Trainers

[colorisnt]

So, is it possible to get something indoors that is quiet enough to use for an apartment and doesn't cos as much as another bike?

[tulip]

If I were still a student, I would check into the university's fitness program and see if they had spinning classes.

I find indoor trainers incredibly boring, as well as being loud. I have one, but I dread it. I prefer spinning classes at my Y, or just getting out and riding as much as possible during the winter. Also hiking is a good alternative, as is swimming. And Pilates, of course.

[abejita]

My new Kurt Kinetics trainer will be here tomorrow (Yay!!!!) I'll let you know how loud it is. From what I've read (and the reason I chose it) it is fairly quiet...I guess we'll see.

[colorisnt]

Thanks for the ideas, Tulip. I guess I am hesitant to do classes because 1. undergrads and 2. the fact that the classes don't work with my schedule. I am either teaching or in class during it. I am there to get a workout first and foremost and at my other university, that did not get me in great shape. The talking between people, cell phones going off, etc. was really distracting. I would have to audit a class, but it will have to wait until next semester.

I will definitely have to get in the pool again, but I live to bike lol. And I am not comfortable parking at a park and hiking alone. I would need to find a buddy before the state and county parks feel "safer".

I find ANYTHING indoors boring, but I know it won't be possible to get out every day.

ETA: Abejita, let me know how it goes!

[redrhodie]

I have a Kurt Kinetic, and it's not that loud. I'm in an apartment, and no one has complained, but I am on the 1st floor. I found mine used at my lbs, I think it was under $200.

I was just thinking on my gorgeous ride this morning how I'm dreading pulling it out. It's not much fun, but it's better than nothing.

[Jo-n-NY]

I have a cycle-ops fluid trainer from 2005 which I use beginning now during the week into April when the days get a bit longer for an after work ride. It still works great and is quiet. The price may be a bit on the high side, but it is the next best thing to riding outside. I set up my own routine or just pedal for the duration of a tv show.

[ny biker]

I have a Performance-brand trainer that I got used from a guy that I used to go mountain biking with. It's probably 10 years old. I also have a cycle ops mats to put under it. None of my neighbors has ever complained about the noise.

[arielmoon]

My trainer is not any louder than a large fan. It's a cycle ops magnetic. I think. :p

[Owlie]

I was actually going to post something similar. Colorisnt, I feel your pain, as I hate doing anything inside. I'm on the first floor of an older building, so the insulation and soundproofing is non-existent. Given my upstairs neighbor's penchant for playing loud music from about 8pm to midnight...at least I'm doing something productive, right?

Supposedly fluid trainers are supposed to be quieter, but I might have to start selling organs to pay for one...I've been lusting after the Kurt Kinetic, but it's a little out of my budget right now.

[featuretile]

I just ordered a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine trainer from http://www.gottaridebikes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=KKT0001&Category_Code=KKT&Product_Count=1
It's on sale for $269/free shipping this month.

I had a semi-recumbent inexpensive exercise bike (that did not feel like a road bike at all) and I gave it to a friend whose husband had a stroke. Even though I live in CA and can ride in the winter, it rains often, and I'm stuck inside. My idea was to find a trainer that I could set up with my Bike Friday, and have that dedicated for exercise indoors. (I only take it on trips.) Then I would have my Ruby ready for sunny days. After ordering, I found that I needed a small wheel adapter to make it work with the BF (for another $26). Still, it doesn't cost as much as a bike! My own bike would feel a lot better than the ones with big fat seats at the health club, and the fit would be better than a spin bike (tried a spin class and hated it).

I'll let you know if it really feels like riding a bike when I get it. The literature says that the fluid type is quieter and more natural. It seemed to get the best reviews. I hope I like it!!!!!

[indysteel]

I have the Cycleops fluid trainer. I rode it side by side with their magnetic trainer, and the fluid was quieter and felt more like riding on the road. Both, however, are incredibly boring IMO. I'm with Tulip on this one. I'd rather do just about anything else during the winter. I may resort to it this year, but not without some complaint.

If you do it inside, get a fan, too. I get overheated when I use it indoors. I prefer to set it up in my garage.

[TxDoc]

How about you buy yourself some rollers?
Not the cheaters, which are expensive - just regular plain old-fashioned rollers. They are less loud than a trainer, cost much less, and will teach you much more in terms of bike handling skills and smooth pedaling technique.

[abejita]

So I got my new kurt kinetics trainer today and set it up. It is not loud at all. I had the tv on its regular volume while I was trying it out and I didn't need to turn it up at all.

I got the KK Rock and Roll trainer. I really like it! It is so much more comfortable than any other trainer I've been on. I got in on sale for $399 plus free shipping from gottaridebikes.com

mary

[colorisnt]

May ask for the kinetics for Christmas, then.

I feel like I should ask for nothing for Christmas, but mom and dad insist. I think the only hesitation with me getting one is that my Dad will ride on it and want to upgrade our old trainer (which is loud and not very enjoyable) while he's at it as well. Anything I get, Dad tries out and wants. My mother needs us to permanently separate haha.

Now that I have a budget again, I could probably buy it myself, but IDK.

My uncle and cousin have rollers and swear by them, but how do you get on/off without killing yourself. Or do you not clip in?

[TxDoc]

My uncle and cousin have rollers and swear by them, but how do you get on/off without killing yourself. Or do you not clip in?

It is usually not a problem after trying a few times.
I know a few friends that have a stepping stool next to the rollers to start/stop. Others who spend considerable amount of time on the rollers build platforms.
The idea is to make the rollers more 'realistic' by leveling the surface, so that you start and stop the same way you would do on the road. While, if you simply place rollers on the floor - the riding surface will be about 3-5 inches higher than the flooor (which is not what happens on a real road).
Personally, I thought that a stepping stool was aestethically unpleasing, and just used the rollers as they were for a few years, until this Summer I found time and patience to build a nice training platform around them which makes them look much nicer. It's sort of an endless pool for a bicycle, hee-hee :D
Several coaching studios have done the same - built platforms with 1-3 roller sets so that they can have the whole team train indoors if needed. It looks quite neat to enter a room and see 12 or 16 roller sets ready to go in the same room!

[malkin]

I just set up the rollers in the hall and touch the wall if I need to.

[tulip]

I've heard of people setting up rollers in a doorway, too. Seems like a good idea. I haven't ridden rollers in a couple of decades, but I would be willing to try them again.

[Catrin]

I wish that I could remember where I saw this, but on one website they were selling a fork mount to use with their rollers. The combination of rollers and fork mount was quite expensive - but it seems to me that it would make it rather difficult to fall over. I assume this is the purpose. I am not going to spend >$800 on rollers though :eek:

[withm]

I bought a barely used (aren't they all?) Cyclops Fluid Trainer on EBay for $100. The listing was spelled wrong so it did not show up in a search for Cyclops. Try your local Ebay, Craigs List, and even Freecycle - you never know what might pop up.

[tulip]

I wish that I could remember where I saw this, but on one website they were selling a fork mount to use with their rollers. The combination of rollers and fork mount was quite expensive - but it seems to me that it would make it rather difficult to fall over. I assume this is the purpose. I am not going to spend >$800 on rollers though :eek:

The whole purpose of rollers over trainers is that rollers improve the rider's balance and feel for the bike. A fork mount is silly for rollers; might as well just get a wind trainer. Man, they are boring, though!

[Kerry1976]

As a newbie, I'm glad to have seen this thread. I just got my bike a few weeks ago but know I will need a trainer for the winter. While a trainer is probably boring, I'd rather have the control over using it when I want, watching or listening to what I want, etc., that I can't get in a class. As a result, I actually will get more exercise with a trainer in my livingroom than I would if I had to go to a spinning class. I also already run and aquajog, too.

I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment building and the insulation is poor. Looks like fluid might be the way to go!

[colorisnt]

So you get on the bike on the rollers? Okay. I can d that. I have a great place to practice it.

I might be sold lol.

[Kerry1976]

How loud are rollers?

[colorisnt]

Idk, but my cousin lives in an apartment and says his are less loud than the trainer he uses. IDK. I have to wait until pay day and/or whenever they decide to fix out the money they owe me!

[Catrin]

The whole purpose of rollers over trainers is that rollers improve the rider's balance and feel for the bike. A fork mount is silly for rollers; might as well just get a wind trainer. Man, they are boring, though!

Good point, and I had kind of wondered about that...

[TxDoc]

How loud are rollers?

Way more quiet than a trainer. A friend purchased some aluminum cheaters and says they are abit louder than normal rollers - but still quieter than the trainer.
And yes, I agree with Tulip that a fork mount for rollers is kind of silly, it invalidates the benefit you would get from rollers - i.e. improving your handling and pedaling skills...

[colorisnt]

I ended up with a cyclops trainer. It was a good deal and very quiet. I already trained for a little over an hour today with the dvd that came with it. And with just getting over the flu, it kicked my ***, but now I know I can do it.

[featuretile]

I received my Kurt Kinetic Road Machine trainer and set it up with my Bike Friday. It needed a special small wheel adapter. My BF was sitting in a suitcase waiting for the next trip, so I turned it into an exercise machine. It feels much more like riding outdoors than my old semi-recumbent exercise bike, or the ones at the gym (including the spin bikes). And my road bike is ready to go when the sun shines.

I have only used it once because we have been having incredibly good weather in CA- sunny and 60-75 degrees. It's better than this past cold summer, and I get to go outside. On Sunday I did a 52 mile ride (my longest to date), and this Saturday I am going to try my first metric century.

I just put the BF/trainer in front of the TV and rode for a half hour to the news. I don't have any DVD's yet, but plan on getting some from the suggestions of this group. Sure made me sweat. (And no time driving to and from the gym.) I like to be able to use real shifters to change the tension. I know it doesn't compare to being outside in beautiful scenery, but it will do the job when it's raining. If I didn't watch TV of any sort, it would be too boring.

[TxDoc]

Maybe someone could explain how to use rollers? Do you just put your bike on them and try to pedal without falling over?


Yes, exactly like that. You set the bike on the rollers, and then hop on and start pedaling. Easier than it looks - although not 'easy'. :)

There are a few tricks that help:
1. when you place your bike on the rollers, before you get on, try to set it in the center so you have room for correction if you swerve a bit when mounting.
2. start pedaling right away, and keep pedaling. Yes, of course you can coast on rollers, but in the beginning it will be easier to find proper balance if you just keep pedaling. After some experience, then you can go back to the normal mix of coasting and pedaling, like you would do on a normal road ride.
3. Keep your pedaling smooth - rollers are a bit unforgiving if you try to pedal in quares, so to speak... ;)

Some people suggest setting rollers in a doorway or near a wall. I always advise against that. We recommend rollers because they are realistic and teach you good bike handling skills and smooth pedaling technique. A wall, a door, a handle is just a way to bail out and make your training no longer realistic. There is no wall or door out on the road. And we do not need one outside: we just hop on and ride.
The truth is that so many of us go out and ride, and really our skills are not that great. For example, if you go out on a local weekend ride and observe cyclists, most people cannot even keep a straight line for long. If they try to drink, they wobble; if they look at the cars, they wobble, if they talk to their buddies, they wobble... not too safe, right? :eek:
Just think about it - the most common road tire is 23mm wide. Now if someone painted a long line on the road that's like 5 inches wide - that would be huge compared to our tires, correct? Well, if you take 100 cyclists and ask them to ride straight over that line for one minute, probably over 60% of them would drift off or wobble at some point, and fewer would be able to pedal on the painted line.

One of the first things you learn when training on rollers, is how to pedal smoothly and keep a straight line. Afterwards, you can learn how to do a multitude of tasks (pick up something, take a bottle, drink, eat, change the TV channel, turn around, stand, coast, etc) and still keep that straight line. Rollers isolate good technique and enhance bad habits. But - they give you the opportunity to correct them for good, and fast.

If the idea of hopping on the bike on the rollers still makes you kind of nervous - just build a platform. It will make them look nicer, more realistic in term of wheel-to-floor leveling - and it takes away the feeling of 'falling from a height' that may come into play otherwise. If you feel off balance, you just come to a stop and set one foot on the platform (the 'ground'), like you would do on the road.
It's really good exercise - spend one Winter on rollers, and your skills on the road will improve enormously.

[redrhodie]

Because of this thread, and the feeling of dread it instilled in me, I brought my trainer to my lbs today for re-sale. The proceeds will go toward my new winter bike! Yay! No roads to nowhere for me this winter. I'll be freezin' my butt off outside, no matter how messy it gets. No excuses, baby. :D

Muirenn, the rollers are set in a frame which has little feet, so they don't touch the floor.

[TxDoc]

Thanks TX!

I'm wondering about the platform. I picture placing the rollers on a piece of wood. That wouldn't be any different from the ground, so I assume I'm missing something here?

:)

Hee hee, sorry, I should have been a bit more specific, the platform is around the rollers, not underneath...
When you place your bike on the ground, the wheels touch the ground at the same level (height) as your shoes. When you place your bike on the rollers, the wheel is about 4-9 inches higher than the ground (where your feet are), depending on the diameter of the roller drums.
So building a platform around the rollers on both sides (with or without a bridge) takes the wheel back to ground level, so to speak. If you stand on the platform next to the bike - you are at the same height (compare to the bike) as if you were on the road.
There's probably pictures somewhere on the internet, if I remember I will take one of my rollers so I can post it here :)