Bike Trainer
10-16-19 | 04:51 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 249
Likes: 28
Bike Trainer
I'd like to get a trainer, I have no idea what to get but my budget wont allow much. Can someone fill me in on the types of trainers and what the differences are? Seems that a fluid trainer is a good idea but this is all so new to me.
10-16-19 | 10:49 AM
#2
Heft On Wheels
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 561
From: South Dakota
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
10-16-19 | 01:31 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,728
Likes: 2,105
From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
I did a quick google search to remember the correct spelling of the name of my trainer to cite here and in my search found a good link on trainer differences.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
10-16-19 | 06:54 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 320
From: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
I did a quick google search to remember the correct spelling of the name of my trainer to cite here and in my search found a good link on trainer differences.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
10-16-19 | 07:13 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,728
Likes: 2,105
From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
One more thing, a fan on a stand can be really nice to have.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
10-17-19 | 12:13 PM
#7
Heft On Wheels
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 561
From: South Dakota
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
One more thing, a fan on a stand can be really nice to have.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
10-22-19 | 08:20 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,177
Likes: 347
From: Nashville, TN.
Bikes: 2020 Specialized Roubaix Comp SC - 2016 Specialized Roubaix SL4 - 2015 Giant Roam 2 Disc
Edit to add this...
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...rainer-review/
Last edited by one4smoke; 10-22-19 at 08:38 PM.
