Comments for Turbo Trainer Reviews | Turbo Trainers | Bike Trainers http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com Tacx | Elite | Cycleops | Minoura Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:44:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on 3LC Sprinting – Train with the Manx by Daley http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/3lc-sprinting-train-with-the-manx/#comment-648 Daley Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:44:17 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/?p=1564#comment-648 I completely agree with the music thing, the number of videos that I've watched (no names mentioned) over and over again with the same repetitive music is unbelievable. If you're lucky the music is halfway bearable but in a lot of cases it isn't. It can get quite boring and I usually end up switching the sound off and listening to my own music, so hats off to anyone who lets us choose our own music to listen to! I completely agree with the music thing, the number of videos that I’ve watched (no names mentioned) over and over again with the same repetitive music is unbelievable. If you’re lucky the music is halfway bearable but in a lot of cases it isn’t.

It can get quite boring and I usually end up switching the sound off and listening to my own music, so hats off to anyone who lets us choose our own music to listen to!

]]> Comment on 3LC Sprinting – Train with the Manx by Dave - 3LC Director http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/3lc-sprinting-train-with-the-manx/#comment-611 Dave - 3LC Director Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:36:21 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/?p=1564#comment-611 Firstly... thank you for taking the time to conduct a review! We really appreciate the feedback. I'd just like to mention one thing about the 'no background music' situation. We specifically didn't put music on the sessions because it gets very repetitive when you watch them over and over again. There are many training DVDs we have watched over the years that have background music ranging from bad elevator music to more modern rock music but who are we to decide what genre of music people should listen to when training!!? We think with this system once people are used to the outline of the session they can easily add their own background music on a stereo or an ipod. We wanted to be different and this was an area we thought we'd try something new. Thanks again and if anyone has any questions please feel free to reply back to this comment. We'll do our best to answer them. Firstly… thank you for taking the time to conduct a review! We really appreciate the feedback. I’d just like to mention one thing about the ‘no background music’ situation.

We specifically didn’t put music on the sessions because it gets very repetitive when you watch them over and over again. There are many training DVDs we have watched over the years that have background music ranging from bad elevator music to more modern rock music but who are we to decide what genre of music people should listen to when training!!? We think with this system once people are used to the outline of the session they can easily add their own background music on a stereo or an ipod. We wanted to be different and this was an area we thought we’d try something new.

Thanks again and if anyone has any questions please feel free to reply back to this comment. We’ll do our best to answer them.

]]> Comment on Elite RealPower Reality Trainer by Scott Shernan http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/elite-realpower-reality-trainer/#comment-605 Scott Shernan Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:22:49 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/elite/elite-realpower-reality-trainer/#comment-605 Don't forget to check out the new trainer from Tacx as well. I'm looking for something my wife and I can ride together. Your review was obviously a poor experience with Elite and maybe this is why it's not come up when looking at the Computrainer or the new Tacx - not in the same ball park. Don’t forget to check out the new trainer from Tacx as well. I’m looking for something my wife and I can ride together. Your review was obviously a poor experience with Elite and maybe this is why it’s not come up when looking at the Computrainer or the new Tacx – not in the same ball park.

]]> Comment on Elite E-Motion Rollers by Alex http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-596 Alex Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:17:29 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/elite/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-596 Hi Greg, you have to pedal nearly constantly with these to maintain minimum speed. At lower speeds the coasting time is only a few seconds so you can't really freewheel for any significant periods. Hope this helps. Hi Greg, you have to pedal nearly constantly with these to maintain minimum speed. At lower speeds the coasting time is only a few seconds so you can’t really freewheel for any significant periods.
Hope this helps.

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]]> Comment on CycleOps Powerbeam Pro 3 Turbo Trainer by NYCVelocer http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/cycleops-powerbeam-pro-trainer/#comment-546 NYCVelocer Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:27:49 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/cycleops/cycleops-powerbeam-pro-trainer/#comment-546 I bought this because I was thinking that it would be a more affordable version of a CompuTrainer--perhaps I should have spent the extra money instead and spared myself the headache. I have a Quarq powermeter with a Garmin 500 computer, and was thinking that it shouldn't be any problem to calibrate and get started. Considering the very high price point for this item, it's really difficult to understand why this trainer does not work perfectly each and every time I use it. While there are loads of instructions--and a video no less--about how to take the trainer out of the box and put your bike on the trainer, there are *zero* instructions on how to do anything once you actually want to start pedaling, and nothing regarding troubleshooting. Each time I've called Customer Support, I've spoken with really nice guys who want to help, but the extent of their advice is to make sure that my tire is tight enough. Yeah, thanks guys. A typical workout for me has the Target Power (the level of resistance that you set) at 30W, the power displayed on the CycleOps Joule (their computer) at 130W, and my Garmin at 210W!! I've already spent the money and really want to like the Powerbeam Pro, but so far am very unhappy, and would strongly recommend that you NOT buy this product until CycleOps has the following on their website: 1) More instructional videos, including one with step-by-step information on how to get started once you plug in, including for different types of powermeters, including Quarq; 2) More user-friendly information regarding setup and troubleshooting, including calibration and frequency of calibration for powermeters, RU (resistance unit) calibration, and what to do if calibration fails; 3) Provide instructions using the same equipment that comes with the trainer (for example, all the videos show a different Joule (the CycleOps bike computer) then what comes with the trainer); 4) Better customer service, and ensuring that the phone reps have at least used the trainer; and 5) Show how to create workouts with the Poweragent, because right now there's absolutely nothing of value on the site that explains how to do this. I bought this because I was thinking that it would be a more affordable version of a CompuTrainer–perhaps I should have spent the extra money instead and spared myself the headache. I have a Quarq powermeter with a Garmin 500 computer, and was thinking that it shouldn’t be any problem to calibrate and get started. Considering the very high price point for this item, it’s really difficult to understand why this trainer does not work perfectly each and every time I use it.

While there are loads of instructions–and a video no less–about how to take the trainer out of the box and put your bike on the trainer, there are *zero* instructions on how to do anything once you actually want to start pedaling, and nothing regarding troubleshooting. Each time I’ve called Customer Support, I’ve spoken with really nice guys who want to help, but the extent of their advice is to make sure that my tire is tight enough. Yeah, thanks guys. A typical workout for me has the Target Power (the level of resistance that you set) at 30W, the power displayed on the CycleOps Joule (their computer) at 130W, and my Garmin at 210W!!

I’ve already spent the money and really want to like the Powerbeam Pro, but so far am very unhappy, and would strongly recommend that you NOT buy this product until CycleOps has the following on their website:
1) More instructional videos, including one with step-by-step information on how to get started once you plug in, including for different types of powermeters, including Quarq;
2) More user-friendly information regarding setup and troubleshooting, including calibration and frequency of calibration for powermeters, RU (resistance unit) calibration, and what to do if calibration fails;
3) Provide instructions using the same equipment that comes with the trainer (for example, all the videos show a different Joule (the CycleOps bike computer) then what comes with the trainer);
4) Better customer service, and ensuring that the phone reps have at least used the trainer; and
5) Show how to create workouts with the Poweragent, because right now there’s absolutely nothing of value on the site that explains how to do this.

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]]> Comment on Elite E-Motion Rollers by Greg http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-543 Greg Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:33:53 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/elite/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-543 Hello ,is that we keep the freewheel of the bike when we stop pedaling ? Thanks :-) Hello ,is that we keep the freewheel of the bike when we stop pedaling ?
Thanks :-)

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]]> Comment on Elite E-Motion Rollers by Alex http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-518 Alex Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:12:37 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/elite/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-518 The noise level is about 72dB with no resistance at 30mph. With full resistance the rollers aren't noticeably louder, mainly due to the fact that your cycling speed decreases. The noise level is about 72dB with no resistance at 30mph. With full resistance the rollers aren’t noticeably louder, mainly due to the fact that your cycling speed decreases.

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]]> Comment on Elite E-Motion Rollers by Espidi http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-517 Espidi Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:08:57 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/elite/elite-emotion-rollers/#comment-517 What is the noise level (in dB)? What is the noise level (in dB)?

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]]> Comment on Elite RealPower Reality Trainer by Bobbie http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/elite-realpower-reality-trainer/#comment-516 Bobbie Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:07:29 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/elite/elite-realpower-reality-trainer/#comment-516 i have been really really disapointed with my experience of this product. i really wanted the product to be able to train on courses in other countries, which you have races scheduled. the calibration is all wrong, supposedly can climb a hill of 15% at 29mph! nice to know. after two weeks of liasing with their customer service, was no further ahead, apart from them saying that the software was all functioning correctly! therefore came to the end of my patience, and looking to get computrainer or another similar product that actually does what it says it can do massively disappointed, as if the product did work, would have been great i have been really really disapointed with my experience of this product. i really wanted the product to be able to train on courses in other countries, which you have races scheduled.
the calibration is all wrong, supposedly can climb a hill of 15% at 29mph! nice to know. after two weeks of liasing with their customer service, was no further ahead, apart from them saying that the software was all functioning correctly! therefore came to the end of my patience, and looking to get computrainer or another similar product that actually does what it says it can do
massively disappointed, as if the product did work, would have been great

]]> Comment on Tacx 1980 Bushido by TheBigYin http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/tacx-bushido-wireless-turbo-trainer/#comment-418 TheBigYin Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:30:15 +0000 http://www.turbotrainerreviews.com/bike-trainers/tacx/tacx-bushido-wireless-turbo-trainer/#comment-418 I've had the Bushido and the Upgrade pack for just over a month now - it's not perfect, there are issues with the TTS software, and the brake firmware is a little over zealous when dealing with (ahem) heavier riders. But when it works, it's quiet, solid, capable of leaving me a broken sweat soaked heap on the floor beside my bike, and yet still interesting enough to get me climbing back on the bike the following day for another hour+ of riding up the side of the Galibier (Or Alpe D'Huez, or the M. Ventoux or Getting my Ass kicked by Rabobank and the Schlecks on rrepeated uphills....) I’ve had the Bushido and the Upgrade pack for just over a month now – it’s not perfect, there are issues with the TTS software, and the brake firmware is a little over zealous when dealing with (ahem) heavier riders. But when it works, it’s quiet, solid, capable of leaving me a broken sweat soaked heap on the floor beside my bike, and yet still interesting enough to get me climbing back on the bike the following day for another hour+ of riding up the side of the Galibier (Or Alpe D’Huez, or the M. Ventoux or Getting my Ass kicked by Rabobank and the Schlecks on rrepeated uphills….)

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