Indoor Bike Trainers

[jyl]

I want to buy an indoor bike trainer, that I can mount a regular bike on. The different models all look the same to me - is there anything to choose between them, or just buy the prettiest/cheapest?

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by jyl

I want to buy an indoor bike trainer, that I can mount a regular bike on. The different models all look the same to me - is there anything to choose between them, or just buy the prettiest/cheapest?

Rollers are cool, but not for everyone. For the turbo-style trainers, there's fan and magnetic (generally). The fan creates more resistance with speed, but most of the magnetics allow you to adjust the load. The magnetics are quieter. A magnetic with remote cable to adjust the load on the fly works really well. Don't spend the money on the wheel block for the front, just put a telephone book under it.

Also see "sufferfest" - a truly spectacular series of training videos designed to make your eyes bleed but give you the legs and lungs of cycling God!

angela

[cantdrv55]

I have a CycleOps fluid trainer that I really like. It's quieter than the other one I tried (Blackburn). I'm not coordinated enough to use rollers so I don't know if I'd ever be able to relax. The CycleOps works well enough for me. Don't know though if I'd buy a new trainer again because there seem to be lot of them for sale on craigslist. Below is a video of a guy learning to use rollers.

1st Time on Bike Rollers + falls - YouTube

[thencamebronson]

+1 on Sufferfest!

[red-beard]

I bought one to use with my backup bike and it sucked. It kept feeling like the thing was going to fall over. I ended up with a free spin bike donated by a neighbor who never used it. It is great. I swapped out the pedals for some clips.

[look 171]

Spin, spin, spin. I like rollers. Been falling off them for over 25 years.

[jyl]

Hmm, the rollers look challenging.

[BGCarrera32]

Rollers are not that difficult once you figure 'em out. Road bike is basically a must for using them, and the trick is to bring the bike up to speed quickly. Most people get on the first time and pedal about 9 miles an hour for a few seconds and give up. Get the bike up to speed, get your cadence up, and then relax, let the gyroscopic effect of the wheels do the work. Small inputs to the handlebars shift the bike one way or the other. Eyes up and forward on the horizon, get a TV on a stand about 4' off the ground, don't stare down at the front hub. Once you get the hang of rollers you won't go back to a fixed stationary trainer- at least I won't. Sorry, real cyclists ride rollers.

[Joe Bob]

I have a couple that I used during rains when I was hitting the road bike hard. Both the CF bike and trainers are sitting since my back injury. Want one?

PM me.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by look 171

Spin, spin, spin. I like rollers. Been falling off them for over 25 years.

I'm also a fan of rollers, I really need to get another set... They actually make you work & pay attention, something many things lack these days..

[Joe Bob]

But...can you text on rollers?

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

But...can you text on rollers?

If you're good.

I've seen people change their shirts on rollers.

Some probably could frost a cake and build a house of cards while on rollers.

[Joe Bob]

Changin a shirt is EZ.....maybe we can get a roller youtube competition on both.....ten words with 3 spaces and a Lycra/spandex nipple hugger......

10 bucks says the shirt guy loses a tooth.

[HardDrive]

Cyclops. I love mine. Ride watching the tube. If its a nice day, bike pops right out and you hit the road.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

But...can you text on rollers?

I think I could, as I could ride with no hands, but my buddy Drew could do one handed wheelies on his roller..

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Cyclops. I love mine. Ride watching the tube. If its a nice day, bike pops right out and you hit the road.

which 1? http://www.cycleops.com/en/products.html

[cantdrv55]

I have an older version of the Fluid 2. It's at least 5 years old and was only about $250 or so back then.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

I think I could, as I could ride with no hands, but my buddy Drew could do one handed wheelies on his roller..

How the F do you do no hand wheelies? I believe you, but damn.

[look 171]

One thing rollers will do for you is to build form, which many so call psycholist do not have. If you have good form, you will be lots more relax on the bike so you can go faster and farther. Look at a national rider next time, they are so smooth and effortless on the bike, but they are pounding your face into the ground with each and every pedal stroke.

You don't really get hurt falling off the rollers. Ask me how I know. I tried changing my tee shirt just so I can be a real man. I fall of on my fat azz each and every time. I hate stationary devices. I have had turbo trainers and those fluid things that hold up rear wheels. I can't last more then an hour on it. I can't just seem to push that big gear on there (not a real man here). Now, I am a really discipline rider that learned how to suffer over the years, but I just seem to ride that damn thing. Rollers gives me something to do like try to stay on them and not crash. You can get a fork mounting device on the rollers, but that defeats the purpose of riding rollers.

[creaturecat]

A good seat is a necessity.
Not much opportunity to move around/off the saddle, with rollers.