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Right, just got an awfa sweat going on my wee cheap bikehut 50 quid job, that arrived today.
I'm actually surprised that it was pretty good!.
What do I need to buy to see speed and distance? Not really bothered about zwift, just after a workout, and to see some stats.
Wife likes it too, she'll get lots of use from it.
Thanks guys.
Wahoo rear wheel speed sensor would be compatible with phone or most modern bike computers? That's all I use with a dumb turbo and my Garmin Edge computer.
Combine with GCN 40 minute sweetspot video on your laptop, first few sessions figure out what speed you can maintain for the whole session and you have everything you need for a worthwhile workout, better yet get some good tunes on your headphones!
Speed and distance are poor metrics really on a turbo, after all you aren't going anywhere!
At a minimum I'd say a cadence sensor of some sort plus a speed sensor (notwithstanding the comment above) as programs like Trainerroad can use "virtual power" - they do this by having power curves for dumb trainers at the different resistance settings so you tell the program what trainer you have and what setting it's on then the code works out your power. Not super accurate but better than nothing. A HRM of some sort maybe.
If you have a Garmin head unit then you can pair their speed/cadence & HRM sensors with that and get some data out.
I've got one referral code left for Trainerroad if you want to check it out - it gets you a free month for one person. It used to be that you could see what was what with it before signing up but now more of it's behind the wall as it were.
Speed is pretty well analogous to power on the turbo, all else (tyre pressure etc) being equal.
Doesn't give you an accurate power you can compare with others, but it's all you need for basic training purposes.
I have a garmin vivoactive 4 watch, and garmin chest hr monitor, though tbf the 4's optic sensor is way better than the 3 was.
So a garmin cadence sensor, and that would do it?
I've got a dumb trainer in the shed a Hrm anything else I could utilise.
Cadence or wheel speed?
Wheel speed first for a dumb trainer, cadence is useful if you are following a program of some kind that does cadence drills.
Youtube. Old episodes of Father Ted / Young Ones.
Just push yourself hard before the boredom kicks in at 30mins.
Download a netflix series of choice to tablet, tape tablet to front of bike, pedal hard for duration of episode, shower.
Just push yourself hard before the boredom kicks in at 30mins
I swear by the structured training videos, easier to maintain focus, less boredom, better certainty that you're getting a 'good' workout.
Doing the same session repeatedly also helps you find your zones, improves the workout and you even find motivation from cues on screen like hitting the snowline etc.