Trainer choice

"Andrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one

of

Quoted message said:

these, and would like to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time,
awful temperatures, all added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was
worth it but not enough to keep fitness and weight in check, so this year

at

Quoted message said:

least i will try to train more indoors. i am almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer,
performance's travel track with intensity control is very appealing with it's cheap price and
sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with them? alternatives? is it woth buying a
cheap slick tire? thanks

Fluid trainers are best as they are very quiet. Get yourself a slick, and a spare rear wheel, but be
warned, trainers are the most boring devices ever invented. I lasted less than a week with mine. It
still sits in the closet.

Andrew said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush.

snip

Quoted message said:

Spinner. The fixed gear kind with a big heavy wheel. I don't understand why these are better (for
me) than a bike on a trainer. The combination of fixed gear and the momentum of the wheel?
Regardless, I wouldn't use trainers I've had that my bike mounts on, but I'll use a spinner. YMMV Or
go the whole body route with a good rower e.g. Concept II. Both pricey, but cheaper than a couple
years membership at a club, or a couple's year membership at a club 🙂

Cheers, Shawn

Andrew said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time, awful temperatures, all
added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was worth it but not enough
to keep fitness and weight in check, so this year at least i will try to train more indoors. i am
almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track with intensity control is very
appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with them?
alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

Consider kreitler.comrollers.htmOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

i am almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track with intensity control is
very appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with
them? alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

I am partial to super hot blonde ones... but honestly, does your trainer's hair color really
matter? As long as they motivate you to work out and show you all the correct exercises it should
be worth every penny... though I don't think you should talk about trainers in terms of "buying"
and "cheap price."

I'd rather not discuss the alternatives.

-John Morgan

"voodoo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Andrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one

of

Quoted message said:

these, and would like to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time,
awful temperatures, all added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was
worth it but not enough to keep fitness and weight in check, so this

year

Quoted message said:

at

Quoted message said:

least i will try to train more indoors. i am almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer,
performance's travel

track

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with intensity control is very appealing with it's cheap price and

sturdy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

construction. any of you guys has experience with them? alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap
slick tire? thanks

Fluid trainers are best as they are very quiet. Get yourself a slick, and

a

Quoted message said:

spare rear wheel, but be warned, trainers are the most boring devices ever invented. I lasted less
than a week with mine. It still sits in the

closet.

Any chance you'd donate it to a college team? We're non-profit, so its tax deductable! Or hell, a
college rider who could use the endurance boost 😉

Jon Bond MtB Captain, Tufts Cycling

"Shawn Curry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Andrew said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

these, and would like to do it without rush.

snip

Quoted message said:

Spinner. The fixed gear kind with a big heavy wheel. I don't understand why these are better (for
me) than a bike on a trainer. The combination of fixed gear and the momentum of the wheel?
Regardless, I wouldn't use trainers I've had that my bike mounts on, but I'll use a spinner. YMMV
Or go the whole body route with a good rower e.g. Concept II. Both pricey, but cheaper than a
couple years membership at a club, or a couple's year membership at a club 🙂

Cheers, Shawn

Its worth getting somebody to teach you how to row on an erg if you get it, by the way. See if there
are any rowers/crewies in your area. Coxswains especially, we're basically trained to teach rowing,
even if we're not great ourselves. Otherwise you could be in a world of hurt... ok, you'll be in one
anyway, but this will last after the erg workout!

Jon Bond

Andrew said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time, awful temperatures, all
added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was worth it but not enough to
keep fitness and weight in check, so this year at least i will try to train more indoors. i am
almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track with intensity control is very
appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with them?
alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

Check out mtbreview.comproduct 87774.shtmlOpen ↗

Its a little more expensive, but how much will it cost to replace your carpet when the oil leaks
with a cheap hydraulic?

Regards, Thunder9

voodoo said:

Fluid trainers are best as they are very quiet. Get yourself a slick, and a spare rear wheel, but
be warned, trainers are the most boring devices ever invented. I lasted less than a week with mine.
It still sits in the closet.

I watch TV with mine.

"Thunder9" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

voodoo said:

Fluid trainers are best as they are very quiet. Get yourself a slick, and

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

spare rear wheel, but be warned, trainers are the most boring devices

ever

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

invented. I lasted less than a week with mine. It still sits in the

closet.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I watch TV with mine.

It would have to be a fluid trainer then. Mine is one of those with the fan. Loud as *uck, so the tv
thing was out.

"Jon Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"voodoo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Andrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy

one

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of

Quoted message said:

these, and would like to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time,
awful temperatures,

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worth it but not enough to keep fitness and weight in check, so this

year

Quoted message said:

at

Quoted message said:

least i will try to train more indoors. i am almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer,
performance's travel

track

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with intensity control is very appealing with it's cheap price and

sturdy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

construction. any of you guys has experience with them? alternatives? is it woth buying a
cheap slick tire? thanks

Fluid trainers are best as they are very quiet. Get yourself a slick,

and

Quoted message said:

a

Quoted message said:

spare rear wheel, but be warned, trainers are the most boring devices

ever

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

invented. I lasted less than a week with mine. It still sits in the

closet.

Any chance you'd donate it to a college team? We're non-profit, so its

tax

Quoted message said:

deductable! Or hell, a college rider who could use the endurance boost 😉

Where are ya located?

You can e-mail me at [email hidden]

It's been some time since I've had a real tax deduction.

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time, awful temperatures, all
added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was worth it but not enough to
keep fitness and weight in check, so this year at least i will try to train more indoors. i am
almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track with intensity control is very
appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with them?
alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

You'll have waaay more fun if you spend your money on winter clothes, studded tires (depending on
where you live) and lights.

Riding indoors is hell. Go outside regardless of the weather.

-Andrew

"Andrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time, awful temperatures, all
added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was worth it but not enough
to keep fitness and weight in check, so this year at least i will try to train more indoors. i am
almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track with intensity control is very
appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with them?
alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

My wife and I have had good luck with Blackburn mag triainers. She puts on about 750-1000 miles/yr
(25 min x 5days/wk) during our MI winters. I have one too but don't use it quite as much. the only
problem is with vibration caused by too much tension between mag unit and wheel. If you experience
this, simply back off the screw tension adjustment at the rear of unit. Noise isn't really that bad.
Her unit is 3 years old and mine's going on 10. Believe Blackburn stuff has lifetime warrantee but
you may want to ch3ck this ot.

Andrew Thorne said:

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time, awful temperatures, all
added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was worth it but not enough
to keep fitness and weight in check, so this year at least i will try to train more indoors. i am
almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track with intensity control is
very appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with
them? alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

You'll have waaay more fun if you spend your money on winter clothes, studded tires (depending on
where you live) and lights.

Riding indoors is hell. Go outside regardless of the weather.

-Andrew

I have a trainer that I've never used. I just put studded tires on my mountain bike (maybe my road
bike this year, too), and go for it. I've ridden down to 0 degrees F. It just takes layers.

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

Andrew Thorne said:

Riding indoors is hell. Go outside regardless of the weather.

I get very little use out of my stationary bike; after 20 minutes I've usually had enough. I find
the best thing is to get out on the road in early spring, a few times a week. Then I'll move on to
fireroads when they start drying out (usually a few weeks before the singletrack). Roads dry up in a
couple of hours, trails take weeks. Its not as much fun as MTBing, but singletrack would get
horribly torn up that time of the year.

The only investment is a good set of roadworthy tires for the MTB - I prefer Michelin Wildgripper
Rock over plain slicks.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Andrew Thorne said:

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy

one

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of these, and would like to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance
time, awful temperatures,

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worth it but not enough to keep fitness and weight in check, so this year at least i will try
to train more indoors. i am almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track
with intensity control is very appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of
you guys has experience with them? alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

You'll have waaay more fun if you spend your money on winter clothes, studded tires (depending
on where you live) and lights.

Riding indoors is hell. Go outside regardless of the weather.

-Andrew

I have a trainer that I've never used. I just put studded tires on my mountain bike (maybe my road
bike this year, too), and go for it. I've ridden down to 0 degrees F. It just takes layers.

Thankfully here (Louisiana), it does not get that cold. You can pretty much ride year round, but on
our cold days, just layers, no studs.

voodoo said:

"Thunder9" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

voodoo said:

Fluid trainers are best as they are very quiet. Get yourself a slick, and

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

spare rear wheel, but be warned, trainers are the most boring devices

ever

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

invented. I lasted less than a week with mine. It still sits in the

closet.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I watch TV with mine.

It would have to be a fluid trainer then. Mine is one of those with the fan. Loud as *uck, so the
tv thing was out.

Neither. Its a new design in creating resistance *without* fluid and *without* a fan. Very quiet.
www.1upusa.com

See reviews at mtbreview.comproduct 87774.shtmlOpen ↗

I have absolutely no affiliation with this company. I bought it based on the reviews above.

Regards, Thunder9

Andrew said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush. last year was horrible: parts, manteinance time, awful temperatures, all
added to reduce to almost nothing my winter riding, i still think it was worth it but not enough to
keep fitness and weight in check, so this year at least i will try to train more indoors. i am
almost sold out for a hydraulic trainer, performance's travel track with intensity control is very
appealing with it's cheap price and sturdy construction. any of you guys has experience with them?
alternatives? is it woth buying a cheap slick tire? thanks

Hey I got a related question. Do people sometimes get a cheapo back wheel to go with a trainer?

Thanks, Thunder9

"Andrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

AI know it's early for this one, but this year i want to finally buy one of these, and would like
to do it without rush. ... ... ... alternatives?

concept2.comconcept2.comOpen ↗

In rec.bicycles.tech voodoo said:

It would have to be a fluid trainer then. Mine is one of those with the fan. Loud as *uck, so the
tv thing was out.

Magnetic trainers are also quiet. I use the basic Tacx magnetic model in the winter, and there's
really nothing wrong with it, unless you need features such as power display. It's about $150.

A slick tyre is a must if you want to keep the noise level down, and cheap slicks don't cost much,
so there's no reason not to get one. A separate rear wheel for trainer use is probably a good idea
if the original poster wants to ride both outdoors and indoors in the winter. Practically any true
wheel would be good enough, since the forces on the wheel are non-existent.

-as