indoor training minimal setup from S40 frame

[camineet]

Hi all,

I'm wondering what's possible for a trainer setup that's as cheap as possible with an S40 frameset.

I know nothing at all about smart trainers.

Is it possible to buy an S40 frameset and a smart trainer only?

Does the bike still need brakes, wheels, groupset?

I'm not up for an off-the-shelf S40 or a built up one plus a trainer, budget-wise.

But if it's possible to just drop $2600 on a frameset plus whatever a trainer costs, I could think about possibly getting into this whole indoor training thing.

 

[Damien]

Hi. For a smart trainer, you basically need a complete bike. The only part you typically remove is the front wheel. You still need the rear wheel, although theoretically, you could support the rear part of the frame on something else. Gears (derailleurs) are essential for a smart trainer if you want to use apps like the popular Zwift. The game simulates climbs by increasing resistance and decreases it on descents. You can manage without brakes. You also don’t need tires if you plan to get a direct-drive trainer. If you’re thinking about a roller trainer, then you need a complete bike. Overall, it's a strange question. Maybe consider a used stationary bike if you need quick exercise equipment?

 

[camineet]

Yep, it's weird. Was looking at zwift kickr and thinking I don't need either wheels. Some kind of rear frame platform in place of that wheel would be needed as you mentioned.

Ok, so those smart trainers simulate resistance of climbs and still have you shifting as if you're outside? So, I would have to get a rear derailleur and shifter then.

My thinking and reasoning is that I live in a small condo and can envision getting an S40 and smart trainer out of the way in a room after setting it up within 5 minutes or so. Seems to me an S40 and a smart trainer are smaller than a dedicated recumbent trainer. There's one of those at the local PT practice, and it's a beast.

Also, I could eventually complete the S40 build and use it in the summers while still doing the indoor training during the winters (Michigan).

 

[trplay]

Hi all,

I'm wondering what's possible for a trainer setup that's as cheap as possible with an S40 frameset.

I know nothing at all about smart trainers.

Is it possible to buy an S40 frameset and a smart trainer only?

Does the bike still need brakes, wheels, groupset?

I'm not up for an off-the-shelf S40 or a built up one plus a trainer, budget-wise.

But if it's possible to just drop $2600 on a frameset plus whatever a trainer costs, I could think about possibly getting into this whole indoor training thing.

You're definitely on the right track! Yes, you can just buy the S-40 frameset and a smart trainer, but that’s not even necessary—it’s actually cheaper to get a T-50 frameset. I have two setups: a T-50 frame and a Silvio. Neither of them have brakes, derailleurs, shifters, or wheels. Instead, I connect the front fork directly to a smart trainer and use 5-gallon Walmart buckets for the rear stays.

That’s right, buckets! This approach makes the setup even more compact than using a rear wheel. Plus, I can stack or unstack the buckets to adjust the seat angle from 20 degrees to upright in under 10 seconds. The drivetrain is simplified, too, with a straight chain from the front chainring to a single rear gear. I use the Wahoo KICKR Core along with Zwift Play Shifters, which allows me to shift between 22 virtual gears seamlessly.

 

[cpml123]

You can make this for the back wheel. The bottom box is a wooden crate from Home Depot. I made a fancy version so that it swivels.

 

[Boreen bimbler]

Would it be better to just buy a cheaper old recumbent rather than a S40? If your going to use it outside too fair enough but if it's only for the trainer why not go cheap? I've used my S40 on my direct drive smart trainer and you have the extra faff/awkwardness mounting the front end but it works great once set up.
You could also mount an old hub on a block for the non drive wheel. A couple of slots for the flanges and it should be easy to fix down.
And mywhoosh seems a pretty good free alternative to zwift if your not into racing on there. Worth looking into if you havn't already.
Good luck with it all.

 

[camineet]

Right, thanks for all this input. I'm gearing up to make some moves. Maybe I should in fact grab a $500 old recumbent off FB marketplace or something. That would be entirely more intelligent. I mean, I've already got a '22 Q45 that I'll have outfitted /w hydro, e-shifting, and carbon wheels within 60 days. Why would I even need an S40 ever? Just for 4 less lbs? I quite like the rear suspension and have a hard time imagining life without it and don't worry at all about loss of power transfer as I'm not competitive.

All that said, what if I get one of these tricked out smart trainers, get into Zwift or whatever, and then evolve into actually wanting to ride with other people in these so-called group rides? I never understood the appeal, but obviously it's great in some ways with the popularity of it.


In such a case, it'd be awesome to have both the Q45 and the S40 depending on the scheduled group rides I find locally, gravel vs road. But even then, it's still entirely more intelligent to get all of this indoor stuff done on the cheap with a FB marketplace 'bent to get started. Very good suggestion!

 

[camineet]

One other consideration that may have me stuck with CB products is that it's what I know. I'm not a bike expert and although I have recently swapped out a bottom bracket, crank, chainring, spider, and pedals, and stripped and waxed a chain, this is all done on my Q45. I have no idea what it's like to work on one of these weird other 'bents with a 10ft long chain and rear wheel drive.


Someone with more experience with various bikes might not flinch at that, but I'm not too keen on it. It'd sure cost a lot more for an S40 though. I just really know my way around a CB though at this point, and nothing else really. Not even a DF TBH.

 

[cpml123]

One other consideration that may have me stuck with CB products is that it's what I know. I'm not a bike expert and although I have recently swapped out a bottom bracket, crank, chainring, spider, and pedals, and stripped and waxed a chain, this is all done on my Q45. I have no idea what it's like to work on one of these weird other 'bents with a 10ft long chain and rear wheel drive.


Someone with more experience with various bikes might not flinch at that, but I'm not too keen on it. It'd sure cost a lot more for an S40 though. I just really know my way around a CB though at this point, and nothing else really. Not even a DF TBH.

Are you near Seattle area? I have an old Cruzbike Freerider you can have for free. Derailleur doesn't quite work. Wheels are not true. But it will be a good bike for smart trainer.

 

[camineet]

Are you near Seattle area? I have an old Cruzbike Freerider you can have for free. Derailleur doesn't quite work. Wheels are not true. But it will be a good bike for smart trainer.

No I'm in Michigan but thanks a lot for offering!

 

[siebengang]

For Zwift you can have virtual shifting with some smart trainers (Google Zwift Cog), which bike wise essentially is single speed. I have a recumbent setup on a Wahoo Kickt Core like this and it works very well. So basically just a frame, seat, handlebars, single speed drive train (I have to use an old derailleur as a chain tensioner) and a random front wheel (in the back on a CB). “Shifting” works by means of a special Bluetooth remote that adjusts trainer resistance in order to simulate “gears”.

This works only for Zwift though, no other software platforms. But on Trainerroad I think you can also ride with a single gear even without virtual shifting, because that platform doesn’t implement inclines and purely focuses on adjusting trainer resistance anyways.

 

[cpml123]

For Zwift you can have virtual shifting with some smart trainers (Google Zwift Cog), which bike wise essentially is single speed. I have a recumbent setup on a Wahoo Kickt Core like this and it works very well. So basically just a frame, seat, handlebars, single speed drive train (I have to use an old derailleur as a chain tensioner) and a random front wheel (in the back on a CB). “Shifting” works by means of a special Bluetooth remote that adjusts trainer resistance in order to simulate “gears”.

This works only for Zwift though, no other software platforms. But on Trainerroad I think you can also ride with a single gear even without virtual shifting, because that platform doesn’t implement inclines and purely focuses on adjusting trainer resistance anyways.

Yes. On Trainerroad I don't ever shift. The software constantly adjusts the trainer resistance based on the the training profile and FTP. I occasionally change to a different cog so that they get even wearing instead of just 1 cog.

 

[camineet]

Great points I thank you all for them!

I've elected to schedule a pickup for a FB marketplace Rans v-rex for $250. Getting another CB at this point for this project would, because of the cost, be so brainless that my descendants would curse me for blowing that much dry powder in such an asset inflationary environment without darned good reason.

I realized that, although I may get hooked on riding for speed and competition rather than just for my current pursuits, which are V02Max increases and attempting to have work meetings as often as possible while riding my CB with a handlebar phone mount and wired headset with boom mic covered by a windscreen, there's no way to know at this point.

So, I'll set up a cheapie trainer 'bent as was suggested, try it on a trainer that has the features discussed here and see if all the social/competitive experiences are of value to me, and see what happens. If I get hooked, I'll hopefully be able to score an S40 at that time.

At least, that's my thinking at this point and I've troubled a very nice FB user here in Michigan to schedule with me for a Tuesday pickup of the Rans.

Wish me luck!