The most popluar types of Bike Trainers
A bike trainer is a piece of equipment that lets you train on your bike indoors.
Bike trainers are typically built very solid, are short with a triangular frame on a wide base. The rear tyre of the bike is inserted into the trainer lifting the tyre off the floor which allows the cyclist to pedal the bike as usual, the bike with its rear tyre off the ground stays in an upright position without moving forward.
The greatest benefit of the bike trainer is that as the days get shorter, as the weather becomes colder, of if the cyclist is unable to get outside to train, he simply connects his bike up to the trainer and is able to enjoy all the benefits of a normal training session.
There are a few different types of bike trainers such as, fluid treiner, magenetic trainer, as well as wind trainers.
Wind Bike Trainers
This trainer uses a fan to create the resistance. As the pedaling power of the cyclist increases so does the resistance. These trainers are generally at the lower end of the price scale.
The level of resistance is similar to the wind flow experienced while on an outdoor ride. Larger fans are able to produce more resistance compared to smaller sized fans. Wind trainers are definitely the noisiest of all of the trainers and also the most affordable.
Magnetic Bike Trainer
Magnetic trainers are quieter and as the name suggests, uses magnets to create resistance. Typically these trainers are mid level in quality, performance, and price.
With these types of trainers, you have the option to adjust the level of resistance electronically or manually. With magnetic trainers, the more power you apply to the pedal the more resistance you will feel.
If the quality of the magnets is low, they can lose their attraction which will reduce the level of resistance generally resulting in a poor training experience for the cyclist.
The Fluid Bicycle Trainers
Fluid trainers are quiet and smooth and use an impeller in fluid to create the hydraulic resistance.
Generally the more expensive type of trainer the fluid trainer relies on the fluid heating up. As the fluid heats up it gets thicker, it then increases in viscosity and subsequently creates more resistance.
More pedal power, more resistance. No need to worry about leaking fluid on the better brands, however the cheaper brands have been known to leak.
To sum it all up
For starters, you can ride any time of day, regardless of poor weather or dangerous conditions on the road.
No need to worry anymore about poor weather, or dangerous road conditions.
Targeted and more focused training by eliminating conditions such as cold weather, rain, and wind allowing you to train in a controlled environment.
Really focus on you technique in a more reliable and consistent training environment as all the variable such as wind, terraing and changes to temperature are removed.
Things to Consider when Choosing a Bike Trainer
Good bike trainers should cater for various sized wheels, quite often a cyclist will own more than just one bike.
The trainer must be solid, compact and easy to store.
The different types of bike trainers offer different levels of resistance, generally the more expensive fluid trainers offer a greater range of resistance than the wind and magnetic trainers, which allows them to emulate a broader range of riding conditions.
Bike trainers are typically built very solid, are short with a triangular frame on a wide base. The rear tyre of the bike is inserted into the trainer lifting the tyre off the floor which allows the cyclist to pedal the bike as usual, the bike with its rear tyre off the ground stays in an upright position without moving forward.
The greatest benefit of the bike trainer is that as the days get shorter, as the weather becomes colder, of if the cyclist is unable to get outside to train, he simply connects his bike up to the trainer and is able to enjoy all the benefits of a normal training session.
There are a few different types of bike trainers such as, fluid treiner, magenetic trainer, as well as wind trainers.
Wind Bike Trainers
This trainer uses a fan to create the resistance. As the pedaling power of the cyclist increases so does the resistance. These trainers are generally at the lower end of the price scale.
The level of resistance is similar to the wind flow experienced while on an outdoor ride. Larger fans are able to produce more resistance compared to smaller sized fans. Wind trainers are definitely the noisiest of all of the trainers and also the most affordable.
Magnetic Bike Trainer
Magnetic trainers are quieter and as the name suggests, uses magnets to create resistance. Typically these trainers are mid level in quality, performance, and price.
With these types of trainers, you have the option to adjust the level of resistance electronically or manually. With magnetic trainers, the more power you apply to the pedal the more resistance you will feel.
If the quality of the magnets is low, they can lose their attraction which will reduce the level of resistance generally resulting in a poor training experience for the cyclist.
The Fluid Bicycle Trainers
Fluid trainers are quiet and smooth and use an impeller in fluid to create the hydraulic resistance.
Generally the more expensive type of trainer the fluid trainer relies on the fluid heating up. As the fluid heats up it gets thicker, it then increases in viscosity and subsequently creates more resistance.
More pedal power, more resistance. No need to worry about leaking fluid on the better brands, however the cheaper brands have been known to leak.
To sum it all up
For starters, you can ride any time of day, regardless of poor weather or dangerous conditions on the road.
No need to worry anymore about poor weather, or dangerous road conditions.
Targeted and more focused training by eliminating conditions such as cold weather, rain, and wind allowing you to train in a controlled environment.
Really focus on you technique in a more reliable and consistent training environment as all the variable such as wind, terraing and changes to temperature are removed.
Things to Consider when Choosing a Bike Trainer
Good bike trainers should cater for various sized wheels, quite often a cyclist will own more than just one bike.
The trainer must be solid, compact and easy to store.
The different types of bike trainers offer different levels of resistance, generally the more expensive fluid trainers offer a greater range of resistance than the wind and magnetic trainers, which allows them to emulate a broader range of riding conditions.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about Kinetic Road Machine, then visit Matt Walker's site on how to choose the best Bike Trainers for your needs.