Bicycle Mechanics - Fell off my Trainer for the third time

I have a Blackburn Fluid trainer. Last night, fornthe third time I fell off the damn thing. Well really my bike came out of the mount then I fell. I tighten the mount so much that I can see the stand bending. I think maybe its the type of QR that I have, its one of th external cams, but I really don't know whats up. Anybody else have this kind of problem and what did you do about it?

Hmmm...usually those trainers come with their own quick-release skewer that is designed to do a better job of holding your bike in place. Did you get one of those with yours? If so, you should be using it. I know that my stock q-r wouldn't even come close to holding my bike in place.

Get yerself one of the traditional QR skewers, not the external cam type.

Absolutely, get an internal cam qr, preferably the one that came with the trainer.

External cam qr's have much less clamping pressure that internal cam types and are very poor at resisting the side loads and torque a trainer puts on them. They are usually able to hold the rear wheel in place under normal riding loads but a trainer stressed them far differently.

Absolutely, get an internal cam qr, preferably the one that came with the trainer.

External cam qr's have much less clamping pressure that internal cam types and are very poor at resisting the side loads and torque a trainer puts on them. They are usually able to hold the rear wheel in place under normal riding loads but a trainer stressed them far differently.

It's really more of a fit question. Trainer mounts are made for the traditional rounded end skewers. Agreed, there should be one that came with the trainer.

Just curious, why did it take falling off 3 times before you realized something was askew?

I've got a CycleOps fluid - never had that problem .

Just for pictoral clarification(im bored!)

This QR type

http://gallery.rei.com/media/228025.jpg

fits much better than this

http://www.bicycletires.com/images/American%20Classic/Skewers/Skewer_Close_Up.jpg

into this
http://www.fitwerx.com/Website%20Images/Product%20Pictures/Kurt-clamp.jpg

Thanks All, I was pretty sure that was the problem. I cannot recall a skewer comming with the unit, and I was rooting arround last night looking for one just in case. as to why it took three times, I was being stupid and stubborn, thought I was not tightening it enough.

If you are going to continue using the cam skewer, setup a webcam, it sounds hilarious.

Forget the trainer, get some rollers...

Just for pictoral clarification(im bored!)

This QR type

http://gallery.rei.com/media/228025.jpg

fits much better than this

http://www.bicycletires.com/images/American%20Classic/Skewers/Skewer_Close_Up.jpg

into this
http://www.fitwerx.com/Website%20Images/Product%20Pictures/Kurt-clamp.jpg
This is the answer to this thread...WITH PICTURES! :)

Something else to think about....there is a lock-nut that has to be tightened after the skewer is secured in the trainer. This prevents the trainer arms from slowly unscrewing during use. (I speak from personal experience.....although I did figure it out after only one crash.... ;-)

Bob