eam3@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (edward a. morris) (10/11/85)
Thanks to all who have responded to my plea for info about wind load
simulators and related trainers. Hope to hear from more of you.
Herewith, a digest of responses received thus far:
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From gargoyle!ihnp4!mgweed!wew Fri Oct 4 14:59:31 1985
I, for one do not like the idea of bolting my bike frame to
a wind trainer. I like the idea of improving smoothness
and ability to ride a straight line. I ride rollers
with cardboard blades mounted in the wheels for a wind
load. Kreitler rollers are beautiful to ride (I have MTD)
and when you add the blower attachment, it will provide
you with all the work you care to do. The only minus
to Kreitler is cost - probably $300 for the rollers
and blower.
Ed Weiss
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Rollers, wind trainers. Boring, but if you can get psyched for it, fine.
As far as frame stress is concerned, the fork mount wind trainers can bend
your form if you're careless about mounting and dismounting -- I am told,
I never actually bent one.
ed fisher
** Opinions expressed herein are just that, opinions. **
(DEC-E-NET) BANZAI::FISHER
(UUCP) {decvax, ucbvax, allegra}decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-banzai!fisher
(ARPA) fisher%banzai.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
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Check out the latest issue of Bicycling (Dec. 85). They have an article
covering the latest in wind trainers.
-Dominic Mancello (cmcl2!acf4!mancello)
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From: Felix `mr. 141' Yen <gargoyle!ihnp4!brunix!fwy>
I don't think wind trainers induce stress. I think they are *conducive*
to introducing stress. I own a Vetta Pro (purchased last Christmas) and
feel that using it has improved my technique. (This is probably due to
the fact that riding indoors allows one to concentrate on technique.)
I have never ridden on rollers, but prefer my wind trainer because of its
stability and because it can double as a work stand. Its price, currently
$68.90 + 3.95 shipping/handling from Bike Nashbar, is unbeatable.
I also like its design. Triple crossbeams are not needed. My Vetta is
stable enough. The Eclipse Vortex and Racer-Mate Piggyback both force
the turbine roller to press hard against the tire. This can cause the
roller to get hot enough to cause a tubular tire's casing to fail. If
you use clinchers, you don't have a problem. (Unfortunately, I learned
about this problem the hard way.) The Vetta design allows you to control
the amount of pressure between the turbine roller and the tire. (If my
wheels get out of round, I may have another problem. The Piggyback
would handle this problem rather nicely since its roller naturally hugs
the tire. And of course its cheap and doesn't promote frame stress, but
it wasn't on the market a year ago and I'm still wary about heat buildup.)
My Vetta has other flaws. The chrome rusted very quickly from having sweat
dripped on it. (I fought it for a while. Now I just let it happen.) The
bottom bracket support is sort of kluged so that it can handle bikes with
underside bottom bracket cable guides. I'm only guessing, but I think it
was originally designed as a single curved piece of metal with a one-piece
rubber cushion. Now it has two curved metal supports, each covered with
a curved rubber cushion, which support the left and right edges of the bottom
bracket. One of my rubber cushions came unglued and has resisted an attempt
at repair. Next time I remount my bike, I'll glue it back on.
In summary, I can't recommend anything. Not without knowing what kind of
tires you use, how much you're willing to spend, what you want the trainer
for, whether you value the Vetta's work stand capability, etc.
Felix
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Ted Morris
University of Chicago
Library Systems Group
ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!eam3
(312) 962-8763