Attn: Bicyclists - Looking for Info/Advice on Trainers

[Randy]

Now that the cold weather is coming up on us, I don't want to put the bicycle away for the winter. I can't figure out how to hook the Gerbing's heated gear to it, so, I'm thinking of getting a trainer. Many makes/models out there.

What are your suggestions for a cost-effective (nice way of saying cheap) trainer that can I can put my bike on indoors?

 

[madmike2]

My ex-wife-unit had a friend from her workplace who was an olympic hopeful. She was using a mount for her bike that had 2 turbine fans on it. I set it up it at our house w/ one of our bikes mounted as an exerciser for a couple of years.

I don't remember the brand. While not "adjustable" it provided pelenty of resistance as you went up to the higher .gears

 

[Randy]

Thanks, mike. From what I hear, the fan-type units can be pretty noisy.

 

[mdisher]

Disconnect light, connect Gerbings

Should be good down to 40 degrees. Attach more as needed

 

[OhioFJR1300]

Any of the fluid reseitance trainers are good. If you want to spend a little more, there is always the Comp-U -Trainer. At least that is what it was called when I bought mine. It hooks up to your computer and displays a video of a route, as the route goes up or down hills, it increases the load via a resistance trainer type of device. I really should use it more, I would sure be in better shape. Try the Colorado Cyclist web page, they have pretty good prices.

 

[madmike2]

Thanks, mike. From what I hear, the fan-type units can be pretty noisy.

Well, you could always follow Renegade's idea, even put one on the rear and one on the front. Don't forget to wpoon "knobbys" on the bike. :lol:

Yes, the fans make noise. Enough I wouldn't want it in the family room. The noise would drown the TV sound, but headphones on a "Walkman" worked fine.

 

[RsvlFeej]

Thanks, mike. From what I hear, the fan-type units can be pretty noisy.

Yes, the fans make noise. Enough I wouldn't want it in the family room. The noise would drown the TV sound, but headphones on a "Walkman" worked fine.

We have the twin fan type (LeMond trainer, about 5 +/- years old). I was using it with noise-cancelling headphones plugged into the T.V. and it worked okay. Couldn't use it until the kid was all the way asleep or it'd wake him up. Wife could sit across the room and listen to music on her headphones, but the fans were pretty much too loud for easy conversation. Swapped for an exercycle with magnetic resistance - Aaaahhh - Essentially no noise constraints. Volume control on the T.V. is now down 5 or 6 levels (still using the headphones, though).

 

[Kevin Daly]

Now that the cold weather is coming up on us, I don't want to put the bicycle away for the winter. I can't figure out how to hook the Gerbing's heated gear to it, so, I'm thinking of getting a trainer. Many makes/models out there.What are your suggestions for a cost-effective (nice way of saying cheap) trainer that can I can put my bike on indoors?

Dude, if you doing serious milage, the ONLY way to go is rollers:

These will teach you balance and train you to spin more evenly. helps get rid of tail weaving which can greatly reduce your effecincy. people will say they are really hard to learn but its nothing plan to take about 30 min the first time just to get rolling, keep the pedal rate up and your off. narrow drums are a bit more challenging but they will really help you with balance and form!

PS they make no noise and much cheaper than trainers!

 

[madmike2]

These will teach you balance and train you to spin more evenly. helps get rid of tail weaving which can greatly reduce your effecincy. people will say they are really hard to learn but its nothing plan to take about 30 min the first time just to get rolling, keep the pedal rate up and your off. narrow drums are a bit more challenging but they will really help you with balance and form!

Conversation overheard at the Emergency Room:

"Randy, how did you break your arm?"

"Well....I was riding my bike in the livingroom and watching 'Men in Trees' and I fell and hit my arm on the coffee table." :lol:

 

[stormrider]

Randy,

This is what I use. It is a little pricey but you can really beat on it and it will take it.

After about two months of daily use last winter I developed a slight vibration that I could feel in the seat. I called Cycle-Ops and asked about it. Thier response was "I will send out a new unit today and prepaid postage to send the other back"

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/profil...ategory_ID=4120

I also have

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/profil...ategory_ID=4121

but I do not use it near as much as the trainer.

If you are going to put your bike on a trainer buy some cheap tires. The trainers have a tendency to eat tires. You will go through at least one during the winter.

Get a couple of Spinnervals or Carmichal tapes. They help you push while indoors because it gets boring as hell.

Anything else I can help with buzz me

 

[Fred W]

I have a Performance Travel Trac magnetic trainer. Similar to this one, but mine is several years older and black. It's nice because you can vary the resistance from the handlebars for intervals and such. I find this preferable to running higher gears on lower (fixed) resistance which gets noisy. It is so stable that you can get up in the pedals and hammer (simulate hill climbs) with no fear of banging the coffee table.

It's cheap, very portable, pretty quiet in lower gears. I can't say anything bad about it. You'll need to set up a fan pointed at you and cover the floor with towels as you will leave some significant puddling. You'd be surprised how much you are sweating when there is no airflow. I also got some light rust on some of my bike's components from the salty sweat. Something to think about if you cherish your bike.

I've never had a problem wearing out tires on mine. The resistance wheel is a smooth aluminum spool that just leaves a slick shiny band of aluminum deposit on the middle of your tire. Comes off first ride on asphalt.

 

[Randy]

I've heard arguments from both sides about the rollers. While no one will disagree that they can be beneficial, to have that as the only indoor device simply isn't practical for me and I'm not buying 2 trainers. (btw - a friend told me the easy way to learn is to set it up in the doorway).

Sal - funny you should mention that one...Here's what I'm looking at. The xtras in the package really make it attractive. When I woke up yesterday, I would have chuckled if I heard the term 'bike thong'. Seems like a very important piece of indoor riding.

Fred - thanks for the info on yours. I saw some of the adjustable resistance units, but, this infintely variable resistance thing has me intrigued. With as popular as the Cycleops fluid unit is, I guess it's gotta work as advertised.

Thanks all for the tips.

 

[Fred W]

I've heard arguments from both sides about the rollers. While no one will disagree that they can be beneficial, to have that as the only indoor device simply isn't practical for me and I'm not buying 2 trainers. (btw - a friend told me the easy way to learn is to set it up in the doorway).Sal - funny you should mention that one...Here's what I'm looking at. The xtras in the package really make it attractive. When I woke up yesterday, I would have chuckled if I heard the term 'bike thong'. Seems like a very important piece of indoor riding.

Fred - thanks for the info on yours. I saw some of the adjustable resistance units, but, this infintely variable resistance thing has me intrigued. With as popular as the Cycleops fluid unit is, I guess it's gotta work as advertised.

Thanks all for the tips.

Hell yeah, if you have the money that's the way to go. And that one comes with a thong.

Don't think I wanna see you using that... :blink:

 

[stormrider]

I've heard arguments from both sides about the rollers. While no one will disagree that they can be beneficial, to have that as the only indoor device simply isn't practical for me and I'm not buying 2 trainers. (btw - a friend told me the easy way to learn is to set it up in the doorway).Sal - funny you should mention that one...Here's what I'm looking at. The xtras in the package really make it attractive. When I woke up yesterday, I would have chuckled if I heard the term 'bike thong'. Seems like a very important piece of indoor riding.

Fred - thanks for the info on yours. I saw some of the adjustable resistance units, but, this infintely variable resistance thing has me intrigued. With as popular as the Cycleops fluid unit is, I guess it's gotta work as advertised.

Thanks all for the tips.

Randy,

That is basically the setup I have (with the thong)

I have a second bike that sits on my trainer all year. An older Schwinn World Sport. I have it set so that it is close to my Pilot. I ride six days per week in the winter and I did not want to contimually beat on my good bike for that.

I also bought a cheaper Cateye and jerry rigged it to the rear wheel so that I have a computer to keep track of my progress

 

[jmdaniel]

I've heard arguments from both sides about the rollers. While no one will disagree that they can be beneficial, to have that as the only indoor device simply isn't practical for me and I'm not buying 2 trainers. (btw - a friend told me the easy way to learn is to set it up in the doorway).

Why would having rollers mean you had to have 2 trainers? Rollers come with resistance units as well. I had a set for many years, when I lived in the tundra of the upper Midwest, and your form is vastly improved by riding on them. It's also a little less monotonous, compared to a fixed wheel, as you have to pay attention to what you are doing.

 

[Grumpy]

Now that the cold weather is coming up on us, I don't want to put the bicycle away for the winter. I can't figure out how to hook the Gerbing's heated gear to it, so, I'm thinking of getting a trainer. Many makes/models out there.What are your suggestions for a cost-effective (nice way of saying cheap) trainer that can I can put my bike on indoors?

How about wool clothing and studded tires?

jim

 

[Randy]

I've heard arguments from both sides about the rollers. While no one will disagree that they can be beneficial, to have that as the only indoor device simply isn't practical for me and I'm not buying 2 trainers. (btw - a friend told me the easy way to learn is to set it up in the doorway).

Why would having rollers mean you had to have 2 trainers? Rollers come with resistance units as well. I had a set for many years, when I lived in the tundra of the upper Midwest, and your form is vastly improved by riding on them. It's also a little less monotonous, compared to a fixed wheel, as you have to pay attention to what you are doing.

This is for me and my wife. I love her to death, but, she'll break her face if I stick her on rollers.

 

[jmdaniel]

This is for me and my wife. I love her to death, but, she'll break her face if I stick her on rollers.

OK, sorry. Didn't see that...

 

[dbvolfan]

I like the rollers personally but most of the time I use my fluid trainer, simply b/c my wife will be on her stationary trainer next to me. Got it from performance bikes about 9 years ago and there is no telling how many miles it has on it. It has adjustable resistance and it folds up nice (although it's heavy as a lead bar). The metal part that houses the fluids will get hot as a Mofo when doing some heavy training but I have had no leaks from it whatsoever...it's been very dependable. Only downside vs the rollers is that you cant really stand up and work it.

It doesnt look like Performance has it anylonger but this looks very similar (it looks lidentical but looks like they have rebadged/renamed it)

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/profil...ategory_ID=4120