Adjusting bike height for trainer

Brad Marcus

I made a switch this OS to riding my road bike vs tri bike on the trainer. I seem to be one of the odd ones here who are more comfortable on a tri bike vs road bike, but figured I'd give it a shot for some other reasons. In any case, I'm finding even a 1 hour workout to be very uncomfortable on the "undercarriage" forcing me to stand out of the saddle a few times during the hour. However, this isn't the case when riding the same bike outdoors. I spoke with my bike fitter who suggested propping the back wheel (and trainer) up a bit with some plywood or something similar to ease the pressure. Haven't tried this yet, but figured I'd ask this group...

Anyone have a similar issue or a solution?

cgres123

I would not mess with the set up if I were you, just give yourself some time to get used to the trainer.

Al Truscott

1. Make sure front and rear wheels are the same distance above the floor, mimicing riding on level ground.
2. There's no harm, no foul in riding on the bull horns rather than the aerobars/elbow pads when using TT bike on trainer. I do most of my FTP & VO2 intervals that way.
3. I also lube up with chamois butter as if I were taking a 4 hour ride outdoors.

Brad Marcus

@Al - I am fairly certain that the cycleops block on the front wheel raises that wheel up higher than the rear, or so it appears to the eye, and this may be causing the problem. That is why it was suggested that I level out the back somehow. Either that, or I find a block for the front wheel with less elevation. Thanks.

robin sarner

Level the bike as Al says. Measure from skewer to floor.

Adjust seat angle on road bike. Nose tends to be up. Sit towards back of road seat (versus front od tri seat).

Brad Marcus

@Robin - that was my inclination too. My fitter has revoked my bike tools after seeing what I did to tweak my fit from last year! What harm could a small pivot of the saddle do? Seems like the easiest approach.