Bike Trainer
10-16-19, 04:51 AM
#1
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Bike Trainer
I'd like to get a trainer, I have no idea what to get but my budget wont allow much. Can someone fill me in on the types of trainers and what the differences are? Seems that a fluid trainer is a good idea but this is all so new to me.
10-16-19, 01:31 PM
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I did a quick google search to remember the correct spelling of the name of my trainer to cite here and in my search found a good link on trainer differences.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
10-16-19, 06:54 PM
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I did a quick google search to remember the correct spelling of the name of my trainer to cite here and in my search found a good link on trainer differences.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...bike-trainers/
I personally like a magnetic resistance trainer over a fluid trainer, but I am clearly in the minority. I have a Kurt Kinetic magnetic trainer. I picked up an old low mileage bike leaning against a garbage bin that looked like it would be a great trainer bike, I hated to see it go to the landfill. So, I re-greased a few parts and put on a new chain, different pedals, different saddle. It is permanently stationed on my trainer and I leave it in high gear. I use the magnetic system to adjust drag.
A fluid trainer is not adjustable like a magnetic trainer, thus you adjust your gears for more or less resistance.
A good fluid one will approximate the resistance that you feel on the road. If you are trying to keep statistics from one workout to the next, you want the fluid trainer. A magnetic one would be bad for comparing statistics from one day to the next because it is adjustable so you would be comparing apples with grapefruits. I am a low wattage rider, I have never overheated a trainer or a trainer tire.
It is important to use a stand under the front wheel to raise it up so your bike is positioned the same as it would be on a horizontal road.
Some people put a mat under the bike to catch sweat drips, etc., I use a beach towel.
10-16-19, 07:13 PM
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One more thing, a fan on a stand can be really nice to have.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
10-17-19, 12:13 PM
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One more thing, a fan on a stand can be really nice to have.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
I watch tv when on the trainer or watch a video on my tablet. The bike and trainer is noisy enough that I use headphones. But that means I am mostly thinking about the tv show and not on training, thus I am doing a low wattage endurance kind of ride, not interval training or anything like that.
I do not use the trainer very much, instead in winter I am mostly using an exercise bike at a health club instead. But before I started using the health club, the trainer got much more of a workout.
10-22-19, 08:20 PM
#8
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Edit to add this...
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...rainer-review/
Last edited by one4smoke; 10-22-19 at 08:38 PM.
