My wife (a cyclist and 8 months pregnant) is interested in getting a spin bike for our home. She would rather have the spin bike than put her bike on a resistance trainer - comfort etc.
It appears that the LeMond Revmaster is the way to go. The only drawback is the price.
Does anyone have any suggestions regarding the best place to purchase a Revmaster? Any other spin bike recommendations? Also, I don’t think that I can talk her into a CT.
A spin bike is more comfortable than her own bike adjusted exactly for her?
This question comes up now and again and it really surprises me that anyone would buy one of these for their home. A spin bike is made to be easy to maintain and very simple to operate, great for health clubs with group classes. But for personal workouts I expect a bit more.
But that’s me.
Get a revmaster with powercranks on it!
A sport comfort hybrid on a trainer. Seriously. All spin bikes are awkward.
Kevin and Dude - Thanks for the replies. She has been fitted very well by our lbs, but being pregnant has caused the bike to be uncomfortable. Imagine strapping a bowling ball around your belly and trying to reach the bars. She does have a trek hybrid that I could put on the trainer. Maybe I will try that.
She seems to be really interested in the spin bike. Of course, I would rather spend the money elsewhere.
I think spin bikes for indoors are great, esp if you ride inside a lot. I’ve been using a Tektrix indoor bike for years (not a spin bike). The advantage of indoor/spin bikes are you don’t have to mess with mounting it in a stand every time, don’t care how much you sweat on it, nothing wears out, it’s near silent, super stable, nice display options, and it’s pretty much indestrictable. Yeah, most “spin” bikes are designed for gym settings rather than “you”, but then your tri-bike was designed as light as possible to be ridden outside. Also, you and the wife can share it.
I’m looking to get rid of the Tektrix now and get an actual spin bike…I’ve seen/tried all of them and the one I like is the Cycle-Ops with the power-tap hub. It’s very motivating to me to be able to compare workout intensities. The reason for moving to the spin bike over the Tektrix is my wife and I both teach indoor cycling classes, and the Tektrix is not ideal because the way it generates resistance makes standing difficult…+ it doesn’t have the adjustments we’d like. Great for a 1 hour “time trial” workout though. Wish I knew an easy way to get rid of it.
One more thing…there is surely an advantage of having your training and racing setups identical. However, if your racing setup is really optimized for aerodynamics, you are probably giving up some comfort. Give up enough comfort and you will be affecting your workouts…so it can actually be good to have both a “race” and a “training” setup.
I agree with the spin bike for home use. I bought a used LeMond revmaster off ebay. The guy offered free shipping if I remember correctly so the bike only cost $600. Then I bought the conversion kit for my powercranks, replaced the crappy seat with my own, bolted on some old aerobar armrests and elevated the rear of the bike to increase the seat angle. Voila, a near perfect recreation of my tri bike position. Thankfully the winter weather in the desert (my first there) was very nice so I didn’t have to ride it very much, but for me a spin bike with the flywheel feels so much better to ride than any trainer.
It also has the advantage of quick adjustability between you and your spouse. Thus you save your regular bike from the grinding and tire wear of a trainer.
They are ungainly though; not easy to move around and you cannot ride them with young children in the area.
Chad
Of course, I would rather spend the money elsewhere.
Do you mean, like, on yourself?
and you cannot ride them with young children in the area.
Chad,
Why can’t you ride the RevMaster with young children in the area? I suggest it for people who need to stay at home because of young children because it is quiet and there is really nothing they can break on the bike or hurt themselves on, as I see it.
Frank
Thanks Frank. No, not on myself, but rather babysitters, vacation or a tandem.
Also, note that I am not interested in putting the money toward powercranks now - didn’t mean to get your hopes up.
I suppose I should have qualified that; you can’t ride on them with very young children. My 10 month old loves bikes (I hope she like them this much when she is older) and could/would not stay away. Eventually she pinched her hand between the wheel and the frame. It turned all black and blue and the bike went out into the garage.
Chad
Thanks Frank. No, not on myself, but rather babysitters, vacation or a tandem.
Also, note that I am not interested in putting the money toward powercranks now - didn’t mean to get your hopes up.
You spend your money on where you determine it is best spent. I just thought your statement could be interpreted in many ways. My hopes for another slowtwitch PowerCranks sale from my stealth marketing campaign were not buoyed by this thread so I am ok with the disappointment.
I suppose I should have qualified that; you can’t ride on them with very young children. My 10 month old loves bikes (I hope she like them this much when she is older) and could/would not stay away. Eventually she pinched her hand between the wheel and the frame. It turned all black and blue and the bike went out into the garage.
Chad
How on earth did she do that on her own? I would be surprised if a 10 month old could even turn the wheel with both hands (if there was any resistance on it) it let alone turn the wheel with one hand and pinch the other. Anyhow, as home training equipment goes it seems much safer than a trainer using a bike with spokes, treadmill, or, almost, anything else around young children.
I think that your stealth marketing campaign is working well. I’ve been tempted many times.
I have two of these cateye gamebikes at home. Can spin and play
the playstation games
http://www.fitego.com/cainga.html
Dave
I think that your stealth marketing campaign is working well. I’ve been tempted many times.
Well then, don’t forget the running improvement your wife will see and need when the young one start toddling 
I can second the suggestion of the Rev Master. It is, in my opinion, the finest “spin” type bike on the market. You cannot find a smoother bike. As far as the price; this is a club quality piece of equipment. The price is in line with other bikes of same quality.
Buy the Rev, you won’t regret it.