MaxThorn said:

Here's a topic for all those who've done many more hours on a trainer than I have (god bless you). This winter has been my first using an indoor trainer. How much do I risk damaging my carbon frame with hard efforts? I'm worried. Here are the facts:...

• 
  
• My bike began squeaking last night on the downstroke during hard efforts. It hadn't before. Sounds like it's coming from the dropouts, where the bike is clamped into the trainer. 
• The rear wheel skewer cam is quite loose. I'm using the bulbous skewer that came with the trainer. 
• The rear axle, however, feels just fine.
• I cannot see any visible damage to the frame. 

Should I be worried? 

Looking forward to your diagnoses...

First, the current indoor trainer setup of clamping the rear quick release skewer doesn't seem to damage carbon frames at all.  In earlier iterations, the chain stays were clamped behind the bottom bracket.  They abandoned this design because of clearance, paint scratching and frame damage issues.  The design shouldn't be the problem.

Yes, I would attribute the squeaking to the rear skewer being loose.

Many people buy a "trainer skewer" both for better grip and not to damage pricey skewers.  The cam head and the nut are both oversized and round to make it easier for trainer mounts to grab.

Tacx makes one.  



https://www.tacx.com/en/onlineshop/accessory/trainer-assen-axles?lang=en-US

@mugwump some newer frames have recessed dropouts (like my Scott Foil) and you need either the Tacx QR pictured above OR simply add a couple of washers on the nut side.

I took a Computrainer class in the UES and the guy didn't like people putting their own bikes in. Chipped a good chunk off my seat stay and sandwiched the Di2 cable.   

Bump!

Boom.
http://help.trainingpeaks.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000325647?utm_source=tpr&utm_medium=email&utm_content=nonuser&utm_campaign=2017_01_workout_export

^but no kickr?

This just convinced me to start Tim's coaching again.

mugwump said:

Bump!

Trainer workouts are a thing.

Came across this article in Pez by Tim Cusick

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/toolbox/toolbox-trainer-base-building/#.WEocLJI3lrE

"Training indoors with precise performance numbers can have some negative effects on your training. The introduction of clear training targets measured by watts has brought about some bad training habits, and they’re often disguised as the desire to improve performance as we focus on increasing just one number: average watts."

Nice shot of the Rabobank team ( dopers galore).

bump

Kind of stoked, I just picked up an arctic heat ice vest on eBay for $18.  
 

Want to see if that keeps me cooled.  hope it works better than the evaporative cooling vest I tried out.

On the topic of mats (yoga or otherwise) I had a pretty thick one from Saris that I used for years. Every time I get off my bike I put my foot down and pivot in exactly the same spot... over the years my cleat seems to have augured a hole clean through to the floor. Time for a new mat.

As for the Arctic Heat .... well which is it young feller?!?  Arctic or Heat?

#confuse

Haha, yeah, if you need to cool down, you can just step outside

I have the yahoo mat, if needed, can be used for yoga, it is super durable, but it ain't portable. 

Appropos nothing, when I worked in the Fire Department "doing yoga" was a euphemism for a body that was badly (impossibly) contorted. So much so that I can never separate the two. 

Just did my weekly flyby of whats on FB and Kevin McNeil had this photo up. The saran wrap to protect the headset is a sweet move I didn't know about.

If your other hobby is making music, music stands make for a cheap, portable laptop stand that you can break down and put under the bed or in a corner.

This one is cheap and sturdy and sometimes goes on sale for under $20.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Musicians-Gear/Deluxe-Conductor-Music-Stand.gc

It works pretty good for music too

Jules said:

As for the Arctic Heat .... well which is it young feller?!?  Arctic or Heat?

#confuse

It's for the heat, bringing an arctic microclimate around your torso.  At least, I'm guessing that's what they want you to feel.

I've finally used it a few times.  It's impressive how cool it stays.  You first soak the vest in water.  You keep it submerged until the water-absorbing crystals grow to totally fill up the channels they're sewn into.  Then, you let it drip dry.  After that, stick it in the freezer.  And pull it out only long enough before your indoor ride to get the cloth warm enough so you can pull it apart (as it's frozen into a block), unzip, and put on.

I used it in a room at 64 degrees Fahrenheit, with both a fan and my Kreitler headwind resistance unit blowing air on me.  I did a 10-minute warmup, then put it on, then rode for 50 minutes.  I don't have enough data to see if I could ride either harder at the same heart rate or the same at a lower heart rate.

However, I can report that during a one-hour indoor ride, I didn't leave a puddle of sweat on the floor, nor was my face feeling flush from sweat, nor was my headband super-saturated with sweat.  That alone is pretty impressive.  

I've been reveling in the the triple compatibility of the my garmin, Training Peaks and the Kickr. Feels like it all should have worked this smooth a long time ago but I sure am happy it's here now

Just came across this indoor workout guide from Training Peaks

https://www.trainingpeaks.com/guides/home-workouts/indoor-training-fundamentals/#mental-game

"We know the life disruptions presented by this situation can seem overwhelming—and that many in our community are dealing with lost jobs, childcare challenges, and maybe even COVID-19 itself. We’re here to support you however we can, even if that just means helping you find a 20-minute core workout to blow off some steam. In the best of times, training is a powerful motivating force, and when times are tough, it can be the one thing that helps you maintain a sense of normalcy.

"We hope this home workout guide will help you stay motivated, focused, and connected to the athletic community for the weeks to come. Let’s come out of this stronger than ever!

"*Ed Note: If you or anybody you’ve been in contact with shows symptoms of COVID-19 (like dry cough, fever, shortness of breath, or nausea) be sure to check with your doctor before beginning or continuing any training plan."

Blogposts, so very 2019...

https://youtu.be/CfZxrTV1kIU

Le sigh.  (unless you're doing it at home, I don't need to see it.)

Here are some indoor workouts from Skratch Labs

Interesting note--Lim suggests drinking more indoors because there's less convective cooling.

https://blog.skratchlabs.com/blog/2020/4/8/indoor-bike-training-tips-workouts

FasCat just posted four indoor trainer workouts, three of which look good (the fourth is Zwift)

https://fascatcoaching.com/tips/indoor-cycling-workouts

This is a funny bit for me:  

"Concentrate on group and solo rides using the terrain on Zwift to match your training goal for the day. For example – use the flat Richmond course to pedal out a fun quality zone 2 workout.  Use the New York’s Central Park to hammer out some TSS sweet spot style on Saturday’s if you can’t ride outside."

^in a dark year TikTok has brought me so so much joy

CTS has posted three decent-looking indoor workouts, each of which can be done in an hour or less.

https://trainright.com/indoor-cycling-workouts-under-60-minutes/