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24-08.-2007, 02:51 AM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 33
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Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
Weather will be getting iffy here in the NorthEast of the US soon. I'm in need of an indoor trainer.
As important as the trainer is the ability to gauge my progress througout the winter via WATTAGE. I wish I had a $1000 so that I could go Power Tap or to some other high-end indoor/outdoor solution. However, I just don't have that kind of money right now. What I'm looking at for a budget is somewhere $300 to $500. Is it possible in this price range to purchase an indoor trainer that will give me: a.) wattage (cur, avg, max) - a must have / need b.) a close to true road feel - a must have / need c.) the ability to save data for placing in a graph - HR, CAD, SPEED, TIME - not real-time but for post ride analysis - not a need, but close to it. d.) the ability to save data for placing in a graph, basically c.) but in real-time. - not a need, but this would obviously be a bonus e.) a real-time computer program with simulation of different road conditions, trials, races etc. - a future desire which is probably out of my price range right now. Even if you have a solution that involves A and B above, with C to be added later, I could eventually scratch up the money throughout the winter to get to C or D. That would also be something I'm interested in. The models I have done some research on all seem to have 1 or 2 things missing from the ideal trainer. CycleOps - Fluid 2 - doesn't seem to have wattage at all. Kurt Kinetic Road - has wattage but (as far as I can tell) has no integration for graphing HR, CAD, SPEED, TIME on a graph. Power Tap - too expensive IBike - useless indoors Nashbar Watt Master Fluid Trainer - no pc integration Any thoughts? Am I in a similar boat as a lot of folks? dave
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2007 Jamis Race - stock / Cateye Astrale 8 computer |
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24-08.-2007, 02:56 AM
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#2 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 200
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
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24-08.-2007, 03:16 AM
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 337
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
My Velotron does everything you list in addition to other requirements I had (accuracy, big flywheel, and a chain drive rather than a tire-drum interface). Options for indoor training are few and the more requirements you have, the higher the price goes.
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24-08.-2007, 03:26 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Seattle, WA/Vancouver BC
Posts: 551
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
I would take a hard look at the Travel Trac (made by Elite) Real Axiom Virtual Reality Trainer sold through Performance. They are ~$150 (with discounts) over your budget but worth it, IMO. It is not a true ergometer in the purists' sense, however, the information provided is consistent. Go to Performance's website for the details...
I have one and for a 1/3 of the cost (I paid $450) of a Computrainer I get ~90% of the Computrainer's performance. Accuracy (some on this forum scoff at the idea of using anything less than one of the actual power meters; i.e. PT, SRM Ergomo, etc...) being relative, I can track my training performance numbers against my previous workouts regardless of comparing figures with other people's true power meters. How I'm training today compared to last week or last month is what matters. Besides, I paid a fraction of what they paid  ... |
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24-08.-2007, 03:48 AM
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#5 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 33
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
Tony,
Good post! Obviously you read what I wrote and didn't just take it as a chance to justify your purchase in this area, or take the chance to brag about your $8000 machine. If someone where able to place an integrated USB Key to the Nashbar computer or the add on computer for the Kurt Kinetic, they might really have something that could be of great use to many of us who are serious but looking to spend less money but get some of the data. Off of the attached LED and into a computer. I will take a look at the Real Axiom. It may be scoffed at by some, but it's getting the measureables for my own performance that is important to me. < How I'm training today compared to last week or last month is what matters. Very true. I need something that will give me my results, it doesn't matter if the wattage is off a bit, so long as the unit is true in 2 months to the calibration today. I can always calculate most of the other numbers off of the Cateye Astrale 8 that runs off my back wheel. Even though it's $150 more than I stated in the budget, that's the kind of information I was looking for. Many thanks for a useful reply! Dave Quote:
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2007 Jamis Race - stock / Cateye Astrale 8 computer |
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24-08.-2007, 04:51 AM
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#6 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Kansas City, USA
Posts: 3,689
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
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Wanting more than one can afford? Yeah, I'd say so.  What's hurting your choices the most is the automatic importing of data to a PC. Ingenious people on the tightest budgets have overcome that by pulling numbers off the trainer's power curve and printing out a chart that they can tape on their handlebars for convenient conversion of speed to power, and then manually entering the relative power numbers into their PC spreadsheet for tracking. It doesn't do everything you want, but it will allow you to track your progress through the winter training. |
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24-08.-2007, 05:25 AM
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#7 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 38
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
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24-08.-2007, 05:28 AM
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#8 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,172
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
New No Used Maybe
Quote:
__________________
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. http://www.earnharts.com/html/reala...ecific.asp?id=3 |
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24-08.-2007, 07:56 AM
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#9 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 140
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
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Furthermore, if you eventually get a power meter for your bike, you wouldn't need a new trainer to use it indoors. |
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24-08.-2007, 11:35 AM
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 33
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
I have CAD, SPEED and Time currently through the Astrale 8 - which is back wheel mounted. I could get the HR via a watch without much trouble.
I was leaning toward the Kurt Kinetic over the other Fluid trainers. Mostly because of it's excellent reputation and solid feel. Also, because it does have a Wattage meter for only $40. Maybe the best way to go about this is to work it via increments. Kurt Kinetic, then add the Wattage meter, then save some more over the winter and introduce a used or new Power Tap. If going used I could probably do this all for under $1000 and spread it out a bit. I had done a bit of research before asking all of this, just wasn't sure if anyone had found some 3rd party tool to integrate any of the better known Fluid trainers with a computer. Glad to see so many good suggestions. I think I'll use a combination of all your suggestions and spread it out but have everything I need to roll with power in and outdoors by the spring. Dave Quote:
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2007 Jamis Race - stock / Cateye Astrale 8 computer |
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24-08.-2007, 12:41 PM
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#11 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,504
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
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If you want the readout to display watts as you ride the trainer then spend the $40 but if you just want the accuracy all you need to do is print the power to speed table and go through the setup proceduce: http://www.kurtkinetic.com/computer_tech.php Personally I'd print the chart and save your $40 towards a PowerTap system. FWIW I bought all my PT systems used on ebay and haven't had a lemon yet. You can get some pretty good deals there, especially over the winter months when folks aren't focused on riding. Good luck, Dave |
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24-08.-2007, 08:02 PM
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#12 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,172
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Re: Is the following possible for an indoor trainer with this budget?
The KK Road Machine computer is a little on the cheap side and doesn't have cadence so it really wasn't worth having it on my handlebars. I use a 2006 Cateye Astrale 8 it's a wired rear wheel with cadence bike computer that doesn't take up much space. This chart works just as good.
Formula 5.244820x + .019168x^3 17mph=183.33w 17.1mph=185.53w 17.2mph=187.74w 17.3mph=189.98w 17.4mph=192.23w 17.5mph=194.51w 17.6mph=196.80w 17.7mph=199.12w 17.8mph=201.46w 17.9mph=203.81w 18mph=206.19w 18.1mph=208.59w 18.2mph=211.01w 18.3mph=213.45w 18.4mph=215.91w 18.5mph=218.39w 18.6mph=220.89w 18.7mph=223.42w 18.8mph=225.96w 18.9mph=228.53w 19mph=231.12w 19.1mph=233.73w 19.2mph=236.36w 19.3mph=239.02w 19.4mph=241.70w 19.5mph=244.40w 19.6mph=247.12w 19.7mph=249.86w 19.8mph=252.63w 19.9mph=255.42w 20mph=258.24w 20.1mph=261.07w 20.2mph=263.93w 20.3mph=266.81w 20.4mph=269.72w 20.5mph=272.65w 20.6mph=275.60w 20.7mph=278.58w 20.8mph=281.58w 20.9mph=284.60w 21mph=287.65w 21.1mph=290.72w 21.2mph=293.82w 21.3mph=296.94w 21.4mph=300.09w 21.5mph=303.26w 21.6mph=306.45w 21.7mph=309.67w 21.8mph=312.92w 21.9mph=316.19w 22mph=319.48w 22.1mph=322.80w 22.2mph=326.15w 22.3mph=329.52w 22.4mph=332.92w 22.5mph=336.34w 22.6mph=339.79w 22.7mph=343.26w 22.8mph=346.76w 22.9mph=350.29w 23mph=353.84w 23.1mph=357.42w 23.2mph=361.03w 23.3mph=364.66w 23.4mph=368.32w 23.5mph=372.01w 23.6mph=375.72w 23.7mph=379.46w 23.8mph=383.23w 23.9mph=387.03w 24mph=390.85w 24.1mph=394.70w 24.2mph=398.58w 24.3mph=402.48w 24.4mph=406.42w 24.5mph=410.38w 24.6mph=414.37w 24.7mph=418.39w 24.8mph=422.44w 24.9mph=426.51w 25mph=430.62w 25.1mph=434.75w......Lance Armstrong FTP maybe 25.2mph=438.91w 25.3mph=443.10w 25.4mph=447.32w 25.5mph=451.57w 25.6mph=455.85w 25.7mph=460.16w 25.8mph=464.49w 25.9mph=468.86w 26mph=473.26w
__________________
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. http://www.earnharts.com/html/reala...ecific.asp?id=3 |
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