Smart turbo trainer ... completely lost. Please help thanks!

Smart turbo trainer ... completely lost. Please help thanks!

Author
Discussion

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Sunday 25th October 2020
quotequote all
MikeStroud said:
ian in lancs said:
I bought it from Halfords and it came without a cassette but with a Shimano freewheel fitted. Eight-speed cassettes slide straight on with a spacer. Buy the same ratio's as you have on the bike. You will need a freewheel tool and a chain whip to fit although its possible to stop the cassette from rotating holding tight with a rag to protect the hands. It's a two-minute job, especially for a bike shop. I'd buy a cassette and ask them to fit. The trainer effectively becomes the wheel and clamps to the bike instead of the wheel. A quick-release skewer comes with the trainer to clamp the trainer to the bike but you will need to choose the right spacer so as to not compress the frame too much. I'll do some pics and add shortly!
Firstly thanks for the trouble you've gone to here - very kind of you.

I think I am understanding it more now. So basically buy a trainer, buy a Shimano 8 speed cassette, fit that to the trainer. Then when you say "spacer" that is basically to pad out the distance from the cassette to the bike frame to avoid bending it? So "spacer" in old money can be a number of washers to fit over the "skewer" (axle in my old money).

That sounds very simple. Three questions:

1 - Looking at the spec for her bike it says the cassette is: "Shimano HG31, 8 speed, 11-34t". So from eBay I can buy the 11/34 cassette here and that will fit? - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-Acera-8-Speed-M...

2 - The rear hub is described as: "Black alloy, Quick release, 10x135mm". So I assume this means 10mm diameter axle/skewer. Is that diameter the same as the skewer supplied with the trainer as if the trainer's skewer is bigger or smaller then I guess it won't work?

3 - I'll need a tool to fit the cassette, does that come with the trainer or do I need to buy that separately?

Appreciate you have already gone above and beyond in answering my question I think I am getting a better understanding now.
1 In principle yes. I had a clunky gear change with one cassette I had. Fine with another. Couldn't establish why.
2 The supplied skewer was about 2.5mm dia. You will need to use your bike's skewer. And use option E/F on my leaflet picture. It should fit but I'd get a bike shop to set it up for you.
3 You need both which would cost you the same as a round of cakes for the bike shop!




Edited by ian in lancs on Sunday 25th October 18:47

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Sunday 25th October 2020
quotequote all

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
@Ian in Lancs

Apologies for another question. Do those accessories in the image come with the trainer or do you have to buy them separately? Accessories suggest they are extras not in the box. Thanks.

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Thursday 29th October 2020
quotequote all
cassette no, everything else on the leaflet came with the trainer

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Thursday 29th October 2020
quotequote all
Thanks Ian and all.

I have now ordered an Elite Suito trainer + Shimano cassette + chain tool/cassette tool etc.

When it all comes I'll see what additional spacers etc I need and go from there.

Thanks again.

Slaav

4,240 posts

209 months

Sunday 1st November 2020
quotequote all
MikeStroud said:
Thanks Ian and all.

I have now ordered an Elite Suito trainer + Shimano cassette + chain tool/cassette tool etc.

When it all comes I'll see what additional spacers etc I need and go from there.

Thanks again.
I think I’m too late to the party but Ark look after my bike.

I opted for a smart trainer and Ark (Mike) just fitted the exact same cassette he had recently changed on my bike.

Seamless and incredibly simple. Super service and nice guys who seem to be blossoming during C19. They’re the new owners also so good to try and support them.....


ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Monday 2nd November 2020
quotequote all
if its not too late this might be a simpler solution for your daughter https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/10/elite-tuo-smar...

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2020
quotequote all
For some reason she is keen on a wheel-off solution; not sure why. Thanks anyway.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Thursday 5th November 2020
quotequote all
Just to update on the outcome.

Finally bought Elite Suito trainer + Shimano 8 gear cassette to match daughter's bike + a cassette changing kit off eBay.

After a bit of faffing it all works superbly, the interactivity with other users on Zwift is great. With the legs folded in the Suito is very compact. I'm much happier as she now gets more exercise in a safer environment than on the dark winter roads.

So thanks for everyone's help :-)

PS - The faffing was because when putting the new cassette on to the part below with red arrow I wondered what would happen if I slid that part off. Well it slid off easily but then wouldn't go back on. Much twisting, pushing, scratching head, furrowing of brows etc eventually made me realise there are 3 little spring loaded tiny grease covered things that have to be depressed to get that part back on again. So with 4 of us we managed to do it (one person pushing the part back on, 3 others each responsible for depressing the springy things with a screwdriver each). My curiosity wasted 15 minutes. I dare say there is some tool that allows these to be slid back on; I can't imagine it's usually a 4 man job to do??!!


timmybob

479 posts

271 months

Thursday 5th November 2020
quotequote all
The Suito is a good trainer for the price (although it's significantly cheaper over here). Coupled with Zwift it's a great way to stay warm and dry over winter so I hope she has fun!
Don't forget to download the Elite Upgrado app (self-explanatory!) and the myETraining one (for calibration purposes).

Edited by timmybob on Thursday 5th November 21:30

defblade

7,392 posts

212 months

Thursday 5th November 2020
quotequote all
MikeStroud said:
PS - The faffing was because when putting the new cassette on to the part below with red arrow I wondered what would happen if I slid that part off. Well it slid off easily but then wouldn't go back on. Much twisting, pushing, scratching head, furrowing of brows etc eventually made me realise there are 3 little spring loaded tiny grease covered things that have to be depressed to get that part back on again. So with 4 of us we managed to do it (one person pushing the part back on, 3 others each responsible for depressing the springy things with a screwdriver each). My curiosity wasted 15 minutes. I dare say there is some tool that allows these to be slid back on; I can't imagine it's usually a 4 man job to do??!!
Those would be the ratchet pawls, which let the freewheel wheel freely wink They are the things going tic-tic-tic when you stop pedalling at slow speed, or buzzzzzzz at high speed; then they spring back out and dig into the ratchet on the inside of the cassette hub (the bit you slid off) when you start pedalling again, so drive goes through into the wheel. If they're not playing ball with going back together, various versions of cable ties, elastic bands, string and swear words can hold them all down at the same time...

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 6th November 2020
quotequote all
defblade said:
MikeStroud said:
PS - The faffing was because when putting the new cassette on to the part below with red arrow I wondered what would happen if I slid that part off. Well it slid off easily but then wouldn't go back on. Much twisting, pushing, scratching head, furrowing of brows etc eventually made me realise there are 3 little spring loaded tiny grease covered things that have to be depressed to get that part back on again. So with 4 of us we managed to do it (one person pushing the part back on, 3 others each responsible for depressing the springy things with a screwdriver each). My curiosity wasted 15 minutes. I dare say there is some tool that allows these to be slid back on; I can't imagine it's usually a 4 man job to do??!!
Those would be the ratchet pawls, which let the freewheel wheel freely wink They are the things going tic-tic-tic when you stop pedalling at slow speed, or buzzzzzzz at high speed; then they spring back out and dig into the ratchet on the inside of the cassette hub (the bit you slid off) when you start pedalling again, so drive goes through into the wheel. If they're not playing ball with going back together, various versions of cable ties, elastic bands, string and swear words can hold them all down at the same time...
The hub slid off easily, couldn't believe it when it didn't slide back as easily :-( Another time I'll tie a piece of string around them then pull it off when the hub is almost home but I had assumed I was missing some secret in the trade of how to get this thing back on again!