Trainer wear 'n tear on the bike

[Syndirelah]

Hey ladies!

I did a quick search and couldnt find a previous thread--sorry if this is a repeat question:

I'm almost ready to get a trainer (either KK or CycleOps fluid), and will also get a trainer tire-- but I'm just curious how much using the bike on the trainer wears out the components (gears, chain, etc)??? I expect to use it twice a week, at least, and for rainy days. Is this something I should be concerned about or that should deter me from buying one? My bike is new, bought it in May 08, and has about 1000 miles on it.

...it would be really nice to get a good work out without leaving my house.... and in front of the TV, no less :)

Thanks,

Jen

[Tri Girl]

I'm no expert here, but I have a cheap garage sale bike on my trainer. I used to have my tri bike on there, but my LBS guy said that the wear and tear on the bike is tougher than it is on the road. He said that the frame takes a bit more of a beating than outside riding because the trainer is so rigid and doesn't allow for movement. I don't know if he's right or not, but I have a $50 bike on there just in case he's right. :)
I'm sure it's just fine to have your bike on the trainer for a couple times a week. I don't think it'll hurt it at all. I ride my bike on the trainer 4-5 times a week during the winter, so I'm sure I'm much harder on my bike than you'll be.

Just my little $.02 (for what it's worth)

[salsabike]

That's what I did too. That is, it isn't a real beater. It's the least expensive okay road bike I could find. It lives on the trainer, in my office, and I don't have to haul my Bianchi in and out of the house--and it's available to ride outside all year round, which I do.

[RoadRaven]

The main wear will be on your tyre that is pressing against the resistance. So put an old tyre on there... when we had a trainer we put tyres that had cuts in which were no good on the road anymore - max use for your money.

We have a spin bike now as we didn't like putting road bikes (even old ones) on the trainer.

The LBS guy is spot-on, bikes are made to move and sway as we pedal and to respond to our weight shifts. When a bike is fixed solid on the trainer it stays upright and immovable when you (for example) apply weight on a down-stroke of the pedal. On the road the bike would move a little in empathy to your movement.

Never, ever put a bike you love on your trainer if you have the choice.

Salsa has also hit the nail on the head with the convenience aspect - which is one reason why we chose the spin bike. Taking our bikes (there were at that time 4 of us using the trainer) on and off the trainer was such a pain, and during wet weeks we didn't get the bikes in as often cause not only might they be muddy from road rides, but they would also get wet bringing them in from the shed to the house.

[alpinerabbit]

psssstttt.... it's a myth.... I've posted it before, I'll post it again... for your reading pleasure and to comfort your soul - it's in German but you can get it:


http://www.tour-magazin.de/wp-content/plugins/upload_professional/addons/explorer.php?file_id=1494&mode=w468

http://www.tour-magazin.de/?p=173

in almost every instance, the stress on the downtube (TU), chainstay (BK), and seatstay (BS) is higher on the road than on the trainer.
The three instances tested are at low intensity, high intensity, and standing up.

My LBS said in the winter, just leave the trainer skewer in, and it will take the occasional road ride when the weather is fine.

(Well this season I have a MTB to take outside if I feel like it).

[deedolce]

THANKS, Alpinerabbit! Good to know, I'm going to try a trainer for the first time this winter. I certainly didn't budget for another bike! I DO have old tires. :p

[RoadRaven]

:) I know you've said it before Rabbit - and despite the reference, I still remain stubbornly unconvinced :p

There is no way I would put an expensive carbon frame on an indoor trainer... :eek:

[salsabike]

I have nothing to add on whether it harms the bike or not, but I will say that having an inexpensive bike that lives on the trainer makes it a million times easier to both use the trainer AND ride outdoors. The trainer is always ready to hop onto and go, and my bike is always waiting in the garage ready to go. Not having the schlepping back and forth step makes it much more likely that I'll just get on the trainer or bike and GO. Works well for me.

[Alex]

I bought a carbon/Ti Seven earlier this year, and Seven said NOT to put the bike on a trainer. (In fact, doing so will void the warranty for my Seven model.) The Seven replaced my carbon Felt (which was no longer rideable due to a dented chainstay), so DH reinforced the chainstay with duct tape and a metal bar (tres chic!) and that is my trainer bike. I took the measurements from the Seven and set up the Felt as close as possible to the Seven. FWIW, DH has a carbon Aegis tri bike and the builder said there was no problem with using that bike on a trainer.

Alex

[LBTC]

Syndirelah - I'm not sure which story is true. Our trusted LBS guy thinks it is just fine to have our nice carbon bikes on the our trainers for winter (or rain) training.

He did have two warnings, though, aside from the advice you've already gotten about the tires.

Don't tighten the clamp on the skewer too tight - you can damage the bearings.

If you sweat a lot, put a towel over the bike, or, even better, buy a sweat protector (yes they make these). Even if your bike is a material that will not rust, the bearings are not, and salty water can be very damaging.

Congratulations on the purchase of a very nice trainer! May you have many happy hours of spinning!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[OakLeaf]

I notice the table alpinerabbit posted only discusses stresses on the down tube and rear triangle, so I'm assuming they didn't test any of the trainers that clamp the forks. Those are the ones I'd worry most about.

[LBTC]

AlpineRabbit - The graph is pretty interesting, but the translation doesn't tell us everything I'd like to know. For instance, I know that Strasse means street or road, and that is compared to Rolle. I don't know German, but rolle to me sounds like rollers. If the comparison is road to rollers, I think the results would be very different than road to trainer since the bike would move fairly naturally under the person if it were on rollers.

Not that I want to admit that my bike is being worn out faster on the trainer that the road, I really don't!! I'd just like to understand.

All of this discussion has encouraged me to concentrate on smooth pedalling on the trainer to keep the stress on my beautiful frame to the least amount possible.....

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[roadie gal]

This question goes around and around on bike and tri forums. I believe the general concensus is that it won't harm the bike. That being said, I'd put on cheap tires and the steel skewer that comes with the trainer.

[Becky]

I notice the table alpinerabbit posted only discusses stresses on the down tube and rear triangle, so I'm assuming they didn't test any of the trainers that clamp the forks. Those are the ones I'd worry most about.

Can you even buy those anymore? I don't think I've seen one in years..... And yes, the idea of clamping both fork and rear triangle makes me nervous too.

I don't worry too much about putting my bike in the trainer.

[Crankin]

I've never had an issue with my bike on the trainer. I change the tire before the season starts, when I take it off the trainer.

[RoadRaven]

I've been thinking about the graph AlpineRabbit posted... I'm just wondering if there are any other studies to support this...

Our main LBSs would never/do not recommend/support putting good bikes on trainers. Maybe I'll ask them after the holidays and see if they have anything to back up their opinions...