Indoor cycling beginner

[Alf1331]

I’m brand new to cycling and don’t even own a bike anymore.

I’m looking at buy an elite suito trainer as I’m wanting to use swift but am unsure about the bike itself. Seeing as it’s running on a trainer does the actual bike make a huge difference?
And does anyone have any budget choices that I should look at?

[trailgumby]

I’m brand new to cycling and don’t even own a bike anymore.

I’m looking at buy an elite suito trainer as I’m wanting to use swift but am unsure about the bike itself. Seeing as it’s running on a trainer does the actual bike make a huge difference?
And does anyone have any budget choices that I should look at?

The main thing that matters about the bike is that it fits you. If it doesn't, it won't be comfortable and can even result in over-use injuries if you persist with an ill-fitting bike. Other than that, it won't make a big difference to your fitness, but may make a difference to your speed on the road.

How tall are you?

[Alf1331]

Thanks for the reply.
I’m 180cm tall.

[trailgumby]

Thanks for the reply.
I’m 180cm tall.

for most bikes you would be on a medium, or for a road bike a 56cm frame.

[warthog1]

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/Stor ... orBike.jsp

[Duck!]

for most bikes you would be on a medium, or for a road bike a 56cm frame.

According to whom? Different frame manufacturers use different reference points for size measurements; one brand's "56" can be very different from another's. Check out the sizing guides from any manufacturers you're looking at, they'll give a good indication for a starting point. There will be some crossover in rider height vs frame size to allow for variation in riders' limb/torso proportions.

[Alf1331]

I’ll definitely get sized up properly. Seeing as I won’t be riding outdoors and will just be a zwift setup are there any cheap bikes that will fit well. From what I can tell the biggest things to consider are general comfort on the bike and the gear system. Does this seem correct?

[blizzard]

I would be working out your size and then buying a second hand alloy bike e.g. Avanti, Merida, Giant.

Gearing doesn't matter too much on Zwift as if you are using ERG mode it adjusts to whatever gear your are in and for free ride, you can change "trainer difficulty" which is akin to changing how big you lowest gear is on the bike.

[Mr Purple]

I thought I'd broken my trainer bike properly a few weeks back and trawled the Facebook groups for a replacement.

There were about 30 options I could have picked up that weekend.

You just want something comfortable, that fits, and probably ideally is running at least 10 speed on the rear cassette. Any one of a million rim braked alloy bikes from 5-15 years old will meet that brief.

Bonus points if the cables, chain and crankset are fairly new - they're really the only bits that wear on a trainer bike.

[warthog1]

According to whom? Different frame manufacturers use different reference points for size measurements; one brand's "56" can be very different from another's.

A 56cm effective top tube would be in the ball park for most people of that height.
The competitive cyclist fit guide takes a few more measurements for a presumably more accurate fit.
Worked for me anyway.
Someone on here posted it many years back.