Spin Cycle recommendations??

Jock said:

Hi all,
Am after a spincycle to use at home. Does anyone have any recommendations
Particularly Good - Features ect
Particularly bad - Ebay possibly?
all recommendations and comments greatfully accepted.

http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/guide-to-buying-spin-trainers/

Bleve said:

Jock said:

Hi all,
Am after a spincycle to use at home. Does anyone have any recommendations
Particularly Good - Features ect
Particularly bad - Ebay possibly?
all recommendations and comments greatfully accepted.

http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/guide-to-buying-spin-trainers/

Thanks for that but I already have a mag turbo trainer. I don't like
putting my carbon bike in it. I'm after something like th gym spin cycles.

Bleve said:

Jock said:

Hi all,
Am after a spincycle to use at home. Does anyone have any recommendations
Particularly Good - Features ect
Particularly bad - Ebay possibly?
all recommendations and comments greatfully accepted.

http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/guide-to-buying-spin-trainers/

I think that bit of advice on an otherwise pretty good site is not
completely accurate.

For instance I've never had any tire wear problems, and neither should most
unless they screw the roller -way- too tight. It only needs to be tight
enough to prevent slippage and then give another 1/4 turn. If it's too
loose you'll find that your average mph is much higher than your road
average. Just tighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn until it comes down. So getting a
cheap wheel and big tires is not necessary. I'm running a 32 slick and have
had no problems on my Fluid trainer and after 1000-1500 miles there's
plenty of tire thickness left.

Second $400-500Aus for a fluid trainer? Nonsense. Performance bikes has a
great fluid trainer for $199US, frequently on sale for $130.

In the past, say pre-2003-4 fluid trainers were notorious for leaking
and/or blowing out the seal. Doesn't seem to be a problem with the new
models.

Rim drive - fergeddabout it. Don't even mention those as a viable device.

Finally rollers. If you want to ride in a peloton and have superior bike
handling skills you can't go wrong with rollers.

The real secret to using a trainer is, imo, to have a dedicated bike (most
have an older trail bike or something they can use).

Problem with a 'spin bike' is that if/when you get bored of using it, then
you have a large white elephant. With a trainer, you just have a small
fold-away device and, of course, your spare bike.

HJJ said:

Bleve said:

Jock said:

Hi all,
Am after a spincycle to use at home. Does anyone have any recommendations
Particularly Good - Features ect
Particularly bad - Ebay possibly?
all recommendations and comments greatfully accepted.

http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/guide-to-buying-spin-trainers/

I think that bit of advice on an otherwise pretty good site is not
completely accurate.

For instance I've never had any tire wear problems, and neither should most
unless they screw the roller -way- too tight. It only needs to be tight
enough to prevent slippage and then give another 1/4 turn. If it's too
loose you'll find that your average mph is much higher than your road
average. Just tighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn until it comes down. So getting a
cheap wheel and big tires is not necessary. I'm running a 32 slick and have
had no problems on my Fluid trainer and after 1000-1500 miles there's
plenty of tire thickness left.

YMMV, but my experience with mag trainers suggests this to be the case,
as it is with most (all) the people I train using them.

Quoted message said:

Second $400-500Aus for a fluid trainer? Nonsense. Performance bikes has a
great fluid trainer for $199US, frequently on sale for $130.

I wasn't describing buying them off ebay 🙂

Quoted message said:

In the past, say pre-2003-4 fluid trainers were notorious for leaking
and/or blowing out the seal. Doesn't seem to be a problem with the new
models.

That's the early fluid trainers from Cyclops, yes?

Quoted message said:

Rim drive - fergeddabout it. Don't even mention those as a viable device.

Finally rollers. If you want to ride in a peloton and have superior bike
handling skills you can't go wrong with rollers.

Rollers just improve balance, extrapolating that to peloton sense is a
.... stretch.

Quoted message said:

The real secret to using a trainer is, imo, to have a dedicated bike (most
have an older trail bike or something they can use).

Problem with a 'spin bike' is that if/when you get bored of using it, then
you have a large white elephant. With a trainer, you just have a small
fold-away device and, of course, your spare bike.

That's certainly true, yes.

Bleve said:

HJJ said:

Bleve said:

Jock wrote:
> Hi all,
> Am after a spincycle to use at home. Does anyone have any recommendations
> Particularly Good - Features ect
> Particularly bad - Ebay possibly?
> all recommendations and comments greatfully accepted.

http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/guide-to-buying-spin-trainers/

I think that bit of advice on an otherwise pretty good site is not
completely accurate.

For instance I've never had any tire wear problems, and neither should most
unless they screw the roller -way- too tight. It only needs to be tight
enough to prevent slippage and then give another 1/4 turn. If it's too
loose you'll find that your average mph is much higher than your road
average. Just tighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn until it comes down. So getting a
cheap wheel and big tires is not necessary. I'm running a 32 slick and have
had no problems on my Fluid trainer and after 1000-1500 miles there's
plenty of tire thickness left.

YMMV, but my experience with mag trainers suggests this to be the case,
as it is with most (all) the people I train using them.

Don't know about Mag trainers but the Performance Travel Trac has a four
star recommend on Roadbikereview. (I can't tell if you think it wears tires
or not)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Second $400-500Aus for a fluid trainer? Nonsense. Performance bikes has a
great fluid trainer for $199US, frequently on sale for $130.

I wasn't describing buying them off ebay 🙂

Huh? That's the catalog price. Maybe you have to import Performance stuff.
If so, my bad. I paid $130 for mine Spring of '05. Incredible deal, imo.

This one is the next model up with cable controls:

<http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/training/trainers/Performance%20Inc./PRD_21691_1663crx.aspx>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In the past, say pre-2003-4 fluid trainers were notorious for leaking
and/or blowing out the seal. Doesn't seem to be a problem with the new
models.

That's the early fluid trainers from Cyclops, yes?

Si.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Rim drive - fergeddabout it. Don't even mention those as a viable device.

Finally rollers. If you want to ride in a peloton and have superior bike
handling skills you can't go wrong with rollers.

Rollers just improve balance, extrapolating that to peloton sense is a
... stretch.

Not at all. (As I had it described to me by an ex-pro who rides with the
local team) you just work up to practicing riding no hands, taking off your
jacket, drinking from your water bottle, standing to pedal, bunny hopping
off the rollers, and so forth. Once you can do those on rollers then that
skill transfers to the road.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The real secret to using a trainer is, imo, to have a dedicated bike (most
have an older trail bike or something they can use).

Problem with a 'spin bike' is that if/when you get bored of using it, then
you have a large white elephant. With a trainer, you just have a small
fold-away device and, of course, your spare bike.

That's certainly true, yes.

Bleve said:

HJJ said:

Bleve said:

Jock wrote:
> Hi all,
> Am after a spincycle to use at home. Does anyone have any recommendations
> Particularly Good - Features ect
> Particularly bad - Ebay possibly?
> all recommendations and comments greatfully accepted.
http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/guide-to-buying-spin-trainers/

I think that bit of advice on an otherwise pretty good site is not
completely accurate.

For instance I've never had any tire wear problems, and neither should most
unless they screw the roller -way- too tight. It only needs to be tight
enough to prevent slippage and then give another 1/4 turn. If it's too
loose you'll find that your average mph is much higher than your road
average. Just tighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn until it comes down. So getting a
cheap wheel and big tires is not necessary. I'm running a 32 slick and have
had no problems on my Fluid trainer and after 1000-1500 miles there's
plenty of tire thickness left.

YMMV, but my experience with mag trainers suggests this to be the case,
as it is with most (all) the people I train using them.

yeah same with me.

I was wondering at one point if anyone made a rim trainer that cleaned
up the rims as you used it. Might be a market there. 🙂

Dave

HJJ said:

Bleve said:

HJJ said:

On 14 Oct 2006 02:48:34 -0700, "Bleve" <[email hidden]> wrote:

>
>Jock wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> Am after a spincycle to use at home. Does anyone have any recommendations
>> Particularly Good - Features ect
>> Particularly bad - Ebay possibly?
>> all recommendations and comments greatfully accepted.
>
>http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/guide-to-buying-spin-trainers/

I think that bit of advice on an otherwise pretty good site is not
completely accurate.

For instance I've never had any tire wear problems, and neither should most
unless they screw the roller -way- too tight. It only needs to be tight
enough to prevent slippage and then give another 1/4 turn. If it's too
loose you'll find that your average mph is much higher than your road
average. Just tighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn until it comes down. So getting a
cheap wheel and big tires is not necessary. I'm running a 32 slick and have
had no problems on my Fluid trainer and after 1000-1500 miles there's
plenty of tire thickness left.

YMMV, but my experience with mag trainers suggests this to be the case,
as it is with most (all) the people I train using them.

Don't know about Mag trainers but the Performance Travel Trac has a four
star recommend on Roadbikereview. (I can't tell if you think it wears tires
or not)

What's a '32 slick', btw? Is that just a typo for a standard 23mm road
tyre?
Here's something for you to try: Get your nice race wheels, and your
race tyres (the soft, grippy ones, not michelin carbons or erilliums or
something). Do some sprint or intensity intervals on them. Maybe
around 100-200km worth (4-8 hours). Have a look at the shape of your
tyre carcass. Then consider that in Australia, RRP for Michelin
Pro-Race2's is around $90-$100 from most LBS's.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Second $400-500Aus for a fluid trainer? Nonsense. Performance bikes has a
great fluid trainer for $199US, frequently on sale for $130.

I wasn't describing buying them off ebay 🙂

Huh? That's the catalog price. Maybe you have to import Performance stuff.
If so, my bad. I paid $130 for mine Spring of '05. Incredible deal, imo.

Can I ask what country you're posting from, I suspect the US. Here, a
basic Minoura Mag 500 is more than your $130, wholesale.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's the early fluid trainers from Cyclops, yes?

Si.

I have one. It's never leaked. What shows up on review sites is
sometimes a skewed sample, which it's wise to be aware of. Maybe I've
been lucky 🙂 I lend that trainer out to a lot of riders I coach and
it's done hundreds of hours.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Rim drive - fergeddabout it. Don't even mention those as a viable device.

Finally rollers. If you want to ride in a peloton and have superior bike
handling skills you can't go wrong with rollers.

Rollers just improve balance, extrapolating that to peloton sense is a
... stretch.

Not at all. (As I had it described to me by an ex-pro who rides with the
local team) you just work up to practicing riding no hands, taking off your
jacket, drinking from your water bottle, standing to pedal, bunny hopping
off the rollers, and so forth. Once you can do those on rollers then that
skill transfers to the road.

Sure, they're good for balance.