I can think of no better place to post this than in a forum aimed at bike mechanics.

I've read that trainers can be hard on bikes and that we should use older "backup" bikes on trainers instead of our high-end super light road bikes. I've also read that this isn't the case at all and you can pedal away on your Colnago C50 hooked up to trainer during the winter months without fears of any damage.

What's the real story?

Thanks

Good question - I started a thread about this a little while ago: https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/89773-stationary-trainers-frame-stress.html
As you can see, there doesn't seem to be any conclusive answers, just a lot of conjecture. As a result of this thread, I resurrected an old bike I had in storage and I use it on my trainer rather than subject my better bikes to possible abuse.

Since the thread that Sprocket ref'ed I've also learned that Seven will not honor the lifetime warrenty on their frames if used in a trainer.... Hmmmmm.

Not that I wrecked a Seven. I was just lusting around on thier site.

My trainer viscously attacked my bike one night so I have to keep them in separate rooms.



I also read the same thing and I use a trainer. I use dvd training videos and they don’t use second hand bikes on the videos. I’d rather use the trainer than not and hay if it does mess up my bike I’ll take-em to court! na j/k.

I don't have any hard facts to offer either, just more conjecture. The rear axle of a bike is one of the stronger areas of the frame though, if that helps. Most frames tend to give where the downtube and the headtube are welded. I would think as long as you remain seated instead of standing and hammering your bike would be OK.

That being said, I still use a backup bike on my trainer just to be safe. I feel odd calling it a backup bike though as I've put substantially more miles on it this year than I have my nicer bikes.

Other than burning through tires, I can't see a trainer adverseley affecting the frame. I also use my "backup" bike in my trainer, but that's because during the winter if there is a break in the weather I want to just go out and ride without having to unhook the trainer and then of course hook it back up again after. Plus, I ride indoors on the second floor and don't want to haul my bikes up and down.