Anybody use an indoor bicycle trainer stand?

I know nothing about them but want one.
My goal is to use it 5x a week for fitness & improve endurance.
My bike is a Trek 6500 w/ quick releases & disc brakes if it matters.
Also would consider picking up a road bike if it works better on the system.
After my surgery, I really have gotten to like biking a lot & want to get back into it, but winters are not outside biker friendly unless you have lost your license or stud your tires (you do see this here).
Budget is around $250
pros & cons of what you have used or are using would be great.
thanks

 

A lot of guys I work with are heavy into biking, like Pan-Mass challenge type of guys, so I asked the same thing last winter. Unanimously they recommended rollers instead of those trainers that just hold up the rear tire. I can press them a little more to see if they can recommend a specific brand or a place to buy. I know Dick's has one or two, but I know nothing about the quality of their stuff.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2728562&cp=2367438.2367824.2712461

This is the type of trainer I was recommended, not necessarily that brand though, just an example.

EDIT: I should clarify, I'm not a real serious cycler, I was asking them for an idea to stay in shape through the winter. I didn't buy one yet because balancing on that thing seems scary at best and it would be embarassing to explain an indoor bicycle accident to coworkers or the ER staff...

 

Check REI they carry multiple models. They have fluid trainers and magnetic. With your budget you should be able to get nice trainer. I don't own one but I've wanted one for two years. You may want to trade out your knobby rear tire for a smoother street tire also.

 

Your trek is fine to use on a trainer, just get a cheapo slick rear tire for it. Anything with knobs will be LOUD.

You can adjust resistance by changing your bikes gears, don't worry about a trainer with a remote adjustment. Magnetic or fluid will suffice.

Also, don't try to wheelie on it....

 

thank you yes no wheelies..........

and thanks to all who have helped as well.

 

Really dumb question but how do you prop the bike up with this setup?

My wife's a triathlete, but I don't know anything about cycling and she wants a bike trainer for christmas.

 

I've got a CycleOps that I love. You will need to get a cheapo slick tire for the rear. I also got a block for the front wheel as well. I has 3 different settings that allow you to adjust the angle of the bike to mix it up.

I have it set up in front of the big screen, great way to watch sports. I also have a setup next to it for my laptop so I can play online poker while working out as well.

 

Get rollers, and don't be discouraged the first time you try them. Rollers keep you engaged while you are using them, which is a heck a lot more interesting than stationary types, IMO. You end up really developing your form on a bike, which helps when you are riding the bike off the rollers.

 

If you are planning on watching TV while you ride, buy a quiet rear wheel trainer and run a smooth rear tire to avoid the noise of knobby tires. The cheeper fan or magnet resistance trainers can be extremely noisy, listening to music or the TV on one of these is nearly imposable. Look for reviews or try a few out at a shop. I have a fluid Cyclops from REI, good price and pretty quiet.

Rollers are a great tool as well. They are very quiet, but require a lot of concentration at first. If you are unsure how they work, basically you are riding on a treadmill and your pedaling stroke powers the movement with the rear wheel. The front and rear bicycle wheels act as gyroscopes to hold you upright...any small movement on the bike is felt with greater emphases than on the road. To ride rollers well your body movement must become very balanced and smooth. Riding rollers and watching TV is tricky business as you could imagine. If you venture to the edge of the roller and come off, you will be kissing the ground before you can unclip and catch yourself.

I have spent many hours on both rollers and trainers. Generally I use the rear wheel trainer for interval training, or if I want to relax and watch a movie while I ride. I use the rollers to improve on balance and pedal stroke efficiency. The few times I have fallen on rollers is when I was watching TV while riding.

If you are looking for a first purchase and want to avoid possible injury I would get a rear wheel trainer with a "leveling kit". (block for front wheel to sit in)

 

With your situation I would recommend getting a rear tire mounted trainer and not the rollers. The rollers are for those serious bikers, but if you are just wanting to stay in shape over the winter like me I use this exact one. It'll run about $250. I got mine at the local bike shop in town.

CycleOps Magneto





The nice thing about this unit is that it uses magnetic force for a progressive resistance ride. Basically the faster you go the more resistance it gives without getting off the bike to adjust the setting. That's the main reason why I bought this model and I love it. I heard a lot of bad things about the fluid ones, but I also read that CycleOps took care of their customers and replaced any that did leak.

I also use a Trek like you (mines only a 4300) and it hooks up perfectly.

And don't waste your money ($55) on a front wheel block like this one




I just stuck a big phone book under my front tire and it works perfectly.



I would also recommend, like others have said, to get a smoother rear tire. If you go to a local bike shop and ask them for an indoor trainer tire they'll know what you are talking about. I have one just like this and watch TV while I ride and can hear my TV just fine.

 

I have a bike trainer thats been in a shipping case since I moved to CA (2005). I don't even remember what brand it is... I will dig it out and get the specs and pics of it tonight if you like.

It's like this (if memory serves me)...

Minoura RDA80R Rimdrive Trainer

http://www.amazon.com/Minoura-400-5...1_32?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1290028332&sr=1-32

Will post back tonight or tomorrow.

 

Here is the trainer I have... It is a RDA Magturbo Inter Rim. You don't need to change tires to use this and it is quieter than the ones that contact the tire tread. I found the manual on line too so you can read through it.

I have no idea what I paid for it so how does $100 + shipping sound if you are interested. My zip code is 92647 and I think it weighs around 10 lbs.

Let me know what you think.

 

Just wondering if you ended up getting a trainer? If so, what did you get and how to do you like it? I'm looking at getting a trainer and wondering what you ended up with and how it's working out.

 

Bump for updated opinions. Anyone have recommendations for which type to get? I am thinking about getting the Cycleops Fluid2 Trainer

https://www.cycleops.com/product/fluid2

 

I had the Cycleops and it was a great trainer. Beware...trainers get very boring very quickly. It is HARD to keep pedalling away and going nowhere. I'd also recommend against rollers...not enough resistance for most people, and trying to balance on them isn't worth the hassle. Don't bother with the dedicated yellow "trainer" tires either. Just get a POS cheapo one and you'll be fine.
I am a competitive triathlete and don't bike outside if it's less than about 40F out. I bought a Computrainer 4 years ago and haven't looked back. It costs more than an entry level bike though.

Matt

 

Oh so long ago....
I ended up finding one from a friend. It worked ok and do not remember the brand. I sold it at my yard sale.
Now I'm getting into fat tire riding in the winter, I rented one and am hooked. It doesn't get boring and gets me outside on the trails

 

Just google'd Fat Bikes, those look awesome! How much snow can you reasonably ride in though? Seems like it'd be ok on hard pack but can't see it being any good in powder.

 

I use a Kinetic by Kurt Kinetic. Unconditional lifetime warranty. I use headphones and watch TV when I'm riding in the winter. Nikita on netflix is a good series watch when riding. http://www.amazon.com/Kinetic-Kurt-Machine-Bicycle-Trainer/dp/B000BNCA0Y

 

I'm not sure how deep but I'm a noob. I was intrigued when I saw them riding on the trail way up in the mountains last year while snowmobiling. Many trails here are multi use so will know more & start a new thread with a report. I've seen some in steep & deep but need to work up to that lol

 

I have had this one for year and use it regularly.

$59 FDW Magnetic Bike Trainer Stand for Indoor Riding, Steel Bicycle Exercise Training Stand with Noise Reduction Wheel,Stationary Bike Resistance Trainer for Road & Mountain Bikes

http://www.amazon.com/Magnet-Bicycl...&keywords=magnetic+trainer&pebp=1418608825634