Turbo trainer and a full sus MTB?

[Freakuk]

Trying to get my legs working after breaking both legs back in July, I'm contemplating a TT but have an Orange 5, I can lock the rear shock to a degree will it work? Do I also need to stick a normal road tyre on the rear rather than leave the nobly on there?

[james0]

I have been known to use my downhill bike on a trainer, slick/road tyre yes. Suspension can be left alone though.

[Digga]

FWIW I had similar issue last year after injury.

Do not use soft, knobbly mtb treads unless you want the room to look like the dirty part of an F1 race circuit.

[Freakuk]

OK so I need to invest in a road tyre as I assume the blocks will simply get destroyed on the rollers.

Going back to my 5, it has a maxle swingarm how does a TT bolt onto the wheel, would there be any issues with this setup?

[BalhamBadger]

Freakuk said:

OK so I need to invest in a road tyre as I assume the blocks will simply get destroyed on the rollers.

Going back to my 5, it has a maxle swingarm how does a TT bolt onto the wheel, would there be any issues with this setup?

My Cyclops turbo clamps onto the QR bolts and is adjustable for multiple dropout widths. It's hard to explain (for me), but it uses two "caps" that sit over the QR lever and the QR nut on the other side of the dropout and apply squeezing pressure to lock the bike in place. It's very secure - I've never had any issues.

[Freakuk]

BalhamBadger said:

My Cyclops turbo clamps onto the QR bolts and is adjustable for multiple dropout widths. It's hard to explain (for me), but it uses two "caps" that sit over the QR lever and the QR nut on the other side of the dropout and apply squeezing pressure to lock the bike in place. It's very secure - I've never had any issues.

Hmmm that could be a problem the maxle doesn't have a nut as such on the other side of the s/arm, it's inbuilt into the dropout.

[BalhamBadger]

Freakuk said:

Hmmm that could be a problem the maxle doesn't have a nut as such on the other side of the s/arm, it's inbuilt into the dropout.

Yeah that wouldn't work on the Cyclops system, but I think other makes use different ways to hold the bike. Perhaps worth getting a £50 snotter from ebay to permanently leave on the trainer.

[Digga]

BalhamBadger said:

Perhaps worth getting a £50 snotter from ebay to permanently leave on the trainer.

TBH, a pretty good suggestion.

[robpearson]

I'd also suggest getting a spare rear wheel. You don't want to be swapping tyres every time you want to use the turbo trainer, especially if you have UST tyres. TT specific tyres seem to be made of plastic, so provide no grip at all, and are a bugger to fit.

[BalhamBadger]

robpearson said:

I'd also suggest getting a spare rear wheel. You don't want to be swapping tyres every time you want to use the turbo trainer, especially if you have UST tyres. TT specific tyres seem to be made of plastic, so provide no grip at all, and are a bugger to fit.

Top tip.

I also destroyed a headset through the corrosive power of my sweat so some kind of cover (I use bin bags) is useful to protect your moving parts! Maybe this is taking it a bit far..

[Freakuk]

To be honest I also have the other half's MTB which is a hard tail but maybe a slightly smaller frame and she doesn't do anything other than tarmac so this may be my better option, I guess I'd rather it be my own bike but if it's going to be a PITA to setup it'll be the next best thing