My boyfriend Rob is really into cycling so I can't say it's ever a surprise if I arrive home to find that he's purchased yet another bike gadget. Our balcony has turned into a bike shed, after all! When I discovered he was planning on getting a turbo trainer however, I was {secretly!} a little bit excited. It's such an ingenious idea, to be able to fix your bike on to a stand and train static, right there in your living room. An exercise bike in your home... literally! I was immediately keen on the idea - I'd be able to ride my bike at home whilst watching TV!!
Working shifts means that neither of us has any kind of routine whatsoever and so exercise can be rather sporadic. Generally I try and run around 3-4 times a week but some weeks I'll only manage one if I'm lucky. Occasionally I'll mix it up and go swimming and I use the gym quite regularly too where I use the exercise bikes and do some weight training here and there. But shift-work is exhausting and when I'm tired there is always the temptation to choose the sofa instead. Leaving the house is effort isn't it?! Not to mention when it's dark and cold outside too, it's so difficult to find motivation to exercise when all you want to do is light candles and cosy up indoors!
But this is precisely what is so great about having a turbo trainer. It's like the gym has come to you instead. I don't even have to leave the flat to exercise - I can sit on my bike in my PJs, merrily peddling away whilst catching up on trashy TV. Amazing!
Working shifts means that neither of us has any kind of routine whatsoever and so exercise can be rather sporadic. Generally I try and run around 3-4 times a week but some weeks I'll only manage one if I'm lucky. Occasionally I'll mix it up and go swimming and I use the gym quite regularly too where I use the exercise bikes and do some weight training here and there. But shift-work is exhausting and when I'm tired there is always the temptation to choose the sofa instead. Leaving the house is effort isn't it?! Not to mention when it's dark and cold outside too, it's so difficult to find motivation to exercise when all you want to do is light candles and cosy up indoors!
But this is precisely what is so great about having a turbo trainer. It's like the gym has come to you instead. I don't even have to leave the flat to exercise - I can sit on my bike in my PJs, merrily peddling away whilst catching up on trashy TV. Amazing!
Like most pieces of sport equipment, prices can range significantly; you can spend as much or as little as you desire depending on how technical you want your equipment to be. Prices generally sit around the £120-180 range. Rob did a fair bit of research online before choosing a model, to get a general idea of what he was looking for. In my case I just wanted something to hook my bike onto easily, without fuss, allowing me to exercise whenever I wanted. In the end we decided on a Tacx Satori Pro, which we purchased for £150 from our local bike shop, but you can purchase exactly the same one here on wiggle.com. It comes with a training mat to put down on the floor underneath the trainer to limit noise and to protect the floor. It also comes with a training DVD although I can't comment on that because we've never used it.
It takes literally about 5 minutes to fit together {the first couple of times we had to use the instructions but once you've done it a few times it's a breeze} and comes in a large cardboard box for storage. We just keep ours in the corner of the living room out of sight so that it's easily accessible whenever we want to use it.
I'm a total wimp when it comes to cycling on roads, especially in London. When I was a student I cycled to and from university but I spent each commute petrified that I was going to get hit by every bus that passed me and I genuinely gave myself a pat on the back every time I made it home alive. Rob has tried to encourage me to go cycling with him but I don't think I could face getting on my bike again in London, the roads are so busy! You don't have to worry about any cars or dangers whilst using the turbo trainer though, which makes for a much more pleasant experience. Even if my bum does ache after a while!! Actually, that's a point... if you are thinking of purchasing a turbo, make sure to invest in some good quality, padded cycling shorts. They're a life saver! I'm no cycling expert and my legs are probably the weakest part of my body when it comes to strength but the turbo trainer is a great tool for improving this. But Every little counts, as they say... and even cycling for 10 minutes each evening is better than nothing!
Overall we've been really pleased with our turbo trainer, it's definitely something I'd recommend if you're looking to improve your fitness and get better at cycling. And to be able to exercise in the comfort of your own home makes it all the better! It's a much cheaper option than a proper exercise bike or cross trainer and it doesn't take up half the room!
If you have any questions or are looking into buying a turbo trainer yourself, let me know! I'd be more than happy to chat :)
Lydia xxx
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