Bike Trainer – Convert Mountain, Road, or Beach Bicycles into a Stationary Exercise Bike for Indoor Riding All Year Round by Rad Cycle

Unlike some of the previous reviews, everything I needed was included in the box. Along with the little instruction booklet, there was also a sheet that said “2015 & 2016 Assembly Instructions” that made putting this thing together a breeze.

Attaching my bike to the trainer was also pretty easy. I replaced my bike’s axle with the one provided and then set the bike on the stand. This part of the job would be easiest with another person there to help, but I managed to get it attached with no major problems. Make sure you get the bike centered in the stand. You can easily adjust both axle tightening knobs at the same time, so centering the bike is pretty easy. When you get it where it needs to be, make sure everything is good and tight and slide the lock set nuts into place. I noticed a few reviewers complained that their bike came off the stand causing them to fall. I wasn’t there, but I’m going to assume that either the bike wasn’t secured tightly enough or perhaps the lock set nuts weren’t in place and the axle tightening knobs worked their way loose. In any case, mine sits very solidly in the stand with no wobble at all. Besides the bike being nice and secure, the stand itself is very square and also doesn’t wobble.

The most difficult part of the whole process for me was adjusting the roller so it made the right amount of contact with the back tire. Having read some reviews about how the tires got hot or started to get shaved, I wanted to make sure that I set it up right. Basically, I tightened the adjusting knob just until the roller made contact with the tire. Then I slowly rotated the tire, paying attention to any slippage. If the tire slipped, I tightened the adjusting knob a little bit and starting rotating the tire again. After maybe three or four complete spins of the tire it seemed like I had contact all the way around. Then I got on the bike and started peddling slowly. I noticed a little bit of slippage, so I got off the bike, tightened the adjusting knob slightly, and got back on. After about three times getting on and off the bike to make adjustments, I think I have it dialed in. After a nice long ride the tire doesn’t feel warm at all and there isn’t any rubber dust on the floor.

Some users complained about how loud this unit is, and that isn’t my experience at all. It does make some noise, but it’s nowhere close to what some people made it out to be. It definitely didn’t drown out the tv or bother my wife, who does her own exercises while I’m on the bike. If you’re looking for absolute complete silence, I don’t think you’re going to find that in any device outside of your own imagination. This thing is plenty quiet for me.

As happy as I am with this product, I do have one complaint. The screw that allows you to attach the resistance adjuster to your bike and tighten it is way too soft. In fact, mine came pre-stripped from the factory. So instead of being mounted firmly to the handlebar, my resistance adjuster is basically just sitting there, leaning back and resting on the brake cable. When I want to adjust the resistance, I have to use two hands; one to hold the adjuster in place and the other to turn the adjustment knob. It’s kind of a pain but not a deal-breaker. I’d probably deduct .5 stars from my overall rating, so call it 4.5 instead of 5 stars.

All in all, I’m very happy with this stand. It’s solid, reasonably quiet, and allows me to get ready for the long summer rides while there’s still snow on the ground.

This trainer is generally well-made and easy to use. The initial assembly is relatively simple–4 screws and one bolt to fasten–but the instructions are pretty cryptic. If you’re not mechanically inclined, it’s probably good to get help from a friend who knows which end of the screwdriver to hold.

Mounting a bicycle is relatively easy–easier than trainers that have two big screws to hold the ends of the axle. The left side of the axle clamp is an adjustable screw with a threaded plastic sleeve that acts as a lock nut. After you get the clamp adjusted, it’s important to tighten that plastic sleeve against the frame of the trainer: it will help keep everything stable.

The resistance is adjustable to six different levels from relatively easy to moderately hard. The only part of the trainer that is really unimpressive is the controller for the resistance level. It clamps on to the handlebars and it seems frankly cheap–it looks like it couldn’t have cost the manufacturer as much as a dollar. Luckily, it works. On my hybrid bike with 26″ tires, the hardest level of resistance feels like riding on the flat into a stiff headwind.

I am pleased with my purchase of this trainer. I spent about the same amount for a single-speed trainer that has the same level of resistance as the lowest level of this trainer–I was not satisfied with that trainer.

The long bolt that connects stand to roller unit is missing. The web address to contact Bikelane Products listed in directions doesn’t work. Will have to return product if unable to get replacement part