Have one ordered now. Well I’m waiting for Theresa from the finance office to come back from her annual leave to sign off on it.
@caulifloweredneanderthal
@flattythehurdler
I’m pretty sure I have probably asked you about this before.
I have one of the fairly basic turbo trainers at home that I used during the last Lockdown. I’m a seasonal cyclist so I only take my bike out April-Sept.
I have a cheap cateye speedometer on the bike at present that does the basics and measures the speed, distance avg speed etc I do when cycling.
I would like to get a more upmarket bike computer for this but one which also relay the same information when on the stationary trainer. I have a Garmin smartwatch so I am thinking about purchasing this as my bike computer:
What else do I need to buy in order to give me back information in relation to distance, speed, wattage etc when using it on the trainer?
As far as I can tell , that is a gps based computer. It may have a wheel magnet as well, but really, wheel magnets are almost becoming obsolete. Wheel magnet system is the only system which will give you information on speed and distance from a basic turbo trainer, and it doesn’t come from the trainer as such, it comes from the bike computer speaking in baby talk to the magnet sensor attached to your frame It simply uses the wheel radius/circumference, and counts the number and speed of the wheel revolutions. It can do a crude power calculation from this but the accuracy, based on speed and weight of rider is debatable.
Slightly smarter trainers may have this built in.
The Garmin you show is good value, but, unless I’m wrong, will only give you date via GPS tracking, so if you aren’t physically moving, it won’t work.
Smart turbotrainers have built in sensors and will communicate with most devices to feed back to you. Very smart ones will have s two way conversation with apps like zwift, and will adjust the resistance to match a virtual climb etc.
Smart turbotrainers aren’t that dear anymore. You’d often pick them up half price pre-lockdown, but they became like hens teeth for the first few months if the pandemic. Not sure what the situation is now with them, I use a wattbike, but I can keep an eye out.
If I were looking, I’d wait til spring summer, where relaxation of lockdown and good weather may send a flood of rarely used or new ones onto the market.
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I have that Garmin, it’s from 2017 but still very good. If you are on a turbo then you’ll need the wheel magnet to log your distance/cadence etc.
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Smart turbos are almost all sold out and much more expensive so what do I need to buy along with the computer to supplement what I want.
Any link to one that should be compatible with a Garmin bike computer?
I’d stick with what you have tbh, I’m not sure you’ll gain much?
I’ve only ever had a bog standard turbo and had the link magnet (can’t think of the name of it, sorry) that you put on your peddle stem or on your wheel to track the distance etc when doing an indoor workout. Though I haven’t turbo’d in years. I use the Garmin 570 outdoors and have it linked to my heart monitor and that’s all. I’m not into power readings, wouldn’t be as serious as @balbec or @flattythehurdler’s friends.
I don’t use anything at all outdoors
I never use a HR either. Probably should tbh.
I find it’s good as I have a number in my head and if I’m getting close to it I calm down a bit. History of heart problems in the family, best to be a bit cautious with the likes of that.
Lads, ye’re at nothing without a power meter. Gamechanger. Change the way you ride in ways you never thought imaginable.
A speed sensor is what you need to sync up with your garmin @Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy
You can put on hub on back or front wheel.
You can also put a cadence sensor on your pedals.
If you’ve a nice few quid to spare, you could splash out on a power meter
Excuse the dirt on my bike but this is the speed sensor on my back wheel
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I’m not that bothered to be honest. I have an old school roller and never logged speed/distance, just time. Indoor miles don’t count anyway 
I have a Wahoo computer on the bike that links into Strava (when it feels like it). I used to use an apple watch linked to strava for heart rate but it stopped working. I really just look at distance, elevation, average speed.
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ok guys, anyone recommend a turbo trainer from 100-150 euros please
preferably sustainably sourced
also whats the difference between a turbo trainer and a roller?
What’s your local bike shop mate?
little sport fairview