IDT vs Stationary Bike vs Spinning Bike

[Fleming]

Hi Guys

 

 

 

I enjoy riding my MTB but now that its winter I find I can only ride on the weekends and am becoming very unfit.

 

 

 

I watch a fair amount of TV so I thought I could make double use of that time and get a IDT, Stationary Bike or Spinning Bike. Problem is I dont know which is the better option. I have looked at them and made a short list of pro's and cons.

 

 

 

IDT

 

Pros: Compact when not in use, Riding position is the same as real riding.

 

Cons: Extra wear on my drive train, will need a spare wheel for my MTB with a slick tyre.

 

 

 

Stationary Bike

 

Pros: No need for a extra wheel. My expensive MTB drivetrain doesnt take any extra wear.

 

Cons: Takes up space

 

 

 

Spinning Bike

 

I know nothing about spinning bikes so looking for some advise here.

 

 

 

So far I am leaning towards the stationary bike but don't wanna make the wrong decision so I am looking for advise.

[ErikV]

I'd suggest Tacx IDT. The wear on the drive train is minimal - you'll have same wear when riding normally! Spinning bike is also good for general fitness but it doesn't mimick real riding too well. imo

[DirtyFrank]

None of the above.

 

Rather go to your local Gym and do at least 2 spinning classes a week. Combine with a few toning circuits and you have a more complete and varied training.

 

This way you will not be stuck with equipment that stands around after the novelty factor has worn off.

 

You may even score some points with your medical aid.

[JPW#]

I've had them all and like the spinning bike best, just make sure ur riding pos is the same as the roadbike

[Minion]

If you're going to train at home then I'd recommend the IDT.

 

I find the major downside of the IDT (or any other stationary bike at home), for anything other than interval work, is that it gets boring very quickly. This will be less of a problem if you can watch TV while riding. Just make sure the TV doesn't distract you so much that you don't get in some good training.

 

An IDT will cause less wear on a properly cleaned and lubricated drivetrain than normal riding. This is because your home is (hopefully) a much cleaner environment than the average trail. There's also no movement to kick up dust onto the chain.

 

The extra wheel is more a matter of laziness/convenience. It's a non-issue if you're prepared to swap tyres every Friday and Sunday night.

I use a spare wheel because I'm lazy. My normal rims are also just big enough that it's almost impossible to get the tyre on and off without some serious leverage.

Finally, remember that your IDT wheel can be really cheap and you can also use a cheap cassette (saving the expensive one).

 

[scotty]

My preferance will be 1st IDT, then spinning followed by stationary.

[Fleming]

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

 

 

The extra wheel is more a matter of laziness/convenience. It's a non-issue if you're prepared to swap tyres every Friday and Sunday night.

 

 

 

This really is a lot of effort when you running a tubeless set up but I get your point about the IDT wheel not needing to be expensive.

 

 

 

Quite a few of you said the IDT was the best bet and no one suggested the stationary bike. Is there something wrong with the stationary bike option that I am not seeing. Surely it can be set up to mimic the riding position on my MTB giving the same effect as a IDT.

[HammerHed]

Only one choice here, the IDT for sure.

 

Get yourself a CyClops Fluid2 IDT and start to build your power in the off season. By the time you get back on a bike you will be strong already.

 

The spinning bikes and stationary bikes are not the same they don't have an exponential  power / resistance curve and that is where this  IDT is very powerful.

 

[downhilldemon]

i'd def say the spinning bike. sure it's more expensive tham the idt & stationery bike, but it acts as a fixed gear, so there is no free-wheeling, thus you can spend less time on the spinning bike to get the same workout

[Minion]

 

i'd def say the spinning bike. sure it's more expensive tham the idt & stationery bike' date=' but it acts as a fixed gear, so there is no free-wheeling, thus you can spend less time on the spinning bike to get the same workout

[/quote']

I don't find freewheeling to be too much of a problem on the IDT. My Fluid2 coasts down pretty quickly if I stop pedalling. I then need to expend more effort to get it back up to speed - it's very much like riding up a hill.

 

I'm not a fan of stationary bike simply because they take up too much space. My IDT folds away nicely when I'm finished.

 

Something to remember for any of these options is to get a fan to cool you while you're riding. You'll sweat buckets, even at low intensities, if you don't.

 

[RABUBI]

I only use my Tacx during the winter in the week. Boring as hell, but cycling DVD's make it better. I put in about 5hours a week on it, but quality all of it, anything more than that and I will go mad pedalling on one spot.

Luckily fridays I work till 2, then I can go out on the road

[mtbN00b]

 

this may be a dumb question but I am new to this cycling thing (which i enjoy )

 

How exactly do the stationary bike setup work and which one of the 3 options here between the IST, spinning bike and statioanry bike is the cheapest - i have a limited budget for cycling at this stage and need someway of training in the week - I do go to the gym but due to work and other responsibilities I can not go everyday so if I am lucky maybe 2 times a week.

 

[HappyMartin]

If I may I will revive this thread and ask a few more questions about the tacx. I have already asked lots of questions about power training (thanks Bruce) and am thinking of buying a tacx as it will give me an immediate start to power training before I purchase my new bike at the end of the year. My questions are as follows.

 

Is it not easier to train with power on a tacx than on a bike as you do not have traffic, hills, robots etc to get in the way? Will the training provided by the tacx translate into better riding performance? Will the tracx not be better for riding fitness than a spinning class? Other than boredom what is the downside of doing a lot of your training on a tracx.

 

 

 

[TYGA]

I haven't tried the others but the using the IDT with a MTB wheel with a slick on it makes one hell of a racket so much so that you can either not hear your telly or you drive everyone around you nuts by turning it up too much. I'd go for the spinning bike.

[wolf182]

100 % spin bike, the only thing is a decent spin bike doesnt come cheep.

 

I've also tried em all and really only now use a spin bike in gym, for the class routines or on my own as well.

 

 

 

But really at the end of the day it comes down to how you gonna use it, i could give you the best idt and you misuse it - no use. go with what you can afford and do research on how to have the most benefit from it.

[TNT1]

Rollers people, rollers... And yes, I use mine with the mtb and the road bike...