Road Cycling - Can trainers damage a road bike over time?

A trainer sounds like an ideal solution for the times I can't ride outside. What are the negative impacts to a road bike if used on a trainer for extended periods?

Don't use a carbon fiber frame bike on one of the old style trainers that attach to the bottom bracket shell.

They will crack or chip the gel coat. This I know. :(

The Cannondale manual recommends wiping down the brazon's and other such parts because of the sweat that hits the bike when on a trainer. The manual claims it can corrode the parts.

you can ovalize your headset races if you use a resistance trainer, because the handlebar remains in a fixed position. you can avoid this issue by using rollers

Trainer is a good training tool cause you can control the pace and intensity and can also stand out of the saddle. The drawback is that they are hell on the back wheels. Sucks having to replace an expensive wheel prematurely. For that reason, I traded mine in on a nice set of rollers. I found that I didn't get quite as bored due to the fact that you have to focus your attention more on what you are doing or else you ride off the rollers. You can watch TV and it is not hard on the wheels. Either are great for training though. Good luck!

Sweat can definitely corrode you bike.
http://www.chainreaction.com/corrosion.htm

I always make sure to wipe my bike down after a session on the rollers which is probably enough to stop the problem seen in the bike above.

I believe it is Colorado Cyclist that sells a device that stretches between the handlebars and the seat post that keeps sweat from hitting it when you use a trainer.

I believe it is Colorado Cyclist that sells a device that stretches between the handlebars and the seat post that keeps sweat from hitting it when you use a trainer.
I have such a device myself, its called a hand towel :D
And, it goes in the wash without any fuss!!
I had to giggle at that Blackburn sweat catcher...

I have heard that trainers can, but also heard that they don't! I just bought a Cyclops Fluid 2 about a month ago and put my mtb on it instead of the road bike. They can damage skewers so it's best to buy a cheap skewer if your trainer did not come with one; and they will chew tires up so buy a cheap tire for the rear. But since I started using the trainer I haven't noticed anything unusual going on with the frame that would suggest to me that it could damage a frame. But just to be safe I'll continue to use the mtb.

you can ovalize your headset races if you use a resistance trainer, because the handlebar remains in a fixed position. you can avoid this issue by using rollers

Even while using a riser block?

you can ovalize your headset races if you use a resistance trainer, because the handlebar remains in a fixed position.

Not many of the current trainers hold your handlebars at all... they sort of clamp the bike by the rear wheel. This was an issue with the trainers that had you fasten in the front fork.

Sweat can definitely corrode you bike.
http://www.chainreaction.com/corrosion.htm

I always make sure to wipe my bike down after a session on the rollers which is probably enough to stop the problem seen in the bike above.


serious question here, can snot corrode your bike? because my nose runs a lot when i ride (even when it's warm out, i dont get it) and i'm not always fast enough/don't care enough to wipe it away. i haven't noticed anything so far, except for a few little spots where it hit the frame or handlebars, but they are wipe-able.

Just make sure you wipe your bike down so your bike doesn't beg the question from others..."what's that stuff on your bike?" Then your face with coming up with a good answer.

serious question here, can snot corrode your bike? because my nose runs a lot when i ride (even when it's warm out, i dont get it) and i'm not always fast enough/don't care enough to wipe it away. i haven't noticed anything so far, except for a few little spots where it hit the frame or handlebars, but they are wipe-able.

I dunno but it sounds like a good bike theif deterrent to me. Might sound funny but it snot

Just make sure you wipe your bike down so your bike doesn't beg the question from others..."what's that stuff on your bike?" Then your face with coming up with a good answer.

i would just say "it's snot. my nose runs when i ride."

samdabikinman, you are HILARIOUS! "it snot!!!" HAHAHA that rules!

I haven't actually heard anything about ovalizing headsets on the trainers, but with, or without the riser, the headset is still sitting still with all your weight on it. With the bearings not moving, and the weight, and other various vibrations travelling through the bike, overtime, the bearings will kind of grind their way into the headset cups. However, I use a trainer and have not experienced this (I am only 140lbs though). In any case, to counteract this, I periodically move my wheel from side to side while riding. In all, a trainer obviously isn't going to do good things for your frame, but I haven't had any alignment issues or any issues for that matter with respect to the bike since I started using the trainer, and to my mind, way too many people use them without complaint for there to be a substantial problem... Good luck!

If you plan to use a trainer allot, I would just pick up a cheep bike to use on it. I have an old beat-up Schwinn Le-Tour that I got for $20. I don't have to worry if I am hurting the bike and I don't have to do the "take it of the trainer/put it back on the trainer" thing every time I want to go riding.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=15834

And save your money and use a phone book or stack of old magazines instead of a wheel block. The hand towel idea's already come up for a sweat catcher.

A couple solutions:
Sweat won't corrode Ti.
My trainer dosen't need a wheel block. (1UpUSA)
I have never heard of anyone breaking a frame on a trainer. How could it possibly hurt your wheel? It is the worlds smoothest road.
The snot thing.....................can't help you there.

If you plan to use a trainer allot, I would just pick up a cheep bike to use on it. I have an old beat-up Schwinn Le-Tour that I got for $20. I don't have to worry if I am hurting the bike and I don't have to do the "take it of the trainer/put it back on the trainer" thing every time I want to go riding.

:D :D I did that and ended up upgrading the parts on the "trainer bike" just in
case I did want to take it out on the road. Silly me. :D :D