I am currently in the market for a trainer for my mountain bike, and have a couple basic questions.
I have seen that most trainers use the tire as the point of contact for the resistance. I have however seen a few select models that use the rim. Being that I would like to use this trainer on those days I can not get out on the trails, and during the winter months, I am leaning towards the rim trainer. (This would save me time doing a tire/rim swap for on/off trainer use.) Are there any major issues or complaints regarding the rim trainers?
The second item of question is magnetic or fluid? This will be my first trainer, so this is all pretty new to me.
Is there anything that I should be looking for or avoiding in a trainer?
I am currently in the market for a trainer for my mountain bike, and have a couple basic questions.
I have seen that most trainers use the tire as the point of contact for the resistance. I have however seen a few select models that use the rim. Being that I would like to use this trainer on those days I can not get out on the trails, and during the winter months, I am leaning towards the rim trainer. (This would save me time doing a tire/rim swap for on/off trainer use.) Are there any major issues or complaints regarding the rim trainers?
The second item of question is magnetic or fluid? This will be my first trainer, so this is all pretty new to me.
Is there anything that I should be looking for or avoiding in a trainer?
Thank you,
Mike mlawrenc(at)gmail.com
I'd recommend you find a cheap one at a thrift store, first, to see if you like virtual riding indoors. It's not for everybody. An alternative, if you really can't ride outside, ie, monsoon, hurricane, tsunami, that sort of thing, is to join a spin class over the winter.
I am currently in the market for a trainer for my mountain bike, and have a couple basic questions.
Quoted message said:
I have seen that most trainers use the tire as the point of contact for the resistance. I have however seen a few select models that use the rim. Being that I would like to use this trainer on those days I can not get out on the trails, and during the winter months, I am leaning towards the rim trainer. (This would save me time doing a tire/rim swap for on/off trainer use.) Are there any major issues or complaints regarding the rim trainers?
Quoted message said:
The second item of question is magnetic or fluid? This will be my first trainer, so this is all pretty new to me.
Quoted message said:
Is there anything that I should be looking for or avoiding in a trainer?
Quoted message said:
Thank you,
Quoted message said:
Mike mlawrenc(at)gmail.com
I'd recommend you find a cheap one at a thrift store, first, to see if you like virtual riding indoors. It's not for everybody. An alternative, if you really can't ride outside, ie, monsoon, hurricane, tsunami, that sort of thing, is to join a spin class over the winter.
CDB- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
I have tried out my co-worker's trainer and actually did not mind it too much (he had is trial bike on his). I'd take a muddy trail with logs and rocks any day over it however. I am currently living in Northern Ontario Canada, which, normally gets a fair amount of snow over 4 to 5 months a year (total snow fallen is measured in feet, not inches here).
Now, back to my original question; Should I consider a magnetic or fluid trainer? which is better? Also, are the rim contact trainers any good, or is this something I should avoid ? Anything else to look for or avoid?
I have tried out my co-worker's trainer and actually did not mind it too much (he had is trial bike on his). I'd take a muddy trail with logs and rocks any day over it however. I am currently living in Northern Ontario Canada, which, normally gets a fair amount of snow over 4 to 5 months a year (total snow fallen is measured in feet, not inches here).
Now, back to my original question; Should I consider a magnetic or fluid trainer? which is better? Also, are the rim contact trainers any good, or is this something I should avoid ? Anything else to look for or avoid?
Thank you,
Mike mlawrenc(at)gmail.com
Fluid trainers are better but that said unless your are into serious training and not just maintaining with a bit of extra training like cadence and light interval then using a mag trainer works just great.getting a heart monitor and cadence monitor are more important in spinning then having the best style of trainer learn about heart rate and cadence and practice those and spinning will pay off,but of course remember there is no better training than long slow climbs.
I am currently in the market for a trainer for my mountain bike, and have a couple basic questions.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I have seen that most trainers use the tire as the point of contact for the resistance. I have however seen a few select models that use the rim. Being that I would like to use this trainer on those days I can not get out on the trails, and during the winter months, I am leaning towards the rim trainer. (This would save me time doing a tire/rim swap for on/off trainer use.) Are there any major issues or complaints regarding the rim trainers?
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
The second item of question is magnetic or fluid? This will be my first trainer, so this is all pretty new to me.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Is there anything that I should be looking for or avoiding in a trainer?
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Thank you,
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Mike mlawrenc(at)gmail.com
Quoted message said:
I'd recommend you find a cheap one at a thrift store, first, to see if you like virtual riding indoors. It's not for everybody. An alternative, if you really can't ride outside, ie, monsoon, hurricane, tsunami, that sort of thing, is to join a spin class over the winter.
Quoted message said:
CDB- Hide quoted text -
Quoted message said:
- Show quoted text -
I have tried out my co-worker's trainer and actually did not mind it too much (he had is trial bike on his). I'd take a muddy trail with logs and rocks any day over it however. I am currently living in Northern Ontario Canada, which, normally gets a fair amount of snow over 4 to 5 months a year (total snow fallen is measured in feet, not inches here).
Now, back to my original question; Should I consider a magnetic or fluid trainer? which is better? Also, are the rim contact trainers any good, or is this something I should avoid ? Anything else to look for or avoid?
Thank you,
Mike mlawrenc(at)gmail.com- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
I don't use a trainer, but if a rim trainer only pushes against one side of the rim, I could see that becoming a problem for the wheel over time.
I have tried out my co-worker's trainer and actually did not mind it too much (he had is trial bike on his). I'd take a muddy trail with logs and rocks any day over it however. I am currently living in Northern Ontario Canada, which, normally gets a fair amount of snow over 4 to 5 months a year (total snow fallen is measured in feet, not inches here).
Quoted message said:
Now, back to my original question; Should I consider a magnetic or fluid trainer? which is better? Also, are the rim contact trainers any good, or is this something I should avoid ? Anything else to look for or avoid?
Quoted message said:
Thank you,
Quoted message said:
Mike mlawrenc(at)gmail.com
Fluid trainers are better but that said unless your are into serious training and not just maintaining with a bit of extra training like cadence and light interval then using a mag trainer works just great.getting a heart monitor and cadence monitor are more important in spinning then having the best style of trainer learn about heart rate and cadence and practice those and spinning will pay off,but of course remember there is no better training than long slow climbs.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
Thank you for the information. I am hoping to get back into the shape I was in back in college, and potentially compete in a could cross country races last year. It has been about 3 years since I stopped rollerblading competitively, and maybe 5 years since I seriously rode mountain bike. Combine this with my love for beer, I believe I have quite a up hill battle.
As for the monitors, I had not really considered them, but it would make my training more consistent and effective. I am going to add them to my shopping list.
