The turbo trainer is to cyclists what the treadmill is to runners. If you have a road bike but the weather is not at its best (rain, cold, etc.), the turbo trainer lets you carry on training indoors. With a turbo trainer, you simply place the rear wheel of your road bike on the device and you can pedal from home.
But beyond getting around the weather, a turbo trainer is a real training partner that will help you prepare for races, and also manage your recovery better:
Before a cross-country (MTB), cyclo-cross or track race, it is a good way to warm up and get your heart rate up to prepare for a hard start.
After a race, the turbo trainer is a good ally for warming down: immediately after a hard effort, you can get on the turbo trainer for a short half hour...
Still with recovery in mind, doing a one-hour turbo session the day after a race or a big training session can be extremely beneficial.
Turbo trainer or exercise bike?
A turbo trainer and an exercise bike seem at first glance to have the same use. Both devices are very practical for cycling training at home. However, they differ in how they work and how effective they are. The ideal device therefore depends on the goal the user has set.
The turbo trainer
While in no way replacing outdoor training, the turbo trainer will help you manage your rides. You can warm up before a race, or train in specific sessions. It is even more beneficial than an outing, since it is generally considered that 1 hour on a turbo trainer equals 1 h 15 on the road. It is also less bulky, which makes it perfectly suited to small flats or studios. In particular, you need to have your own bike to use a turbo trainer.
The exercise bike
The exercise bike means you no longer have to leave home, since the sports equipment you need is already at your disposal. Although it takes up more space than the turbo trainer, the exercise bike has other advantages. In particular, it lets you build lower-body muscle, burn calories and stay fit. It is also highly prized for its benefits for the heart. However, you should understand that this type of equipment is fairly bulky and heavy. Moving it and setting it up will be more difficult.
In short, a passionate cyclist will prefer the turbo trainer to keep the feel of their bike, while an athlete who does not cycle will opt for an exercise bike to get a physical workout.
Turbo trainers and smart trainers: a practice that is booming
Use of turbo trainers exploded in 2020 following the successive lockdowns. With cyclists unable to enjoy their passion outdoors, many of them invested in a smart turbo trainer. This notably caused many stock shortages. A smart turbo trainer lets you, for example, train on a stage of the Tour from your living room, feeling the effort and the effects of drafting. It is a growing practice, because the routes are fun and cyclists are immersed in an image of a real or virtual route. You can follow serious sessions by programming a structured session in advance. These sessions can be done virtually with others, which brings motivation to an exercise that can quickly become tedious.
The different types of turbo trainer
Turbo trainers can be classified into 3 main categories:
"Roller" turbo trainers
A roller turbo trainer is a device where the bike is not fixed in place. It is made up of two rollers at the back and one at the front, linked by a belt. You place the bike's rear wheel between the two rollers, and the front wheel on the remaining roller. As you pedal, the two rollers drive the third and let the front wheel turn too. Roller trainers will require a good sense of balance, but once you are familiar with the technique, you will feel at ease on them. On most roller trainers there is no resistance, so it is your pedalling that determines the speed.
Smart turbo trainers or virtual trainers
Virtual trainers let you ride while connected with friends and viewing real routes such as Alpe d'Huez, with the effort corresponding to that route.
Your smart turbo trainer is linked to your television or computer and lets you view real routes during your training. The turbo trainer's resistance will adjust to the gradient of the route and its difficulties or other drafting effects. No need to adjust the resistance yourself with the lever on the handlebar: the app will choose the resistance level that reproduces the chosen route. This lets you get as close as possible to real conditions. Thanks to certain apps, such as Zwift in particular, you can even take on other people online!
Find more than 400 new and second-hand smart turbo trainers on Troc-Vélo
Classic turbo trainers
Finally, the last category is the classic turbo trainer: on these models, you clamp your rear wheel against a resistance unit. The resistance is adjusted using a selector that attaches to the bike's handlebar and is connected to the turbo trainer. The device cannot change the resistance by itself; it is constant. It is up to you to choose the resistance level you want and to vary it manually according to the training plan you are following or the session you feel like doing. For most riders, a classic turbo trainer will be enough, even if it is not as fun as a smart turbo trainer.
Find more than 500 new and second-hand classic turbo trainers on Troc-Vélo]
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Read our article to choose your turbo trainer once winter arrives