Drive trains - wear at the same rate on a Turbo Trainer?

[Steamer]

Quick question

Bit of a national spares shortage at the moment - I've been offered a rear MTB cassette off a turbo trainer for a bit of discount. (I wouldnt normally entertain using a second hand cassette - but its currently out of stock everywhere)

But do they wear at the same rate as riding in the open?

It looks near mint condition (obviously - as its never seen the great outdoors) - However is it worth the risk? It would be going on with a new chain and chain ring.

[carreauchompeur]

I’d have thought wear would be much less, there’s lesss strain through not having to actually pull someone along, plus no crud/salt etc to wear down?

[louiebaby]

Interesting question.

When I ride on my turbo, it's more constant strain that when when I ride on the road. (Partly because I only have an old spin bike with a crap manual adjuster, although it does have a proper power meter.) I use it for constant heart rate training mostly.

This would lead me to think that the turbo would have constant but relatively low strain on it, whilst when out on the road I might be 50% on the flat, 35% high strain climbing and 15% coasting downhill. The damage from the high strain climbing would not be offset by the coasting, so the road would be more wearing than the turbo.

However, there is likely to be a lot less "crap" on the drivetrain in the pain cave than on a bike used on the road.

Or alternatively, you're likely to sweat on the chain more in the pain cave which is particularly bad for the drive train.

Finally, are you more likely to take good care of a drivetrain you know has been used outdoors and likely to be filthy than the indoor turbo. Perhaps you forget about the dust in the house, and don't take as good care.

In answer...

No idea...

[Steamer]

carreauchompeur said:

I’d have thought wear would be much less, there’s lesss strain through not having to actually pull someone along, plus no crud/salt etc to wear down?

That was my thinking, the total lack of crud and oil does give it the look of a brand new one too though (although when I look at my current outgoing cassette it also looks hardly used because I do give it a regular clean).

[Hugo Stiglitz]

It could have been sat on the same 1-2 cogs for a fair amount of miles during lockdown. Yes there's no rain but it hasn't been coasted, it'll be constant load and it may be the same cogs that you sit in and it'll be toast sooner.

Sign up to wiggle stock alerts and act as soon as it pings up. I picked up a 11-36 cassette last week after waiting a week post-alert

[Steamer]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

It could have been sat on the same 1-2 cogs for a fair amount of miles during lockdown. Yes there's no rain but it hasn't been coasted, it'll be constant load and it may be the same cogs that you sit in and it'll be toast sooner.

Sign up to wiggle stock alerts and act as soon as it pings up. I picked up a 11-36 cassette last week after waiting a week post-alert

I'd just read a few similar stories on other forums - saying how some bikes on trainers just sit in the same couple of gears.. probably not worth the risk then.

Signed up for a restock email alert - hopefully it'll only be a short delay then.

[louiebaby]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

It could have been sat on the same 1-2 cogs for a fair amount of miles during lockdown. Yes there's no rain but it hasn't been coasted, it'll be constant load and it may be the same cogs that you sit in and it'll be toast sooner.

Sign up to wiggle stock alerts and act as soon as it pings up. I picked up a 11-36 cassette last week after waiting a week post-alert

You just need to buy two cassettes of the same type. One from a spinner, one from a grinder, then make a completely unused cassette from the two.

[Dannbodge]

Much less wear. There's very few contaminants to get into/onto the chain when you're indoors.

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

Dannbodge said:

Much less wear. There's very few contaminants to get into/onto the chain when you're indoors.

I've had a dedicated turbo bike for 3 damp and cold winters and my chain isn't even 50% worn, and it was used to start with. I'd guess the cassette has an easier life too with no rain / mud / road grime, and less side to side movement, bumps etc.

[oddman]

Dannbodge said:

Much less wear. There's very few contaminants to get into/onto the chain when you're indoors.

Agree. I put 8000km on a chain before it started to skip. Fitted new chain no issues with cassette at all.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

But who to say the seller hasn't used it outdoors at somepoint?

I like to think people in the bicycle hobby arena are honest however how many times I've heard 'can't believe someone paid me X for that'! (Pre covid)

Always makes me wonder how they described it to get top dollar sometimes...

[Maximus_Meridius101]

The chain shouldn’t stretch as much on an indoor trainer, than it does if used outside. It then follows that the rest of the drive train shouldn’t wear as much either. You still have to lube and clean the chain, but without road grime / weather, the wear on the rollers and bushings in the chain, that cause the stretch, should be less, if only used indoors.