trainer or stationary bike

[Munch]

I know it's just getting into summer, but I'm trying to think longterm and plan ahead. Which is better a trainer or a stationary bike?

I don't have a lot of money so I wouldn't be able to get an expensive trainer and I'm new to the sport anyways so just something to keep me spinning. Do you have to take the back wheel apart to put your bike on a trainer?

Would I get the same benefits of riding on a stationary bike?

Sorry if I seem completely clueless.

Thanks!

[rivergal]

Lol...because it's getting to be summer* I'm looking into a bike roller or trainer. I'm leaning toward a roller actually to keep my costs low for now. I've heard the parabolic ones are best to keep from going off the side.

Summer in Florida is not outdoor bike season for me because of health issues.

[Irulan]

Trainer or rollers. You can get a nice trainer used off Craig's list for not much... I paid $125 for a very nicely unused Kurt Kinetic. You shoulnd't have to take the rear wheel off, and most kinds collapse down to put away when you aren't using tem.

As for stationary bike.... I visualize the kind grandma had in the basement and that's....ick. I wouldn't' consider anything less that a spin-type bike if I was going to get one.

[ny biker]

I know it's just getting into summer, but I'm trying to think longterm and plan ahead. Which is better a trainer or a stationary bike?

I don't have a lot of money so I wouldn't be able to get an expensive trainer and I'm new to the sport anyways so just something to keep me spinning. Do you have to take the back wheel apart to put your bike on a trainer?

Would I get the same benefits of riding on a stationary bike?

Sorry if I seem completely clueless.

Thanks!

If you're talking about buying a stationary bike, I would think a trainer would cost less. If you're talking about using a stationary bike at the gym, you would generally get the same benefits.

To use a trainer, you might need to change the skewer that holds the real wheel on, because the one on your bike might not fit into the trainer. But that's easy to do without even removing the wheel -- just take out one skewer, put in the other and tighten it. You should be able to use the "trainer" skewer for outdoor rides, too.

[malkin]

Rollers!

If I can do it, (almost) anyone can!

[Munch]

Lol...because it's getting to be summer* I'm looking into a bike roller or trainer. I'm leaning toward a roller actually to keep my costs low for now. I've heard the parabolic ones are best to keep from going off the side.

Summer in Florida is not outdoor bike season for me because of health issues.

I'm confused.. Were you quoting another thread or what?

[Jiffer]

I vote for trainer as well. It takes less space, for one, and while I'm not really familiar with prices, I would imagine the trainer would be cheaper. My husband has bought a couple of trainers, so he's more in the know on prices and brands and all that. I do know that the one we used to have I could put the bike on fairly easily. It was as another poster said, I took the skewer off the rear wheel to do it.

One reason I prefer the trainer is that I like to ride my own bike. I'm used to the feel of it and like the familiarity when on a trainer as well.

My husband just upgraded our trainer to a much nicer one, but while it's very nice to ride on (feels a heck of a lot more like being on a road than our old trainer), you do have to take the back wheel off to use it. I, therefore, have yet to use it except once when my husband set it up for me.

I generally avoid trainers at all costs, truth be known. I have to be pretty desperate to use one, as I by far prefer to ride outside on real roads. Riding on a trainer (just like a stationary bike) can actually be physically harder, because there is never any coasting like a real road. You're just constantly "going" . . . but not really getting anywhere! And no wind to dry your sweat.

Okay, I didn't mean to be a downer! GET A TRAINER! WOO HOO!!!! (One upside is you can watch TV while you ride. )

[Munch]

Trainer or rollers. You can get a nice trainer used off Craig's list for not much... I paid $125 for a very nicely unused Kurt Kinetic. You shoulnd't have to take the rear wheel off, and most kinds collapse down to put away when you aren't using tem.

As for stationary bike.... I visualize the kind grandma had in the basement and that's....ick. I wouldn't' consider anything less that a spin-type bike if I was going to get one.

If your thinking of the big air fan type stationary bike, that's not what I was thinking. Those things are murder!!!! But I think a trainer is probably my best bet as it will take up less space.

[Munch]

I vote for trainer as well. It takes less space, for one, and while I'm not really familiar with prices, I would imagine the trainer would be cheaper. My husband has bought a couple of trainers, so he's more in the know on prices and brands and all that. I do know that the one we used to have I could put the bike on fairly easily. It was as another poster said, I took the skewer off the rear wheel to do it.

One reason I prefer the trainer is that I like to ride my own bike. I'm used to the feel of it and like the familiarity when on a trainer as well.

My husband just upgraded our trainer to a much nicer one, but while it's very nice to ride on (feels a heck of a lot more like being on a road than our old trainer), you do have to take the back wheel off to use it. I, therefore, have yet to use it except once when my husband set it up for me.

I generally avoid trainers at all costs, truth be known. I have to be pretty desperate to use one, as I by far prefer to ride outside on real roads. Riding on a trainer (just like a stationary bike) can actually be physically harder, because there is never any coasting like a real road. You're just constantly "going" . . . but not really getting anywhere! And no wind to dry your sweat.

Okay, I didn't mean to be a downer! GET A TRAINER! WOO HOO!!!! (One upside is you can watch TV while you ride. )

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.

[ny biker]

My husband just upgraded our trainer to a much nicer one, but while it's very nice to ride on (feels a heck of a lot more like being on a road than our old trainer), you do have to take the back wheel off to use it.

How does this work?

[M-Rad]

I vote for the trainer. A trainer much more than a stationary bike will feel like realistic road riding. Plus a trainer will force you to master your pedal stroke as well as cadence.

I have both a trainer and rollers. I find it easier to do efforts on a trainer but like Rollers b/c they teach you to ride smoothly which is important when you are in a group.

Also if you get a trainer w/ resistance, just make sure your tire is fully inflated. Trainers can be hard on a back tire causing wear and tear.

[rivergal]

I'm confused.. Were you quoting another thread or what?

Munch, no just noting that I'm looking as well, not to prepare for winter, but because summers here in Florida aren't my best friend. I've thought about both trainers and rollers, and decided on rollers (CycleOps).

[Blueberry]

How does this work?

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

[jyyanks]

I have to be honest. As a beginner, I bought both with high hopes. The trainer was pure torture - I was bored out of my skull and just couldn't motivate myself to ride.

I then bought rollers and I was absolutely terrible - falling all over the place, banging up the basement walls and even skinning my knee in the process! I gradually got better (but not by much) and for a couple of months I used rollers as my primary exercise.

Finally I couldn't take it anymore and decided to brave the cold to ride outside. I admit it was quite miserable at first (I hate wind, rain and cold) but it felt so much more exhilerating than my boring training and difficult rollers, so I bought all this cold weather gear thinking I'd ride in the cold.

Long story short, I realized that I enjoy riding outside in decent weather so neither the trainers or the rollers are for me. I may try a spin class next winter but riding outside is the whole reason I enjoy cycling so much!

[Irulan]

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.

They don't, except for the new one mentioned in this thread. Warning, you'll either hate it or tolerate it. Some people do dvd's with it, or listen to music or watch movies etc. I use a workout created by a trainer that gives me cadence/hr guidelines and watch stuff on netflix.