Trainer set-up: aero or road?

Triathlon Forum
1

How do you set up your bike in your trainer: aero or not?

I ride a tri bike in races and on solo training rides (or with small groups), and a road bike when out in packs/with friends, mountain rides etc. However, young kids etc. make sure I do most of my bike training when its dark outside (early or late), on my Computrainer and on the old Trek 2100 road bike that’s permanently in it. I added some clip-on aero bars to it some time ago, when I couldn’t get out of the house for long training rides and felt like I needed to get some time in the aero position leading up to a HIM.

Question: Assuming racing tris is your primary goal, and assuming you have the option to do either, should you spend your trainer hours in the aero position? Mix it up?

I gather the answer may be, “whatever keeps you on the bike the most.” But maybe not, I don’t know.

2

Full-on aero.

3

Definitely aero bars, then you can mix it up and keep it interesting (hoods, drops, bars, etc) Also more comfortable to ride the CT for a long period of time in the aero position IMO.

4

Aero. waaaay more comfy for really long trainer rides… AP

5

aerobars for me to simulte the race.

6

My dedicated trainer bike is an old mtb w/ a slick on it.

Works fine for me.

I get enuff quality aerobar time in-season, I don’t need to be doing that all year 'round.
My lower back and neck thank me.

IF you get enough race-specific position riding otherwise, then do whatever ya like on the trainer.
If not, then yes, having a position as similar to your race bike makes sense then.