Bicycle Mechanics - Trainer tough on my frame/hub/wheel?

I'm planning on using one of my road bikes with an indoor trainer this winter. However, I'm concerned about possiblly damaging my bike, especially causing fractures in the rear triangle/dropouts. It seems to me that the trainer would concentrate significantly higher stress in the rear axle area.

The bike's a Bianchi Veloce -fairly lightly constructed Dedacai (sp?) steel frame, Campy Athena 9sp hubs & Mavic 32 hole CXP21 rims. I''ll be using older, worn rear tires that I'm not worried about using up in the trainer.

I'm not a particularly powerful rider, nor do I intend to hammer on this setup- I just want to retain some fitness over the winter.

My aploogies if this has been addressed somewhere in a previous post.


Any help is appreciated.

roadster;

From experience... I have a PUCH with Columbus steel tubing that I've been spinning on a MagTurbo trainer for over a dozen years. I ride the same machine on the road in the summer. I examine the Frame for stress damage regularly and have never observed any detrimental effects what so ever.

Note: My trainer has clamps for securing the front fork and a padded clamp on the rear chain stays just behind the Bottom Bracket. I make certain that they are snug so there isn't any opportunity for vibrations to develop. I also see that the bearings in the MagTurbo are lubricated regularly as well as the chain on the PUCH. Check and maintain proper tire pressure since it’s EZ to forget while you're indoors.

Something to keep in mind is to always have a strong fan playing on you to dry perspiration, remember it's corrosive and you don't want to be dripping onto your components. Besides it's far easier to workout when you’re air-cooled.

Try headphones and music to make life pleasant (but never, ever on the road)

Cheers;

Faith-

Thanks for the info and advice re the fan- that's something I had not considered.

My Minoura trainer supports the bike only at the rear skewers. I haven't seen one that will support the chain stays near the BB, but it sounds to me like a good idea.

-r

Faith -- interestingly, my LBS, a former Austro-Daimler dealer, has never had a Steyr-Daimler-Puch frame come back for fatigue-related breakage. As a proud 1959 Capo owner, I freely admit a bias, but old Austrian frames seem to be extremely durable.

Since the entire bicycle (excluding wheels) and rider are normally supported exclusively at the front and rear dropouts, these seem to be logical attachment points for trainer mounting.

Originally posted by roadster
My Minoura trainer supports the bike only at the rear skewers. I haven't seen one that will support the chain stays near the BB, but it sounds to me like a good idea.
About 10 years ago I had a trainer that had this "feature" of supporting the frame near the BB.
Got rid of it (it was low end) and got a Cycle-Ops magneto last month. I ride my Raleigh (aluminum) and my Litespeed (Ti) on it. So far I'm happy with it. :beer:

Originally posted by John E
....Since the entire bicycle (excluding wheels) and rider are normally supported exclusively at the front and rear dropouts, these seem to be logical attachment points for trainer mounting.

There is a technical difference, however.

When you ride on the street or on rollers, you are responsible to keep the bike upright. When you fix the bike on a trainer, the bike remain vertical even if you lean "reasonably". There is, therefore, a bending moment along the frame.

Of course, if you lean too much sideways, either the bike detaches, or it breaks, or the trainer falls with the bike.

Regards,

i used a turbo trainer for a while but after repeated tire blowouts i stopped. didn't use it long enough to note any problems with the frame, but it sure was @#$% on my tires.

Michel;

Thank you for your wisdom on a static mounted machine verses rollers… Yes indeed I noticed that I could apply a higher torsion loading couple to the fork assemble than is possible on the road. Your inference appears valid and of merit for concern to not abuse the leverage provided with the handlebars while the front fork is in a static mount. Typically I pedal hands free when spinning on my trainer, except for intervals in the drops to max effort. I will now be more alert to avoid any asymmetrical loadings on the fork assemble thanks to your diligence. Much appreciated!