The Tacx Fortius Turbo New Virtual Reality Training Tool On the Market

 
 

March 5, 2011 by  

The Tacx Fortius Turbo trainer is one of the new Virtual Reality training tools designed to keep riders motivated and informed of current speed, power and Heart rate during indoor training sessions. Virtual Reality Turbo Trainers such as the Fortius and Bushido (Tacx's wireless portable Version of the Fortius without as much motor brake resistance) Are more expensive than basic model Trainers and require computers with high specifications to be utilised fully. VR Trainers although expensive are brilliant training tools for the demanding and dedicated indoor trainer.

Traditional cheap turbo trainer Training sessions require tremendous amounts of motivation and mental strength to complete long endurance sessions. More intense interval sessions usually can be completed on these trainers a lot easier. Tacx's main goal when developing this trainer was to address this issue with its Real life Video Training tool; this replicates real life changes of elevation on the road through a powerful motor brake which also spins the real wheel on a simulated descent. A High definition video is shown on the screen which increases or decreases in speed with the rider's effort, this combination of video and resistance on the rear wheel creates a very realistic and stimulating training session that alleviates the boredom associated with turbo training.

The Tacx Fortius Trainer is not only for endurance sessions the Catalyst function allows users to create power or sloped based interval training sessions for intensive interval training the great advantage with VR trainers is that they can measure Power if calibrated correctly to a degree of accuracy giving the rider valuable training information on how hard they are working and their level of fitness. To achieve this on a regular trainer a specialist power meter and head unit must be bought however power meters and additional head units to measure power instantly whilst training are similar price to VR Trainers but contribute little towards reliving boredom on the endurance sessions and if mounted on a dedicated turbo training bike with a indoor training tyre fitted cannot be used on the road either. Tacx have created a new power based training tool that utilises the trainers Real life Video capabilities this is called ergo training and requires the user to match (or attempt anyway!) A professional cyclist in front. Obviously this can be altered to be easier or harder according to the user's fitness or training needs.

Another feature from the trainers is the real life training function which needs a Google earth plug in and can replicate a real life route that you plan on the Google earth map the courses software reads the path and instructs the motor brake to regulate resistance accordingly allowing competitors to discover by using a degree of accuracy (if calibrated correctly) a race course using their own house. This tends to supply a racer the edge against your competitors over their opponents.How about buying some cycling jerseys to help you give out a stylish look? Both Fortius and Bushido Trainer can use this software however the bushido cannot simulate downhill coasting which is not all that important in training but takes away from the Virtual experience. The Bushido cannot create quite exactly the same measure of resistance, the bushido however does not need wires which makes all the bushido even more versatile as well as doesn't constantly call for a Pc link to operate the trainer. The bushido might be taken along to events and races for a limber up trainer.

Virtual Reality Turbo Trainers absolutely are a big investment and may seem like over kill for those cyclists nevertheless it requires serious thought if you suffer boredom whilst riding a turbo trainer and also this gets a greater issues the greater frustrating your indoor training is.

To look at a selection of cheap turbo trainer equipment and some amazingly stylish cycling jerseys check out RutlandCycling.com.This is one of my favorite cycling shops on the Internet.

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