Using bike as static fitness ride in Winter

[vidtek]

Can anyone help me with this please? I have a Whoosh Sunbear and when it's miserable outside I'd like to be able to use it as a fitness machine. I've ordered a small bike stand as per the accessories part of this forum
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/bike-foldable-and-portable-workstand.19991/

But I will probably need to apply some sort of brake to give resistance to make it a bit of an effort.

Please don't write back saying get an exercise bike as I have a small bungalow and very little room in my conservatory, the Sunbear takes a lot of space, so I may as well try and utilise it.

Many thanks to all Tony.

 

[trex]

you mean a bike trainer like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEDALPRO-VARISPEED-TURBO-CYCLE-TRAINER-INDOOR-EXERCISE-BIKE-RESISTANCE-TRAINING-/400640747407

 

[vidtek]

Thanks Trex-

I suppose so-bit bloomin' elaborate though at nearly £40 I'll have to wait for my next birthday-turned 65 last month.
I was thinking more along the lines of modifying the roller brakes!


Cheers Tony

 

[trex]

you could try rubberbanding the left brake lever I suppose.

 

[jonathan75]

I was thinking you could attach objects with some weight to parts of the wheel or spokes to make turning the pedals a bit more effortfful. I think that's part of how some exercise bikes work, I think in conjunction with a brake like you're talking about.

 

[Kuorider]

The Turbo trainers require a skewer (quick release) rear axle to hold the bike in place . Look closely at the picture Trex posted to see this. You could obtain a cheap rear wheel from a road bike and swop it for the winter, or have a bracket made to hold the bike on the trainer. Using the brake as a resistance is not a good idea as it will generate heat after a short time and do some damage after the hour or two required on a trainer for any decent effect on fitness. The resistance needs to be smooth and progressive.
Turbo trainers work by spinning a metal disc inside a ring of magnets producing a strong resistance which increases with effort. Most incorporate a fan which adds to the resistance at speed and provides some considerable airflow. Keep in mind your upper body fitness will need a different approach.

Just to add , Please look carefully at that little bike stand compared to the construction of a turbo trainer before risking your weight plus the hefty ebike on this flimsy bit of bent tube. Note that the turbo trainer clamps the tapered skewer ends in steel cups and a lock nut holds everything tight. When up to any speed the gyroscopic forces are strong and need proper fixings.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I have one of those stands. You can't sit on your bike and pedal it while it's on the stand. It's not strong enough or rigid enough. It's only meant to hold your bike up on a show stand or whatever.

 

[Jimod]

Living as I do, in a country where it's winter for 11 months of the year. I bought this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tacx-T1000-Antares-Rollers-Trainer/dp/B001VRJ4RG/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1438519842&sr=8-17&keywords=tacx It works with my ebikes and my normal bike.
It's like riding on a flat road but it does give you excercise. Unlike a flat road though, if you stop pedaling the bike stops quite quickly.

If you struggle to keep balanced on it you can add this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tacx-Antares-Roller-Support-Stand/dp/B00SBKV8C0/ref=pd_sim_200_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1MECCVV36FTDCWFFBSBM

That makes the bike secure whilst riding on the rollers.

I tried the Typhoon on it one time. The noise from the Knobbly tyres was like a banshee howling. The Tourer and my Merida are fine.

 

[VictoryV]

[Keep in mind your upper body fitness will need a different approach.

I have an exercise bike with magnetic resistance and it is perfectly silent. I have two solutions to upper body fitness:

1. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2055558.htm It is highly compact and I am 70 yrs old and can use it without problem, I do 100 repetitions per day at level 5. I now have a "Victory V" (check up on Google) and a 30" waist a year ago and 50ibs heavier it was 40"

2. the other solution is very cheap, see attached document. My daughter has an exercise bike and she has taken up this solution. It could be applied to your bike with the necessary exercise loader as advised by other members

 

[Cyclezee]

A bike with regen is a solution, charge the battery at the same time, something like a Heinzmann.
Anyone know where I can get one

 

[Kuorider]

I have an exercise bike with magnetic resistance and it is perfectly silent. I have two solutions to upper body fitness:

The OP does not want an exercise bike as per his post. These combined bikes/cross trainers are good for this as you suggest.

have an exercise bike with magnetic resistance and it is perfectly silent. I have two solutions to upper body fitness:

 

[Kuorider]

A bike with regen is a solution, charge the battery at the same time, something like a Heinzmann.

Do these charge with the motor switched off and pedalling ? Running the motor on a trainer defeats the purpose a bit or am I missing something. I thought these only regened on downhill freewheeling and even then rather poorly.

 

[One_Box]

The Woosh Sunbear is not a suitable candidate as the basis of a fitness machine in the house - period.

If you are serious about maintaining or enhancing your fitness during the winter buy a second hand road bike and fit it to a turbo trainer. You will need a tyre that does not have tread in the centre to keep the noise levels as low as possible.

The solution offered by VictoryV is also interesting or just look at the many exercises available online to improve core strength. This has the great advantage of costing nothing, taking just enough space to lie down and would undoubtedly lead to you becoming a better and more efficient cyclist.

 

[Kuorider]

The OP has space restraints thus the possible solutions using the Sunbear. Third paragraph in outlines the requirement and exclusions.

 

[Cyclezee]

Do these charge with the motor switched off and pedalling ? Running the motor on a trainer defeats the purpose a bit or am I missing something. I thought these only regened on downhill freewheeling and even then rather poorly.

The Heinzmann Direct Power system has 3 selectable levels of regen modes and if you pedal with the power on it will charge the battery, the gains are not huge and you have to work hard if you are on the flat.

 

[mfj197]

Exactly as trex and Kuorider say. Get a bike trainer (they are known as Turbo Trainers for reasons best known to themselves). I've recently bought a Graber one and it works well. Folds flat for storage and when unfolded it holds the bike very sturdily indeed.

Michael

 

[JohnCade]

I’d go out walking fast, preferably uphill with a dog if it’s pouring down. Or take up jogging if your knees are up to it. Better still If it’s just cold go out on the bike and use lower assist and you’ll soon warm up.

Years ago I used a turbo trainer on the road bike in the deep winter, and I used to sweat buckets in the shed on cold days. But by early spring when I went out again I was not as bike fit as I was when I stopped. They will just about almost maintain fitness if used with a programme of repetitions with different resistance settings and cadences. But they aren’t a substitute for actually riding a bike, and they are so bloody boring. Even watching TV at the same time is boring.

A good exercise bike like a Reebok one I had in my bedroom for a few years is just as good as the bike on a turbo. But just as boring to use after a bit.

 

[Kuorider]

Get a bike trainer (they are known as Turbo Trainers for reasons best known to themselves)

The name comes from the type of fan used which loosely resembles a turbine wheel ,thus the modern buzzword used ludicrously to describe totally unrelated items ie a paint roller- as in ' turbocharge your decorating' utter nonsense..

 

[Kuorider]

The Heinzmann Direct Power system has 3 selectable levels of regen modes and if you pedal with the power on it will charge the battery, the gains are not huge and you have to work hard if you are on the flat.

Thanks for the update on this.