Computrainer - who uses one?

Hi Jim,

I've had one for almost 5 years. I ride my CT 3-4 times a week in the
winter, meaning from mid November until end of March.

Improved? Yes, only because I get quality winter workouts. You can
do more specific power/strength training on the CT. I ride the 60-90
minutes, sometimes up to 120 minutes.

I don't have the computer hook-up, so the workouts can be a bit dull.
But I have music going, or CNN or ESPN for background noise.

Mark

"Jim Weeks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I seriously thinking of laying down the bucks for one of these bad boys but
I'm real interested if any of you have one, how much to do you use it? do
you honestly think it has improved your race times and if so.. give me some
history to back up .. please, I'm getting eaten alive in the local tri's. I
ride as much as I can during the week, my endurance is good.. I'm just not
getting any faster and the only thing I can think of is more saddle time.

thanks in advance..

Jim Weeks
Austin, Tx

I got one in January, for indoor winter training. I live in Florida, so
the ability to train on simulated hills was/is a big plus. I use it even
in the warmer months (or today since it is still raining from the
Hurricane!). I think it helps in that you can tell how your power output
looks over time (i.e., after 2+ hours or so). As I found out, even
though your endurance may be good, you need the power as well. Good
luck.

"Jim Weeks" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I seriously thinking of laying down the bucks for one of these bad
boys but I'm real interested if any of you have one, how much to do
you use it? do you honestly think it has improved your race times and
if so.. give me some history to back up .. please, I'm getting eaten
alive in the local tri's. I ride as much as I can during the week, my
endurance is good.. I'm just not getting any faster and the only
thing I can think of is more saddle time.

thanks in advance..

Jim Weeks
Austin, Tx

Jim said:

I got one in January, for indoor winter training. I live in Florida, so
the ability to train on simulated hills was/is a big plus. I use it
even in the warmer months (or today since it is still raining from the
Hurricane!). I think it helps in that you can tell how your power
output looks over time (i.e., after 2+ hours or so). As I found out,
even though your endurance may be good, you need the power as well.
Good luck.

How few brain cells must one have to be able to ride an indoor trainer
for > 2 hours?

When there is like 3 feet of snow outside in the winter, it doesn't leave
much choice if you want a long bike workout!🙂
But I have no idea why someone would spend money on a computrainer if they
don't have the computer hookup???

"Bill Lloyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How few brain cells must one have to be able to ride an indoor trainer
for > 2 hours?

KB said:

When there is like 3 feet of snow outside in the winter, it doesn't leave
much choice if you want a long bike workout!🙂

Ahhh, in those conditions nordic skiing is really called for.

Quoted message said:

But I have no idea why someone would spend money on a computrainer if they
don't have the computer hookup???

I use it in standalone mode to do very focussed workouts at specific
wattages. It's great -- better than a normal trainer -- because of
the accurate control/feedback I get..

JT

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[email hidden] wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I got one in January, for indoor winter training. I live in Florida, so
the ability to train on simulated hills was/is a big plus. I use it
even in the warmer months (or today since it is still raining from the
Hurricane!). I think it helps in that you can tell how your power
output looks over time (i.e., after 2+ hours or so). As I found out,
even though your endurance may be good, you need the power as well.
Good luck.

Bill Lloyd said:

How few brain cells must one have to be able to ride an indoor trainer
for > 2 hours?

When my collar bone was broken I used to do long rides on a trainer of 3
to 3.5 hours. Listening to music, watching race videos or counting brain
cells helps to alleviate boredom, as does intermixing some intervals with
steady riding as you can look forward ;-) to 15min of intervals after
every 45 minutes of steady riding.

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

I use it in standalone mode to do very focussed workouts at specific
wattages. It's great -- better than a normal trainer -- because of
the accurate control/feedback I get..

Is this in ergo mode, or in power mode?

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

I use it in standalone mode to do very focussed workouts at specific
wattages. It's great -- better than a normal trainer -- because of
the accurate control/feedback I get..

Is this in ergo mode, or in power mode?

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 12:33:31 +0200, "Robert Chung" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

I use it in standalone mode to do very focussed workouts at specific
wattages. It's great -- better than a normal trainer -- because of
the accurate control/feedback I get..

Is this in ergo mode, or in power mode?

Mainly in the mode where the power is constant regardless of rpm (I
guess that's power mode), but sometimes the other way.

JT

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In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

When there is like 3 feet of snow outside in the winter, it doesn't leave
much choice if you want a long bike workout!🙂
But I have no idea why someone would spend money on a computrainer if they
don't have the computer hookup???

Some of the older models use a modified nintendo set to put an image up
on your TV.
-------------
Alex

John Forrest Tomlinson <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

KB said:

When there is like 3 feet of snow outside in the winter, it doesn't leave
much choice if you want a long bike workout!🙂

Ahhh, in those conditions nordic skiing is really called for.

Quoted message said:

But I have no idea why someone would spend money on a computrainer if they
don't have the computer hookup???

I use it in standalone mode to do very focussed workouts at specific
wattages. It's great -- better than a normal trainer -- because of
the accurate control/feedback I get..

JT

****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

JT, et al...

I've used a Cateye indoor trainer for years, but only in the past 3
years really focused on monitoring the power instead of the HR. Like
JT, I did very specific, very focused workouts. While the Cateye
isn't anywhere close to accurate, at least it's relatively consistent.
It at least allows for tracking improvement over time. Works great
for that. Just have to be careful NOT to believe the power readouts.
Hell, I could beat Julich in a time trial if I really could do the
numbers the thing said I could.

Anyway, the computrainer's a great tool. So is the Cateye, within
certain limitations. Lot's less $$$, which makes it worth
considering.

On 8 Sep 2004 13:07:24 -0700, [email hidden] (Scott

Hendricks) said:

I've used a Cateye indoor trainer for years, but only in the past 3
years really focused on monitoring the power instead of the HR. Like
JT, I did very specific, very focused workouts. While the Cateye
isn't anywhere close to accurate, at least it's relatively consistent.

I think my Computrainer is the same -- not accurate (reading high) but
consistent, which is important.

JT

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Jim, The CT can be a real saver when schedules or weather impact your time.

I have the 3D Pro model and use the programmed courses plus some of my own.
It is a very good training device and if used correctly will enhance your
performance. I do mega miles when training outdoors on the road and prefer
that but theCT is an excellent tool when the road is not accessible for what
ever reason. The feedback is a reality check. When I ride a course I
save that race and will challenge that race from time to time. It will work
you harder than you might like if allowed.

I have a TV out on my computer and run the signal into a TV with PIP. That
way I can see my CT info and watch a program at the same time if I choose.

I have stayed on the CT for over 4 hours and that can be challenging to the
mind. after the second hour it's not bad but getting to that point is
tough. If you have the bucks to spare and improvement is your goal then
why not have one.

Ken

"Jim Weeks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I seriously thinking of laying down the bucks for one of these bad boys

but

Quoted message said:

I'm real interested if any of you have one, how much to do you use it? do
you honestly think it has improved your race times and if so.. give me

some

Quoted message said:

history to back up .. please, I'm getting eaten alive in the local tri's.

I

Quoted message said:

ride as much as I can during the week, my endurance is good.. I'm just

not

Quoted message said:

getting any faster and the only thing I can think of is more saddle time.

thanks in advance..

Jim Weeks
Austin, Tx

"Ken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jim, The CT can be a real saver when schedules or weather impact your

time.

Quoted message said:

I have the 3D Pro model and use the programmed courses plus some of my

own.

Quoted message said:

It is a very good training device and if used correctly will enhance your
performance. I do mega miles when training outdoors on the road and

prefer

Quoted message said:

that but theCT is an excellent tool when the road is not accessible for

what

Quoted message said:

ever reason. The feedback is a reality check. When I ride a course I
save that race and will challenge that race from time to time. It will

work

Quoted message said:

you harder than you might like if allowed.

I have a TV out on my computer and run the signal into a TV with PIP.

That

Quoted message said:

way I can see my CT info and watch a program at the same time if I choose.

I have stayed on the CT for over 4 hours and that can be challenging to

the

Quoted message said:

mind. after the second hour it's not bad but getting to that point is
tough. If you have the bucks to spare and improvement is your goal then
why not have one.

Ken

Thanks for the feedback Ken.. so thats my idea, hook it up to a TV with PiP
in the garage and watch Monday/Thursday night football while doing something
constructive.

thanks again all..

Jim Weeks
Austin, TX

John Forrest Tomlinson <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 8 Sep 2004 13:07:24 -0700, [email hidden] (Scott

Hendricks) said:

I've used a Cateye indoor trainer for years, but only in the past 3
years really focused on monitoring the power instead of the HR. Like
JT, I did very specific, very focused workouts. While the Cateye
isn't anywhere close to accurate, at least it's relatively consistent.

I think my Computrainer is the same -- not accurate (reading high) but
consistent, which is important.

true, but it is pretty hard blow to recover from when you realize your
threshold really isn't 440 watts.

(Amit) said:

John Forrest Tomlinson <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 8 Sep 2004 13:07:24 -0700, [email hidden] (Scott

Hendricks) said:

I've used a Cateye indoor trainer for years, but only in the past 3
years really focused on monitoring the power instead of the HR. Like
JT, I did very specific, very focused workouts. While the Cateye
isn't anywhere close to accurate, at least it's relatively consistent.

I think my Computrainer is the same -- not accurate (reading high) but
consistent, which is important.

true, but it is pretty hard blow to recover from when you realize your
threshold really isn't 440 watts.

Yeah, but the best ego smackdown I saw on my machine wasn't related to
it reading high. Rather a comparison. A fairly new woman cyclist,
who was pretty short, came over one day to do a max power test. I
think she hit 950 or 1000 watts on my machine. Then my male roommate,
a cat 2 who'd been racing for years and outweighed her by 20 to 40 lbs
decided to try the test. Same result...

JT

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JT,

What level do you calibrate to? I calibrate to 3.5 to prevent wheel
slippage and I know my output reads low.

ken

"John Forrest Tomlinson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 12:33:31 +0200, "Robert Chung" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

I use it in standalone mode to do very focussed workouts at specific
wattages. It's great -- better than a normal trainer -- because of
the accurate control/feedback I get..

Is this in ergo mode, or in power mode?

Mainly in the mode where the power is constant regardless of rpm (I
guess that's power mode), but sometimes the other way.

JT

****************************
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Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

IMKen said:

JT,

What level do you calibrate to? I calibrate to 3.5 to prevent wheel
slippage and I know my output reads low.

Around 2 to 2.5 usually. Sometimes higher if the training is
explosive, but I rarely use it for that.

JT

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CT is a very nice device but when you add NetAthlon software,
www.fitcentric.com, you
will really have a k...ka.. system and get very fit through the winter.

"Jim Weeks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I seriously thinking of laying down the bucks for one of these bad boys but
I'm real interested if any of you have one, how much to do you use it? do
you honestly think it has improved your race times and if so.. give me some
history to back up .. please, I'm getting eaten alive in the local tri's. I
ride as much as I can during the week, my endurance is good.. I'm just not
getting any faster and the only thing I can think of is more saddle time.

thanks in advance..

Jim Weeks
Austin, Tx

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