Cycling Turbo Trainer setup

June 26, 2006 12:47 PM

I am considering setting getting a turbo trainer like this one but I am not sure about the skewer. I have a pretty low end mountain bike. Will I have to pull the axel out of my rear tire?
posted by srboisvert to sports, hobbies, & recreation (7 comments total)

if you don't have a quick flip hub on the back, yes.
posted by lester at 1:16 PM on June 26, 2006

The bigger problem will be riding a trainer with knobby tires, if you have knobbies. It'll make a horrible racket, be bad for the tires, and be uncomfortable(r) for you. Slicks are strongly recommended for riding a trainer like this.

They do make special mt-bike trainers that put the resistance wheel along the sidewall, rather than on the tread, so that would be the other option.
posted by adamrice at 1:19 PM on June 26, 2006

The picture showing the skewer is simply showing how the wheel gets attached to the trainer, in other words, the skewer in the picture will be replaced by your wheel. I have a hard time believing that your rear wheel is not quick release, but if it isn't then you might have a problem, although the set up on the trainer might also clamp onto your axel bolts.

You'll have to put slicks on the rear of your bike.
posted by OmieWise at 1:41 PM on June 26, 2006

I have the rim drive version of this trainer and it is a pretty good one. It mounts against the rim, not the sidewall of the tire as adam rice implies.
Some low-end bikes have a solid rear axle with nuts holding it to the frame. More common is a hollow axle with a quick-release skewer to clamp the wheel on. (Lester- is this what you mean by a "quick flip hub" ?)
The Minoura trainer includes a skewer if you need one, but you don't have to use it. The screw adjustment will clamp onto most existing rear axles, even if your bike has a solid rear axle.
There are some quick release skewers that are a bit too thick to fit well between the clamps. If so you can use the included skewer.
posted by pgoes at 1:42 PM on June 26, 2006

if you already have a quick-release skewer, but the quick-release lever already on your bike won't mate properly with the existing coupler on this trainer, then you'll simply need to swap out your skewer with the one included with this trainer. assuming, of course, that the quick-release skewer included with the trainer is the correct length for your hub.

if your rear wheel is bolted on, it is unlikely that you will be able to use a trainer of this type with your bike.

adamrice's point about knobby tires is a good one. i second the motion of getting a slick rear tire.

on preview - what pgoes and omiewise said.
posted by the painkiller at 1:54 PM on June 26, 2006

pgoes: yup, that's what I mean. but I defer to many here that know much more then i.
posted by lester at 2:17 PM on June 26, 2006

Yeah, knobbies hella noisy. Get a cheap slick since trainers are very hard on tires. It'll have a flat spot in no time. The free rider block is a good deal, it will prevent you from riding slightly downhill.
posted by fixedgear at 5:58 PM on June 26, 2006