I am training for my first FG century later this year and a possible fixed 200k rando. As much as I'd love to actually put miles on the road, I am finding situations where an indoor trainer would be beneficial. Since FG/SS bikes do not have QR skewers, will just any trainer work? I'm looking at the moment at the various folding magnetic-type trainers.

Any help would be appreciated.

Are rollers an option?

Sportcrafter has two different drums including a high-inertia drum for spinning and an Overdrive drum with a very realistic resistance curve. I own both and can do 2x20 threshold intervals on the Overdrive drum or spin really fast at low resistance on the high-inertia drum.

There are other brands besides Sportcrafter and rollers are just a suggestion.




-Tim-

I can't speak to all trainers, but my super-craptastic Nashbar fluid trainer works fine with nutted axles.

Aren't spin bikes basically fixed-gears?

I’m using a Kurt Kinetic smart trainer works well.

Same here. I believe a majority of trainers will grab onto the axle nuts and dont require specific shaped quick release skewers.

Yep. They have a wide variety of caps that will fit over just about anything. My Kurt works well.

Thanks for the replies. Not sure why I was thinking that trainers came with their own axle/skewer. Think I'll check out the Kurt.

Apparently many of them do, since they can't grab on to the open-cam style quick release skewers found on most modern road wheels.

I was just searching on this same topic yesterday, so this is timely info. I've been looking into getting a trainer, and I'll probably eventually buy a geared road bike at least partially for trainer use. But it's good to hear I'll be able to ride the FG bike on it for now.

Most of them do and the stock caps will mate best to the skewer they provide. The larger caps will (should)fit fairly snug over the washer found on most track nuts. It's not a completely perfect fit, but it will work.

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I'll watch the local garage/yard sales for an exercise bike. Not sure I'm wild about wearing my tire down on a trainer.

Just get a cheap trainer tire to throw on it for the winter.