Bike Trainer for Mountain Bikes?

Robert B asked:

It seems that most of the indoor bicycle trainers that I have seen are designed for road bikes. Do you have any recommendations on a good trainers for use with a mountain bike? My bike is a 20" Specialized Rockhopper bike and I don't want to buy a different bike just to train with.

Our Answer

Robert...great question and you are right, you never see any bike trainer ads with a mountain bike as the bike loaded up on board. The nature of a mountain bike tire would not make it a good match for the smooth wheel of the bike trainer though. The knobby tire would be incredibly loud and would wear your tire to nothing in almost no time, neither of which you want to do.

You have two choices, you can go with a bike trainer that is known as a Rim Drive trainer like a Minoura RDA80 type trainer. The drive wheel actually rides against the rim of the wheel instead of the tire. If this particular trainer isn't to your liking then you could always simply mount a training tire on your rim for the winter. It's not like they are difficult to change and come spring you can change it right back.

If changing out the tire isn't to your liking then a stock rear wheel can be had for a few bucks and you could simply change out the whole wheel and tire assembly when you want to rock the trainer. Your call which way you want to go.