Indoor trainer vs spinning bike

[Red Zone]

People spend enough time on a trainer to wear out/destroy a rear tyre :eek: :eek:

Shred it dude, Shred it, training for Ironman and the rain kicks in in Cape Town and there is no option, you got to ride that sucker for hours. There are few things which suck more

[Bester]

What would a second hand rear wheel go for if I decide to use indoor trainer?

[rouxtjie]

What would a second hand rear wheel go for if I decide to use indoor trainer?

Cheap and cheerfull, get a second hand set....between 800 - 1000 rand.

[scotty]

I have an older road bike is set up permanently on the indoor trainer using tires replaced on my other road bike and they last quite a while.

[Jakkals.]

indoor trainer, takes me 3 minutes to set mine up

 

What he said.

 

Its a no brainer for me.

 

If setting up a trainer is a schlep, you shouldn't be riding a bike.

Edited May 29, 2014 by antonj

[Bester]

 

If setting up a trainer is a schlep, you shouldn't be riding a bike.

 

Thats a bit judgemental, but anyway thanks for taking the time to respond.There is more involved that just setting up the trainer.

[rouxtjie]

Thats a bit judgemental, but anyway thanks for taking the time to respond.There is more involved that just setting up the trainer.

I think what he is trying to say is, it really shouldnt be a schlep, if it is, you didn't buy the right trainer for your needs.

 

When I bought mine, setting up and the admin thereof was a key requirements. Hence I went for the Bluetooth version of the powerbeam pro. No dongles and booting up of PC or laptop since it operates via my tablet(Ipad)

 

Once I am in my bibs, I am up and running in 10 seconds...no jokes.

[sluiper]

I've had both and prefer the spinning bike.

 

I use it to train for Ironman, so time is the biggest factor for me when choosing between the two. The trainer just takes too much time to set up and the one thing you really have too little of when training for Ironman is time

 

Then there's the wear on your rear tyre. You could (obviously) buy a spare rear wheel and swap it out every time you put the bike on the trainer, but that takes even more time. Or you could buy a spare bike, but obviously the setup will never be 100% the same as your primary bike and there's a huge cost involved.

 

Then there's the copious amounts of sweat falling on my precious bike, the wear on my drivetrain, the lack of proper stability when you're standing up, the sound the trainer makes.... The list goes on.

 

In my opinion, spinning bikes are designed to be stationary, whilst road bikes are not. Best tool for the job, etc. etc. I'm not saying trainers don't have their place, but I definitely don't think their place is as a permanent indoor training option.

 

To remove some of the monotony of the spinning bike, I often work out my own programs, watch series whilst pedalling or listen to some spinning oriented music. I also try not to do sessions over 40 minutes, otherwise it really just does become too boring.

[rouxtjie]

I've had both and prefer the spinning bike.

 

I use it to train for Ironman, so time is the biggest factor for me when choosing between the two. The trainer just takes too much time to set up and the one thing you really have too little of when training for Ironman is time

 

Then there's the wear on your rear tyre. You could (obviously) buy a spare rear wheel and swap it out every time you put the bike on the trainer, but that takes even more time. Or you could buy a spare bike, but obviously the setup will never be 100% the same as your primary bike and there's a huge cost involved.

 

Then there's the copious amounts of sweat falling on my precious bike, the wear on my drivetrain, the lack of proper stability when you're standing up, the sound the trainer makes.... The list goes on.

 

In my opinion, spinning bikes are designed to be stationary, whilst road bikes are not. Best tool for the job, etc. etc. I'm not saying trainers don't have their place, but I definitely don't think their place is as a permanent indoor training option.

 

To remove some of the monotony of the spinning bike, I often work out my own programs, watch series whilst pedalling or listen to some spinning oriented music. I also try not to do sessions over 40 minutes, otherwise it really just does become too boring.

I hear your points but unfortunately an top end IDT gives you ability to train with power without having to crack the bank safe. The top end spinning bikes(wattbike / cyclops) are very expensive. A topend IDT gets you the same functionality at a 1/4 of the price.

[Mikesa9]

they are serious pieces of kit, but with a heavy tag...I would love one myself, but alas...

 

For me there are 4 different levels, budget wise when it comes to indoor trainers

 

Entry - cheap and cheerfull sub 2000 rand secondhand trainer from our classifieds

Middle - Kurt Kinetic road machine

Top-end - wahoo kickr or powerbeam pro

Shoot the lights out - Wattbike

For me the Cyclops IDT beats the Wattbike. There is very little difference in the quality, but the service by the Cycleops guys cleans up.

[rouxtjie]

For me the Cyclops IDT beats the Wattbike. There is very little difference in the quality, but the service by the Cycleops guys cleans up.

Sure, I have a cyclops IDT myself so also bias...but having been on a wattbike for a 3 month training block it does have some really cool features like built in tests and pedal stroke analysis.

 

Can't agree more wrt Dave and co and bicyclepowertrading....awesome people!

[Jakkals.]

I think what he is trying to say is, it really shouldnt be a schlep, if it is, you didn't buy the right trainer for your needs.

 

When I bought mine, setting up and the admin thereof was a key requirements. Hence I went for the Bluetooth version of the powerbeam pro. No dongles and booting up of PC or laptop since it operates via my tablet(Ipad)

 

Once I am in my bibs, I am up and running in 10 seconds...no jokes.

 

Thanks Rouxtjie, my engels is nie so lekker nie!

[Jakkals.]

Guys, am I missing something?

 

I've got an RavX IDT, bought off the hub for R600.

 

I plan my workouts on garmin connect, upload them onto my garmin.

 

Use my training bike on my IDT, you will be surprised how long a gatorskin lasts if you test its abilities.

 

Putting my bike on the training, 30s.

Garmin power on, 20s.

Calibrate powermeter, whether powertap, vector, srm, 20s.

Do workout and bobs your uncle.

[NotSoBigBen]

Sure, I have a cyclops IDT myself so also bias...but having been on a wattbike for a 3 month training block it does have some really cool features like built in tests and pedal stroke analysis.

 

Can't agree more wrt Dave and co and bicyclepowertrading....awesome people!

 

I keep thinking of that recent comment 'ok mr. #iwattbikeathome' or something like that :w00t:

[rouxtjie]

Guys, am I missing something?

 

I've got an RavX IDT, bought off the hub for R600.

 

I plan my workouts on garmin connect, upload them onto my garmin.

 

Use my training bike on my IDT, you will be surprised how long a gatorskin lasts if you test its abilities.

 

Putting my bike on the training, 30s.

Garmin power on, 20s.

Calibrate powermeter, whether powertap, vector, srm, 20s.

Do workout and bobs your uncle.

That is another popular way....getting a cheapy trainer, but having power in your crank / hub / pedals. The nice thing about this setup is you have power everywhere, not just your IDT sessions, the con is that it is still a turbo trainer not a ergo. For someone that would need power numbers in their races this could be a solid option.

[sluiper]

I hear your points but unfortunately an top end IDT gives you ability to train with power without having to crack the bank safe. The top end spinning bikes(wattbike / cyclops) are very expensive. A topend IDT gets you the same functionality at a 1/4 of the price.

 

Sure, if your primary aim is to train with power then I would have to agree. I do most of my indoor training on heart rate, so power isn't as big of an issue.

 

My spinning bike (second hand) cost less than a basic IDT.