Cheap/Bad Trainer vs. GURU Carbon Frame?
 

Hey Guys,

Recently I bought a cheap craigslisted cycleops wind bike trainer. I've only tried it out twice now. It doesn't have the adjustable legs so i'm angling downwards slightly which is not a problem. However, I've come to realize the horrors of craigslist as the rotor with the fan blades is not trued and is wobbling out and at times hitting the cup that surrounds it.

I'm no expert, although I am an engineer, but it seems that I'm at the crossroads on whether or not I should attempt to fix the darn thing or buy a magnetic one instead. Noise is not a factor for me since I have a loudish fan on to cool me off as I'm crankin it anyway. Also, should I not be tearing up my GURU frame on that trainer? Each pedal stroke - when I'm leaning into the cockpit - is causing the frame to torque from side to side. Should I be using that climbing block? Not sure if I'll be level if I do that. Even then, I tried to solve the problem by tightening down the locking mechanism for the skewers. It seem to "alleviate" the problem, but I could still notice the frame stressing like a bad rocking chair or an old wooden bed frame that creaks every time you get into it, or the wooden floor that creaks each time you step on it. It's pretty noticeable and irritating.

Should I just use my aluminum specialized (older) bike instead? Get a new trainer? Fix the trainer?

Let me know your thoughts.

*Post Script*
Just found out it might be because i'm Cranking a 50(front)/15~21 (rear) combo while being on the trainer. Should I be in my 34 front and maybe 15~21 rear? Will that cause me to focus on my pedal stroke, though I'd only get an aerobic workout, and not stress the frame?

*note - i haven't tried the above yet... I will tomorrow

just use something to prop your front wheel up - a phonebook or block of wood works well. If you're angled down, it puts added pressure on your hands which isn't comfortable for long, though YMMV based on your set up.

There's no real reason to get a new trainer if you don't care about noise or feel (in which case, get a fluid), assuming you can fix whatever's wrong. All trainers lock your bike in the same way and put the same stresses on it, aside from maybe the KK Rock and Roll.


Thousands of people have put thousands of hours on the trainer with all types of frames. If you set it up correctly, there are no issues. I ride both my road bikes, one carbon and one steel, both on the road and on the trainer without worry or issues. If you're doing something specific to cause the torque (rocking back and forth for instance), probably don't want to do that.

Do whatever is easier/you prefer.

Be in whatever gear you need to be to get the workout you desire. If you don't know what kind of workout you should be getting, that's a much different question. People use the trainer to get all different types of workouts and you do whatever type of work you want. I much prefer intensity and intervals on it. Some people just log lots of easy time.

The gear you're in doesn't change the trainer/bike interaction (unless YOU'RE doing something different in different gears, i.e. in a hard gear, don't use your arms to torque back and forth on the bars or rock your weight side to side - something like that probably means your position is wrong). Standing is different too - can't really rock the bike back and forth.

FWIW - if you're doing anything longer than your all out ~2 min effort, you're getting a primarily aerobic workout.

Neither. Wind and magnetic trainers are both crap. Get a trainer with a fluid resistance unit and a flywheel.

Yes to using a climbing block.

Which gear you run should make no difference. Select whicever gear will get you to the correct HR zone.

Trainer frame should be completely motionless. If yours isn't you should stop using it.

You should be able to ride your go-fast bike on the trainer. (Just use a junk skewer on the rear wheel, lest you beat up the nice skewer.) That said, I personally use my old bike on the trainer, and also to drive out of town for training. Go-fast bike is too valuable to risk damaging.