Turbo trainer with mountain bike

arronritchie

Hi there guys/girls

I have a few question regarding running a turbo trainer with a mountain bike.

Do i need a special type of turbo trainer or will any one do ??

I understand that i need to change tyre from a knobbly one to a slick but do you have any suggestions for what slick to get ??

Any thing else that i need to do/ get to be able to run it.

All help appreciated

Thanks

Johnny Napalm

I just stuck a slick tyre on the rear wheel, rather than pay over the odds for a 'special' tyre, which does seem to be lasting relatively well. I can't remeber which tyre I bought, but I'll have a look.

Johnny Napalm

This one, but it's now unavailable, which is really not much use to you, but it'll give you a general idea -

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8549

getonyourbike

any slick should do, shouldn't it?

Johnny Napalm

I should imagine.

jonnyc2420

I would go for a turbo specific tyre, as normal slicks still wear hellishly quickly , leave loads of black bobbly tyres bits everywhere and are suprisingly louder when in use. ive now got an orange continetal turbo tyre and the difference was immense - no real difference in cost either.
I think the rubber compund is specifically set up for the heat and type of use you get from trainers.

Ransaka

I have a turbo trainer specific tyre, it's very good, helps keep the noise of the thing down too. That said, I will be getting rid of it and my turbo trainer as I hardly ever use it.

Mr Dog

Can I ask, without wanting to appear rude, why would a mountain biker want to suffer on a turbo when your bike is built to withstand all conditions?

I road in the spring summer and MTB in the autunm winter. Granted when the weather is pish I will jump on a turbo.

Mr Dog

Oops .... just answered my own question. :oops:

individual6891

Mr Dog wrote:

Oops .... just answered my own question. :oops:

8) 8)

arronritchie

Thanks for the help everybody and yeah i live in north east scotland where the days are short and the weather is crap all winter

tlw1

I have got just a cheap slick & it managed last winter 2-3 hrs a week doing the sufferfest, as long as the wife is willing to tidy up the little bits of rubber it isn't an issue

EarlofBarnet

Example of the Conti turbo trainer tyre: http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle ... iner.shtml

jonnyc2420

thems the ones...... 8)

hucking_fell

My friend stuck his road bike on a turbo trainer, without changing the rear tyre, and after riding it for less than an hour he had a black streak up his wall that wouldn't brush, hoover or wash off.

Wooliferkins

arronritchie wrote:

Do i need a special type of turbo trainer or will any one do ??

The TACX ones come with a set of bracketry to change between 700 and 26" tyres.

tomhollywood

Hi guys,

I have this bike: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec020207

Thinking about getting a turbo trainer to use for some rehab after an ACL knee operation.
Am I right in thinking if I stick a slick/turbo tyre on one of my spare rims from an old bike I could just swap the wheel and pedal away?!

My bike has disc brakes but I would necessarily have to attach these would I? Don't need brakes if i'm just stuck on a trainer?

Dave_P1

No need to attach the brakes.
That bike will work fine.

hotnajers

Just got of this this morn http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6821 ... 0549_m.jpg

tomhollywood

Ended up ordering a Cycleops Mag Trainer today, looking forward to it's arrival!!

Also ordered a trainer tyre to smooth things out and not have as much wear and tear hopefully.

Ordered from Ribble cycles as they have a sale on if anyones bothered?

cat_with_no_tail

Good call thanks tomhollywood

Recovering from ACL and LCL surgery here. The regular exercise bike is too poorly fitting so a turbo seems like a sensible option. Been looking round for one at a good price for a while now.

dhobiwallah

tomhollywood wrote:

My bike has disc brakes but I would necessarily have to attach these would I? Don't need brakes if i'm just stuck on a trainer?

Depends how gnarly the lines you are planning taking are! You really don't want to have to bail out of getting big air on your turbo only to find you can't stop....

cat_with_no_tail

Question which may or may not be retarded.

Just about to pull the trigger on a turbo which will be used with the Beone Karma (link in my sig)

Do I need to get a riser block/wheel holder for the front wheel ? I'll be swapping out the rear tyre for a turbo specific one, so with the big fat tyre on the front, won't that level it out anyway?

Never used a turbo before so just not sure exactly how essential the block is.

Beardface

CWNT - I never bothered with the block for my front wheel when I had my turbo, was using my c456 with a turbo tyre on the back, and a fat albert on the front.. lowered the front end a little, but didn't make any different IMO.

If anything, it pushed the front end down for a more 'racy' feel.

Hope that helps?

cat_with_no_tail

Cheers dude

mrmonkfinger

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Do I need to get a riser block/wheel holder for the front wheel ?

What does this riser block do that the yellow pages does not?

cat_with_no_tail

This is what I was wondering myself.

Turbo now ordered anyway. Sans block!