Should You Buy A Smart Trainer Or A Static Bike? | GCN Tech Clinic

[@gcntech]

If you have a burning tech question, leave it in the comments below using the #AskGCNTech and we'll try to answer it in the next Tech Clinic!

[@Bonkasaurus]

We need a mullet aero test 🤘🏼

[@rlr3063]

#AskGCNTech Hello Ollie & Manon! I'm thinking on buying some hookless tubeless wheelset, by doing some research on the manufacturer's recommended tyres I became aware that not all tubeless tyres will work. Which tyres do you recommend (28mm)?

[@ronpatr]

#AskGCNTech. Hi Ollie, I have a 2016 Fuji Norcom Straight with TRP TTV aero brakes. The rear brake is almost impossible to adjust as the non-driver side break never moves as much as the driver side no matter how much I adjust the spring tension bolts and therefore one pad is always hit the rim before the other. Can I replace these breaks with another option, or this a hack to make these breaks work like they are supposed too?

[@nielsdekker7304]

#AskGCNTech Hi! I am a considerably new cyclist (2500k ridden) and I recently found my love for technical bending small roads and climbs! I am a student on a budget and after half a year of buying my first own second hand bike (focus izalco race 2018) I am now curious about gravel riding and maybe even something like Cyclo-cross. Do you have any tips for trying out new styles? Can I better upgrade or buy a new bike? Greetings, Niels

[@tmbmtl]

I have a question. Come on, admit it, it's a cry for help?

[@aaronclark8730]

Ollie is starting to look like Sonic the Hedgehog

[@jacksquat2067]

LOL

[@robbie6625]

Honestly, I think he sounds a lot like Moss from the IT Crowd

[@TSTypeR]

Look he gotta go fast

[@Yes-ml4bw]

Is that really a bad goal tho? Sonic is fast.

[@hippoace]

well thats a good ya, he gotta go fast!

[@vincentwahlers]

Watching this just to see the progression of Ollies hair :)

[@marty197666]

I’m bald af so shouldn’t comment but he’s well on the way to looking like Billy ray cyrus 🤣

[@wspmjw]

RE: Gloves, no gloves. I wear them because two times in my riding life I was happy I did. Hit a patch of wet sand in a curve and destroyed the RH glove. Really happy that was not the thin skin on the heel of my hands. Second was another crash that resulted in 4 broken ribs. If no gloves, both hands would've been trashed. For a reference to the results of a crash with no gloves, see Phil Gaimon's KZbin channel "Worst Retirement Ever". He crashed and the photos of his hands with fresh stiches were something that may cause you to loose your lunch. He will not cycle without them. My advice, extra padding for the base of your hands, increased grip and two healthy, no stitches needed hands are my suggestion that you wear them. Hopefully, none of the presenters on GCN experiences severe road rash on their hands.

[@robertwaldren6206]

+1. I was also going to recommend Gaimon's video. It is a sobering watch. Personally, I also prefer the consistent grip I get with gloves, regardless of wet/dry, warm/cold, etc.

[@jamiegracie2458]

Yep I never wore gloves when I first started.. First crash and I ended up with messed up hands. Have worn them ever since. Also helps dampen the vibrations as well, so that's a benefit.

[@THEoldgreydude]

+1 I could not ride without gloves ! makes me cringe to see people without gloves & thinking if they crash Yes saw Phils video Anyone who doesn't wear gloves should watch that

[@jimcappa6815]

To the guy wondering if he should get a smart trainer or a peloton: if the wife prefers a peloton, I have a feeling you’re going to end up with a peloton 😂good luck!

[@Ronniezim]

I got a Wattbike, and let my gf use the peloton app on my iPad. She doesn’t know the difference between this and getting the actual peloton!

[@infinitetoolz6046]

Give the guy a recognition for even asking that question,

[@markusmencke8059]

The big no-no of a Peloton (or any of the smart bikes) for me is their enormous footprint. These things eat up a lot of space permanently, while I can pack away my Tacx Neo into the clothes closet and hang my bike on the wall and free up the space in under 5 minutes.

[@robpriddy2372]

#askgcntech proper choice of sunglass lens color...colour...whatever....depending on light, time of day, etc. Not all ambers are correct, and not all polarized is proper. what should we really use? Especially when we can only afford one purchase for prescriptions, etc. that would be a good tech/science/longer individual piece.

[@CodSlap]

@9:18 for a hassle-free and tidy cable solution, check eBay for ’spiral cable wrap’. Pick a size that fits both cables, a colour you like and boom - done. You can use (and reuse) full length sections or just short bits here and there. No need to detach your cables either.

[@RichardMigneron]

Thanks for the Multi-Tool, the Topeak Rocket Lite NTX+. That's on my list on amazon now.

[@kevinthomson6324]

If you don’t like the torx bolts you can always swap them out for hex bolts. May even be a good idea to find stainless steel hex bolts if you ride in the rain often....

[@donaldrieger381]

For the single speed conversion: A couple of things to look into. KMC makes some half-links to put into an existing chain, which would simulate the half-link chain with less cost. Companies make eccentric bottom brackets as well. I've never used one, nor do I know what all standards they fit.

[@andymiller3889]

I have a Peloton bike, as well as a set of Elite rollers, in addition to my old Trek roadie and my MTB. I use all of them, and love all of them. My FTP, sprint, and climbing abilities have greatly improved on the Peloton, which I acquired last November. I can say, unequivocally, that the Peloton is worth every penny. Also, the power numbers are pretty close, as I have Assimo Duo pedals that I swapped out on the bike. If anything, the Peloton UNDERestimates power when you go over 300 Watts. FWIW, I hit 316 on my FTP test last week. Take that for whatever level you feel it is. The best part of the Peloton has been the ability to ride throughout parks and cities around the world while on lockdown under COVID. I spend 3-5 hours per week seeing the countryside without having to leave my home. When I finally was able to ride outdoors again last April, my climbing amazed me. I give that credit to my weekly tabata classes.

[@leeoien3645]

Humble brag much??

[@andymiller3889]

@@leeoien3645 A 316 W FTP is worth a whopping 70th percentile amongst cyclists who race, so if you think 70th percentile is bragging, well, there you go.

[@christophernicolson5086]

"I use Topeak" he says in front of a Park Tool stand. That's the way to keep your sponsors happy

[@johnbaig3798]

Single speed answer, I've done it with a half link chain and a 49/18 gear combo works a treat!😎

[@liamc9425]

This video has come at the perfect time for me

[@danielcorthell8181]

Thank you for answering my question. My wife won and we got peloton bike due to the winter being right around the corner. Thanks so much. But I was told I could get a new bike next year.

[@funkyghost101]

My bike has torx bolts, but only on the bits that I'm unlikely to play around with; the common ones are standard allen. as someone who's getting into fixing his bike, it's actually quite convenient to know what I should play with and what I should be careful about.

[@jzhu623]

lol that gaming pc vs imac analogy was spot on

[@MrSoothill]

So there are a few options not considered here on the Peloton. At the end of the day it is an Android device so you can load swift on it if you hunt around for instructions. You would need some power meter pedals to give you cadence and power. This option would also allow you to have swift running on something else like a TV or tablet.

[@andymiller3889]

I have done exactly that, and it works quite well.

[@garylucas7050]

Your take on the smart trainer /static bike is spot on....I like cycling 🚴‍♂️ but prefer the static concept2 which is ideal then faffing about with the smart trainers with the accessories , the only problem with the concept2 which does an awesome job is that your limited to the cycling apps you can use , use zwift which is great but would like to try FulGaz but not compatible..my road bike is a Giant tcl advanced pro disc 1 which is also great .....keep up the good work 👌🏻

[@noviceofthelaw]

Torx was invented by the Chrysler corporation in the 70s if I am not mistaken. Speeds up the assembly line.

[@derekhobbs1102]

If you know where to look, you can buy heat shrink tape, so you don't have to disassemble anything to apply it.

[@JMcLeodKC711]

You gotta love any cyclist who is thinking about indoor riding in September. September is a great month to ride outdoors anywhere on the planet

[@guidospanoghe8896]

I've crashed more on trainingrides than in my critraces so I wear gloves on every ride and they've saved the skin of my palms a few times. In training rides I'm often in search of the limits of speed and grip in descents and turns to become faster in a race. Practice makes perfect!

[@garthly]

#AskGCNTech I have two road bikes. When I lift my hands off the canyon ultimate it goes straight. When I ride the allez sport no-handed, it starts to weave. Is it the geometry, the set up, or me?

[@saschaiking3615]

@Daniel Corthell If you don't want to buy a smart trainer and you like peloton, you could alternatively buy a Tacx-Neo Bike or Stages SB20, add a tablet and use the training apps like zwift. I don't think it's much more expensive than a peloton bike. But there are many more options and the monthly subscription is less expensive then peloton.

[@Mclovinthedank]

I spent the money a smart trainer costs for a bike. Will be starting my suffer fest sessions in the next few months as winter comes.

[@Tom-nn9ey]

#askgcntech I’m currently getting really into cycling and would like to get faster stronger and fitter. I’m currently doing the same route again and again and I getting boring. I’m doing turbo sessions following your videos and I am getting speed and cadence so I can use rtg cycling app. How can I make riding more effective and train harder as I feel I’m not training hard enough.

[@AllIsWellaus]

Where do or can learn some basics. Most of the when I watch this, everything is going over my head. I purchased a 2013 Trek Madone H1 with all of its original parts still there. It was used purely for a few triathlons. Its like riding a rolls compared my beloved 1999 Trek 1000. Any ideas? :)

[@nathandickhof8734]

#AskGCNTech. Hi, are there advantages to having an integrated headset on your bike?

[@michaellionart4841]

#askGCNTech So I came here cos I thought it was gonna be Wahoo Kickr v Wahoo bike cos that’s my current dilemma. However you touched on one of my gripes-the untidiness of the Di2 wires on my TT bike. How about a “how-to” video on tidying this up please? Thank you 🙏

[@jameshassan8514]

Hi Ollie, in relation to the smart bike v Pelton I have a standard Spin bike and planning to fit Assioma duo pedals, will this combination give me worthwhile experience on Zwift? Thanks James.

[@greggray3756]

7:30.... did Ollie just call himself a professional? Haha

[@lwittrock1]

Good Show!

[@vinnyjhawer7847]

I'll stick to my outdoor bike, thank you very much. Better to get out and about, see the world go by. Can't beat that, in my humble opinion.

[@martinaxe6390]

I crashed a week before a big race on a gravel road. I wasn't wearing gloves and scraped my hands terribly. It made that 60 miles and 5000 ft of climbing so much worse. I always wear gloves now.

[@joaquimmartins800]

Nice!

[@manfredmuench2657]

Re Tidying cables - use spiral wrap.

[@evanbrom1]

Other pros for a static bike, No setup, easy to move, and no wear on my nice bike.

[@garagesale5948]

Rollers with a "hack" bracket attached to the saddle rails to prevent "roll", no fear of falling and more realistic ride feel.

[@paolosupino]

A few months ago I started commuting to work on a road bike, don't like to think of it as a vintage so I'll write oldie Cannondale CAAD3, that I bought years ago and barely used. A month ago the right shifter broke (the bike has Campagnolo veloce 9v groupset) and it took me a couple of weeks to find someone who had good parts to replace the broken parts and was able to fix the shifter instead of replacing it (can only be found second hand and they cost more than the worth of the bike). This started me thinking about an upgrade path for the groupset... I'm a neophyte and don't know what my options are. So I wanted to know what are the upgrade possibilities, obviously keeping the costs to a bare minimum? Great Show and keep up the good work. Arivederci from Italy #AskGCNTech

[@jirdesteva]

Who WON the WAHOO KiCKR?

[@TreyGruel]

What happened to that video about assembling a new bike from a box? Saw the post on FB the other day, but the video wasn't viewable (private), now the FB post is gone.

[@h31sman]

Ollie has an Englishman’s mullet; it’s doing like 3 different things. Love it

[@kbaigio]

#AskGCNTech #GCN #GCNTech I carry my bike very often into my car. Its a carbon bike with carbon wheels. Εach time I need to remove the front wheel so that it fits (disk brakes). Do I need to pay attention to something specific in order not to injure the bike, the wheels or the brakes?

[@GeeFunk84]

#AskGCNTech Hi there. I've been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis (aka slipped vertebrae) which stops me from riding my road bike in an "aggressive" position (which I sold a couple of weeks ago). So I went back to my old steel road bike and my BMX that both enable a more upright position. Other than a decent bike fit, what solutions and hacks could you recommend to ease stress on the lumbar area of the spine when riding on the road?

[@martiniudica5997]

How long was Ollies monologue on aero bars and wheels on a climbing bike that you had it cut it out?

[@danielotero4484]

4me i switched from a V4 KICKR to Stagesbike sb20, cause the wahoo kickr in term of money wise i purchased the wahoo kickr 4 $1200 and after year in half of use the spindle i.e. shaft serious wear needed to spend an additional $265 for a replacement plus I need to replace my bottom bracket bearing got destroyed. So in total im looking at $1600++ so decided to cut ✂️ all ends and sale the wahoo kickr V4 AND purchased a Stagesbike sb20 bike family friendly and super accurate

[@timcappiello8295]

#askgcntech I have shimano 105 and I was wondering if I could fit a dura ace crank arm to it (for a power meter) Thanks

[@barryhale9364]

I have a slightly older bike that I want to use for a turbo trainer set up. It has an SRAM Apex 11-28, but I can't find the same cassette for sale any more. Can I use the equivalent, newer SRAM cassette on the turbo in its place #AskGCNtech

[@gabrielsarrazin-mackay8356]

#AskGCNTech Gear Ratio beginner here: Does it make any difference if you are riding on your big ring VS little ring, or it doesn't and the only thing that matters is the actual ratio? Exemple: is riding on my 50/21 (ratio of 2.38) almost the same as riding on a 34/14 (ratio of 2.43) ? Thank you and thanks for the great videos every week!

[@cornelius883]

#askGCNTech Hi Olli thanks for the great Video. Sadly in your older Video about Geometrie and Trail is the wheelbase constant. I am about to Upgrade my Old caad5 with a new fork. That is my Chance to get a longer Trail by choosing a fork with less Offset/rake. (Right?!) However that will shorten my wheelbase which will make the bike less stable again?! What should i do if my goal is a stable and fast bike in a straight line? At the Same time it should be safer When riding Freehands. :) Thank you very much

[@larsborghouts8360]

#AskGCNTech I was wondering whether the weight of cycling shoes actually matters. Expensive shoes are often marketed with their light weight, but what goes up, must come down, right? On the down stroke, wouldn’t gravity help offset any detrimental effect of additional weight on the upstroke? Started thinking about this because I bought an extra pair of shoes at Decathlon, just because I really liked the way they looked, were very well priced and they fitted me well (Van Rysel RR900 in ‘holographic’ silver). They are a little heavier than my other shoes however... but does that matter? There is of course the added weight whilst climbing, but that hardly seems significant.

[@Mrich775]

Everyone is making fun of Ollie's hair, I'm dead serious thinking it's my next style!

[@christophernicolson5086]

Lockdown Mullet seems to be a thing with the cyclists. The gull wing looks like his own idea though

[@joelstads]

I'm using an 11-34 cassette on my Canyon. Can I use an 11-28 on the Wahoo Kickr without messing up my shifters?

[@user-fk8rb8ue5h]

Average speed? If you want an accurate measure of progress get a smart trainer and do it that way. As Ollie said there are just too many variables out on the road.

[@manuel7102]

#askgcntech Hi guys! I really value the opportunity of riding without hands (when taking off clothes, eating on the bike, etc.). That being said, it'll be more stable a bike with a 2 cm shorter top tube and 2 cm longer stem or vice versa?

[@subtropicalken1362]

A Garett bale cut? Anyway heat shrink is intended to protect bear electrical wires especially in wet environments. Not that it can’t be used for other things.

[@Noscopeheadshot]

What ever you do DO NOT BUY A WAHOO KICKR SNAP. It uses a 3mm sticker to capture the speed and watts and it comes off all the time. I got mine a month ago and I’ve been able to do two rides do to this. Waited over two weeks to get replacement 3mm stickers it stayed on for less than 24hrs. I got a replacement kicker a month from original delivery yesterday

[@Stubbo1950]

I thought that this was going to be Atom/Stages/Tacx/Wahoo Smart bike vs Trainer - Be great to get your opinion on those.

[@pjhaction]

You are a great presenter

[@kbaigio]

#AskGCNTech Hi GCNtech. I have a not so tech question. I was waching the TDF stage 8 and during the last climbing of the col de peyresourde (from 900 to 1569m) the road was full of spectators which they were literally in the road. I mean precisely in the road that the riders were supposed to be. Does this like or dislike to the riders?

[@SupremeFrog-is7ow]

#AskGCNTech Hi guys, I'm looking at buying a frame for building up a new road bike, and looking at spending between £400-600 on the frame - what are the best options at this price point?

[@stefan2031ify]

#AskGCNTech I bought a Wahoo Kicker for the winter and now my question is if I should switch my Rotor powermeter to the 105 what came with the bike and but the powermeter back on in spring to increase the lifespan of the powermeter. Thx and greetings from Austria

[@lh3071]

#askgcntech Is there a way to calculate the minimum power you need to climb a hill? And how does changing the cassette affect this number?

[@dineashkumar2763]

#AskGCNTech, Hi can I use sewing machine oil as an alternative for chain lube?

[@pebble24]

Ollie the Hedgehog...

[@kiranvputhettu4799]

#AskGCNTech. Hi, Ollie and Manon. Would you explain how race time is measured with so much accuracy, that too for every rider ?

[@marcusharrington4017]

I’ve inherited a Giant TCR Advanced 2 Carbon, but only the forks and frame. I’m so lost on what to buy for the rest of the bike/ what I need, where do I start? Not a big budget. #AskGCNTech

[@bugboy152000]

#AskGCNTech #GCNTech Ollie Ollie Ollie, Oi oi oi! Currently spinning an Ultegra 11-25T on my Canyon Aeroad. I ride in Vermont USA, It's not France but we do have mountains, and looking to install new cassette. Do you recommend 11-28T or all the way to 11-30T? Also, is this as easy as swapping cassette and adjusting the B tension screw? Watching the show has given me the confidence to start doing everything myself and for that I thank you immensely!

[@abstractgroove160]

The correct answer to all the DI2 cable mess questions is obviously....etap 😛

[@mikewow]

I was just looking into smart trainers xD just on time

[@Noscopeheadshot]

Be careful with the wahoo kickr snap. It’s a 500$ piece of garbage

[@mikewow]

@@Noscopeheadshot and why is that ?

[@danielsonsthagen8970]

We tackled assembling the bike as a family project. kzbin.infoUgkxzg0clhbtRf2gGxPkVETFKJJKGqdsorQu The package is heavy, but I have 2 teen boys that were able to move it. The written instructions were great- we didn't need to watch the videos, but it was good knowing that the option was there if we needed it. After we were able to get it set up, the boys each rode 3 miles and I rode 8 and the bike stayed quiet. The display is easy to reset, and you can put it on whichever setting you are using (time, distance, calories, etc). I will say that my butt is a little sore from the seat, but that could be because I haven't rode in a while. While it is comfortable for me, it was not comfortable with the seat position for my friend (could not move the seat back far enough and he slightly looked like a kid riding a tricycle that he had outgrown). He also said that the seat hurt his manly parts. We are going to look for a different seat that will be compatible with this bike for him.I did purchase the Wahoo Cadence sensor and strapped it to the crank of one of the pedals. This will sync with my Apple Watch, iPhone and will import data in to my Health app. Wahoo does have other sensors available other than cadence. I can also keep either my phone or my iPad on the display and they both feel pretty secure.

[@stephenmacklin4556]

Is this GCN Tech or a Flock of Seagulls video?

[@kevcroft2815]

Can see the 20 somethings googling that one.

[@justahappyfellow]

Quick question! What's the best way to remove a grumpy old chainstay protector without damaging the paint? Is isopropyl alcohol the best solution?

[@guidospanoghe8896]

Hot air for removing it and aceton to remove the glue-residue.

[@NTipton90]

If you manage to use more gaming PC related comparisons, I will be a much more informed cyclist :)

[@pebble24]

#AskGCNTech Why is Ollie's hairstyle???

[@jonathansale7138]

#askgcntech What is the best smart bike these days!! So many choices and prices! Tacx neo plus Atom wattbike next gen Wahoo kickr v1 or v2

[@monsoon3]

#AskGCNTECH I've got a 2018 Liv Langma Advanced Disc with Giant's in-house brake system (Giant Conduct Hydraulic Disc brakes); would it be worthwhile to upgrade to 105 brakes? And would it be a simple change of the levers or would I have to change the whole brake system (pads, disc, levers etc). Thanks! (Love the show)

[@petercody6910]

Levers, calipers and pads most likely would need changing and how you would mount the calipers would depend on the size of the rotor. You'd also need to change the hoses as Shimano may use a particular hydraulic oil

[@bernielanger5679]

What color chamois is fastest?

[@derekhobbs1102]

When I drove a Citroen, any time I removed a torx head bolt or screw, I replaced it with regular head fastener.

[@slicedpage]

thank you for sharing

[@Ryan97beyond]

Ollie you can let go of the quarantine hair now

[@leeoien3645]

Still so many missing tools Ollie! I think you need to inspect all GNC presenter's locker and desks as undercover expose' for your next update. We MUST get to the bottom of this!

[@jakehenry9747]

#AskGCNTech, not sure if is a tech question. However, how do you become a pro bike mechanic? Thanks :)

[@CliffeDuffield]

#AskGCN not a tech question really, I'm 42, don't exercise enough, recently climbed Ben Nevis, then five days later had no power (just couldn't ride up hills) when trying 65 miles on bike (managed 49 before calling wife) - any tips for recovery (cheap, aimed at those who are getting on a bit)? I'm also T1 diabetic.

[@harrypemberton4627]

Recovery drink half an hour after finishing exercise seems to work well for me!

[@bjm2762]

Hi There. Might be useful to swap out all star bolts for hex and keep for if/when you sell the bike. They're just another method of extracting cash from customers.

[@manfredmuench2657]

Although I have to agree about the smart trainer v. static bike is it just a coincidence that GCN are sponsored by Wahoo but not Peleton?

[@advaitfuke9999]

I have Claris r2000 on my giant roadie from 1 year I want to upgrade...it to good groupset ...may I spend for Tiagra 4700 ....

[@advaitfuke9999]

Pls tell

[@donwasinger6654]

#AskGCNTech has GCN done a video comparing gains/losses between clipless pedals and shoes VS toe clips and trainers? Currently in the market for some spd shoes after picking up some spd pedals the other day. But interested to see what kind of difference I should expect in average speed/power output compared to my toe clips and Nike trainers.

[@donbushek]

Dylan Johnson addresses this question in one of his youtube videos. You may be surprised at his conclusions.

[@PoulHansenDK]

What is the exact name of that tool you show in the end?

[@PoulHansenDK]

Found it: Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite NTX

[@tim69_smcv]

#askGCNtech Is there any aero advantages of a hairstyle like yours, Ollie ?

[@abedfo88]

Depends if you have won the Euromillions (static bike) or just the national lottery (smart trainer).

[@_MattyG_]

How about a wahoo buyback program to buy back their older models of kickrs with known problems, and give use discounts in new ones. That would be nice.

[@rolandharrison579]

Hi, Ollie, I was wondering when you were going to announce the winner of the new Wahoo Kickr V5 smart trainer that you presented back on August 11th? I messaged GCN and was informed it would be announced this week? Just hoping as been keeping my fingers crossed all this time and it's getting tough to butter my toast ;-) #askgcntech

[@gcntech]

Hey, Roland! We announced the winner in this week's GCN Show: gcn.eu/4bb

[@rolandharrison579]

@@gcntech Thanks. Must have made a cuppa and missed it. Fingers uncrossed now :-)

[@miggylachica7601]

#AskGCNTech what is the vision equivalent of the zipp 858s

[@ppx8957]

For the average speed question, he said get aero/arrow, what does that mean?

[@rzeckner]

We all know that Ollie is fast, but now he seems to be fashioning his hair like Sonic the HedgeHog.

[@rotto6646]

Peloton or Zwift?

[@JMcLeodKC711]

Both Ollie and Lantern Rouge are trying to bring back the mullet.....Like Bono figured out.....just say no

[@farizrd]

Is disc brakes really perform better than rim brakes? In stage 1 tdf, lot of riders crashed even using top end disc brakes #askgcntech

[@guidospanoghe8896]

On very slippery roads it 's the grip of the tyres that matter and not the quality of the brakes!