Does the type of bicycle on a trainer matter?

01-25-2007, 09:13 AM

What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid, that
was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to commute by
car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer on a mostly
permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road bike.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

01-25-2007, 11:13 AM

Ken C. M. wrote:
> What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid, that
> was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to commute by
> car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer on a mostly
> permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road bike.
>
> Ken

It might make sense but to me a trainer is BORING! Is your commute over
20 miles? That would be the limit for me but you may have a non-bicycle
type of commute.
Bill Baka

01-25-2007, 11:50 AM

On Jan 25, 11:13 am, "Ken C. M." <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid, that
> was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to commute by
> car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer on a mostly
> permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road bike.
>
> Ken
> --
> The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
> old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
> shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

The answer will vary with your goals. If you using the trainer
essentially as a gym type stationary bike then it relly shouldn't make
any difference. However, if you are using the trainer for cycling
specific training then it will.
So, if you just want to elevate your heart rate and burn some calories
you can put pretty much anything with smooth tires on the trainer. But
if you are seeking to use the trainer to improve your riding on yor
road bike then using that bike (or another raoad bike that fits the
same) will be much more usefull.

01-25-2007, 03:51 PM

On Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:13:08 -0500, "Ken C. M."
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Does the type of bicycle on a trainer matter?

I don't have a road bike. Yet use a trainer.

I use a Kinetic Road trainer with a Bianchi Milano. It works great.
But it's not as fun as getting outside, I don't ride as long, but I
can get some exercise on my bike when it's raining in Oregon.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

---
Bob Anderson*Bitwisebob
Eugene Oregon

01-26-2007, 03:02 AM

Bill Baka wrote:
> Ken C. M. wrote:
>> What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid, that
>> was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to commute by
>> car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer on a mostly
>> permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road bike.
>>
>> Ken
>
> It might make sense but to me a trainer is BORING! Is your commute over
> 20 miles? That would be the limit for me but you may have a non-bicycle
> type of commute.
> Bill Baka

No Bill it's just a few miles, but I need use of my car to make bank
deposits. otherwise I would use a bike.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

01-26-2007, 04:40 AM

gds wrote:
>
> On Jan 25, 11:13 am, "Ken C. M." <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>> What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid, that
>> was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to commute by
>> car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer on a mostly
>> permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road bike.
>>
>> Ken
>> --
>> The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
>> old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
>> shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong
>
> The answer will vary with your goals. If you using the trainer
> essentially as a gym type stationary bike then it relly shouldn't make
> any difference. However, if you are using the trainer for cycling
> specific training then it will.
> So, if you just want to elevate your heart rate and burn some calories
> you can put pretty much anything with smooth tires on the trainer. But
> if you are seeking to use the trainer to improve your riding on yor
> road bike then using that bike (or another raoad bike that fits the
> same) will be much more usefull.
>

Yeah, thats kind of what I thought, do to work and such I don't get to
get out as much as I would like, but just to change into something to
spin on for a bit and get the heart rate up takes up less time than
getting together to go out for a ride outside. And if I wanted to
improve improve bike handling I think rollers would be a better
alternative.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

01-26-2007, 05:29 AM

Ken C. M. wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
>> Ken C. M. wrote:
>>> What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid,
>>> that was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to
>>> commute by car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer on
>>> a mostly permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road bike.
>>>
>>> Ken
>>
>> It might make sense but to me a trainer is BORING! Is your commute
>> over 20 miles? That would be the limit for me but you may have a
>> non-bicycle type of commute.
>> Bill Baka
>
> No Bill it's just a few miles, but I need use of my car to make bank
> deposits. otherwise I would use a bike.
>
> Ken

That's a bummer. Maybe, depending on your situation, you could buy a
junker for those bank runs and just leave it at work so you could ride
in. I once worked for a company that was very bike friendly and they let
me do that (sometimes) as long as I didn't take any reserved spaces.
Maybe you could put a computer monitor in front of the trainer and read
some e-books o other stuff while you trained??
I had an indoor trainer (fan type) and got so bored with it I gave up
and just went back to riding, although some days it is too nasty to go out.
Hope you find a good compromise.
Bill Baka

01-26-2007, 05:35 AM

Bill Baka wrote:
> Ken C. M. wrote:
>> Bill Baka wrote:
>>> Ken C. M. wrote:
>>>> What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid,
>>>> that was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to
>>>> commute by car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer on
>>>> a mostly permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road bike.
>>>>
>>>> Ken
>>>
>>> It might make sense but to me a trainer is BORING! Is your commute
>>> over 20 miles? That would be the limit for me but you may have a
>>> non-bicycle type of commute.
>>> Bill Baka
>>
>> No Bill it's just a few miles, but I need use of my car to make bank
>> deposits. otherwise I would use a bike.
>>
>> Ken
>
> That's a bummer. Maybe, depending on your situation, you could buy a
> junker for those bank runs and just leave it at work so you could ride
> in. I once worked for a company that was very bike friendly and they let
> me do that (sometimes) as long as I didn't take any reserved spaces.
> Maybe you could put a computer monitor in front of the trainer and read
> some e-books o other stuff while you trained??
> I had an indoor trainer (fan type) and got so bored with it I gave up
> and just went back to riding, although some days it is too nasty to go out.
> Hope you find a good compromise.
> Bill Baka
I have thought about that. Drive the car in with a bike in the back, use
the car just to run the 1 mile to the bank, and then back to work park
it there over night and ride the bike home. The only thing is I am not
really sure about the parking lot at night. I might come in one morning
and find the car missing (probably not it's a Geo Metro) or more likely
trashed. It's not much of a car to look at but it gets about 40mpg and I
don't want to have to replace it yet, I want to drive it for at least
another year or two.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

01-26-2007, 05:42 AM

Ken C. M. wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
>> Ken C. M. wrote:
>>> Bill Baka wrote:
>>>> Ken C. M. wrote:
>>>>> What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid,
>>>>> that was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to
>>>>> commute by car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer
>>>>> on a mostly permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road
>>>>> bike.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ken
>>>>
>>>> It might make sense but to me a trainer is BORING! Is your commute
>>>> over 20 miles? That would be the limit for me but you may have a
>>>> non-bicycle type of commute.
>>>> Bill Baka
>>>
>>> No Bill it's just a few miles, but I need use of my car to make bank
>>> deposits. otherwise I would use a bike.
>>>
>>> Ken
>>
>> That's a bummer. Maybe, depending on your situation, you could buy a
>> junker for those bank runs and just leave it at work so you could ride
>> in. I once worked for a company that was very bike friendly and they
>> let me do that (sometimes) as long as I didn't take any reserved spaces.
>> Maybe you could put a computer monitor in front of the trainer and
>> read some e-books o other stuff while you trained??
>> I had an indoor trainer (fan type) and got so bored with it I gave up
>> and just went back to riding, although some days it is too nasty to go
>> out.
>> Hope you find a good compromise.
>> Bill Baka
> I have thought about that. Drive the car in with a bike in the back, use
> the car just to run the 1 mile to the bank, and then back to work park
> it there over night and ride the bike home. The only thing is I am not
> really sure about the parking lot at night. I might come in one morning
> and find the car missing (probably not it's a Geo Metro) or more likely
> trashed. It's not much of a car to look at but it gets about 40mpg and I
> don't want to have to replace it yet, I want to drive it for at least
> another year or two.
>
> Ken

I was thinking cheap AND ugly so nobody would want to steal it, but then
your company might want you to park it somewhere else. It is kind of a
catch 22 situation.
Bill Baka

01-26-2007, 07:19 AM

Ken C. M. wrote:
:: Bill Baka wrote:
::: Ken C. M. wrote:
:::: What this question really comes down to is this: I have a hybrid,
:::: that was used for commuting and errands, but now that I have to
:::: commute by car anyway, I was thinking of putting it up on trainer
:::: on a mostly permanent basis. The bike I ride mostly now is my road
:::: bike.
::::
:::: Ken
:::
::: It might make sense but to me a trainer is BORING! Is your commute
::: over 20 miles? That would be the limit for me but you may have a
::: non-bicycle type of commute.
::: Bill Baka
::
:: No Bill it's just a few miles, but I need use of my car to make bank
:: deposits. otherwise I would use a bike.
::

Were you the one we had a dicussion with about whether it was safer to make
bank deposits by car or on bike, but the company didn't feel good about
doing it on bike?