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From: eam3@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (edward a. morris)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Stationary Trainers, Rollers, Winter
Message-ID: <1327@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 12-Nov-85 17:14:32 EST
Article-I.D.: sphinx.1327
Posted: Tue Nov 12 17:14:32 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Nov-85 00:27:23 EST
Organization: U. Chicago - Computation Center
Lines: 41

Just a follow-up to my query of some weeks past.

I recently spent a Saturday trying out various trainers, including
the new Kreitler "Killer" load simulator.  My impressions:

1.  Kreitler products are top drawer.  The rollers with wind
    load simulator are the best indoor training product I've 
    seen.  The "Killer" stationary trainer is a close second
    best, although it doesn't force you to concentrate on 
    good form.  Unfortunately, they are expensive and take up
    a fair amount of space.

2.  The "original" type RacerMate wind load simulator and its
    many clones gives you a good workout (sans form, again).  As
    far as I could tell, though, these types of machines also
    give your frame a pretty good stress-test too.  Many of the
    people with whom I spoke who use these types of trainers
    said they used an old, stripped-down bike.  One guy had a fixed
    gear machine which he swears by for working on smooth cadence.

3.  The RacerMate Piggy-Back (tm, I think) is compact, less hard
    on the frame, and gives a pretty good work-out.  It is also
    quite inexpensive (approx. $70).

I live in a *small* apartment, and went with the Piggy-Back.  It is
relatively quiet, takes up little space, and gives a good workout at
my level of riding (former cross-country runner in first year of 
biking).  I am currently working up some cadence/gearing/time charts
based on some workouts a friend of mine suggested.  This, combined
with weight training and some running will hopefully keep me ahead
of the game for next spring.

Am also thinking of developing an interface to a PC-compatible micro,
and some software to monitor and trigger different stages of a 
stationary workout.  Any ideas?

Ted Morris
University of Chicago
Library Computer Systems Group
ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!eam3
(312) 962-8763