If you\u2019ve taken to indoor training in recent years, you\u2019re not alone. More and more riders are moving indoors for quality training time on a smart trainer, lured by the lack of traffic to contend with, better quality equipment, immersive training apps such as Zwift, RGT Cycling and Rouvy \u2013 and better weather conditions.\nThere are numerous benefits to indoor cycling and your bike won\u2019t get as dirty either \u2013 but it will still be subjected to wear and tear. \u201cIn the same way going out on the road carries risks, using your bike on a turbo carries a different set of risks more focused on your bike,\u201d says Will Smith, a mechanic at Havebike, which offers a collect and return bike repair service.\nHere are four reasons why you need to look after your bike, even if you\u2019re riding indoors.\n1. Sweat isn\u2019t good for your bike\n\n Riding on the turbo is sweaty business. Place a towel over your handlebar and top tube to collect sweat. Justin Tallis \/ Getty Images\nEven in a cold garage and with a gale-force fan blowing on you during a session, or with your windows wide open, you\u2019ll get hot and sweaty.\nThat sweat can find its way into expensive parts and the salt that it contains can corrode them over time.\nHavebike\u2019s Smith points out that it\u2019s very easy for sweat to find its way into headset bearings, shift levers and bar tape, and it can also cause metal cable guides to seize to the frame.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a few examples recently where levers and bars have corroded to such an extent, they needed totally replacing,\u201d he says.\nHe advocates placing a towel over your bars to collect the sweat; you can also buy \u201cbike bras\u201d to cover the top of the bike, and frame protector sprays, but there\u2019s still a risk to bar tape and shifters.\nAs with riding outside, you still need to keep your bike clean and dry.\n\u201cIn an ideal world you would wash your bike after every session, but this isn\u2019t practical for many so if you can do it after every third session, this should stop the build-up,\u201d says Smith.\n2. A turbo could damage your frame\n\n Full-gas efforts could be putting unexpected stress on your frame. If you\u2019re concerned, check your bike manufacturer\u2019s warranty. Simon Bromley \/ Immediate Media\nWhen you\u2019re putting in a big effort, particularly out of the saddle, it\u2019s natural to swing your weight from side to side.\nSome trainers, like those from Kurt Kinetic or the latest Wahoo Kickr, allow a bit of side-to-side motion, but if your bike is held rigidly in the trainer, you\u2019re putting side loads on your frame, bottom bracket, seatstays and chainstays that they weren\u2019t necessarily designed for.\n\u201cDepending on the trainer type and use, it may potentially apply unusual forces on your bicycle, wear parts and\/or weaken or damage your bicycle,\u201d reads an addendum to Specialized\u2019s owner\u2019s manual on trainer use.\n\u201cThis is especially true for carbon fibre bicycles rigidly attached to the trainer.\u201d\nSmith says normal seated efforts shouldn\u2019t be a problem, but issues a word of caution over more vigorous efforts. \u201cOut of the saddle, the bike won\u2019t move from side-to-side as it does on the road, so that energy has got to go somewhere.\u201d\nTurbo trainer platforms, including the MP1 from Saris, can help the bike rock in a similar manner to riding on the road, Smith adds.\nRegardless, it\u2019s worth checking whether your bike brand\u2019s guarantee will cover damage specifically caused by using your bike on an indoor trainer.\n\u201cUntil recently some of the very big brands said in their T&Cs that warranties were invalidated if you were using your bike on a turbo or any type of mounting,\u201d says Smith.\n\n Indoor training is more popular than ever \u2013 it\u2019s still important to consider any wear and tear to your bike. Robert Cianflone \/ Getty Images\nWith the massive increase in the number of riders taking to the indoor trainer, that position has started to change, with some bike makers now building and testing their frames so that they can cope with use in a turbo trainer.\nSpecialized has tested and certified all model year 2020 (and onwards) road bikes for trainer use, though the brand\u2019s other bikes, and those road bikes prior to MY2020, are \u201cused on trainers at your own risk\u201d.\nThe brand does, however, suggest riders \u201cconsider using an old bike with a metal frame and components you are not using on the road\u201d.\nMeanwhile, since 2019, Canyon has provided a list of models approved for use on turbo trainers \u2013 as well as those models that are explicitly not compatible with specific turbo trainers.\nThe brand has also issued guidelines for trainer use. For example, only non-motorised models are approved for use and Canyon bikes with thru-axles are only approved for use with direct-drive trainers.\nThe bottom line, however, is to check any brand guidelines and your warranty before you clamp your \u00a310,000 bike to your trainer for a flat-out interval training session.\n3. You can damage your components\n\n If you use a direct-drive smart trainer, use a cassette with the same ratios as your regular rear wheel. Simon Bromley \/ Immediate Media\nIf you mount your bike using a skewer, make sure you use the one that\u2019s specific to your trainer; a skewer from a wheel may not hold your bike securely.\n\u201cWorst case scenario could result in the bike slipping and falling out of the turbo,\u201d says Smith.\nTake particular care when mounting your bike on a trainer, to ensure the frame is securely and flushly attached via the quick-release or thru-axle, and that no other part of the trainer and bike are in contact with one another.\n\u201cAlso, be careful to avoid clamping the bike too tightly,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt\u2019s human nature to tighten it up as much as possible but this can result in crushed bearings, a damaged freehub or ultimately a damaged or even cracked frame.\u201d\nIf you\u2019re riding a direct-drive trainer, Smith also advises using a cassette with the same ratios as on your regular wheel, so the different setup doesn\u2019t damage your rear mech.\nSmith is less concerned with damage to the front wheel from it sitting static on the floor or in a riser block.\nHe advises keeping your tyres pumped up and rotating the front wheel occasionally, so the pressure isn\u2019t always in one place. It\u2019s a good idea to check that riding in one spot hasn\u2019t affected spoke tension and wheel truing as well.\n4. You still need to check for wear\n\n A trainer-specific tyre helps keep noise to a minimum and protects your precious race tyres. Tacx\nKeep your drivetrain clean and lubricated. Sweat may end up on your chain and you may also be putting high loads through it during high-intensity workouts.\nSmith also points out that you\u2019re not coasting or freewheeling on a descent much on a turbo, so your gears are turning for longer than on a comparable length ride \u2013 great for your fitness, but possibly leading to more wear and tear than you think.\n\u201cYou may see some higher-than-normal wear rates on the drivetrain, so check chains and cassettes for wear,\u201d he says.\nAnd if you\u2019re using a wheel-on trainer, rather than a direct-drive smart trainer, fit a turbo trainer tyre at the rear. Turbo-specific tyres are made from a tougher compound capable of standing up to more wear and tear.\n\u201cOtherwise, your nice new fast rubber will be a squared-off mess with a polished surface in no time,\u201d he says. \u201cThat outdoor ride you\u2019ve been training for could be a disappointment as the rear wheel slips from under you on every corner or you puncture more easily.\u201d","image":"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/02\/Indoor-training-cddb854.jpg?quality=90&resize=768,574","width":768,"height":574,"headline":"Can a turbo trainer damage a carbon frame? How to look after your bike when riding indoors","author":["@type":"Person","name":"Paul Norman"],"publisher":"@type":"Organization","name":"BikeRadar","url":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com","logo":"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/cropped-White-Orange-da60b0b-04d8ff9.png?quality=90&resize=265,53","width":182,"height":60,"speakable":"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","xpath":["\/html\/head\/title","\/html\/head\/meta[@name='description']\/@content"],"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/fitness-and-training\/using-bike-on-turbo-trainer\/","datePublished":"2021-02-04T16:30:33+00:00","dateModified":"2021-10-20T10:15:59+00:00"}] Can a turbo trainer damage a carbon frame? How to look after your bike when riding indoors It's not just hard on you, using the turbo trainer can hurt your bike too
Tacx Trainer Cracked
With the massive increase in the number of riders taking to the indoor trainer, that position has started to change, with some bike makers now building and testing their frames so that they can cope with use in a turbo trainer.
The brand has also issued guidelines for trainer use. For example, only non-motorised models are approved for use and Canyon bikes with thru-axles are only approved for use with direct-drive trainers.
Take particular care when mounting your bike on a trainer, to ensure the frame is securely and flushly attached via the quick-release or thru-axle, and that no other part of the trainer and bike are in contact with one another.
I bought a really cheap aluminum bike for my Taxc Neo because most carbon bikes nowadays have carbon dropouts and using it on a trainer that does not give, like the Wahoo Kickr, may cause micro fractures in the carbon fiber. The Taxc Neo is well design as it rocks a little from side to side.
Hi. I am new to this forum. I have been training with a TacxNeo 2T for about a year. Last night I had a terrible accident. I was 90% though an FTP test riding a Specialized Roubaix FACT 10 Expert when my bike and trainer tipped sideways to the right side and I crashed. Luckily I'm ok with some bumps and bruises. My bike did not fare so well. I use a through axle mount to the Tacx and my rear axle sheared off on the left side near the handle. My left seat stay frame is cracked in 2 places. Tacx appears to be intact without issues. Best I can tell, my front tire came out of the tire stay and the bike become unstable and tipped. Trying to figure out how to prevent this from happening again. Anyone else experienced this? Is there a better option to attach my bike to the trainer that will prevent the axle or my frame from breaking. 2ff7e9595c
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