First Impressions Of TrainerRoad: Upgrading The Paincave

I have this sense that there is a secret to training that, if I crack it, will result in my becoming a stronger/faster/more stylish cyclist. If not instantly, then at least overnight.

It is this inner inkling that prompts my fascination with power meters (“If only I had a power meter then a programme of effective training would be within my grasp…”).

My innate Yorkshireness (long arms/deep pockets) means I haven’t quite pulled the trigger and bought one. Perhaps my other inner inkling is saying, “Don’t be ridiculous. Spending £500 on a Stages power meter just because Team Sky uses it is clearly not going to turn you into Luke Rowe.”

And yet, and yet… Those crank-based power meters do look awful shiny…

Thankfully, before I splurged half a monkey (or a couple of stoats) on a cheeky power meter, I remembered an email I received from a company called TrainerRoad, way back in the mists of time 2014…

What Is TrainerRoad?

TrainerRoad is an app (for your smart phone or computer) which brings indoor training with power to the masses. And those with excess masses.

Whilst you can use it with a power meter, or have it control your ‘smart’ indoor trainer, the appeal for me (and the rest of the power-less cycling population) is that TrainerRoad can take data from your speed and cadence sensor and, using what it knows to be the power curve on your (non-smart) indoor trainer, estimate your power output.

This power number then appears on the screen as you pedal (along with other metrics: cadence, heart rate etc) and is recorded as you complete the training session.

TrainerRoad contains a number of programmes and individual training sessions, allowing you to use all of this power data to create (and follow) a training schedule that will improve your cycling fitness and performance.

We hope.

The Back (In The Saddle) Story

At the end of December last year, a chance visit by the electrician to fit lights in the garage led to the discovery that it wasn’t the absolute worst place to set up my indoor trainer. And I then rode 35 days in a row (much of it in said garage on said trainer).

A Sunday afternoon spent tidying the garage recently (I think I was trying to avoid the mewling new infant that has just joined the peloton) turned into the replacement of the back tire on my trusty (but ill-fitting) Dawes road bike.

The Dawes always used to my indoor trainer bike of choice, with the Trek Domane saved for best (‘best’ being abuse on the potholed lanes of Derbyshire). ‘Dawesy’ was deprived of its role when the back tyre developed a strange bulge after changing an inner tube and I never quite got round to replacing it (I now have, with this extremely robust tyre).

I digress. The Dawes has now been reinstalled on my trainer (an Elite Crono Elastogel – here is my review) and I’m one step closer to a semi-permanent indoor cycling set up (with the Trek being only for outdoor duties).

Which is good. Because despite the fact that summer is coming, the arrival of said mewling infant, along with my continuing domestique duties for the first two juniors on the team roster, means that riding time really is going to be at a premium in 2016.

Power Corrupts Absolutely

So the email from TrainerRoad in late 2014 was to offer me a free trial (apparently they’d found me through this post: my ‘ultimate’ guide to turbo trainers).

And I’ve only now just got round to signing up for it. I won’t bore you with excuses.

I will bore you with a disclaimer though: they’re giving me 3 months for free (presumably in recognition of my status as a pre-eminent cyclo-blogger). So I am officially biased and you can’t believe a word I say.

First Rides With TrainerRoad

So far I’ve only done two sessions with TrainerRoad: a spin to see how easy it was to set up (and as an excuse to watch the Tour of Flanders in peace in the garage) and the “20-minute” test to find out my Functional Threshold Power (which really took an hour).

I thought I’d publish this introductory post whilst some of the set up logistics were fresh in my mind. I’ll deal with more of the ‘Training-y’ aspects in future posts.

How Does TrainerRoad Connect With Your Trainer?

Strictly it doesn’t (in my case, as the owner of a non-smart indoor trainer). It receives data from my Garmin speed and cadence sensor, transmitted over ANT+. So first I had to buy an ANT+ USB stick for my computer (our laptop is a Mac but it’s the same if you’re using a PC).

Once plugged in (to a USB port, natch), the TrainerRoad software recognised it immediately.

As soon as I turned the pedal on my bike, waking up the speed/cadence sensor, the two lovers didst connect in the most pleasing fashion. And it was as easy as that.

(I say that. It was so easy, in fact, that I inadvertently connected my Trek as I wheeled it over to the other side of the garage, before even touching the Dawes. When I realised, it was simply a case of telling it to drop the Trek sensor, then search for a new one with the Dawes sensor woken up).

It also connected (automatically I think) to my heart rate strap (another Garmin fandango). Again via ANT+ (as most heart rate straps are). Again very easy.

For ride two (the power test), there was a little more messing around. Neither the speed/cadence sensor nor the heart rate were immediately recognised by TrainerRoad on my computer. A couple of minutes spent fiddling (essentially, taking the USB dongle in and out; ‘forgetting’ and then searching again for the sensors) got things working again.

Do I Need To Be Connected To The Internet Whilst Using TrainerRoad?

One of the reasons for delaying signing up to TrainerRoad is that I assumed an internet connection was required whilst using it. Despite my wifi ‘extender’, signal in my garage can be patchy.

It turns out that I needn’t have worried. You don’t need an internet connection whilst using TrainerRoad (and if I’d looked at the FAQs on the company website, I’d have seen this was the answer to question 1…).

The workouts are saved to your computer. When you do return to civilisation a wifi connection, the software syncs your activity with the website.

You do need the internet if you plan to watch streamed coverage of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen using the Eurosport iPad app though.

Is The Power Number Accurate?

Now, without being a physicist, I’m guessing that the power numbers that TrainerRoad calculates would differ from a device that directly measures power (i.e. a strain gauge attached to the cranks or in the pedals).

Ignoring the potential variances between different trainers, even if they’re the same model, presumably trainer resistance levels change over time with wear (?).

More significantly, differing tyre pressures will impact reported speed numbers on a trainer (increase the pressure and higher speeds become noticeably easier).

All of which I don’t give a fug about.

The power numbers shown looked about right to me (he says…). If it does ‘measure low’ (as some on the interwebs seem to suggest), I am fortunate in not having a fragile ego linked irrevocably to my wattage.

Ultimately, I’ll use TrainerRoad over time with the aim of getting fitter. I only need to calibrate it to me at the start. The training sessions I do will be based on the numbers TrainerRoad is showing.

And since I don’t have a ‘proper’ power meter (did I mention that..?) for outside riding, I don’t need to worry about making comparisons between the two.

So What’s It Like?

Well my first impressions are positive. The allure of ‘power’ (that mythical beast) is such that even an estimated number, fluctuating on the screen as my effort level increases and decreases, is enough to get me excited.

I’ve completed my first FTP test and now I have some sort of number to structure a training programme around. I’m guessing that with my modest fitness levels, the mere act of making my training even slightly structured will be sufficient to see performance gains.

I expect that a key benefit of using a tool like TrainerRoad will be in terms of motivation, both in terms of doing the session on the trainer in the first place and, once riding, to make the session as useful as possible. This is hardly scientific, but I note that both sessions so far (a 45 minute ‘free ride’ and a 1 hour ride that included the 20 minute FTP test) have been longer than any of the trainer sessions I did as part of my 35 days of cycling challenge at the start of the year (which were more like 25-35 minutes in duration).

Over To You

I’m sure I’ll be writing more about TrainerRoad in future posts (you lucky readers you…).

If you want to find out more about TrainerRoad and, in particular, see the list of indoor trainers – smart and non-smart – that are compatible with their ‘VirtualPower’ system, swing by their website for a look. Sadly, this isn’t an affiliate link (in case you were interested). They did give me those 3 free months though…

I’m sure there must be readers out there who are already using the TrainerRoad system. Let us know in the comments how you’re getting on. Do you have any tips to share with me and others, which will help us get the most out of our TrainerRoad sessions?

Monty is an enthusiastic road cyclist with only moderate talent. He started Sportive Cyclist in 2013 to record the journey to his first 100 mile ride, the RideLondon 100. Over time the blog has expanded to include training advice, gear reviews and road cycling tales, all from the perspective of a not-very-fit MAMIL. Since you're here, Monty would also like you to check out his YouTube channel. Also, Monty really needs to stop referring to himself in the third person.

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