I’m not all that familiar with Computrainer but since it sports a big price tag it interests me. Money burning a hole in my pocket.
RacerMate’s web site is not real easy to follow. Can someone give me an overview of this thing? Specifically, does it display on a TV screen via a computer hookup or what?
Is it worth the investment?
Here is my take:
$1400 for an indoor trainer? You can spend that money on something better (this is what i thought for 4 years) somehow, somewhat, somebody convinced me and I have one in my living room as a permanent fixture and I think one of the best investments you can get. Don’t let the “game” part fool you with TV screen graphics etc. it is the ergometer what makes it worth for me. I do the intervals, steady watts etc. Also there are a lot of software (Cyclingpeaks.com) out there.
The Computrainer is basically a trainer that is controlled electronically by control box or by your computer. So yes, you could hook it up to your TV through your computer and a lot of people do that with big TVs. If you use it, I think it’s worth the investment - there are two main ways people use it. The obvious way is to use it to ride all the different courses that are out there. That way it is not up to you to vary the resistance of your workout as it’s terrain dependent. You can ride the same course and see if you improve over a certain amount of time, etc. The other main way people use it is in erg mode by using the handlebar controller to make them ride at specific power outputs. The “wattage people” say that is the best use of the CT by far and is something you could not really do with a normal trainer. As with any triathlon “investment”, it’s worth it if you use it. Those who use it, usually love it.
Well I have to weigh in. I’d be the kind that prefers the erg mode, rather than course mode.
My big issue with CT was that you couldn’t simulate a bike race, where the story is not entirely told by the course profile. Course-mode on the CT is essentially a time trial, or at best a TT dual with the metal man in various modes. If I laid out a flat 1km rectangular loop, and did forty of them…I did not get a criterium-style workout, which is “Blast anaerobic…rest…turn…blast anaerobic…rest…turn” Repeat 40 times, unless there’s a breakaway, then add paceline over-under work in between the turns. Instead, a flat 1km loop x40 just gives the usual “flat ride experience” that I could do at any speed…often boring and constant, never like a bike race.
I wanted my ass-kicked into action, so I’d train the right factors.
A well-programmed erg ride could do it. So I developed what is now branded CyclingPeaks Erg+. It lets you graphically build the workout for erg-mode in Computrainer Coaching software. The cool thing with erg mode is that as you improve, you just crank up the watts. The Ergometer FORCES you to sustain the target watts, unlike course mode, which you can ride at any speed. Erg+ is used by most people to build very specific controlled intervals, and it’s really easy to use.
Now once you get down to riding an erg file on the CT, it’s still visually uninspiring. Just data on the screen. So ErgVideo Inc. has developed “ErgVideos” which link the power requirements of real bike races, with real video. Very exciting, and you are sucked right into the action. You even feel the drafting and the wind resistance when the rider pokes out of the bunch. You can adjust the difficulty level, via your threshold power setting. So you can ride beside a pro in a multirider environment.
By recreating the power demands of racing, users quickly learn what factors need to be trained.
We’ve also released Time trial/triathlon videos (more to come), and some cool intervals workouts too. We are working on something VERY special for the fall. In these cases, what’s cool is that you get to see how great riders execute on these courses, and you indeed feel what he/she is feeling along the way. Very forced and easy-to-stay-motivated workout. You see them giving it…and you give it too.
Gotta say this is the best way to have fun on your CT. IF you buy one jackbauer, look into ergvideo. www.ergvideo.com
Paul Smeulders Developer and President, ErgVideo inc. and Intellicoach.ca
This sounds like a great advancement.
I want to know when we are going to be able to link online and race other STers!!!
I’m in the same position…
Really there seems to be three advantages to the computrainer versus all the other trainers
So yes one could get 1) through a PowerTap, SRM, Ergomo + trainer but all three system require TLC so I’d suspect the comptrainer would allow you to train more consistently as they’re very well built.
Whether Spinscan is worth having is not clear to me. I like the sound of it but I’d like to hear more.
I’m not that bothered with riding courses, it’s a bit of a toy feature because the real work is achieved through structured and incremental power based intervals.
Waiting to hear back from those who wouldn’t trade their computrainers in for anything.
SteveMc
Wouldn’t trade mine for anything!!! Have had one for 5 years and bought my partner one last year so we could train together. It pays off the most in the winter when days are short or weather is bad. I have **never **regretted my investment!
I do find the onscreen worthwile… but then again, I run it through a 106" projector in my basement (from the pc)…
the erg features are great. the 3d is very helpful for someone like me that has to ride inside a great deal (especially in winter)…
I use mine with a touchscreen monitor (dual screens) and it is nice to not need a keyboard closeby:
more info: here and here
hth and let me know if you have any other questions.
g
You gotta get closer to that screen buddy!
My “visually lacking” comments refer to Coaching Software Erg mode, not so much the 3d, as you are showing.
I ride ergvideo on a 7-foot (horizontal) screen, about a foot away. The riders swarming around are quite cool. No seizures yet, either. I’ll see if I have a pic laying about.
Someone else will comment on other things in your picture…I won’t.
Paul
FWIW, I use the SRM online software and sometime even the SRM torque analysis software at the same time with the CT
I prefer the SRM online screens (seen on the blog) to even the coaching software.
Yes I could be closer, but this is the basement playroom/movie room and so the screen is positioned for movies not training 
still works well.
BTW, I do not suggest riding the rollers and watching “dust to glory” I almost ate sh*t about a dozen times before I turned it off…
g
p.s. the playroom explains the “rest” of the pic 
If you’ll use it, it’s absolutely worth the investment. Yes, a static trainer and a PT will get you some of the functionality, but not all. The software comes with many pre-loaded courses from around the world as well as some pre-designed shorter courses designed for interval-type training (hill repeats, 1-mile loop repeats, etc). There are also some websites that are kind enough to build local/regional courses into CT files for free download (for example, the Michigan Outlaws website - thanks Ken!). SpinScan is somewhat useful although some don’t believe in it and I use it only sparingly - it can point out weak spots and L/R power discrepancies in your pedaling motion and help you smooth it out, but I don’t subscribe to the ‘perfect circle’ camp. Apart from the computer-based uses, there is the stand-alone erg mode and program mode. Erg mode allows you to set a fixed resistance which remains constant regardless of cadence, gearing, etc. Program mode sets an internal resistance level, but the power generated by the rider varies as cadence, gearing, etc changes. Some people I know incorporate a CT session into their weekly training year-round as it is a very repeatable set of conditions. One of the cool things is that you can run 2 CT’s through the same computer so you can train or race with a partner (you can even set it up to incorporate drafting if you want), or you can ride alone or against a ‘virtual opponent’ (the metal man others have mentioned). Set the metal man’s power at 300W, and see how long you can hang. Lots of cool bells n’ whistles and well worth it if you like data and spend time on the trainer. I live in IL and spent plenty of time on the CT training for IMAZ through the winter last year - I think I would have gone insane without it.
Mike
Set the metal man’s power at 300W, and see how long you can hang.
without drafting!
metaman will kick your butt… but do remember that he isn’t at 300w… he is @ 300w with 100% effciency. if you set mm to your ftp, you will not hold on
but he also makes a great motorpacing workout with drafting turned on…
g
Good point about his 100% efficiency. Another good workout option is to set him just a bit under your ftp and try to hang on (without drafting) - great way to work on improving your efficiency sans spinscan. You can still get the jump on him on the hills, but he’ll run ya down sure as hell on the descent when you spin out! Trying to keep him in sight does make for a nice ‘carrot’ when you feel like slacking.
That’s what my wife is for when we ride CT together…
Trying to keep him in sight does make for a nice ‘carrot’ when you feel like slacking.
I have an old school Pro NES model (I have all Macs, so using the PC software is out), and I love it. Not nearly as advanced as the newer models, but it’s dead simple to operate and has spinscan, some built in courses, custom courses, and egometer mode. And I got it from ebay for less than half what a new one costs.
I did the bulk of my IMLP training on it and was very satisfied with my bike split (just over 6 hours).
Dude, where can I get one for $1400?
Definitely one of the best things I have ever bought. I can train any time, any weather and get a better workout per unit time than being on the road (no lights or pauses keep the heartrate up). Every 3 weeks I like doing time trials of various distances/times (20 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins, 2 mins etc) and tracking my progress. What makes it awesome is that all the things I really care about are just right (accuracy, can race virtual self from previous tests, cadence is tracked on virtual self etc), although some of the less critical things could use improvement (there are better mounting systems that take 15 fewer seconds to attach to trainer).
I got mine from Austin Tri Cyclist (512) 494-9252. I can’t remember what I paid, but I remember it was the best price I could find.
I’ve had one for five years or so, and have never regretted it, but I’m not totally blown away by it either. My problem may just be that I don’t like to ride my bike enough, though, as even with the 3D software, I still get bored fairly quickly. I can make it about an hour, but anything over that becomes a real struggle. I just have it plugged into my computer, because I don’t have a room layout where I could plug it into the TV to do split-screen, which I think would help signifcantly. It is definitely a good workout, and I use it when the weather’s too bad to ride outside, or I get up late and there’s too much traffic on my usual routes. When I was looking at buying mine, it was pretty easy to find them on eBay, but I watched several auctions and they all ended up close enough to full retail to not really be worth buying used. So, they appear to hold their resale value as well (although I haven’t checked that lately). A word of warning: if you build the stand that they include directions for, it’s a heavy motherf*cker. Oh, and keep in mind that if you want to display it on your TV, you’ll need a video card on your PC with outputs to match whatever input type(s) your TV has.
Barry,
I used the ergvideo of the Lake Placid course extensively in training the last few months and there were NO surprises on race day. Knowing the course inside out really helped, especially in the sections where I had “down periods” and also the out and back which in the past was a mental struggle in the second loop.
I believe it works in multirider mode too but not sure about across the internet…