Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing

Jan 23, 15 9:09

Post #1 of 18 (5859 views)

We have lived in a 2nd floor apartment in a 2 family house for 14 years. I have had my Computrainer in a spare bedroom for several years with no noise complaints from 3-4 different tenants that lived on the 1st floor over the years.

I have had the same set-up for the whole time. Its on at least a 1 to 1 1/2 inch wooden platform, with a thin rubber mat underneath.

Anyway, I was on the CT yesterday morning before work and my wife got a call that their "sounds like an airplane propeller over my child's room". They have lived there only about 6-7 months, then tend to be over-dramatic we have discovered in speaking with the landlord, and the child is spoiled rotten but we don't want to create a turf war. So I figure to look into some cost-effective methods to soften the sound

I have been googling around on soundproofing mats/carpets, etc but I figure I ask here.

1) Any recommendations for apartment dwellers?
2) Also I watch TV, so that is louder than normal when I am on the CT. Any suggestions for wireless/Bluetooth headset set-up?

Thanks

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 9:51

Post #2 of 18 (5813 views)

Finally, a question I can answer J

There are 2 types of sound transmission in a building, airborne, and structural. Air transmitted sound would be for things like speaking, TV noise, music, etc. Structural transmitted noise is transmitted with an impact that transfers the sound through the structure and into an adjacent space, like stomping on the floor for example. It sounds like they can hear the fly wheel of the Computrainer or bike wheel so adding sound mats directly below will probably not solve the problem completely however a rug (thicker the better) that covers the majority of the floor would probably help. If your spare room is empty of soft furnishing (no textiles, furniture, and just hard surfaces) I would try adding some softer decorations, drapes at the window, maybe a couch or chair. Basically you are trying to kill the sound in the room before it can contact the perimeter wall and floor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_transmission_class

You probably want to shoot for an STC of 50. A quick search shows a carpet with pad will give you 55, if you cover the floor with cork flooring you could get to 60.

Although, it may not matter if your neighbors are the type that will complain if they can hear even the slightest noise, it will be almost impossible to make it 100% silent.

Good Luck!

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 9:53

Post #3 of 18 (5810 views)

I picked these up over the Xmas break for the TV. They work great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004B8GF7Y
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PEPIWNI

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 11:45

Post #4 of 18 (5747 views)

Dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, bathroom and kitchen vent fans.

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 12:26

Post #5 of 18 (5718 views)

Step 1) Blast bagpipes every morning for a week ,max volume, at 5am.
Step 2) Downgrade to just your trainer
Step 3) hear no more complaints.

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 12:31

Post #6 of 18 (5712 views)

I find my CT gets quieter when I ride with a fully-inflated tire clamped down pretty hard. Calibration numbers 3.0-3.5.

One easy way to measure the air-transmitted sound and quantify your efforts to reduce it is to just use one of the many decibel-meter smartphone apps.

I wonder if you could get some shock-absorbing units to support the wooden platform on. Kinda like motor mounts on cars. That might reduce noise transmission to the floor.

You might be able to talk to the whiners and say "when you do expect your child to be out of the house or at least our of their room?". It might turn out one or both parties could adjust their schedules so you can get your workout done and the kid can sleep. Surely the kid isn't in their room all day every day.

STAC Zero Trainer - Zero noise, zero tire contact, zero moving parts. Suffer in Silence starting fall 2016

Last edited by: AHare: Jan 23, 15 12:33

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 12:46

Post #7 of 18 (5698 views)

I have a bunch (like need to sell on C.L. amount) of left over carpet pad. After reading this thread I am going to try putting that under the trainer. I have a baby due in February and want to make it as quiet as possible. Any free decibel meter android apps? or other ways of testing? If so I can report back.

EDIT: Easily found a decibel meter for my phone. I will test and show pics tonight.

"4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul"

Last edited by: warwicke36: Jan 23, 15 12:49

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [MattyB] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 13:18

Post #8 of 18 (5666 views)

Thanks for the info! Thankfully I don't have anyone beneath me but I wonder about the neighbor across the hall. My trainer room is definitely devoid of furnishings which makes sense that it seems loud...

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 16:10

Post #9 of 18 (5595 views)

You need to build only the sections you would find on the edges of an Olympic weightlifting platform-

https://picasaweb.google.com/...aG8Q?feat=directlink

You could always go a step further as well and build the whole platform (http://blog.roguefitness.com/...-dampening-platform/ ), but they get heavy.

Basically, you have a means by which to baffle sound in the middle (the insulation/carpet padding, etc), a horse stall mat on top. Building cost would be @ $250. The plywood can be cut at Lowes, the horse stall mats can be found at Tractor Supply (get at least 3/4" thick).

http://www.reathcon.com

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 21:00

Post #10 of 18 (5527 views)

I had the same issue with my treadmill. I used three layers of the square, foam interlocking tiles (available at Costco and other big box stores) under the plywood platform and it works pretty well. They are thicker than carpet pad and less expensive than the horse mats.

Dean Wilson
http://www.anaerobiczone.com
Bicycle Protection Indoors & Out

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [Rob] [ In reply to ]

Jan 23, 15 22:53

Post #11 of 18 (5509 views)

Rob wrote:

You need to build only the sections you would find on the edges of an Olympic weightlifting platform-

https://picasaweb.google.com/...aG8Q?feat=directlink

You could always go a step further as well and build the whole platform (http://blog.roguefitness.com/...-dampening-platform/ ), but they get heavy.

Basically, you have a means by which to baffle sound in the middle (the insulation/carpet padding, etc), a horse stall mat on top. Building cost would be @ $250. The plywood can be cut at Lowes, the horse stall mats can be found at Tractor Supply (get at least 3/4" thick).

I 100% agree with this method as i have done it twice now. I did this in my basement to eliminate noise from olympic lifting (does a really good job) and also did this for upstairs and the trainer. Years ago in an apartment i also had a setup where i did;

-1in plywood as a base
-4x6 stall mat on top of the plywood
- 1/2in yoga mat on the top

It weighed around 150 pounds but i had my wife go to the apartment below and i did some crazy sprints on the computrainer and she said she could hear nothing. The key is to reduce the vibrations from the trainer base, that can be done in a variety of ways.

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [-Mike-] [ In reply to ]

Jan 24, 15 14:40

Post #12 of 18 (5344 views)

I used one of these under my trainer mat when I was in a 2nd-floor apartment. It seemed to reduce the noise and vibration through the floor.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-FOAMULAR-3-4-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-R-4-Tongue-and-Groove-Insulating-Sheathing-37L/100320340

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 24, 15 17:25

Post #13 of 18 (5300 views)

What sort of rear tire are you using? A few months ago I needed a new tire and the guy at the shop sold me a trainer tire. I didn't know there was such a thing. It is MUCH less noisy than the old Gatorskin was. I was shocked.

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 24, 15 18:48

Post #14 of 18 (5267 views)

So I ended up putting a 5X7 carpet pad underneath my rug in my pain cave. I definitely think it reduced sound transfer through the floor. I will say it is a bit on the soft side. I get a bit of trainer flex side to side above 200 watts or so. I don't know if it is robbing me of a lot of power or not but because I can actually see it it makes me wonder for sure. I would think that something a bit more dense would be better.

"4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul"

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [benhawn] [ In reply to ]

Jan 24, 15 20:41

Post #15 of 18 (5239 views)

I was shocked by how much quieter my Kurt Kinetic was as well when I replaced my Michelin Pro 4 Endurance tire with the Kenda Kurt Kinetic Trainer Tire. My girlfriend even noticed the trainer was quieter. Get a good trainer tire!

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [ In reply to ]

Jan 26, 15 5:16

Post #16 of 18 (5127 views)

Thank you for all the advice on this.

I went with the Horse Stall Mats as they seemed to be the easiest and most sturdiest. Solid 3/4 of inch of compress rubber.

The room was carpeted anyway, but I went with: Horse Stall Mat 4 X 6 X 3/4 on top of the carpet, then 3 X 6 X 2 plywood base, then another Horse Stall Mat 4 X 6 X 3/4.

It dropped the decibel level by a few, bust as someone noted early on in this thread, I believe it was the vibration and not the noise that caused the compliant. We shall see.

P.S I purchased the Horse Stall Mats at the national chain store called Tractor Supply Company....the 15 minutes I spent in there I could easily create a thread called "Strange Denizens shopping at..."

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 26, 15 5:28

Post #17 of 18 (5119 views)

SayHey Kid wrote:

... Tractor Supply Company....the 15 minutes I spent in there I could easily create a thread called "Strange Denizens shopping at..."

Hopefully, you did not try to explain your project to anybody there. ;-) Along with 'mom & pop' hardware stores, love those kind of places. "You wanna do what?!"

Re: Computrainer - Apartment - Soundproofing [SayHey Kid] [ In reply to ]

Jan 26, 15 5:31

Post #18 of 18 (5116 views)

Can you post a picture? This seems like a good setup I'd like to replicate at my place.

STAC Zero Trainer - Zero noise, zero tire contact, zero moving parts. Suffer in Silence starting fall 2016

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