Quote Originally Posted by dianne_1234 View Post
The main source of resistance on most trainers (including your Kurt) comes from wheel speed, not from roller pressure. So I tighten the knob just enough so the tire slips only a few times during the workout (I expect it to slip only at very high torque moments, like the first few pedal strokes of a sprint).

Simulating hills on a trainer can be difficult since often cadence drops when standing. So I shift into a higher gear to speed up the wheel, and thus increase the resistance in the trainer.

You can see how the resistance in your Kurt Kinetic trainer increasing with wheel speed here:
http://www.geocities.com/almost_fast/trainerpower/
Scroll down to see your individual trainer.
+1 Just enough pressure on the tire so it doesn't easily slip (maybe 1 - 2 turns past contact). Resistance is adjusted by changing gears. With the big ring and little cog, you need some serious power to crank. Maybe you need more air in your tires as well, if you need 4 turns to prevent slipping.