While the “
riding on a trainer will damage your carbon frame” myth has been officially busted
, indoor riding can still pose a threat to your bike in two ways: wheel strain and sweat corrosion. We’ve put together an exhaustive list of common trouble spots reported by riders who train regularly on Zwift.
Which is better exercise bike or trainer?
Stationary bikes are a one-size-fits-all option that adjusts to fit riders of different heights. Indoor trainers may require you to install a different bike on the trainer each time you want to change riders.
If you have multiple riders in your household, a stationary bike may be preferable
.
What type of indoor bike trainer is best?
- Best overall: Wahoo Fitness KICKR Smart Trainer.
- Best for resistance training: Alpcour Fluid Bike Trainer Stand.
- Best smart: Saris H3 Direct-Drive Smart Indoor Bike Trainer, Wahoo Fitness KICKR Core Bike Trainer.
- Best affordable: Sportneer Magnetic Bike Trainer Stand.
Can you change gears on a bike trainer?
If you have a controllable smart trainer (one with resistance) then you can use gears
. When riding an event or just free riding in one of the worlds the trainer will automatically react to the gradient and you will be forced to change gear to match that gradient, just as you would do outdoors.
What’s the difference between a spin bike and a stationary bike?
Spin bikes or indoor cycles are designed to more closely mimic the riding position of an outdoor bike, such that you’re leaning forward more.
Stationary bikes are more upright and have a less aggressive riding position
.
Can you use a regular tire on a bike trainer?
Trainer tires definitely work better with tire-drive bike trainers
. Riders often ask us which tire works best on a trainer, and whether or not using a standard tire will have any adverse effects on either the tire or the trainer. For the best performance we recommend using a trainer-specific tire.
Do indoor bike trainers wear out tires?
Does a bike trainer wear out your tire? Yes. Unfortunately,
a bike trainer will wear out your rear bicycle tire more quickly than bicycling on the road or a similar flat surface
. You can even see this damage in the debris the trainer leaves behind on the floor.
Is riding on a trainer harder than the road?
“So an hour on the trainer would be roughly equivalent to an hour and 15 minutes on the open road.” Here’s the catch:
Your trainer workout may be more efficient, but it’s also going to feel harder
. If it doesn’t, you’re probably not working hard enough. Take this recent study from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
How do indoor bike trainers work?
All turbo trainers work with a bike. At the cheap to mid-range,
the bike fits onto the trainer with a skewer through the rear axle and the rear wheel rests against a cylinder, which spins when you start to pedal
.
Can you spin on a bike trainer?
These two types are called wheel-on and direct-drive trainers, respectively. These indoor trainers allow the cyclist to perform indoor training on his or her own bike.
Wheel-on trainers allow for the rear tire to spin (like it does outside) within the indoor trainer.
How can I turn my bike into a stationary bike without a trainer?
DIY Bike Rollers
In contrast to a turbo trainer, bike rollers are a frame with rolling cylinders. The frame sits on the floor, you put your bike on top without attaching it, hop on and start pedaling. These give a more realistic feel for your riding vs a turbo trainer as you need to balance to stay on top.
Can I use a mountain bike on a trainer?
Yes, you can put a mountain bike on a trainer
. But you will need to check that bike trainer’s specs with your own bike specs to be sure it will properly work with your bike. There are a number of types of trainers available such as the direct-drive smart trainers, and the wheel on trainers.
How do I choose a home trainer?
In short, how to choose your home trainer :
If you want to pedal quietly in front of the TV, you can use a classic home trainer
. To do specific work, it is better to invest in a medium or high-end home trainer that offers different levels of resistance and different levels of slope.
What makes a good bike trainer?
Stationary trainers are the best option for most cyclists.
They have the largest selection of feature sets and come in the widest range of prices
. They also don’t require the learning curve that most rollers do and are far more compact and easier to store and move than stationary bikes.
How long should I ride my bike trainer?
Indoor rides should last anywhere from a 30 minute recovery ride to a 2 hour structured effort. Most rides should fall in the
60 to 90 minute range
.
What is better fluid or magnetic trainer?
Sensations:
Fluid trainers are generally considered to be superior to magnetic trainers
because they allow for the most realistic riding feeling. The resistance will feel the most similar to the resistance of the road and the flywheel will enable you to coast without feeling an abrupt stop.
Why is Zwift so hard?
“
The racing is short and particularly intense
,” he explained. “It is 45-90 minutes of racing instead of three to six hours. The consequence for the riders is that there is no opportunity to save energy like they have in road races, so they have to make prolonged, all-out efforts that push them to their physical limit.”
Is spinning better than cycling?
While the researchers acknowledged that there was no difference between spinning and cycling when it came to weight loss, this did find that
spinning had greater effects on physical fitness, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI)
.
Can you stand on a stationary bike?
You can also stand on the pedals when you are riding for a more intense workout. On an upright bike, on the other hand, the handlebars are positioned much higher. You only need to lean forward ever so slightly.
The upright bike also does not allow you to stand while riding
.
Is cycling harder than spinning?
Spinning:
Spinning uses the same muscles as road biking
. However, the weight of the fl ywheel ( 14-18kg) increases the number of pedal strokes per minute, forcing the hamstrings to work harder. Cycling: Cycling uses all the major lower-body muscles – the glutes, hamstrings, quads, shins and calves.
Do you really need a trainer tyre?
Turbo Trainer tyre; do I need one?
You don’t need one
. They’re a harder compound so don’t wear as quick. A cheap tyre will do the same job if you’re running expensive ones.
Is a trainer tire worth it?
You don’t need a trainer specific tire, but they are only $30 and last forever, are quieter, and don’t leave black dust all over the floor.
Worth it, IMO
. I’ve had my trainer wheel on for 2 years now. No slippage and no destroying my road set.
Can you use any bike on a bike trainer?
Most direct drive trainers are compatible with mountain bikes, as long as you have the correct adapters for your bike and a cassette that is compatible with the drivetrain on your bike
. Here are tips for setting up your mountain bike on a direct drive trainer: You will need an extra cassette.
Do bike rollers ruin tires?
Do rollers ruin my bike tires?
Rollers will not cause your bike’s tires to wear out as much compared to using a trainer
. True, both of your tires will be in contact with the roller drums, but they are made of smooth aluminum or plastic that will not really put too much pressure on your tires.
