Burning rubber
 

I just picked up a new home trainer the other day from a coworker who knew she was never ever going to use it. So I set the thing up while it's pouring rain outside and my legs are beginning to atrophy. It's a clamp-in with a tensionable roller behind the back wheel. I jump on it and start spinning. Within a minute, my apartment fills with the scent of burning rubber. I touch the rear wheel and it's hot and a tiny bit sticky (probably from residue on the roller). Still, I know this thing is going to melt my tire away before long. Does anyone have any tire recommendations for something like this? I don't want to waste my money on a thick tire that I'm going to melt, but I also don't want to waste my money on a bunch of cheap tires that I'm going to melt. Is it normal for a home trainer to melt your tires?

sounds to me like you have some slippage going on. make sure that tires are up to pressure and the roller is snug to your rear wheel. If the roller is covered in crap it probably wouldn't hurt to clean it off.

there was a thread about this before.

i had a similar issue. if you adjust the tensioner it might get better. I would end up with rubber residue behind the trainer (a lot) - both too tight and too loose would cause this. Just gotta find the happy medium.

there are specific tyres for trainers, more durable and silent, continental has this model http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticy...etrainer.shtml

Much better solution than buying cheap tyres or burning your usual ones.

Very nice. Thanks! Let's see if the people in the Training & Nutrition forum come up with that one...