Thalia949

In light of the need to now train indoors due to the virus, I was debating whether to use one of my older steel bikes in a trainer. However I've gotten conflicting advice - from sure no issues to it will lead to stress and damage to the frame. What are others opinion on this and do any of you have pics of their indoor set ups if they are using a C&V bike in their trainers.

friday1970

I ride my 80's classics on roller all the time. Not so much my turbo trainers. But since steel does flex, clamping it down shouldn't be a problem. Your older steel skewers should easily handle the load.

I did have a spoke break on my Fuji while on rollers, but that wheel had one break previously. So that wheel was shot and was tossed into the garbage

Pompiere

I think a lot depends on how you are riding. If you are staying in the seat and smoothly spinning, the stress should be minimal. If you are training for racing and getting out of the seat for sprints, you are flexing the frame against the rear axle where it isn't designed for that.

Thalia949

I'm more of in the saddle type, just grind it out. So, likely it will work fine.

I've always hated riding on the trainer but in order to avoid the quarantine 15, it is looking better every day.

SJX426 

I am thinking the same. I have a Bottecchia that is a candidate for the trainer.

One thing to watch out for is sweat. It will remove paint over time.

w1gfh

Great minds think alike
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-3-speeds.html

Modern (non roller) trainer stands are designed to fit Quik Release skewers. If I knew the inside diameter of the metal "cups" I could figure out if they will fit my vintage bikes with Sturmey Archer hubs, or what mods need to happen.

clubman 

The day someone shows bona fide pics of the frame they broke on their wind/mag/roller trainer is the day you have to worry.
Still, I never use my best bikes out of principle.

malcala622

I dont see what the risk is putting a steel frame on an indoor trainer. I've been riding my Torelli on a wind trainer lately and its been great.

i keep a towel in my back pocket to wipe off sweat and frame when needed.

I was recommended getting a trainer specific rear tire cuz the trainer can chew up the normal ones.

2cam16

Unfortunately all but one of my road bikes are older. So this one gets trainer duty.
IMG_2285 by 2cam16, on Flickr

plonz 

I recall there being another post on this recently. No worries here with using my 1985 Peugeot. I regularly stand up to grind out some high gear intervals.

unterhausen

I have a centurion semi-pro in my kickr. I sometimes think about switching it out for a different bike, but it's working for now.

Classtime 

A shop owner I trust has replaced steel forks that broke due to trainer use.

daviddavieboy

I had my 1970 bike on the trainer for ~1000 KM this winter without any issues except for being paranoid about the sweat pouring on it. I used a sweat guard AND a towel on it but I still went back to my regular bike which has many years of trainer duty. I do notice on my old trainer that there is rear flex on the bike if slightly leaning from one side to another, not so much on the rock-and-roll (Kinetic) I use now.

Being smooth isn't about being seated it is about constant power and not just on the downstroke.

I doubt that unless it was on the old type with the fork clamp. The stresses IRL are FAR more severe than being static, that is unless he is dealing with a bunch of moneys swinging off the bars, which was probably more the case here.

chainwhip

If the roads are clear and temps warm enough, why not ride outside?

I hope to be this week.

cheers!

Classtime 

Some time ago. Old shop. Old bike shop owner. U.S.A. Olympic wrench bitd. Broken forks likely from using what would now be a C&V trainer.

Thalia949

I've been riding outside as much as possible, however work and wet weather has me evaluating other options. The trainer is sitting there unused and I figured between conf calls and webex's it would be a good diversion.

USAZorro

I bought a c-itoh a few months back because the new tires on it were worth more than the asking price. I will be mounting steel wheels on it, and putting it on the trainer, so as to be able to remove a bike that I care about from it. As long as I set the seat and bars properly, I really don't need to care about braking or weight, or performance or dripping sweat that might wear through the gas pipe tubing in 300 years.

It isn't like I'm racing pros on Zwift or anything - just pounding out cadence to some tunes, or while watching TV.

daviddavieboy

I could DEF see that, similar to the one further up. I would probably be fine but anyone with real power likely do this. ie team riders.

tkamd73 

Took one of my Trek 400s, and put it on a trainer, approaching 1000mi, no issues so far.
Tim

jimmuller 

I ride a vintage bike on a Cyclops trainer quite often when I can't ride outside because of weather, work commitments, pandemics, alien invasions, that sort of stuff.

Most of the time lately it has been my Bianchi. My biggest concern is how well the support cups fit the QR skewer ends. Some skewers fit better than others.

GriloJ

Very nice!

canklecat

I've put a lot of hours on the Cycelops trainer with my '89 Ironman. No problems. I use the same Continental Ultra Sport II tires on the trainer and outdoor rides, also no problems -- no premature wear, etc.

As other folks mentioned, the only tricky bit is having the right skewer and quick releases to fit the cups securely on the Cycleops and similar wheel-on trainers. And getting the right tension both to support the wheel and resistance against the tire.

Occasionally I use the trainer for high intensity interval training but I'm avoiding high stress training for now. Even before the coronavirus pandemic my immune system was acting up -- I have an auto-immune disorder that overreacts to ordinary stuff, including everyday pollen and allergens. My monocytes have been elevated for months. So for now I'm only doing easy recovery rides on the trainer, while watching movies or TV.

I do my workout rides outdoors, mostly steady tempo, hills, etc. I've never found a Cycleops trainer to properly simulate actual hill climbs. I have to get outside to do that. Fortunately there's a 5-6 mile loop nearby with some decent climbs, on an access road with little traffic.

SJX426 

I just pulled out my box of orphan skewers to find one that had the right shape since the one that came with the Cyclops is for 130 spacing and I am using a 120. The skewer just ran out of thread!.

jimmuller 

The thing I miss on the trainer is how the upper body and breathing and the mind have to keep working while riding downhill. You stop pedaling on a trainer and the whole physical exertion thing stops. On the other hand, just shifting up a gear or two loads the legs like a hill. I usually do a lot of shifting.

Colorado Kid

Careful using older bikes in a trainer. I had a problem with the tire getting hot and blowing out.(Ok, I'm a hammer head at times.) Wider tires help. Right now I'm using 700+23. I wish the bike could take a larger tire.