What is a Compu-trainer?
In simple terms, its a Bike Turbo on steroids! And if, as guaranteed by the manufacturers its used as part of a regular training plan, its been suggested that in can improve your cycling efficiency and speed by around 10% (which could equate to a speed increase of around 2-4 mile per hours and or a reduction in something like an IronMan distance cycling by as much as 30mins).
Tell me more!
The Compu-Trainer is an assistive device for allowing the user to ride their very own bike set up (usually a road bike) whilst in the comfort and relative safety of their own surroundings (eg: garage, study etc). Obviously, this can be particularly helpful during the winter months, when dangerous icy roads can hamper general biking and or impact on training schedules.
Thereafter, the Compu-trainer adds to this very basic premiss by adding the ability to monitor and adjust wattage / loading through its relatively user friendly interface. Equally, (and as provided in house by Drummond Clinic) if this equipment is attached to a computer, the associated software package allows the user to also monitor their current, average and highest speed, cadence, wattage, calorie expenditure and heart rate.
Additionally, the Spinscan software can also highlight where your typical cycling action may be inefficient, which as a consequence, will impact on your overall speed and power output.
And it doesn’t stop there…
Another interesting benefit of the Compu-Trainer, is the option to pit your wits against the computer and or a specific course or event for which you may be preparing to ride! For example, we’ve had a client preparing and testing themselves for Mont Ventoux (which helped them successfully beat their partner on the actual climb when they went to France); whilst another prepared for the Lanzarote Ironman over the winter period using the course profile downloaded from the internet.
Is it easy to set up?
Yes… it typically take about 5 minutes. On initially setting up the system, the user gets to input gender, age, height and weight, upper and lower heart rates and if wishing to ride against the computer, a typical wattage for the computer to maintain. Thereafter, this data can be stored for next time you ride. The user can then select a specific course or looped course (for monitoring relative consistency)… and away you ride.
How is this better than just riding my bike normally?
Good question! And as already highlighted, with winter fast approaching, riding your bike outdoors can subject you to some rather cold and dangerous icy conditions. Equally, with the typical need to stop at lights, roundabouts and junctions, a cyclist can often find that their training rides are frequently hampered by unplanned stoppages – and or rest phases such as when freewheeling down hill. All of which are negated when training on the Compu-Trainer!
Why cant I just use a normal gym or spinning bike to train on?
Whilst this is an obvious option… the value of ‘specificity’ comes into play. For example, which task is more likely to promote improvement in your overall cycling… riding a gym / spinning bike in a typical upright position, or riding you own bike which has been set specifically to your body size, shape and functional and one that allows you to use the drops and or aero bars etc?!?! Equally, but unlike a gym or spinning bike which may also allow the user to monitor speed, distance, heart rate etc, the Compu-Trainer can also provide the user with instant and specific feedback as to how their peddling / cycling action can be improved – which in turn can start to create improvements in the users overall cycling efficency.
Who can and or should use the Compu-Trainer?
In short, anyone with a road bike, and or those wishing to improve their power output and speed and general cycling efficiency.
In summary
The ability to both consistently and constantly monitor you cycling efficiency during a training session can help to significantly increase your overall cycling prowess… and is perhaps why numerous users have reported significant improvements in their cycling.
For more information on how the Compu-Trainer could help improve your efficiency, power output and speed, please call: 01628 639 532
Acknowlegdements: Pictures taken from the Compu-trainer website