12strings

Does anybody else use one of these old wind trainers?

(Like this...) https://www.usedregina.com/classified-ad/Vintage-Vetta-Wind-Trainer_22455460.lite?

I know there are way better ones now, but I got this for free and have been using it regularly in my garage for about a year. It works.

Loose Chain

The bearings went bad in mine and I went to a fluid trainer, much better.

J

nlerner

I do. Someone gave it to me in the late 80s, and it's followed me ever since.

bulldog1935

I have a mag trainer I use occasionally - it's quiet.

My old turbo trainer, which racked up a lot of miles in the 90s, is a great build stand

Prowler 

I have a Cyclops adjustable mag trainer and if I'm really cranking on it the whole thing will move across the floor. So I wonder if a rig like the Vetta wind trainer would put scary stresses on a f/f - clamped into the trainer? I don't know. Yes the mag is pretty quiet, so I can easily hear the music.

Also now have Kreitler rollers so much variety for winter indoor cycling. Mag stationary, rollers and track stand ramp. Woohee! But not yet. Rode 28 mi yesterday - 40 deg, overcast and light winds. Ice n snow on the trail verge and a few spots where I had to coast across the sheet ice. "Calm, cool and no power to the wheels" Over 28 miles I could count the number of other bikes on one hand.

Only 3 months until April

Cougrrcj

I have an air resistance unit hooked up to my even older school rollers. Rollers for smooth pedaling technique, and squirrel cage fan for resistance.

styggno1

This mid 80ies Tacx has seen a lot of winter training. Not lately though, apart from my brother using it last winter, as it has been retired to work stand.



I have converted to:

T-Mar

Old wind trainers make excellent fit stands for rider positioning. They allow me, as a coach, to measure, study and adjust rider positions in a controlled environment. For training, I use rollers with wind load fans.

plonz 

Threw mine away about 5 years ago. The cage axle was bent. Surprisingly did not affect performance but made it even noisier.

gaucho777 

I had a trainer like that. I strongly recommend periodically checking the fan for any small cracks. One day while I was in the middle of a hard sprint/interval session, one of the fans sheared off. The jagged-edged remains of the fan went flying across the room at a tremendous speed, leaving a hole in my closet door. I don't know if a repeat failure would always send the fan backward; I'd hate to think of that fan flying up at the rider! I've stuck with rollers since then.

3speedslow

Only as a workstand. Indoor riding will drive me to insanity.

Cougrrcj

Too much salt on the roads around here during the Winter months to be riding anything but a 'beater' until the Spring rains wash it away. I've had a bike rust through in just four years of Winter riding!!!

Ex Pres 

I'm the same, but when I do it, I do it on an old Schwinn mag trainer. 130OLD need not apply.

rootboy 

I have one, like the one pictured above. I think it is the Novara model, maybe sold by REI.

bulldog1935

kind of a shame to trash them, they make such good build stands - especially great for wrapping bars.

ButterBrickle

How hard are rollers to get used to?

SJX426 

Bought a Cyclops Mag and block. Never use it. Thought I could discipline myself to go through the winter on it but..... For it to be quiet, you need tires that don't have any tread or minimum cross edges. Lots of them on CL with a wide range in pricing.

Cougrrcj

When I bought my rollers from Nashbar years ago, they offered a front fork mount (got that for the wife) so it is just like riding any other stationary trainer.

I prefer to ride without the front mount - so I'm really riding on the 18" wide rollers. It really does help with developing a smooth pedal stroke and smooth 'straight-line-steering' while riding. If you don't have both, you'll fall off. Back when I started riding on rollers 40 years ago, I had them set up between two bunk beds in my dorm room. Now I set up my rollers in a doorway or narrow hallway, so I can lean on the door jamb or walls to get started. Remember, you're going to be about 6" above the floor, so you'll need something to stand on/put your feet on when starting or stopping.

non-fixie 

I have a sixties' set of rollers and had a lot of fun learning to ride on them, but I don't like riding indoors, so I'll just take my Atala out as long as there's no serious snow on the roads.

Ex Pres 

Door jambs are generally better:

1. Paint is glossier so easier to clean marks
2. Surface is harder so less likely a mishap will create anything you'll need to fix.

YMMV

RobbieTunes

I had a Schwinn Magnadyne, but it flat wore out.


Actually it didn't. I sweated on it and it rusted out.


But I tell people it wore out.

hilltowner

Same here, Kreitler rollers with Killer Head Wind fan.



That's "Killer" in the logo.

deephate

I had two beers for breakfast since I have the day off (see sig). I really wanted to ride outside but it's freezing rain and I'm not big on bouncing my head on the road, helmeted or not (normally not but I was happy to be wearing one when I was hit by an SUV on RAGBRAI in 2014, I was still airlifted with a head injury but I survived). I have a Minnoura mag trainer that I can barely stand to ride. I wondered about riding rollers. I thought that it looks so much like actually riding that I had to have a set, I knew I would enjoy them immensely. Somehow I purchased a set of Nashbar reduced radius rollers and while I was waiting for them to arrive I saw a deal on a used Minnoura mag roller set on CL with larger drums so I purchased those also. It wasn't as enjoyable as I had thought. I don't really want to ride any of them.

I need to move to Florida.....or Texas......or SOMEWHERE ELSE

Freezing in northern Iowa

hilltowner

I try to distract myself as much as possible while using a trainer. Listening to head phones, watching a video, etc. The video and rollers don't mix if what I'm watching is a riding video. I find I can't help but drift with the video and sometimes ride off the edge of the roller.

kcblair

Hello Guys, Sorry to revisit this old thread, but some useful info here.

My magnetic trainer gave up the ghost yesterday, bearing shot. Going to get something new for Christmas. In the mean time, I found one of this Vetta Wind Trainer on CL, yesterday, to keep me going. $15, couldn't pass it up.

It's in good shape, well taken care of, as owner was a avid cyclist.

SO, my question is, how tight or how much pressure should be on the rear wheel. The wind wheel, slides back & forth , so there must be some amount of pressure against the rear wheel.

Thanks for any help, now on for a short spin. KB