burning up my tire
287
Member
1442 days
Great Greyhound posted 3 years ago.
Mike,
I just bought a cheapo tire from the local bike shop, and then adjusted my trainer (mag) so the middle setting felt like I was riding on level ground. Now, when I crank the tension up, it feels like I'm riding uphill, and downhill when I drop tension. If I burn up a cheapo tire, I don't really care.
In fact, I have a set of old wheels that I use on the trainer, I also rotate the front tire every time I get on the trainer, to avoid the chance of causing a flat spot.
Darrell "Legs 'n Lungs" Lenkner
in West Chester, Oh.
Check here for Images of us.
47
Member
1448 days
ThommyM posted 3 years ago.
I had the same problem with my Minora Mag trainer, I demolished a $50.00 Vittoria
racing tire in a month on my trainer. But no more. Here's what I have been doing for the
past year, and my rear tire is still like new !
Go to your local hardware store and get a couple of rolls of the DOUBLE-WIDE black
electricians tape. The regular width tape is not wide enough to cover the tire surface completely.
With the bike on the trainer I wrap a layer of this tape all the way around the tire, twice.
Electrical tape is an INSULATOR, so it guards your tire from the heat and the friction created by your trainer. Use electrical tape ONLY, as it comes off easily, with no mess or residue left on the tire. I simply tape the tire ride the trainer 2 or 3 times during the week, and then remove the tape for the weekend road ride. This way the tape peels off easily and doesn't stay on the tire long enough to start breaking down. At $1.29 a roll, one roll will do a month. If you do the math,
this is much cheaper than buying a new racing tire, or an entire rear wheel set just for use on the trainer.
Necessity is not the mother of invention,...cheap bastards are.
49
Member
1601 days
michaelrobinson posted 3 years ago.
That idea doesn't sound too bad. If the tape is an insulator, couldn't I just put it on the trainer wheel and not on my tire? Have you tried that? Just curious. Thanks for the idea though.
Mike
47
Member
1448 days
ThommyM posted 3 years ago.
That's also a good idea. However, I have never tried it, so I don't know how well it will work.
I came up with the tape on the rear tire thing, after I had already purchased a regular MAG trainer, as I couldn't find a comparably priced "rim" drive based trainer that would fit a 650 c tire.
I think Minora and other vendors have compatible rim drive trainers now, which would be the best option for someone looking to buy.
81
Member
1555 days
Wakizashi posted 3 years ago.
well... i have exactly the same problem and i have been looking for a solution..... man.... its a shame im such a coward trying new stuff on my bike.... as if it would hurt it or something..... well... lets give it a try.... ill update tomorrow....
De Opressor Liber
81
Member
1555 days
Wakizashi posted 3 years ago.
WOW....just did my first ride.... and man does it work well.... no rubbing off or destroying of the tire.... especially because im lazy and don't like switching tires. well in conclusion thks for a great idea thommyM , i hope it continues to work great.
De Opressor Liber
47
Member
1448 days
ThommyM posted 3 years ago.
Your Welcome Wakizashi. P.S. See from your post that you are at Bragg. I spent 3 years in the 82nd there a decade ago. I still remember doing the daily "Ardennes Shuffle" and biking out Gruber Road,
peering curiously at the Delta compound, and waiting at Green Ramp on Pope Air Force Base to go on jumps. It was a very cool time in my life. I hope you enjoy your time there as well ! The IRONIC thing is
that now training for IronMan I do more "P.E." as a professional computer nerd than I did as a paratrooper
back then...Go figure !
I know I'm not alone here, but what do the rest of you do when it comes to adjusting the pressure of your trainer against your rear wheel? I've burned up tires in the past and this year started out great until I put my brand new bike on the trainer(with new tires) and now I'm literally burning rubber. I have a Fluid trainer and I can't decide if I have too much pressure on the tire or not enough and some years I have no problems and other years I burn up my tires. Any proven suggestions? I may just have to change out to an old tire, but I don't think that should be the only answer. What has everyone else experienced?
Mike