Mountain Bike Turbo Trainer

You'll struggle to get a wheel off turbo that runs off "nothing" tbh...

It's a bit like buying a PC monitor but not wanting a PC to run it...

DrP

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=under+desk+bikes

The main issue (for me) when I've stuck a MTB on a trainer is that the gearing is generally too easy. Just about managed to get enough resistance with an old triple with a 42t.

I currently have a Thinkrider Neo, which is one of the cheaper direct drive ones. Not sure you'll get away with it in meetings, your colleagues will be wondering why you're dripping with sweat!

Ah I should have said it’s just for supplementary zone 2 training, so probably not needing major resistance.

I’m assuming it has some sort of motor at the back, so I’m assuming there will be a bit of noise

Mine hums a bit and there is a bit of chain noise, but not as much as a traditional magnetic trainer. I normally have music on, so I have no idea if it will be too much for a Zoom call!

Speaking of mountain bikes and turbo; slightly connected...Has anyone ever run a knobblies on a set of rollers? I could do with some indoor Z2, but I could do without having to change tyres constantly or have to buy another wheel. 

OP - maybe have a look at the new Zwift turbo trainer - the hub one.

It has virtual gearing so you are unlikely to run out of gears, as is often the case with mountain bikes on a turbo.

As above, you'll struggle to find a 'smart' trainer that doesn't need to be connected to an app/program of some shape or form to get full functionality out of it.
The Zwift trainer does come with a year subscription.

sporsdirect, the pinnacle trainer is often on sale, i posted an update about i the other day and a doscount code which brought it to sub 200

but you will need to use a device to change the load, either a phone, laptop via bluetooth, garmin watch or computer or such like? i run mine with my garmin bike computer and a generic heart rate monitor using the garmin training programs, i think strava subscribers also get plans

There's an app that can give you harder MTB gearing that many are using on Zwift these days, think it's called QZ.

Maybe an obvious question but have you ever used a turbo trainer?  It's incredibly boring - a smart trainer with Zwift/Rouvy etc add some interest and variation (and give you structured workouts).   Putting a bike on and off them is a faff (and there are two of us wanting to use it) so we ended up getting a Wattbike Atom secondhand.

And we only use it in ERG mode (where you don't need to change gear).  If I was going to do it on bike based one I'd be really tempted by that Zwift trainer and maybe build a bike from super cheap second hand parts to 'live' on it.  Doesn't need brakes or gears  - could just run it with a chain tensioner.

you can adjust the resistance of a saris H3 using the saris app. Don't have to be riding in front of a screen.

wahoo system gives you free stuff so if you don't want to pay for it you can still use it.

b33 - no I’ve never used one and that’s a fair point over the faff. Unfortunately in my case I’m quite space limited, otherwise I would buy some sort of fixed bike. If there was some sort of folding one that would do the job, then that would probably be a better option just to save swapping the wheel over. I’m not limited on budget within reason, but I don’t think such a thing exists unless I’m mistaken.

Stumpy/Alan - thank you, I’m happy to connect my phone to the trainer, it’s just I have no interest in virtual road races etc on zwift.

Thanks everyone for the help, some good options there

The old Jetblack Whisperdrive is a totally analogue direct drive trainer with a cable-operated magnetic resistance. I had one - would recommend.

Here's one on eBay (not mine): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225844183371

Has anyone ever run a knobblies on a set of rollers? I could do with some indoor Z2, but I could do without having to change tyres constantly or have to buy another wheel

I tried it once and nearly died. Really hard work.
Have you tried an mtb on rollers yet? Certainly my Tacx rollers are too short for anything vaguely modern.

Has anyone ever run a knobblies on a set of rollers?

I've been in the pits at both WC and top flight international level MTB and CX races where loads of riders are doing their final warm up on knobblies, it's loud and unpleasant, lots of vibrations. There's a reason they mostly use wheel off trainers or change wheels for their proper warm up.

Also, if you've not ridden rollers before, they're not always the easiest things to get on with.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U0m4vXu0SCw&pp=ygUgSG9tZSBtYWRlIGJpa2Ugcm9sbGVycyBmcm9tIGxvZ3M%3D

I use a JetBlack Volt ERG-based trainer, which came with an 11-speed cassette and variety of hub axle adapters.

I'm limited for space so I put one of my bikes on the trainer and pack it all up at the end of a workout.  Other than the issue of running a 12sp chain on an 11sp cassette (which is sortable), there's no issue using my MTB on it with its lower gears because I always use ERG.

Unfortunately in my case I’m quite space limited, otherwise I would buy some sort of fixed bike.

@bgreenback

The Wattbike is shorter and takes up less space than a bike on a trainer. Some of the others have less bulk than a wattbike (and they're clean - no drips of oil or mud so you can store stuff around them) but I don't think there are any that fold.  The Wahoo Kicker looks the best for drying washing.

You could buy a 'dumb' wheel-on trainer and just swap your rear wheel out for a spare with a smooth trainer tyre / road slick and cassette spaced to work with your bike's set-up. Slightly less convenient than a wheel-off trainer, but not by much and a fair bit cheaper.

You'll probably die of boredom riding zone 2 on a dumb trainer tbh, but each to their own. Smart trainers in erg mode open up a lot more options.

Thank you. What I didnt explain is this is going in a shed/storage room that’s 1.8m wide by 5m long and it already contains 3 bikes hanging, a cable machine, a squat rack, dumbell set, large weight plate rack, hex bar, barbells, large toolbox etc. I’ve made a good use of space but I can’t have anything else that’s ‘permanently built’. Therefore my plan with the turbo is to retrieve the bike from the  rack and change the wheel each time I want to use it. Then I was going to store the turbo in a corner somewhere.

If that ends up being too much faff then I guess I may just end up getting a folding exercise bike. Putting aside the lack of zwift experience etc, I guess the disadvantage of those folding exercise bikes is probably the seating position.

Cheers

I've been very happy with my Jetblack Volt, don't go looking for a new one as its is no longer available for sale in the UK/EU/US markets due to a Wahoo patent settlement. The Zwift Hub is a rebadged Jetblack Volt and is reported to be just as good.

When I'm not using it with the Wahoo SYSTM training app, I can control the resistance and modes with the free Wahoo fitness app from my phone.

The Volt/Hub is lighter than comparable smart trainers from Elite, Wahoo and Tacx, I don't have any trouble moving mine out of the way after every workout to make space in my garage which only has a 10'x6' floorspace.

Thank you, good to know that you move it out of the way each time.

I have since found out that surprisingly they are available to rent at a place fairly near me, I wouldn’t of thought there was really a market for that, but it means I can go and hire one for about £40 and see how I get on with it

To follow up on this, I've got a rented Wahoo Kickr Core arriving next week and need to get a cassette for it.

Currently I have a 51 or 52 tooth SRAM GX Eagle cassette, can't remember exactly which. If I go down the XD route, then I need to change the Wahoo freehub, which would be ok. However, its got me thinking would I be ok with some sort of standard non XD (HG?) cassette that is 11 speed?

Someone I spoke to said there's no way you'll ever use the 52 tooth on a turbo, so I guess this means 11 speed would be ok?

As an alternate option to stick with 12 speed and stick with SRAM, I have found this cassette:

Sram NX Eagle PG1230 Cassette - 12 Speed | Merlin Cycles

This is not XD - so am I right in thinking that this would bolt right onto the Wahoo Kickr Core freehub? I had no idea that SRAM even did cassettes that are not XD.

Cheers

You'll need your casette to match your bike - number of speeds is a must, range can differ but is more likely to cause issues.

Using the 12 speed, but HG fitment casette would be a good, cost effective plan.

For the purpose of your weeks rent - use the cassette currently fitted to your back wheel!

Thank you, ok I'll abandon the idea of getting an 11 speed then....

I'm thinking ahead of actually buying a turbo trainer, plus I'll go out on MTB rides on the bike during the hire period, hence the idea of getting another cassette.

I think in fact my GX cassette is 10-50, whereas that NX one is 11-50. As for the ratios, in the larger 5 cogs they are identical and in the smaller 7 cogs there is 1 tooth difference in each one. Is it fair to assume that such a minor difference will be ok?

I got a Tacx Bluematic (wheel on, dumb trainer) for £20 - it took half an hour to fix the busted selector lever. Use a spare wheel (cheap, unless you want to shell out for a decent one you could ride off road with should the need arise), fitted with a schwalbe marathon. Probably noisier than a wheel off model, but a fraction of the price, and it folds up pretty small to boot.

A few years ago before smart trainers I hooked up mountain bike to a wheel on turbo trainer and it worked fine even with knobbly tyre. Halfords do one for under £50.

Wheel off trainers are better no doubt but are designed around road bikes drop outs so probably need adaptors for MTB and might need to adjust limit screws on derailleur between road use and turbo. As said you’ll be bored out of mind using a dumb trainer but above is a cheap option to give it a go.

Thank you, has to be a modern wheel off style turbo though with a cassette as I need it as quiet as possible. I’m going to hopefully do some work while doing light zone 2 stuff so I dont think getting bored will be an issue.

The Kickr core seems compatible with boost 148 and 650b so I would hope drop outs aren’t an issue.

I just need to get a suitable cassette, as above hoping being marginally out on ratios by just 1 tooth in each gear won’t matter?

I think in fact my GX cassette is 10-50, whereas that NX one is 11-50. As for the ratios, in the larger 5 cogs they are identical and in the smaller 7 cogs there is 1 tooth difference in each one. Is it fair to assume that such a minor difference will be ok?

It'll be fine. The only issue you might have is the need to tweak your indexing slightly,  but it may just work straight off, it just depends on how close to your wheel's spacing the Wahoo freehub is, mostljy I've found it just about works. If you have to tweak the cable adjuster, make a note - mental or otherwise - of how many quarter turns you needed and in what direction, so you can tweak it back afterwards. Zwift gives you a 25km free trial btw, so you can give it a go if you're curious. I think Wahoo X also has a free trial option.

Thanks a lot, will get one ordered