Indoor trainer

matthewgordon

Hi all... and in 4 hours Happy new year,

I'm looking to buy some equipment to train indoors and I need some advice. I'm looking to get a fixed indoor bike like you would get in a gym (like a exercise bike.. can't think of any other way to describe it). Can anyone recommend and decent ones for under £300 or maybe what I should be looking for?

I currently have a MTB and I don't really want to get a road bike again so I feel the indoor bike trainer might be the best way to go rather than a road bike with a resistance trainer?

Hope you can help

Thanks

southdownswolf

Welcome to the forum..

You could always use a turbo trainer with your MTB. A cheap wheel and cassette with a slick tyre will be fine.

diamonddog

^^This

matthewgordon

Thanks for the speedy reply. I was thinking down this route at first... then all the changing around of wheel etc would annoy me... I think. Ive never used a turbo trainer before, does it take much messing around? I go out on the MTB once a week.. so would need to take it off and then put it back on .. to take it off again if that makes sense?

Then I thought the indoor exercise bike might be a good idea as the Mrs also wants to get involved

southdownswolf

If you have the spare wheel, it takes seconds to change over, really not an issue. Once the turbo is set up for your bike, you will not have to adjust it again, there will be a quick release mechanism to attach/release your bike.

Personally I would not go down the route of an exercise bike unless you have a room with enough space to leave it up at all times. Much easier just to use an existing bike that fits you well and is comfortable on a turbo. An exercise bike is unlikely to be as comfortable as your own bike on a turbo.

Guanajuato

the advantage of an exercise bike is that several people of completely different sizes can use it. But I too prefer using my real bike on a turbo. not tried rollers yet, and suspect i'd hurt myself.

matthewgordon

Thanks for all the advice. Let's say if I do go down the "exercise" bike for indoor training.. Has anyone got one or can recommend / give some advice on what to look for?

navrig2

I doubt you will get a decent static bike for £300. I find the "proper" ones in a gym useless and they probably cost £2000. The sit position is wrong and not flexible enough and the saddle is too fat etc etc.

A turbo trainer would be better BUT beware, many people but TTs full of good intentions. Once they try it they realise it is not that enjoyable.

Another alterntive would be a spin bike with the large fly wheel.

If you do go down this route you will need to consider how you will use it - YouTube has a pile of training videos suitable for indoor bike training.

For example: https://www.youtube.com/user/globalcyclingnetwork

poppit

My experience is that the ones from Lemond, Startrac and Schwinn are the best ones to look at.

mpatts

Costco had some 'spin' bikes in recently for £299. No idea if they were any good or not.

mercia_man

Have a look at Body Sculpture BC4620. From £179 at the moment on Amazon, although most people sell them for £200 to £300. My wife has just picked one up for £50, hardly used, from an ad in the village shop. Completely adjustable to replicate your regular bike for virtually all sizes of rider, except for its slightly wider Q factor.

It's fantastic for realistic workouts in conjunction with one of the many training videos on Youtube. I've just gone up Sa Calobra with a 30 min hill climbing session by GCN this afternoon. Others disagree, but I prefer the feel to riding my own bike on a noisy turbo trainer. There's no tyre slip on a roller and the heavy flywheel really smooths out power delivery.

navrig2

I'll do you a deal on this if you want?