Recommend an indoor bike trainer?

[HardDrive]

Anyone have an indoor bike trainer that they love? Rainy season is taking hold here.....

No price limit, but $$$ has to be justified by function.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Anyone have an indoor bike trainer that they love?

Never loved 'em; I've had two, an air trainer and a magnetic trainer. Used them both for a few weeks and ended up selling them for pennies. (they both worked ok, I just can't get past the sheer boredom) I've got plenty of raingear now so at least I can commute.

I never tried rollers, apparently a whole 'nother experience, but good ones (like Kreitler's) are spendy, which in my case would probably be more cash down the hole.

(sorry, I didn't answer your question.)

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Anyone have an indoor bike trainer that they love? Rainy season is taking hold here.....

No price limit, but $$$ has to be justified by function.

Call me old school, but I like simple rollers, as you actually ride, have to maintain balance, can sprint, everything but hills and you can add fans for restance..

[Jim Bremner]

If you do use a roller or trainer, please use a bike that's your second or third bike. You'll sweat TONs more on a trainer and all of your sweat sits on the bike frame.

I've seen sweat eat into and lift powder coat off of alloy frames.
I've seen it eat into carbon frames.

[Racerbvd]

If you do use a roller or trainer, please use a bike that's your second or third bike. You'll sweat TONs more on a trainer and all of your sweat sits on the bike frame.

Get one of these

CycleOps Bike Trainer Bike Thong
Saris SARC9715
Keeps corrosive sweat from reaching your frame.
Includes a convenient removable accessories pouch.
Saris product number: 9715
our Price: $22.49
MSRP $24.99

[sscates]

I would consider a kurt kinetic, rock n roll. Attach your bike to it and pedal away. I think rollers are the best for a full workout similar to actual biking on the road, but they aren't for the faint of heart.

[HardDrive]

Great info.

I used to ride rollers when I was younger. I do like them because its much more like riding on the open road, but there is something to be said for zoning out to Shark Week on discovery channel

Somewhat related question. I don't mind riding in the rain EXCEPT for the cold rain pelting me in the face. Can you think of any kind of a clear facemask solution that doesn't involve me riding with my Arai helmet on?

[BGCarrera32]

I have to second BVD on rollers. I own a pair of Kreitler challenger rollers and would never go back. Rollers with mag units are the best though. I have the Kreitler Killer Headwind fan driven off the front roller but its just too obnoxiously loud.

Kreitler rollers

Kreitler rollers

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Can you think of any kind of a clear facemask solution that doesn't involve me riding with my Arai helmet on?

This is what I'm going to try this winter:

DeWalt Anti fog protective shop goggles. The nice thing is they fit over my glasses but my helmet fits over them. Not full face protection, but a lot better than just a normal glasses.

I'll keep 'em in my bag for the crappiest days, I guess, because FO-SHO I am going to look like a dork.

[HardDrive]

Treat them with some rainx and that just might work. Were did you pick them up?

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

This is what I'm going to try this winter:

DeWalt Anti fog protective shop goggles. The nice thing is they fit over my glasses but my helmet fits over them. Not full face protection, but a lot better than just a normal glasses.

I'll keep 'em in my bag for the crappiest days, I guess, because FO-SHO I am going to look like a dork.

[herr_oberst]

Flea Bay, 16 bucks with shipping.

DeWalt Safety Glasses Goggles Concealer Clear AF Lens - eBay (item 370432043495 end time Sep-20-10 11:52:08 PDT)

[matthew-s]

I have a CycleOps Fluid2 and I've been happy with it.

Fluid˛

I'm intrigued by rollers, but I don't think I'm ready for the big leagues yet. I've also been told they take a lot of concentration. . . . I guess your not doing rollers and watching TV

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by matthew-s

I have a CycleOps Fluid2 and I've been happy with it.

Fluid˛

I'm intrigued by rollers, but I don't think I'm ready for the big leagues yet. I've also been told they take a lot of concentration. . . . I guess your not doing rollers and watching TV

Like anything else, once you learn them, it is as easy as riding a bike....

I haven't ridden a set for a while, but a few years ago, I stopped at the local BMX track that was hosting a big race. Lots of new people since I hadn't been to that track in over 10 years.. Since the last time anyone who knew me there saw me, I was about 80LBS smaller and my hair was very dark, unlike the current gray, and I was dragging the 934 clone race car from a track event, I didn't look like a BMX racer anymore I saw a group of guys, late teens, early 20s trying to ride a set of rollers, and I use the term TRYING. I asked if I could try, they reluctantly this fat, gray haired old guy hop on one of there bikes on the roller, and just like I hadn't missed any time, I was cruising, spinning, swerving back & forth while their jaws dropped I use to set mine up in front of the TV and watch MTV back when it was still good & had real music videos.. If your bike is set up right, and you just get basic rollers without fans & stuff, it will be quieter than an exercise bike, much more than my Schwinn Airdyne...

Originally Posted by HardDrive
Can you think of any kind of a clear facemask solution that doesn't involve me riding with my Arai helmet on?

I liked my Oakley Blades, had different lenses for day, dusk, dawn & night..

[BGCarrera32]

Rollers really aren't that hard to learn. The trick is to bring the bike up to speed quickly- what would be 18-20 mph on the road, so the gyroscopic effect generated by the wheels keeps the bike straight. Don't jump on and dawdle at 10 mph. Get your cadence up to 80-100 rpm right away.

If you can learn to ride rollers you will become a much better and more relaxed rider. Everything you do and every little bit of energy wasting motion you make is magnified.

I remember when I started out road racing and was a Cat 4, the first couple races of the year. You could tell right away which guys trained on rollers over the winter and which ones didn't. The ones that didn't you'd look over at and think "what the hell are you so spastic in the saddle for? Its just a little rain..."

[David]

I like my Kinetic Road Machine, but the Kinetic Rock and Roll looks interesting.

[cantdrv55]

I have a Cycleops fluid trainer that i sometimes use. I'm mainly on my gym quality SPIN bike. Can't measure cadence or speed so I just monitor my heart rate.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

If you do use a roller or trainer, please use a bike that's your second or third bike. You'll sweat TONs more on a trainer and all of your sweat sits on the bike frame.

I've seen sweat eat into and lift powder coat off of alloy frames.
I've seen it eat into carbon frames.

Or just clean your damn bike occasionally!

[HardDrive]

Did some research. Looks like the right one. Just ordered from Amazon. Thanks!

Originally Posted by matthew-s

I have a CycleOps Fluid2 and I've been happy with it.

Fluid˛

I'm intrigued by rollers, but I don't think I'm ready for the big leagues yet. I've also been told they take a lot of concentration. . . . I guess your not doing rollers and watching TV

[gtc]

I have an older set of rollers.. don't know the brand, but they are pretty nice. They don't have enough resistance, so I have to be in the largest gear to get any sort of workout, and consequently they are pretty noisy from everything spinning so fast, even with slicks (i did try it with a mountain bike once... sounded like a B52 was about to crash through my ceiling).
I wish I could bolt a blower to the front of mine... that would make them so much more enjoyable.

[Tobra]

Just get a big fan. The air moving over you will make the perspiration evaporate much more quickly. Stationary bike or rollers I have to have a fan going.