Hi everyone! I’d like to hear your thoughts about using a trainer in below 0 (celsius) temperatures. The thing is, I have my bike and trainer on a glass covered balcony and most of the year it’s a perfect place. But now the real winter is here (living in Finland so yes, anything between 0 and -30) and I started to wonder if the trainer may break down. I have Tacx Flux S Smart and the manual says it can be used from 0C to 55C. I understand I’m taking a risk when using the trainer in freezing temperatures but do you guys have any experience about that? Have you or would you use the trainer in temperatures between 0 to -15 celsius? Have anyone had any issues with the trainer at that situation? Thanks in advance!
Is it dry in the balcony - or does dampness manage to get in?
Dampness is no good for electronic devices, remembering Iain Tyrrell rescuing a barn-find low mileage Ferrari 360 Spider which had moisture get to it and it needed a lot of work (it was a mess).
Also wondering if the cold might affect accuracy of the trainer. I can only guess given that I’m in a climate that is mostly warmer (or very hot).
Is it an option to relocate inside? In really really cold conditions it cannot be good for you either.
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Thanks for your answer! The balcony is covered so that any snow or rain won’t get in but it’s not sealed or anything, wouldn’t store books etc there. So yeah the moisture could be an issue. I could take the bike inside, I have lots of space but then I would probably have to buy a fan. Yes I can buy it but not my favorite options to invest in a fan I would use maybe 2 monts a year. But yes it’s cheaper than buying a new trainer.
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Ooh, yes, that’s going to be a problem. Dampness could kill the trainer.
An industrial fan (floor standing) is quite cheap compared to a new trainer.
I’m in the UK, I’ve been using Zwift for over 8 years and my smart trainers have been in the garage (separate single brick building, no insulation and gaps around the up n over doors). I think the coldest year was around -10 C. I just throw a heavy woollen blanket over my kickr bike now, but it does get damp.
Touch wood, so far things have been okay.
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You’re right. The safest option would definitely be taking the bike inside. Thanks!
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Oh wow, that’s good to hear!
The temperature is quite likely to affect accuracy and you may need to do frequent spindown calibrations after the trainer has warmed up.
The enemy of electronics is condensation, so a cold device in a warmer humid space is the worst thing. Another thing you could do is run a dehumidifier since that will ensure that the air is dry and will generate some heat. When the space is freezing and unused the humidity will probably be low, but when you are working out in an enclosed space it will likely go up quite a bit.
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Thanks for the advice! I think I’m gonna move the bike indoors so I don’t need to worry about it.
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For the cost of a cheap fan and wifi switch, I’d advise you temporarily move inside Suvi to be sure,
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