Great Lakes - polling the cycling intelligentisia of GLBF

I thought I'd post here before venturing into the big scary road forum where I would no doubt be ridiculed mercilessly, or totally ignored, for asking such a stupid question. So here, be nice guys!

When my bike is on the trainer(cycle-ops), I notice that my back tire leaves a thin strip of rubber on wheel that snugs up to the tire to create tension. This has flattened out the surface of the tire that meets the road.

If I loosen it, there's very little tension and the wheel just spins freely.

Is there a fine line between too tight and too loose? :winter:

Colleen

Yes. There is a fine line, but what's more is that trainers will prematurely wear out tires. That is why they market a tire specifically for use on trainers.

Best solution is to use old/used/worn out tires on the trainer. I bought a few really hard rubber (more like plastic) tires on clearance form Performance years ago and have yet to wear through one.

To make it easier to use a worn out tire on the trainer while still having a nice tire for road use without having to peel tires every time most riders will have a "trainer wheel". This is a wheel that they bought specifically for use on the trainer. Wheel, cassette, tire, tube, rim strip. ALl set and ready to go.

For a trainer wheel stop by an LBS and see what ultra cheap wheel they can pick up through their distribution. Performance always has their Forte Titan for under $100. You could also score a decent one on craigslist and save on shipping...

I use an old tire for my trainer also (well actually the tire I ran this past year that will be replaced in spring). You should be able to adjust the tension so you can get the exact resistance you want. Obviously you can use your gears to change the resistance, but for that "in between" area you can tweak the tension. Good luck!

i went the "trainer" wheel route as mentioned by Psi. picked up a cheap Performance wheel, used an older cassette and cheap new tire/tube. the swap is simple and easy. even for me. later.

hmmmmmmmm....maybe I could switch the back wheel from my hybrid bike? The gearing is more mountain-bikeish, though, probably not the best for intervals but it could work?

I am also a Psi Padawan learner and have a set of the Performance Forte. Nice cheap wheels.

That could work if the wheels are both 700 and the tire from the hybred clears the brakes. I just put a older tire on my good wheel and ride it both on the trainer and outside this time of year. As long as the tire has rubber on it and no threads showing, I'm good to go. Make sure your tires are pumped up when using the trainer, you don't need the tire to be causing resistance.

I was leaving that rubber streak on the trainer drum when it was too loose. I tightened it more, and it stopped.

These days I really crank it down so it doesn't slip when I drope the hamer. :)

As mentioned you can only switch from your hybrid if the hybrid wheel is a 700C sized wheel. Also check the cassette on the hybrid. Make sure you have the same number of cogs (gears) on it. If not then verify that you can put a matching cassette on that wheel.

If so then buy a new cassette....put it on the road bike. Take that opportunity to replace the chain on the road bike as well. Then move the worn cassette to the hybrid wheel. Replace the hybrid tire (don't ride knobbies or tread on a trainer if you value sanity).

As mentioned you can only switch from your hybrid if the hybrid wheel is a 700C sized wheel. Also check the cassette on the hybrid. Make sure you have the same number of cogs (gears) on it. If not then verify that you can put a matching cassette on that wheel.

If so then buy a new cassette....put it on the road bike. Take that opportunity to replace the chain on the road bike as well. Then move the worn cassette to the hybrid wheel. Replace the hybrid tire (don't ride knobbies or tread on a trainer if you value sanity).

or train for cross racing:D

Colleen, try this, put a small mark on the knob for adjusting the drive wheel, as you adjust it to the bike wheel, just as the drum touches the tire, then go 1 and 1/2 turns more. I have never had a problem and sounds like you have the same trainer I have.

Be prepared to buy new tires in the spring is all.

all good ideas thanks guys. I will start w/the most conservative and economical and move up from there

Colleen (who's got 2 of her 4 great kids in college right now and doesn't have a lot of spare spending cabbage for little cycling goodies)


Colleen, try this, put a small mark on the knob for adjusting the drive wheel, as you adjust it to the bike wheel, just as the drum touches the tire, then go 1 and 1/2 turns more. I have never had a problem and sounds like you have the same trainer I have.

Be prepared to buy new tires in the spring is all.

Colleen, try this, put a small mark on the knob for adjusting the drive wheel, as you adjust it to the bike wheel, just as the drum touches the tire, then go 1 and 1/2 turns more. I have never had a problem and sounds like you have the same trainer I have.

Be prepared to buy new tires in the spring is all.

I don't think the exact tension is that important. I always crank that mofo down. After making contact, I probably put a good 3 or 4 full turns on it. As long as it's tight enough, it works fine. I've yet to see it too tight.

continental makes a trainer specific tire, but it is not for use on the road

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/pcouht/continental_ultra_sport_hometrainer_tire/pp.htm

continental makes a trainer specific tire, but it is not for use on the road

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/pcouht/continental_ultra_sport_hometrainer_tire/pp.htm

Overrated and too expensive. Just go with a used tire, or a cheap discount tire. The cheaper the better - the cheaper they are the harder the "rubber" and the longer they last.

I have been using the Panaracer Pasela Tourguard on my trainer for a couple years with no problems. Harris carries them.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/622.html#25

I thought I'd post here before venturing into the big scary road forum where I would no doubt be ridiculed mercilessly, or totally ignored, for asking such a stupid question. So here, be nice guys!

When my bike is on the trainer(cycle-ops), I notice that my back tire leaves a thin strip of rubber on wheel that snugs up to the tire to create tension. This has flattened out the surface of the tire that meets the road.

If I loosen it, there's very little tension and the wheel just spins freely.

Is there a fine line between too tight and too loose? :winter:

Colleen

Mom,

As far as tension setting, someone gave a guideline to find the point where the bike wheel just grazes the trainer roller with the tire fully inflated, then tighten it two complete turns, this was for a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. It works pretty well. I've owned both the Kurt and the Cyclops, and my guess is thqt it should work pretty well on the Kurt, too.

+1 on getting a cheap tire on there.

Road Fan

Why not ask the folk whom you bought the trainer from (storewise) to show you the best set up for the trainer. Certainly they have had to set them up for display as well as customers. They should know what will make it work best.

I've used a trainer for at least 5 years. The best way that I have found to set the unit up is to first make sure the tire is filled to over 100 psi. As for the tension, I make it tight enough that the tire won't skip or slip if I'm out of the saddle and hammering. If it skips anytime other time, I'll tighten it up a little more. Another tip, if your floor is uneven and the bike and trainer rocks back and forth, use a cedar shim under one of the trainer legs to take up any gap.

Update on the ubiquitous rubber streak on the trainer drum: I followed the simplest advice from Dan and Road Fan, cranked it about 1 1/2-2 turns just after it makes contact.....and it worked like a charm, thanks :thumb:

Grab the wheel with your strong hand.
Roll the rear wheel backwards ~6in.
Quickly jerk the wheel so that it rotates forward.

If it slips more than a tick, tighten it. If it doesn't slip at all, loosen it.

I put an orange trainer tire on my wife's QR tri-bike for trainer duty this winter. My solution was to pick up an 80's road bike for cheap, do a little cleanup on it, throw in a new BB and chain and dedicate it to the trainer. I picked up a handful of <$10 27-inch clinchers on the InterWeb so I should be good for life.