Trainer Recommendations?

[LaurenC]

Hi all. I'm new here and trying to get reinspired to get back on my bike since getting my health back. Great timing now that it's winter, huh? Does anyone have any recommendations for a bike trainer or what features are must haves? I don't need anything too fancy, but I don't want bottom of the barrel either. I have 3 in mind: Elite Crono, Travel Trac, and Blackburn Ultra Trainer. These are all under $300. I think it was the Blackburn that adjusts so you don't need a front block. The Elite has a monitor I can use on the trainer or on the road (and I need a new one anyway). Is there anything specific I should be looking for? Thanks for any help!

[Irulan]

I am a newbie at this, but I went for quiet.
Watch your local Craig's list, there are great deals out there. Look for either a fluid or magnetic, those are the quiet ones.

[Jo-n-NY]

Myself, friend and husband have been using the Cyclops Fluid trainer for what will now be 4 winters and love it. Of course, nothing beats riding outdoors, but for trainer, this one works out great

~ JoAnn

[martinkap]

Finally a thread where I can ask my completely stupid, noob and naive question. What do you with a trainer? I ride about 150-200 miles a week (including my daily commute) but this is going to shrink in the winter to probably about 100 miles. I want to ride more. But I really cannot imagine what to do with a trainer.

Do you just sit on your bike and stare into the wall while pedalling? I think that would make me go crazy. I like the wind, the nature, the cracks in the road ...

And if you do spent 2 hours pedaling at home (seriously, can someone give me accurate description of trainer use? Do you put on cycling jerseys and then pedal home?), so why not to spent those 2 hours in the gym where one would get much more balanced and more effective workout? I don't go to gym because there is no road, no trees, no wind in my face... but that is not in my apartment either.

Honestly, I am not trying to be a wise-*** - I think I am missing some really important piece of puzzle. I have never seen a trainer in my life.

Thank you,

Martina

[Cataboo]

The gym requires a drive and putting on clothes to get over there. I'm fundamentally lazy. not to mention - I hate the exercise bikes at the gym - whereas, I love my bikes. I've got a kinetic rock and roll trainer - so it does lean and tilt if my stroke is uneven, so I can work on my stroke and form while on the trainer. (yes, rollers are cheaper and do the same thing) If I went to the gym, I'd probably use an elliptical trainer and do some weight training, and it's actually a really good idea for me to do that.

My trainer, I've got out in my sunroom which is kinda cool in the winter, so I can open the window if I get hot. I've got it in front of the tv, so i can watch tv - I've got however many episodes of stuff to watch on tivo, so maybe an hour on the trainer while catching up with tv that I never otherwise watch. Music and or audio books are also helpful on the trainer.

I do have a bunch of the spinervals dvds, so ocassionally I'll watch one of those because it mixes stuff up - interval changing, gear changing, standing up, etc.

I just put on a sports bra & a pair of bike shorts when I'm on the trainer, because it's my house & noone's gonna see me :)

[melissam]

I have a 1upusa.com trainer that I've been very happy with. I've put ~1000 indoor training miles on it since I bought it in early 2007.

It's easy to set up and can easily accommodate bikes with different wheel sizes (some of my bikes are 650C, one is 700C) and axle widths. With the exception of rear tire squeak, it's very quiet. You can use the trainer without a front wheel block, since the rear wheel is close to the ground.

Martin, the indoor trainer can be a great training tool. If you want to do intervals, you can do the exact workout you want, without having to deal with traffic, stop signs/stop lights, terrain, headwinds or crosswinds. Not only that, but you never have to worry about getting a flat tire on the trainer!

I preferred it over the gym because I could simply roll out of bed, set the bike & trainer up, do my workout, shower and head for work. It easily became a part of my morning routine.

- Melissa

[GraysonKelly]

How do you measure miles on a trainer? Will medium range trainer come with something to measure that? Keep in mind, I don't know and I need one. It's part of my knee rehab and I need something for winter.
Thanks,
Gray

[Irulan]

I am using a training program that I got online from www.lwcoaching.com. I want a little more structure than I think I'll get from the spinervals DVDs. It's a six week program for base building/maintaining.

[melissam]

How do you measure miles on a trainer? Will medium range trainer come with something to measure that? Keep in mind, I don't know and I need one. It's part of my knee rehab and I need something for winter.
Thanks,
Gray

Hi Gray,

I have a Cateye Astrale 8 cycle computer that measures distance via the sensor/magnet on the rear wheel. It also measures cadence, which is a great thing to monitor during indoor workouts.

I know, some people don't track indoor miles because you're not really going anywhere. I like to track indoor mileage because it's a measurement I can relate to and gives me an idea of where I am training-wise. For some reason, I'm not as good at translating hours in the saddle vs. miles on the road.

- Melissa

[gingerale]

Thank you for asking this! I'm getting some great info for myself since I just purchased a trainer this past weekend.

[malkin]

I look at the cracks in the floor
Recite memorized passages in my head
Listen for the various clocks in the house to count off the quarters
And pray that angels will catch me if I start to fall off the rollers.

[LaurenC]

Thanks everyone. Gingerale, what did you get and do you like it? Martina, I want to try the trainer instead of the gym as I can't really afford the gym right now. Also, I wouldn't be there enough to make it cost effective as most of my excercise comes from horseback riding, kayaking, skiing, and of course biking.

[Velobambina]

Martina - in a word, SPINERVALS. You will be stronger for the suffering. ;)

[Norse]

+1 for the Cyclops Fluid. I am going into the 5th winter of use for mine and never had problems. Fluid and roller trainers are better than magnetic because, my understanding is that, magnetics, like Life Cycles, keep spinning after you stop pedaling so they don't simulate the road very well.

Probably like everyone else, mine is set up in front of the TV and I have a small collection of Spinervals, Train Right videos and Bike-O-Vision scenery DVD's. Sometimes though, like this morning, I just turn the TV to the Dance music channel, turn up the volume and do an interval work-out.

Besides being on your own bike and doing the work-out you want to do, the other beauty of this is NOT having to get dressed to go to the gym, fighting for a bike and driving to and from. I wear beat-up old bike shorts that I would not wear in public and too tight sports' tank tops that I would not be caught dead outside our basement in. I love having the trainer.

[kie_fujo]

we have a bell motivator trainer that we got on amazon and it works great. it's under $100 too!

http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Motivator-Indoor-Bicycle-Trainer/dp/B000AAYBWS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1226436812&sr=8-1

[GraysonKelly]

Okay,
I looked a whole bunch of trainers online. I don't get it. So I'm gonna ask here (I hope I'm not hijacking the thread).
1. Which type is not gonna wear down my tire?
2. If I'm on it (any type) for an hour or more is it gonna get so hot that it pops my tire? (I read reviews last night about that happening)
3. Do I need a tire prop?
4. What do I need to measure distance? (another bike computer to go on the back wheel or can I get my current computer put on the back?)
5. How do you change resistance? Why would the trainer come with a remote? I thought that you changed resistance by changing gears, is that wrong?
6. Do the trainers come with a list of compatible bikes? (You know, like how bike racks sometimes list which cars they will fit)
7. I want to be able to do interval stuff (speed...I guess like spinning and lots of resistance kind of simulating hills) I saw some trainer that have 3 levels of resistance I'm assuming that if I set the resistance high then I can aso change gears to make it harder. I'm still not sure how the resistance thing works anyway.
8. Will I damage my frame? Will stresses put on the bike from being staitionary gonna damage the frame? If so, should I use the trainer with my mtb or the road bike? i've got slick tires on the mountain bike right now.

Okay, I'm done.
Thanks,
Gray

[roadie gal]

1. They're all going to wear down your tire to some extent. You can get a "trainer" tire that will be more resistant to wear. They're generally heavy, so they're not great for riding outside, but they do save your good tires.

2. I've been on mine for up to 3 hours without a problem. The resistance area (fan area, whatever it's called) will get hot, but not so much the part that touches your tire.

3. Anything will work - a board, a phone book, etc. The prop is just more stable. You can get them for about $10.

4. Depends on your computer. It might be compatible with the back tire.

5. You do change resistance by changing gears. Many of the trainers also come with a dial or other way to also change the overall resistance. Generally you don't fiddle with that during a ride like you do with your gears. You set the trainer to a tension that works for you and then just leave it.

6. Almost all of them adjust enough to be compatible with mountain or road bikes.

7. I don't know the mechanism by which they increase or decrease resistance, but see #5 above.

8. I've seen multiple discussions on bike and tri sites about this. They all say that the trainer will NOT damage your frame and that there's actually more stress on the road than the trainer. You do want to use the skewer that comes with the trainer, though. They tend to be heavy steel that resists the torque better than the nice one that's probably on your bike.

I would suggest a fluid rather than a mag trainer. I've had both. The fluid gives a much more realistic road feel.

[mayanorange]

I have a cycleops fluid trainer and I like it. Yes, they all wear your tires eventually. You definitely need something under the front tire otherwise you feel like you're going downhill the whole time. I picked up a front tire block cheap, but before that, had a chunk of wood under there. The resistance on mine is adjusted with a knob- tighten it and it holds the wheel firmer and you have to pedal harder. Mostly I set it to what it recommended- 2 turns past when it touches the tire, then just shift to a different gear to increase the workload.

[Norse]

Save your good tires and use cheap or worn ones on the trainer. Because I sometimes use the trainer during the season, especially as a morning before work work-out, to save time I bought a used wheel with the same make of cassette as my "good" wheel and put the crappy stock tire that came with the bike on there and that's what I use.

[Irulan]

I picked up a a trainer specific tire for $5 at the LBS.

Where you will get frame damage is if you sweat a lot that drips on the frame and you don't clean it off.

I have a Kenetic fluid trainer that has a flywheel - as you increase cadence the resistance increases.

Just shift gears to maintain cadence/resistance.