Do you put your carbon in a turbo?

[Monsieur Remings]

Okay, this has undoubtedly been done before...a very old argument and is bound to bring out some opposing views but haven't seen such a poll as of recent on this forum and I do respect the opinions of a great many people here.

So, what do you all think? Would you? I bought one again for some serious tuning up over the winter but have only one bike at the moment - my rationale is firstly space but secondly that the geometry that is each and every bike can, I believe, have a very real effect on your training, so much so, that I would personally prefer to use the same bike I ride the road on. Getting some cheap crapper to go on the turbo seems a good answer but how long before that needs repairing and what's to say it's going to represent what I ride on the road - the cheaper and more expendable it is, the less likely it will be a good training tool methinks but I may be wrong?

This goes some way to answering my own question and so too should the likes of those who routinely do use their pride and joy on a turbo, so too should the regular pros warming up on the bikes they'll ride later that afternoon on a turbo along with the countless articles dispelling what many consider the myth of turbos damaging carbon/other frames. BUT, there are some who feel differently, aren't there?

Tell us why you do and why you don't, or alternatively why you would or wouldn't..? And as always, thanks for the input...

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I possibly do everything you are not supposed to do with Carbon bikes. I regularly ride a road carbon bike with road tyres, carbon clinchers and electronic groupset on canal towpaths (not my Venge btw, its Italian plastic) and other than getting rather shocked looking people asking me "do I know, what bike that is" I have had no real problems other than the odd puncture. I would have no issue riding any bike on the turbo. I personally do not believe good carbon bikes are as fragile as some people do.

The pro's use different bikes on the turbo's simply for convenience and reliability, it gives the mechanics more time to check the bike over and does not place additional mileage on the components of the race bike, the fact remains is that components such as chains have limited life expectancy and the teams like to manage this effectively.

 

[amaferanga]

Yes. But one thing I would never do on any bike is sprint out of the saddle on the turbo. That has to be bad for any frame and I really don't see the point (especially given that you can put out way more power on the road than turbo in a sprint so it's not even good training).

 

[Lard Armstrong]

I use mine on rollers, but not he turbo.