HOME TRAINERS

The home trainer, an ideal solution for training from home

Mainly due to bad weather, many cyclists prefer to ride indoors on a home trainer. Home trainers are devices that allow you to ride on the spot using your own bike (unlike exercise bikes).

Home trainers have revolutionised cycling by making it possible to ride without leaving your home!

What are the benefits of riding on a home trainer?

Nowadays, some models are at the cutting edge of technology and can provide a sensation very close to riding in real-world conditions. This is an advantage for riding when weather conditions do not allow it, or when you want to ride on weekday evenings after work when it is already dark. The second benefit of riding on a home trainer is that it allows you to build and follow a specific training plan without being hindered by the weather, traffic, or traffic lights.

What are the differences between a frame home trainer and a roller home trainer?

Manufacturers offer two types of home trainers: frame-based ones and roller-based ones. With the former, your bike is secured at the rear wheel dropout, whereas with a roller home trainer, both wheels of your bike come into contact with the roller. With the latter models, you will need to learn how to balance yourself once on them.

Roller home trainers

Among home trainers, what are often referred to as "rollers" are frequently included. These are, in a sense, the "ancestor" of the home trainer as we know it today. There are 3 rollers (one for the front wheel, 2 for the rear) with a belt connecting the whole system, allowing both wheels to spin. This provides a riding experience much closer to what you feel on the road. "Rollers" are still widely used and available on Probikeshop.fr. They are particularly popular for track cycling, when riders recover by spinning their legs between efforts.

Although a little bulky, roller home trainers are easy to use and do not require any components to be fitted or removed before use. However, with the exception of some high-end models, roller home trainers have no resistance. Furthermore, high-end roller models do not allow the resistance level to be adjusted from the bike, requiring the cyclist to dismount if they wish to change the resistance, which can be inconvenient during a strength/cadence session or repeated efforts.

Frame home trainers

A classic home trainer consists of a single roller and attaches to the bike via the rear hub, allowing it to stay balanced and preventing any risk of falling! The resistance can be adjusted using a dial that brakes or releases the roller. Manufacturers now offer many options, notably allowing you to programme intensity intervals and instantly estimate your speed or power output. With the home trainers available on Probikeshop.fr, you can now programme your training down to the nearest watt!

There are all types of frame home trainers. These range from the simplest model, which is placed on the rear wheel only, to electromagnetic home trainer systems. The latter offer a wide range of possibilities, going as far as replicating a real outdoor ride with visuals if you opt for a connected home trainer. These high-end home trainer models replace your rear wheel with a cassette already fitted on your home trainer. This way, you do not wear out your bike's tyres, as can be the case with classic frame home trainers.

Ready to train on your home trainer? Don't forget to stay well hydrated during exercise and limit your training time to avoid causing an excessive water or mineral deficit in your body.

For more information, you can consult our advice guide which tells you how to choose your home trainer.

Also discover:

Home trainers - Home Trainer Tyres - Home Trainer Accessories.