Setting up and storing direct drive trainer everyday?

Equipment
1

I’m looking into replacing my current trainer. I don’t have space in the house to leave a bike on a trainer permanently so easy set up and storage is important.

My current trainer is this: Fliiiight Smart Trainer – 4iiii Shop - UK - sets up and stores quickly and easily.

I don’t want a wheel on trainer. (I know my current one is wheel on, but the trainer never actually touches the wheel).

So, my questions:

  1. Are direct drive trainers easy and quick to set up and store? (Is there a way to store the bike with the wheel off permanently?)
  2. Any other options (excluding wheel on)

:folded_hands:

2
  1. I’ve got an Elite turbo with fold in legs that can be stored in a narrow space. I’ve also had a friend make me a front wheel holder to save space when stored or in use.

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This may or may not help with the idea of storing the bike, it could work paired with a basic bike rack that holds the rear of the frame like, e.g. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/adjustable-rear-bike-stand/_/R-p-X8835429

Otherwise, for wheels off, a simple wall mounted rack that holds the frame would work. e.g.

There are cheaper and simpler garage options but the Huxlo looks nice if inside the house.

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3

In my experience, direct drive trainers are quicker/easer to set up that wheel on trainers because you don’t have to check tire pressure, adjust roller pressure, and do roll down calibration. Also, thru-axle bikes are somewhat quicker/easier to put on and take off a direct drive trainer than QR skewer bikes. Once the bike is off, handling the direct drive trainers I’m familiar with are pretty similar in that they have legs that quickly unlatch and fold, and have a handle to facilitate lifting, which is good because they can be pretty heavy, >45lb. Storing the bike with the wheel off kinda depends on where you have to store it. Just setting it down upright will put pressure on the RD, which is not the best. If you can arrange a hook to hang the bike, that would likely be better. Of course, putting the wheel back on doesn’t take that long either.

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4

True. I do find it can be a bit messy though with the dirt on the chain. Maybe less of an issue if the bike is just for the trainer?

5

That stand is not a bad idea! Thanks.

6

True, it can be messy. What I do is shift to the smallest cog (and usually the small ring), hold the rear of the bike up by the saddle/seatpost with my left hand with the rear wheel resting between the chainstays. I pivot the RD back with my right hand, lower the bike so that the chain engages the small cog, then set the dropouts down on the wheel wheel. I can avoid touching the chain doing it this way.

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7

I take my bike on/off the trainer near weekly. Wouldn’t be too inconvenienced if I had to go back and forth several times a week.

Waxing my chain has made the transition between the trainer and wheel set much easier. One less messy thing to deal with.

I have a wahoo kickr v6 and can probably take my bike on/off in 2-3 minutes. I even remove my front wheel for my inside ride eflex plus. However, in your case, I think a trainer where you leave your wheel on would be better for both convenience and space savings.

8

I have often wondered if there is a sort of solution where the whole thing goes on a bit of plywood like a rocker that has locking castors so it can just be wheeled into a storage area and out again…

9

:thinking:

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10

I went with an Elite Suito trainer as it folds up quite compactly.

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11

:rofl:

12

:+1: going to pop that one on the list. Reasonable price, folding legs and that handle looks :ok_hand:

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