Do I need a trainer block?
 

I ordered CycleOps Magneto trainer today. Do I have to get a block for the front wheel as well, or is it optional? What is it for anyway?

I want to know as well.

It's to raise the front wheel so the bike's level. You don't need it. A phone book. weight plates, a board, all work. But the trainer block is a little more elegant and a little more secure.

It just levels the bike out. The phone company will give you a riser block disguised as The Yellow Pages. It is much cheaper.

+1 on the phone book. Put an upside-down spare saddle on top of that and put the tire between the rails to steady it. Home remedies aside, the riser block is a $10-20 hunk of plastic, if you happen upon one at a shop or are ordering something else anyway might as well go for it. Don't sweat it either way, I've used both a book/saddle and the block, the multiple positions on the block and "having the right tool for the job" are kind of nifty.

LOL, those sneaky phone company people :) Thanks for the info!

why put anything on the book? I just put down whatever old book I have handy that's about the right size and set the front tire on that. It doesn't move around.

I went for the $163.13 home remedy instead...

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...V44295683_.jpg

Just the right height and it lets me move the handle bars a bit if I need to. Not that I'm turning too many corners while on the trainer.;)

I used to use an inverted saddle because the book I was using (old Java book) was a bit slippery/floppy. My front wheel would tend to walk forward and to either side. The saddle rails kept it from walking during out of the saddle or interval work. I imagine a phone book would be similar, but if you don't need it, don't use it.

You didn't!


Hurts me, right here....

I'm going to see if I can find a carbon fiber block :D

If you want to solve the wheel shifting around problem - open the yellow pages & put the wheel in the middle. As an added bonus - you can check out Lawyers & Mortgage brokers while you ride.

Living in a small community, my Phone book is only about 1.25 inches at best. This however...

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

will do.

I use a brick

Seriously.

That's a terrible, terrible thing.

















I sold my chemistry text books on half.com :lol: I also will NEVER pay full retail for a text book if I can avoid it again. Screw 150+ bucks for a text book I'm going to use for a semester or two...

+1 It works better and seems to offer some greater legitimacy to my work on the trainer.

I just picked up the nashbar deluxe riser block. I use a 1 Up USA trainer which self levels, I only use the block to help keep the front wheel from moving during hard efforts on the trainer when I am on a slick surface like my garage floor. Between the 1UP USA which is very secure, and the riser block, the bike is solid as a rock.

My statistics textbook works great.

Not needed, but I find it helpful when fitting my bike. Of course, a "sticker" (piece of wood used under loads of plywood to let the forklift pick it up) from Home Depot for like .51 works just as well as long as you sand it smooth.

My wife feels very secure with one of the 25 lb bags of cat litter stacked in the garage.

-1 on the yellow pages and that other dumb idea.

The point of the block is to steady the front wheel, lift it up to the level of the rear wheel, and prevent the front wheel from turning while doing hard sprints or out-of-saddle climbing. Putting a slick surface under the front tire is not the same thing.

Make one out of wood, but you'll have already spent more than just buying a block.

Sorry man. After two semesters of OChem, outside of burning the text, I thought this a fitting use. Would sell it, but it may come in handy in the future. Never know when I'll need kindling!! :eek: :D


Switched to Carey from this:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...V44181348_.jpg

Maybe I'll stack them to simulate a hill. Then again, the weather's nice....I'll go outside.:D

I'm gratified to see I'm not the only cheapskate using an old phone book...

I have one of the tri-blocks(got it as a gift w/trainer) and I think the book or a block of wood works better. Keep a shank of wood in the car to use during warm-ups at races.