I just bought my first trainer, and was playing around with setting it up when I realized I needed one of those sweat pads and a front wheel block. Looking online for such products, my natural cheapness made me balk at paying for what appear to be such innocuous objects. This led to the idea that perhaps one of you bright people made their own setup out of common materials. And if you could do that, heaven knows what else you might be able to make. For example, it looked like Joe Bonness was using a homemade hydration system at IMMOO. Anyone ever tried to make one? How about a race belt? Anything else? Brag about your ingenuity people!
The only thing I’ve ever done that was remotely creative was the “disposable” arm warmer trick, where you make them out of wal mart tube socks. That’ll have to be my contribution to this thread.
But does a telephone book really work? I wouldnt want my front tire swaying at all. I like that the riser blocks hold my front wheel straight. Now, I would put a tele-book under the riser block though…
I dont see why you couldnt fashion a block out of a couple 2x4’s though… probably take you all of 20 minutes.
I made my own front wheel block from some wood I had lying around, its just a block of wood with a wedge glued to each end to stop the wheel from riding off the front or back. I can still turn the bars from side to side unlike when using the proper ones but that doesn’t bother me.
I made my own mudflaps for my winter bike out of some plastic I found so now I don’t have to clean my bike after the crappiest weather and the rider on my wheel stays dry. I also repaired my mudguards by cutting bits off and regluing them over parts that are cracking. Resourceful (thrifty) eh? I’m sure theres more but I can’t think of anything atm.
I made a cyclometer mount for my aero bars out of a section of PVC tubing. I eyeballed the width, cut semi circles in both ends and “popped” it between the two bars. The only thing holding it in place is the pressure from the two bars. So far so good.
Nice stable front wheel blocks made out of Delrin/UHMW with a grove for the front wheel to sit in.
Carbon Top Caps that are 2g and 4g depending on carbon spacer used.
New bracket for my Profile Aquarack to fit on a Cervelo aluminum aero seat post.
HED carbon armrests modified to fit on my Easton Attack TT.
Aerobar extentions made out of some 6061T6 aluminum that we had at work.
An aluminum bracket to mount my cyclometer in front of my stem.
Little things that I have liked doing when I have a few moments to tinker. It also helps to have a machine shop at work where the guys will do some work for beer.
For a race belt I used to use the belt from my rock climbing chalk bag. Now, Mrs. Gestapo has bought me a nice, actual, race belt so that I can be fashionable and fast.
I am borrowing a trainer (It is number two on my list to Santa) and needed a front wheel holdy thing. A trip to the garage, the cordless drill, some scrap wood, and a tape measure later I have a “custom” front wheel holdy thing. It even has a groove in it so the wheel can’t turn.
For a sweat pad I use a plastic mat designed for muddy, wet, or snowy boots. I put it under the bike and at the end of the workout I can tell my power output by the depth of the sweat in the mat. A quick walk to the basement tubs and the mat can be emptied and cleaned quickly.
And lastly for elastic shoe laces, I use elastic from the fabric store. Just go to one and ask the nice little old lady or the homely chick behind the counter where you might find “elastic string”. There are all kind of sizes, colors, and shapes to pick from. You can do three pairs of shoes for about $3.00.
I made a cyclometer mount for my aero bars out of a section of PVC tubing. I eyeballed the width, cut semi circles in both ends and “popped” it between the two bars. The only thing holding it in place is the pressure from the two bars. So far so good.
I’ve done the same thing except I threaded a large elastic band through
and put it around each bar during the installation. Covered the elastic
with a little black tape on the bars. Figured if I had a some small
movement in the bars this would save me from losing my computer.
Not bragging, just a tip that’s easy, free, and effective.
Sweat net from a T-shirt.
Get a T, get your scissors, cut as you see below.
Tie the bottom ends around the seat post, top ends over/around/through aerobars. Good to go.
One more - not trainer related, but wth, use old gel flasks to carry chamois creme on longer rides. Makes for a not so messy application.
One of those better to have it and not need it, then need and not have it deals.
