trainer or stationary bike

Like many others have suggested, I too, would recommend a trainer. There are many models out there, so pay a vist to your local bike shop and they can give you all the pros and cons, price points, etc...

I think if people truly pay attention to riding on the trainer, you generally learn a lot about shifting, heart rate, power(for those that have it) and position on the bike... what is comfortable and what isn't. Most of that you do NOT learn on a spin bike.

I watch Spinervals, race DVD's anything bike related... and that helps keep me foucused and esentially my mind off what I'm doing( like not watching the clock):rolleyes:

Good luck in your search!!

I would recommend a trainer, as others have. When I first started learning to ride 2.5 years ago I found an indoor trainer most useful - it really helped me figure out how to shift, and as it was in the middle of winter it helped me to speed up the learning process. The real advantage is you get to use your bike, and they generally fold up for easy storage.

I've not seen any trainers that require the rear wheel to be removed, I think this is quite uncommon. All of the trainers I've seen simply require a skewer in the rear wheel that will fit in the trainer. That is something easily changed and, frankly, I just leave my trainer skewer in my rear wheel all of the time.

Craig's List is a good way to find a used trainer, and there are different types offered by the usual companies: wind (loud but less expensive), magnetic, and fluid trainers. You can find a very brief description between magnetic and fluid trainers here. Both magnetic and fluid trainers have fans here and there have been previous discussions here on the topic. I need to get out the door or I would find a couple of the threads and post the link here.

I got a magnetic trainer (a Minoura, not as expensive as other brands) from Amazon. While it can be noisy, my neighbors haven't complained. It does require a skewer swap, but that's easy. Personally, I'd rather ride outside, time and weather permitting.

I see trainers on Craigslist a lot. I have a trainer and I use it occasionally but prefer the coolness of actually riding over the trainer. Trainer is in carport - it is warm there. Right now though, I am seriously thinking about moving it inside the house for about three weeks in July.

(I'm extremely lucky, one of my neighbors was going to take the trainer to the recycle center but then offered it to me. Same way with our bike trailer. Both are worth every penny I paid for them. As the saying goes, if it's free, it's for me.)

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

I bet it's the one reviewed here. Made by LeMond.

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Yep. That's the one! You is smart. ;)

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Originally Posted by Munch

how do I know which trainers require you to take the wheel off and which don't? And yes, I'm looking forward to watching tv and still training! It'll be good for rainy days as well.

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I have never researched or purchased one myself, but I would imagine reading a description online or on the packaging would tell you how you put it on.

If you want to watch tv and actually hear it, be aware that any kind of stationary cycling can make quite a racket.

My fluid trainer is pretty quiet. It's the FAN that I run to keep me cool that makes all the racket.

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Originally Posted by Irulan

My fluid trainer is pretty quiet. It's the FAN that I run to keep me cool that makes all the racket.

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Yes, this. Gotta have that fan - or else I position my trainer close to the french doors and just open them a crack. I don't use the trainer outside of winter so it works, but the fan is better.

Thanks for the replies everyone. You've given me a ton of helpful information! :)

I set up my Bike Friday on a Kurt Kinetic trainer. It is the only one I found that has an adapter for a small wheel. I would agree that just sitting on it and spinning would be boring. However, I have bought several DVD's from Bike O Vision. It has a silly name, but very cool video of riding down the road to music - in such places like CA Coast, Southwest, National Parks, etc. No one is yelling at you or telling you what to do like a spin class.

I just get up and do intervals on it every morning for 20 minutes before breakfast. That is supposed to speed up your metabolism for the whole day. Once you schedule something in like that as a regular thing, you just do it. If I had to think about whether I wanted to or when I wanted to do it, I probably would not do it very much. Likewise, if I thought I needed to do it for an hour. So, my trainer gets used almost eery day. It has increased my riding speed.

One thing a trainer does is wear out your rear tire faster, so it is easier if you put a spare bike on the trainer (if you have one) rather than your road bike. Then you can just continue to ride on the worn out tire. I just bought a new rear tire for my Friday to put on for the next trip, but I'll put the worn out one back on the trainer when I return.