FAQ – Waterford Precision Cycles

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Answer

(See below for more questions.)

Assembly & Care

Should I use my Waterford on my Windtrainer?

Only if you\'re careful. When you ride on the road, your bike sways and leans as you shift your weight from side to side. Clamp it into a wind trainer, all that force is absorbed by the dropout, dramatically accelerating frame fatigue. What can you do?

Avoid wind trainers which clamp at the bottom bracket. These can be particularly damaging to your bike. Trainers which clamp at the rear dropouts put less stress on the frame.
Supplement your wind trainer with a set of rollers which, since they have no such clamping, take less of a toll on the frame. Rollers help you develop important handling skills which you can\'t get from a regular wind trainer.
Use your \"beater\" frame on your wind trainer. This can mean many more seasons for your Waterford frameset.
Tell us if you plan to buy a Waterford for use with a wind trainer. We can substitute extra-strong chainstays and seatstays which compensate for the extra stress and strain.

What else should I know about indoor training?

Besides the extra wear and tear from wind trainers, don\'t forget about other considerations associated with indoor training.

Among such considerations, protecting your frame from sweat is most important. When on the road, wind dramatically reduces the amount of sweat which drips onto the frame during riding. When riding indoors, less evaporation takes place and some training areas are quite warm. This means a lot more sweat hitting the frame. Tips:

Clean, dry, wax and lubricate your frame before setting up your bike on a trainer for the season.

Applying an internal tube protectant like JP Weigle\'s Framesaver prevents internal tube corrosion from the humid indoor conditions.

Be sure to clean off your frame after every workout!

As long as water beads up on your finish, your wax is holding up. If it stops beading up, then it\'s time for another wax job.

Consider putting a fan in your training area. It keeps you cooler and more comfortable and reduces the sweat that can reach the frame.

Covers designed to catch sweat are available to mount on your bike/trainer

Lube it up: Just because you train indoors doesn\'t mean you can ignore normal mechanical maintenance. In particular, make sure the drive train and head set are properly lubricated before every ride. Not only does this extend your bike\'s life, it makes your spring ramp up easier.

Keep it warm or keep it cold: Keep your bike indoors if it is your trainer and outdoors if it\'s your commuter bike. Great changes in temperature inevitably create condensation on both inside and outside surfaces - expecially when you bring your bike in from the cold.

It\'s just like how an ice-cold glass sweats on a hot summer day. If you plan on riding all winter, store your outdoor bike in the cold. Not only does this eliminate condensation from forming, it also keeps your bike in closer adjustment since your cables don\'t contract and expand with the temperature changes.