So, my magnetic trainer (a Minuora 500 something) - pretty basic, seems to be wearing my rear tire - the last two times I’ve been on it, the steel piece that contacts the wheel has a black rubber stripe on it, and there are bits of rubber left on my carpet. The mag wheel seem to get VERY hot. So my question is: Is this normal? What can I do about it? I was thinking of putting some oil on the steel piece, or getting a fan, or something. I also considered putting on a cheap tire, but I can’t seem to get the tire that’s on there off…
This is pretty normal. Trainers like that will pretty much toast your rear tire. I always put on an old training tire that I have retired from riding on the road with. I wouldn’t put any oil on the where the tire meets the trainer…sounds like a prescription for slipping to me.
Spot
Clean your tire. Clean the “metal thing”. Readjust the tension every time you ride. Keep the tire pumped up. The tire loses air on the trainer like it does everywhere else, so yesterday’s tension is no good today.
If you stand on the pedals and sprint, does the tire slip? If so, there is not enough tension.
This is common with magentic and cheaper fluid trainers
If you use your trainer a bit, consider a Kurt Kinetic road machine, I own two and they have been one of the best investments I mave made in this sport, very durable and I use them all the time
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I had the same problem with mine. Wasn’t sure if it was because it was a cheap Kenda tire or because I was such a stud on the trainer, but I’m guessing it was the former. Spun about 400 miles before I had to replace it. Put a Michelin Ironman series on it and it’s held up fine. Same with my other bike, which has a Diamonte Pro Lite. No problem with that.
Anyone have experience with one of these or something comparable?
I have a Cycleops Fluid2 and can’t say I have had a problem with tires wearing, not sure about magnetic’s though. One other solution is ride outside now that it’s summer (sort of), after spending the winter on the trainer about all I use it for now is a maintenance stand. Also as Gary T alluded to a better quality fluid trainer will eliminate the problem all together.
Ride outside!! that will solve our problem