Stay Fit Without Leaving The House by Ron Fritzke for cycle-review.com

Not everyone likes to get out on the paths and roadways to exercise. Sometimes the weather is terrible, the traffic is intimidating, or maybe getting into shape is a ‘private’ task…not something for the whole world to gawk at. Whatever the reason, exercising at home has a lot of appeal for many people.

For me, the use of an indoor bike trainer has served the trick handsomely. For those who aren’t familiar with a bike trainer, it’s a portable device that you attach the rear wheel of your bicycle onto. You then climb aboard your bike and pedal away; except that you don’t go anywhere.

A bike trainer consists of a roller, a flywheel, and some method of creating resistance. The roller that your bike tire spins doesn’t turn freely (due to wind resistance, magnetic resistance, or fluid resistance) and that provides a workout without you actually going anywhere.

Stated like that (working real hard to not go anywhere), the whole concept sounds rather foolhardy…but remember the objective may be to stay under cover because it’s raining or sweltering outside, or to avoid too many autos during rush hour, or maybe you’re too embarrassed by your ‘pre-conditioned’ physique to venture outside to exercise.

In light of those reasons, pedaling on a bike trainer may make a lot of sense.

How Do You Select The Right Trainer?

Bike trainers (sometimes called turbo trainers) are categorized into three basic groups, defined by the way in which they generate their workload.

1). Wind trainers generate resistance by turning a fan, or impeller through the air. These are the simplest of the varieties so they’re the most foolproof, as well as the least expensive.

However, they’re weak in two areas.

Wind trainers create a heck of a roaring sound when they’re pedaled hard, and they aren’t generally capable of providing enough of a workload for strong riders.

2). Mag (magnetic) trainers do their job using the magic of magnets. By spinning their flywheel through magnetic fields they create resistance for the home exerciser to pedal against.

This style of trainer is more costly than a wind trainer, but it’s also not as noisy. Additionally, it has the capability of producing a vigorous workout for those whose fitness level is more advanced.

3). Fluid bike trainers generally cost an additional 100 dollars (70 euros) more than the mag trainers. But even though these are the most costly of the three styles, they have some benefits that make them the choice of many cyclists.

And as for the sound levels, these are the quietest of the three styles. On top of that, they’re capable of providing the most resistance. A fluid trainer like the Cycleops Fluid 2 bike trainer can generate more than five times the amount of workload that even a Tour de France rider is capable of.

Needless to say, these are the type of bike trainers that the pro cycling teams prefer.

Whatever Your Reasons, Make Good Use Of A Bike Trainer

Staying in good shape is an ongoing task, sometimes made more difficult by factors beyond your control (like poor weather, or short winter days). But with the judicious use of an indoor bike trainer, you can maintain top ‘fightin shape’ no matter what’s thrown in the way of your fitness goals.

I know that my bike trainer is a critical tool in my fitness arsenal.

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