Comments on: Carbon Frame on a Home-Trainer?

By: David

David — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:03:25 +0000

HI,
I’m somewhat, uncomfortable with the old bike setup.
Even if I settle for the frame that I really don’t care for,
I have to have decent components !?
Maybe a singlespeed ? I don’t know…

By: Mychal

Mychal — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

An old bike is the right answer(same size). The important factor is to replicate the cockpit set up. Same type bars(road, mountain, touring), fit dialed in, stem, and seat position (using the same seat helps your butt on the trainer and on the bike in the spring). Any of these are off and your introducing discomfort / medical issues.

My $.02

By: alastair

alastair — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:22:30 +0000

Thanks to every one who has written in on the subject of home-trainers and which bike to use or not to use.
I think an old bike for just the trainer is the best method.
Alastair.

By: Niall McAra

Niall McAra — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:00:03 +0000

Buy yourseld a cheap aluminum or steel bike for the trainer. If you race or ride a lot carbon fatigues quickly especially some of the noodles that are made these days.Whats the point in having a claimed frame weight of 700gr when 300 of it is in the fork. Not a balanced bike. Ask the Jean dela tour team the first time they rode their scotts down a serious descent.
Just watch how much your rear wheel moves on the trainer while the bike is clamped down. All that twisting motion is sent to the bottom bracket and top of the seat tube via the stays.

By: Julio Monroig

Julio Monroig — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:13:52 +0000

It is safe until you do not make REALLY HARD stand-up training like doing in spinning class. Because you frame is hold in the rear axle all the stress during the stand-up “climbing type” pedaling is transferred directly to the rear end “joint-weld-glued-mold” areas in the frame and bottom bracket. When you’re in the road this force was transferred and distributed to complete bicycle rear area that included the wheel spokes, rim, tire, etc. The other situation is because it’s in stationary “hold” permanent position you will continuously repeat the stress in the same matter (place, frequency and force), different of the road when the stress was random and distributed in different areas/components of the bicycle and this can weak your frame joint areas. If you’re really STRONG and HEAVY weight rider can damage your frame. Sorry for my English, my first language is Spanish.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:52:38 +0000

Your input on this issue was welcome as I’ve wondered much the same thing (and have used a low quality steel frame on the trainer and rollers for years)
This past season several members of a cycling club I belong to, began encountering drop out breakage on the front forks of their titanium and carbon fibre bikes.
The cause seems to be connected to the use of floor mounted bike stands in the beds of their mini vans, SUVs, and pick up trucks.
The bike is held upright mainly by the skewer setup mounted to a piece of wood and was allowing the bike to ‘rock’ putting stress on an area stress would normally not occur.
The result was dropouts breaking off the forks.