dgalati

Hey guys,

I just picked up a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and just have it a spin for a couple hours. Do you all suggest I pick up a spare rear wheel to use on the trainer? If so, what brand should I go with.

Also, forgive me for being a noob to cycling but if I get a new trainer wheel, is it advisable to purchase an additional cassette so I can switch between the trainer / road wheel quickly?

Thanks,

Dan

Solorouleur

I think getting a new cassette would be essential. I would go nuts if I had to change my cassette every time I wanted to switch wheels...

dgalati

Thats what I figured. Is there a basic cassette built for this purpose that anyone could suggest? I am sort of tight on money and looking for the best bang for my buck.

timwu12

well, 10 speed 105's on ebay go for like $30

Solorouleur

Maybe a 105 if you are riding Shimano? They really aren't that expensive. If anything, you could go and look for a used rear wheel and cassette on Craigslist or something...It won't really make any difference...

dgalati

Yea I have a ultegra/dura ace setup. Stupid question but does it matter if I get a cassette with a different gear ratio than my current one? i.e. will I have to adjust the derailleurs every time I switch out wheels?

Also, how do I find out what my gear ratio is?

lynch.cr

Just count the smallest cog (the first number) and the largest cog (the second number). 11-23 has 11 teeth on the smallest cog and 23 teeth on the biggest cog.

dgalati

and the 'speed' is the number of cogs correct?

lynch.cr

Exactly.

timwu12

10 cogs = 10 speed

CyciumX

Different wheels and cogs might have some very minimal offsets that may require a few barrel adjustments when switching out the wheel. You could easily get lucky and not have to worry about that though.

dgalati

any suggestion on wheel brand?

Rocket-Sauce 

Get a beater used wheel from Craigslist. Put up a want-to-buy listing in the bikes section. I did this for my trainer and got an Alex wheel with 105 cassette and conti tire for $30. Ride the treads off the tire before getting a replacement.

merlinextraligh

Then just don't buy a wheel for the trainer. There's no reason that you can't use your current wheel and tire. A dedicated trainer tire will wear a little slower, than a high end road tire.

But even if you ride $50 tires, and ride the trainer a lot, it will take you years to recoup your intial investment for the wheel, tire, rim strip, tube, and cassette.



And you have to hassle with changing wheels everytime you go from road to trainer and trainer to road. I wouldn't (and don't) bother.

veloGeezer

since all cyclists have multiple bicycles, it is best to use just some stock wheels you have laying around, an old tire, and a worn cassette so that you just swap wheels for the trainer. Of course, you have to have alot of equipment laying around from your long life of cycling, but that is why we pack rat old tires and cassettes

I won't ride a rear tire that has seen much trainer time, and I sure ain't going to change tires just to ride a trainer, so a spare wheel, cassette and tire is the way to go

use your olds, use what is cheap

stien

You can get cheap wheels for like $30 sometimes on craigslist, I was thinking about that but I ride on the road now that it's nice out!

dgalati

Thanks for the advice everyone!

david_594

Use it as an excuse to upgrade. Keep the stock wheels for the trainer and get a better wheelset for the road.

gregf83 

+1. I don't understand the need for a separate wheel. First, see how much you like riding the trainer indoors before buying another wheel. I only ride the trainer in the winter maybe 10-20 times (1 hr max) a year when it's too miserable out to ride and haven't noticed any rapid wear on the tires.

veloGeezer

don't understand the need for an extra wheel????

what are you, some kind of communist?

just like the ideal number of bicycles is always one more than you currently own, a trainer wheel (and especially the idea of needing one) is an essential part of the cycling culture.

Sure, I don't NEED a trainer wheel, but you just try and take mine away! I'm not going to get my good road tires sullied by a fluid trainer! That's not America, hell, that's not even Mexico! Cyclists are all inherently gear heads and so a trainer wheel should suit any cyclist right down to the ground!

bismillah

If you are training, you should be on a training wheel. Armadillo skin 25 rear.