I have just been told that its not a good idea to put my full carbon bike on an indoor trainer - supposedly it can stress the frame or something like that. Any truth in this? I’m a 57k (around 125lb) chick, so I wont be hammering as much as a beefy guy.

Answer these questions: Is a carbon frame built to withstand the same stress as any other frame? Does your indoor trainer stress your carbon frame any more than it would any other frame? Do indoor trainers place undue stress on any frame?

did you know conti makes a 'hometrainer' tire now? no joke

If your worried, use rollers instead.

You were told wrong.

A trainer puts less stress on a frame than riding on the road.

My Scott CR1 has suffered no ill effects on my indoor trainer. Put in front of the tube, tune in the Discovery channel, and chase the pro's!

actually, im a 175lb guy and i do believe that the carbon on a trainer is BAD.

I was about to ask a similar question... because my carbon frame not only bends left and right with each pedal stroke, but when I am doing intervals and stand on the bike in high gears, I can CLEARLY SEE the frame being bent up and down! It almost makes me nervous... I feel like it's going to crack.

I can't argue anything based on this... but twice now, I have had to adjust the rear derailleur because the sideways-bending of the frame would make it skip.

I can't argue anything based on this... but twice now, I have had to adjust the rear derailleur because the sideways-bending of the frame would make it skip.

All frames bend under load. Don't lose any sleep over it.

If you've had to adjust your rear derailleur, it's because the cable stretched or was pulled through the clamp under load.

Actually if I hammer out of saddle on the road, the frame moves from side to side and the flex is minimal, much of it concentrated around the BB. If I hammer out of saddle on a trainer, the frame cannot move from side to side, so the flex will be far greater than on the road. Therefore the stress on the stays must be much greater. It is definitely something to think about.

I believe serious has a point. Any "serious" side loading should be avoided. By that I mean where you might consider throwing the bike side to side. (hard climbing or sprinting). If you are in the saddle and spinning, I don't see a problem.

The same would hold true of any frame material, not just carbon. Having the chain and seat stays in the back fixed while trying to twist the frame side to side will fatigue any material.

The best bet for a trainer is a "beater." Sweat drips straight down on to the bike. I put an old 700c road wheel with a cheap tire and road gearing on my old steel hardtail mtb. It was a "who cares!"

But a fixie on rollers is cool.

The best bet for a trainer is a "beater." Sweat drips straight down on to the bike. I put an old 700c road wheel with a cheap tire and road gearing on my old steel hardtail mtb. It was a "who cares!"

But a fixie on rollers is cool.

Amen to that, brother. I learned to day that its actually terribly BAD to stand on the bike. It shifts all the force down to the chainstay and can crack the frame (if carbon). Not to mention being extra worse for the rear skewer & rear tire. Argh.