Can a trainer mess up a bike?

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Permalink Reply by JimmyD on November 19, 2013 at 1:17pm

Matt, sorry if I derailed your thread a bit with my questions about the affects of trainers on tires. I'm glad I asked though... I didn't think there would be such a significant impact on the tire!?  ...and now I know.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on November 19, 2013 at 3:01pm

I do not agree with Waterford on this one, I see carbon and aluminum bikes that are ridden almost exclusively in trainers and have yet to see any damage on them.  It's going to be fine unless you are a real klutz getting on and off the bike or riding it and putting huge side loads on it.  I do not really agree a trainer really puts more stress on your bike either.

Tires, however, the trainer will totally burn off in no time.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on November 19, 2013 at 3:07pm

I'd just like to to add that riding on a trainer completely sucks. It's not 1/100th as fun as riding a bike outside, no matter the weather. It's loud, boring, HOT, you're pouring sweat, and the sweat doesn't evaporate to cool you off. You need to get a big fan to cool you off and will need to cover your floor and your bike to catch the dripping sweat. Trainers suck. 

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on November 19, 2013 at 3:26pm

Understood and mostly agreed. However, I like the addition  of  music. I don't wear headphones when I ride outside but can hear music when I ride inside. I made about a dozen spin programs of about 50 min each and really enjoy riding listening to the tunes and not wearing a helmet. I close my eyes,  hear the music and enter a trance. Its not as cool as riding outside, but its still enjoyable. I take a dish towel and hang it over my handle bars. It gets drenched.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

I'd just like to to add that riding on a trainer completely sucks. It's not 1/100th as fun as riding a bike outside, no matter the weather. It's loud, boring, HOT, you're pouring sweat, and the sweat doesn't evaporate to cool you off. You need to get a big fan to cool you off and will need to cover your floor and your bike to catch the dripping sweat. Trainers suck. 

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Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on November 19, 2013 at 3:51pm

I also agree. Trainers are definitely not as fun. However, sometimes after work I want to get some cardio in without taking the time to put on tons of cold weather gear. I also live in the burbs where street lights and bike lanes are sparse, so it's not entirely safe for me to go riding in the dark, even with lights. I don't mind going out in the cold, but I just don't care waste time during the work week putting on all these layers and riding in the dark when I have other things to do. I try to make the most of it by putting on music, an audiobook or watching a movie/TV show. In the winter it's just easier to have my road bike on the trainer. I'll use my hybrid for outdoor cold riding for weekend daylight riding.

David Barish said:

Understood and mostly agreed. However, I like the addition  of  music. I don't wear headphones when I ride outside but can hear music when I ride inside. I made about a dozen spin programs of about 50 min each and really enjoy riding listening to the tunes and not wearing a helmet. I close my eyes,  hear the music and enter a trance. Its not as cool as riding outside, but its still enjoyable. I take a dish towel and hang it over my handle bars. It gets drenched.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

I'd just like to to add that riding on a trainer completely sucks. It's not 1/100th as fun as riding a bike outside, no matter the weather. It's loud, boring, HOT, you're pouring sweat, and the sweat doesn't evaporate to cool you off. You need to get a big fan to cool you off and will need to cover your floor and your bike to catch the dripping sweat. Trainers suck. 

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on November 19, 2013 at 6:25pm

The drum the rear tire rests on is not flat, it is curved.  It bends in the tire more, causing the excessive wear.  And since you don't lean over to turn, it wears out the center.

P.S. when riding on a road, the tire wear the most slightly to the left of the center of the tire.  When changing flats, or getting close to wearing out, put the rear tire label on the other side and you should get close to double the tire life.  When both sides of the rear are worn out, take off the rear tire, put the front tire on the rear, and put a new tire on the front.  The front tire lasts about 5X as long as the rear tire.

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