mountain bikes and Trainers

[Pebble]

Changing a tyre is definitely a skill that will come in handy, and it's not that hard to do once you learn how.

Park Tools website is usually pretty good for instructions on techy stuff.

Tire & Inner Tube Replacement

If you plan on putting alot of miles in using a trainer you may want to consider one of those bike trainers that is a bike in it's own right - it's a good option if you're not scarce with space. The benefits of going that way is that you don't wear out the drive train etc on your real bike particularly if you're trainer bound all winter or something.

The plus to the type you were considering of course is that you get to use your own bike & it saves room. They can also be handy as a bike holder if you ever have a go at adjusting your gears and other bits & pieces (changing handlebar & stem etc). Just remember parts on your bike will wear (the chain etc) as if you were using it for real riding (well except for the tyres if it's a rim drive!).

[ColleenT]

ok, i do need to learn how to change my rear tire. front tire is a quick change.

I got my Trainer (mag) last night. now i have one Question. my Trainer has 5 speeds on it, and so what gear am i supposed to ride my bike in while on the trainer? does it matter? am i supposed to change bike gears while on the trainer or not? thanks.

the Trainers that look like a Bike are out of my budget. this is a hobby right now, but i also have a horse that i ride, so Biking cannot be my MAIN hobby. i don't have too much money to play with, so i have to be cheap with the bike.

[Geonz]

DOn't feel guilty about not buying everythign :-) But you can buy a cheap tire so you can wear it out on the trainer, and make it a smooth one.

Changing the rear tire really isn't that much harder than the front.

[Pebble]

If your trainer hasn't got any sort of remote (like the cable I have running to my handlebars) then you will find it best to change bike gears while riding. Just avoid the combinations like small ring up fron & small cog up back or big rigng up front & big cog up back as these combos are bad for your chain (stretch & wear).

I have a remote lever to change the mag resistance on the trainer, but honestly I find that I use my bike gears more and it helps to produce more of a real riding feel than just adjusting the mag resistance on it's own. Although you will have to find the best (out of 5 settings available) for your fitness level at to start with, and adjust in accordance if you need a harder workout etc.

I remember reading somewhere too that pro riders do use a specific routine on the trainer with specific gear combinations for specific lengths of time to train in ceratin aspects of performance or fitness (cardio, or power etc).

And don't worry about having a limited budget for the bike, sometimes I wish I had brought a cheaper model trainer than I did because I think it would have done just as good a job

The rear tyre is exactly the same to change as the front - only it can be a bit confusing when putting the wheel back on - so take good note of how it sits with regards to the rear derailleur and while you are removing it. I still find that I have to pay good attention to that aspect even now!

[ColleenT]

thanks. my mag trainer has 5 gears, but i guess i'll try keeping it at a mid range and using my own gears on the bike. the rear tire cannot be as easy as the front. my front tire has aquick change lever. and the back tire i need to worry about the chain and derailer. So that is the scary part for me. if i did it a few times at a Bike shop, i'd feel better about it.. so if i can find a good bike shop, i'll see if they'll help me out. in the meantime, i bought a book on repairing bikes, it is coming from Amazon. my trainer cost me about $109, plus tax and shipping came to a total of About $139. My Bike cost $135. So i bought the cheaper stuff, but the mag trainer seems pretty good for a cheap one. and it is not very loud.

[velogirl]

The most important step to removing the rear wheel is to shift your rear derailleur into the smallest cog. This lines the derailleur up furthest away from the bike and allows you to just pop out the wheel.

It's easier to understand when you can see and follow along, but here's the skinny. You should not have to touch the chain at all. Nope. Not at all.

1. With your right hand (unless you're in the UK), shift with the small lever into the smallest cog.
2. Stand on the non-drive side of the bike, facing backwards, with your saddle resting on the side of your hip.
3. Release the quick release on the rear brake (Shimano push up the lever on the brake caliper; Campy release the button on the right shift lever).
4. Open the quick release skewer on the rear wheel (you don't need to remove the skewer, just loosen it).
5. With your left hand, hold the nose of saddle.
6. With your right hand, hold the wheel.
7. Simultaneously, lift up with the saddle and push down with the wheel.
8. Dance the cassette out of the chain (see this is easier to do than write) and remove the wheel from the bike.

Voila!

Reverse the process to put the wheel back in. The most important concept is that you want to aim the chain onto the small cog (or the 2nd smallest cog). Then just push down and the wheel will fall into the drop-outs.

Practice this ten times and you'll have it for life.

[ColleenT]

my rear wheel is NOT a Quick release