So, if you have a trainer...

[spindizzy]

I bought a trainer tire (Continental) 4 years ago. Still use it every winter. Works like a dream. No black tire stuff anywhere. I have to get my LBS to put the thing on, though. JP, one of the owners had it on in less than a minute....I only wish I had the skill...

[Karma007]

Ugh. I actually just spent the money and bought a cheep-o wheel and trainer tire. I figured out that, depending on the weather, I'll be switching it back and forth on a pretty regular basis, and this will be the most efficient way to go. I got the trainer for a great price, so I'll just consider it all an investment.

[Jordyne]

Bump: I'm wanting to buy a trainer and spare wheel. My bike is equipped with Sram but I've found a wheel with shimano 105 cassette. Can I mix a 105 cassette with sram components?

The wheel details: Sta-tru 700c Alex-r450 2200 rear sil wheel, kinetic 700x23 trainer tire and shimano 105 11-28 5700 10 speed cassette

Bike details: Specialized Dolce Sram Apex with SRAM Apex, 10-speed, 11-32t

[Owlie]

I think SRAM chains and cassettes are Shimano-compatible. I imagine that it'd work the opposite way too, but I'd check.

[Bones8]

I know this is an old thread but along the same lines, would it be okay to use a non-disc wheel for the trainer? I know I wouldn't be able to stop but that's not a big deal I suppose. Then I could use the old wheel from my Trek if I can find a trainer cheap.

[Becky]

Why not? My only hesitation would be if there were curious kids or pets who might stick a finger or nose where it doesn't belong, neccessitating a panic stop. Otherwise, I think friction will stop your rear wheel well enough.

[Bones8]

Hmmm no kids but I could picture my cat trying to stick his paw through the spokes...that's something to consider...

[Aromig]

Why not? My only hesitation would be if there were curious kids or pets who might stick a finger or nose where it doesn't belong, neccessitating a panic stop. Otherwise, I think friction will stop your rear wheel well enough.

Unfortunately been there, done that a few weeks ago. The week before Christmas I was on my trainer and the dog and my eleven-year old were playing. They had a stuffed animal they were tossing/playing tug of war with. Somehow it got out of control, flew across the room and over the couch, and into my rear derailleur. Almost immediately all chaos erupted. The derailleur hanger broke in two, the derailleur went flying through my spokes, and the chain somehow got all twisted around and caught between the front chainring and the frame and severely chipped the paint (the bike shop said it didn't damage the underlying carbon thank goodness).

All in all -- new derailleur hangar, new chain, and the tire needed truing (thank goodness I stopped the tire quickly, luckily didn't break any spokes). It rides fine on the trainer but the cables were all chewed up and will need to be replaced before spring (I'm waiting until winter maintenance specials) and everything needs a fine adjustment anyway. Somehow my fairly new (got them in early November) Conti 4000S II tire had a huge chunk of rubber torn out so I can't even use it on the trainer because the thumping sound annoys me (I knew I should have taken if off anyway since the trainer tears it up but was hoping for some more outdoor riding) so I even had to get a new tire. Lesson learned though, I have an old tire on it now with the new tire just waiting for some spring like weather.

Two years ago, when moving my trainer we didn't get the wheel tightened up enough (husband didn't understand that you can flip a lever and turned the crank instead and I didn't realize it) and the bike actually fell out of the trainer while pedaling hard catching and breaking a bunch of spokes. My bike guys now tease me that indoors is much more dangerous for my bike that outdoor traffic.