Wind Trainer for Spinning?

[fit@40]

Hello!

I wondering if anyone out there has used or owns a Wind Trainer for their bicycle. I own a great road cycle and would like to add spinning at home to my cross-trainning. If anyone owns a good one I could use some information on what kind and how much they cost.

Thanks DD

 

[Debra]

I have a wind trainer that I haven't used since moving to So Cal. I bought it from Bike Nashbar for about $100. I used it a lot when I lived in Seattle, especially during tax season when workout time was minimal. It was very effective training & this was before all the great spinning tapes were out. I take a spinning class occasionally & there's nothing in the class that couldn't be done on a wind trainer. Plus what could be better than training on your own bike! The trainer did seem to wear the rear tire a bit & unlike a dedicated spin bike, you can tip over if you're careless.

It's been stormy lately & I've been tempted to get some spinning tapes & set up the trainer. Check out Nancy C's posts here & at Video Fitness, she just got some Spinerval tapes. They might be for you if you're an avid road rider.

Debra

 

[fit@40]

Dear Debra~
I really appreciate your reply on this! I was wondering if you set your trainer inside or outside and if it was very loud...I mean could you use a winde trainer and hear a t.v. or radio over it? Thanks again, Debra, I await your response. DD

 

[Debra]

Inside - it was Seattle & it was pretty loud! I'd spin to a CD or the news, so the volume had to very high. It's not bad for the rider, but it's not great for anyone else in the vicinity. Oh, & you will want an oscillating fan unless you're lucky enough to be a light sweater. My husband would lay beach towels around the bike when he used it to soak up the sweat.

I'm not sure that the trainers are any louder than spinning bikes. And boy do instructors love to crank up the volume, & especially the bass.

Debra

 

[kellib]

I do not own a wind trainer but have used both wind trainers and rollers for inside cycling. You can hear your radio over the trainer, the one I used wasn't too loud (I can't recall the brand, sorry!!!) Towels and the fan are definitly good ideas!!! You will sweat! We would do intervals on the bikes, but I bet a spinning video would be much more interesting.

the trainer is great because you can adjust the pressure, make it harder or easier. Plus, you can set up just about anywhere. NashBar is a great place to go to buy one--www.nashbar.com, or you can call them and order their catalog (however, they have internet-only deals often times). they also carry a wide variety of clothing and other accessories. There are lots of other cycling companies out there, but my experience is that Nashbar has the widest variety for the lowest prices.

Rollers are another story, not sure if you're even interested in those. They do not offer the resistence that the trainer will, but they are great for practicing 'holding your line' esp. if you are into competitive cycling. You'll have to check them out at Nashbar to see what I'm talking about--too difficult to describe. It'd be harder to do a tape on these, however, if you got real good at using them, you probably could.

Good luck and happy cycling!
Kelli

 

[fit@40]

Dear Debra and Kelli~

Your input is very valuable to me, I thank you very much! I am really thinking hard about this-my husband and I both like to run, but it is he especially finds it difficlt to get cardio in any other way so when he doesn't run thats that. I on the other hand have my tapes, but even I know that spinning is AWESOME cross-tainning. I remember being in a spin class and thinking that I would rather run 10 miles. Spinning is SO isolatingliy difficult...hard to describe unless you've tried it right? Thanks again ladies, your great! DD