Indoor training - the big shoot out

[Too Tall]

I read DCRainmaker's blog pretty regularly and he loves the KICKR. It's good stuff.

I want to know: does anyone have a good source for a Concept2? I don't really care to go to the gym and if I'm going to spend my time in the basement getting sweaty, I kinda want to work the entire body over.

After the CrashB races they sell tons of the slightly used.

[Lionel]

With the KiCKR I like the fact that you can put a nice bike on it and hammer without being worried it will ruin your bike, same with the Lemond thing. I had a computrainer for years, did not use it much and sold it at a big loss. Of course I can ride outside pretty much year rounds which makes a big difference.

[boxerboxer]

With the KiCKR I like the fact that you can put a nice bike on it and hammer without being worried it will ruin your bike, same with the Lemond thing. I had a computrainer for years, did not use it much and sold it at a big loss. Of course I can ride outside pretty much year rounds which makes a big difference.

What trainer are you concerned would ruin your bike?

[Lionel]

What trainer are you concerned would ruin your bike?

All trainers that clamp the rear dropout from the outside (ie almost all of them). IIRC Nick Crumpton was one of the builder who commented here before that putting one of his bike into one of these is not a good idea.

[Loki]

All trainers that clamp the rear dropout from the outside (ie almost all of them). IIRC Nick Crumpton was one of the builder who commented here before that putting one of his bike into one of these is not a good idea.

Is this only a issue with carbon, or does that include steel and AL?

[Lionel]

Not sure but it also depends on what you do on the trainer. Sprints are putting a lot of stress on the stays atmo.

[Jeffrey Borisch]

All trainers that clamp the rear dropout from the outside (ie almost all of them). IIRC Nick Crumpton was one of the builder who commented here before that putting one of his bike into one of these is not a good idea.

The dropouts still seem to clamped stationary to the trainer base. Any weight shifts by the rider are going to concentrate strain in that dropout area, no?

[Miles]

All trainers that clamp the rear dropout from the outside (ie almost all of them). IIRC Nick Crumpton was one of the builder who commented here before that putting one of his bike into one of these is not a good idea.

The only problem is you don't see a lot of cases of people posting stories of my trainer broke my frame. I don't think I can see how the stress transfer from the wahoo is that different than a traditional trainer. I agree with Jeffrey

[boxerboxer]

All trainers that clamp the rear dropout from the outside (ie almost all of them). IIRC Nick Crumpton was one of the builder who commented here before that putting one of his bike into one of these is not a good idea.

My head tells me it's probably fine, but if I had a Crumpton my heart wouldn't let me put it in a trainer.

[jonathanb]

Hell will freeze over before either of my Crumptons find themselves on a trainer. Serotta Legend ST is getting put on the Kickr tomorrow.

[bgav]

I don't see how the Kickr would be any different on a frame stress-wise. The trainer interfaces and locks in at the same point on a frame, the rear dropouts.

[Tom]

For short stuff on the BKOOL I've been amusing myself with their video segments. It's neat when they put a camera on a motorcycle and ride a race course. The downhills through the corners are a hoot. For a little longer stuff I used their phone app to record local routes and then re-ride them down cellar. I haven't ridden any other of the VR trainers but I do have a feeling that some of the grade transitions are a little more abrupt than what I feel on the road, but not like their binary or something. If it keeps me cranking out the hours when I can't get outside then its good enough for me.

[Jeffrey Borisch]

I don't see how the Kickr would be any different on a frame stress-wise. The trainer interfaces and locks in at the same point on a frame, the rear dropouts.

I've been thinking about this. In normal operation the quick release will apply pretty even pressure on the dropout face around the circumference of the contact area. The pressure comes from the tension on the skewer

If clamping pressure comes from the outside and the cam and the nut are held stationary, there could be some uneven crushing forces created on the dropout face. Maybe that would be a problem for carbon dropouts.

I'd like to read what Nick said if anyone can throw me a pointer. I'm not an engineer and I'm not arguing the point. I'm just curious and I never put a nice bike in a trainer anyway.

[quickag]

I read DCRainmaker's blog pretty regularly and he loves the KICKR. It's good stuff.

I want to know: does anyone have a good source for a Concept2? I don't really care to go to the gym and if I'm going to spend my time in the basement getting sweaty, I kinda want to work the entire body over.

Keep an eye out on Craigslist. Crossfit gyms come and go on a weekly basis there are always some available here.

[back40]

I've heard that the eMotion folks are working on a Computrainer like power module for their rollers. Best of both worlds if this come to market. Combined with TrainerRoad or similar software and it's as close to riding outside as you can get. And no additional frame stresses from being clamped at the dropouts.

[MarkC]

Thanks for the heads up on that Glen. Some information on the inside ride website. Looks like a few units out for early beta testing and a projection of production units mid next year if things go well.

I'm and avid eMotion rider and this will be a very nice addition to the system. Between the eMotions and my Concept 2 rower might never leave the pain cave.

-Mark

[motopsycha]

Computrainer user here. Have used it with real course videos and Erg Videos in years past.

This year I'm trying out the Kinomap trainer software combined with a Raspberry Pi box. Allows me to control the computrainer with an iphone or ipad. Will be able to ride a huge library of videos and even create my own with my Sony action cam with GPS.

Seems like there are a few new apps to control the computrainer. This really breathes life into a great piece of hardware.

[Tom]

Freaking BKOOL phone app will kick your ass for the fun of it. Many of my loops go in and out of town on the same road, on one it decided an 8% hill is a sustained 23% but it does relax to 17% for the top. Dirty trick, but in the scheme of what I'm trying to do not a bad thing.

[tommyrod74]

From my post on the General board:

I just sold a LeMond Revolution for a KICKR. First ride was yesterday but I'm familiar with the trainer from athletes I coach who use it.

Compared to the LeMond, it's got a touch less inertia (my favorite thing about that trainer) but is so much more quiet that I'd probably prefer it even without the electronic stuff. Much better "road feel" than a Computrainer or a Cycleops Fluid.

I will have 2 of them here at the house so I can take clients through interval workouts while I join in.

The potential of this thing is pretty limitless. It's what a Computrainer (I have a ton of experience with them) should have evolved into, if The Racermate folks had cared to pay attention to the market. Direct drive trainers are the future; open architecture is necessary in today's market.

I am trying the PerfPro software now; it is similar to Trainer Road but much more tweakable. Can control 3 trainers at once, too, with the home version of the program (there is a studio version too to control many more units at once).

[Lionel]

That Kickr is tempting