indoor trainer newbie

I am not a seasoned trainer guy, but after this year.....I just may be.

I am deployed to afghanistan.  Before I left I purchased a Kinetic (road machine, angry badger special) trainer to use for the year I am over here.  There have been quite a few negative reviews for bikesportmichigan.com lately.  However, I had no issues.

I purchased a trainer tire because I anticipated putting many miles on it over the year.  I do not use a riser/front wheel block....I use a large book. 

So far I am happy with the purchase. It will keep me in decent cycling shape, to allow me to jump back into things when I get back. 

Chris

Hey! I am also a MSP Hawkeye :-) Assuming it means what I think it means, anyway.

As far as a trainer...I have never had a problem with my trainers eating my tire, so I typically don't have a separate wheel or tire. Some winters, I will put on a crappy tire, but usually, I am too lazy to do so.

I don't use a riserblock--just a book or two or magazines or whatever, depending on which bike is on the trainer.

I also don't use a sweat net or anything--a towel or shirt works just fine.

Trainers, like many other things, can go from around $100 to $1000+ if you buy something with all the bells and whistles. That being said, I have been using my mag trainer from nashbar, and its sister the Nashbar fluid trainer, for many years, and have zero complaints.

When I got my mag, it was about $75 on sale. It's a bit more now, but still pretty darn inexpensive. (Ditto for the fluid, which you can get now around $150) It's quiet--I can watch TV, it's reliable, it's strudy, and it was inexpensive. I do get a lot of use out of mine...I also ride mine in the summer a lot, in addition to the winter and the shoulder seasons.

Long story short, you can send as much as you want on a trainer...there are lots of options. But you don't NEED anything except your trainer and maybe a skewer, if yours doesn't fit in the trainer.

thanks!  i have been looking at the nashbar fluid.  seems like a good price and i have always been pleased with the other products i have purchased from nashbar. 

yes, i am a hawkeye stuck here in gopher land.  if i hear one more thing about that stadium i will scream.  but they may become a little quieter after cal comes to town this weekend. 

Nah...it will be tears of anguish then. Why they picked Cal, I have no idea. I'm all for challenging yourself...but there's a difference between "challenge" and "obliterate".

I work for the U, so I am WAY done with the stadium. :D

Where in Iowa are you from?

< Another Hakweye in MSP land.  Grew up north of Cedar Rapids, went to Iowa and then lived in KC for a year, then moved up here. Go Hawks!

Oops was so excited to put the Hawkeye stuff out there I forgot my initial content.

Check out Craigslist there have been some really good deals on Kurt Kinetic Road machines, I picked mine up for less than 200 bucks and it had only been ridden once, there were hardly tire marks on the roller.  I love it and would swear by it, plus a lifetime warranty is pretty sweet and includes an accidental damage replacement for like 25 bucks. 

I just got my Cyclops Fluid 2 trainer yesterday. I am considering getting a second rear wheel and putting a trainer tire on it as I will be still riding outside for several months. It seems easier than changing the tire each time and I have an extra cassette.

Any recommendations for a wheel? I could get a decent wheels and put that on my bike and put my stock Trek Bontrager on the trainer.

Thanks!

thanks for the additional comments.  i will check craigslist and maybe the sale at gear west this weekend.

i am from burlington.  what about you all?

QC. Bettendorf, specifically, although I went to Pleasant Valley (the most Iowan of all high school names :p)

My brother just moved to Burlington (he teaches high school)...any tips on things to do/places to go/etc etc?

As you're looking at stuff to get with a trainer, I'd add a big fan to the list.  You will sweat tons on the trainer, even at low HR.  A box fan (or two) will make a huge difference while you're working out on the trainer.