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Rude awakening going from trainer to outdoors?

mcstrangelovemcstrangelove
in General Training Discussions

So, I'm not the most confident cyclist (mainly due to external factors like traffic, unpredictable pedestrians, animals, wind, etc.) so I've been loving my first foray into trainer riding.

That said, when do you start incorporating outdoor rides after months on the trainer (my first race is a sprint, end of February).  Will I have balance and handling issues at the beginning?  Should I make sure to do plenty of outdoor rides before the race?

Also, I'll soon have a Power Tap which means it will be an ordeal to use it both indoors and out (having to switch between a trainer tire and a road tire).  For the Power Tap folks: once you switch to riding outdoors, do you typically pack the trainer up for the season (unless you have 2 PT rims) or do you actually switch the tires and ride in & out?  My trainer tire is a BEAST to get on & off!

Thanks for the advice!

Comments

  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    As the saying goes... "it's like riding a bike!"
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    Mac-
    All last season, I changed my tire 2x/week. On weekends I did long rides outside. Sunday night, I put the trainer tire on and did my Wednesday intervals on the trainer. Before Friday, I changed back to the outdoor tread for weekends rides. And that went on for close to 18 weeks.

    I got very fast at changing the tread, and I also changed the tube too. Nothing was hard to get on after that. I knew if I flatted in a race I could be changed and back going in under 5 minutes. Previously I was very nervous about a rear flat in a race.

    Some folks put the tread in the dryer to soften it up a bit before stretching it on. Not a bad idea.

    You should do your weekend rides outside, and yes, more than 1 before the race. Most race courses are not closed and you will have all of your above issues and other racers with limited cycling skills to deal with. Comfort comes with time. Good luck.
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott
    Two personal notes...I try to get on the trainer once a week even during the height of summer ... Like going to the track as the best place to do interval work. Also, I never use a special tire on the trainer. The main idea for me is smooth treat, which is best othe road anyway. I do switch to a race day tire if my training tire has a lot of cuts in it.
  • Dave CampbellDave Campbell
    In the winter, I simply switch to a Continental Gatorskin, a harder tire that is wear resistant on the trainer and a good alternative to winter outdoor riding.ie more flat resistant. Its not as fast or sticky in the turns as a race tire, but thts OK for me in the winter. That way, if a pretty weekend day comes along, I can easily get outside. When spring gets here and rides switch to predominately outside, I go back to my summer trainer tires which is usually an older race tire. Once my "Race" tires are 1 year old, I move them to a training tire and buy new "race" tires. That has worked well for me, knock on wood.
  • mcstrangelovemcstrangelove

     Cool!  That's good to know.  I always thought once you used a tire on a trainer you shouldn't use it outdoors on the road.  But I guess I was falsely informed. 

    I have a Kurt Kinetic trainer tire on my bike/trainer right now and was hesitant using it outside.  I'll just go ahead and ride on it outdoors as well as on the trainer until race day comes.

    Thanks for the info!

  • David RDavid R

    I ride on the trainer and outside all year long (weekends are outside).  I use the same tire, about two weeks out from a race I will put my race tire on and not use that bike on the trainer.

  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

    Do NOT use specific trainer made tires outside (Kurt, Continental).  That would be dangerous.   I think folks are saying that regular outside bicycling tires can be used indoors. 

  • kurshingkurshing
    Absolutely don't use a "trainer" tire outside...if it is red, yellow, or any other funny color, it IS that color so you will notice that you don't have the right tire on when you try to go outside! If you want to get one of those conntenetial gatorskin tires, it is a regular road tire that is harder than most and can be used both indoors and outdoors and is pretty resilient. Just because you use a regulr road tire on the trainer certainly doesn't mean that you shouldn't ride it outside...there is nothing wrong with that. However, if you have used it on a trainer long enough for it to be flattened out and thin, you shouldn't. It will take a couple of weeks worth of riding on the trainer before that kind of wear and tear woudld set into most road tires.
  • mcstrangelovemcstrangelove

    I contacted Kurt Kinetic about using my KK trainer tire outdoors.  The rep assured me that I can use the trainer tire indoors & out, that it is made to switch from the trainer to the road.  Although I'm sure she knows what she is talking about, I am hesitant after reading these posts.  

    I'll probably just swap out my trainer tire for a road tire on weekend rides. At the very least I'll get better at changing tires!

  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

    Wife and I have dedicated training wheels.      Trainer tire stays on the trainer wheel.    Just buy a cheap rear wheel with cassette that matches your road setup.   Then you just have to change wheels, not tires.

  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    During the OS when I am riding 100% on the trainer I use the yellow Continental trainer tire which is great - it has lasted for several years with no tire dust. When the weather finally breaks and I finish up the OS and head outside I am also finished with the trainer tire. From that point forward, even though I often continue to ride the trainer once and sometimes twice a week, I stick with my normal tire.

    Inside or outside I always use my PT rear wheel - gotta have the data!
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