For Mrs S you understand. I dont bat that way.

Picked up an eBay trainer for a song this weekend, and tested it out. All seems fine. Im concious that she’s going to be putting a fair few hours in on a fairly decent back wheel & block not going very far.

Does it make sense to buy/build a crappy rear wheel with freehub and use the ultegra block that goes with the chain and chainrings, or swap for a cheap block and chain and hope the chainrings dont get shagged?

What makes the for the best rubber too? Cheap and nasty? something with a tread to keep a consistant feel (slicks seem to slip a bit during power phase of crank stroke)

Or sod it and just go with the planet X model Bs that are on there and make her save up for some new carbon clinchers for when the daylight returns?

go for one of the turbo specific rear tyres – they make the whole thing quieter, and run cool so you can run the contact nice and firm for good grip without peeling the tread off a road tyre.

i’d be tempted to run big ring and a midsize rear sprocket to spread the load, then not worry too much about wearing the block. probably easier to shift the block onto a cheap rear and leave the tyres seated, unless the bikes going on and off the TT a lot.

if you’re going to be switching thing often, then go for a cheap rear and new cassette, so long as the chain isn;t really worn. a cheap new block won’t do your chain any harm, although a part worn chain will wear the new cassette a little (unless it’s so worn that the chain skips).

cheers sp.

so a trainer specific tyre*, a cheap wheel and either a cheap block and use the existing chain or just put the good block on and be done with it. The bike will live on the trainer for the next 3 months without coming off.

* cheap recommendations?

I’ve just hopped off the turbo trainer – I use a normal wheel and tyre (dura ace and conti), it’s fine for 45 mins twice a week.

As it happens I have a virtually new (used for about an hour and a half) tyre on e-bay… Here 😉

I’d agree with the turbo-tyre, but why pi$$ around with the block/chain/rings? She’s going to be using it in perfectly dry/clean conditions (I assume), so if you keep her well-lubed (ahem) the wear will be minimal. It will certainly be a lot less than if she was using the bike outdoors, and would you have changed those bits if that was what she was going to do?

i thought conti did one, but can’t find it now.

there’s this from schwalbe after a quick google.

i’d stick the same block on a cheap wheel if the bike’s staying put for that long.

If it’s going to be hooked up ‘permanently’, then just change the tyre for a turbo tyre on the standard wheel/chain/cassette and away you go. Loading on the wheel will be a lot less than out in the wild, as it were.

Using a spare rear wheel, with BBB cassette, cheap and cheerful from Ribble. Also use a specific tyre. Not used it much this winter, not cold enough to stop me getting out yet.

+1 for the turbo tyre. I have a Conti one and it works fine, quiet, it doesn’t overheat and it is fine, it is just a bit tough to get on for some reason.

fair point RE: fully lubed and no grit etc.

OK, I’ll go for a tyre – cheers for the link graham, but Im not going up against those windowlickers that bid on eBay 😉

Ill get a nice new one.
there’s this one at wiggle
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-coperton-indoor-turbo-trainer-tyre/

The schwalbe is out of stock at wiggle.

I’ve used a turbo on normal tyres for years and never ruined one. As above, if using the bike soley on the turbo then a specific tyre wouldn’t hurt but I would’nt bother with anything else.

ribble seems to have some good deals.