Turbo trainer with untrue wheel?

Lagavulin
Lagavulin Posts: 1,688
edited November 2007 in Workshop
Yet another newbie question from me which I apologise for up front.

I recently bought a Tacx trainer. I also bought the Conti Ultrasport Hometrainer tyre but rather than faff on changing tyres off my good wheelsets I thought I'd found an ideal use for the tripe that came with the bike.

So, I stuck the turbo tyre on that and have used it half a dozen times or so. However, while looking down its clearly obvious that the tyre would, if I ever intended to use it again on the road -which I dont - it would need truing as, frankly, it looks like a bloody egg.

Is an untrue wheel on a turbo harmless? Would it increase wear/tear anywhere else?
2010 Cannondale CAAD 9
2008 Wilier Izoard

Comments

  • Pirahna
    Pirahna Posts: 1,315
    As long as it's in contact with the roller on the turbo it should be fine. My turbo wheel has several spokes missing and is definately past it's best. Doesn't seem to have done any damage despite many years of use.
  • Lagavulin
    Lagavulin Posts: 1,688
    Cheers Pirahna. :)
    2010 Cannondale CAAD 9
    2008 Wilier Izoard
  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    I'd want a round wheel as it will be hard to get good tension between roller and tyre if the tyre bobbles up an down all over the place. Result - slipping of tyre against roller and potentially uneven 'feel' - particularly with higher resistance sessions.

    Side to side wobble shouldn't matteras long as it doens't hit the brake blocks / frame etc.
  • Steve I
    Steve I Posts: 428
    I agree with Alan, side to side wobble doesn't really matter. However, a wheel that isn't round (hop) is to be avoided. I had a a old wheel that used to puncture regularly on a Tacx trainer until it was trued, it had a noticeable hop. A puncture in the middle of a training session tends to wreck the session, it's hard to get motivated again after fixing the puncture.

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