Advice on turbo trainer with reasonably accurate power

sergen

For some reason the 'search' function no longer appears to be available so I have been unable to see previous posts on this subject.

I am looking to purchase an indoor turbo trainer that will provide me with accurate power information while riding indoors. The interval workouts would all be L4/L5 so I wouldn't be using the trainer for any intervals requiring Tom Boonen-esque power. I'd only need up to 350/400W max resistance.

Sadly a road powermeter is currently beyond budget.

From the internet research I've done the Kurt Kinetic seems like a recommended purchase. I would be interested to learn from other forum users what their experiences are of indoor turbo trainers with power readings. Are there any recommeded models that you have compared with Powertaps or SRMs?

Many thanks

wiredued

I like the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine if you don't do alot of sprinting and the Spinervals Superfluid 4.5 if you do alot of sprints and don't want any tire slipage. They both have the same leak proof KK fluid resistance unit that is PT calibrated.

17mph=183.33w
17.1mph=185.53w
17.2mph=187.74w
17.3mph=189.98w
17.4mph=192.23w
17.5mph=194.51w
17.6mph=196.80w
17.7mph=199.12w
17.8mph=201.46w
17.9mph=203.81w
18mph=206.19w
18.1mph=208.59w
18.2mph=211.01w
18.3mph=213.45w
18.4mph=215.91w
18.5mph=218.39w
18.6mph=220.89w
18.7mph=223.42w
18.8mph=225.96w
18.9mph=228.53w
19mph=231.12w
19.1mph=233.73w
19.2mph=236.36w
19.3mph=239.02w
19.4mph=241.70w
19.5mph=244.40w
19.6mph=247.12w
19.7mph=249.86w
19.8mph=252.63w
19.9mph=255.42w
20mph=258.24w
20.1mph=261.07w
20.2mph=263.93w
20.3mph=266.81w
20.4mph=269.72w
20.5mph=272.65w
20.6mph=275.60w
20.7mph=278.58w
20.8mph=281.58w
20.9mph=284.60w
21mph=287.65w
21.1mph=290.72w
21.2mph=293.82w
21.3mph=296.94w
21.4mph=300.09w
21.5mph=303.26w
21.6mph=306.45w
21.7mph=309.67w
21.8mph=312.92w
21.9mph=316.19w
22mph=319.48w
22.1mph=322.80w
22.2mph=326.15w
22.3mph=329.52w
22.4mph=332.92w
22.5mph=336.34w
22.6mph=339.79w
22.7mph=343.26w
22.8mph=346.76w
22.9mph=350.29w
23mph=353.84w
23.1mph=357.42w
23.2mph=361.03w
23.3mph=364.66w
23.4mph=368.32w
23.5mph=372.01w
23.6mph=375.72w
23.7mph=379.46w
23.8mph=383.23w
23.9mph=387.03w
24mph=390.85w
24.1mph=394.70w
24.2mph=398.58w
24.3mph=402.48w
24.4mph=406.42w
24.5mph=410.38w
24.6mph=414.37w
24.7mph=418.39w
24.8mph=422.44w
24.9mph=426.51w
25mph=430.62w
25.1mph=434.75w
25.2mph=438.91w
25.3mph=443.10w
25.4mph=447.32w
25.5mph=451.57w
25.6mph=455.85w
25.7mph=460.16w
25.8mph=464.49w
25.9mph=468.86w
26mph=473.26w
26.1mph=477.68w
26.2mph=482.14w
26.3mph=486.63w
26.4mph=491.14w
26.5mph=495.69w
26.6mph=500.27w
26.7mph=504.88w
26.8mph=509.52w
26.9mph=514.19w
27mph=518.89w

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RedRider2009

If I remember correctly, my Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer can handle up to 3000 watts. Wouldn't that mean that you are going like 156 miles per hour assuming that 27mph is 519 watts?

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Piotr

No. The relationship between speed and power is not linear.

180 W = 17 MPH,
360 W = 23 MPH not 34

3000W would be around 52 MPH. You'd need over 73000 W (100HP) to go 156 MPH (on the KK trainer that is).

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Ade Merckx

I too would love a powermeter at some stage. However the Kurt kinetic has been great so far. It has a great road feel and getting immediate wattage feedback is excellent. According to what I've read its fairly accurate up to 400watt (i'm never gonna reach that FT power so no worries!) but can loose accuracy up to 10% beyond that. Its very easy to set up which is important for a technical dinosaur like myself. I'm really glad I got it especially as I'm now in the 300wattFT club

Alex Simmons

<pedantic mode on>

Suggesting you are measuring power with that level of significant digits is misleading. It (i) assumes the speed-power conversion formula for the KK is accurate all the way through the range, (ii) it is the same for everyone and every KK trainer and bike/wheel/tyre set up, (iii) you are measuring speed accurately and (iv) you don't report an output with more significant digits than your inputs anyway.

<pedantic mode off>

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wiredued

That's just what the calculator gave me I'm really not that pretentious I use the decimals to round off to the nearest watt if my 20mph coast down is 13.4 seconds which it ussually isn't unless I'm in "pedantic mode".

__________________
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. http://www.earnharts.com/html/reala...ecific.asp?id=3

Yojimbo_

I have the KK with the power meter thingie.

It will work fine...until the power meter craps out. Seems a lot of folks have had a problem with it. When it happened to me I got a free replacement from Kurt.

On the power measurement issue, you might be interested in this link:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/triat...age&PAGE_id=189

Mish

Does this mean if I average 19.0 mph on the road for an hour I have an FTP of 231? I have a Road Machine and the Computer. No on bike power meter and I want to set training levels.

Ade Merckx

Er if you mean 'the road' (outdoors) no it calculates power only when on the Kurt Kinetic trainer. Just follow the instructions for set up (measure wheel circumference when sat on the bike and input data) and Robert's your father's brother

Mish

Actually Robert is my father's name and his brother is Joe so Robert is my cousin's father's brother.
As soon as I clicked submit I realized what a dumb question it was. You were kind not to tell me the same.