A bicycle trainer is a curious thing. After all, what is the point of riding a bicycle if it doesn't move forwards? As outdoor biking is subjected to a lot of variables such as the weather, many cyclists opt to have their own bicycle trainer at home either to prepare for a biking race or to consistently exercise their biking muscles. Bicycle trainers can most often be seen either in gym rooms or right in front of the TV set in a family's living room.
The Physical Structure
The physical structure of a bike trainer is essentially the same as that of your average bicycle, except for the fact that it is securely clamped down to its heavy base. Otherwise, this trainer also comes with a frame, wheels, a handlebar and pedals to help simulate the act of cycling. Mechanically speaking however, bicycle trainers come with an extra feature, which is that it is able to simulate friction in order to give the cyclists a more challenging work out.
The Mechanism
The most economical of these trainers is known as the wind trainer, in which a roller drives fan blades that in return, create friction in the air. However, while this is the cheapest the option, it is also the noisiest. A magnetic trainer on the other hand uses two polarized magnets to oppose each other, thereby also effectively causing friction in the process. These trainers are less noisy and usually come equipped with control boxes to allow cyclists to adjust the level of cycling difficulty. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the fluid trainers which rely on liquid-filled chambers to cause resistance. There are also bike trainers that operate with centrifugal pressure mechanisms that use pressure plates, ball bearings and curiously shaped grooves which work together to create opposing force on the cyclist as well.
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