Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/21/2016 08:46 AM |
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Tought I would start a thread with suggestions for entertainment options on the trainer.
Just picked up an Elite Qubo Digital Smart trainer this weekend at Performance for $359 (40% off). So far, so good...got it hooked up and running yesterday. A bit of flex in it, but since this won't be my primary training set-up, it should be OK for the cost savings.
Did my first ride on Zwift yesterday afternoon, which I actually really enjoyed. Only did an hour and mostly rode by myself, but it was pretty cool. The numbers on the screen didn't match exactly with my Garmin numbers (power was higher and speed was WAY higher, especially on descents). Gonna try TrainerRoad later this week.
Right now I am a few episodes into The Americans and also finishing up Luke Cage on Netflix. The Americans should keep me going for awhile since there are four season, I think.
What's everyone else doing / watching? |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Cranky Tom
Posts:58
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| 11/21/2016 09:50 AM |
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| Have you watched Justified? It ran for four seasons, if I recall correctly. Good entertainment for the trainer. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/21/2016 09:55 AM |
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Yeah, LOVED Justified ....in my Top 5 of greatest series (along with Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Sopranos and The Wire).
And if you have watched all those series, then cue up The Shield....also great. Actually, that my nudge out Justified...I'll have to ponder that a bit.  |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 11/21/2016 10:11 AM |
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I kinda like the old race DVD's from WCP... just sayin'
Since I'm looking at a lot of time on the trainer I'm going to watch some documentaries-- Ken Burns Civil War is where I started.
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 11/22/2016 11:27 AM |
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I just ordered the 12 hour version of the 2000 Tour de France and the 2009 edition to complete my collection. Since I can't hear anything when using the LeMond trainer, I'm forced to listen to music through over-the-ear headphones and watch the DVD's on a TV mounted to the wall. Sounds horrible, doesn't it?
If I get super duper bored beyond belief, I got a handlebar mount for my iPad to watch stuff on Amazon since I can download locally. The wifi doesn't work in the basement.
Moving forward, if I were to upgrade to a smart trainer like the Kickr, what are some good competitors that are also direct-drive (i.e, don't use your rear wheel)? Something quieter would allow me to watch stuff on the TV using the external speakers. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 11/22/2016 11:46 AM |
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6ix, I've been using a Cycloclops fluid trainer for years. It is quiet enough that I can hear radio or DVD speakers with no issues. (Maybe my gift is not having 400 watts driving my trainer at drag-racing levels of decibels.)
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/22/2016 12:55 PM |
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6ix, CylcleOps just introduced a direct-drive trainer, but I am not certain it is compatible yet with trainerRoad or Zwift. Definitely verify that before you buy.
Elite also has a direct-drive trainer, but haven't heard much about it. You can also check the DC Rainmaker site for options / reviews.
As for your TV / audio issues, check into a Bluetooth transmitter for your TV and then use some BT headphones.
I built a trainer stand this weekend out of PVC and a scrap of plywood I had laying around....took less than an hour to put it together and cost less than $15.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 11/22/2016 03:06 PM |
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CK, what supports the plywood? Is that two bolts going through from the top?
(Thinking with my fingers) Your stand could have a "T" in the middle of the lower front tube, a tube coming up and elbow to a center "T" at the top. Sit the plywood on the side elbows, "T" and front elbow. Run bolts through the side and front elbows. Plywood should be much more stable and handle more weight. (Wouldn't stow as nicely.)
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/22/2016 03:51 PM |
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I just sank 4 screws through the plywood into the PVC pipe...crude, but effective.
Whole thing is pretty stable as is, but once I glue in some of the parts, it should be close to rock solid. I won't glue in the tube holding the plywood, though....I'll put a lip on the bottom eventually so i can rotate if I want it to and still hold things on it. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 11/22/2016 09:38 PM |
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Trying to get into west world, but it's just too mean and not enough fun so far.
Love NFL red zone for keeping my attention. But that's only Sunday afternoons, and only until late December.
PS love justified but moves too slow
PPS: I miss you Bryan Cranston. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/23/2016 11:29 AM |
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| you guys are all crazy...I will leave it at that. Only Dale has an excuse. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/23/2016 11:38 AM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 11/23/2016 11:29 AM
you guys are all crazy...I will leave it at that. Only Dale has an excuse.
Well, I'd respond with something along the lines of "Yeah, you try and ride outside in Chicago year round", etc.....but given your locale, I don't think it is gonna get me very far. 
I'll just say you are a harder man than I am....and I am perfectly OK with that!!  |
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Spud
Posts:525
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| 11/23/2016 11:55 AM |
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| So glad there is no such thing as Trainer Time, here in Tucson. I remember those days all too well, when I used to live back east. Just finished watching Goliath, with Billy Bob Thorton. Waiting for the new episodes of Bloodline. Watching the PBS series, Soundbreaking, right now. If you haven't seen the film, Line of Sight, check it out. Dudes are effing insane. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 11/23/2016 12:37 PM |
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OC, trainer time is the natural extension of Standard Time. We set out clocks back an hour every fall to gain that time back. Then we ride trainers for the winter. The real time savings. It is the one thing we can do to actually make time go slower.
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/23/2016 12:58 PM |
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| Thanks for the reminders, Spud...Goliath and Bloodline are both on my "To Watch" list, along with Man in the High Castle. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 11/23/2016 01:17 PM |
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I'm glad it doesn't snow much where I am, I'd much rather ride in the cold and wet than in the garage on the trainer.
And sometimes you get days like today which make it all worthwhile.  Unfortunately my good form is quickly fading. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 11/24/2016 06:59 AM |
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| OC, For me it's an elliptical machine, 30 minutes in the evening after work sort of thing. I mtb some in the winter but mostly ski. That would be the lazy lift serviced skiing. Something my wife and I enjoy doing together. |
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Spud
Posts:525
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| 11/29/2016 09:04 AM |
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Forget the trainer you guys. Get your hands on one of these.
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 11/29/2016 03:06 PM |
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Spud, isn't that a case of the road not traveled (by human-kind)? The 1939 VW in a world where aluminum came along much earlier but the internal combustion engine never invented. Think about how different our world would be. For a start, WW2. No Panzer division, no tanks, no blitzkreig of London.
Fun what ifs! If I ever see one of those, I will be thinking volks wagen.
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/16/2016 10:01 AM |
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Updates....
* Really enjoying Zwift. haven't joined any official rides / races yet, just been "riding around". Definitely helps pass the time and keeps you engaged. Rode 90' the other day on the UCI WC course in Richmond, and the day before did the "Pretzel Loop" in Watopia that included a really long climb (~30').
* Done a couple of rides on TrainerRoad, but don't enjoy it as much as Zwift. Basically just structured workouts, which I find kinda boring. Would rather "ride" a course that has variations in it. I'll probably drop TR and just focus on Zwift.
*Watched Goliath on Amazon Prime. Quite good, althought he end ign felt a bit rushed.
* Yesterday was the start of the annual 100 Runs in 100 Days Challenge on Slowtwitch. Basically try and run 100 times in 100 days. Runs must be 30' minimum to count. 2 days down, feeling good! Had to run them both on the treadmill simply because it is so fookin' cold here right now (5* yesterday, 12* today with snow coming thsi afternoon.)
*I am currently 12 lbs over race weight. Time to fix that!! |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/17/2016 11:49 AM |
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Anybody watch Vikings?
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/19/2017 07:31 PM |
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| I've been watching a bunch of movies while on the trainer: Apocalypse Now, Robin Hood, Dogma, Tropic Thunder, and All That Jazz. They really make the time go by. Don't know about "Vikings"; I'll check it out. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/20/2017 09:00 AM |
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The Americans has prived to be a great trainer / treadmill series. Enough action / plot movement to keep you entertained, but not overly deep, etiher. And having Keri Russell showing off her body occasionally doesn't hurt either......
About halfway through Season 3, so I'll certainly clear the series this winter (especially with all the treadmill running I have been doing).
Zwift has also been a great time killer....have yet to do any of the prganized rides / races, but even just rolling around the courses and finding people to ride with makes the time go by pretty quickly. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/21/2017 08:11 PM |
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| moving on to Mel Brooks... |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/25/2017 08:54 PM |
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| detour to Dr. Strangelove |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 01/26/2017 05:39 PM |
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Just found this.
You can ride the Richmond Worlds course, ride a crit or go on a training ride with others around the world.
http://zwift.com/ |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/26/2017 07:34 PM |
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I guess I have to move my trainer. Right now, it's out of range for the router. We were planning to rearrange the basement and bring the exercise stuff closer to the basement stairs and more convenient to use. This is an added incentive.
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 01/26/2017 08:32 PM |
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http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-range-extenders/EX7000.aspx?cid=wmt_netgear_organic
Transformed my basement from sketchy internet ( forget about video streaming) to peachy.
Uses the longer range 2.4gig from your main wireless router to go straight to the extender, then the extender rebroadcasts on the 5 gig channel. Bit rate loss is about 20%. Does not cut your bandwidth in half across the board like adding an ethernet cable from the wireless router would do, or at least did for me. The extender is on the ground floor above the basement. Now I enjoy Netflix bliss in front of the trainer, with no loss of speed when using the main wireless router. Two thumbs up.
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 03/15/2017 09:11 PM |
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| My approach to starting the outdoor season is to wait until a good rain washes away most of the winter salt. I got out a few times in January/February, but March has brought a return of snow (24+") and the salt trucks. So, back indoors, and back to Mel Brooks: Blazing Saddles, History of the World Part I, Frankenstein, and now Robin Hood (Men in Tights). |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 03/15/2017 10:28 PM |
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You must be getting desperate!
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