Open debate: turbo trainers ruin frames/hubs/lives, etc

Pokerface
Pokerface Posts: 7,960
edited December 2010 in Training, fitness and health
Been trawling through various threads and there seems to be two distinct trains of thought on turbo trainers.

Some propose that they damage carbon frames and/or hubs - whilst most people think they are OK to use with any bike.

Then there are those that think that as long as you ride them 'normally' - they are OK under any conditions.

I've search the web and lots of people seem to 'know someone that damaged their carbon frame' from using it on a turbo, but can't find any actual evidence of such.


So - what do you think? Can your turbo damage your frame or hubs? Can anyone provide actual evidence?

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I do most of my training on the turbo, as you know, and I've had no probs...
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    as long as its put in properly, the skewers hold it firmly and you dont put loads of lateral forces through it, I really cant see an issue
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  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    Bigpikle wrote:
    as long as its put in properly, the skewers hold it firmly and you dont put loads of lateral forces through it, I really cant see an issue

    +1

    Also for people with more than one bike using the one that matters least will make this worry defunct.
  • gavintc
    gavintc Posts: 3,009
    For most, this is an opinion based survey rather than evidence based one. You are going to get the over cautious commentator skewing the result. I asked a coach who had been coaching riders for many years. His comment - he had never known a bike to be damaged from a turbo and that in his experience any type of frame material was suitable. Personally, I have used both carbon and alu on the frame and not noticed any issues. However, my instinctive cautiousness means that I will not do a full on sprint with the carbon frame.
  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    It will damage your mental state, that's all though.
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

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  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    A bike I go on the turbo with has been on it so long, that there is mould and lots of corrosion from sweat and the thing is still working fine, god knows how many people use it too.
  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    Joined the turbo tormented about a month ago after asking the same question. Despite my LBS telling horror stories of carbon cracking, everything is rosy. However I'm careful not to give it too much welly when out of the saddle just in case. Oh.. and the bike on the turbo belongs to Mrs Dog... a little neat but better safe than sorrry 8)
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    gavintc wrote:
    For most, this is an opinion based survey rather than evidence based one. You are going to get the over cautious commentator skewing the result. I asked a coach who had been coaching riders for many years. His comment - he had never known a bike to be damaged from a turbo and that in his experience any type of frame material was suitable. Personally, I have used both carbon and alu on the frame and not noticed any issues. However, my instinctive cautiousness means that I will not do a full on sprint with the carbon frame.

    While I agree that it is largely opinion based - one of the reasons I started the thread was because there are those that firmly state that it can and will damage your (carbon) frame.

    I'm hoping someone can provide actual proof of this. Or is it pure urban myth...?
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,788
    I now grease my cables after sweat has rotted through them!
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • silverpigeon
    silverpigeon Posts: 327
    Read this. Stop worrying. I also have emails from Kurt and Focus saying the same thing.

    http://www.turbostudio.com.au/Frames_Indoor_Trainers.pdf

    That German Tour magazine did some tests apparently and reached the same conclusion. I found the article but can't read German

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  • ArroyoDave
    ArroyoDave Posts: 49
    My Orbea opal spends alot of time on the turbo (yes even in spain turbos live) and has shown no problems.
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  • smithy1.0
    smithy1.0 Posts: 439
    My carbon race roadie is bolted up to the turbo all winter long, no problems here! Kurt kinetic btw..
    XC/RR'ing + Training Blog
  • GavH
    GavH Posts: 933
    Pokerface wrote:
    I've search the web and lots of people seem to 'know someone that damaged their carbon frame' from using it on a turbo, but can't find any actual evidence of such.

    I've noted and asked this before. Plenty of myth but no actual proof. That said, I do notice a lot more flex with the carbon frame when looking down, certainly more noticeable than on any Alu frame I've used on a turbo. But without any proof that a carbon frame will actually snap when giving it big licks on a turbo, I just can't believe it to be anything other than pure myth.
  • glasgowbhoy
    glasgowbhoy Posts: 1,341
    Good thread Colin. Had posted a similar question in the workshop forum.

    I was also a bit concerned about the hub and the rim and that the turbo would somehow not be good for either and thought that was why people used an old wheel on their turbos.
    Have a turbo specific tyre but having been using my good wheel/hub on the turbo as the only other rear wheel i have is on my winter trainer.
  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    what would class as proof though? i think i may be able to get a pic of my mates bike that cracked that he used on the turbo but then again whats to say it was from the turbo and not the road?
  • Alex_Simmons/RST
    Alex_Simmons/RST Posts: 4,161
    ozzzyosborn206 wrote:
    what would class as proof though? i think i may be able to get a pic of my mates bike that cracked that he used on the turbo but then again whats to say it was from the turbo and not the road?
    Or from being dropped (have seen carbon frame crack because of them falling over onto something), or something put on top of it when laying down sideways, or a "minor" crash, or.... or maybe it was faulty to start with.

    If a frame can't take being ridden on a turbo, then IMO you shouldn't ride it at all. It's not up to scratch.

    People use different wheels on a turbo because they often like to save their tyres and it's quicker/easier to swap a wheel over than a tyre.
    RST Sport : Coaching - Training Plans - Powermeters -- My blog -- AeroCoach Australia
  • doyler78
    doyler78 Posts: 1,951
    Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:
    People use different wheels on a turbo because they often like to save their tyres and it's quicker/easier to swap a wheel over than a tyre.

    Unless they have only one damn powertap and they just trash the tyres :lol:
  • SteveR_100Milers
    SteveR_100Milers Posts: 5,987
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    It will damage your mental state, that's all though.

    Im firmly in this camp.
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  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    As I said my LBS claims to have seen carbon frames cracking in the BB/chainstay area. However being 67kg I would hope my pins aint gonna generate that much power to cause any structural damage. However Giant do their own range of turbos so I would hope they would not sell a product that would damage their flagship models. 8)
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • doyler78
    doyler78 Posts: 1,951
    Mr Dog wrote:
    As I said my LBS claims to have seen carbon frames cracking in the BB/chainstay area. However being 67kg I would hope my pins aint gonna generate that much power to cause any structural damage. However Giant do their own range of turbos so I would hope they would not sell a product that would damage their flagship models. 8)

    That's a bit much to hope for. My new forks said that I should get off a examine them everytime I hit a bump :roll:

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