Training & Nutrition - Mag Trainer setup?

I suppose this is the right place to ask this. I've just gotten my first trainer, I'm not sure exactly what the brand is, but the previous owner said the resistance unit was made by Saris.

Anyhow, I've got my bike mounted up in it and I think everything is adjusted right, but it just doesn't seem to be doing much. I wonder if maybe I'm not set up just right. Is riding on a trainer supposed to be easier than riding in the real world?

To give you an example. I'm a seriously out of shape clyde, and I did 10 miles last night, at an average of 20 to 25 mph. There's no way I could do that IRL, even on totally flat ground.

So yeah. Is this how mag trainers normally are, or do I have something wrong?


Please and thanks.

Do you have the resistant unit bolt tight enough? On my CycleOps Fluid2 (by saris) it recommends two complete turns after contact is made to the tire. Also, are you running enough air pressure? Both of those could effect the resistance.

Also, there should be a resistance setting on it somewhere if it is a mag trainer. You may need to add some resistance. In the easiest setting it will be much easier than riding in the real world.

Is the resistance unit too hot to touch when you're done? Maybe the resistance unit isn't resisting.

i don't know if the unit is tight enough, that's the problem. the guy i got it from said "stop when you can't see daylight between the tire and the resistance unit".

that didn't seem like much at all, so i went a little further.

i'm sure i don't have enough pressure. the bike has been sitting long enough (darn these icy missouri winters) that the tires went down. my frame pump does well enough that i could limp home, but not much more.

i really need a floor pump.

and i didn't check the resistance unit. but it clacked and clattered quite a bit while i was riding, so i figured it was doing it's thing...


as for the setting of the resistance unit itself - previous owner said "all the way out is as hard as it gets" - so i tried all the way in, half way out, and all the way. there wasn't much noticeable difference between the settings.

i don't know if the unit is tight enough, that's the problem. the guy i got it from said "stop when you can't see daylight between the tire and the resistance unit".


That is not nearly tight enough. Once contact is made tighten it down at least one revolution then see how it does. If you can still hear and / or feel the tire slipping you will need to tighten it down a little more.

ok, so i adjusted some things last night.

more air in the rear tire

RU tighter against the tire


worked much better. could barely average 20 mph for about 7 or 8 miles. much sweatier when i finished too. i thnk we're almost there

:)

thanks all.

mine says to touch the tire, then 1/2 crank harder.

mine says to touch the tire, then 1/2 crank harder.

Different brands (or models) different settings I guess, no matter what brand it is still going to need to do more than barely touch the tire though (as op stated the seller told him). As long as the OP figures out what works for him it's all good. :D

Different brands (or models) different settings I guess, no matter what brand it is still going to need to do more than barely touch the tire though (as op stated the seller told him). As long as the OP figures out what works for him it's all good. :D

and so far, it's getting better. i'm definitely going to need to spend more time on the bike though, as i plan to ride in the next MS150 here around KC...