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 The chassis of the Super Trainer is a large,
custom-manufactured treadmill designed specifically for cycling. The
belt runs over a bed of 80 precision, high-speed aluminum rollers. The
rider’s bicycle is connected to a computer-controlled tractive
resistance unit, which comes pre-loaded with 20 course profiles but is
easily programmed by the user with their own customized rides.
Inside
Ride’s patent-pending technology – based on dynamic tractive resistance
– enables the rider to self-regulate speed and power output by
simulating the real-world forces that one encounters on the road or
trail, such as wind, rolling resistance, acceleration and gravity. This
is accomplished through the use of a nylon tether, which attaches the
computerized resistance unit to the seat post. The design allows full
range of motion for both rider and bicycle – you won’t even know it is
there.
No special skill is required to ride the
Super Trainer, either seated or standing. But, unlike rollers and
stationary trainers, the treadmill concept allows for an accurate,
physics-based simulation of steering and balancing. The tether system
permits realistic and motivational forward motion during acceleration
(even to power levels exceeding 1200 watts) as well as natural dropping
back during recovery. In addition, the fore/aft float accommodates
realistic bicycle position shifts as the rider stands to climb. The
treadmill also elevates up to grades of 16% that will challenge even
the strongest riders.
Contact us to find out where you can see the Super Trainer for yourself.
Safety Features
Safety
devices have been integrated into the trainer to protect the rider. A
light beam surrounds the entire unit. When a rider veers too far in any
direction and breaks the infrared beam, the belt stops almost
instantly. The belt goes from 25 mph to a complete stop in less than 3
feet. Safety rails with cable-activated shutoffs are also easily
triggered by the rider during either controlled or panic stops. With
normal use, the Inside Ride Super Trainer is as safe – or safer – than
riding outdoors.
Specifications
*80 precision rollers underneath the belt spin at 15,000RPM
*Weight - 900lb.
*Minimum floorspace required - 5' X 12 '
*Electrical requirements - 220 volt, 20 amp.
*Top speed - 27.8 mph.
*Maximum grade - 16.3%
Research at CU Boulder
Soon
after the debut of the Super Trainer in October 2003, Allen Lim - a PhD
candidate in the Department of Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder's
Applied Exercise Science Laboratory - became interested in using the
treadmill for his research. Allen is well-known in the cycling industry
for his expertise in analyzing power data in cyclists and research into
cycling-specific physiology.
Because
the Super Trainer is such a revolutionary concept, it sometimes takes
the authority and knowledge of a true expert to understand its
potential. Allen has understood this from the start. Below is an
excerpt from a research contract between CU Boulder and Inside Ride.
“Although
we have a good understanding of the power profiles and resistive forces
associated with competitive cycling, the physiological responses
associated with competition have never been measured directly. This is
because the power fluctuations and course profiles associated with
outdoor cycling are extremely difficult to replicate in the laboratory
with available stationary trainers or ergo meters. The development of
this treadmill is a potential solution to simulating cycling in the
laboratory…and a logical next step towards understanding the true
physiological response to road cycling.”
Dr. Allen Lim has recently graduated from CU Boulder with his PhD in Integrative Physiology.
More pictures of Super Trainer at CU Boulder
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