I ride my trainer without the front wheel block. It felt a bit "downhill" and had to get used to it but I really wanted to put more pressure on hands, tri's and shoulders. It works well for that. As said, a trainer does not engage core strength very well. It's a stop-gap measure to keep bike related activity level at a minimum until you get back out on the road again. It really is good mid winter exercise for us snow bunnies but you will still feel that first few weeks of hillclimbs in early March.