venomx

Got a btwin hybrid bike and with the corona virus nonsense we may not be able to go out soon.

I heard of turbo trainers for hooking your bike up indoors but they're all out of stock and they all require you to change the quick release to one supplied which I don't feel comfortable with

Any suggestions?


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HillRider

Yes, find a resistance trainer that uses your bike and change the rear quick release for the (probably stronger) one provided. There is no reason not to use it. I assume you know how to use a quick release properly.

These things are dreadfully boring but are better than doing nothing.

Edit: I just checked on Amazon and they have numerous suitable trainers in stock from $50 on up delivered right to your door.

venomx

Can't find any for under £200 on amazon uk

What should I be searching for? Some call them "turbo trainers"

Thomas15

The answer to the OP question is a question in itself: "how much money do you want to spend, how willing are you to do a few very simple mechanical tasks and do you want to make the indoor experience interesting or sheer drudgery?" Also it depends on what your goals for indoor training are. Do you just want to spin for 10 minutes per day, do you want to train for a century or something in between?

If you are afraid and/or unwilling to change the rear wheel skewer then you are probably not going to get very far in your quest to do indoor training with your bicycle. I don't mean to be harsh just truthful. While I'm not the center of all things bicycle, far from it, I know a few things and can say that in the past 20 weeks I have logged in 2250 indoor miles. To avoid boredom I personally use Zwift, which is an on-line virtual service that connects to many (but not all) generic trainers. I did this on a budget of less than $150 (used craigslist fluid trainer plus other stuff ) in addition to the $15 month subscription. I think I can say truthfully that I'm a far better conditioned rider as we head into this years outdoor season than what I was at the end of last season.

Take everything I say as you would with anything that is free...

Thomas15

Here is a suggestion, search youtube vids for budget bicycle trainer suggestions. There are tons of youtubes on trainers.

venomx

I'm in the UK BTW.

Amazon. Halfords and wiggle are all out of stock

Id be willing to pay up to £200 if we do go into full lock down

Thomas15

What you are looking for is called a "wheel on trainer". You mount the bike on the trainer and the rear wheel is pressed against a roller that is connected to something that creates the resistance. There are some that use fans to create resistance, some that use magnetic resistance and some that use oil in a chamber to create resistance. There are prolly other ways, some sort of friction device but those three are the most common for in home use. There are more expensive "smart trainers" that are direct drive that still use your regular bicycle but those are expensive.

I know nothing about this but here is an idea in your price range: https://www.amazon.com/Alpcour-Fluid.../dp/B07PYHJ582

I am not making any kind of recommendation just offering some suggestions. When I first considered indoor trainers I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money either. But now that I'm in it I see where you get what you pay for.

HillRider

Well, your profile didn't say where you are located so I just used Amazon's USA listings.

I searched "Indoor Bike Trainers" and found several below that price point that would be adequate for occasional use. Good trainers suitable for routine or rigorous indoor training programs are, of course, much more expensive.

Thomas15

Turbo trainer is generally a trainer that uses a fan of some kind to create the resistance. This type of trainer is noisy. For that matter, a knobby mountain bike tire is going to add to the din. So that is why I think a fluid trainer is a good choice and using a tire specific to wheel on trainers is also a very good idea. Even with all this there is noise but not too bad. You might think it's an indoor trainer but especally if you live in an apartment of have other people under your roof you will find a wind trainer to be uncomfortably noisy. So in short this is not really something you can make a snap decision on.

freeranger

In the U.S., we have several stores such as "Play It Again" that sell used sports equipment, like treadmills, golf clubs, etc. If you have similar stores in your area, maybe find one there?

sweeks

There's no good reason not to ride your bike outdoors, as long as you keep an appropriate distance from other people. The virus is spread person-to person, not by the breeze.
Wiping the contact points of your bike with anti-viral wipes wouldn't hurt, and of course frequent hand washing is a good thing.

venomx

Thanks dude but the way things are going we could end up with a lock down like Italy Spain and France

sweeks

We're under a "stay at home" order here in Illinois, but going out for food, medical care or other essentials is allowed, as is outdoor activity *with* social distancing. There's no logical reason for preventing solitary outdoor activity because that's not how this disease is spread. Hopefully it doesn't come to that. I'm a dentist at a state dental school, and we're treating emergencies only. I only *wish* the risks at work were as low as they are on a bike ride!

friday1970

I agree with everyone suggestions above. Using a turbo trainer, possibly getting a subscription to Zwift or Rouvy.
Personally, because my first magnetic trainer was a little loud, I just hooked up a laptop nearby with noise cancelling earbuds. I'd watch indoor cycling videos on youtube, or netflix stuff to pass the time by. Also keep a fan blowing on you nearby and a towel handy. You'll sweat a ton.

For my road bikes. I've since switched to rollers. Though the time goes by faster on rollers, they require more focus and I have trouble with youtube/netflix. I just use earbuds and my phone as an MP3 player. But that is another option you can explore, though I'd recommend a turbo trainer over rollers if you looking for a temp solution. Also, rollers don't require you to remove or swap out anything. Though you might want to use slick tires if you do go this option. .

alcjphil

Watching car chase scenes while riding rollers can be very tricky, especially in the corners

Homebrew01

I have one similar to that,. It clamps over my existing skewer, although there may be some skewers that don't fit in the clamp.

billridesbikes

The reason for using a different QR skewer is the one supplied with a trainer should be a steel one, while many bikes (especially higher end ones) may have an aluminum one or, heaven forbid, a Ti skewer. If you already have a steel one then it should be fine to use on any trainer.

ZWIFTERS: BE SURE TO USE A STEEL QR SKEWER

woodcraft

zacster

As for the technical knowledge needed to do this, my son came by to take the fluid trainer that I offered to him a while ago when I got my smart trainer. I gave him the recommended skewer to use also. He FaceTimed me today because he couldn't get the wheel to stay centered. When he showed me what he had done it was obvious, he tried screwing the skewer onto the frame, but didn't use the quick release, just screwed it as tight as he could, which of course isn't very tight. Even though he took off the old skewer he didn't think that the new one would work the same way. I walked him through loosening the skewer, centering the wheel, and using the cam to tighten it just right. Then it all worked. My point here is never to assume basic knowledge even with someone you know.

LV2TNDM

Three options: rear wheel trainer (turbo, etc.) or rollers. Rollers are pretty darn rare these days, but the are cool because they simulate riding. Hard to ride for the novice. Challenging for the experienced peloton rider too. Or an indoor bike, like Peloton. $$$

But if you do ride indoors, two suggestions:

1) Get a fan. You never realize how much evaporative cooling you enjoy on the bike until you ride indoors! A fan will provide relief.
2) Sweat is BRUTAL to your bike! Even with the fan above, you're gonna sweat. Sweat is salty. Salty water LOVES to corrode bike parts. They sell "sweat shields" for bikes, but you can make one out of an old pair of pants. Just cut off one pant leg and use the rest. Waist side to cover the handlebars or handlebar/stem/headset area, pant leg to cover the top tube, attach below saddle. Or just drape over the top tube and cover the stem.

Even if you do this, you may want to wipe down the bike to remove any that got past your cover. Some people have VERY corrosive sweat!

Or spend a billion bucks on a Peloton bike and ride with the stars!!!

billridesbikes

I’ll add 2.A, get a sweat band for your head, cuts down on swear dripping into your eyes by a lot. I use an old beach towel to cover the front of the bike. I just wipe down the frame when I’m done and not worry about.

You don’t have to buy a Peloton bike, you can send much much more than that on a Tacx or Wahoo bike and they don’t even have classes led by a beautiful looking young person to watch. I even heard that some companies are selling indoor cycling clothes. If money is burning a hole in your pocket you now really can spend a small fortune on indoor training.

nomadmax 

Cheap set of rollers and a folded up towel under one of the rear drums. Fold as necessary to create more or less resistance. The hardest part about indoor training is actually doing it.