spelger

Now that winter is upon us (see https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...te-winter.html for how much love there is for it) i've been thinking of getting a trainer. i've tried rollers in the past and (fell off a few times) and never really liked them. maybe too boring. Am wondering what, if any, trainers you guys use? rollers? or stationary? the rollers were loud so would do that in the garage, how about stationary? loud?

-scott

TiHabanero

I have a set of Giant rollers that are much quieter than the mag trainer my daughter uses. In fact the rollers are the quietest trainer I have used. Of course, rollers are not for everyone!

Metieval

rollers trainers, get some noise cancelling head phones.... and rock the music.

I am pretty sure the antiheadphone people don't extend their hate all the way to trainers indoors.

124Spider

Wahoo Kickr with Zwift; watch old TV shows to alleviate the tedium. Works for me.

Mark

TimothyH

Sportcrafter rollers with a fixed gear bike.

I have both the progressive resistance drum and high inertia drum.

They are not loud at all and I use them wherever I happen to feel like in the house.


-Tim-

Machka 

All winter long I used a fluid trainer and Zwift

FlMTNdude

JasonD67

CycleOps fluid trainer here. I think the real key is to put any trainer in front of a TV and watch something while you "ride". I think it would be impossible for me to just sit on the trainer and pedal with nothing to distract me. That would be tortuous.

Oh, and don't forget to put a box fan in front of you aimed at your body.

mrFreel

I agree with Jason. I also have a CycleOps Fluid trainer and have used it for the past 4 winters. It is not silent but does not make too much noise. I watch YouTube training videos as I ride. The boredom of riding my trainer makes it easy for me to get outside any time the weather is half way agreeable.

Homebrew01

I have a cheapo Performance/Nashbar trainer, and watch pro bike races that I missed earlier in the year..

You can build in intervals or harder sections by creating your own games.
Shift into harder gears when they're climbing.
Increase cadence when the breakaway is shown
Recover on downhills
Sprint at intermediate sprint points ...
ETC...

jefnvk

I got a Wahoo Kickr for the winter to supplement the fatty. Haven't used it much, yet, but did set it up for a bit and worked well. I plan on buying a cheap tablet and hooking up Zwift for the off-season.

rollagain

I just pulled the trigger on one of these; it's on its way to me now, and when the weather allows, I can take it outside:

https://www.streetstrider.com/streetstrider3i.html

I'll lose my free gym membership at the end of the year, and I took a liking to the elliptical. But, yes, TV or video, and yes to a powerful fan.

ddub

Smart trainer and Zwift or RoadGrandTours. I have the Elite Direto smart trainer.

Jim from Boston

I'll look forward to a review...from a cyclist. Not necessarily in my future, but it looks like an alternative to a tricycle, recumbent or upright.

They claim a cruising speed of 15-20 miles (in gear 1), but I wonder what is a practicable distance to ride?

spelger

the street rider looks interesting at home. i just can't see myself using this out on the road. would have to get past that. still like the idea of rollers even though i fell off them a few times. i have access to a $79 cycle ops fluid 2 via craig's list. wondering if i should pull the trigger on that. there are just some times when i want to ride and the weather is not cooperating with me. by the way, what does the fluid pertain to? can't seem to figure that out. is there a container of higher resistance fluid that you are churning while "riding?"

rollagain

Distance depends on a lot of variables, of course, but everyone agrees that ellipticals of every kind burn a lot more energy than bicycles.

As to speeds, I agree with another person who said that manufacturers like to appeal to potential buyers by telling them how fast the thing can go, and they build machines with more high gears to support that sales pitch.

I ran the numbers on both of these through Sheldon Brown's gear calculator for both gear inches and for speed at 60 rpm cadence.

3i .........................................1st gear........................2nd..................................3rd
G.I. .......................................58.3 ............................79.6 ...............................108.6
MPH .......................................9.8 ...........................13.4 ..................................18.2

7i ..................1st ..................2nd ...........3rd ...........4th .............5th ..............6th ..............7th
G.I. ...............50.9 ................59.7 ............67.9 .........79.7 ............92.3 ............107.6 ..........124.5
MPH ...............9.1 ................10.7 ............12.1 .........14.2 ............16.5 ..............19.2 ............22.2

My choice of the 3-spd is reflected in the way I've compared apples to apples above. I didn't think the one lower gear would be worth the higher price, and I have a hard time believing anyone can get much use out of that seventh gear at all, given the aerodynamic disadvantage you're at on these machines. Also, comparing these numbers to those of my city bike, I know I can use this on the very moderate terrain between me and the local grocery store, because I can stand up to attack the little rise when I'm on that bike.

Also, I think cadences work differently on these and might usually be slower; I'll find out.

The opinion is all but unanimous that these are a blast to ride; the lean-to-steer feature makes it a bit like skiing, or perhaps dancing. It's also a very intense workout.

I'll be back with more once I've had it out on some pavement.

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

...They claim a cruising speed of 15-20 miles (in gear 1), but I wonder what is a practicable distance to ride?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollagain

Distance depends on a lot of variables, of course, but everyone agrees that ellipticals of every kind burn a lot more energy than bicycles.

As to speeds, I agree with another person who said that manufacturers like to appeal to potential buyers by telling them how fast the thing can go, and they build machines with more high gears to support that sales pitch.

I ran the numbers on both of these through Sheldon Brown's gear calculator for both gear inches and for speed at 60 rpm cadence….
.
Also, I think cadences work differently on these and might usually be slower; I'll find out.

The opinion is all but unanimous that these are a blast to ride; the lean-to-steer feature makes it a bit like skiing, or perhaps dancing. It's also a very intense workout.

I'll be back with more once I've had it out on some pavement.

Hi @rollagain,

Thanks for that informative reply. No further reply necessary, but I as a year-round cycle commuter, Iwonder if studded tires would be available.

BTW my usual commuter distance is 14 miles, with moderate hills, though I can cut it down to about 4 miles with a part-way Commuter Rail ride.

simot

I use Tacx Satori Smart with Zwift when it's raining, otherwise, I'm out there.

rollagain

The front wheels use a 16" rim that you can get all sorts of good tires for, up to Schwalbe Marathons. The rear wheel--which concerns your traction--is problematic; they use a 451 BSD rim, closer to a 22" than 20", and hardly anything is available in tires to fit it. I don't know why they chose that; I asked, but only got a vague non-answer. I've toyed with the idea of having a whole new rear wheel built for it, perhaps having a different gear hub, but definitely using a 406 BSD rim that would take a wide variety of tires. The machine would sit about an inch lower in the rear, but I doubt that would hurt anything.