Originally Posted by
LastKraftWagen
My preferred winter/can't find a pilot trainer is the Wahoo Kicker, but it doesn't support the 145mm dropout (it is a wheel off design so no tire wear). Prefer it over the Computrainer simply because it is blind accessible, but I can also download GPX files to ride or program my own sessions.
Have you checked into a local spinning class? Usually a little more motivating than grinding away in the typical trainer [social aspect], usually about an hour a couple times a week [but intended to be higher intensity than your normal 3-4 hour ride].
San Diego? Isn't Mt Baldy close? And they do blow snow at that ski hill in the San Bernadino National Forest [the turn off to the hill is off I15 before you get to the top of Cajone Pass/Victorville]. Snowshoeing uphill works a lot of the same cycling muscles.
As for the tandem in a trainer... Even if it is "tandem rated," that's a lot of lever on a small connecting point; you have t be smooth, make sure your QR [if you are so equipped] is suitable for the trainer your using, and I personally wouldn't stand [again you have to be really smooth... LOOONG lever]. And for the price of one of those fancy CompuTrainer/Wahoo KICKR things you could easily pick up a couple of CraigsList bikes and single trainers and a few inspirational DVDs/CDs.
Rear tire wear- I always save those tires I no longer feel comfortable running on the road and "run them 'til the explode" on my fluid resistance trainer... I find great satisfaction in these blowouts and a generally positive feeling in knowing I got the very last inch of rotation out of a tire carcass.
My $0.03
[Hey, I'm saving for my dream build
]
Both my wife and myself have tried spin class at the gym and we both HATE it. There is also the issue of sick people there, best place to go if you want to get exposed to viruses.
To me this is not cycling. Yes there are ski areas 2-3 hours aways, Big Bear, Mountain High, Mt Baldy, San Jacinto for XC skiing but its a lot a driving, very expensive and the snow is very poor. The closest descent skiing is Mammoth Mtn and its 6 - 7 hour drive and very expensive for both lodging and lift tickets. We don't ski enough to ever get better at it and have to start over each winter.
The Kurt Kinetic trainer is rated for tandem use and does't cost a whole lot. I just think both of us would be more motivated and have more fun riding the tandem so why not ride it? I think if she rode her single she would last 15 minutes and be done.