Dalai

I am keen to see peoples Ergo / Trainers.

For a number of years, I've owned a Minoura Interim trainer which really hasn't been used as much as it should. It got most use when I broke my collarbone and wasn't able to hold the bars, otherwise its mostly just been used for warming up and down before road TT's.

Due to current circumstances, I need to look at doing key interval sessions at home. With this in mind I started searching for an old school ergo, as based on what I've read they have a more realistic feel. Also having a dedicated ergo rather than bolting in one of my bikes to the trainer I should use it regularly.

This old Harding Ergo then showed up on a local FB bike market page recently for a reasonable price.



I plan on stripping it and getting it powder coated to freshen it up shortly before rebuilding - including new saddle, bar tape and fitting a wired road SRM I picked up cheaply a while ago.

Still unsure what colour to go with, just know it won't be canary yellow. Suggestions most welcome!

Trackliche

Cool! I love the idea of a bike like that. I can't believe you don't like the yellow. Maybe if you spiced it up a bit with pink and green, too? Something like this:
You know- a statement bike. Oh, the 80s.

I've got a Cateye that I leave my track bike on in the winter. It's got good resistance- enough for a reasonable standing start if I stick on a massive gear. It's also pretty darn stable for big efforts; my old Kurt used to jump around and scoot all over the place.

TC

wens

Hmm, how much do old school ergo's cost? Are they a lot cheaper than something direct drive and computer controlled like a kickr?

dunderhi

The same color as your race bike. There's some psychological stuff behind that way to thinking, but for now just assume it's a random thought from a stranger on the internet, since I'm too fatigued from my recent power testing to apply the proper amount of mental energy to find the research. BTW, my watts are climbing.

-------- or ---------

Mrs. D says it should be a color that "matches" or complements the rest of the decor of the room.

Trackliche

Whoa! What an idea that just inspired!
In years past, I've bought all my bikes the same color in the hope that one day I can slip one by my wife. But now I'll start buying them in the same prints as the wallpaper, the same colors as the dining room wall paint (we're never in there anyway), and the same texture as the guest room duvet cover fabric. Hidden in plain sight!

Thanks Mrs. D!

TC

Dalai

Definitely not a fan of the 80's Trackliche!

Matching race bike colour makes sense, so since the BT is white...

@wens ergo cost me $300, used SRM $230. Including powder coating etc I'm expecting this to set me back only around $750 - $850 AUD once finished.

wens

Hmm, I need a line on $170usd used srm's!

brawlo

Our club picked up 4 or 5 of those ergos about 2 years ago. They're sitting in the club shed with promises of winter workouts.

My own ergo is a KKRM (+ pro flywheel) with my first road bike, an Avanti Corsa team from the late 90s sitting in it. It's 9sp Ultegra/DA mix, so keen to stick with the thicker stronger chain of the 9sp as most of what I do is sprint related. I flex the absolute crap out of the frame though, so it's life will end some time in the future. I honestly expected it to have given up well before now! I always keep an eye out for a decent replacement frame for when the day comes...

As for colour for your trainer, what colour do you like? I'd go with that rather than matching a race bike that could easily end up a completely different colour in it's next rendition.

Dalai

@Trackliche I've found having a cluttered bike room has had a 50% success rate with new bikes going in unnoticed. Similar coloured bikes also definitely helps.*

* To be honest, I think she knows full well bike movements but just lets it slide.

@brawlo still thinking black or white. Just something neutral is fine.

carleton

I've always been curious about this style of ergo. I've never ridden one. They are rare.

Dalai

Not really rare down under.

There are a number of variations. The most common were made by Repco; a big automotive parts and accessories aftermarket company in Australia and New Zealand. These show up semi frequently for sale and often for only a few dollars - our club cleared out half a dozen of these a few years ago for $15 each!

Example of a modified Repco ergo. These usually came as a single gear unlike the one below.

taras0000

If anyone comes across any pictures of these ergs, can you please post them. I'll be posting some later tonight that I have. I'm looking at the different designs out there so that I can make my own.

Koogar

I feel like I'm missing something about the pictured designs - why are the STAs so slack?

taras0000

Because you don't have to worry about weight distribution, and because you can offset the STA with the appropriate seatpost. It allows you to lengthen the TT the higher you raise the seat. One size fits all in a way. Modern ones allow you to move the handlebars back and forth instead. It all depends on whether you want to use a stock stem or a stock seatpost.

taras0000

Predator Erg uses a movable stem/bar set up

taras0000

Here's one made from an old road bike

taras0000

One that's a little more square

taras0000

just about any bike will do.

Koogar

Yeah, but the lengthening TT is true of any STA less than ninety degrees. And the fact that the saddles are slammed forward on the first two pictures suggests that the angle isn't optimal.

Also, it's not a simple tradeoff between seatpost and stem. Presumably a rider wants the saddle at a specific height and setback from the BB, so whether or not a stem change is necessary is determined by reach, or distance forward from the BB. It isn't going to be affected by laying back the ST further. The pictured designs are just creating the potential to not be able to get far enough forward.

Koogar

Now THIS one does make sense, even with the super aggressive TT STA

carleton

Ha!

Dalai

That is a Harding bicycles - same as mine except is using an internal geared hub.

Dalai

Dalai

Dalai