MtnBike or Road on the trainer?

[Becky]

Either. Just make sure that you mount a cheap slick tire on the rear wheel. Most trainers eat tires for breakfast, and I'd hate to trash a $50+ race tire on the trainer.

I have my roadie on the trainer, along with the spare rear wheel devoted to that purpose.

[SouthernBelle]

If you are doing something like Spinervals, they seem to be set up for a road bike workout. I don't know if there are mtn bike dvds or not.

[Irulan]

If you are doing something like Spinervals, they seem to be set up for a road bike workout. I don't know if there are mtn bike dvds or not.

This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Do explain....

It's all about gearing, effort, cadence and heartrate. I don't even own a road bike. I put a nice slick on one of my hardtails, and locked out the front fork. This works great with my fluid trainer. The gear ratios are different is all.

[SouthernBelle]

This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Do explain....

....

[Irulan]

....

I want you to explain why you think you can't do spinervals on a mountain bike.

[melissam]

I want you to explain why you think you can't do spinervals on a mountain bike.

I'll take a stab at this. SouthernBelle, if I don't get it right, please feel free to correct me.

Coach Troy often refers to the number of cogs in the cassette and seems to be assuming that his audience is on a road bike.

For example, during the recovery periods, he'll tell people to "easy pedal" in their 23's.

If I remember correctly, some workouts show graphics of what gear you should be in, and it's road bike gearing -- 52/17, etc.

Obviously you can do Spinervals on a mountain bike, or on a road bike with different gearing. Otherwise roadies with compact cranksets or big ol' mountain cassettes would have to look elsewhere for their indoor torture/trainer sessions.

- Melissa

[melissam]

Gray,

If I were you, I'd use my road bike on the trainer.

* You can get used to the different positions on the road bike -- on the hoods, on the tops, in the drops.
* Your road bike and mountain bike may fit you differently, so you may use your muscles a bit differently on each. (Why is this so hard for me to articulate?) Use the muscles you're going to use when you're riding on the road!
* As others have mentioned, using the road bike on the trainer doesn't stress it that much.
* The knobby tire on your mountain bike will drive you nuts on the trainer!

- Melissa

PS Regardless of which bike you use, you're going to get a huge cardio benefit. You'll be a force to be reckoned with come springtime!

[aicabsolut]

Some trainers aren't set up where a mountain wheel will fit on there right. Sometimes it's a wheel size issue. Sometimes, the skewer doesn't fit into the clamp right, and the trainer may come with its own skewer, but one that's designed for a road wheel.

So, check the specs of the trainer you want to see if you get a choice without some sort of adapter or extra hassle. I also say you should put a cheap slick tire on if you go with the mountain bike.

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks, Ladies.

I deleted my first response. It really wasn't too polite.

[alpinerabbit]

Most trainers eat tires for breakfast, and I'd hate to trash a $50+ race tire on the trainer

I just use up last year's rear tire, then get a new one come springtime.

[Becky]

I just use up last year's rear tire, then get a new one come springtime.

Yep, that's usually what I do, but I have a pile of tires that were previously in road service. If I didn't have that stack, I'd buy a cheap slick.

[Irulan]

Just read the manual. My kenetic trainer says it will take any kind of wheel including 20" BMX without adapters.