From: atkins@mksol.dseg.ti.com (William A Atkins)
Subject: Re: bicycle trainers
Organization: Texas Instruments
Distribution: rec
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 21:10:44 GMT

>My wife and I are thinking of purchasing a bicycle trainer for keeping
>in shape during the Minnesota winter.  We'd like recommendations on
>the relative advantages of magnetic and fan trainers, on which brands
>are good, on how easy it is to use the same trainer for two bikes, and
>on anything else you think we should know.

     Fans are louder and resistance increases as you go faster (like real riding).
Magnets are quiet and usually have manual resistance settings. Magnets are more
expensive. If you live in an upstairs apartment, the people below will hate you
if you use fans. They can be VERY loud. If you have kids or a curious pet, fans
can be dangerous to fingers, paws, tails, etc. Then again, even with magnets, the
spokes in the turning wheel can be just as dangerous. Most trainers can
accomodate different bikes with slight adjustments. Is your bike computer on your
front or rear wheel? Front wheel computers will only work with rollers, but a
rear wheel computer will work with any trainer (rollers included).

     Be prepared to sweat. When you ride, a lot of heat is generated from all the
work. When riding outside, the air flow around your body helps to cool you. It
also dries up or blows away the sweat. When you ride a trainer indoors, you will
realize just how much you really do sweat. (After 30 minutes, I'm usually
drenched, literally.) Keep a small towel nearby to wipe away the sweat. Be
cautious of sweat dripping on your bike. It will speed up rusting. Use a head
sweatband to keep sweat out of your eyes. Ceiling fans or floor fans help. Trust
me and turn them on high. (It will simulate a headwind too, :-} ).

     If you plan on riding for extended periods (longer than one hour) your arms
may get tired. Again blame this on lack of wind. Wind resistance pushing against 
your body helps hold you up outside. Inside, your body will be supported only by 
your arms. (Some riders have well developed back and stomach muscles which help, 
and if you sit correctly on your saddle, this may not affect you. Most people I've
seen tend to lean to far forward.)

     Be advised that stationary riding is boring, boring, boring. Outside you get
changing scenery, you must concentrate on riding (staying upright, keeping a
line, avoiding cars, etc...), and you can talk to other people. Inside, it helps
to watch TV, a movie, listen to music, etc... Keep the remotes handy to crank up
the volume. Even with magnets, the bike makes enough noise to drown out normal
volume levels. Tape bicycle races from TV for simulated racing indoors. You
can ride along with the peloton in the Tour de France, or sprint from the pack
with the breakaways. You can get book stands to hook on your bike, but watch out 
for dripping sweat if you do this. 

     If you must ride indoors, ride with a purpose. Outside, you can hop on and
ride for 2-4 hours just for the health of it. If bad weather or bad roads force
you indoors, plan a workout not a ride. Work on sprints or intervals. Work on
improving your pedaling techniques. Work on controlling your breathing. Work on
spinning or strength. This will improve your overall riding ability and help pass
the time. I can do a 15 minute warm up and cool down, and spend about thirty
minutes doing intervals for a one hour ride/workout that seems to go by fast. Any
more than one hour and I dehydrate from sweat, my arms get sore, and my wife goes
crazy from the noise.

Good luck
Billy Atkins (atkins@mksol.dseg.ti.com)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.racing,misc.forsale,dc.forsale