Where to put a turbo trainer?

[figbat]

I am looking at the idea of getting a smart trainer to do some indoor training to supplement my MTB and gravel riding, for fitness and interest. I like the look of Rouvy although at this stage I'm not settled on anything specific. I would mount my little-used road bike to it so it would remain largely permanently installed.

My main challenge is where to put it. In all the adverts and videos you see them installed in warehouse-like bedrooms or living rooms alongside other furniture but I assume the reality is much different. I have surveyed our house and come to the conclusion that the only room on offer is our 'home office', which is the smallest 'bedroom' in the house, currently set up with two office desks. I can lose one of the desks to create a space that would accommodate the physical dimensions of the setup, but is that enough? It would be close up against a wall with an opening window to one side, with walls in front of and behind it. There would be room in front for a stand to take a screen, although this would have to be fairly shallow.

In real terms, do you need space around the trainer beyond simply fitting it in? Also, do rooms used for trainers end up smelling like a gym? Are there any other emissions to be aware of? Chain oil, ozone or whatever? This room would probably have to retain some office-like use. It has plenty of power and Ethernet outlets. It is currently carpeted - would a mat over the top be enough, or should I consider lifting the carpet and laying a hard floor? Or laying a sheet of plywood on top (with a mat)? Will a small room become a sweatbox even with the heating off, window open and a fan running?

Any and all advice and experience welcomed.

 

[13 rider]

Just had a quick measure of my set up ,from the front wheel to the rear of the trainer is 1.6mts and the trainer legs are 0.75 mts wide so around these measurements are the minimum requirement. Definitely some type of mat ,I use a designed for trainer map . You will also need to find room for a least 1 fan ,you will get hot and sweaty .I run zwift on an old TV via apple TV and have the screen some distance away which takes up more room but a stand for a laptop or computer is a solution .
Yes the room will warm up when your riding ,most of my indoor rides are an hour or less so this doesn't become too much of an issue ,As for odour I live only so no issue 😂. Opening a window or some air freshener and remove all sweaty objects you will be fine .
Don't forget some sort of towel of cover for the handle bars as these will catch a lot of sweat

 

[Dogtrousers]

@13 rider covered most of it. Yes to a (sweat proof) mat and towel on the bike. Yes to a fan.

You haven't mentioned noise. Turbos, especially wheel-on trainers can be noisy. So if your office is above a room where someone is trying to watch TV/listen to delicate classical music then your popularity could suffer.

 

[figbat]

@13 rider covered most of it. Yes to a (sweat proof) mat and towel on the bike. Yes to a fan.

You haven't mentioned noise. Turbos, especially wheel-on trainers can be noisy. So if your office is above a room where someone is trying to watch TV/listen to delicate classical music then your popularity could suffer.

Good point - I am hoping for a wheel-off trainer and the room is over an open-plan living/dining/kitchen room but not where the TV is.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Good point - I am hoping for a wheel-off trainer and the room is over an open-plan living/dining/kitchen room but not where the TV is.

Direct drive trainers are significantly quieter but you might want to experiment with something to deaden vibration. I dunno, a sleeping mat under the trainer or similar

 

[bobzmyunkle]

An extractor fan is a good idea. I have an 'office' bedroom - door open, other bedroom doors closed, bathroom door open and extractor running.
Such an airflow setup requires cooperation from other family members, which can be less easy to achieve.

 

[T4tomo]

We have an offcut of the same carpet under ours - it was a basic wheel on trainer, its now a Wattbike. It actually lives on the top landing, its a bit of a squeeze past to the bedroom beyond, but its occupant only returns at times in the uni hols, so it then ends up in the home office.

As long as you have room to climb on that's about all you need. We find thru draft from having windows (*and doors) open in the bedrooms at either side of that landing is generally enough without a fan.

 

[Rusty Nails]

In order to avoid ending my marriage my turbo trainer is set up in the shed...ventilation via leaving the door open.

I tried it in the house for a while but that didn't go down well, especially in the spare bedroom right over the living room.

I might rejoin a local gym for the winter.

 

[CXRAndy]

It's usually noise from fans, wheels whizzing or loud music for encouragement. Use a garage or shed if possible. After some 8 years in a conservatory, I now have a dedicated gym separate from the main house. I can play my music as loud as I want and not be noticeable to the house.

 

[HLaB]

I changed to drip wax (Tru Tension Banana Split or Squirt) its a whole lot cleaner for my turbo bike and other bikes I keep in the house. No chain tat or dirty marks on the wall etc.

 

[Ridgeway]

Mines in my office as well. Window is always open for a session. I slide the bike and turbo to the wall when not in use to save space as my office is quite tiny. A good fan is a must and handy if it has a remote control.

 

[BSRU]

If you use a pedestal fan, leaving the grills off reduces the noise, I normally just remove the front grill, make the fan more effective as well.

 

[figbat]

If you use a pedestal fan, leaving the grills off reduces the noise, I normally just remove the front grill, make the fan more effective as well.

Good hack - thanks! I'll just have to resist the temptation to stick something in there when it's running.

 

[BrumJim]

Its not the noise from the turbo trainer that upsets me when my son is using it, it is the gasping and evident pain that he is putting himself through. He has it set up in a room we call "the play room" as it was christened (but never used as such) when he was born, "computer room" from when he got his computer, or "fitness suite" given that it is now taken over by his bike and turbo trainer.

Important thing is space for a fan.

 

[ColinJ]

Good hack - thanks! I'll just have to resist the temptation to stick something in there when it's running.

Definitely...!

I watched a manager in my department absent-mindedly poking a finger through the grille over a large cooling fan at the back of a rack of electrical equipment once. (He didn't get away with it - he yelped in pain as the fan took his fingernail off!)