The Human Performance Technology guru, Stephen Lane, talks winter indoor training sessions

In the past 2 weeks I have ridden outside a total of 4 times. Partially because of time restraints, but mostly because winter has set in and Im not a fan of being wet and cold.  The alternative to outside is some well-structured trainer sessions. It’s a great time of year to focus on some high intensity controlled efforts to enhance that high end race day kick that we always seem to be lacking. The equipment we use for such indoor sessions can dramatically influence the benefits that these sessions can achieve.

All trainers are not equal!!  There is a vastly different feel amongst types of stationary trainers. Magnetic trainers tend to feel a little ‘jerky’, usually because they are a lower priced unit and the inertia created by the lighter rotating mass has less of a real ‘road feel’. Fluid trainers are the next step up and begin do deliver a more realistic ‘road feel’ through greater inertia from heavier fly wheels and the exponential resistance created by the fluid type resistance units. Finally are the real ‘Wind Trainers’. The focus of this review is the LemondRevolution. I’ve had one of these for close to 12months now and there is a lot of good selling points about this unit.

Firstly the main thing you notice is the feel. If you own a power meter you may have noticed that you cannot even come close to holding the same power on a standard trainer compared to the road. The physiology/mechanics of this are a mystery to me however I believe it has something to do with what I call ‘micro rests’. On the road throughout the pedal stroke you get small moments when the rotational momentum of the wheels allow small periods where the muscles rest. On a standard trainer the lack of this rolling momentum removes these ‘micro rests’ causing the inability to sustain higher workloads. On the Lemond I’ve found that the higher rotational momentum of the solid cast iron fan (it must weigh about 10kg!!) makes it much easier to hold the same intensity as on the road. This coupled with the ‘direct drive technology’ (a fancy term for direct gearing instead of the usual tyre rotating the resistance unit) reduces loss of power transfer through the tyre slipping under acceleration which is beneficial because A; You don’t wear out your rear tyre and B; it gives a smoother feel while accelerating.

The Lemond unit comes with a few optional extra’s. You will need a cassette due to the ‘direct drive technology’ that basically requires you to remove the back wheel of your bike and use the Lemond as the new ‘hub’ and fixing point. A bonus to this is that you don’t need a riser block under the front wheel. Secondly is the optional ‘Power Pilot’. It is basically a bike computer specific to the Lemond that records and displays all the usual variables as well as power. The unit has the capability of exporting files in a format compatible to many of the power software packages available such as TrainingPeaks or GoldenCheetah. So analysing your training data becomes super easy and a must if you want to track your progress!!

Overall the Lemond unit has it all. A smooth feel, ease of use, the ability to add a cheap alternative to a power meter and finally road like inertia to make those boring trainer sessions a little more beneficial. If you need convincing then the easiest sell is to try one. Bike n Bean have a unit in the shop which anyone is welcome to come in and try. One quick spin and you will notice the difference. Since selling my story to my fellow Kosdown team mates I think over half of us are now using them at home. If you are serious about getting results and want the best equipment to compliment your hours of hard work then the Lemond is the perfect stationary trainer for you.