trainer or stationary bike

[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]

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.

[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.

[Jiffer]

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.

I have never researched or purchased one myself, but I would imagine reading a description online or on the packaging would tell you how you put it on.

[malkin]

If you want to watch tv and actually hear it, be aware that any kind of stationary cycling can make quite a racket.

[Irulan]

My fluid trainer is pretty quiet. It's the FAN that I run to keep me cool that makes all the racket.

[Catrin]

My fluid trainer is pretty quiet. It's the FAN that I run to keep me cool that makes all the racket.

Yes, this. Gotta have that fan - or else I position my trainer close to the french doors and just open them a crack. I don't use the trainer outside of winter so it works, but the fan is better.

[Munch]

Thanks for the replies everyone. You've given me a ton of helpful information!

[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.

[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!

[Jiffer]

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

Yep. That's the one! You is smart.