Why get a trainer?

[liltommy]

I've never been on one and have only read the descriptions of them in the magazines so I really don't know alot about them other than you hook your bike to it and it give resistance as you spin away.

What benefits are there to using a trainer rather than just buying a full fledged stationary bike. I can see the benefit of actually training on what you really ride but other than that I don't get it.

As I see it you've got to bring your bike in, hook it up, train, then undo everything. I've been thinking about getting something for inside cardio and I like the idea better of just having a stationary bike down in the basement ready for me whenever I'm ready to go. And for the cost of a good trainer I think I could get a decent stationary bike.

Is it just a space thing?

Thanks
Tommy

[markie@unformat]

You can get a good trainer right now for about $100 (look at Nashbar.com current sale) Stationary bikes in this price range tend to be not so great. I mean that is the price of an Ok saddle.

If you are going to get a trainer I recommend a heart rate monitor. Most novices to the trainer will think they are giving it there all, but in reality will have a pretty low heart rate.

Personally I bought expensive gloves and lights instead of a trainer. It is much more fun.

[liltommy]

You can get a good trainer right now for about $100 (look at Nashbar.com current sale) Stationary bikes in this price range tend to be not so great. I mean that is the price of an Ok saddle.

If you are going to get a trainer I recommend a heart rate monitor. Most novices to the trainer will think they are giving it there all, but in reality will have a pretty low heart rate.

Personally I bought expensive gloves and lights instead of a trainer. It is much more fun.

There's no way I'd trust a $100 stationary. I eat cheap exercise equipment for a snack. I was thinking in the $300-$500 range.

Another question, on the cheap trainers. Do you have to adjust the tension before you get on the bike and then dismount to adjust it again.

I'm just looking into it now. I won't get anything till next winter.

Tommy

[drevil]

You get to use the bike you always ride, so the positioning is the same
It isn't that hard to hook up
A good stationary bike is more expensive than a good trainer
You'll have more money to spend on real bike stuff


That said, it is a lot quieter if your tire is smooth. You can either have a slick that you can swap with the knobby when on the trainer, but it's easier if you have a completely different back wheel.

[crashmore]

I personally use a stationary trainer along with an extra road bike that I don't really use any longer. I leave it setup in the trainer as my indoor workout option for cold / rainy days. I am more comofortable and at home on this setup then I ever would be on an inexpensive or probaly even a mid range stationary bike.

You can definately get a nice stationary bike that will fit you well and mimick your actual bike setup but they don't dome cheap.

I have a friend who bout one of the Giant stationary trainers and he loves it.

http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=11122

I think you could probaly pick up a used beater road bike and a half way descent stationary trainer for a whole lot less though and be happy with it.

I think either option would do equally well for you. I would however stay away from inexpensive stationary bikes. I've never been on one that was comfortable. The bottom line is riding inside can be miserable enough without adding a whole lot of discomfort to the mix.

BTW I second the HR monitor thing. I know you were looking for one I can't remember if you had bought one or not. If not grab one and definately use it for your indoor riding it helps alot.


I've never been on one and have only read the descriptions of them in the magazines so I really don't know alot about them other than you hook your bike to it and it give resistance as you spin away.

What benefits are there to using a trainer rather than just buying a full fledged stationary bike. I can see the benefit of actually training on what you really ride but other than that I don't get it.

As I see it you've got to bring your bike in, hook it up, train, then undo everything. I've been thinking about getting something for inside cardio and I like the idea better of just having a stationary bike down in the basement ready for me whenever I'm ready to go. And for the cost of a good trainer I think I could get a decent stationary bike.

Is it just a space thing?

Thanks
Tommy
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=11122

[drevil]

Another question, on the cheap trainers. Do you have to adjust the tension before you get on the bike and then dismount to adjust it again.


You can switch gears on your bike, but some of them have a remote difficulty shifter that you can strap to your bars.

[DKEG]

There's no way I'd trust a $100 stationary. I eat cheap exercise equipment for a snack. I was thinking in the $300-$500 range.

Another question, on the cheap trainers. Do you have to adjust the tension before you get on the bike and then dismount to adjust it again.

I'm just looking into it now. I won't get anything till next winter.

Tommy

You can shift your gears to vary resistance. You do not need a trainer with that resistance lever you hook on your handle bars. the trainers with no resistance change are cheaper. So you don't have to pay for something you don't need.

[joep]

This is my first season using a trainer. I tried rollers too but they were too spiny and I didn't want to spend any more money on a resistance unit. My impressions:

1) BORING to da max! I consider it my last resort. When I'm on it, I usually throw a movie on or blast some music.

2) A heart rate monitor is a really good idea. It helps with the boredom. I'd also get your heart rate zones and VO2max measured correctly by someone who knows what they're doing. I got mine done by Fitness Concepts and they were great.

3) There are different kinds of trainers: magnetic, fluid, air (others?). There is a noticeable difference in "feel." People say the air resistance type feel the most realistic but you'll have to decide for yourself.

4) For some reason, staying in "zone 2" feels a lot harder on a trainer than it does on the road. On the trainer, I'm working like a maniac to get into zone 2 (with the resistance all the way up). On the road, I have to take it easy to stop myself from going over. Anyone else have this problem?

--JoeP

[liltommy]

I couldnt figure out why everyone would use a trainer when it looked so difficult to change resistance. I didn't evan think about the gears to resistance aspect.

Thanks

[crashmore]

4) For some reason, staying in "zone 2" feels a lot harder on a trainer than it does on the road. On the trainer, I'm working like a maniac to get into zone 2 (with the resistance all the way up). On the road, I have to take it easy to stop myself from going over. Anyone else have this problem?

--JoeP

Yuppers. I've had the issue in the past myself. I find it to be less of an issue when I'm doing the interval stuff Nancy has given me to do. If I'm just spinning aimlessly though I have a hard time even getting myself out of zone 1 on the trainer.

[markie@unformat]

I always figured that on the road your upper body is still doing a lot of work keeping the bike upright. On the trainer every bit of effort is going through your legs. That is probably why it is such a good workout.


Its cool to learn how long you can keep your heart rate at 180 bpm on a trainer. The thought of doing that again makes me want to cry.

[jfoley]

i've heard of and experienced this myself... i've seen part of it explained as a temperature issue... since you're not moving though the air, there is less evaporative cooling, so you get hotter, and the workout feels harder


4) For some reason, staying in "zone 2" feels a lot harder on a trainer than it does on the road. On the trainer, I'm working like a maniac to get into zone 2 (with the resistance all the way up). On the road, I have to take it easy to stop myself from going over. Anyone else have this problem?
--JoeP

[jfoley]

don't buy a trainer without adjustable resistance... i made this mistake a couple months ago and i'll probably be replacing it soon... plus the way this particular trainer clamps the rear wheel is pain in the a$$...

I couldnt figure out why everyone would use a trainer when it looked so difficult to change resistance. I didn't evan think about the gears to resistance aspect.

Thanks

[joep]

Thanks, Joe. I will test out this hypothesis tonight. I'll set up a big ol fan in front of the trainer. BTW, I know someone out there makes a fan type resistance unit for rollers that instead of sitting behind the rollers, sits in front and blows the wind into you. Sounds like a neat idea.

-- JoeP

i've heard of and experienced this myself... i've seen part of it explained as a temperature issue... since you're not moving though the air, there is less evaporative cooling, so you get hotter, and the workout feels harder

[jfoley]

just something i've heard, don't know if i believe it...

Thanks, Joe. I will test out this hypothesis tonight. I'll set up a big ol fan in front of the trainer. BTW, I know someone out there makes a fan type resistance unit for rollers that instead of sitting behind the rollers, sits in front and blows the wind into you. Sounds like a neat idea.

-- JoeP

[drevil]

Thanks, Joe. I will test out this hypothesis tonight. I'll set up a big ol fan in front of the trainer. BTW, I know someone out there makes a fan type resistance unit for rollers that instead of sitting behind the rollers, sits in front and blows the wind into you. Sounds like a neat idea.

-- JoeP

Kreitler (http://www.kreitler.com/why-killer-kool.php?pg=product&secpg=why-killer-kool) makes one, although I'm not sure if you can retrofit it onto anything outside of their rollers. I have heard the same thing that Foley has.

[markie@unformat]

i've heard of and experienced this myself... i've seen part of it explained as a temperature issue... since you're not moving though the air, there is less evaporative cooling, so you get hotter, and the workout feels harder

I do not know if I buy that. In summer when it is really hot and humid outside it is all to easy for my heart rate to sky rocket without excessive pain and evaporative cooling then is negligible.

Likewise on a trainer when its freezing outside and I have a fan and all the windows open it hurt like hell to get over 150bpm. Which is where I would be at the first hint of a climb on the road.


One thing I am sure of, it is hard to keep your temperature down when on a trainer. You need a fan and some windows open, even in Winter. Riding outside is a much better option.

[crashmore]

I've had a fan setup in front of my trainer from day one. While I think it helps make the expierence more comfortable, I'm not sure it's having much of an effect beyond that. I think for me a large part of it is mental and getting over the boredom of riding inside.

Like I said when I'm doing a specific interval workout I generally don't have the same problem. I think having a workout to focus on takes my mind off how bad riding inside sucks :)

Thanks, Joe. I will test out this hypothesis tonight. I'll set up a big ol fan in front of the trainer. BTW, I know someone out there makes a fan type resistance unit for rollers that instead of sitting behind the rollers, sits in front and blows the wind into you. Sounds like a neat idea.

-- JoeP

[jfoley]

got to disagree a little on that... think about riding in the summer, when you stop you get really hot sweaty and then when you start up again you get that great hit of cooling from as all of the sweat you've built up evaporates

In summer when it is really hot and humid outside ... evaporative cooling then is negligible.

[tsteele999]

Do you have a road bike? I have rollers and I ride them alot, I try to do 20 miles a day. I watch movies and listen to music and I open the curtains so I can see outside, anything to break the boredom. I think rollers are better for a couple reasons: my computer is only on the front wheel, so when I use a rear wheel trainer you don't know how fast youre pushing. Rollers are just like riding a 15 inch wide flat road, so you use all the upper body balance muscles as well as spinning. One of the other posters said he didn't like rollers because of the cadence, but that is what I do like about them. I hate that high resistance feel from the mag trainers. I have a ceiling fan right above me when I ride, I turn it on halfway through after I have soaked the floor under me.

So far this year I've rolled about 700+ miles, 150 or so outside, almost all road. While riding rollers I watched the whole first season of Alias on DVD, I highly recommend it...Jennifer Garner, Yum ;)

[drevil]

I like rollers better because you have to concentrate at least a little bit. You can't zone out and think about too many other things unless you want to come crashing off of it.

The thing I hate about rollers is that I get numb in the nethers. I don't have the skill to stand while spinning on the thing. Anyone here have the skizills to stand for more than five seconds?

Speaking of neato roller tricks, I worked at a bike shop with a guy that could ride onto one, then start spinning. That always impressed customers. I also heard (but never saw) the owner of College Park Bikes - Larry Black - could pedal one legged on rollers and take off his jersey and do other goofy stuff at the same time.

You probably know that there are cyclocomputers with rear sensors. I put one on my wife's bike because there's no way in heck she'll ever try the rollers. She sticks with the rear clamp style.

[liltommy]

Exactly what are rollers? How are they different from trainers?

BTW, Ricky thanks for the offer but no thanks.

Leave it to me to start a thread which should have been started 4 months ago.


OT. While I'm posting I'd like to give credit to Drevil for my cool avatar.
see yall

[drevil]

Exactly what are rollers? How are they different from trainers?

BTW, Ricky thanks for the offer but no thanks.

Leave it to me to start a thread which should have been started 4 months ago.


OT. While I'm posting I'd like to give credit to Drevil for my cool avatar.
see yall

Rollers are trainers as well, but there is nothing to support you. You ride on top of three drums or "rollers", thus the name. You can also buy a front wheel support, but if you're going to do that, you might as well stick with the rear mount trainers.

Terminology is all screwy, but here are "resistance" (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4120) trainers, and here are "rollers" (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4121).

[crashmore]

I like rollers better because you have to concentrate at least a little bit. You can't zone out and think about too many other things unless you want to come crashing off of it.


Funny thing is that's exactly why I chose a trainer over rollers. I like having the option to zone out. My luck I'd wreck my bike indoors if I was using rollers.

[liltommy]

Rollers are trainers as well, but there is nothing to support you. You ride on top of three drums or "rollers", thus the name. You can also buy a front wheel support, but if you're going to do that, you might as well stick with the rear mount trainers.

Terminology is all screwy, but here are "resistance" (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4120) trainers, and here are "rollers" (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4121).

I fall off the treadmill if I try to watch TV at the same time. I wouldn't stand a chance on a roller. It'd end up like the Nordic Trac in my basement. Sitting in the corner holding sweat rags. Have any of you tried this device of torture. I gave up after I fell off the 8th time.

[tsteele999]

I fall off the treadmill if I try to watch TV at the same time. I wouldn't stand a chance on a roller. It'd end up like the Nordic Trac in my basement. Sitting in the corner holding sweat rags. Have any of you tried this device of torture. I gave up after I fell off the 8th time.

You should have seen me trying to watch Pete Fagerlin's mountain bike videos while I was riding...I nearly killed myself, everytime he rode around a corner I would try to lean into it too.