Turbo trainer and spare wheel

Flexisurfer

Does anyone have any experience of a turbo trainer damaging the rear wheel? I've just treated myself to a new trainer and was wondering if it would have any effect on my rear wheel that it wouldn't get riding on the road, I can't see it myslef but a chap I work with has a wheel he can swap over when using his trainer. I currently have Mavic Aksium wheels and I use the Schwalbe Blizzard tyres.

I'm just not convinced that spending around £100 for a new rear wheel, cassette and tyre are worth it.

islwyn

There's no real answer.

Yes it will run it down, as does cycling out on the road, but not quick enough to be a pain - if you have cash to waste (when really not necessary) then go for it - buy a new wheel and a rip off 'turbo tyre', but personally I don't feel it's worth it.

At the end of the day, it's personal preference.

Just keep in mind, when you finish on the turbo there will be a line on your wheel - after 5 minutes of it being out on the road the line will be gone.

Flexisurfer

Thanks for your reply.

StillGoing

My own experience using the turbo is:
a) A road tyre wears down too quickly and leaves shed loads of rubber all over the place that needs clearing up. It also makes them more puncture prone.
b) It's a pain in the backside having to keep swapping tyres over with only the one rear rim
c) Turbo tyres do last a lot longer and don't shed rubber particles all over the place.
d) A spare rim has been a godsend meaning I just put the turbo wheel on whichever bike I want to use on the turbo.
e) Turbo tyres are crap on the road. Especially wet roads!

Slack

A turbo trainer is less stressful on the wheel, because it's not supporting your weight and absorbing road bumps etc. I wouldn't worry about it, especially if the wheels are Aksium. Those wheels are quite strong and durable anyway.

Depends on which tyre you use. I've had a schwalbe Ultremo puncture on the turbo trainer and wear out quickly - yes, I know it's a flimsy racy tyre etc. I've been using Michelin Krylion all winter on road and turbo, with no discernible signs of wear.

symo

Buy an old bike and leave it on there with a dedicated turbo tyre.

Works for me as the Turbo is left always set up in the garage.

Flexisurfer

Thanks again for the replies. I've been using the Schwalbe Blizzard tyres which whilst being very cheap, I haven't a single puncture in a year and I've riden through the winter. I've not noticed any rubber coming away from the tyre it seems pretty smooth so fingers crossed they'll go on for a while longer.

I change the scewer for an old Campag one and just have to fit the wheel magnet and a different computer each time I use it, hopefully I'll be getting the Garmin Edge 500 so won't need to worry about fitting a computer just for the turbo.

amaferanga

I've never felt the need to have a dedicated turbo wheel. It'd be damn expensive anyway since I use a PowerTap.

Never had an issue with disintegrating tyres or punctures. All I'd say is that if you use the bike only on the turbo for a few weeks then take it easy on your first ride out on the road until the glaze gets scrubbed off.

bigpikle

I also have a PT wheel so dont use a spare wheel, but do use a specific turbo tyre. It wasnt expensive really when you shop around, and I think it makes a noticeable difference to the sessions. I use quality tyres on the road so didnt want to degrade those too quickly, but more importantly, the turbo tyre eliminates tyre squeal and slippage on the turbo, which makes a pretty big difference when accelerating on intervals etc.

The downside is the need to change tyres on the PT when i switch between road and turbo, which is a right PITA with the current weather conditions meaning a mixed schedule of training sessions, but really its only a 5 min job and not a big problem in the scheme of things. Personally though, as i spend a lot of time on the turbo in winter and if the weather is really poor, if it wasnt for the PT wheel I'd certainly find a used/cheap/old wheel and dedicate it for the turbo. As my summer bike lives on the turbo over winter I've even looked at getting a 2nd old cheap PT wheel and leaving that on all winter, but havent found a wheel cheap enough to justify it yet....

dawebbo

With soft summer tyres, the turbo trainer will square them off pretty quickly in my experience and leave specks of rubber up the wall behind the turbo. Turbo specific tyres are much better wearing and also don't screech.

If you alternate a lot between turbo and road, a dedicated wheel would seem worth it, otherwise occassionally changing tyres isn't such a big deal. Also, I wouldn't spend anyway near £100 on one - get the cheapest second hand piece of junk you can find.

whojanicanackerov

Bigpikle wrote:

I also have a PT wheel so dont use a spare wheel, but do use a specific turbo tyre. It wasnt expensive really when you shop around, and I think it makes a noticeable difference to the sessions. I use quality tyres on the road so didnt want to degrade those too quickly, but more importantly, the turbo tyre eliminates tyre squeal and slippage on the turbo, which makes a pretty big difference when accelerating on intervals etc.

The downside is the need to change tyres on the PT when i switch between road and turbo, which is a right PITA with the current weather conditions meaning a mixed schedule of training sessions, but really its only a 5 min job and not a big problem in the scheme of things. Personally though, as i spend a lot of time on the turbo in winter and if the weather is really poor, if it wasnt for the PT wheel I'd certainly find a used/cheap/old wheel and dedicate it for the turbo. As my summer bike lives on the turbo over winter I've even looked at getting a 2nd old cheap PT wheel and leaving that on all winter, but havent found a wheel cheap enough to justify it yet....

+1

cyclefitness.co.uk

I save the old tires from my bikes and use them on the turbo. I replace my road bike tyres often and once the profile becomes flat, but they still have loads of turbo miles left in them.