for. Probably not cheap to get all that inside the 2-3 inch tube which we call a power meter. As for the built in power meter, there is really no way I can think of without some sort of strain gages. You can relate strain to force, and with the speed of the wheel you can easily calculate power. My guess is that the power meter built into the trainer is somehow relating the speed of the roller drum with the resistance it is providing to approximate power. |
| 2012-10-01 12:43 PM in reply to: #4435182 |
Member 5452  NC | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s Check out trainerroad.com.
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| 2012-10-01 12:48 PM in reply to: #4435201 |
| 99 | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s The more I read/research/learn, the closer I think I am getting to a kk and trainerroad. I am down to spend money on something I really feel like makes a difference or is worth it but if trainerroad can estimate within 2-3 watts, I'm pretty good with that. I can see how my little naive idea of an interactive trainer could easily be a 6-7k endeavor if I was willing to drop money on ct, power meter, etc. I just want to train on the bike indoors and feel like I'm riding somewhere other than my garage. I still have to read more on this elite axiom system which could be had for 600 bucks. It's that or just a trainer and speed sensor + trainerroad which is maybe 400 bucks and then 10 bucks a month. Then, in 2-3 years when the cost of these sensors goes to 100 bucks or so and people aren't trying to recover research costs I can upgrade to a power meter. I'd have to think about it more but something tells me as an engineer that a power meter isn't worth that much. I would expect that to be a senior design project in college somewhere. |
| 2012-10-01 12:59 PM in reply to: #4435220 |
Elite 5145 Cleveland | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s The scenario's you're talking about in your OP are top-of-the-line set ups... you're going to pay a lot for that. Start with the basics - a trainer, a bike, and trainerroad - or just a VCR and some really bad John Hughes movies from the mid-80's. From there, after a while you'll get a better idea of what you "need" vs. just what you want. It also allows you to piecemeal things together. Start with the basics, add Power at a later time, then add whatever else, etc... |
| 2012-10-01 1:04 PM in reply to: #4435231 |
| 99 | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s cgregg - 2012-10-01 12:59 PM The scenario's you're talking about in your OP are top-of-the-line set ups... you're going to pay a lot for that. Start with the basics - a trainer, a bike, and trainerroad - or just a VCR and some really bad John Hughes movies from the mid-80's. From there, after a while you'll get a better idea of what you "need" vs. just what you want. It also allows you to piecemeal things together. Start with the basics, add Power at a later time, then add whatever else, etc...
yeah, this is good advice! thanks!
I just had it in my mind oh, I'll grab an interactive trainer and power meter for a few hundred bucks. I should of known better! I think that's where I am. I have a bike, get a trainer, get a trainer tire (suggested by the bike shop), and trainerroad. Should be all I ever need really. |
| 2012-10-01 1:10 PM in reply to: #4435182 |
Extreme Veteran 626 South Florida | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s It just started with trainer road last week and I really like it. |
| 2012-10-01 1:19 PM in reply to: #4435205 |
Master 1883 San Antone, Texas | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s |
| 2012-10-01 1:52 PM in reply to: #4435182 |
Pro 5361 | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s |
| 2012-10-01 11:01 PM in reply to: #4435182 |
| New user 219 Bonney Lake | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s I live in an area where ridding my bike is a death sentence out on the road. My first year I had a normal trainer from a sports store. Nothing fancy just about 80 bucks. Wanted to see if I liked it and would use it. I did use it a lot while watching football or hockey and some bad movies. Then just bit the bullet and bought a computrainer. It was a great investment for me. Was so great the wife used it to and then boght another one so we can race each weekend against each-other. |
| 2012-10-02 8:51 AM in reply to: #4435271 |
| Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s djastroman - 2012-10-01 1:19 PM Goosedog - 2012-10-01 12:43 PM Check out trainerroad.com.
+10^6. Add Sufferfest. Nerd.
+1 on Sufferfest. Way cool and well priced. |
| 2012-10-02 10:47 AM in reply to: #4435271 |
Regular 234 Madison | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s djastroman - 2012-10-01 1:19 PM Goosedog - 2012-10-01 12:43 PM Check out trainerroad.com.
+10^6. Add Sufferfest. Ditto. I've had sufferfest for about a year and have noticed a huge difference using mostly cadence, PRE and HR. Going to add in trainerroad.com this winter and see how much more I can do. |
| 2012-10-02 11:08 AM in reply to: #4435182 |
| 1660 | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s Power meters are substantially more complicated to engineer and make than a trainer.
The power meter requires careful accurate strain gauges that are small, lightweight, and strong, and electronics to communicate.
The (fluid) trainer is an enclosed tank of fluid with metallic fins for heat dissipation. No electronics.
If powermeters were only used on trainers, I would see how they make no sense since you could just you a trainer and do the speed->power conversion, but powermeters are designed to be used on the road as well, so they're light enough to perform in that setting. Hence the big expense. |
| 2012-10-02 12:38 PM in reply to: #4435236 |
Pro 6582 Melbourne FL Gold member | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s phishintrip007 - 2012-10-01 2:04 PM phishintrip007, if you up getting a KK trainer want to keep it very low tech for now. I have the BT 14 week cycling plan in an Excel spreadsheet that will convert speed to virtual power and spit out all the wattage zones (speed zone) based on 5' & 20' tests. All you need to have is a rear wheel pickup for the speed. If interested send me a PM with email.cgregg - 2012-10-01 12:59 PM The scenario's you're talking about in your OP are top-of-the-line set ups... you're going to pay a lot for that. Start with the basics - a trainer, a bike, and trainerroad - or just a VCR and some really bad John Hughes movies from the mid-80's. From there, after a while you'll get a better idea of what you "need" vs. just what you want. It also allows you to piecemeal things together. Start with the basics, add Power at a later time, then add whatever else, etc... yeah, this is good advice! thanks! I just had it in my mind oh, I'll grab an interactive trainer and power meter for a few hundred bucks. I should of known better! I think that's where I am. I have a bike, get a trainer, get a trainer tire (suggested by the bike shop), and trainerroad. Should be all I ever need really. Also, there's a program called TrainerMic that uses simple mic input on a PC, costs is $49 for speed pickup only and no reoccurring monthly fee. I don't have it myself (not an endorsement) but have emailed with them a few times and they were very helpful. |
| 2012-10-02 12:49 PM in reply to: #4435182 |
Veteran 217 Clemson | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s I got a KK road machine and a Garmin USB Ant+ stick to go with the Garmin speed/cadence sensor and using TrainerRoad. I love it, fairly cheap and I get great stats and it's obvious the guys at TR are actively improving it so it will only get better. Now I just need to figure out how to train smarter with it. Well that and I'd really like some Sufferfest DVDs to go with it... Cheers |
| 2012-10-02 1:17 PM in reply to: #4437104 |
| Member 55 | Subject: RE: More trainer ?'s I've tried TrainerRoad and like it. I have a new bias though and think RAD+ at www.radplussports.com is also worth a look. There is a free beta. |
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