Cycling Trainers

How to Choose a Cycling Trainer While our vendor partner offers every piece of equipment you could ever need to go riding in the winter, sometimes it's hard enough just to roll out of bed, much less get on your bike and pedal through the storm. That's where a cycle trainer comes in handy.

Trainers increase your cycling skills through the use of resistance. Choose among three categories of stationary trainers: air, magnetic and fluid. Fluid and magnetic models are the quietest, while those that utilize air resistance are typically the least expensive.

Stationary Trainers

A cycle trainer can help you both define and refine your training goals. With a combination of spin workouts and structured intervals, you can hone your ideal cadence, practice proper breathing techniques, push your anaerobic threshold and enhance overall vascular and muscular strength. Trainers are often used to warm up and cool down at races, or before and after weight training. They can also be used as part of a cross-training program. How do they work? Trainers create resistance with the use of air, magnets or fluid. Of the three, the magnetic and fluid trainers are quieter and therefore are often found in apartments or shared housing situations. Air trainers are generally less expensive and offer the added benefit of using your power to cool you down. To use a trainer, just hook up your bike by attaching the trainer to your rear axle—an easy task. Then, get on the bike and start pedaling away. By providing pedaling resistance, the trainer enables you to mimic hills and flats.

How to Keep Your Trainer from Collecting Dust

Question: Does your cycle trainer give you a great workout? Answer: It does. When you use it. To make sure you use your trainer, set up an environment that invites you to train. If possible, give the trainer its own space. That way all you have to do is hop on and start pedaling. Have music or a TV nearby to play while riding. Tip: Don't just turn on the evening news. Watch extreme mountain bike videos or Tour de France races, or listen to inspiring music. These things can really get you psyched up for riding. Have a towel handy (you'll sweat a lot), and you may want to place a fan in front of you to simulate wind resistance and to help keep you cool. As always, make sure you are well-hydrated. Either sling a hydration pack across your back or have a couple of water bottles within reach. Sweat can cause corrosion on your bicycle, so you may also want to invest in a so-called sweat net. Also, if you are training on carpet, place some plywood under the trainer and cover the plywood with a towel. The plywood increases your stability and the towel keeps the plywood in good shape. Since the trainer lifts your rear wheel off the ground, you'll want a riser block in front to level yourself out.