scott8888 wrote:
It becomes a real pain to constantly swap cassettes and axel adaptors on a smart trainer. The bike you linked is a quick release with 11 spd so that’s only a good option if you are also working with an 11 spd QR option.
Planet X has a Ride London at the same price point but in thru axle 11 spd if that better matches your set up. The 1x ratios on the Ride London are very beginner friendly and there is less thinking involved in shifting.
Had you posted 12 months ago I would have advised to go rim brake as the money saved on brakes would have impacted everything else. However rim brakes are getting scarcer at the price point you are targeting. I bought my wife a LIV thrive for the purposes you are talking about but LIV seems to have gone all disc and increased prices accordingly alongside the other major brands. I wouldn’t immediately discount a flat bar hybrid though as they do have their merits.
My bike is a 2014 Planet X RT57 with Ultegra setup with quick release. It currently has an 11-28T 11speed cassette. I believe it has a short cage derailleur which i hope isn't going to be an issue.
TBH its a bit of a pain that she wants to use the turbo trainer. I was looking at hybrid bikes and also cheaper road bikes but they all seem 8 speed, which i understand means I would have to change the cassette on the trainer every time.
Although I'm loathed to would it make more sense to go with a wheel on trainer? Would we be able to both just jump on and off?
Is it going to be an issue if I have rim brakes and she has disc brakes?
The other issue I could go to all this expense and never use it, but she is adamant she will.
Sorry another question, if I have Shimano and she has SRAM is that another issue?
Thanks for all your replys.