Wheels, tires and tubes oh my
 

So, recently I purchased a mag trainer for my bike. I live in an apartment and it isn't terribly noisy but I wanted to reduce the noise further. I read about "trainer" tires you can get that are as smooth as a baby's bottom and reduce noise, so I bought one. Now that I'm installing it, I'm worried it might be too small for my rim.

The tire size is: 700x23c
The wheel size is: 700x28c/38c
The tube size is: 700x25c - 32c

Will this actually work? Would I need to get a smaller tube to make it work? I read on Sheldon Brown's site that using a narrow tire on a wide rim results in a greater chance of flats. Would that risk still exist when using it with a trainer rather than out on the road?

Any advice/help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

http://www.sheldonbrown.com

Like to tire sizing and rim matching available there.

=8-)

You bought a very narrow tire for the rim, and I wouldn't consider it suitable for road use, but it's probably OK for the trainer. The tube should fit, but tube sizing is all over the boards, so if it's a brand that runs large, it might be a lot to stuff up there (but it will).

If it's not too late, I'd look for a larger section tire with smooth tread, but otherwise use what you have because there's no way you can ride it on the road.

Besides that here are a few hints for quieter trainer use.

1- most people set the roller way (really way) to tight against the tire. You want only enough contact pressure to prevent slippage in actual use (you hear slippage as a squeak). On my trainers I can make the tire slip with sudden extreme acceleration, but that's OK because I don't train like that. If looking from the side, the roller is more than 1/8" farther in from where it first touches the tire it's too tight. High roller pressure destroys tires, and increases bearing wear on the trainer itself.

2- a well aligned rear wheel is important, especially radially (hops). Low spots cause slippage forcing you to tighten the roller more than if the wheel were round.

3- more friction between the roller and tire helps allows lower roller pressure with less slippage. Use alcohol to wipe the roller dry. for more friction you can use a spray adhesive like 3m "sprayment" (if it's till sold) or a lacquer type hairspray. Let either dry completely before riding. I've gone to the extreme of wrapping the entire roller with fine grit adhesive sandpaper. This gives the roller a texture like pavement and allows good traction with almost zero roller pressure.

FBinNY's tips for setting roller pressure are spot on. Too tight or too loose eats tires and makes a fan of rubber fragments behind the trainer. I set mine as he suggests, so the tire slips very slightly on hard acceleration or if you yank the wheel around by hand. Any slick tire will work well and run quetly if the tension is set properly.

Another way to quiet the whole thing down is to put a piece of carpet under the trainer or, better, the entire bike. Your downstairs neighbors will thank you.