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I'm looking at possibly getting a Specialized Allez Comp. Alluminum frame with Carbon fork and seat post. I have heard (not sure where I heard this) that it's not good to put an aluminum/carbon bike on a trainer as it may be too much stress on the joints? I really don't know what I'm talking about. Anyone able to help me out with this?
I was planning on selling my current bike to pay for the new one, but if I can't put the new bike on a trainer . . . well, I'd want to keep my current bike.
I never had any problem with riding an aluminum/carbon bike on a trainer. No one ever told me not to do it. In fact once I brought the bike to the shop where I bought it and participated in a spinervals session with the owner/guy who sold it to me.
I can't speak to an alum/carb mix, but I have used my all carbon bike on the trainer for years without any trouble.
I imagine it would be more an issue with something like Giant's "Alliance" bikes, though I've never heard anything about not putting them on a trainer. Carbon fork and seatpost are probably fine.
This is my 9th season using a trainer and I have put my carbon bike on it and now aluminum with carbon fork. No problems with either.
~ JoAnn
I've never heard that..only that it may eventually destroy the rear tire, and always use the crappier skewer, but the bike itself should be ok!
I use my Giant TCR Alliance on the trainer and it's been fine thus far; it has a carbon fork, top tube, and seat stays. Btw, as of '11 Giant no longer makes an alu/carbon mixed bike (well, they still do carbon forks on most if not all their alu road bikes).
If I had anything nicer I probably wouldn't use it on the trainer regardless of what it was made out of but that's just me. I've heard that some manufactures post a warning about using certain bikes with trainers and that it may void the warranty but don't quote me on it.
I would bet that it matters how hard you ride the trainer and how heavy you are. I've watched my husband flex the hell out of his bike on the trainer, but he's a guy, a masher and 200 lbs (or he was at the time).
Me and my tendency to spin AND at a much lower weight? Probably not too dangerous.
I also have an aluminum bike with carbon fork. This is the 5th winter - November to March on the trainer. No issues - except for the rider :D
Good to know. Thanks everyone!
Just don't crank the skewer clamp down on it super tight. Just tighten it enough to hold it still while you're on it. I've seen an Al bike crack at the dropout potentially from too much tight clamping on a computrainer one winter. But then, I've seen other Al frames fail there just because. I use my carbon bike on the trainer, and it's fine. I just don't overly tighten the clamp.