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The RIGHT Trainer?

scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
in General Training Discussions

Now that i am entering my first official Outseason, i have dug out my trainer, which is a nice Nashbar branded one. It is magnetic, has an electronic wired controller that lets me set Z1-5 tension and gives readouts of speed, distance, time, power, etc. (wondering how acurate the power readout is)

Ok, while i am writing this i do a little research and the Nashbar trainer is a rebranded elite. confirmed by pulling off the nashbar sticker and finding the elite logo.

what are the marks of a good trainer, bad one? should i be sticking with this one? or is an upgrade reccomended? and if so to what? and why?

Comments

  • s7334s7334
    Scott - my belief is that any trainer can serve the purpose that you need. Meaning, as long as it doesn't break down, can give you similar performance ride-to-ride and doesn't drive you crazy or ruin your flooring - it will fil it's purpose. IF it slips from time to time, doesn't always work correctly or has some other defect THEN I would consider it.

    Save your $ if your current one works, there are always uses for additional finances image
    Steve
  • scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
    how much Slip is acceptable?
  • Trent ProughTrent Prough
    No slip. That is just annoying and will mess with correct power readings.

    If you have a power meter and don't need the power output from the trainer then really anything that gives you consistant resistence and works then it'll do the job. Now if you do not have a power meter then a better trainer with more precise or accurate power readings is of course better. (Like computrainer or power beam) But just a simple old cheap mag trainer can work with a power meter that is already on your bike.
  • Shaughn SimmonsShaughn Simmons
    Posted By Trent Prough on 26 Nov 2010 07:27 PM

    No slip. That is just annoying and will mess with correct power readings.



    If you have a power meter and don't need the power output from the trainer then really anything that gives you consistant resistence and works then it'll do the job. Now if you do not have a power meter then a better trainer with more precise or accurate power readings is of course better. (Like computrainer or power beam) But just a simple old cheap mag trainer can work with a power meter that is already on your bike.





     

    DITTO - best investment is to buy something that allows you to see power both inside and outside.  Once that is checked off, as Trent says, anything that gives resistance will do the job...............

  • scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
    is it safe to assume that the power meter on a fluid trainer that cost $300 is not that accurate??
  • jburbattjburbatt

    I get accurate readings from my PT on my CycleOps FT2.  I haven't had a problem in the year I've had my PT.  Obviously you'll have different indoor and outdoor FTPs, but that's pretty much normal.

  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    As someone else said in another thread, a trainer w/ PM might not be accurate, but it should be consisently inaccurate. So, if it's always 5% off from an actual PM, then you'll have that trainer PM to constantly grade yourself against.

    Around here, and anywhere worth a grain of salt IMHO, you have to measure against yourself - in the same (or closest as possible) scenario to guage progress.
  • Shaughn SimmonsShaughn Simmons
    Posted By Scott Alexander on 13 Dec 2010 09:07 AM

    As someone else said in another thread, a trainer w/ PM might not be accurate, but it should be consisently inaccurate. So, if it's always 5% off from an actual PM, then you'll have that trainer PM to constantly grade yourself against.



    Around here, and anywhere worth a grain of salt IMHO, you have to measure against yourself - in the same (or closest as possible) scenario to guage progress.





     

    Scott has nailed it!  This is really the key point.  Measure against a baseline and work to drive improvement over time.

  • jburbattjburbatt
    Yeah, I meant that my readings aren't all over the place from day to day. It's accurate when I'm staying with the same setup time and time again. Sorry, must have misunderstood the Q!
  • ironmtngrlironmtngrl
    Another question: (hijacking the thread). This is my first season on the trainer. I am noticing that my trainer is doing a number on my bike. The cups that squeeze and hold the rear skewer are damaging the bike. They rub on the rear derailleur, and the frame right above the skewer, and also the skewers themselves. It's a done deal now, but I was wondering if all trainers do this, or does mine just suck? I have an old Travel Track Century Fluid I bought used.
  • TundraCatTundraCat
    @Beverly - sounds like you did NOT use a 'training skewer' ? Typically these are heavy duty chrome plated skewers that are built for trainers to avoid exactly what you are describing. You don't typically care if these get abused and they typically keep the trainer cups away from the frame.

    http://www.computrainer.com/images/quick_release_large.jpg


  • ironmtngrlironmtngrl
    @Ken - Thanks! I will stop by the bike shop and buy trainer skewers tomorrow.
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