Indoor Training Tools - Initial Setup with an iPod

A common issue we face today is what to do with older pieces of technology that still work, but that we've already replaced with something better, faster, or in some cases, really just have better battery life.

I generally do not use Apple products because I don't find their user interfaces particularly intuitive, and they generally cost a lot more than what I want to spend for a given need.  But I did end up getting an iPod Touch as a work anniversary gift from a former employer.  I had really used it only to have access to FaceTime video chatting with folks who had committed to the Apple ecosystem, but not for much else.  My Android-based devices have served my mobile device needs fine.

When it came to indoor cycling trainer apps though, iOS-based apps turned out to be a better fit (pun intended) for my needs.  As part of my research on trainer apps, I knew that the Kinetic Fit app would do what I want--provide structured training workouts with no mandatory subscriptions/fees.  You can pay for more features and training plans, but the freebies suited me just fine.

Kinetic's Fit app runs on both iOS and Android, but the Android version came later and is a bit behind in stability, features and timeliness of fixing issues, so I used the iOS version on the iPod.  I would test new versions on Android to see if they worked better, generally without satisfactory results.

Mounting the iPod

One of the very helpful things a trainer app provides is a visual target of the effort level you need to put out at a given moment in a training session.  Having the display in a visually comfortable place is key, so a stem or handlebar mount made sense.  I found something inexpensive, but fairly sturdy in the Nite Ize HandleBand.

There are a couple of issues with it though.

1. the elastic covers parts of the touch screen, often right where you need to access the screen unless you set it up precisely
2. it isn't designed with today's larger devices or bulky cases in mind

though the super slim iPod Touch (5th generation) with a Speck CandyShell Grip Case fits fine and the Kinetic Fit app doesn't require much touchscreen interaction once you get going with a training session.

Entertaining?

It has long been controversial in the cycling community whether it is OK to wear headphones while cycling.  Awareness of your surroundings, whether for safety or appreciation of the sounds of nature, communication with riding partners, whatever, people have differing views on this out on the road and on the trails.

But on the trainer, there is no question--entertainment or distraction is a must. Although I wrote in the first installment about indoor training that my initial foray into riding a trainer was enjoyable, that was relative to not exercising.

Mobile devices aren't ideal for multitasking and the iPod Touch is pretty limited in what it can do.  Listening to music or podcasts in the background while running the trainer app in the foreground works OK, though switching away from the trainer app to change audio tracks can be awkward, maybe even causing the trainer app to pause.

Using a separate device for entertainment is just easier, other than taking up more space and adding another device whose battery life you need to keep track of.  But it also adds the option of video entertainment.  My Android phone meets this need very well.

Indoor Training Tools -- Background

For the longest time, I rode bicycles outdoors only--no gym bikes, no trainers for me and I got plenty of riding in.  But during a particularly rainy month where I was getting very little exercise, I decided to dig out a really old magnetic resistance trainer that my brother had given me.  It was a Peak Load 2 trainer from Performance that I had only ever used as a truing stand for tuning up wheels.

I set it up in the garage with a big fan and the overhead door open while the rain continued yet another day.  I mounted up a bike, rode it for a few minutes, and to my surprise, found that it was a somewhat pleasant experience.  Or at least, it was much, much better than not exercising.  Then suddenly the resistance unit seized up with a lot of metal screeching noise that briefly overwhelmed the pleasant sound of the rainfall before silence fell on upon it and I could no longer turn the cranks.

Improve?

I took the unit apart to see if I could fix it--no go.  I contacted Performance to see if they had replacement resistance units available to fit--after all, the steel frame for the trainer is still in good shape.  Nope, the thing was too darned old.  I didn't press the matter with their 100% satisfaction guarantee since I'm not the original owner and at some point, they reduced their guarantee from lifetime to 365 days.

Acquire!

It kept raining a lot, so I kept an eye out for trainer deals.  As luck would have it, a year ago this week in the midst of Winter, I came across a good sale on the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Smart, a well reputed, reliable (no leaks!) fluid resistance trainer that provides power, speed and cadence readings.  Although it has "Smart" in the name, it is not what is commonly called a "smart trainer" these days.  That would be something that has programmatic resistance control via protocols such as ANT+ FE-C to simulate hills in an immersive simulation environment like Zwift, or to vary resistance to load/difficulty in structured training programs.  With a plain old fluid resistance unit, I vary the resistance by changing gears on the bike.  This works well enough for me.

Since I acquired my trainer a year ago, Kurt Kinetic has come out with an updated resistance unit that would be "smart", but is of course a lot more expensive and, unfortunately, uses a proprietary protocol on top of Bluetooth for resistance control.  For more information about that, check out DC Rainmaker's article on this.

Hardware and Software Support

The Kurt Kinetic trainers support only Bluetooth Smart, also referred to as Bluetooth 4.x and Bluetooth Low Energy at various levels of precision.  Although my research at the time told me that ANT+ was far more widely supported with computer-based trainer software, my initial thought about my indoor trainer setup would be that I'd be pairing it with mobile devices where Bluetooth support is where it's at.

I also figured that as time went on, Bluetooth support would grow to approach or even exceed ANT+ since pretty much every laptop and mobile device supports Bluetooth 4.x these days, while almost nothing beyond fitness-specific devices come with ANT+ support.

A year on, my prediction has been wrong so far.  There is still very little support for Bluetooth in indoor cycling trainer apps running on Windows.  Macs have it somewhat better, but even Windows-based trainer software that support Bluetooth (TrainerRoad and Rouvy) support it only with one specific Bluetooth dongle that is especially programmable.  And those products require a subscription to their trainer/coaching service.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have looked harder for a trainer that supports both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart for the best of both worlds, or at least ANT+ to gain wider software support at the expense of needing an ANT+ adapter and the limitation of having to use a laptop rather than also having a good mobile device option.

Since I don't have a time machine, my next blog posts will go through the trainer setups I've used over the last year, how things have evolved and what things I may try next.