Cycling UK Forum

I live in Southern Spain. Yesterday a lock-down was imposed, which prevented me from going out on my bike. So, for the next few weeks I will not be able to ride my bike. To deal with this problem and get myself some regular exercise I tried to put one of my bikes onto my turbo trainer. I took the metal 'spindle' that I have and put it through the back axle, but it isn't long enough, so it won't work. I can put my bike directly onto the turbo trainer, but the quick release on the wheel appears to be made of plastic, not metal, so I'm not sure it will be strong enough to hold a person's weight sitting on the turbo trainer, which is why I think I was given the metal spindle by a bike shop in the first place. Am I right about that? If so, can anybody think of an alternative so I can get some regular exercise?

it should be possible to make what you have work. Strange that the supplied quick release spindle is not long enough, I’ve always found them to be slightly too long, if anything. Can you give more details of what bike and wheels you have and the make of the turbo trainer?

You can usually wind in the ends of the the axles that the quick release spindle fits into. A photo of your set up would be useful.

yes a bit more detail on makes and possibly a photo?

Were you trying to use a front QR, rather than a rear? Might explain why it isn't long enough.

Bryan wrote:I live in Southern Spain. Yesterday a lock-down was imposed, which prevented me from going out on my bike. So, for the next few weeks I will not be able to ride my bike.

Are you not allowed to go shopping by bike?

mjr wrote:

Bryan wrote:I live in Southern Spain. Yesterday a lock-down was imposed, which prevented me from going out on my bike. So, for the next few weeks I will not be able to ride my bike.

Are you not allowed to go shopping by bike?

Was going to ask the same question as my bike is my main form of transport and the car is off the road at the moment, if it comes in over here hopefully sense will prevail.

NUKe wrote:

mjr wrote:

Bryan wrote:I live in Southern Spain. Yesterday a lock-down was imposed, which prevented me from going out on my bike. So, for the next few weeks I will not be able to ride my bike.

Are you not allowed to go shopping by bike?

Was going to ask the same question as my bike is my main form of transport and the car is off the road at the moment, if it comes in over here hopefully sense will prevail.

I know what you mean, but I'm hoping they forget to impose rules for minimum purchase quantities or maximum shop distance.

and the incentive for beating your previous best speed will be the Policía shouting

¡tú! parar o disparamos

Here in France we can go out to shop or for exercise but you must carry a form stating why you are out and about.
I'm going to carry a baguette with me in case I'm stopped.
We live in the country and cycle mostly on tracks and rarely meet anyone.

I don't feel irresponsible for continuing to cycle.

The Norwegian government are encouraging folks to take exercise individually, jogging, cycling, hiking, skiing. My friends have been posting pictures of ski conditions in various places, and making jokes about maintaining distance to other skiers.

We've got really nice weather here today, so I am planning an afternoon bike ride. I'm starting to feel like a slug with no commuting. I would be sad if I couldn't go out, but even if they end up limiting cycling, here, I think they will not keep folks from hiking in the forest. It's part of the Norwegian psyche.

I do have a turbo & place in the cellar to set up a turbo bike, if it comes down to it. I don't have a turbo tyre, though, so that's something I should maybe think about buying.

I cycle solo and will carry on doing so, I see no reason why individual's can't do so if as they are unlikely to even come in to contact with any one else.

I agree with all those of you who argue for the reasonableness of cycling solo. That’s what I had planned for Sunday morning, but then these regulations came in force. Riding solo wouldn't have affected anyone, I never meet anyone anyway. The same is true in France as francovenee says. When I lived there, on a two hour ride along normal country roads I might have seen around ten vehicles and not a single person that I might have exchanged a few words with.

As for all of your very helpful questions, I was going to take a photo this morning, but it is raining quite hard, so I will have to leave that until this afternoon. But I can give you information about my setup: I have two bikes (a Specialized and a Cannondale); I am trying to fit the Specialized, a 2006 Giro, onto the turbo trainer, which is made by Volare; as for the spindle it is 6 inches (15 cms) long, excluding the quick release mechanism at the end. When I put the spindle through the axle not enough comes through the other side for me to screw the other end on. Vorpal mentions the need for a turbo tyre. I have wondered about this before. Do I need a turbo tyre?

The spindle should be longer than six inches. I suspect it’s a front QR spindle that you’ve been given. You need to get another QR spindle, one with a metal QR lever and end nut. Measure the length of your existing QR spindle (the one in the bike wheel) and get one of the same length.

A turbo tyre is not essential, but you may find that you eventually ruin your existing rear tyre by using it on the turbo, though it would take quite a lot of turbo work for this to happen. A turbo tyre costs around £20.

Bryan wrote:

As for all of your very helpful questions, I was going to take a photo this morning, but it is raining quite hard, so I will have to leave that until this afternoon. But I can give you information about my setup: I have two bikes (a Specialized and a Cannondale); I am trying to fit the Specialized, a 2006 Giro, onto the turbo trainer, which is made by Volare; as for the spindle it is 6 inches (15 cms) long, excluding the quick release mechanism at the end. When I put the spindle through the axle not enough comes through the other side for me to screw the other end on. Vorpal mentions the need for a turbo tyre. I have wondered about this before. Do I need a turbo tyre?

You don't *need* one. But turbos wear tyres quickly. Turbo tyres are designed not to wear so quickly.

I am eighty years old and am desperately needing advice.

At the moment, every day I pedal my exercise bike for twenty minutes dressed only in my boxer shorts and listening to Eric Clapton using my Echo buds. My question is......is this safe or am I placing myself at risk? I would be very grateful for any informed advice. Thank you.