There may be a number of reasons you don't want to cycle outdoors: the weather might be bad, you'd rather watch TV while you ride, you want to avoid increased traffic in your neighborhood, or keep a closer eye on your kids. Whatever the reason, rest assured that you won't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a stationary bike. With the help of a stationary bike stand, you can use your favorite outdoor bike indoors.
Rollers
Step 1
Set up a stationary bike trainer roller in a doorway or hallway the exact distance apart that the front and rear wheel of your bike are, as recommended by StationBikesGuide.com.
Step 2
Use a measuring tape to measure the height of each tire on the roller to see if they are exactly the same. Place a block of wood under a roller if needed so that they are both the same height. Do not estimate.
Step 3
Put your bike on the rollers and get on. Position the handlebars straight. Squeeze in your abs to help you balance. Pedal slowly until you become accustomed to balancing on the rollers. Grab the doorway to keep yourself from falling if you lose your balance. Rollers challenge your balance, unlike bike trainer stands, and you will fall if you turn the wheel.
Stationary Stands
Step 1
Choose a wind, magnetic or fluid stationary bike stand trainer. Purchase a magnetic or fluid stand if you can afford it as wind trainers are loud and may bother people nearby, not to mention make watching TV or listening to music impossible.
Step 2
Put an exercise mat on the floor where you wish the bike to go.
Step 3
Clamp the stand to the rear dropouts of your bike by tightening the tension adjusting bolt. Avoid trainer stands that clamp onto the bottom bracket and front fork of your bike because they will put potentially dangerous stress on the frame, according to StationaryBikesGuide.com. Follow any other installation instructions that come with your stand.
Step 4
Mount the resistance shift level to the handlebar of your bike if you are using a fluid trainer.
Step 5
Start pedaling. Adjust the resistance of your magnetic trainer either by getting off the bike and adjusting it by hand, which is usually required by older and less expensive trainer models, or with the console that comes with the trainer. Increase your speed to increase resistance on a wind trainer. Adjust a fluid trainer by pulling the resistance shift lever toward you.
Tips and Warnings
- Protect your bike with a sweat shield to collect the sweat as you cycle so it doesn't get all over your bike. Sweat may corrode parts of your bike, warns StationaryBikeStandandShop.com.
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