I read on here recently (try a search) that CompuTrainer is coming out with a major software upgrade (or something) very soon. You may want to wait and see if the upgrade is something worth having for yourself. In any event, it should drive the price down for existing systems.

I will do a search in morning thanks. have to go to bed now ramped up my running again and looks like I came down with a cold . Probably not connected but just got the kids washed up and am exhausted now. thinkit is sleep time. which means i will be up at 4 but thats not a bad thing.

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I would think a software upgrade would be compatible with the older hardware.

Here's the info on the software upgrade that TrueGrit was referring to.

http://www.racermate.net/...c.php?f=2&t=2898

The software upgrade does work with older hardware. I think I heard around $150-$200 for the upgrade. If you buy new from Racer Mate you get the upgrade for free.

I'm pretty sure the upgrade will work with older hardware, they just had to draw the line somewhere and will only provide the upgrade for free to those who purchased a new system June 1, 2010 or later. (see link I provided above.)

I've run a computrainer multirider center for the last 4 years or so. What to look for in wear and tear on the trainer.

1. I'm not sure how they put them on but the metal sleeves they use that match up to the skewer end will eventually fall off. Once they do they're something you'll have to mess with every time you ride and may squeak like hell as the skewer will wobble back and forth until it's replaced. You can replace it yourself but it will never be as solid as it was from the factory.

2. As you use it more and more the screws that are used to tighten the bike to the trainer will be harder to use.

3. Cables and connections will wear out eventually over time and will need to be replaced. Racermate doesn't sell this stuff for cheap.

4 I'm listing this last but it's most important. Depending on how much it's been used and how, the load generator or the control unit will just stop working. The load generator is prone to overheating if it's been used for mostly uphill rides as it has no cooling system other than fans. So if you like to ride alp d'huez a lot you'll be replacing that thing about once every 18 months or so. The control unit will just stop working eventually and need to be replaced. No warning, it just wont callibrate. This happens at the rate that we can build a trainer from extra parts we buy on the side in about 10 minutes.

P.S. Racermate tech support isn't so great. And the software updates that I know of are the real course video being integrated into the multirider system so that shouldn't really impact you much.

Thanks for info guys I am looking into buying a used one now.
Will the computrainer take them back and replace the metal sleeve ? Do they do overhauls ?
Will computrainer work on windows xp ?
If at home can it be hooked up to a projector and put on a big screen ? I guess that would depend on the hook ups inback of progector ?

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I don't have the answers to the hardware replacement questions.

The software works on XP and W7. You just have to intall it directly on C drive versus C drive\Programs folder in Vista or W7 (this means you need to hit the backspace button to clear the word programs in the default install location. If you can turn your computer on, you have all the needed know how).

The video-out will be dependent on your computer set up. For a projector connect to your monitor output. If you have an HDMI out on your computer then you can use an HDMI cable to a flat screen TV. In reality this is a computer - projector/monitor issue that is independent of the trainer.

I'm not sure if they'll replace the sleeve or not, we have an engineering department that pieces them back together with instructions they got from Racermate. My feeling is that they'd tell you how to fix it and if you can't do that on your own they'll tell you to buy a new one.

The question on overhauls is a kind of. We have never sent the frame back to them to fix but we have sent a good number of the load generators back to them to fix or in many cases I think we get a swap for one they have refurbished previously.

Problem with their support is that you can call and leave a message but in many cases you'll never hear back from them. I've had good luck getting answers from them on their message board.

I know you are looking at buying a used computrainer but considering that an upgrade is coming in the very near future it might be more cost effective to buy a new one. I believe computrainer has done a ST group buy in the past and this might be something to consider. If you decide to go the group buy route then I'd be lining up at the door for one as well (assuming the wife doesn't shoot me first).

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I am going to be buying one in the next month or so, if anyone wants to go in. Right now, according to the website you can get two for $1474 per....

Funny, I have been looking for a while and have been patient, found one last week on Craigslist for $800 that someone was willing to ship, supposedly 20hrs actual use. It was from 2005, and it cost be $200 in racermate spare parts (wireless HR monitor, controller upgrade, and some odd and ends) but it worked out, the unit really was barely used. If your patient you can probably find a unit that someone bought on a whim and has sat on a shelf.

I have heard such bad things about the reliability of CT's that I would be very circumspect in buying one used. Reading the comments from the poster who has worked in a CT training facility for years, it seems he is coyly saying to you that they are a minatenance nightmare. The CT facility I ride at has 20-25% non-funcitoning at any one time and the cadence is routinely not working on many (which is a pretty big issue given that CT wattage is set to 90rpm). The other poster seems to say that it takes them having a spare one around to keep the other's running. They are superbe training tools and you might get a good one used, and light riding might do fine, but I would really check it out before I bought one given that the load units fail without warning and CT's customer service is so poor.

a group buy would be interesting, i'd probably be in. i have been watching eBay/CL lately and have been curious like bmanners.

expensive secondhand electronics that take such abuse as a load generator concern me. they are going for +/- 1k on eBay.

then you factor in the $200 software upgrade, and a new one becomes appealing...

I have had my Computrainer since 2000 and ride it 2-3 times a week year round.

The only problems I have had are with one DIN cable going bad, and 2 cadence sensors going bad.

The load generator has been rock solid.

I am a heavy sweater and there is some rust/corrosion on the base unit.

.

Guy's i think I am out on the group buy ( i might be sorry later.) but talked to a guy with ne and have a pretty good feeling about one. he is a few tie IM finisher so is one of us and i would hope not want to ruin his rep by selling me something bad. Plus it is only a year old, looks new in pics and is including 7 course vids. just not NYC and the highlight real of me crashing. damn I got to buy that one now :-)

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I wouldn't say that the computrainers are maintenance nightmares, what I'm saying is that like anything that gets used a lot it requires maintenance. Our trainers get used on average about 20 hours a week, and depending on the time of the year it ebbs and flows. We rarely have to change out a control unit or cables but we do have to do it from time to time. We got the current trainers we have 4 years ago, in that time they've seen a lot of riding, much more than I think an individual would put on them being in their house. In that time I think we have replaced 2 of the frames that are used to hold everything together and contain the screws that attach to the skewer. So that being said if you compared the hours of use vs amount of maintenance to other equipment in our gym I'd say it's pretty low on the maintenance time list.

The wiring for the cadence sensors can be very flaky from my experience but I haven't a clue what you're talking about power readings being set to cadence.

If their is a knock on Racermate inc that is the customer service. I think it's a pretty small operation but that doesn't excuse the fact that they need to support the client. As for the load generators failing without warning, I think that's they way it goes for most electronics. One day it works the next day it doesn't.

I am interested in a group buy depending upon final price. Not willing to pay $1475 now.

"but I haven't a clue what you're talking about power readings being set to cadence."
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x2

I'd also be interested in a group buy.

Bought mine used off the ST classifieds about 5 years ago, ride it most of the winter since I am a wussy, never an issue. YMMV.

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I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.

x3
That statement makes no sense.

I run a multi-rider centre with Computrainers. We don't even bother with the cadence sensors. It's effort level (power) and duration that matters.

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Training Plans -- Power Meter Hire -- SRM Sales Australia -- cyclecoach.com -- My Blog -- Sydney Turbo Studio

It seems to me that they set the wattage to track precisely at 90 rpm. i.e., if you want 200 watts to be your 100% target, then you have to ride 90 rpm to follow the profile of the workout. If the program is calling for 90% (180 watts) and you ride at less than 90 rpm, your power output will be below 90%/180 watts. Maybe that is particular to the set-up at the place I ride? In that case, having the cadence sensor working is important.

As for maintenance, all I am reporting is the reliability at facility that I ride at is not great. I know it is very frustrating for the manager and I see it first hand. I wouldn't want to go to a gym that had 8 treadmills and have to try different ones to see which has all the functions working.

As the other guy said power isn't a component of cadence. I have people who can spin at a high cadence and a relatively high power output, IE 110 - 120 rpm at 350 watts. I have other people that couldn't hold 100 rpm but can mash out the same 350 watts on the same course at 75-85 rpm. The load generator cares nothing about cadence relative to power output on a multi-rider system.

The coaching software is a bit different and it may be where you're confused. If you're riding say the 10 power intervals program the computer will change the load on your wheel regardless of how fast or slow you pedal, it's always going to put you at a percentage of what is entered for your AT. But that being said if you really slow down a lot it can only do so much to keep you at the proper percentage and then the power will fall off.

I think the coaching software is a little buggy and can be a memory hog on the PC that can cause some weird things to happen with larger groups on a pc that has limted memory.

I've seen a few places where people aren't technically up to the challenge of getting this stuff up and running or keeping it that way. Some are better at it than others.

I bought a very used CT a couple of years ago and still running strong. Everything on the CT is replaceable so if anything does break I can get a replacement from them. Gets used 4-5 times a week and probably 7 times during the winter since both wife and I use it.

Haven't had any issues with the coaching software, I have a dedicated laptop running XP and use the old serial-usb connector it works just fine. I don't need the "drag" feature that is one of the only things different between the current version and the one I own.

Watts seem pretty close to my PT numbers, moreso if I take the time to properly calibrate it before the ride.

I picked it up on Craigslist for 300 bucks, cheaper than a lot of regular trainers.

Also know someone with the Super-Nintendo version and his is still going strong.

This is not correct.

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Training Plans -- Power Meter Hire -- SRM Sales Australia -- cyclecoach.com -- My Blog -- Sydney Turbo Studio

For those interested in a group buy I'll see if we can get a deal through racermate. I believe in years past the group buy was completed through a retailer and not directly with racermate. Does anyone have any info on group buys from years past?

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I contacted racermate and the 1474 deal ended 8/31. Damn! I am buying one for the winter anyway, so i'd be in for a group buy. wonder if they can get better than the price listed on the site: • $100 off each unit when ordering 5+ CompuTrainers Together!

ETA - just searched the previous group buy attempt, turns out CT is/was trying to go retail outlets and wasn't allowing informal group buys (not affiliated with a tram, club, etc.)

I contacted Racermate and the only deal they will offer is $100 off if we buy 5 or more...not much of a deal in my opinion. Does anyone know a computrainer retailer that might offer ST a better group buy?

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Supported by Compressport Canada | F2C Nutrition | Element | Argon 18 | 4iiii Innovations | Read my Blog

One random experience - after a month of tracking ebay to try and get a CT on the cheap, I took a flyer and picked up a (very old) Nintendo Pro version for under $500. The pro version has a 1500w load limit and 10w increments in erg mode, just like considerably newer models. This was almost year ago and so far it's worked flawlessly (should mention I've only gotten real serious about using it the last couple months, prepping for cross season). Actually using it in "computer" mode is super-cheesy, but necessary for AT tests and the like. Except for tests i always use it in erg mode and it works great for that, my interval workouts have been much improved. If you have the money to drop I would go new, since as you've seen it's not a huge discount to go used on anything like the current models. But if you can do with all the new software-driven features, the Nintendo-Pro option is worth considering if you find one offered by a highly-rated seller.

if a group buy works out count me in!

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"slow is smooth, smooth is fast."

Just wanted to post to this thread. Don't do so very often.

Being Service Manager for RacerMate I am very surprised when I read comments about the service we provide. I try very hard to make sure users get service and I'll even post replies to users on my own time, from my iPhone. I have NEVER had a customer call me saying they didn't get help. I read about it, I hear it at trade shows - but never at the time does anyone call me (i.e., I'd like to speak to your manager!) and tell me they haven't been helped in some way.

Yes, we are a small group of people and being a seasonal product we don't have the luxury of hiring and laying off people every year, so when it gets crazy busy we, rather than have an on-hold queue, use a voice mail system. Playing voice-mail tag is sadly commonplace, but that's why we have email and the forum to fill in the gaps. Not a perfect world, I agree, but I'm not sure there is a better way other than having you sit on hold for an hour or more.

So... just in case people are reading this after searching SlowTwitch I wanted this in here. Sorry to usurp the thread, but thought it was worth posting.

In regard to lifespan, CT, when used in a MultiRider environment is more prone to problems than a home user would have. Though on the surface people don't see many changes, inside there are many - and all based upon failure modes. My experience in their use in a MultiRider center is that many centers allow users to setup their bikes. These users are not often given the training needed to assure everything is done right. We've seen a many unit come in with obvious user-induced failure. But also consider these are in a commercial environment and you can't easily compare this to home use. Indeed we recommend a center have a spares kit, not for our sake, but theirs. If you have 8 riders scheduled and a unit fails, you can fulfill your commitment to the cyclist. Cables, if they fail, I read somewhere (may have been another post) are actually pretty cheap, not expensive as I read somewhere.

OK, that's all i had to say. I try to avoid answering much on SlowTwitch, but am researching user comments as I design the latest software... Thanks for putting up with me.

P.S. If you are looking for a used trainer, just make sure it is a "Pro" model 8001 or higher and everything we've ever made can be made compatible with what we are doing today - by design. And there is some new stuff on the horizon that will be compatible to any CT going back 20 years.

I think the confusion here is the RPM pointer and what it is used for. Watt training uses a function called ergo mode and this is adjusting torque to maintain a watt-constant. If your RPM is all over the place the computer has to work overtime to adjust torque to reestablish the wattage you are working to maintain. By holding as steady a cadence you can - there is far less adjusting of things and a far more consistent work being done. This is physics, not anything else.

Hope this helps clear up any confusion.

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Roger Moore
Software Development Mgr.
RacerMate Inc. http://www.racermateinc.com

I see from his other post that ctguru is Roger Moore. I can tell everyone that when I emailed him I initially got an out of office reply that indicated that he was on vacation for a couple of weeks. Two hours later he emailed me back while on vacation. 5 -star approval in my book.

Yep, the cat's out of the bag. Either that is 5-star service - or I'm just a workaholic. ; )