carbon frame on a trainer

[handcyclist]

I'm on day 3 of a 10-day isolation at home, so rather than go bonkers indoors I've bought myself a trainer to go for a ride around Watopia.

In the back of my mind I've a memory of reading somewhere that carbon bikes can suffer if they are on a turbo for too long. Is that true?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Some carbon frames lose their warranty on trainers, others are specifically approved for use.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/does-a-bike-trainer-damage-your-bike/

[grams]

Clamping the rear triangle puts more stress (or at least, different stresses) on the tubes than riding on the road.

Whether that's a problem in practice is not something anyone can answer.

[sojournermike]

Clamping the rear triangle puts more stress (or at least, different stresses) on the tubes than riding on the road.

Whether that's a problem in practice is not something anyone can answer.

I think a lot of people have concluded it’s fine, but I use a steel bike in preference to alloy or carbon on the trainer. It’s an odd choice as I think about it as it’s actually just about my favourite frame. However, I don’t really want to take it outside in the salt.

Apart from tube loading, you probably don’t want carbon dropouts moving in the quick release.

[morbihan]

Clamping the rear triangle puts more stress (or at least, different stresses) on the tubes than riding on the road.

Whether that's a problem in practice is not something anyone can answer.

I think a lot of people have concluded it’s fine, but I use a steel bike in preference to alloy or carbon on the trainer. It’s an odd choice as I think about it as it’s actually just about my favourite frame. However, I don’t really want to take it outside in the salt.

Apart from tube loading, you probably don’t want carbon dropouts moving in the quick release.

Be wary of the sweat/salt coming off your body when on the trainer.  Rivulets running down the seat post into the seat tube and all over the drive train. Pins seizing id you have a disc set up.
We are sharing a ti bike on the turbo at the moment and its amazing to watch how quickly some of the components are pitting and degrading despite a regular wipe down.

[aidan.f]

So the ideal machine would be fixed with no brakes.

[zigzag]

carbon frames no problem (if it's tightened properly to the trainer), biggest problem is alloy handlebars which can turn into white powder after a winter or two.

[toontra]

I'm using my Van Nic Yukon ti on the Kickr.  It's the bike I do most long rides on and has tri bars so seems the best choice for spending several hours a week on.

May be my imagination but being ti it seems to allow quite a bit of lateral movement/flex.  Also being ti there's little risk of sweat damage, although with the 3 Cleva fans I've yet to notice any drippage 

[morbihan]

I'm using my Van Nic Yukon ti on the Kickr.  It's the bike I do most long rides on and has tri bars so seems the best choice for spending several hours a week on.

May be my imagination but being ti it seems to allow quite a bit of lateral movement/flex.  Also being ti there's little risk of sweat damage, although with the 3 Cleva fans I've yet to notice any drippage 

snap!
we are using the exact same bike on the trainer too. Its my partners and the frame is too small for me so I have to jack a seat post and saddle up high to have elbow/knee room.
Switching out bikes would involve swapping out cassettes etc to so its the best case compromise for us to share.
I concur on the ti/sweat issue and the fact there feels to be decent flex there on the turbo.

[gibbo]

I was concerned with the potential of overly stressing the frame resulting in some kind of failure so I built a rocker plate which helps here plus it gives a more IRL feel to riding.

Loads of info on FB in the Rocker Plates group.

[rafletcher]

My rationale id I ride a UCI hologated carbon frame, a version of which has been ridden in grand tours. I put out barely a 10th of the peak power of a pro, I'm really not stressing the frame.

[sojournermike]

I’m more concerned that, whilst my power doesn’t match that of a pro, my weight matches that of about 1 1/2 of the little b****rs

YMMV:)

[quixoticgeek]

I’m more concerned that, whilst my power doesn’t match that of a pro, my weight matches that of about 1 1/2 of the little b****rs

YMMV

Your Mass May Vary?

:p


J

[sojournermike]

I’m more concerned that, whilst my power doesn’t match that of a pro, my weight matches that of about 1 1/2 of the little b****rs

YMMV

Your Mass May Vary?

:p


J

[T42]

I rather fancy one of these things:

https://youtu.be/e03YInAVt2k

But what I really want is Spring.