I really like these ideas. I have a NEO and I'm thinking about a rocker plate for it. I'm not sure the best design has yet to appear. My current preference is Fernando's solution. That to me is where its heading. Simple and effective.
I don't use a turbo trainer that much, if I can help it. But when I do, I find that because there is no movement in the bike or handlebars, I was getting shoulder and neck aches and sometimetimes some back aches. Since building my own rockerplate type of platform, I've found that I no longer suffer with these issues. I no longer use the standard front wheel block supplied with many trainers. I Just have a flat block, the same height as the rear wheel. This allows the handlebars to move freely.
the other huge risk of all out sprint on trainer is it tipping over. I did that once and fell over. Another friend did it and broke his rear derailleur hanger, which couldn't be fixed. Lots of people have fall over sprinting on a trainer :)
Wondering why you can't just take one piece of plywood and use the floor as the base. Just position foam blocks in various locations, place and go till you get it right. Most people have a dedicated trainer area in their house. Just don't see the need for the complicated construction.
You can get a Coplate in the US. I just got mine for my Kickr. The shipping was $80 US but it got to my home in CALIFORNIA in two days from shipping from the Netherlands. They are super responsive to emails. They’ve changed the location of the brackets to secure Kickr to the center bar rather than the legs. They said customers reported having difficulty with finding center line with the brackets on the legs. I just got mine set up today but have not ridden yet.
I created my own DIY Rockerplate, based on a design I saw in the ZSUN Facebook group by Michael Naessens (credits for the design to him!!) facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1549471495107472.1073741832.100001339082031&type=1&l=9ec84ab1dd The actual measurements ofcourse depend on your trainers footprint, but the basic idea is about the center pivoting point (50mm PVC tube) and tennisballs as dampers. This makes sure you ONLY get side to side motion. Securing my Tacx Flow Smart was quite easy (it stands loose between the pieces of wood), that may be different for other trainers. As your trainer is not mounted to the floor, generally, it should stay on the plate as well unless you make very extreme movements....
Yes... In your case, I was thinking of more of just a "curved" bottom plate. IF you add a rocker plate to the rear, you will need to jack up the front as well. My though would be to add a wood "rocker" to the bottom of your current custom front stand serving two purposes. First to give you the needed extra height and secondly to give you the necessary motion. Wood would allow you to play with the radius of the curve; start out large and then tweak it down to just what is needed. The whole "foam rubber" portion of the Rockit Launcher has me wondering. There are tons of specific foam rubber materials of very different properties. Just looking at McMaster-Carr (industrial supply house here in the US) you can see the variety: www.mcmaster.com/#standard-foam-sheets/=1apgylw At the very least, I hope the Rockit DIY page has more details than what is just shown on the plans PDF. Sure seems like there should be a better, more elegant, more durable solution to the "springs" of a rocker plate. Maybe some industrial vibration isolation material. Maybe some polyurethane bump stops: www.energysuspensionparts.com/products/universal_bump_stops ... hmmmmm....
I was thinking the same thing, especially IF you are using "springs" that aren't all that controlled in terms of spring rate and deflection.... Like tennis balls, or "foam rubber sheet"... Seems like there ought to be a better "spring" to use out there in "industry"... Have to put my design engineering gear head to work on that one...
I really like these ideas. I have a NEO and I'm thinking about a rocker plate for it. I'm not sure the best design has yet to appear. My current preference is Fernando's solution. That to me is where its heading. Simple and effective.
I don't use a turbo trainer that much, if I can help it. But when I do, I find that because there is no movement in the bike or handlebars, I was getting shoulder and neck aches and sometimetimes some back aches. Since building my own rockerplate type of platform, I've found that I no longer suffer with these issues. I no longer use the standard front wheel block supplied with many trainers. I Just have a flat block, the same height as the rear wheel. This allows the handlebars to move freely.
Anyone have the link for the Platform at 54 seconds into the video with the tennis balls?
Leaf Spring rocker plate
ruclips.net/video/8JN1-Ux0uso/видео.html
Co-plate/Bike acces.com
ruclips.net/video/8JN1-Ux0uso/видео.html
Co-plate website
www.bikeacces.com/
Chad’s Rockit Launcher Tutorial
ruclips.net/video/WIOElZ-9gLQ/видео.html
DIY Platform for Kickr
ruclips.net/video/l3FfCBw5noo/видео.html
Fernando Gazzola’s design
ruclips.net/video/oobSKEaxRS4/видео.html
Any link to the video of just the tennis balls?
the other huge risk of all out sprint on trainer is it tipping over. I did that once and fell over. Another friend did it and broke his rear derailleur hanger, which couldn't be fixed. Lots of people have fall over sprinting on a trainer :)
Wondering why you can't just take one piece of plywood and use the floor as the base. Just position foam blocks in various locations, place and go till you get it right. Most people have a dedicated trainer area in their house. Just don't see the need for the complicated construction.
You can get a Coplate in the US. I just got mine for my Kickr. The shipping was $80 US but it got to my home in CALIFORNIA in two days from shipping from the Netherlands. They are super responsive to emails. They’ve changed the location of the brackets to secure Kickr to the center bar rather than the legs. They said customers reported having difficulty with finding center line with the brackets on the legs. I just got mine set up today but have not ridden yet.
Shawn Schmitz have you ridden it already? What are your impressions?
Dr Muscles I have and it’s nice. Quality build.
I created my own DIY Rockerplate, based on a design I saw in the ZSUN Facebook group by Michael Naessens (credits for the design to him!!) facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1549471495107472.1073741832.100001339082031&type=1&l=9ec84ab1dd The actual measurements ofcourse depend on your trainers footprint, but the basic idea is about the center pivoting point (50mm PVC tube) and tennisballs as dampers. This makes sure you ONLY get side to side motion. Securing my Tacx Flow Smart was quite easy (it stands loose between the pieces of wood), that may be different for other trainers. As your trainer is not mounted to the floor, generally, it should stay on the plate as well unless you make very extreme movements....
The concept is great but I can't help thinking that when seated irl the bike isn't swaying side to side like it does on a rocker plate.
Err actually it does
Probably shouldn't have a beer if you will be using a power saw during the build :P
Simon, add a rocker plate and there goes your custom front wheel stand...
Paul Damian I know! Bummer. I was wondering if I could get away with jacking up the stand with some flexy but stiffish foam.
Yes... In your case, I was thinking of more of just a "curved" bottom plate. IF you add a rocker plate to the rear, you will need to jack up the front as well. My though would be to add a wood "rocker" to the bottom of your current custom front stand serving two purposes. First to give you the needed extra height and secondly to give you the necessary motion. Wood would allow you to play with the radius of the curve; start out large and then tweak it down to just what is needed.
The whole "foam rubber" portion of the Rockit Launcher has me wondering. There are tons of specific foam rubber materials of very different properties. Just looking at McMaster-Carr (industrial supply house here in the US) you can see the variety: www.mcmaster.com/#standard-foam-sheets/=1apgylw
At the very least, I hope the Rockit DIY page has more details than what is just shown on the plans PDF.
Sure seems like there should be a better, more elegant, more durable solution to the "springs" of a rocker plate. Maybe some industrial vibration isolation material. Maybe some polyurethane bump stops: www.energysuspensionparts.com/products/universal_bump_stops ... hmmmmm....
my biggest concern is that the trainer is not centered properly on the plate and I would ride constantly with a slightly tilted bike
I was thinking the same thing, especially IF you are using "springs" that aren't all that controlled in terms of spring rate and deflection.... Like tennis balls, or "foam rubber sheet"... Seems like there ought to be a better "spring" to use out there in "industry"... Have to put my design engineering gear head to work on that one...
I think that if you make something that fits your trainer then that should cancel out the centralisation issue.
Stuweb Race Timing how so? if the spring are not equal they platform will be tilted