I’ve got a Cervelo P2C that sits on my trainer most of the time, and I sweat so much that it’s really taking a beating in the front, where all the sweat drips. I finally put a big garbage bag over the brakes, but the headset got so gunked with salt/sweat over a year that it wouldn’t even turn (!) without force when I finally took it off the trainer.
Am about to get a total bike breakdown at the LBS for $$$ in prep for a race, but I’d like to avoid the corrosion and gunk in the future. The brakes seem to get protected by the garbage bag, but the headset is still exposed, and it’s where my Garmin sits. I’ve tried putting a towel over it, and may do so in the future, but I get annoyed that my Garmin has to sit loosely on top of the towel (although I’m sure I can get over that.)
Am seriously contemplating ‘saran-wrapping’ the headset while the bike’s on the trainer (which it is for most of the year - I use a separate road bike most of the time for outdoor rides). Anyone do this, and if so, any tips?
Spray the crap out of it with some WD40 then wrap it up.
While I use WD all the time as a cleaner, I don’t know what this process might do, so use at your own risk. But I would find it hard to believe it was worse than sweat?
I use a bike sweat thong and wipe myself often with a towel.
This… I carefully wrap it over the headset Plus I have a “Finishers Towel” from a local race that I drape over my areobars and just use that constantly to keep from dripping too much.
I just get an old towel and hang it over the bars. Then cut off the end so it doesn’t hang too low, because I use the rollers. Also I cut out a piece for my computer and just use the same towel. Then I have a small race towel on the bars that I can use to wipe away my sweat.
I use Saran Wrap. Take a piece about two feet long. Stick the corners to your base or drop bar with a bit of duct tape, then wrap the other end around the top tube securing with velcro, strap or piece of tape. Wear a shirt and use a fan.
I use a bike sweat thong and wipe myself often with a towel.
This… I carefully wrap it over the headset Plus I have a “Finishers Towel” from a local race that I drape over my areobars and just use that constantly to keep from dripping too much.
Unfortunately I tried the bike thong and they don’t work on my P2c because of both the aerobars which cause the bike thong to not cover the entire headset. I used the towel briefly, but I’ll got annoyed at the fact it both kept covering up my Garmin as well as moving all over the place if I used one big enough to cover the headset, or letting too much sweat drip through if I used smaller towels.
I’m going to try saran wrap + small towels this time out. And a plastic bag taped over the front brakes.
Check out the above product as a possibility. Different bikes will have different results with it. While the cockpit cover serves its purpose for me, even after several attempts and flattening of the main cover, it still would slide down and rub the rear tire, so I haven’t found a way to keep it on without disrupting the riding.
Also of note, I ordered the complete protection including the trainer cover and mat, and weeks later was told the trainer cover and mat were out of stock and asked if I wanted a refund, while they continued to offer it even that day on their website.
Looks like Spinervals also has a similar version of the cockpit and body covers.
Check out the above product as a possibility. Different bikes will have different results with it. While the cockpit cover serves its purpose for me, even after several attempts and flattening of the main cover, it still would slide down and rub the rear tire, so I haven’t found a way to keep it on without disrupting the riding.
Also of note, I ordered the complete protection including the trainer cover and mat, and weeks later was told the trainer cover and mat were out of stock and asked if I wanted a refund, while they continued to offer it even that day on their website.
Looks like Spinervals also has a similar version of the cockpit and body covers.
Looks intriguing. Is it hard to move the cover out of the way to push the buttons on the Garmin/computer, or is it not a big deal?
Also, do you mind not having access to the horns? I tend to get on those on the rest portions of the workout, and I noticed that they’re completely covered.
I can press buttons easy enough through the clear shield for status updates. You can also reach around underneath from the bar end shifter hole if you like if you need to hold buttons down more effectively or such to power off/on. I actually do as one of the options it lists suggests and only cover the aerobars/stem area, and fold it down and velcro underneath. So the horns/brakes are fully exposed. That being said I touch them just about never when on the trainer.
I wipe it down thoroughly after use and use spray lube as needed after the wipe down. I would think wrapping it in plastic is likely to create a little biosphere for stuff to grow and moisture to collect.
I use the cyclops terry thing too. Partly for sweat, partly to have the TV remote at hand.
FWIW, sweat damage is not some idle concern. Back in the 80’s I used an older bike as my dedicated trainer bike. I did not protect the frame and ended up pretty much ruining it by sweating on it. It did take a number of years of indoor use but when I finally put it out to pasture, there was lots of corrosion on it, the cable guides on the top tube had actually rusted off and the quill stem was permanently fused into the headtube.
this is what i use on the bike & I use a small towel for myself. i like the thong because of the pockets…cell phone, remote for music, etc. (and it keeps my bike clean)
As the owner of Anaerobic Zone, makers of the only complete bicycle trainer protection system, I welcome any comments/feedback on my products. I apologize for the confusion on the availability of the floor trainer/mat and the delay in response (an internal foul-up, since remedied). As stated in my email to you it will be available again but I am awaiting final material pricing prior to placing an order. The product is made in the US but the material is sourced from Asia.
Regarding the rear cover fitment, it was designed to fit a large variety of frame sizes and styles, while offering maximum sweat protection. Therefore, on smaller frames, there may be some excess material. Velcro attachments are provided in several places on the rear cover to tuck the material under to avoid rear tire rubbing. However, if this adjustment is still not adequate, as stated in the installation instructions, the spring loaded chip bag clips (available in many sizes at any grocery store) work great to hold the material away from the tire. IMHO, over protection is much more desirable than under protection.
As a side note, this product was developed based on personal experience using a “sweat net” and still destroying numerous components (headset, stem,bar, front brake) on a mostly dedicated trainer bike. I still have a mostly dedicated trainer bike, and the only components that have been replaced are tires, chain and cassette after 6 years with the Bicycle Protection System installed.
