Trainers?

[Joe Bernard]

I'm sure I could learn all about this on the Google, but I'm also sure it's going to take me down a road of fit 29-year-old guys in Lycra living a cycling life I neither understand nor want to. So:

I was just getting back into the swing of regular (read: non-ebike) riding when this Covid19 thing pretty much shut down my outdoors time (long story I can't explain here). So I'm looking at my Clem L and thinking maybe I should hook it up to an indoor trainer, but I know nothing of how these things work and how you ride them without being bored to tears in 15 minutes. Does anyone here use them?

[ted]

I have used trainers in the past. The bored to tears thing was a real problem. I listened to music. Some folks watch videos. These days there is also zwift which gives a virtual group riding game like aspect to the endeavor.
Aside from boredom, riding trainers also can get painful as folks tend to have a much more static position than when out on the road. There is also the problem of overheating and sweat with no breeze, you’re liable to need a good fan.
I’ll put in a favorable word for rollers over the more ubiquitous stationary varieties. Learning to ride them well is a challenge that lends more interest and satisfaction. At least for a while.
Good luck with finding a solution that works for you.

[Garth]

  A very long ago I rode the original "Turbo Trainer" , then later Krietler Rollers. The TT was most disliked as the bike itself couldn't move and it was indoors. I'm not one for indoor or stationary "exercising". The rollers at least you are actually riding and balancing and you realize quickly how to handle your bike amazing well, just all in the same one place. I tried doing these outside too, that takes care of overheating, but still I felt like I was in a cage outdoors.  If I had to do such again I'd get rollers as all you do is get on and ride the rollers with your complete bike and no attachments or detachments. I found them very easy to ride too, no handed, standing etc.  There is just no substitute for riding outdoors on the road over hill and dale, all the nuance of wind and road and sun and the smells and the people and the scenery.   

In the winter I walk every day for an hour or two. I live amidst hills and woods and steep ravines withe waterfalls unnoticed by anyone who doesn't explore the woods right under their noses !  

If I was "advised" not to leave the house because of potential danger to, or I myself was "the threat" .... I'd consider the validity of that source. Threat to/from who or what ? The "advice, the claim of power/authority" of course. It's validity.  

It's like a Mafioso coming to your house and telling you you need the Mafia's protection.  Protection from who ? The Mafioso of course.  "Pay up, heed my advice ... or else I'll be the threat to you and your home".  And so it goes with "threats" disguised as "keeping you safe". Consider the source and their "intentions"... which are always ... "serve me and what I tell you, all you gotta do is give up your Life to me .... trust me and let me run things ... I know what's best for you. If you don't follow me, you are against me and I will do everything in my power to let you know it, you will pay dearly." 

The Truth is .... Truth... ITSELF ... Indivisibly Indivisible.  Truth is not under threat , never could be and never will as there isn't anything "else". 

You know that saying .. "If God be for Me, who be against Me ?"  

None, neither for OR against ..... simply " Perfection ... Wholeness .... Indivisibility " 

Yeah ... Party on indeed !... and this Party is Existence Itself .  

[Michael Baquerizo]

Despite that bit above, I'd say the advice to stay home is sound.

No experience with either, but if I had the room I'd love to try out rollers.

[Howard Hatten]

I have the kinetic fluid trainer. It will give you a workout. It will not give you the fun of cycling. If you think you would be satisfied riding one of those spin bikes in your home I would recommend the fluid trainer. If you get one be prepared for the puddles of sweat on the floor and on your bike. I ended up buying an old 80’s trek road bike so my good bike didn’t get all salty from the sweat.

Howard
Livonia Mi

[Ryan M.]

I've had several trainers in the past, from magnetic drive ones, fluid ones, to a Wahoo Kickr smart trainer. The best and most enjoyable I've used is the smart trainer. Get on Zwift, or Trainer road and you don't have to think about shifting and have proper power levels throughout the workout. Zwift will give you some sort of gaming function, where Trainerroad is purely workout related. You can even use the Wahoo app to control the trainer if you don't want to up for a subscription service. I've used every Riv I've owned on a trainer at one time or another and the bikes work great for it. 

what I like to do if I'm just looking to move the legs is stick on a movie or a tv series, stick a easy workout on trainerroad onto my phone and just spin for an hour or so. It's great for those days that weather-wise don't work for outdoor riding. 

[Joe Bernard]

Thanks everyone.

Garth, it's not advice about staying home. It's related to my schedule and how Covid19 is going to affect it for a while, which I can't explain because then I have to basically explain my whole life to a bike forum and haven't I already done enough of that? Yes I have!

[Chris M]

I just bought a set of rollers this week for the very same reason. The learning curve was short-- took about 15 minutes from zero to being (mostly) comfortable. 

There was more resistance than I was expecting, so it's not a bad workout at all. A friend who used to race helped me with adjusting them and sent links to good cycling YouTube videos. I'm going to post my laptop on a plant stand, watch the videos (mostly to keep my eyes from wandering-- the wobbles come fast if you stray!), and listen to my favorite radio shows. 

They have a nice aural feedback that tells you how round (or not round) your pedal stroke is. Looking forward to coming out of this ordeal stronger, more stable, and more efficient! 

Good luck, and stay safe. 

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 4:52:40 AM UTC-4, Joe Bernard wrote:

[Bill Lindsay]

That would be the best instragram video ever to see a Clem L rocking on rollers.

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito Ca

[Paul Clifton]

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 6:32:02 AM UTC-5, Garth wrote:

If I had to do such again I'd get rollers as all you do is get on and ride the rollers with your complete bike and no attachments or detachments. I found them very easy to ride too, no handed, standing etc.  There is just no substitute for riding outdoors on the road over hill and dale, all the nuance of wind and road and sun and the smells and the people and the scenery.   

My rollers won't get long enough to fit my MTBubbe, so there's one more quirk of long bikes I guess. I'll try the 45 Clem L, just to see some time.

I do like rollers more than trainers though, for what I use 'em for.

Paul in NW AR

[Garth]

 

   Paul, for Kreitler rollers at least they sell extensions , I copied and pasted for eases sake ! 

Tandem/Recumbent Frame Extension

Extends the Standard frame to fit 57.5” to 75.5” wheelbase applications. Perfect for Tandems and Recumbents.

MSRP $74.95

Intermediate Frame Extension Kit

Extends the Standard Frame to fit 48.5” to 63.75” wheelbase applications

MSRP $59.95

[Paul Clifton]

:)

The extensions cost as much as my rollers! I could probably find the right size extruded aluminum if I really wanted to.

Pretty cool that people ride tandems on rollers though.

[Joe Bernard]

"Tandems on rollers"

That's relationship commitment! 😁

[Roberta]

I spent $100 on one years ago and was happy to sell it for $35 to a friend last year.   I found it doable for 10 minutes at a time, and then getting off that and getting on my ski machine (also sold) for another 10 minutes.  Hey, 20 minutes (even 5 minutes) is better than not doing it at all.  I did both activities while reading, listening to music, or watching Jeopardy, so wasn't too bad.   If you did start to get bored, just do your 10 minutes and go back to it for another 10 minutes later in the day.

I found, though, that I stick to walking or biking outdoors. 

Roberta

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 4:52:40 AM UTC-4, Joe Bernard wrote: