Recommend a MTB for a turbo trainer

jonno_77

Hi, unfortunately I've got to stop running due to a foot injury but to keep active I was thinking of getting a turbo trainer to keep fit at home. I would cycle outdoors too but for ease and time i want to be able to jump on a turbo trainer too to get my daily excercise.

The snag is my 15 yr old muddy fox MTB that i used for commuting is a bit knackered - the back wheel came off when I was cycling. I took it to Edinburgh cycles and they reckon it would be £150 to get it roadworthy and even then as it is old other stuff might go wrong with it. They reckon a comparative bike would be about £250.

I've been to JE James and they have some mongoose 21 speed MTBs for £200+ that are reduced. And decathlon have the rockrider brand starting from £100. Speaking to them in the shop the rockrider 5.2 (£200 - 24 speed) or 5.3 (£299 - 27 speed) should be fine if I put a slick rear tyre on when using on the trainer.

My work do cycle to work scheme but for some bizarre reason they only open it for a week in December so I was thinking of doing this then and getting the decathlon Triban 3 road bike (£299) when the scheme opens. But in the mean time I just want a MTB that I can use on a turbo trainer with a slick tyre and also use it for cycling outdoors with the kids.

What MTB would you recommend - would one of the £99 cheap rockriders be no good? These don't have quick release rear wheels so swapping the wheel for a slick might be a pain. Would the rockrider 5.3 be overkill? Any advise would be great. i would be happy to buy second hand but just wouldn't be confident that I was getting an OK bike (i.e. gears not jumping etc). The rockrider 5.2 sounds reasonable at £199 but not sure if a decent bike.

Also what turbo trainer to use in a terrace house so not too noisy. I've seen good reviews for cycleops mag trainer and the taxc satori. Wiggle also have the Elite SuperCrono Inertial ElastoGel Turbo Trainer with 60% offfor £96 ( I think it is air resistence trainer).

Thanks in advance

balmybaldwin

To be honest, you may be better off geting a static exercise bike, or waiting until you have your road bike.

A turbo trainer that isn't too noisy will be £200 ish alone (there are cheaper ones available, but they can be very noisy)

Greer_

What's wrong with your current bike?

jairaj

Is the bike just for the turbo trainer? If so then in that case you don't really need it to be road worthy do you? just worthy enough to stick it on a turbo trainer. would this reduce the repair bill the bike shop were quoting? otherwise I'd just pop to halfords and buy the cheapest thing they have and fits.

jonno_77

Cheers for all the advise. I took my old MTB into a small local independent repair shop today and happy days as they reckon they can get it roadworthy for me for £50. That saves me having to look for a MTB and if I decide to i can get a road bike with cycle to work or pick up a 2nd hand one if get into my cycling more.

Now going to see about borrowing a trainer to try it out before buying one.

Cheers for all the advise

Rushmore

Rollers are much more fun.. actually help your technique....

balmybaldwin

Rushmore wrote:

Rollers are much more fun..

Until you loose concentration and go through the TV!

They're not bad when you are used to them, but the problem is they don't have much resistance so no good for training for sustained efforts etc

Rushmore

balmybaldwin wrote:

Rushmore wrote:

Rollers are much more fun..

Until you loose concentration and go through the TV!

They're not bad when you are used to them, but the problem is they don't have much resistance so no good for training for sustained efforts etc

I disagree...

training indoors is all about interval training for me... Try sprinting for 1 min at 60mph with 1 min rest 12 reps... :oops:

And Turbo will do nothing for riding technique ( Suplesse ) So doesn't really do much for u imo...