Biggziff

I tend to over think things...part of my job thought process, I guess.

I'm looking at my bike mounted on the Fluid2 and thinking that the forces on the rear triangle while on the trainer are probably not the forces the triangle was designed for. Has anyone thought about this?

Talewinds

Will a trainer hurt your bike?
No.

conundrumx

It will not hurt your frame regardless of how much flex you see while riding, of course this assumes your frame is already structurally sound with no previous wear or fatigue areas. It will wear out your rear tire, you will see a black skidmark on the ground next to the resistance unit...do not ride it on your prized carpeting or you will be sorry. Place a cheap throw rug under your trainer. You may get increased wear on your rear hub bearings if you ride it enough, but that is even questionable. It can hypothetically wear out or put a groove in your headset races from the slight back-and-forth motion that is present from you being locked in place while pedaling, but again this is arguable and you will need a lot of trainer miles before this could happen. Finally don't forget about sweat and steel frames. You're not getting the air movement to cool you or blow your sweat back and it falls straight on your frame. Cover it with a towel and make sure to use a strong fan whatever type of frame you have as you will appreciate the cooling.

oneradtec

I have done many a hundred miles on my trainers. I've broken parts and flatted tires out on the open road...but never have I broken anything while on the trainer. This includes carbon, aluminum and steel frames over the years.

DocRay

No. It's less stress than road riding.

Biggziff

Not doubting you, but got anything to back that up? It would seem to me that there would be *more* stress on the rear dropouts due to the restriction of the trainer holding the axle parallel. I guess if you rode carefully and stayed seated then the lateral forces would be minimal..hrmmmm...I may have to talk to one of engineering profs at work to see what they think...

Thanks..more for me to ponder in my spare time..

jtree

it seems to me that a rear triangle is designed to withstand torque from the crankarms as well as lateral forces that are transfered from the wheel to the skewers. while riding on a trainer, you apply torque to the crankarms, and as you lean from side to side, you apply lateral forces to the skewers.

DrPete 

Yes, it's bad for your frame. The extra power you have next spring will stress your frame much more than you do right now.

I have bent the skewer that came with my Fluid2 by just a couple degrees. No issues with my frame, though, and I've done TT/sprint workouts on it. I'm 6'2 200#.

terrymorse 

I bent the skewer that came with my Ameircan Classic rear wheel. I thought "no big deal", until my rear wheel came loose at Kaiser Pass during Clinb to Kaiser. I'm glad I discovered it then, before the long and fast descent.

Since then, I only use cheap skewers with my trainer.

Biggziff

Heehh...ok, thanks, Pete. We're similar in size and I'm much less apt to do damage if you don't.

I have goals to try 2 triathalons next year with a guy at work (also 42 and already did 3 tris this year) so the trainer is part of the plan.

Thanks

not2fast

While purchasing my Madone, we put it on a trainer to check for fit. They pulled out the skewer and put in an older one, saying the new skewers werent good in the trainer.

Not sure if it was due to shape, material, or what. Might have only been an issue with the Bonty skewers.

DrPete 

I think it has to do with the clamping mechanism on the Fluid2. it looks like it's definitely designed to have a very snug fit with the one type of skewer they provide.

Why that has to be the old, clunky, uber-fred skewer I don't know, but that's another question entirely.

Psimet2001 

It won't damage the bike. By clamping the skewer it replcates the loading your frame would see out on the road excpet for 2 differences: the wheel/spokes get a break, and the skewer and axel are under a higher compressive load.

That can lead to the bent skewers mentioned above.

Pick up a nice old-style steel skewer and faggetaboutit....