WonderMonkey

How about we use this thread, or another that someone starts, to keep each other going as we move into biking indoors at least part of the time?

I'll start with my intro post in the next ... post.

WonderMonkey

I'm getting my bike back tomorrow. Well not my bike but my replacement bike. Mine was taken so I got another. Same model, etc. as that is what my insurance dictated. I'm sure I could have fooled that a bit but I liked the bike so I didn't even try to do a "Give me value and I'll put that towards...."


So... I'm getting my indoor bike trainer area setup. I've really struggled with this in the past. I've got a nice setup with a CycleOps Fluid 2, front wheel block, special trainer tire, etc. but I've under-utilized it SEVERELY. I even have a table I can put my laptop and watch shows or listen to music yet I still struggle with it.


I'm looking for tips on how to get it done. Threads here, articles, etc. but at some point I just have to make it so.

11 Tips for Riding the Trainer?A Lot | Leap Day Sports

Fangowolf

I use this in front of the bike
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o04_s00

Try some of the software programs : Zwift is in Beta and free (til winter?) Something to tie your effort into results and measurements. Article on several software apps The Winter 2014-2015 Trainer App In-Depth Guide | DC Rainmaker

WonderMonkey

Looks like a modified music stand!

There was some good suggestions in my ride thread that I'm going to look up, possibly it is the same as one in the list of the link. I'll read that link later so I can then click and click and read.

dagray

Monkey load the BKool software and you can ride inside on virtual routes using your trainer. You will want an Ant+ USB dongle to plug into your laptop to read your speed/cadence sensor, heart rate monitor, and power meter (if you have one..... I don't).

Cost for one year of premium is $144.00 so you can input your own routes and ride with others on the same course. The software/app will run on computer, phone, laptop and on Apple, PC, Android systems.

The basic is free and it is still good.

dr_lha

I'm setting up my trainer for the first time tonight. Re-upper my TrainerRoad subscription: first thing I notice, it's gone up $2 a month in price. I'm using a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine 2.0 with the inRide pod for power measurement. Last year the inRide support in TR kind of sucked, but now they have proper calibration and a summer to work out bugs I'm hopeful. I'd like to try Zwift but their non support of BLE makes it a non starter for me.

WonderMonkey

The BKool is what I had in mind based on your recommendation in another one of my threads. I'll have to pick up a speed/cadence and HR monitor sensor. Not sure if I care about a power meter but I don't know enough to know. I need to get that even for normal riding so it's an easy decision.

chaadster

Could a translator, like the 4iiii Viiiiva heart rate monitor strap, be used to funnel the Kinetic's BLE signal to an ANT+ dongle in the computer? I use one to change ANT+ from a Powertap to BLE for pickup by my iPhone, which works.

dr_lha

I don't think there are any products on the market that do BLE to ANT+. They all just do the other way around.

WonderMonkey

I'm looking at cadence & HR options and there are so many choices it's almost paralyzing. Throw in the possibility of having a small unit (easy ladies!) on the handlebars for display and the thoughts of purchasing things then making the wrong choice is concerning.

dagray

I use the Cateye Cadence/speed sensor, and the MIO Link heart rate wrist strap. The BKool Software will allow both of those to pair as long as you have the Ant+ dongle/stick to put in your computer or phone. For outside rides I use the Cateye Stealth 50 which tracks speed, distance, route by GPS and reads the heart rate monitor and of course the cadence sensor.

Mio Link can be had for under $100.00, Cateye speed/cadence sensor can be had for under $50.00, and the Cateye Stealth bike computer can be had for between $100.00 and $150.00

Fangowolf

I use a scosche rhythm heart rate and an 800 Garmin, although I am coveting the Live segments of the new edge's.

dr_lha

Question here:

Do you want to record your cadence and HR for upload to something like Strava?

If yes, then in terms of picking which one to get, you need to decide about whether you want to go ANT+ or Bluetooth. If you plan on pairing with a Garmin, then ANT+ is the clear winner. If you're going to use a mobile phone, then BLE is the clear winner. If you want to pair with a computer, then you'll likely need a BLE or ANT+ USB dongle for the computer. That said, your chances of your computer having BLE built is higher than it having ANT+ (especially if you own a recent Mac), but the dongles for both are cheap.

If you are undecided or want both, then the choice is easy, for cadence get the Wahoo BlueSC v2.0, and the Wahoo TICKR HR strap. These both broadcast in both ANT+ and BLE, so you can use them with a Garmin or a mobile phone.

WonderMonkey

Well now you have just added something into the mix! I will look into those before laying down any cash.

Thanks for confusing me! In a good way!

WonderMonkey

The Wahool Blue SC and TICKR HR strap is EXACTLY what I had zoned in on! Glad to see a recommendation for it. I am going to look at what dagray suggested just to cover my bases though.

WonderMonkey

I have not picked out an on-bike computer yet though I am making sure the other things I choose are compatible with standard offerings. For my indoor rides I'll just use my phone and laptop. Garmin keeps coming up though.

dr_lha

I should have added if you only want cadence and not speed, then the Wahoo RPM is what you want.

WonderMonkey

I noticed that on their site. I figured I would get both so I can have another number to distract myself with.

dr_lha

You don't need both. BlueSC does speed and cadence, RPM does only cadence.

WonderMonkey

Right. I meant the one product that did both.

dr_lha

OK. Duh!

dagray

With the Cateye Stealth 50 bike computer I can set a screen to show heart rate, cadence, speed, and local time, I can then change to a screen that shows the trip mileage, then to another with trip 2, then total miles, then a stop watch that displays time moving (so if you stop to rest that time doesn't count toward moving time).

I can also put the bike computer in my pocket and use it to track distance, speed, route, heart rate on a walk.

baron von trail 

I'm still over two months away from trainer season. Here's to hoping for clear roads until Dec 21.

WonderMonkey

I'll still be able to ride outside as well but I'm I'll be indoors incrementally. Just prepping.

dagray

I use my BKool trainer year round. Sometimes to take an FTP test, and sometimes to beat the weather. It gets hot here in the summer (triple digits), cold in winter (sustained icy conditions), and the wind blows year round at 20-35mph sustained. I also wimp out at times and ride inside when it is raining.