tarryng

I initially got a 2nd hand indoor trainer and have honestly hardly touched it. Got bored within 5 minutes even with the music pumping. Then decided to get some rollers 'cos I really wanted to improve my bike handling etc and love them! Use them at least 2-3 times a week along with spinning at the gym. I think a lot of the scare stories you hear with rollers are unfounded - I did an hour session on day one and have not yet fallen off. Time passes much more quickly (probably due to increased concentration required) and it actually feels like you're riding your bike. Granted they don't come with fancy power gadgets etc . . .

smileys/smiley36.gif Stranger than friction indeed. In fact LBS guy just said too light or too tight causes damage. So maybe I was spinning a little too freely . . . Thanks, T

Hi SwissVan . . . I had the trainer just touching my tire as I wanted to spin a bit without maxxing out my heart rate. During the setup, I adjusted the level of the trainer so the tyre just caught and spun it. So unless I have power that has not yet been demostrated on the road (I wish smileys/smiley9.gif) I don't think it was too tight. A spring loaded trainer does seem a good idea though . . . however, think I'm just going to have to go the cheap tyre option for the moment. Thanks Fatty, will check out those Maxxis tyres.

Thanks, guess its off to the LBS to replace what is now a band of black goo, and get something cheap and hard for the trainer . . .

Thanks Mud Dee . . . I knew that trainers weren't great for tyres, but I didn't expect the tyre to get destroyed quite so fast. What a pain to have to switch tyres the whole time, does everyone suffer through this in winter?!

Hi . . . is this normal or is there something really wrong with my tyres? Tyres are Continental Ultrasport that came with the bike. I got an indoor trainer last week and popped my bike on for a few sessions. On taking my bike off, I noticed my back tyre was really sticky and stayed sticky even after the friction heat had cooled. On Friday, I did 40mins or so and ended up leaving a rubber residue on the trainer and after taking my bike off, rubber tyre tracks across the floor. smileys/smiley5.gif Then needed to change my tube on Saturday afternoon and it was a massive struggle to get the tyre off. I can't get it back on and the tyre wall is now all distorted and looks like its been nuked in the microwave. This can't be normal . . . I'm no heavy weight and I very much doubt I was generating excessive amounts of friction on the trainer. It seems like the rubber composition was dodgy . . . Anyone else experienced this? T

Thanks SwissVan . . . went to spinning last night and fortunately the instructor was a cyclist and tried to keep the work out more 'real'. Also found my ankle ligaments getting a bit sore . . . feels like a bit of a centrifugal force on them at high cadence. Will wear my heart rate monitor next time and compare my stats to the equivalent time on the bike.

How beneficial is spinning at the gym in keeping up some level of bike fitness? Classes vary from 45 mins to 90 mins. The mornings have got very dark very fast in CT and I don't have my own indoor trainer. T

You're right Bike-Thingy, on closer inspection on the Shimano site, I see it's just the rear wheel that weighs 1kg . . . another 793 grams for the front one smileys/smiley9.gif tarryng38793.6183449074

Thanks . . . no intention to upgrade, was really just interested in learning more techie stuff - I suspect wheels make a lot of difference for pro cyclists smileys/smiley1.gif

So light is definitely better!! I have a Raleigh which came with Shimano WHR 550 wheels which weigh just over 1kg and seem to be made entirely of aluminium . . . are these good, bad or ugly?! T

A few months ago, I knew nothing about group sets, frames, cleats etc . . . think I've got to grips with the basics there, but wheels is still a foreign subject. So, what makes a wheel good . . . weight, the spoke design, the bearings?! And who are the leading manufacturers? T

Relentless . . . I went to Cycle Lab at Westlake - R250. Was happy with the service I got and feel much more comfortable on my bike. Didn't need to swap any bits and pieces though - I'm sure that would add to the price.