why is angle and offset an issue on an adjustable indoor bike?
Did anyone catch the discussion of the Rivet indoor bike frame on @dcrainmaker ās FIT file podcast earlier this week?
I meant to post about it earlier but have been on the road, but I found that to be amusingly awkward timing to discuss imminently before the Zwift Ride launch that DCR and Des obviously knew about but couldnāt discuss.
1 Like
?? I think you got my message wrong.
I was comparing the zwift bike which is non adjustable (hence the reference to the seat tube angle and offset) with the others which are. So on the tackx and kickr bike seat angle does not matter as you can adjust the offset (and some suggested even angle but offsetās enough).
Edit: I think I see your point now. Well, you canāt adjust for seat angle and offset simply by shortening the stem.
Also, I have experienced the exact 73.5 degree 20mm offset on an actual bike and even running the saddle completely forward I was too far back feeling like pro cyclists in the 90ās 
Or TR workouts are available on Zwift, which Iād guess will be sooner!
4 Likes
What maintenance? I lube the chain every once in a while. Occasionally wipe it down and pump up the front tire. What else is there? Change the bar tape once a year? Iām not understanding your comment.
2 Likes
There is more on a āreal bikeā that can be damaged from being on a trainer 24/7 than a āsmart bikeā. Sweat drips everywhereā¦
Okay, maybe I over played it, but you have a headset with bearings, a front wheel and possibly brake caliper, a bottom bracket, a front mech on a 2-by, the chain, the rear mech, etc. Not to mention frame corrosion/rust. I hop on my smart bike and ride. I wipe it down every few months. With the Trek I had on a 2T, I had a lot more at risk, and a lot to replace that had failed.
A āreal bikeā is not meant to be on a trainer if the owner just āhops on and ridesā. The smart bike IS made for that (or should be for that money)ā¦
(Finding so much damage on that Trek was shocking)
I have a trainer only bike and can definitely back this up. Iāve had this setup for over 5 years now while averaging 3 rides a week on it. Because Iāve only lubed the chain/wiped it down all this time the bike is basically unridable in the outside world now. The headset bearings are completely seized so the bars/fork will not even turn any more. The front derailleur was also pretty jacked up so I ended up taking it off to make it a 1x since I mostly ride in ERG on my indoor rides. Ended up taking the brakes off too. Come to think of it I pretty much turned it into this new Zwift bike.
For its purpose as a trainer only bike it actually works great, but a bit sad considering it was a pretty nice bike when I did use it outside. I of course could fix it all and get it running again (would actually be a fun project), but I prefer riding off road now and use my gravel and XC bike for all my outside rides.
1 Like
I get the point, but with a good fan or two, a headband, and a towel, I never get sweat on the bike beyond what I can just quickly wipe down. Having said that, Iāve seen some bikes absolutely destroyed by people who sweat on them a ton for whatever reason, so yeah, I see your point.
I thought the same. Towel over the stem/bars, plus two fans in front of me and one behind. Even with that sweat still found its way into my headset. Again over a very long period of time though.
1 Like
Itās amazing though isnāt it (the difference in people) I just went and had a look at my 2008 Giant TCR Advanced SL, which was my only outside road bike from 2009-2017 which has been on my turbo for the last 4 years, still has the original headset and BB in it, still as smooth as butter. Donāt have a towel over the bars, only maintenance it gets it clean the chain once a month (before a ftp test)
1 Like
I sweat a ton and have had the same old road bike retired to be my dedicated trainer bike for at least the last 10 years and the bike is still fine. I have an old ass bike āthongā style sweat protector and copious amounts of fans.
The other big miss is the lack of a āsliderā type functionality to easily & quickly adjust saddle fore-aft. Both to increase the range of fore-aft saddle adjustability for correct fit, plus to make it easy to share with a partner
3 Likes
I share a dedicated turbo bike (parts bin build) with my partner and as we are close on height and both use SPD shoes, this is the only thing that gets adjusted. Have solved it with 2x seat posts, takes about 30 seconds to swap over.
2 Likes
My wife and I share a Stages SB20, and we are far off in saddle fore-aft. Plus given the very proprietary seat post for the Zwift Ride Frame, itās not like you can just buy a 2nd standard seat post to make changing saddle position quick and easy. Further, the setback on the seat post looks like it will make getting the correct fit difficult.
Hopefully Zwift will correct the short-comings very quickly (no chance) in a v1.1 or v2 version, or someone else will
1 Like
I sweat a lot. I have 7 fans (including the anemic ones on the Neo Smart) and even a huge floor mat, and ceiling fan, AND a āsplit system A/Cā in the same room. I have flooded the mat. I have had enough sweat that the mat is glued to the floor. Iāve had streaks of sweat extending off the mat in the front and back. I had so much sweat that the Neo Smart was glued to the mat!
Iām so glad to hear that some people donāt sweat as much as I do. I wonder what that would be likeā¦
I just last year added a thing, and the sweat that drips towards the seat tube is still making quite a mess, and the amount dripping off the bars is still puddling. So I guess I must sweat 3 tons? My Trek was on the 2T for probably a year and a half (donāt remember actual time) and it was a mess, plus the bearings on the Speedplay pedals. (Completely destroyed the needle bearings)
I used towels (the fantastic Tacx towels) and STILL swamped them and puddled on the floor. shrug
I got a second seat post for the earlier Peloton we had. The person taking the order taking droid acted like I was completely insane! āYou want to what?ā I need a second seat post. āSo you want just the post?ā I want to be able to take one post out and put another one in, with a different seat on it. āOh, so you want the slide itās on?ā No, I want the slide and post. āI donāt think we sell those parts. Hold onā 
āSo you want the āassembly?āā Yeah, the whole thing so I can swap the seat with my wife. āOh, um, why do you want to do that? Canāt she use your seat? This is going to be expensive!ā
It wasnāt, and saved arguments and all that. Happy spouseā¦ But I still had to change the posts. But saved issuesā¦ (But Peloton was kind of weird over the second post āassemblyā (I got the post, missing the slide and then got the slide and was missing the clamp bolt. Took far too long to get it together)
2 Likes
I could absolutely be wrong here, but it sounds like you have a bunch of fans that donāt do much. Do you have a Lasko thatās directly in front of the wheel pointed at your chest/face? It makes a huge difference if you donāt.
Two of them.
I have a Lasko (the floor blower kind) pointed at my legs and lower chest. A large Vornado pointing at my lower chest under the drafting table I use. I have the two fans from the Neo Smart, and two more medium sized Vornado fans on either side, another larger Vornado blowing from the right, and a ceiling fan above the bike, and the A/C just behind the bike on the ceiling. I do have a smaller Vornado to try blowing on my back too.
I think that maybe I need a bigger room, possibly, but in the end: I sweat a lot. I have some pictures of it, but donāt want to bragā¦ 
1 Like
